east lynne-第13章

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s　should　not　have　dragged　me　to　the　inquest　to　give　evidence　against　Dick；　and　for　that　reason　I　was　glad　Locksley　never　let　out　that　I　was　on　the　spot。　How　the　deuce　it　got　about　afterward　that　I　was；　I　can't　tell；　but　that　was　no　matter；　/my/　evidence　did　not　help　on　the　verdict。　And　talking　of　that；　Carlyle；　how　has　it　come　to　your　knowledge　that　Richard　Hare　accosted　me？　I　have　not　opened　my　lips　upon　it　to　mortal　man。〃

〃It　is　of　no　consequence　now；〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃I　do　know　it；　and　that　is　sufficient。　I　was　in　hopes　you　had　really　seen　this　man　Thorn　leave　the　cottage。〃

Otway　Bethel　shook　his　head。　〃I　should　not　lay　too　much　stress　upon　any　Thorns　having　been　there；　were　I　you；　Carlyle。　Dick　Hare　was　as　one　crazy　that　night；　and　might　see　shapes　and　forms　where　there　were　none。〃



CHAPTER　IX。

THE　SONG　AND　THE　DIRGE。

The　concert　was　to　take　place　on　Thursday；　and　on　the　following　Saturday　Lord　Mount　Severn　intended　finally　to　quit　East　Lynne。　The　necessary　preparations　for　departure　were　in　progress；　but　when　Thursday　morning　dawned；　it　appeared　a　question　whether　they　would　not　once　more　be　rendered　nugatory。　The　house　was　roused　betimes；　and　Mr。　Wainwright；　the　surgeon　from　West　Lynne；　summoned　to　the　earl's　bedside；　he　had　experienced　another　and　a　violent　attack。　The　peer　was　exceedingly　annoyed　and　vexed；　and　very　irritable。

〃I　may　be　kept　here　a　weeka　montha　fortnighta　month　longer；　now！〃　he　uttered　fretfully　to　Isabel。

〃I　am　very　sorry；　papa。　I　dare　say　you　do　find　East　Lynne　dull。〃

〃Dull！　That's　not　it；　I　have　other　reasons　for　wishing　East　Lynne　to　be　quit　of　us。　And　now　you　can't　go　to　the　concert。〃

Isabel's　face　flushed。　〃Not　go；　papa？〃

〃Why；　who　is　to　take　you。　I　can't　get　out　of　bed。〃

〃Oh；　papa；　I　must　be　there。　Otherwise　it　would　like　almost　as　though　as　though　we　had　announced　what　we　did　not　mean　to　perform。　You　know　it　was　arranged　that　we　should　join　the　Ducies；　the　carriage　can　still　take　me　to　the　concert　room；　and　I　can　go　in　with　them。〃

〃Just　as　you　please。　I　thought　you　would　have　jumped　at　any　plea　for　staying　away。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　laughed　Isabel。　〃I　should　like　West　Lynne　to　see　that　I　don't　despise　Mr。　Kane　and　his　concert。〃

Later　in　the　day　the　earl　grew　alarmingly　worse；　his　paroxysms　of　pain　were　awful。　Isabel；　who　was　kept　from　the　room；　knew　nothing　of　the　danger；　and　the　earl's　groans　did　not　penetrate　to　her　ears。　She　dressed　herself　in　a　gleeful　mode；　full　of　laughing　willfulness；　Marvel；　her　maid；　superintending　in　stiff　displeasure；　for　the　attire　chosen　did　not　meet　her　approbation。　When　ready；　she　went　into　the　earl's　room。

〃Shall　I　do；　papa？〃

Lord　Mount　Severn　raised　his　swollen　eyelids　and　drew　the　clothes　from　his　flushed　face。　A　shining　vision　was　standing　before　him；　a　beauteous　queen；　a　gleaming　fairy；　he　hardly　knew　what　she　looked　like。　She　had　put　on　a　white　lace　hat　and　her　diamonds；　the　dress　was　rich；　and　the　jewels　gleamed　from　her　delicate　arms：　and　her　cheeks　were　flushed　and　her　curls　were　flowing。

The　earl　stared　at　her　in　amazement。　〃How　could　you　dress　yourself　off　like　that　for　a　concert？　You　are　out　of　yours　senses；　Isabel。〃

〃Marvel　thinks　so；　too；〃　was　the　gay　answer；　〃she　has　had　a　cross　face　since　I　told　her　what　to　put　on。　But　I　did　it　on　purpose；　papa；　I　thought　I　would　show　those　West　Lynne　people　that　/I/　think　the　poor　man's　moment　worth　going　to；　and　worth　dressing　for。〃

〃You　will　have　the　whole　room　gaping　at　you。〃

〃I　don't　mind。　I'll　bring　you　word　all　about　it。　Let　them　gape。〃

〃You　vain　child！　You　have　so　dressed　yourself　to　please　your　vanity。　But；　Isabel；　youoooh！〃

