east lynne-第49章

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〃No；〃　said　Justice　Hare；　planting　himself　between　her　and　the　door；　〃that's　the　way　you　like　to　get　out　of　my　reach　when　I　am　talking　to　you。　You　won't　go；　so　sit　down　again。　I'll　tell　you　of　your　ill…　conduct　before　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　see　if　that　will　shame　you。〃

Barbara　resumed　her　seat；　a　rush　of　crimson　dyeing　her　cheeks。　And　Mr。　Carlyle　looked　inquiringly；　seeming　to　ask　an　explanation　of　her　distress。　The　justice　continued　after　his　own　fashion。

〃You　know；　Carlyle；　that　horrible　blow　that　fell　upon　us；　that　shameless　disgrace。　Well；　because　the　parish　can't　clack　enough　about　the　fact　itself；　it　must　begin　about　Barbara；　saying　that　the　disgrace　and　humiliation　are　reflected　upon　her；　and　that　nobody　will　come　near　her　to　ask　her　to　be　his　wife。　One　would　think；　rather　than　lie　under　the　stigma　and　afford　the　parish　room　to　talk；　she'd　marry　the　first　man　that　came；　if　it　was　the　parish　beadleanybody　else　would。　But　now；　what　are　the　facts？　You'll　stare　when　you　know　them。　She　has　received　a　bushel　of　good　offersa　bushel　of　them；〃　repeated　the　justice；　dashing　his　hand　down　on　his　knee；　〃and　she　says　'No！'　to　all。　The　last　was　to…day；　from　Major　Thorn；　and；　my　young　lady　takes　and　puts　the　stopper　upon　it；　as　usual；　without　reference　to　me　or　her　mother；　without　saying　with　your　leave　or　by　your　leave。　She　wants　to　be　kept　in　her　room　for　a　week　upon　bread　and　water；　to　bring　her　to　her　senses。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　Barbara。　She　was　sitting　meekly　under　the　infliction；　her　wet　eyelashes　falling　on　her　flushed　cheeks　and　shading　her　eyes。　The　justice　was　heated　enough；　and　had　pushed　his　flaxen　wig　nearly　hind…part　before；　in　the　warmth　of　his　argument。

〃What　did　you　say　to　her？〃　snapped　the　justice。

〃Matrimony　may　not　have　charms　for　Barbara；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle　half　jokingly。

〃Nothing　does　have　charms　for　her　that　ought　to　have；〃　growled　Justice　Hare。　〃She's　one　of　the　contrary　ones。　By　the　way；　though；〃　hastily　resumed　the　justice；　leaving　the　objectionable　subject；　as　another　flashed　across　his　memory；　〃they　were　coupling　your　name　and　matrimony　together；　Carlyle；　last　night；　at　the　Buck's　Head。〃

A　very　perceptible　tinge　of　red　rose　to　the　face　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　telling　of　inward　emotion；　but　his　voice　and　manner　betrayed　none。

〃Indeed；〃　he　carelessly　said。

〃Ah；　you　are　a　sly　one；　you　are；　Carlyle。　Remember　how　sly　you　were　over　your　first〃　marriage；　Justice　Hare　was　going　to　bring　out；　but　it　suddenly　occurred　to　him　that　all　circumstances　considered；　it　was　not　precisely　the　topic　to　recall　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　So　he　stopped　himself　in　the　utterance；　coughed；　and　went　on　again。　〃There　you　go；　over　to　see　Sir　John　Dobede；　/not/　to　see　Sir　John；　but　paying　court　to　Miss　Dobede。〃

〃So　the　Buck's　Head　was　amusing　itself　with　that！〃　good…naturedly　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Well；　Miss　Dobede　is　going　to　be　married；　and　I　am　drawing　up　the　settlements。〃

〃It's　not　she；　she　marries　young　Somerset；　everybody　knows　that。　It's　the　other　one；　Louisa。　A　nice　girl；　Carlyle。〃

〃Very；〃　responded　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　it　was　all　the　answer　he　gave。　The　justice；　tired　of　sitting　indoors；　tired；　perhaps；　of　extracting　nothing　satisfactory　from　Mr。　Carlyle；　rose；　shook　himself；　set　his　wig　aright　before　the　chimney…glass；　and　quitted　the　house　on　his　customary　evening　visit　to　the　Buck's　Head。　Barbara；　who　watched　him　down　the　path；　saw　that　he　encountered　someone　who　happened　to　be　passing　the　gate。　She　could　not　at　first　distinguish　who　it　might　be；　nothing　but　an　arm　and　shoulder　cased　in　velveteen　met　her　view；　but　as　their　positions　changed　in　conversationhis　and　her　father'sshe　saw　that　it　was　Locksley；　he　had　been　the　chief　witness；　not　a　vindictive　one；　he　could　not　help　himself；　against　her　brother　Richard；　touching　the　murder　of　Hallijohn。

