east lynne-第11章

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Richard　Hare's　short　interview　with　his　mother　had　soon　terminated。　It　lasted　but　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　both　dreading　interruptions　from　the　servants；　and　with　a　hundred　pounds　in　his　pocket；　and　desolation　in　his　heart；　the　ill…fated　young　man　once　more　quitted　his　childhood's　home。　Mrs。　Hare　and　Barbara　watched　him　steal　down　the　path　in　the　telltale　moonlight；　and　gain　the　road；　both　feeling　that　those　farewell　kisses　they　had　pressed　upon　his　lips　would　not　be　renewed　for　years；　and　might　not　be　forever。



CHAPTER　VII。

MISS　CARLYLE　AT　HOME。

The　church　clocks　at　West　Lynne　struck　eight　one　lovely　morning　in　July；　and　then　the　bells　chimed　out；　giving　token　that　it　was　Sunday。

East　Lynne　had　changed　owners；　and　now　it　was　the　property　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　He　had　bought　it　as　it　stood；　furniture　and　all；　but　the　transfer　had　been　conducted　with　secrecy；　and　was　suspected　by　none；　save　those　engaged　in　the　negotiations。　Whether　Lord　Mount　Severn　thought　it　might　prevent　any　one　getting　on　the　scent；　or　whether　he　wished　to　take　farewell　of　a　place　he　had　formerly　been　fond　of；　certain　it　is　that　he　craved　a　week　or　two's　visit　to　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　most　readily　and　graciously　acquiesced；　and　the　earl；　his　daughter；　and　retinue　had　arrived　the　previous　day。

West　Lynne　was　in　ecstacies。　It　called　itself　an　aristocratic　place；　and　it　indulged　hopes　that　the　earl　might　be　intending　to　confer　permanently　the　light　of　his　presence；　by　taking　up　his　residence　again　at　East　Lynne。　The　toilettes　prepared　to　meet　his　admiring　eyes　were　prodigious　and　pretty　Barbara　Hare　was　not　the　only　young　lady　who　had　thereby　to　encounter　the　paternal　storm。

Miss　Carlyle　was　ready　for　church　at　the　usual　time；　plainly；　but　well　dressed。　As　she　and　Archibald　were　leaving　their　house；　they　saw　something　looming　up　the　street；　flashing　and　gleaming　in　the　sun。　A　pink　parasol　came　first；　a　pink　bonnet　and　feather　came　behind　it；　a　gray　brocaded　dress　and　white　gloves。

〃The　vain　little　idiot！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Carlyle。　But　Barbara　smiled　up　the　street　toward　them；　unconscious　of　the　apostrophe。

〃Well　done；　Barbara！〃　was　the　salutation　of　Miss　Carlyle。　〃The　justice　might　well　call　outyou　are　finer　than　a　sunbeam！〃

〃Not　half　so　fine　as　many　another　in　the　church　will　be　to…day；〃　responded　Barbara；　as　she　lifted　her　shy　blue　eyes　and　blushing　face　to　answer　the　greetings　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃West　Lynne　seems　bent　on　out…　dressing　the　Lady　Isabel。　You　should　have　been　at　the　milliner's　yesterday　morning；　Miss　Carlyle。〃

〃Is　all　the　finery　coming　out　to…day？〃　gravely　inquired　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　Barbara　turned　with　them　toward　the　church；　and　he　walked　by　her　side　and　his　sister's；　for　he　had　an　objection；　almost　invincible　as　a　Frenchman's；　to　give　his　arm　to　two　ladies。

〃Of　course；〃　replied　Barbara。　〃First　impression　is　everything；　you　know；　and　the　earl　and　his　daughter　will　be　coming　to　church。〃

〃Suppose　she　should　not　be　in　peacock's　plumes？〃　cried　Miss　Carlyle；　with　an　imperturbable　face。

〃Oh！　But　she　is　sure　to　beif　you　mean　richly　dressed；〃　cried　Barbara；　hastily。

〃Or；　suppose　they　should　not　come　to　church？〃　laughed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃What　a　disappointment　to　the　bonnets　and　feathers！〃

〃After　all；　Barbara；　what　are　they　to　us；　or　we　to　them？〃　resumed　Miss　Carlyle。　〃We　may　never　meet。　We　insignificant　West　Lynne　gentry　shall　not　obtrude　ourselves　into　East　Lynne。　It　would　scarcely　be　fitting　or　be　deemed　so　by　the　earl　and　Lady　Isabel。〃

〃That's　just　how　papa　went　on；〃　grumbled　Barbara。　〃He　caught　sight　of　this　bonnet　yesterday；　and　when；　by　way　of　excuse；　I　said　I　had　it　to　call　on　them；　he　asked　whether　I　thought　the　obscure　West　Lynne　families　would　venture　to　thrust　their　calls　on　Lord　Mount　Severn；　as　though　they　were　of　the　county　aristocracy。　It　was　the　feather　that　put　him　out。〃

