east lynne-第22节

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e　carriage　was　packed；　and　Marvel　was　perched　outside。

〃All　is　ready；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　time　is　come　for　me　to　go。　Mr。　Carlyle　I　am　going　to　leave　you　a　legacythose　pretty　gold　and　silver　fish　that　I　bought　a　few　weeks　back。〃

〃But　why　do　you　not　take　them？〃

〃Take　them　to　Lady　Mount　Severn！　No；　I　would　rather　leave　them　with　you。　Throw　a　few　crumbs　into　the　globe　now　and　then。〃

Her　face　was　wet　with　tears；　and　he　knew　that　she　was　talking　hurriedly　to　cover　her　emotion。

〃Sit　down　a　few　minutes；〃　he　said。

〃Nono。　I　had　better　go　at　once。〃

He　took　her　hand　to　conduct　her　to　the　carriage。　The　servants　were　gathered　in　the　hall；　waiting　for　her。　Some　had　grown　gray　in　her　father's　service。　She　put　out　her　hand；　she　strove　to　say　a　word　of　thanks　and　of　farewell；　and　she　thought　she　would　choke　at　the　effort　of　keeping　down　the　sobs。　At　length　it　was　over；　a　kind　look　around；　a　yearning　wave　of　the　hand；　and　she　passed　on　with　Mr。　Carlyle。

Pound　had　ascended　to　his　place　by　Marvel；　and　the　postboys　were　awaiting　the　signal　to　start；　but　Mr。　Carlyle　had　the　carriage　door　open　again；　and　was　bending　in　holding　her　hand。

〃I　have　not　said　a　word　of　thanks　to　you　for　all　your　kindness；　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　she　cried；　her　breath　very　labored。　〃I　am　sure　you　have　seen　that　I　could　not。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　have　done　more；　I　wish　I　could　have　shielded　you　from　the　annoyances　you　have　been　obliged　to　endure！〃　he　answered。　〃Should　we　never　meet　again〃

〃Oh；　but　we　shall　meet　again；〃　she　interrupted。　〃You　promised　Lord　Mount　Severn。〃

〃True；　we　may　so　meet　casuallyonce　in　a　way；　but　our　ordinary　paths　in　life　lie　far　and　wide　apart。　God　forever　bless　you；　dear　Lady　Isabel！〃

The　postboys　touched　their　horses；　and　the　carriage　sped　on。　She　drew　down　the　blinds　and　leaned　back　in　an　agony　of　tearstears　for　the　house　she　was　leaving；　for　the　father　she　had　lost。　Her　last　thoughts　had　been　of　gratitude　to　Mr。　Carlyle：　but　she　had　more　cause　to　be　grateful　to　him　than　she　yet　knew　of。　Emotion　soon　spent　itself；　and；　as　her　eyes　cleared；　she　saw　a　bit　of　crumpled　paper　lying　on　her　lap；　which　appeared　to　have　fallen　from　her　hand。　Mechanically　she　took　it　up　and　opened　it；　it　was　a　bank…note　for　one　hundred　pounds。

Ah；　reader！　You　will　say　that　this　is　a　romance　of　fiction；　and　a　far…　fetched　one；　but　it　is　verily　and　indeed　true。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　taken　it　with　him　to　East　Lynne；　that　morning；　with　its　destined　purpose。

Lady　Isabel　strained　her　eyes；　and　gazed　at　the　notegazed　and　gazed　again。　Where　could　it　have　come　from？　What　had　brought　it　there？　Suddenly　the　undoubted　truth　flashed　upon　her；　Mr。　Carlyle　had　left　it　in　her　hand。

Her　cheeks　burned；　her　fingers　trembled；　her　angry　spirit　rose　up　in　arms。　In　that　first　moment　of　discovery；　she　was　ready　to　resent　it　as　an　insult；　but　when　she　came　to　remember　the　sober　facts　of　the　last　few　days；　her　anger　subsided　into　admiration　of　his　wondrous　kindness。　Did　he　not　know　that　she　was　without　a　home　to　call　her　own；　without　moneyabsolutely　without　money；　save　what　would　be　given　her　in　charity？

