east lynne-第104节

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pron。

〃Ohhow　are　you　Jiffin？〃　cried　Afy；　loftily；　pretending　not　to　have　seen　him　standing　there。　And　she　condescended　to　put　the　tips　of　her　white　gloves　into　the　offered　hand；　as　she　coquetted　with　her　handkerchief；　her　veil；　and　her　ringlets。　〃I　thought　you　would　have　shut　up　your　shop　to…day；　Mr。　Jiffin；　and　taken　a　holiday。〃

〃Business　must　be　attended　to；〃　responded　Mr。　Jiffin；　quite　lost　in　the　contemplation　of　Afy's　numerous　attractions；　unusually　conspicuous　as　they　were。　〃Had　I　known　that　you　were　abroad；　Miss　Hallijohn；　and　enjoying　a　holiday；　perhaps　I　might　have　done　it；　too；　in　the　hope　of　coming　across　you　somewhere　or　other。〃

His　words　were　/bona　fide/　as　his　admiration。　Afy　saw　that；　so　she　could　afford　to　treat　him　rather　/de　haut　en　bas/。　〃And　he's　as　simple　as　a　calf；〃　thought　she。

〃The　greatest　pleasure　I　have　in　life；　Miss　Hallijohn；　is　to　see　you　go　by　the　shop　window；〃　continued　Mr。　Jiffin。　〃I'm　sure　it's　like　as　if　the　sun　itself　passed。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　bridled　Afy；　with　a　simper；　〃I　don't　know　any　good　/that/　can　do　you。　You　might　have　seen　me　go　by　an　hour　or　two　agoif　you　had　possessed　eyes。　I　was　on　my　way　to　Miss　Carlyle's；〃　she　continued；　with　the　air　of　one　who　proclaims　the　fact　of　a　morning　call　upon　a　duchess。

〃Where　/could/　my　eyes　have　been？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Jiffin；　in　an　agony　of　regret。　〃In　some　of　those　precious　butter…tubs；　I　shouldn't　wonder！　We　have　had　a　bad　lot　in；　Miss　Hallijohn；　and　I　am　going　to　return　them！〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Afy；　conspicuously　resenting　the　remark。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　that　sort　of　thing。　Butter…tubs　are　beneath　me。〃

〃Of　course；　of　course；　Miss　Hallijohn；〃　deprecated　poor　Jiffin。　〃They　are　very　profitable；　though；　to　those　who　understand　the　trade。〃

〃What　/is/　all　that　shouting？〃　cried　Afy；　alluding　to　a　tremendous　noise　in　the　distance；　which　had　continued　for　some　little　time。

〃It's　the　voters　cheering　Mr。　Carlyle。　I　suppose　you　know　that　he's　elected；　Miss　Hallijohn？〃

〃No；　I　didn't。〃

〃The　other　was　withdrawn　by　his　friends；　so　they　made　short　work　of　it；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　is　our　member。　God　bless　him！　there's　not　many　like　/him/。　But；　I　say；　Miss　Hallijohn；　whatever　is　it　that　the　other　one　has　done？　Murder；　they　say。　I　can't　make　top　nor　tail　of　it。　Of　course　we　know　he　was　bad　enough　before。〃

〃Don't　ask　me；〃　said　Afy。　〃Murder's　not　a　pleasant　subject　for　a　lady　to　discuss。　Are　all　these　customers？　Dear　me；　you'll　have　enough　to　do　to　attend　to　them；　your　man　can't　do　it　all；　so　I　won't　stay　talking　any　longer。〃

With　a　gracious　flourish　of　her　flounces　and　wave　of　the　handkerchief　Afy　sailed　off。　And　Mr。　Jiffin；　when　he　could　withdraw　his　fascinated　eyes　from　following　her；　turned　into　his　shop　to　assist　in　serving　four　or　five　servant　girls；　who　had　entered　it。

〃It　wouldn't　be　such　a　bad　catch；　after　all；〃　soliloquized　Afy；　as　she　and　her　crinoline　swayed　along。　〃Of　course　I'd　never　put　my　nose　inside　the　shopunless　it　was　to　order　things　like　another　customer。　The　worst　is　the　name。　Jiffin；　Joe　Jiffin。　How　could　I　ever　bear　to　be　called　Mrs。　Joe　Jiffin！　Not　but　Goodness　me！　what　do　you　want？〃

