east lynne-第4章

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or　a　cathedral　one；　nor　even　the　chief　town　of　the　county；　it　was　somewhat　primitive　in　its　manners　and　customs。　Passing　out　at　the　town；　toward　the　east；　you　came　upon　several　detached　gentleman's　houses；　in　the　vicinity　of　which　stood　the　church　of　St。　Jude；　which　was　more　aristocratic；　in　the　matter　of　its　congregation；　than　the　other　churches　of　West　Lynne。　For　about　a　mile　these　houses　were　scattered；　the　church　being　situated　at　their　commencement；　close　to　that　busy　part　of　the　place；　and　about　a　mile　further　on　you　came　upon　the　beautiful　estate　which　was　called　East　Lynne。

Between　the　gentlemen's　houses　mentioned　and　East　Lynne；　the　mile　of　road　was　very　solitary；　being　much　overshadowed　with　trees。　One　house　alone　stood　there；　and　that　was　about　three…quarters　of　a　mile　before　you　came　to　East　Lynne。　It　was　on　the　left　hand　side；　a　square；　ugly；　red　brick　house　with　a　weathercock　on　the　top；　standing　some　little　distance　from　the　road。　A　flat　lawn　extended　before　it；　and　close　to　the　palings；　which　divided　it　from　the　road；　was　a　grove　of　trees；　some　yards　in　depth。　The　lawn　was　divided　by　a　narrow　middle　gravel　path；　to　which　you　gained　access　from　the　portico　of　the　house。　You　entered　upon　a　large　flagged　hall　with　a　reception　room　on　either　hand；　and　the　staircase；　a　wide　one；　facing　you；　by　the　side　of　the　staircase　you　passed　on　to　the　servants'　apartments　and　offices。　That　place　was　called　the　Grove；　and　was　the　property　and　residence　of　Richard　Hare；　Esq。；　commonly　called　Mr。　Justice　Hare。

The　room　to　the　left　hand；　as　you　went　in；　was　the　general　sitting…　room；　the　other　was　very　much　kept　boxed　up　in　lavender　and　brown　Holland；　to　be　opened　on　state　occasions。　Justice　and　Mrs。　Hare　had　three　children；　a　son　and　two　daughters。　Annie　was　the　elder　of　the　girls；　and　had　married　young；　Barbara；　the　younger　was　now　nineteen；　and　Richard　the　eldestbut　we　shall　come　to　him　hereafter。

In　this　sitting…room；　on　a　chilly　evening；　early　in　May；　a　few　days　subsequent　to　that　which　had　witnessed　the　visit　of　Mr。　Carlyle　to　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn；　sat　Mrs。　Hare；　a　pale；　delicate　woman；　buried　in　shawls　and　cushions：　but　the　day　had　been　warm。　At　the　window　sat　a　pretty　girl；　very　fair；　with　blue　eyes；　light　hair；　a　bright　complexion；　and　small　aquiline　features。　She　was　listlessly　turning　over　the　leaves　of　a　book。

〃Barbara；　I　am　sure　it　must　be　tea…time　now。〃

〃The　time　seems　to　move　slowly　with　you；　mamma。　It　is　scarcely　a　quarter　of　an　hour　since　I　told　you　it　was　but　ten　minutes　past　six。〃

〃I　am　so　thirsty！〃　announced　the　poor　invalid。　〃Do　go　and　look　at　the　clock　again；　Barbara。〃

Barbara　Hare　rose　with　a　gesture　of　impatience；　not　suppressed；　opened　the　door；　and　glanced　at　the　large　clock　in　the　hall。　〃It　wants　nine　and　twenty　minutes　to　seven；　mamma。　I　wish　you　would　put　your　watch　on　of　a　day；　four　times　you　have　sent　me　to　look　at　that　clock　since　dinner。〃

〃I　am　so　thirsty！〃　repeated　Mrs。　Hare；　with　a　sort　of　sob。　〃If　seven　o'clock　would　but　strike！　I　am　dying　for　my　tea。〃

It　may　occur　to　the　reader；　that　a　lady　in　her　own　house；　〃dying　for　her　tea；〃　might　surely　order　it　brought　in；　although　the　customary　hour　had　not　struck。　Not　so　Mrs。　Hare。　Since　her　husband　had　first　brought　her　home　to　that　house；　four　and　twenty…years　ago；　she　had　never　dared　to　express　a　will　in　it；　scarcely；　on　her　own　responsibility；　to　give　an　order。　Justice　Hare　was　stern；　imperative；　obstinate；　and　self…conceited；　she；　timid；　gentle　and　submissive。　She　had　loved　him　with　all　her　heart；　and　her　life　had　been　one　long　yielding　of　her　will　to　his；　in　fact；　she　had　no　will；　his　was　all　in　all。　Far　was　she　from　feeling　the　servitude　a　yoke：　some　natures　do　not：　and　to　do　Mr。　Hare　justice；　his　powerful　will　that　/must/　bear　down　all　before　it；　was　in　fault：　not　his　kindness：　he　never　meant　to　be　unkind　to　his　wife。　Of　his　three　children；　Barbara　alone　had　inherited　his　will。

