east lynne-第40章

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Now；　by　some　mischievous　spirit　of　intuition　or　contrariety；　Justice　Hare　was　spending　this　evening　at　home；　a　thing　he　did　not　do　once　in　six　months　unless　he　had　friends　with　him。　Things　in　real　life　do　mostly　go　by　the　rules　of　contrary；　as　children　say　in　their　play；　holding　the　corners　of　the　handkerchief；　〃Here　we　go　round　and　round　by　the　rules　of　conte…rary；　if　I　tell　you　to　hold　fast；　you　must　loose；　if　I　tell　you　to　loose；　you　must　hold　fast。〃　Just　so　in　the　play　of　life。　When　we　want　people　to　〃hold　fast；〃　they　〃loose；〃　and　when　we　want　them　to　〃loose；〃　they　〃hold　fast。〃

Barbara；　anxious；　troubled；　worn　out　almost　with　the　suspense　of　looking　and　watching　for　her　brother；　feeling　a　feverish　expectation　that　night　would　bring　himbut　so　had　she　felt　for　the　two　or　three　nights　pastwould　have　given　her　hand　for　her　father　to　go　out。　But　nothings　were　going　by　the　rule　of　contrary。　There　sat　the　stern　justice　in　full　view　of　the　garden　and　the　grove；　his　chair　drawn　precisely　in　front　of　the　window；　his　wig　awry；　and　a　long　pipe　in　his　mouth。

〃Are　you　not　going　out；　Richard？〃　Mrs。　Hare　ventured　to　say。

〃No。〃

〃Mamma；　shall　I　ring　for　the　shutters　to　be　closed？〃　asked　Barbara；　by　and　by。

〃Shutters　closed？〃　said　the　justice。　〃Who'd　shut　out　this　bright　moon？　You　have　got　the　lamp　at　the　far　end　of　the　room；　young　lady；　and　can　go　to　it。〃

Barbara　ejaculated　an　inward　prayer　for　patiencefor　safety　of　Richard；　if　he　did　come；　and　waited　on；　watching　the　grove　in　the　distance。　It　came；　the　signal；　her　quick　eye　caught　it；　a　movement　as　if　some　person　or　thing　had　stepped　out　beyond　the　trees　and　stepped　back　again。　Barbara's　face　turned　white　and　her　lips　dry。

〃I　am　so　hot！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　her　confused　eagerness　for　an　excuse；　〃I　must　take　a　turn　in　the　garden。〃

She　stole　out；　throwing　a　dark　shawl　over　her　shoulders；　that　might　render　her　less　conspicuous　to　the　justice；　and　her　dress　that　evening　was　a　dark　silk。　She　did　not　dare　to　stand　still　when　she　reached　the　trees；　or　to　penetrate　them；　but　she　caught　glimpses　of　Richard's　face；　and　her　heart　ached　at　the　change　in　it。　It　was　white；　thin；　and　full　of　care；　and　his　hair；　he　told　her；　was　turning　gray。

〃Oh；　Richard；　darling；　and　I　may　not　stop　to　talk　to　you！〃　she　wailed；　in　a　deep　whisper。　〃Papa　is　at　home；　you　see；　of　all　the　nights　in　the　world。〃

〃Can't　I　see　my　mother？〃

〃How　can　you？　You　must　wait　till　to…morrow　night。〃

〃I　don't　like　waiting　a　second　night；　Barbara。　There's　danger　in　every　inch　of　ground　that　this　neighborhood　contains。〃

〃But　you　must　wait；　Richard；　for　reasons。　That　man　who　caused　all　the　mischiefThorn〃

〃Hang　him！〃　gloomily　interrupted　Richard。

〃He　is　at　West　Lynne。　At　least　there　is　a　Thorn；　weI　and　Mr。　Carlyle　believe　to　be　the　same；　and　we　want　you　to　see　him。〃

〃Let　me　see　him；〃　panted　Richard；　whom　the　news　appeared　to　agitate；　〃let　me　see　him；　Barbara；　I　say〃

Barbara　had　passed　on　again；　returning　presently。

〃You　know；　Richard；　I　must　keep　moving；　with　papa's　eyes　there。　He　is　a　tall　man；　very　good…looking；　very　fond　of　dress　and　ornament；　especially　of　diamonds。〃

〃That's　he；〃　cried　Richard；　eagerly。

〃Mr。　Carlyle　will　contrive　that　you　shall　see　him；〃　she　continued；　stooping　as　if　to　tie　her　shoe。　〃Should　it　prove　to　be　the　same；　perhaps　nothing　can　be　doneimmediately　donetoward　clearing　you；　but　it　shall　be　a　great　point　ascertained。　Are　you　sure　you　should　know　him　again？〃

〃Sure！　That　I　should　know　/him/？〃　uttered　Richard　Hare。　〃Should　I　know　my　own　father？　Should　I　know　you？　And　are　you　not　engraven　on　my　heart　in　letters　of　blood；　as　is　he？　How　and　when　am　I　to　see　him；　Barbara？〃

