east lynne-第85章

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iss　Corny's　peace　of　mind　ever　after　that　she　remained　in　ignorance　of　that　daring　act。　There　stood　Afy；　bold　as　a　sunflower；　exhibiting　herself　and　her　splendor　to　the　admiring　eyes　of　the　mob　below；　gentle　and　simple。

〃He　is　a　handsome　man；　after　all；〃　quoth　she　to　Miss　Carlyle's　maids；　when　Sir　Francis　Levison　arrived　opposite　the　house。

〃But　such　a　horrid　creature！〃　was　the　response。　〃And　to　think　that　he　should　come　here　to　oppose　Mr。　Archibald！〃

〃What's　that？〃　cried　Afy。　〃What　are　they　stopping　for？　There　are　two　policemen　there！　Oh！〃　shrieked　Afy；　〃if　they　haven't　put　handcuffs　on　him！　Whatever　has　he　done？　What　can　he　have　been　up　to？〃

〃Where？　Who？　What？〃　cried　the　servants；　bewildered　with　the　crowd。　〃Put　handcuffs　on　which？〃

〃Sir　Francis　Levison。　Hush！　What　is　that　they　say？〃

Listening；　looking；　turning　from　white　to　red；　from　red　to　white；　Afy　stood。　But　she　could　make　nothing　of　it；　she　could　not　divine　the　cause　of　the　commotion。　The　man's　answer　to　Miss　Carlyle　and　Lady　Dobede；　clear　though　it　was；　did　not　quite　reach　her　ears。

〃What　did　he　say？〃　she　cried。

〃Good　Heavens！〃　cried　one　of　the　maids；　whose　hearing　had　been　quicker　than　Afy's。　〃He　says　they　are　arrested　for　the　wilful　murder　of　Hal…　of　your　father；　Miss　Afy！　Sir　Francis　Levison　and　Otway　Bethel。〃

〃/What！/〃　shrieked　Afy；　her　eyes　starting。

〃Levison　was　the　man　who　did　it；　he　says；〃　continued　the　servant；　bending　her　ear　to　listen。　〃And　young　Richard　Hare；　he　says；　has　been　innocent　all　along。〃

Afy　slowly　gathered　in　the　sense　of　the　words。　She　gasped　twice；　as　if　her　breath　had　gone；　and　then；　with　a　stagger　and　a　shiver；　fell　heavily　to　the　ground。

Afy　Hallijohn；　recovered　from　her　fainting　fit；　had　to　be　smuggled　out　of　Miss　Carlyle's；　as　she　had　been　smuggled　in。　She　was　of　an　elastic　nature；　and　the　shock；　or　the　surprise；　or　the　heat；　whatever　it　may　have　been；　being　over；　Afy　was　herself　again。

Not　very　far　removed　from　the　residence　of　Miss　Carlyle　was　a　shop　in　the　cheese　and　ham　and　butter　and　bacon　line。　A　very　respectable　shop；　too；　and　kept　by　a　very　respectable　mana　young　man　of　mild　countenance；　who　had　purchased　the　good…will　of　the　business　through　an　advertisement；　and　come　down　from　London　to　take　possession。　His　predecessor　had　amassed　enough　to　retire；　and　people　foretold　that　Mr。　Jiffin　would　do　the　same。　To　say　that　Miss　Carlyle　dealt　at　the　shop　will　be　sufficient　to　proclaim　the　good　quality　of　the　articles　kept　in　it。

When　Afy　arrived　opposite　the　shop；　Mr。　Jiffin　was　sunning　himself　at　the　door；　his　shopman　inside　being　at　some　urgent　employment　over　the　contents　of　a　butter…cask。　Afy　stopped。　Mr。　Jiffin　admired　her　uncommonly；　and　she；　always　ready　for　anything　in　that　way；　had　already　enjoyed　several　passing　flirtations　with　him。

