east lynne-第44章

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　you　outraged　and　betrayed　　　her；　driving　her　to　the　very　depth　of　desperation　ere　she　quitted　　　them　in　her　despair。〃

The　handwriting；　his　wife's；　swam　before　the　eyes　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　All；　save　the　disgraceful　fact　that　she　had　/flown/and　a　horrible　suspicion　began　to　dawn　upon　him；　with　whomwas　totally　incomprehensible。　How　had　he　outraged　her？　In　what　manner　had　he　goaded　her　to　it。　The　discomforts　alluded　to　by　Joyce；　and　the　work　of　his　sister；　had　evidently　no　part　in　this；　yet　what　had　/he/　done？　He　read　the　letter　again；　more　slowly。　No　he　could　not　comprehend　it；　he　had　not　the　clue。

At　that　moment　the　voices　of　the　servants　in　the　corridor　outside　penetrated　his　ears。　Of　course　they　were　peering　about；　and　making　their　own　comments。　Wilson；　with　her　long　tongue；　the　busiest。　They　were　saying　that　Captain　Levison　was　not　in　his　room；　that　his　bed　had　not　been　slept　in。

Joyce　sat　on　the　edge　of　a　chairshe　could　not　standwatching　her　master　with　a　blanched　face。　Never　had　she　seen　him　betray　agitation　so　powerful。　Not　the　faintest　suspicion　of　the　dreadful　truth　yet　dawned　upon　her。　He　walked　to　the　door；　the　open　note　in　his　hand；　then　turned；　wavered；　and　stood　still；　as　if　he　did　not　know　what　he　was　doing。　Probably　he　did　not。　Then　he　took　out　his　pocket…book；　put　the　note　inside　it；　and　returned　it　to　his　pocket；　his　hands　trembling　equally　with　his　livid　lips。

〃You　need　not　mention　this；〃　he　said　to　Joyce；　indicating　the　note。　〃It　concerns　myself　alone。〃

〃Sir；　does　it　say　she's　dead？〃

〃She　is　not　dead；〃　he　answered。　〃Worse　than　that；〃　he　added　in　his　heart。

〃Whywho's　this？〃　uttered　Joyce。

It　was　little　Isabel；　stealing　in　with　a　frightened　face；　in　her　white　nightgown。　The　commotion　had　aroused　her。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　she　asked。　〃Where's　mamma？〃

〃Child；　you'll　catch　your　death　of　cold；〃　said　Joyce。　〃Go　back　to　bed。〃

〃But　I　want　mamma。〃

〃In　the　morning；　dear；〃　evasively　returned　Joyce。　〃Sir；　please；　must　not　Isabel　go　back　to　bed？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　made　no　reply　to　the　question；　most　likely　he　never　heard　its　import。　But　he　touched　Isabel's　shoulder　to　draw　Joyce's　attention　to　the　child。

〃Joyce/Miss　Lucy/　in　future。〃

He　left　the　room；　and　Joyce　remained　silent　from　amazement。　She　heard　him　go　out　at　the　hall　door　and　bang　it　after　him。　Isabelnay；　we　must　say　〃Lucy〃　alsowent　and　stood　outside　the　chamber　door；　the　servants　gathered　in　a　group　near；　did　not　observe　her。　Presently　she　came　running　back；　and　disturbed　Joyce　from　her　reverie。

〃Joyce；　is　it　true？〃

〃Is　what　true；　my　dear？〃

〃They　are　saying　that　Captain　Levison　has　taken　away　my　mamma。〃

Joyce　fell　back　in　her　chair　with　a　scream。　It　changed　to　a　long；　low　moan　of　anguish。

〃What　has　he　taken　her　forto　kill　her？　I　thought　it　was　only　kidnappers　who　took　people。〃

〃Child；　child；　go　to　bed。〃

〃Oh；　Joyce；　I　want　mamma。　When　will　she　come　back？〃

Joyce　hid　her　face　in　her　hands　to　conceal　its　emotion　from　the　motherless　child。　And　just　then　Miss　Carlyle　entered　on　tiptoe；　and　humbly　sat　down　on　a　low　chair；　her　green　facegreen　that　nightin　its　grief；　its　remorse；　and　its　horror；　looking　nearly　as　dark　as　her　stockings。

She　broke　into　a　subdued　wail。

〃God　be　merciful　to　this　dishonored　house！〃

Mr。　Justice　Hare　turned　into　the　gate　between　twelve　and　oneturned　in　with　a　jaunty　air；　for　the　justice　was　in　spirits；　he　having　won　nine　sixpences；　and　his　friend's　tap　of　ale　having　been　unusually　good。　When　he　reached　his　bedroom；　he　told　Mrs。　Hare　of　a　chaise　and　four　which　had　gone　tearing　past　at　a　furious　pace　as　he　was　closing　the　gate；　coming　from　the　direction　of　East　Lynne。　He　wondered　where　it　could　be　going　at　that　midnight　hour；　and　whom　it　contained。



