east lynne-第47章

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　think　that　but　a　night　had　passed；　when　you　looked　at　the　room；　for　it　wore　precisely　the　same　aspect　now；　as　then；　everything　was　the　same；　even　to　the　child's　cradle　in　the　remote　corner；　partially　hidden　by　the　bed…curtains；　and　the　sleeping　child　in　it。　Lady　Isabel's　progress　toward　recovery　was　remarkably　lingering；　as　is　frequently　the　case　when　mind　and　body　are　both　diseased。　She　was　so　sitting　when　Susanne　entered　the　room；　and　said　that　a　〃Monsieur　Anglais〃　had　arrived　in　the　town　to　see　her；　and　was　waiting　below；　in　the　saloon。

Lady　Isabel　was　startled。　An　English　gentlemanto　see　/her/！

English　for　certain；　was　Susanne's　answer；　for　she　had　difficulty　to　comprehend　his　French。

Who　could　be　desirous　to　see　her？　One　out　of　the　world　and　forgotten！　〃Susanne；〃　she　cried　aloud；　a　thought　striking　her；　〃it　is　never　Sir　Franit　is　not　monsieur！〃

〃Not　in　the　least　like　monsieur；〃　complacently　answered　Susanne。　〃It　is　a　tall；　brave　English　gentleman；　proud　and　noble　looking　like　a　prince。〃

Every　pulse　within　Lady　Isabel's　body　throbbed　rebelliously：　her　heart　bounded　till　it　was　like　to　burst　her　side；　and　she　turned　sick　with　astonishment。

〃Tall；　brave；　noble？〃　could　that　description　apply　to　any　but　Mr。　Carlyle？　Strange　that　so　unnatural　an　idea　should　have　occurred　to　her；　it　would　not　have　done　so　in　a　calmer　moment。　She　rose；　tottered　across　the　chamber；　and　prepared　to　descend。　Susanne's　tongue　was　let　loose　at　the　proceeding。

〃Was　miladi　out　of　her　senses？　To　attempt　going　downstairs　would　be　a　pretty　ending；　for　she'd　surely　fall　by　the　way。　Miladi　knew　that　the　bottom　step　was　of　lead；　and　that　no　head　could　pitch　down　upon　that；　without　ever　never　being　a　head　any　more；　except　in　the　hospitals。　Let　miladi　sit　still　in　her　place　and　she'd　bring　the　monsieur　up。　What　did　it　signify？　He　was　not　a　young　/petit　maitre/；　to　quiz　things：　he　was　fifty；　if　he　was　a　day：　his　hair　already　turned　to　fine　gray。〃

This　set　the　question　touching　Mr。　Carlyle　at　rest；　and　her　heart　stilled　again。　The　next　moment　she　was　inwardly　laughing　in　her　bitter　mockery　at　her　insensate　folly。　Mr。　Carlyle　come　to　see　her！　/Her/！　Francis　Levison　might　be　sending　over　some　man　of　business；　regarding　the　money　question；　was　her　next　thought：　if　so；　she　should　certainly　refuse　to　see　him。

〃Go　down　to　the　gentleman　and　ask　him　his　name　Susanne。　Ask　also　from　whence　he　came。〃

Susanne　disappeared；　and　returned；　and　the　gentleman　behind　her。　Whether　she　had　invited　him；　or　whether　he　had　chosen　to　come　uninvited；　there　he　was。　Lady　Isabel　caught　a　glimpse；　and　flung　her　hands　over　her　burning　cheeks　of　shame。　It　was　Lord　Mount　Severn。

〃How　did　you　find　out　where　I　was？〃　she　gasped；　when　some　painful　words　had　been　uttered　on　both　sides。

〃I　went　to　Sir　Francis　Levison　and　demanded　your　address。　Certain　recent　events　implied　that　he　and　you　must　have　parted；　and　I　therefore　deemed　it　time　to　inquire　what　he　had　done　with　you。〃

〃Since　last　July；〃　she　interrupted。　Lifting　up　her　wan　face；　now　colorless　again。　〃Do　not　think　worse　of　me　than　I　am。　He　was　here　in　December　for　an　hour's　recriminating　interview；　and　we　parted　for　life。〃

〃What　have　you　heard　of　him　lately？〃

〃Not　anything。　I　never　know　what　is　passing　in　the　world　at　home；　I　have　no　newspaper；　no　correspondence；　and　he　would　scarcely　be　so　bold　as　to　write　to　me　again。〃

〃I　shall　not　shock　you；　then　by　some　tidings　I　bring　you　regarding　him；〃　returned　Lord　Mount　Severn。

〃The　greatest　shock　to　me　would　be　to　hear　that　I　should　ever　again　be　subjected　to　the　sight　of　him；〃　she　answered。

