east lynne-第21章

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It　was　a　slip　of　the　tongue；　but　Mr。　Carlyle　repaired　it。

〃I　may　probably　have　to　visit　London　as　well　as　Castle　Marling。　How　bright　the　moon　looks　rising　there；　Barbara！〃

〃So　brightthat　or　the　skythat　I　saw　your　secret；〃　answered　she。　〃Piano！　Plate！　What　can　you　want　with　either；　Archibald？〃

〃They　are　for　East　Lynne；〃　he　quietly　replied。

〃Oh；　for　the　Carews。〃　And　Barbara's　interest　in　the　item　was　gone。

They　turned　into　the　road　just　below　the　grove；　and　reached　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　held　the　gate　open　for　Barbara。

〃You　will　come　in　and　say　good…night　to　mamma。　She　was　saying　to…day　what　a　stranger　you　have　made　of　yourself　lately。〃

〃I　have　been　busy；　and　I　really　have　not　the　time　to…night。　You　must　remember　me　to　her　instead。〃　And　cordially　shaking　her　by　the　hand；　he　closed　the　gate。

It　was　two　or　three　mornings　after　the　departure　of　Mr。　Carlyle　that　Mr。　Dill　appeared　before　Miss　Carlyle；　bearing　a　letter。　She　was　busy　regarding　the　effect　of　some　new　muslin　curtains；　just　put　up；　and　did　not　pay　attention　to　him。

〃Will　you　please　take　the　letter；　Miss　Cornelia？　The　postman　left　it　in　the　office　with　ours。　It　is　from　Mr。　Archibald。〃

〃Why；　what　has　he　got　to　write　to　me　about？〃　retorted　Miss　Corny。　〃Does　he　say　when　he　is　coming　home？〃

〃You　had　better　see；　Miss　Cornelia。　Mine　does　not。〃


〃CASTLE　MARLING；　May　1st。

　〃MY　DEAR　CORNELIAI　was　married　this　morning　to　Lady　Isabel　Vane；　　　and　hasten　briefly　to　acquaint　you　with　the　fact。　I　will　write　you　　　more　fully　to…morrow　or　the　next　day；　and　explain　all　things。

〃Your　ever　affectionate　brother；　〃ARCHIBALD　CARLYLE。〃


〃It　is　a　hoax；〃　was　the　first　gutteral　sound　that　escaped　from　Miss　Carlyle's　throat　when　speech　came　to　her。

Mr。　Dill　only　stood　like　a　stone　image。

〃It　is　a　hoax；　I　say；〃　raved　Miss　Carlyle。　〃What　are　you　standing　there　for；　like　a　gander　on　one　leg？〃　she　reiterated；　venting　her　anger　upon　the　unoffending　man。　〃/Is/　it　a　hoax　or　not？〃

〃I　am　overdone　with　amazement；　Miss　Corny。　It　is　not　a　hoax；　I　have　had　a　letter；　too。〃

〃It　can't　be　trueit　/can't/　be　true。　He　had　no　more　thought　of　being　married　when　he　left　here；　three　days　ago；　than　I　have。〃

〃How　can　we　tell　that；　Miss　Corny？　How　are　we　to　know　he　did　not　go　to　be　married？　I　fancy　he　did。〃

〃Go　to　be　married！〃　shrieked　Miss　Corny；　in　a　passion。　〃He　would　not　be　such　a　fool。　And　to　that　fine　lady…child！　Nono。〃

〃He　has　sent　this　to　be　put　in　the　county　journals；〃　said　Mr。　Dill；　holding　forth　a　scrap　of　paper。　〃They　are　married；　safe　enough。〃

Miss　Carlyle　took　it　and　held　it　before　her：　her　hand　was　cold　as　ice；　and　shook　as　if　with　palsy。

　〃MARRIED。On　the　1st　inst。；　at　Castle　Marling；　by　the　chaplain　to　　　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn；　Archibald　Carlyle；　Esquire；　of　East　　　Lynne；　to　the　Lady　Isabel　Mary　Vane；　only　child　of　William；　late　　　Earl　of　Mount　Severn。〃

Miss　Carlyle　tore　the　paper　to　atoms　and　scattered　it。　Mr。　Dill　afterward　made　copies　from　memory；　and　sent　them　to　the　journal　offices。　But　let　that　pass。

〃I　will　never　forgive　him；〃　she　deliberately　uttered；　〃and　I　will　never　forgive　or　tolerate　her。〃



CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　EARL'S　ASTONISHMENT。

The　announcement　of　the　marriage　in　the　newspapers　was　the　first　intimation　of　it　Lord　Mount　Severn　received。　He　was　little　less　thunderstruck　than　Miss　Corny；　and　came　steaming　to　England　the　same　day；　thereby　missing　his　wife's　letter；　which　gave　/her/　version　of　the　affair。　He　met　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　in　London；　where　they　were　staying　at　one　of　the　west…end　hotelsonly　for　a　day　or　two；　however；　for　they　were　going　further。　Isabel　was　alone　when　the　earl　was　announced。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this；　Isabel？〃　began　he；　without　the　circumlocution　of　greeting。　〃You　are　married？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　with　her　pretty；　innocent　blush。　〃Some　time　ago。〃

