east lynne-第2章

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her　own。　She　was　ill　for　years；　the　doctors　called　it　consumption；　but　it　was　more　like　a　wasting　insensibly　away；　and　consumption　never　had　been　in　her　family。　No　luck　ever　attends　runaway　marriages；　I　have　noticed　it　since；　in　many；　many　instances；　something　bad　is　sure　to　turn　up　from　it。〃

〃There　might　have　been　a　settlement　executed　after　the　marriage；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　for　the　earl　had　stopped；　and　seemed　lost　in　thought。

〃I　know　there　might；　but　there　was　not。　My　wife　had　possessed　no　fortune；　I　was　already　deep　in　my　career　of　extravagance；　and　neither　of　us　thought　of　making　provision　for　our　future　children；　or；　if　we　thought　of　it；　we　did　not　do　it。　There　is　an　old　saying；　Mr。　Carlyle；　that　what　may　be　done　at　any　time　is　never　done。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　bowed。

〃So　my　child　is　portionless；〃　resumed　the　earl；　with　a　suppressed　sigh。　〃The　thought　that　it　may　be　an　embarrassing　thing　for　her；　were　I　to　die　before　she　is　settled　in　life；　crosses　my　mind　when　I　am　in　a　serious　mood。　That　she　will　marry　well；　there　is　little　doubt；　for　she　possesses　beauty　in　a　rare　degree；　and　has　been　reared　as　an　English　girl　should　be；　not　to　frivolity　and　foppery。　She　was　trained　by　her　mother；　who　save　for　the　mad　act　she　was　persuaded　into　by　me；　was　all　goodness　and　refinement；　for　the　first　twelve　years　of　her　life；　and　since　then　by　an　admirable　governess。　No　fear　that　she　will　be　decamping　to　Gretna　Green。〃

〃She　was　a　very　lovely　child；〃　observed　the　lawyer；　〃I　remember　that。〃

〃Ay；　you　have　seen　her　at　East　Lynne；　in　her　mother's　lifetime。　But；　to　return　to　business。　If　you　become　the　purchaser　of　the　East　Lynne　estate；　Mr。　Carlyle；　it　must　be　under　the　rose。　The　money　that　it　brings；　after　paying　off　the　mortgage；　I　must　have；　as　I　tell　you；　for　my　private　use；　and　you　know　I　should　not　be　able　to　touch　a　farthing　of　it　if　the　confounded　public　got　an　inkling　of　the　transfer。　In　the　eyes　of　the　world；　the　proprietor　of　East　Lynne　must　be　Lord　Mount　Severnat　least　for　some　little　time　afterwards。　Perhaps　you　will　not　object　to　that。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　considered　before　replying；　and　then　the　conversation　was　resumed；　when　it　was　decided　that　he　should　see　Warburton　and　Ware　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　confer　with　them。　It　was　growing　late　when　he　rose　to　leave。

〃Stay　and　dine　with　me；〃　said　the　earl。

Mr。　Carlyle　hesitated；　and　looked　down　at　his　dressa　plain；　gentlemanly；　morning　attire；　but　certainly　not　a　dinner　costume　for　a　peer's　table。

〃Oh；　that's　nothing；〃　said　the　earl；　〃we　shall　be　quite　alone；　except　my　daughter。　Mrs。　Vane；　of　Castle　Marling；　is　staying　with　us。　She　came　up　to　present　my　child　at　the　last　drawing…room；　but　I　think　I　heard　something　about　her　dining　out　to…day。　If　not；　we　will　have　it　by　ourselves　here。　Oblige　me　by　touching　the　bell；　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

The　servant　entered。

〃Inquire　whether　Mrs。　Vane　dines　at　home；〃　said　the　earl。

〃Mrs。　Vane　dines　out；　my　lord；〃　was　the　man's　immediate　reply。　〃The　carriage　is　at　the　door　now。〃

〃Very　well。　Mr。　Carlyle　remains。〃

At　seven　o'clock　the　dinner　was　announced；　and　the　earl　wheeled　into　the　adjoining　room。　As　he　and　Mr。　Carlyle　entered　it　at　one　door；　some　one　else　came　in　by　the　opposite　one。　Whowhatwas　it？　Mr。　Carlyle　looked；　not　quite　sure　whether　it　was　a　human　beinghe　almost　thought　it　more　like　an　angel。

A　light；　graceful；　girlish　form；　a　face　of　surpassing　beauty；　beauty　that　is　rarely　seen；　save　from　the　imagination　of　a　painter；　dark　shining　curls　falling　on　her　neck　and　shoulders；　smooth　as　a　child's；　fair；　delicate　arms　decorated　with　pearls；　and　a　flowing　dress　of　costly　white　lace。　Altogether　the　vision　did　indeed　look　to　the　lawyer　as　one　from　a　fairer　world　than　this。

