east lynne-第25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！



Barbara　made　no　reply；　but　she　turned　her　face　from　Miss　Carlyle。

On　Barbara's　return　to　the　house；　she　found　that　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　were　in　the　adjoining　room；　at　the　piano；　and　Barbara　had　an　opportunity　of　hearing　that　sweet　voice。　She　did；　as　Miss　Carlyle　confessed　to　have　done；　pushed　open　the　door　between　the　two　rooms；　and　looked　in。　It　was　the　twilight　hour；　almost　too　dusk　to　see；　but　she　could　distinguish　Isabel　seated　at　the　piano；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　standing　behind　her。　She　was　singing　one　of　the　ballads　from　the　opera　of　the　〃Bohemian　Girl；〃　〃When　other　Lips。〃

〃Why　do　you　like　that　song　so　much；　Archibald？〃　she　asked　when　she　had　finished　it。

〃I　don't　know。　I　never　liked　it　so　much　until　I　heard　it　from　you。〃

〃I　wonder　if　they　are　come　in。　Shall　we　go　into　the　next　room？〃

〃Just　this　one　firstthis　translation　from　the　German'　'Twere　vain　to　tell　thee　all　I　feel。'　There's　real　music　in　that　song。〃

〃Yes；　there　is。　Do　you　know；　Archibald；　your　taste　is　just　like　papa's。　He　liked　all　these　quiet；　imaginative　songs；　and　so　do　you。　And　so　do　I；〃　she　laughingly　added；　〃if　I　must　speak　the　truth。〃

She　ceased　and　began　the　song；　singing　it　exquisitely；　in　a　low；　sweet；　earnest　tone；　the　chords　of　the　accompaniment；　at　its　conclusion；　dying　off　gradually　into　silence。

〃There；　Archibald；　I　am　sure　I　have　sung　you　ten　songs　at　least；〃　she　said；　leaning　her　head　back　against　him；　and　looking　at　him　from　her　upturned　face。　〃You　ought　to　pay　me。〃

He　did　pay　her：　holding　the　dear　face　to　him；　and　taking　from　it　some　impassioned　kisses。　Barbara　turned　to　the　window；　a　low　moan　of　pain　escaping　her；　as　she　pressed　her　forehead　on　one　of　its　panes；　and　looked　forth　at　the　dusky　night。　Isabel　came　in　on　her　husband's　arm。

〃Are　you　here　alone；　Miss　Hare？　I　really　beg　your　pardon。　I　supposed　you　were　with　Miss　Carlyle。〃

〃Where　is　Cornelia；　Barbara？〃

〃I　have　just　come　in；〃　was　Barbara's　reply。　〃I　dare　say　she　is　following　me。〃

So　she　was；　for　she　entered　a　moment　after；　her　voice　raised　in　anger　at　the　gardener；　who　had　disobeyed　her　orders；　and　obeyed　the　wishes　of　Lady　Isabel。

The　evening　wore　on　to　ten；　and　as　the　time…piece　struck　the　hour；　Barbara　rose　from　her　chair　in　amazement。

〃I　did　not　think　it　was　so　late。　Surely　some　one　must　have　come　for　me。〃

〃I　will　inquire；〃　was　Lady　Isabel's　answer；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　touched　the　bell。　No　one　had　come　for　Miss　Hare。

〃Then　I　fear　I　must　trouble　Peter；〃　cried　Barbara。　〃Mamma　may　be　gone　to　rest；　tired；　and　papa　must　have　forgotten　me。　It　would　never　do　for　me　to　get　locked　out；〃　she　gaily　added。

〃As　you　were　one　night　before；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　significantly。

He　alluded　to　the　night　when　Barbara　was　in　the　grove　of　trees　with　her　unfortunate　brother；　and　Mr。　Hare　was　on　the　point；　unconsciously；　of　locking　her　out。　She　had　given　Mr。　Carlyle　the　history；　but　its　recollection　now　called　up　a　smart　pain；　and　a　change　passed　over　her　face。

〃Oh！　Don't；　Archibald；〃　she　uttered；　in　the　impulse　of　the　moment；　〃don't　recall　it。〃

Isabel　wondered。

〃Can　Peter　take　me？〃　continued　Barbara。

〃I　had　better　take　you；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃It　is　late。〃

Barbara's　heart　beat　at　the　words；　beat　as　she　put　her　things　onas　she　said　good…night　to　Lady　Isabel　and　Miss　Carlyle；　it　beat　to　throbbing　as　she　went　out　with　him；　and　took　his　arm。　All　just　as　it　used　to　beonly　now　that　he　was　the　husband　of　another。　Only！

It　was　a　warm；　lovely　June　night；　not　moonlight；　but　bright　with　its　summer　twilight。　They　went　down　the　park　into　the　road；　which　they　crossed；　and　soon　came　to　a　stile。　From　that　stile　there　led　a　path　through　the　fields　which　would　pass　the　back　of　Justice　Hare's。　Barbara　stopped　at　it。

