east lynne-第97章

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〃It　is　lying　by　my　side；　under　the　shawl；　quiet　little　sleeping　thing。〃

Madame　Vine　advanced　and　took　the　sleeping　baby。　How　could　she　refuse？　She　had　never　had　it　in　her　arms　before；　she　had；　in　fact；　scarcely　seen　it。　One　visit　of　ceremony　she　had　paid　Mrs。　Carlyle；　as　in　politeness　bound；　a　day　or　two　after　the　young　lady's　arrival；　and　had　been　shown　a　little　face；　nearly　covered　with　lace；　in　a　cradle。

〃Thank　you。　I　can　get　up　now。　I　might　have　half　smothered　it；　had　I　attempted　before；〃　continued　Barbara；　still　laughing。　〃I　have　been　here　long　enough；　and　am　quite　rested。　Talking　about　smothering　children；　what　accounts　have　we　in　the　registrar…general's　weekly　returns　of　health！　So　many　children　'overlaid　in　bed；'　so　many　children　'suffocated　in　bed。'　One　week　there　were　nearly　twenty；　and　often　there　are　as　many　as　eight　or　ten。　Mr。　Carlyle　says　he　knows　they　are　smothered　on　purpose。〃

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Carlyle！〃

〃I　exclaimed；　just　as　you　do；　when　he　said　it；　and　laid　my　hand　over　his　lips。　He　laughed；　and　told　me　I　did　not　know　half　the　wickedness　of　the　world。　Thank　you；〃　again　repeated　Mrs。　Carlyle；　taking　her　child　from　Lady　Isabel。　〃Is　she　not　a　pretty　baby？　Do　you　like　the　nameAnne？〃

〃It　is　a　simple　name；〃　replied　Lady　Isabel；　〃and　simple　names　are　always　the　most　attractive。〃

〃That　is　just　what　Archibald　thinks。　But　he　wanted　this　child's　to　be　Barbara。　I　would　not　have　had　it　Barbara　for　the　world。　I　remember　his　once　saying；　a　long；　long　while　ago　that　he　did　not　like　elaborate　names；　they　were　mouthfuls；　and　he　instanced　mine　and　his　sister's；　and　his　own。　I　recalled　his　words　to　him；　and　he　said　he　may　not　have　liked　the　name　of　Barbara　then；　but　he　loved　it　now。　So　we　entered　into　a　compromise；　Miss　Baby　was　named　Anne　Barbara；　with　an　understanding　that　the　first　name　is　to　be　for　use；　and　the　last　for　the　registers。〃

〃It　is　not　christened？〃　said　Lady　Isabel。

〃Only　baptized。　We　should　have　had　it　christened　before　now；　but　for　William's　death。　Not　that　we　give　christening　dinners；　but　I　waited　for　the　trial　at　Lynneborough　to　be　over；　that　my　dear　brother　Richard　might　stand　to　the　child。〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle　does　not　like　christenings　made　into　festivals；〃　Lady　Isabel　dreamily　observed；　her　thoughts　buried　in　the　past。

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　opening　her　eyes。

And　poor　Madame　Vine；　her　pale　face　flushing；　had　to　stammer　forth　some　confused　words　that　she　had　〃heard　so　somewhere。〃

〃It　is　quite　true；〃　said　Barbara。　〃He　has　never　given　a　christening…　dinner　for　any　of　his　children；　and　gets　out　of　attending　if　invited　to　one。　He　cannot　understand　the　analogy　between　a　solemn　religious　rite　and　the　meeting　together　afterward　to　eat　and　drink　and　make　merry；　according　to　the　fashion　of　this　world。〃

As　Lady　Isabel　quitted　the　room；　young　Vane　was　careering　through　the　corridor；　throwing　his　head　in　all　directions；　and　calling　out；

〃Lucy！　I　want　Lucy！〃

〃What　do　you　want　with　her？〃　asked　Madame　Vine。

〃/Il　m'est　impossible　de　vous　le　dire　madame/；〃　responded　he。　Being；　for　an　Eton　boy；　wonderfully　up　in　French；　he　was　rather　given　to　show　it　off　when　he　got　the　chance。　He　did　not　owe　thanks　for　it　to　Eton。　Lady　Mount　Severn　had　taken　better　care　than　that。　Better　care？　What　/could/　she　want？　There　was　one　whole；　real；　live　French　tutorand　he　an　Englishman！for　the　eight　hundred　boys。　Very　unreasonable　of　her　ladyship　to　disparage　that　ample　provision。

〃Lucy　cannot　come　to　you　just　now。　She　is　practicing。〃

〃/Mais；　il　le　faut。　J'ai　le　droit　de　demander　apres　elle。　Elle　m'appartient；　vous　comprenez；　madame；　cette　demoiselle　la。/〃

Madame　could　not　forbear　a　smile。　〃I　wish　you　would　speak　English　sense；　instead　of　French　nonsense。〃

〃Then　the　English　sense　is　that　I　want　Lucy　and　I　must　have　her。　I　am　going　to　take　her　for　a　drive　in　the　pony　carriage；　if　you　must　know。　She　said　she'd　come；　and　John's　getting　it　ready。〃

