east lynne-第119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！



〃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　understand；　madame；　bringing　the　enemy　to　reason。〃

Madame　Vine　was　agitated。　She　held　her　handkerchief　to　her　mouth；　and　the　boy　noticed　how　her　hands　trembled。

〃I　have　learnt　to　love　Lucy。　It　has　appeared　to　me　in　these　few　months'　sojourn　with　her；　that　I　have　stood　to　her　in　light　of　a　mother。　William　Vane；〃　she　solemnly　added；　keeping　her　hold　upon　him；　〃I　shall　soon　be　where　earthly　distinctions　are　no　more；　where　sin　and　sorrow　are　no　more。　Should　Lucy　Carlyle　indeed　become　your　wife；　in　after　years；　never；　never　cast　upon　her；　by　so　much　as　the　slightest　word　of　reproach；　the　sin　of　Lady　Isabel。〃

Lord　Vane　threw　back　his　head；　his　honest　eyes　flashing　in　their　indignant　earnestness。

〃What　do　you　take　me　for？〃

〃It　would　be　a　cruel　wrong　upon　Lucy。　She　does　not　deserve　it。　That　unhappy　lady's　sin　was　all　her　own；　let　it　die　with　her。　Never　speak　to　Lucy　of　her　mother。〃

The　lad　dashed　his　hand　across　his　eyes　for　they　were　filling。

〃I　shall。　I　shall　speak　to　her　often　of　her　motherthat　is；　you　know；　after　she's　my　wife。　I　shall　tell　her　how　I　loved　Lady　Isabelthat　there's　nobody　I　ever　loved　so　much　in　the　world；　but　Lucy　herself。　/I/　cast　a　reproach　to　Lucy　on　the　score　of　her　mother！〃　he　hotly　added。　〃It　is　through　her　mother　that　I　love　her。　You　don't　understand；　madame。〃

〃Cherish　and　love　her　forever；　should　she　become　yours；〃　said　Lady　Isabel；　wringing　his　hand。　〃I　ask　it　you　as　one　who　is　dying。〃

〃I　willI　promise　it。　But　I　say；　madame；〃　he　continued；　dropping　his　fervent　tone；　〃what　do　you　allude　to？　Are　you　worse？〃

Madame　Vine　did　not　answer。　She　glided　away　without　speaking。

Later；　when　she　was　sitting　by　twilight　in　the　gray　parlor；　cold　and　shivering；　and　wrapped　up　in　a　shawl；　though　it　was　hot　summer　weather；　somebody　knocked　at　the　door。

〃Come　in；〃　cried　she；　apathetically。

It　was　Mr。　Carlyle　who　entered。　She　rose　up；　her　pulses　quickening；　her　heart　thumping　against　her　side。　In　her　wild　confusion　she　was　drawing　forward　a　chair　for　him。　He　laid　his　hand　upon　it；　and　motioned　her　to　her　own。

〃Mrs。　Carlyle　tells　me　that　you　have　been　speaking　to　her　of　leaving　that　you　find　yourself　too　much　out　of　health　to　continue　with　us。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　faintly　replied；　having　a　most　imperfect　notion　of　what　she　did　say。

〃What　is　it　that　you　find　to　be　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃Ithinkit　is　chieflyweakness；〃　she　stammered。

Her　face　had　grown　as　gray　as　the　walls。　A　dusky；　livid　sort　of　hue；　not　unlike　William's　had　worn　the　night　of　his　death；　and　her　voice　sounded　strangely　hollow。　It；　the　voice；　struck　Mr。　Carlyle　and　awoke　his　fears。

〃You　cannotyou　never　can　have　caught　William's　complaint；　in　your　close　attendance　upon　him？〃　he　exclaimed；　speaking　in　the　impulse　of　the　moment；　as　the　idea　flashed　across　him。　〃I　have　heard　of　such　things。〃

〃Caught　it　from　him？〃　she　rejoined；　carried　away　also　by　impulse。　〃It　is　more　likely　that　he〃

She　stopped　herself　just　in　time。　/〃Inherited　it　from　me；〃/　had　been　the　destined　conclusion。　In　her　alarm；　she　went　off　volubly；　something　to　the　effect　that　〃it　was　no　wonder　she　was　ill：　illness　was　natural　to　her　family。〃

〃At　any　rate；　you　have　become　ill　at　East　Lynne；　in　attendance　on　my　children；〃　rejoined　Mr。　Carlyle；　decisively；　when　her　voice　died　away。　〃You　must　therefore　allow　me　to　insist　that　you　allow　East　Lynne　to　do　what　it　can　toward　renovating　you。　What　is　your　objection　to　see　a　doctor？〃

〃A　doctor　could　do　me　no　good；〃　she　faintly　answered。

〃Certainly　not；　so　long　as　you　will　not　consult　one。〃

〃Indeed；　sir；　doctors　could　not　cure　me；　nor；　as　I　believe　prolong　my　life。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused。

〃Are　you　believing　yourself　to　be　in　danger？〃

〃Not　in　immediate　danger；　sir；　only　in　so　far　as　that　I　know　I　shall　not　live。〃

〃And　yet　you　will　not　see　a　doctor。　Madame　Vine；　you　must　be　aware　that　I　could　not　permit　such　a　thing　to　go　on　in　my　house。　Dangerous　illness　and　no　advice！〃

She　could　not　say　to　him；　〃My　malady　is　on　the　mind；　it　is　a　breaking　heart；　and　therefore　no　doctor　of　physic　could　serve　me。〃　That　would　never　do。　She　had　sat　with　her　hand　across　her　face；　between　her　spectacles　and　her　wrapped…up　chin。　Had　Mr。　Carlyle　possessed　the　eyes　of　Argus；　backed　by　Sam　Weller's　patent　magnifying　microscopes　of　double　hextra　power；　he　could　not　have　made　anything　of　her　features　in　the　broad　light　of　day。　But　/she/　did　not　feel　so　sure　of　it。　There　was　always　an　undefined　terror　of　discovery　when　in　his　presence；　and　she　wished　the　interview　at　an　end。

〃I　will　see　Mr。　Wainwright；　if　it　will　be　any　satisfaction　to　you；　sir。〃

〃Madame　Vine；　I　have　intruded　upon　you　here　to　say　that　you　/must/　see　him；　and；　should　he　deem　it　necessary；　Dr。　Martin　also。〃

〃Oh；　sir；〃　she　rejoined　with　a　curious　smile；　〃Mr。　Wainwright　will　be　quite　sufficient。　There　will　be　no　need　of　another。　I　will　write　a　note　to　him　to…morrow。〃

〃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