〃I　can　tell　you　nothing　till　I　have　seen　Mr。　Carlyle。　Be　here　to…morrow；　as　soon　as　ever　the　dusk　will　permit　you。　Perhaps　Mr。　Carlyle　will　contrive　to　bring　him　here。　If〃

The　window　was　thrown　open；　and　the　stentorian　voice　of　Justice　Hare　was　heard　from　it。

〃Barbara；　are　you　wandering　about　there　to　take　cold？　Come　in！　Come　in；　I　say！〃

〃Oh；　Richard；　I　am　so　sorry！〃　she　lingered　to　whisper。　〃But　papa　is　sure　to　be　out　to…morrow　evening；　he　would　not　stay　in　two　evenings　running。　Good…night；　dear。〃

There　must　be　no　delay　now；　and　the　next　day　Barbara；　braving　comments；　appeared　once　more　at　the　office　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　Terribly　did　the　rules　of　contrary　seem　in　action　just　then。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　not　in；　and　the　clerks　did　not　know　when　to　expect　him；　he　was　gone　out　for　some　hours；　they　believed。

〃Mr。　Dill；〃　urged　Barbara；　as　the　old　gentleman　came　to　the　door　to　greet　her；　〃I　/must/　see　him。〃

〃He　will　not　be　in　till　late　in　the　afternoon；　Miss　Barbara。　I　expect　him　then。　Is　it　anything　I　can　do？〃

〃No；　no；〃　sighed　Barbara。

At　that　moment　Lady　Isabel　and　her　little　girl　passed　in　the　chariot。　She　saw　Barbara　at　her　husband's　door；　what　should　she　be　doing　there；　unless　paying　him　a　visit？　A　slight；　haughty　bow　to　Barbara；　a　pleasant　nod　and　smile　to　Mr。　Dill；　and　the　carriage　bowled　on。

It　was　four　o'clock　before　Barbara　could　see　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　communicate　her　tidings　that　Richard　had　arrived。

Mr。　Carlyle　held　deceit　and　all　underhand　doings　in　especial　abhorrence；　yet　he　deemed　that　he　was　acting　right；　under　the　circumstances；　in　allowing　Captain　Thorn　to　be　secretly　seen　by　Richard　Hare。　In　haste　he　arranged　his　plans。　It　was　the　evening　of　his　own　dinner　engagement　at　Mrs。　Jefferson's　but　that　he　must　give　up。　Telling　Barbara　to　dispatch　Richard　to　his　office　as　soon　as　he　should　make　his　appearance　at　the　grove；　and　to　urge　him　to　come　boldly　and　not　fear；　for　none　would　know　him　in　his　disguise；　he　wrote　a　hurried　note　to　Thorn；　requesting　him　also　to　be　at　his　office　at　eight　o'clock　that　evening；　as　he　had　something　to　communicate　to　him。　The　latter　plea　was　no　fiction；　for　he　had　received　an　important　communication　that　morning　relative　to　the　business　on　which　Captain　Thorn　had　consulted　him；　and　his　own　absence　from　the　office　in　the　day　had　alone　prevented　his　sending　for　him　earlier。

Other　matters　were　calling　the　attention　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　it　was　five　o'clock　ere　he　departed　for　East　Lynne；　he　would　not　have　gone　so　early；　but　that　he　must　inform　his　wife　of　his　inability　to　keep　his　dinner　engagement。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　one　who　never　hesitated　to　sacrifice　personal　gratification　to　friendship　or　to　business。

The　chariot　was　at　the　door；　and　Lady　Isabel　dressed　and　waiting　for　him　in　her　dressing…room。　〃Did　you　forget　that　the　Jeffersons　dined　at　six？〃　was　her　greeting。

〃No；　Isabel；　but　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　get　here　before。　And　I　should　not　have　come　so　soon；　but　to　tell　you　that　I　cannot　accompany　you。　You　must　make　my　excuses　to　Mrs。　Jefferson。〃

A　pause。　Strange　thoughts　were　running　through　Lady　Isabel's　mind。　〃Why　so？〃　she　inquired。

〃Some　business　has　arisen　which　I　am　compelled　to　attend　to　this　evening。　As　soon　as　I　have　snatched　a　bit　of　dinner　at　home　I　must　hasten　back　to　the　office。〃

Was　he　making　this　excuse　to　spend　the　hours　of　her　absence　with　Barbara　Hare？　The　idea　that　it　was　so　took　firm　possession　of　her　mind；　and　remained　there。　Her　face　expressed　a　variety　of　feelings；　the　most　prominent　that　of　resentment。　Mr。　Carlyle　saw　it。

〃You　must　not　be　vexed；　Isabel。　I　assure　you　it　is　no　fault　of　mine。　It　is　important　private　business　which　cannot　be　put　off；　and　which　I　cannot　delegate　to　Dill。　I　am　sorry　it　should　have　so　happened。〃

