east lynne-第58章

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〃Will　you　marry　me；　Barbara？〃

The　words　were　spoken　in　the　quietest；　most　matter…of…fact　tone；　just　as　if　he　had　said；　〃Shall　I　give　you　a　chair；　Barbara？〃　But；　oh！　The　change　that　passed　over　her　countenance！　The　sudden　light　of　joy！　The　scarlet　flush　of　emotion　and　happiness。　Then　it　all　faded　down　to　paleness　and　sadness。

She　shook　her　head　in　the　negative。　〃But　you　are　very　kind　to　ask　me；〃　she　added　in　words。

〃What　is　the　impediment；　Barbara？〃

Another　rush　of　color　as　before　and　a　deep　silence。　Mr。　Carlyle　stole　his　arm　around　her　and　bent　his　face　on　a　level　with　hers。

〃Whisper　it　to　me；　Barbara。〃

She　burst　into　a　flood　of　tears。

〃Is　it　because　I　once　married　another？〃

〃No；　no。　It　is　the　remembrance　of　that　nightyou　cannot　have　forgotten　it；　and　it　is　stamped　on　my　brain　in　letters　of　fire。　I　never　thought　so　to　betray　myself。　But　for　what　passed　that　night　you　would　not　have　asked　me　now。〃

〃Barbara！〃

She　glanced　up　at　him；　the　tone　was　so　painful。

〃Do　you　know　that　I　/love/　you？　That　there　is　none　other　in　the　whole　world　whom　I　would　care　to　marry　but　you？　Nay；　Barbara；　when　happiness　is　within　our　reach；　let　us　not　throw　it　away　upon　a　chimera。〃

She　cried　more　softly；　leaning　upon　his　arm。　〃Happiness？　Would　it　be　happiness　for　you？〃

〃Great　and　deep　happiness；〃　he　whispered。

She　read　truth　in　his　countenance；　and　a　sweet　smile　illumined　her　sunny　features。　Mr。　Carlyle　read　its　signs。

〃You　love　me　as　much　as　ever；　Barbara！〃

〃Far　more；　far　more；〃　was　the　murmured　answer；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　held　her　closer；　and　drew　her　face　fondly　to　his。　Barbara's　heart　was　at　length　at　rest；　and　she　had　been　content　to　remain　where　she　was　forever。

And　Richard？　Had　he　got　clear　off？　Richard　was　stealing　along　the　road；　plunging　into　the　snow　by　the　hedge　because　it　was　more　sheltered　there　than　in　the　beaten　path；　when　his　umbrella　came　in　contact　with　another　umbrella。　Miss　Carlyle　had　furnished　it　to　him；　not　to　protect　his　battered　hat　but　to　protect　his　face　from　being　seen　by　the　passers　by。　The　umbrella　he　encountered　was　an　aristocratic　silk　one；　with　an　ivory　handle；　Dick's　was　of　democratic　cotton；　with　hardly　any　handle　at　all；　and　the　respective　owners　had　been　bearing　on；　heads　down　and　umbrellas　out；　till　they；　the　umbrellas；　met　smash；　right　under　a　gas　lamp。　Aside　went　the　umbrellas；　and　the　antagonists　stared　at　each　other。

〃How　dare　you；　fellow？　Can't　you　see　where　you　are　going　on？〃

Dick　thought　he　should　have　dropped。　He　would　have　given　all　the　money　his　pockets　held　if　the　friendly　earth　had　but　opened　and　swallowed　him　in；　for　he　was　now　peering　into　the　face　of　his　own　father。

Uttering　an　exclamation　of　dismay；　which　broke　from　him　involuntarily；　Richard　sped　away　with　the　swiftness　of　an　arrow。　Did　Justice　Hare　recognize　the　tones？　It　cannot　be　said。　He　saw　a　rough；　strange　looking　man；　with　bushy；　black　whiskers；　who　was　evidently　scared　at　the　sight　of　him。　That　was　nothing；　for　the　justice；　being　a　justice；　and　a　strict　one；　was　regarded　with　considerable　awe　in　the　parish　by　those　of　Dick's　apparent　caliber。　Nevertheless；　he　stood　still　and　gazed　in　the　direction　until　all　sound　of　Richard's　footsteps　had　died　away　in　the　distance。

Tears　were　streaming　down　the　face　of　Mrs。　Hare。　It　was　a　bright　morning　after　the　snowstorm；　so　bright　that　the　sky　was　blue；　and　the　sun　was　shining；　but　the　snow　lay　deeply　upon　ground。　Mrs。　Hare　sat　in　her　chair；　enjoying　the　brightness；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　stood　near　her。　The　tears　were　of　joy　and　of　grief　mingledof　grief　at　hearing　that　she　should　at　last　have　to　part　with　Barbara；　of　joy　that　she　was　going　to　one　so　entirely　worthy　of　her　as　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Archibald；　she　has　had　a　happy　home　here；　you　will　render　yours　as　much　so？〃

