east lynne-第16章

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hedral。　These　men；　sitting　over　Lord　Mount　Severn；　enforced　heavy　claims；　and　there　they　must　sit　until　the　arrival　of　Mr。　Vane　from　Castle　Marlingnow　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn。

On　the　following　morning；　Sunday；　Mr。　Carlyle　proceeded　again　to　East　Lynne；　and　found；　to　his　surprise；　that　there　was　no　arrival。　Isabel　sat　in　the　breakfast…room　alone；　the　meal　on　the　table　untouched；　and　she　shiveringas　it　seemedon　a　low　ottoman　before　the　fire。　She　looked　so　ill　that　Mr。　Carlyle　could　not　forbear　remarking　upon　it。

〃I　have　not　slept；　and　I　am　very　cold；〃　she　answered。　〃I　did　not　close　my　eyes　all　night；　I　was　so　terrified。〃

〃Terrified　at　what？〃　he　asked。

〃At　those　men；〃　she　whispered。　〃It　is　strange　that　Mr。　Vane　has　not　come。〃

〃Is　the　post　in？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　apathetically　replied。　〃I　have　received　nothing。〃

She　had　scarcely　spoke　when　the　butler　entered　with　his　salver　full　of　letters；　most　of　them　bearing　condolence　with　Lady　Isabel。　She　singled　out　one　and　hastened　to　open　it；　for　it　bore　the　Castle　Marling　post…　mark。　〃It　is　Mrs。　Vane's　handwriting；〃　she　remarked　to　Mr。　Carlyle。


CASTLE　MARLING；　Saturday。

　〃MY　DEAR　ISABELI　am　dreadfully　grieved　and　shocked　at　the　news　　　conveyed　in　Mr。　Carlyle's　letter　to　my　husband；　for　he　has　gone　　　cruising　in　his　yacht；　and　I　opened　it。　Goodness　knows　where　he　　　may　be；　round　the　coast　somewhere；　but　he　said　he　should　be　home　　　for　Sunday；　and　as　he　is　pretty　punctual　in　keeping　his　word；　I　　　expect　him。　Be　assured　he　will　not　lose　a　moment　in　hastening　to　　　East　Lynne。

　〃I　cannot　express　what　I　feel　for　you；　and　am　too　/bouleversee/　to　　　write　more。　Try　and　keep　up　your　spirits；　and　believe　me；　dear　　　Isabel；　with　sincere　sympathy　and　regret；　faithfully　yours；

〃EMMA　MOUNT　SEVERN。〃


The　color　came　into　Isabel's　pale　cheek　when　she　read　the　signature。　She　thought；　had　she　been　the　writer；　she　should；　in　that　first；　early　letter；　have　still　signed　herself　Emma　Vane。　Isabel　handed　the　note　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃It　is　very　unfortunate；〃　she　sighed。

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　over　it　as　quickly　as　Mrs。　Vane's　illegible　writing　allowed　him；　and　drew　in　his　lips　in　a　peculiar　manner　when　he　came　to　the　signature。　Perhaps　at　the　same　thought　which　had　struck　Isabel。

〃Had　Mrs。　Vane　been　worth　a　rush；　she　would　have　come　herself；　knowing　your　lonely　situation；〃　he　uttered；　impulsively。

Isabel　leaned　her　head　upon　her　hand。　All　the　difficulties　and　embarrassments　of　her　position　came　crowding　on　her　mind。　No　orders　had　been　given　in　preparation　for　the　funeral；　and　she　felt　that　she　had　no　right　to　give　any。　The　earls　of　Mount　Severn　were　buried　at　Mount　Severn；　but　to　take　her　father　thither　would　involve　great　expense；　would　the　present　earl　sanction　that？　Since　the　previous　morning；　she　seemed　to　have　grown　old　in　the　world's　experience；　her　ideas　were　changed；　the　bent　of　her　thoughts　had　been　violently　turned　from　its　course。　Instead　of　being　a　young　lady　of　high　position；　of　wealth　and　rank；　she　appeared　to　herself　more　in　the　light　of　an　unfortunate　pauper　and　interloper　in　the　house　she　was　inhabiting。　It　has　been　the　custom　in　romance　to　present　young　ladies；　especially　if　they　be　handsome　and　interesting；　as　being　entirely　oblivious　of　matter…of…fact　cares　and　necessities；　supremely　indifferent　to　future　prospects　of　povertypoverty　that　brings　hunger　and　thirst　and　cold　and　nakedness；　but；　be　assured；　this　apathy　never　existed　in　real　life。　Isabel　Vane's　grief　for　her　fatherwhom；　whatever　may　have　been　the　aspect　he　wore　for　others；　/she/　had　deeply　loved　and　reverenced　was　sharply　poignant；　but　in　the　midst　of　that　grief；　and　of　the　singular　troubles　his　death　had　brought　forth；　she　could　not　shut　her　eyes　to　her　own　future。　Its　blank　uncertainty；　its　shadowed…forth　embarrassments　did　obtrude　themselves　and　the　words　of　that　plain…　speaking　creditor　kept　ringing　in　her　ears：　〃You　won't　have　a　roof　to　put　your　head　under；　or　a　guinea　to　call　your　own。〃　Where　was　she　to　go？　With　whom　to　live？　She　was　in　Mr。　Carlyle's　house　now。　And　how　was　she　to　pay　the　servants？　Money　was　owing　to　them　all。

