east lynne-第102节

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〃I　would　not　be　an　ugly　bad　man　like　him　for　the　world；〃　quoth　he；　as　he　turned　his　back　again。　〃Would　you；　papa？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　answer；　and　Isabel　cast　an　involuntary　glance　upon　him　from　her　white　face。　His　was　impassive；　save　that　a　cast　of　ineffable　scorn　marred　the　delicate　beauty　of　his　lips。　If　humiliation　for　the　past　had　never　wrung　Lady　Isabel's　heart　before；　it　would　have　wrung　it　then。

At　Mr。　Justice　Hare's　gate　they　encountered　that　gentleman；　who　appeared　to　be　standing　there　to　give　himself　an　airing。　William　caught　sight　of　Mrs。　Hare　seated　on　the　garden　bench；　outside　the　window；　and　ran　to　kiss　her。　All　the　children　loved　Mrs。　Hare。　The　justice　was　lookingnot　pale；　that　would　not　be　a　term　half　strong　enough：　but　yellow。　The　curls　of　his　best　wig　were　limp；　and　all　his　pomposity　appeared　to　have　gone　out　of　him。

〃I　say；　Carlyle；　what　on　earth's　this？〃　cried　he；　in　a　tone　that；　for　him；　was　wonderfully　subdued　and　meek。　〃I　was　not　on　the　bench　this　afternoon；　but　Pinner　has　been　telling　meof　an　application　that　was　made　to　them　in　private。　It's　not　true；　you　know；　it　can't　be；　it's　too　far…fetched　a　tale。　What　do　you　know　about　it？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　do　not　know　what　you　are　talking　of。　I　have　been　privy　to　no　application。〃

〃It　seems　they　want　to　make　out　now　that　Dick　never　murdered　Hallijohn；〃　proceeded　the　justice；　in　a　half　whisper；　glancing　round　as　if　to　be　sure　that　there　were　no　eaves…droppers　amidst　the　trees。

〃Oh；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃But　that　Levison　did。　/Levison/！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　made　no　reply；　save　by　a　gesture；　his　face　more　impassive　than　before。　Not　so　another　face　beside　him；　a　fair　face；　that　turned　white　again　with　emotion　as　she　listened。

〃But　it　can't　be；　you　know。　It　can't；　I　say。〃

〃So　far　as　Richard's　innocence　goes；　of　that　I　have　long　been　convinced；〃　spoke　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃And　that　Levison's　guilty？〃　returned　the　justice；　opening　his　eyes　in　puzzled　wonderment。

〃I　have　no　opinion　upon　that　point；〃　was　the　cold　rejoinder。

〃It's　impossible；　I　say。　Dick　can't　be　innocent。　You　may　as　well　tell　me　that　the　world's　turned　upside　down。〃

〃It　is；　sometimes；　I　think。　That　Richard　was　not　the　guilty　man　will　be　proved　yet；　justice；　in　the　broad　face　of　day。〃

〃Ififthat　other　did　do　it；　I　should　think　you'd　take　the　warrant　out　of　the　hands　of　the　police　and　capture　him　yourself。〃

〃I　would　not　touch　him　with　a　pair　of　tongs；〃　spoke　Mr。　Carlyle；　his　lips　curling　again。　〃If　the　man　goes　to　his　punishment；　he　goes；　but　I　do　not　help　him　on　his　road　thither。〃

〃/Can/　Dick　be　innocent？〃　mused　the　justice；　returning　to　the　thought　which　so　troubled　his　mind。　〃Then　why　has　he　kept　away？　Why　did　he　not　come　back　and　say　so？〃

〃That　you　might　deliver　him　up；　justice。　You　know　you　took　an　oath　to　do　it。〃

The　justice　looked　green；　and　remarkably　humble。

〃Oh；　but　Carlyle；〃　impulsively　spoke　he；　the　thought　occurring　to　him；　〃what　an　awful　revenge　this　would　have　been　for　you　onsomebodyhad　she　lived。　How　her　false　step　would　have　come　home　to　her　now！〃

