The Mysteries of Udolpho

He then took up the torch, and led her along the passage, at the

extremity of which he unlocked another door, whence they descended,

a few steps, into a chapel, which, as Barnardine held up the torch

to light her, Emily observed to be in ruins, and she immediately

recollected a former conversation of Annette, concerning it, with very

unpleasant emotions. She looked fearfully on the almost roofless walls,

green with damps, and on the gothic points of the windows, where the ivy

and the briony had long supplied the place of glass, and ran mantling

among the broken capitals of some columns, that had once supported the

roof. Barnardine stumbled over the broken pavement, and his voice, as he

uttered a sudden oath, was returned in hollow echoes, that made it more

terrific. Emily's heart sunk; but she still followed him, and he turned

out of what had been the principal aisle of the chapel. 'Down these

steps, lady,' said Barnardine, as he descended a flight, which appeared

to lead into the vaults; but Emily paused on the top, and demanded, in a

tremulous tone, whither he was conducting her.

'To the portal,' said Barnardine. 'Cannot we go through the chapel to the portal?' said Emily. 'No, Signora, that leads to the inner court, which I don't choose to

unlock. This way, and we shall reach the outer court presently.'

Emily still hesitated; fearing not only to go on, but, since she had

gone thus far, to irritate Barnardine by refusing to go further. 'Come, lady,' said the man, who had nearly reached the bottom of the

flight, 'make a little haste; I cannot wait here all night.'

'Whither do these steps lead?' said Emily, yet pausing. 'To the portal,' repeated Barnardine, in an angry tone, 'I will wait no

longer.' As he said this, he moved on with the light, and Emily, fearing

to provoke him by further delay, reluctantly followed. From the steps,

they proceeded through a passage, adjoining the vaults, the walls of

which were dropping with unwholesome dews, and the vapours, that crept

along the ground, made the torch burn so dimly, that Emily expected

every moment to see it extinguished, and Barnardine could scarcely find

his way.

As they advanced, these vapours thickened, and Barnardine,

believing the torch was expiring, stopped for a moment to trim it. As he

then rested against a pair of iron gates, that opened from the passage,

Emily saw, by uncertain flashes of light, the vaults beyond, and, near

her, heaps of earth, that seemed to surround an open grave. Such an

object, in such a scene, would, at any time, have disturbed her; but

now she was shocked by an instantaneous presentiment, that this was the

grave of her unfortunate aunt, and that the treacherous Barnardine was

leading herself to destruction. The obscure and terrible place, to which

he had conducted her, seemed to justify the thought; it was a place

suited for murder, a receptacle for the dead, where a deed of horror

might be committed, and no vestige appear to proclaim it. Emily was so

overwhelmed with terror, that, for a moment, she was unable to determine

what conduct to pursue.