east lynne-第7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！



〃Is　he　a　myth？〃　said　Barbara；　in　a　low　voice。

〃Are　you　and　I　myths？〃　retorted　Richard。　〃So；　even　you　doubt　me？〃

〃Richard；〃　she　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃why　not　tell　the　whole　circumstances　to　Archibald　Carlyle？　If　any　one　can　help　you；　or　take　measures　to　establish　your　innocence；　he　can。　And　you　know　that　he　is　true　as　steel。〃

〃There's　no　other　man　living　should　be　trusted　with　the　secret　that　I　am　here；　except　Carlyle。　Where　is　it　they　suppose　that　I　am；　Barbara？〃

〃Some　think　that　you　are　dead；　some　that　you　are　in　Australia；　the　very　uncertainty　has　nearly　killed　mamma。　A　report　arose　that　you　had　been　seen　at　Liverpool；　in　an　Australian…bound　ship；　but　we　could　not　trace　it　to　any　foundation。〃

〃It　had　none。　I　dodged　my　way　to　London；　and　there　I　have　been。〃

〃Working　in　a　stable…yard？〃

〃I　could　not　do　better。　I　was　not　brought　up　to　anything；　and　I　did　understand　horses。　Besides；　a　man　that　the　police…runners　were　after　could　be　more　safe　in　obscurity；　considering　that　he　was　a　gentleman；　than〃

Barbara　turned　suddenly；　and　placed　her　hand　upon　her　brother's　mouth。　〃Be　silent　for　your　life；〃　she　whispered；　〃here's　papa。〃

Voices　were　heard　approaching　the　gatethose　of　Justice　Hare　and　Squire　Pinner。　The　latter　walked　on；　the　former　came　in。　The　brother　and　sister　cowered　together；　scarcely　daring　to　breathe；　you　might　have　heard　Barbara's　heart　beating。　Mr。　Hare　closed　the　gate　and　walked　on　up　the　path。

〃I　must　go；　Richard；〃　said　Barbara；　hastily；　〃I　dare　not　stay　another　minute。　Be　here　again　to…morrow　night；　and　meanwhile　I　will　see　what　can　be　done。〃

She　was　speeding　away；　but　Richard　held　her　back。　〃You　did　not　seem　to　believe　my　assertion　of　innocence。　Barbara；　we　are　here　alone　in　the　still　night；　with　God　above　us；　as　truly　as　that　you　and　I　must　sometime　meet　Him　face　to　face；　I　told　you　the　truth。　It　was　Thorn　murdered　Hallijohn；　and　I　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　it。〃

Barbara　broke　out　of　the　trees　and　flew　along；　but　Mr。　Hare　was　already　in；　locking　and　barring　the　door。　〃Let　me　in；　papa；〃　she　called　out。

The　justice　opened　the　door　again；　and　thrusting　forth　his　flaxen　wig；　his　aquiline　nose；　and　his　amazed　eyes；　gazed　at　Barbara。

〃Halloo！　What　brings　you　out　at　this　time　of　night；　young　lady？〃

〃I　went　down　to　the　gate　to　look　for　you；〃　she　panted；　〃and　hadhad　strolled　over　to　the　side　path。　Did　you　not　see　me？〃

Barbara　was　truthful　by　nature　and　habit；　but　in　such　a　cause；　how　could　she　avoid　dissimulation？

〃Thank　you；　papa；〃　she　said；　as　she　went　in。

〃You　ought　to　have　been　in　bed　an　hour　ago；〃　angrily　responded　Mr。　Justice　Hare。



CHAPTER　V。

MR。　CARLYLE'S　OFFICE。

In　the　centre　of　West　Lynne　stood　two　houses　adjoining　each　other；　one　large；　the　other　much　smaller。　The　large　one　was　the　Carlyle　residence；　and　the　small　one　was　devoted　to　the　Carlyle　offices。　The　name　of　Carlyle　bore　a　lofty　standing　in　the　county；　Carlyle　and　Davidson　were　known　as　first…class　practitioners；　no　pettifogging　lawyers　were　they。　It　was　Carlyle　&　Davidson　in　the　days　gone　by；　now　it　was　Archibald　Carlyle。　The　old　firm　were　brothers…in…lawthe　first　Mrs。　Carlyle　having　been　Mr。　Davidson's　sister。　She　had　died　and　left　one　child。　The　second　Mrs。　Carlyle　died　when　her　son　was　born　Archibald；　and　his　half…sister　reared　him；　loved　him　and　ruled　him。　She　bore　for　him　all　the　authority　of　a　mother；　the　boy　had　known　no　other；　and；　when　a　little　child　he　had　called　her　Mamma　Corny。　Mamma　Corny　had　done　her　duty　by　him；　that　was　undoubted；　but　Mamma　Corny　had　never　relaxed　her　rule；　with　an　iron　hand　she　liked　to　rule　him　now；　in　great　things　as　in　small；　just　as　she　had　done　in　the　days　of　his　babyhood。　And　Archibald　generally　submitted；　for　the　force　of　habit　is　strong。　She　was　a　woman　of　strong　sense；　but；　in　some　things；　weak　of　judgment；　and　the　ruling　passions　of　her　life　were　love　of　Archibald　and　love　of　saving　money。　Mr。　Davidson　had　died　earlier　than　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　his　fortunehe　had　never　marriedwas　left　equally　divided　between　Cornelia　and　Archibald。　Archibald　was　no　blood　relation　to　him；　but　he　loved　the　open…hearted　boy　better　than　his　niece　Cornelia。　Of　Mr。　Carlyle's　property；　a　small　portion　only　was　bequeathed　to　his　daughter；　the　rest　to　his　son；　and　in　this；　perhaps　there　was　justice；　since　the　20；000　pounds　brought　to　Mr。　Carlyle　by　his　second　wife　had　been　chiefly　instrumental　in　the　accumulation　of　his　large　fortune。

