east lynne-第12章

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〃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　West　Lynne　will　attend；　and　he　will　have　the　room　full。　They　will　go　because　we　dohe　said　so。　Make　a　sacrifice　for　once；　dearest　papa；　and　go；　if　it　be　only　for　an　hour。　/I/　shall　enjoy　it　if　there's　nothing　but　a　fiddle　and　a　tambourine。〃

〃You　gipsy！　You　are　as　bad　as　a　professional　beggar。　Therego　and　tell　the　fellow　we　will　look　in　for　half　an　hour。〃

She　flew　back　to　Mr。　Kane；　her　eyes　dancing。　She　spoke　quietly；　as　she　always　did；　but　her　own　satisfaction　gladdened　her　voice。

〃I　am　happy　to　tell　you　that　papa　has　consented。　He　will　take　four　tickets　and　we　will　attend　the　concert。〃

The　tears　rushed　into　Mr。　Kane's　eyes；　Isabel　was　not　sure　but　they　were　in　her　own。　He　was　a　tall；　thin；　delicate…looking　man；　with　long；　white　fingers；　and　a　long　neck。　He　faltered　forth　his　thanks　with　an　inquiry　whether　he　might　be　allowed　to　state　openly　that　they　would　be　present。

〃Tell　everybody；〃　said　she；　eagerly。　〃Everybody　you　come　across；　if；　as　you　think；　it　will　be　the　means　of　inducing　people　to　attend。　I　shall　tell　all　friends　who　call　upon　me；　and　ask　them　to　go。〃

When　Mr。　Carlyle　came　up　in　the　evening；　the　earl　was　temporarily　absent　from　the　room。　Isabel　began　to　speak　of　the　concert。

〃It　is　a　hazardous　venture　for　Mr。　Kane；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　fear　he　will　only　lose　money；　and　add　to　his　embarrassments。〃

〃Why　do　you　fear　that？〃　she　asked。

〃Because；　Lady　Isabel；　nothing　gets　patronized　at　West　Lynnenothing　native；　and　people　have　heard　so　long　of　poor　Kane's　necessities；　that　they　think　little　of　them。〃

〃Is　he　so　very　poor？〃

〃Very。　He　is　starved　half　his　time。〃

〃Starved！〃　repeated　Isabel；　an　expression　of　perplexity　arising　to　her　face　as　she　looked　at　Mr。　Carlyle；　for　she　scarcely　understood　him。　〃Do　you　mean　that　he　does　not　have　enough　to　eat？〃

〃Of　bread　he　may；　but　not　much　better　nourishment。　His　salary；　as　organist；　is　thirty　pounds；　and　he　gets　a　little　stray　teaching。　But　he　has　his　wife　and　children　to　keep；　and　no　doubt　serves　them　before　himself。　I　dare　say　he　scarcely　knows　what　it　is　to　taste　meat。〃

The　words　brought　a　bitter　pang　to　Lady　Isabel。

〃Not　enough　to　eat！　Never　to　taste　meat！〃　And　she；　in　her　carelessness；　her　ignorance；　her　indifferenceshe　scarcely　knew　what　term　to　give　ithad　not　thought　to　order　him　a　meal　in　their　house　of　plenty！　He　had　walked　from　West　Lynne；　occupied　himself　an　hour　with　her　piano；　and　set　off　to　walk　back　again；　battling　with　his　hunger。　A　word　from　her；　and　a　repast　had　been　set　before　him　out　of　their　superfluities　such　as　he　never　sat　down　to；　and　that　word　she　had　not　spoken。

〃You　are　looking　grave；　Lady　Isabel。〃

〃I'm　taking　contrition　to　myself。　Never　mind；　it　cannot　now　be　helped；　but　it　will　always　be　a　dark　spot　on　my　memory。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

She　lifted　her　repentant　face　to　his　and　smiled。　〃Never　mind；　I　say；　Mr。　Carlyle；　what　is　past　cannot　be　recalled。　He　looks　like　a　gentleman。〃

〃Who？　Kane？　A　gentleman　bred；　his　father　was　a　clergyman。　Kane's　ruin　was　his　love　of　musicit　prevented　his　settling　to　any　better　paid　profession；　his　early　marriage　also　was　a　drawback　and　kept　him　down。　He　is　young　still。〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle　I　would　not　be　one　of　your　West　Lynne　people　for　the　world。　Here　is　a　young　gentleman　struggling　with　adversity；　and　you　won't　put　out　your　hand　to　help　him！〃

He　smiled　at　her　warmth。　〃Some　of　us　will　take　ticketsI；　for　one；　but　I　don't　know　about　attending　the　concert。　I　fear　few　would　do　that。〃

〃Because　that's　just　the　thing　that　would　serve　him？　If　one　went；　another　would。　Well；　I　shall　try　and　show　West　Lynne　that　I　don't　take　a　lesson　from　their　book；　I　shall　be　there　before　it　begins；　and　never　come　out　till　the　last　song's　over。　I　am　not　too　grand　to　go；　if　West　Lynne　is。〃

