east lynne-第14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！


ad　run　away　to　East　Lynne。



CHAPTER　VIII。

MR。　KANE'S　CONCERT。

Before　Lord　Mount　Severn　had　completed　the　fortnight　of　his　proposed　stay；　the　gout　came　on　seriously。　It　was　impossible　for　him　to　move　away　from　East　Lynne。　Mr。　Carlyle　assured　him　he　was　only　too　pleased　that　he　should　remain　as　long　as　might　be　convenient；　and　the　earl　expressed　his　acknowledgments；　he　hoped　soon　to　be　re…established　on　his　legs。

But　he　was　not。　The　gout　came；　and　the　gout　wentnot　positively　laying　him　up　in　bed；　but　rendering　him　unable　to　leave　his　rooms；　and　this　continued　until　October；　when　he　grew　much　better。　The　county　families　had　been　neighborly；　calling　on　the　invalid　earl；　and　occasionally　carrying　off　Lady　Isabel；　but　his　chief　and　constant　visitor　had　been　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　earl　had　grown　to　like　him　in　no　common　degree；　and　was　disappointed　if　Mr。　Carlyle　spent　an　evening　away　from　him；　so　that　he　became；　as　it　were；　quite　domesticated　with　the　earl　and　Isabel。　〃I　am　not　quite　equal　to　general　society；〃　he　observed　to　his　daughter；　〃and　it　is　considerate　and　kind　of　Carlyle　to　come　here　and　cheer　my　loneliness。〃

〃Extremely　kind；〃　said　Isabel。　〃I　like　him　very　much；　papa。〃

〃I　don't　know　anybody　that　I　like　half　as　well；〃　was　the　rejoinder　of　the　earl。

Mr。　Carlyle　went　up　as　usual　the　same　evening；　and；　in　the　course　of　it；　the　earl　asked　Isabel　to　sing。

〃I　will　if　you　wish；　papa；〃　was　the　reply；　〃but　the　piano　is　so　much　out　of　tune　that　it　is　not　pleasant　to　sing　to　it。　Is　there　any　one　in　West　Lynne　who　could　come　here　and　tune　my　piano；　Mr。　Carlyle？〃　she　added；　turning　to　him。

〃Certainly　there　is。　Kane　would　do　it。　Shall　I　send　him　to…morrow？〃

〃I　should　be　glad；　if　it　would　not　be　giving　you　too　much　trouble。　Not　that　tuning　will　benefit　it　greatly；　old　thing　that　it　is。　Were　we　to　be　much　at　East　Lynne；　I　should　get　papa　to　exchange　it　for　a　good　one。〃

Little　thought　Lady　Isabel　that　that　very　piano　was　Mr。　Carlyle's；　and　not　hers。　The　earl　coughed；　and　exchanged　a　smile　and　a　glance　with　his　guest。

Mr。　Kane　was　the　organist　of　St。　Jude's　church；　a　man　of　embarrassment　and　sorrow；　who　had　long　had　a　sore　fight　with　the　world。　When　he　arrived　at　East　Lynne；　the　following　day；　dispatched　by　Mr。　Carlyle；　Lady　Isabel　happened　to　be　playing；　and　she　stood　by；　and　watched　him　begin　his　work。　She　was　courteous　and　affableshe　was　so　to　every　one　and　the　poor　music　master　took　courage　to　speak　of　his　own　affairs；　and　to　prefer　a　humble　requestthat　she　and　Lord　Mount　Severn　would　patronize　and　personally　attend　a　concert　he　was　about　to　give　the　following　week。　A　scarlet　blush　came　into　his　thin　cheeks　as　he　confessed　that　he　was　very　poor；　could　scarcely　live；　and　he　was　getting　up　this　concert　in　his　desperate　need。　If　it　succeeded　well；　he　could　then　go　on　again；　if　not；　he　should　be　turned　out　of　his　home；　and　his　furniture　sold　for　the　two　years'　rent　he　owedand　he　had　seven　children。

Isabel；　all　her　sympathies　awakened；　sought　the　earl。　〃Oh；　papa！　I　have　to　ask　you　the　greatest　favor。　Will　you　grant　it？〃

