east lynne-第30章

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Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　the　room；　leaving　Joyce　surprised。　However；　she　presently　followed；　taking　in　some　water；　and　lingered　a　few　minutes；　apparently　placing　the　things　on　the　table　in　better　order。

When　the　two　departed　Mr。　Carlyle　called　Joyce；　before　proceeding　to　his　wife's　room。　〃Well；〃　he　questioned；　〃did　you　recognize　him？〃

〃Not　at　all；　sir。　He　seemed　quite　strange　to　me。〃

〃Cast　your　thoughts　back；　Joyce。　Did　you　never　see　him　in　days　gone　by？〃

Joyce　looked　puzzled；　and　she　replied　in　the　negative。

〃Is　he　the　man；　think　you；　who　used　to　ride　from　Swainson　to　see　Afy？〃

Joyce's　face　flushed　crimson。　〃Oh；　sir！〃　was　all　she　uttered。

〃The　name　is　the　sameThorn；　I　thought　it　possible　the　men　might　be；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Sir；　I　cannot　say。　I　never　saw　that　Captain　Thorn　but　once；　and　I　don't　know；　I　don't　know〃　Joyce　spoke　slowly　and　with　consideration　〃that　I　should　at　all　know　him　again。　I　did　not　think　of　him　when　I　looked　at　this　gentleman；　but；　at　any　rate；　no　appearance　in　this　one　struck　upon　my　memory　as　being　familiar。〃

So　from　Joyce　Mr。　Carlyle　obtained　no　clue；　one　way　or　the　other。　The　following　day　he　sought　out　Otway　Bethel。

〃Are　you　intimate　with　that　Captain　Thorn　who　is　staying　with　the　Herberts？〃　asked　he。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Bethel；　decisively；　〃if　passing　a　couple　of　hours　in　his　company　can　constitute　intimacy。　That's　all　I　have　seen　of　Thorn。〃

〃Are　you　sure；〃　pursued　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Sure！〃　returned　Bethel；　〃why；　what　are　you　driving　at　now？　I　called　in　at　Herbert's　the　night　before　last；　and　Tom　asked　me　to　stay　the　evening。　Thorn　had　just　come。　A　jolly　bout　we　had；　cigars　and　cold　punch。〃

〃Bethel；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　dashing　to　the　point；　〃is　it　the　Thorn　who　used　to　go　after　Afy　Hallijohn？　Come；　you　can　tell　if　you　like。〃

Bethel　remained　dumb　for　a　moment；　apparently　with　amazement。　〃What　a　confounded　lie！〃　uttered　he　at　length。　〃Why　it's　no　more　that　than　What　Thorn？〃　he　broke　off　abruptly。

〃You　are　equivocating；　Bethel。　The　Thorn　who　is　mixed　upor　said　to　bein　the　Hallijohn　affair。　Is　this　the　same　man？〃

〃You　are　a　fool；　Carlyle；　which　is　what　I　never　took　you　to　be　yet；〃　was　Mr。　Bethel's　rejoinder；　spoken　in　a　savage　tone。　〃I　have　told　you　that　I　never　knew　there　was　any　Thorn　mixed　up　with　Afy；　and　I　should　like　to　know　why　my　word　is　not　to　be　believed？　I　never　saw　Thorn　in　my　life　till　I　saw　him　the　other　night　at　the　Herberts'；　and　that　I　would　take　my　oath　to；　if　put　to　it。〃

Bethel　quitted　Mr。　Carlyle　with　the　last　word；　and　the　latter　gazed　after　him；　revolving　points　in　his　brain。　The　mention　of　Thorn's　name；　the　one　spoken　of　by　Richard　Hare；　appeared　to　excite　some　feeling　in　Bethel's　mind；　arousing　it　to　irritation。　Mr。　Carlyle　remembered　that　it　had　done　so　previously　and　now　it　had　done　so　again；　and　yet　Bethel　was　an　easy…natured　man　in　general；　far　better　tempered　than　principled。　That　there　was　something　hidden；　some　mystery　connected　with　the　affair；　Mr。　Carlyle　felt　sure；　but　he　could　not　attempt　so　much　as　a　guess　at　what　it　might　be。　And　this　interview　with　Bethel　brought　him　no　nearer　the　point　he　wished　to　find　outwhether　this　Thorn　was　the　same　man。　In　walking　back　to　his　office　he　met　Mr。　Tom　Herbert。

〃Does　Captain　Thorn　purpose　making　a　long　stay　with　you？〃　he　stopped　him　to　inquire。

〃He's　gone；　I　have　just　seen　him　off　by　the　train；〃　was　the　reply　of　Tom　Herbert。　〃It　seemed　rather　slow　with　him　without　Jack；　so　he　docked　his　visit；　and　says　he'll　pay　us　one　when　Jack's　to　the　fore。〃

As　Mr。　Carlyle　went　home　to　dinner　that　evening；　he　entered　the　grove；　ostensibly　to　make　a　short　call　on　Mrs。　Hare。　Barbara；　on　the　tenterhooks　of　impatience；　accompanied　him　outside　when　he　departed；　and　walked　down　the　path。

