east lynne-第54章

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〃Afy　was　here　herself　two　or　three　months　ago。〃

〃Was　she；　though？〃　uttered　Richard；　beguiled　for　an　instant　from　the　thought　of　his　own　danger。　〃What　is　she　doing？〃

〃She　is　in　service　as　a　lady's　maid。　Richard；　I　questioned　Afy　about　Thorn。　She　protested　solemnly　to　me　that　it　was　not　Thorn　who　committed　the　deedthat　it　could　not　have　been　he；　for　Thorn　was　with　her　at　the　moment　of　its　being　done。〃

〃It's　not　true！〃　fired　Richard。　〃It　was　Thorn。〃

〃Richard；　you　cannot　tell；　you　did　not　/see/　it　done。〃

〃I　know　that　no　man　could　have　rushed　out　in　that　frantic　manner；　with　those　signs　of　guilt　and　fear　about　him；　unless　he　had　been　engaged　in　a　bad　deed；〃　was　Richard　Hare's　answer。　〃It　could　have　been　no　one　else。〃

〃Afy　declared　he　was　with　her；〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Look　here；　sir；　you　are　a　sharp　man；　and　folks　say　I　am　not；　but　I　can　see　things　and　draw　my　reasoning　as　well　as　they　can；　perhaps。　If　Thorn　were　not　Hallijohn's　murderer；　why　should　he　be　persecuting　me　what　would　he　care　about　me？　And　why　should　his　face　turn　livid；　as　it　has　done；　each　time　he　has　seen　my　eyes　upon　him？　Whether　he　did　commit　the　murder；　or　whether　he　didn't；　he　must　know　that　I　did　not；　because　he　came　upon　me；　waiting；　as　he　was　tearing　from　the　cottage。〃

Dick's　reasoning　was　not　bad。

〃Another　thing；〃　he　resumed。　〃Afy　swore　at　the　inquest　that　she　was　/alone/　when　the　deed　was　done；　that　she　was　alone　at　the　back　of　the　cottage；　and　knew　nothing　about　it　till　afterwards。　How　could　she　have　sworn　she　was　alone；　if　Thorn　was　with　her？〃

The　fact　has　entirely　escaped　Mr。　Carlyle's　memory　in　his　conversation　with　Afy；　or　he　would　not　have　failed　to　point　out　the　discrepancy；　and　to　inquire　how　she　could　reconcile　it。　Yet　her　assertion　to　him　had　been　most　positive　and　solemn。　There　were　difficulties　in　the　matter　which　he　could　not　reconcile。

〃Now　that　I　have　got　over　my　passion　for　Afy；　I　can　see　her　faults；　Mr。　Carlyle。　She'd　no　more　tell　an　untruth　than　I　should　stick〃

A　most　awful　thundering　at　the　room　doorloud　enough　to　bring　the　very　house　down。　No　officers　of　justice；　searching　for　a　fugitive；　ever　made　a　louder。　Richard　Hare；　his　face　turned　to　chalk；　his　eyes　starting；　and　his　own　light　hair　bristling　up　with　horror；　struggled　into　his　wet　smock…frock　after　a　fashion；　the　tails　up　about　his　ears　and　the　sleeves　hanging；　forced　on　his　hat　and　his　false　whiskers；　looked　round　in　a　bewildered　manner　for　some　cupboard　or　mouse…hole　into　which　he　might　creep；　and；　seeing　none；　rushed　to　the　fireplace　and　placed　his　foot　on　the　fender。　That　he　purposed　an　attempt　at　chimney…climbing　was　evident；　though　how　the　fire　would　have　agreed　with　his　pantaloons；　not　to　speak　of　what　they　contained；　poor　Dick　appeared　completely　to　ignore。　Mr。　Carlyle　drew　him　back；　keeping　his　calm；　powerful　hand　upon　his　shoulder；　while　certain　sounds　in　an　angry　voice　were　jerked　through　the　keyhole。

〃Richard；　be　a　man；　put　aside　this　weakness；　this　fear。　Have　I　not　told　you　that　harm　shall　not　come　near　you　in　my　house？〃

〃It　may　be　that　officer　from　London；　he　may　have　brought　half　a　dozen　more　with　him！〃　gasped　the　unhappy　Richard。　〃I　said　they　might　have　dodged　me　all　the　way　here。〃

〃Nonsense。　Sit　you　down；　and　be　at　rest；　it　is　only　Cornelia；　and　she　will　be　as　anxious　to　shield　you　from　danger　as　I　can　be。〃

〃Is　it？〃　cried　the　relieved　Richard。　〃Can't　you　make　her　keep　out？〃　he　continued；　his　teeth　still　chattering。

〃No；　that　I　can't；　if　she　has　a　mind　to　come　in；〃　was　the　candid　answer。　〃You　remember　what　she　was；　Richard；　she　is　not　altered。〃

Knowing　that　to　speak　on　this　side　the　door　to　his　sister；　when　she　was　in　one　of　her　resolute　moods；　would　be　of　no　use；　Mr。　Carlyle　opened　the　door；　dexterously　swung　himself　through　it；　and　shut　it　after　him。　There　she　stood；　in　a　towering　passion；　too。

