east lynne-第14章

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〃Is　there　any　hope？〃

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

The　earl　knew　no　one；　pain　was　gone　for　the　present；　and　he　lay　on　his　bed；　calm；　but　his　face；　which　had　death　in　it　all　too　plainly；　startled　Isabel。　She　did　not　scream　or　cry；　she　was　perfectly　quiet；　save　that　she　had　a　fit　of　shivering。

〃Will　he　soon　be　better？〃　she　whispered　to　Mr。　Wainwright；　who　stood　there。

The　surgeon　coughed。　〃Well；　hehewe　must　hope　it；　my　lady。〃

〃But　why　does　his　face　look　like　that？　It　is　palegray；　I　never　saw　anybody　else　look　so。〃

〃He　has　been　in　great　pain；　my　lady；　and　pain　leaves　its　traces　on　the　countenance。〃

Mr。　Carlyle；　who　had　come；　and　was　standing　by　the　surgeon；　touched　his　arm　to　draw　him　from　the　room。　He　noticed　the　look　on　the　earl's　face；　and　did　not　like　it；　he　wished　to　question　the　surgeon。　Lady　Isabel　saw　that　Mr。　Carlyle　was　about　to　quit　the　room；　and　beckoned　to　him。

〃Do　not　leave　the　house；　Mr。　Carlyle。　When　he　wakes　up；　it　may　cheer　him　to　see　you　here；　he　liked　you　very　much。〃

〃I　will　not　leave　it；　Lady　Isabel。　I　did　not　think　of　doing　so。〃

In　timeit　seemed　an　agethe　medical　men　arrived　from　Lynneborough　three　of　themthe　groom　had　thought　he　could　not　summon　too　many。　It　was　a　strange　scene　they　entered　upon：　the　ghastly　peer；　growing　restless　again　now；　battling　with　his　departing　spirit；　and　the　gala　robes；　the　sparkling　gems　adorning　the　young　girl　watching　at　his　side。　They　comprehended　the　case　without　difficulty；　that　she　had　been　suddenly　called　from　some　scene　of　gayety。

They　stooped　to　look　at　the　earl；　and　felt　his　pulse；　and　touched　his　heart；　and　exchanged　a　few　murmured　words　with　Mr。　Wainwright。　Isabel　had　stood　back　to　give　them　place；　but　her　anxious　eyes　followed　their　every　movement。　They　did　not　seem　to　notice　her；　and　she　stepped　forward。

〃Can　you　do　anything　for　him？　Will　he　recover？

They　all　turned　at　the　address；　and　looked　at　her。　One　spoke；　it　was　an　evasive　answer。

〃Tell　me　the　truth！〃　she　implored；　with　feverish　impatience：　〃you　must　not　trifle　with　me。　Do　you　not　know　me？　I　am　his　only　child；　and　I　am　here　alone。〃

The　first　thing　was　to　get　her　away　from　the　room；　for　the　great　change　was　approaching；　and　the　parting　struggle　between　the　body　and　the　spirit　might　be　one　of　warfareno　sight　for　her。　But　in　answer　to　their　suggestion　that　she　should　go；　she　only　leaned　her　head　upon　the　pillow　by　her　father　and　moaned　in　despair。

〃She　must　be　got　out　of　the　room；〃　cried　one　of　the　physicians；　almost　angrily。　〃Ma'am；〃　turning　suddenly　upon　Mrs。　Mason；　〃are　there　no　reserves　in　the　houseno　one　who　can　exert　influence　over　the　young　lady？〃

〃She　has　scarcely　any　relatives　in　the　world；〃　replied　the　housekeeper；　〃no　near　ones；　and　we　happen　to　be；　just　now；　quite　alone。〃

But　Mr。　Carlyle；　seeing　the　urgency　of　the　case；　for　the　earl；　with　every　minute；　grew　more　excited；　approached　and　whispered　her：　〃You　are　as　anxious　as　we　can　be　for　your　father's　recovery？〃

〃/As/　anxious！〃　she　uttered　reproachfully。

〃You　know　what　I　would　imply。　Of　course　our　anxiety　can　be　as　nothing　to　yours。〃

〃As　nothing/as　nothing/。　I　think　my　heart　will　break。〃

〃Thenforgive　meyou　should　not　oppose　the　wishes　of　his　medical　attendants。　They　wish　to　be　alone　with　him；　and　time　is　being　lost。〃

She　rose　up；　she　placed　her　hands　on　her　brow；　as　if　to　collect　the　sense　of　the　words；　and　then　she　addressed　the　doctors；

〃Is　it　really　necessary　that　I　should　leave　the　roomnecessary　/for　him/？〃

〃It　is　necessary；　my　ladyabsolutely　essential。〃

She　broke　into　a　passion　of　tears　and　sobs　as　Mr。　Carlyle　lead　her　to　another　apartment。

