east lynne-第35章

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〃Barbara；　I　say；　don't　you　think　this　dream；　coming　uncalled　for　uninduced；　must　forebode　some　ill？　Rely　upon　it；　something　connected　with　that　wretched　murder　is　going　to　be　stirred　up　again。〃

〃You　know；　I　do　not　believe　in　dreams；〃　was　Barbara's　answer。　〃I　think　when　people　say；　'this　dream　is　a　sign　of　such　and　such　a　thing；'　it　is　the　greatest　absurdity　in　the　world。　I　wish　you　could　remember　what　the　man　seemed　like　in　your　dream。〃

〃I　wish　I　could；〃　answered　Mrs。　Hare；　breaking　off　a　particle　of　her　dry　toast。　〃All　I　can　remember　is；　that　he　appeared　to　be　a　gentleman。〃

〃Was　he　tall？　Had　he　black　hair？〃

Mrs。　Hare　shook　her　heard。　〃I　tell　you；　my　dear；　the　remembrance　has　passed　from　me；　so　whether　his　hair　was　black　or　light；　I　cannot　say。　I　think　he　was　tall；　but　he　was　sitting　down；　and　Otway　Bethel　stood　behind　his　chair。　I　seemed　to　feel　that　Richard　was　outside　the　door　in　hiding；　trembling　lest　the　man　should　go　out　and　see　him　there；　and　I　trembled；　too。　Oh；　Barbara；　it　was　a　distressing　dream！〃

〃I　wish　you　could　avoid　having　them；　mamma；　for　they　seem　to　upset　you　very　much。〃

〃Why　did　you　ask　whether　the　man　was　tall；　and　had　black　hair？〃

Barbara　returned　an　evasive　answer。　It　would　not　do　to　tell　Mrs。　Hare　that　her　suspicions　pointed　to　one　particular　quarter；　it　would　have　agitated　her　too　greatly。

So　vivid　was　the　dream；　she　could　scarcely　persuade　herself；　when　she　awoke；　that　it　was　not　real；　and　the　murderer　actually　at　West　Lynne。

〃Oh；　Barbara；　Barbara！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　a　wailing　tone；　〃when　will　this　mystery　be　cleared；　and　my　own　restored　to　me？　Seven　years　since　he　stole　here　to　see　us；　and　no　tidings　yet。〃

〃People　say　that　changes　come　every　seven　years；　mamma；〃　said　Barbara；　hopefully；　〃but　I　will　go　down　and　send　you　up　some　more　tea。〃

〃And　guard　your　countenance　well；〃　returned　her　mother。　〃Don't　let　your　father　suspect　anything。　Remember　his　oath　to　bring　Richard　to　justice。　If　he　thought　we　dwelt　on　his　innocence；　there　is　no　knowing　what　he　might　do　to　find　him；　he　is　so　very　just。〃

〃So　very　cruel　and　unnatural；　I　call　it；　mamma。　But　never　fear　my　betraying　anything。　But　have　you　heard　about　Joyce？〃

〃No。　What　is　it？〃

〃She　had　a　severe　fall　while　playing　with　little　Isabel；　and　it　is　said　she　will　be　confined　to　bed　for　several　weeks。　I　am　very　sorry　for　her。〃　And；　composing　her　face；　she　descended　to　the　breakfast…　room。

The　dinner　hour　at　the　Hares'；　when　they　were　alone；　was　four　o'clock　and　it　arrived　that　day　as　usual；　and　they　sat　down　to　table。　Mrs。　Hare　was　better　then；　the　sunshine　and　the　business　of　stirring　life　had　in　some　measure　effaced　the　visions　of　the　night；　and　restored　her　to　her　wonted　frame　of　mind。

The　cloth　removed；　the　justice　sat　but　a　little　while　over　his　port　wine；　for　he　was　engaged　to　smoke　an　after…dinner　pipe　with　a　brother　magistrate；　Mr。　Justice　Herbert。

〃Shall　you　be　home　to　tea；　papa？〃　inquired　Barbara。

〃Is　it　any　business　of　yours；　young　lady？〃

〃Oh；　not　in　the　least；〃　answered　Miss　Barbara。　〃Only　if　you　had　been　coming　home　to　tea；　I　suppose　we　must　have　waited；　had　you　not　been　in　time。〃

〃I　thought　you　said；　Richard；　that　you　were　going　to　stay　the　evening　with　Mr。　Herbert？〃　observed　Mrs。　Hare。

〃So　I　am；〃　responded　the　justice。　〃But　Barbara　has　a　great　liking　for　the　sound　of　her　own　tongue。〃

The　justice　departed；　striding　pompously　down　the　gravel　walk。　Barbara　waltzed　round　the　large　room　to　a　gleeful　song；　as　if　she　felt　his　absence　a　relief。　Perhaps　she　did。　〃You　can　have　tea　now；　mamma；　at　any　time　you　please；　if　you　are　thirsty；　without　waiting　till　seven；〃　quoth　she。

