east lynne-第57章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃Say　I　am　dead；　if　you　like；〃　responded　Miss　Corny；　who　was　in　one　of　her　cross　moods。

Mr。　Carlyle　ordered　the　pony　carriage；　and　drove　forth　with　John。　He　drew　in　at　the　grove。　Barbara　and　Mrs。　Hare　were　seated　together；　and　looked　surprised　at　the　early　visit。

〃Do　you　want　Mr。　Hare；　Archibald？　He　is　out。　He　went　while　the　breakfast　was　on　the　table；　apparently　in　a　desperate　hurry。〃

〃I　don't　want　Mr。　Hare；　I　want　Barbara。　I　have　come　to　carry　her　off。〃

〃To　carry　off　Barbara！〃　echoed　Mrs。　Hare。

〃Cornelia　is　not　well；　she　had　caught　a　violent　cold；　and　wishes　Barbara　to　spend　the　day　with　her。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Carlyle；　I　cannot　leave　mamma　to…day。　She　is　not　well　herself；　and　she　would　be　dull　without　me。〃

〃Neither　can　I　spare　her；　Archibald。　It　is　not　a　day　for　Barbara　to　go　out。〃

How　could　he　get　to　say　a　word　to　Barbara　alone？　Whilst　he　deliberated；　talking　on；　though；　all　the　while　to　Mrs。　Hare；　a　servant　appeared　at　the　sitting…room　door。

〃The　fishmonger's　boy　is　come　up；　ma'am。　His　master　has　sent　him　to　say　that　he　fears　there'll　be　no　fish　in　to…day；　in　anything　like　time。　The　trains　won't　get　up；　with　this　weather。〃

Mrs。　Hare　rose　from　her　seat　to　hold　a　confab　at　the　door　with　the　maid；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　seized　his　opportunity。

〃Barbara；〃　he　whispered；　〃make　no　opposition。　You　/must/　come。　What　I　really　want　you　for　is　connected　with　Richard。〃

She　looked　up　at　him；　a　startled　glance；　and　the　crimson　flew　to　her　face。　Mrs。　Hare　returned　to　her　seat。　〃Oh；　such　a　day！〃　she　shivered。　〃I　am　sure　Cornelia　cannot　expect　Barbara。〃

〃But　Cornelia　does。　And　there　is　my　pony　carriage　waiting　to　take　her　before　I　go　to　the　office。　Not　a　flake　of　snow　can　come　near　her；　Mrs。　Hare。　The　large　warm　apron　will　be　up；　and　an　umbrella　shield　her　bonnet　and　face。　Get　your　things　on；　Barbara。〃

〃Mamma　if　you　would　not　very　much　mind　being　left；　I　should　like　to　go；〃　said　Barbara；　with　almost　trembling　eagerness。

〃But　you　would　be　sure　to　take　cold；　child。〃

〃Oh；　dear　no。　I　can　wrap　up　well。〃

〃And　I　will　see　that　she　comes　home　all　right　this　evening；〃　added　Mr。　Carlyle。

In　a　few　minutes　they　were　seated　in　the　pony　carriage。　Barbara's　tongue　was　burning　to　ask　questions；　but　John　sat　behind　them；　and　would　have　overheard。　When　they　arrived　at　East　Lynne；　Mr。　Carlyle　gave　her　his　arm　up　the　steps；　and　took　her　into　the　breakfast…room。

〃Will　you　prepare　yourself　for　a　surprise；　Barbara？〃

Suspensefearhad　turned　her　very　pale。　〃Something　that　has　happened　to　Richard！〃　she　uttered。

〃Nothing　that　need　agitate　you。　He　is　here。〃

〃Here？　Where？

〃Here。　Under　this　roof。　He　slept　here　last　night。〃

〃Oh；　Archibald！〃

〃Only　fancy；　Barbara；　I　opened　the　window　at　nine　last　night　to　look　at　the　weather；　and　in　burst　Richard。　We　could　not　let　him　go　out　again　in　the　snow；　so　he　slept　here；　in　that　room　next　Cornelia's。〃

〃Does　she　know　of　it？〃

〃Of　course。　And　Joyce　also；　we　were　obliged　to　tell　Joyce。　It　is　he　you　have　come　to　spend　the　day　with。　But　just　imagine　Richard's　fear。　Your　father　came　this　morning；　calling　up　the　stairs　after　me；　saying　he　heard　Richard　was　here。　I　thought　Richard　would　have　gone　out　of　his　mind　with　fright。〃

A　few　more　explanations；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　took　Barbara　into　the　room；　Miss　Carlyle　and　her　knitting　still　keeping　Richard　company。　In　fact；　that　was　to　be　the　general　sitting　room　of　the　day；　and　a　hot　lunch；　Richard's　dinner；　would　be　served　to　Miss　Carlyle's　chamber　at　one　o'clock。　Joyce　only　admitted　to　wait　on　her。

〃And　now　I　must　go；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　after　chatting　a　few　minutes。　〃The　office　is　waiting　for　me；　and　my　poor　ponies　are　in　the　snow。〃

