east lynne-第83章

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〃No；〃　said　William；　〃it　is　nastier　than　ever。〃

Dr。　Martin　looked　at　the　boy；　felt　his　pulse；　his　skin；　listened　to　his　breathing。　〃There；〃　said　he；　presently；　〃you　may　sit　down　and　have　your　nap　out。〃

〃I　wish　I　might　have　something　to　drink；　I　am　very　thirsty。　May　I　ring　for　some　water；　papa？〃

〃Go　and　find　your　aunt's　maid；　and　ask　her　for　some；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Ask　her　for　milk；〃　called　out　Dr。　Martin。　〃Not　water。〃

Away　went　William。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　leaning　against　the　side　of　the　window；　Dr。　Martin　folded　his　arms　before　it：　Lady　Isabel　stood　near　the　latter。　The　broad；　full　light　was　cast　upon　all；　but　the　thick　veil　hid　Lady　Isabel's　face。　It　was　not　often　she　could　be　caught　without　that　veil；　for　she　seemed　to　wear　her　bonnet　at　all　sorts　of　seasonable　and　unseasonable　times。

〃What　is　your　opinion；　doctor？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Well；〃　began　the　doctor；　in　a　/very/　professional　tone；　〃the　boy　is　certainly　delicate。　But〃

〃Stay；　Dr。　Martin；〃　was　the　interruption；　spoken　in　a　low；　impressive　voice；　〃you　will　deal　candidly　with　me。　I　must　know　the　truth；　without　disguise。　Tell　it　me　freely。〃

Dr。　Martin　paused。　〃The　truth　is　not　always　palatable；　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃True。　But　for　that　very　reason；　all　the　more　necessary。　Let　me　hear　the　worst。　And　the　child　has　no　mother；　you　know；　to　be　shocked　with　it。〃

〃I　fear　that　it　will　be　the　worst。〃

〃Death？〃

〃Ay。　The　seeds　of　consumption　must　have　been　inherent　in　him。　They　are　showing　out　too　palpably。〃

〃Is　there　/no/　hope　for　the　child？〃

Dr。　Martin　looked　at　him。　〃You　bade　me　give　you　the　truth。〃

〃Nothing　else；　nothing　but　the　truth；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　tone　one　of　mingled　pain　and　command。

〃Then；　there　is　none；　no　hope　whatever。　The　lungs　are　extensively　diseased。〃

〃And　how　long〃

〃That　I　cannot　say；〃　interrupted　the　doctor；　divining　what　the　next　question　was　to　be。　〃He　may　linger　on　for　months；　for　a　year；　it　may　even　be；　or　a　very　short　period　may　see　the　termination。　Don't　worry　him　with　any　more　lessons　and　stuff　of　learning；　he'll　never　want　it。〃

The　doctor　cast　his　eyes　on　the　governess　as　he　spoke；　the　injunction　concerned　her　as　much　as　it　did　Mr。　Carlyle。　And　the　doctor　started；　for　he　thought　she　was　fainting；　her　face　had　become　so　ghastly　white；　he　could　see　it　through　her　veil。

〃You　are　ill；　madame！　You　are　ill？　/Trouve　malade/；　don't　you？〃

She　opened　her　lips　to　speak；　her　trembling　lips；　that　would　not　obey　her。　Dr。　Martin；　in　his　concern；　pulled　off　the　blue　spectacles。　She　caught　them　from　him　with　one　hand；　sat　down　on　the　nearest　chair；　and　hid　her　face　with　the　other。

Mr。　Carlyle；　scarcely　understanding　the　scuffle；　came　forward。　〃Are　you　ill；　Madame　Vine？〃

She　was　putting　her　spectacles　under　her　veil；　her　face　whiter　than　ever。　〃Pray　do　not　interrupt　your　conversation　to　pay　attention　to　me！　I　thank　you；　I　thank　you　both。　I　am　subject　toslight　spasms；　and　they　do　make　me　look　ill　for　the　moment。　It　has　passed　now。〃

The　doctor　turned　from　her；　Mr。　Carlyle　resumed　his　place　by　the　window。　〃What　should　be　the　treatment？〃　asked　the　latter。

〃Almost　anything　you　pleasethat　the　boy　himself　likes。　Let　him　play　or　rest；　ride　or　walk；　eat　and　drink；　or　let　it　alone；　it　cannot　make　much　difference。〃

〃Doctor！　You　yield　it；　as　a　last　hope；　very　lightly。〃

Dr。　Martin　shook　his　head。　〃I　speak　as　I　/know/。　You　insisted　on　having　my　true　opinion。〃

〃A　warmer　climate？〃　suggested　Mr。　Carlyle　eagerly；　the　idea　crossing　his　mind。

〃It　might　prolong　the　end　for　a　little　whilea　few　weeks；　perhaps　avert　it　it　could　not。　And　who　could　take　him？　You　could　not　go；　and　he　has　no　mother。　No！　I　should　not　advise　it。〃