〃You　surely　do　not　think　of　going？〃

〃I　surely　do　think　of　it；　and　papa　goes　with　meI　persuaded　him；　and　I　have　given　Mr。　Kane　the　promise。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused。　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　it　will　be　a　perfect　boon　to　Kane。　If　it　once　gets　abroad　that　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　Lady　Isabel　intend　to　honor　the　concert；　there　won't　be　standing　room。〃

She　danced　round　with　a　little　gleeful　step。　〃What　high　and　mighty　personages　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　Lady　Isabel　seem　to　be！　If　you　had　any　goodness　of　heart；　Mr。　Carlyle；　you　would　enlist　yourself　in　the　cause　also。〃

〃I　think　I　will；〃　he　smiled。

〃Papa　says　you　hold　sway　at　West　Lynne。　If　you　proclaim　that　you　mean　to　go；　you　will　induce　others。〃

〃I　will　proclaim　that　you　do；〃　he　answered；　〃that　will　be　all　sufficient。　But；　Lady　Isabel；　you　must　not　expect　much　gratification　from　the　performance。〃

〃A　tambourine　will　be　quite　enough　for　me；　I　told　papa　so；　I　shan't　think　of　music；　I　shall　think　of　poor　Mr。　Kane。　Mr。　Carlyle　I　know　you　can　be　kind　if　you　like；　I　know　you　would　rather　be　kind　than　otherwiseit　is　to　be　read　in　your　face。　Try　and　do　what　you　can　for　him。〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　he　warmly　answered。

Mr。　Carlyle　sold　no　end　of　tickets　the　following　day；　or　rather　caused　them　to　be　sold。　He　praised　up　the　concert　far　and　wide；　and　proclaimed　that　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　his　daughter　would　not　think　of　missing　it。　Mr。　Kane's　house　was　besieged　for　tickets；　faster　than　he　could　write　his　signature　in　their　corner；　and　when　Mr。　Carlyle　went　home　to　luncheon　at　midday；　which　he　did　not　often　do；　he　laid　down　two　at　Miss　Corny's　elbow。

〃What's　this？　Concert　tickets！　Archibald；　you　have　never　gone　and　bought　these！〃

What　would　she　have　said　had　she　known　that　the　two　were　not　the　extent　of　his　investment？

〃Ten　shillings　to　throw　away　upon　two　paltry　bits　of　cardboard！〃　chafed　Miss　Carlyle。　〃You　always　were　a　noodle　in　money　matters；　Archibald；　and　always　will　be。　I　wish　I　had　the　keeping　of　your　purse！〃

〃What　I　have　given　will　not　hurt　me；　Cornelia；　and　Kane　is　badly　off。　Think　of　his　troop　of　children。〃

〃Oh；　dear！〃　said　Miss　Corny。　〃I　imagine　he　should　think　of　them。　I　suppose　it　was　his　own　fault　they　came。　That's　always　it。　Poor　folks　get　a　heap　of　children　about　them；　and　then　ask　for　pity。　I　should　say　it　would　be　more　just　if　they　asked　for　blame。〃

〃Well；　there　the　tickets　are；　bought　and　paid　for；　so　they　may　as　well　be　used。　You　will　go　with　me；　Cornelia。〃

〃And　stick　ourselves　there　upon　empty　benches；　like　two　geese；　and　sit　staring　and　counting　the　candles！　A　pleasant　evening？〃

〃You　need　not　fear　empty　benches。　The　Mount　Severns　are　going；　and　West　Lynne　is　in　a　fever；　racing　after　tickets。　I　suppose　you　have　got　aa　cap；〃　looking　at　the　nondescript　article　decorating　his　sister's　head；　〃that　will　be　suitable　to　go　in；　Cornelia；　if　not　you　had　better　order　one。〃

This　suggestion　put　up　Miss　Carlyle。　〃Hadn't　you　better　have　your　hair　curled；　and　your　coat　tails　lined　with　white　satin；　and　a　gold　opera…　glass；　and　a　cocked　hat？〃　retorted　she。　〃My　gracious　me！　A　fine　new　cap　to　go　to　their　mess　of　a　concert　in；　after　paying　ten　shillings　for　the　tickets！　The　world's　coming　to　something。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　left　her　and　her　grumbling　to　return　to　the　office。　Lord　Mount　Severn's　carriage　was　passing　at　the　moment；　and　Isabel　Vane　was　within　it。　She　caused　it　to　stop　when　she　saw　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　he　advanced　to　her。

〃I　have　been　to　Mr。　Kane's　myself　for　the　tickets；〃　said　she；　with　a　beaming　look。　〃I　came　into　West　Lynne　on　purpose。　I　told　the　coachman　to　find　out　where　he　lived；　and　he　did。　I　thought　if　the　people　saw　me　and　the　carriage　there；　they　would　guess　what　I　wanted。　I　do　hope　he　will　have　a　full　concert。〃

