east lynne-第84章

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　poor；　people　of　note；　and　people　of　none；　voters　and　non…voters；　all　eager　to　mix　themselves　up　with　the　day's　proceedings。　You　see　the　notorious　fact　of　Sir　Francis　Levison's　having　come　forward　to　oppose　Mr。　Carlyle；　caused　greater　interest　in　this　election　than　is　usual；　even　in　small　country　placesand　that　need　not　be。　Barbara　drove　in　her　carriage；　the　two　children　with　her；　and　the　governess。　The　governess　said　she　preferred　to　remain　at　home。　Barbara　would　not　hear　of　it；　almost　felt　inclined　to　resent　it　as　a　slight；　besides；　if　she　took　no　interest　in　Mr。　Carlyle；　she　must　go　to　take　care　of　Lucy；　she；　Barbara；　would　be　too　much　occupied　to　look　after　children。　So　Madame　Vine；　perforce；　stepped　into　the　barouche　and　sat　opposite　to　Mrs。　Carlyle；　her　thick　veil　shading　her　features；　and　their　pallor　contrasting　with　the　blue　spectacles。

They　alighted　at　the　residence　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Quite　a　gathering　was　already　there。　Lady　and　Miss　Dobede；　the　Herberts；　Mrs。　Hare；　and　many　others；　for　the　house　was　in　a　good　spot　for　seeing　the　fun；　and　all　the　people　were　eager　to　testify　their　respect　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　contradiction　to　that　other　one。　Miss　Carlyle　was　in　full　rig；　a　brocaded　dress；　and　a　scarlet…and…purple　bow　in　front　of　it；　the　size　of　a　pumpkin。　It　was　about　the　only　occasion；　in　all　Miss　Carlyle's　life；　that　she　deemed　it　necessary　to　attire　herself　beyond　common。　Barbara　wore　no　bow；　but　she　exhibited　a　splendid　bouquet　of　scarlet…　and…purple　flowers。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　himself　given　it　to　her　that　morning。

Mr。　Carlyle　saw　them　all　at　the　windows　of　the　large　upper　drawing…　room；　and　came　in；　he　was　then　on　his　way　to　the　town…hall。　Shaking　hands；　laughter；　hearty　and　hasty　good　wishes；　and　he　quitted　the　room　again。　Barbara　stole　after　him　for　a　sweeter　farewell。

〃God　bless　you　and　prosper　you；　Archibald；　my　dearest！〃

The　business　of　the　day　began。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　proposed　by　Sir　John　Dobede；　and　seconded　by　Mr。　Herbert。　Lord　Mount　Severn；　than　whom　not　a　busier　man　was　there；　would　willingly　have　been　proposer　and　seconder　too；　but　he　had　no　local　influence　in　the　place。　Sir　Francis　Levison　was　proposed　also　by　two　gentlemen　of　standing。　The　show　of　hands　was　declared　to　be　in　favor　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　It　just　was　in　favor　of　him；　about　twenty　to　one。　Upon　which　the　baronet's　friends　demanded　a　poll。

Then　all　was　bustle；　and　scuffle；　and　confusion；　every　one　tearing　away　to　the　hustings；　which　had　been　fixed　in　a　convenient　spot；　the　town…hall；　not　affording　the　accommodation　necessary　for　a　poll。　Candidates；　and　proposers　and　seconders；　and　gentlemen；　and　officers；　and　mob；　hustling　and　jostling　each　other。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　linked　arm…　in…arm　with　Sir　John　Dobede；　Sir　John's　arm　was　within　Lord　Mount　Severn'sbut；　as　to　order；　it　was　impossible　to　observe　any。　To　gain　the　place　they　had　to　pass　the　house　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Young　Vane；　who　was　in　the　thick　of　the　crowd；　of　course；　cast　his　eyes　up　to　its　lined　windows；　took　off　his　hat　and　waved　it。　〃Carlyle　and　honor　forever！〃　shouted　he。

The　ladies　laughed　and　nodded；　and　shook　their　handkerchiefs；　and　displayed　their　scarlet　and　purple　colors。　The　crowd　took　up　the　shout；　till　the　very　air　echoed　with　it。　〃Carlyle　and　honor　forever！〃　Barbara's　tears　were　falling；　but　she　smiled　through　them　at　one　pair　of　loving　eyes；　which　sought　out　hers。

〃A　galaxy　of　beauty！〃　whispered　Mr。　Drake　in　the　ear　of　Sir　Francis。　〃How　the　women　rally　round　him！　I　tell　you　what；　Levison；　you　and　the　government　were　stupid　to　go　on　with　the　contest；　and　I　said　so　days　ago。　You　have　no　more　chance　against　Carlyle　than　that　bit　of　straw　has　against　the　wind。　You　ought　to　have　withdrawn　in　time。〃

〃Like　a　coward？〃　angrily　returned　Sir　Francis。　〃No；　I'll　go　on　with　it　to　the　last；　though　I　do　get　beaten。〃

