east lynne-第8章

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…place。　And　now；〃　continued　Barbara；　〃I　want　you　to　advise　me；　had　I　better　inform　mamma　that　Richard　is　here；　or　not？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　understand；　and　said　so。

〃I　declare　I　am　bewildered；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　should　have　premised　that　I　have　not　yet　told　mamma　it　is　Richard　himself　who　is　here；　but　that　he　has　sent　a　messenger　to　beg　for　this　money。　Would　it　be　advisable　to　acquaint　her？〃

〃Why　should　you　not？　I　think　you　ought　to　do　so。〃

〃Then　I　will；　I　was　fearing　the　hazard　for　she　is　sure　to　insist　upon　seeing　him。　Richard　also　wishes　for　an　interview。〃

〃It　is　only　natural。　Mrs。　Hare　must　be　thankful　to　hear　so　far；　that　he　is　safe。〃

〃I　never　saw　anything　like　it；〃　returned　Barbara；　〃the　change　is　akin　to　magic；　she　says　it　has　put　life　into　her　anew。　And　now　for　the　last　thing；　how　can　we　secure　papa's　absence　from　home　to…night？　It　must　be　accomplished　in　some　way。　You　know　his　temper：　were　I　or　mamma　to　suggest　to　him；　to　go　and　see　some　friend；　or　to　go　to　the　club；　he　would　immediately　stop　at　home。　Can　you　devise　any　plan？　You　see　I　appeal　to　you　in　all　my　troubles；〃　she　added；　〃like　I　and　Anne　used　to　do　when　we　were　children。〃

It　may　be　questioned　if　Mr。　Carlyle　heard　the　last　remark。　He　had　dropped　his　eyelids　in　thought。　〃Have　you　told　me　all？〃　he　asked　presently；　lifting　them。

〃I　think　so。〃

〃Then　I　will　consider　it　over；　and〃

〃I　shall　not　like　to　come　here　again；〃　interrupted　Barbara。　〃Itit　might　excite　suspicions；　some　one　might　see　me；　too；　and　mention　it　to　papa。　Neither　ought　you　to　send　to　our　house。〃

〃Wellcontrive　to　be　in　the　street　at　four　this　afternoon。　Stay；　that's　your　dinner　hour；　be　walking　up　the　street　at　three；　three　precisely；　I　will　meet　you。〃

He　rose；　shook　hands；　and　escorted　Barbara　through　the　small　hall；　along　the　passage　to　the　house　door；　a　courtesy　probably　not　yet　shown　to　any　client　by　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　house　door　closed　upon　her；　and　Barbara　had　taken　one　step　from　it；　when　something　large　loomed　down　upon　her；　like　a　ship　in　full　sail。

She　must　have　been　the　tallest　lady　in　the　worldout　of　a　caravan。　A　fine　woman　in　her　day；　but　angular　and　bony　now。　Still；　in　spite　of　the　angles　and　the　bones；　there　was　majesty　in　the　appearance　of　Miss　Carlyle。

〃Whywhat　on　earth！〃　began　she；　〃have　/you/　been　with　Archibald　for？〃

Barbara　Hare；　wishing　Miss　Carlyle　over　in　Asia；　stammered　out　the　excuse　she　had　given　Mr。　Dill。

〃Your　mamma　sent　you　on　business！　I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。　Twice　I　have　been　to　see　Archibald；　and　twice　did　Dill　answer　that　he　was　engaged　and　must　not　be　interrupted。　I　shall　make　old　Dill　explain　his　meaning　for　observing　a　mystery　over　it　to　me。〃

〃There　is　no　mystery；〃　answered　Barbara；　feeling　quite　sick　lest　Miss　Carlyle　should　proclaim　there　was；　before　the　clerks；　or　her　father。　〃Mamma　wanted　Mr。　Carlyle's　opinion　upon　a　little　private　business；　and　not　feeling　well　enough　to　come　herself；　she　sent　me。〃

Miss　Carlyle　did　not　believe　a　word。　〃What　business？〃　asked　she　unceremoniously。

〃It　is　nothing　that　could　interest　you。　A　trifling　matter；　relating　to　a　little　money。　It's　nothing；　indeed。〃

〃Then；　if　it's　nothing；　why　were　you　closeted　so　long　with　Archibald？〃

〃He　was　asking　the　particulars；〃　replied　Barbara；　recovering　her　equanimity。

Miss　Carlyle　sniffed；　as　she　invariably　did；　when　dissenting　from　a　problem。　She　was　sure　there　was　some　mystery　astir。　She　turned　and　walked　down　the　street　with　Barbara；　but　she　was　none　the　more　likely　to　get　anything　out　of　her。

Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　his　room；　deliberated　a　few　moments；　and　then　rang　his　bell。　A　clerk　answered　it。

〃Go　to　the　Buck's　Head。　If　Mr。　Hare　and　the　other　magistrates　are　there；　ask　them　to　step　over　to　me。〃