〃Would　you　choose　the　field　way　to…night；　Barbara？　The　grass　will　be　damp；　and　this　is　the　longest　way。〃

〃But　we　shall　escape　the　dust　of　the　road。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；　if　you　prefer　it。　It　will　not　make　three　minutes'　difference。〃

〃He　is　very　anxious　to　get　home　to　/her/！〃　mentally　exclaimed　Barbara。　〃I　shall　fly　out　upon　him；　presently；　or　my　heart　will　burst。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　crossed　the　stile；　helped　over　Barbara；　and　then　gave　her　his　arm　again。　He　had　taken　her　parasol；　as　he　had　taken　it　the　last　night　they　had　walked　togetheran　elegant　little　parasol；　this；　of　blue　silk　and　white　lace；　and　he　did　not　switch　the　hedges　with　it。　That　night　was　present　to　Barbara　now；　with　all　its　words　and　its　delusive　hopes；　terribly　present　to　her　was　their　bitter　ending。

There　are　women　of　warm；　impulsive　temperaments　who　can　scarcely　help；　in　certain　moments　of　highly　wrought　excitement；　over…stepping　the　bounds　of　nature　and　decorum；　and　giving　the　reins　to　temper；　tongue；　and　imaginationmaking　a　scene；　in　short。　Barbara　had　been　working　herself　into　this　state　during　the　whole　evening。　The　affection　of　Isabel　for　her　husband；　her　voice；　his　caressesseen　through　the　half　open　doorshad　maddened　her。　She　felt　it　impossible　to　restrain　her　excitement。

Mr。　Carlyle　walked　on；　utterly　unconscious　that　a　storm　was　brewing。　More　than　that；　he　was　unconscious　of　having　given　cause　for　one；　and　dashed　into　an　indifferent；　common　place　topic　in　the　most　provoking　manner。

〃When　does　the　justice　begin　haymaking；　Barbara？〃

There　was　no　reply。　Barbara　was　swelling　and　panting；　and　trying　to　keep　her　emotion　down。　Mr。　Carlyle　tried　again；

〃Barbara；　I　asked　you　which　day　your　papa　cut　his　hay。〃

Still　no　reply。　Barbara　was　literally　incapable　of　making　one。　The　steam　of　excitement　was　on；　nearly　to　its　highest　pitch。　Her　throat　was　working；　the　muscles　of　her　mouth　began　to　twitch；　and　a　convulsive　sob；　or　what　sounded　like　it；　broke　from　her。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　his　head　hastily。

〃Barbara！　are　you　ill？　What　is　it？〃

On　it　came；　passion；　temper；　wrongs；　and　nervousness；　all　boiling　over　together。　She　shrieked；　she　sobbed；　she　was　in　strong　hysterics。　Mr。　Carlyle　half…carried；　half…dragged　her　to　the　second　stile；　and　placed　her　against　it；　his　arm　supporting　her；　and　an　old　cow　and　two　calves；　wondering　what　the　disturbance　could　mean　at　that　sober　time　of　night；　walked　up　and　stared　at　them。

Barbara　struggled　with　her　emotionstruggled　manfullyand　the　sobs　and　shrieks　subsided；　not　the　excitement　or　the　passion。　She　put　away　his　arm；　and　stood　with　her　back　to　the　stile；　leaning　against　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　felt　inclined　to　fly　to　the　pond　for　water；　but　he　had　nothing　but　his　hat　to　get　it　in。

〃Are　you　better；　Barbara？　What　can　have　caused　it？〃

〃What　can　have　caused　it？〃　she　burst　forth；　giving　full　swing　to　the　reins；　and　forgetting　everything。　〃/You/　can　ask　me　that？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　struck　dumb；　but　by　some　inexplicable　laws　of　sympathy；　a　dim　and　very　unpleasant　consciousness　of　the　truth　began　to　steal　over　him。

〃I　don't　understand　you；　Barbara。　If　I　have　offended　you　in　any　way；　I　am　truly　sorry。〃

〃Truly　sorry；　no　doubt！〃　was　the　retort；　the　sobs　and　the　shrieks　alarmingly　near。　〃What　do　you　care　for　me？　If　I　go　under　the　sod　to…morrow；〃　stamping　it　with　her　foot；　〃you　have　your　wife　to　care　for；　what　am　I？〃

〃Hush！〃　he　interposed；　glancing　round；　more　mindful　for　her　than　she　was　for　herself。

〃Hush；　yes！　You　would　like　me　to　hush；　what　is　my　misery　to　you？　I　would　rather　be　in　my　grave；　Archibald　Carlyle；　than　endure　the　life　I　have　led　since　you　married　her。　My　pain　is　greater　than　I　well　know　how　to　bear。〃

〃I　cannot　affect　to　misunderstand　you；〃　he　said；　feeling　more　at　a　nonplus　than　he　had　felt　for　many　a　day；　and　heartily　wishing　the　whole　female　creation；　save　Isabel；　somewhere。　〃But　my　dear　Barbara。　I　never　gave　you　cause　to　think　Ithat　Icared　for　you　more　than　I　did。〃