When　Lord　Mount　Severn　reached　London；　and　the　hotel　which　the　Vanes　were　in　the　habit　of　using；　the　first　object　his　eyes　lighted　on　was　his　own　wife；　whom　he　had　believed　to　be　safe　at　Castle　Marling。　He　inquired　the　cause。

Lady　Mount　Severn　gave　herself　little　trouble　to　explain。　She　had　been　up　a　day　or　twocould　order　her　mourning　so　much　better　in　person　and　William　did　not　seem　well；　so　she　bought　him　up　for　a　change。

〃I　am　sorry　you　came　to　town；　Emma；〃　remarked　the　earl；　after　listening。　〃Isabel　is　gone　to…day　to　Castle　Marling。〃

Lady　Mount　Severn　quickly　lifted　her　head；　〃What's　she　gone　there　for？〃

〃It　is　the　most　disgraceful　piece　of　business　altogether；〃　returned　the　earl；　without　replying　to　the　immediate　question。　〃Mount　Severn　has　died；　worse　than　a　beggar；　and　there's　not　a　shilling　for　Isabel。〃

〃It　never　was　expected　there　would　be　much。〃

〃But　there's　nothingnot　a　penny；　nothing　for　her　own　personal　expenses。　I　gave　her　a　pound　or　two　to…day；　for　she　was　completely　destitute！〃

The　countess　opened　her　eyes。　〃Where　will　she　live？　What　will　become　of　her？〃

〃She　must　live　with　us。　She〃

〃With　us！〃　interrupted　Lady　Mount　Severn；　her　voice　almost　reaching　a　scream。　〃That　she　never　shall。〃

〃She　must；　Emma。　There　is　nowhere　else　for　her　to　live。　I　have　been　obliged　to　decide　it　so；　and　she　is　gone；　as　I　tell　you；　to　Castle　Marling　to…day。〃

Lady　Mount　Severn　grew　pale　with　anger。　She　rose　from　her　seat　and　confronted　her　husband；　the　table　being　between　them。　〃Listen；　Raymond；　I　/will　not/　have　Isabel　Vane　under　my　roof。　I　hate　her。　How　could　you　be　cajoled　into　sanctioning　such　a　thing？〃

〃I　was　not　cajoled；　and　my　sanction　was　not　asked；〃　he　mildly　replied。　〃I　proposed　it。　Where　else　is　she　to　be？〃

〃I　don't　care　where；〃　was　the　obstinate　retort。　〃Never　with　us。〃

〃She　is　at　Castle　Marling　nowgone　to　it　as　her　home；〃　resumed　the　earl；　〃and　even　you；　when　you　return；　will　scarcely　venture　to　turn　her　out　again　into　the　road；　or　to　the　workhouse。　She　will　not　trouble　you　long；〃　carelessly　continued　the　earl。　〃One　so　lovely　as　Isabel　will　be　sure　to　marry　early；　and　she　appears　as　gentle　and　sweet…　tempered　a　girl　as　I　ever　saw；　so　whence　can　arise　your　dislike　to　her；　I　don't　pretend　to　guess。　Many　a　man　will　be　ready　to　forget　her　want　of　fortune　for　the　sake　of　her　face。〃

〃She　shall　marry　the　first　who　asks　her；〃　snapped　the　angry　lady；　〃I'll　take　care　of　that。〃



CHAPTER　XII。

LIFE　AT　CASTLE　MARLING。

Isabel　had　been　in　her　new　home　about　ten　days；　when　Lord　and　Lady　Mount　Severn　arrived　at　Castle　Marling；　which　was　not　a　castle；　you　may　as　well　be　told；　but　only　the　name　of　a　town；　nearly　contiguous　to　which　was　their　residence；　a　small　estate。　Lord　Mount　Severn　welcomed　Isabel；　Lady　Mount　Severn　also；　after　a　fashion；　but　her　manner　was　so　repellant；　so　insolently　patronizing；　that　it　brought　the　indignant　crimson　to　the　cheeks　of　Lady　Isabel。　And　if　this　was　the　case　at　the　first　meeting；　what　do　you　suppose　it　must　have　been　as　time　went　on？　Galling　slights；　petty　vexations；　chilling　annoyances　were　put　upon　her；　trying　her　powers　of　endurance　to　the　very　length　of　their　tether；　she　would　wring　her　hands　when　alone；　and　passionately　wish　that　she　could　find　another　refuge。