〃Barbara！〃　said　Mrs。　Hare。

〃What；　mamma？〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　of　the　calamity　which　has　fallen　upon　Joyce！　I　should　like　to　walk　to　East　Lynne　this　evening　and　inquire　after　her；　and　see　her；　if　I　may；　it　would　be　but　neighborly。　I　feel　quite　equal　to　it。　Since　I　have　accustomed　myself　to　take　more　exercise　I　feel　better　for　it；　you　know；　and　we　have　not　been　out　to…day。　Poor　Joyce！　What　time　shall　we　go；　Barbara？〃

〃If　we　were　to　get　there　byby　seven；　I　should　think；　their　dinner　will　be　over　then。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Mrs。　Hare；　with　alacrity；　who　was　always　pleased　when　somebody　else　decided　for　her。　〃But　I　should　like　some　tea　before　we　start；　Barbara。〃

Barbara　took　care　that　her　mamma　should　have　some　tea　and　then　they　proceeded　toward　East　Lynne。　It　was　a　lovely　eveningthe　air　warm；　and　the　humming　gnats　sported　in　it　as　if　to　make　the　most　of　the　waning　summer。　Mrs。　Hare　enjoyed　it　at　first；　but　ere　she　reached　East　Lynne；　she　became　aware　that　the　walk　was　too　much　for　her。　She　did　not　usually　venture　upon　half　so　long　a　one；　and　probably　the　fever　and　agitation　of　the　morning　had　somewhat　impaired　her　day's　strength。　She　laid　her　hand　upon　the　iron　gate　as　they　turned　into　the　park；　and　stood　still。

〃I　did　wrong　to　come；　Barbara。〃

〃Lean　on　me；　mamma。　When　you　reach　those　benches；　you　can　take　a　good　rest　before　proceeding　to　the　house。　It　is　very　warm；　and　that　may　have　fatigued　you。〃

They　gained　the　benches；　which　were　placed　under　some　of　the　park　trees；　in　front　of　the　gates　and　the　road；　but　not　of　the　house；　and　Mrs。　Hare　sat　down。　Another　minute　and　they　were　surrounded。　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　wife；　and　sister；　who　were　taking　an　after…dinner　stroll　amidst　the　flowers　with　their　guest；　Francis　Levison；　discerned　them；　and　came　up。　The　children；　except　the　youngest；　were　of　the　party。　Lady　Isabel　warmly　welcomed　Mrs。　Hare；　she　had　become　quite　attached　to　the　delicate　and　suffering　woman。

〃A　pretty　one；　I　am；　am　I　not；　Archibald；　to　come　inquiring　after　one　invalid；　and　am　so　much　of　an　invalid　myself　that　I　have　to　stop　half…　way？〃　Mrs。　Hare　exclaimed；　as　Mr。　Carlyle　shook　her　hand。　〃I　was　so　greatly　concerned　to　hear　of　poor　Joyce。〃

〃You　must　stay　the　evening；　now　you　are　here；〃　cried　Lady　Isabel。　〃It　will　afford　you　a　good　rest；　and　tea　will　refresh　you。〃

〃Oh　thank　you；　but　we　have　taken　tea；〃　said　Mrs。　Hare。

〃There　is　no　reason　why　you　should　not　take　some　more；〃　she　laughed。　〃Indeed；　you　seem　too　fatigued　to　be　anything　but　a　prisoner　with　us　for　the　next　hour　or　two。〃

〃I　fear　I　am；〃　answered　Mrs。　Hare。

〃Who　the　dickens　are　they？〃　Captain　Levison　was　muttering　to　himself；　as　he　contemplated　the　guests　from　a　distance。　〃It's　a　deuced　pretty　girl；　whoever　she　may　be。　I　think　I'll　approach；　they　don't　look　formidable。〃

He　did　approach；　and　the　introduction　was　made：　〃Captain　Levison；　Mrs。　Hare　and　Miss　Hare。〃　A　few　formal　words；　and　Captain　Levison　disappeared　again；　challenging　little　William　Carlyle　to　a　foot…race。

〃How　very　poorly　your　mamma　looks！〃　Mr。　Carlyle　exclaimed　to　Barbara；　when　they　were　beyond　the　hearing　of　Mrs。　Hare；　who　was　busy　talking　with　Lady　Isabel　and　Miss　Carlyle。　〃And　she　has　appeared　so　much　stronger　lately；　altogether　better。〃

〃The　walk　here　has　fatigued　her；　I　feared　it　would　be　too　long；　so　that　she　looks　unusually　pale；〃　replied　Barbara。　〃But　what　do　you　think　it　is　that　has　upset　her　again；　Mr。　Carlyle？〃

He　turned　his　inquiring　eyes　upon　Barbara。

〃Papa　came　downstairs　this　morning；　saying　mamma　was　ill；　that　she　had　one　of　her　old　attacks　of　fever　and　restlessness。　I　declare；　as　papa　spoke；　I　thought　to　myself　could　mamma　have　been　dreaming　some　foolish　dream　againfor　you　remember　how　ill　she　used　to　be　after　them。　I　ran　upstairs　and　the　first　thing　that　mamma　said　to　me　was；　that　she　had　had　one　of　those　dreadful　dreams。〃