〃Barbara；〃　began　Mrs。　Hare　again；　when　she　thought　another　quarter　of　an　hour　at　least　must　have　elapsed。

〃Well；　mamma？〃

〃Ring；　and　tell　them　to　be　getting　it　in　readiness　so　that　when　seven　strikes　there　may　be　no　delay。〃

〃Goodness；　mamma！　You　know　they　do　always　have　it　ready。　And　there's　no　such　hurry；　for　papa　may　not　be　at　home。〃　But　she　rose；　and　rang　the　bell　with　a　petulant　motion；　and　when　the　man　answered　it；　told　him　to　have　tea　in　to　its　time。

〃If　you　knew　dear；　how　dry　my　throat　is；　how　parched　my　mouth；　you　would　have　more　patience　with　me。〃

Barbara　closed　her　book　with　a　listless　air；　and　turned　listlessly　to　the　window。　She　seemed　tired；　not　with　fatigue　but　with　what　the　French　express　by　the　word　/ennui/。　〃Here　comes　papa；〃　she　presently　said。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad！〃　cried　poor　Mrs。　Hare。　〃Perhaps　he　will　not　mind　having　the　tea　in　at　once；　if　I　told　him　how　thirsty　/I/　am。〃

The　justice　came　in。　A　middle　sized　man；　with　pompous　features；　and　a　pompous　walk；　and　a　flaxen　wig。　In　his　aquiline　nose；　compressed　lips；　and　pointed　chin；　might　be　traced　a　resemblance　to　his　daughter；　though　he　never　could　have　been　half　so　good…looking　as　was　pretty　Barbara。

〃Richard；〃　spoke　up　Mrs。　Hare　from　between　her　shawls；　the　instant　he　opened　the　door。

〃Well？〃

〃Would　you　please　let　me　have　tea　in　now？　Would　you　very　much　mind　taking　it　a　little　earlier　this　evening？　I　am　feverish　again；　and　my　tongue　is　so　parched　I　don't　know　how　to　speak。〃

〃Oh；　it's　near　seven；　you　won't　have　long　to　wait。〃

With　this　exceedingly　gracious　answer　to　an　invalid's　request；　Mr。　Hare　quitted　the　room　again　and　banged　the　door。　He　had　not　spoken　unkindly　or　roughly；　simply　with　indifference。　But　ere　Mrs。　Hare's　meek　sigh　of　disappointment　was　over；　the　door　re…opened；　and　the　flaxen　wig　was　thrust　in　again。

〃I　don't　mind　if　I　do　have　it　now。　It　will　be　a　fine　moonlight　night　and　I　am　going　with　Pinner　as　far　as　Beauchamp's　to　smoke　a　pipe。　Order　it　in；　Barbara。〃

The　tea　was　made　and　partaken　of；　and　the　justice　departed　for　Mr。　Beauchamp's；　Squire　Pinner　calling　for　him　at　the　gate。　Mr。　Beauchamp　was　a　gentleman　who　farmed　a　great　deal　of　land；　and　who　was　also　Lord　Mount　Severn's　agent　or　steward　for　East　Lynne。　He　lived　higher　up　the　road　some　little　distance　beyond　East　Lynne。

〃I　am　so　cold；　Barbara；〃　shivered　Mrs。　Hare；　as　she　watched　the　justice　down　the　gravel　path。　〃I　wonder　if　your　papa　would　say　it　was　foolish　of　me；　if　I　told　them　to　light　a　bit　of　fire？〃

〃Have　it　lighted　if　you　like；〃　responded　Barbara；　ringing　the　bell。　〃Papa　will　know　nothing　about　it；　one　way　or　the　other；　for　he　won't　be　home　till　after　bedtime。　Jasper；　mamma　is　cold；　and　would　like　a　fire　lighted。〃

〃Plenty　of　sticks；　Jasper；　that　it　may　burn　up　quickly；〃　said　Mrs。　Hare；　in　a　pleading　voice；　as　if　the　sticks　were　Jasper's　and　not　hers。

Mrs。　Hare　got　her　fire；　and　she　drew　her　chair　in　front；　and　put　her　feet　on　the　fender；　to　catch　its　warmth。　Barbara；　listless　still；　went　into　the　hall；　took　a　woolen　shawl　from　the　stand　there；　threw　it　over　her　shoulders；　and　went　out。　She　strolled　down　the　straight　formal　path；　and　stood　at　the　iron　gate；　looking　over　it　into　the　public　road。　Not　very　public　in　that　spot；　and　at　that　hour；　but　as　lonely　as　one　could　wish。　The　night　was　calm　and　pleasant；　though　somewhat　chilly　for　the　beginning　of　May；　and　the　moon　was　getting　high　in　the　sky。

〃When　will　he　come　home？〃　she　murmured；　as　she　leaned　her　head　upon　the　gate。　〃Oh；　what　would　life　be　like　without　him？　How　miserable　these　few　days　have　been！　I　wonder　what　took　him　there！　I　wonder　what　is　detaining　him！　Corny　said　he　was　only　gone　for　a　day。〃