The　earl　and　countess　had　two　children；　both　boys；　and　in　February　the　younger　one；　always　a　delicate　child；　died。　This　somewhat　altered　their　plans。　Instead　of　proceeding　to　London　after　Easter；　as　had　been　decided　upon；　they　would　not　go　till　May。　The　earl　had　passed　part　of　the　winter　at　Mount　Severn；　looking　after　the　repairs　and　renovations　that　were　being　made　there。　In　March　he　went　to　Paris；　full　of　grief　for　the　loss　of　his　boyfar　greater　grief　than　was　experienced　by　Lady　Mount　Severn。

April　approached　and　with　it　Easter。　To　the　unconcealed　dismay　of　Lady　Mount　Severn；　her　grandmother；　Mrs。　Levison；　wrote　her　word　that　she　required　change；　and　should　pass　Easter　with　her　at　Castle　Marling。　Lady　Mount　Severn　would　have　given　her　diamonds　to　have　got　out　of　it；　but　there　was　no　escapediamonds　that　were　once　Isabel'sat　least；　that　Isabel　had　worn。　On　the　Monday　in　Passion　Week　the　old　lady　arrived；　and　with　her　Francis　Levison。　They　had　no　other　guests。　Things　went　on　pretty　smoothly　till　Good　Friday。

On　Good　Friday　afternoon；　Isabel　strolled　out　with　little　William　Vane；　Captain　Levison　joined　them；　and　they　never　came　in　till　nearly　dinner…time；　when　the　three　entered　together；　Lady　Mount　Severn　doing　penance　all　the　time；　and　nursing　her　rage　against　Isabel；　for　Mrs。　Levison　kept　her　indoors。　There　was　barely　time　to　dress　for　dinner；　and　Isabel　went　straight　to　her　room。　Her　dress　was　off；　her　dressing…　gown　on。　Marvel　was　busy　with　her　hair；　and　William　chattering　at　her　knee；　when　the　door　was　flung　open；　and　my　lady　entered。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　demanded　she；　shaking　with　passion。　Isabel　knew　the　signs。

〃Strolling　about　in　the　shrubberies　and　grounds；〃　answered　Isabel。

〃How　dare　you　so　disgrace　yourself！〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；〃　said　Isabel；　her　heart　beginning　to　beat　unpleasantly。　〃Marvel；　you　are　pulling　my　hair。〃

When　women　liable　to　intemperate　fits　of　passion　give　the　reins　to　them；　they　neither　know　nor　care　what　they　say。　Lady　Mount　Severn　broke　into　a　torrent　of　reproach　and　abuses；　most　degrading　and　unjustifiable。

〃Is　it　not　sufficient　that　you　are　allowed　an　asylum　in　my　house；　but　you　must　also　disgrace　it！　Three　hours　have　you　been　hiding　yourself　with　Francis　Levison！　You　have　done　nothing　but　flirt　with　him　from　the　moment　he　came；　you　did　nothing　else　at　Christmas。〃

The　attack　was　longer　and　broader；　but　that　was　the　substance　of　it；　and　Isabel　was　goaded　to　resistance；　to　anger　little　less　great　than　that　of　the　countess。　This！and　before　her　attendant！　She；　an　earl's　daughter；　so　much　better　born　than　Emma　Mount　Severn；　to　be　thus　insultingly　accused　in　the　other's　mad　jealousy。　Isabel　tossed　her　hair　from　the　hands　of　Marvel；　rose　up　and　confronted　the　countess；　constraining　her　voice　to　calmness。

〃I　do　not　flirt！〃　she　said；　〃I　have　never　flirted。　I　leave　that〃and　she　could　not　who