CHAPTER　XXV。

CHARMING　RESULTS。

Nearly　a　year　went　by。

Lady　Isabel　Carlyle　had　spent　it　on　the　continentthat　refuge　for　such　fugitivesnow　moving　about　from　place　to　place　with　her　companion；　now　stationary　and　alone。　Quite　half　the　timetaking　one　absence　with　the　otherhe　had　been　away　from　her；　chiefly　in　Paris；　pursuing　his　own　course　and　his　own　pleasure。

How　fared　it　with　Lady　Isabel？　Just　as　it　must　be　expected　to　fare；　and　does　fare；　when　a　high…principled　gentlewoman　falls　from　her　pedestal。　Never　had　she　experienced　a　moment's　calm；　or　peace；　or　happiness；　since　the　fatal　night　of　quitting　her　home。　She　had　taken　a　blind　leap　in　a　moment　of　wild　passion；　when；　instead　of　the　garden　of　roses　it　had　been　her　persuader's　pleasure　to　promise　her　she　would　fall　into；　but　which；　in　truth；　she　had　barely　glanced　at；　for　that　had　not　been　her　moving　motive；　she　had　found　herself　plunged　into　a　yawning　abyss　of　horror；　from　which　there　was　never　more　any　escape　never　more；　never　more。　The　very　instantthe　very　night　of　her　departure；　she　awoke　to　what　she　had　done。　The　guilt；　whose　aspect　had　been　shunned　in　the　prospective；　assumed　at　once　its　true　frightful　color；　the　blackness　of　darkness；　and　a　lively　remorse；　a　never…dying　anguish；　took　possession　of　her　soul　forever。　Oh；　reader；　believe　me！　Ladywifemother！　Should　you　ever　be　tempted　to　abandon　your　home；　so　will　you　awake。　Whatever　trials　may　be　the　lot　of　your　married　life；　though　they　may　magnify　themselves　to　your　crushed　spirit　as　beyond　the　nature；　the　endurance　of　woman　to　bear；　/resolve/　to　bear　them；　fall　down　upon　your　knees；　and　pray　to　be　enabled　to　bear　them　pray　for　patiencepray　for　strength　to　resist　the　demon　that　would　tempt　you　to　escape；　bear　unto　death；　rather　than　forfeit　your　fair　name　and　your　good　conscience；　for　be　assured　that　the　alternative；　if　you　do　rush　on　to　it；　will　be　found　worse　than　death。

Poor　thingpoor　Lady　Isabel！　She　had　sacrificed　husband；　children；　reputation；　home；　all　that　makes　life　of　value　to　woman。　She　had　forfeited　her　duty　to　God；　had　deliberately　broken　his　commandments；　for　the　one　poor　miserable　mistake　of　flying　with　Francis　Levison。　But　the　instant　the　step　was　irrevocable；　the　instant　she　had　left　the　barrier　behind；　repentance　set　in。　Even　in　the　first　days　of　her　departure；　in　the　fleeting　moments　of　abandonment；　when　it　may　be　supposed　she　might　momentarily　forget　conscience；　it　was　sharply　wounding　her　with　its　adder　stings；　and　she　knew　that　her　whole　future　existence；　whether　spent　with　that　man　or　without　him；　would　be　a　dark　course　of　gnawing　retribution。

Nearly　a　year　went　by；　save　some　six　or　eight　weeks；　when；　one　morning　in　July；　Lady　Isabel　made　her　appearance　in　the　breakfast…room。　They　were　staying　now　at　Grenoble。　Taking　that　town　on　their　way　to　Switzerland　through　Savoy；　it　had　been　Captain　Levison's　pleasure　to　halt　in　it。　He　engaged　apartments；　furnished；　in　the　vicinity　of　the　Place　Grenette。　A　windy；　old　house　it　was；　full　of　doors　and　windows；　chimneys　and　cupboards；　and　he　said　he　should　remain　there。　Lady　Isabel　remonstrated；　she　wished　to　go　farther　on；　where　they　might　get　quicker　news　from　England；　but　her　will　now　was　as　nothing。　She　was　looking　like　the　ghost　of　her　former　self。　Talk　of　her　having　looked　ill　when　she　took　that　voyage　over　the　water　with　Mr。　Carlyle；　you　should　have　seen　her　nowmisery　marks　the　countenance　worse　than　sickness。　Her　face　was　white　and　worn；　her　hands　were　thin；　her　eyes　were　sunken　and　surrounded　by　a　black　circlecare　was　digging　caves　for　them。　A　stranger　might　have　attributed　these　signs　to　the　state　of　her　health；　/she/　knew　betterknew　that　they　were　the　effects　of　her　wretched　mind　and　heart。