〃Never　gave　me　cause！〃　she　gasped。　〃When　you　have　been　coming　to　our　house　constantly；　almost　like　my　shadow；　when　you　gave　me　this〃　dashing　open　her　mantle；　and　holding　up　the　locket　to　his　view；　〃when　you　have　been　more　intimate　with　me　than　a　brother。〃

〃Stay；　Barbara。　There　it　isa　brother。　I　have　been　nothing　else；　it　never　occurred　to　me　to　be　anything　else；〃　he　added；　in　his　straightforward　truth。

〃Ay；　as　a　brother；　nothing　else！〃　and　her　voice　rose　once　more　with　her　excitement；　it　seemed　that　she　would　not　long　control　it。　〃What　cared　you　for　my　feelings？　What　recked　you　that　you　gained　my　love？〃

〃Barbara；　hush！〃　he　implored：　〃do　be　calm　and　reasonable。　If　I　ever　gave　you　cause　to　think　I　regarded　you　with　deeper　feelings；　I　can　only　express　to　you　my　deep　regret；　my　repentance；　and　assure　you　it　was　done　unconsciously。〃

She　was　growing　calmer。　The　passion　was　fading；　leaving　her　face　still　and　white。　She　lifted　it　toward　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃You　treated　me　ill　in　showing　signs　of　love；　if　you　felt　it　not。　Why　did　you　kiss　me？〃

〃I　kissed　you　as　I　might　kiss　a　sister。　Or　perhaps　as　a　pretty　girl；　man　likes　to　do　so。　The　close　terms　on　which　our　families　have　lived；　excused；　if　it　did　not　justify；　a　degree　of　familiarity　that　might　have　been　unseemly　in〃

〃You　need　not　tell　me　that；〃　hotly　interrupted　Barbara。　〃Had　it　been　a　stranger　who　had　won　my　love　and　then　thrown　me　from　him；　do　you　suppose　I　would　have　reproached　him　as　I　am　now　reproaching　you？　No；　I　would　have　died；　rather　than　that　he　should　have　suspected　it。　If　/she/　had　not　come　between　us；　should　you　have　loved　me？〃

〃Do　not　pursue　this　unthankful　topic；〃　he　besought；　almost　wishing　the　staring　cow　would　run　away　with　her。

〃I　ask　you；　should　you　have　loved　me？〃　persisted　Barbara；　passing　her　handkerchief　over　her　ashy　lips。

〃I　don't　know。　How　can　I　know？　Do　I　not　say　to　you；　Barbara；　that　I　only　thought　of　you　as　a　friend；　a　sister？　I　cannot　tell　what　might　have　been。〃

〃I　could　bear　it　better；　but　that　it　was　known；〃　she　murmured。　〃All　West　Lynne　had　coupled　us　together　in　their　prying　gossip；　and　they　have　only　pity　to　cast　on　me　now。　I　would　far　rather　you　have　killed　me；　Archibald。〃

〃I　can　but　express　to　you　my　deep　regret；〃　he　repeated。　〃I　can　only　hope　you　will　soon　forget　it　all。　Let　the　remembrance　of　this　conversation　pass　away　with　to…night；　let　us　still　be　to　each　other　as　friendsas　brother　and　sister。　Believe　me；〃　he　concluded；　in　a　deeper　tone；　〃the　confession　has　not　lessened　you　in　my　estimation。〃

He　made　a　movement　as　though　he　would　get　over　the　stile；　but　Barbara　did　not　stir；　the　tears　were　silently　coursing　down　her　pallid　face。　At　that　moment　there　was　an　interruption。

〃Is　that　you；　Miss　Barbara？〃

Barbara　started　as　if　she　had　been　shot。　On　the　other　side　of　the　stile　stood　Wilson；　their　upper　maid。　How　long　might　she　have　been　there？　She　began　to　explain　that　Mr。　Hare　had　sent　Jasper　out；　and　Mrs。　Hare　had　thought　it　better　to　wait　no　longer　for　the　man's　return；　so　had　dispatched　her；　Wilson；　for　Miss　Barbara。　Mr。　Carlyle　got　over　the　stile；　and　handed　over　Miss　Barbara。

〃You　need　not　come　any　further　now；〃　she　said　to　him　in　a　low　tone。

〃I　should　see　you　home；〃　was　his　reply；　and　he　held　out　his　arm。　Barbara　took　it。

They　walked　in　silence。　Arrived　at　the　back　gate　of　the　grove；　which　gave　entrance　to　the　kitchen　garden；　Wilson　went　forward。　Mr。　Carlyle　took　both　Barbara's　hands　in　his。

〃Good…night；　Barbara。　God　bless　you。〃

She　had　had　time　for　reflection；　and　the　excitement　gone；　she　saw　her　outbreak　in　all　it