〃My　daughter；　Mr。　Carlyle；　the　Lady　Isabel。〃

They　took　their　seats　at　the　table；　Lord　Mount　Severn　at　its　head；　in　spite　of　his　gout　and　his　footstool。　And　the　young　lady　and　Mr。　Carlyle　opposite　each　other。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　not　deemed　himself　a　particular　admirer　of　women's　beauty；　but　the　extraordinary　loveliness　of　the　young　girl　before　him　nearly　took　away　his　senses　and　his　self…　possession。　Yet　it　was　not　so　much　the　perfect　contour　or　the　exquisite　features　that　struck　him；　or　the　rich　damask　of　the　delicate　cheek；　or　the　luxuriant　falling　hair；　no；　it　was　the　sweet　expression　of　the　soft　dark　eyes。　Never　in　his　life　had　he　seen　eyes　so　pleasing。　He　could　not　keep　his　gaze　from　her；　and　he　became　conscious；　as　he　grew　more　familiar　with　her　face；　that　there　was　in　its　character　a　sad；　sorrowful　look；　only　at　times　was　it　to　be　noticed；　when　the　features　were　at　repose；　and　it　lay　chiefly　in　the　very　eyes　he　was　admiring。　Never　does　this　unconsciously　mournful　expression　exist；　but　it　is　a　sure　index　of　sorrow　and　suffering；　but　Mr。　Carlyle　understood　it　not。　And　who　could　connect　sorrow　with　the　anticipated　brilliant　future　of　Isabel　Vane？

〃Isabel；〃　observed　the　earl；　〃you　are　dressed。〃

〃Yes；　papa。　Not　to　keep　old　Mrs。　Levison　waiting　tea。　She　likes　to　take　it　early；　and　I　know　Mrs。　Vane　must　have　kept　her　waiting　dinner。　It　was　half…past　six　when　she　drove　from　here。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　be　late　to…night；　Isabel。〃

〃It　depends　upon　Mrs。　Vane。〃

〃Then　I　am　sure　you　will　be。　When　the　young　ladies　in　this　fashionable　world　of　ours　turn　night　into　day；　it　is　a　bad　thing　for　their　roses。　What　say　you；　Mr。　Carlyle？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　the　roses　on　the　cheeks　opposite　to　him；　they　looked　too　fresh　and　bright　to　fade　lightly。

At　the　conclusion　of　dinner　a　maid　entered　the　room　with　a　white　cashmere　mantle；　placing　it　over　the　shoulders　of　her　young　lady；　as　she　said　the　carriage　was　waiting。

Lady　Isabel　advanced　to　the　earl。　〃Good…bye；　papa。〃

〃Good…night；　my　love；〃　he　answered；　drawing　her　toward　him；　and　kissing　her　sweet　face。　〃Tell　Mrs。　Vane　I　will　not　have　you　kept　out　till　morning　hours。　You　are　but　a　child　yet。　Mr。　Carlyle；　will　you　ring？　I　am　debarred　from　seeing　my　daughter　to　the　carriage。〃

〃If　your　lordship　will　allow　meif　Lady　Isabel　will　pardon　the　attendance　of　one　little　used　to　wait　upon　young　ladies；　I　shall　be　proud　to　see　her　to　her　carriage；〃　was　the　somewhat　confused　answer　of　Mr。　Carlyle　as　he　touched　the　bell。

The　earl　thanked　him；　and　the　young　lady　smiled；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　conducted　her　down　the　broad；　lighted　staircase　and　stood　bareheaded　by　the　door　of　the　luxurious　chariot；　and　handed　her　in。　She　put　out　her　hand　in　her　frank；　pleasant　manner；　as　she　wished　him　good　night。　The　carriage　rolled　on　its　way；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　the　earl。

〃Well；　is　she　not　a　handsome　girl？〃　he　demanded。

〃Handsome　is　not　the　word　for　beauty　such　as　hers；〃　was　Mr。　Carlyle's　reply；　in　a　low；　warm　tone。　〃I　never　saw　a　face　half　so　beautiful。〃

〃She　caused　quite　a　sensation　at　the　drawing…room　last　weekas　I　hear。　This　everlasting　gout　kept　me　indoors　all　day。　And　she　is　as　good　as　she　is　beautiful。〃

The　earl　was　not　partial。　Lady　Isabel　was　wondrously　gifted　by　nature；　not　only　in　mind　and　person　but　in　heart。　She　was　as　little　like　a　fashionable　young　lady　as　it　was　well　possible　to　be；　partly　because　she　had　hitherto　been　secluded　from　the　great　world；　partly　from　the　care　bestowed　upon　her　training。　During　the　lifetime　of　her　mother；　she　had　lived　occasionally　at　East　Lynne；　but　mostly　at　a　larger　seat　of　the　earl's　in　Wales；　Mount　Severn；　since　her　mother's　death；　she　had　remained　entirely　at　Mount　Severn；　under　the　charge　of　a　judicious　governess；　a　very　small　establishment　being　kept　for　them；　and　the　earl　paying　them　impromptu　and　flying　visits。　Generous　and　benevolent　she　was；　timid　and　sensitive　to　a　degree；　gentle；　and　considerate　to　all。　Do　not　cavil　at　her　being　thus　praisedadmire　and　love　her　whilst　you　may；　she　is　worthy　of　it　now；　in　her　innocent　girlhood；　the　time　will　come　when　such　praise　would　be　misplaced。　Could　the　fate　that　was　to　overtake　his　child　have　been　foreseen　by　the　earl；　he　would　have　struck　her　down　to　death；　in　his　love；　as　she　stood　before　him；　rather　than　suffer　her　to　enter　upon　it。