〃I　wish　you　would　see　Wainwrightwith　reference　to　William。〃

〃I　have　seen　him。　I　met　him　this　afternoon；　by　chance；　and　told　him　my　opinion。　How　is　Mrs。　Carlyle？〃

〃Pretty　well。　She　is　not　in　robust　health；　you　are　aware；　just　now。〃

Dr。　Martin　smiled。　〃These　things　will　happen。　Mrs。　Carlyle　has　a　thoroughly　good　constitution；　a　far　stronger　one　thanthan〃

〃Than　what？〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　wondering　why　he　hesitated。

〃You　must　grant　me　pardon。　I　may　as　well　finish；　now　I　have　begun；　but　I　was　not　thinking　when　I　spoke。　She　is　stronger　than　was　Lady　Isabel。　I　must　be　off　to　catch　the　six　train。〃

〃You　will　come　over　from　time　to　time　to　East　Lynne　to　see　William？〃

〃If　you　wish　it。　It　may　be　a　satisfaction；　perhaps。　/Bon　jour/；　madame。〃

Lady　Isabel　bowed　to　him　as　he　left　the　room　with　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃How　fond　that　French　governess　of　yours　is　of　the　boy！〃　the　doctor　whispered；　as　they　crossed　the　hall。　〃I　detected　it　when　she　brought　him　to　Lynneborough。　And　you　saw　her　just　now！　That　emotion　was　all　because　he　could　not　live。　Good…bye。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　grasped　his　hand。　〃Doctor；　I　/wish/　you　could　save　him！〃　he　passionately　uttered。

〃Ah；　Carlyle！　If　we　humble　mites　of　human　doctors　could　but　keep　those　whom　it　is　the　Great　Physician's　pleasure　to　take；　how　we　should　be　run　after！　There's　hidden　mercy；　remember；　in　the　darkest　cloud。　Farewell　my　friend。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　the　room。　He　approached　Lady　Isabel；　looking　down　upon　her　as　she　sat；　not　that　he　could　see　much　of　her　face。　〃These　are　grievous　tidings。　But　you　were　more　prepared　for　them；　I　fancy；　than　I　was。〃

She　started　suddenly　up；　approached　the　window；　and　looked　out；　as　if　she　saw　somebody　passing　whom　she　would　gaze　at。　All　of　emotion　was　stirred　up　within　herher　temples　throbbed；　her　throat　beat；　her　breath　became　hysterical。　Could　she　bear　thus　to　hold　confidential　converse　with　him　over　the　state　of　their　child？　She　pulled　off　her　gloves　for　coolness　to　her　burning　hands；　she　wiped　the　moisture　from　her　pale　forehead；　she　struggled　manfully　for　calmness。　What　excuse　could　she　offer　to　Mr。　Carlyle？

〃I　had　begun　to　like　the　boy　so　very　much；　sir；〃　she　said；　half　turning　round。　〃And　the　doctor's　fiat；　too　plainly　pronounced　has　given　me　pain；　pain　to　agitation。〃

Again　Mr。　Carlyle　approached　her；　following　close　up　to　where　she　stood。　〃You　are　very　kind；　thus　to　feel　an　interest　in　my　child。〃

She　did　not　answer。

〃Here；　papa；　papa！　I　want　you；〃　cried　William；　breaking　into　the　room。　〃Let　me　walk　home　with　you？　Are　you　going　to　walk？〃

How　could　he　find　it　in　his　heart　to　deny　anything　to　the　child　then？

〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃Stay　here　till　I　come　for　you。〃

〃We　are　going　home　with　papa；〃　proclaimed　William　to　Madame　Vine。

Madame　Vine　did　not　relish　the　news。　But　there　was　no　help　for　it。　In　a　very　short　time　Mr。　Carlyle　appeared；　and　they　set　off；　he　holding　William's　hand；　madame　walking　on　the　other　side　of　the　child。

〃Where's　William　Vane；　papa？〃　asked　the　boy。

〃He　has　gone　on　with　Lord　Mount　Severn。〃

Scarcely　had　the　words　been　spoken；　when　some　one　came　bolting　out　of　the　post…office；　and　met　them　face　to　face；　almost　ran　against　them　in　fact；　creating　some　hindrance。　The　man　looked　confused；　and　slunk　off　into　the　gutter。　And　you　will　not　wonder　that　he　did；　when　you　hear　that　it　was　Francis　Levison。　William；　child　like；　turned　his　head　to　gaze　at　the　intruder。

〃I　would　not　be　an　ugly　bad　man　like　him　for　the　world；〃　quoth　he；　as　he　turned　his　back　again。　〃Would　you；　papa？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　answer；　and　Isabel　cast　an　involuntary　glance　upon　him　from　her　white　face。　His　was　impassive；　save　that　a　cast　of　ineffable　scorn　marred　the　delicate　beauty　of　his　lips。　If　humiliation　for　the　past　had　never　wrung　Lady　Isabel's　heart　before；　it　would　have　wrung　it　then。