Isabel　started　as　she　stood；　the　earl's　groan　of　pain　was　dreadful。

〃An　awful　twinge；　child。　There；　go　along；　talking　makes　me　worse。〃

〃Papa；　shall　I　stay　at　home　with　you？〃　she　gravely　asked。　〃Every　consideration　should　give　way　to　illness。　If　you　would　like　me　to　remain；　or　if　I　can　do　any　good；　pray　let　me。〃

〃Quite　the　contrary；　I　had　rather　you　were　away。　You　can　do　no　earthly　good；　for　I　could　not　have　you　in　the　room。　Good…bye；　darling。　If　you　see　Carlyle；　tell　him　I　shall　hope　to　see　him　to…morrow。〃

The　room　was　partly　full　when　Mrs。　Ducie；　her　two　daughters；　and　Lady　Isabel　entered；　and　were　conducted　to　seats　by　Mr。　Kaneseats　he　had　reserved　for　them　at　the　upper　end；　near　the　orchestra。　The　same　dazzling　vision　which　had　burst　on　the　sight　of　Lord　Mount　Severn　fell　on　that　of　the　audience；　in　Isabel；　with　her　rich；　white　dress；　her　glittering　diamonds；　her　flowing　curls；　and　her　wondrous　beauty。　The　Misses　Ducie；　plain　girls；　in　brown　silks；　turned　up　their　noses　worse　than　nature　had　done　it　for　them；　and　Mrs。　Ducie　heaved　an　audible　sigh。

〃The　poor　motherless　girl　is　to　be　pitied；　my　dears；〃　she　whispered；　〃she　has　nobody　to　point　out　to　her　suitable　attire。　This　ridiculous　decking　out　must　have　been　Marvel's　doings。〃

But　she　looked　like　a　lily　among　poppies　and　sunflowers　whether　the　〃decking　out〃　was　ridiculous　or　not。　Was　Lord　Mount　Severn　right；　when　he　accused　her　of　dressing　so　in　self…gratification？　Very　likely；　for　has　not　the　great　preacher　said　that　childhood　and　youth　are　vanity？

Miss　Carlyle；　the　justice；　and　Barbara　also　had　seats　near　the　orchestra；　for　Miss　Carlyle；　in　West　Lynne；　was　a　person　to　be　considered；　and　not　hidden　behind　others。　Mr。　Carlyle；　however；　preferred　to　join　the　gentlemen　who　congregated　and　stood　round　about　the　door　inside　and　out。　There　was　scarcely　standing　room　in　the　place；　Mr。　Kane　had；　as　was　anticipated；　got　a　bumper；　and　the　poor　man　could　have　worshipped　Lady　Isabel；　for　he　knew　he　owed　it　to　her。

It　was　very　longcountry　concerts　generally　areand　was　about　three　parts　over　when　a　powdered　head；　larger　than　any　cauliflower　ever　grown；　was　discerned　ascending　the　stairs；　behind　the　group　of　gentlemen；　which　head；　when　it　brought　its　body　in　full　view；　was　discovered　to　belong　to　one　of　the　footmen　of　Lord　Mount　Severn。　The　calves　alone；　cased　in　their　silk　stockings；　were　a　sight　to　be　seen；　and　these　calves　betook　themselves　inside　the　concert　room；　with　a　deprecatory　bow　for　permission　to　the　gentlemen　they　had　to　steer　throughand　there　they　came　to　a　standstill；　the　cauliflower　extending　forward　and　turning　itself　about　from　right　to　left。

〃Well；　I'll　be　jiffled！〃　cried　an　astonished　old　fox…hunter；　who　had　been　elbowed　by　the　footman；　〃the　cheek　these　fellows　have！〃

The　fellow　in　question　did　not　appear；　however；　to　be　enjoying　any　great　amount　of　cheek　just　at　that　moment；　for　he　looked　perplexed；　humble　and　uneasy。　Suddenly　his　eye　fell　upon　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　it　lighted　up。

〃Beg　pardon；　sir；　could　you　happen　to　inform　me　where…abouts　my　young　lady　is　sitting？〃

〃At　the　other　end　of　the　room；　near　the　orchestra。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　however　I　am　to　get　to　her；　then；〃　returned　the　man　more　in　self…soliloquy　than　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　room　is　choke　full；　and　I　don't　like　crushing　by。　My　lord　is　taken　alarmingly　worse；　sir；〃　he　explained　in　an　awe…stricken　tone；　〃it　is　feared　he　is　dying。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　painfully　startled。

〃His　screams　of　pain　were　awful；　sir。　Mr。　Wainwright　and　another　doctor　from　West　Lynne　are　with　him；　and　an　express　has　gone　to　Lynneboro'　for　physicians。　Mrs。　Mason　said　we　were　to　fetch　my　young　lady　right　home；　and　not　lose　a　moment；　and　we　brought　the　carriage；　sir；　Wells　galloping　his　horses　all　the　way。〃

〃I　will　bring　Lady　Isabel；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　am　sure；　sir；　I　should　be　under　everlasting　obligations　if　you　would；〃　returned　the　man。

