east lynne-第111节

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！


　/him/　for　love　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　but　now　that　I　have　seen　your　husband；　I　cannot　understand　the　reverse　side　of　the　picture。　I　thank　you　for　your　courtesy；　Mrs。　Carlyle。〃

And；　without　another　word；　Alice　Levison　quitted　the　room　as　abruptly　as　she　had　entered　it。

Well；　the　London　visit　came　to　an　end。　It　was　of　little　more　than　three　weeks'　duration；　for　Barbara　must　be　safe　at　home　again。　Mr。　Carlyle　remained　for　the　rest　of　the　season　alone；　but　he　varied　it　with　journeys　to　East　Lynne。　He　had　returned　home　for　good　now；　July；　although　the　session　had　not　quite　terminated。　There　was　another　baby　at　East　Lynne；　a　lovely　little　baby；　pretty　as　Barbara　herself　had　been　at　a　month　old。　William　was　fading　rapidly。　The　London　physicians　had　but　confirmed　the　opinion　of　Dr。　Martin；　and　it　was　evident　to　all　that　the　close　would　not　be　long　protracted。

Somebody　else　was　fadingLady　Isabel。　The　cross　had　been　too　heavy；　and　she　was　sinking　under　its　weight。　Can　you　wonder　at　it？

An　intensely　hot　day　it　was　under　the　July　sun。　Afy　Hallijohn　was　sailing　up　the　street　in　its　beams；　finer　and　vainer　than　ever。　She　encountered　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃So；　Afy；　you　are　really　going　to　be　married　at　last？〃

〃Jiffin　fancies　so；　sir。　I　am　not　sure　yet　but　what　I　shall　change　my　mind。　Jiffin　thinks　there's　nobody　like　me。　If　I　could　eat　gold　and　silver；　he'd　provide　it；　and　he's　as　fond　as　fond　can　be。　But　then　you　know；　sir；　he's　half　soft。〃

〃Soft　as　to　you；　perhaps；〃　laughed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　consider　him　a　very　civil；　respectable　man；　Afy。〃

〃And　then；　I　never　did　think　to　marry　a　shopkeeper；〃　grumbled　Afy；　〃I　looked　a　little　higher　than　that。　Only　fancy；　sir；　having　a　husband　who　wears　a　white　apron　tied　round　him！〃

〃Terrible！〃　responded　Mr。　Carlyle；　with　a　grave　face。

〃Not　but　what　it　will　be　a　tolerable　settlement；〃　rejoined　Afy；　veering　round　a　point。　〃He's　having　his　house　done　up　in　style；　and　I　shall　keep　two　good　servants；　and　do　nothing　myself　but　dress　and　subscribe　to　the　library。　He　makes　plenty　of　money。〃

〃A　very　tolerable　settlement；　I　should　say；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　Afy's　face　fell　before　the　glance　of　his　eye；　merry　though　it　was。　〃Take　care　you　don't　spend　all　his　money　for　him；　Afy。〃

〃I'll　take　care　of　that；〃　nodded　Afy；　significantly。　〃Sir；〃　she　somewhat　abruptly　added；　〃what　is　it　that's　the　matter　with　Joyce？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　becoming　serious。　〃There　does　appear　to　be　something　the　matter　with　her；　for　she　is　much　changed。〃

〃I　never　saw　anybody　so　changed　in　my　life；〃　exclaimed　Afy。　〃I　told　her　the　other　day　that　she　was　just　like　one　who　had　got　some　dreadful　secret　upon　their　mind。〃

〃It　is　really　more　like　that　than　anything　else；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃But　she　is　one　of　the　close　ones；　is　Joyce；〃　continued　Afy。　〃No　fear　that　she'll　give　out　a　clue；　if　it　does　not　suit　her　to　do　so。　She　told　me；　in　answer；　to　mind　my　own　business；　and　not　to　take　absurd　fancies　in　my　head。　How　is　the　baby；　sir；　and　Mrs。　Carlyle？〃

