east lynne-第118节

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Madame　Vine　said　〃Yes。〃　Said　it　eagerly。　To　have　another　fortnight　with　her　children；　Lucy　and　Archibald；　was　very　like　a　reprieve；　and　she　embraced　it。　Although　she　knew；　as　I　have　said；　that　grim　Death　was　on　his　way；　she　did　not　think　he　had　drawn　so　near　the　end　of　his　journey。　Her　thoughts　went　back　to　the　time　when　she　had　been　ordered　to　the　seaside　after　an　illness。　It　had　been　a　marvel　if　they　had　not。　She　remembered　how　he；　her　husband；　had　urged　the　change　upon　her；　how　he　had　taken　her；　traveling　carefully；　how　tenderly　anxious　he　had　been　in　the　arrangements　for　her　comfort；　when　settling　her　in　the　lodgings；　how；　when　he　came　again　to　see　her；　he　had　met　her　with　his　passionate　fondness；　thanking　God　for　the　visible　improvement　in　her　looks。　That　one　injunction　which　she　had　called　him　back　to　give　him；　as　he　was　departing　for　the　boat；　was　bitterly　present　to　her　now：　〃Do　not　get　making　love　to　Barbara　Hare。〃　All　this　care；　and　love；　and　tenderness　belonged　now　of　right　to　Barbara；　and　were　given　to　her。

But　now　Barbara；　although　she　pressed　Madame　Vine　to　remain　at　East　Lynne；　and　indeed　would　have　been　glad　that　she　should　do　so；　did　not　take　her　refusal　at　heart。　Barbara　could　not　fail　to　perceive　that　she　was　a　thoroughly　refined　gentlewoman；　far　superior　to　the　generality　of　governesses。　That　she　was　truly　fond　of　Lucy；　and　most　anxious　for　her　welfare　in　every　way；　Barbara　also　saw。　For　Lucy's　sake；　therefore；　she　would　be　grieved　to　part　with　Madame　Vine；　and　would　raise　her　salary　to　anything　in　reason；　if　she　would　but　stay。　But；　on　her　own　score；　Barbara　had　as　soon　Madame　Vine　went　as　not；　for；　in　her　heart　of　hearts；　she　had　never　liked　her。　She　could　not　have　told　why。　Was　it　instinct？　Very　probably。　The　birds　of　the　air；　the　beasts　of　the　field；　the　fishes　of　the　sea；　have　their　instincts；　and　so　does　man　have　his。　Perhaps　it　was　the　unaccountable　resemblance　that　Madame　Vine　bore　to　Lady　Isabel。　A　strange　likeness！　Barbara　often　thought；　but　whether　it　lay　in　the　face；　the　voice；　or　the　manner；　she　could　not　decide。　A　suspicion　of　the　truth　did　not　cross　her　mind。　How　should　it？　And　she　never　spoke　of　it；　had　the　resemblance　been　to　any　one　but　Lady　Isabel　she　would　have　talked　of　it　freely。　Or；　it　may　have　been　that　there　was　now　and　then　a　tone　in　Madame　Vine's　voice　that　grated　on　her　ear；　a　wrung；　impatient　tone；　wanting　in　respect；　savoring　of　hauteur；　which　Barbara　did　not　understand；　and　did　not　like。　However　it　may　have　been；　certain　it　is　that　Mrs。　Carlyle　would　not　shed　tears　after　the　governess。　Only　for　Lucy's　sake　did　she　regret　parting　with　her。

These　different　resemblances　and　reflections　were　separately　passing　through　the　minds　of　the　two　ladies　when　their　conference　was　over。　Madame　Vine　at　length　rose　from　her　chair　to　depart。

〃Would　you　mind　holding　my　baby　for　one　minute？〃　cried　Barbara。

Madame　Vine　quite　started。

〃The　baby　there！〃　she　uttered。

Barbara　laughed。

〃It　is　lying　by　my　side；　under　the　shawl；　quiet　little　sleeping　thing。〃

Madame　Vine　advanced　and　took　the　sleeping　baby。　How　could　she　refuse？　She　had　never　had　it　in　her　arms　before；　she　had；　in　fact；　scarcely　seen　it。　One　visit　of　ceremony　she　had　paid　Mrs。　Carlyle；　as　in　politeness　bound；　a　day　or　two　after　the　young　lady's　arrival；　and　had　been　shown　a　little　face；　nearly　covered　with　lace；　in　a　cradle。