〃I　fancied　she　must　have　outlived　her　fear　of　them；　that　her　own　plain　sense　had　come　to　her　aid　long　ago；　showing　her　how　futile　dreams　are；　meaning　nothing；　even　if　hers　do　occasionally　touch　upon　thatthat　unhappy　mystery。〃

〃You　may　just　as　well　reason　with　a　post　as　reason　with　mamma　when　she　is　suffering　from　the　influence　of　one　of　those　dreams；〃　returned　Barbara。　〃I　tried　it　this　morning。　I　asked　her　to　call　upas　you　observegood　sense　to　her　aid。　And　her　reply　was；　'How　could　she　help　her　feelings？　She　did　not　induce　the　dream　by　thinking　of　Richard；　or　in　any　other　way；　and　yet　it　came　and　shattered　her。'　Of　course　so　far；　mamma　is　right；　for　she　cannot　help　the　dreams　coming。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　made　no　immediate　reply。　He　picked　up　a　ball　belonging　to　one　of　the　children；　which　lay　in　his　path；　and　began　tossing　it　gently　in　his　hand。　〃It　is　a　singular　thing；〃　he　observed；　presently；　〃that　we　do　not　hear　from　Richard。〃

〃Oh；　very；　very。　And　I　know　mamma　distresses　over　it。　A　few　words　which　she　let　fall　this　morning；　betrayed　it　plainly。　I　am　no　believer　in　dreams；〃　continued　Barbara；　〃but　I　cannot　deny　that　these；　which　take　such　a　hold　upon　mamma；　do　bear　upon　the　case　in　a　curious　manner　the　one　she　had　last　night　especially。〃

〃What　was　it？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃She　dreamed　that　the　real　murderer　was　at　West　Lynne。　She　thought　he　was　at　our　houseas　a　visitor；　she　said；　or　like　one　making　a　morning　calland　we；　she　and　I；　were　conversing　with　him　about　the　murder。　He　wanted　to　deny　itto　put　it　on　Richard；　and　he　turned　and　whispered　to　Otway　Bethel；　who　stood　behind　his　chair。　This　is　another　strange　thing；〃　added　Barbara；　lifting　her　blue　eyes　in　their　deep　earnestness　to　the　face　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃What　is　strange？　You　speak　in　enigmas；　Barbara。〃

〃I　mean　that　Otway　Bethel　should　invariably　appear　in　her　dreams。　Until　that　stolen　visit　of　Richard's　we　had　no　idea　he　was　near　the　spot　at　the　time；　and　yet　he　had　always　made　a　prominent　feature　in　these　dreams。〃

〃And　who　was　the　murdererin　your　mamma's　dream？〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle；　speaking　as　gravely　as　though　he　were　upon　a　subject　that　men　ridicule　not。

〃She　cannot　remember；　except　that　he　seemed　a　gentleman；　and　that　we　held　intercourse　with　him　as　such。　Now；　that　again　is　remarkable。　We　never　told　her；　you　know；　of　our　suspicions　of　Captain　Thorn。〃

〃I　think　you　must　be　becoming　a　convert　to　the　theory　of　dreams　yourself；　Barbara；　you　are　so　very　earnest；〃　smiled　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃No；　not　to　dreams；　but　I　am　earnest　for　my　dear　brother　Richard's　sake。〃

〃That　Thorn　does　not　appear　in　a　hurry　again　to　favor　West　Lynne　with　his〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused；　for　Barbara　had　hurriedly　laid　her　hand　upon　his　arm；　with　a　warning　gesture。　In　talking　they　had　wandered　across　the　park　to　its　ornamental　grounds；　and　were　now　in　a　quiet　path；　overshadowed　on　the　other　side　by　a　chain　of　imitation　rocks。　Seated　astride　on　the　summit　of　these　rocks；　right　above　where　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Barbara　were　standing　was　Francis　Levison。　His　face　was　turned　from　them　and　he　appeared　intent　upon　a　child's　whip；　winding　leather　round　its　handle。　Whether　he　heard　their　footsteps　or　not；　he　did　not　turn。　They　quickened　their　pace；　and　quitted　the　walk；　bending　their　steps　backward　toward　the　group　of　ladies。

〃Could　he　have　heard　what　we　were　saying？〃　ejaculated　Barbara；　below　her　breath。

Mr。　Carlyle　looked　down　upon　the　concerned；　flushed　cheeks　with　a　smile。　Barbara　was　so　evidently　perturbed。　But　for　a　certain　episode　of　their　lives；　some　years　ago；　he　might　have　soothed　her　tenderly。

〃I　think　he　must　have　heard　a　little；　Barbara；　unless　his　wits　were　wool…gathering。　He　might　not　be　attending。　What　if　he　did　hear？　It　is　of　no　consequence。〃

〃I　was　speaking；　you　kn