east lynne-第100章

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〃She　is　very　ill；　indeed；　sir。〃

〃Worse？〃

〃Sir；　I　fear　she　is　dying。〃

Mr。　Carlyle；　in　his　consternation；　put　down　Arthur。　〃Dying！〃

〃I　hardly　think　she　will　last　till　morning；　sir！〃

〃Why；　what　has　killed　her？〃　he　uttered　in　amazement。

Joyce　did　not　answer。　She　looked　pale　and　confused。

〃Have　you　had　Dr。　Martin？〃

〃Oh；　no；　sir。　It　would　be　of　no　use。〃

〃No　use！〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　a　sharp　accent。　〃Is　that　the　way　to　treat　dying　people？　Assume　it　is　of　no　use　to　send　for　advice；　and　so　quietly　let　them　die！　If　Madame　Vine　is　as　ill　as　you　say；　a　telegraphic　message　must　be　sent　off　at　once。　I　had　better　see　her；〃　he　cried；　moving　to　the　door。

Joyce；　in　her　perplexity；　dared　to　place　her　back　against　it；　preventing　his　egress。　〃Oh；　master！　I　beg　your　pardon；　butit　would　not　be　right。　Please；　sir；　do　not　think　of　going　into　her　room！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　thought　Joyce　was　taken　with　a　fit　of　prudery。　〃Why　can't　I　go　in？〃　he　asked。

〃Mrs。　Carlyle　would　not　like　it；　sir；〃　stammered　Joyce；　her　cheeks　scarlet　now。

Mr。　Carlyle　stared　at　her。　〃Some　of　you　take　up　odd　ideas；〃　he　cried。　〃In　Mrs。　Carlyle's　absence；　it　is　necessary　that　some　one　should　see　her！　Let　a　lady　die　in　my　house；　and　never　see　after　her！　You　are　out　of　your　senses；　Joyce。　I　shall　go　in　after　dinner；　so　prepare　Madame　Vine。〃

The　dinner　was　being　brought　in　then。　Joyce；　feeling　like　one　in　a　nervous　attack；　picked　up　Arthur　and　carried　him　to　Sarah　in　the　nursery。　What　on　earth　was　she　to　do？

Scarcely　had　Mr。　Carlyle　begun　his　dinner；　when　his　sister　entered。　Some　grievance　had　arisen　between　her　and　the　tenants　of　certain　houses　of　hers；　and　she　was　bringing　the　dispute　to　him。　Before　he　would　hear　it；　he　begged　her　to　go　up　to　Madame　Vine；　telling　her　what　Joyce　had　said　of　her　state。

〃Dying！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Corny；　in　disbelieving　derision。　〃That　Joyce　has　been　more　like　a　simpleton　lately　than　like　herself。　I　can't　think　what　has　come　to　the　woman。〃

She　took　off　her　bonnet　and　mantle；　and　laid　them　on　a　chair；　gave　a　twitch　or　two　to　her　cap；　as　she　surveyed　it　in　the　pier…glass；　and　went　upstairs。　Joyce　answered　her　knock　at　the　invalid's　door；　and　Joyce；　when　she　saw　who　it　was；　turned　as　white　as　any　sheet。

〃Oh；　ma'am；　you　must　not　come　in！〃　she　blundered　out；　in　her　confusion　and　fear；　as　she　put　herself　right　in　the　doorway。

〃Who　is　to　keep　me　out？〃　demanded　Miss　Carlyle；　after　a　pause　of　surprise；　her　tone　of　quiet　power。　〃Move　away；　girl。　Joyce；　I　think　your　brain　must　be　softening。　What　will　you　try　at　next？〃

Joyce　was　powerless；　both　in　right　and　strength；　and　she　knew　it。　She　knew　there　was　no　helpthat　Miss　Carlyle　would　and　must　enter。　She　stood　aside；　shivering；　and　passed　out　of　the　room　as　soon　as　Miss　Carlyle　was　within　it。