Miss　Carlyle；　or；　as　she　was　called　in　town；　Miss　Corny；　had　never　married；　it　was　pretty　certain　she　never　would；　people　thought　that　her　intense　love　of　her　young　brother　kept　her　single；　for　it　was　not　likely　that　the　daughter　of　the　rich　Mr。　Carlyle　had　wanted　for　offers。　Other　maidens　confess　to　soft　and　tender　impressions。　Not　so　Miss　Carlyle。　All　who　had　approached　her　with　the　lovelorn　tale；　she　sent　quickly　to　the　right…about。

Mr。　Carlyle　was　seated　in　his　own　private　room　in　his　office　the　morning　after　his　return　from　town。　His　confidential　clerk　and　manager　stood　near　him。　It　was　Mr。　Dill；　a　little；　meek…looking　man　with　a　bald　head。　He　was　on　the　rolls；　had　been　admitted　years　and　years　ago；　but　he　had　never　set　up　for　himself；　perhaps　he　deemed　the　post　of　head　manager　in　the　office　of　Carlyle　&　Davidson；　with　its　substantial　salary；　sufficient　for　his　ambition；　and　manager　he　had　been　to　them　when　the　present　Mr。　Carlyle　was　in　long　petticoats。　He　was　a　single　man；　and　occupied　handsome　apartments　near。

Between　the　room　of　Mr。　Carlyle　and　that　of　the　clerks；　was　a　small　square　space　or　hall；　having　ingress　also　from　the　house　passage；　another　room　opened　from　it；　a　narrow　one；　which　was　Mr。　Dill's　own　peculiar　sanctum。　Here　he　saw　clients　when　Mr。　Carlyle　was　out　or　engaged；　and　here　he　issued　private　orders。　A　little　window；　not　larger　than　a　pane　of　glass；　looked　out　from　the　clerk's　office；　they　called　it　old　Dill's　peep…hole　and　wished　it　anywhere　else；　for　his　spectacles　might　be　discerned　at　it　more　frequently　than　was　agreeable。　The　old　gentleman　had　a　desk；　also；　in　their　office；　and　there　he　frequently　sat。　He　was　sitting　there；　in　state；　this　same　morning；　keeping　a　sharp　lookout　around　him；　when　the　door　timidly　opened；　and　the　pretty　face　of　Barbara　Hare　appeared　at　it；　rosy　with　blushes。

〃Can　I　see　Mr。　Carlyle？〃

Mr。　Dill　rose　from　his　seat　and　shook　hands　with　her。　She　drew　him　into　the　passage　and　he　closed　the　door。　Perhaps　he　felt　surprised；　for　it　was　/not/　the　custom　for　ladies；　young　and　single；　to　come　there　after　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Presently；　Miss　Barbara。　He　is　engaged　just　now。　The　justices　are　with　him。〃

〃The　justices！〃　uttered　Barbara；　in　alarm；　〃and　papa　one？　Whatever　shall　I　do？　He　must　not　see　me。　I　would　not　have　him　see　me　here　for　the　world。〃

An　ominous　sound　of　talking；　the　justices　were　evidently　coming　forth。　Mr。　Dill　laid　hold　of　Barbara；　whisked　her　through　the　clerks'　room；　not　daring　to　take　her　the　other　way；　lest　he　should　encounter　them；　and　shut　her　in　his　own。　〃What　the　plague　brought　papa　here　at　this　moment？〃　thought　Barbara；　whose　face　was　crimson。

A　few　minutes　and　Mr。　Dill　opened　the　door　again。　〃They　are　gone　now；　and　the　coast's　clear；　Miss　Barbara。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　opinion　you　must　form　of　me；　Mr。　Dill；〃　she　whispered；　〃but　I　will　tell　you；　in　confidence；　that　I　am　here　on　some　private　business　for　mamma；　who　was　not　well　enough　to　come　herself。　It　is　a　little　private　matter　that　she　does　not　wish　papa　to　know　of。〃