It　had　struck　Miss　Carlyle；　while　undressing；　that　certain　sounds；　as　of　talking；　proceeded　from　the　room　underneath；　which　she　had　just　quitted。　She　possessed　a　remarkably　keen　sense　of　hearing；　did　Miss　Carlyle；　though；　indeed；　none　of　her　faculties　lacked　the　quality　of　keenness。　The　servants；　Joyce　and　Peter　excepted；　would　not　be　convinced　but　that　she　must　〃listen；〃　but；　in　that；　they　did　her　injustice。　First　of　all；　she　believed　her　brother　must　be　reading　aloud　to　himself；　but　she　soon　decided　otherwise。　〃Who　on　earth　has　he　got　in　there　with　him？〃　quoth　Miss　Carlyle。

She　rang　her　bell；　Joyce　answered　it。

〃Who　is　it　that　is　with　your　master？〃

〃Nobody；　ma'am。〃

〃But　I　say　there　is。　I　can　hear　him　talking。〃

〃I　don't　think　anybody　can　be　with　him；〃　persisted　Joyce。　〃And　the　walls　of　this　house　are　too　well　built；　ma'am；　for　sounds　from　the　down　stairs　rooms　to　penetrate　here。〃

〃That's　all　you　know　about　it；〃　cried　Miss　Carlyle。　〃When　talking　goes　on　in　that　room；　there's　a　certain　sound　given　out　which　does　penetrate　here；　and　which　my　ears　have　grown　accustomed　to。　Go　and　see　who　it　is。　I　believe　I　left　my　handkerchief　on　the　table；　you　can　bring　it　up。〃

Joyce　departed；　and　Miss　Carlyle　proceeded　to　take　off　her　things；　her　dress　first；　her　silk　petticoat　next。　She　had　arrived　as　far　as　the　flannel　petticoat　when　Joyce　returned。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　some　one　is　talking　with　master。　I　could　not　go　in；　for　the　door　was　bolted；　and　master　called　out　that　he　was　busy。〃

Food　for　Miss　Carlyle。　She；　feeling　sure　that　no　visitor　had　come　to　the　house；　ran　her　thoughts　rapidly　over　the　members　of　the　household；　and　came　to　the　conclusion　that　it　must　be　the　governess；　Miss　Manning；　who　had　dared　to　closet　herself　with　Mr。　Carlyle。　This　unlucky　governess　was　pretty；　and　Miss　Carlyle　had　been　cautious　to　keep　her　and　her　prettiness　very　much　out　of　her　brother's　sight；　she　knew　the　attraction　he　would　present　to　her　visions；　or　to　those　of　any　other　unprovided…for　governess。　Oh；　yes；　it　was　Miss　Manning；　she　had　stolen　in；　believing　she；　Miss　Carlyle；　was　safe　for　the　night；　but　she'd　just　unearth　my　lady。　And　what　in　the　world　could　possess　Archibaldto　lock　the　door！

Looking　round　for　something　warm　to　throw　over　her　shoulders；　and　catching　up　an　article　that　looked　as　much　like　a　green　baize　table…　cover　as　anything　else；　and　throwing　it　on；　down　stalked　Miss　Carlyle。　And　in　this　trim　Mr。　Carlyle　beheld　her　when　he　came　out。

The　figure　presented　by　Miss　Carlyle　to　her　brother's　eyes　was　certainly　ridiculous　enough。　She　gave　him　no　time　to　comment　upon　it；　however；　but　instantly　and　curtly　asked；

〃Who　have　you　got　in　that　room？〃

〃It　is　some　one　on　business；〃　was　his　prompt　reply。　〃Cornelia；　you　cannot　go　in。〃

She　very　nearly　laughed。　〃Not　go　in？〃

〃Indeed　it　is　much　better　that　you　should　not。　Pray　go　back。　You　will　make　your　cold　worse；　standing　here。

〃Now；　I　want　to　know　whether　you　are　not　ashamed　of　yourself？〃　she　deliberately　pursued。　〃You！　A　married　man；　with　children　in　your　house！　I'd　rather　have　believed　anything　downright　wicked　of　myself；　than　of　you；　Archibald。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　stared　considerably。

〃Come；　I'll　have　her　out。　And　out　of　this　house　she　tramps　to…morrow　morning。　A　couple　of　audacious　ones；　to　be　in　there　with　the　door　locked；　the　moment　you　thought　you　had　got　rid　of　me！　Stand　aside；　I　say；　Archibald；　I　will　enter。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　never　felt　more　inclined　to　laugh。　And；　to　Miss　Carlyle's　exceeding　discomposure　she；　at　this　juncture；　saw　the　governess　emerge　from　the　gray　parlor；　glance　at　the　hall　clock；　and　retire　again。

