east lynne-第16节

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The　earl　stared　at　her　in　amazement。　〃How　could　you　dress　yourself　off　like　that　for　a　concert？　You　are　out　of　yours　senses；　Isabel。〃

〃Marvel　thinks　so；　too；〃　was　the　gay　answer；　〃she　has　had　a　cross　face　since　I　told　her　what　to　put　on。　But　I　did　it　on　purpose；　papa；　I　thought　I　would　show　those　West　Lynne　people　that　/I/　think　the　poor　man's　moment　worth　going　to；　and　worth　dressing　for。〃

〃You　will　have　the　whole　room　gaping　at　you。〃

〃I　don't　mind。　I'll　bring　you　word　all　about　it。　Let　them　gape。〃

〃You　vain　child！　You　have　so　dressed　yourself　to　please　your　vanity。　But；　Isabel；　youoooh！〃

Isabel　started　as　she　stood；　the　earl's　groan　of　pain　was　dreadful。

〃An　awful　twinge；　child。　There；　go　along；　talking　makes　me　worse。〃

〃Papa；　shall　I　stay　at　home　with　you？〃　she　gravely　asked。　〃Every　consideration　should　give　way　to　illness。　If　you　would　like　me　to　remain；　or　if　I　can　do　any　good；　pray　let　me。〃

〃Quite　the　contrary；　I　had　rather　you　were　away。　You　can　do　no　earthly　good；　for　I　could　not　have　you　in　the　room。　Good…bye；　darling。　If　you　see　Carlyle；　tell　him　I　shall　hope　to　see　him　to…morrow。〃

The　room　was　partly　full　when　Mrs。　Ducie；　her　two　daughters；　and　Lady　Isabel　entered；　and　were　conducted　to　seats　by　Mr。　Kaneseats　he　had　reserved　for　them　at　the　upper　end；　near　the　orchestra。　The　same　dazzling　vision　which　had　burst　on　the　sight　of　Lord　Mount　Severn　fell　on　that　of　the　audience；　in　Isabel；　with　her　rich；　white　dress；　her　glittering　diamonds；　her　flowing　curls；　and　her　wondrous　beauty。　The　Misses　Ducie；　plain　girls；　in　brown　silks；　turned　up　their　noses　worse　than　nature　had　done　it　for　them；　and　Mrs。　Ducie　heaved　an　audible　sigh。

〃The　poor　motherless　girl　is　to　be　pitied；　my　dears；〃　she　whispered；　〃she　has　nobody　to　point　out　to　her　suitable　attire。　This　ridiculous　decking　out　must　have　been　Marvel's　doings。〃

But　she　looked　like　a　lily　among　poppies　and　sunflowers　whether　the　〃decking　out〃　was　ridiculous　or　not。　Was　Lord　Mount　Severn　right；　when　he　accused　her　of　dressing　so　in　self…gratification？　Very　likely；　for　has　not　the　great　preacher　said　that　childhood　and　youth　are　vanity？

Miss　Carlyle；　the　justice；　and　Barbara　also　had　seats　near　the　orchestra；　for　Miss　Carlyle；　in　West　Lynne；　was　a　person　to　be　considered；　and　not　hidden　behind　others。　Mr。　Carlyle；　however；　preferred　to　join　the　gentlemen　who　congregated　and　stood　round　about　the　door　inside　and　out。　There　was　scarcely　standing　room　in　the　place；　Mr。　Kane　had；　as　was　anticipated；　got　a　bumper；　and　the　poor　man　could　have　worshipped　Lady　Isabel；　for　he　knew　he　owed　it　to　her。

It　was　very　longcountry　concerts　generally　areand　was　about　three　parts　over　when　a　powdered　head；　larger　than　any　cauliflower　ever　grown；　was　discerned　ascending　the　stairs；　behind　the　group　of　gentlemen；　which　head；　when　it　brought　its　body　in　full　view；　was　discovered　to　belong　to　one　of　the　footmen　of　Lord　Mount　Severn。　The　calves　alone；　cased　in　their　silk　stockings；　were　a　sight　to　be　seen；　and　these　calves　betook　themselves　inside　the　concert　room；　with　a　deprecatory　bow　for　permission　to　the　gentlemen　they　had　to　steer　throughand　there　they　came　to　a　standstill；　the　cauliflower　extending　forward　and　turning　itself　about　from　right　to　left。