〃Ay；　child；　you　don't　ask　them　often。　What　is　it？〃

〃I　want　you　to　take　me　to　a　concert　at　West　Lynne。〃

The　earl　fell　back　in　surprise；　and　stared　at　Isabel。　〃A　concert　at　West　Lynne！〃　he　laughed。　〃To　hear　the　rustics　scraping　the　fiddle！　My　dear　Isabel！〃

She　poured　out　what　she　had　just　heard；　with　her　own　comments　and　additions。　〃Seven　children；　papa！　And　if　the　concert　does　not　succeed　he　must　give　up　his　home；　and　turn　out　into　the　streets　with　themit　is；　you　see；　almost　a　matter　of　life　or　death　with　him。　He　is　very　poor。〃

〃I　am　poor　myself；〃　said　the　earl。

〃I　was　so　sorry　for　him　when　he　was　speaking。　He　kept　turning　red　and　white；　and　catching　up　his　breath　in　agitation；　it　was　painful　to　him　to　tell　of　his　embarrassments。　I　am　sure　he　is　a　gentleman。〃

〃Well；　you　may　take　a　pound's　worth　of　tickets；　Isabel；　and　give　them　to　the　upper　servants。　A　village　concert！〃

〃Oh；　papa；　it　is　notcan't　you　see　it　is　not？　If　we；　you　and　I；　will　promise　to　be　present；　all　the　families　round　West　Lynne　will　attend；　and　he　will　have　the　room　full。　They　will　go　because　we　dohe　said　so。　Make　a　sacrifice　for　once；　dearest　papa；　and　go；　if　it　be　only　for　an　hour。　/I/　shall　enjoy　it　if　there's　nothing　but　a　fiddle　and　a　tambourine。〃

〃You　gipsy！　You　are　as　bad　as　a　professional　beggar。　Therego　and　tell　the　fellow　we　will　look　in　for　half　an　hour。〃

She　flew　back　to　Mr。　Kane；　her　eyes　dancing。　She　spoke　quietly；　as　she　always　did；　but　her　own　satisfaction　gladdened　her　voice。

〃I　am　happy　to　tell　you　that　papa　has　consented。　He　will　take　four　tickets　and　we　will　attend　the　concert。〃

The　tears　rushed　into　Mr。　Kane's　eyes；　Isabel　was　not　sure　but　they　were　in　her　own。　He　was　a　tall；　thin；　delicate…looking　man；　with　long；　white　fingers；　and　a　long　neck。　He　faltered　forth　his　thanks　with　an　inquiry　whether　he　might　be　allowed　to　state　openly　that　they　would　be　present。

〃Tell　everybody；〃　said　she；　eagerly。　〃Everybody　you　come　across；　if；　as　you　think；　it　will　be　the　means　of　inducing　people　to　attend。　I　shall　tell　all　friends　who　call　upon　me；　and　ask　them　to　go。〃

When　Mr。　Carlyle　came　up　in　the　evening；　the　earl　was　temporarily　absent　from　the　room。　Isabel　began　to　speak　of　the　concert。

〃It　is　a　hazardous　venture　for　Mr。　Kane；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　fear　he　will　only　lose　money；　and　add　to　his　embarrassments。〃

〃Why　do　you　fear　that？〃　she　asked。

〃Because；　Lady　Isabel；　nothing　gets　patronized　at　West　Lynnenothing　native；　and　people　have　heard　so　long　of　poor　Kane's　necessities；　that　they　think　little　of　them。〃

〃Is　he　so　very　poor？〃

〃Very。　He　is　starved　half　his　time。〃

〃Starved！〃　repeated　Isabel；　an　expression　of　perplexity　arising　to　her　face　as　she　looked　at　Mr。　Carlyle；　for　she　scarcely　understood　him。　〃Do　you　mean　that　he　does　not　have　enough　to　eat？〃

〃Of　bread　he　may；　but　not　much　better　nourishment。　His　salary；　as　organist；　is　thirty　pounds；　and　he　gets　a　little　stray　teaching。　But　he　has　his　wife　and　children　to　keep；　and　no　doubt　serves　them　before　himself。　I　dare　say　he　scarcely　knows　what　it　is　to　taste　meat。〃

