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It was done; and Catherine found herself alone in the gallery before the clocks had ceased to strike It was no tiht; she hurried on, slipped with the least possible noise through the folding doors, and without stopping to look or breathe, rushed forward to the one in question The lock yielded to her hand, and, luckily, with no sullen sound that could alar On tiptoe she entered; the room was before her; but it was some minutes before she could advance another step She beheld what fixed her to the spot and agitated every feature She saw a large, well-proportioned aparted as unoccupied with an houseany wardrobes, and neatly painted chairs, on which the warh two sash s! Catherine had expected to have her feelings worked, and worked they were

Astonish ray of common sense added some bitter emotions of sharossly , in her own calculation!

This apartiven a date so ancient, a position so awful, proved to be one end of what the general's father had built There were two other doors in the cha-closets; but she had no inclination to open either

Would the veil in which Mrs Tilney had last walked, or the volu else was allowed to whisper? No: whatever eneral's crimes, he had certainly too much wit to let the, and desired but to be safe in her own room, with her own heart only privy to its folly; and she was on the point of retreating as softly as she had entered, when the sound of footsteps, she could hardly tell where, made her pause and tremble

To be found there, even by a servant, would be unpleasant; but by the general (and he seemed always at hand when least wanted),not to lose a h and closed the door At that instant a door underneath was hastily opened; someone seemed with swift steps to ascend the stairs, by the head of which she had yet to pass before she could gain the gallery She had no power toof terror not very definable, she fixed her eyes on the staircase, and in a few ave Henry to her view "Mr Tilney!" she exclaimed in a voice of more than common astonishment He looked astonished too "Good God!" she continued, not attending to his address "How came you here? How came you up that staircase?"