The　faint　echo　of　footsteps　in　the　distance　stole　upon　her　ear；　and　Barbara　drew　a　little　back；　and　hid　herself　under　the　shelter　of　the　trees；　not　choosing　to　be　seen　by　any　stray　passer…by。　But；　as　they　drew　near；　a　sudden　change　came　over　her；　her　eyes　lighted　up；　her　cheeks　were　dyed　with　crimson；　and　her　veins　tingled　with　excess　of　rapturefor　she　knew　those　footsteps；　and　loved　them；　only　too　well。

Cautiously　peeping　over　the　gate　again；　she　looked　down　the　road。　A　tall　form；　whose　very　height　and　strength　bore　a　grace　of　which　its　owner　was　unconscious；　was　advancing　rapidly　toward　her　from　the　direction　of　West　Lynne。　Again　she　shrank　away；　true　love　is　ever　timid；　and　whatever　may　have　been　Barbara　Hare's　other　qualities；　her　love　at　least　was　true　and　deep。　But　instead　of　the　gate　opening；　with　the　firm　quick　motion　peculiar　to　the　hand　which　guided　it；　the　footsteps　seemed　to　pass；　and　not　to　have　turned　at　all　toward　it。　Barbara's　heart　sank；　and　she　stole　to　the　gate　again；　and　looked　out　with　a　yearning　look。

Yes；　sure　enough　he　was　striding　on；　not　thinking　of　her；　not　coming　to　her；　and　she；　in　the　disappointment　and　impulse　of　the　moment；　called　to　him；

〃Archibald！〃

Mr。　Carlyleit　was　no　otherturned　on　his　heel；　and　approached　the　gate。

〃Is　it　you；　Barbara！　Watching　for　thieves　and　poachers？　How　are　you？〃

〃How　are　you？〃　she　returned；　holding　the　gate　open　for　him　to　enter；　as　he　shook　hands；　and　striving　to　calm　down　her　agitation。　〃When　did　you　return？〃

〃Only　now；　by　the　eight　o'clock　train；　which　got　in　beyond　its　time；　having　drawled　unpardonably　at　the　stations。　They　little　thought　they　had　me　in　it；　as　their　looks　betrayed　when　I　got　out。　I　have　not　been　home　yet。〃

〃No！　What　will　Cornelia　say？〃

〃I　went　to　the　office　for　five　minutes。　But　I　have　a　few　words　to　say　to　Beauchamp；　and　am　going　up　at　once。　Thank　you；　I　cannot　come　in　now；　I　intend　to　do　so　on　my　return。〃

〃Papa　has　gone　up　to　Mr。　Beauchamp's。〃

〃Mr。　Hare！　Has　he？〃

〃He　and　Squire　Pinner；〃　continued　Barbara。　〃They　have　gone　to　have　a　smoking　bout。　And　if　you　wait　there　with　papa；　it　will　be　too　late　to　come　in；　for　he　is　sure　not　to　be　home　before　eleven　or　twelve。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　bent　his　head　in　deliberation。　〃Then　I　think　it　is　of　little　use　my　going　on；〃　said　he；　〃for　my　business　with　Beauchamp　is　private。　I　must　defer　it　until　to…morrow。〃

He　took　the　gate　out　of　her　hand；　closed　it；　and　placed　the　hand　within　his　own　arm；　to　walk　with　her　to　the　house。　It　was　done　in　a　matter…of…fact；　real　sort　of　way；　nothing　of　romance　or　sentiment　hallowed　it；　but　Barbara　Hare　felt　that　she　was　in　Eden。

〃And　how　have　you　all　been；　Barbara；　these　few　days？〃

〃Oh；　very　well。　What　made　you　start　off　so　suddenly？　You　never　said　you　were　going；　or　came　to　wish　us　good…bye。〃

〃You　have　just　expressed　it；　Barbara'suddenly。'　A　matter　of　business　suddenly　arose；　and　I　suddenly　went　upon　it。〃

〃Cornelia　said　you　were　only　gone　for　a　day。〃

〃Did　she？　When　in　London　I　find　so　many　things　to　do！　Is　Mrs。　Hare　better？〃

〃Just　the　same。　I　think　mamma's　ailments　are　fancies；　half　of　them；　if　she　would　rouse　herself　she　would　be　better。　What　is　in　that　parcel？〃

〃You　are　not　to　inquire；　Miss　Barbara。　It　does　not　concern　you。　It　only　concerns　Mrs。　Hare。〃

〃Is　it　something　you　have　brought　for　mamma；　Archibald？〃

〃Of　course。　A　countryman's　visit　to　London　entails　buying　presents　for　his　friends；　at　least；　it　used　to　be　so；　in　the　old…fashioned　days。〃

〃When　people　made　their　wills　before　starting；　and　were　a　fortnight　doing　the　journey　in　a　wagon；〃　laughed　Barbara。　〃Grandpapa　used　to　tell　us　tales　of