The Mysteries of Udolpho

'Above twenty years, your ladyship, on the next feast of St. Jerome.'

'How happened it, that you have lived here so long, and almost alone,

too? I understood, that the chateau had been shut up for some years?'

'Yes, madam, it was for many years after my late lord, the Count, went

to the wars; but it is above twenty years, since I and my husband came

into his service. The place is so large, and has of late been so lonely,

that we were lost in it, and, after some time, we went to live in a

cottage at the end of the woods, near some of the tenants, and came to

look after the chateau, every now and then. When my lord returned to

France from the wars, he took a dislike to the place, and never came

to live here again, and so he was satisfied with our remaining at the

cottage. Alas--alas! how the chateau is changed from what it once was!

What delight my late lady used to take in it! I well remember when she

came here a bride, and how fine it was. Now, it has been neglected so

long, and is gone into such decay! I shall never see those days again!'

The Countess appearing to be somewhat offended by the thoughtless

simplicity, with which the old woman regretted former times, Dorothee

added--'But the chateau will now be inhabited, and cheerful again; not

all the world could tempt me to live in it alone.'

'Well, the experiment will not be made, I believe,' said the Countess,

displeased that her own silence had been unable to awe the loquacity of

this rustic old housekeeper, now spared from further attendance by the

entrance of the Count, who said he had been viewing part of the

chateau, and found, that it would require considerable repairs and some

alterations, before it would be perfectly comfortable, as a place of

residence. 'I am sorry to hear it, my lord,' replied the Countess. 'And

why sorry, madam?' 'Because the place will ill repay your trouble; and

were it even a paradise, it would be insufferable at such a distance

from Paris.'

The Count made no reply, but walked abruptly to a window. 'There are

windows, my lord, but they neither admit entertainment, or light; they

shew only a scene of savage nature.'

'I am at a loss, madam,' said the Count, 'to conjecture what you mean by

savage nature. Do those plains, or those woods, or that fine expanse of

water, deserve the name?'

'Those mountains certainly do, my lord,' rejoined the Countess, pointing

to the Pyrenees, 'and this chateau, though not a work of rude nature,

is, to my taste, at least, one of savage art.' The Count coloured

highly. 'This place, madam, was the work of my ancestors,' said he,

'and you must allow me to say, that your present conversation discovers

neither good taste, or good manners.' Blanche, now shocked at an

altercation, which appeared to be increasing to a serious disagreement,

rose to leave the room, when her mother's woman entered it; and the

Countess, immediately desiring to be shewn to her own apartment,

withdrew, attended by Mademoiselle Bearn.