〃Mr。　Carlyle；　how　long　has　this　house　been　yours？〃　she　asked；　breaking　the　silence。

〃It　was　in　June　that　the　purchase　was　completed。　Did　Lord　Mount　Severn　never　tell　you　he　had　sold　it　to　me？〃

〃No；　never。　All　these　things　are　yours？〃　glancing　round　the　room。

〃The　furniture　was　sold　with　the　house。　Not　these　sort　of　things；〃　he　added；　his　eye　falling　on　the　silver　on　the　breakfast　table；　〃not　the　plate　and　linen。〃

〃Not　the　plate　and　linen！　Then　those　poor　men　who　were　here　yesterday　have　a　right　to　them；〃　she　quickly　cried。

〃I　scarcely　know。　I　believe　the　plate　goes　with　the　entailand　the　jewels　go　also。　The　linen　cannot　be　of　consequence　either　way。〃

〃Are　my　clothes　my　own？〃

He　smiled　as　he　looked　at　her；　smiled　at　her　simplicity；　and　assured　her　that　they　were　nobody's　else。

〃I　did　not　know；〃　she　sighed；　〃I　did　not　understand。　So　many　strange　things　have　happened　in　the　last　day　or　two；　that　I　seem　to　understand　nothing。〃

Indeed；　she　could　not　understand。　She　had　no　definite　ideas　on　the　subject　of　this　transfer　of　East　Lynne　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　plenty　of　indefinite　ones；　and　they　were　haunting　her。　Fears　of　debt　to　him；　and　of　the　house　and　its　contents　being　handed　over　to　him　in　liquidation；　perhaps　only　partial；　were　working　in　her　brain。

〃Does　my　father　owe　you　any　money？〃　she　breathed　in　a　timid　tone。

〃Not　any；〃　he　replied。　〃Lord　Mount　Severn　was　never　indebted　to　me　in　his　life。〃

〃Yet　you　purchased　East　Lynne？〃

〃As　any　one　else　might　have　done；〃　he　answered；　discerning　the　drift　of　her　thoughts。　〃I　was　in　search　of　an　eligible　estate　to　invest　money　in；　and　East　Lynne　suited　me。〃

〃I　feel　my　position；　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　she　resumed；　the　rebellious　fears　forcing　themselves　to　her　eyes；　〃thus　to　be　intruding　upon　you　for　a　shelter。　And　I　cannot　help　myself。〃

〃You　can　help　grieving　me；〃　he　gently　answered；　〃which　you　do　much　when　you　talk　of　obligation。　The　obligation　is　on　my　side；　Lady　Isabel；　and　when　I　express　a　hope　that　you　will　continue　at　East　Lynne　while　it　can　be　of　service；　however　prolonged　that　period　may　be；　I　assure　you；　I　say　it　in　all　sincerity。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；〃　she　faltered；　〃and　for　a　few　days；　until　I　can　think；　until　Oh；　Mr。　Carlyle；　are　papa's　affairs　really　so　bad　as　they　said　yesterday？〃　she　broke　off；　her　perplexities　recurring　to　her　with　vehement　force。　〃Is　there　nothing　left？〃

Now　Mr。　Carlyle　might　have　given　the　evasive　assurance　that　there　would　be　plenty　left；　just　to　tranquilize　her。　But　to　have　used　deceit　with　her　would　have　pricked　against　every　feeling　of　his　nature；　and　he　saw　how　implicitly　she　relied　upon　his　truth。

〃I　fear　things　are　not　very　bright；〃　he　answered。　〃That　is；　so　far　as　we　can　see　at　present。　But　there　may　have　been　some　settlement　effected　for　you　that　you　do　not　know　of。　Warburton　&　Ware〃

〃No；〃　she　interrupted：　〃I　never　heard　of　a　settlement；　and　I　am　sure　there　is　none。　I　see　the　worst　plainly。　I　have　no　home；　no　home　and　no　money。　This　house　is　yours；　the　town　house　and　Mount　Severn　go　to　Mr。　Vane；　and　I　have　nothing。〃

〃But　surely　Mr。　Vane　will　be　delighted　to　welcome　you　to　your　old　home。　The　houses　pass　to　himit　almost　seems　as　though　you　had　the　greater　right　in　them；　than　he　or　Mrs。　Vane。〃

〃My　home　with　them！〃　she　retorted；　as　if　the　words　had　stung　her。　〃What　are　you　saying；　Mr。　Carlyle？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Lady　Isabel。　I　should　not　have　presumed　to　touch　upon　these　points　myself；　but〃

