east lynne-第70章

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〃/Consider/　of　it！〃　shrieked　she。　〃Why；　he'd　never；　never　be　such　a　flat　as　to　comply。　He　go　into　parliament！　What　next？〃

〃Why　should　he　not；　Miss　Corny？　I'm　sure　I　should　be　proud　to　see　him　there。〃

Miss　Corny　gave　a　sniff。　〃You　are　proud　of　things　more　odd　than　even　John　Dill。　Remember　that　fine　shirt　front！　What　has　become　of　it？　Is　it　laid　up　in　lavender？〃

〃Not　exactly　in　lavender；　Miss　Corny。　It　lies　in　the　drawer；　for　I　have　never　liked　to　put　it　on　since；　after　what　you　said。〃

〃Why　don't　you　sell　it　at　half…price；　and　buy　a　couple　of　good　useful　ones　with　the　money？〃　returned　she；　tartly。　〃Better　that　than　keep　the　foppish　thing　as　a　witness　of　your　folly。　Perhaps　he'll　be　buying　embroidered　fronts　next；　if　he　goes　into　that　idle；　do…nothing　House　of　Commons。　I'd　rather　enter　myself　for　six　months　at　the　treadmill。〃

〃Oh；　Miss　Corny！　I　don't　think　you　have　well　considered　it。　It's　a　great　honor；　and　worthy　of　him。　He　will　be　elevated　above　us　all；　as　it　were；　and　he　deserves　to　be。〃

〃Elevate　him　on　a　weathercock！〃　raged　Miss　Corny。　〃There；　you　may　go。　I've　heard　quite　enough。〃

Brushing　past　the　old　gentleman；　leaving　him　to　depart　or　not；　as　he　might　please；　Miss　Carlyle　strode　upstairs；　flung　on　her　shawl　and　bonnet；　and　strode　down　again。　Her　servant　looked　considerably　surprised；　and　addressed　her　as　she　crossed　the　hall。

〃Your　dinner；　ma'am？〃　he　ventured　to　say。

〃What's　my　dinner　to　you？〃　returned　Miss　Corny；　in　her　wrath。　〃You　have　had　yours。〃

Away　she　strode。　And　thus　it　happened　that　she　was　at　East　Lynne　almost　as　soon　as　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Where's　Archibald？〃　began　she；　without　ceremony；　the　moment　she　saw　Barbara。

〃He　is　here。　Is　anything　the　matter？〃

Mr。　Carlyle；　hearing　the　voice；　came　out　and　she　pounced　upon　him　with　her　tongue。

〃What's　this　about　your　becoming　the　new　member　for　West　Lynne？〃

〃West　Lynne　wishes　it；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Sit　down；　Cornelia。〃

〃Sit　down　yourself；〃　retorted　she；　keeping　on　her　feet。　〃I　want　my　question　answered。　/Of　course/　you　will　decline？〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　accept。〃

Miss　Corny　untied　the　strings　of　her　bonnet；　and　flung　them　behind　her。

〃Have　you　counted　the　cost？〃　she　asked；　and　there　was　something　quite　sepulchral　in　her　solemn　tone。

〃I　have　given　it　consideration；　Cornelia；　both　as　regards　money　and　time。　The　expenses　are　not　worth　naming；　should　there　be　no　opposition。　And　if　there　is　any〃

〃Ay！〃　groaned　Miss　Corny。　〃If　there　is？〃

〃Well？　I　am　not　without　a　few　hundred　to　spare　for　the　playing；〃　he　said；　turning　upon　her　the　good…humored　light　of　his　fine　countenance。

Miss　Carlyle　emitted　some　dismal　groans。

〃That　ever　I　should　have　lived　to　see　this　day！　To　hear　money　talked　of　as　though　it　were　dirt。　And　what's　to　become　of　your　business？〃　she　sharply　added。　〃Is　that　to　be　let　run　to　rack　and　ruin；　while　you　are　kicking　up　your　heels　in　that　wicked　London；　under　plea　of　being　at　the　House　night　after　night？〃

〃Cornelia；〃　he　gravely　said；　〃were　I　dead；　Dill　could　carry　on　the　business　just　as　well　as　it　is　being　carried　on　now。　I　might　go　into　a　foreign　country　for　seven　years　and　come　back　to　find　the　business　as　flourishing　as　ever；　for　Dill　could　keep　it　together。　And　even　were　the　business　to　drop　offthough　I　tell　you　it　will　not　do　soI　am　independent　of　it。〃

Miss　Carlyle　faced　tartly　round　upon　Barbara。

〃Have　you　been　setting　him　on　to　this？〃

〃I　think　he　had　made　up　his　mind　before　he　spoke　to　me。　But；〃　added　Barbara；　in　her　truth；　〃I　urged　him　to　accept　it。〃

〃Oh；　you　did！　Nicely　moped　and　miserable　you'll　be　here；　if　he　goes　to　London　for　months　on　the　stretch。　You　did　not　think　of　that；　perhaps。〃