〃It　is　a　very　long　one；〃　remarked　Miss　Carlyle；　grimly　surveying　it。

Barbara　was　to　sit　in　the　Carlyle　pew　that　day；　for　she　thought　the　farther　she　was　from　the　justice　the　better；　there　was　no　knowing　but　he　might　take　a　sly　revengeful　cut　at　the　feather　in　the　middle　of　service；　and　so　dock　its　beauty。　Scarcely　were　they　seated　when　some　strangers　came　quietly　up　the　aislea　gentleman　who　limped　as　he　walked；　with　a　furrowed　brow　and　gray　hair；　and　a　young　lady。　Barbara　looked　round　with　eagerness；　but　looked　away　again；　they　could　not　be　the　expected　strangers；　the　young　lady's　dress　was　too　plaina　clear…　looking　muslin　dress　for　a　hot　summer's　day。　But　the　old　beadle　in　his　many…caped　coat；　was　walking　before　them　sideways　with　his　marshalling　baton；　and　he　marshaled　them　into　the　East　Lynne　pew；　unoccupied　for　so　many　years。

〃Who　in　the　world　can　they　be？〃　whispered　Barbara　to　Miss　Carlyle。　〃That　old　stupid　is　always　making　a　mistake　and　putting　people　into　the　wrong　places。〃

〃The　earl　and　Lady　Isabel。〃

The　color　flushed　into　Barbara's　face；　and　she　stared　at　Miss　Corny。　〃Why；　she　has　no　silks；　and　no　feathers；　and　no　anything！〃　cried　Barbara。　〃She's　plainer　than　anybody　in　the　church！〃

〃Plainer　than　any　of　the　fine　onesthan　you；　for　instance。　The　earl　is　much　altered；　but　I　should　have　known　them　both　anywhere。　I　should　have　known　her　from　the　likeness　to　her　poor　motherjust　the　same　eyes　and　sweet　expression。〃

Aye；　those　brown　eyes；　so　full　of　sweetness　and　melancholy；　few　who　had　once　seen　could　mistake　or　forget　them；　and　Barbara　Hare；　forgetting　where　she　was；　looked　at　them　much　that　day。

〃She　is　very　lovely；〃　thought　Barbara；　〃and　her　dress　is　certainly　that　of　a　lady。　I　wish　I　had　not　had　this　streaming　pink　feather。　What　fine　jackdaws　she　must　deem　us　all！〃

The　earl's　carriage；　an　open　barouche；　was　waiting　at　the　gate；　at　the　conclusion　of　the　service。　He　handed　his　daughter　in；　and　was　putting　his　gouty　foot　upon　the　step　to　follow　her；　when　he　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　earl　turned　and　held　out　his　hand。　A　man　who　could　purchase　East　Lynne　was　worthy　of　being　received　as　an　equal；　though　he　was　but　a　country　lawyer。

Mr。　Carlyle　shook　hands　with　the　earl；　approached　the　carriage　and　raised　his　hat　to　Lady　Isabel。　She　bent　forward　with　her　pleasant　smile；　and　put　her　hand　into　his。

〃I　have　many　things　to　say　to　you；〃　said　the　earl。　〃I　wish　you　would　go　home　with　us。　If　you　have　nothing　better　to　do；　be　East　Lynne's　guest　for　the　remainder　of　the　day。〃

He　smiled　peculiarly　as　he　spoke；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　echoed　it。　East　Lynne's　guest！　That　is　what　the　earl　was　at　present。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　aside　to　tell　his　sister。

〃Cornelia；　I　shall　not　be　home　to　dinner；　I　am　going　with　Lord　Mount　Severn。　Good…day；　Barbara。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　stepped　into　the　carriage；　was　followed　by　the　earl；　and　it　drove　away。　The　sun　shone　still；　but　the　day's　brightness　had　gone　out　for　Barbara　Hare。

〃How　does　he　know　the　earl　so　well？　How　does　he　know　Lady　Isabel？〃　she　reiterated　in　her　astonishment。

〃Archibald　knows　something　of　most　people；〃　replied　Miss　Corny。　〃He　saw　the　earl　frequently；　when　he　was　in　town　in　the　spring；　and　Lady　Isabel　once　or　twice。　What　a　lovely　face　hers　is！〃

Barbara　made　no　reply。　She　returned　home　with　Miss　Carlyle；　but　her　manner　was　as　absent　as　her　heart；　and　that　had　run　away　to　East　Lynne。



CHAPTER　VIII。

MR。　KANE'S　CONCERT。

Before　Lord　Mount　Severn　had　completed　the　fortnight　of　his　proposed　stay；　the　gout　came　on　seriously。　It　was　impossible　for　him　to　move　away　from　East　Lynne。　Mr。　Carlyle　assured　him　he　was　only　too　pleased　that　he　should　remain　as　long　as　might　be　convenient；　and　the　earl　expressed　his　acknowledgments；　he　hoped　soon　to　be　re…established　on　his　legs。