〃To　the　very　utmost　of　my　power。〃

〃You　will　be　ever　kind　to　her；　and　cherish　her？〃

〃With　my　whole　strength　and　heart。　Dear　Mrs。　Hare；　I　thought　you　knew　me　too　well　to　doubt　me。〃

〃Doubt　you！　I　do　not　doubt　you；　I　trust　you　implicitly；　Archibald。　Had　the　whole　world　laid　themselves　at　Barbara's　feet；　I　should　have　prayed　that　she　might　choose　you。〃

A　small　smile　flitted　over　Mr。　Carlyle's　lips。　/He/　knew　it　was　what　Barbara　would　have　done。

〃But；　Archibald；　what　about　Cornelia？〃　returned　Mrs。　Hare。　〃I　would　not　for　a　moment　interfere　in　your　affairs；　or　in　the　arrangements　you　and　Barbara　may　agree　upon；　but　I　cannot　help　thinking　that　married　people　are　better　alone。〃

〃Cornelia　will　quit　East　Lynne；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　have　not　spoken　to　her　yet；　but　I　shall　do　so　now。　I　have　long　made　my　mind　up　that　if　ever　I　did　marry　again；　I　and　my　wife　would　live　alone。　It　is　said　she　interfered　too　much　with　my　former　wife。　Had　I　suspected　it；　Cornelia　should　not　have　remained　in　the　house　a　day。　Rest　assured　that　Barbara　shall　not　be　an　object　to　the　chance。〃

〃How　did　/you/　come　over　her？〃　demanded　the　justice；　who　had　already　given　his　gratified　consent；　and　who　now　entered　in　his　dressing　gown　and　morning　wig。　〃Others　have　tried　it　on；　and　Barbara　would　not　listen　to　them。〃

〃I　suppose　I　must　have　cast　a　spell　upon　her；〃　answered　Mr。　Carlyle；　breaking　into　a　smile。

〃Here　she　is。　Barbara；〃　carried　on　the　unceremonious　justice；　〃what　is　it　that　you　see　in　Carlyle　more　than　anybody　else？〃

Barbara's　scarlet　cheeks　answered　for　her。　〃Papa；〃　she　said；　〃Otway　Bethel　is　at　the　door　asking　to　speak　to　you。　Jasper　says　he　won't　come　in。〃

〃Then　I'm　sure　I'm　not　going　out　to　him　in　the　cold。　Here；　Mr。　Otway；　what　are　you　afraid　of？〃　he　called　out。　〃Come　in。〃

Otway　Bethel　made　his　appearance　in　his　usual　sporting　costume。　But　he　did　not　seem　altogether　at　his　ease　in　the　presence　of　Mrs。　Hare　and　Barbara。

〃The　colonel　wished　to　see　you；　justice；　and　ask　you　if　you　had　any　objection　to　the　meeting's　being　put　off　from　one　o'clock　till　two；〃　cried　he；　after　nodding　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃He　has　got　a　friend　coming　to　see　him　unexpectedly　who　will　leave　again　by　the　two　o'clock　train。〃

〃I　don't　care　which　it　is；〃　answered　Mr。　Hare。　〃Two　o'clock　will　do　as　well　as　one；　for　me。〃

〃That's　all　right；　then；　and　I'll　drop　in　upon　Herbert　and　Pinner　and　acquaint　them。〃

Miss　Carlyle's　cold　was　better　that　evening；　in　fact　she　seemed　quite　herself　again；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　introduced　the　subject　of　his　marriage。　It　was　after　dinner　that　he　began　upon　it。

〃Cornelia；　when　I　married　Lady　Isabel　Vane；　you　reproached　me　severely　with　having　kept　you　in　the　dark〃

〃If　you　had　not　kept　me　in　the　dark；　but　consulted　me；　as　any　other　Christian　would；　the　course　of　events　would　have　been　wholly　changed；　and　the　wretchedness　and　disgrace　that　fell　on　this　house　been　spared　to　it；〃　fiercely　interrupted　Miss　Carlyle。

〃We　will　leave　the　past；〃　he　said；　〃and　consider　the　future。　I　was　about　to　remark；　that　I　do　not　intend　to　fall　under　your　displeasure　again　for　the　like　offense。　I　believe　you　have　never　wholly　forgiven　it。〃

〃And　never　shall；〃　cried　she；　impetuously。　〃I　did　not　deserve　the　slight。〃

〃Therefore；　almost　as　soon　as　I　know　it　myself；　I　acquaint　you。　I　am　about　to　marry　a　second　time；　Cornelia。〃

Miss　Carlyle　started　up。　Her　spectacles　dropped　off　her　nose；　and　a　knitting…box　which　she　happened　to　have　on　her　knees；　clattered　to　the　floor。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　she　uttered；　aghast。

〃I'm　about　to　marry。〃

〃You！〃

〃I。　Is　there　anything　so　very　astonishing　in　it？〃

〃For　the　love　of　common　sense；　don't　go　and　make　such　a　fool　of　yourself。　You　have　done　it　once；　was　not　that　enough　for　you；　but　you　must　run　your　head　into　the　noose　again？〃