〃What　have　you　learnt？〃　she　eagerly　asked。

〃Nothing　satisfactory；〃　was　the　reply　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃And　the　man　has　left　again。〃

〃Left？〃　uttered　Barbara。

Mr。　Carlyle　explained。　He　told　her　how　they　had　come　to　his　house　the　previous　evening　after　Barbara's　departure；　and　his　encounter　with　Tom　Herbert　that　day；　he　mentioned；　also；　his　interview　with　Bethel。

〃Can　he　have　gone　on　purpose；　fearing　consequences？〃　wondered　Barbara。

〃Scarcely；　or　why　should　he　have　come？〃

〃You　did　not　suffer　any　word　to　escape　you　last　night　causing　him　to　suspect　for　a　moment　that　he　was　hounded？〃

〃Not　any。　You　would　make　a　bad　lawyer；　Barbara。〃

〃Who　or　what　is　he？〃

〃An　officer　in　her　majesty's　service；　in　John　Herbert's　regiment。　I　ascertained　no　more。　Tom　said　he　was　of　good　family。　But　I　cannot　help　suspecting　it　is　the　same　man。〃

〃Can　nothing　more　be　done？〃

〃Nothing　in　the　present　stage　of　the　affair；〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　he　passed　through　the　gate　to　continue　his　way。　〃We　can　only　wait　on　again　with　what　patience　we　may；　hoping　that　time　will　bring　about　its　own　elucidation。〃

Barbara　pressed　her　forehead　down　on　the　cold　iron　of　the　gate　as　his　footsteps　died　away。　〃Aye；　to　wait　on；〃　she　murmured；　〃to　wait　on　in　dreary　pain；　to　wait　on；　perhaps；　for　years；　perhaps　forever！　And　poor　Richardwearing　out　his　days　in　poverty　and　exile！〃



CHAPTER　XX。

GOING　FROM　HOME。

〃I　should　recommend　a　complete　change　of　scene　altogether；　Mr。　Carlyle。　Say　some　place　on　the　French　or　Belgian　coast。　Sea　bathing　might　do　wonders。〃

〃Should　you　think　it　well　for　her　to　go　so　far　from　home？〃

〃I　should。　In　these　cases　of　protracted　weakness；　where　you　can　do　nothing　but　try　to　coax　the　strength　back　again；　change　of　air　and　scene　are　of　immense　benefit。〃

〃I　will　propose　it　to　her；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　have　just　done　so；〃　replied　Dr。　Martin；　who　was　the　other　speaker。　〃She　met　it　with　objection；　which　I　expected；　for　invalids　naturally　feel　a　disinclination　to　move　from　home。　But　it　is　necessary　that　she　should　go。〃

The　object　of　their　conversation　was　Lady　Isabel。　Years　had　gone　on；　and　there　were　three　children　now　at　East　LynneIsabel；　William；　and　Archibaldthe　latter　twelve　months　old。　Lady　Isabel　had；　a　month　or　two　back；　been　attacked　with　illness；　she　recovered　from　the　disorder；　but　it　had　left　her　in　an　alarming　state　of　weakness；　she　seemed　to　get　worse　instead　of　better；　and　Dr。　Martin　was　summoned　from　Lynneborough。　The　best　thing　he　could　recommendas　you　save　seenwas　change　of　air。

Lady　Isabel　was　unwilling　to　take　the　advice；　more　especially　to　go　so　far　as　the　〃French　coast。〃　And　but　for　a　circumstance　that　seemed　to　have　happened　purposely　to　induce　her　to　decide；　would　probably　never　have　gone。　Mrs。　Duciethe　reader　may　not　have　forgotten　her　name　had；　in　conjunction　with　her　husband；　the　honorable　Augustus；　somewhat　run　out　at　the　elbows；　and　found　it　convenient　to　enter　for　a　time　on　the　less　expensive　life　of　the　Continent。　For　eighteen　months　she　had　been　staying　in　Paris；　the　education　of　her　younger　daughters　being　the　plea　put　forth；　and　a　very　convenient　plea　it　is；　and　serves　hundreds。　Isabel　had　two　or　three　letters　from　her　during　her　absence；　and　she　now　received　another；　saying　they　were　going　to　spend　a　month　or　two　at　Boulogne…sur…Mer。　Mr。　Carlyle；　Mr。　Wainwright；　and　Dr。　Martinin　short；　everybodydeclared　this　must　remove　all　Lady　Isabel's　unwillingness　to　go　from　home；　for　Mrs。　Ducie's　society　would　do　away　with　the　loneliness　she　had　anticipated；　which　had　been　the　ostensible　score　of　her　objection。

〃Boulogne…sur…Mer；　of　all　places；　in　the　world！〃　remonstrated　Lady　Isabel。　〃It　is　spoken　of　as　being　crowded　and　vulgar。〃

