east lynne-第46章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　can　never　be　repaired；　and；　for　myself；　I　cannot　imagine　any　fate　in　life　worse　than　being　compelled　to　pass　it　with　you。〃

〃If　you　have　taken　this　aversion　to　me；　it　cannot　be　helped；〃　he　coldly　said；　inwardly　congratulating　himself；　let　us　not　doubt；　at　being　spared　the　work　of　trouble　he　had　anticipated。　〃You　made　commotion　enough　once　about　me　making　you　reparation。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃All　the　reparation　in　your　power　to　makeall　the　reparation　that　the　whole　world　can　invent　could　not　undo　my　sin。　It　and　the　effects　must　lie　upon　me　forever。〃

〃Ohsin！〃　was　the　derisive　exclamation。　〃You　ladies　should　think　of　that　beforehand。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　sadly　answered。　〃May　heaven　help　all　to　do　so　who　may　be　tempted　as　I　was。〃

〃If　you　mean　that　as　a　reproach　to　me；　it's　rather　out　of　place；〃　chafed　Sir　Francis；　whose　fits　of　ill…temper　were　under　no　control；　and　who　never；　when　in　them；　cared　what　he　said　to　outrage　the　feelings　of　another。　〃The　temptation　to　sin；　as　you　call　it；　lay　not　in　my　persuasions　half　so　much　as　in　your　jealous　anger　toward　your　husband。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　was　her　reply。

〃And　I　believe　you　were　on　the　wrong　scent；　Isabelif　it　will　be　any　satisfaction　to　you　to　hear　it。　Since　we　are　mutually　on　this　complimentary　discourse；　it　is　of　no　consequence　to　smooth　over　facts。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　what　you　would　imply；〃　she　said；　drawing　her　shawl　round　her　with　a　fresh　shiver。　〃How　on　the　wrong　scent？〃

〃With　regard　to　your　husband　and　that　Hare　girl。　You　were　blindly；　outrageously　jealous　of　him。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃And　I　say　I　think　you　are　on　the　wrong　scent。　I　do　not　believe　Mr。　Carlyle　ever　thought　of　the　girlin　that　way。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　gasped。

〃They　had　a　secret　between　themnot　of　lovea　secret　of　business；　and　those　interviews　they　had　together；　her　dancing　attendance　upon　him　perpetually；　related　to　that；　and　that　alone。〃

Her　face　was　more　flushed　than　it　had　been　throughout　the　interview。　He　spoke　quietly　now；　quite　in　an　equal　tone　of　reasoning；　it　was　his　way　when　the　ill…temper　was　upon　him：　and　the　calmer　he　spoke；　the　more　cutting　were　his　words。　He　/need/　not　have　told　her　this。

〃What　was　the　secret？〃　she　inquired；　in　a　low　tone。

〃Nay；　I　can't　explain　all；　they　did　not　take　me　into　their　confidence。　They　did　not　even　take　you；　better；　perhaps　that　they　had　though；　as　things　have　turned　out；　or　seem　to　be　turning。　There's　some　disreputable　secret　attaching　to　the　Hare　family；　and　Carlyle　was　acting　in　it；　under　the　rose；　for　Mrs。　Hare。　She　could　not　seek　out　Carlyle　herself；　so　she　sent　the　young　lady。　That's　all　I　know。〃

〃How　did　you　know　it？〃

〃I　had　reason　to　think　so。〃

〃What　reason？　I　must　request　you　to　tell　me。〃

〃I　overheard　scraps　of　their　conversation　now　and　then　in　those　meetings；　and　so　gathered　my　information。〃

〃You　told　a　different　tale　to　me；　Sir　Francis；〃　was　her　remark；　as　she　turned　her　indignant　eyes　toward　him。

Sir　Francis　laughed。

〃All　stratagems　are　fair　in　love　and　war。〃

She　dared　not　immediately　trust　herself　to　reply；　and　a　silence　ensued。　Sir　Francis　broke　it；　pointing　with　his　left　thumb　over　his　shoulder　in　the　direction　of　the　cradle。

〃What　have　you　named　that　young　article　there？〃

〃The　name　which　ought　to　have　been　his　by　inheritance'Francis　Levison；'　〃　was　her　icy　answer。

〃Let's　seehow　old　is　he　now？〃

〃He　was　born　on　the　last　day　of　August。〃

Sir　Francis　threw　up　his　arms　and　stretched　himself；　as　if　a　fit　of　idleness　had　overtaken　him；　then　advanced　to　the　cradle　and　pulled　down　the　clothes。

〃Who　is　he　like；　Isabel？　My　handsome　self？〃

〃Were　he　like　you　in　spirit；　I　would　pray　that　he　might　die　ere　he　could　speak；　or　think！〃　she　burst　forth。　And　then　remembering　the　resolution　marked　out　for　herself；　subsided　outwardly　into　calmness　again。