But　he　was　not。　The　gout　came；　and　the　gout　wentnot　positively　laying　him　up　in　bed；　but　rendering　him　unable　to　leave　his　rooms；　and　this　continued　until　October；　when　he　grew　much　better。　The　county　families　had　been　neighborly；　calling　on　the　invalid　earl；　and　occasionally　carrying　off　Lady　Isabel；　but　his　chief　and　constant　visitor　had　been　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　earl　had　grown　to　like　him　in　no　common　degree；　and　was　disappointed　if　Mr。　Carlyle　spent　an　evening　away　from　him；　so　that　he　became；　as　it　were；　quite　domesticated　with　the　earl　and　Isabel。　〃I　am　not　quite　equal　to　general　society；〃　he　observed　to　his　daughter；　〃and　it　is　considerate　and　kind　of　Carlyle　to　come　here　and　cheer　my　loneliness。〃

〃Extremely　kind；〃　said　Isabel。　〃I　like　him　very　much；　papa。〃

〃I　don't　know　anybody　that　I　like　half　as　well；〃　was　the　rejoinder　of　the　earl。

Mr。　Carlyle　went　up　as　usual　the　same　evening；　and；　in　the　course　of　it；　the　earl　asked　Isabel　to　sing。

〃I　will　if　you　wish；　papa；〃　was　the　reply；　〃but　the　piano　is　so　much　out　of　tune　that　it　is　not　pleasant　to　sing　to　it。　Is　there　any　one　in　West　Lynne　who　could　come　here　and　tune　my　piano；　Mr。　Carlyle？〃　she　added；　turning　to　him。

〃Certainly　there　is。　Kane　would　do　it。　Shall　I　send　him　to…morrow？〃

〃I　should　be　glad；　if　it　would　not　be　giving　you　too　much　trouble。　Not　that　tuning　will　benefit　it　greatly；　old　thing　that　it　is。　Were　we　to　be　much　at　East　Lynne；　I　should　get　papa　to　exchange　it　for　a　good　one。〃

Little　thought　Lady　Isabel　that　that　very　piano　was　Mr。　Carlyle's；　and　not　hers。　The　earl　coughed；　and　exchanged　a　smile　and　a　glance　with　his　guest。

Mr。　Kane　was　the　organist　of　St。　Jude's　church；　a　man　of　embarrassment　and　sorrow；　who　had　long　had　a　sore　fight　with　the　world。　When　he　arrived　at　East　Lynne；　the　following　day；　dispatched　by　Mr。　Carlyle；　Lady　Isabel　happened　to　be　playing；　and　she　stood　by；　and　watched　him　begin　his　work。　She　was　courteous　and　affableshe　was　so　to　every　one　and　the　poor　music　master　took　courage　to　speak　of　his　own　affairs；　and　to　prefer　a　humble　requestthat　she　and　Lord　Mount　Severn　would　patronize　and　personally　attend　a　concert　he　was　about　to　give　the　following　week。　A　scarlet　blush　came　into　his　thin　cheeks　as　he　confessed　that　he　was　very　poor；　could　scarcely　live；　and　he　was　getting　up　this　concert　in　his　desperate　need。　If　it　succeeded　well；　he　could　then　go　on　again；　if　not；　he　should　be　turned　out　of　his　home；　and　his　furniture　sold　for　the　two　years'　rent　he　owedand　he　had　seven　children。

Isabel；　all　her　sympathies　awakened；　sought　the　earl。　〃Oh；　papa！　I　have　to　ask　you　the　greatest　favor。　Will　you　grant　it？〃

〃Ay；　child；　you　don't　ask　them　often。　What　is　it？〃

〃I　want　you　to　take　me　to　a　concert　at　West　Lynne。〃

The　earl　fell　back　in　surprise；　and　stared　at　Isabel。　〃A　concert　at　West　Lynne！〃　he　laughed。　〃To　hear　the　rustics　scraping　the　fiddle！　My　dear　Isabel！〃

She　poured　out　what　she　had　just　heard；　with　her　own　comments　and　additions。　〃Seven　children；　papa！　And　if　the　concert　does　not　succeed　he　must　give　up　his　home；　and　turn　out　into　the　streets　with　themit　is；　you　see；　almost　a　matter　of　life　or　death　with　him。　He　is　very　poor。〃

〃I　am　poor　myself；〃　said　the　earl。

〃I　was　so　sorry　for　him　when　he　was　speaking。　He　kept　turning　red　and　white；　and　catching　up　his　breath　in　agitation；　it　was　painful　to　him　to　tell　of　his　embarrassments。　I　am　sure　he　is　a　gentleman。〃

〃Well；　you　may　take　a　pound's　worth　of　tickets；　Isabel；　and　give　them　to　the　upper　servants。　A　village　concert！〃

〃Oh；　papa；　it　is　notcan't　you　see　it　is　not？　If　we；　you　and　I；　will　promise　to　be　present；　all　the　families　round