east lynne-第43章

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Lady　Isabel　was　in　her　dressing…room　when　Mr。　Carlyle　entered；　she　was　seated　at　a　table；　writing。　A　few　questions　as　to　her　evening's　visit；　which　she　answered　in　the　briefest　way　possible；　and　then　he　asked　her　if　she　was　not　going　to　bed。

〃By　and　by。　I　am　not　sleepy。〃

〃I　must　go　at　once；　Isabel；　for　I　am　dead　tired。〃　And　no　wonder。

〃You　can　go；〃　was　her　answer。

He　bent　down　to　kiss　her；　but　she　dexterously　turned　her　face　away。　He　supposed　that　she　felt　hurt　that　he　had　not　gone　with　her　to　the　party；　and　placed　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　with　a　pleasant　smile。

〃You　foolish　child；　to　be　aggrieved　at　that！　It　was　no　fault　of　mine；　Isabel；　I　could　not　help　myself。　I　will　talk　to　you　in　the　morning；　I　am　too　tired　to…night。　I　suppose　you　will　not　be　long。〃

Her　head　was　bent　over　her　writing　again；　and　she　made　no　reply。　Mr。　Carlyle　went　into　his　bedroom　and　shut　the　door。　Some　time　after；　Lady　Isabel　went　softly　upstairs　to　Joyce's　room。　Joyce；　fast　in　her　first　sleep；　was　suddenly　aroused　from　it。　There　stood　her　mistress；　a　wax　light　in　her　hand。　Joyce　rubbed　her　eyes；　and　collected　her　senses；　and　finally　sat　up　in　bed。

〃My　lady！　Are　you　ill？〃

〃Ill！　Yes；　ill　and　wretched；〃　answered　Lady　Isabel；　and　ill　she　did　look；　for　she　was　perfectly　white。　〃Joyce；　I　want　a　promise　from　you。　If　anything　should　happen　to　me；　stay　at　East　Lynne　with　my　children。〃

Joyce　stared　in　amazement；　too　much　astonished　to　make　any　reply。

〃Joyce；　you　promised　it　once　before；　promise　it　again。　Whatever　betide　you；　you　will　stay　with　my　children　when　I　am　gone。〃

〃I　will　stay　with　them。　But；　oh；　my　lady；　what　can　be　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　taken　suddenly　ill？〃

〃Good…bye；　Joyce；〃　murmured　Lady　Isabel；　gliding　from　the　chamber　as　quietly　as　she　had　entered　it。　And　Joyce；　after　an　hour　of　perplexity；　dropped　asleep　again。

Joyce　was　not　the　only　one　whose　rest　was　disturbed　that　eventful　night。　Mr。　Carlyle　himself　awoke；　and　to　his　surprise　found　that　his　wife　had　not　come　to　bed。　He　wondered　what　the　time　was；　and　struck　his　repeater。　A　quarter　past　three！

Rising；　he　made　his　way　to　the　door　of　his　wife's　dressing…room。　It　was　in　darkness；　and；　so　far　as　he　could　judge　by　the　absence　of　sound；　unoccupied。

〃Isabel！〃

No　reply。　Nothing　but　the　echo　of　his　own　voice　in　the　silence　of　the　night。

He　struck　a　match　and　lighted　a　taper；　partially　dressed　himself；　and　went　about　to　look　for　her。　He　feared　she　might　have　been　taken　ill；　or　else　that　she　had　fallen　asleep　in　some　one　of　the　rooms。　But　nowhere　could　he　find　her；　and　feeling　perplexed；　he　proceeded　to　his　sister's　chamber　door　and　knocked。

Miss　Carlyle　was　a　slight　sleeper；　and　rose　up　in　bed　at　once。　〃Who's　that？〃　cried　out　she。

〃It　is　only　I；　Cornelia；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃You！〃　cried　Miss　Corny。　〃What　in　the　name　of　fortune　do　you　want？　You　can　come　in。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　opened　the　door；　and　met　the　keen　eyes　of　his　sister　bent　on　him　from　the　bed。　Her　head　was　surmounted　by　a　remarkable　nightcap；　at　least　a　foot　high。

〃Is　anybody　ill？〃　she　demanded。

〃I　think　Isabel　must　be；　I　cannot　find　her。〃

〃Not　find　he？〃　echoed　Miss　Corny。　〃Why；　what's　the　time？　Is　she　not　in　bed？〃

〃It　is　three　o'clock。　She　had　not　been　to　bed。　I　cannot　find　her　in　the　sitting…rooms；　neither　is　she　in　the　children's　room。〃

〃Then　I'll　tell　you　what　it　is；　Archibald；　she's　gone　worrying　after　Joyce。　Perhaps　the　girl　may　be　in　pain　to…night。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　in　full　retreat　toward　Joyce's　room；　at　this　suggestion；　when　his　sister　called　to　him。

〃If　anything　is　amiss　with　Joyce；　you　come　and　tell　me；　Archibald；　for　I　shall　get　up　and　see　after　her。　The　girl　was　my　servant　before　she　was　your　wife's。〃