〃Nay；　I　think　I　ought　to　beg　yours；〃　she　interrupted；　more　calmly。　〃I　am　only　grateful　for　the　interest　you　take　in　themthe　kindness　you　have　shown。　But　I　could　not　make　my　home　with　Mrs。　Vane。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　rose。　He　could　do　no　good　by　remaining；　and　did　not　think　it　well　to　intrude　longer。　He　suggested　that　it　might　be　more　pleasant　if　Isabel　had　a　friend　with　her；　Mrs。　Ducie　would　no　doubt　be　willing　to　come；　and　she　was　a　kind；　motherly　woman。

Isabel　shook　her　head　with　a　passing　shudder。　〃Have　strangers；　here；　withallthatin　papa's　chamber！〃　she　uttered。　〃Mrs。　Ducie　drove　over　yesterday；　perhaps　to　remainI　don't　know；　but　I　was　afraid　of　questions；　and　would　not　see　her。　When　I　think　ofthatI　feel　thankful　that　I　am　alone。〃

The　housekeeper　stopped　Mr。　Carlyle　as　he　was　going　out。

〃Sir；　what　is　the　news　from　Castle　Marling？　Pound　said　there　was　a　letter。　Is　Mr。　Vane　coming？〃

〃He　was　out　yachting。　Mrs。　Vane　expected　him　home　yesterday；　so　it　is　to　be　hoped　he　will　be　here　to…day。〃

〃Whatever　will　be　done　if　he　does　not　come？〃　she　breathed。　〃The　leaden　coffin　ought　to　be　soldered　down；　for　you　know；　air；　the　state　he　was　in　when　he　died。〃

〃It　can　be　soldered　down　without　Mr。　Vane。〃

〃Of　coursewithout　Mr。　Vane。　It's　not　that；　sir。　Will　those　men　allow　it　to　be　done？　The　undertakers　were　here　this　morning　at　daybreak；　and　those　men　intimated　that　they　were　not　going　to　/lose　sight/　of　the　dead。　The　words　sounded　significant　to　us；　but　we　asked　them　no　questions。　Have　they　a　right　to　prevent　it；　sir？〃

〃Upon　my　word　I　cannot　tell；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　proceeding　is　so　rare　a　one；　that　I　know　little　what　right　of　law　they　have　or　have　not。　Do　not　mention　this　to　Lady　Isabel。　And　when　Mr。　Vawhen　Lord　Mount　Severn　arrives；　send　down　to　apprise　me　of　it。〃



CHAPTER　XI。

THE　NEW　PEERTHE　BANK…NOTE

A　post…chaise　was　discerned　thundering　up　the　avenue　that　Sunday　afternoon。　It　contained　the　new　peer；　Lord　Mount　Severn。　The　more　direct　line　of　rail　from　Castle　Marling；　brought　him　only　to　within　five　miles　of　West　Lynne；　and　thence　he　had　travelled　in　a　hired　chaise。　Mr。　Carlyle　soon　joined　him；　and　almost　at　the　same　time　Mr。　Warburton　arrived　from　London。　Absence　from　town　at　the　period　of　the　earl's　death　had　prevented　Mr。　Warburton's　earlier　attendance。　Business　was　entered　upon　immediately。

The　present　earl　knew　that　his　predecessor　had　been　an　embarrassed　man；　but　he　had　no　conception　of　the　extent　of　the　evil；　they　had　not　been　intimate；　and　rarely　came　in　contact。　As　the　various　items　of　news　were　now　detailed　to　himthe　wasteful　expenditure；　the　disastrous　ruin；　the　total　absence　of　provision　for　Isabelhe　stood　petrified　and　aghast。　He　was　a　tall　stout　man；　of　three…and…forty　years；　his　nature　honorable；　his　manner　cold；　and　his　countenance　severe。

〃It　is　the　most　iniquitous　piece　of　business　I　ever　heard　of！〃　he　exclaimed　to　the　two　lawyers。　〃Of　all　the　reckless　fools；　Mount　Severn　must　have　been　the　worst！〃

〃Unpardonably　improvident　as　regards　his　daughter；〃　was　the　assenting　remark。

〃Improvident！　It　must　have　been　rank　madness！〃　retorted　the　earl。　〃No　man　in　his　senses　could　leave　a　child　to　the　mercy　of　the　world；　as　he　has　left　her。　She　has　not　a　shillingliterally；　not　a　shilling　in　her　possession。　I　put　the　question　to　her；　what　money　there　was　in　the　house　when　the　earl　died。　Twenty　or　twenty…five　pounds；　she　answered；　which　she　had　given　to　Mason；　who　required　it　for　housekeeping　purposes。　If　the　girl　wants　a　yard　of　ribbon　for　herself；　she　has　not　the　pence　to　pay　for　it！　Can　you　realize　such　a　case　to　the　mind？〃　continued　the　excited　peer。　〃I　will　stake　my　veracity　that　such　a　one　never　occurred　yet。〃

〃No　mon