CHAPTER　II。

THE　BROKEN　CROSS。

Lady　Isabel's　carriage　continued　its　way；　and　deposited　her　at　the　residence　of　Mrs。　Levison。　Mrs。　Levison　was　nearly　eighty　years　of　age；　and　very　severe　in　speech　and　manner；　or；　as　Mrs。　Vane　expressed　it；　〃crabbed。〃　She　looked　the　image　of　impatience　when　Isabel　entered；　with　her　cap　pushed　all　awry；　and　pulling　at　the　black　satin　gown；　for　Mrs。　Vane　had　kept　her　waiting　dinner；　and　Isabel　was　keeping　her　from　her　tea；　and　that　does　not　agree　with　the　aged；　with　their　health　or　with　their　temper。

〃I　fear　I　am　late；〃　exclaimed　Lady　Isabel；　as　she　advanced　to　Mrs。　Levison；　〃but　a　gentleman　dined　with　papa　to…day；　and　it　made　us　rather　longer　at　table。〃

〃You　are　twenty…five　minutes　behind　your　time；〃　cried　the　old　lady　sharply；　〃and　I　want　my　tea。　Emma；　order　it　in。〃

Mrs。　Vane　rang　the　bell；　and　did　as　she　was　bid。　She　was　a　little　woman　of　six…and…twenty；　very　plain　in　face；　but　elegant　in　figure；　very　accomplished；　and　vain　to　her　fingers'　ends。　Her　mother；　who　was　dead；　had　been　Mrs。　Levison's　daughter；　and　her　husband；　Raymond　Vane；　was　presumptive　heir　to　the　earldom　of　Mount　Severn。

〃Won't　you　take　that　tippet　off；　child？〃　asked　Mrs。　Levison；　who　knew　nothing　of　the　new…fashioned　names　for　such　articles；　mantles；　burnous；　and　all　the　string　of　them；　and　Isabel　threw　it　off　and　sat　down　by　her。

〃The　tea　is　not　made；　grandmamma！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Vane；　in　an　accent　of　astonishment；　as　the　servant　appeared　with　the　tray　and　the　silver　urn。　〃You　surely　do　not　have　it　made　in　the　room。〃

〃Where　should　I　have　it　made？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Levison。

〃It　is　much　more　convenient　to　have　it　brought　in；　ready　made；〃　said　Mrs。　Vane。　〃I　dislike　the　/embarass/　of　making　it。〃

〃Indeed！〃　was　the　reply　of　the　old　lady；　〃and　get　it　slopped　over　in　the　saucers；　and　as　cold　as　milk！　You　always　were　lazy；　Emmaand　given　to　use　those　French　words。　I'd　rather　stick　a　printed　label　on　my　forehead；　for　my　part；　'I　speak　French；'　and　let　the　world　know　it　in　that　way。〃

〃Who　makes　tea　for　you　in　general？〃　asked　Mrs。　Vane；　telegraphing　a　contemptuous　glance　to　Isabel　behind　her　grandmother。

But　the　eyes　of　Lady　Isabel　fell　timidly　and　a　blush　rose　to　her　cheeks。　She　did　not　like　to　appear　to　differ　from　Mrs。　Vane；　her　senior；　and　her　father's　guest；　but　her　mind　revolted　at　the　bare　idea　of　ingratitude　or　ridicule　cast　on　an　aged　parent。

〃Harriet　comes　in　and　makes　it　for　me；〃　replied　Mrs。　Levison；　〃aye；　and　sits　down　and　takes　it　with　me　when　I　am　alone；　which　is　pretty　often。　What　do　you　say　to　that；　Madame　Emmayou；　with　your　fine　notions？〃

〃Just　as　you　please；　of　course；　grandmamma。〃

〃And　there's　the　tea…caddy　at　your　elbow；　and　the　urn's　fizzing　away；　and　if　we　are　to　have　any　tea　to…night；　it　had　better　be　made。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　much　to　put　in；〃　grumbled　Mrs。　Vane；　who　had　the　greatest　horror　of　soiling　her　hands　or　her　gloves；　who；　in　short；　had　a　particular　antipathy　to　doing　anything　useful。

〃Shall　I　make　it；　dear　Mrs。　Levison？〃　said　Isabel；　rising　with　alacrity。　〃I　had　used　to　make　it　quite　as　often　as　my　governess　at　Mount　Severn；　and　I　make　it　for　papa。〃

〃Do；　child；〃　replied　the　old　lady。　〃You　are　worth　ten　of　her。〃