〃I　could　not　possibly　allow　it；〃　said　Madame　Vine。　〃You'd　be　sure　to　upset　her。〃

〃The　idea！〃　he　returned；　indignantly。　〃As　if　I　should　upset　Lucy！　Why；　I'm　one　of　the　great　whips　at　Eton。　I　care　for　Lucy　too　much　not　to　drive　steadily。　She　is　to　be　my　wife；　you　know；　/ma　bonne　dame/。〃

At　this　juncture　two　heads　were　pushed　out　from　the　library；　close　by；　those　of　the　earl　and　Mr。　Carlyle。　Barbara；　also；　attracted　by　the　talking；　appeared　at　the　door　of　her　dressing…room。

〃What's　that　about　a　wife？〃　asked　my　lord　of　his　son。

The　blood　mantled　in　the　young　gentleman's　cheek　as　he　turned　round　and　saw　who　had　spoken；　but　he　possessed　all　the　fearlessness　of　an　Eton　boy。

〃I　intend　Lucy　Carlyle　to　be　my　wife；　papa。　I　mean　in　earnestwhen　we　shall　both　be　grown　upif　you　will　approve；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　will　give　her　to　me。〃

The　earl　looked　somewhat　impassable；　Mr。　Carlyle　amused。　〃Suppose；〃　said　the　latter；　〃we　adjourn　the　discussion　to　this　day　ten　years？〃

〃But　that　Lucy　is　so　very　young　a　child；　I　should　reprove　you　seriously；　sir；〃　said　the　earl。　〃You　have　no　right　to　bring　Lucy's　name　into　any　such　absurdity。〃

〃I　mean　it；　papa；　you'll　all　see。　And　I　intend　to　keep　out　of　scrapes　that　is；　of　nasty；　dishonorable　scrapeson　purpose　that　Mr。　Carlyle　shall　find　no　excuse　against　me。　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　be　what　he　isa　man　of　honor。　I　am　right　glad　you　know　about　it；　sir；　and　I　shall　let　mamma　know　it　before　long。〃

The　last　sentence　tickled　the　earl's　fancy；　and　a　grim　smile　passed　over　his　lips。　〃It　will　be　war　to　the　knife；　if　you　do。〃

〃I　know　that；〃　laughed　the　viscount。　〃But　I　am　getting　a　better　match　for　mamma　in　our　battles　than　I　used　to　be。〃

Nobody　saw　fit　to　prolong　the　discussion。　Barbara　put　her　veto　upon　the　drive　in　the　pony　carriage　unless　John　sat　behind　to　look　after　the　driver；　which　Lord　Vane　still　resented　as　an　insult。　Madame　Vine；　when　the　corridor　became　empty　again；　laid　her　hand　upon　the　boy's　arm　as　he　was　moving　away；　and　drew　him　to　the　window。

〃In　speaking　as　you　do　of　Lucy　Carlyle；　do　you　forget　the　disgrace　reflected　on　her　by　the　conduct　of　her　mother？〃

〃Her　mother　is　not　Lucy。〃

〃It　may　prove　an　impediment；　that；　with　Lord　and　Lady　Mount　Severn。〃

〃Not　with　his　lordship。　And　I　must　doas　you　heard　me　saybattle　with　my　mother。　Conciliatory　battle；　you　understand；　madame；　bringing　the　enemy　to　reason。〃

Madame　Vine　was　agitated。　She　held　her　handkerchief　to　her　mouth；　and　the　boy　noticed　how　her　hands　trembled。

〃I　have　learnt　to　love　Lucy。　It　has　appeared　to　me　in　these　few　months'　sojourn　with　her；　that　I　have　stood　to　her　in　light　of　a　mother。　William　Vane；〃　she　solemnly　added；　keeping　her　hold　upon　him；　〃I　shall　soon　be　where　earthly　distinctions　are　no　more；　where　sin　and　sorrow　are　no　more。　Should　Lucy　Carlyle　indeed　become　your　wife；　in　after　years；　never；　never　cast　upon　her；　by　so　much　as　the　slightest　word　of　reproach；　the　sin　of　Lady　Isabel。〃

Lord　Vane　threw　back　his　head；　his　honest　eyes　flashing　in　their　indignant　earnestness。

〃What　do　you　take　me　for？〃

〃It　would　be　a　cruel　wrong　upon　Lucy。　She　does　not　deserve　it。　That　unhappy　lady's　sin　was　all　her　own；　let　it　die　with　her。　Never　speak　to　Lucy　of　her　mother。〃

The　lad　dashed　his　hand　across　his　eyes　for　they　were　filling。

〃I　shall。　I　shall　speak　to　her　often　of　her　motherthat　is；　you　know；　after　she's　my　wife。　I　shall　tell　her　how　I　loved　Lady　Isabelthat　there's　nobody　I　ever　loved　so　much　in　the　world；　but　Lucy　herself。　/I/　cast　a　reproach　to　Lucy　on　the　score　of　her　mother！〃　he　hotly　added。　〃It　is　through　her　mother　that　I　love　her。　You　don't　understand；　madame。〃

