east lynne-第73章

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monly　brought　up　the　rear。　The　other　party　presented　a　stately　crowdcounty　gentry；　magistrates；　Lord　Mount　Severn。　Sometimes　Mr。　Carlyle　would　be　with　them；　arm…and…　arm　with　the　latter。　If　the　contesting　groups　came　within　view　of　each　other；　and　were　likely　to　meet；　the　brave　Sir　Francis　would　disappear　down　an　entry；　behind　a　hedge；　any　place　convenient；　with　all　his　〃face　of　brass；〃　he　could　not　meet　Mr。　Carlyle　and　that　condemning　jury　around　him。

One　afternoon　it　pleased　Mrs。　Carlyle　to　summon　Lucy　and　the　governess　to　accompany　her　into　West　Lynne。　She　was　going　shopping。　Lady　Isabel　had　a　dread　and　horror　of　appearing　in　there　while　that　man　was　in　town；　but　she　could　not　help　herself。　There　was　no　pleading　illness；　for　she　was　quite　well；　there　must　be　no　saying；　〃I　will　not　go；〃　for　she　was　only　a　dependant。　They　started；　and　had　walked　as　far　as　Mrs。　Hare's　gate；　when　Miss　Carlyle　turned　out　of　it。

〃Your　mamma's　not　well；　Barbara。〃

〃Is　she　not？〃　cried　Barbara；　with　quick　concern。　〃I　must　go　and　see　her。〃

〃She　has　had　one　of　those　ridiculous　dreams　again；〃　pursued　Miss　Carlyle；　ignoring　the　presence　of　the　governess　and　Lucy。　〃I　was　sure　of　it　by　her　very　look　when　I　got　in；　shivering　and　shaking；　and　glancing　fearfully　around；　as　if　she　feared　a　dozen　spectres　were　about　to　burst　out　of　the　walls。　So　I　taxed　her　with　it；　and　she　could　make　no　denial。　Richard　is　in　some　jeopardy；　she　protests；　or　will　be。　And　there　she　is；　shaking　still；　although　I　told　her　that　people　who　put　faith　in　dreams　were　only　fit　for　a　lunatic　asylum。〃

Barbara　looked　distressed。　She　did　not　believe　in　dreams　any　more　than　Miss　Carlyle；　but　she　could　not　forget　how　strangely　peril　to　Richard　/had/　supervened　upon　some　of　these　dreams。

〃I　will　go　in　now　and　see　mamma；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　are　returning　home；　Cornelia；　Madame　Vine　can　walk　with　you；　and　wait　for　me　there。〃

〃Let　me　go　in　with　you；　mamma！〃　pleaded　Lucy。

Barbara　mechanically　took　the　child's　hand。　The　gates　closed　on　them；　and　Miss　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　proceeded　in　the　direction　of　the　town。　But　not　far　had　they　gone　when；　in　turning　a　corner；　the　wind；　which　was　high；　blew　away　with　the　veil　of　Lady　Isabel；　and；　in　raising　her　hand　in　trepidation　to　save　it　before　it　was　finally　gone；　she　contrived　to　knock　off　her　blue　spectacles。　They　fell　to　the　ground；　and　were　broken。

〃How　did　you　manage　that？〃　uttered　Miss　Carlyle。

How；　indeed？　She　bent　her　face　on　the　ground；　looking　at　the　damage。　What　should　she　do？　The　veil　was　over　the　hedge；　the　spectacles　were　brokenhow　could　she　dare　show　her　naked　face？　That　face　was　rosy　just　then；　as　in　former　days；　the　eyes　were　bright；　and　Miss　Carlyle　caught　their　expression；　and　stared　in　very　amazement。

〃Good　heavens　above；〃　she　uttered；　〃what　an　extraordinary　likeness！〃　And　Lady　Isabel's　heart　turned　faint　and　sick　within　her。

Well　it　might。　And；　to　make　matters　worse；　bearing　down　right　upon　them；　but　a　few　paces　distant；　came　Sir　Francis　Levison。

Would　/he/　recognize　her？

Standing　blowing　in　the　wind　at　the　turning　of　the　road　were　Miss　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　Vane。　The　latter；　confused　and　perplexed；　was　picking　up　the　remnant　of　her　damaged　spectacles；　the　former；　little　less　perplexed；　gazed　at　the　face　which　struck　upon　her　memory　as　being　so　familiar。　Her　attention；　however；　was　called　off　the　face　to　the　apparition　of　Sir　Francis　Levison。

He　was　close　upon　them；　Mr。　Drake　and　the　other　comrade　being　with　him；　and　some　tagrag　in　attendance；　as　usual。　It　was　the　first　time　he　and　Miss　Carlyle　had　met　face　to　face。　She　bent　her　condemning　brow；　haughty　in　its　bitter　scorn；　full　upon　him；　for　it　was　not　in　the　nature　of　Miss　Carlyle　to　conceal　her　sentiments；　especially　when　they　were　rather　of　the　strongest。　Sir　Francis；　when　he　arrived　opposite；　raised　his　hat　to　her。　Whether　it　was　done　in　courtesy；　in　confused　unconsciousness；　or　in　mockery；　cannot　be　told。　Miss　Carlyle　assumed　it　to　have　been　the　latter；　and　her　lips；　in　their　anger　grew　almost　as　pale　as　those　of　the　unhappy　woman　who　was　cowering　behind　her。

