east lynne-第95章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Lucy；　a　sensitive　child；　broke　into　a　loud　storm　of　sobs；　enough　to　disturb　the　equanimity　of　any　sober　sick　room。　Wilson　hastened　in　at　the　sound；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　sent　the　two　children　away；　with　soothing　promises　that　they　should　see　William　in　the　morning；　if　he　continued　well　enough。

Down　on　her　knees；　her　face　buried　in　the　counterpane；　a　corner　of　it　stuffed　into　her　mouth　that　it　might　help　to　stifle　her　agony；　knelt　Lady　Isabel。　The　moment's　excitement　was　well　nigh　beyond　her　strength　of　endurance。　Her　own　childhis　childthey　alone　around　its　death…　bed；　and　she　might　not　ask　or　receive　a　word　of　comfort；　of　consolation！

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　her　as　he　caught　her　choking　sobs　just　as　he　would　have　glanced　at　any　other　attentive　governessfeeling　her　sympathy；　doubtless；　but　nothing　more；　she　was　not　heart　and　part　with　him　and　his　departing　boy。　Lower　and　lower　bent　he　over　that　boy；　for　his　eyes　were　wet。　〃Don't　cry；　papa；〃　whispered　William；　raising　his　feeble　hand　caressingly　to　his　father's　cheek；　〃I　am　not　afraid　to　go。　Jesus　is　coming　for　me。〃

〃Afraid　to　go！　Indeed　I　hope　not；　my　gentle　boy。　You　are　going　to　God　to　happiness。　A　few　yearswe　know　not　how　fewand　we　shall　all　come　to　you。〃

〃Yes；　you　will　be　sure　to　come；　I　know　that。　I　shall　tell　mamma　so。　I　dare　say　she　is　looking　out　for　me　now。　Perhaps　she's　standing　on　the　banks　of　the　river；　watching　the　boats。〃

He　had　evidently　got　that　picture　of　Martin's　in　his　mind；　〃The　Plains　of　Heaven。〃　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　to　the　table。　He　saw　some　strawberry　juice；　pressed　from　the　fresh　fruit；　and　moistened　with　it　the　boy's　fevered　lips。

〃Papa；　I　can't　think　how　Jesus　can　be　in　all　the　boats！　Perhaps　they　don't　go　quite　at　the　same　time。　He　must　be；　you　know；　because　He　comes　to　fetch　us。〃

〃He　will　be　yours；　darling；〃　was　the　whispered；　fervent　answer。

〃Oh；　yes。　He　will　take　me　all　the　way　up　to　God；　and　say；　'Here's　a　poor　little　boy　come；　you　must　please　to　forgive　him　and　let　him　go　into　Heaven；　because　I　died　for　him！'　Papa　did　you　know　that　mamma's　heart　broke？〃

〃William；　I　think　it　likely　that　your　poor　mamma's　heart　did　break；　ere　death　came。　But　let　us　talk　of　you；　not　of　her。　Are　you　in　pain？〃

〃I　can't　breathe；　I　can't　swallow。　I　wish　Joyce　was　here。〃

〃She　will　not　be　long　now。〃

The　boy　nestled　himself　in　his　father's　arms；　and　in　a　few　minutes　appeared　to　be　asleep。　Mr。　Carlyle；　after　a　while；　gently　laid　him　on　his　pillow；　and　watched　him；　and　then　turned　to　depart。

〃Oh；　papa！　Papa！〃　he　cried　out；　in　a　tone　of　painful　entreaty；　opening　wide　his　yearning　eyes；　〃say　good…bye　to　me！〃

Mr。　Carlyle's　tears　fell　upon　the　little　upturned　face；　as　he　once　more　caught　it　to　his　breast。

〃My　darling；　your　papa　will　soon　be　back。　He　is　going　to　bring　mamma　to　see　you。〃

〃And　pretty　little　baby　Anna？〃

〃And　baby　Anna；　if　you　would　like　her　to　come　in。　I　will　not　leave　my　darling　boy　for　long；　he　need　not　fear。　I　shall　not　leave　you　again　to…night；　William；　when　once　I　am　back。〃

〃Then　put　me　down；　and　go；　papa。〃

A　lingering　embracea　fond；　lingering；　tearful　embraceMr。　Carlyle　holding　him　to　his　beating　heart；　then　he　laid　him　comfortably　on　his　pillow；　gave　him　a　teaspoonful　of　strawberry　juice；　and　hastened　away。

〃Good…bye；　papa！〃　came　forth　the　little　feeble　cry。

It　was　not　heard。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　gone；　gone　from　his　living　child　forever。　Up　rose　Lady　Isabel；　and　flung　her　arms　aloft　in　a　storm　of　sobs！

〃Oh；　William；　darling！　in　this　dying　moment　let　me　be　to　you　as　your　mother！〃

Again　he　unclosed　his　wearied　eyelids。　It　is　probable　that　he　only　partially　understood。