〃He　is　married。〃

〃Heaven　have　pity　on　his　poor　wife！〃　was　all　the　comment　of　Lady　Isabel。

〃He　has　married　Alice　Challoner。〃

She　lifted　her　head；　then；　in　simple　surprise。　〃Alice？　Not　Blanche？〃

〃The　story　runs　that　he　has　played　Blanche　very　false。　That　he　has　been　with　her　much　during　the　last　three　or　four　months；　leading　on　her　expectations；　and　then　suddenly　proposed　for　her　younger　sister。　I　know　nothing　of　the　details　myself；　it　is　not　likely；　and　I　heard　nothing；　until　one　evening　at　the　club　I　saw　the　announcement　of　the　marriage　for　the　following　day　at　St。　George's。　I　was　at　the　church　the　next　morning　before　he　was。〃

〃Not　to　stop　it；　not　to　intercept　the　marriage！〃　breathlessly　uttered　the　Lady　Isabel。

〃Certainly　not。　I　had　no　power　to　attempt　anything　of　the　sort。　I　went　to　demand　an　answer　to　my　questionwhat　he　had　done　with　you；　and　where　you　were。　He　gave　me　this　address；　but　said　he　knew　nothing　of　your　movements　since　December。〃

There　was　a　long　silence。　The　earl　appeared　to　be　alternately　ruminating　and　taking　a　survey　of　the　room。　Isabel　sat　with　her　head　down。

〃Why　did　you　seek　me　out？〃　she　presently　broke　forth。　〃I　am　not　worth　it。　I　have　brought　enough　disgrace　upon　your　name。〃

〃And　upon　your　husband's　and　upon　your　children's；〃　he　rejoined；　in　the　most　severe　manner；　for　it　was　not　in　the　nature　of　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn　to　gloss　over　guilt。　〃Nevertheless　it　is　incumbent　upon　me；　as　your　nearest　blood　relative；　to　see　after　you；　now　that　you　are　alone　again；　and　to　take　care；　as　far　as　I　can；　that　you　do　not　lapse　lower。〃

He　might　have　spared　her　that　stab。　But　she　scarcely　understood　him。　She　looked　at　him；　wondering　whether　she　did　understand。

〃You　have　not　a　shilling　in　the　world；〃　he　resumed。　〃How　do　you　propose　to　live？〃

〃I　have　some　money　yet。　When〃

〃/His/　money？〃　sharply　and　haughtily　interposed　the　earl。

〃No；〃　she　indignantly　replied。　〃I　am　selling　my　trinkets。　Before　they　are　all　gone；　I　shall　look　out　to　get　a　living　in　some　way；　by　teaching；　probably。〃

〃Trinkets！〃　repeated　Lord　Mount　Severn。　〃Mr。　Carlyle　told　me　that　you　carried　nothing　away　with　you　from　East　Lynne。〃

〃Nothing　that　he　had　given　me。　These　were　mine　before　I　married。　You　have　seen　Mr。　Carlyle；　then？〃　she　faltered。

〃Seen　him？〃　echoed　the　indignant　earl。　〃When　such　a　blow　was　dealt　him　by　a　member　of　my　family；　could　I　do　less　than　hasten　to　East　Lynne　to　tender　my　sympathies？　I　went　with　another　subject　tooto　discover　what　could　have　been　the　moving　springs　of　your　conduct；　for　I　protest；　when　the　black　tidings　reached　me；　I　believed　that　you　must　have　gone　mad。　You　were　one　of　the　last　whom　I　should　have　feared　to　trust。　But　I　learned　nothing；　and　Carlyle　was　as　ignorant　as　I。　How　could　you　strike　him　such　a　blow？〃

Lower　and　lower　drooped　her　head；　brighter　shone　the　shame　on　her　hectic　cheek。　An　awful　blow　to　Mr。　Carlyle　it　must　have　been；　she　was　feeling　it　in　all　its　bitter　intensity。　Lord　Mount　Severn　read　her　repentant　looks。

〃Isabel；〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　which　had　lost　something　of　its　harshness；　and　it　was　the　first　time　he　had　called　her　by　her　Christian　name；　〃I　see　that　you　are　reaping　the　fruits。　Tell　me　how　it　happened。　What　demon　prompted　you　to　sell　yourself　to　that　bad　man？〃

〃He　is　a　bad　man！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃A　base；　heartless　man！〃

〃I　warned　you　at　the　commencement　of　your　married　life　to　avoid　him；　to　shun　all　association　with　him；　not　to　admit　him　to　your　house。〃

〃His　coming　to　East　Lynne　was　not　my　doing；〃　she　whispered。　〃Mr。　Carlyle　invited　him。〃

〃I　know　he　did。　Invited　him　in　his　unsuspicious　confidence；　believing　his　wife　to　/be/　his　wife；　a　trustworthy　woman　of　honor；〃　was　the　severe　remark。

She　did　not　reply；　she　could　not　gainsay　it；　she　only　sat　with　her　meek　face　of　shame　and　her　eyelids　drooping。