〃Did　you　intend　that　insult　for　me；　Francis　Levison？〃

〃As　you　please　to　take　it；〃　returned　he；　calling　up　insolence　to　his　aid。

〃/You/　dare　to　lift　off　your　hat　to　me！　Have　you　forgotten　that　I　am　Miss　Carlyle？〃

〃It　would　be　difficult　for　/you/　to　be　forgotten；　once　seen。〃

Now　this　answer　/was/　given　in　mockery；　his　tone　and　manner　were　redolent　of　it；　insolently　so。　The　two　gentlemen　looked　on　in　discomfort；　wondering　what　it　meant；　Lady　Isabel　hid　her　face　as　best　she　could；　terrified　to　death　lest　his　eyes　should　fall　on　it：　while　the　spectators；　several　of　whom　had　collected　now；　listened　with　interest；　especially　some　farm　laborers　of　Squire　Pinner's　who　had　happened　to　be　passing。

〃You　contemptible　worm！〃　cried　Miss　Carlyle；　〃do　you　think　you　can　outrage　me　with　impunity　as　you；　by　your　presence　in　it；　are　outraging　West　Lynne？　Out　upon　you　for　a　bold；　bad　man！〃

Now　Miss　Corny；　in　so　speaking；　had　certainly　no　thought　of　present　and　immediate　punishment　for　the　gentleman；　but　it　appeared　that　the　mob　around　had。　The　motion　was　commented　by　those　stout…shouldered　laborers。　Whether　excited　thereto　by　the　words　of　Miss　Carlylewho；　whatever　may　have　been　her　faults　of　manner；　held　the　respect　of　the　neighborhood；　and　was　looked　up　to　only　in　a　less　degree　than　her　brother；　whether　Squire　Pinner；　their　master；　had　let　drop；　in　their　hearing；　a　word　of　the　ducking　he　had　hinted　at；　when　at　East　Lynne；　or　whether　their　own　feelings　alone　spurred　them　on；　was　best　known　to　the　men　themselves。　Certain　it　is；　that　the　ominous　sound　of　〃Duck　him；〃　was　breathed　forth　by　a　voice；　and　it　was　caught　up　and　echoed　around。

〃Duck　him！　Duck　him！　The　pond　be　close　at　hand。　Let's　give　him　a　taste　of　his　deservings！　What　do　he　the　scum；　turn　himself　up　at　West　Lynne　for；　bearding　Mr。　Carlyle？　What　have　he　done　with　Lady　Isabel？　/Him/　put　up　for　others　at　West　Lynne！　West　Lynne's　respectable；　it　don't　want　him；　it　have　got　a　better　man；　it　won't　have　a　villain。　Now；　lads！〃

His　face　turned　white；　and　he　trembled　in　his　shoesworthless　men　are　frequently　cowards。　Lady　Isabel　trembled　in　hers；　and　well　she　might；　hearing　that　one　allusion。　They　set　upon　him；　twenty　pairs　of　hands　at　least；　strong；　rough；　determined　hands；　not　to　speak　of　the　tagrag's　help；　who　went　in　with　cuffs；　and　kicks；　and　pokes；　and　taunts；　and　cheers；　and　a　demoniac　dance。

They　dragged　him　through　a　gap　in　the　hedge；　a　gap　that　no　baby　could　have　got　through　in　a　cool　moment；　but　most　of　us　know　the　difference　between　coolness　and　excitement。　The　hedge　was　extensively　damaged；　but　Justice　Hare；　to　whom　it　belonged；　would　forgive　that。　Mr。　Drake　and　the　lawyerfor　the　other　was　a　lawyerwere　utterly　powerless　to　stop　the　catastrophe。　〃If　they　didn't　mind　their　own　business；　and　keep　themselves　clear；　they'd　get　served　the　same；〃　was　the　promise　held　out　in　reply　to　their　remonstrances；　and　the　lawyer；　who　was　short　and　fat；　and　could　not　have　knocked　a　man　down；　had　it　been　to　save　his　life；　backed　out　of　the　/melee/；　and　contented　himself　with　issuing　forth　confused　threatenings　of　the　terrors　of　the　law。　Miss　Carlyle　stood　her　ground　majestically；　and　looked　on　with　a　grim　countenance。　Had　she　interfered　for　his　protection；　she　could　not　have　been　heard；　and　if　she　could　have　been；　there's　no　knowing　whether　she　would　have　done　it。

