east lynne-第13节

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〃No；　sir；〃　was　the　reply；　〃I　think　it　would　be　a　wonder　if　I　did　hear。〃

〃Why　so？〃

〃If　she　would　go　off　after　Richard　Hare；　who　had　sent　her　father　into　his　grave；　she　would　be　more　likely　to　hide　herself　and　her　doings　than　to　proclaim　them　to　me；　sir。〃

〃Who　was　that　other；　that　fine　gentleman；　who　came　after　her？〃

The　color　mantled　in　Joyce's　cheeks；　and　she　dropped　her　voice。

〃Sir！　Did　you　hear　of　him？〃

〃Not　at　that　time。　Since。　He　came　from　Swainson；　did　he　not？〃

〃I　believe　so；　sir。　Afy　never　would　say　much　about　him。　We　did　not　agree　upon　the　point。　I　said　a　person　of　his　rank　would　do　her　no　good；　and　Afy　flew　out　when　I　spoke　against　him。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　caught　her　up。　〃His　rank。　What　was　his　rank？〃

〃Afy　bragged　of　his　being　next　door　to　a　lord；　and　he　looked　like　it。　I　only　saw　him　once；　I　had　gone　home　early；　and　there　sat　him　and　Afy。　His　white　hands　were　all　glittering　with　rings；　and　his　shirt　was　finished　off　with　shining　stones　where　the　buttons　ought　to　be。〃

〃Have　you　seen　him　since？〃

〃Never　since；　never　but　once；　and　I　don't　think　I　should　know　him　if　I　did　see　him。　He　got　up；　sir；　as　soon　as　I　went　into　the　parlor；　shook　hands　with　Afy；　and　left。　A　fine；　upright　man　he　was；　nearly　as　tall　as　you；　sir；　but　very　slim。　Those　soldiers　always　carry　themselves　well。〃

〃How　do　you　know　he　was　a　soldier？〃　quickly　rejoined　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Afy　told　me　so。　'The　Captain'　she　used　to　call　him；　but　she　said　he　was　not　a　captain　yet　awhilethe　next　grade　to　it；　aa〃

〃Lieutenant？〃　suggested　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Yes；　sir；　that　was　itLieutenant　Thorn。〃

〃Joyce；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃has　it　never　struck　you　that　Afy　is　more　likely　to　have　followed　Lieutenant　Thorn　than　Richard　Hare？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　answered　Joyce；　〃I　have　felt　certain　always　that　she　is　with　Richard　Hare；　and　nothing　can　turn　me　from　the　belief。　All　West　Lynne　is　convinced　of　it。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　attempt　to　〃turn　her　from　her　belief。〃　He　dismissed　her；　and　sat　on　still；　revolving　the　case　in　all　its　bearings。

Richard　Hare's　short　interview　with　his　mother　had　soon　terminated。　It　lasted　but　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　both　dreading　interruptions　from　the　servants；　and　with　a　hundred　pounds　in　his　pocket；　and　desolation　in　his　heart；　the　ill…fated　young　man　once　more　quitted　his　childhood's　home。　Mrs。　Hare　and　Barbara　watched　him　steal　down　the　path　in　the　telltale　moonlight；　and　gain　the　road；　both　feeling　that　those　farewell　kisses　they　had　pressed　upon　his　lips　would　not　be　renewed　for　years；　and　might　not　be　forever。



CHAPTER　VII。

MISS　CARLYLE　AT　HOME。

The　church　clocks　at　West　Lynne　struck　eight　one　lovely　morning　in　July；　and　then　the　bells　chimed　out；　giving　token　that　it　was　Sunday。

East　Lynne　had　changed　owners；　and　now　it　was　the　property　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　He　had　bought　it　as　it　stood；　furniture　and　all；　but　the　transfer　had　been　conducted　with　secrecy；　and　was　suspected　by　none；　save　those　engaged　in　the　negotiations。　Whether　Lord　Mount　Severn　thought　it　might　prevent　any　one　getting　on　the　scent；　or　whether　he　wished　to　take　farewell　of　a　place　he　had　formerly　been　fond　of；　certain　it　is　that　he　craved　a　week　or　two's　visit　to　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　most　readily　and　graciously　acquiesced；　and　the　earl；　his　daughter；　and　retinue　had　arrived　the　previous　day。