〃Cherish　and　love　her　forever；　should　she　become　yours；〃　said　Lady　Isabel；　wringing　his　hand。　〃I　ask　it　you　as　one　who　is　dying。〃

〃I　willI　promise　it。　But　I　say；　madame；〃　he　continued；　dropping　his　fervent　tone；　〃what　do　you　allude　to？　Are　you　worse？〃

Madame　Vine　did　not　answer。　She　glided　away　without　speaking。

Later；　when　she　was　sitting　by　twilight　in　the　gray　parlor；　cold　and　shivering；　and　wrapped　up　in　a　shawl；　though　it　was　hot　summer　weather；　somebody　knocked　at　the　door。

〃Come　in；〃　cried　she；　apathetically。

It　was　Mr。　Carlyle　who　entered。　She　rose　up；　her　pulses　quickening；　her　heart　thumping　against　her　side。　In　her　wild　confusion　she　was　drawing　forward　a　chair　for　him。　He　laid　his　hand　upon　it；　and　motioned　her　to　her　own。

〃Mrs。　Carlyle　tells　me　that　you　have　been　speaking　to　her　of　leaving　that　you　find　yourself　too　much　out　of　health　to　continue　with　us。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　faintly　replied；　having　a　most　imperfect　notion　of　what　she　did　say。

〃What　is　it　that　you　find　to　be　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃Ithinkit　is　chieflyweakness；〃　she　stammered。

Her　face　had　grown　as　gray　as　the　walls。　A　dusky；　livid　sort　of　hue；　not　unlike　William's　had　worn　the　night　of　his　death；　and　her　voice　sounded　strangely　hollow。　It；　the　voice；　struck　Mr。　Carlyle　and　awoke　his　fears。

〃You　cannotyou　never　can　have　caught　William's　complaint；　in　your　close　attendance　upon　him？〃　he　exclaimed；　speaking　in　the　impulse　of　the　moment；　as　the　idea　flashed　across　him。　〃I　have　heard　of　such　things。〃

〃Caught　it　from　him？〃　she　rejoined；　carried　away　also　by　impulse。　〃It　is　more　likely　that　he〃

She　stopped　herself　just　in　time。　/〃Inherited　it　from　me；〃/　had　been　the　destined　conclusion。　In　her　alarm；　she　went　off　volubly；　something　to　the　effect　that　〃it　was　no　wonder　she　was　ill：　illness　was　natural　to　her　family。〃

〃At　any　rate；　you　have　become　ill　at　East　Lynne；　in　attendance　on　my　children；〃　rejoined　Mr。　Carlyle；　decisively；　when　her　voice　died　away。　〃You　must　therefore　allow　me　to　insist　that　you　allow　East　Lynne　to　do　what　it　can　toward　renovating　you。　What　is　your　objection　to　see　a　doctor？〃

〃A　doctor　could　do　me　no　good；〃　she　faintly　answered。

〃Certainly　not；　so　long　as　you　will　not　consult　one。〃

〃Indeed；　sir；　doctors　could　not　cure　me；　nor；　as　I　believe　prolong　my　life。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused。

〃Are　you　believing　yourself　to　be　in　danger？〃

〃Not　in　immediate　danger；　sir；　only　in　so　far　as　that　I　know　I　shall　not　live。〃

〃And　yet　you　will　not　see　a　doctor。　Madame　Vine；　you　must　be　aware　that　I　could　not　permit　such　a　thing　to　go　on　in　my　house。　Dangerous　illness　and　no　advice！〃

She　could　not　say　to　him；　〃My　malady　is　on　the　mind；　it　is　a　breaking　heart；　and　therefore　no　doctor　of　physic　could　serve　me。〃　That　would　never　do。　She　had　sat　with　her　hand　across　her　face；　between　her　spectacles　and　her　wrapped…up　chin。　Had　Mr。　Carlyle　possessed　the　eyes　of　Argus；　backed　by　Sam　Weller's　patent　magnifying　microscopes　of　double　hextra　power；　he　could　not　have　made　anything　of　her　features　in　the　broad　light　of　day。　But　/she/　did　not　feel　so　sure　of　it。　There　was　always　an　undefined　terror　of　discovery　when　in　his　presence；　and　she　wished　the　interview　at　an　end。

〃I　will　see　Mr。　Wainwright；　if　it　will　be　any　satisfaction　to　you；　sir。〃

〃Madame　Vine；　I　have　intruded　upon　you　here　to　say　that　you　/must/　see　him；　and；　should　he　deem　it　necessary；　Dr。　Martin　also。〃

〃Oh；　sir；〃　she　rejoined　with　a　curious　smile；　〃Mr。　Wainwright　will　be　quite　sufficient。　There　will　be　no　need　of　another。　I　will　write　a　note　to　him　to…morrow。〃

〃Spare　yourself　the　trouble。　I　am　going　into　West　Lynne；　and　will　send　him　up。　You　will　permit