〃He　is　my　dear　father；　I　have　but　him　in　the　wide　world！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃I　knowI　know；　I　feel　for　you　all　that　you　are　feeling。　Twenty　times　this　night　I　have　wishedforgive　me　the　thoughtthat　you　were　my　sister；　so　that　I　might　express　my　sympathy　more　freely　and　comfort　you。〃

〃Tell　me　the　truth；　then；　why　I　am　kept　away。　If　you　can　show　me　sufficient　cause；　I　will　be　reasonable　and　obey；　but　do　not　say　again　I　should　be　disturbing　him；　for　it　is　not　true。〃

〃He　is　too　ill　for　you　to　see　himhis　symptoms　are　too　painful。　In　fact；　it　would　not　be　proper；　and　were　you　to　go　in　in　defiance　of　advice；　you　would　regret　it　all　your　after　life。〃

〃Is　he　dying？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　hesitated。　Ought　he　to　dissemble　with　her　as　the　doctors　had　done？　A　strong　feeling　was　upon　him　that　he　ought　not。

〃I　trust　to　you　not　to　deceive　me；〃　she　simply　said。

〃I　fear　he　isI　believe　he　is。〃

She　rose　upshe　grasped　his　arm　in　the　sudden　fear　that　flashed　over　her。

〃You　are　deceiving　me；　and　he　is　dead！〃

〃I　am　not　deceiving　you；　Lady　Isabel。　He　is　not　dead；　butit　may　be　very　near。〃

She　laid　her　face　down　upon　the　soft　pillow。

〃Going　forever　from　megoing　forever？　Oh；　Mr。　Carlyle；　let　me　see　him　for　a　minutejust　one　farewell！　Will　you　not　try　for　me！〃

He　knew　how　hopeless　it　was；　but　he　turned　to　leave　the　room。

〃I　will　go　and　see。　But　you　will　remain　here　quietlyyou　will　not　come。〃

She　bowed　her　head　in　acquiescence；　and　he　closed　the　door。　Had　she　indeed　been　his　sister；　he　would　probably　have　turned　the　key　upon　her。　He　entered　the　earl's　chamber；　but　not　many　seconds　did　he　remain　in　it。

〃It　is　over；〃　he　whispered　to　Mrs。　Mason；　whom　he　met　in　the　corridor；　〃and　Mr。　Wainwright　is　asking　for　you。〃

〃You　are　soon　back；〃　cried　Isabel；　lifting　her　head。　〃May　I　go？〃

He　sat　down　and　took　her　hand；　shrinking　from　his　task。

〃I　wish　I　could　comfort　you！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　deep　emotion。

Her　face　turned　of　a　ghastly　whitenessas　white　as　another's　not　far　away。

〃Tell　me　the　worst；〃　she　breathed。

〃I　have　nothing　to　tell　you　but　the　worst。　May　God　support　you；　dear　Lady　Isabel！〃

She　turned　to　hide　her　face　and　its　misery　away　from　him；　and　a　low　wail　of　anguish　broke　from　her；　telling　its　own　tale　of　despair。

The　gray　dawn　of　morning　was　breaking　over　the　world；　advent　of　another　bustling　day　in　life's　history；　but　the　spirit　of　William　Vane；　Earl　of　Mount　Severn；　had　soared　away　from　it　forever。



CHAPTER　X。

THE　KEEPERS　OF　THE　DEAD。

Events；　between　the　death　of　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　his　interment；　occurred　quickly；　and　to　one　of　them　the　reader　may　feel　inclined　to　demur；　as　believing　that　it　could　have　no　foundation　in　fact；　in　the　actions　of　real　life；　but　must　be　a　wild　creation　of　the　author's　brain。　He　would　be　wrong。　The　author　is　no　more　fond　of　wild　creations　than　the　reader。　The　circumstance　did　take　place。

The　earl　died　on　Friday　morning　at　daylight。　The　news　spread　rapidly。　It　generally　does　on　the　death　of　a　peer；　if　he　has　been　of　note；　whether　good　or　bad；　in　the　world；　and　was　known　in　London　before　the　day　was　overthe　consequence　of　which　was；　that　by　Saturday　morning；　early；　a　shoal　of　what　the　late　peer　would　have　called　harpies；　had　arrived；　to　surround　East　Lynne。　There　were　creditors　of　all　sorts；　for　small　sums　and　for　great；　for　five　or　ten　pounds　up　to　five　or　ten　thousand。　Some　were　civil；　some　impatient；　some　loud　and　rough　and　angry；　some　came　to　put　in　executions　on　the　effects；　and　some/to　arrest　the　body/！

This　last　act　was　accomplished　cleverly。　Two　men；　each　with　a　remarkably　hooked　nose；　stole　away　from　the　hubbub　of　the　clamorous；　and　peering　cunningly　about；　made　their　way　to　the　side　or　tradesman's　entrance。　A　kitchen…maid　answered　their　gentle　appeal　at　the　bell。