〃Papa's　gone　for　her。〃

〃Not　/her/！　II〃　Lady　Isabel　checked　herself；　and　fell　sobbing　on　the　bed。　No；　not　even　at　the　last　hour　when　the　world　was　closing　on　him；　dared　she　say；　I　am　your　mother。

Wilson　re…entered。　〃He　looks　as　if　he　were　dropping　off　to　sleep；〃　quoth　she。

〃Yes；〃　said　Lady　Isabel。　〃You　need　not　wait；　Wilson。　I　will　ring　if　he　requires　anything。〃

Wilson　though　withal　not　a　bad…hearted　woman；　was　not　one　to　remain　for　pleasure　in　a　sick…room；　if　told　she　might　leave　it。　She；　Lady　Isabel；　remained　alone。　She　fell　on　her　knees　again；　this　time　in　prayer　for　the　departing　spirit；　on　its　wing；　and　that　God　would　mercifully　vouchsafe　herself　a　resting…place　with　it　in　heaven。

A　review　of　the　past　then　rose　up　before　her；　from　the　time　of　her　first　entering　that　house；　the　bride　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　to　her　present　sojourn　in　it。　The　old　scenes　passed　through　her　mind　like　the　changing　picture　in　a　phantasmagoria。

Why　should　they　have　come；　there　and　then？　She　knew　not。

William　slept　on　silently；　/she/　thought　of　the　past。　The　dreadful　reflection；　〃If　I　had　not　done　as　I　did；　how　different　would　it　have　been　now！〃　had　been　sounding　its　knell　in　her　heart　so　often　that　she　had　almost　ceased　to　shudder　at　it。　The　very　nails　of　her　hands　had；　before　now；　entered　the　palms；　with　the　sharp　pain　it　brought。　Stealing　over　her　more　especially　this　night；　there；　as　she　knelt；　her　head　lying　on　the　counterpane；　came　the　recollection　of　that　first　illness　of　hers。　How　she　had　lain；　and；　in　that　unfounded　jealousy；　imagined　Barbara　the　house's　mistress。　She　dead！　Barbara　exalted　to　her　place。　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife；　her　child's　stepmother！　She　recalled　the　day　when；　her　mind　excited　by　a　certain　gossip　of　Wilson'sit　was　previously　in　a　state　of　fever　bordering　on　deliriumshe　had　prayed　her　husband；　in　terror　and　anguish；　not　to　marry　Barbara。　〃How　could　he　marry　her？〃　he　had　replied；　in　his　soothing　pity。　〃She；　Isabel；　was　his　wife。　Who　was　Barbara？　Nothing　to　them？〃　But　it　had　all　come　to　pass。　/She/　had　brought　it　forth。　Not　Mr。　Carlyle；　not　Barbara；　she　alone。　Oh；　the　dreadful　misery　of　the　retrospect！

Lost　in　thought；　in　anguish　past　and　present；　in　self…condemning　repentance；　the　time　passed　on。　Nearly　an　hour　must　have　elapsed　since　Mr。　Carlyle's　departure；　and　William　had　not　disturbed　her。　But　who　was　this；　coming　into　the　room？　Joyce。

She　hastily　rose　up；　as　Joyce；　advancing　with　a　quiet　step　drew　aside　the　clothes　to　look　at　William。　〃Master　says　he　has　been　wanting　me；〃　she　observed。　〃Whyoh！〃

It　was　a　sharp；　momentary　cry；　subdued　as　soon　as　uttered。　Madame　Vine　sprang　forward　to　Joyce's　side；　looking　also。　The　pale　young　face　lay　calm　in　its　utter　stillness；　the　busy　little　heart　had　ceased　to　beat。　Jesus　Christ　had　indeed　come　and　taken　the　fleeting　spirit。

Then　she　lost　all　self…control。　She　believed　that　she　had　reconciled　herself　to　the　child's　death；　that　she　could　part　with　him　without　too　great　emotion。　But　she　had　not　anticipated　it　would　be　quite　so　soon；　she　had　deemed　that　some　hours　more　would　at　least　be　given　him；　and　now　the　storm　overwhelmed　her。　Crying；　sobbing；　calling；　she　flung　herself　upon　him；　she　clasped　him　to　her；　she　dashed　off　her　disguising　glasses；　she　laid　her　face　upon　his；　beseeching　him　to　come　back　to　her；　that　she　might　say　farewellto　her；　his　mother；　her　darling　child；　her　lost　William！

Joyce　was　terrifiedterrified　for　consequences。　With　her　full　strength　she　pulled　her　from　the　boy；　praying　her　to　considerto　be　still。　〃Do　not；　do　not；　for　the　love　of　Heaven！　/My　lady！　My　lady！/〃

It　was　the　old　familiar　title　that　struck　upon　her　fears　and　induced　calmness。　She　stared　at　Joyce；　and　retreated　backward；　after　the　manner　of　one　receding　from　some　hideous　vision。　Then；　as　recollection　came　to　her；　she　snatched　her　glasses　up　and　hurried　them　on。

