east lynne-第62章

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

〃It's　William；　the　eldest　boy。　He　is　not　to　say　ill；　but　he　is　as　thin　as　a　herring；　with　an　unnaturally　bright　look　on　his　cheek；　and　a　glaze　upon　his　eye。　Joyce　says　that　his　cheeks　are　no　brighter　than　his　mother's　were；　but　I　know　better。　Folks　in　health　don't　have　those　brilliant　colors。〃

〃Did　you　ever　see　Lady　Isabel？〃　she　asked；　in　a　low　tone。

〃Not　I；〃　returned　Afy；　〃I　should　have　thought　it　demeaning。　One　does　not　care　to　be　brought　into　contact　with　that　sort　of　misdoing　lot；　you　know；　Madame　Vine。〃

〃There　as　another　one；　a　little　boyArchibald；　I　think；　his　name　was。　Is　he　well？〃

〃Oh；　the　troublesome　youngster！　He　is　as　sturdy　as　a　Turk。　No　fear　of　his　going　into　consumption。　He　is　the　very　image　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　is　that　child。　I　say　though；　madame；〃　continued　Afy；　changing　the　subject　unceremoniously；　〃if　you　were　stopping　at　West　Lynne；　perhaps　you　heard　some　wicked　mischief…making　stories　concerning　me？〃

〃I　believe　I　did　hear　your　name　mentioned。　I　cannot　charge　my　memory　now　with　the　particulars。〃

〃My　father　was　murderedyou　must　have　heard　of　that？〃

〃Yes；　I　recollect　so　far。〃

〃He　was　murdered　by　a　chap　called　Richard　Hare；　who　decamped　instanter。　Perhaps　you　know　the　Hares　also？　Well；　directly　after　the　funeral　I　left　West　Lynne；　I　could　not　bear　the　place；　and　I　stopped　away。　And　what　do　you　suppose　they　said　of　me？　That　I　had　gone　after　Richard　Hare。　Not　that　I　knew　they　were　saying　it；　or　I　should　pretty　soon　have　been　back　and　given　them　the　length　of　my　tongue。　But　now　I　just　ask　you；　as　a　lady；　Madame　Vine；　whether　a　more　infamous　accusation　was　ever　pitched　upon？〃

〃And　you　had　not　gone　after　him？〃

〃No；　that　I　swear；〃　passionately　returned　Afy。　〃Make　myself　a　companion　of　my　father's　murderer！　If　Mr。　Calcraft；　the　hangman；　finished　off　a　few　of　those　West　Lynne　scandalmongers；　it　might　be　a　warning　to　the　others。　I　said　so　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃To　Mr。　Carlyle？〃　repeated　Lady　Isabel；　hardly　conscious　that　she　did　repeat　it。

〃He　laughed；　I　remember；　and　said　that　would　not　stop　the　scandal。　The　only　one　who　did　not　misjudge　me　was　himself；　he　did　not　believe　that　I　was　with　Richard　Hare；　but　he　was　ever　noble…judging　was　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃I　suppose　you　were　in　a　situation？〃

Afy　coughed。

〃To　be　sure。　More　than　one。　I　lived　as　companion　with　an　old　lady；　who　so　valued　me　that　she　left　me　a　handsome　legacy　in　her　will。　I　lived　two　years　with　the　Countess　of　Mount　Severn。〃

〃With　the　Countess　of　Mount　Severn！〃　echoed　Lady　Isabel；　surprised　into　the　remark。　〃Why；　sheshewas　related　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife。　At　least　Lord　Mount　Severn　was。〃

〃Of　course；　everybody　knows　that。　I　was　living　there　at　the　time　the　business　happened。　Didn't　the　countess　pull　Lady　Isabel　to　pieces！　She　and　Miss　Levison　used　to　sit；　cant；　cant　all　day　over　it。　Oh；　I　assure　you　I　know　all　about　it；　just　as　much　as　Joyce　did。　Have　you　got　that　headache；　that　you　are　leaning　on　your　hand？〃

〃Headache　and　heartache　both；〃　she　might　have　answered。

Miss　Afy　resumed。

〃So；　after　the　flattering　compliment　West　Lynne　had　paid　to　me；　you　may　judge　I　was　in　no　hurry　to　go　back　to　it；　Madame　Vine。　And　if　I　had　not　found　that　Mrs。　Latimer's　promised　to　be　an　excellent　place；　I　should　have　left　it；　rather　than　be　marshaled　there。　But　I　have　lived　it　down；　I　should　like　to　hear　any　of　them　fibbing　against　me　now。　Do　you　know　that　blessed　Miss　Corny？〃

〃I　have　seen　her。〃

〃She　shakes　her　head　and　makes　eyes　at　me　still。　But　so　she　would　at　an　angel；　a　cross…grained　old　cockatoo！〃

〃Is　she　still　at　East　Lynne？〃

〃Not　she；　indeed。　There　would　be　drawn　battles　between　her　and　Mrs。　Carlyle；　if　she　were。〃