〃But　he　would　not　have　me　here；〃　said　Barbara；　her　eyelashes　becoming　wet　at　the　thought；　as　she　unconsciously　moved　to　her　husband's　side。　〃He　would　take　me　with　him。〃

Miss　Carlyle　made　a　pause；　and　looked　at　them　alternately。

〃Is　that　decided？〃　she　asked。

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　laughed　Mr。　Carlyle；　willing　to　joke　the　subject　and　his　sister　into　good…humor。　〃Would　you　wish　to　separate　man　and　wife；　Cornelia？〃

She　made　no　reply。　She　rapidly　tied　her　bonnet…strings；　the　ribbons　trembling　ominously　in　her　fingers。

〃You　are　not　going；　Cornelia？　You　must　stay　to　dinner；　now　that　you　are　hereit　is　readyand　we　will　talk　this　further　over　afterward。〃

〃This　has　been　dinner　enough　for　me　for　one　day；〃　spoke　she；　putting　on　her　gloves。　〃That　I　should　have　lived　to　see　my　father's　son　throw　up　his　business；　and　change　himself　into　a　lazy；　stuck…up　parliament　man！〃

〃Do　stay　and　dine　with　us；　Cornelia；　I　think　I　can　subdue　your　prejudices；　if　you　will　let　me　talk　to　you。〃

〃If　you　wanted　to　talk　to　me　about　it；　why　did　you　not　come　in　when　you　left　the　office？〃　cried　Miss　Corny；　in　a　greater　amount　of　wrath　than　she　had　shown　yet。　And　there's　no　doubt　that；　in　his　not　having　done　so；　lay　one　of　the　sore　points。

〃I　did　not　think　of　it；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　should　have　come　in　and　told　you　of　it　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃I　dare　say　you　would；〃　she　ironically　answered。　〃Good　evening　to　you　both。〃

And；　in　spite　of　their　persuasions；　she　quitted　the　house　and　went　stalking　down　the　avenue。

Two　or　three　days　more；　and　the　address　of　Mr。　Carlyle　to　the　inhabitants　of　West　Lynne　appeared　in　the　local　papers；　while　the　walls　and　posts　convenient　were　embellished　with　various　colored　placards；　〃Vote　for　Carlyle。〃　〃Carlyle　forever！〃

Wonders　never　cease。　Surprises　are　the　lot　of　man；　but　perhaps　a　greater　surprise　had　never　been　experienced　by　those　who　knew　what　was　what；　than　when　it　went　forth　to　the　world　that　Sir　Francis　Levison　had　converted　himself　fromfrom　what　he　wasinto　a　red…hot　politician。

Had　he　been　offered　the　post　of　prime　minister？　Or　did　his　conscience　smite　him；　as　was　the　case　with　a　certain　gallant　captain　renowned　in　song？　Neither　the　one　nor　the　other。　The　simple　fact　was；　that　Sir　Francis　Levison　was　in　a　state　of　pecuniary　embarrassment；　and　required　something　to　prop　him　upsome　snug　sinecureplenty　to　get　and　nothing　to　do。

Patch　himself　up　he　must。　But　how？　He　had　tried　the　tables；　but　luck　was　against　him；　he　made　a　desperate　venture　upon　the　turf；　a　grand　/coup/　that　would　have　set　him　on　his　legs　for　some　time；　but　the　venture　turned　out　the　wrong　way；　and　Sir　Francis　was　a　defaulter。　He　began　then　to　think　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　drop　into　some　nice　government　nest；　where；　as　I　have　told　you；　there　would　be　plenty　to　get　and　nothing　to　do。　Any　place　with　much　to　do　would　not　suit　him；　or　he　it；　he　was　too　empty…headed　for　work　requiring　talent；　you　may　have　remarked　that　a　man　given　to　Sir　Francis　Levison's　pursuits　generally　is。

He　dropped　into　something　good；　or　that　promised　goodnothing　less　than　the　secretaryship　to　Lord　Headthelot；　who　swayed　the　ministers　in　the　upper　House。　But　that　he　was　a　connection　of　Lord　Headthelot's　he　never　would　have　obtained　it；　and　very　dubiously　the　minister　consented　to　try　him。　Of　course　a　condition　was；　that　he　should　enter　parliament　the　first　opportunity；　his　vote　to　be　at　the　disposal　of　the　ministryrather　a　shaky　ministryand　supposed；　by　some；　to　be　on　its　last　legs。　And　this　brings　us　to　the　present　time。

In　a　handsome　drawing…room　in　Eaton　Square；　one　sunny　afternoon；　sat　a　lady；　young　and　handsome。　Her　eyes　were　of　violet　blue；　her　hair　was　auburn；　her　complexion　delicate；　but　there　was　a　stern　look　of　anger；　amounting　to　sullenness；　on　her　well…formed　features；　and　her　pretty　foot　was　beating　the　carpet　in　passionate　impatience。　It　was　Lady　Levison。