He　reached　Joyce's　room；　and　softly　unlatched　the　door；　fully　expecting　to　find　a　light　there；　and　his　wife　sitting　by　the　bedside。　There　was　no　light　there；　however；　save　that　which　came　from　the　taper　he　held；　and　he　saw　no　signs　of　his　wife。　/Where/　was　she？　Was　it　probable　that　Joyce　should　tell　him？　He　stepped　inside　the　room　and　called　to　her。

Joyce　started　up　in　a　fright；　which　changed　to　astonishment　when　she　recognized　her　master。　He　inquired　whether　Lady　Isabel　had　been　there；　and　for　a　few　moments　Joyce　did　not　answer。　She　had　been　dreaming　of　Lady　Isabel；　and　could　not　at　first　detach　the　dream　from　the　visit　which　had　probably　given　rise　to　it。

〃What　did　you　say；　sir？　Is　my　lady　worse？〃

〃I　asked　if　she　had　been　here。　I　cannot　find　her。〃

〃Why；　yes；〃　said　Joyce；　now　fully　aroused。　〃She　came　here　and　woke　me。　That　was　just　before　twelve；　for　I　heard　the　clock　strike。　She　did　not　stay　here　a　minute；　sir。〃

〃Woke　you！〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃What　did　she　want？　What　did　she　come　here　for？〃

Thoughts　are　quick；　imagination　is　still　quicker；　and　Joyce　was　giving　the　reins　to　both。　Her　mistress's　gloomy　and　ambiguous　words　were　crowding　on　her　brain。　Three　o'clock　and　she　had　not　been　in　bed；　and　was　not　to　be　found　in　the　house？　A　nameless　horror　struggled　to　Joyce's　face；　her　eyes　were　dilating　with　it；　she　seized　and　threw　on　a　large　flannel　gown　which　lay　on　a　chair　by　the　bed；　and　forgetful　of　her　master　who　stood　there；　out　she　sprang　to　the　floor。　All　minor　considerations　faded　to　insignificance　beside　the　terrible　dread　which　had　taken　possession　of　her。　Clasping　the　flannel　gown　tight　around　her　with　one　hand；　she　laid　the　other　on　the　arm　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Oh；　master！　Oh；　master！　She　has　destroyed　herself！　I　see　it　all　now。〃

〃Joyce！〃　sternly　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃She　has　destroyed　herself；　as　true　as　that　we　two　are　living　here；〃　persisted　Joyce；　her　own　face　livid　with　emotion。　〃I　can　understand　her　words　now；　I　could　not　before。　She　came　hereand　her　face　was　like　a　corpse　as　the　light　fell　upon　itsaying　she　had　come　to　get　a　promise　from　me　to　stay　with　her　children　when　she　was　gone；　I　asked　whether　she　was　ill；　and　she　answered；　'Yes；　ill　and　wretched。'　Oh；　sir；　may　heaven　support　you　under　this　dreadful　trial！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　felt　bewilderedperplexed。　Not　a　syllable　did　he　believe。　He　was　not　angry　with　Joyce；　for　he　thought　she　had　lost　her　reason。

〃It　is　so；　sir；　incredible　as　you　may　deem　my　words；〃　pursued　Joyce；　wringing　her　hands。　〃My　lady　has　been　miserably　unhappy；　and　that　has　driven　her　to　it。〃

〃Joyce；　are　you　in　your　senses　or　out　of　them？〃　demanded　Mr。　Carlyle；　a　certain　sternness　in　his　tone。　〃Your　lady　miserably　unhappy！　What　do　you　mean？〃

Before　Joyce　could　answer；　an　addition　was　received　to　the　company　in　the　person　of　Miss　Carlyle；　who　appeared　in　black　stockings　and　a　shawl；　and　the　lofty　nightcap。　Hearing　voices　in　Joyce's　room；　which　was　above　her　own；　and　full　of　curiosity；　she　ascended；　not　choosing　to　be　shut　out　from　the　conference。

〃Whatever's　up？〃　cried　she。　〃Is　Lady　Isabel　found？〃

〃She　is　not　found；　and　she　never　will　be　found　but　in　her　winding…　sheet；〃　returned　Joyce；　whose　lamentable　and　unusual　state　of　excitement　completely　overpowered　her　customary　quiet　respect　and　plain　good　sense。　〃And；　ma'am；　I　am　glad　that　you　have　come　up；　for　what　I　was　about　to　say　to　my　master　I　would　prefer　to　say　in　your　presence。　When　my　lady　is　brought　into　this　house；　and　laid　before　us　dead；　what　will　your　feelings　be？　My　master　has　done　his　duty　by　her　in　love；　but　youyou　have　made　her　life　a　misery。　Yes；　ma'am；　you　have。〃

〃Hoity…toity！〃　muttered　Miss　Carlyle；　staring　at　Joyce　in　consternation。　〃What　is　all　this？　Where's　my　lady？〃

