east lynne-第71章

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ho　would　believe　her　if　she　veered　round　now；　and　avowed　these　protestations　were　false？　No；　she　found　that　she　was　in　a　sinking　ship；　one　there　was　no　chance　of　saving。

But　one　chance　did　she　determine　to　tryan　appeal　to　Alice。　Blanche　Challoner's　eyes　were　suddenly　and　rudely　opened　to　the　badness　of　the　man；　and　she　was　aware　now　how　thoroughly　unfit　he　was　to　become　the　husband　of　her　sister。　It　struck　her　that　only　misery　could　result　from　the　union；　and　that；　if　possible；　Alice　should　be　saved　from　entering　upon　it。　Would　she　have　married　him　herself；　then？　Yes。　But　it　was　a　different　thing　for　that　fair；　fresh　young　Alice；　/she/　had　not　wasted　her　life's　best　years　in　waiting　for　him。

When　the　family　had　gone　to　rest；　and　the　house　was　quiet；　Blanche　Challoner　proceeded　to　her　sister's　bedroom。　Alice　had　not　begun　to　undress；　she　was　sitting　in　a　comfortable　chair　before　the　fire；　her　feet　on　the　fender；　reading　a　love　letter　from　Sir　Francis。

〃Alice；　I　am　come　to　tell　you　a　story；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Will　you　hear　it？〃

〃In　a　minute。　Stop　a　bit；〃　replied　Alice。　She　finished　the　perusal　of　the　letter；　put　it　aside；　and　then　spoke　again。　〃What　did　you　say；　Blanche？　A　story？〃

Blanche　nodded。　〃Several　years　ago　there　was　a　fair　young　girl；　none　too　rich；　in　our　station　of　life。　A　gentleman；　who　was　none　too　rich　either；　sought　and　gained　her　love。　He　could　not　marry；　he　was　not　rich；　I　say。　They　loved　on　in　secret；　hoping　for　better　times；　she　wearing　out　her　years　and　her　heart。　Oh；　Alice！　I　cannot　describe　to　you　how　she　loved　himhow　she　has　continued　to　love　him　up　to　this　moment。　Through　evil　report　she　clung　to　him　tenaciously　and　tenderly　as　the　vine　clings　to　its　trellis；　for　the　world　spoke　ill　of　him。〃

〃Who　was　the　young　lady？〃　interrupted　Alice。　〃Is　this　a　fable　of　romance；　Blanche；　or　a　real　history？〃

〃A　real　history。　I　knew　her。　All　those　yearsyears　and　years；　I　say　he　kept　leading　her　on　to　love；　letting　her　think　that　his　love　was　hers。　In　the　course　of　time　he　succeeded　to　a　fortune；　and　the　bar　to　their　marriage　was　over。　He　was　abroad　when　he　came　into　it；　but　returned　home　at　once；　their　intercourse　was　renewed；　and　her　fading　heart　woke　up　once　more　to　life。　Still；　the　marriage　did　not　come　on；　he　said　nothing　of　it；　and　she　spoke　to　him。　Very　soon　now；　should　it　be；　was　his　answer；　and　she　continued　to　live　onin　hope。〃

〃Go　on；　Blanche；〃　cried　Alice；　who　had　grown　interested　in　the　tale；　never　suspecting　that　it　could　bear　a　personal　interest。

〃Yes；　I　will　go　on。　Would　you　believe；　Alice；　that　almost　immediately　after　this　last　promise；　he　saw　one　whom　he　fancied　he　should　like　better；　and　asked　her　to　be　his　wife；　forsaking　the　one　to　whom　he　was　bound　by　every　tie　of　honorrepudiating　all　that　had　been　between　them；　even　his　own　words　and　promises？〃

〃How　disgraceful！　Were　they　married？〃

〃They　are　to　be。　Would　you　have　such　a　man？〃

〃I！〃　returned　Alice；　quite　indignant　at　the　question。　〃It　is　not　likely　that　I　would。〃

〃That　man；　Alice　is　Sir　Francis　Levison。〃

Alice　Challoner　gave　a　start；　and　her　face　became　scarlet。　〃How　dare　you　say　so；　Blanche？　It　is　not　true。　Who　was　the　girl；　pray？　She　must　have　traduced　him。〃

〃She　has　not　traduced　him；〃　was　the　subdued　answer。　〃The　girl　was　myself。〃

An　awkward　pause。　〃I　know！〃　cried　Alice；　throwing　back　her　head　resentfully。　〃He　told　me　I　might　expect　something　of　thisthat　you　had　fancied　him　in　love　with　you；　and　were　angry　because　he　had　chosen　me。〃

Blanche　turned　upon　her　with　streaming　eyes；　she　could　no　longer　control　her　emotion。　〃Alice；　my　sister；　all　the　pride　is　gone　out　of　me；　all　the　reticence　that　woman　loves　to　observe　as　to　her　wrongs　and　her　inward　feelings　I　have　broken　through　for　you　this　night。　As　sure　as　there　is　a　heaven　above　us；　I　have　told　you　the　truth。　Until　you　came　I　was　engaged　to　Francis　Levison。〃

