east lynne-第125节

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ll　trustworthy　and　of　good　intention；　but　it　was　impossible　for　Mr。　Carlyle　to　make　sure　that　not　one　of　them　would　ever；　through　any　chance　and　unpremeditated　word；　let　the　secret　come　to　the　knowledge　of　Mrs。　Carlyle。　That　would　not　do；　if　she　must　hear　it　at　all；　she　must　hear　it　from　him；　and　at　once。　He　took　his　course。

〃Are　you　ill；　Archibald？〃　she　asked；　noting　his　face。　It　wore　a　pale；　worn　sort　of　look。

〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；　Barbara；〃　he　answered；　drawing　her　hand　into　his；　as　they　stood　together。　They　were　in　her　dressing…room；　where　she　was　taking　off　her　things。　〃On　the　Wednesday　evening　when　I　got　home　to　dinner　Joyce　told　me　that　she　feared　Madame　Vine　was　dying；　and　I　thought　it　right　to　see　her。〃

〃Certainly；〃　returned　Barbara。　〃Quite　right。〃

〃I　went　into　her　room；　and　I　found　that　she　was　dying。　But　I　found　something　else；　Barbara。　She　was　not　Madame　Vine。〃

〃Not　Madame　Vine！〃　echoed　Barbara；　believing　in　good　truth　that　her　husband　could　not　know　what　he　was　saying。

〃It　was　my　former　wife；　Isabel　Vane。〃

Barbara's　face　flushed　crimson；　and　then　grew　white　as　marble；　and　she　drew　her　hand　unconsciously　from　Mr。　Carlyles's。　He　did　not　appear　to　notice　the　movement；　but　stood　with　his　elbow　on　the　mantelpiece　while　he　talked；　giving　her　a　rapid　summary　of　the　interview　and　its　details。

〃She　could　not　stay　away　from　her　children；　she　said；　and　came　back　as　Madame　Vine。　What　with　the　effects　of　the　railroad　accident　in　France；　and　those　spectacles　she　wore；　and　her　style　of　dress；　and　her　gray　hair；　she　felt　secure　in　not　being　recognized。　I　am　astonished　now　that　she　was　not　discovered。　Were　such　a　thing　related　to　me　I　should　give　no　credence　to　it。〃

Barbara's　heart　felt　faint　with　its　utter　sickness；　and　she　turned　her　face　from　the　view　of　her　husband。　Her　first　confused　thoughts　were　as　Mr。　Carlyle's　had　beenthat　she　had　been　living　in　his　house　with　another　wife。　〃Did　you　suspect　her？〃　she　breathed；　in　a　low　tone。

〃Barbara！　Had　I　suspected　it；　should　I　have　allowed　it　to　go　on？　She　implored　my　forgiveness　for　the　past；　and　for　having　returned　here；　and　I　gave　it　to　her　fully。　I　then　went　to　West　Lynne；　to　telegraph　to　Mount　Severn；　and　when　I　came　back　she　was　dead。〃

There　was　a　pause。　Mr。　Carlyle　began　to　perceive　that　his　wife's　face　was　hidden　from　him。

〃She　said　her　heart　was　broken。　Barbara；　we　cannot　wonder　at　it。〃

There　was　no　reply。　Mr。　Carlyle　took　his　arm　from　the　mantelpiece；　and　moved　so　that　he　could　see　her　countenance：　a　wan　countenance；　telling　of　pain。

He　laid　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder；　and　made　her　look　at　him。　〃My　dearest；　what　is　this？〃

〃Oh；　Archibald！〃　she　uttered；　clasping　her　hands　together；　all　her　pent　up　feelings　bursting　forth；　and　the　tears　streaming　from　her　eyes；　〃has　this　taken　your　love　from　me？〃

He　took　both　her　hands　in　one　of　his；　he　put　the　other　round　her　waist　and　held　her　there；　before　him；　never　speaking；　only　looking　gravely　into　her　face。　Who　could　look　at　its　sincere　truthfulness；　at　the　sweet　expression　of　his　lips；　and　doubt　him？　Not　Barbara。　She　allowed　the　moment's　excitement　to　act　upon　her　feelings；　and　carry　her　away。

〃I　had　thought　my　wife　possessed　entire　trust　in　me。〃

〃Oh；　I　do；　I　do；　you　know　I　do。　Forgive　me；　Archibald；〃　she　slowly　whispered。

〃I　deemed　it　better　to　impart　this　to　you；　Barbara。　Had　there　been　wrong　feeling　on　my　part；　I　should　have　left　you　in　ignorance。　My　darling；　I　have　told　you　it　in　love。〃

She　was　leaning　on　his　breast；　sobbing　gently；　her　repentant　face　turned　towards　him。　He　held　her　there　in　his　strong　protection；　his　enduring　tenderness。

〃My　wife！　My　darling！　now　and　always。〃

〃It　was　a　foolish　feeling　to　cross　my　heart；　Archibald。　It　is　done　with　and　gone。〃

〃Never　let　it　come　back；　Barbara。　Neither　need　her　name　be　mentioned　again　between　us。　A　barred　name　it　has　hitherto　been；　so　let　it　continue。〃

〃Anything　you　will。　My　earnest　wish　is　to　please　you；　to　be　worthy　of　your　esteem　and　love；　Archibald；〃　she　timidly　added；　her　eye…lids　drooping；　and　her　fair　cheeks　blushing；　as　she　made　the　confession。　〃There　has　been　a　feeling　in　my　heart　against　your　children；　a　sort　of　jealous　feeling；　you　can　understand；　because　they　were　hers；　because　she　had　once　been　your　wife。　I　knew　how　wrong　it　was；　and　I　have　tried　earnestly　to　subdue　it。　I　have；　indeed；　and　I　think　it　is　nearly　gone；〃　her　voice　sunk。　〃I　constantly　pray　to　be　helped　to　do　it；　to　love　them　and　care　for　them　as　if　they　were　my　own。　It　will　come　with　time。〃

〃Every　good　thing　will　come　with　time　that　we　may　earnestly　seek；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Oh；　Barbara；　never　forgetnever　forget　that　the　only　way　to　ensure　peace　in　the　end　is　to　strive　always　to　be　doing　right；　unselfishly　under　God。〃






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