〃Well；　I'll　be　jiffled！〃　cried　an　astonished　old　fox…hunter；　who　had　been　elbowed　by　the　footman；　〃the　cheek　these　fellows　have！〃

The　fellow　in　question　did　not　appear；　however；　to　be　enjoying　any　great　amount　of　cheek　just　at　that　moment；　for　he　looked　perplexed；　humble　and　uneasy。　Suddenly　his　eye　fell　upon　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　it　lighted　up。

〃Beg　pardon；　sir；　could　you　happen　to　inform　me　where…abouts　my　young　lady　is　sitting？〃

〃At　the　other　end　of　the　room；　near　the　orchestra。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　however　I　am　to　get　to　her；　then；〃　returned　the　man　more　in　self…soliloquy　than　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　room　is　choke　full；　and　I　don't　like　crushing　by。　My　lord　is　taken　alarmingly　worse；　sir；〃　he　explained　in　an　awe…stricken　tone；　〃it　is　feared　he　is　dying。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　painfully　startled。

〃His　screams　of　pain　were　awful；　sir。　Mr。　Wainwright　and　another　doctor　from　West　Lynne　are　with　him；　and　an　express　has　gone　to　Lynneboro'　for　physicians。　Mrs。　Mason　said　we　were　to　fetch　my　young　lady　right　home；　and　not　lose　a　moment；　and　we　brought　the　carriage；　sir；　Wells　galloping　his　horses　all　the　way。〃

〃I　will　bring　Lady　Isabel；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　am　sure；　sir；　I　should　be　under　everlasting　obligations　if　you　would；〃　returned　the　man。

He　worked　his　way　through　the　concert　roomhe　was　tall　and　slender　many　looking　daggers　at　him；　for　a　pathetic　song　was　just　then　being　given　by　a　London　lady。　He　disregarded　all；　and　stood　before　Isabel。

〃I　thought　you　were　not　coming　to　speak　to　me　to…night。　Is　it　not　a　famous　room？　I　am　so　pleased！〃

〃More　than　famous；　Lady　Isabel；〃　choosing　his　words；　that　they　might　not　alarm　her；　〃Lord　Mount　Severn　does　not　find　himself　so　well；　and　he　has　sent　the　carriage　for　you。〃

〃Papa　not　so　well！〃　she　quickly　exclaimed。

〃Not　quite。　At　any　rate；　he　wishes　you　to　go　home。　Will　you　allow　me　to　pilot　you　through　the　room？〃

〃Oh；　my　dear；　considerate　papa！〃　she　laughed。　〃He　fears　I　shall　be　weary；　and　would　emancipate　me　before　the　time。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Carlyle；　but　I　will　wait　till　the　conclusion。〃

〃No；　no；　Lady　Isabel；　it　is　not　that。　Lord　Mount　Severn　is　indeed　worse。〃

Her　countenance　changed　to　seriousness；　but　she　was　not　alarmed。　〃Very　well。　When　the　song　is　overnot　to　disturb　the　room。〃

〃I　think　you　had　better　lose　no　time；〃　he　urged。　〃Never　mind　the　song　and　the　room。〃

She　rose　instantly；　and　put　her　arm　within　Mr。　Carlyle's。　A　hasty　word　of　explanation　to　Mrs。　Ducie；　and　he　led　her　away；　the　room；　in　its　surprise；　making　for　them　what　space　it　might。　Many　an　eye　followed　them；　but　none　more　curiously　and　eagerly　than　Barbara　Hare's。　〃Where　is　he　going　to　take　her　to？〃　involuntarily　uttered　Barbara。

〃How　should　I　know？〃　returned　Miss　Corny。　〃Barbara；　you　have　done　nothing　but　fidget　all　the　night；　what's　the　matter　with　you？　Folks　come　to　a　concert　to　listen；　not　to　talk　and　fidget。〃

