east lynne-第18节

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re　it？to　sell　it？　With　a　panting　heart　and　ashy　lips；　she　turned　from　the　room。　Mrs。　Mason　happened　to　be　passing　near　the　stairs；　and　Isabel　flew　to　her；　laying　hold　of　her　with　both　hands；　in　her　terror；　as　she　burst　into　a　fit　of　nervous　tears。

〃Those　menin　there！〃　she　gasped。

〃What　men；　my　lady？〃　returned　Mrs。　Mason；　surprised。

〃I　don't　know；　I　don't　know。　I　think　they　are　going　to　stop　there；　they　say　they　have　taken　papa。〃

After　a　pause　of　bewildered　astonishment；　the　housekeeper　left　her　standing　where　she　was；　and　went　to　the　earl's　chamber；　to　see　if　she　could　fathom　the　mystery　of　the　words。　Isabel　leaned　against　the　balustrades；　partly　for　support；　partly　that　she　seemed　afraid　to　stir　from　them；　and　the　ominous　disturbances　downstairs　reached　her　ears。　Strangers；　interlopers；　appeared　to　be　in　the　hall；　talking　vehemently；　and　complaining　in　bitter　tones。　More　and　more　terrified；　she　held　her　breath　to　listen。

〃Where's　the　good　of　your　seeing　the　young　lady？〃　cried　the　butler；　in　a　tone　of　remonstrance。　〃She　knows　nothing　about　the　earl's　affairs；　she　is　in　grief　enough　just　now；　without　any　other　worry。〃

〃I　will　see　her；〃　returned　a　dogged　voice。　〃If　she's　too　start…up　and　mighty　to　come　down　and　answer　a　question　or　two；　why　I'll　find　my　way　on　to　her。　Here　we　are　a　shameful　crowd　of　us；　swindled　out　of　our　own；　told　there's　nobody　we　can　speak　to；　nobody　here　but　the　young　lady；　and　she　must　not　be　troubled。　She　didn't　find　it　trouble　to　help　to　spend　our　money。　She　has　got　no　honor　and　feelings　of　a　lady；　if　she　don't　come　and　speak　to　us。　There。〃

Repressing　her　rebellious　emotions；　Lady　Isabel　glided　partly　down　the　staircase；　and　softy　called　to　the　butler。　〃What　is　all　this？〃　she　asked。　〃I　must　know。〃

〃Oh；　my　lady；　don't　go　amongst　those　rough　men！　You　can't　do　any　good；　pray　go　back　before　they　see　you。　I　have　sent　for　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　expect　him　here　momentarily。〃

〃Did　Papa　owe　them　/all/　money？〃　she　said；　shivering。

〃I'm　afraid　he　did；　my　lady。〃

She　went　swiftly　on；　and　passing　through　the　few　stragglers　in　the　hall；　entered　the　dining…room；　where　the　chief　mass　had　congregated；　and　the　hubbub　was　loudest。　All　anger；　at　least　external　anger；　was　hushed　at　her　sight。　She　looked　so　young；　so　innocent；　so　childlike　in　her　pretty　morning　dress　of　peach…colored　muslin；　her　fair　face　shaded　by　its　falling　curls；　so　little　fit　to　combat　with；　or　understand　/their/　business；　that　instead　of　pouring　forth　complaints；　they　hushed　them　into　silence。

〃I　heard　some　one　calling　out　that　I　ought　to　see　you；〃　she　began；　her　agitation　causing　the　words　to　come　forth　in　a　jerking　manner。　〃What　did　you　want　with　me？〃

Then　they　poured　forth　their　complaints；　but　not　angrily；　and　she　listened　till　she　grew　sick。　There　were　many　and　formidable　claims；　promissory　notes　and　I　O　Us；　overdue　bills　and　underdue　bills；　heavy　outstanding　debts　of　all　sorts；　and　trifles；　comparatively　speaking；　for　housekeeping；　servants'　liveries；　out…door　servants'　wages；　bread　and　meat。

