The Mysteries of Udolpho

'What a dismal place is this!' exclaimed the Countess, as the carriage

penetrated the deeper recesses of the woods. 'Surely, my lord, you do

not mean to pass all the autumn in this barbarous spot! One ought to

bring hither a cup of the waters of Lethe, that the remembrance of

pleasanter scenes may not heighten, at least, the natural dreariness of

these.' 'I shall be governed by circumstances, madam,' said the Count, 'this

barbarous spot was inhabited by my ancestors.'

The carriage now stopped at the chateau, where, at the door of the great

hall, appeared the old steward and the Parisian servants, who had been

sent to prepare the chateau, waiting to receive their lord. Lady Blanche

now perceived, that the edifice was not built entirely in the gothic

style, but that it had additions of a more modern date; the large and

gloomy hall, however, into which she now entered, was entirely gothic,

and sumptuous tapestry, which it was now too dark to distinguish, hung

upon the walls, and depictured scenes from some of the antient Provencal

romances. A vast gothic window, embroidered with CLEMATIS and eglantine,

that ascended to the south, led the eye, now that the casements were

thrown open, through this verdant shade, over a sloping lawn, to the

tops of dark woods, that hung upon the brow of the promontory. Beyond,

appeared the waters of the Mediterranean, stretching far to the south,

and to the east, where they were lost in the horizon; while, to the

north-east, they were bounded by the luxuriant shores of Languedoc and

Provence, enriched with wood, and gay with vines and sloping pastures;

and, to the south-west, by the majestic Pyrenees, now fading from the

eye, beneath the gradual gloom.

Blanche, as she crossed the hall, stopped a moment to observe this

lovely prospect, which the evening twilight obscured, yet did not

conceal. But she was quickly awakened from the complacent delight,

which this scene had diffused upon her mind, by the Countess, who,

discontented with every object around, and impatient for refreshment

and repose, hastened forward to a large parlour, whose cedar wainscot,

narrow, pointed casements, and dark ceiling of carved cypress wood,

gave it an aspect of peculiar gloom, which the dingy green velvet of the

chairs and couches, fringed with tarnished gold, had once been designed

to enliven. While the Countess enquired for refreshment, the Count, attended by

his son, went to look over some part of the chateau, and Lady Blanche

reluctantly remained to witness the discontent and ill-humour of her

step-mother. 'How long have you lived in this desolate place?' said her ladyship, to

the old house keeper, who came to pay her duty.