〃Why！　She's　there；〃　she　uttered。　〃I　thought　she　was　with　you。〃

〃Miss　Manning；　locked　in　with　me！　Is　that　the　mare's　nest；　Cornelia？　I　think　your　cold　must　have　obscured　your　reason。〃

〃Well；　I　shall　go　in；　all　the　same。　I　tell　you；　Archibald；　that　I　will　see　who　is　there。〃

〃If　you　persist　in　going　in；　you　must　go。　But　allow　me　to　warn　you　that　you　will　find　tragedy　in　that　room；　not　comedy。　There　is　no　woman　in　it；　but　there　is　a　man；　a　man　who　came　in　through　the　window；　like　a　hunted　stag；　a　man　upon　whom　a　ban　is　set；　who　fears　the　police　are　upon　his　track。　Can　you　guess　his　name？〃

It　was　Miss　Carlyle's　turn　to　stare　now。　She　opened　her　dry　lips　to　speak；　but　they　closed　again。

〃It　is　Richard　Hare；　your　kinsman。　There's　not　a　roof　in　the　wide　world　open　to　him　this　bitter　night。〃

She　said　nothing。　A　long　pause　of　dismay；　and　then　she　motioned　to　have　the　door　opened。

〃You　will　not　show　yourselfinin　that　guise？〃

〃Not　show　myself　in　this　guise　to　Richard　Harewhom　I　have　whipped　when　he　was　a　childten　times　a　day！　Stand　on　ceremony　with　/him/！　I　dare　say　he　looks　no　better　than　I　do。　But　it's　nothing　short　of　madness；　Archibald；　for　him　to　come　here。〃

He　left　her　to　enter；　telling　her　to　lock　the　door　as　soon　as　she　was　inside；　and　went　himself　into　the　adjoining　room；　the　one　which；　by　another　door；　opened　to　the　one　Richard　was　in。　Then　he　rang　the　bell。　It　was　answered　by　a　footman。

〃Send　Peter　to　me。〃

〃Lay　supper　here；　Peter；　for　two；〃　began　Mr。　Carlyle；　when　the　old　servant　appeared。　〃A　person　is　with　me　on　business。　What　have　you　in　the　house？〃

〃There's　the　spiced　beef；　sir；　and　there　are　some　home…made　raised　pork　pies。〃

〃That　will　do；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Put　a　quart　of　ale　on　the　table；　and　everything　likely　to　be　wanted。　And　then　the　household　can　go　to　bed；　we　may　be　late；　and　the　things　can　be　removed　in　the　morning。　Oh　and　Peternone　of　you　must　come　near　the　room；　this　or　the　next；　under　any　pretence　whatever；　unless　I　ring；　for　I　shall　be　too　busy　to　be　disturbed。〃

〃Very　well；　sir。　Shall　I　serve　the　ham　also？〃

〃The　ham？〃

〃I　beg　pardon；　sir；　I　guessed　it　might　be　Mr。　Dill；　and　he　is　so　fond　of　our　hams。〃

〃Ah；　you　were　always　a　shrewd　guesser；　Peter；〃　smiled　his　master。　〃He　is　fond　of　ham　I　know；　yes；　you　may　put　it　on　the　table。　Don't　forget　the　small　kettle。〃

The　consequence　of　which　little　finesse　on　Mr。　Carlyle's　part　was；　that　Peter　announced　in　the　kitchen　that　Mr。　Dill　had　arrived；　and　supper　was　to　be　served　for　two。　〃But　what　a　night　for　the　old　gentleman　to　have　trudged　through　on　foot！〃　exclaimed　he。

〃And　what　a　trudge　he'll　have　of　it　back　again；　for　it'll　be　worse　then！〃　chimed　in　one　of　the　maids。

When　Mr。　Carlyle　got　back　in　the　other　room；　his　sister　and　Richard　Hare　had　scarcely　finished　staring　at　each　other。

〃Please　lock　the　door；　Miss　Cornelia；〃　began　poor　shivering　Dick。

〃The　door's　locked；〃　snapped　she。　〃But　what　on　earth　brought　you　here；　Richard？　You　must　be　worse　than　mad。〃

〃The　Bow…street　officers　were　after　me　in　London；〃　he　meekly　responded；　unconsciously　using　a　term　which　had　been　familiar　to　his　boyish　years。　〃I　had　to　cut　away　without　a　thing　belonging　to　me；　without　so　much　as　a　clean　shirt。〃

〃They　must　be　polite　officers；　not　to　have　been　after　you　before；〃　was　the　consolatory　remark　of　Miss　Carlyle。　〃Are　you　going　to　dance　a　hornpipe　through　the　streets　of　West　Lynne　to…morrow；　and　show　yourself　openly？〃

〃Not　if　I　can　help　it；〃　replied　Richard。

〃You　might　just　as　well　do　that；　if　you　come　to　West　Lynne　at　all；　for　you　can't　be　here　now　without　being　found　out。　There　was　a　bother　about　your　having　been　here　the　last　time：　I　should　like　to　know　how　it　got　abroad。〃

〃The　life　I　lead　is　dreadful！〃　cried　Richard。　〃I　might　make　up　my