On；　to　the　brink　of　the　ponda　green；　dank；　dark；　slimy　sour；　stinking　pond。　His　coat…tails　were　gone　by　this　time；　and　sundry　rents　and　damages　appeared　inin　another　useful　garment。　One　pulled　him；　another　pushed　him；　a　third　shook　him　by　the　collar；　half　a　dozen　buffeted　him；　and　all　abused　him。

〃In　with　him；　boys！〃

〃Mercy！　Mercy！〃　shrieked　the　victim；　his　knees　bending　and　his　teeth　chattering〃a　little　mercy　for　the　love　of　Heaven！〃

〃Heaven！　Much　he　knows　of　Heaven！〃

A　souse；　a　splash；　a　wild　cry；　a　gurgle；　and　Sir　Francis　Levison　was　floundering　in　the　water；　its　green　poison；　not　to　mention　its　adders　and　thads　and　frogs；　going　down　his　throat　by　bucketfuls。　A　hoarse；　derisive　laugh；　and　a　hip；　hip；　hurrah！　broke　from　the　actors；　while　the　juvenile　ragtag；　in　wild　delight；　joined　their　hands　round　the　pool；　and　danced　the　demon's　dance；　like　so　many　red　Indians。　They　had　never　had　such　a　play　acted　for　them　before。

Out　of　the　pea…soup　before　he　was　quite　dead；　quite　senseless。　Of　all　drowned　rats；　he　looked　the　worst；　as　he　stood　there　with　his　white；　rueful　face；　his　shivery　limbs；　and　his　dilapidated　garments；　shaking　the　wet　off　him。　The　laborers；　their　duty　done；　walked　coolly　away；　the　tagrag　withdrew　to　a　safe　distance；　waiting　for　what　might　come　next；　and　Miss　Carlyle　moved　away　also。　Not　more　shivery　was　that　wretched　man　than　Lady　Isabel；　as　she　walked　by　her　side。　A　sorry　figure　to　cut；　that；　for　her　once　chosen　cavalier。　What　did　she　think　of　his　beauty　now？　I　know　what　she　thought　of　her　past　folly。

Miss　Carlyle　never　spoke　a　word。　She　sailed　on；　with　her　head　up；　though　it　was　turned　occasionally　to　look　at　the　face　of　Madame　Vine；　at　the　deep　distressing　blush　which　this　gaze　called　into　her　cheeks。　〃It's　very　odd；〃　thought　Miss　Corny。　〃The　likeness；　especially　in　the　eyes；　is　Where　are　you　going；　madame？〃

They　were　passing　a　spectacle　shop；　and　Madame　Vine　had　halted　at　the　door；　one　foot　on　its　step。　〃I　must　have　my　glasses　to　be　mended；　if　you　please。〃

Miss　Carlyle　followed　her　in。　She　pointed　out　what　she　wanted　done　to　the　old　glasses；　and　said　she　would　buy　a　pair　of　new　ones　to　wear　while　the　job　was　about。　The　man　had　no　blue　ones；　no　green；　plenty　of　white。　One　ugly；　old　pair　of　green　things　he　had；　with　tortoise…shell　rims；　left　by　some　stranger；　ages　and　ages　ago；　to　be　mended；　and　never　called　for　again。　This　very　pair　of　ugly　old　green　things　was　chosen　by　Lady　Isabel。　She　put　them　on；　there　and　then；　Miss　Carlyle's　eyes　searching　her　face　inquisitively　all　the　time。

〃Why　do　you　wear　glasses？〃　began　Miss　Corny；　abruptly　as　soon　as　they　were　indoors。

Another　deep　flush；　and　an　imperceptible　hesitation。

〃My　eyes　are　not　strong。〃

〃They　look　as　strong　as　eyes　can　look。　But　why　wear　colored　glasses？　White　ones　would　answer　every　purpose；　I　should　suppose。〃

〃I　am　accustomed　to　colored　ones。　I　should　not　like　white　ones　now。〃

Miss　Corny　paused。

〃What　is　your　Christian　name；　madame？〃　began　she；　again。

〃Jane；〃　replied　madame；　popping　out　an　unflinching　story　in　her　alarm。

〃Here！　Here！　What's　up？　What's　this？〃

It　was　a　crowd　in　the　street；　and　rather　a　noisy　one。　Miss　Corny　flew　to　the　window；　Lady　Isabel　in　her　wake。　Two　crowds；　it　may　almost　be　said；　for；　from　the　opposite　way；　the　scarlet…and…purple　partyas　Mr。　Carlyle's　was　called；　in　allusion　to　his　colorscame　in　view。　Quite　a　collection　of　gentlemenMr。　Carlyle　and　Lord　Mount　Severn　heading　them。

What　could　it　mean；　the　mob　they　were　encountering？　The　yellow　party；　doubtless；　but　in　a　disreputable　condition。　Who　or　what　/was/　that　object　in　advance　of　it；　supported　between　Drake　and　the　lawyer；　and　looking　like　a　drowned　rat；　hair　hanging；　legs　tottering；　cheeks　shaking；　and　clothes　in　tatters；　while　the　mob；　behind；　had　swollen　to　the　length　of　the　stree