〃How　lovely　his　wife　is；〃　observed　Mr。　Drake；　his　admiring　eyes　cast　up　at　Barbara。　〃I　say；　Levison；　was　the　first　one　as　charming？〃

Sir　Francis　looked　perfectly　savage；　the　allusion　did　not　please　him。　But；　ere　another　word　could　be　spoken；　some　one　in　the　garb　of　a　policeman；　who　had　wound　his　way　through　the　crowd；　laid　his　hand　upon　the　baronet。

〃Sir　Francis　Levison；　you　are　my　prisoner。〃

Nothing　worse　than　/debt/　occurred　at　that　moment　to　the　mind　of　Sir　Francis。　But　that　was　quite　enough；　and　he　turned　purple　with　rage。

〃Your　hands　off；　vermin！　How　dare　you？〃

A　quick　movement；　a　slight　click；　a　hustle　from　the　wondering　crowd　more　immediately　around；　and　the　handcuffs　were　on。　Utter　amazement　alone　prevented　Mr。　Drake　from　knocking　down　the　policeman。　A　dozen　vituperating　tongues　assailed　him。

〃I'm　sorry　to　do　it　in　this　public　place　and　manner；〃　spoke　the　officer；　partly　to　Sir　Francis；　partly　to　the　gentlemen　around；　〃but　I　couldn't　come　across　you　last　night；　do　as　I　would。　And　the　warrant　has　been　in　my　hands　since　five　o'clock　yesterday　afternoon。　Sir　Francis　Levison；　I　arrest　you　for　the　wilful　murder　of　George　Hallijohn。〃

The　crowd　fell　back；　the　crowd　was　paralyzed　with　consternation；　the　word　was　passed　from　one　extreme　to　the　other；　and　back　and　across　again；　and　the　excitement　grew　high。　The　ladies　looking　from　Miss　Carlyle's　windows　saw　what　had　happened；　though　they　could　not　divine　the　cause。　Some　of　them　turned　pale　at　sight　of　the　handcuffs；　and　Mary　Pinner；　an　excitable　girl；　fell　into　a　screaming　fit。

Pale！　What　was　their　gentle　paleness　compared　with　the　frightfully　livid　one　of　Francis　Levison？　His　agitation　was　pitiable　to　witness；　his　face　a　terror　to　look　upon；　once　or　twice　he　gasped；　as　if　in　an　agony；　and　then　his　eyes　happened　to　fall　on　Otway　Bethel；　who　stood　near。　Shorn　of　his　adornmentswhich　might　not　be　thought　adornments　upon　paperthe　following　was　the　sentence　that　burst　involuntarily　from　his　lips；

〃You　hound！　It　is　you　who　have　done　this！〃

〃No！　by〃　Whether　Mr。　Otway　Bethel　was　about　to　swear　by　Jupiter　or　Juno　never　was　decided；　the　sentence　being　cut　ignominiously　short　at　the　above　two　words。　Another　policeman；　in　the　summary　manner　exercised　towards　Sir　Francis；　had　clapped　a　pair　of　handcuffs　upon　/him/。

〃Mr。　Otway　Bethel；　I　arrest　you　as　an　accomplice　in　the　murder　of　George　Hallijohn。〃

You　may　be　sure　that　the　whole　assembly　was　arrested；　too　figurativelyand　stood　with　eager　gaze　and　open　ears。　Colonel　Bethel；　quitting　the　scarlet…and…purple；　flashed　into　those　of　the　yellows。　He　knew　his　nephew　was　graceless　enough；　butto　see　him　with　a　pair　of　handcuffs　on！

〃What　does　all　this　mean？〃　he　authoritatively　demanded　of　the　officers。

〃It's　no　fault　of　ours；　colonel；　we　have　but　executed　the　warrant；〃　answered　one　of　them。　〃The　magistrate；　issued　it　yesterday　against　these　two　gentlemen；　on　suspicion　of　their　being　concerned　in　the　murder　of　Hallijohn。〃

〃In　conjunction　with　Richard　Hare？〃　cried　the　astounded　colonel；　gazing　from　one　to　the　other；　prisoners　and　officers；　in　scared　bewilderment。

〃It's　alleged　now　that　Richard　Hare　didn't　have　nothing　to　do　with　it；〃　returned　the　man。　〃It's　said　he　is　innocent。　I'm　sure　I　don't　know。〃

〃I　swear　that　I　am　innocent；〃　passionately　uttered　Otway　Bethel。

〃Well；　sir；　you　have　only　got　to　prove　it；〃　civilly　rejoined　the　policeman。

Miss　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　leaned　from　the　window；　their　curiosity　too　much　excited　to　remain　silent　longer。　Mrs。　Hare　was　standing　by　their　side。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　both　asked　of　the　upturned　faces　immediately　beneath。

〃Them　twothe　fine　member　as　wanted　to　be；　and　young　Bethelbe　arrested　for　murder；〃　spoke　a　man's　clear　voice　in　answer。　〃The　tale　runs　as　they　murdered　Hallijohn；　and　then　laid　it　on　the　shoulders　of　young　Dick　Hare；　who　didn't　do　it　after　all。〃