Ah！　there　could　no　longer　be　concealment　now！　There　she　was；　her　pale　face　lying　against　the　pillow；　free　from　its　disguising　trappings。　The　band　of　gray　velvet；　the　spectacles；　the　wraps　for　the　throat　and　chin；　the　huge　cap；　all　were　gone。　It　was　the　face　of　Lady　Isabel；　changed；　certainly；　very；　very　much；　but　still　hers。　The　silvered　hair　fell　on　either　side　of　her　face；　like　the　silky　curls　had　once　fallen；　the　sweet；　sad　eyes　were　the　eyes　of　yore。

〃Mercy　be　good　to　us！〃　uttered　Miss　Carlyle。

They　remained　gazing　at　each　other；　both　panting　with　emotion；　yes；　even　Miss　Carlyle。　Though　a　wild　suspicion　had　once　crossed　her　brain　that　Madame　Vine　might　be　Lady　Isabel；　it　had　died　away　again；　from　the　sheer　improbability　of　the　thing；　as　much　as　from　the　convincing　proofs　offered　by　Lord　Mount　Severn。　Not　but　what　Miss　Carlyle　had　borne　in　mind　the　suspicion；　and　had　been　fond　of　tracing　the　likeness　in　Madame　Vine's　face。

〃How　could　you　dare　come　back　here！〃　she　abruptly　asked；　her　tone　of　sad；　soft　wailing；　not　one　of　reproach。

Lady　Isabel　humbly　crossed　her　attenuated　hands　upon　her　chest。　〃My　children；〃　she　whispered。　〃How　could　I　stay　away　from　them？　Have　pity；　Miss　Carlyle！　Don't　reproach　me。　I　am　on　my　way　to　God；　to　answer　for　all　my　sins　and　sorrows。〃

〃I　do　not　reproach　you；〃　said　Miss　Carlyle。

〃I　am　so　glad　to　go；〃　she　continued　to　murmur；　her　eyes　full　of　tears。　〃Jesus　did　not　come；　you　know；　to　save　the　good　like　you；　He　came　for　the　sake　of　us　poor　sinners。　I　tried　to　take　up　my　cross；　as　He　bade　us；　and　bear　it　bravely　for　His　sake；　but　its　weight　has　killed　me。〃

The　good　like　you！　Humbly；　meekly；　deferentially　was　it　expressed；　in　all　good　faith　and　trust；　as　though　Miss　Corny　was　a　sort　of　upper　angel。　Somehow　the　words　grated　on　Miss　Corny's　ear：　grated　fiercely　on　her　conscience。　It　came　into　her　mind；　then；　as　she　stood　there；　that　the　harsh　religion　that　she　had　through　life　professed；　was　not　the　religion　that　would　best　bring　peace　to　her　dying　bed。

〃Child；〃　said　she；　drawing　near　to　and　leaning　over　Lady　Isabel；　〃had　I　anything　to　do　with　sending　you　from　East　Lynne？〃

Lady　Isabel　shook　her　head　and　cast　down　her　gaze；　as　she　whispered：　〃You　did　not　send　me；　you　did　not　help　to　send　me。　I　was　not　very　happy　with　you；　but　that　was　not　the　causeof　my　going　away。　Forgive　me；　Miss　Carlyle；　forgive　me！〃

〃Thank　God！〃　inwardly　breathed　Miss　Carlyle。　〃Forgive　me；〃　she　said；　aloud　and　in　agitation；　touching　her　hand。　〃I　could　have　made　your　home　happier；　and　I　wish　I　had　done　it。　I　have　wished　it　ever　since　you　left　it。〃

Lady　Isabel　drew　the　hand　in　hers。　〃I　want　to　see　Archibald；〃　she　whispered；　going　back；　in　thought；　to　the　old　time　and　the　old　name。　〃I　have　prayed　Joyce　to　bring　him　to　me；　and　she　will　not。　Only　for　a　minute！　Just　to　hear　him　say　that　he　forgives　me！　What　can　it　matter；　now　that　I　am　as　one　lost　to　the　world？　I　should　die　easier。〃

