east lynne-第98章

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〃Spare　yourself　the　trouble。　I　am　going　into　West　Lynne；　and　will　send　him　up。　You　will　permit　me　to　urge　that　you　spare　no　pains　or　care；　that　you　suffer　my　servants　to　spare　no　pains　or　care；　to　re…establish　your　health。　Mrs。　Carlyle　tells　me　that　the　question　of　your　leaving　remains　in　abeyance　until　her　return。〃

〃Pardon　me；　sir。　The　understanding　with　Mrs。　Carlyle　was　that　I　should　remain　here　until　her　return；　and　should　then　be　at　liberty　at　once　to　leave。〃

〃Exactly。　That　is　what　Mrs。　Carlyle　said。　But　I　must　express　a　hope　that　by　that　time　you　may　be　feeling　so　much　better　as　to　reconsider　your　decision　and　continue　with　us。　For　my　daughter's　sake；　Madame　Vine；　I　trust　it　will　be　so。〃

He　rose　as　he　spoke；　and　held　out　his　hand。　What　could　she　do　but　rise　also；　drop　hers　from　her　face；　and　give　it　him　in　answer？　He　retained　it；　clasping　it　warmly。

〃How　should　I　repay　youhow　thank　you　for　your　love　to　my　poor；　lost　boy？〃

His　earnest；　tender　eyes　were　on　her　blue　double　spectacles；　a　sad　smile　mingled　with　the　sweet　expression　of　his　lips　as　he　bent　toward　herlips　that　had　once　been　hers！　A　faint　exclamation　of　despair；　a　vivid　glow　of　hot　crimson；　and　she　caught　up　her　new　black　silk　apron　so　deeply　bordered　with　crape；　in　her　disengaged　hand；　and　flung　it　up　to　her　face。　He　mistook　the　soundmistook　the　action。

〃Do　not　grieve　for　him。　He　is　at　rest。　Thank　youthank　you　greatly　for　your　sympathy。〃

Another　wring　of　her　hand；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　had　quitted　the　room。　She　laid　her　head　upon　the　table；　and　thought　how　merciful　would　be　death　when　he　should　come。



CHAPTER　XLV。

〃IT　WON'T　DO；　AFY！〃

Mr。　Jiffin　was　in　his　glory。　Mr。　Jiffin's　house　was　the　same。　Both　were　in　apple…pie　order　to　receive　Miss　Afy　Hallijohn；　who　was；　in　a　very　short　period；　indeed；　to　be　converted　into　Mrs。　Jiffin。

Mr。　Jiffin　had　not　seen　Afy　for　some　dayshad　never　been　able　to　come　across　her　since　the　trial　at　Lynneborough。　Every　evening　had　he　danced　attendance　at　her　lodgings；　but　could　not　get　admitted。　〃Not　at　homenot　at　home；〃　was　the　invariable　answer；　though　Afy　might　be　sunning　herself　at　the　window　in　his　very　sight。　Mr。　Jiffin；　throwing　off　as　best　he　could　the　temporary　disappointment；　was　in　an　ecstasy　of　admiration；　for　he　set　it　all　down　to　Afy's　retiring　modesty　on　the　approach　of　the　nuptial　day。　〃And　they　could　try　to　calumniate　her！〃　he　indignantly　replied。

