The Mysteries of Udolpho

To withdraw her thoughts, however, from the subject of her misfortunes,

she attempted to read, but her attention wandered from the page, and,

at length, she threw aside the book, and determined to explore the

adjoining chambers of the castle. Her imagination was pleased with the

view of ancient grandeur, and an emotion of melancholy awe awakened all

its powers, as she walked through rooms, obscure and desolate, where no

footsteps had passed probably for many years, and remembered the strange

history of the former possessor of the edifice. This brought to her

recollection the veiled picture, which had attracted her curiosity,

on the preceding night, and she resolved to examine it. As she passed

through the chambers, that led to this, she found herself somewhat

agitated; its connection with the late lady of the castle, and the

conversation of Annette, together with the circumstance of the veil,

throwing a mystery over the subject, that excited a faint degree of

terror. But a terror of this nature, as it occupies and expands the

mind, and elevates it to high expectation, is purely sublime, and leads

us, by a kind of fascination, to seek even the object, from which we

appear to shrink.

Emily passed on with faltering steps, and having paused a moment at

the door, before she attempted to open it, she then hastily entered the

chamber, and went towards the picture, which appeared to be enclosed

in a frame of uncommon size, that hung in a dark part of the room.

She paused again, and then, with a timid hand, lifted the veil; but

instantly let it fall--perceiving that what it had concealed was no

picture, and, before she could leave the chamber, she dropped senseless

on the floor. When she recovered her recollection, the remembrance of what she had

seen had nearly deprived her of it a second time. She had scarcely

strength to remove from the room, and regain her own; and, when arrived

there, wanted courage to remain alone. Horror occupied her mind, and

excluded, for a time, all sense of past, and dread of future misfortune:

she seated herself near the casement, because from thence she heard

voices, though distant, on the terrace, and might see people pass, and

these, trifling as they were, were reviving circumstances. When her

spirits had recovered their tone, she considered, whether she should

mention what she had seen to Madame Montoni, and various and important

motives urged her to do so, among which the least was the hope of the

relief, which an overburdened mind finds in speaking of the subject of

its interest.

But she was aware of the terrible consequences, which such

a communication might lead to; and, dreading the indiscretion of her

aunt, at length, endeavoured to arm herself with resolution to observe a

profound silence, on the subject. Montoni and Verezzi soon after passed

under the casement, speaking cheerfully, and their voices revived her.

Presently the Signors Bertolini and Cavigni joined the party on the

terrace, and Emily, supposing that Madame Montoni was then alone, went

to seek her; for the solitude of her chamber, and its proximity to that

where she had received so severe a shock, again affected her spirit.