West　Lynne　was　in　ecstacies。　It　called　itself　an　aristocratic　place；　and　it　indulged　hopes　that　the　earl　might　be　intending　to　confer　permanently　the　light　of　his　presence；　by　taking　up　his　residence　again　at　East　Lynne。　The　toilettes　prepared　to　meet　his　admiring　eyes　were　prodigious　and　pretty　Barbara　Hare　was　not　the　only　young　lady　who　had　thereby　to　encounter　the　paternal　storm。

Miss　Carlyle　was　ready　for　church　at　the　usual　time；　plainly；　but　well　dressed。　As　she　and　Archibald　were　leaving　their　house；　they　saw　something　looming　up　the　street；　flashing　and　gleaming　in　the　sun。　A　pink　parasol　came　first；　a　pink　bonnet　and　feather　came　behind　it；　a　gray　brocaded　dress　and　white　gloves。

〃The　vain　little　idiot！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Carlyle。　But　Barbara　smiled　up　the　street　toward　them；　unconscious　of　the　apostrophe。

〃Well　done；　Barbara！〃　was　the　salutation　of　Miss　Carlyle。　〃The　justice　might　well　call　outyou　are　finer　than　a　sunbeam！〃

〃Not　half　so　fine　as　many　another　in　the　church　will　be　to…day；〃　responded　Barbara；　as　she　lifted　her　shy　blue　eyes　and　blushing　face　to　answer　the　greetings　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃West　Lynne　seems　bent　on　out…　dressing　the　Lady　Isabel。　You　should　have　been　at　the　milliner's　yesterday　morning；　Miss　Carlyle。〃

〃Is　all　the　finery　coming　out　to…day？〃　gravely　inquired　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　Barbara　turned　with　them　toward　the　church；　and　he　walked　by　her　side　and　his　sister's；　for　he　had　an　objection；　almost　invincible　as　a　Frenchman's；　to　give　his　arm　to　two　ladies。

〃Of　course；〃　replied　Barbara。　〃First　impression　is　everything；　you　know；　and　the　earl　and　his　daughter　will　be　coming　to　church。〃

〃Suppose　she　should　not　be　in　peacock's　plumes？〃　cried　Miss　Carlyle；　with　an　imperturbable　face。

〃Oh！　But　she　is　sure　to　beif　you　mean　richly　dressed；〃　cried　Barbara；　hastily。

〃Or；　suppose　they　should　not　come　to　church？〃　laughed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃What　a　disappointment　to　the　bonnets　and　feathers！〃

〃After　all；　Barbara；　what　are　they　to　us；　or　we　to　them？〃　resumed　Miss　Carlyle。　〃We　may　never　meet。　We　insignificant　West　Lynne　gentry　shall　not　obtrude　ourselves　into　East　Lynne。　It　would　scarcely　be　fitting　or　be　deemed　so　by　the　earl　and　Lady　Isabel。〃

〃That's　just　how　papa　went　on；〃　grumbled　Barbara。　〃He　caught　sight　of　this　bonnet　yesterday；　and　when；　by　way　of　excuse；　I　said　I　had　it　to　call　on　them；　he　asked　whether　I　thought　the　obscure　West　Lynne　families　would　venture　to　thrust　their　calls　on　Lord　Mount　Severn；　as　though　they　were　of　the　county　aristocracy。　It　was　the　feather　that　put　him　out。〃

