east lynne-第66章

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Love！　Down　she　sat　upon　a　low　chair；　the　child　held　upon　her　lap；　kissing　him　passionately；　and　the　tears　raining　from　her　eyes。　She　could　not　have　helped　the　tears　had　it　been　to　save　her　life；　she　could　as　little　have　helped　the　kisses。　Lifting　her　eyes；　there　stood　Wilson；　who　had　entered　without　ceremony。　A　sick　feeling　came　over　Lady　Isabel：　she　felt　as　if　she　had　betrayed　herself。　All　that　could　be　done　now；　was　to　make　the　best　of　it；　to　offer　some　lame　excuse。　What　possessed　her　thus　to　forget　herself？

〃He　did　so　put　me　in　remembrance　of　my　own　children；〃　she　said　to　Wilson；　gulping　down　her　emotion；　and　hiding　her　tears　in　the　best　manner　she　could；　whilst　the　astonished　Archibald；　released　now；　stood　with　his　finger　in　his　mouth　and　stared　at　her　spectacles；　his　great　blue　eyes　opened　to　their　utmost　width。　〃When　we　have　lost　children　of　our　own；　we　are　apt　to　love　fondly　all　we　come　near。〃

Wilson；　who　stared　only　in　a　less　degree　than　Archie；　for　she　deemed　the　new　governess　had　gone　suddenly　mad；　gave　some　voluble　assent；　and　turned　her　attention　upon　Archie。

〃You　naughty　young　monkey！　How　dare　you　rush　out　in　that　way　with　Sarah's　heart…broom？　I'll　tell　you　what　it　is；　sir；　you　are　getting　a　might　deal　too　owdacious　and　rumbustical　for　the　nursery。　I　shall　speak　to　your　mamma　about　it。〃

She　seized　hold　of　the　child　and　shook　him。　Lady　Isabel　started　forward；　her　hands　up；　her　voice　one　of　painful　entreaty。

〃Oh；　don't；　don't　beat　him！　I　cannot　see　him　beaten。〃

〃Beaten！〃　echoed　Wilson；　〃if　he　got　a　good　beating　it　would　be　all　the　better　for　him；　but　it's　what　he　never　does　get。　A　little　shake；　or　a　tap；　is　all　I　must　give；　and　it's　not　half　enough。　You　wouldn't　believe　the　sturdy　impudence　of　that　boy；　madame；　he　runs　riot；　he　does。　The　other　two　never　gave　a　quarter　of　the　trouble。　Come　along；　you　figure！　I'll　have　a　bolt　put　at　the　top　of　the　nursery　door；　and　if　I　did；　he'd　be　for　climbing　up　the　door…post　to　get　at　it。〃

The　last　sentence　Wilson　delivered　to　the　governess；　as　she　jerked　Archie　out　of　the　room；　along　the　passage；　and　into　the　nursery。　Lady　Isabel　sat　down　with　a　wrung　heart；　a　chafed　spirit。　Her　own　child！　And　she　might　not　say　to　the　servant；　you　shall　not　beat　him。

She　descended　to　the　gray　parlor。　The　two　older　children　and　breakfast　were　waiting；　Joyce　quitted　the　room　when　she　entered　it。

A　graceful　girl　of　eight　years　old；　a　fragile　boy　a　year　younger；　both　bearing　her　once　lovely　featuresher　once　bright　and　delicate　complexionher　large；　soft　brown　eyes。　How　utterly　her　heart　yearned　to　them；　but　there　must　be　no　scene　like　there　had　just　been　above。　Nevertheless　she　stooped　and　kissed　them　bothone　kiss　each　of　impassioned　fervor。　Lucy　was　naturally　silent；　William　somewhat　talkative。

〃You　are　our　new　governess；〃　said　he。

〃Yes。　We　must　be　good　friends。〃

〃Why　not！〃　said　the　boy。　〃We　were　good　friends　with　Miss　Manning。　I　am　to　go　into　Latin　soonas　soon　as　my　cough's　gone。　Do　you　know　Latin？〃

〃Nonot　to　teach　it；〃　she　said；　studiously　avoiding　all　endearing　epithets。

〃Papa　said　you　would　be　almost　sure　not　to　know　Latin；　for　that　ladies　rarely　did。　He　said　he　should　send　up　Mr。　Kane　to　teach　me。〃

〃Mr。　Kane？〃　repeated　Lady　Isabel；　the　name　striking　upon　her　memory。　〃Mr。　Kane；　the　music…master？〃

〃How　did　you　know　he　was　a　music…master？〃　cried　shrewd　William。　And　Lady　Isabel　felt　the　red　blood　flush　to　her　face　at　the　unlucky　admission　she　had　made。　It　flushed　deeper　at　her　own　falsehood；　as　she　muttered　some　evasive　words　about　hearing　of　him　from　Mrs。　Latimer。

〃Yes；　he　is　a　music…master；　but　he　does　not　get　much　money　at　it；　and　he　teaches　the　classics　as　well。　He　has　come　up　to　teach　us　music　since　Miss　Manning　left；　mamma　said　that　we　ought　not　to　lose　our　lessons。〃