But　now；　one　afternoon；　when　Mr。　Jiffin　and　his　shopman；　and　his　shop；　and　his　wares；　were　all　set　out　to　the　best　advantageand　very　tempting　they　looked；　as　a　whole；　especially　the　spiced　baconMr。　Jiffin　happening　to　cast　his　eyes　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　street；　beheld　his　beloved　sailing　by。　She　was　got　up　in　the　fashion。　A　mauve　silk　dress　with　eighteen　flounces；　and　about　eighteen　hundred　steel　buttons　that　glittered　your　sight　away；　a　〃zouave〃　jacket　worked　with　gold；　a　black　turban　perched　on　the　top　of　her　skull；　garnished　in　front　with　what　court　milliners　are　pleased　to　term　a　〃plume　de　coq；〃　but　which；　by　its　size　and　height；　might　have　been　taken　for　a　〃coq〃　himself；　while　a　white　ostrich　feather　was　carried　round　and　did　duty　behind；　and　a　spangled　hair　net　hung　down　to　her　waist。　Gloriously　grand　was　Afy　that　day　and　if　I　had　but　a　photographing　machine　at　handor　whatever　may　be　the　scientific　name　of　the　thingyou　should　certainly　have　been　regaled　with　the　sight　of　her。　Joyce　would　have　gone　down　in　a　fit　had　she　encountered　her　by　an　unhappy　chance。　Mr。　Jiffin；　dashing　his　apron　anywhere；　tore　across。

〃Oh；　it　is　you！〃　said　Afy；　freezingly；　when　compelled　to　acknowledge　him；　but　his　offered　hand　she　utterly　repudiated。　〃Really；　Mr。　Jiffin；　I　should　feel　obliged　if　you　would　not　come　out　to　me　in　this　offensive　and　public　manner。〃

Mr。　Jiffin　grew　cold。　〃Offensive！　Not　come　out？〃　gasped　he。　〃I　do　trust　I　have　not　been　so　unfortunate　as　to　offend　you；　Miss　Afy！〃

〃Wellyou　see；〃　said　Afy；　calling　up　all　her　impudence　to　say　what　she　had　made　up　her　mind　to　say；　〃I　have　been　considering　it　well　over；　Jiffin；　and　I　find　that　to　carry　out　the　marriage　will　not　be　for　myfor　our　happiness。　I　intended　to　write　to　inform　you　of　this；　but　I　shall　be　spared　the　troubleas　you　/have/　come　out　to　me。〃

The　perspiration；　cold　as　ice；　began　to　pour　off　Mr。　Jiffin　in　his　agony　and　horror。　You　might　have　wrung　every　thread　he　had　on。　〃You　don't　meantoimplythatyougivemeupMissAfy？〃　he　jerked　out；　unevenly。

〃Well；　yes；　I　do；〃　replied　Afy。　〃It's　as　good　to　be　plain；　and　then　there　can　be　no　misapprehension。　I'll　shake　hands　now　with　you；　Jiffin；　for　the　last　time；　and　I　am　very　sorry　that　we　both　made　such　a　mistake。〃

Poor　Jiffin　looked　at　her。　His　gaze　would　have　melted　a　heart　of　stone。　〃Miss　Afy；　you　/can't/　mean　it！　You'd　never；　sure；　crush　a　fellow　in　this　manner；　whose　whole　soul　is　yours；　who　trusted　you　entirely？　There's　not　an　earthly　thing　I　would　not　do　to　please　you。　You　have　been　the　light　of　my　existence。〃

〃Of　course；〃　returned　Afy；　with　a　lofty　and　indifferent　air；　as　if　to　be　〃the　light　of　his　existence〃　was　only　her　due。　〃But　it's　all　done　and　over。　It　is　not　at　all　a　settlement　that　will　suit　me；　you　see；　Jiffin。　A　butter　and　bacon　factor　is　so　veryso　verywhat　I　have　not　been　accustomed　to！　And　then；　those　aprons！　I　never　could　get　reconciled　to　them。〃

〃I'll　discard　the　aprons　altogether；〃　cried　he；　in　a　fever。　〃I'll　get　a　second　shopman；　and　buy　a　little　gig；　and　do　nothing　but　drive　you　out。　I'll　do　anything　if　you　will　but　have　me　still；　Miss　Afy。　I　have　bought　the　ring；　you　know。〃

〃Your　intentions　are　very　kind；〃　was　the　distant　answer；　〃but　it's　a　thing　impossible；　my　mind　is　fully　made　up。　So　farewell　for　good；　Jiffin；　and　I　wish　you　better　luck　in　your　next　venture。〃