〃And　to　Carlyle；　the　lawyer！　How　did　it　come　about？〃

Isabel　began　to　think　how　it　did　come　about；　sufficiently　to　give　a　clear　answer。　〃He　asked　me；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　accepted　him。　He　came　to　Castle　Marling　at　Easter；　and　asked　me　then。　I　was　very　much　surprised。〃

The　earl　looked　at　her　attentively。　〃Why　was　I　kept　in　ignorance　of　this；　Isabel？〃

〃I　did　not　know　you　were　kept　in　ignorance　of　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　wrote　to　you；　as　did　Lady　Mount　Severn。〃

Lord　Mount　Severn　was　a　man　in　the　dark；　and　looked　like　it。　〃I　suppose　this　comes；〃　soliloquized　he；　aloud；　〃of　your　father's　having　allowed　the　gentleman　to　dance　daily　attendance　at　East　Lynne。　And　so　you　fell　in　love　with　him。〃

〃Indeed；　no！〃　answered　she；　in　an　amused　tone。　〃I　never　thought　of　such　a　thing　as　falling　in　love　with　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃Then　don't　you　love　him？〃　abruptly　asked　the　earl。

'No！〃　she　whispered；　timidly；　〃but　I　like　him　muchoh；　very　much！　And　he　is　so　good　to　me！〃

The　earl　stroked　his　chin　and　mused。　Isabel　had　destroyed　the　only　reasonable　conclusion　he　had　been　able　to　come　to　as　to　the　motives　for　the　hasty　marriage。　〃If　you　do　not　love　Mr。　Carlyle；　how　comes　it　that　you　are　so　wise　in　the　distinction　between　'liking'　and　'love？'　It　cannot　be　that　you　love　anybody　else？〃

The　question　turned　home；　and　Isabel　turned　crimson。　〃I　shall　love　my　husband　in　time；〃　was　all　she　answered；　as　she　bent　her　head；　and　played　nervously　with　her　watch　chain。

〃My　poor　child！〃　involuntarily　exclaimed　the　earl。　But　he　was　one　who　liked　to　fathom　the　depth　of　everything。　〃Who　has　been　staying　at　Castle　Marling　since　I　left？〃　he　asked　sharply。

〃Mrs。　Levison　came　down。〃

〃I　alluded　to　gentlemenyoung　men。〃

〃Only　Francis　Levison；〃　she　replied。

〃Francis　Levison！　You　have　never　been　so　foolish　as　to　fall　in　love　with　/him/？〃

The　question　was　so　pointed；　so　abrupt；　and　Isabel's　self…　consciousness；　moreover；　so　great；　that　she　betrayed　lamentable　confusion；　and　the　earl　had　no　further　need　to　ask。　Pity　stole　into　his　hard　eyes　as　they　fixed　themselves　on　her　downcast；　glowing　face。

〃Isabel；〃　he　gravely　began；　〃Captain　Levison　is　not　a　good　man；　if　ever　you　were　inclined　to　think　him　one；　dispossess　your　mind　of　the　idea；　and　hold　him　at　arm's　distance。　Drop　his　acquaintanceencourage　no　intimacy　with　him。〃

〃I　have　already　dropped　it；〃　said　Isabel；　〃and　I　shall　not　take　it　up　again。　But　Lady　Mount　Severn　must　think　well　of　him；　or　she　would　not　have　him　there。〃

〃She　thinks　none　too　well　of　him；　none　can　of　Francis　Levison；〃　returned　the　earl　significantly。

Before　Isabel　could　reply；　Mr。　Carlyle　entered。　He　held　out　his　hand　to　the　earl；　the　earl　did　not　appear　to　see　it。

〃Isabel；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　sorry　to　turn　you　out；　but　I　suppose　you　have　but　this　one　sitting…room。　I　wish　to　say　a　few　words　to　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

She　quitted　them；　and　the　earl　wheeled　round　and　faced　Mr。　Carlyle；　speaking　in　a　stern；　haughty　tone。

〃How　came　this　marriage　about；　sir？　Do　you　possess　so　little　honor；　that；　taking　advantage　of　my　absence；　you　must　intrude　yourself　into　my　family；　and　clandestinely　espouse　Lady　Isabel　Vane？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　stood　confounded；　and　confused。　He　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height；　looking　every　whit　as　fearless　and　far　more　noble　than　the　peer。　〃My　lord；　I　do　not　understand　you。〃

〃Yet　I　speak　plainly。　What　is　it　but　a　clandestine　procedure　to　take　advantage　of　a　guardian's　absence　and　beguile　a　young　girl　into　a　marriage　beneath　her？〃