〃What　else？〃　retorted　Sir　Francis。　〃You　know　my　disposition　pretty　well　by　this　time；　Isabel；　and　may　be　sure　that　if　you　deal　out　small　change　to　me；　you　will　get　it　back　again　with　interest。〃

She　made　no　reply。　Sir　Francis　put　the　clothes　back　over　the　sleeping　child；　returned　to　the　fire；　and　stood　a　few　moments　with　his　back　to　it。

〃Is　my　room　prepared　for　me；　do　you　know？〃　he　presently　asked。

〃No；　it　is　not；〃　she　quietly　rejoined。　〃These　apartments　are　mine　now；　they　have　been　transferred　into　my　name；　and　they　can　never　again　afford　you　accommodation。　Will　you　be　so　obligingI　am　not　strongas　to　hand　me　that　writing　case？〃

Sir　Francis　walked　to　the　table　she　indicated；　which　was　at　the　far　end　of　the　great　barn　of　a　room；　and　taking　the　writing…case　from　it；　gave　it　to　her。

She　reached　her　keys　from　the　stand　at　her　elbow；　unlocked　the　case；　and　took　from　it　some　bank…notes。

〃I　received　these　from　you　a　month　ago；〃　she　said。　〃They　came　by　post。〃

〃And　never　had　the　grace　to　acknowledge　them；〃　he　returned；　in　a　sort　of　mock　reproachful　tone。

〃Forty　pounds。　That　was　the　amount；　was　it　not？〃

〃I　believe　so。〃

〃Allow　me　to　return　them　to　you。　Count　them。〃

〃Return　them　to　mefor　what？〃　inquired　Sir　Francis；　in　amazement。

〃I　have　no　longer　anything　whatever　to　do　with　you　in　any　way。　Do　not　make　my　arm　ache；　holding　out　these　notes　to　you　so　long！　Take　them！〃

Sir　Francis　took　the　notes　from　her　hand　and　placed　them　on　a　stand　near　to　her。

〃If　it　be　your　wish　that　all　relations　should　end　between　us；　why；　let　it　be　so；〃　he　said。　〃I　must　confess　I　think　it　may　be　the　wisest　course；　as　things　have　come　to　this　pass；　for　a　cat　and　dog　life；　which　would　seemingly　be　ours；　is　not　agreeable。　Remember；　though；　that　it　is　your　doing；　not　mine。　But　you　cannot　think　I　am　going　to　see　you　starve；　Isabel。　A　sumwe　will　fix　upon　the　amount　amicably　shall　be　placed　to　your　credit　half…yearly；　and〃

〃I　beg　of　you　to　cease；〃　she　passionately　interrupted。　〃What　do　you　take　me　for？〃

〃Take　you　for！　Why；　how　can　you　live？　You　have　no　fortuneyou　must　receive　assistance　from　some　one。〃

〃I　will　not　receive　it　from　you。　If　the　whole　world　denied　me；　and　I　could　find　no　help　from　strangers；　or　means　of　earning　my　own　bread；　and　it　was　necessary　that　I　should　still　exist；　I　would　apply　to　my　husband　for　means；　rather　than　to　you。　In　saying　this；　it　ought　to　convince　you　that　the　topic　may　cease。〃

〃Your　husband！〃　sarcastically　rejoined　Sir　Francis。　〃Generous　man！〃

A　flush；　deep　and　painful；　dyed　her　cheeks。　〃I　should　have　said　my　late　husband。　You　need　not　have　reminded　me　of　the　mistake。〃

〃If　you　will　accept　nothing　for　yourself；　you　must　for　the　child。　He；　at　any　rate；　falls　to　my　share。　I　shall　give　you　a　few　hundred　a　year　with　him。〃

She　beat　her　hands　before　her；　as　if　beating　off　the　man　and　his　words。　〃Not　a　farthing；　now　or　ever。　Were　you　to　attempt　to　send　money　to　him；　I　would　throw　it　into　the　nearest　river。　/Whom/　do　you　take　me　for？　What　do　you　take　me　for？〃　she　repeated；　rising　in　her　bitter　mortification。　〃If　you　have　put　me　beyond　the　pale　of　the　world；　I　am　still　Lord　Mount　Severn's　daughter！〃

〃You　did　as　much　toward　putting　yourself　beyond　its　pale　as〃

〃Don't　I　know　it？　Have　I　not　said　so？〃　she　sharply　interrupted。　And　then　she　sat；　striving　to　calm　herself；　clasping　together　her　shaking　hands。

〃Well；　if　you　will　persist　in　this　perverse　resolution；　I　cannot　mend　it；〃　resumed　Sir　Francis。　〃In　a　little　time　you　may　probably　wish　to　recall　it；　in　which　case　a　line；　addressed　to　me　at　my　banker's；　will〃

Lady　Isabel　drew　herself　up。　〃Put　away　those　notes；　if　you　please；〃　she　interrupted；　not　allowing　him　to　finish　his　sentence。〃