He　worked　his　way　through　the　concert　roomhe　was　tall　and　slender　many　looking　daggers　at　him；　for　a　pathetic　song　was　just　then　being　given　by　a　London　lady。　He　disregarded　all；　and　stood　before　Isabel。

〃I　thought　you　were　not　coming　to　speak　to　me　to…night。　Is　it　not　a　famous　room？　I　am　so　pleased！〃

〃More　than　famous；　Lady　Isabel；〃　choosing　his　words；　that　they　might　not　alarm　her；　〃Lord　Mount　Severn　does　not　find　himself　so　well；　and　he　has　sent　the　carriage　for　you。〃

〃Papa　not　so　well！〃　she　quickly　exclaimed。

〃Not　quite。　At　any　rate；　he　wishes　you　to　go　home。　Will　you　allow　me　to　pilot　you　through　the　room？〃

〃Oh；　my　dear；　considerate　papa！〃　she　laughed。　〃He　fears　I　shall　be　weary；　and　would　emancipate　me　before　the　time。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Carlyle；　but　I　will　wait　till　the　conclusion。〃

〃No；　no；　Lady　Isabel；　it　is　not　that。　Lord　Mount　Severn　is　indeed　worse。〃

Her　countenance　changed　to　seriousness；　but　she　was　not　alarmed。　〃Very　well。　When　the　song　is　overnot　to　disturb　the　room。〃

〃I　think　you　had　better　lose　no　time；〃　he　urged。　〃Never　mind　the　song　and　the　room。〃

She　rose　instantly；　and　put　her　arm　within　Mr。　Carlyle's。　A　hasty　word　of　explanation　to　Mrs。　Ducie；　and　he　led　her　away；　the　room；　in　its　surprise；　making　for　them　what　space　it　might。　Many　an　eye　followed　them；　but　none　more　curiously　and　eagerly　than　Barbara　Hare's。　〃Where　is　he　going　to　take　her　to？〃　involuntarily　uttered　Barbara。

〃How　should　I　know？〃　returned　Miss　Corny。　〃Barbara；　you　have　done　nothing　but　fidget　all　the　night；　what's　the　matter　with　you？　Folks　come　to　a　concert　to　listen；　not　to　talk　and　fidget。〃

Isabel's　mantle　was　procured　from　the　ante…room　where　it　had　been　left；　and　she　descended　the　stairs　with　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　carriage　was　drawn　up　close　to　the　entrance；　and　the　coachman　had　his　reins　gathered；　ready　to　start。　The　footmannot　the　one　who　had　gone　upstairsthrew　open　the　carriage　door　as　he　saw　her。　He　was　new　in　the　service；　a　simple　country　native；　just　engaged。　She　withdrew　her　arm　from　Mr。　Carlyle's；　and　stood　a　moment　before　stepping　in；　looking　at　the　man。

〃Is　papa　much　worse？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　my　lady；　he　was　screaming　shocking。　But　they　think　he'll　live　till　morning。〃

With　a　sharp　cry；　she　seized　the　arm　of　Mr。　Carlyleseized　it　for　support　in　her　shock　of　agony。　Mr。　Carlyle　rudely　thrust　the　man　away；　he　would　willingly　have　flung　him　at　full　length　on　the　pavement。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Carlyle；　why　did　you　not　tell　me？〃　she　shivered。

〃My　dear　Lady　Isabel；　I　am　grieved　that　you　are　told　now。　But　take　comfort；　you　know　how　ill　he　frequently　is；　and　this　may　be　but　an　ordinary　attack。　Step　in。　I　trust　we　shall　find　it　nothing　more。〃

〃Are　you　going　home　with　me？〃

〃Certainly；　I　shall　not　leave　you　to　go　alone。〃

She　moved　to　the　other　side　of　the　chariot；　making　room　for　him。

〃Thank　you。　I　will　sit　outside。〃

〃But　the　night　is　cold。〃

〃Oh；　no。〃　He　closed　the　door；　and　took　his　seat　by　the　coachman；　the　footman　got　up　behind；　and　the　carriage　sped　away。　Isabel　gathered　herself　into　her　corner；　and　moaned　aloud　in　her　suspense　and　helplessness。

The　coachman　drove　rapidly；　and　soon　whipped　his　horses　through　the　lodge…gates。

The　housekeeper；　Mrs。　Mason；　waited　at　the　hall…door　to　receive　Lady　Isabel。　Mr。　Carlyle　helped　her　out　of　the　carriage；　and　gave　her　his　arm　up　the　steps。　She　scarcely　dared　to　inquire。

〃Is　he　better？　May　I　go　to　his　room？〃　she　panted。

Yes；　the　earl　was　betterbetter；　in　so　far　as　that　he　was　quiet　and　senseless。　She　moved　hastily　toward　his　chamber。　Mr。　Carlyle　drew　the　housekeeper　aside。

〃Is　there　any　hope？〃

〃Not　the　slightest；　sir。　He　is　dying。〃

The　earl　knew　no　one；　pain　was　gone　for　the