〃False　steps　come　home　to　most　people；〃　responded　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　he　took　William　by　the　hand；　who　then　ran　up。　And；　lifting　his　hat　to　Mrs。　Hare　in　the　distance；　he　walked　on。

She；　Lady　Isabel；　walked　on；　too；　by　the　side　of　the　child；　as　before；　walked　on　with　a　shivering　frame；　and　a　heart　sick　unto　death。　The　justice　looked　after　her；　his　mind　unoccupied。　He　was　in　a　maze　of　bewilderment。　Richard　innocent！　Richard；　whom　he　had　striven　to　pursue　to　a　shameful　end！　And　that　other　the　guilty　one！　The　world　/was/　turning　upside　down。



CHAPTER　XXXIX。

MRS。　CARLYLE　IN　FULL　DRESS；　AFY　ALSO。

Merrily　rose　West　Lynne　on　Thursday　morning；　merrily　rang　out　the　bells；　clashing　and　chiming。　The　street　was　alive　with　people；　the　windows　were　crowded　with　heads；　something　unusual　was　astir。　It　was　the　day　of　the　nomination　of　the　two　candidates；　and　everybody　took　the　opportunity　to　make　a　holiday。

Ten　o'clock　was　the　hour　named；　but；　before　that　hour　struck；　West　Lynne　was　crammed。　The　country　people　had　come　in；　thick　and　threefold；　rich　and　poor；　people　of　note；　and　people　of　none；　voters　and　non…voters；　all　eager　to　mix　themselves　up　with　the　day's　proceedings。　You　see　the　notorious　fact　of　Sir　Francis　Levison's　having　come　forward　to　oppose　Mr。　Carlyle；　caused　greater　interest　in　this　election　than　is　usual；　even　in　small　country　placesand　that　need　not　be。　Barbara　drove　in　her　carriage；　the　two　children　with　her；　and　the　governess。　The　governess　said　she　preferred　to　remain　at　home。　Barbara　would　not　hear　of　it；　almost　felt　inclined　to　resent　it　as　a　slight；　besides；　if　she　took　no　interest　in　Mr。　Carlyle；　she　must　go　to　take　care　of　Lucy；　she；　Barbara；　would　be　too　much　occupied　to　look　after　children。　So　Madame　Vine；　perforce；　stepped　into　the　barouche　and　sat　opposite　to　Mrs。　Carlyle；　her　thick　veil　shading　her　features；　and　their　pallor　contrasting　with　the　blue　spectacles。

They　alighted　at　the　residence　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Quite　a　gathering　was　already　there。　Lady　and　Miss　Dobede；　the　Herberts；　Mrs。　Hare；　and　many　others；　for　the　house　was　in　a　good　spot　for　seeing　the　fun；　and　all　the　people　were　eager　to　testify　their　respect　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　contradiction　to　that　other　one。　Miss　Carlyle　was　in　full　rig；　a　brocaded　dress；　and　a　scarlet…and…purple　bow　in　front　of　it；　the　size　of　a　pumpkin。　It　was　about　the　only　occasion；　in　all　Miss　Carlyle's　life；　that　she　deemed　it　necessary　to　attire　herself　beyond　common。　Barbara　wore　no　bow；　but　she　exhibited　a　splendid　bouquet　of　scarlet…　and…purple　flowers。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　himself　given　it　to　her　that　morning。

Mr。　Carlyle　saw　them　all　at　the　windows　of　the　large　upper　drawing…　room；　and　came　in；　he　was　then　on　his　way　to　the　town…hall。　Shaking　hands；　laughter；　hearty　and　hasty　good　wishes；　and　he　quitted　the　room　again。　Barbara　stole　after　him　for　a　sweeter　farewell。

〃God　bless　you　and　prosper　you；　Archibald；　my　dearest！〃

The　business　of　the　day　began。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　proposed　by　Sir　John　Dobede；　and　seconded　by　Mr。　Herbert。　Lord　Mount　Severn；　than　whom　not　a　busier　man　was　there；　would　willingly　have　been　proposer　and　seconder　too；　but　he　had　no　local　influence　in　the　place。　Sir　Francis　Levison　was　proposed　also　by　two　gentlemen　of　standing。　The　show　of　hands　was　declared　to　be　in　favor　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　It　just　was　in　favor　of　him；　about　twenty　to　one。　Upon　which　the　baronet's　friends　demanded　a　poll。

