east lynne-第33章

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nd　from　his　contact。　〃Not　else　should　I　have　permitted　your　incessant　companionship；　and　this　is　how　you　have　repaid　it！　My　husband　thanked　you　for　your　attention　to　me；　could　he　have　read　what　was　in　your　false　heart；　he　had　offered　you　different　sort　of　thanks；　I　fancy。〃

〃I　ask　your　pardon；　Lady　Isabel；　I　have　acknowledged　my　fault；　and　I　can　do　no　more。　I　will　not　so　offend　again；　but　there　are　moments　when　our　dearest　feelings　break　through　the　convenances　of　life　and　betray　themselves；　in　spite　of　our　sober　judgment。　Suffer　me　to　support　you　down　this　steep　hill；〃　he　added；　for　they　were　then　going　over　the　sharp　stones　of　the　Grand　Rue；　〃you　are　not　strong　enough　to　proceed　alone；　after　this　evening's　long　walk。〃

〃You　should　have　thought　of　that　before；〃　she　said；　with　some　sarcasm　in　her　tone。　〃No；　I　have　declined。〃

So　she　had　to　put　his　arm　back；　which　he　was　holding　out；　as　she　walked　on　unsupported；　with　what　strength　she　had；　he　continuing　by　her　side。　Arriving　at　her　own　door；　she　wished　him　a　cool　good…　evening；　and　he　turned　away　in　the　direction　of　his　hotel。

Lady　Isabel　brushed　past　Peter；　and　flew　upstairs；　startling　Wilson；　who　had　taken　possession　of　the　drawing…room　to　air　her　smart　cap　at　its　windows　in　the　absence　of　her　lady。

〃My　desk；　Wilson；　immediately；〃　cried　she；　bearing　off　her　gloves；　her　bonnet；　and　her　shawl。　〃Tell　Peter　to　be　in　readiness　to　take　a　letter　to　the　post；　and　he　must　walk　fast；　or　he　will　not　catch　it　before　the　English　mail　is　closed。〃

The　symptoms　of　sinful　happiness　throbbing　at　her　heart　while　Francis　Levison　told　her　of　his　love；　spoke　plainly　to　Lady　Isabel　of　the　expediency　of　withdrawing　entirely　from　his　society；　and　his　dangerous　sophistries；　she　would　be　away　from　the　very　place　that　contained　him；　put　the　sea　between　them。　So　she　dashed　off　a　letter　to　her　husband；　an　urgent　summons　that　he　should　come　to　her　without　delay　for　remain　away　longer　she　/would　not/。　It　is　probable　she　would　have　started　alone；　not　waiting　for　Mr。　Carlyle；　but　for　fear　of　not　having　sufficient　funds　for　the　journey；　after　the　rent　and　other　things　were　paid。

Mr。　Carlyle；　when　he　received　the　letter　and　marked　its　earnest　tone；　wondered　much。　In　reply；　he　stated　that　he　would　be　with　her　on　the　following　Saturday；　and　then　her　returning；　or　not；　with　him　could　be　settled。　Fully　determined　not　to　meet　Captain　Levison；　Isabel；　in　the　intervening　days；　only　went　out　in　a　carriage。　He　called　once；　and　was　shown　into　the　drawing…room；　but　Lady　Isabel；　who　happened　to　be　in　her　own　chamber；　sent　out　a　message；　which　was　delivered　by　Peter。　〃My　lady's　compliments；　but　she　must　decline　receiving　visitors。〃

Sunday　morningit　had　been　impossible　for　him　to　get　away　before　brought　Mr。　Carlyle。　He　strongly　combatted　her　wish　to　return　home　until　six　weeks　should　have　expired；　he　nearly　said　he　would　not　take　her；　and　she　grew　earnest　over　it；　almost　to　agitation。

〃Isabel；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　know　your　motive；　for　it　appears　to　me　you　have　one。　The　sojourn　here　is　evidently　doing　you　a　vast　deal　of　good；　and　what　you　urge　about　'being　dull；'　sounds　very　like　nonsense。　Tell　me　what　it　is。〃

A　sudden　impulse　flashed　over　her　that　she　/would/　tell　him　the　truth。　Not　tell　him　that　she　loved　Francis　Levison；　or　that　he　had　spoken　to　her　as　he　did；　she　valued　her　husband　too　greatly　to　draw　him　into　any　unpleasantness　whose　end　could　not　be　seen；　but　own　to　him　that　she　had　once　felt　a　passing　fancy　for　Francis　Levison；　and　preferred　not　to　be　subjected　to　his　companionship　now。　Oh；　that　she　had　done　so！　Her　kind；　her　noble；　her　judicious　husband！　Why　did　she　not？　The　whole　truth；　as　to　her　present　feelings；　it　was　not　expedient　that　she　should　tell；　but　she　might　have　confided　to　him　quite　sufficient。　He　would　only　have　cherished　her　the　more　deeply；　and　sheltered　her　under　his　fostering　care；　safe　from　harm。