Isabel's　mantle　was　procured　from　the　ante…room　where　it　had　been　left；　and　she　descended　the　stairs　with　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　carriage　was　drawn　up　close　to　the　entrance；　and　the　coachman　had　his　reins　gathered；　ready　to　start。　The　footmannot　the　one　who　had　gone　upstairsthrew　open　the　carriage　door　as　he　saw　her。　He　was　new　in　the　service；　a　simple　country　native；　just　engaged。　She　withdrew　her　arm　from　Mr。　Carlyle's；　and　stood　a　moment　before　stepping　in；　looking　at　the　man。

〃Is　papa　much　worse？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　my　lady；　he　was　screaming　shocking。　But　they　think　he'll　live　till　morning。〃

With　a　sharp　cry；　she　seized　the　arm　of　Mr。　Carlyleseized　it　for　support　in　her　shock　of　agony。　Mr。　Carlyle　rudely　thrust　the　man　away；　he　would　willingly　have　flung　him　at　full　length　on　the　pavement。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Carlyle；　why　did　you　not　tell　me？〃　she　shivered。

〃My　dear　Lady　Isabel；　I　am　grieved　that　you　are　told　now。　But　take　comfort；　you　know　how　ill　he　frequently　is；　and　this　may　be　but　an　ordinary　attack。　Step　in。　I　trust　we　shall　find　it　nothing　more。〃

〃Are　you　going　home　with　me？〃

〃Certainly；　I　shall　not　leave　you　to　go　alone。〃

She　moved　to　the　other　side　of　the　chariot；　making　room　for　him。

〃Thank　you。　I　will　sit　outside。〃

〃But　the　night　is　cold。〃

〃Oh；　no。〃　He　closed　the　door；　and　took　his　seat　by　the　coachman；　the　footman　got　up　behind；　and　the　carriage　sped　away。　Isabel　gathered　herself　into　her　corner；　and　moaned　aloud　in　her　suspense　and　helplessness。

The　coachman　drove　rapidly；　and　soon　whipped　his　horses　through　the　lodge…gates。

The　housekeeper；　Mrs。　Mason；　waited　at　the　hall…door　to　receive　Lady　Isabel。　Mr。　Carlyle　helped　her　out　of　the　carriage；　and　gave　her　his　arm　up　the　steps。　She　scarcely　dared　to　inquire。

〃Is　he　better？　May　I　go　to　his　room？〃　she　panted。

Yes；　the　earl　was　betterbetter；　in　so　far　as　that　he　was　quiet　and　senseless。　She　moved　hastily　toward　his　chamber。　Mr。　Carlyle　drew　the　housekeeper　aside。

〃Is　there　any　hope？〃

〃Not　the　slightest；　sir。　He　is　dying。〃

The　earl　knew　no　one；　pain　was　gone　for　the　present；　and　he　lay　on　his　bed；　calm；　but　his　face；　which　had　death　in　it　all　too　plainly；　startled　Isabel。　She　did　not　scream　or　cry；　she　was　perfectly　quiet；　save　that　she　had　a　fit　of　shivering。

〃Will　he　soon　be　better？〃　she　whispered　to　Mr。　Wainwright；　who　stood　there。

The　surgeon　coughed。　〃Well；　hehewe　must　hope　it；　my　lady。〃

〃But　why　does　his　face　look　like　that？　It　is　palegray；　I　never　saw　anybody　else　look　so。〃

〃He　has　been　in　great　pain；　my　lady；　and　pain　leaves　its　traces　on　the　countenance。〃

Mr。　Carlyle；　who　had　come；　and　was　standing　by　the　surgeon；　touched　his　arm　to　draw　him　from　the　room。　He　noticed　the　look　on　the　earl's　face；　and　did　not　like　it；　he　wished　to　question　the　surgeon。　Lady　Isabel　saw　that　Mr。　Carlyle　was　about　to　quit　the　room；　and　beckoned　to　him。

〃Do　not　leave　the　house；　Mr。　Carlyle。　When　he　wakes　up；　it　may　cheer　him　to　see　you　here；　he　liked　you　very　much。〃

〃I　will　not　leave　it；　Lady　Isabel。　I　did　not　think　of　doing　so。〃

In　timeit　seemed　an　agethe