Northanger Abbey Page #6

But if I were to say there

is a kind of vampirism...

No, let's just say that all houses have

their secrets, and Northanger is no exception.

- Let me help you down.

- Thank you.

Miss Morland, welcome

to Northanger Abbey.

I hope you will be comfortable.

Do, please, I beg you, make as little

alteration to your dress as possible.

My father is most particular

about meal times.

I'm sorry to have to ask you.

No...

No, that's quite all right.

I'll see you in

a few minutes, then.

If you please,

Miss T:
ilney says, do you

need any help, miss?.

Oh, no.

No, thank you.

Are you ready?.

So sorry.

Miss Morland. Charming.

Dinner should be on the table directly!

I hope you find our simple style

of living to your taste, Miss Morland.

No doubt you have been used

to better-sized apartments at Mr Allen's?.

No, indeed, sir.

Mr Allen's dining parlour

is only half the size of this room.

Well now, I suppose

I care as little as any man for such things,

but a tolerably-large eating room

is one of the necessaries of life.

Hmm?.

Tolerably large, indeed, sir.

But I don't think I've ever been

in so large a dining room as this one.

You have not?.

Well, no doubt the rooms in Mr Allen's are...

exactly the true size...

..for rational happiness.

Oh!

Oh, why...

What... Whatever are

these old things?.

No!

No, leave them, please.

Shirts,

stockings,

cravats.

Laundry lists.

This was my mother's favourite place.

I used to walk so

often here with her.

Though I never loved it then

as I have loved it since.

Her death must have been

a great affliction.

A great and increasing one.

What was she like?.

Did she look like you?.

I wish I could show you her portrait.

It hangs in her private chamber.

I suppose you were with her to the last?.

No.

I was away from home when she died.

Her illness was sudden and short,

and before I arrived, it was all over.

So you didn't see her body?.

No.

I wish I could have done.

Perhaps it would help me

to think of her at peace.

Yes.

I should like to see her room,

if you are willing to show me.

We never go there.

It is my father's wish.

But to see her picture?.

Yes.

Why should you not see it?.

What do you do there?.

I was going to show

Miss Morland Mother's...

There is nothing to interest Miss Morland

in this part of the house.

I am surprised at you, Eleanor.

My dearest lsabella,

I long to hear your news.

I hope everything is well

with you and James

and that your brother is

not too much offended with me.

Northanger Abbey is all that I expected it

to be,and Eleanor and her brother very kind.

Oh, lsabella, I fear that this house

holds a terrible secret

relating to the death of Mrs Tilney.

Catherine?.

Here I am!

I cannot write more now.

Send me your news,

your loving friend, Catherine.

This is a sad day, Miss Morland.

A sad day for me, that is.

I have to go up to town for

several days on business.

I trust you'll be able to entertain

our guest properly while I am gone?.

Nothing would give me

greater pleasure, sir.

Come along!

What are you giggling about?.

One for me, Henry!

This is the last one.

Ooh! Ah!

I thought I might show you Woodston

tomorrow, if you'd like to.

It's nothing to Northanger, of course,

just a country vicarage.

But I'm very fond of it.

I'd love to.

Look.

Is that your home?.

- It's lovely.

- I'm very glad you think so.

I fear we may be about

to get a little damp.

Come on, I'll race you back.

Come on! Come on!

Look at the state of

the pair of you!

I'll go and get Richards to draw

your bath,Catherine.

When we were coming to Northanger Abbey,

you said that the house held secrets.

Did l?. And have you discovered

any dreadful revelations yet?.

No, but I'd like to

know what you meant.

I think that shall have

to remain a secret.

A secret once explained loses all of

its charms,and all of its danger, too.

Why don't you imagine the worst thing you can,

and write your own Gothic romance about it?.

"Northanger Abbey" would make

a very good title, don't you think?.

Now you're mocking me.

But I can't help feeling

that this house is not a happy one.

Not since our mother died.

And even before then.

I envy you your happy childhood.

My brother Frederick is well enough,

I think,sowing his wild oats,

but soon he shall have to make

an advantageous match.

My sister is not happy.

Remember the man we met

on our country walk?.

He is a good friend of mine,but he

is a lot more than that to my sister.

But our father has refused

to sanction the match.

Edward is only a second son.

And Eleanor must marry

the heir to a rich estate.

And... And you?.

Well, if I'm to retain my father's

favour,I must marry a fortune,too.

And shall you?.

I always hoped I'd be lucky,

that the girl I fell in love with

would come with a fortune attached.

And...if she should not?.

Then that would be a very...

stern test of my character.

Perhaps we'd better head back.I want

to set off for Woodston before nightfall.

See you tomorrow for dinner!

Oh!

Might I ask how you come

to be here all alone?.

I wanted to see

your mother's room.

Eleanor was going to show me,

but your father prevented us.

And so you thought

you'd come and see it for yourself?.

Yes.

I suppose Eleanor has talked

to you about our mother?.

Yes.

But that is not very much.

What she did say was...

Her dying so suddenly,

and none of you being at home,

I thought...

perhaps your father

had not been very fond of her.

And from these circumstances

you infer...

..some negligence?.

Or something even worse?.

Then let me reassure you,Catherine.

My mother's illness was sudden,

and Eleanor was from home,

but I was here throughout.

And so was my brother Frederick.

Our mother received

every possible attention.

Our physician was satisfied that

nothing more could be done for her.

The matter was deeply distressing,

- as you may imagine.

- Yes, of course.

But your father,

was he distressed?.

For a time, greatly so.

She had had to bear

a great deal from him but...

..when she was dead,

he felt her loss.

I am very glad of it.

It would have been very

shocking if he had...

- if he had...

- If he had what?.

If I understand you rightly, you have been

suspecting my father of a crime so dreadful...

You said yourself the house

was full of secrets!

And so you decided that

my father must be a murderer...

..when to you, at least,

he has shown nothing

but kindness?.

Catherine...

how could you?.

What sort of a fevered

imagination must you have?.

Perhaps, after all,it is possible

to read too many novels.

Look, Catherine.

Oh, whatever is the matter?.

I can't tell you.

Please don't make me.

I have been so wickedly foolish

and your brother knows of it.

And now he will hate me for it,

and so will you when he tells you.

Oh, my dear Catherine, I'm quite sure that

nothing you could do could make me hate you,

or Henry either.

I saw his face. I know.

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