Upon　what　impulse　or　grounds　Miss　Carlyle　saw　fit　to　accede　to　the　request；　cannot　be　told。　Probably　she　did　not　choose　to　refuse　a　death…bed　prayer；　possibly　she　reasoned；　as　did　Lady　Isabelwhat　could　it　matter？　She　went　to　the　door。　Joyce　was　in　the　corridor；　leaning　against　the　wall；　her　apron　up　to　her　eyes。　Miss　Carlyle　beckoned　to　her。

〃How　long　have　you　known　of　this？〃

〃Since　that　night　in　the　spring；　when　there　was　an　alarm　of　fire。　I　saw　her　then；　with　nothing　on　her　face；　and　knew　her；　though；　at　the　first　moment；　I　thought　it　was　her　ghost。　Ma'am；　I　have　just　gone　about　since；　like　a　ghost　myself　from　fear。〃

〃Go　and　request　your　master　to　come　up　to　me。〃

〃Oh；　ma'am！　Will　it　be　well　to　tell　him？〃　remonstrated　Joyce。　〃Well　that　he　should　see　her？〃

〃Go　and　request　your　master　to　come　to　me；〃　unequivocally　repeated　Miss　Carlyle。　〃Are　you　mistress；　Joyce；　or　am　I？〃

Joyce　went　down　and　brought　Mr。　Carlyle　up　from　the　dinner…table。

〃Is　Madame　Vine　worse；　Cornelia？　Will　she　see　me？〃

〃She　wishes　to　see　you。〃

Miss　Carlyle　opened　the　door　as　she　spoke。　He　motioned　her　to　pass　in　first。　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃you　had　better　see　her　alone。〃

He　was　going　in　when　Joyce　caught　his　arm。　〃Master！　Master！　You　ought　to　be　prepared。　Ma'am；　won't　you　tell　him？〃

He　looked　at　them；　thinking　they　must　be　moonstruck；　for　their　conduct　seemed　inexplicable。　Both　were　in　evident　agitation；　an　emotion　Miss　Carlyle　was　not　given　to。　Her　face　and　lips　were　twitching；　but　she　kept　a　studied　silence。　Mr。　Carlyle　knit　his　brow　and　went　into　the　chamber。　They　shut　him　in。

He　walked　gently　at　once　to　the　bed；　in　his　straightforward　manner。

〃I　am　grieved；　Madame　Vine〃

The　words　faltered　on　his　tongue。　He　was　a　man　as　little　given　to　show　emotion　as　man　can　well　be。　Did　he　think；　as　Joyce　had　once　done；　that　it　was　a　ghost　he　saw？　Certain　it　is　that　his　face　and　lips　turned　the　hue　of　death；　and　he　backed　a　few　steps　from　the　bed。　The　falling　hair；　the　sweet；　mournful　eyes；　the　hectic　which　his　presence　brought　to　her　cheeks；　told　too　plainly　of　the　Lady　Isabel。

〃Archibald！〃

She　put　out　her　trembling　hand。　She　caught　him　ere　he　had　drawn　quite　beyond　her　reach。　He　looked　at　her；　he　looked　round　the　room；　as　does　one　awaking　from　a　dream。

〃I　could　not　die　without　your　forgiveness；〃　she　murmured；　her　eyes　falling　before　him　as　she　thought　of　her　past。　〃Do　you　turn　from　me？　Bear　with　me　a　little　minute！　Only　say　you　forgive　me；　and　I　shall　die　in　peace！〃

〃Isabel？〃　he　spoke；　not　knowing　in　the　least　what　he　said。　〃Are　you　are　youwere　you　Madame　Vine？〃