At　Mr。　Justice　Hare's　gate　they　encountered　that　gentleman；　who　appeared　to　be　standing　there　to　give　himself　an　airing。　William　caught　sight　of　Mrs。　Hare　seated　on　the　garden　bench；　outside　the　window；　and　ran　to　kiss　her。　All　the　children　loved　Mrs。　Hare。　The　justice　was　lookingnot　pale；　that　would　not　be　a　term　half　strong　enough：　but　yellow。　The　curls　of　his　best　wig　were　limp；　and　all　his　pomposity　appeared　to　have　gone　out　of　him。

〃I　say；　Carlyle；　what　on　earth's　this？〃　cried　he；　in　a　tone　that；　for　him；　was　wonderfully　subdued　and　meek。　〃I　was　not　on　the　bench　this　afternoon；　but　Pinner　has　been　telling　meof　an　application　that　was　made　to　them　in　private。　It's　not　true；　you　know；　it　can't　be；　it's　too　far…fetched　a　tale。　What　do　you　know　about　it？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　do　not　know　what　you　are　talking　of。　I　have　been　privy　to　no　application。〃

〃It　seems　they　want　to　make　out　now　that　Dick　never　murdered　Hallijohn；〃　proceeded　the　justice；　in　a　half　whisper；　glancing　round　as　if　to　be　sure　that　there　were　no　eaves…droppers　amidst　the　trees。

〃Oh；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃But　that　Levison　did。　/Levison/！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　made　no　reply；　save　by　a　gesture；　his　face　more　impassive　than　before。　Not　so　another　face　beside　him；　a　fair　face；　that　turned　white　again　with　emotion　as　she　listened。

〃But　it　can't　be；　you　know。　It　can't；　I　say。〃

〃So　far　as　Richard's　innocence　goes；　of　that　I　have　long　been　convinced；〃　spoke　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃And　that　Levison's　guilty？〃　returned　the　justice；　opening　his　eyes　in　puzzled　wonderment。

〃I　have　no　opinion　upon　that　point；〃　was　the　cold　rejoinder。

〃It's　impossible；　I　say。　Dick　can't　be　innocent。　You　may　as　well　tell　me　that　the　world's　turned　upside　down。〃

〃It　is；　sometimes；　I　think。　That　Richard　was　not　the　guilty　man　will　be　proved　yet；　justice；　in　the　broad　face　of　day。〃

〃Ififthat　other　did　do　it；　I　should　think　you'd　take　the　warrant　out　of　the　hands　of　the　police　and　capture　him　yourself。〃

〃I　would　not　touch　him　with　a　pair　of　tongs；〃　spoke　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　lips　curling　again。　〃If　the　man　goes　to　his　punishment；　he　goes；　but　I　do　not　help　him　on　his　road　thither。〃

〃/Can/　Dick　be　innocent？〃　mused　the　justice；　returning　to　the　thought　which　so　troubled　his　mind。　〃Then　why　has　he　kept　away？　Why　did　he　not　come　back　and　say　so？〃

〃That　you　might　deliver　him　up；　justice。　You　know　you　took　an　oath　to　do　it。〃

The　justice　looked　green；　and　remarkably　humble。

〃Oh；　but　Carlyle；〃　impulsively　spoke　he；　the　thought　occurring　to　him；　〃what　an　awful　revenge　this　would　have　been　for　you　onsomebodyhad　she　lived。　How　her　false　step　would　have　come　home　to　her　now！〃

〃False　steps　come　home　to　most　people；〃　responded　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　he　took　William　by　the　hand；　who　then　ran　up。　And；　lifting　his　hat　to　Mrs。　Hare　in　the　distance；　he　walked　on。

She；　Lady　Isabel；　walked　on；　too；　by　the　side　of　the　child；　as　before；　walked　on　with　a　shivering　frame；　and　a　heart　sick　unto　death。　The　justice　looked　after　her；　his　mind　unoccupied。　He　was　in　a　maze　of　bewilderment。　Richard　innocent！　Richard；　whom　he　had　striven　to　pursue　to　a　shameful　end！　And　that　other　the　guilty　one！　The　world　/was/　turning　upside　down。



CHAPTER　XXXIX。

MRS。　CARLYLE　IN　FULL　DRESS；　AFY　ALSO。

Merrily　rose　West　Lynne　on　Thursday　morning；　merrily　rang　out　the　bells；　clashing　and　chiming。　The　street　was　alive　with　people；　the　windows　were　crowded　with　heads；　something　unusual　was　astir。　It　was　the　day　of　the　nomination　of　the　two　candidates；　and　everybody　took　the　opportunity　to　make　a　holiday。

Ten　o'clock　was　the　hour　named；　but；　before　that　hour　struck；　West　Lynne　was　crammed。　The　country　people　had　come　in；　thick　and　threefold；　rich　and　poor；　people　of　note；　and　peopl