Meanwhile　Mrs。　Hare　had　drawn　Mr。　Carlyle　into　a　chair　close　by　her　own。

〃Archibald；　will　you　forgive　me　if　I　say　a　word　upon　the　topic　introduced　by　Mr。　Hare？〃　she　said；　in　a　low　tone；　as　she　shook　his　hand。　〃You　know　how　fondly　I　have　ever　regarded　you；　second　only　to　my　poor　Richard。　Your　welfare　and　happiness　are　precious　to　me。　I　wish　I　could　in　any　way　promote　them。　It　occurs　to　me；　sometimes；　that　you　are　not　at　present　so　happy　as　you　might　be。〃

〃I　have　some　sources　of　happiness；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃My　children　and　I　have　plenty　of　sources　of　interest。　What　do　you　mean；　dear　Mrs。　Hare？〃

〃Your　home　might　be　made　happier。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　smiled；　nearly　laughed。　〃Cornelia　takes　care　of　that；　as　she　did　in　the　old　days；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　I　know。　Would　it　not　be　as　well　to　consider　whether　she　would　not　be　better　in　a　home　of　her　ownand　for　you　to　give　East　Lynne　another　mistress？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Archibald；　it　would　be　happier　for　you；　it　would　indeed。　It　is　only　in　new　ties　that　you　can　forget　the　past。　You　might　find　recompense　yet　for　the　sorrow　you　have　gone　through；　and　I　know　none；〃　repeated　Mrs。　Hare；　emphatically；　〃more　calculated　to　bring　it　you　than　that　sweet　girl；　Louisa　Dobede。〃

〃So　long　as〃　Mr。　Carlyle　was　beginning；　and　had　not　got　so　far　in　his　sentence；　when　he　was　interrupted　by　an　exclamation　from　Barbara。

〃What　can　be　the　matter　with　papa？　Locksley　must　have　said　something　to　anger　him。　He　is　coming　in　the　greatest　passion；　mamma；　his　face　crimson；　and　his　hands　and　arms　working。〃

〃Oh；　dear；　Barbara！〃　was　all　poor　Mrs。　Hare's　reply。　The　justice's　great　bursts　of　passion　frightened　her。

In　he　came；　closed　the　door；　and　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　looking　alternately　at　Mrs。　Hare　and　Barbara。

〃What　is　this　cursed　report；　that's　being　whispered　in　the　place！〃　quoth　he；　in　a　tone　of　suppressed　rage；　but　not　unmixed　with　awe。

〃What　report？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle；　for　the　justice　waited　for　an　answer；　and　Mrs。　Hare　seemed　unable　to　speak。　Barbara　took　care　to　keep　silence；　she　had　some　misgivings　that　the　justice's　words　might　be　referring　to　herselfto　the　recent　grievance。

〃A　report　that　he/he/has　been　here　disguised　as　a　laborer；　has　dared　to　show　himself　in　the　place　where　he'll　come　yet；　to　the　gibbet。〃

Mrs。　Hare's　face　turned　as　white　as　death；　Mr。　Carlyle　rose　and　dexterously　contrived　to　stand　before　her；　so　that　it　should　not　be　seen。　Barbara　silently　locked　her　hands；　one　within　the　other；　and　turned　to　the　window。

〃Of　whom　did　you　speak？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone；　as　if　he　were　putting　the　most　matter…of…fact　question。　He　knew　too　well；　but　he　thought　to　temporize　for　the　sake　of　Mrs。　Hare。

〃Of　whom　do　I　speak！〃　uttered　the　exasperated　justice；　nearly　beside　himself　with　passion；　〃of　whom　would　I　speak　but　the　bastard　Dick！　Who　else　in　West　Lynne　is　likely　to　come　to　a　felon's　death？〃

〃Oh；　Richard！〃　sobbed　forth　Mrs。　Hare；　as　she　sank　back　in　her　chair；　〃be　merciful。　He　is　our　own　true　son。〃

〃Never　a　true　son　of　the　Hares；〃　raved　the　justice。　〃A　true　son　of　wickedness；　and　cowardice；　and　blight；　and　evil。　If　he　has　dared　to　show　his　face　at　West　Lynne；　I'll　set　the　whole　police　of　England　upon　his　track；　that　he　may　be　brought　here　as　he　ought；　if　he　must　come。　When　Locksley　told　me　of　it　just　now；　I　raised　my　hand　to　knock　him　down；　so　infamously　false　did　I　deem　the　report。　Do　/you/　know　anything　of　his　having　been　here？〃　continued　the　justice　to　his　wife；　in　a　pointed；　resolute　tone。

How　Mrs。　Hare　would　have　extricated　herself；　or　what　she　would　have　answered；　cannot　even　be　imagined；　but　Mr。　Carlyle　interposed。