〃Oh；　forgiveforgive　me！　I　did　not　die。　I　got　well　from　the　accident；　but　it　changed　me　dreadfully。　Nobody　knew　me；　and　I　came　here　as　Madame　Vine。　I　could　not　stay　away；　Archibald；　forgive　me！〃

His　mind　was　in　a　whirl；　his　ideas　had　gone　wool…gathering。　The　first　clear　thought　that　came　thumping　through　his　brain　was；　that　he　must　be　a　man　of　two　wives。　She　noticed　his　perplexed　silence。

〃I　could　not　stay　away　from　you　and　my　children。　The　longing　for　you　was　killing　me；〃　she　reiterated；　wildly；　like　one　talking　in　a　fever。　〃I　never　knew　a　moment's　peace　after　the　mad　act　I　was　guilty　of；　in　quitting　you。　Not　an　hour　had　I　departed　when　my　repentance　set　in；　and　even　then　I　would　have　retraced　and　come　back；　but　I　did　not　know　how。　See　what　it　has　done　for　me！〃　tossing　up　her　gray　hair；　holding　out　her　attenuated　wrists。　〃Oh；　forgiveforgive　me！　My　sin　was　great；　but　my　punishment　was　greater。　It　has　been　as　one　long　scene　of　mortal　agony。〃

〃Why　did　you　go？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Did　you　not　know？〃

〃No。　It　has　always　been　a　mystery　to　me。〃

〃I　went　out　of　love　for　you。〃

A　shade　of　disdain　crossed　his　lips。　She　was　equivocating　to　him　on　her　death…bed。

〃Do　not　look　in　that　way；〃　she　panted。　〃My　strength　is　nearly　gone　you　must　perceive　that　it　isand　I　do　not；　perhaps；　express　myself　clearly。　I　loved　you　dearly；　and　I　grew　suspicious　of　you。　I　thought　you　were　false　and　deceitful　to　me；　that　your　love　was　all　given　to　another；　and　in　my　sore　jealousy；　I　listened　to　the　temptings　of　that　bad　man；　who　whispered　to　me　of　revenge。　It　was　not　so；　was　it？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　had　regained　his　calmness；　outwardly；　at　any　rate。　He　stood　by　the　side　of　the　bed；　looking　down　upon　her；　his　arms　crossed　upon　his　chest；　and　his　noble　form　raised　to　its　full　height。

〃Was　it　so？〃　she　feverishly　repeated。

〃Can　you　ask　it；　knowing　me　as　you　did　then；　as　you　must　have　known　me　since？　I　never　was　false　to　you　in　thought；　in　word；　or　in　deed。〃

〃Oh；　Archibald；　I　was　madI　was　mad！　I　could　not　have　done　it　in　anything　but　madness。　Surely　you　will　forget　and　forgive！〃

〃I　cannot　forget。　I　have　already　forgiven！〃

〃Try　and　forget　the　dreadful　time　that　has　passed　since　that　night！〃　she　continued；　the　tears　falling　on　her　cheeks；　as　she　held　up　to　him　one　of　her　poor　hot　hands。　〃Let　your　thoughts　go　back　to　the　days　when　you　first　knew　me；　when　I　was　here；　Isabel　Vane；　a　happy　girl　with　my　father。　At　times　I　have　lost　myself　in　a　moment's　happiness　in　thinking　of　it。　Do　you　remember　how　you　grew　to　love　me；　though　you　thought　you　might　not　tell　it　to　meand　how　gentle　you　were　with　me；　when　papa　diedand　the　hundred　pound　note？　Do　you　remember　coming　to　Castle　Marling？and　my　promise　to　be　your　wifeand　the　first　kiss　you　left　upon　my　lips？　And；　oh；　Archibald！　Do　you　remember　the　loving　days　after　I　was　your　wifehow　happy　we　were　with　each　other？　Do　you　remember　when　Lucy　was　born；　we　thought　I　should　have　died；　and　your　joy；　your　t