〃The　more　amusing　for　you；　my　lady；〃　cried　Dr。　Martin；　while　Mr。　Carlyle　laughed　at　her。　And　finding　she　had　no　chance　against　them　all；　she　consented　to　go；　and　plans　were　hastily　decided　upon。

〃Joyce；〃　said　Lady　Isabel　to　her　waiting　maid；　〃I　shall　leave　you　at　home；　I　must　take　Wilson　instead。〃

〃Oh；　my　lady！　What　have　I　done？〃

〃You　have　done　all　that　you　ought；　Joyce；　but　you　must　stay　with　the　children。　If　I　may　not　take　them；　the　next　best　thing　will　be　to　leave　them　in　your　charge；　not　Miss　Carlyle's；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　voice；　〃if　it　were　Wilson　who　remained；　I　could　not　do　that。〃

〃My　lady；　I　must　do　whatever　you　think　best。　I　wish　I　could　attend　you　and　stay　with　them；　but　of　course　I　cannot　do　both。〃

〃I　am　sent　away　to　get　health　and　strength；　but　it　may　be　that　I　shall　die；　Joyce。　If　I　never　come　back；　will　you　promise　to　remain　with　my　children？〃

Joyce　felt　a　creeping　sensation　in　her　veins；　the　sobs　rose　in　her　throat；　but　she　swallowed　them　down　and　constrained　her　voice　to　calmness。　〃My　lady；　I　hope　you　will　come　back　to　us　as　well　as　you　used　to　be。　I　trust　you　will　hope　so　too；　my　lady；　and　not　give　way　to　low　spirits。〃

〃I　sincerely　hope　and　trust　I　shall；〃　answered　Lady　Isabel；　fervently。　〃Still；　there's　no　telling；　for　I　am　very　ill。　Joyce；　give　me　your　promise。　In　case　of　the　worst；　you　will　remain　with　the　children。〃

〃I　will；　my　ladyas　long　as　I　am　permitted。〃

〃And　be　kind　to　them　and　love　them；　and　shield　them　fromfromany　unkindness　that　may　be　put　upon　them；〃　she　added；　her　head　full　of　Miss　Carlyle；　〃and　talk　to　them　sometimes　of　their　poor　mother；　who　is　gone？〃

〃I　will；　I　willoh　my　lady；　I　will！〃　And　Joyce　sat　down　in　the　rocking…chair　as　Lady　Isabel　quitted　her；　and　burst　into　tears。

Mr。　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel；　with　Wilson　and　Peter　in　attendance；　arrived　at　Boulogne；　and　proceeded　to　the　Hotel　des　Bains。　It　may　be　as　well　to　mention　that　Peter　had　been　transferred　from　Miss　Carlyle's　service　to　theirs；　when　the　establishment　was　first　formed　at　East　Lynne。　Upon　entering　the　hotel　they　inquired　for　Mrs。　Ducie；　and　then　a　disappointment　awaited　them。　A　letter　was　handed　them　which　had　arrived　that　morning　from　Mrs。　Ducie；　expressing　her　regret　that　certain　family　arrangements　prevented　her　visiting　Boulogne；　she　was　proceeding　to　some　of　the　baths　in　Germany　instead。

〃I　might　almost　have　known　it；〃　remarked　Isabel。　〃She　was　always　the　most　changeable　of　women。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　went　out　in　search　of　lodgings；　Isabel　objecting　to　remain　in　the　bustling　hotel。　He　succeeded　in　finding　some　very　desirable　ones；　situated　in　the　Rue　de　l'Ecu；　near　the　port；　and　they　moved　into　them。　He　thought　the　journey　had　done　her　good；　for　she　looked　better；　and　said　she　already　felt　stronger。　Mr。　Carlyle　remained　with　her　three　days；　he　had　promised　only　one；　but　he　was　pleased　with　everything　around　him；　pleased　with　Isabel's　returning　glimpses　of　health；　and　amused　with　the　scenes　of　the　busy　town。

The　tide　served　at　eight　o'clock　the　following　morning；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　left　by　the　Folkestone　boat。　Wilson　made　his　breakfast；　and　after　swallowing　it　in　haste；　he　returned　to　his　wife's　room　to　say　farewell。

〃Good…bye；　my　love；〃　he　said；　stooping　to　kiss　her；　〃take　care　of　yourself。〃

〃Give　my　dear　love　to　the　darlings；　Archibald。　Andand〃

〃And　what？〃　he　asked。　〃I　have　not　a　moment　to　lose。〃

〃Do　not　get　making　love　to　Barbara　Hare　while　I　am　away。〃

She　spoke　in　a　tone　half　jest；　half　seriouscould　he　but　have　seen　how　her　heart　was　breaking！　Mr。　Carlyle　took　it　wholly　as　a　jest；　and　went　away　laughing。　Had　he　believed　she　was　serious；　he　could　have　been　little　more　surprised　had　she　charged　him　not　to　go　about　the　country　on　a　dromedary。

Isabel　rose　later；　and　lingered　over　her　breakfast；