east lynne-第29章

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〃The　bag；　Miss　Barbara。〃

Away　tore　Barbara；　leaving　Benjamin　and　the　bag　in　wonder。　She　had　caught　sight　of　Mr。　Wainwright；　the　surgeon；　at　a　little　distance；　and　sped　toward　him。

〃Mr。　Wainwright；〃　began　she；　forgetting　ceremony　in　her　agitation；　〃you　see　that　gentleman　talking　to　Otway　Bethelwho　is　he？〃

Mr。　Wainwright　had　to　put　his　glasses　across　the　bridge　of　his　nose　before　he　could　answer；　for　he　was　short…sighted。　〃That？　Oh；　it　is　a　Captain　Thorn。　He　is　visiting　the　Herberts；　I　believe。〃

〃Where　does　he　come　from？　Where　does　he　live？〃　reiterated　Barbara　in　her　eagerness。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　him。　I　saw　him　this　morning　with　young　Smith；　and　he　told　me　he　was　a　friend　of　the　Herberts。　You　are　not　looking　well；　Miss　Barbara。〃

She　made　no　answer。　Captain　Thorn　and　Mr。　Bethel　came　walking　down　the　street；　and　the　latter　saluted　her；　but　she　was　too　much　confused　to　respond　to　it。　Mr。　Wainwright　then　wished　her　good　day；　and　Barbara　walked　slowly　back。　Mrs。　Hare　was　appearing　at　the　shop　door。

〃My　dear；　how　long　you　are！　Cannot　the　bag　be　found？〃

〃I　went　to　speak　to　Mr。　Wainwright；〃　answered　Barbara；　mechanically　taking　the　bag　from　Benjamin　and　giving　it　to　her　mother；　her　whole　heart　and　eyes　still　absorbed　with　that　one　object　moving　away　in　the　distance。

〃You　look　pale；　child。　Are　you　well？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　quite。　Let　us　get　our　shopping　over；　mamma。〃

She　moved　on　to　their　places　at　the　counter　as　she　spoke；　eager　to　〃get　it　over〃　and　be　at　home；　that　she　might　have　time　for　thought。　Mrs。　Hare　wondered　what　had　come　to　her；　the　pleased　interest　displayed　in　their　purchases　previously　was　now　gone；　and　she　sat　inattentive　and　absorbed。

〃Now；　my　dear；　it　is　only　waiting　for　you　to　choose。　Which　of　the　two　silks　will　you　have？〃

〃Eitherany。　Take　which　you　like；　mamma。〃

〃Barbara；　what　/has/　come　to　you？〃

〃I　believe　I　am　tired；〃　said　Barbara；　with　a　forced　laugh；　as　she　compelled　herself　to　pay　some　sort　of　attention。　〃I　don't　like　the　green；　I　will　take　the　other。〃

They　arrived　at　home。　Barbara　got　just　five　minutes　alone　in　her　chamber　before　the　dinner　was　on　the　table。　All　the　conclusion　she　could　come　to　was；　/she/　could　do　nothing　save　tell　the　facts　to　Archibald　Carlyle。

How　could　she　contrive　to　see　him？　The　business　might　admit　of　no　delay。　She　supposed　she　must　go　to　East　Lynne　that　evening；　but　where　would　be　her　excuse　for　it　at　home？　Puzzling　over　it；　she　went　down　to　dinner。　During　the　meal；　Mrs。　Hare　began　talking　of　some　silk　she　had　purchased　for　a　mantle。　She　should　have　it　made　like　Miss　Carlyle's　new　one。　When　Miss　Carlyle　was　at　the　grove；　the　other　day；　about　Wilson's　character；　she　offered　her　the　pattern；　and　she；　Mrs。　Hare；　would　send　one　of　the　servants　up　for　it　after　dinner。

〃Oh；　mamma；　let　me　go！〃　burst　forth　Barbara；　and　so　vehemently　spoke　she；　that　the　justice　paused　in　carving；　and　demanded　what　ailed　her。　Barbara　made　some　timid　excuse。

〃Her　eagerness　is　natural；　Richard；〃　smiled　Mrs。　Hare。　〃Barbara　thinks　she　shall　get　a　peep　at　the　baby；　I　expect。　All　young　folks　are　fond　of　babies。〃

Barbara's　face　flushed　crimson；　but　she　did　not　contradict　the　opinion。　She　could　not　eat　her　dinnershe　was　too　full　of　poor　Richard；　she　played　with　it；　and　then　sent　away　her　plate　nearly　untouched。

〃That's　through　the　finery　she's　been　buying；〃　pronounced　Justice　Hare。　〃Her　head　is　stuffed　up　with　it。〃

No　opposition　was　offered　to　Barbara's　going　to　East　Lynne。　She　reached　it　just　as　their　dinner　was　over。　It　was　for　Miss　Carlyle　she　asked。

〃Miss　Carlyle　is　not　at　home；　miss。　She　is　spending　the　day　out；　and　my　lady　does　not　receive　visitors　yet。〃