A　dart；　as　of　an　ice…bolt；　seemed　to　arrest　the　blood　in　Lady　Isabel's　veins。

〃Mrs。　Carlyle；〃　she　faltered。　〃Who　is　Mrs。　Carlyle？〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle's　wifewho　should　she　be？〃

The　rushing　blood　leaped　on　now　fast　and　fiery。

〃I　did　not　know　he　had　married　again。〃

〃He　has　been　married　nowoh；　getting　on　for　fifteen　months；　a　twelvemonth　last　June。　I　went　to　the　church　to　see　them　married。　Wasn't　there　a　cram！　She　looked　beautiful　that　day。〃

Lady　Isabel　laid　her　hand　upon　her　breast。　But　for　that　delectable　〃loose　jacket；〃　Afy　might　have　detected　her　bosom　rise　and　fall。　She　steadied　her　voice　sufficiently　to　speak。

〃Did　he　marry　Barbara　Hare？〃

〃You　may　take　your　oath　of　that；〃　said　Afy。　〃If　folks　tell　true；　there　was　love　scenes　between　them　before　he　ever　thought　of　Lady　Isabel。　I　had　that　from　Wilson；　and　she　ought　to　know；　for　she　lived　at　the　Hares'。　Another　thing　is　saidonly　you　must　just　believe　one　word　of　West　Lynne　talk；　and　disbelieve　tenthat　if　Lady　Isabel　had　not　died；　Mr。　Carlyle　never　would　have　married　again；　he　had　scruples。　Half　a　dozen　were　given　him　by　report；　Louisa　Dobede　for　one；　and　Mary　Pinner　for　another。　Such　nonsense！　Folks　might　have　made　sure　it　would　be　Barbara　Hare。　There's　a　baby　now。〃

〃Is　there？〃　was　the　faint　answer。

〃A　beautiful　boy　three　or　four　months　old。　Mrs。　Carlyle　is　not　a　little　proud　of　him。　She　worships　her　husband。〃

〃Is　she　kind　to　the　first　children？〃

〃For　all　I　know。　I　don't　think　she　has　much　to　do　with　them。　Archibald　is　in　the　nursery；　and　the　other　two　are　mostly　with　the　governess。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　cried　the　governess；　〃how　the　tidings　of　Lady　Isabel's　death　were　received　at　East　Lynne？〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　that。　They　held　it　as　a　jubilee；　I　should　say；　and　set　all　the　bells　in　town　to　ring；　and　feasted　the　men　upon　legs　of　mutton　and　onion　sauce　afterward。　I　should；　I　know。　A　brute　animal；　deaf　and　dumb；　such　as　a　cow　or　a　goose；　clings　to　its　offspring；　but　/she/　abandoned　hers。　Are　you　going　in　Madame　Vine？〃

〃I　must　go　in　now。　Good　evening　to　you。〃

She　had　sat　till　she　could　sit　no　longer；　her　very　heartstrings　were　wrung；　and　she　might　not　rise　up　in　defence　of　herself。　Defence？　Did　she　not　deserve　more；　ten　thousand　times　more　reproach　than　had　met　her　ears　now？　This　girl　did　not　say　of　her　half　what　the　world　must　say。

〃There　is　a　governess？〃

〃Nearly　the　first　thing　that　Mr。　Carlyle　did；　after　his　wife's　moonlight　flitting；　was　to　seek　a　governess；　and　she　has　been　there　ever　since。　She　is　going　to　leave　now；　to　be　married；　Joyce　told　me。〃

〃Are　you　much　at　East　Lynne？〃

Afy　shook　her　head。　〃I　am　not　going　much；　I　can　tell　you；　where　I　am　looked　down　upon。　Mrs。　Carlyle　does　not　favor　me。　She　knew　that　her　brother　Richard　would　have　given　his　hand　to　marry　me；　and　she　resents　it。　Not　such　a　great　catch；　I'm　sure；　that　Dick　Hare；　even　if　he　had　gone　on　right；〃　continued　Afy；　somewhat　after　the　example　of　the　fox；　looking　at　the　unattainable　grapes。　〃He　had　no　brains　to　speak　of；　and　what　he　had　were　the　color　of　a　peacock's　tailgreen。〃

To　bed　at　the　usual　time；　but　not　to　sleep。　What　she　had　heard　only　increased　her　vain；　insensate　longing。　A　stepmother　at　East　Lynne；　and　one　of　her　children　gliding　on　to　death！　Oh！　To　be　with　them！　To　see　them　once　again！　To　purchase　that　boon；　she　would　willingly　forfeit　all　the　rest　of　her　existence。

