east lynne-第2节

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ht　it　at　a　bargain；　eighteen　years　ago；　you　were　the　lawyer　on　the　other　side；　I　remember。〃

〃My　father；〃　smiled　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　was　a　child　at　the　time。〃

〃Of　course；　I　ought　to　have　said　your　father。　By　selling　East　Lynne；　a　few　thousands　will　come　into　my　hands；　after　claims　on　it　are　settled；　I　have　no　other　means　of　raising　the　wind；　and　that　is　why　I　have　resolved　to　part　with　it。　But　now；　understand；　if　it　were　known　abroad　that　East　Lynne　is　going　from　me；　I　should　have　a　hornet's　nest　about　my　ears；　so　that　it　must　be　disposed　of　/privately/。　Do　you　comprehend？〃

〃Perfectly；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　would　as　soon　you　bought　it　as　anyone　else；　if；　as　you　say；　we　can　agree　about　terms。〃

〃What　does　your　lordship　expect　for　itat　a　rough　estimate？〃

〃For　particulars　I　must　refer　you　to　my　men　of　business；　Warburton　&　Ware。　Not　less　than　seventy　thousand　pounds。〃

〃Too　much；　my　lord；〃　cried　Mr。　Carlyle；　decisively。

〃And　that's　not　its　value；〃　returned　the　earl。

〃These　forced　sales　never　do　fetch　their　value；〃　answered　the　plain…　speaking　lawyer。　〃Until　this　hint　was　given　me　by　Beauchamp；　I　had　thought　East　Lynne　was　settled　upon　your　lordship's　daughter。〃

〃There's　nothing　settled　on　her；〃　rejoined　the　earl；　the　contraction　on　his　brow　standing　out　more　plainly。　〃That　comes　of　your　thoughtless　runaway　marriages。　I　fell　in　love　with　General　Conway's　daughter；　and　she　ran　away　with　me；　like　a　fool；　that　is；　we　were　both　fools　together　for　our　pains。　The　general　objected　to　me　and　said　I　must　sow　my　wild　oats　before　he　would　give　me　Mary；　so　I　took　her　to　Gretna　Green；　and　she　became　Countess　of　Mount　Severn；　without　a　settlement。　It　was　an　unfortunate　affair；　taking　one　thing　with　another。　When　her　elopement　was　made　known　to　the　general；　it　killed　him。〃

〃Killed　him！〃　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃It　did。　He　had　disease　of　the　heart；　and　the　excitement　brought　on　the　crisis。　My　poor　wife　never　was　happy　from　that　hour；　she　blamed　herself　for　her　father's　death；　and　I　believe　it　led　to　her　own。　She　was　ill　for　years；　the　doctors　called　it　consumption；　but　it　was　more　like　a　wasting　insensibly　away；　and　consumption　never　had　been　in　her　family。　No　luck　ever　attends　runaway　marriages；　I　have　noticed　it　since；　in　many；　many　instances；　something　bad　is　sure　to　turn　up　from　it。〃

〃There　might　have　been　a　settlement　executed　after　the　marriage；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　for　the　earl　had　stopped；　and　seemed　lost　in　thought。

〃I　know　there　might；　but　there　was　not。　My　wife　had　possessed　no　fortune；　I　was　already　deep　in　my　career　of　extravagance；　and　neither　of　us　thought　of　making　provision　for　our　future　children；　or；　if　we　thought　of　it；　we　did　not　do　it。　There　is　an　old　saying；　Mr。　Carlyle；　that　what　may　be　done　at　any　time　is　never　done。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　bowed。

〃So　my　child　is　portionless；〃　resumed　the　earl；　with　a　suppressed　sigh。　〃The　thought　that　it　may　be　an　embarrassing　thing　for　her；　were　I　to　die　before　she　is　settled　in　life；　crosses　my　mind　when　I　am　in　a　serious　mood。　That　she　will　marry　well；　there　is　little　doubt；　for　she　possesses　beauty　in　a　rare　degree；　and　has　been　reared　as　an　English　girl　should　be；　not　to　frivolity　and　foppery。　She　was　trained　by　her　mother；　who　save　for　the　mad　act　she　was　persuaded　into　by　me；　was　all　goodness　and　refinement；　for　the　first　twelve　years　of　her　life；　and　since　then　by　an　admirable　governess。　No　fear　that　she　will　be　decamping　to　Gretna　Green。〃