〃I　am　sure　he　will；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　he　released　her　hand。　And　Lady　Isabel　signed　to　the　carriage　to　drive　on。

As　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　away；　he　met　Otway　Bethel；　a　nephew　of　Colonel　Bethel's；　who　was　tolerated　in　the　colonel's　house　because　he　had　no　other　home；　and　appeared　incapable　to　making　himself　one。　Some　persons　persisted　in　calling　him　a　gentlemanas　he　was　by　birthothers　a　/mauvais　sujet/。　The　two　are　united　sometimes。　He　was　dressed　in　a　velveteen　suit；　and　had　a　gun　in　his　hand。　Indeed；　he　was　rarely　seen　without　a　gun；　being　inordinately　fond　of　sport；　but；　if　all　tales　whispered　were　true；　he　supplied　himself　with　game　in　other　ways　than　by　shooting；　which　had　the　credit　of　going　up　to　London　dealers。　For　the　last　six　months　or　near　upon　it；　he　had　been　away　from　West　Lynne。

〃Why；　where　have　you　been　hiding　yourself？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　colonel　has　been　inconsolable。〃

〃Come；　no　gammon；　Carlyle。　I　have　been　on　the　tramp　through　France　and　Germany。　Man　likes　a　change　sometimes。　As　to　the　revered　colonel；　he　would　not　be　inconsolable　if　he　saw　me　nailed　up　in　a　six…foot　box；　and　carried　out　feet　foremost。〃

〃Bethel；　I　have　a　question　to　ask　you；〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle；　dropping　his　light　manner　and　his　voice　together。　〃Take　your　thoughts　back　to　the　night　of　Hallijohn's　murder。〃

〃I　wish　you　may　get　it；〃　cried　Mr。　Bethel。　〃The　reminiscence　is　not　attractive。〃

〃You'll　do　it；〃　quietly　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃It　has　been　told　me；　though　it　did　not　appear　at　the　inquest；　that　Richard　Hare　held　a　conversation　with　you　in　the　wood　a　few　minutes　after　the　deed　was　done。　Now〃

〃Who　told　you　that？〃　interrupted　Bethel。

〃That　is　not　the　question。　My　authority　is　indisputable。〃

〃It　is　true　that　he　did。　I　said　nothing　about　it；　for　I　did　not　want　to　make　the　case　worse　against　Dick　Hare　than　it　already　was。　He　certainly　did　accost　me；　like　a　man　flurried　out　of　his　life。〃

〃Asking　if　you　had　seen　a　certain　lover　of　Afy's　fly　from　the　cottage。　One　Thorn。〃

〃That　was　the　purport。　Thorn；　ThornI　think　Thorn　was　the　name　he　mentioned。　My　opinion　was；　that　Dick　was　either　wild　or　acting　a　part。〃

〃Now；　Bethel；　I　want　you　to　answer　me　truly。　The　question　cannot　affect　you　either　way；　but　I　must　know　whether　you　did　see　this　Thorn　leave　the　cottage。〃

Bethel　shook　his　head。　〃I　know　nothing　whatever　about　any　Thorn；　and　I　saw　nobody　but　Dick　Hare。　Not　but　what　a　dozen　Thorns　might　have　run　from　the　cottage　without　my　seeing　them。〃

〃You　heard　the　shot　fired？〃

〃Yes；　but　I　never　gave　a　thought　to　mischief。　I　knew　Locksley　was　in　the　wood；　and　supposed　it　came　from　him。　I　ran　across　the　path；　bearing　toward　the　cottage；　and　struck　into　the　wood　on　the　other　side。　By　and　by；　Dick　Hare　pitched　upon　me；　like　one　startled　out　of　his　seven　senses；　and　asked　if　I　had　seen　Thorn　leave　the　cottage。　Thornthat　/was/　the　name。〃

〃And　you　had　not？〃

〃I　had　seen　nobody　but　Dick；　excepting　Locksley。　My　impression　was；　that　nobody　else　was　about；　I　think　so　still。〃

〃But　Richard〃

〃Now　look　you　here；　Carlyle；　I　won't　do　Dick　Hare　an　injury；　even　by　a　single　word；　if　I　can　help　it；　and　it　is　of　no　use　setting　me　on　to　it。〃

〃I　should　be　the　last　to　set　you　on　to　injure　any　one；　especially　Richard　Hare；〃　rejoined　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃and　my　motive　is　to　do　Richard　Hare　good；　not　harm。　I　hold　a　suspicion；　no　matter　whence　gathered；　that　it　was　not　Richard　Hare　who　committed　the　murder；　but　another。　Can　you　throw　any　light　upon　the　subject？〃

〃No；　I　can't。　I　have　always　thought　poor　wavering　Dick　was　nobody's　enemy　but　his　own；　but；　as　to　throwing　any　light　on　that　night's　work；　I　can't　do　it。　Cords　sh