What　was　Isabel　Vane　to　answer？　What　excuse　to　offer？　What　hope　or　promise　to　give？　She　stood　in　bewilderment；　unable　to　speak；　turning　from　one　to　the　other；　her　sweet　eyes　full　of　pity　and　contrition。

〃The　fact　is；　young　lady；〃　spoke　up　one　who　bore　the　exterior　of　a　gentleman；　〃we　should　not　have　come　down　troubling　youat　least；　I　can　answer　for　myselfbut　his　lordship's　men　of　business；　Warburton　&　Ware；　to　whom　many　of　us　hastened　last　evening；　told　us　there　would　not　be　a　shilling　for　anybody　unless　it　could　be　got　from　furniture。　When　it　comes　to　that；　it　is　'first　come；　first　served；'　and　I　got　down　by　morning　light；　and　levied　an　execution。〃

〃Which　was　levied　before　you　came；〃　put　in　a　man　who　might　be　brother　to　the　two　upstairs；　to　judge　by　his　nose。　〃But　what's　such　furniture　as　this　to　our　claimsif　you　come　to　combine　'em？　No　more　than　a　bucket　of　water　is　to　the　Thames。〃

〃What　can　I　do？〃　shivered　Lady　Isabel。　〃What　is　it　you　wish　me　to　do？　I　have　no　money　to　give　you；　I〃

〃No；　miss；〃　broke　in　a　quiet；　pale　man；　〃if　report　tells　me；　you　are　worse　wronged　than　we　are；　for　you　won't　have　a　roof　to　put　your　head　under；　or　a　guinea　to　call　your　own。〃

〃He　has　been　a　scoundrel　to　everybody；〃　interrupted　an　intemperate　voice；　〃he　has　ruined　thousands。〃

The　speech　was　hissed　down；　even　they　were　not　men　gratuitously　to　insult　a　delicate　young　lady。

〃Perhaps　you'll　just　answer　us　a　question；　miss；〃　persisted　the　voice；　in　spite　of　the　hisses。　〃Is　there　any　ready　money　that　can〃

But　another　person　had　entered　the　roomMr。　Carlyle。　He　caught　sight　of　the　white　face　and　trembling　hands　of　Isabel；　and　interrupted　the　last　speaker　with　scant　ceremony。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　he　demanded；　in　a　tone　of　authority。　〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃If　you　are　a　friend　of　the　late　peer's；　you　ought　to　know　what　we　want；〃　was　the　response。　〃We　want　our　debts　paid。〃

〃But　this　is　not　the　place　to　come　to；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃your　coming　here　flocking　in　this　extraordinary　manner；　will　do　no　good。　You　must　go　to　Warburton　&　Ware。〃

〃We　have　been　to　them　and　received　their　answera　cool　assurance　that　there'll　be　nothing　for　anybody。〃

〃At　any　rate；　you'll　get　nothing　here；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　to　the　assembly；　collectively。　〃Allow　me　to　request　that　you　leave　the　house　at　once。〃

It　was　little　likely　that　they　would　for　him；　and　they　said　it。

〃Then　I　warn　you　of　the　consequences　of　a　refusal；〃　quietly　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃you　are　trespassing　upon　a　stranger's　property。　This　house　is　not　Lord　Mount　Severn's；　he　sold　it　some　time　back。〃

They　knew　better。　Some　laughed；　and　said　these　tricks　were　stale。

〃Listen；　gentlemen；〃　rejoined　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　the　plain；　straightforward　manner　that　carried　its　own　truth。　〃To　make　an　assertion　that　could　be　disproved　when　the　earl's　affairs　come　to　be　investigated；　would　be　simply　foolish。　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor　as　a　gentlemannay；　as　a　fellow…manthat　this　estate；　with　the　house　and　all　it　contains；　passed　months　ago；　from　the　hands　of　Lord　Mount　Severn；　and；　during　his　recent　sojourn　here；　he　was　a　visitor　in　it。　Go　and　ask　his　men　of　business。〃

