east lynne-第79章

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〃Richard　came　forth　at　last；　and　departed；　to　be　again　an　exile。　Mr。　Carlyle　also　departed；　and　I　remained　at　the　gate；　watching　for　papa。　By　and　by　Mr。　Carlyle　came　back　again；　he　had　got　nearly　home　when　he　remembered　that　he　had　left　a　parchment　at　our　house。　It　seemed　to　be　nothing　but　coming　back；　for　just　after　he　had　gone　a　second　time；　Richard　returned　in　a　state　of　excitement；　stating　that　he　had　seen　ThornThorn　the　murderer；　I　meanin　Bean　lane。　For　a　moment　I　doubted　him；　but　not　for　long；　and　we　ran　after　Mr。　Carlyle。　Richard　described　Thorn's　appearance；　his　evening　dress；　his　white　hands　and　diamond　ring；　more　particularly　he　described　a　peculiar　motion　of　his　hand　as　he　threw　back　his　hair。　In　that　moment　it　flashed　across　me　that　Thorn　must　be　Captain　Levison；　the　description　was　exact。　Many　and　many　a　time　since　have　I　wondered　that　the　thought　did　not　strike　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

Lady　Isabel　sat　with　her　mouth　open；　as　if　she　could　not　take　in　the　sense　of　the　words；　and　when　it　did　become　clear　to　her；　she　utterly　rejected　it。

〃Francis　Levison　a　murderer！　Oh；　no！　bad　man　as　he　is；　he　is　not　that。〃

〃Wait；〃　said　Mrs。　Carlyle。　〃I　did　not　speak　of　this　doubtnay；　this　convictionwhich　had　come；　how　could　I　mention　to　Mr。　Carlyle　the　name　of　the　man　who　did　him　that　foul　wrong？　And　Richard　has　remained　so　long　in　exile；　with　the　ban　of　guilt　upon　him。　To…day　as　my　carriage　passed　through　West　Lynne；　Francis　Levison　was　haranguing　the　people。　I　saw　that　very　same　actionthe　throwing　back　of　the　hair　with　his　white　hand。　I　saw　the　selfsame　diamond　ring；　and　my　conviction　that　he　was　the　same　man　became　more　firmly　seated　than　ever。〃

〃It　is　impossible！〃　murmured　Lady　Isabel。

〃Wait；　I　say；〃　said　Barbara。　〃When　Mr。　Carlyle　came　home　to　dinner；　I；　for　the　first　time；　mentioned　this　to　him。　It　was　no　newsthe　fact　was　not。　This　afternoon　during　that　same　harangue；　Francis　Levison　was　recognized　by　two　witnesses　to　be　the　man　Thornthe　man　who　went　after　Afy　Hallijohn。　It　is　horrible。〃

Lady　Isabel　sat　and　looked　at　Mrs。　Carlyle。　Not　yet　did　she　believe　it。

〃Yes；　it　does　appear　to　me　as　being　perfectly　horrible；〃　continued　Mrs。　Carlyle。　〃He　murdered　Hallijohnhe；　that　bad　man；　and　my　poor　brother　has　suffered　the　odium。　When　Richard　met　him　that　night　in　Bean　lane；　he　was　sneaking　to　West　Lynne　in　search　of　the　chaise　that　afterward　bore　away　him　and　his　companion。　Papa　saw　them　drive　away。　Papa　stayed　out　late；　and；　in　returning　home；　a　chaise　and　four　tore　past；　just　as　he　was　turning　in　at　the　gate。　If　that　miserable　Lady　Isabel　had　but　known　with　whom　she　was　flying！　A　murderer！　In　addition　to　his　other　achievements。　It　is　a　mercy　for　her　that　she　is　no　longer　alive。　What　would　her　feelings　be？〃

What　were　they；　then；　as　she　sat　there？　A　/murderer/？　And　she　had　In　spite　of　her　caution；　of　her　strife　for　self…command；　she　turned　of　a　deadly　whiteness；　and　a　low；　sharp　cry　of　horror　and　despair　burst　from　her　lips。

Mrs。　Carlyle　was　astonished。　Why　should　her　communication　have　produced　this　effect　upon　Madame　Vine？　A　renewed　suspicion　that　she　knew　more　of　Francis　Levison　than　she　would　acknowledge；　stole　over　her。

〃Madame　Vine；　what　is　he　to　you？〃　she　asked；　bending　forward。

Madame　Vine；　doing　fierce　battle　with　herself；　recovered　her　outward　equanimity。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mrs。　Carlyle；〃　she　said；　shivering；　〃I　am　apt　to　picture　things　too　vividly。　It　is；　as　you　say；　so　very　horrible。〃

〃Is　he　nothing　to　you？　Don't　you　know　him？〃

〃He　is　nothing　to　meless　than　nothing。　As　to　knowing　himI　saw　him　yesterday；　when　they　put　him　into　the　pond。　A　man　like　that！　I　should　shudder　to　meet　him！〃

〃Ay；　indeed！〃　said　Barbara；　reassured。　〃You　will　understand；　Madame　Vine；　that　this　history　has　been　given　to　you　in　confidence。　I　look　upon　you　as　one　of　ourselves。〃