〃Thank　you。　I　can　get　up　now。　I　might　have　half　smothered　it；　had　I　attempted　before；〃　continued　Barbara；　still　laughing。　〃I　have　been　here　long　enough；　and　am　quite　rested。　Talking　about　smothering　children；　what　accounts　have　we　in　the　registrar…general's　weekly　returns　of　health！　So　many　children　'overlaid　in　bed；'　so　many　children　'suffocated　in　bed。'　One　week　there　were　nearly　twenty；　and　often　there　are　as　many　as　eight　or　ten。　Mr。　Carlyle　says　he　knows　they　are　smothered　on　purpose。〃

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Carlyle！〃

〃I　exclaimed；　just　as　you　do；　when　he　said　it；　and　laid　my　hand　over　his　lips。　He　laughed；　and　told　me　I　did　not　know　half　the　wickedness　of　the　world。　Thank　you；〃　again　repeated　Mrs。　Carlyle；　taking　her　child　from　Lady　Isabel。　〃Is　she　not　a　pretty　baby？　Do　you　like　the　nameAnne？〃

〃It　is　a　simple　name；〃　replied　Lady　Isabel；　〃and　simple　names　are　always　the　most　attractive。〃

〃That　is　just　what　Archibald　thinks。　But　he　wanted　this　child's　to　be　Barbara。　I　would　not　have　had　it　Barbara　for　the　world。　I　remember　his　once　saying；　a　long；　long　while　ago　that　he　did　not　like　elaborate　names；　they　were　mouthfuls；　and　he　instanced　mine　and　his　sister's；　and　his　own。　I　recalled　his　words　to　him；　and　he　said　he　may　not　have　liked　the　name　of　Barbara　then；　but　he　loved　it　now。　So　we　entered　into　a　compromise；　Miss　Baby　was　named　Anne　Barbara；　with　an　understanding　that　the　first　name　is　to　be　for　use；　and　the　last　for　the　registers。〃

〃It　is　not　christened？〃　said　Lady　Isabel。

〃Only　baptized。　We　should　have　had　it　christened　before　now；　but　for　William's　death。　Not　that　we　give　christening　dinners；　but　I　waited　for　the　trial　at　Lynneborough　to　be　over；　that　my　dear　brother　Richard　might　stand　to　the　child。〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle　does　not　like　christenings　made　into　festivals；〃　Lady　Isabel　dreamily　observed；　her　thoughts　buried　in　the　past。

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　opening　her　eyes。

And　poor　Madame　Vine；　her　pale　face　flushing；　had　to　stammer　forth　some　confused　words　that　she　had　〃heard　so　somewhere。〃

〃It　is　quite　true；〃　said　Barbara。　〃He　has　never　given　a　christening…　dinner　for　any　of　his　children；　and　gets　out　of　attending　if　invited　to　one。　He　cannot　understand　the　analogy　between　a　solemn　religious　rite　and　the　meeting　together　afterward　to　eat　and　drink　and　make　merry；　according　to　the　fashion　of　this　world。〃

As　Lady　Isabel　quitted　the　room；　young　Vane　was　careering　through　the　corridor；　throwing　his　head　in　all　directions；　and　calling　out；

〃Lucy！　I　want　Lucy！〃

〃What　do　you　want　with　her？〃　asked　Madame　Vine。

〃/Il　m'est　impossible　de　vous　le　dire　madame/；〃　responded　he。　Being；　for　an　Eton　boy；　wonderfully　up　in　French；　he　was　rather　given　to　show　it　off　when　he　got　the　chance。　He　did　not　owe　thanks　for　it　to　Eton。　Lady　Mount　Severn　had　taken　better　care　than　that。　Better　care？　What　/could/　she　want？　There　was　one　whole；　real；　live　French　tutorand　he　an　Englishman！for　the　eight　hundred　boys。　Very　unreasonable　of　her　ladyship　to　disparage　that　ample　provision。