〃All　well。　Good　day；　Afy。〃



CHAPTER　XLII。

THE　TRIAL。

Spacious　courts　were　the　assize　courts　of　Lynneborough；　and　it　was　well　they　were　so；　otherwise　more　people　had　been　disappointed；　and　numbers　were；　of　hearing　the　noted　trial　of　Sir　Francis　Levison　for　the　murder　of　George　Hallijohn。

The　circumstances　attending　the　case　caused　it　to　bear　for　the　public　an　unparalleled　interest。　The　rank　of　the　accused；　and　his　antecedents；　more　especially　that　particular　local　antecedent　touching　the　Lady　Isabel　Carlyle；　the　verdict　still　out　against　Richard　Hare；　the　length　of　time　which　had　elapsed　since；　the　part　played　in　it　by　Afy；　the　intense　curiosity　as　to　the　part　taken　in　it　by　Otway　Bethel；　the　speculation　as　to　what　had　been　the　exact　details；　and　the　doubt　of　a　convictionall　contributed　to　fan　the　curiosity　of　the　public。　People　came　from　far　and　near　to　be　presentfriends　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　friends　of　the　Hares；　friends　of　the　Challoner　family；　friends　of　the　prisoner；　besides　the　general　public。　Colonel　Bethel　and　Mr。　Justice　Hare　had　conspicuous　seats。

At　a　few　minutes　past　nine　the　judge　took　his　place　on　the　bench；　but　not　before　a　rumor　had　gone　through　the　courta　rumor　that　seemed　to　shake　it　to　its　centre；　and　which　people　stretched　out　their　necks　to　hearOtway　Bethel　had　turned　Queen's　evidence；　and　was　to　be　admitted　as　a　witness　for　the　crown。

Thin；　haggard；　pale；　looked　Francis　Levison　as　he　was　placed　in　the　dock。　His　incarceration　had　not　in　any　way　contributed　to　his　personal　advantages；　and　there　was　an　ever…recurring　expression　of　dread　upon　his　countenance　not　pleasant　to　look　upon。　He　was　dressed　in　black；　old　Mrs。　Levison　having　died；　and　his　diamond　ring　shone　conspicuous　still　on　his　white　hand；　now　whiter　than　ever。　The　most　eminent　counsel　were　engaged　on　both　sides。

The　testimony　of　the　witnesses　already　given　need　not　be　recapitulated。　The　identification　of　the　prisoner　with　the　man　Thorn　was　fully　establishedEbenezer　James　proved　that。　Afy　proved　it；　and　also　that　he；　Thorn；　was　at　the　cottage　that　night。　Sir　Peter　Levison's　groom　was　likewise　re…examined。　But　still　there　wanted　other　testimony。　Afy　was　made　to　re…assert　that　Thorn　had　to　go　to　the　cottage　for　his　hat　after　leaving　her；　but　that　proved　nothing；　and　the　conversation；　or　quarrel　overheard　by　Mr。　Dill　was　now　again；　put　forward。　If　this　was　all　the　evidence；　people　opined　that　the　case　for　the　prosecution　would　break　down。

〃Call　Richard　Hare〃　said　the　counsel　for　the　prosecution。

Those　present　who　knew　Mr。　Justice　Hare；　looked　up　at　him；　wondering　why　he　did　not　stir　in　answer　to　his　namewondering　at　the　pallid　hue　which　overspread　his　face。　Not　he；　but　another　came　forwarda　fair；　placid；　gentlemanly　young　man；　with　blue　eyes；　fair　hair；　and　a　pleasant　countenance。　It　was　Richard　Hare　the　younger。　He　had　assumed　his　original　position　in　life；　so　far　as　attire　went；　and　in　that；　at　least；　was　a　gentleman　again。　In　speech　alsowith　his　working　dress　Richard　had　thrown　off　his　working　manners。

