east lynne-第50章

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nce　the　period。　Be　under　no　uneasiness；　dear　Mrs。　Hare；　for　rely　upon　it　there　is　no　cause。〃

〃But　how　/could/　it　have　come　out；　Archibald？〃　she　urged；　〃and　at　this　distant　period　of　time？〃

〃I　assure　you　I　am　quite　at　a　loss　to　imagine。　Had　anybody　at　West　Lynne　seen　and　recognized　Richard；　they　would　have　spoken　of　it　at　the　time。　Do　not　let　it　trouble　you；　the　rumor　will　die　away。〃

Mrs。　Hare　sighed　deeply；　and　left　the　room　to　proceed　to　her　own　chamber。　Barbara　and　Mr。　Carlyle　were　alone。

〃Oh；　that　the　real　murderer　could　be　discovered！〃　she　aspirated；　clasping　her　hands。　〃To　be　subjected　to　these　shocks　of　fear　is　dreadful。　Mamma　will　not　be　herself　for　days　to　come。〃

〃I　wish　the　right　man　could　be　found；　but　it　seems　as　far　off　as　ever；〃　remarked　Mr。　Carlyle。

Barbara　sat　ruminating。　It　seemed　that　she　would　say　something　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　but　a　feeling　caused　her　to　hesitate。　When　she　did　at　length　speak；　it　was　in　a　low；　timid　voice。

〃You　remember　the　description　Richard　gave；　that　last　night；　of　the　person　he　had　metthe　true　Thorn？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　it　strike　you　thenhas　it　ever　occurred　to　you　to　thinkthat　it　accorded　with　some　one？〃

〃In　what　way；　Barbara？〃　he　asked；　after　a　pause。　〃It　accorded　with　the　description　Richard　always　gave　of　the　man　Thorn。〃

〃Richard　spoke　of　the　peculiar　movement　of　throwing　off　the　hair　from　the　foreheadin　this　way。　Did　that　strike　you　as　being　familiar；　in　connection　with　the　white　hand　and　the　diamond　ring？〃

〃Many　have　a　habit　of　pushing　off　their　hairI　think　I　do　it　myself　sometimes。　Barbara；　what　do　you　mean？　Have　you　a　suspicion　of　any　one？〃

〃Have　you？〃　she　returned；　answering　the　question　by　asking　another。

〃I　have　not。　Since　Captain　Thorn　was　disposed　of；　my　suspicions　have　not　pointed　anywhere。〃

This　sealed　Barbara's　lips。　She　had　hers；　vague　doubts；　bringing　wonder　more　than　anything　else。　At　times　she　had　thought　the　same　doubts　might　have　occurred　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　she　now　found　that　they　had　not。　The　terrible　domestic　calamity　which　had　happened　to　Mr。　Carlyle　the　same　night　that　Richard　protested　he　had　seen　Thorn；　had　prevented　Barbara's　discussing　the　matter　with　him　then；　and　she　had　never　done　so　since。　Richard　had　never　been　further　heard　of；　and　the　affair　had　remained　in　abeyance。

〃I　begin　to　despair　of　its　ever　being　discovered；〃　she　observed。　〃What　will　become　of　poor　Richard？〃

〃We　can　but　wait；　and　hope　that　time　may　bring　forth　its　own　elucidation；〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Ah；〃　sighed　Barbara；　〃but　it　is　weary　waitingweary；　weary。〃

〃How　is　it　you　contrive　to　get　under　the　paternal　displeasure？〃　he　resumed；　in　a　gayer　tone。

She　blushed　vividly；　and　it　was　her　only　answer。

〃The　Major　Thorn　alluded　to　by　your　papa　is　our　old　friend；　I　presume？〃

Barbara　inclined　her　head。

〃He　is　a　very　pleasant　man；　Barbara。　Many　a　young　lady　in　West　Lynne　would　be　proud　to　get　him。〃

There　was　a　pause。　Barbara　broke　it；　but　she　did　not　look　at　Mr。　Carlyle　as　she　spoke。

〃The　other　rumoris　it　a　correct　one？〃

〃What　other　rumor？〃

〃That　you　are　to　marry　Louisa　Dobede。〃

〃It　is　not。　I　have　no　intention　of　marrying　any　one。　Nay；　I　will　say　it　more　strongly；　it　is　my　intention　not　to　marry　any　oneto　remain　as　I　am。〃

Barbara　lifted　her　eyes　to　his　in　the　surprise　of　the　moment。

〃You　look　amused；　Barbara。　Have　you　been　lending　your　credence　to　the　gossips；　who　have　so　kindly　disposed　of　me　to　Louisa　Dobede？〃

〃Not　so。　But　Louisa　Dobede　is　a　girl　to　be　coveted；　and；　as　mamma　says；　it　might　be　happier　for　you　if　you　married　again。　I　thought　you　would　be　sure　to　do　so。〃