〃Lucy　cannot　come　to　you　just　now。　She　is　practicing。〃

〃/Mais；　il　le　faut。　J'ai　le　droit　de　demander　apres　elle。　Elle　m'appartient；　vous　comprenez；　madame；　cette　demoiselle　la。/〃

Madame　could　not　forbear　a　smile。　〃I　wish　you　would　speak　English　sense；　instead　of　French　nonsense。〃

〃Then　the　English　sense　is　that　I　want　Lucy　and　I　must　have　her。　I　am　going　to　take　her　for　a　drive　in　the　pony　carriage；　if　you　must　know。　She　said　she'd　come；　and　John's　getting　it　ready。〃

〃I　could　not　possibly　allow　it；〃　said　Madame　Vine。　〃You'd　be　sure　to　upset　her。〃

〃The　idea！〃　he　returned；　indignantly。　〃As　if　I　should　upset　Lucy！　Why；　I'm　one　of　the　great　whips　at　Eton。　I　care　for　Lucy　too　much　not　to　drive　steadily。　She　is　to　be　my　wife；　you　know；　/ma　bonne　dame/。〃

At　this　juncture　two　heads　were　pushed　out　from　the　library；　close　by；　those　of　the　earl　and　Mr。　Carlyle。　Barbara；　also；　attracted　by　the　talking；　appeared　at　the　door　of　her　dressing…room。

〃What's　that　about　a　wife？〃　asked　my　lord　of　his　son。

The　blood　mantled　in　the　young　gentleman's　cheek　as　he　turned　round　and　saw　who　had　spoken；　but　he　possessed　all　the　fearlessness　of　an　Eton　boy。

〃I　intend　Lucy　Carlyle　to　be　my　wife；　papa。　I　mean　in　earnestwhen　we　shall　both　be　grown　upif　you　will　approve；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　will　give　her　to　me。〃

The　earl　looked　somewhat　impassable；　Mr。　Carlyle　amused。　〃Suppose；〃　said　the　latter；　〃we　adjourn　the　discussion　to　this　day　ten　years？〃

〃But　that　Lucy　is　so　very　young　a　child；　I　should　reprove　you　seriously；　sir；〃　said　the　earl。　〃You　have　no　right　to　bring　Lucy's　name　into　any　such　absurdity。〃

〃I　mean　it；　papa；　you'll　all　see。　And　I　intend　to　keep　out　of　scrapes　that　is；　of　nasty；　dishonorable　scrapeson　purpose　that　Mr。　Carlyle　shall　find　no　excuse　against　me。　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　be　what　he　isa　man　of　honor。　I　am　right　glad　you　know　about　it；　sir；　and　I　shall　let　mamma　know　it　before　long。〃

The　last　sentence　tickled　the　earl's　fancy；　and　a　grim　smile　passed　over　his　lips。　〃It　will　be　war　to　the　knife；　if　you　do。〃

〃I　know　that；〃　laughed　the　viscount。　〃But　I　am　getting　a　better　match　for　mamma　in　our　battles　than　I　used　to　be。〃

Nobody　saw　fit　to　prolong　the　discussion。　Barbara　put　her　veto　upon　the　drive　in　the　pony　carriage　unless　John　sat　behind　to　look　after　the　driver；　which　Lord　Vane　still　resented　as　an　insult。　Madame　Vine；　when　the　corridor　became　empty　again；　laid　her　hand　upon　the　boy's　arm　as　he　was　moving　away；　and　drew　him　to　the　window。

〃In　speaking　as　you　do　of　Lucy　Carlyle；　do　you　forget　the　disgrace　reflected　on　her　by　the　conduct　of　her　mother？〃

〃Her　mother　is　not　Lucy。〃

〃It　may　prove　an　impediment；　that；　with　Lord　and　Lady　Mount　Severn。〃

〃Not　with　his　lordship。　And　I　must　doas　you　heard　me　saybattle　with　my　mother。　Conciliatory　battle；　you　under