Mamma！　How　the　word；　applied　to　Barbara；　grated　on　her　ear。

〃Whom　does　he　teach？〃　she　asked。

〃Us　two；〃　replied　William；　pointing　to　his　sister　and　himself。

〃Do　you　always　take　bread　and　milk？〃　she　inquired；　perceiving　that　to　be　what　they　were　eating。

〃We　get　tired　of　it　sometimes　and　then　we　have　milk　and　water；　and　bread　and　butter；　or　honey；　and　then　we　take　to　bread　and　milk　again。　It's　Aunt　Cornelia　who　thinks　we　should　eat　bread　and　milk　for　breakfast。　She　says　papa　never　had　anything　else　when　he　was　a　boy。〃

Lucy　looked　up。

〃Papa　would　give　me　an　egg　when　I　breakfasted　with　him；〃　cried　she；　〃and　Aunt　Cornelia　said　it　was　not　good　for　me；　but　papa　gave　it　to　me　all　the　same。　I　always　had　breakfast　with　him　then。〃

〃And　why　do　you　not　now？〃　asked　Lady　Isabel。

〃I　don't　know。　I　have　not　since　mamma　came。〃

The　word　〃stepmother〃　rose　up　rebelliously　in　the　heart　of　Lady　Isabel。　Was　Mrs。　Carlyle　putting　away　the　children　from　their　father？

Breakfast　over；　she　gathered　them　to　her；　asking　them　various　questions　about　their　studies；　their　hours　of　recreation；　the　daily　routine　of　their　lives。

〃This　is　not　the　schoolroom；　you　know；〃　cried　William；　when　she　made　some　inquiry　as　to　their　books。

〃No？〃

〃The　schoolroom　is　upstairs。　This　is　for　our　meals；　and　for　you　in　an　evening。〃

The　voice　of　Mr。　Carlyle　was　heard　at　this　juncture　in　the　hall；　and　Lucy　was　springing　toward　the　sound。　Lady　Isabel；　fearful　lest　he　might　enter　if　the　child　showed　herself；　stopped　her　with　a　hurried　hand。

〃Stay　here；　Isabel。〃

〃Her　name's　Lucy；〃　said　William；　looking　quickly　up。　〃Why　do　you　call　her　Isabel？〃

〃I　thoughtthought　I　had　heard　her　called　Isabel；〃　stammered　the　unfortunate　lady；　feeling　quite　confused　with　the　errors　she　was　committing。

〃My　name　is　Isabel　Lucy；〃　said　the　child；　〃but　I　don't　know　who　could　have　told　you；　for　I　am　never　called　Isabel。　I　have　not　been　since　sinceshall　I　tell　you？since　mamma　went　away；〃　she　concluded；　dropping　her　voice。　〃Mamma　that　was；　you　know。〃

〃Did　she　go？〃　cried　Lady　Isabel；　full　of　emotion；　and　possessing　a　very　faint　idea　of　what　she　was　saying。

〃She　was　kidnapped；〃　whispered　Lucy。

〃Kidnapped！〃　was　the　surprised　answer。

〃Yes；　or　she　would　not　have　gone。　There　was　a　wicked　man　on　a　visit　to　papa；　and　he　stole　her。　Wilson　said　she　knew　he　was　a　kidnapper　before　he　took　mamma。　Papa　said　I　was　never　to　be　called　Isabel　again；　but　Lucy。　Isabel　was　mamma's　name。〃

〃How　do　you　know　papa　said　it？〃　dreamily　returned　Lady　Isabel。

〃I　heard　him。　He　said　it　to　Joyce；　and　Joyce　told　the　servants。　I　put　only　Lucy　to　my　copies。　I　did　put　Isabel　Lucy；　but　papa　saw　it　one　day；　and　he　drew　his　pencil　through　Isabel；　and　told　me　to　show　it　to　Miss　Manning。　After　that；　Miss　Manning　let　me　put　nothing　but　Lucy。　I　asked　her　why；　and　she　told　me　papa　preferred　the　name；　and　that　I　was　not　to　ask　questions。〃

She　could　not　well　stop　the　child；　but　every　word　was　rending　her　heart。

〃Lady　Isabel　was　our　very；　very　own　mamma；〃　pursued　Lucy。　〃This　mamma　is　not。〃

〃Do　you　love　this　one　as　you　did　the　other？〃　breathed　Lady　Isabel。

〃Oh；　I　loved　mammaI　loved　mamma！〃　uttered　Lucy；　clasping　her　hands。　〃But　its　all　over。　Wilson　said　we　must　not　love　her　any　longer；　and　Aunt　Cornelia　said　it。　Wilson　said；　if　she　loved　us　she　would　not　have　gone　away　from　us。〃

〃Wilson　said　so？〃　resentfully　spoke　Lady　Isabel。

〃She　said　she　need　not　let　that　man　kidnap　her。　I　am　afraid　he　beat　her；　for　she　died。　I　lie　in　my　bed　at　night；　and　wonder　whether　he　did　beat　her；　and　what　made　her　die。　It　was　after　she　died　that　our　new　mamma　came　home。　Papa　said　that　she　was　to　be　our　mamma　in　place　of　Lady　Isabel　and　we　were　to　love　her　dearly。〃