An　unnatural　scene　ensued。　Blanche；　provoked　at　Alice's　rejection　of　her　words；　told　all　the　ill　she　knew　or　heard　of　the　man；　she　dwelt　upon　his　conduct　with　regard　to　Lady　Isabel　Carlyle；　his　heartless　after…treatment　of　that　unhappy　lady。　Alice　was　passionate　and　fiery。　She　professed　not　to　believe　a　word　of　her　sister's　wrongs；　and　as　to　the　other　stories；　they　were　no　affairs　of　hers；　she　said：　〃what　had　she　to　do　with　his　past　life？〃

But　Alice　Challoner　did　believe；　her　sister's　earnestness　and　distress；　as　she　told　the　tale；　carried　conviction　with　them。　She　did　not　very　much　care　for　Sir　Francis；　he　was　not　entwined　round　her　heart；　as　he　was　round　Blanche's；　but　she　was　dazzled　with　the　prospect　of　so　good　a　settlement　in　life；　and　she　would　not　give　him　up。　If　Blanche　broke　her　heartwhy；　she　must　break　it。　But　she　need　not　have　mixed　taunts　and　jeers　with　her　refusal　to　believe；　she　need　not　have　/triumphed/　openly　over　Blanche。　Was　it　well　done？　Was　it　the　work　of　an　affectionate　sister！　As　we　sow；　so　shall　we　reap。　She　married　Sir　Francis　Levison；　leaving　Blanche　to　her　broken　heart；　or　to　any　other　calamity　that　might　grow　out　of　the　injustice。　And　there　sat　Lady　Levison　now；　her　three　years　of　marriage　having　served　to　turn　her　love　for　Sir　Francis　into　contempt　and　hate。

A　little　boy；　two　years　old；　the　only　child　of　the　marriage；　was　playing　about　the　room。　His　mother　took　no　notice　of　him；　she　was　buried　in　all…absorbing　thoughtthought　which　caused　her　lips　to　contract；　and　her　brow　to　scowl。　Sir　Francis　entered；　his　attitude　lounging；　his　air　listless。　Lady　Levison　roused　herself；　but　no　pleasant　manner　of　tone　was　hers；　as　she　set　herself　to　address　him。

〃I　want　some　money；〃　she　said。

〃So　do　I；〃　he　answered。

An　impatient　stamp　of　the　foot　and　a　haughty　toss。　〃And　I　must　have　it。　I　/must/。　I　told　you　yesterday　that　I　must。　Do　you　suppose　I　can　go　on；　without　a　sixpence　of　ready　money　day　after　day？〃

〃Do　you　suppose　it　is　of　any　use　to　put　yourself　in　this　fury？〃　retorted　Sir　Francis。　〃A　dozen　times　a　week　do　you　bother　me　for　money　and　a　dozen　times　do　I　tell　you　I　have　got　none。　I　have　got　none　for　myself。　You　may　as　well　ask　that　baby　for　money　as　ask　me。〃

〃I　wish　he　had　never　been　born！〃　passionately　uttered　Lady　Levison；　〃unless　he　had　had　a　different　father。〃

That　the　last　sentence；　and　the　bitter　scorn　of　its　tone；　would　have　provoked　a　reprisal　from　Sir　Francis；　his　flashing　countenance　betrayed。　But　at　that　moment　a　servant　entered　the　room。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir。　That　man；　Brown；　forced　his　way　into　the　hall；　and〃

〃I　can't　see　himI　won't　see　him！〃　interrupted　Sir　Francis　backing　to　the　furthest　corner　of　the　room；　in　what　looked　very　like　abject　terror；　as　if　he　had　completely　lost　his　presence　of　mind。　Lady　Levison's　lips　curled。

〃We　got　rid　of　him；　sir；　after　a　dreadful　deal　of　trouble；　I　was　about　to　say；　but　while　the　door　was　open　in　the　dispute；　Mr。　Meredith　entered。　He　has　gone　into　the　library；　sir；　and　vows　he　won't　stir　till　he　sees　you；　whether　you　are　sick　or　well。〃

A　moment's　pause；　a　half…muttered　oath；　and　the　Sir　Francis　quitted　the　room。　The　servant　retired；　and　Lady　Levison　caught　up　her　child。

〃Oh；　Franky　dear；〃　she　wailed　forth；　burying　her　face　in　his　warm　neck。　〃I'd　leave　him　for　good　and　all；　if　I　dared；　but　I　fear　he　might　keep　you。〃