〃Good　day；　Miss　Hallijohn；〃　cried　he；　warmly；　tucking　up　his　white　apron　and　pushing　it　round　to　the　back　of　his　waist；　in　the　best　manner　he　could；　as　he　held　out　his　hand　to　her。　For　Afy　had　once　hinted　in　terms　of　disparagement　at　that　very　apron。

〃Ohhow　are　you　Jiffin？〃　cried　Afy；　loftily；　pretending　not　to　have　seen　him　standing　there。　And　she　condescended　to　put　the　tips　of　her　white　gloves　into　the　offered　hand；　as　she　coquetted　with　her　handkerchief；　her　veil；　and　her　ringlets。　〃I　thought　you　would　have　shut　up　your　shop　to…day；　Mr。　Jiffin；　and　taken　a　holiday。〃

〃Business　must　be　attended　to；〃　responded　Mr。　Jiffin；　quite　lost　in　the　contemplation　of　Afy's　numerous　attractions；　unusually　conspicuous　as　they　were。　〃Had　I　known　that　you　were　abroad；　Miss　Hallijohn；　and　enjoying　a　holiday；　perhaps　I　might　have　done　it；　too；　in　the　hope　of　coming　across　you　somewhere　or　other。〃

His　words　were　/bona　fide/　as　his　admiration。　Afy　saw　that；　so　she　could　afford　to　treat　him　rather　/de　haut　en　bas/。　〃And　he's　as　simple　as　a　calf；〃　thought　she。

〃The　greatest　pleasure　I　have　in　life；　Miss　Hallijohn；　is　to　see　you　go　by　the　shop　window；〃　continued　Mr。　Jiffin。　〃I'm　sure　it's　like　as　if　the　sun　itself　passed。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　bridled　Afy；　with　a　simper；　〃I　don't　know　any　good　/that/　can　do　you。　You　might　have　seen　me　go　by　an　hour　or　two　agoif　you　had　possessed　eyes。　I　was　on　my　way　to　Miss　Carlyle's；〃　she　continued；　with　the　air　of　one　who　proclaims　the　fact　of　a　morning　call　upon　a　duchess。

〃Where　/could/　my　eyes　have　been？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Jiffin；　in　an　agony　of　regret。　〃In　some　of　those　precious　butter…tubs；　I　shouldn't　wonder！　We　have　had　a　bad　lot　in；　Miss　Hallijohn；　and　I　am　going　to　return　them！〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Afy；　conspicuously　resenting　the　remark。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　that　sort　of　thing。　Butter…tubs　are　beneath　me。〃

〃Of　course；　of　course；　Miss　Hallijohn；〃　deprecated　poor　Jiffin。　〃They　are　very　profitable；　though；　to　those　who　understand　the　trade。〃

〃What　/is/　all　that　shouting？〃　cried　Afy；　alluding　to　a　tremendous　noise　in　the　distance；　which　had　continued　for　some　little　time。

〃It's　the　voters　cheering　Mr。　Carlyle。　I　suppose　you　know　that　he's　elected；　Miss　Hallijohn？〃

〃No；　I　didn't。〃

〃The　other　was　withdrawn　by　his　friends；　so　they　made　short　work　of　it；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　is　our　member。　God　bless　him！　there's　not　many　like　/him/。　But；　I　say；　Miss　Hallijohn；　whatever　is　it　that　the　other　one　has　done？　Murder；　they　say。　I　can't　make　top　nor　tail　of　it。　Of　course　we　know　he　was　bad　enough　before。〃

〃Don't　ask　me；〃　said　Afy。　〃Murder's　not　a　pleasant　subject　for　a　lady　to　discuss。　Are　all　these　customers？　Dear　me；　you'll　have　enough　to　do　to　attend　to　them；　your　man　can't　do　it　all；　so　I　won't　stay　talking　any　longer。〃