The　words　brought　a　bitter　pang　to　Lady　Isabel。

〃Not　enough　to　eat！　Never　to　taste　meat！〃　And　she；　in　her　carelessness；　her　ignorance；　her　indifferenceshe　scarcely　knew　what　term　to　give　ithad　not　thought　to　order　him　a　meal　in　their　house　of　plenty！　He　had　walked　from　West　Lynne；　occupied　himself　an　hour　with　her　piano；　and　set　off　to　walk　back　again；　battling　with　his　hunger。　A　word　from　her；　and　a　repast　had　been　set　before　him　out　of　their　superfluities　such　as　he　never　sat　down　to；　and　that　word　she　had　not　spoken。

〃You　are　looking　grave；　Lady　Isabel。〃

〃I'm　taking　contrition　to　myself。　Never　mind；　it　cannot　now　be　helped；　but　it　will　always　be　a　dark　spot　on　my　memory。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

She　lifted　her　repentant　face　to　his　and　smiled。　〃Never　mind；　I　say；　Mr。　Carlyle；　what　is　past　cannot　be　recalled。　He　looks　like　a　gentleman。〃

〃Who？　Kane？　A　gentleman　bred；　his　father　was　a　clergyman。　Kane's　ruin　was　his　love　of　musicit　prevented　his　settling　to　any　better　paid　profession；　his　early　marriage　also　was　a　drawback　and　kept　him　down。　He　is　young　still。〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle　I　would　not　be　one　of　your　West　Lynne　people　for　the　world。　Here　is　a　young　gentleman　struggling　with　adversity；　and　you　won't　put　out　your　hand　to　help　him！〃

He　smiled　at　her　warmth。　〃Some　of　us　will　take　ticketsI；　for　one；　but　I　don't　know　about　attending　the　concert。　I　fear　few　would　do　that。〃

〃Because　that's　just　the　thing　that　would　serve　him？　If　one　went；　another　would。　Well；　I　shall　try　and　show　West　Lynne　that　I　don't　take　a　lesson　from　their　book；　I　shall　be　there　before　it　begins；　and　never　come　out　till　the　last　song's　over。　I　am　not　too　grand　to　go；　if　West　Lynne　is。〃

〃You　surely　do　not　think　of　going？〃

〃I　surely　do　think　of　it；　and　papa　goes　with　meI　persuaded　him；　and　I　have　given　Mr。　Kane　the　promise。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused。　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　it　will　be　a　perfect　boon　to　Kane。　If　it　once　gets　abroad　that　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　Lady　Isabel　intend　to　honor　the　concert；　there　won't　be　standing　room。〃

She　danced　round　with　a　little　gleeful　step。　〃What　high　and　mighty　personages　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　Lady　Isabel　seem　to　be！　If　you　had　any　goodness　of　heart；　Mr。　Carlyle；　you　would　enlist　yourself　in　the　cause　also。〃

〃I　think　I　will；〃　he　smiled。

〃Papa　says　you　hold　sway　at　West　Lynne。　If　you　proclaim　that　you　mean　to　go；　you　will　induce　others。〃

〃I　will　proclaim　that　you　do；〃　he　answered；　〃that　will　be　all　sufficient。　But；　Lady　Isabel；　you　must　not　expect　much　gratification　from　the　performance。〃

〃A　tambourine　will　be　quite　enough　for　me；　I　told　papa　so；　I　shan't　think　of　music；　I　shall　think　of　poor　Mr。　Kane。　Mr。　Carlyle　I　know　you　can　be　kind　if　you　like；　I　know　you　would　rather　be　kind　than　otherwiseit　is　to　be　read　in　your　face。　Try　and　do　what　you　can　for　him。〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　he　warmly　answered。

Mr。　Carlyle　sold　no　end　of　tickets　the　following　day；　or　rather　caused　them　to　be　sold。　He　praised　up　the　concert　far　and　wide；　and　proclaimed　that　Lord　Mount　Severn　and　his　daughter　would　not　think　of　missing　it。　Mr。　Kane's　ho