Now；　the　secret　was；　that　for　the　last　three　days　Sir　Francis　had　been　desperately　ill；　obliged　to　keep　his　bed；　and　could　see　nobody；　his　life　depending　upon　quiet。　Such　was　the　report；　or　something　equivalent　to　it；　which　had　gone　in　to　Lord　Headthelot；　or　rather；　to　the　official　office；　for　that　renowned　chief　was　himself　out　of　town；　it　had　also　been　delivered　to　all　callers　at　Sir　Francis　Levison's　house；　the　royal　truth　being　that　Sir　Francis　was　as　well　as　you　or　I；　but；　from　something　that　had　transpired　touching　one　of　his　numerous　debts；　did　not　dare　to　show　himself。　That　morning　the　matter　had　been　arrangedpatched　up　for　a　time。

〃My　stars；　Levison！〃　began　Mr。　Meredith；　who　was　a　whipper…in　of　the　ministry；　〃what　a　row　there　is　about　you！　Why；　you　look　as　well　as　ever　you　were。〃

〃A　great　deal　better　to…day；〃　coughed　Sir　Francis。

〃To　think　that　you　should　have　chosen　the　present　moment　for　skulking！　Here　have　I　been　dancing　attendance　at　your　door；　day　after　day；　in　a　state　of　incipient　fever；　enough　to　put　me　into　a　real　one；　and　could　neither　get　admitted　nor　a　letter　taken　up。　I　should　have　blown　the　house　up　to…day　and　got　in　amidst　the　flying　debris。　By　the　way；　are　you　and　my　lady　/two/　just　now？〃

〃Two？〃　growled　Sir　Francis。

〃She　was　stepping　into　her　carriage　yesterday　when　they　turned　me　from　the　door；　and　I　made　inquiry　of　her。　Her　ladyship's　answer　was；　that　she　knew　nothing　either　of　Francis　or　his　illness。〃

〃Her　ladyship　is　subject　to　flights　of　distemper；〃　chafed　Sir　Francis。　〃What　desperate　need　have　you　of　me；　just　now？　Headthelot's　away　and　there's　nothing　doing。〃

〃Nothing　doing　up　here；　a　deal　too　much　doing　somewhere　else。　Attley's　seat's　in　the　market。〃

〃Well？〃

〃And　you　ought　to　have　been　down　there　about　it　three　or　four　days　ago。　Of　course　you　must　step　into　it。〃

〃Of　course　I　shan't；〃　returned　Sir　Francis。　〃To　represent　West　Lynne　will　not　suit　me。〃

〃Not　suit　you？　West　Lynne！　Why；　of　all　places；　it　is　most　suitable。　It's　close　to　your　own　property。〃

〃If　you　call　ten　miles　close。　I　shall　not　put　up　for　West　Lynne；　Meredith。〃

〃Headthelot　came　up　this　morning；〃　said　Mr。　Meredith。

The　information　somewhat　aroused　Sir　Francis。　〃Headthelot？　What　brings　him　back？〃

〃You。　I　tell　you；　Levison；　there's　a　hot　row。　Headthelot　expected　you　would　be　at　West　Lynne　days　past；　and　he　has　come　up　in　an　awful　rage。　Every　additional　vote　we　can　count　in　the　House　is　worth　its　weight　in　gold；　and　you；　he　says　are　allowing　West　Lynne　to　slip　through　your　fingers！　You　must　start　for　it　at　once　Levison。〃

Sir　Francis　mused。　Had　the　alternative　been　given　him；　he　would　have　preferred　to　represent　a　certain　warm　place　underground；　rather　than　West　Lynne。　But；　to　quit　Headthelot；　and　the　snug　post　he　anticipated；　would　be　ruin　irretrievable；　nothing　short　of　outlawry；　or　the　queen's　prison。　It　was　awfully　necessary　to　get　his　threatened　person　into　parliament；　and　he　began　to　turn　over　in　his　mind　whether　he　/could/　bring　himself　to　make　further　acquaintance　with　West　Lynne。　〃The　thing　must　have　blown　over　for　good　by　this　time；〃　was　the　result　of　his　cogitations；　unconsciously　speaking　aloud。

〃I　can　understand　your　reluctance　to　appear　at　West　Lynne；〃　cried　Mr。　Meredith；　〃the　scene；　unless　I　mistake；　of　that　notorious　affair　of　yours。　But　private　feelings　must　give　way　to　public　interests；　and　the　best　thing　you　can　do　is　to　/start/。　Headthelot　is　angry　enough　as　it　is。　He　says；　had　you　been　down　at　first；　as　you　ought　to　have　been；　you　would　have　slipped　in　without　opposition；　but　now　there　will　be　a　contest。〃

Sir　Francis　looked　up　sharply。　〃A　contest？　Who　is　going　to　stand　the　funds？〃

〃Pshaw！　As　if　we　should　let　funds　be　any　barrier！　Have　you　heard　who　is　in　the　field？〃

〃No；〃　was　the　apathetic　answer。

〃Carlyle。〃

〃Carlyle！〃　uttered　Sir　Francis；　startled。　〃Oh；　by　George；　though！　I　can't　stand　against　him。〃

〃Well；　there's　the　alternative。　If　you　can't；　Thornton　will。〃

〃I　should　run　no　chance。　West　Lynne　would　not　ele