〃You　never　return　to　the　office　in　the　evening；〃　she　remarked；　with　pale　lips。

〃No；　because　if　anything　arises　to　take　us　there　after　hours；　Dill　officiates。　But　the　business　to…night　must　be　done　by　myself。〃

Another　pause。　Lady　Isabel　suddenly　broke　it。　〃Shall　you　join　us　later　in　the　evening？〃

〃I　believe　I　shall　not　be　able　to　do　so。〃

She　drew　her　light　shawl　around　her　shoulders；　and　swept　down　the　staircase。　Mr。　Carlyle　followed　to　place　her　in　the　carriage。　When　he　said　farewell；　she　never　answered　but　looked　out　straight　before　her　with　a　stony　look。

〃What　time；　my　lady？〃　inquired　the　footman；　as　he　alighted　at　Mrs。　Jefferson's。

〃Early。　Half…past　nine。〃

A　little　before　eight　o'clock；　Richard　Hare；　in　his　smock…frock　and　his　slouching　hat　and　his　false　whiskers；　rang　dubiously　at　the　outer　door　of　Mr。　Carlyle's　office。　That　gentleman　instantly　opened　it。　He　was　quite　alone。

〃Come　in；　Richard；〃　said　he；　grasping　his　hand。　〃Did　you　meet　any　whom　you　knew？〃

〃I　never　looked　at　whom　I　met；　sir；〃　was　the　reply。　〃I　thought　that　if　I　looked　at　people；　they　might　look　at　me；　so　I　came　straight　ahead　with　my　eyes　before　me。　How　the　place　has　altered！　There's　a　new　brick　house　on　the　corner　where　old　Morgan's　shop　used　to　stand。〃

〃That's　the　new　police　station。　West　Lynne　I　assure　you；　is　becoming　grand　in　public　buildings。　And　how　have　you　been；　Richard？〃

〃Ailing　and　wretched；〃　answered　Richard　Hare。　〃How　can　I　be　otherwise；　Mr。　Carlyle；　with　so　false　an　accusation　attached　to　me；　and　working　like　a　slave；　as　I　have　to　do？〃

〃You　may　take　off　the　disfiguring　hat；　Richard。　No　one　is　here。〃

Richard　slowly　heaved　it　from　his　brows；　and　his　fair　face；　so　like　his　mother's；　was　disclosed。　But　the　moment　he　was　uncovered　he　turned　shrinkingly　toward　the　entrance　door。　〃If　any　one　should　come　in；　sir？〃

〃Impossible！〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　front　door　is　fast；　and　the　office　is　supposed　to　be　empty　at　this　hour。〃

〃For　if　I　should　be　seen　and　recognized；　it　might　come　to　hanging；　you　know；　sir。　You　are　expecting　that　cursed　Thorn　here；　Barbara　told　me。〃

〃Directly；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　observing　the　mode　of　addressing　him　〃sir。〃　It　spoke　plainly　of　the　scale　of　society　in　which　Richard　had　been　mixing；　that　he　was　with　those　who　said　it　habitually；　nay；　that　he　used　it　habitually　himself。　〃From　your　description　of　the　Lieutenant　Thorn　who　destroyed　Hallijohn；　we　believe　this　Captain　Thorn　to　be　the　same　man；〃　pursued　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃In　person　he　appears　to　tally　exactly；　and　I　have　ascertained　that　a　few　years　ago　he　was　a　deal　at　Swainson；　and　got　into　some　sort　of　scrape。　He　is　in　John　Herbert's　regiment；　and　is　here　with　him　on　a　visit。〃

〃But　what　an　idiot　he　must　be　to　venture　here！〃　uttered　Richard。　〃Here　of　all　places　in　the　world！〃

〃He　counts；　no　doubt；　on　not　being　known。　So　far　as　I　can　find　out；　Richard；　nobody　here　did　know　him；　save　you　and　Afy。　I　shall　put　you　in　Mr。　Dill's　roomyou　may　remember　the　little　window　in　itand　from　thence　you　can　take　a　full　view　of　Thorn；　whom　I　shall　keep　in　the　front　office。　You　are　sure　you　would　recognize　him　at　this　distance　of　time？〃

〃I　should　know　him　if　it　were　fifty　years　to　come；　I　should　know　him　were　he　disguised　as　I　am　disguised。　We　cannot；〃　Richard　sank　his　voice；　〃forget　a　man　who　has　been　the　object　of　our　frenzied　jealousy。〃

〃What　has　brought　you　to　East　Lynne　again；　Richard？　Any　particular　object？〃

〃Chiefly　a　hankering　within　me　that　I　could　not　get　rid　of；〃　replied　Richard。　〃It　was　not　so　much　to　see　my　mother　and　Barbarathough　I　did　want　that；　especially　since　my　illnessas　that　a　feeling　was　within　me　that　I　could　not　rest　away　from　it。　So　I　said　I'd　risk　it　again；　just　for　a　day。〃

〃I　thought　you　might　possibly　want　some　assistance；　as　before。〃

〃I　do　want　that；　also；〃　said　Richard。　〃N