Afy；　lifting　her　capacious　dress；　for　the　streets　had　just　been　watered；　minced　off。　And　Mr。　Joe　Jiffin；　wiping　his　wet　face　as　he　gazed　after　her；　instantly　wished　that　he　could　be　nailed　up　in　one　of　his　pickled　pork　barrels；　and　so　be　out　of　his　misery。

〃That's　done　with；　thank　goodness；〃　soliloquized　Afy。　〃Have　/him/；　indeed。　After　what　Richard　let　out　on　the　trial。　As　if　I　should　look　after　anybody　less　than　Dick　Hare！　I　shall　get　him；　too。　I　always　knew　Dick　Hare　loved　me　above　everything　on　earth；　and　he　does　still；　or　he'd　never　had　said　what　he　did　in　open　court。　'It's　better　to　be　born　lucky　than　rich。'　Won't　West　Lynne　envy　me！　Mrs。　Richard　Hare　of　the　Grove。　Old　Hare　is　on　his　last　legs；　and　then　Dick　comes　into　his　own。　Mrs。　Hare　must　have　her　jointure　house　elsewhere；　for　we　shall　want　the　Grove　for　ourselves。　I　wonder　if　Madame　Barbara　will　condescend　to　recognize　me。　And　that　blessed　Corny？　I　shall　be　a　sort　of　cousin　of　Corny's　then。　I　wonder　how　much　Dick　comes　intothree　or　four　thousand　a　year？　And　to　think　that　I　had　nearly　escaped　this　by　tying　myself　to　that　ape　of　a　Jiffin！　What　sharks　do　get　in　our　unsuspecting　paths　in　this　world！〃

On　went　Afy；　through　West　Lynne；　till　she　arrived　close　to　Mr。　Justice　Hare's。　Then　she　paced　slowly。　It　had　been　a　frequent　walk　of　hers　since　the　trial。　Luck　favored　her　to…day。　As　she　was　passing　the　gate；　young　Richard　Hare　came　up　from　the　direction　of　East　Lynne。　It　was　the　first　time　Afy　had　obtained　speech　of　him。

〃Good　day；　Richard。　Why！　you　were　never　going　to　pass　an　old　friend？〃

〃I　have　so　many　friends；〃　said　Richard；　〃I　can　scarcely　spare　time　for　them　individually。〃

〃But　you　might　for　me。　Have　you　forgotten　old　days？〃　continued　she；　bridling　and　flirting；　and　altogether　showing　herself　off　to　advantage。

〃No；　I　have　not；〃　replied　Richard。　〃And　I　am　not　likely　to　do　so；〃　he　pointedly　added。

〃Ah；　I　felt　sure　of　that。　My　heart　told　me　so。　When　you　went　off；　that　dreadful　night；　leaving　me　to　anguish　and　suspense；　I　thought　I　should　have　died。　I　never　have　had；　so　to　say；　a　happy　moment　until　this；　when　I　meet　you　again。〃

〃Don't　be　a　fool；　Afy！〃　was　Richard's　gallant　rejoinder；　borrowing　the　favorite　reproach　of　Miss　Carlyle。　〃I　was　young　and　green　once；　you　don't　suppose　I　have　remained　so。　We　will　drop　the　past；　if　you　please。　How　is　Mr。　Jiffin？〃

〃Oh；　the　wretch！〃　shrieked　Afy。　〃Is　it　possible　that　you　can　have　fallen　into　the　popular　scandal　that　I　have　anything　to　say　to　/him/？　You　know　I'd　never　demean　myself　to　it。　That's　West　Lynne　all　over！　Nothing　but　inventions　in　it　from　week's　end　to　week's　end。　A　man　who　sells　cheese！　Who　cuts　up　bacon！　Well；　I　am　surprised　at　you；　Mr。　Richard！〃

