east lynne-第93章

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〃Prisoner　at　the　bar。　You　have　been　convicted　by　clear　and　undoubted　evidence　of　the　crime　of　wilful　murder。　The　jury　have　pronounced　you　guilty；　and　in　their　verdict　I　entirely　coincide。　That　you　took　the　life　of　that　ill…fated　and　unoffending　man；　there　is　no　doubt；　you　have；　yourself；　confessed　it。　It　was　a　foul；　a　barbarous；　a　wicked　act。　I　care　not　for　what　may　have　been　the　particular　circumstances　attending　it；　he　may　have　provoked　you　by　words；　but　no　provocation　of　that　nature　could　justify　your　drawing　the　gun　upon　him。　Your　counsel　urged　that　you　were　a　gentleman；　a　member　of　the　British　aristocracy；　and　therefore　deserved　consideration。　I　confess　that　I　was　much　surprised　to　hear　such　a　doctrine　fall　from　his　lips。　In　my　opinion；　you　being　what　you　are；　your　position　in　life　makes　your　crime　the　worse；　and　I　have　always　maintained　that　when　a　man　possessed　of　advantages　falls　into　sin；　he　deserves　less　consideration　than　does　one　who　is　poor；　simple；　and　uneducated。　Certain　portions　of　the　evidence　given　to…day　（and　I　do　not　now　allude　to　the　actual　crime）　tell　very　greatly　against　you；　and　I　am　sure　not　one　in　the　court　but　must　have　turned　from　them　with　abhorrence。　You　were　pursuing　the　daughter　of　this　man　with　no　honorable　purposeand　in　this　point　your　conduct　contrasts　badly　with　the　avowal　of　Richard　Hare；　equally　a　gentleman　with　yourself。　In　this　pursuit　you　killed　her　father；　and　not　content　with　that；　you　still　pursued　the　girland　pursued　her　to　ruin；　basely　deceiving　her　as　to　the　actual　facts；　and　laying　the　crime　upon　another。　I　cannot　trust　myself　to　speak　further　upon　this　point；　nor　is　it　necessary　that　I　should；　it　is　not　to　answer　for　that；　that　you　stand　before　me。　Uncalled；　unprepared；　and　by　you　unpitied；　you　hurried　that　unfortunate　man　into　eternity；　and　you　must　now　expiate　the　crime　with　your　own　life。　The　jury　have　recommended　you　to　mercy；　and　the　recommendation　will　be　forwarded　in　due　course　to　the　proper　quarter；　but　you　must　be　aware　how　frequently　this　clause　is　appended　to　a　verdict；　and　how　very　rarely　it　is　attended　to；　just　cause　being　wanting。　I　can　but　enjoin　you；　and　I　do　so　most　earnestly；　to　pass　the　little　time　that　probably　remains　to　you　on　earth　in　seeking　repentance　and　forgiveness。　You　are　best　aware；　yourself；　what　your　past　life　has　been；　the　world　knows　somewhat　of　it；　but　there　is　pardon　above　for　the　most　guilty；　when　it　is　earnestly　sought。　It　now　only　remains　for　me　to　pass　the　sentence　of　the　law。　It　is；　that　you；　Francis　Levison；　be　taken　back　to　the　place　from　whence　you　came；　and　thence　to　the　place　of　execution；　and　that　you　be　there　hanged　by　the　neck　until　you　are　dead。　And　may　the　Lord　God　Almighty　have　mercy　on　your　soul！〃

〃Amen！〃



The　court　was　cleared。　The　day's　excitement　was　over；　and　the　next　case　was　inquired　for。　Not　quite　over；　however；　yet；　the　excitement；　and　the　audience　crowded　in　again。　For　the　next　case　proved　to　be　the　arraignment　of　Richard　Hare　the　younger。　A　formal　proceeding　merely；　in　pursuance　of　the　verdict　of　the　coroner's　inquest。　No　evidence　was　offered　against　him；　and　the　judge　ordered　him　to　be　discharged。　Richard；　poor；　ill…used；　baited　Richard　was　a　free　man　again。

Then　ensued　the　scene　of　all　scenes。　Half；　at　least；　of　those　present；　were　residents　of；　or　from　near　West　Lynne。　They　had　known　Richard　Hare　from　infancythey　had　admired　the　boy　in　his　pretty　childhood　they　had　liked　him　in　his　unoffending　boyhood；　but　they　had　been　none　the　less　ready　to　cast　their　harsh　stones　at　him；　and　to　thunder　down　their　denunciations　when　the　time　came。　In　proportion　to　their　fierceness　then；　was　their　contrition　now；　Richard　had　been　innocent　all　the　while；　they　had　been　more　guilty　than　he。

