east lynne-第51章

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ok　all　the　more。

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

〃Yes；　I　have　heard　it；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Then；　sir；　I　beg　your　pardon　a　thousand　times　over。　It　occurred　to　me　that　you　probably　had　not；　Mr。　Archibald；　and　I　thought　I　would　have　said　a　word　to　prepare　you；　before　you　came　upon　it　suddenly　in　the　paper。〃

〃To　prepare　me！〃　echoed　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　old　Dill　was　turning　away。　〃Why；　what　has　come　to　you；　Dill？　Are　you　afraid　my　nerves　are　growing　delicate；　or　that　I　shall　faint　over　the　loss　of　a　hundred　pounds？　At　the　very　most；　we　shall　not　suffer　above　that　extent。〃

Old　Dill　turned　back　again。

〃If　I　don't　believe　you　are　speaking　of　the　failure　of　Kent　&　Green！　It's　not　/that/；　Mr。　Archibald。　They　won't　affect　us　much；　and　there'll　be　a　dividend；　report　runs。〃

〃What　is　it；　then？〃

〃Then　you　have　not　heard　it；　sir！　I　am　glad　that　I'm　in　time。　It　might　not　be　well　for　you　to　have　seen　it　without　a　word　of　preparation；　Mr。　Archibald。〃

〃If　you　have　not　gone　demented；　you　will　tell　me　what　you　mean；　Dill；　and　leave　me　to　my　letters；〃　cried　Mr。　Carlyle；　wondering　excessively　at　his　sober；　matter…of…fact　clerk's　words　and　manner。

Old　Dill　put　his　hands　upon　the　/Times/　newspaper。

〃It's　here；　Mr。　Archibald；　in　the　column　of　deaths；　the　first　on　the　list。　Please；　prepare　yourself　a　little　before　you　look　at　it。〃

He　shuffled　out　quickly；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　as　quickly　unfolded　the　paper。　It　was；　as　old　Dill　said；　the　first　on　the　list　of　deaths：

　〃At　Cammere；　in　France；　on　the　18th　inst。；　Isabel　Mary；　only　child　　　of　William；　late　Earl　of　Mount　Severn。〃

Clients　called；　Mr。　Carlyle's　bell　did　not　ring；　an　hour　or　two　passed；　and　old　Dill　protested　that　Mr。　Carlyle　was　engaged　until　he　could　protest　no　longer。　He　went　in；　deprecatingly。　Mr。　Carlyle　sat　yet　with　the　newspaper　before　him；　and　the　letters　unopened　at　his　elbow。

〃There　are　one　or　two　who　/will/　come　in；　Mr。　Archibaldwho　/will/　see　you；　what　am　I　to　say？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　as　if　his　wits　had　been　in　the　next　world。　Then　he　swept　the　newspaper　from　before　him；　and　was　the　calm；　collected　man　of　business　again。

As　the　news　of　Lady　Isabel's　marriage　had　first　come　in　the　knowledge　of　Lord　Mount　Severn　through　the　newspapers；　so　singular　to　say　did　the　tidings　of　her　death。　The　next　post　brought　him　the　letter；　which　his　wife　had　tardily　forwarded。　But；　unlike　Lady　Mount　Severn；　he　did　not　take　her　death　as　entirely　upon　trust；　he　thought　it　possible　the　letter　might　have　been　dispatched　without　its　having　taken　place；　and　he　deemed　it　incumbent　on　him　to　make　inquiries。　He　wrote　immediately　to　the　authorities　of　the　town；　in　the　best　French　he　could　muster；　asking　for　particulars；　and　whether　she　was　really　dead。

He　received；　in　due　course　a　satisfactory　answer；　satisfactory　in　so　far　as　that　it　set　his　doubts　at　rest。　He　had　inquired　after　her　by　her　proper　name；　and　title；　〃La　Dame　Isabelle　Vane；〃　and　as　the　authorities　could　find　none　of　the　survivors　owning　that　name；　they　took　it　for　granted　she　was　dead。　They　wrote　him　word　that　the　child　and　nurse　were　killed　on　the　spot；　two　ladies；　occupying　the　same　compartment　of　the　carriage；　had　since　died；　one　of　whom　was　no　doubt　the　mother　and　lady　he　inquired　for。　She　was　dead　and　buried；　sufficient　money　having　been　found　upon　her　person　to　defray　the　few　necessary　expenses。

Thus；　through　no　premeditated　intention　of　Lady　Isabel；　news　of　her　death　went　forth　to　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　to　the　world。　/Her/　first　intimation　that　she　was　regarded　as　dead；　was　through　a　copy　of　that　very　day's　/Times/　seen　by　Mr。　Carlyleseen　by　Lord　Mount　Severn。　An　English　traveller；　who　had　been　amongst　the　sufferers；　and　who　received　the　English　newspaper　daily；　sometimes　lent　them　to　her　to　read。　She　was　not　travelling　under　her　own　name；　she　left　that　behind　her　when　she　left　Grenoble；　she　had　rendered　her　own　too　notorious　to　risk　the　chance　recognition　of　travellers；　and　the　authorities　little　thought　that　the　quiet　unobtrusive　Madame　Vine；　slowly　recovering　at　the　inn；　was　the　Dame　Isabella　Vane；　respecting　whom　the　grand　English　comte　wrote。