Her　frame　was　fevered；　the　bed　was　fevered；　and　she　arose　and　paced　the　room。　This　state　of　mind　would　inevitably　bring　on　bodily　illness；　possibly　an　attack　of　the　brain。　She　dreaded　that；　for　there　was　no　telling　what　she　might　reveal　in　her　delirium。　Her　temples　were　throbbing；　her　heart　was　beating；　and　she　once　more　threw　herself　upon　the　bed；　and　pressed　the　pillow　down　upon　her　forehead。　There　is　no　doubt　that　the　news　of　Mr。　Carlyle's　marriage　helped　greatly　the　excitement。　She　did　not　pray　to　die；　but　she　did　wish　that　death　might　come　to　her。

What　would　have　been　the　ending；　it　is　impossible　to　say；　but　a　strange　turn　in　affairs　came；　one　of　those　wonderful　coincidences　sometimes；　but　not　often　to　be　met　with。　Mrs。　Crosby　appeared　in　Madame　Vine's　room　after　breakfast；　and　gave　her　an　account　of　Helena's　projected　marriage。　She　then　apologized；　the　real　object　of　her　visit；　for　dispensing　so　summarily　with　madame's　services；　but　had　reason　to　hope　that　she　could　introduce　her　to　another　situation。　Would　madame　have　any　objection　to　take　one　in　England？　Madame　was　upon　the　point　of　replying　that　she　should　not　choose　to　enter　one　in　England；　when　Mrs。　Crosby　stopped　her；　saying　that　she　would　call　in　Mrs。　Latimer；　who　could　tell　her　about　it　better　than　she　could。

Mrs。　Latimer　came　in；　all　eagerness　and　volubility。　〃Ah；　my　dear　madame；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　would　be　fortunate　indeed　if　you　were　to　get　into　this　family。　The　nicest　people　they　are；　he　so　liked　and　respected；　she　so　pretty　and　engaging。　A　most　desirable　situation；　too；　treated　as　a　lady；　and　all　things　comfortable。　There's　only　one　pupil；　a　girl；　one　of　the　little　boys；　I　believe；　goes　in　for　an　hour　or　two；　but　that's　not　much；　and　the　salary's　seventy　guineas。　They　are　friends　of　mine；　the　Carlyles；　such　a　beautiful　place　they　live　atEast　Lynne。〃

The　Carlyles！　East　Lynne！　Go　governess　there？　Lady　Isabel's　breath　was　taken　away。

〃They　are　parting　with　their　governess；〃　continued　Mrs。　Latimer；　〃and　when　I　was　there；　a　day　or　two　before　I　started　on　my　tour　to　Germany；　Mrs。　Carlyle　said　to　me；　'I　suppose　you　could　not　pick　us　up　a　desirable　governess　for　Lucy；　one　who　is　mistress　of　French　and　German。'　She　spoke　in　a　half　joking　tone；　but　I　feel　sure　that　were　I　to　write　word　I　/had/　found　one　desirable；　it　would　give　her　pleasure。　Now；　Mrs。　Crosby　tells　me　your　French　is　quite　that　of　a　native；　Madame　Vine；　that　you　read　and　speak　German　well；　and　that　your　musical　abilities　are　excellent。　I　think　you　would　be　just　the　one　to　suit；　and　I　have　no　doubt　I　could　get　you　the　situation。　What　do　you　say？〃

What　could　she　say？　Her　brain　was　in　a　whirl。

〃I　am　anxious　to　find　you　one　if　I　can；〃　put　in　Mrs。　Crosby。　〃We　have　been　much　pleased　with　you；　and　I　should　like　you　to　be　desirably　placed。　As　Mrs。　Latimer　is　so　kind　as　to　interest　herself；　it　appears　to　me　an　opportunity　that　should　not　be　missed。〃

〃Shall　I　write　to　Mrs。　Carlyle？〃　rejoined　Mrs。　Latimer。

Lady　Isabel　roused　herself；　and　so　far　cleared　her　intellect　as　to　understand　and　answer　the　question。　〃Perhaps　you　would　kindly　give　me　until　to…morrow　morning　to　consider　on　it？　I　had　not　intended　to　take　a　situation　in　England。〃

A　battle　she　had　with　herself　that　day。　At　one　moment　it　seemed　to　her　that　Providence　must　have　placed　this　opportunity　in　her　way　that　she　might　see　her　children；　in　her　desperate　longing；　at　another；　a　voice　appeared　to　whisper　that　it　was　a　wily；　dangerous　temptation　flung　across　her　path；　one　which　it　was　her　duty　to　resist　and　flee　from。　Then　came　another　phase　of　the　picturehow　should　she　bear　to　see　Mr。　Carlyle　the　husband　of　anotherto　live　in　the　same　house　with　them；　to　witness　his　attentions；　possibly　his　caresses？　It　might　be　difficult；　but　she　could　force　and　school　her　heart　to　endurance。　Had　she　not　resolved；　in　her　first　bitter　repentance；　/to　take　up　her　cross/　daily；　and　bear　it？　No；　her　own　feelings；　let　them　be　wrung　as　they　would；　should　not　prove　the　obstacle。

Evening　came；　and　she　had　not　decided。　She　passed　another　night　of　pain；　of　restlessness；　of　longing　for　her　children；　this　intense　longing　appeared　to　be　o