An　English　mob；　gentle　or　simple；　never　gets　up　its　excitement　by　halves。　Whether　its　demonstration　be　of　a　laudatory　or　a　condemnatory　nature；　the　steam　is　sure　to　be　put　on　to　bursting　point。　With　one　universal　shout；　with　one　bound；　they　rallied　round　Richard；　they　congratulated　him；　they　overwhelmed　him　with　good　wishes；　they　expressed　with　shame　their　repentance；　they　said　the　future　would　atone　for　the　past。　Had　he　possessed　a　hundred　hands；　they　would　have　been　shaken　off。　And　when　Richard　extracted　himself；　and　turned；　in　his　pleasant；　forgiving；　loving　nature；　to　his　father；　the　stern　old　justice；　forgetting　his　pride　and　pomposity；　burst　into　tears　and　sobbed　like　a　child；　as　he　murmured　something　about　his　also　needing　forgiveness。

〃Dear　father；〃　cried　Richard；　his　own　eyes　wet；　〃it　is　forgiven　and　forgotten　already。　Think　how　happy　we　shall　be　again　together；　you；　and　I；　and　my　mother。〃

The　justice's　hands；　which　had　been　wound　around　his　son；　relaxed　their　hold。　They　were　twitching　curiously；　the　body　also　began　to　twitch；　and　he　fell　upon　the　shoulder　of　Colonel　Bethel　in　a　second　stroke　of　paralysis。



CHAPTER　XLIII。

THE　DEATH　CHAMBER。

By　the　side　of　William　Carlyle's　dying　bed　knelt　the　Lady　Isabel。　The　time　was　at　hand；　and　the　boy　was　quite　reconciled　to　his　fate。　Merciful；　indeed；　is　God　to　dying　children！　It　is　astonishing　how　very　readily；　when　the　right　means　are　taken；　they　may　be　brought　to　look　with　pleasure；　rather　than　fear；　upon　their　unknown　journey。

The　brilliant　hectic；　type　of　the　disease；　had　gone　from　his　cheeks；　his　features　were　white　and　wasted；　and　his　eyes　large　and　bright。　His　silky　brown　hair　was　pushed　off　his　temples；　and　his　little　hot　hands　were　thrown　outside　the　bed。

〃It　won't　be　very　long　to　wait；　you　know；　will　it；　Madame　Vine？〃

〃For　what；　darling？〃

〃Before　they　all　come。　Papa　and　mamma；　and　Lucy；　and　all　of　them。〃

A　jealous　feeling　shot　across　her　wearied　heart。　Was　/she/　nothing　to　him？　〃Do　you　not　care　that　I　should　come　to　you；　William？〃

〃Yes；　I　hope　you　will。　But　do　you　think　we　shall　know　/everybody/　in　Heaven？　Or　will　it　be　only　our　own　relations？〃

〃Oh；　child！　I　think　there　will　be　no　relations；　as　you　call　it；　up　there。　We　can　trust　all　that　to　God；　however　it　may　be。〃

William　lay　looking　upward　at　the　sky；　apparently　in　thought；　a　dark　blue；　serene　sky；　from　which　shone　the　hot　July　sun。　His　bed　had　been　moved　toward　the　window；　for　he　liked　to　sit　in　it；　and　look　at　the　landscape。　The　window　was　open　now；　and　the　butterflies　and　bees　sported　in　the　summer　air。

〃I　wonder　how　it　will　be？〃　pondered　he；　aloud。　〃There　will　be　the　beautiful　city；　its　gates　of　pearl；　and　its　shining　precious　stones；　and　its　streets　of　gold；　and　there　will　be　the　clear　river；　and　the　trees　with　their　fruits　and　their　healing　leaves；　and　the　lovely　flowers；　and　there　will　be　the　harps；　and　music；　and　singing。　And　what　else　will　there　be？〃

〃Everything　that　is　desirable　and　beautiful；　William；　but；　what　we　may　not　anticipate　here。〃

Another　pause。　〃Madame　Vine；　will　Jesus　come　for　me；　do　you　think；　or　will　He　send　an　angel？〃

〃Jesus　has　/promised/　to　come　for　His　own　redeemedfor　those　who　love　Him　and　wait　for　Him。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　and　then　I　shall　be　happy　forever。　It　will　be　so　pleasant　to　be　there；　never　to　be　tired　or　ill　again。〃

〃Pleasant？　Ay！　Oh；　William！　Would　that　the　time　were　come！〃

She　was　thinking　of　herselfof　her　freedomthough　the　boy　knew　it　not。　She　buried　her　face　in　her　hands　and　continued　speaking；　William　had　to　bend　his　ear　to　catch　the　faint　whisper。

〃　'And　there　shall　be　no　more　death；　neither　sorrow；　nor　crying：　neither　shall　there　be　any　more　pain；　for　the　former　things　are　passed　away。'　〃

〃Madame　Vine；　do　you　think　mamma　will　be　there？〃　he　presently　asked。　〃I　mean　mamma　that　was。〃