〃No。　Shewho　was　my　wifelives。〃

〃What　of　that？〃　uttered　Barbara；　in　simplicity。

He　did　not　answer　for　a　moment；　and　when　he　did；　it　was　in　a　low；　almost　imperceptible　tone；　as　he　stood　by　the　table　at　which　Barbara　sat；　and　looked　down　on　her。

〃　'Whosoever　putteth　away　his　wife；　and　marrieth　another；　committeth　adultery。'　〃

And　before　Barbara　could　answer；　if；　indeed；　she　had　found　any　answer　to　make；　or　had　recovered　her　surprise；　he　had　taken　his　hat　and　was　gone。

To　return　for　a　short　while　to　Lady　Isabel。　As　the　year　advanced　she　grew　stronger；　and　in　the　latter　part　of　the　summer　she　made　preparations　for　quitting　Grenoble。　Where　she　would　fix　her　residence；　or　what　she　would　do；　she　knew　not。　She　was　miserable　and　restless；　and　cared　little　what　became　of　her。　The　remotest　spot　on　earth；　one　unpenetrated　by　the　steps　of　civilized　man；　appeared　the　most　desirable　for　her。　Where　was　she　to　find　this？〃

She　set　out　on　her　search；　she　and　the　child　and　its　nurse。　Not　Susanne。　Susanne　had　a　sweetheart　in　Grenoble；　and　declined　to　leave　it；　so　a　girl　was　engaged　for　the　child　in　her　place。　Lady　Isabel　wound　up　her　housekeeping；　had　her　things　packed　and　forwarded　to　Paris；　there　to　wait　her　orders　and　finally　quitted　Grenoble。　It　was　a　fine　day　when　she　left　itall　too　fine　for　the　dark　ending　it　was　to　bring。

When　a　railway　accident　does　take　place　in　France；　it　/is/　an　accident。　None　of　your　milk…and…water　affairs；　where　a　few　bruises　and　a　great　fright　are　the　extent　of　the　damages　but　too　often　a　calamity　whose　remembrance　lasts　a　lifetime。　Lady　Isabel　had　travelled　a　considerable　distance　that　first　day；　and　at　the　dusk　of　evening；　as　they　were　approaching　a　place；　Cammere；　where　she　purposed　to　halt　for　the　night；　a　dreadful　accident　occurred。　The　details　need　not　be　given；　and　will　not　be。　It　is　sufficient　to　say　that　some　of　the　passengers　were　killed；　her　child　and　nurse　being　amongst　them；　and　she　herself　was　dangerously　injured。

The　injuries　lay　chiefly　in　her　left　leg　and　in　her　facethe　lower　part　of　her　face。　The　surgeons；　taking　their　cursory　view　of　her；　as　they　did　of　the　rest　of　the　sufferers；　were　not　sparing　in　their　remarks；　for　they　believed　her　to　be　insensible。　She　had　gathered　that　the　leg　was　to　be　amputated；　and　that　she　would　probably　die　under　the　operationbut　her　turn　to　be　attended　to　was　not　yet。　How　she　contrived　to　write　she　never　knew；　but　she　got　a　pen　and　ink　brought　to　her；　and　did　succeed　in　scrawling　a　letter　to　Lord　Mount　Severn。

She　told　him　that　a　sad　accident　had　taken　place；　she　could　not　say　how；　all　was　confusion；　and　that　her　child　and　maid　were　killed。　She　herself　was　dangerously　injured；　and　was　about　to　undergo　an　operation；　which　the　doctors　believed　she　could　not　survive；　only　/in　case　of　her　death　would　the　letter　be　sent　to　Lord　Mount　Severn/。　She　could　not　die；　she　said；　without　a　word　of　thanks　for　all　his　kindness；　and　she　begged　him；　when　he　saw　Mr。　Carlyle；　to　say　that　with　her　last　breath　she　humbly　implored　his　forgiveness；　and　his　children's　whom　she　no　longer　dared　to　call　hers。

Now　this　letter；　by　the　officiousness　of　a　servant　at　the　inn　to　which　the　sufferers　were　carried；　was　taken　at　once　to　the　post。　And；　after　all；　things　turned　out　not　quite　so　bad　as　anticipated；　for　when　the　doctors　came　to　examine　the　state　of　Lady　Isabel；　not　cursorily；　they　found　there　would　be　no　absolute　necessity　for　the　operation　contemplated。　Fond　as　the　French　surgeons　are　of　the　knife；　to　resort　to　it　in　this　instance　would　have　been　cruel；　and　they　proceeded　to　other　means　of　cure。

The　letter　was　duly　delivered　at　the　town　house　of　Lord　Mount　Severn；　where　it　was　addressed。　The　countess　was　sojourning　there　for　a　few　days；　she　had　quitted　it　after　the　season；　but　some　business；　or　pleasure；　had　called　her　again　to　town。　Lord　Vane　was　with　her；　but　the　earl　was　in　Scotland。　They　were　at　breakfast；　she　and　her　son；　when　the　letter　was　brought　in：　eighteen　pence　to　pay。　Its　scrawled　address；　its　foreign　aspect；　its　appearance；　altogether；　excited　her　curiosity；　in　her　own　mind；　she　believed　she　had　dropped　upon　a　nice　little　conjugal　mare's　nest。