〃She　was　a　very　lovely　child；〃　observed　the　lawyer；　〃I　remember　that。〃

〃Ay；　you　have　seen　her　at　East　Lynne；　in　her　mother's　lifetime。　But；　to　return　to　business。　If　you　become　the　purchaser　of　the　East　Lynne　estate；　Mr。　Carlyle；　it　must　be　under　the　rose。　The　money　that　it　brings；　after　paying　off　the　mortgage；　I　must　have；　as　I　tell　you；　for　my　private　use；　and　you　know　I　should　not　be　able　to　touch　a　farthing　of　it　if　the　confounded　public　got　an　inkling　of　the　transfer。　In　the　eyes　of　the　world；　the　proprietor　of　East　Lynne　must　be　Lord　Mount　Severnat　least　for　some　little　time　afterwards。　Perhaps　you　will　not　object　to　that。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　considered　before　replying；　and　then　the　conversation　was　resumed；　when　it　was　decided　that　he　should　see　Warburton　and　Ware　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　confer　with　them。　It　was　growing　late　when　he　rose　to　leave。

〃Stay　and　dine　with　me；〃　said　the　earl。

Mr。　Carlyle　hesitated；　and　looked　down　at　his　dressa　plain；　gentlemanly；　morning　attire；　but　certainly　not　a　dinner　costume　for　a　peer's　table。

〃Oh；　that's　nothing；〃　said　the　earl；　〃we　shall　be　quite　alone；　except　my　daughter。　Mrs。　Vane；　of　Castle　Marling；　is　staying　with　us。　She　came　up　to　present　my　child　at　the　last　drawing…room；　but　I　think　I　heard　something　about　her　dining　out　to…day。　If　not；　we　will　have　it　by　ourselves　here。　Oblige　me　by　touching　the　bell；　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

The　servant　entered。

〃Inquire　whether　Mrs。　Vane　dines　at　home；〃　said　the　earl。

〃Mrs。　Vane　dines　out；　my　lord；〃　was　the　man's　immediate　reply。　〃The　carriage　is　at　the　door　now。〃

〃Very　well。　Mr。　Carlyle　remains。〃

At　seven　o'clock　the　dinner　was　announced；　and　the　earl　wheeled　into　the　adjoining　room。　As　he　and　Mr。　Carlyle　entered　it　at　one　door；　some　one　else　came　in　by　the　opposite　one。　Whowhatwas　it？　Mr。　Carlyle　looked；　not　quite　sure　whether　it　was　a　human　beinghe　almost　thought　it　more　like　an　angel。

A　light；　graceful；　girlish　form；　a　face　of　surpassing　beauty；　beauty　that　is　rarely　seen；　save　from　the　imagination　of　a　painter；　dark　shining　curls　falling　on　her　neck　and　shoulders；　smooth　as　a　child's；　fair；　delicate　arms　decorated　with　pearls；　and　a　flowing　dress　of　costly　white　lace。　Altogether　the　vision　did　indeed　look　to　the　lawyer　as　one　from　a　fairer　world　than　this。

