east lynne-第34章

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not　have　him　here。〃

〃Sir　Peter　said　you　declined　to　receive　him。　But　it　is　necessary　that　he　should　come　to　England；　if　his　affairs　are　to　be　set　straight；　and　also　that　he　should　see　Sir　Peter。〃

〃Come　to　England！〃　interrupted　Lady　Levison。　〃How　can　he　come　to　England　under　present　circumstances；　unless；　indeed；　he　comes　/en　cachette/？〃

〃/En　cachette/；　of　course；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃There　is　no　other　way。　I　have　offered　to　let　him　stay　at　East　Lynne。　He　is；　you　may　be　aware；　a　sort　of　connection　of　Lady　Isabel's。〃

〃Take　care　that　he　does　not　repay　/your/　hospitality　with　ingratitude；〃　warmly　returned　Lady　Levison。　〃It　would　only　be　in　accordance　with　his　practice。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　laughed。

〃I　do　not　see　what　harm　he　could　do　me；　allowing　that　he　had　the　inclination。　He　would　not　scare　my　clients　from　me；　or　beat　my　children；　and　I　can　take　care　of　my　pocket。　A　few　days　will；　no　doubt；　be　the　extent　of　his　sojourn。〃

Lady　Levison　smiled　too；　and　shook　hands　with　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃In　your　house；　perhaps；　there　may　be　no　field　for　his　vagaries；　but　rely　upon　it；　where　there　is　one　he　is　sure　to　be　at　some　mischief　or　other。〃

This　visit　of　Mr。　Carlyle's　to　Levison　Park　took　place　on　a　Friday　morning；　and　on　his　return　to　his　office　he　dispatched　an　account　of　it　to　Captain　Levison　at　Boulogne；　telling　him　he　had　better　come　over。　But　now　Mr。　Carlyle；　like　many　another　man　whose　mind　has　its　share　of　work；　was　sometimes　forgetful　of　trifles；　and　it　entirely　slipped　his　memory　to　mention　the　expected　arrival　at　home。　The　following　evening；　Saturday；　he　and　Lady　Isabel　were　dining　in　the　neighborhood；　when　the　conversation　at　table　turned　upon　the　Ducies　and　their　embarrassments。　The　association　of　ideas　led　Mr。　Carlyle's　thoughts　to　Boulogne；　to　Captain　Levison　and　/his/　embarrassments；　and　it　immediately　occurred　to　him　that　he　had　not　told　his　wife　of　the　anticipated　visit。　He　kept　it　in　his　mind　then；　and　spoke　as　soon　as　they　were　in　the　chariot　returning　home。

〃Isabel；〃　began　he；　〃I　suppose　we　have　always　rooms　ready　for　visitors；　because　I　am　expecting　one。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　or　if　not；　they　are　soon　made　ready。〃

〃Ah；　but　to…morrow's　Sunday；　and　I　have　no　doubt　that's　the　day　he　will　take　advantage　of　to　come。　I　am　sorry　I　forgot　to　mention　it　yesterday。〃

〃Who　is　coming；　then？〃

〃Captain　Levison。〃

〃Who？〃　repeated　Lady　Isabel；　in　a　sharp　tone　of　consternation。

〃Captain　Levison。　Sir　Peter　consents　to　see　him；　with　a　view　to　the　settlement　of　his　liabilities；　but　Lady　Levison　declines　to　receive　him　at　the　Park。　So　I　offered　to　give　him　house…room　at　East　Lynne　for　a　few　days。〃

There　is　an　old　saying；　〃the　heart　leaping　into　the　mouth；〃　and　Lady　Isabel's　leaped　into　hers。　She　grew　dizzy　at　the　wordsher　senses　seemed　momentarily　to　desert　her。　Her　first　sensation　was　as　if　the　dull　earth　had　opened　and　shown　her　a　way　into　Paradise；　her　second；　a　lively　consciousness　that　Francis　Levison　ought　not　to　be　suffered　to　come　again　into　companionship　with　her。　Mr。　Carlyle　continued　to　converse　of　the　man's　embarrassments；　of　his　own　interview　with　Sir　Peter　and　Lady　Levison；　but　Isabel　was　as　one　who　heard　not。　She　was　debating　the　question；　how　she　could　prevent　his　coming？

〃Archibald；〃　she　presently　said；　〃I　do　not　wish　Francis　Levison　to　stay　at　East　Lynne。〃

〃It　will　only　be　for　a　few　daysperhaps　but　a　day　or　two。　Sir　Peter　is　in　the　humor　to　discharge　the　claims；　and；　the　moment　his　resolve　is　known；　the　ex…captain　can　walk　on　her　majesty's　dominions；　an　unmolested　man；　free　to　go　where　he　will。〃

〃That　may　be；〃　interrupted　Lady　Isabel；　in　an　accent　of　impatience；　〃but　why　should　he　come　to　our　house？〃

〃I　proposed　it　myself。　I　had　no　idea　you　would　dislike　his　coming。　Why　should　you？〃