〃Who　purchased　it？〃　was　the　inquiry。

〃Mr。　Carlyle；　of　West　Lynne。　Some　of　you　may　possibly　know　him　by　reputation。〃

Some　of　them　did。

〃A　cute　young　lawyer；〃　observed　a　voice；　〃as　his　father　was　before　him。〃

〃I　am　he；〃　proceeded　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃and；　being　a　'cute　lawyer；'　as　you　do　me　the　honor　to　decide；　you　cannot　suppose　I　should　risk　my　money　upon　any　sale　not　perfectly　safe　and　legal。　I　was　not　an　agent　in　the　affair；　I　employed　agents；　for　it　was　my　own　money　that　I　invested；　and　East　Lynne　is　mine。〃

〃Is　the　purchase　money　paid　over？〃　inquired　more　than　one。

〃It　was　paid　over　at　the　timelast　June。〃

〃What　did　Lord　Mount　Severn　do　with　the　money？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　am　not　cognizant　of　Lord　Mount　Severn's　private　affairs。〃

Significant　murmurs　arose。　〃Strange　that　the　earl　should　stop　two　or　three　months　at　a　place　that　wasn't　his。〃

〃It　may　appear　so　to　you；　but　allow　me　to　explain；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　earl　expressed　a　wish　to　pay　East　Lynne　a　few　days'　visit；　by　way　of　farewell；　and　I　acceded。　Before　the　few　days　were　over；　he　was　taken　ill；　and　remained；　from　that　time；　too　ill　to　quit　it。　This　very　daythis　day；　gentlemen；　as　we　stand　here；　was　at　length　fixed　for　his　departure。〃

〃And　you　tell　us　you　bought　the　furniture？〃

〃Everything　as　it　stands。　You　need　not　doubt　my　word；　for　the　proofs　will　be　forthcoming。　East　Lynne　was　in　the　market　for　sale；　I　heard　of　it；　and　became　the　purchaserjust　as　I　might　have　bought　an　estate　from　any　of　you。　And　now；　as　this　is　my　house；　and　you　have　no　claim　upon　me；　I　shall　be　obliged　to　you　to　withdraw。〃

〃Perhaps　you'll　claim　the　horses　and　carriages　next；　sir；〃　cried　the　man　with　the　hooked　nose。

Mr。　Carlyle　raised　his　head　haughtily。　〃What　is　mine　is　mine；　legally　purchased　and　paid　fora　fair；　just　price。　The　carriages　and　horses　I　have　nothing　to　do　with；　Lord　Mount　Severn　brought　them　down　with　him。〃

〃And　I　have　got　a　safe　watcher　over　them　in　the　out　premises；　to　see　as　they　don't　run　away；〃　nodded　the　man；　complacently；　〃and　if　I　don't　mistake；　there's　a　safe　watcher　over　something　else　upstairs。〃

〃What　a　cursed　scoundrel　Mount　Severn　was。〃

〃Whatever　he　may　have　been；　it　does　not　give　you　the　right　to　outrage　the　feelings　of　his　daughter；〃　warmly　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃and　I　should　have　thought　that　men；　calling　themselves　Englishmen；　would　have　disdained　the　shame。　Allow　me；　Lady　Isabel；〃　he　added；　imperatively　taking　her　hand　to　lead　her　from　the　room。　〃I　will　remain　and　deal　with　this　business。〃

But　she　hesitated　and　stopped。　The　injury　her　father　had　done　these　men　was　telling　painfully　on　her　sense　of　right；　and　she　essayed　to　speak　a　word　of　apology；　of　sorrow；　she　thought　she　ought　to　do　so；　she　did　not　like　them　to　deem　her　quite　heartless。　But　it　was　a　painful　task；　and　the　color　went　and　came　in　her　pale　face；　and　her　breath　was　labored　with　the　excess　of　her　tribulation。

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　she　stammered；　and　with　the　effort　of　speaking；　emotion　quite　got　the　better　of　her；　and　sh