The　doings　of　the　past　had　been　coming　home　to　her　for　some　time　now　past　doings；　be　they　good　or　be　they　ill；　are　sure　to　come　home；　one　day　or　another；　and　bring　their　fruits　with　them。

In　the　years　pastmany　years　past　nowFrancis　Levison　had　lost　his　heartor　whatever　the　thing　might　be　that；　with　him；　did　duty　for　one　to　Blanche　Challoner。　He　had　despised　her　once　to　Lady　Isabelas　Lord　Thomas　says　in　the　old　ballad；　but　that　was　done　to　suit　his　own　purpose；　for　he　had　never；　at　any　period；　cared　for　Lady　Isabel　as　he　had　cared　for　Blanche。　He　gained　her　affection　in　secretthey　engaged　themselves　to　each　other。　Blanche's　sister；　Lydia　Challoner；　two　years　older　than　herself　suspected　it；　and　taxed　Blanche　with　it。　Blanche；　true　to　her　compact　of　keeping　it　a　secret；　denied　it　with　many　protestations。　〃/She/　did　not　care　for　Captain　Levison；　rather　disliked　him；　in　fact。〃　〃So　much　the　better；〃　was　Miss　Challoner's　reply；　for　she　had　no　respect　for　Captain　Levison；　and　deemed　him　an　unlikely　man　to　marry。

Years　went　on；　and　poor；　unhappy　Blanche　Challoner　remained　faithful　to　her　love。

He　played　fast　and　loose　with　herprofessing　attachment　for　her　in　secret；　and　visiting　at　the　house；　perhaps　he　feared　an　outbreak　from　her；　an　exposure　that　might　be　anything　but　pleasant；　did　he　throw　off　all　relations　between　them。　Blanche　summoned　up　her　courage　and　spoke　to　him；　urging　the　marriage；　she　had　not　yet　glanced　at　the　fear　that　his　intention　of　marrying　her；　had　he　ever　possessed　such；　was　over。　Bad　men　are　always　cowards。　Sir　Francis　shrank　from　an　explanation；　and　so　far　forgot　honor　as　to　murmur　some　indistinct　promise　that　the　wedding　should　be　speedy。

Lydia　Challoner　had　married；　and　been　left　a　widow；　well　off。　She　was　Mrs。　Waring；　and　at　her　house　resided　Blanche。　For　the　girls　were　orphans。　Blanche　was　beginning　to　show　symptoms　of　her　nearly　thirty　years；　not　the　years；　but　the　long…continued　disappointment；　the　heart…burnings；　were　telling　upon　her。　Her　hair　was　thin；　her　face　was　pinched；　her　form　had　lost　its　roundness。　〃Marry　/her/；　indeed！〃　scoffed　to　himself　Sir　Francis　Levison。

There　came　to　Mrs。　Waring's　upon　a　Christmas　visit　a　younger　sister；　Alice　Challoner；　a　fair　girl　of　twenty　years。　She　resided　generally　with　an　aunt　in　the　country。　Far　more　beautiful　was　she　than　Blanche　had　ever　been；　and　Francis　Levison；　who　had　not　seen　her　since　she　was　a　child；　fellas　he　would　have　called　itin　love　with　her。　Love！　He　became　her　shadow；　he　whispered　sweet　words　in　her　ear；　he　turned　her　head　giddy　with　its　own　vanity；　and　he　offered　her　marriage。　She　accepted　him；　and　preparations　for　the　ceremony　immediately　began。　Sir　Francis　urged　speed；　and　Alice　was　nothing　loth。

And　what　of　Blanche？　Blanche　was　stunned。　A　despairing　stupor　took　possession　of　her；　and；　when　she　woke　from　it；　desperation　set　in。　She　insisted　upon　an　interview　with　Sir　Francis；　and　evade　it　he　could　not；　though　he　tried　hard。　Will　it　be　believed　that　he　denied　the　past　that　he　met　with　mocking　suavity　her　indignant　reminders　of　what　had　been　between　them？　〃Love！　Marriage？　Nonsense！　Her　fancy　had　been　too　much　at　work。〃　Finally；　he　defied　her　to　prove　that　he　had　regarded　her　with　more　than　ordinary　friendship；　or　had　ever　hinted　at　such　a　thing　as　a　union。

She　could　not　prove　it。　She　had　not　so　much　as　a　scrap　of　paper　written　on　by　him；　she　had　not　a　single　friend　or　enemy　to　come　forward　and　testify　that　they　heard　him　breathe　to　her　a　word　of　love。　He　had　been　too　wary　for　that。　Moreover　there　was　her　own　solemn　protestations　to　her　sister　Lydia　that　there　/was　not/　anything　between　her　and　Francis　Levison；　who　would　believe　her　if