〃There　has　been　nothing　clandestine　in　my　conduct　toward　Lady　Isabel　Vane；　there　shall　be　nothing　but　honor　in　my　conduct　toward　Lady　Isabel　Carlyle。　Your　lordship　has　been　misinformed。〃

〃I　have　not　been　informed　at　all；〃　retorted　the　earl。　〃I　was　allowed　to　learn　this　from　the　public　papersI；　the　only　relative　of　Lady　Isabel。〃

〃When　I　proposed　for　Lady　Isabel〃

〃But　a　month　ago；〃　sarcastically　interrupted　the　earl。

〃But　a　month　ago；〃　calmly　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃my　first　action；　after　Isabel　accepted　me；　was　to　write　to　you。　But　that　I　imagine　you　may　not　have　received　the　letter；　by　stating　you　first　heard　of　our　marriage　through　the　papers；　I　should　say；　the　want　of　courtesy　lay　on　your　lordship's　side　for　having　vouchsafed　me　no　reply　to　it。〃

〃What　were　the　contents　of　the　letter？〃

〃I　stated　what　had　occurred；　mentioning　what　I　was　able　to　do　in　the　way　of　settlements；　and　also　that　both　Isabel　and　myself　wished　the　ceremony　to　take　place　as　soon　as　might　be。〃

〃And　pray　where　did　you　address　the　letter？〃

〃Lady　Mount　Severn　could　not　give　me　the　address。　She　said　if　I　would　intrust　the　letter　to　her；　she　would　forward　it　with　the　rest　she　wrote；　for　she　expected　daily　to　hear　from　you。　I　did　give　her　the　letter；　and　I　heard　no　more　of　the　matter；　except　that　her　ladyship　sent　me　a　message　when　Isabel　was　writing　to　me；　that　as　you　had　returned　no　reply；　you　of　course　approved。〃

〃Is　this　the　fact？〃　cried　the　earl。

〃My　lord；〃　coldly　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃whatever　may　be　my　defects　in　your　eyes；　I　am　at　least　a　man　of　truth。　Until　this　moment；　the　suspicion　that　you　were　in　ignorance　of　the　contemplated　marriage　never　occurred　to　me。〃

〃So　far；　then；　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Carlyle。　But　how　came　the　marriage　about　at　allhow　came　it　to　be　hurried　over　in　this　unseemly　fashion？　You　made　the　offer　at　Easter；　Isabel　tells　me；　and　you　married　her　three　weeks　after　it。〃

〃And　I　would　have　married　her　and　brought　her　away　with　me　the　day　I　did　make　it；　had　it　been　practicable；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　have　acted　throughout　for　her　comfort　and　happiness。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！〃　exclaimed　the　earl；　returning　to　his　disagreeable　tone。　〃Perhaps　you　will　put　me　in　possession　of　the　facts；　and　of　your　motives。〃

〃I　warn　you　that　the　facts　to　you　will　not　bear　a　pleasant　sound；　Lord　Mount　Severn。〃

〃Allow　me　to　be　the　judge　of　that；〃　said　the　earl。

〃Business　took　me　to　Castle　Marling　on　Good　Friday。　On　the　following　day　I　called　at　your　house；　after　your　own　and　Isabel's　invitation；　it　was　natural　I　should；　in　fact；　it　would　have　been　a　breach　of　good　feeling　not　to　do　so；　I　found　Isabel　ill…treated　and　miserable；　far　from　enjoying　a　happy　home　in　your　house〃

〃What；　sir？〃　interrupted　the　earl。　〃Ill…treated　and　miserable？〃

〃Ill…treated　even　to　blows；　my　lord。〃

The　earl　stood　as　one　petrified；　staring　at　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　learnt　it；　I　must　premise；　through　the　chattering　revelations　of　your　little　son；　Isabel；　of　course；　would　not　have　mentioned　it　to　me；　but　when　the　child　had　spoken；　she　did　not　deny　it。　In　short　she　was　too　broken…hearted；　too　completely　bowed　in　spirit　to　deny　it。　It　aroused　all　my　feelings　of　indignationit　excited　in　me　an　irresistible　desire　to　emancipate　her　from　this　cruel　life；　and　take　her　where　she　would　find　affection；　and　I　hope　happiness。　There　was　only　one　way　which　I　could　do　this；　and　I　risked　it。　I　asked　her　to　become　my　wife；　and　to　return　to　her　home　at　East　Lynne。〃

The　earl　was　slowly　recovering　from　his　petrifaction。　〃Then；　am　I　to　understand；　that　when　you　called　that　day　at　my　house；　you　carried　no　intention　with　you　of　proposing　to　Isabel？〃

〃Not　any。　It　was　an　impromptu　step；　the　circumstances　under　which　I　found　her　calling　it　forth。〃

The　earl　paced　the　room；　perplexed　still；　and　evidently　disturbed。　〃May　I　inquire　if　you　love　her？〃　he　abruptly　said。

Mr。　Carlyle　paused　ere　he　spoke；　and　a　red　flush　dyed　his　face。　〃Those　so