〃I　have　been　thinking　what　luck　you　were　in　to　get　him；〃　said　Richard；　with　composure。　〃But　it　is　your　business　not　mine。〃

〃Could　/you/　bear　to　see　me　stooping　to　him？〃　returned　Afy；　dropping　her　voice　to　the　most　insinuating　whisper。

〃Look　you；　Afy。　What　ridiculous　folly　you　are　nursing　in　your　head　I　don't　trouble　myself　to　guess；　but；　the　sooner　you　get　it　out　again　the　better。　I　was　an　idiot　once；　I　don't　deny　it；　but　you　cured　me　of　that；　and　cured　me　with　a　vengeance。　You　must　pardon　me　for　intimating　that　from　henceforth　we　are　strangers；　in　the　street　as　elsewhere。　I　have　resumed　my　own　standing　again；　which　I　periled　when　I　ran　after　you。〃

Afy　turned　faint。　〃How　can　you　speak　those　cruel　words？〃　gasped　she。

〃You　have　called　them　forth。　I　was　told　yesterday　that　Afy　Hallijohn；　dressed　up　to　a　caricature；　was　looking　after　me　again。　It　won't　do；　Afy。〃

〃Oh…o…o…oh！〃　sobbed　Afy；　growing　hysterical；　〃and　is　this　to　be　all　my　recompense　for　the　years　I　have　spent　pining　after　you；　keeping　single　for　your　sake！〃

〃Recompense！　Oh；　if　you　want　that；　I'll　get　my　mother　to　give　Jiffin　her　custom。〃　And　with　a　ringing　laugh；　which；　though　it　had　nothing　of　malice　in　it；　showed　Afy　that　he　took　her　reproach　for　what　it　was　worth；　Richard　turned　in　at　his　own　gate。

It　was　a　deathblow　to　Afy's　vanity。　The　worst　it　had　ever　received；　and　she　took　a　few　minutes　to　compose　herself；　and　smooth　her　ruffled　feathers。　Then　she　turned　and　sailed　back　toward　Mr。　Jiffin's；　her　turban　up　in　the　skies　and　the　plume　de　coq　tossing　to　the　admiration　of　all　beholders；　especially　of　Miss　Carlyle；　who　had　the　gratification　of　surveying　her　from　her　window。　Arrived　at　Mr。　Jiffin's；　she　was　taken　ill　exactly　opposite　his　door；　and　staggered　into　the　shop　in　a　most　exhausted　state。

Round　the　counter　flew　Mr。　Jiffin；　leaving　the　shopman　staring　behind　it。　What　/was/　the　matter？　What　/could/　he　do　for　her？

〃Faintheat　of　the　sunwalked　too　fastallowed　to　sit　down　for　five　minutes！〃　gasped　Afy；　in　disjointed　sentences。

Mr。　Jiffin　tenderly　conducted　her　through　the　shop　to　his　parlor。　Afy　cast　half　an　eye　round；　saw　how　comfortable　were　its　arrangements；　and　her　symptoms　of　faintness　increased。　Gasps　and　hysterical　sobs　came　forth　together。　Mr。　Jiffin　was　as　one　upon　spikes。

〃She'd　recover　better　there　than　in　the　public　shopif　she'd　only　excuse　his　bringing　her　in；　and　consent　to　stop　for　a　few　minutes。　No　harm　could　come　to　her；　and　West　Lynne　could　never　say　it。　He'd　stand　at　the　far　end　of　the　room；　right　away　from　her；　he'd　prop　open　the　two　doors　and　the　windows；　he'd　call　in　the　maidanything　she　thought　right。　Should　he　get　her　a　glass　of　wine？〃

Afy　declined　the　wine　by　a　gesture；　and　sat　fanning　herself。　Mr。　Jiffin　looking　on　from　a　respectful　distance。　Gradually　she　g