east lynne-第52章

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〃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　to　imagine　what　on　earth　could　have　induced　you　to　fancy　I　should　go　off　with　that　Dick　Hare；〃　she　added；　for　she　could　not　forget　the　grievance。

〃Look　at　the　circumstances；〃　argued　Joyce。　〃You　both　disappeared。〃

〃But　not　together。〃

〃Nearly　together。　There　were　only　a　few　days　intervening。　And　you　had　neither　money　nor　friends。〃

〃You　don't　know　what　I　had。　But　I　would　rather　have　died　of　want　on　father's　grave　than　have　shared　his　means；〃　continued　Afy；　growing　passionate　again。

〃Where　is　he？　Not　hung；　or　I　should　have　heard　of　it。〃

〃He　has　never　been　seen　since　that　night；　Afy。〃

〃Nor　heard　of？〃

〃Nor　heard　of。　Most　people　think　he　is　in　Australia；　or　some　other　foreign　land。〃

〃The　best　place　for　him；　the　more　distance　he　puts　between　him　and　home；　the　better。　If　he　does　come　back；　I　hope　he'll　get　his　desserts　which　is　a　rope's　end。　I'd　go　to　his　hanging。〃

〃You　are　as　bitter　against　him　as　Mr。　Justice　Hare。　He　would　bring　his　son　back　to　suffer；　if　he　could。〃

〃A　cross…grained　old　camel！〃　remarked　Afy；　in　allusion　to　the　qualities；　social　and　amiable；　of　the　revered　justice。　〃I　don't　defend　Dick　HareI　hate　him　too　much　for　thatbut　if　his　father　had　treated　him　differently；　Dick　might　have　been　different。　Well；　let's　talk　of　something　else；　the　subject　invariably　gives　me　the　shivers。　Who　is　mistress　here？〃

〃Miss　Carlyle。〃

〃Oh；　I　might　have　guessed　that。　Is　she　as　fierce　as　ever？〃

〃There　is　little　alteration　in　her。〃

〃And　there　won't　be　on　this　side　the　grave。　I　say；　Joyce；　I　don't　want　to　encounter　her；　she　might　set　on　at　me；　like　she　has　done　many　a　time　in　the　old　days。　Little　love　was　there　lost　between　me　and　Corny　Carlyle。　Is　Mr。　Carlyle　at　home？〃

〃He　will　be　home　to　dinner。　I　dare　say　you　would　like　some　tea；　you　shall　come　and　take　it　with　me　and　Wilson；　in　the　nursery。〃

〃I　was　thinking　you　might　have　the　grace　to　offer　me　something；〃　cried　Afy。　〃I　intend　to　stop　till　to…morrow　in　the　neighborhood。　My　lady　gave　me　two　days'　holidayfor　she　was　going　to　see　her　dreadful　old　grandmother；　where　she　can't　take　a　maidand　I　thought　I'd　use　it　in　coming　to　have　a　look　at　the　old　place　again。　Don't　stare　at　me　in　that　blank　way；　as　if　you　feared　I　should　ask　the　grand　loan　of　sleeping　here。　I　shall　sleep　at　the　Mount　Severn　Arms。〃

〃I　was　not　glancing　at　such　a　thought；　Afy。　Come　and　take　your　bonnet　off。〃

〃Is　the　nursery　full　of　children？〃

〃There　is　only　one　child　in　it。　Miss　Lucy　and　Master　William　are　with　the　governess。〃

Wilson　received　Afy　with　lofty　condescension；　having　Richard　Hare　in　her　thoughts。　But　Joyce　explained　that　it　was　all　a　misapprehension　that　her　sister　had　never　been　near　Richard　Hare；　but　was　as　indignant　against　him　as　they　were。　Upon　which　Wilson　grew　cordial　and　chatty；　rejoicing　in　the　delightful　recreation　her　tongue　would　enjoy　that　evening。

Afy's　account　of　herself；　as　to　past　proceedings；　was　certainly　not　the　most　satisfactory　in　the　world；　but；　altogether；　taken　in　the　present；　it　was　so　vast　an　improvement　upon　Joyce's　conclusions；　that　she　had　not　felt　so　elated　for　many　a　day。　When　Mr。　Carlyle　returned　home　Joyce　sought　him；　and　acquainted　him　with　what　had　happened；　that　Afy　was　come；　was　maid　to　Lady　Mount　Severn；　and；　above　all；　that　she　had　never　been　with　Richard　Hare。

〃Ah！　You　remember　what　I　said；　Joyce；〃　he　remarked。　〃That　I　did　not　believe　Afy　was　with　Richard　Hare。〃

〃I　have　been　telling　her　so；　sir；　to　be　sure；　when　I　informed　her　what　people　had　believed；〃　continued　Joyce。　〃She　nearly　went　into　one　of　her　old　passions。〃