Then　all　was　bustle；　and　scuffle；　and　confusion；　every　one　tearing　away　to　the　hustings；　which　had　been　fixed　in　a　convenient　spot；　the　town…hall；　not　affording　the　accommodation　necessary　for　a　poll。　Candidates；　and　proposers　and　seconders；　and　gentlemen；　and　officers；　and　mob；　hustling　and　jostling　each　other。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　linked　arm…　in…arm　with　Sir　John　Dobede；　Sir　John's　arm　was　within　Lord　Mount　Severn'sbut；　as　to　order；　it　was　impossible　to　observe　any。　To　gain　the　place　they　had　to　pass　the　house　of　Miss　Carlyle。　Young　Vane；　who　was　in　the　thick　of　the　crowd；　of　course；　cast　his　eyes　up　to　its　lined　windows；　took　off　his　hat　and　waved　it。　〃Carlyle　and　honor　forever！〃　shouted　he。

The　ladies　laughed　and　nodded；　and　shook　their　handkerchiefs；　and　displayed　their　scarlet　and　purple　colors。　The　crowd　took　up　the　shout；　till　the　very　air　echoed　with　it。　〃Carlyle　and　honor　forever！〃　Barbara's　tears　were　falling；　but　she　smiled　through　them　at　one　pair　of　loving　eyes；　which　sought　out　hers。

〃A　galaxy　of　beauty！〃　whispered　Mr。　Drake　in　the　ear　of　Sir　Francis。　〃How　the　women　rally　round　him！　I　tell　you　what；　Levison；　you　and　the　government　were　stupid　to　go　on　with　the　contest；　and　I　said　so　days　ago。　You　have　no　more　chance　against　Carlyle　than　that　bit　of　straw　has　against　the　wind。　You　ought　to　have　withdrawn　in　time。〃

〃Like　a　coward？〃　angrily　returned　Sir　Francis。　〃No；　I'll　go　on　with　it　to　the　last；　though　I　do　get　beaten。〃

〃How　lovely　his　wife　is；〃　observed　Mr。　Drake；　his　admiring　eyes　cast　up　at　Barbara。　〃I　say；　Levison；　was　the　first　one　as　charming？〃

Sir　Francis　looked　perfectly　savage；　the　allusion　did　not　please　him。　But；　ere　another　word　could　be　spoken；　some　one　in　the　garb　of　a　policeman；　who　had　wound　his　way　through　the　crowd；　laid　his　hand　upon　the　baronet。

〃Sir　Francis　Levison；　you　are　my　prisoner。〃

Nothing　worse　than　/debt/　occurred　at　that　moment　to　the　mind　of　Sir　Francis。　But　that　was　quite　enough；　and　he　turned　purple　with　rage。

〃Your　hands　off；　vermin！　How　dare　you？〃

A　quick　movement；　a　slight　click；　a　hustle　from　the　wondering　crowd　more　immediately　around；　and　the　handcuffs　were　on。　Utter　amazement　alone　prevented　Mr。　Drake　from　knocking　down　the　policeman。　A　dozen　vituperating　tongues　assailed　him。

〃I'm　sorry　to　do　it　in　this　public　place　and　manner；〃　spoke　the　officer；　partly　to　Sir　Francis；　partly　to　the　gentlemen　around；　〃but　I　couldn't　come　across　you　last　night；　do　as　I　would。　And　the　warrant　has　been　in　my　hands　since　five　o'clock　yesterday　afternoon。　Sir　Francis　Levison；　I　arrest　you　for　the　wilful　murder　of　George　Hallijohn。〃

The　crowd　fell　back；　the　crowd　was　paralyzed　with　consternation；　the　word　was　passed　from　one　extreme　to　the　other；　and　back　and　across　aga