〃Is　the　coffin　come　yet？〃　said　they。

〃Coffinno！〃　was　the　girl's　reply。　〃The　shell　ain't　here　yet。　Mr。　Jones　didn't　promise　that　till　nine　o'clock；　and　it　haven't　gone　eight。〃

〃It　won't　be　long；〃　quoth　they；　〃its　on　it's　road。　We'll　go　up　to　his　lordship's　room；　please；　and　be　getting　ready　for　it。〃

The　girl　called　the　butler。　〃Two　men　from　Jones'；　the　undertaker's；　sir；〃　announced　she。　〃The　shell's　coming　on　and　they　want　to　go　up　and　make　ready　for　it。〃

The　butler　marshaled　them　upstairs　himself；　and　introduced　them　to　the　room。　〃That　will　do；〃　said　they；　as　he　was　about　to　enter　with　them；　〃we　won't　trouble　you　to　wait。〃　And　closing　the　door　upon　the　unsuspicious　butler；　they　took　up　their　station　on　either　side　of　the　dead；　like　a　couple　of　ill…omened　mutes。　They　had　placed　an　arrest　upon　the　corpse；　it　was　theirs　until　their　claim　was　satisfied；　and　they　sat　down　to　thus　watch　and　secure　it。　Pleasant　occupation！

It　may　have　been　an　hour　later　that　Lady　Isabel；　leaving　her　own　chamber；　opened　noiselessly　that　of　the　dead。　She　had　been　in　it　several　times　during　the　previous　day；　at　first　with　the　housekeeper；　afterward；　when　the　nameless　dread　was　somewhat　effaced；　alone。　But　she　felt　nervous　again　this　morning；　and　had　gained　the　bed　before　she　ventured　to　lift　her　eyes　from　the　carpet　and　encounter　the　sight。　Then　she　started；　for　there　sat　two　strange…looking　menand　not　attractive　men　either。

It　darted　through　her　mind　that　they　must　be　people　from　the　neighborhood；　come　to　gratify　an　idle　and　unpardonable　curiosity。　Her　first　impulse　was　to　summon　the　butler；　her　second；　to　speak　to　them　herself。

〃Do　you　want　anything　here？〃　she　quietly　said。

〃Much　obleeged　for　the　inquiry；　miss。　We　are　all　right。〃

The　words　and　tone　struck　her　as　being　singular　in　the　extreme；　and　they　kept　their　seats；　too；　as　though　they　had　a　right　to　be　there。

〃Why　are　you　here？〃　she　repeated。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃

〃Well；　miss；　I　don't　mind　telling　you；　for　I　suppose　you　are　his　daughter〃pointing　his　left　thumb　over　his　shoulder　at　the　late　peer　〃and　we　hear　he　have　got　no　other　relative　anigh　him。　We　have　been　obleeged；　miss；　to　perform　an　unpleasant　dooty　and　secure　him。〃

The　words　were　like　Greek　to　her；　and　the　men　saw　that　they　were。

〃He　unfortunately　owed　a　slight　amount　of　money；　missas　you；　perhaps；　be　aware　on；　and　our　employers　is　in；　deep。　So；　as　soon　as　they　heard　what　had　happened；　they　sent　us　down　to　arrest　the　dead　corpse；　and　we　have　done　it。〃

Amazement；　horror；　fear；　struggled　together　in　the　shocked　mind　of　Lady　Isabel。　Arrest　the　dead。　She　had　never　heard　of　a　like　calamity：　nor　could　she　have　believed　in　such。　Arrest　it　for　what　purpose？　What　to　do？　To　disfigure　it？to　sell　it？　With　a　panting　heart　and　ashy　lips；　she　turned　from　the　room。　Mrs。　Mason　happened　to　be　passing　near　the　stairs；　and　Isabel　flew　to　her；　laying　hold　of　her　with　both　hands；　in　her　terror；　as　she　burst　into　a　fit　of　nervous　tears。

〃Those　menin　there！〃　she　gasped。

〃What　men；　my　lady？〃　returned　Mrs。　Mason；　surprised。

〃I　don't　know；　I　don't　know。　I　think　they　are　going　to　stop　there；　they　say　they　have　taken　papa。〃

After　a　pause　of　bewildered　astonishment；　the　housekeeper　left　her　standing　where　she　was；　and　went　to　the　earl's　chamber；　to　see　if　she　could　fathom　the　mystery　of　the　words。　Isabel　leaned　against　the　balustrades；　partly　for　support；　partly　that　she　seemed　afraid　to　stir　from　them；　and　the　ominous　disturbances　downstairs　reached　her　ears。　Strangers；　interlopers；　appeared　to　be　in　the　hall；　talking　vehemently；　and　complaining　in　bitter　tones。　More　and　more　terrified；　she　held　her　breath　to　listen。

〃Where's　the　good　of　your　seeing　the　young　lady？〃　cried　the　butler；　in　a　tone　of　remonstrance。　〃She　knows　nothing　about　the　earl's　affairs；　she　is　in　grief　enough