east lynne-第61章

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na　Crosby　was　a　remarkably　fine　grown　girl　of　seventeen。　You　might　have　given　her　some　years　on　it　had　you　been　guessing　her　age；　for　she　was　no　child；　either　in　appearance　or　manners；　and　never　had　been。　She　was　an　heiress；　too。　An　uncle　had　left　her　twenty　thousand　pounds；　and　at　her　mother's　death　she　would　have　ten　thousand　more。　The　Count　Otto　von　Stalkenberg　heard　of　the　thirty　thousand　pounds；　and　turned　his　fierce　moustache　and　his　eyes　on　Miss　Helena。

〃Thirty　thousand　pounds　and　von　handsome　girls！〃　cogitated　he；　for　he　prided　himself　upon　his　English。　〃It　is　just　what　I　have　been　seeking　after。〃

He　found　the　rumor　touching　her　fortune　to　be　correct；　and　from　that　time　was　seldom　apart　from　the　Crosbys。　They　were　as　pleased　to　have　his　society　as　he　was　to　be　in　theirs；　for　was　he　not　the　Count　von　Stalkenberg？　And　the　other　visitors　at　Stalkenberg　looking　on　with　envy；　would　have　given　their　ears　to　be　honored　with　a　like　intimacy。

One　day　there　thundered　down　in　a　vehicle　the　old　Baron　von　Stalkenberg。　The　old　chief　had　come　to　pay　a　visit　of　ceremony　to　the　Crosbys。　And　the　host　of　the　Ludwig　Bad；　as　he　appeared　himself　to　marshal　this　chieftain　to　their　saloon；　bowed　his　body　low　with　every　step。

〃Room　there；　room　there；　for　the　mighty　Baron　von　Stalkenberg。〃

The　mighty　baron　had　come　to　invite　them　to　a　feast　at　his　castle；　where　no　feast　had　ever　been　made　so　grand　before　as　this　would　be；　and　Otto　had　/carte　blanche/　to　engage　other　distinguished　sojourners　at　Stalkenberg；　English；　French；　and　natives；　who　had　been　civil　to　him。　Mrs。　Crosby's　head　was　turned。

And　now；　I　ask　you；　knowing　as　you　do　our　national　notions；　was　it　not　enough　to　turn　it？　You　will　not；　then；　be　surprised　to　hear　that　when；　some　days　subsequent　to　the　feast；　the　Count　Otto　von　Stalkenberg　laid　his　proposals　at　Helena's　feet；　they　were　not　rejected。

Helena　Crosby　rushed　into　her　governess's　room。

〃Madam！　Madam！　Only　think。　I　am　going　to　be　married！〃

Madam　lifted　her　pale；　sad　facea　very　sad　and　pale　face　was　hers。

〃Indeed！〃　she　gently　uttered。

〃And　my　studies　are　to　be　over　from　to…day；　Mamma　says　so。〃

〃You　are　over　young　to　marry；　Helena。〃

〃Now　don't　you　bring　up　that；　madam。　It　is　just　what　papa　is　harping　upon；〃　returned　Miss　Helena。

〃It　is　to　Count　Otto？〃　And　it　may　be　remarked　that　the　governess's　English　was　perfect；　although　the　young　lady　addressed　her　as　〃Madam。〃

〃Count　Otto；　of　course。　As　if　I　would　marry　anybody　else！〃

Look　at　the　governess；　reader；　and　see　whether　you　know　her。　You　will　say　〃No。〃　But　you　do；　for　it　is　Lady　Isabel　Vane。　But　how　strangely　she　is　altered！　Yes；　the　railway　accident　did　that　for　her；　and　what　the　accident　left　undone；　grief　and　remorse　accomplished。　She　limps　as　she　walks；　and　slightly　stoops；　taken　from　her　former　height。　A　scar　extends　from　her　chin　above　her　mouth；　completely　changing　the　character　of　the　lower　part　of　her　face；　some　of　her　teeth　are　missing；　so　that　she　speaks　with　a　lisp；　and　the　sober　bands　of　her　gray　hairit　is　nearly　silverare　confined　under　a　large　and　close　cap。　She　herself　tries　to　make　the　change　greater；　so　that　all　chance　of　being　recognized　may　be　at　an　end；　and　for　that　reason　she　wears　disfiguring　spectacles；　and　a　broad　band　of　gray　velvet；　coming　down　low　upon　her　forehead。　Her　dress；　too；　is　equally　disfiguring。　Never　is　she　seen　in　one　that　fits　her　person；　but　in　those　frightful　〃loose　jackets；〃　which　must　surely　have　been　invented　by　somebody　envious　of　a　pretty　shape。　As　to　her　bonnet；　it　would　put　to　shame　those　masquerade　things　tilted　on　to　the　back　of　the　head；　for　it　actually　shaded　her　face；　and　she　was　never　seen　out　without　a　thick　veil。　She　was　pretty　easy　upon　the　score　of　being　recognized　now；　for　Mrs。　Ducie　and　her　daughters　had　been　sojourning　at　Stalkenberg；　and　they　did　not　know　her　in　the　least。　Who　could　know　her？　What　resemblance　was　there　between　that　gray；　broken…down　woman；　with　her　disfiguring　marks；　and　the　once　loved　Lady　Isabel；　with　her　bright　color；　her　beauty；　her　dark　flowing　curls；　and　her　agile　figure？　Mr。　Carlyle　himself　could　not　have　told　her。　But　she　was　good…looking　still；　in　spite　of　it　all；　gentle　and　interesting；　and　people　wondered　to　see　that　gray　hair　in　one　yet　young。