It　was　very　late　for　breakfast；　but　why　should　she　rise　early　only　to　drag　through　another　endless　day？　Languidly　she　took　her　seat　at　the　table；　just　as　Captain　Levison's　servant；　a　Frenchman　whom　he　had　engaged　in　Paris；　entered　the　room　with　two　letters。

〃/Point　de　gazette/；　Pierre？〃　she　said。

〃/Non；　miladi/。〃

And　all　the　time　the　sly　fox　had　got　the　/Times/　in　his　coat　pocket。　But　he　was　only　obeying　the　orders　of　his　master。　It　had　been　Captain　Levison's　recent　pleasure　that　the　newspapers　should　not　be　seen　by　Lady　Isabel　until　he　had　over…looked　them。　You　will　speedily　gather　his　motive。

Pierre　departed　toward　Captain　Levison's　room；　and　Lady　Isabel　took　up　the　letters　and　examined　their　superscription　with　interest。　It　was　known　to　her　that　Mr。　Carlyle　had　not　lost　a　moment　in　seeking　a　divorce　and　the　announcement　that　it　was　granted　was　now　daily　expected。　She　was　anxious　for　itanxious　that　Captain　Levison　should　render　her　the　only　reparation　in　his　power　before　the　birth　of　her　unhappy　child。　Little　thought　she　that　there　was　not　the　least　intention　on　his　part　to　make　her　reparation；　any　more　than　he　had　made　it　to　others　who　had　gone　before　her。　She　had　become　painfully　aware　of　the　fact　that　the　man　for　whom　she　had　chosen　to　sacrifice　herself　was　bad；　but　she　had　not　learned　all　his　badness　yet。

Captain　Levison；　unwashed；　unshaven；　with　a　dressing…gown　loosely　flung　on；　lounged　in　to　breakfast。　The　decked…out　dandies　before　the　world　are　frequently　the　greatest　slovens　in　domestic　privacy。　He　wished　her　good　morning　in　a　careless　tone　of　apathy；　and　she　as　apathetically　answered　to　it。

〃Pierre　says　there　are　some　letters；〃　he　began。　〃What　a　precious　hot　day　it　is！〃

〃Two；〃　was　her　short　reply；　her　tone　sullen　as　his。　For　if　you　think　my　good　reader；　that　the　flattering　words；　the　ardent　expressions；　which　usually　attend　the　first　go…off　of　these　promising　unions　last　out　a　whole　ten　months；　you　are　in　egregious　error。　Compliments　the　very　opposite　to　honey　and　sweetness　have　generally　supervened　long　before。　Try　it；　if　you　don't　believe　me。

〃Two　letters；〃　she　continued；　〃and　they　are　both　in　the　same　handwritingyour　solicitors'；　I　believe。〃

Up　went　his　hand　at　the　last　word；　and　he　made　a　sort　of　grab　at　the　letters；　stalked　to　the　farthest　window；　opened　it；　and　glanced　over　its　contents。

　〃SirWe　beg　to　inform　you　that　the　suit　Carlyle　vs。　Carlyle；　is　at　　　an　end。　The　divorce　was　pronounced　without　opposition。　According　　　to　your　request；　we　hasten　to　forward　you　the　earliest　intimation　　　of　the　fact。

〃We　are；　sir；　faithfully　yours；　〃MOSS　&　GRAB。

　〃F。　LEVISON；　Esq。〃


It　was　over；　then；　and　all　claim　to　the　name　of　Carlyle　was　declared　to　have　been　forfeited　by　the　Lady　Isabel　forever。　Captain　Levison　folded　up　the　letter；　and　placed　it　securely　in　an　inner　pocket。

〃Is　there　any　news？〃　she　asked。

〃News！〃

〃Of　the　divorce；　I　mean？〃

〃Tush！〃　was　the　response　of　Captain　Levison；　as　if　wishing　to　imply　that　the　divorce　was　yet　a　far…off　affair；　and　he　proceeded　to　open　the　other　letter。

　〃SirAfter　sending　off　our　last；　dated　to…day；　we　received　tidings　　　of　the　demise　of　Sir　Peter　Levison；　your　grand…uncle。　He　expired　　　this　afternoon　in　town；　where　he　had　come　for　the　benefit　of　　　medical　advice。　We　have　much　pleasure　in　congratulating　you　upon　　　your　accession　to　the　title　and　estates；　and　beg　to　state　that　　　should　it　not　be　convenient　to　you　to　visit　England　at　present；　we　　　will　be　happy　to　transact　all　necessary　matters　for　you；　on　your　　　favoring　us　with　instructions。　And　we　remain；　sir；　most　faithfully　　　yours；

〃MOSS　&　GRAB。

　〃SIR　FRANCIS　LEVISON；　Bart。〃


The　outside　of　the　letter　was　superscribed　as　the　other；　〃F。　Levison；　Esquire；〃　no　doubt　with　a　view　to　its　more　certain　delivery。

〃At　la