Why　did　she　not？　In　the　impulse　of　the　moment　she　was　about　to　do　so；　when　Mr。　Carlyle；　who　had　been　taking　a　letter　from　his　pocket　book　put　it　into　her　hand。　Upon　what　slight　threads　the　events　of　life　turn！　Her　thoughts　diverted；　she　remained　silent　while　she　opened　the　letter。　It　was　from　Miss　Carlyle；　who　had　handed　it　to　her　brother　in　the　moment　of　his　departure；　to　carry　to　Lady　Isabel　and　save　postage。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　nearly　dropped　it　into　the　Folkestone　post　office。

A　letter　as　stiff　as　Miss　Corny　herself。　The　children　were　well；　and　the　house　was　going　on　well；　and　she　hoped　Lady　Isabel　was　better。　It　filled　three　sides　of　note　paper；　but　that　was　all　the　news　it　contained；　and　it　wound　up　with　the　following　sentence；　〃I　would　continue　my　epistle；　but　Barbara　Hare；　who　is　to　spend　the　day　with　us；　has　just　arrived。〃

Barbara　Hare　spending　the　day　at　East　Lynne！　That　item　was　quite　enough　for　Lady　Isabel；　and　her　heart　and　her　confidence　closed　to　her　husband。　She　must　go　home　to　her　children；　she　urged；　she　could　not　remain　longer　away　from　them；　and　she　urged　it　at　length　with　tears。

〃Nay；　Isabel；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃if　you　are　so　much　in　earnest　as　this；　you　shall　certainly　go　back　with　me。〃

Then　she　was　like　a　child　let　loose　from　school。　She　laughed；　she　danced　in　her　excess　of　content；　she　showered　kisses　on　her　husband；　thanking　him　in　her　gleeful　gratitude。　Mr。　Carlyle　set　it　down　to　her　love　for　him；　he　arrived　at　the　conclusion　that；　in　reiterating　that　she　could　not　bear　to　be　away　from　him；　she　spoke　the　fond　truth。

〃Isabel；〃　he　said；　smiling　tenderly　upon　her；　〃do　you　remember；　in　the　first　days　of　our　marriage；　you　told　me　you　did　not　yet　love　me；　but　that　the　love　would　come。　I　think　this　is　it。〃

Her　face　flushed　nearly　to　tears　at　the　words；　a　bright；　glowing；　all　too　conscious　flush。　Mr。　Carlyle　mistook　its　source；　and　caught　her　to　his　heart。

Lady　Isabel　had　returned　home　to　bodily　health；　to　the　delight　of　meeting　her　children；　to　the　glad　sensation　of　security。　But　as　the　days　went　on；　a　miserable　feeling　of　apathy　stole　over　her：　a　feeling　as　if　all　whom　she　had　loved　in　the　world　had　died；　leaving　her　living　and　alone。

She　did　not　encourage　these　reflections；　knowing　what　you　do　know　of　her；　you　may　be　sure　of　that；　but　they　thrust　themselves　continually　forward。　The　form　of　Francis　Levison　was　ever　present　to　her；　not　a　minute　of　the　day　but　it　gave　the　coloring　to　her　thoughts；　and　at　night　it　made　the　subject　of　her　dreams。　Oh；　those　dreams！　They　were　painful　to　wake　from；　painful　from　the　contrasts　they　presented　to　reality；　and　equally　painful　to　her　conscience；　in　its　strife　after　what　was　right。

Mr。　Carlyle　mounted　his　horse　one　morning　and　rode　over　to　Levison　Park。　He　asked　for　Sir　Peter；　but　was　shown　into　the　presence　of　Lady　Levisona　young　and　pretty　woman　dressed　showily。　She　inquired　his　business。

〃My　business；　madam；　is　with　Sir　Peter。〃

〃But　Sir　Peter　is　not　well　enough　to　attend　to　business；　it　upsets　him　worries　him。〃

〃Nevertheless；　I　am　here　by　his　own　appointment。　Twelve　o'clock　he　mentioned；　and　the　hour　has　barely　struck。〃

Lady　Levison　bit　her　lip　and　bowed　coldly；　and　at　that　moment　a　servant　appeared　to　conduct　Mr。　Carlyle　to　Sir　Peter。　The　matter　which　had　taken　Mr。　Carlyle　thither　was　entered　upon　immediatelyFrancis　Levison；　his　debts；　and　his　gracelessness。　Sir　Peter；　an　old　gentleman　in　a　velvet　skullcap；　particularly　enlarged　upon　the　latter。