With　a　gracious　flourish　of　her　flounces　and　wave　of　the　handkerchief　Afy　sailed　off。　And　Mr。　Jiffin；　when　he　could　withdraw　his　fascinated　eyes　from　following　her；　turned　into　his　shop　to　assist　in　serving　four　or　five　servant　girls；　who　had　entered　it。

〃It　wouldn't　be　such　a　bad　catch；　after　all；〃　soliloquized　Afy；　as　she　and　her　crinoline　swayed　along。　〃Of　course　I'd　never　put　my　nose　inside　the　shopunless　it　was　to　order　things　like　another　customer。　The　worst　is　the　name。　Jiffin；　Joe　Jiffin。　How　could　I　ever　bear　to　be　called　Mrs。　Joe　Jiffin！　Not　but　Goodness　me！　what　do　you　want？〃

The　interruption　to　Afy's　chickens　was　caused　by　Mr。　Ebenezer　James。　That　gentleman；　who　had　been　walking　with　quick　steps　to　overtake　her；　gave　her　flounces　a　twitch　behind；　to　let　her　know　somebody　had　come　up。

〃How　are　you；　Afy？　I　was　going　after　you　to　Mrs。　Latimer's；　not　knowing　but　you　had　returned　home。　I　saw　you　this　morning　at　Miss　Corny's　windows。〃

〃Now；　I　don't　want　any　of　your　sauce；　Ebenezer　James。　Afy…ing　me！　The　other　day；　when　you　were　on　with　your　nonsense；　I　said　you　should　keep　your　distance。　You　took　and　told　Mr。　Jiffin　that　I　was　an　old　sweetheart　of　yours。　I　heard　of　it。〃

〃So　you　were；〃　laughed　Mr。　Ebenezer。

〃I　never　was；〃　flashed　Afy。　〃I　was　the　company　of　your　betters　in　those　days：　and　if　there　had　been　no　betters　in　the　case；　I　should　have　scorned　/you/。　Why！　you　have　been　a　strolling　player！〃

〃And　what　have　you　been？〃　returned　Mr。　Ebenezer；　a　quiet　tone　of　meaning　running　through　his　good…humored　laughter。

Afy's　cheeks　flushed　scarlet；　and　she　raised　her　hand　with　a　quick；　menacing　gesture。　But　that　they　were　in　the　public　street　Mr。　Ebenezer　might　have　found　his　ears　boxed。　Afy　dropped　her　hand　again；　and　made　a　dead　standstill。

〃If　you　think　any　vile；　false　insinuations　that　you　may　concoct　will　injure　me；　you　are　mistaken；　Ebenezer　James。　I　am　too　much　respected　in　the　place。　So　don't　try　it　on。〃

〃Why；　Afy；　what　has　put　you　out？　I　don't　want　to　injure　you。　Couldn't　do　it；　if　I　tried；　as　you　say；〃　he　added；　with　another　quiet　laugh。　〃I　have　been　in　too　many　scrapes　myself　to　let　my　tongue　bring　other　folks　into　one。〃

〃There；　that's　enough。　Just　take　yourself　off。　It's　not　over　reputable　to　have　you　at　one's　side　in　public。〃

〃Well；　I　will　relieve　you　of　my　company；　if　you'll　let　me　deliver　my　commission。　Though；　as　to　'reputable'however；　I　won't　put　you　out　further。　You　are　wanted　at　the　justice…room　at　three　o'clock　this　afternoon。　And　don't　fail；　please。〃

〃Wanted　at　the　justice…room！〃　retorted　Afy。　〃I！　What　for？〃

〃And　must　not　fail；　as　I　say；〃　repeated　Mr。　Ebenezer。　〃You　saw　Levison　taken　upyour　old　flame〃

Afy　stamped　her　foot　in　indignant　interruption。　〃Take　care　what　you　say；　Ebenezer　James！　Flame！　He？　I'll　have　you　put　up　for　defamation　of　character。〃