〃I　don't　like　Francis　Levison；〃　she　murmured。　〃That　is；　I　don't　care　to　have　him　at　East　Lynne。〃

〃My　dear；　I　fear　there　is　no　help　for　it　now；　he　is　most　likely　on　his　road；　and　will　arrive　to…morrow。　I　cannot　turn　him　out　again；　after　my　own　voluntary　invitation。　Had　I　known　it　would　be　disagreeable　to　you；　I　would　not　have　proposed　it。〃

〃To…morrow！〃　she　exclaimed；　all　the　words　that　caught　her　ear。　〃Is　he　coming　to…morrow？〃

〃Being　Sunday；　a　free　day；　he　will　be　sure　to　take　advantage　of　it。　What　has　he　done　that　you　should　object　to　his　coming？　You　did　not　say　in　Boulogne　that　you　disliked　him。〃

〃He　had　done　nothing；〃　was　her　faltering　answer；　feeling　that　her　grounds　of　opposition　must　melt　under　her　one　by　one。

〃Lady　Levison　appears　to　possess　a　very　ill　opinion　of　him；〃　resumed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃She　says　she　knew　him　in　years　gone　by。　She　mentioned　one　or　two　things　which；　if　true；　must　be　bad　enough。　But　possibly　she　may　be　prejudiced。〃

〃She　is　prejudiced；〃　said　Isabel。　〃At　least　Francis　Levison　told　me　at　Boulogne。　There　appeared　to　be　no　love　lost　between　them。〃

〃At　any　rate；　his　ill　doings　or　well　doings　cannot　affect　us　for　the　short　period　he　is　likely　to　remain。　You　have　taken　a　prejudice　against　him　also；　I　suppose；　Isabel。〃

She　suffered　Mr。　Carlyle　to　remain　in　the　belief；　and　sat　with　clasped　hands　and　a　despairing　spirit　feeling　that　fate　was　against　her。

How　could　she　accomplish　her　task　of　forgetting　this　man；　if　he　was　thus　to　be　thrown　into　her　home　and　her　companionship？　Suddenly　she　turned　to　her　husband；　and　laid　her　cheek　upon　his　shoulder。

He　thought　she　was　tired。　He　passed　his　arm　round　her　waist；　drew　her　face　to　a　more　comfortable　position；　and　bent　his　own　lovingly　upon　it。　It　came　to　her　mind；　as　she　lay　there；　to　tell　him　a　portion　of　the　truth；　like　it　had　done　once　before。　It　was　a　strong　arm　of　shelter；　that　round　hera　powerful　pillar　of　protection；　him　upon　whom　she　leaned；　why　did　she　not　confide　herself　to　him　as　trustingly　as　a　little　child？　Simply　because　her　courage　failed。　Once；　twice；　the　opening　words　were　upon　her　lips；　but　come　forth　they　did　not；　and　then　the　carriage　stopped　at　East　Lynne；　and　the　opportunity　was　over。　Oh！　How　many　a　time　in　her　after　years　did　Lady　Isabel　recall　that　midnight　drive　with　her　husband；　and　wish；　in　her　vain　repentance；　that　she　had　opened　his　eyes　to　that　dangerous　man。

On　Sunday　Captain　Levison　arrived　at　East　Lynne。



CHAPTER　XXII。

MRS。　HARE'S　DREAM。

The　next　day　rose　bright；　warm；　and　cloudless；　and　the　morning　sun　streamed　into　the　bedroom　of　Mrs。　Hare。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hare　were　of　the　old…fashioned　class　who　knew　nothing　about　dressing…rooms；　their　bedrooms　were　very　large；　and　they　never　used　a　dressing…room　in　their　lives；　or　found　the　want　of　one。　The　justice　rubbed　his　face　to　a　shining　brilliancy；　settled　on　his　morning　wig　and　his　dressing…gown；　and　then　turned　to　the　bed。

〃What　will　you　have　for　breakfast？〃

〃Thank　you；　Richard；　I　do　not　think　that　I　can　eat　any　thing。　I　shall　be　glad　of　my　tea；　I　am　very　thirsty。〃

〃All　nonsense；〃　responded　the　justice；　alluding　to　the　intimation　of　not　eating。　〃Have　a　poached　egg。〃

Mrs。　Hare　smiled　at　him；　and　gently　shook　her　head。　〃You　are　very　kind；　Richard；　but　I　could　not　eat　it　this　morning。　Barbara　may　send　up　the　smallest　bit　of　dry　toast。　Would　you　please　throw　the　window　open　before　you　go　down；　I　should　like　to　feel　the　air。〃

〃You　will　get　the　air　too　near　from　this　window；〃　replied　Mr。　Justice　Hare；　opening　the　further　one。　Had　his　wife　requested　that　the　further　one　to　be　opened；　he　would　have　opened　the　other；　his　own　will　and　opinions　were　ever　paramount。　Then　he　descended。

A　minute　or　two；　and　up　ran　Barbara；　looking　bright　and　fair　as　the　morning；　her　pink　muslin　dress；　with　its　ribbons　and　its　open　white　lace　sleeves；　as　pretty　as　she　was。　She　leaned　over　to　kiss　her　mother。