The　young　man　did　as　he　was　bid；　and　came　back　with　the　noted　justices　at　his　heels。　They　obeyed　the　summons　with　alacrity；　for　they　believed　they　had　got　themselves　into　a　judicial　scrape；　and　that　Mr。　Carlyle　alone　could　get　them　out　of　it。

〃I　will　not　request　you　to　sit　down；〃　began　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃for　it　is　barely　a　moment　I　shall　detain　you。　The　more　I　think　about　this　man's　having　been　put　in　prison；　the　less　I　like　it；　and　I　have　been　considering　that　you　had　better　all　five；　come　and　smoke　your　pipes　at　my　house　this　evening；　when　we　shall　have　time　to　discuss　what　must　be　done。　Come　at　seven；　not　later；　and　you　will　find　my　father's　old　jar　replenished　with　the　best　broadcut；　and　half　a　dozen　churchwarden　pipes。　Shall　it　be　so？〃

The　whole　five　accepted　the　invitation　eagerly。　And　they　were　filing　out　when　Mr。　Carlyle　laid　his　finger　on　the　arm　of　Justice　Hare。

〃/You/　will　be　sure　to　come；　Hare；〃　he　whispered。　〃We　could　not　get　on　without　you；　all　heads；〃　with　a　slight　inclination　towards　those　going　out；　〃are　not　gifted　with　the　clear　good　sense　of　yours。〃

〃Sure　and　certain；〃　responded　the　gratified　justice；　〃fire　and　water　shouldn't　keep　me　away。〃

Soon　after　Mr。　Carlyle　was　left　alone　another　clerk　entered。

〃Miss　Carlyle　is　asking　to　see　you；　sir；　and　Colonel　Bethel's　come　again。〃

〃Send　in　Miss　Carlyle　first；〃　was　the　answer。　〃What　is　it；　Cornelia？〃

〃Ah！　You　may　well　ask　what？　Saying　this　morning　that　you　could　not　dine　at　six；　as　usual；　and　then　marching　off；　and　never　fixing　the　hour。　How　can　I　give　my　orders？〃

〃I　thought　business　would　have　called　me　out；　but　I　am　not　going　now。　We　will　dine　a　little　earlier；　though；　Cornelia；　say　a　quarter　before　six。　I　have　invited〃

〃What's　up；　Archibald？〃　interrupted　Miss　Carlyle。

〃Up！　Nothing　that　I　know　of。　I　am　very　busy；　Cornelia；　and　Colonel　Bethel　is　waiting；　I　will　talk　to　you　at　dinner…time。　I　have　invited　a　party　for　to…night。〃

〃A　party！〃　echoed　Miss　Carlyle。

〃Four　or　five　of　the　justices　are　coming　in　to　smoke　their　pipes。　You　must　put　out　your　father's　leaden　tobacco…box；　and〃

〃They　shan't　come！〃　screamed　Miss　Carlyle。　〃Do　you　think　I'll　be　poisoned　with　tobacco　smoke　from　a　dozen　pipes？〃

〃You　need　not　sit　in　the　room。〃

〃Nor　they　either。　Clean　curtains　are　just　put　up　throughout　the　house；　and　I'll　have　no　horrid　pipes　to　blacken　them。〃

〃I'll　buy　you　some　new　curtains；　Cornelia；　if　their　pipes　spoil　these；〃　he　quietly　replied。　〃And　now；　Cornelia；　I　really　must　beg　you　to　leave　me。〃

〃When　I　have　come　to　the　bottom　of　this　affair　with　Barbara　Hare；〃　resolutely　returned　Miss　Corny；　dropping　the　point　of　the　contest　as　to　the　pipes。　〃You　are　very　clever；　Archie；　but　you　can't　do　me。　I　asked　Barbara　what　she　came　here　for；　business　for　mamma；　touching　money　matters；　was　her　reply。　I　ask　you：　to　hear　your　opinion　about　the　scrape　the　bench　have　got　into；　is　yours。　Now；　it's　neither　one　nor　the　other；　and　I　tell　you；　Archibald；　I'll　hear　what　it　is。　I　should　like　to　know　what　you　and　Barbara　do　with　a　secret　between　you。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　knew　her　and　her　resolute　expression　well；　and　he　took　his　course；　to　tell　her　the　truth。　She　was；　to　borrow　the　words　Barbara　had　used　to　her　brother　with　regard　to　him；　true　as　steel。　Confide　to　Miss　Carlyle　a　secret；　and　she　was　trustworthy　and　impervious　as　he　could　be；　but　let　her　come　to　suspect　that　there　was　a　secret　which　was　being　kept　from　her；　and　she　would　set　to　work　like　a　ferret；　and　never　stop　until　it　was　unearthed。

Mr。　Carlyle　bent　forward　and　spoke　in　a　whisper。　〃I　will　tell　you；　if　you　wish；　Cornelia；　but　it　is　not　a　pleasant　thing　to　hear。　Richard　Hare　has　returned。〃