The　interruption　to　Afy's　chickens　was　caused　by　Mr。　Ebenezer　James。　That　gentleman；　who　had　been　walking　with　quick　steps　to　overtake　her；　gave　her　flounces　a　twitch　behind；　to　let　her　know　somebody　had　come　up。

〃How　are　you；　Afy？　I　was　going　after　you　to　Mrs。　Latimer's；　not　knowing　but　you　had　returned　home。　I　saw　you　this　morning　at　Miss　Corny's　windows。〃

〃Now；　I　don't　want　any　of　your　sauce；　Ebenezer　James。　Afy…ing　me！　The　other　day；　when　you　were　on　with　your　nonsense；　I　said　you　should　keep　your　distance。　You　took　and　told　Mr。　Jiffin　that　I　was　an　old　sweetheart　of　yours。　I　heard　of　it。〃

〃So　you　were；〃　laughed　Mr。　Ebenezer。

〃I　never　was；〃　flashed　Afy。　〃I　was　the　company　of　your　betters　in　those　days：　and　if　there　had　been　no　betters　in　the　case；　I　should　have　scorned　/you/。　Why！　you　have　been　a　strolling　player！〃

〃And　what　have　you　been？〃　returned　Mr。　Ebenezer；　a　quiet　tone　of　meaning　running　through　his　good…humored　laughter。

Afy's　cheeks　flushed　scarlet；　and　she　raised　her　hand　with　a　quick；　menacing　gesture。　But　that　they　were　in　the　public　street　Mr。　Ebenezer　might　have　found　his　ears　boxed。　Afy　dropped　her　hand　again；　and　made　a　dead　standstill。

〃If　you　think　any　vile；　false　insinuations　that　you　may　concoct　will　injure　me；　you　are　mistaken；　Ebenezer　James。　I　am　too　much　respected　in　the　place。　So　don't　try　it　on。〃

〃Why；　Afy；　what　has　put　you　out？　I　don't　want　to　injure　you。　Couldn't　do　it；　if　I　tried；　as　you　say；〃　he　added；　with　another　quiet　laugh。　〃I　have　been　in　too　many　scrapes　myself　to　let　my　tongue　bring　other　folks　into　one。〃

〃There；　that's　enough。　Just　take　yourself　off。　It's　not　over　reputable　to　have　you　at　one's　side　in　public。〃

〃Well；　I　will　relieve　you　of　my　company；　if　you'll　let　me　deliver　my　commission。　Though；　as　to　'reputable'however；　I　won't　put　you　out　further。　You　are　wanted　at　the　justice…room　at　three　o'clock　this　afternoon。　And　don't　fail；　please。〃

〃Wanted　at　the　justice…room！〃　retorted　Afy。　〃I！　What　for？〃

〃And　must　not　fail；　as　I　say；〃　repeated　Mr。　Ebenezer。　〃You　saw　Levison　taken　upyour　old　flame〃

Afy　stamped　her　foot　in　indignant　interruption。　〃Take　care　what　you　say；　Ebenezer　James！　Flame！　He？　I'll　have　you　put　up　for　defamation　of　character。〃

〃Don't　be　a　goose；　Afy。　It's　of　no　use　riding　the　high　horse　with　me。　You　know　where　I　saw　youand　saw　him。　People　here　said　you　were　with　Dick　Hare；　I　could　have　told　them　better；　but　I　did　not。　It　was　no　affair　of　mine；　that　I　should　proclaim　it；　neither　is　it　now。　Levison　/alias/　Thorn　is　taken　up　for　your　father's　murder；　and　you　are　wanted　to　give　evidence。　There！　that's　your　subpoena；　Ball　thought　you　would　not　come　without　one。〃

〃I　will　never　give　evidence　against　Levison；〃　she　uttered；　tearing　the　subpoena　to　pieces；　and　scattering　them　in　the　street。　〃I　swear　I　won't。　There；　for　you！　Will　I　help　to　hang　an　innocent　man；　when　it　was　Dick　Hare　who　was　the　guilty　one？　No！　I'll　walk　myself　off　a　hundred　miles　away　first；　and　stop　in　hiding　till　it's　over。　I　shan't　forget　this　turn　that　you　have　chosen　to　play　me；　Ebenezer　James。〃