It　was　a　sort　of　checkmate。　Barbara　was　compelled　to　say　she　would　see　Mr。　Carlyle。　Peter　ushered　her　into　the　drawing…room；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　came　to　her。

〃I　am　so　very　sorry　to　disturb　youto　have　asked　for　you；〃　began　Barbara；　with　a　burning　face；　for；　somehow；　a　certain　evening　interview　of　hers　with　him；　twelve　months　before；　was　disagreeably　present　to　her。　Never；　since　that　evening　of　agitation；　had　Barbara　suffered　herself　to　betray　emotion　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　her　manner　to　him　had　been　calm；　courteous；　and　indifferent。　And　she　now　more　frequently　called　him　〃Mr。　Carlyle〃　than　〃Archibald。〃

〃Take　a　seattake　a　seat；　Barbara。〃

〃I　asked　for　Miss　Carlyle；〃　she　continued；　〃for　mamma　is　in　want　of　a　pattern　that　she　promised　to　lend　her。　You　remember　the　Lieutenant　Thorn　whom　Richard　spoke　of　as　being　the　real　criminal？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　think　he　is　at　West　Lynne。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　aroused　to　eager　interest。

〃He！　The　same　Thorn？〃

〃It　can　be　no　other。　Mamma　and　I　were　shopping　to…day；　and　I　went　out　for　her　bag；　which　she　left　in　the　carriage。　While　Benjamin　was　getting　it；　I　saw　a　stranger　coming　up　the　streeta　tall；　good…　looking；　dark…haired　man；　with　a　conspicuous　gold　chain　and　studs。　The　sun　was　full　upon　him；　causing　the　ornaments　to　shine；　especially　a　diamond　ring　which　he　wore；　for　he　had　one　hand　raised　to　his　face。　The　thought　flashed　over　me；　'That　is　just　like　the　description　Richard　gave　of　the　man　Thorn。'　Why　the　idea　should　have　occurred　to　me　in　that　strange　manner；　I　do　not　know；　but　it　most　assuredly　did　occur；　though　I　did　not　really　suppose　him　to　be　the　same。　Just　then　I　heard　him　spoken　to　by　some　one　on　the　other　side　of　the　street；　it　was　Otway　Bethel；　and　he　called　him　/Captain　Thorn/。〃

〃This　is　curious；　indeed；　Barbara。　I　did　not　know　any　stranger　was　at　West　Lynne。〃

〃I　saw　Mr。　Wainwright；　and　asked　him　who　it　was。　He　said　a　Captain　Thorn；　a　friend　of　the　Herberts。　A　Lieutenant　Thorn　four　or　five　years　ago　would　probably　be　Captain　Thorn　now。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　nodded；　and　there　was　a　pause。

〃What　can　be　done？〃　asked　Barbara。

Mr。　Carlyle　was　passing　one　hand　over　his　brow；　it　was　a　habit　of　his　when　in　deep　thought。

〃It　is　hard　to　say　what　is　to　be　done；　Barbara。　The　description　you　gave　of　this　man　certainly　tallies　with　that　given　by　Richard。　Did　he　look　like　a　gentleman？〃

〃Very　much　so。　A　remarkably　aristocratic　looking　man；　as　it　struck　me。

Mr。　Carlyle　again　nodded　assentingly。　He　remembered　Richard's　words；　when　describing　the　other：　〃an　out…and…out　aristocrat。〃　〃Of　course；　Barbara；　the　first　thing　must　be　to　try　and　ascertain　whether　it　is　the　same；〃　he　observed。　〃If　we　find　it　is；　then　we　must　deliberate　upon　future　measures。　I　will　see　what　I　can　pick　up　and　let　you　know。〃

Barbara　rose。　Mr。　Carlyle　escorted　her　across　the　hall；　and　then　strolled　down　the　park　by　her　side；　deep　in　the　subject；　and　quite　unconscious　that　Lady　Isabel's　jealous　eyes　were　watching　them　from　her　dressing…room　window。

'You　say　he　seemed　intimate　with　Otway　Bethel？〃

〃As　to　being　intimate；　I　cannot　say。　Otway　Bethel　spoke　as　though　he　knew　him。〃

〃This　must　have　caused　excitement　to　Mrs。　Hare。〃

〃You　forget；　Archibald；　that　mamma　was　not　told　anything　about　Thorn；〃　was　the　answer　of　Barbara。　〃The　uncertainty　would　have　worried　her　to　death。　All　Richard　said　to　her　was；　that　he　was　innocent；　that　it　was　a　stranger　who　did　the　deed；　and　she　asked　for　no　particulars；　she　had　implicit　faith　in　Richard's　truth。〃

〃True；　I　did　forget；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　wish　we　could　find　out　some　one　who　knew　the　other　Thorn；　to　ascertain　that　they　were　the　same　would　be　a　great　point　gained。〃

He　went　as　far　as　the　park　gates　with　Barbara；　shook　hands　and　wished　her　good　evening。　Scarcely　had　she　departed　when　Mr。　Carlyle　saw　two　gentlemen　advancing　from　the　opposite　direction；　in　one　of　whom　he　recognized　Tom　Herbert；　and　the　otherinstinct　told　himwas　Captain　Thorn。　He　waited　till　they　came　up。