Lady　Isabel　understood　it　at　once；　that　the　dispatching　of　her　letter　had　been　the　foundation　of　the　misapprehension；　and　she　began　to　ask　herself　now；　why　she　should　undeceive　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　the　world。　She　longed；　none　knew　with　what　intense　longings；　to　be　unknown；　obscure；　totally　unrecognized　by　all；　none　can　know　it；　till　they　have　put　a　barrier　between　themselves　and　the　world；　as　she　had　done。　The　child　was　gonehappy　being！　She　thought　she　could　never　be　sufficiently　thankful　that　it　was　released　from　the　uncertain　future　therefore　she　had　not　his　support　to　think　of。　She　had　only　herself；　and　surely　she　could　with　ease　earn　enough　for　that；　or　she　could　starve；　it　mattered　little　which。　No；　there　was　no　necessity　for　her　continuing　to　accept　the　bounty　of　Lord　Mount　Severn；　and　she　would　let　him　and　everybody　else　continue　to　believe　that　she　was　dead；　and　be　henceforth　only　Madame　Vine。　A　resolution　she　adhered　to。

Thus　the　unhappy　Isabel's　career　was　looked　upon　as　run。　Lord　Mount　Severn　forwarded　her　letter　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　with　the　confirmation　of　her　death；　which　he　had　obtained　from　the　French　authorities。　It　was　a　nine　day's　wonder：　〃That　poor；　erring　Lady　Isabel　was　dead〃people　did　not　call　her　names　in　the　very　teeth　of　her　fateand　then　it　was　over。

It　was　over。　Lady　Isabel　was　as　one　forgotten。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。

AN　UNEXPECTED　VISITOR　AT　EAST　LYNNE。

There　went；　sailing　up　the　avenue　to　East　Lynne；　a　lady；　one　windy　afternoon。　If　not　a　lady；　she　was　attired　as　one；　a　flounced　dress；　and　a　stylish　looking　shawl；　and　a　white　veil。　A　very　pretty　woman；　tall　and　slender　was　she；　and　she　minced　as　she　walked；　and　coquetted　with　her　head；　and；　altogether　contrived　to　show　that　she　had　quite　as　much　vanity　as　brains。　She　went　boldly　up　to　the　broad　entrance　of　the　house；　and　boldly　rang　at　it；　drawing　her　white　veil　over　her　face　as　she　did　so。

One　of　the　men…servants　answered　it；　not　Peter；　and；　seeing　somebody　very　smart　before　him；　bowed　deferentially。

〃Miss　Hallijohn　is　residing　here；　I　believe。　Is　she　within？〃

〃Who；　ma'am？〃

〃Miss　Hallijohn；　Miss　Joyce　Hallijohn；〃　somewhat　sharply　repeated　the　lady；　as　if　impatient　of　any　delay。　〃I　wish　to　see　her。〃

The　man　was　rather　taken　aback。　He　had　deemed　it　a　visitor　to　the　house；　and　was　prepared　to　usher　her　to　the　drawing…room；　at　least；　but　it　seemed　it　was　only　a　visitor　to　Joyce。　He　showed　her　into　a　small　parlor；　and　went　upstairs　to　the　nursery；　where　Joyce　was　sitting　with　Wilsonfor　there　had　been　no　change　in　the　domestic　department　of　East　Lynne。　Joyce　remained　as　upper　maid；　partially　superintending　the　servants；　attending　upon　Lucy；　and　making　Miss　Carlyle's　dresses　as　usual。　Wilson　was　nurse　still。

〃Miss　Joyce；　there's　a　lady　asking　for　you；〃　said　the　man。　〃I　have　shown　her　into　the　gray　parlor。〃

〃A　lady　for　me？〃　repeated　Joyce。　〃Who　is　it？　Some　one　to　see　the　children；　perhaps。〃

〃It's　for　yourself；　I　think。　She　asked　for　Miss　Hallijohn。〃

Joyce　looked　at　the　man；　but　she　put　down　her　work　and　proceeded　to　the　gray　parlor。　A　pretty　woman；　vain　and　dashing；　threw　up　her　white　veil　at　her　entrance。

〃Well；　Joyce；　how　are　you？〃

Joyce；　always　pale；　turned　paler　still；　as　she　gazed　in　blank　consternation。　Was　it　really　/Afy/　who　stood　before　herAfy；　the　erring？

Afy　it　was。　And　she　stood　there；　holding　out　her　hand　to　Joyce；　with　what　Wilson　would　have　called；　all　the　brass　in　the　world。　Joyce　could　not　reconcile　her　mind　to　link　her　own　with　it。