〃But　you'll　be　sure　to　be　home　early；　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　said　Richard。　〃I　dare　not　stop　here；　I　must　be　off　not　a　moment　later　than　six　or　seven　o'clock。〃

〃I　will　be　home；　Richard。〃

Anxiously　did　Richard　and　Barbara　consult　that　day；　Miss　Carlyle　of　course　putting　in　her　word。　Over　and　over　again　did　Barbara　ask　the　particulars　of　the　slight　interviews　Richard　had　had　with　Thorn；　over　and　over　again　did　she　openly　speculate　upon　what　his　name　really　was。　〃If　you　could　but　discover　some　one　whom　he　knows；　and　inquire　it；〃　she　exclaimed。

〃I　have　seen　him　with　one　person；　but　I　can't　inquire　of　him。　They　are　too　thick　together；　he　and　Thorn；　and　are　birds　of　a　feather　also；　I　suspect。　Great　swells　both。〃

〃Oh；　Richard　don't　use　those　expressions。　They　are　unsuited　to　a　gentleman。〃

Richard　laughed　bitterly。　〃A　gentleman？〃

〃Who　is　it　you　have　seen　Thorn　with？〃　inquired　Barbara。

〃Sir　Francis　Levison；〃　replied　Richard；　glancing　at　Miss　Carlyle；　who　drew　in　her　lips　ominously。

〃With　whom？〃　uttered　Barbara；　betraying　complete　astonishment。　〃Do　you　know　Sir　Francis　Levison？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　know　/him/。　Nearly　the　only　man　about　town　that　I　do　know。〃

Barbara　seemed　lost　in　a　puzzled　reverie；　and　it　was　some　time　before　she　aroused　herself　from　it。

〃Are　they　at　all　alike？〃　she　asked。

〃Very　much　so；　I　suspect。　Both　bad　men。〃

〃But　I　meant　in　person。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　Except　that　they　are　both　tall。〃

Again　Barbara　sank　into　thought。　Richard's　words　had　surprised　her。　She　was　aroused　by　it　from　hearing　a　child's　voice　in　the　next　room。　She　ran　into　it；　and　Miss　Carlyle　immediately　fastened　the　intervening　door。

It　was　little　Archibald　Carlyle。　Joyce　had　come　in　with　the　tray　to　lay　the　luncheon；　and　before　she　could　lock　the　door；　Archibald　ran　in　after　her。　Barbara　lifted　him　in　her　arms　to　carry　him　back　to　the　nursery。

〃Oh；　you　heavy　boy！〃　she　exclaimed。

Archie　laughed。　〃Wilson　says　that；〃　he　lisped；　〃if　ever　she　has　to　carry　me。〃

〃I　have　brought　you　a　truant；　Wilson；〃　cried　Barbara。

〃Oh；　is　it　you；　Miss　Barbara？　How　are　you；　miss？　Naughty　boy！yes；　he　ran　away　without　my　noticing　himhe　is　got　now　so　that　he　can　open　the　door。〃

〃You　must　be　so　kind　as　to　keep　him　strictly　in　for　to…day；〃　concluded　Miss　Barbara；　authoritatively。　〃Miss　Carlyle　is　not　well；　and　cannot　be　subjected　to　the　annoyance　of　his　running　into　the　room。〃

Evening　came；　and　the　time　of　Richard's　departure。　It　was　again　snowing　heavily；　though　it　had　ceased　in　the　middle　of　the　day。　Money　for　the　present　had　been　given　to　him；　arrangements　had　been　discussed。　Mr。　Carlyle　insisted　upon　Richard's　sending　him　his　address；　as　soon　as　he　should　own　one　to　send；　and　Richard　faithfully　promised。　He　was　in　very　low　spirits；　almost　as　low　as　Barbara；　who　could　not　conceal　her　tears；　they　dropped　in　silence　on　her　pretty　silk　dress。　He　was　smuggled　down　the　stairs；　a　large　cloak　of　Miss　Carlyle's　enveloping　him；　into　the　room　he　had　entered　by　storm　the　previous　night。　Mr。　Carlyle　held　the　window　open。

〃Good…bye；　Barbara　dear。　If　ever　you　should　be　able　to　tell　my　mother　of　this　day；　say　that　my　chief　sorrow　was　not　to　see　her。〃

〃Oh；　Richard！〃　she　sobbed　forth；　broken…hearted；　〃good…bye。　May　God　be　with　you　and　bless　you！〃

〃Farewell；　Richard；〃　said　Miss　Carlyle；　〃don't　you　be　fool　enough　to　get　into　any　more　scrapes。〃

Last　of　all　he　rung　the　hand　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　latter　went　outside　with　him　for　an　instant；　and　their　leave…taking　was　alone。

Barbara　returned　to　the　chamber　he　had　quitted。　She　felt　that　she　must　indulge　in　a　few　moments　sobbing；　Joyce　was　there；　but　Barbara　was　sobbing　when　she　entered　it。

〃It　/is/　hard　for　him；　Miss　Barbara；　if　he　is　really　innocent。〃

Barbara　turned　her　streaming　eyes　upon　her。　〃/If！/　Joyce　do　you　doubt　that　he　is　innocent？〃