〃My　lady；　let　me　take　you　into　your　room。　Mr。　Carlyle　is　come；　he　is　just　bringing　up　his　wife。　Only　think　if　you　should　give　way　before　him！　Pray　come　away！〃

〃How　did　you　know　me？〃　she　asked　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃My　lady；　it　was　that　night　when　there　was　an　alarm　of　fire。　I　went　close　up　to　you　to　take　Master　Archibald　from　your　arms；　and；　as　sure　as　I　am　now　standing　here；　I　believe　that　for　the　moment　my　senses　left　me。　I　thought　I　saw　a　spectrethe　spectre　of　my　dead　lady。　I　forgot　the　present；　I　forgot　that　all　were　standing　round　me；　that　you；　Madame　Vine；　were　alive　before　me。　Your　face　was　not　disguised　then；　the　moonlight　shone　full　upon　it；　and　I　knew　it；　after　the　first　few　moments　of　terror；　to　be；　in　dreadful　truth；　the　/living/　one　of　Lady　Isabel。　My　lady；　come　away！　We　shall　have　Mr。　Carlyle　here。〃

Poor　thing！　She　sank　upon　her　knees；　in　her　humility；　her　dread。　〃Oh；　Joyce；　have　pity　upon　me！　don't　betray　me！　I　will　leave　the　house；　indeed　I　will。　Don't　betray　me　while　I　am　in　it！〃

〃My　lady；　you　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me。　I　have　kept　the　secret　buried　within　my　breast　since　then。　Last　April！　It　has　nearly　been　too　much　for　me。　By　night　and　by　day　I　have　had　no　peace；　dreading　what　might　come　out。　Think　of　the　awful　confusion；　the　consequences；　should　it　come　to　the　knowledge　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Carlyle。　Indeed；　my　lady；　you　never　ought　to　have　come。〃

〃Joyce；〃　she　said；　hollowly；　lifting　her　haggard　face；　〃I　could　not　keep　away　from　my　unhappy　children。　Is　it　no　punishment　to　/me/；　think　you；　the　being　here？〃　she　added；　vehemently。　〃To　see　himmy　husband　the　husband　of　another！　It　is　killing　me。〃

〃Oh；　my　lady；　come　away！　I　hear　him；　I　hear　him！〃

Partly　coaxing；　partly　dragging　her；　Joyce　took　her　into　her　own　room；　and　left　her　there。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　at　that　moment　at　the　door　of　the　sick　one。　Joyce　sprang　forward。　Her　face；　in　her　emotion　and　fear；　was　of　one　livid　whiteness；　and　she　shook　as　William　had　shaken；　poor　child；　in　the　afternoon。　It　was　only　too　apparent　in　the　well…lighted　corridor。

〃Joyce；〃　he　exclaimed；　in　amazement；　〃what　ails　you？〃

〃Sir！　master！〃　she　panted；　〃be　prepared。　Master　WilliamMaster　William〃

〃Joyce！　Not　/dead/！〃

〃Alas；　yes；　sir！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　strode　into　the　chamber。　But　ere　he　was　well　across　it；　he　turned　back　to　slip　the　bolt　of　the　door。　On　the　pillow　lay　the　white；　thin　face；　at　rest　now。

〃My　boy！　my　boy！　Oh；　my　God！〃　he　murmured；　in　bowed　reverence；　〃mayest　Thou　have　received　this　child　to　rest　in　Jesus；　even　as；　I　trust；　Thou　hadst　already　received　his　unhappy　mother！〃



CHAPTER　XLIV。

LORD　VANE　DATING　FORWARD。

To　the　burial　of　William　Carlyle　came　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　his　son。　Wilson　had　been　right　in　her　surmises　as　to　the　resting…place。　The　Carlyle　vault　was　opened　for　him；　and　an　order　went　forth　to　the　sculptor　for　an　inscription　to　be　added　to　their　marble　tablet　in　the　church：　〃William　Vane　Carlyle；　eldest　son　of　Archibald　Carlyle；　of　East　Lynne。〃　Amongst　those　who　attended　the　funeral　as　mourners　went　one　more　notable　in　the　eyes　of　the　gazers　than　the　restRichard　Hare　the　younger。

Lady　Isabel　was　ill。　Ill　in　mind；　and　ominously　ill　in　body。　She　kept　her　room；　and　Joyce　attended　on　her。　The　household　set　down　madame's　illness　to　the　fatigue　of　having　attended　upon　Master　William；　it　was　not　thought　of　seriously　by　any　one；　especially　as　she　declined　to　see　a　doctor。　All　her　thoughts　now　were　directed　to　the　getting　away　from　East　Lynne；　for　it　would　never　do　to　remain　there　to　die；　and　she　knew　that　death　was　on　his　way　to　her；　and　that　no　human　power　or　skill　not　all　the　faculty　combinedcould　turn　him　back　again。　The　excessive　dread　of　detection　was　not　upon　her　as　it　had　been　formerly。　I　mean　she　did　not　dread　the　consequences　so　much；　if　dete