〃It　is　a　very　long　one；〃　remarked　Miss　Carlyle；　grimly　surveying　it。

Barbara　was　to　sit　in　the　Carlyle　pew　that　day；　for　she　thought　the　farther　she　was　from　the　justice　the　better；　there　was　no　knowing　but　he　might　take　a　sly　revengeful　cut　at　the　feather　in　the　middle　of　service；　and　so　dock　its　beauty。　Scarcely　were　they　seated　when　some　strangers　came　quietly　up　the　aislea　gentleman　who　limped　as　he　walked；　with　a　furrowed　brow　and　gray　hair；　and　a　young　lady。　Barbara　looked　round　with　eagerness；　but　looked　away　again；　they　could　not　be　the　expected　strangers；　the　young　lady's　dress　was　too　plaina　clear…　looking　muslin　dress　for　a　hot　summer's　day。　But　the　old　beadle　in　his　many…caped　coat；　was　walking　before　them　sideways　with　his　marshalling　baton；　and　he　marshaled　them　into　the　East　Lynne　pew；　unoccupied　for　so　many　years。

〃Who　in　the　world　can　they　be？〃　whispered　Barbara　to　Miss　Carlyle。　〃That　old　stupid　is　always　making　a　mistake　and　putting　people　into　the　wrong　places。〃

〃The　earl　and　Lady　Isabel。〃

The　color　flushed　into　Barbara's　face；　and　she　stared　at　Miss　Corny。　〃Why；　she　has　no　silks；　and　no　feathers；　and　no　anything！〃　cried　Barbara。　〃She's　plainer　than　anybody　in　the　church！〃

〃Plainer　than　any　of　the　fine　onesthan　you；　for　instance。　The　earl　is　much　altered；　but　I　should　have　known　them　both　anywhere。　I　should　have　known　her　from　the　likeness　to　her　poor　motherjust　the　same　eyes　and　sweet　expression。〃

Aye；　those　brown　eyes；　so　full　of　sweetness　and　melancholy；　few　who　had　once　seen　could　mistake　or　forget　them；　and　Barbara　Hare；　forgetting　where　she　was；　looked　at　them　much　that　day。

〃She　is　very　lovely；〃　thought　Barbara；　〃and　her　dress　is　certainly　that　of　a　lady。　I　wish　I　had　not　had　this　streaming　pink　feather。　What　fine　jackdaws　she　must　deem　us　all！〃

The　earl's　carriage；　an　open　barouche；　was　waiting　at　the　gate；　at　the　conclusion　of　the　service。　He　handed　his　daughter　in；　and　was　putting　his　gouty　foot　upon　the　step　to　follow　her；　when　he　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　earl　turned　and　held　out　his　hand。　A　man　who　could　purchase　East　Lynne　was　worthy　of　being　received　as　an　equal；　though　he　was　but　a　country　lawyer。

Mr。　Carlyle　shook　hands　with　the　earl；　approached　the　carriage　and　raised　his　hat　to　Lady　Isabel。　She　bent　forward　with　her　pleasant　smile；　and　put　her　hand　into　his。

〃I　have　many　things　to　say　to　you；〃　said　the　earl。　〃I　wish　you　would　go　home　with　us。　If　you　have　nothing　better　to　do；　be　East　Lynne's　guest　for　the　remainder　of　the　day。〃

He　smiled　peculiarly　as　he　spoke；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　echoed　it。　East　Lynne's　guest！　That　is　what　the　earl　was　at　present。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　aside　to　tell　his　sister。

〃Cornelia；　I　shall　not　be　home　to　dinner；　I　am　going　with　Lord　Mount　Severn。　Good…day；　Barbara。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　stepped　into　the　carriage；　was　followed　by　the　earl；　and　it　drove　away。　The　sun　shone　still；　but　the　day's　brightness　had　gone　out　for　Barbara　Hare。

〃How　does　he　know　the　earl　so　well？　How　does　he　know　Lady　Isabel？〃　she　reiterated　in　her　astonishment。

〃Archibald　knows　something　of　most　people；〃　replied　Miss　Corny。　〃He　saw　the　earl　frequently；　when　he　was　in　town　in　the　spring；　and　Lady　Isabel　once　or　twice。　What　a　lovely　face　hers　is！〃

Barbara　made　no　reply。　She　returned　home　with　Miss　Carlyle；　but　her　manner　was　as　absent　as　her　heart；　and　that　had　run　away　to　East　L