There　was　no　answer。　Madame　Vine　sat　on；　with　her　white　face。　She　and　it　wore　altogether　a　ghastly　look。

〃It　tells　like　a　fable　out　of　a　romance；〃　resumed　Mrs。　Carlyle。　〃Well　for　him　if　the　romance　be　not　ended　in　the　gibbet。　Fancy　what　it　would　be　for　himSir　Francis　Levisonto　be　hung　for　murder！〃

〃Barbara；　my　dearest！〃

The　voice　was　Mr。　Carlyle's；　and　she　flew　off　on　the　wings　of　love。　It　appeared　that　the　gentlemen　had　not　yet　departed；　and　now　thought　they　would　take　coffee　first。

She　flew　off　to　her　idolized　husband；　leaving　her　who　had　once　been　idolized　to　her　loneliness。　She　sank　down　on　the　sofa；　she　threw　her　arms　up　in　her　heart…sickness；　she　thought　she　would　faint；　she　prayed　to　die。　It　/was/　horrible；　as　Barbara　had　called　it。　For　that　man　with　the　red　stain　upon　his　hand　and　soul　she　had　flung　away　Archibald　Carlyle。

If　ever　retribution　came　home　to　woman；　it　came　home　in　that　hour　to　Lady　Isabel。



CHAPTER　XXXVII。

MR。　CARLYLE　INVITED　TO　SOME　PATE　DE　FOIE　GRAS。

A　sighing　morning　wind　swept　round　the　domains　of　East　Lynne；　bending　the　tall　poplar　trees　in　the　distance；　swaying　the　oak　and　elms　nearer；　rustling　the　fine　old　chestnuts　in　the　park；　a　melancholy；　sweeping；　fitful　wind。　The　weather　had　changed　from　brightness　and　warmth；　and　heavy；　gathering　clouds　seemed　to　be　threatening　rain；　so；　at　least；　deemed　one　wayfarer；　who　was　journeying　on　a　solitary　road　that　Saturday　night。

He　was　on　foot。　A　man　attired　in　the　garb　of　a　sailor；　with　black；　curling　ringlets　of　hair；　and　black；　curling　whiskers；　a　prodigious　pair　of　whiskers；　hiding　his　neck　above　his　blue；　turned　collar；　hiding　partially　his　face。　The　glazed　hat；　brought　low　upon　his　brows；　concealed　it　still　more；　and　he　wore　a　loose；　rough　pea…jacket　and　wide　rough　trousers　hitched　up　with　a　belt。　Bearing　steadily　on；　he　struck　into　Bean　lane；　a　by…way　already　mentioned　in　this　history；　and　from　thence；　passing　through　a　small；　unfrequented　gate；　he　found　himself　in　the　grounds　of　East　Lynne。

〃Let　me　see；〃　mused　he　as　he　closed　the　gate　behind　him；　and　slipped　the　bolt。　〃The　covered　walk？　That　must　be　near　the　acacia　trees。　Then　I　must　wind　round　to　the　right。　I　wonder　if　either　of　them　will　be　there；　waiting　for　me？〃

Yes。　Pacing　the　covered　walk　in　her　bonnet　and　mantle；　as　if　taking　an　evening　strollhad　any　one　encountered　her；　which　was　very　unlikely；　seeing　that　it　was　the　most　retired　spot　in　the　groundswas　Mrs。　Carlyle。

〃Oh；　Richard！　My　poor　brother！〃

Locked　in　a　yearning　embrace；　emotion　overpowered　both。　Barbara　sobbed　like　a　child。　A　little　while；　and　then　he　put　her　from　him；　to　look　at　her。

〃So　Barbara；　you　are　a　wife　now？〃

〃Oh；　the　happiest　wife！　Richard；　sometimes　I　ask　myself　what　I　have　done　that　God　should　have　showered　down　blessings　so　great　upon　me。　But　for　the　sad　trouble　when　I　think　of　you；　my　life　would　be　as　one　long　summer's　day。　I　have　the　sweetest　babynearly　a　year　old　he　is　now；　I　shall　have　another　soon；　God　willing。　And　Archibaldoh；　I　am　so　happy！〃

She　broke　suddenly　off　with　the　name　〃Archibald；〃　not　even　to　Richard　could　she　speak　of　her　intense　love　for；　and　happiness　in　her　husband。

〃How　is　it　at　the　Grove？〃　he　asked。

〃Quite　well；　quite　as　usual。　Mamma　has　been　in　better　health　lately。　She　does　not　know　of　this　visit；　but〃

〃I　must　see　her；〃　interrupted　Richard。　〃I　did　not　see　her　the　last　time；　you　remember。〃

〃All　in　good　time　to　talk　of　that。　How　are　you　getting　on　in　Liverpool？　What　are　you　doing？〃

〃Don't　inquire　too　closely；　Barbara。　I　have　no　regular　work；　but　I　get　a　job　at　the　docks；　now　and　then；　and　rub　on。　It　is　seasonable　help；　that；　which　comes　to　me　occasionally　from　you。　Is　it　from　you　or　Carlyle？〃