She　had　been　with　the　Crosbys　going　on　for　two　years。　After　her　recovery　from　the　railway　accident；　she　removed　to　a　quiet　town　in　the　vicinity；　they　were　living　there；　and　she　became　daily　governess　to　Helena。　The　Crosbys　were　given　to　understand　that　she　was　English；　but　the　widow　of　a　Frenchmanshe　was　obliged　to　offer　some　plausible　account。　There　were　no　references；　but　she　so　won　upon　their　esteem　as　the　daily　governess；　that　they　soon　took　her　into　the　house。　Had　Lady　Isabel　surmised　that　they　would　be　travelling　to　so　conspicuous　a　spot　as　an　English…frequented　German　watering…place；　she　might　have　hesitated　to　accept　the　engagement。　However；　it　had　been　of　service　to　her；　the　meeting　with　Mrs。　Ducie　proving　that　she　was　altered　beyond　chance　of　recognition。　She　could　go　anywhere　now。

But　now；　about　her　state　of　mind？　I　don't　know　how　to　describe　it；　the　vain　yearning；　the　inward　fever；　the　restless　longing　for　what　might　not　be。　Longing　for　what？　For　her　children。　Let　the　mother；　be　she　a　duchess；　or　be　she　an　apple…woman　at　a　stand；　be　separated　for　awhile　from　her　little　children；　let　/her/　answer　how　she　yearns　for　them。　She　may　be　away　on　a　tour　of　pleasure　for　a　few　weeks；　the　longing　to　see　their　little　faces　again；　to　hear　their　prattling　tongues；　to　feel　their　soft　kisses；　is　kept　under；　and　there　may　be　frequent　messages；　〃The　children's　dear　love　to　mamma；〃　but　as　the　weeks　lengthen　out；　the　desire　to　see　them　again　becomes　almost　irrepressible。　What　must　it　have　been　then；　for　Lady　Isabel；　who　had　endured　this　longing　for　years？　Talk　of　the　/mal　du　pays/；　which　is　said　to　attack　the　Swiss　when　exiled　from　their　countrythat　is　as　nothing　compared　to　the　heartsickness　which　clung　to　Lady　Isabel。　She　had　passionately　loved　her　children；　she　had　been　anxious　for　their　welfare　in　all　ways；　and　not　the　least　she　had　to　endure　now　was　the　thought　that　she　had　abandoned　them　to　be　trained　by　strangers。　Would　they　be　trained　to　goodness；　to　morality；　to　religion？　Careless　as　she　herself　had　once　been　upon　these　points；　she　had　learnt　better　now。　Would　Isabel　grow　up　to　indifference；　toperhaps　do　as　she　had　done？　Lady　Isabel　flung　her　hands　before　her　eyes　and　groaned　in　anguish。

It　happened　that　Mrs。　Latimer；　a　lady　living　at　West　Lynne；　betook　herself　about　that　time　to　Stalkenberg；　and　with　her；　three　parts　maid　and　one　part　companion；　went　Afy　Hallijohn。　Not　that　Afy　was　admitted　to　the　society　of　Mrs。　Latimer；　to　sit　with　her　or　dine　with　her；　nothing　of　that；　but　she　did　enjoy　more　privileges　than　most　ladies'　maids　do；　and　Afy；　who　was　never　backward　at　setting　off　her　own　consequence；　gave　out　that　she　was　〃companion。〃　Mrs。　Latimer　was　an　easy　woman；　fond　of　Afy；　and　Afy　had　made　her　own　tale　good　to　her　respecting　the　ill…natured　reports　at　the　time　of　the　murder；　so　that　Mrs。　Latimer　looked　upon　her　as　one　to　be　compassionated。

Mrs。　Latimer　and　Mrs。　Crosby；　whose　apartments　in　the　hotel　joined；　struck　up　a　violent　friendship；　the　one　for　the　other。　Ere　the　former　had　been　a　week　at　the　Ludwig；　they　had　sworn　something　like　eternal　sisterhoodas　both　had　probably　done　for　others　fifty　times　before。



CHAPTER　XXXII。

MEETING　OF　LADY　ISABEL　AND　AFY。

On　the　evening　of　the　day　when　Helena　Crosby　communicated　her　future　prospects　to　Lady　Isabel；　the　latter　strolled　out　in　the　twilight　and　took　her　seat　on　a　bench　in　an　unfrequented　part　of　the　gardens；　where　she　was　fond　of　sitting。　Now　it　occurred　that　Afy；　some　minutes　afterwards；　found　herself　in　the　same　walkand　a　very　dull　one；　too；　she　was　thinking。