〃Does　she　seem　steady；　Joyce？〃

〃I　think　so；　sirsteady　for　her。　I　was　thinking；　sir；　that　as　she　appears　to　have　turned　out　so　respectable；　and　is　with　Lady　Mount　Severn；　you；　perhaps；　might　see　no　objection　to　her　sleeping　here　for　to…night。　It　would　be　better　than　for　her　to　go　to　the　inn；　as　she　talks　of　doing。〃

〃None　at　all；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Let　her　remain。〃

Later　in　the　evening；　after　Mr。　Carlyle's　dinner；　a　message　came　that　Afy　was　to　go　to　him。　Accordingly　she　proceeded　to　his　presence。

〃So；　Afy；　you　have　returned　to　let　West　Lynne　know　that　you　are　alive。　Sit　down。〃

〃West　Lynne　may　go　a…walking　for　me　in　future；　sir；　for　all　the　heed　I　shall　take　of　it；〃　retorted　Afy。　〃A　set　of　wicked…minded　scandal…　mongers；　to　take　and　say　I　had　gone　after　Richard　Hare！〃

〃You　should　not　have　gone　off　at　all；　Afy。〃

〃Well；　sir；　that　was　my　business；　and　I　chose　to　go。　I　could　not　stop　in　the　cottage　after　that　night's　work。〃

〃There　is　a　mystery　attached　to　that　night's　work；　Afy；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃a　mystery　that　I　cannot　fathom。　Perhaps　you　can　help　me　out。〃

〃What　mystery；　sir？〃　returned　Afy。

Mr。　Carlyle　leaned　forward；　his　arms　on　the　table。　Afy　had　taken　a　chair　at　the　other　end　of　it。　〃Who　was　it　that　committed　the　murder？〃　he　demanded；　in　a　grave　and　somewhat　imperative　tone。

Afy　stared　some　moments　before　she　replied；　astonished　at　the　question。　〃Who　committed　the　murder；　sir？〃　she　uttered　at　length。　〃Richard　Hare　committed　it。　Everybody　knows　that。〃

〃Did　you　see　it　done？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Afy。　〃If　I　had　seen　it；　the　fright　and　horror　would　have　killed　me。　Richard　Hare　quarreled　with　my　father；　and　drew　the　gun　upon　him　in　passion。〃

〃You　assume　this　to　have　been　the　case；　Afy；　as　others　have　assumed　it。　I　do　not　think　that　it　was　Richard　Hare　who　killed　your　father。〃

〃Not　Richard　Hare！〃　exclaimed　Afy；　after　a　pause。　〃Then　who　do　you　think　did　it；　sirI？〃

〃Nonsense；　Afy。〃

〃I　know　he　did　it；〃　proceeded　Afy。　〃It　is　true　that　I　did　not　see　it　done；　but　I　know　it　for　all　that。　I　/know/　it；　sir。〃

〃You　cannot　know　it；　Afy。〃

〃I　do　know　it；　sir；　I　would　not　assert　it　to　you　if　I　did　not。　If　Richard　Hare　was　here；　present　before　us；　and　swore　until　he　was　black　in　the　face　that　it　was　not　him；　I　could　convict　him。〃

〃By　what　means？〃

〃I　had　rather　not　say；　sir。　But　you　may　believe　me；　for　I　am　speaking　truth。〃

〃There　was　another　friend　of　yours　present　that　evening；　Afy。　Lieutenant　Thorn。〃

Afy's　face　turned　crimson；　she　was　evidently　surprised。　But　Mr。　Carlyle's　speech　and　manner　were　authoritative；　and　she　saw　it　would　be　useless　to　attempt　to　trifle　with　him。

〃I　know　he　was；　sir。　A　young　chap　who　used　to　ride　over　some　evenings　to　see　me。　He　had　nothing　to　do　with　what　occurred。〃

〃Where　did　he　ride　from？〃

〃He　was　stopping　with　some　friends　at　Swainson。　He　was　nobody；　sir。〃

〃What　was　his　name？〃　questioned　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Thorn；〃　said　Afy。

〃I　mean　his　real　name。　Thorn　was　an　assumed　name。〃

〃Oh；　dear　no；〃　returned　Afy。　〃Thorn　was　his　name。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused　and　looked　at　her。

〃Afy；　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　Thorn　was　only　an　assumed　name。　Now；　I　have　a　motive　for　wishing　to　know　his　real　one；　and　you　would　very　much　oblige　me　by　confiding　it　to　me。　What　was　it？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　he　had　any　other　name；　sir；　I　am　sure　he　had　no　other；〃　persisted　Afy。　〃He　was　Lieutenant　Thorn；　then　and　he　was　Captain　Thorn；　afterward。〃

〃You　have　seen　him　since？〃

〃Once　in　a　way　we　have　met。〃

〃Where　is　he　now？〃

〃Now！　Oh；　my　goodness；　I　don't　know　anything　about　him　now；〃　muttered　Afy。　〃I　have　not　heard　of　him　or　seen　him　for　a　long　while。　I　think　I　heard　something　about　his　going　to　India　with　his　regiment。〃