〃You　are　frightening　Mrs。　Hare；　sir。　Don't　you　see　that　she　knows　nothing　of　itthat　the　very　report　of　such　a　thing　is　alarming　her　into　illness？　Butallow　me　to　inquire　what　it　may　be　that　Locksley　said？〃

〃I　met　him　at　the　gate；〃　retorted　Justice　Hare；　turning　his　attention　upon　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃He　was　going　by　as　I　reached　it。　'Oh；　justice；　I　am　glad　I　met　you。　That's　a　nasty　report　in　the　place　that　Richard　has　been　here。　I'd　see　what　I　could　do　toward　hushing　it　up；　sir；　if　I　were　you；　for　it　may　only　serve　to　put　the　police　in　mind　of　by　gone　things；　which　it　may　be　better　they　should　forget。'　Carlyle；　I　went；　as　I　tell　you；　to　knock　him　down。　I　asked　him　how　he　could　have　the　hardihood　to　repeat　such　slander　to　my　face。　He　was　on　the　high　horse　directly；　said　the　parish　spoke　the　slander；　not　he；　and　I　got　out　of　him　what　it　was　he　had　heard。〃

〃And　what　was　it？〃　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle；　more　eagerly　than　he　generally　spoke。

〃Why；　they　say　the　fellow　showed　himself　here　some　time　ago；　a　year　or　so；　disguised　as　a　farm　laborerconfounded　fools！　Not　but　what　he'd　have　been　the　fool　had　he　done　it。〃

〃To　be　sure　he　would；〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃and　he　is　not　fool　enough　for　that；　sir。　Let　West　Lynne　talk；　Mr。　Hare；　but　do　not　put　faith　in　a　word　of　its　gossip。　I　never　do。　Poor　Richard；　wherever　he　may　be〃

〃I　won't　have　him　pitied　in　my　presence；〃　burst　forth　the　justice。　〃Poor　Richard；　indeed！　Villain　Richard；　if　you　please。〃

〃I　was　about　to　observe　that；　wherever　he　may　bewhether　in　the　backwoods　of　America；　or　digging　for　gold　in　California；　or　wandering　about　the　United　Kingdomthere　is　little　fear　that　he　will　quit　his　place　of　safety　to　dare　the　dangerous　ground　of　West　Lynne。　Had　I　been　you；　sir；　I　should　have　laughed　at　Locksley　and　his　words。〃

〃Why　does　West　Lynne　invent　such　lies？〃

〃Ah；　there's　the　rub。　I　dare　say　West　Lynne　could　not　tell　why；　if　it　were　paid　for　doing　it；　but　it　seems　to　have　been　a　lame　story　it　had　got　up　this　time。　If　they　must　have　concocted　a　report　that　Richard　had　been　seen　at　West　Lynne；　why　put　it　back　to　a　year　agowhy　not　have　fixed　it　for　to…day　or　yesterday？　If　I　heard　anything　more；　I　would　treat　it　with　the　silence　and　contempt　it　deserves；　justice。〃

Silence　and　contempt　were　not　greatly　in　the　justice's　line；　noise　and　explosion　were　more　so。　But　he　had　a　high　opinion　of　the　judgment　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　growling　a　sort　of　assent；　he　once　more　set　forth　to　pay　his　evening　visit。

〃Oh；　Archibald！〃　uttered　Mrs。　Hare；　when　her　husband　was　half…way　down　the　path；　〃what　a　mercy　that　you　were　here！　I　should　inevitably　have　betrayed　myself。〃

Barbara　turned　round　from　the　window；　〃But　what　could　have　possessed　Locksley　to　say　what　he　did？〃　she　exclaimed。

〃I　have　no　doubt　Locksley　spoke　with　a　motive；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃He　is　not　unfriendly　to　Richard；　and　thought；　probably；　that　by　telling　Mr。　Hare　of　the　report　he　might　get　it　stopped。　The　rumor　had　been　mentioned　to　me。〃

Barbara　turned　cold　all　over。　〃How　can　it　have　come　to　light？〃　she　breathed。

〃I　am　at　a　loss　to　know；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　person　to　mention　it　to　me　was　Tom　Herbert。　'I　say；'　said　he　meeting　me　yesterday；　'what's　this　row　about　Dick　Hare？'　'What　now？'　I　asked　him。　'Why；　that　Dick　was　at　West　Lynne　some　time　back；　disguised　as　a　farm　laborer。'　Just　the　same；　you　see；　that　Locksley　said　to　Mr。　Hare。　I　laughed　at　Tom　Herbert；〃　continued　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃turned　his　report　into　ridicule　also；　before　I　had　done　with　him。〃

〃Will　it　be　the　means　of　causing　Richard's　detection？〃　murmured　Mrs。　Hare　from　between　her　dry　lips。

〃No；　no；〃　warmly　responded　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Had　the　report　arisen　immediately　after　he　was　really　here；　it　might　not　have　been　so　pleasant；　but　nearly　two　years　have　elapsed　since　the　period。　Be　under　no　uneasine