Northanger Abbey

That Sunday, Catherine attends a church where there is a monument to the late Mrs. Tilney. She watches the General sit by the monument, and she thinks he is a hypocrite for mourning his wife when he surely tortured her. Catherine recalls fake funerals in Gothic novels, so she decides the monument is not evidence enough that Mrs. Tilney is not a prisoner in the Abbey. While the General is out for his walk the next day, Catherine asks Eleanor if they can go look at Mrs. Tilney’s room now. Before entering the rooms, the girls look at Mrs. Tilney’s portrait. Catherine is surprised to see that Mrs. Tilney does not look very much like her children. Just before they enter Mrs. Tilney’s room, the General returns and calls for Eleanor. Catherine hides in her room. She soon goes down to the drawing room, where she finds the General and Eleanor entertaining visitors. It is a happy scene, and Catherine feels they are safe from the General’s anger.

The next day, Catherine decides to investigate Mrs. Tilney’s rooms alone, so as to avoid putting Eleanor in any danger. She thinks it will also be easier to conduct her search if Eleanor is not there to observe her.