〃Excuse　me；　Afy；　but　I　cannot　take　your　hand；　I　cannot　welcome　you　here。　What　could　have　induced　you　to　come？〃

〃If　you　are　going　to　be　upon　the　high　ropes；　it　seems　I　might　as　well　have　stayed　away；〃　was　Afy's　reply；　given　in　the　pert；　but　good…　humored　manner　she　had　ever　used　to　Joyce。　〃My　hand　won't　damage　yours。　I　am　not　poison。〃

〃You　are　looked　upon　in　the　neighborhood　as　worse　than　poison；　Afy；〃　returned　Joyce；　in　a　tone；　not　of　anger　but　of　sorrow。　〃Where's　Richard　Hare？〃

Afy　tossed　her　head。　〃Where's　who？〃　asked　she。

〃Richard　Hare。　My　question　was　plain　enough。〃

〃How　should　I　know　where　he　is？　It's　like　your　impudence　to　mention　him　to　me。　Why　don't　you　ask　me　where　Old　Nick　is；　and　how　he　does？　I'd　rather　own　acquaintance　with　him　than　with　Richard　Hare；　if　I'd　my　choice　between　the　two。〃

〃Then　you　have　left　Richard　Hare？　How　long　since？〃

〃I　have　leftwhat　do　you　say？〃　broke　off　Afy；　whose　lips　were　quivering　ominously　with　suppressed　passion。　〃Perhaps　you'll　condescend　to　explain。　I　don't　understand。〃

〃When　you　left　here；　did　you　not　go　after　Richard　Haredid　you　not　join　him？〃

〃I'll　tell　you　what　it　is；　Joyce；〃　flashed　Afy；　her　face　indignant　and　her　voice　passionate；　〃I　have　put　up　with　some　things　from　you　in　my　time；　but　human　nature　has　its　limits　of　endurance；　and　I　won't　bear　/that/。　I　have　never　set　eyes　on　Richard　Hare　since　that　night　of　horror；　I　wish　I　could；　I'd　help　to　hang　him。〃

Joyce　paused。　The　belief　that　Afy　was　with　him　had　been　long　and　deeply　imbued　within　her；　it　was　the　long…continued　and　firm　conviction　of　all　West　Lynne；　and　a　settled　belief；　such　as　that；　is　not　easily　shaken。　Was　Afy　telling　the　truth？　She　knew　her　propensity　for　making　false　assertions；　when　they　served　to　excuse　herself。

〃Afy；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃let　me　understand　you。　When　you　left　this　place；　was　it　not　to　share　Richard　Hare's　flight？　Have　you　not　been　living　with　him？〃

〃No！〃　burst　forth　Afy；　with　kindling　eyes。　〃Living　with　/him/with　our　father's　murderer！　Shame　upon　you；　Joyce　Hallijohn！　You　must　be　precious　wicked　yourself　to　suppose　it。〃

〃If　I　have　judged　you　wrongly；　Afy；　I　sincerely　beg　your　pardon。　Not　only　myself；　but　the　whole　of　West　Lynne；　believed　you　were　with　him；　and　the　thought　has　caused　me　pain　night　and　day。〃

〃What　a　cannibal　minded　set　you　all　must　be；　then！〃　was　Afy's　indignant　rejoinder。

〃What　have　you　been　doing　ever　since；　then？　Where　have　you　been？〃

〃Never　mind；　I　say；〃　repeated　Afy。　〃West　Lynne　has　not　been　so　complimentary　to　me；　it　appears；　that　I　need　put　myself　out　of　my　way　to　satisfy　its　curiosity。　I　was　knocking　about　a　bit　at　first；　but　I　soon　settled　down　as　steady　as　Old　Timeas　steady　as　you。〃

〃Are　you　married？〃　inquired　Joyce；　noting　the　word　〃settled。〃

〃Catch　me　marrying；〃　retorted　Afy；　〃I　like　my　liberty　too　well。　Not　but　what　I　might　be　induced　to　change　my　condition；　if　anything　out　of　the　way　eligible　occurred；　it　must　be　very　eligible；　though；　to　tempt　me。　I　am　what　I　suppose　you　call　yourselfa　lady's　maid。〃

〃Indeed！〃　said　Joyce；　much　relieved。　〃And　are　you　comfortable；　Afy？　Are　you　in　good　service？〃

〃Middling；　for　that。　The　pay's　not　amiss；　but　there's　a　great　deal　to　do；　and　Lady　Mount　Severn's　too　much　of　a　Tartar　for　me。〃

Joyce　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　〃What　have　you　to　do　with　Lady　Mount　Severn？〃

〃Well；　that's　good！　It's　where　I　am　at　service。〃

〃At　Lady　Mount　Severn's？〃

〃Why　not？　I　have　been　there　two　years。　It　is　not　a　great　deal　longer　I　shall　stop；　though；　she　had　too　much　vinegar　in　her　for　me。　But　it　poses　me