A　strange　hubbub　arose　in　court。　Richard　Hare；　the　exilethe　reported　deadthe　man　whose　life　was　in　jeopardy！　The　spectators　rose　with　one　accord　to　get　a　better　view；　they　stood　on　tiptoe；　they　pushed　forth　their　necks；　they　strained　their　eyesight：　and；　amidst　all　the　noisy　hum；　the　groan　bursting　from　the　lips　of　Justice　Hare　was　unnoticed。　Whilst　order　was　being　called　for；　and　the　judge　threatened　to　clear　the　court；　two　officers　moved　themselves　quietly　up　and　stood　behind　the　witness。　Richard　Hare　was　in　custody；　though　he　might　know　it　not。　The　witness　was　sworn。

〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃Richard　Hare。〃

〃Son　of　Mr。　Justice　Hare；　I　believe；　of　the　Grove；　West　Lynne？〃

〃His　only　son。〃

〃The　same　against　whom　a　verdict　of　wilful　murder　is　out？〃　interposed　the　judge。

〃The　same；　my　lord；〃　replied　Richard　Hare；　who　appeared；　strange　as　it　may　seem；　to　have　cast　away　all　his　old　fearfulness。

〃Then；　witness；　let　me　warn　you　that　you　are　not　obliged　to　answer　any　question　that　may　tend　to　criminate　yourself。〃

〃My　lord；〃　answered　Richard　Hare；　with　some　emotion；　〃I　wish　to　answer　any　and　every　question　put　to　me。　I　have　but　one　hope；　that　the　full　truth　of　all　pertaining　to　that　fatal　evening　may　be　made　manifest　this　day。〃

〃Look　round　at　the　prisoner；〃　said　the　examining　counsel。　〃Do　you　know　him？〃

〃I　know　him　now　as　Sir　Francis　Levison。　Up　to　April　last　I　believed　his　name　to　be　Thorn。〃

〃State　what　occurred　on　the　evening　of　the　murder；　as　far　as　your　knowledge　goes。〃

〃I　had　an　appointment　that　evening　with　Afy　Hallijohn；　and　went　down　to　their　cottage　to　keep　it〃

〃A　moment；〃　interrupted　the　counsel。　〃Was　your　visit　that　evening　made　in　secret？〃

〃Partially　so。　My　father　and　mother　were　displeased；　naturally；　at　my　intimacy　with　Afy　Hallijohn；　therefore　I　did　not　care　that　they　should　be　cognizant　of　my　visits　there。　I　am　ashamed　to　confess　that　I　told　my　father　a　lie　over　it　that　very　evening。　He　saw　me　leave　the　dinner…　table　to　go　out　with　my　gun；　and　inquired　where　I　was　off　to。　I　answered　that　I　was　going　out　with　young　Beauchamp。〃

〃When；　in　point　of　fact；　you　were　not？〃

〃No。　I　took　my　gun；　for　I　had　promised　to　lend　it　to　Hallijohn　while　his　own　was　being　repaired。　When　I　reached　the　cottage　Afy　refused　to　admit　me；　she　was　busy；　and　could　not；　she　said。　I　felt　sure　she　had　got　Thorn　with　her。　She　had；　more　than　once　before；　refused　to　admit　me　when　I　had　gone　there　by　her　own　appointment；　and　I　always　found　that　Thorn's　presence　in　the　cottage　was　the　obstacle。〃

〃I　suppose　you　and　Thorn　were　jealous　of　each　other？〃

〃I　was　jealous　of　him；　I　freely　admit　it。　I　don't　know　whether　he　was　of　me。〃

〃May　I　inquire　what　was　the　nature　of　your　friendship　for　Miss　Afy　Hallijohn？〃

〃I　loved　her　with　an　honorable　love；　as　I　might　have　done　by　any　young　lady　in　my　own　station　of　life。　I　would　not　have　married　her　in　opposition　to　my　father　and　mother；　but　I　told　Afy　that　if　she　was　content　to　wait　for　me　until　I　was　my　own　master　I　would　then　make　her　my　wife。〃

〃You　had　no　views　toward　her　of　a　different　nature？〃

〃None；　I　cared　for　her　too　much　for　that；　and　I　respected　her　father。　Afy's　mother　had　been　a　lad