〃If　ever　a　woman　had　a　good　husband；　in　every　sense　of　the　word；　you　had；　in　Carlyle；　if　ever　man　loved　his　wife；　he　loved　you。　/How/　could　you　so　requite　him？〃

She　rolled；　in　a　confused　manner；　the　corners　of　her　warm　shawl　over　her　unconscious　fingers。

〃I　read　the　note　you　left　for　your　husband。　He　showed　it　to　me；　the　only　one；　I　believe；　to　whom　he　did　show　it。　It　was　to　him　entirely　inexplicable；　it　was　so　to　me。　A　notion　had　been　suggested　to　him；　after　your　departure；　that　his　sister　had　somewhat　marred　your　peace　at　East　Lynne；　and　he　blamed　you　much；　if　it　was　so；　for　not　giving　him　your　full　confidence　on　the　point；　that　he　might　set　matters　on　the　right　footing。　But　it　was　impossible；　and　there　was　the　evidence　in　the　note　besides；　that　the　presence　of　Miss　Carlyle　at　East　Lynne　could　be　any　excuse　for　your　disgracing　us　all　and　ruining　yourself。〃

〃Do　not　let　us　speak　of　these　things；〃　said　Lady　Isabel；　faintly。　〃It　cannot　redeem　the　past。〃

〃But　I　must　speak　of　them；　I　came　to　speak　of　them；〃　persisted　the　earl；　〃I　could　not　do　it　as　long　as　that　man　was　here。　When　these　inexplicable　things　take　place　in　the　career　of　a　woman；　it　is　a　father's　duty　to　look　into　motives　and　causes　and　actions；　although　the　events　in　themselves　may　be；　as　in　this　case；　irreparable。　Your　father　is　gone；　but　I　stand　in　his　place；　there　is　no　one　else　to　stand　in　it。〃

Her　tears　began　to　fall。　And　she　let　them　fallin　silence。　The　earl　resumed。

〃But　for　that　extraordinary　letter；　I　should　have　supposed　you　had　been　actuated　by　a　mad　infatuation　for　the　cur；　Levison；　its　tenor　gave　the　matter　a　different　aspect。　To　what　did　you　allude　when　you　asserted　that　your　husband　had　driven　you　to　it？〃

〃He　knew；〃　she　answered；　scarcely　above　her　breath。

〃He　did　not　know；〃　sternly　replied　the　earl。　〃A　more　truthful；　honorable　man　than　Carlyle　does　not　exist　on　the　face　of　the　earth。　When　he　told　me　then；　in　his　agony　of　grief；　that　he　was　unable　to　form　even　a　suspicion　of　your　meaning；　I　could　have　staked　my　earldom　on　his　veracity。　I　would　stake　it　still。〃

〃I　believed；〃　she　began；　in　a　low；　nervous　voice；　for　she　knew　that　there　was　no　evading　the　questions　of　Lord　Mount　Severn；　when　he　was　resolute　in　their　being　answered；　and；　indeed　she　was　too　weak；　both　in　body　and　spirit；　to　resist〃I　believed　that　his　love　was　no　longer　mine；　that　he　had　deserted　me；　for　another。〃

The　earl　stared　at　her。　〃What　can　you　mean　by　'deserted！'　He　was　with　you。〃

〃There　is　a　desertion　of　the　heart；〃　was　her　murmured　answer。

〃Desertion　of　a　fiddlestick！〃　retorted　his　lordship。　〃The　interpretation　we　gave　to　the　note；　I　and　Carlyle；　was；　that　you　had　been　actuated　by　motives　of　jealousy；　had　penned　it　in　a　jealous　mood。　I　put　the　question　to　Carlyleas　between　man　and　mando　you　listen；　Isabel！whether　he　had　given　you　cause；　and　he　answered　me；　as　with　God　over　us；　he　had　never　given　you　cause；　he　had　been　faithful　to　you　in　thought；　word　and　deed；　he　had　never；　so　far　as　he　could　call　to　mind；　even　looked　upon　another　woman　with　covetous　feelings；　since　the　hour　that　he　made　you　his　wife；　his　whole　thoughts　had　been　of　you；　and　of　you　alone。　It　is　more　than　many　a　husband　can　say；〃　significantly　coughed　Lord　Mount　Severn。

Her　pulses　were　beating　wildly。　A　powerful　conviction　that　the　words　were　true；　that　her　own　blind　jealousy　had　been　utterly　mistaken　and　unfounded；　was　forcing　its　way　to　her　brain。

〃After　that　I　could　only　set　your　letter　down　as　a　subterfuge；〃　resumed　the　earl〃a　false；　barefaced　plea；　put　forth　to　conceal　your　real　motives；　and　I　told　Carlyle　so。　I　inquired　how　it　was　he　had　never　detected　any　secret　understanding　between　you　and　thatthat　beast；　located；　as　the　fellow　was；　in　the　house。　He　replied　that　no　such　suspicion　had　ever　occurred　to　him。　He　placed　the　most　implicit