〃I　shall　open　this；〃　cried　she。

〃Why；　it　is　addressed　to　papa！〃　exclaimed　Lord　Vane　who　possessed　all　his　father's　notions　of　honor。

〃But　such　an　odd　letter！　It　may　require　an　immediate　answer；　or　is　some　begging　petition；　perhaps。　Get　on　with　your　breakfast。〃

Lady　Mount　Severn　opened　the　letter；　and　with　some　difficulty　spelt　through　its　contents。　They　shocked　even　her。

〃How　dreadful！〃　she　uttered；　in　the　impulse　of　the　moment。

〃What　is　dreadful？〃　asked　Lord　Vane；　looking　up　from　his　breakfast。

〃Lady　IsabelIsabel　Vaneyou　have　not　forgotten　her？〃

〃Forgotten　her！〃　he　echoed。　〃Why；　mamma；　I　must　possess　a　funny　memory　to　have　forgotten　her　already。〃

〃She　is　dead。　She　has　been　killed　in　a　railway　accident　in　France。〃

His　large　blue　eyes；　honest　and　true　as　they　had　been　in　childhood；　filled；　and　his　face　flushed。　He　said　nothing；　for　emotion　was　strong　within　him。

〃But；　shocking　as　it　is；　it　is　better　for　her；〃　went　on　the　countess；　〃for；　poor　creature　what　could　her　future　life　had　been？〃

〃Oh；　don't　say　it！〃　impetuously　broke　out　the　young　viscount。　〃Killed　in　a　railway　accident；　and　for　you　to　say　that　it　is　better　for　her！〃

〃So　it　is　better；〃　said　the　countess。　〃Don't　go　into　heroics；　William。　You　are　quite　old　enough　to　know　that　she　had　brought　misery　upon　herself；　and　disgrace　upon　all　connected　with　her。　No　one　could　ever　have　taken　notice　of　her　again。〃

〃I　would；〃　said　the　boy；　stoutly。

Lady　Mount　Severn　smiled　derisively。

〃I　would。　I　never　liked　anybody　in　the　world　half　so　much　as　I　liked　Isabel。〃

〃That's　past　and　gone。　You　would　not　have　continued　to　like　her；　after　the　disgrace　she　wrought。〃

〃Somebody　else　wrought　more　of　the　disgrace　than　she　did；　and；　had　I　been　a　man；　I　would　have　shot　him　dead；〃　flashed　the　viscount。

〃You　don't　know　anything　about　it。〃

〃Don't　I！〃　returned　he；　not　over　dutifully。　But　Lady　Mount　Severn　had　not　brought　him　up　to　be　dutiful。

〃May　I　read　the　letter；　mamma？〃　he　demanded；　after　a　pause。

〃If　you　can　read　it；〃　she　replied；　tossing　it　to　him。　〃It　is　written　in　the　strangest　style；　syllables　divided；　and　the　words　running　one　into　the　other。　She　wrote　it　herself　when　she　was　dying。〃

Lord　Vane　took　the　letter　to　a　window；　and　stayed　looking　over　it　for　some　time；　the　countess　ate　an　egg　and　a　plate　of　ham　meanwhile。　Presently　he　came　back　with　it　folded；　and　laid　in　on　the　table。

〃You　will　forward　it　to　papa　to…day；〃　he　observed。

〃I　shall　forward　it　to　him。　But　there's　no　hurry；　and　I　don't　exactly　know　where　your　papa　may　be。　I　shall　send　the　notice　of　her　death　to　the　papers；　and　I　am　glad　to　do　it；　it　is　a　blight　removed　from　the　family。〃

〃Mamma；　I　do　think　you　are　the　unkindest　woman　that　ever　breathed！〃

〃I'll　give　you　something　to　call　me　unkind　for；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　retorted　the　countess；　her　color　rising。　〃Dock　you　of　your　holiday；　and　pack　you　back　to　school　to…day。〃

A　few　mornings　after　this　Mr。　Carlyle　left　East　Lynne　and　proceeded　to　his　office　as　usual。　Scarcely　was　he　seated；　when　Mr。　Dill　entered；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　looked　at　him　inquiringly；　for　it　was　not　Mr。　Carlyle's　custom　to　be　intruded　upon　by　any　person　until　he　had　opened　his　letters；　then　he　would　ring　for　Mr。　Dill。　The　letters　and　the　/Times/　newspaper　lay　on　the　table　before　him。　The　old　gentleman　came　up　in　a　covert；　timid　sort　of　way；　which　made　Mr。　Carlyle　look　all　the　more。

〃I　beg　pardon；　sir；　will　you　let　me　ask　if　you　have　heard　any　particular　news？〃