〃She　has　gone　and　taken　the　life　that　was　not　hers　to　take；〃　sobbed　Joyce；　〃and　I　say　she　has　been　driven　to　it。　She　has　not　been　allowed　to　indulge　a　will　of　her　own；　poor　thing；　since　she　came　to　East　Lynne；　in　her　own　house　she　has　been　less　free　than　either　of　her　servants。　You　have　curbed　her；　ma'am；　and　snapped　at　her；　and　you　made　her　feel　that　she　was　but　a　slave　to　your　caprices　and　temper。　All　these　years　she　has　been　crossed　and　put　upon；　everything；　in　short；　but　beatenma'am；　you　know　she　hasand　has　borne　it　all　in　silence；　like　a　patient　angel；　never；　as　I　believe；　complaining　to　master；　he　can　say　whether　she　has　or　not。　We　all　loved　her；　we　all　felt　for　her；　and　my　master's　heart　would　have　bled　had　he　suspected　what　she　had　to　put　up　with　day　after　day；　and　year　after　year。〃

Miss　Carlyle's　tongue　was　glued　to　her　mouth。　Her　brother；　confounded　at　the　rapid　words；　could　scarcely　gather　in　their　sense。

〃What　is　it　that　you　are　saying；　Joyce？〃　he　asked；　in　a　low　tone。　〃I　do　not　understand。〃

〃I　have　longed　to　say　it　to　you　many　a　hundred　times；　sir；　but　it　is　right　that　you　should　hear　it；　now　things　have　come　to　this　dreadful　ending。　Since　the　very　night　Lady　Isabel　came　home　here；　your　wife；　she　had　been　taunted　with　the　cost　she　has　brought　to　East　Lynne　and　to　you。　If　she　wanted　but　the　simplest　thing；　she　was　forbidden　to　have　it；　and　told　that　she　was　bringing　her　husband　to　poverty。　For　this　very　dinner　party　that　she　went　to　to…night　she　wished　for　a　new　dress；　and　your　cruel　words；　ma'am；　forbade　her　having　it。　She　ordered　a　new　frock　for　Miss　Isabel；　and　you　countermanded　it。　You　have　told　her　that　master　worked　like　a　dog　to　support　her　extravagances；　when　you　know　that　she　never　was　extravagant；　that　none　were　less　inclined　to　go　beyond　proper　limits　than　she。　I　have　seen　her；　ma'am；　come　away　from　your　reproaches　with　the　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　her　hands　meekly　clasped　upon　her　bosom；　as　though　life　was　heavy　to　bear。　A　gentle…　spirited；　high…born　lady；　as　I　know　she　was；　could　not　fail　to　be　driven　to　desperation；　and　I　know　that　she　has　been。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　turned　to　his　sister。　〃Can　this　be　true？〃　he　inquired；　in　a　tone　of　deep　agitation。

She　did　not　answer。　Whether　it　was　the　shade　cast　by　the　nightcap；　or　the　reflection　of　the　wax　taper；　her　face　looked　of　a　green　cast；　and；　for　the　first　time　probably　in　Miss　Carlyle's　life；　her　words　failed　her。

〃May　God　forgive　you；　Cornelia！〃　he　muttered；　as　he　went　out　of　the　chamber。

He　descended　to　his　own。　That　his　wife　had　laid　violent　hands　upon　herself；　his　reason　utterly　repudiated；　she　was　one　of　the　least　likely　to　commit　so　great　a　sin。　He　believed　that；　in　her　unhappiness；　she　might　have　wandered　out　in　the　grounds；　and　was　lingering　there。　By　this　time　the　house　was　aroused；　and　the　servants　were　astir。　Joyce　surely　a　supernatural　strength　was　given　her；　for　though　she　had　been　able　to　put　her　foot　to　the　ground；　she　had　not　yet　walked　upon　itcrept　downstairs；　and　went　into　Lady　Isabel's　dressing…room。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　hastily　assuming　the　articles　of　attire　he　had　not　yet　put　on；　to　go　out　and　search　the　grounds；　when　Joyce　limped　in；　holding　out　a　note。　Joyce　did　not　stand　on　ceremony　that　night。

〃I　found　this　in　the　dressing…glass　drawer；　sir。　It　is　my　lady's　writing。〃

He　took　it　in　his　hand　and　looked　at　the　address〃Archibald　Carlyle。〃　Though　a　calm　man；　one　who　had　his　emotions　under　his　own　control；　he　was　no　stoic；　and　his　fingers　shook　as　he　broke　the　seal。

　〃When　years　go　on；　and　my　children　ask　where　their　mother　is；　and　　　why　she　left　them；　tell　them　that　you；　their　father；　goaded　her　to　　　it。　If　they　inquire　what　she　is；　tell　them；　also；　if　you　so　will；　　　but　tell　them；　at　the　same　time；　that　you　outraged　and　betrayed　　　her；　driving　her　to　the