〃What　regiment　is　he　in？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　about　that；〃　said　Afy。　〃Is　not　one　regiment　the　same　as　another；　they　are　all　in　the　army；　aren't　they；　sir？〃

〃Afy；　I　must　find　this　Captain　Thorn。　Do　you　know　anything　of　his　family？〃

Afy　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　think　he　had　any。　I　never　heard　him　mention　as　much　as　a　brother　or　a　sister。〃

〃And　you　persist　in　saying　his　name　was　Thorn？〃

〃I　persist　in　saying　it　because　it　was　his　name。　I　am　positive　it　was　his　name。〃

〃Afy；　shall　I　tell　you　why　I　want　to　find　him；　I　believe　it　was　he　who　murdered　your　father；　not　Richard　Hare。〃

Afy's　mouth　and　eyes　gradually　opened；　and　her　face　turned　hot　and　cold　alternately。　Then　passion　mastered　her；　and　she　burst　forth。

〃It's　a　lie！　I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　but　whoever　told　you　that；　told　you　a　lie。　Thorn　had　no　more　to　do　with　it　than　I　had；　I'll　swear　it。〃

〃I　tell　you；　Afy；　I　believe　Thorn　to　have　been　the　man。　You　were　not　present；　you　cannot　know　who　actually　did　it。〃

〃Yes；　I　can；　and　do　know；〃　said　Afy；　bursting　into　sobs　of　hysterical　passion。　〃Thorn　was　with　me　when　it　happened；　so　it　could　not　have　been　Thorn。　It　was　that　wicked　Richard　Hare。　Sir；　have　I　not　said　that　I'll　swear　it？〃

〃Thorn　was　with　youat　the　moment　of　the　murder？〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Yes；　he　was；〃　shrieked　Afy；　nearly　beside　herself　with　emotion。　〃Whoever　has　been　trying　to　put　it　off　Richard　Hare；　and　on　to　him；　is　a　wicked；　false…hearted　wretch。　It　was　Richard　Hare；　and　nobody　else；　and　I　hope　he'll　be　hung　for　it　yet。〃

〃You　are　telling　me　the　truth；　Afy？〃　gravely　spoke　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Truth！〃　echoed　Afy；　flinging　up　her　hands。　〃Would　I　tell　a　lie　over　my　father's　death？　If　Thorn　had　done　it；　would　I　screen　him；　or　shuffle　it　off　to　Richard　Hare？　Not　so。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　felt　uncertain　and　bewildered。　That　Afy　was　sincere　in　what　she　said；　was　but　too　apparent。　He　spoke　again　but　Afy　had　risen　from　her　chair　to　leave。

〃Locksley　was　in　the　wood　that　evening。　Otway　Bethel　was　in　it。　Could　either　of　them　have　been　the　culprit？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　firmly　retorted　Afy；　〃the　culprit　was　Richard　Hare；　and　I'd　say　it　with　my　latest　breathI'd　say　it　because　I　know　itthough　I　don't　choose　to　say　how　I　know　it；　time　enough　when　he　gets　taken。〃

She　quitted　the　room；　leaving　Mr。　Carlyle　in　a　state　of　puzzled　bewilderment。　Was　he　to　believe　Afy；　or　was　he　to　believe　the　bygone　assertion　of　Richard　Hare？



CHAPTER　XXIX。

A　NIGHT　INVASION　OF　EAST　LYNNE。

In　one　of　the　comfortable　sitting…rooms　of　East　Lynne　sat　Mr。　Carlyle　and　his　sister；　one　inclement　January　night。　The　contrast　within　and　without　was　great。　The　warm；　blazing　fire；　the　handsome　carpet　on　which　it　flickered；　the　exceedingly　comfortable　arrangement　of　the　furniture；　of　the　room　altogether；　and　the　light　of　the　chandelier；　which　fell　on　all；　presented　a　picture　of　home　peace；　though　it　may　not　have　deserved　the　name　of　luxury。　Without；　heavy　flakes　of　snow　were　falling　thickly；　flakes　as　large　and　nearly　as　heavy　as　a　crown　piece；　rendering　the　atmosphere　so　dense　and　obscure　that　a　man　could　not　see　a　yard　before　him。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　driven　home　in　the　pony　carriage；　and　the　snow　had　so　settled　upon　him　that　Lucy；　who　happened　to　see　him　as　he　entered　the　hall；　screamed　out　laughingly　that　her　papa　had　turned　into　a　white　man。　It　was　now　later　in　the　evening；　the　children　were　in　bed；　the　governess　was　in　her　own　sitting　roomit　was　not　often　that　Miss　Carlyle　invited　her　to　theirs　of　an　evening　and　the　house　was　quite。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　deep　in　the　pages　of　one　of　the　monthly　periodicals；　and　Miss　Carlyle　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire；　grumbling；　and　grunting；　and　sniffling；　and　choking。

Miss　Carlyle　was　one　of　your　strong…minded　ladies；　who　never　condescended　to　be　ill。　Of　cour