〃My　daughter；　Mr。　Carlyle；　the　Lady　Isabel。〃

They　took　their　seats　at　the　table；　Lord　Mount　Severn　at　its　head；　in　spite　of　his　gout　and　his　footstool。　And　the　young　lady　and　Mr。　Carlyle　opposite　each　other。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　not　deemed　himself　a　particular　admirer　of　women's　beauty；　but　the　extraordinary　loveliness　of　the　young　girl　before　him　nearly　took　away　his　senses　and　his　self…　possession。　Yet　it　was　not　so　much　the　perfect　contour　or　the　exquisite　features　that　struck　him；　or　the　rich　damask　of　the　delicate　cheek；　or　the　luxuriant　falling　hair；　no；　it　was　the　sweet　expression　of　the　soft　dark　eyes。　Never　in　his　life　had　he　seen　eyes　so　pleasing。　He　could　not　keep　his　gaze　from　her；　and　he　became　conscious；　as　he　grew　more　familiar　with　her　face；　that　there　was　in　its　character　a　sad；　sorrowful　look；　only　at　times　was　it　to　be　noticed；　when　the　features　were　at　repose；　and　it　lay　chiefly　in　the　very　eyes　he　was　admiring。　Never　does　this　unconsciously　mournful　expression　exist；　but　it　is　a　sure　index　of　sorrow　and　suffering；　but　Mr。　Carlyle　understood　it　not。　And　who　could　connect　sorrow　with　the　anticipated　brilliant　future　of　Isabel　Vane？

〃Isabel；〃　observed　the　earl；　〃you　are　dressed。〃

〃Yes；　papa。　Not　to　keep　old　Mrs。　Levison　waiting　tea。　She　likes　to　take　it　early；　and　I　know　Mrs。　Vane　must　have　kept　her　waiting　dinner。　It　was　half…past　six　when　she　drove　from　here。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　be　late　to…night；　Isabel。〃

〃It　depends　upon　Mrs。　Vane。〃

〃Then　I　am　sure　you　will　be。　When　the　young　ladies　in　this　fashionable　world　of　ours　turn　night　into　day；　it　is　a　bad　thing　for　their　roses。　What　say　you；　Mr。　Carlyle？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　the　roses　on　the　cheeks　opposite　to　him；　they　looked　too　fresh　and　bright　to　fade　lightly。

At　the　conclusion　of　dinner　a　maid　entered　the　room　with　a　white　cashmere　mantle；　placing　it　over　the　shoulders　of　her　young　lady；　as　she　said　the　carriage　was　waiting。

Lady　Isabel　advanced　to　the　earl。　〃Good…bye；　papa。〃

〃Good…night；　my　love；〃　he　answered；　drawing　her　toward　him；　and　kissing　her　sweet　face。　〃Tell　Mrs。　Vane　I　will　not　have　you　kept　out　till　morning　hours。　You　are　but　a　child　yet。　Mr。　Carlyle；　will　you　ring？　I　am　debarred　from　seeing　my　daughter　to　the　carriage。〃

〃If　your　lordship　will　allow　meif　Lady　Isabel　will　pardon　the　attendance　of　one　little　used　to　wait　upon　young　ladies；　I　shall　be　proud　to　see　her　to　her　carriage；〃　was　the　somewhat　confused　answer　of　Mr。　Carlyle　as　he　touched　the　bell。

The　earl　thanked　him；　and　the　young　lady　smiled；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　conducted　her　down　the　broad；　lighted　staircase　and　stood　bareheaded　by　the　door　of　the　luxurious　chariot；　and　handed　her　in。　She　put　out　her　hand　in　her　frank；　pleasant　manner；　as　she　wished　him　good　night。　The　carriage　rolled　on　its　way；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　the　earl。

〃Well；　is　she　not　a　handsome　girl？〃　he　demanded。

〃Handsome　is　not　the　word　for　beauty　such　as　hers；〃　was　Mr。　Carlyle's　reply；　in　a　low；　warm　tone。　〃I　never　saw　a　face　half　so　beautiful。〃

〃She　caused　quite　a　sensation　at　the　drawing…room　last　weekas　I　hear。　This　everlasting　gout　kept　me　indoors　all　day。　And　she　is　as　good　as　she　is　beautiful。〃

The　earl　was　not　partial。　Lady　Isabel　was　wondrously　gifted　by　nature；　not　only　in　mind　and　person　but　in　heart。　She　was　as　little　like　a　fashionable　young　lady　as　it　was　well　possible　to　be；　partly　because　she　had　hitherto　been　secluded　from　the　great　world；　partly　from　the　care　bestowed　upo