He　took　out　his　pocket…book　and　placed　the　bank　notes　within　it。

〃Your　clothesthose　you　left　here　when　you　went　to　Englandyou　will　have　the　goodness　to　order　Pierre　to　take　away　this　afternoon。　And　now；　Sir　Francis；　I　believe　that　is　all：　we　will　part。〃

〃To　remain　mortal　enemies　from　henceforth？　Is　that　to　be　it？〃

〃To　be　strangers；〃　she　replied；　correcting　him。　〃I　wish　you　a　good　day。〃

〃So　you　will　not　even　shake　hands　with　me；　Isabel？〃

〃I　would　prefer　not。〃

And　thus　they　parted。　Sir　Francis　left　the　room；　but　not　immediately　the　house。　He　went　into　a　distant　apartment；　and；　calling　the　servants　before　himthere　were　but　twogave　them　each　a　year's　wages　in　advance〃That　they　might　not　have　to　trouble　miladi　for　money；〃　he　said　to　them。　Then　he　paid　a　visit　to　the　landlord；　and　handed　him；　likewise　a　year's　rent　in　advance；　making　the　same　remark。　After　that；　he　ordered　dinner　at　a　hotel；　and　the　same　night　he　and　Pierre　departed　on　their　journey　home　again；　Sir　Francis　thanking　his　lucky　star　that　he　had　so　easily　got　rid　of　a　vexatious　annoyance。

And　Lady　Isabel？　She　passed　her　evening　alone；　sitting　in　the　same　place；　close　to　the　fire　and　the　sparks。　The　attendant　remonstrated　that　miladi　was　remaining　up　too　late　for　her　strength；　but　miladi　ordered　her　and　her　remonstrances　into　an　adjoining　room。

When　Lady　Isabel　lay　down　to　rest；　she　sank　into　a　somewhat　calmer　sleep　than　she　had　known　of　late；　also　into　a　dream。　She　thought　she　was　back　at　East　Lynnenot　/back/；　in　one　sense；　but　that　she　seemed　never　to　have　gone　away　from　itwalking　in　the　flower　garden　with　Mr。　Carlyle；　while　the　three　children　played　on　the　lawn。　Her　arm　was　within　her　husband's；　and　he　was　relating　something　to　her。　What　the　news　was；　she　could　not　remember　afterward；　excepting　that　it　was　connected　with　the　office　and　old　Mr。　Dill；　and　that　Mr。　Carlyle　laughed　when　he　told　it。　They　appeared　to　be　interrupted　by　the　crying　of　Archibald；　and；　in　turning　to　the　lawn　to　ask　what　was　the　matter；　she　awoke。　Alas！　It　was　the　actual　crying　of　her　own　child　which　awoke　herthis　last　childthe　ill…fated　little　being　in　the　cradle　beside　her。　But；　for　a　single　instant；　she　forgot　recent　events　and　doings；　she　believed　she　was　indeed　in　her　happy　home　at　East　Lynne；　a　proud　woman；　an　honored　wife。　As　recollection　flashed　across　her；　with　its　piercing　stings；　she　gave　vent　to　a　sharp　cry　of　agony；　of　unavailing　despair。



CHAPTER　XXVI。

ALONE　FOR　EVERMORE。

A　surprise　awaited　Lady　Isabel　Vane。　It　was　on　a　windy　day　in　the　following　March　that　a　traveller　arrived　at　Grenoble；　and　inquired　his　way　of　a　porter；　to　the　best　hotel　in　the　place；　his　French　being　such　as　only　an　Englishman　can　produce。

〃Hotel？　Let's　see；〃　returned　the　man；　politely；　but　with　native　indifference。　〃There　are　two　hotels；　nearly　contiguous　to　each　other；　and　monsieur　would　find　himself　comfortable　at　either。　There　is　the　Tross　Dauphins；　and　there　is　the　Ambassadeurs。〃

〃Monsieur〃　chose　haphazard；　the　Hotel　des　Ambassadeurs；　and　was　conducted　to　it。　Shortly　after　his　arrival　there；　he　inquired　his　road　to　the　Place　Grenette；　and　was　offered　to　be　shown：　but　he　preferred　that　it　should　be　described　to　him；　and　to　go　alone。　The　Place　was　found；　and　he　thence　turned　to　the　apartments　of　Lady　Isabel　Vane。

Lady　Isabel　was　sitting　where　you　saw　her　the　previous　Decemberin　the　precise　spotcourting　the　warmth　of　the　fire；　and　it　seemed；　courting　the　sparks　also；　for　they　appeared　as　fond　of　her　as　formerly。　The　marvel　was；　how　she　had　escaped　spontaneous　combustion；　but　there　she　was　yet；　and　her　clothes　likewise。　You　might　think　that　but　a　night　had　passed；　when　you　looked　at　the　room；　for　it　wore　precisely　the　same　aspe