〃Mamma；　are　you　ill？　And　you　have　been　so　well　lately；　you　went　to　bed　so　well　last　night。　Papa　says〃

〃Barbara；　dear；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Hare；　glancing　round　the　room　with　dread；　and　speaking　in　a　deep　whisper；　〃I　have　had　one　of　those　dreadful　dreams　again。〃

〃Oh；　mamma；　how　/can/　you！〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　starting　up　in　vexation。　〃How　can　you　suffer　a　foolish　dream　to　overcome　you　as　to　make　you　ill？　You　have　good　sense　in　other　matters；　but；　in　this；　you　seem　to　put　all　sense　away　from　you。〃

〃Child；　will　you　tell　me　how　I　am　to　help　it？〃　returned　Mrs。　Hare；　taking　Barbara's　hand　and　drawing　her　to　her　again。　〃I　do　not　give　myself　the　dreams；　I　cannot　prevent　their　making　me　sick；　prostrate；　feverish。　How　can　I　help　these　things；　I　ask？〃

At　this　moment　the　bedroom　door　was　flung　open；　and　the　face　of　the　justice；　especially　stern　and　cross　then　was　pushed　in。　So　startled　was　Mrs。　Hare；　that　she　shook　till　she　shook　the　pillow；　and　Barbara　sprang　away　from　the　bed。　Surely　he　had　not　distinguished　their　topic　of　conversation！

〃Are　you　coming　to　make　the　breakfast　to…day；　or　not　Barbara？　Do　you　expect　me　to　make　it？〃

〃She　is　coming　this　instant；　Richard；〃　said　Mrs。　Hare；　her　voice　more　faint　than　usual。　And　the　justice　turned　and　stamped　down　again。

〃Barbara；　could　your　papa　have　heard　me　mention　Richard？〃

〃No；　no；　mamma　impossible：　the　door　was　shut。　I　will　bring　up　your　breakfast　myself　and　then　you　can　tell　me　the　dream。〃

Barbara　flew　after　Mr。　Hare；　poured　out　his　coffee；　saw　him　settled　at　his　breakfast；　with　a　plateful　of　grouse…pie　before　him；　and　then　returned　upstairs　with　her　mamma's　tea　and　dry　toast。

〃Go　on　with　your　dream；　mamma；〃　she　said。

〃But　your　breakfast　will　be　cold；　child。〃

〃Oh；　don't　mind　that。　Did　you　dream　of　Richard？〃

〃Not　very　much　of　Richard；　except　that　the　old　and　continuous　trouble　of　his　being　away　and　unable　to　return；　seemed　to　pervade　it　all　through。　You　remember；　Barbara；　Richard　asserted　to　us；　in　that　short；　hidden　night　visit；　that　he　did　not　commit　the　murder；　that　it　was　another　who　did？〃

〃Yes；　I　remember　it；〃　replied　Barbara。

〃Barbara；　I　am　convinced　he　spoke　the　truth；　I　trust　him　implicitly。〃

〃I　feel　sure　of　it　also；　mamma。〃

〃I　asked　him；　you　remember；　whether　it　was　Otway　Bethel　who　committed　it；　for　I　have　always　doubted　Bethel；　in　an　indefinite；　vague　manner。　Richard　replied　it　was　not　Bethel；　but　a　stranger。　Well；　Barbara；　in　my　dream　I　thought　that　stranger　came　to　West　Lynne；　that　he　came　to　this　house　here；　and　we　were　talking　to　him　of　him；　conversing　as　we　might　with　any　other　visitor。　Mind　you；　we　seemed　to　/know/　that　he　was　the　one　who　actually　did　it；　but　he　denied　it。　He　wanted　to　put　it　upon　Richard；　and　I　saw　him；　yes　I　did；　Barbarawhisper　to　Otway　Bethel。　But　oh；　I　cannot　tell　you　the　sickening　horror　that　was　upon　me　throughout；　and　seemed　to　be　upon　you　also；　lest　he　should　make　good　his　own　apparent　innocence；　and　crush　Richard；　his　victim。　I　think　the　dread　and　horror　awoke　me。〃

〃What　was　he　like；　this　stranger？〃　asked　Barbara；　in　a　low　tone。

〃Well；　I　cannot　quite　tell。　The　recollection　of　his　appearance　seemed　to　pass　away　from　me　with　the　dream。　He　was　dressed　as　a　gentleman；　and　we　conversed；　with　him　as　an　equal。〃

Barbara's　mind　was　full　of　Captain　Thorn；　but　his　name　had　not　been　mentioned　to　Mrs。　Hare；　and　neither　would　she　mention　it　now。　She　fell　into　deep　thought；　and　Mrs。　Hare　had　to　speak　twice　before　she　could　be　aroused。

〃Barbara；　I　say；　don't　you　think　this　dream；　coming　uncalled　for　uninduced；　must　forebode　some　ill？　R