A　faint　wailing　cry　of　startled　pain；　and　Barbara　flew　to　Mrs。　Hare；　from　whom　it　proceeded。

〃Oh；　mamma；　my　dear　mamma；　take　comfort！　Do　not　suffer　this　to　agitate　you　to　illness。　Richard　/is/　innocent；　and　it　will　surely　be　so　proved。　Archibald；〃　she　added；　beckoning　to　her　husband　in　her　alarm；　〃come；　if　you　can；　and　say　a　word　of　assurance　to　mamma！〃

It　was　impossible　that　Mr。　Carlyle　could　hear　the　words；　but　he　could　see　that　his　wife　was　greatly　agitated；　and　wanted　him。

〃I　will　be　back　with　you　in　a　few　moments；〃　he　said　to　his　friends；　as　he　began　to　elbow　his　way　through　the　crowd；　which　made　way　when　they　saw　who　the　elbower　was。

Into　another　room；　away　from　the　gay　visitors；　they　got　Mrs。　Hare；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　locked　the　door　to　keep　them　out；　unconsciously　taking　out　the　key。　Only　himself　and　his　wife　were　with　her；　except　Madame　Vine；　in　her　bonnet；　who　had　been　dispatched　by　somebody　with　a　bottle　of　smelling　salts。　Barbara　knelt　at　her　mamma's　feet；　Mr。　Carlyle　leaned　over　her；　her　hands　held　sympathizingly　in　his。　Madame　Vine　would　have　escaped；　but　the　key　was　gone。

〃Oh；　Archibald；　tell　me　the　truth。　/You/　will　not；　deceive　me？〃　she　gasped；　in　earnest　entreaty；　the　cold　dew　gathering　on　her　pale；　gentle　face。　〃Is　the　time　come　to　prove　my　boy's　innocence？〃

〃It　is。〃

〃Is　it　possible　that　it　can　be　that　false；　bad　man　who　is　guilty？〃

〃From　my　soul　I　believe　him　to　be；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　glancing　round　to　make　sure　that　none　could　hear　the　assertion　save　those　present。　〃But　what　I　say　to　you　and　Barbara；　I　would　not　say　to　the　world。　Whatever　be　the　man's　guilt；　I　am　not　his　Nemesis。　Dear　Mrs。　Hare；　take　courage；　take　comforthappier　days　are　coming　round。〃

Mrs。　Hare　was　weeping　silently。　Barbara　rose　and　laid　her　mamma's　head　lovingly　upon　her　bosom。

〃Take　care　of　her；　my　darling；〃　Mr。　Carlyle　whispered　to　his　wife。　〃Don't　leave　her　for　a　moment；　and　don't　let　that　chattering　crew　in　from　the　next　room。　I　beg　your　pardon；　madame。〃

His　hand　had　touched　Madame　Vine's　neck　in　turning　roundthat　is；　had　touched　the　jacket　that　encased　it。　He　unlocked　the　door　and　regained　the　street；　while　Madame　Vine　sat　down　with　her　beating　and　rebellious　heart。

Amidst　the　shouts；　the　jeers；　and　the　escort　of　the　mob；　Sir　Francis　Levison　and　Otway　Bethel　were　lodged　in　the　station…house；　preparatory　to　their　examination　before　the　magistrates。　Never；　sure；　was　so　mortifying　an　interruption　known。　So　thought　Sir　Francis's　party。　And　they　deemed　it　well；　after　some　consultation　amongst　themselves；　to　withdraw　his　name　as　a　candidate　for　the　membership。　That　he　never　had　a　shadow　of　chance　from　the　first；　most　of　them　knew。

But　there's　an　incident　yet　to　tell　of　the　election　day。　You　have　seen　Miss　Carlyle　in　her　glory；　her　brocaded　silk　standing　on　end　with　richness；　her　displayed　colors；　her　pride　in　her　noble　brother。　But　now　could　youor　she；　which　it　is　more　to　the　purposehave　divined　who　and　what　was　right　above　her　head　at　an　upper　window；　I　know　not　what　the　consequence　would　have　been。

No　less　an　eyesore　to　Miss　Carlyle　than　that　〃brazen　hussy；〃　Afy　Hallijohn！　Smuggled　in　by　Miss　Carlyle's　servants；　there　she　wasin　full　dress；　too。　A　green…and…white　checked　sarcenet；　flounced　up　to　the　waist；　over　a　crinoline　extending　from　here　to　yonder；　a　fancy　bonnet；　worn　on　the　plait　of　hair　behind；　with　a　wreath　and　a　veil；　delicate　white　gloves；　and　a　swinging　handkerchief　of　lace；　redolent　of　musk。　It　was　well　for　Miss　Corny's　peace　of　mind　ever　after　that　she　remained　in　ignorance　of　that　daring　act。　There　stood