〃Don't　be　a　goose；　Afy。　It's　of　no　use　riding　the　high　horse　with　me。　You　know　where　I　saw　youand　saw　him。　People　here　said　you　were　with　Dick　Hare；　I　could　have　told　them　better；　but　I　did　not。　It　was　no　affair　of　mine；　that　I　should　proclaim　it；　neither　is　it　now。　Levison　/alias/　Thorn　is　taken　up　for　your　father's　murder；　and　you　are　wanted　to　give　evidence。　There！　that's　your　subpoena；　Ball　thought　you　would　not　come　without　one。〃

〃I　will　never　give　evidence　against　Levison；〃　she　uttered；　tearing　the　subpoena　to　pieces；　and　scattering　them　in　the　street。　〃I　swear　I　won't。　There；　for　you！　Will　I　help　to　hang　an　innocent　man；　when　it　was　Dick　Hare　who　was　the　guilty　one？　No！　I'll　walk　myself　off　a　hundred　miles　away　first；　and　stop　in　hiding　till　it's　over。　I　shan't　forget　this　turn　that　you　have　chosen　to　play　me；　Ebenezer　James。〃

〃I　chosen！　Why；　do　you　suppose　I　have　anything　to　do　with　it？　Don't　take　up　that　notion；　Afy。　Mr。　Ball　put　that　subpoena　in　my　hand；　and　told　me　to　serve　it。　He　might　have　given　it　to　the　other　clerk；　just　as　he　gave　it　to　me；　it　was　all　chance。　If　I　could　do　you　a　good　turn　I'd　do　itnot　a　bad　one。〃

Afy　strode　on　at　railroad　speed；　waving　him　off。　〃Mind　you　don't　fail；　Afy；〃　he　said；　as　he　prepared　to　return。

〃Fail；〃　answered　she；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃I　shall　fail　giving　evidence；　if　you　mean　that。　They　don't　get　me　up　to　their　justice…　room；　neither　by　force　or　stratagem。〃

Ebenezer　James　stood　and　looked　after　her　as　she　tore　along。

〃What　a　spirit　that　Afy　has　got；　when　it's　put　up！〃　quoth　he。　〃She'll　be　doing　as　she　saidmake　offunless　she's　stopped。　She's　a　great　simpleton！　Nothing　particular　need　come　out　about　her　and　Thorn；　unless　she　lets　it　out　herself　in　her　tantrums。　Here　comes　Ball；　I　declare！　I　must　tell　him。〃

On　went　Afy；　and　gained　Mrs。　Latimer's。　That　lady；　suffering　from　indisposition　was　confined　to　the　house。　Afy；　divesting　herself　of　certain　little　odds　and　ends　of　her　finery；　made　her　way　into　Mrs。　Latimer's　presence。

〃Oh；　ma'am；　such　heartrending　news　as　I　have　had！〃　began　she。　〃A　relation　of　mine　is　dying；　and　wants　to　see　me。　I　ought　to　be　away　by　the　next　train。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　cried　Mrs。　Latimer；　after　a　pause　of　dismay。　〃But　how　can　I　do　without　you；　Afy？〃

〃It's　a　dying　request；　ma'am；〃　pleaded　Afy；　covering　her　eyes　with　her　handkerchiefnot　the　lace　oneas　if　in　the　depth　of　woe。　〃Of　course　I　wouldn't　ask　you　under　any　other　circumstances；　suffering　as　you　are！〃

〃Where　is　it　to！〃　asked　Mrs。　Latimer。　〃How　long　shall　you　be　away？〃

Afy　mentioned　the　first　town　that　came　uppermost；　and　〃hoped〃　she　might　be　back　to…morrow。

〃What　relation　is　it？〃　continued　Mrs。　Latimer。　〃I　thought　you　had　no　relatives；　except　Joyce　and　your　aunt；　Mrs。　Kane。〃

〃This　is　another　aunt；〃　cried　Afy；　softly。　〃I　have　never　mentioned　her；　not　being　friends