〃If　this　isn't　lucky；　seeing　you；〃　cried　Mr。　Tom　Herbert；　who　was　a　free…and…easy　sort　of　a　gentleman；　the　second　son　of　a　brother　justice　of　Mr。　Hare。　〃I　wish　to　goodness　you'd　give　us　a　draught　of　your　cider；　Carlyle。　We　went　up　to　Beauchamp's　for　a　stroll；　but　found　them　all　out；　and　I'm　awful　thirsty。　Captain　Thorn；　Carlyle。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　invited　them　to　his　house　and　ordered　in　refreshments。　Young　Herbert　coolly　threw　himself　into　an　arm…chair　and　lit　a　cigar。　〃Come；　Thorn；〃　cried　he；　〃here's　a　weed　for　you。〃

Captain　Thorn　glanced　toward　Mr。　Carlyle；　he　appeared　of　a　far　more　gentlemanly　nature　than　Tom　Herbert。

〃You'll　have　one　too；　Carlyle；〃　said　Herbert；　holding　out　his　cigar…　case。　〃Oh；　I　forgotyou　are　a　muff；　don't　smoke　one　twice　a　year。　I　say　how's　Lady　Isabel？〃

〃Very　ill　still。〃

〃By　Jove！　Is　she；　though？　Tell　her　I　am　sorry　to　hear　it；　will　you；　Carlyle？　ButI　say！　Will　she　smell　the　smoke？〃　asked　he；　with　a　mixture　of　alarm　and　concern　in　his　face。

Mr。　Carlyle　reassured　him　upon　the　point；　and　turned　to　Captain　Thorn。

〃Are　you　acquainted　with　this　neighborhood？〃

Captain　Thorn　smiled。　〃I　only　reached　West　Lynne　yesterday。〃

〃You　were　never　here　before　then？〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle；　setting　down　the　last　as　a　probably　evasive　answer。

〃No。〃

〃He　and　my　brother　Jack；　you　know；　are　in　the　same　regiment；〃　put　in　Tom；　with　scanty　ceremony。　〃Jack　had　invited　him　down　for　some　fishing　and　that；　and　Thorn　arrives。　But　he　never　sent　word　he　was　coming；　you　see；　Jack　had　given　him　up；　and　is　off　on　some　Irish　expedition；　the　deuce　knows　where。　Precious　unlucky　that　it　should　have　happened　so。　Thorn　says　he　shall　cut　short　his　stay；　and　go　again。〃

The　conversation　turned　upon　fishing；　and　in　the　heat　of　the　argument；　the　stranger　mentioned　a　certain　pond　and　its　famous　eelsthe　〃Low　Pond。〃　Mr。　Carlyle　looked　at　him；　speaking；　however　in　a　careless　manner。

〃Which　do　you　mean？　We　have　two　ponds　not　far　apart；　each　called　the　'Low　Pond'　〃

〃I　mean　the　one　on　an　estate　about　three　miles　form　hereSquire　Thorpe's；　unless　I　am　mistaken。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　smiled。　〃I　think　you　must　have　been　in　the　neighborhood　before；　Captain　Thorn。　Squire　Thorpe　is　dead　and　the　property　has　passed　to　his　daughter's　husband；　and　that　Low　Pond　was　filled　up　three　years　ago。〃

〃I　have　heard　a　friend　mention　it；〃　was　Captain　Thorn's　reply；　spoken　in　an　indifferent　tone；　though　he　evidently　wished　not　to　pursue　the　subject。

Mr。　Carlyle；　by　easy　degrees；　turned　the　conversation　upon　Swainson；　the　place　where　Richard　Hare's　Captain　Thorn　was　suspected　to　have　come。　The　present　Captain　Thorn　said　he　knew　it　〃a　little；〃　he　had　once　been　〃staying　there　a　short　time。〃　Mr。　Carlyle　became　nearly　convinced　that　Barbara's　suspicions　were　correct。　The　description　certainly　agreed；　so　far　as　he　could　judge；　in　the　most　minute　particulars。　The　man　before　him　wore　two　rings；　a　diamondand　a　very　beautiful　diamond　tooon　the　one　hand；　a　seal　ring　on　the　other；　his　hands　were　delicate　to　a　degree；　and　his　handkerchief；　a　cambric　one　of　unusually　fine　texture；　was　not　entirely　guiltless　of　scent。　Mr。　Carlyle　quitted　the　room　for　a　moment　and　summoned　Joyce　to　him。

〃My　lady　has　been　asking　for　you；〃　said　Joyce。

〃Tell　her　I　will　be　up　the　moment　these　gentlemen　leave；　Joyce；〃　he　added；　〃find　an　excuse　to　come　into　the　room　presently；　you　can　bring　something　or　other　in；　I　want　you　to　look　at　this　stranger　who　is　with　young　Mr。　Herbert。　Notice　him　well；　I　fancy　you　may　have　seen　him　before。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　the　room；　leaving　Joyce　surprised。　However；　she　presently　followed；　t