〃Child；〃　answered　the　manager；　〃a　lawyer　receives　visits　from　many　people；　and　it　is　not　the　place　of　those　about　him　to　'think。'　〃

He　opened　the　door　as　he　spoke；　ushered　her　into　the　presence　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　left　her。　The　latter　rose　in　astonishment。

〃You　must　regard　me　as　a　client；　and　pardon　my　intrusion；〃　said　Barbara；　with　a　forced　laugh；　to　hide　her　agitation。　〃I　am　here　on　the　part　of　mammaand　I　nearly　met　papa　in　your　passage；　which　terrified　me　out　of　my　senses。　Mr。　Dill　shut　me　into　his　room。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　motioned　to　Barbara　to　seat　herself；　then　resumed　his　own　seat；　beside　his　table。　Barbara　could　not　help　noticing　how　different　his　manners　were　in　his　office　from　his　evening　manners　when　he　was　〃off　duty。〃　Here　he　was　the　staid；　calm　man　of　business。

〃I　have　a　strange　thing　to　tell　you；〃　she　began；　in　a　whisper；　〃but　it　is　impossible　that　any　one　can　hear　us；〃　she　broke　off；　with　a　look　of　dread。　〃It　would　beit　might　bedeath！〃

〃It　is　quite　impossible；〃　calmly　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　doors　are　double　doors；　did　you　notice　that　they　were？〃

Nevertheless；　she　left　her　chair　and　stood　close　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　resting　her　hand　upon　the　table。　He　rose；　of　course。

〃Richard　is　here！〃

〃Richard！〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃At　West　Lynne！〃

〃He　appeared　at　the　house　last　night　in　disguise；　and　made　signs　to　me　from　the　grove　of　trees。　You　may　imagine　my　alarm。　He　has　been　in　London　all　this　while；　half　starving；　workingI　feel　ashamed　to　mention　it　to　youin　a　stable…yard。　And；　oh；　Archibald！　He　says　he　is　innocent。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　made　no　reply　to　this。　He　probably　had　no　faith　in　the　assertion。　〃Sit　down；　Barbara；〃　he　said　drawing　her　chair　closer。

Barbara　sat　down　again；　but　her　manner　was　hurried　and　nervous。　〃Is　it　quite　sure　that　no　stranger　will　be　coming　in？　It　would　look　so　peculiar　to　see　me　here；　but　mamma　was　too　unwell　to　come　herselfor　rather；　she　feared　papa's　questioning；　if　he　found　out　that　she　came。〃

〃Be　at　ease；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃this　room　is　sacred　from　the　intrusion　of　strangers。　What　of　Richard？〃

〃He　says　that　he　was　not　in　the　cottage　at　the　time　the　murder　was　committed；　that　the　person　who　really　did　it　was　a　man　of　the　name　of　Thorn。〃

〃What　Thorn？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle；　suppressing　all　signs　of　incredulity。

〃I　don't　know；　a　friend　of　Afy's；　he　said。　Archibald；　he　swore　to　it　in　the　most　solemn　manner；　and　I　believe；　as　truly　as　that　I　am　now　repeating　it　to　you；　that　he　was　speaking　the　truth。　I　want　you　to　see　Richard；　if　possible；　he　is　coming　to　the　same　place　to…night。　If　he　can　tell　his　own　tale　to　you；　perhaps　you　may　find　out　a　way　by　which　his　innocence　may　be　made　manifest。　You　are　so　clever；　you　can　do　anything。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　smiled。　〃Not　quite　anything；　Barbara。　Was　this　the　purport　of　Richard's　visitto　say　this？〃

〃Oh；　no！　He　thinks　it　is　of　no　use　to　say　it；　for　nobody　would　believe　him　against　the　evidence。　He　came　to　ask　for　a　hundred　pounds；　he　says　he　has　an　opportunity　of　doing　better；　if　he　can　have　that　sum。　Mamma　has　sent　me　to　you；　she　has　not　the　money　by　her；　and　she　dare　not　ask　papa　for　it；　as　it　is　for　Richard。　She　bade　me　say　that　if　you　will　kindly　oblige　her　with　the　money　to…day；　she　will　arrange　with　you　about　the　repayment。〃

〃Do　you　want　it　now？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃If　so；　I　must　send　to　the　bank。　Dill　never　keeps　much　money　in　the　house　when　I'm　away。〃

〃Not　until　evening。　Can　you　manage　to　see　Richard？〃

〃It　is　hazardous；〃　mused　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃for　him；　I　mean。　Still；　if　he　is　to　be　in　the　grove　to…night；　I　may　as　well　be　there　also。　What　disguise　is　he　in？〃

〃A　farm　laborer's；　the　best　he　could　adopt　about　here；　with　large　black　whiskers。　He　is　stopping　about　three　miles　off；　he　said；　in　some　obscure　hiding…place。　And　now；〃　continued　Barbara