〃I'd　pay　his　debts　to…day　and　set　him　upon　his　legs　again；　but　that　I　know　I　should　have　to　do　the　same　thing　over　and　over　again　to　the　end　of　the　chapter；　as　I　have　done　it　repeatedly　hitherto；〃　cried　Sir　Peter。　〃His　grandfather　was　my　only　brother；　his　father　my　dutiful　and　beloved　nephew；　but　he　is　just　as　bad　as　they　were　estimable。　He　is　a　worthless　fellow　and　nothing　else；　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃His　tale　drew　forth　my　compassion；　and　I　promised　I　would　see　you　and　speak　for　him；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Of　Captain　Levison's　personal　virtues　or　vices；　I　know　nothing。〃

〃And　the　less　you　know　the　better；〃　growled　Sir　Peter。　〃I　suppose　he　wants　me　to　clear　him　and　start　him　afresh。〃

〃Something　of　that　sort；　I　conclude。〃

〃But　how　is　it　to　be　done？　I　am　at　home；　and　he　is　over　there。　His　affairs　are　in　a　state　of　confusion；　and　nobody　can　come　to　the　bottom　of　them　without　an　explanation　from　him。　Some　liabilities；　for　which　I　have　furnished　the　money；　the　creditors　swear　have　not　been　liquidated。　He　must　come　over　if　he　wants　anything　done。〃

〃Where　is　he　to　come　to？　He　must　be　in　England　/sub　rosa/。〃

〃He　can't　be　here；〃　hastily　rejoined　Sir　Peter。　〃Lady　Levison　would　not　have　him　for　a　day。〃

〃He　might　be　at　East　Lynne；〃　good…naturedly　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Nobody　would　think　of　looking　for　him　there。　I　think　it　is　a　pity　that　you　should　not　meet；　if　you　do　feel　inclined　to　help　him。〃

〃You　are　a　deal　more　considerate　to　him　than　he　deserves；　Mr。　Carlyle。　May　I　ask　if　you　intend　to　act　for　him　in　a　professional　capacity？〃

〃I　do　not。〃

A　few　more　words；　and　it　was　decided　that　Captain　Levison　should　be　immediately　sent　for。　As　Mr。　Carlyle　left　Sir　Peter's　presence；　he　encountered　Lady　Levison。

〃I　can　scarcely　be　ignorant　that　your　conference　with　my　husband　has　reference　to　his　grandnephew；〃　she　observed。

〃It　has；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　have　had　a　very　bad　opinion　of　him；　Mr。　Carlyle；　at　the　same　time　I　do　not　wish　you　to　carry　away　a　wrong　impression　of　me。　Francis　Levison　is　my　husband's　nephew；　his　presumptive　heir；　it　may；　therefore；　appear　strange　that　I　set　my　face　against　him。　Two　or　three　years　ago；　previous　to　my　marriage　with　Sir　Peter；　in　fact　before　I　knew　Sir　Peter；　I　was　brought　into　contact　with　Francis　Levison。　He　got　acquainted　with　some　friends　of　mine；　and　at　their　house　I　met　him。　He　behaved　shamefully　ill；　he　repaid　their　hospitality　with　gross　ingratitude；　other　details　and　facts　regarding　his　conduct　also　became　known　to　me。　Altogether　I　believe　him　to　be　a　base　and　despicable　man；　both　by　nature　and　inclination；　and　that　he　will　remain　such　to　the　end　of　time。〃

〃I　know　very　little　indeed　of　him；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃May　I　inquire　the　nature　of　his　ill…conduct　in　that　instance？〃

〃He　ruined　themhe　ruined　them；　Mr。　Carlyle。　They　were　simple；　unsuspicious　country　people；　understanding　neither　fraud　nor　vice；　nor　the　ways　of　an　evil　world。　Francis　Levison　got　them　to　put　their　names　to　bills；　'as　a　matter　of　form；　to　accommodate　him　for　a　month　or　so；'　he　stated；　and　so　they　believed。　They　were　not　wealthy；　they　lived　upon　their　own　small　estate；　with　none　too　much　of　superfluous　money　to　spare；　and　when　the　time　came　for　them　to　payas　come　it　didit　brought　ruin；　and　they　had　to　leave　their　home。　He　deliberately　did　it　knowing　what　would　be　the　end。　And　I　could　tell　you　of　other　things。　Sir　Peter　may　have　informed　you　that　I　object　to　receive　him　here。　I　do。　My　objection　is　to　the　manto　his　character；　not　owing；　as　I　hear　it　has　been　said；　to　any　jealous　paltry　feeling　touching　his　being　the　heir。　I　must　lose　my　own　self…respect　before　I　admit　Francis　Levison　to　my　house　as　an　inmate。　Sir　Peter　may　assist　him　in　welcomemay　pay　his　debt；　and　get　him　out　of　his　scrapes　as　often　as　he　pleases；　but　I　will　not　have　him　here。〃

〃Sir　Peter　said　you　declined　to　receive　him。　But　it　is　necessary　that　he　shou