〃Who's　that？〃　quoth　Afy　to　herself；　her　eyes　falling　upon　Lady　Isabel。　〃Oh；　it's　that　governess　of　the　Crosby's。　She　may　be　known；　a　half　a　mile　off；　by　her　grandmother's　bonnet。　I'll　go　and　have　a　chat　with　her。〃

Accordingly　Afy；　who　was　never　troubled　with　bashfulness；　went　up　and　seated　herself　beside　Lady　Isabel。　〃Good　evening；　Madame　Vine；〃　cried　she。

〃Good　evening；〃　replied　Lady　Isabel；　courteously；　not　having　the　least　idea　who　Afy　might　be。

〃You　don't　know　me；　I　fancy；〃　pursued　Afy；　so　gathering　from　Lady　Isabel's　looks。　〃I　am　companion　to　Mrs。　Latimer；　and　she　is　spending　the　evening　with　Mrs。　Crosby。　Precious　dull；　this　Stalkenberg。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃

〃It　is　for　me。　I　can't　speak　German　or　French；　and　the　upper　attendants　of　families　here　can't；　most　of　them　speak　English。　I'm　sure　I　go　about　like　an　owl；　able　to　do　nothing　but　stare。　I　was　sick　enough　to　come　here；　but　I'd　rather　be　back　at　West　Lynne；　quiet　as　it　is。〃

Lady　Isabel　had　not　been　encouraging　her　companion；　either　by　words　or　manner；　but　the　last　sentence　caused　her　heart　to　bound　within　her。　Control　herself　as　she　would；　she　could　not　quite　hide　her　feverish　interest。

〃Do　you　come　from　West　Lynne？〃

〃Yes。　Horrid　place。　Mrs。　Latimer　took　a　house　there　soon　after　I　went　to　live　with　her。　I'd　rather　she'd　taken　it　at　Botany　Bay。〃

〃Why　do　you　not　like　it？〃

〃Because　I　don't；〃　was　Afy's　satisfactory　answer。

〃Do　you　know　East　Lynne？〃　resumed　Lady　Isabel；　her　heart　beating　and　her　brain　whirling；　as　she　deliberated　how　she　could　put　all　the　questions　she　wished　to　ask。

〃I　ought　to　know　it；〃　returned　Afy。　〃My　own　sister；　Miss　Hallijohn；　is　head　maid　there。　Why；　do　you　know　it；　Madame　Vine？〃

Lady　Isabel　hesitated；　she　was　deliberating　upon　her　answer。

〃Some　years　ago　I　was　staying　in　the　neighborhood　for　a　little　time；〃　she　said。　〃I　should　like　to　hear　of　the　Carlyles　again；　they　were　a　nice　family。〃

Afy　tossed　her　head。

〃Ah！　But　there　have　been　changes　since　that。　I　dare　say　you　knew　them　in　the　time　of　Lady　Isabel？〃

Another　pause。

〃Lady　Isabel？　Yes　she　was　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife。〃

〃And　a　nice　wife　she　made　him！〃　ironically　rejoined　Afy。　〃You　must　have　heard　of　it；　Madame　Vine；　unless　you　lived　in　the　wood。　She　elope　abandoned　him　and　her　children。〃

〃Are　the　children　living？〃

〃Yes；　poor　things。　But　the　one's　on　the　road　to　the　churchyardif　ever　I　saw　threatened　consumption　yet。　Joyce；　that's　my　sister；　is　in　a　flaring　temper　when　I　say　it。　She　thinks　it　will　get　strong　again。〃

Lady　Isabel　passed　her　handkerchief　across　her　moist　brow。

〃Which　of　the　children　is　it？〃　she　faintly　asked。　〃Isabel？〃

〃Isabel！〃　retorted　Afy。　〃Who's　Isabel？〃

〃The　eldest　child；　I　mean；　Miss　Isabel　Carlyle。〃

〃There's　no　Isabel。　There's　Lucy。　She's　the　only　daughter。〃

〃WhenwhenI　knew　them；　there　was　only　one　daughter；　the　other　two　were　boys；　I　remember　quite　well　that　she　was　called　Isabel。〃

〃Stay；〃　said　Afy；　〃now　you　speak　of　it；　what　was　it　that　I　heard？　It　was　Wilson　told　me；　I　recollectshe's　the　nurse。　Why；　the　very　night　that　his　wife　went　away　Mr。　Carlyle　gave　orders　that　the　child　in　future　should　be　called　Lucy；　her　second　name。　No　wonder；〃　added　Afy；　violently　indignant；　〃that　he　could　no　lager　endure　the　sound　of　her　mother's　or　suffer　the　child　to　bear　it。〃

〃No　wonder；〃　murmured　Lady　Isabel。　〃Which　child　is　it　that's　ill？〃

〃It's　William；　the　eldest　boy。