〃Ay；　ere　long。〃

〃But　how　shall　I　know　her？　You　see；　I　have　nearly　forgotten　what　she　was　like。〃

She　leaned　over　him；　laying　her　forehead　upon　his　wasted　arm；　and　burst　into　a　flood　of　impassioned　tears。　〃You　will　know　her；　never　fear；　William；　she　has　not　forgotten　you。〃

〃But　how　can　we　be　sure　that　she　will　be　there？〃　debated　William；　after　a　pause　of　thought。　〃You　know〃sinking　his　voice；　and　speaking　with　hesitation〃she　was　not　quite　good；　she　was　not　good　enough　to　papa　or　to　us。　Sometimes　I　think；　suppose　she　did　not　grow　good；　and　did　not　ask　God　to　forgive　her！〃

〃Oh；　William！〃　sobbed　the　unhappy　lady；　〃her　whole　life；　after　she　left　you；　was　one　long　scene　of　repentance；　of　seeking　forgiveness。　Her　repentance；　her　sorrow；　was　greater　than　she　could　bear；　and〃

〃And　what？〃　asked　William；　for　there　was　a　pause。

〃Her　heart　broke　in　ityearning　after　you　and　your　father。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　it？〃

〃Child；　I　/know/　it！〃

William　considered。　Then；　had　he　been　strong　enough；　he　would　have　started　up　with　energy。　〃Madame　Vine；　you　could　only　know　that　by　mamma's　telling　you！　Did　you　ever　see　her？　Did　you　know　her　abroad？〃

Lady　Isabel's　thoughts　were　far　awayup　in　the　clouds　perhaps。　She　reflected　not　on　the　possible　consequences　of　her　answer；　or　she　had　never　given　it。

〃Yes；　I　knew　her　abroad。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　the　boy。　〃Why　did　you　never　tell　us？　What　did　she　say？　What　was　she　like？〃

〃She　said〃sobbing　wildly〃that　she　was　parted　from　her　children　here；　but　she　should　meet　them　in　Heaven；　and　be　with　them　forever。　William；　darling！　all　the　awful　pain；　and　sadness；　and　guilt　of　this　world　will　be　washed　out；　and　God　will　wipe　your　tears　away。〃

〃What　was　her　face　like？〃　he　questioned　softly。

〃Like　yours。　Very　much　like　Lucy's。〃

〃Was　she　pretty？〃

A　momentary　pause。　〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　dear；　I　am　ill。　Hold　me！〃　cried　out　William；　as　his　head　sank　to　one　side；　and　great　drops；　as　large　as　peas；　broke　forth　upon　his　clammy　face。　It　appeared　to　be　one　of　the　temporary　faint　attacks　that　overpowered　him　at　times　lately；　and　Lady　Isabel　rang　the　bell　hastily。

Wilson　came　in；　in　answer。　Joyce　was　the　usual　attendant　upon　the　sick　room；　but　Mrs。　Carlyle；　with　her　infant；　was　passing　the　day　at　the　Grove；　unconscious　of　the　critical　state　of　William；　and　she　had　taken　Joyce　with　her。　It　was　the　day　following　the　trial。　Mr。　Justice　Hare　had　been　brought　to　West　Lynne　in　his　second　attack；　and　Barbara　had　gone　to　see　him；　to　console　her　mother；　and　to　welcome　Richard　to　his　home　again。　If　one　carriage　drove；　that　day；　to　the　Grove；　with　cards　and　inquiries；　fifty　did；　not　to　speak　of　the　foot　callers。　〃It　is　all　meant　by　way　of　attention　to　you；　Richard；〃　said　gentle　Mrs。　Hare；　smiling　through　her　loving　tears　at　her　restored　son。　Lucy　and　Archie　were　dining　at　Miss　Carlyle's；　and　Sarah　attended　little　Arthur；　leaving　Wilson　free。　She　came　in；　in　answer　to　Madame　Vine's　ring。

〃Is　he　off　in　another　faint？〃　unceremoniously　cried　she；　hastening　to　the　bed。

〃I　think　so。　Help　to　raise　him。〃

William　did　not　faint。　No；　the　attack　was　quite　different　from　those　he　was　subject　to。　Instead　of　losing　consciousness　and　power；　as　was　customary；　he　shook　as　if　he　had　the　ague；　and　laid　hold　both　of　Madame　Vine　and　Wilson；　grasping　them　convulsively。

〃Don't　let　me　fall！　Don't　let　me　fall！〃　he　gasped。

〃My　dear；　you　cannot　fall；〃　responded　Madame　Vine。　〃You　forget　that　you　are　on　the　bed。〃

He　clasped　them　yet；　and　trembled　still；　as　from　fear。　〃Don't　let　me　fall！　Don't　let　me　fall〃　the　incessant　burden　of　his　cry。

The　paroxysm　passed。　They　wiped　his　brow；　and　stood　looking　at　him；　Wilson　with　a　pursed　up　mouth；　and　a　peculiar