〃Now；　Cornelia；　can　you　wonder　that　I　do　not　speak　of　things　when　you　meet　them　in　this　way？　You　treat　me　just　as　you　did　when　I　was　a　child。　It　is　very　foolish。〃

〃When　folk　act　childishly；　they　must　be　treated　as　children。　I　always　thought　you　were　mad　when　you　married　before；　but　I　shall　think　you　doubly　mad　now。〃

〃Because　you　have　preferred　to　remain　single　and　solitary　yourself；　is　it　any　reason　why　you　should　condemn　me　to　do　the　same？　You　are　happy　alone；　I　should　be　happier　with　a　wife。

〃That　she　may　go　and　disgrace　you；　as　the　last　one　did！〃　intemperately　spoke　Miss　Carlyle；　caring　not　a　rush　what　she　said　in　her　storm　of　anger。

Mr。　Carlyle's　brow　flushed；　but　he　controlled　his　temper。

〃No；〃　he　calmly　replied。　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　that　in　the　one　I　have　now　chosen。〃

Miss　Corny　gathered　her　knitting　together；　he　had　picked　up　her　box。　Her　hands　trembled；　and　the　lines　of　her　face　were　working。　It　was　a　blow　to　her　as　keen　as　the　other　had　been。

〃Pray　who　is　it　that　you　have　chosen？〃　she　jerked　forth。　〃The　whole　neighborhood　has　been　after　you。〃

〃Let　it　be　who　it　will；　Cornelia；　you　will　be　sure　to　grumble。　Were　I　to　say　that　it　was　a　royal　princess；　or　a　peasant's　daughter；　you　would　equally　see　grounds　for　finding　fault。〃

〃Of　course　I　should。　I　know　who　it　isthat　stuck…up　Louisa　Dobede。〃

〃No；　it　is　not。　I　never　had　the　slightest　intention　of　choosing　Louisa　Dobede；　nor　she　of　choosing　me。　I　am　marrying　to　please　myself；　and；　for　a　wife；　Louisa　Dobede　would　not　please　me。〃

〃As　you　did　before；〃　sarcastically　put　in　Miss　Corny。

〃Yes；　as　I　did　before。〃

〃Well；　can't　you　open　your　mouth　and　say　who　it　is？〃　was　the　exasperated　rejoinder。

〃It　is　Barbara　Hare。〃

〃Who？〃　shrieked　Miss　Carlyle。

〃You　are　not　deaf；　Cornelia。〃

〃Well；　you　/are/　an　idiot！〃　she　exclaimed；　lifting　up　her　hands　and　eyes。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　but　without　any　signs　of　irritation。

〃And　so　you　are；　/you　are/；　Archibald。　To　suffer　that　girl；　who　has　been　angling　after　you　so　long；　to　catch　you　at　last。〃

〃She　has　not　angled　after　me；　had　she　done　so；　she　would　probably　never　have　been　Mrs。　Carlyle。　Whatever　passing　fancy　she　may　have　entertained　for　me　in　earlier　days；　she　has　shown　no　symptoms　of　it　of　late　years；　and　I　am　quite　certain　that　she　had　no　more　thought　or　idea　that　I　should　choose　her　for　my　second　wife；　than　you　had　I　should　choose　you。　Others　have　angled　after　me　too　palpably；　but　Barbara　has　not。〃

〃She　is　a　conceited　minx；　as　vain　as　she　is　high。〃

〃What　else　have　you　to　urge　against　her？〃

〃I　would　have　married　a　girl　without　a　slur；　if　I　must　have　married；〃　aggravatingly　returned　Miss　Corny。

〃Slur？〃

〃Slur；　yes。　Dear　me；　is　it　an　honorthe　possessing　a　brother　such　as　Richard？〃

Miss　Corny　sniffed。　〃Pigs　may　fly；　but　I　never　saw　them　try　at　it。〃

〃The　next　consideration；　Cornelia；　is　about　your　residence。　You　will　go　back；　I　presume；　to　your　own　home。〃

Miss　Corny　did　not　believe　her　own　ears。　〃Go　back　to　my　own　home！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　shall　do　nothing　of　the　sort。　I　shall　stop　at　East　Lynne。　What's　to　hinder　me？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　shook　his　head。　〃It　cannot　be；〃　he　said；　in　a　low；　decisive　tone。

〃Who　says　so？〃　she　sharply　asked。

〃I　do。　Have　you　forgotten　that　nightwhen　she　went　awaythe　words　spoken　by　Joyce？　Cornelia；　whether　they　were　true　or　false；　I　will　not　subject　another　to　the　chance。〃

She　did　not　answer。　Her　lips　parted　and　closed　again。　Somehow；　Miss　Carlyle　could　not　bear　to　be　reminded　of　that　revelation　of　Joyce's；　it　subdued　even　her。

〃I　cast　no　reflection　upon　you；〃　hastily　continued　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃You　have　been　a　mistress　of　a　house　for　many　years；　and　you　na