〃/Do/　you　love　her？〃　almost　passionately　asked　Lady　Isabel。

Lucy　shook　her　head。

〃Not　as　I　loved　mamma。〃

Joyce　entered　to　show　the　way　to　the　schoolroom；　and　they　followed　her　upstairs。　As　Lady　Isabel　stood　at　the　window；　she　saw　Mr。　Carlyle　depart　on　foot　on　his　way　to　the　office。　Barbara　was　with　him；　hanging　fondly　on　his　arm；　about　to　accompany　him　to　the　park　gates。　So　had　/she/　fondly　hung；　so　had　/she/　accompanied　him；　in　the　days　gone　forever。

Barbara　came　into　the　schoolroom　in　the　course　of　the　morning；　and　entered　upon　the　subject　of　their　studies；　the　different　allotted　hours；　some　to　play；　some　to　work。　She　spoke　in　a　courteous　but　decided　tone；　showing　that　she　was　the　unmistakable　mistress　of　the　house　and　children；　and　meant　to　be。　Never　had　Lady　Isabel　felt　her　position　so　keenlynever　did　it　so　gall　and　fret　her　spirit；　but　she　bowed　to　meek　obedience。　A　hundred　times　that　day　did　she　yearn　to　hold　the　children　to　her　heart；　and　a　hundred　times　she　had　to　repress　the　longing。

In　a　soft；　damask　dress；　not　unlike　the　color　of　the　walls　from　which　the　room　took　its　name；　a　cap　of　Honiton　lace　shading　her　delicate　features；　sat　Mrs。　Hare。　The　justice　was　in　London　with　Squire　Pinner；　and　Barbara　had　gone　to　the　Grove　and　brought　her　mamma　away　in　triumph。　It　was　evening　now；　and　Mrs。　Hare　was　paying　a　visit　to　the　gray　parlor。　Miss　Carlyle　had　been　dining　there；　and　Lady　Isabel；　under　plea　of　a　violent　headache；　had　begged　to　decline　the　invitation　to　take　tea　in　the　drawing…room；　for　she　feared　the　sharp　eyes　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Barbara；　upon　leaving　the　dessert…table；　went　to　the　nursery；　as　usual；　to　her　baby；　and　Mrs。　Hare　took　the　opportunity　to　go　and　sit　a　few　minutes　with　the　governessshe　feared　the　governess　must　be　very　lonely。　Miss　Carlyle；　scorning　usage　and　ceremony；　had　remained　in　the　dining…room　with　Mr。　Carlyle；　a　lecture　for　him；　upon　some　defalcation　or　other　most　probably　in　store。　Lady　Isabel　was　alone。　Lucy　had　gone　to　keep　a　birthday　in　the　neighborhood；　and　William　was　in　the　nursery。　Mrs。　Hare　found　her　in　a　sad　attitude；　her　hands　pressed　upon　her　temples。　She　had　not　yet　made　acquaintance　with　her　beyond　a　minute's　formal　introduction。

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　you　are　not　well；　this　evening；〃　she　gently　said。

〃Thank　you。　My　head　aches　much〃which　was　no　false　plea。

〃I　fear　you　must　feel　your　solitude　irksome。　It　is　dull　for　you　to　be　here　all　alone。〃

〃I　am　so　used　to　solitude。〃

Mrs。　Hare　sat　down；　and　gazed　with　sympathy　at　the　young；　though　somewhat　strange…looking　woman　before　her。　She　detected　the　signs　of　mental　suffering　on　her　face。

〃You　have　seen　sorrow；〃　she　uttered；　bending　forward；　and　speaking　with　the　utmost　sweetness。

〃Oh；　great　sorrow！〃　burst　from　Lady　Isabel；　for　her　wretched　fate　was　very　palpable　to　her　mind　that　evening；　and　the　tone　of　sympathy　rendered　it　nearly　irrepressible。

〃My　daughter　tells　me　that　you　have　lost　your　children；　and　you　have　lost　your　fortune　and　position。　Indeed　I　feel　for　you。　I　wish　I　could　comfort　you！〃

This　did　not　decrease　her　anguish。　She　completely　lost　all　self　control；　and　a　gush　of　tears　fell　from　her　eyes。

〃Don't　pity　me！　Don't　pity　me　dear　Mrs。　Hare！　Indeed；　it　only　makes　endurance　harder。　Some　of　us；〃　she　added；　looking　up；　with　a　sickly　smile；　〃are　born　to　sorrow。〃

〃We　are　all　born　to　it；〃　cried　Mrs。　Hare。　〃I；　in　truth；　have　cause　to　say　so。　Oh；　you　know　not　what　my　position　has　beenthe　terrible　weight　of　grief　that　I　have　to　bear。　For　many　years；　I　can　truly　say　that　I　have　not　known　one　completely　happy　moment。〃

〃All　do　not　have　to　bear　this　killing　sorrow；〃　said　Lady　Isabel。

〃Rely　upon　it；　sorrow　of　some　nature　does　sooner　or　later　come　to　all。　In　the　brightest　appare