〃I　quite　believe　him　to　be　so　now；　miss。　Nobody　could　so　solemnly　assert　what　was　not　true。　The　thing　at　present　will　be　to　find　that　Captain　Thorn。〃

〃Joyce！〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　in　excitement；　seizing　hold　of　Joyce's　hands；　〃I　thought　I　had　found　him；　I　believed　in　my　own　mind　that　I　knew　who　he　was。　I　don't　mind　telling　you；　though　I　have　never　before　spoken　of　it；　and　with　one　thing　or　other；　this　night　I　feel　just　as　if　I　should　dieas　if　I　must　speak。　I　thought　it　was　Sir　Francis　Levison。〃

Joyce　stared　with　all　her　eyes。　〃Miss　Barbara！〃

〃I　did。　I　have　thought　it　ever　since　the　night　that　Lady　Isabel　went　away。　My　poor　brother　was　at　West　Lynne　thenhe　had　come　for　a　few　hours；　and　he　met　the　man　Thorn　walking　in　Bean　lane。　He　was　in　evening　dress；　and　Richard　described　a　peculiar　motion　of　histhe　throwing　off　of　his　hair　from　his　brow。　He　said　his　white　hand　and　his　diamond　ring　glittered　in　the　moonlight。　The　white　hand；　the　ring；　the　motionfor　he　was　always　doing　itall　reminded　me　of　Captain　Levison；　and　from　that　hour　until　to…day　I　believed　him　to　be　the　man　Richard　saw。　To…day　Richard　tells　me　that　he　knows　Sir　Francis　Levison；　and　that　he　and　Thorn　are　intimate。　What　I　think　now　is；　that　this　Thorn　must　have　paid　a　flying　visit　to　the　neighborhood　that　night　to　assist　Captain　Levison　in　the　wicked　work　that　he　had　on　hand。〃

〃How　strange　it　all　sounds！〃　uttered　Joyce。

〃And　I　never　could　tell　my　suspicions　to　Mr。　Carlyle！　I　did　not　like　to　mention　Francis　Levison's　name　to　him。〃

Barbara　soon　returned　down　stairs。　〃I　must　be　going　home；〃　she　said　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃It　is　turned　half…past　seven；　and　mamma　will　be　uneasy。〃

〃Whenever　you　like；　Barbara。〃

〃But　can　I　not　walk？　I　am　sorry　to　take　out　your　ponies　again；　and　in　this　storm。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　laughed。　〃Which　would　feel　the　storm　the　worst；　you　or　the　ponies？〃

But　when　Barbara　got　outside；　she　saw　that　it　was　not　the　pony　carriage；　but　the　chariot　that　was　in　waiting　for　her。　She　turned　inquiringly　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Did　you　think　I　should　allow　you　to　go　home　in　an　open　carriage　to…night；　Barbara？〃

〃Are　you　coming　also？〃

〃I　suppose　I　had　better；〃　he　smiled。　〃To　see　that　you　and　the　carriage　do　not　get　fixed　in　a　rut。〃

Barbara　withdrew　to　her　corner　of　the　chariot；　and　cried　silently。　Very；　very　deeply　did　she　mourn　the　unhappy　situationthe　privations　of　her　brother；　and　she　knew　that　he　was　one　to　feel　them　deeply。　He　could　not　battle　with　the　world's　hardships　so　bravely　as　many　could。　Mr。　Carlyle　only　detected　her　emotion　as　they　were　nearing　the　Grove。　He　leaned　forward；　took　her　hand；　and　held　it　between　his。

〃Don't　grieve；　Barbara。　Bright　days　may　be　in　store　for　us　yet。〃

The　carriage　stopped。

〃You　may　go　back；〃　he　said　to　the　servants；　when　he　alighted。　〃I　shall　walk　home。〃

〃Oh；〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　〃I　do　think　you　intend　to　spend　the　evening　with　us？　Mamma　will　be　so　pleased。〃

Her　voice　sounded　as　if　she　was　also。　Mr。　Carlyle　drew　her　hand　within　his　arm　as　they　walked　up　the　path。

But　Barbara　had　reckoned　without　her　host。　Mrs。　Hare　was　in　bed；　consequently　could　not　be　pleased　at　the　visit　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　justice　had　gone　out；　and　she；　feeling　tired　and　not　well；　thought　she　would　retire　to　rest。　Barbara　stole　into　her　room；　but　found　her　asleep；　so　that　it　fell　to　Barbara　to　entertain　Mr。　Carlyle。

They　stood　together　before　the　large　pierglass；　in　front　of　the　blazing　fire。　Barbara　was　thinking　over　the　events　of　the　day。　What　Mr。　Carlyle　was　thinking　of　was　best　known　to　himself；　his　eyes；　covered　with　their　drooping　eyelids；　were　cast　upon　Barbara。　There　was　a　long　silence；　at　length　Barbara　seemed　to　feel　that　his　gaze　was　upon　her；　and　she　looked　up　at　him。

〃Will　you　marry　me；　Barbara？〃

The　words　were　sp