Barbara　laughed。　〃How　are　we　to　distinguish？　His　money　is　mine　now；　and　mine　is　his。　We　don't　have　separate　purses；　Richard；　we　send　it　to　you　jointly。〃

〃Sometimes　I　have　fancied　it　came　from　my　mother。〃

Barbara　shook　her　head。　〃We　have　never　allowed　mamma　to　know　that　you　left　London；　or　that　we　hold　an　address　where　we　can　write　to　you。　It　would　not　have　done。〃

〃Why　have　you　summoned　me　here；　Barbara？　What　has　turned　up？〃

〃Thorn　hasI　think。　You　would　know　him　again　Richard？〃

〃Know　him！〃　passionately　echoed　Richard　Hare。

〃Were　you　aware　that　a　contest　for　the　membership　is　going　on　at　West　Lynne？〃

〃I　saw　it　in　the　newspapers。　Carlyle　against　Sir　Francis　Levison。　I　say；　Barbara；　how　could　he　think　of　coming　here　to　oppose　Carlyle　after　his　doing　with　Lady　Isabel？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Barbara。　〃I　wonder　that　he　should　come　here　for　other　reasons　also。　First　of　all；　Richard；　tell　me　how　you　came　to　know　Sir　Francis　Levison。　You　say　you　did　know　him；　and　that　you　had　seen　him　with　Thorn。〃

〃So　I　do　know　him；〃　answered　Richard。　〃And　I　saw　him　with　Thorn　twice。〃

〃Know　him　by　sight　only；　I　presume。　Let　me　hear　how　you　came　to　know　him。〃

〃He　was　pointed　out　to　me。　I　saw　him　walk　arm…in…arm　with　a　gentleman；　and　I　showed　them　to　the　waterman　at　the　cab…stand　hard　by。　'Do　you　know　that　fellow？'　I　asked　him；　indicating　Thorn；　for　I　wanted　to　come　at　who　he　really　iswhich　I　didn't　do。　'I　don't　know　that　one；'　the　old　chap　answered；　'but　the　one　with　him　is　Levison　the　baronet。　They　are　often　togethera　couple　of　swells　they　looked。'　〃

〃And　that's　how　you　got　to　know　Levison？〃

〃That　was　it；〃　said　Richard　Hare。

〃Then；　Richard；　you　and　the　waterman　made　a　mess　of　it　between　you。　He　pointed　out　the　wrong　one；　or　you　did　not　look　at　the　right。　Thorn　is　Sir　Francis　Levison。〃

Richard　stared　at　her　with　all　his　eyes。

〃Nonsense；　Barbara！〃

〃He　is；　I　have　never　doubted　it　since　the　night　you　saw　him　in　Bean　lane。　The　action　you　described；　of　his　pushing　back　his　hair；　his　white　hands；　his　sparkling　diamond　ring；　could　only　apply　in　my　mind　to　one　personFrancis　Levison。　On　Thursday　I　drove　by　the　Raven；　when　he　was　speechifying　to　the　people；　and　I　noticed　the　selfsame　action。　In　the　impulse　of　the　moment　I　wrote　off　for　you；　that　you　might　come　and　set　the　doubt　at　rest。　I　need　not　have　done　it；　it　seems；　for　when　Mr。　Carlyle　returned　home　that　evening；　and　I　acquainted　him　with　what　I　had　done；　he　told　me　that　Thorn　and　Francis　Levison　are　one　and　the　same。　Otway　Bethel　recognized　him　that　same　afternoon；　and　so　did　Ebenezer　James。〃

〃They'd　both　know　him；〃　eagerly　cried　Richard。　〃James　I　am　positive　would；　for　he　was　skulking　down　to　Hallijohn's　often　then；　and　saw　Thorn　a　dozen　times。　Otway　Bethel　must　have　seen　him　also；　though　he　protested　he　had　not。　Barbara！〃

The　name　was　uttered　in　affright；　and　Richard　plunged　amidst　the　trees；　for　somebody　was　in　sighta　tall；　dark　form　advancing　from　the　end　of　the　walk。　Barbara　smiled。　It　was　only　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　Richard　emerged　again。

〃Fears　still；　Richard；〃　Mr。　Carlyle　exclaimed；　as　he　shook　Richard　cordially　by　the　hand。　〃So　you　have　changed　your　travelling　toggery。〃

〃I　couldn't　venture　here　again　in　the　old　suit；　it　had　been　seen；　you　said；〃　returned　Richard。　〃I　bought　this　rig…out　yesterday；　second…　hand。　Two　pounds　for　the　lotI　think　they　shaved　me。〃

〃Ringlets　and　all？〃　laughed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃It's　the　old　hair　oiled　and　curled；〃　cried　Dick。　〃The　barber　charged　a　shilling　for　doing　it；　and　cut　my　hair　into　the　bargain。　I　told　him　not　to　spare　grease；　for　I　liked　the　curls　to　shinesailors　always　do。　Mr。　Carlyle；　Barbara　says　that　Levison　and　that　brute　Thornthe　one's　as　much　of　a　brute　as　the