〃I　chosen！　Why；　do　you　suppose　I　have　anything　to　do　with　it？　Don't　take　up　that　notion；　Afy。　Mr。　Ball　put　that　subpoena　in　my　hand；　and　told　me　to　serve　it。　He　might　have　given　it　to　the　other　clerk；　just　as　he　gave　it　to　me；　it　was　all　chance。　If　I　could　do　you　a　good　turn　I'd　do　itnot　a　bad　one。〃

Afy　strode　on　at　railroad　speed；　waving　him　off。　〃Mind　you　don't　fail；　Afy；〃　he　said；　as　he　prepared　to　return。

〃Fail；〃　answered　she；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃I　shall　fail　giving　evidence；　if　you　mean　that。　They　don't　get　me　up　to　their　justice…　room；　neither　by　force　or　stratagem。〃

Ebenezer　James　stood　and　looked　after　her　as　she　tore　along。

〃What　a　spirit　that　Afy　has　got；　when　it's　put　up！〃　quoth　he。　〃She'll　be　doing　as　she　saidmake　offunless　she's　stopped。　She's　a　great　simpleton！　Nothing　particular　need　come　out　about　her　and　Thorn；　unless　she　lets　it　out　herself　in　her　tantrums。　Here　comes　Ball；　I　declare！　I　must　tell　him。〃

On　went　Afy；　and　gained　Mrs。　Latimer's。　That　lady；　suffering　from　indisposition　was　confined　to　the　house。　Afy；　divesting　herself　of　certain　little　odds　and　ends　of　her　finery；　made　her　way　into　Mrs。　Latimer's　presence。

〃Oh；　ma'am；　such　heartrending　news　as　I　have　had！〃　began　she。　〃A　relation　of　mine　is　dying；　and　wants　to　see　me。　I　ought　to　be　away　by　the　next　train。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　cried　Mrs。　Latimer；　after　a　pause　of　dismay。　〃But　how　can　I　do　without　you；　Afy？〃

〃It's　a　dying　request；　ma'am；〃　pleaded　Afy；　covering　her　eyes　with　her　handkerchiefnot　the　lace　oneas　if　in　the　depth　of　woe。　〃Of　course　I　wouldn't　ask　you　under　any　other　circumstances；　suffering　as　you　are！〃

〃Where　is　it　to！〃　asked　Mrs。　Latimer。　〃How　long　shall　you　be　away？〃

Afy　mentioned　the　first　town　that　came　uppermost；　and　〃hoped〃　she　might　be　back　to…morrow。

〃What　relation　is　it？〃　continued　Mrs。　Latimer。　〃I　thought　you　had　no　relatives；　except　Joyce　and　your　aunt；　Mrs。　Kane。〃

〃This　is　another　aunt；〃　cried　Afy；　softly。　〃I　have　never　mentioned　her；　not　being　friends。　Differences　divided　us。　Of　course　that　makes　me　all　the　more　anxious　to　obey　her　request。〃

An　uncommon　good　hand　at　an　impromptu　tale　was　Afy。　And　Mrs。　Latimer　consented　to　her　demand。　Afy　flew　upstairs；　attired　herself　once　more；　put　one　or　two　things　in　a　small　leather　bag；　placed　some　money　in　her　purse；　and　left　the　house。

Sauntering　idly　on　the　pavement　on　the　sunny　side　of　the　street　was　a　policeman。　He　crossed　over　to　Afy；　with　whom　he　had　a　slight　acquaintance。

〃Good…day；　Miss　Hallijohn。　A　fine　day；　is　it　not？〃

〃Fine　enough；〃　returned　Afy；　provoked　at　being　hindered。　〃I　can't　talk　to　you　now；　for　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃

The　faster　she　walked；　the　faster　he　walked；　keeping　at　her　side。　Afy's　pace　increased　to　a　run。　His　increased　to　a　run　too。

〃Whatever　are　you　in　such　haste　over？〃　asked　he。

〃Well；　it's　nothing　to　you。　And　I　am　sure　I　don't　want　you　to　dance　attendance　upon　me　just　now。　There's　a　time　for　all　things。　I'll　have　some　chatter　with　you　another　day。〃

〃One　would　think　you