Miss　Carlyle　looked　perfectly　aghast。　〃Richard　Hare！　Is　he　mad？〃

〃It　is　not　a　very　sane　proceeding。　He　wants　money　from　his　mother；　and　Mrs。　Hare　sent　Barbara　to　ask　me　to　manage　it　for　her。　No　wonder　poor　Barbara　was　flurried　and　nervous；　for　there's　danger　on　all　sides。〃

〃Is　he　at　their　house？〃

〃How　could　he　be　there　and　his　father　in　it？　He　is　in　hiding　two　or　three　miles　off；　disguised　as　a　laborer；　and　will　be　at　the　grove　to…night　to　receive　this　money。　I　have　invited　the　justices　to　get　Mr。　Hare　safe　away　from　his　own　house。　If　he　saw　Richard；　he　would　undoubtedly　give　him　up　to　justice；　andputting　graver　considerations　asidethat　would　be　pleasant　for　neither　you　nor　for　me。　To　have　a　connection　gibbeted　for　a　willful　murder　would　be　an　ugly　blot　on　the　Carlyle　escutcheon；　Cornelia。〃

Miss　Carlyle　sat　in　silence　revolving　the　news；　a　contraction　on　her　ample　brow。

〃And　now　you　know　all；　Cornelia；　and　I　do　beg　you　to　leave　me；　for　I　am　overwhelmed　with　work　to…day。〃



CHAPTER　VI。

RICHARD　HARE；　THE　YOUNGER。

The　bench　of　justices　did　not　fail　to　keep　their　appointment；　at　seven　o'clock　they　arrived　at　Miss　Carlyle's；　one　following　closely　upon　the　heels　of　another。　The　reader　may　dissent　from　the　expression　〃Miss　Carlyle's；〃　but　it　is　the　correct　one；　for　the　house　was　hers；　not　her　brother's；　though　it　remained　his　home；　as　it　had　been　in　his　father's　time；　the　house　was　among　the　property　bequeathed　to　Miss　Carlyle。

Miss　Carlyle　chose　to　be　present　in　spite　of　the　pipes　and　the　smoke；　and　she　was　soon　as　deep　in　the　discussion　as　the　justices　were。　It　was　said　in　the　town；　that　she　was　as　good　a　lawyer　as　her　father　had　been；　she　undoubtedly　possessed　sound　judgment　in　legal　matters；　and　quick　penetration。　At　eight　o'clock　a　servant　entered　the　room　and　addressed　his　master。

〃Mr。　Dill　is　asking　to　see　you；　sir。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　rose；　and　came　back　with　an　open　note　in　his　hand。

〃I　am　sorry　to　find　that　I　must　leave　you　for　half　an　hour；　some　important　business　has　arisen；　but　I　will　be　back　as　soon　as　I　can。〃

〃Who　has　sent　for　you；〃　immediately　demanded　Miss　Corny。

He　gave　her　a　quiet　look　which　she　interpreted　into　a　warning　not　to　question。　〃Mr。　Dill　is　here；　and　will　join　you　to　talk　the　affair　over；〃　he　said　to　his　guests。　〃He　knows　the　law　better　than　I　do；　but　I　will　not　be　long。〃

He　quitted　his　house；　and　walked　with　a　rapid　step　toward　the　Grove。　The　moon　was　bright　as　on　the　previous　evening。　After　he　had　left　the　town　behind　him；　and　was　passing　the　scattered　villas　already　mentioned；　he　cast　an　involuntary　glance　at　the　wood；　which　rose　behind　them　on　his　left　hand。　It　was　called　Abbey　Wood；　from　the　circumstance　that　in　old　days　an　abbey　had　stood　in　its　vicinity；　all　traces　of　which；　save　tradition；　had　passed　away。　There　was　one　small　house；　or　cottage；　just　within　the　wood；　and　in　that　cottage　had　occurred　the　murder　for　which　Richard　Hare's　life　was　in　jeopardy。　It　was　no　longer　occupied；　for　nobody　would　rent　it　or　live　in　it。

Mr。　Carlyle　opened　the　gate　of　the　Grove；　and　glanced　at　the　trees　on　either　side　of　him；　but　he　neither　saw　nor　heard　any　signs　of　Richard's　being　concealed　there。　Barbara　was　at　the　window；　looking　out；　and　she　came　herself　and　opened　the　door　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Mamma　is　in　the　most　excited　state；〃　she　whispered　to　him　as　he　entered。　〃I　knew　how　it　would　be。〃

〃Has　he　come　yet？〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it；　but　he　has　made　no　signal。〃

Mrs。　Hare；　feverish　and　agitated；　with　a　burning　spot　on　her　delicate　cheeks；　stood　by　the　chair；　not　occupying　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　placed　a　pocket…book　in　her　hands。　〃I　have　brought　it　chiefly　in　notes；〃　he　said：　〃they　will　be　easier　for　him　to　carry　than　gold。〃

Mrs。　Hare　answered　only　by　a　look　of　gratitude；　and　clasped　Mr。　Carlyle's　hand　in　both　hers。　〃Archibald；　I　/must/　see　my　boy；　how