east lynne-第24节

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　It　would　be　a　very　Eden　to　me　now。〃

What　was　Mr。　Carlyle　about　to　say？　What　emotion　was　it　that　agitated　his　countenance；　impeded　his　breath；　and　dyed　his　face　blood…red？　His　better　genius　was　surely　not　watching　over　him；　or　those　words　had　never　been　spoken。

〃There　is　but　one　way；〃　he　began；　taking　her　hand　and　nervously　playing　with　it；　probably　unconscious　that　he　did　so；　〃only　one　way　in　which　you　could　return　to　East　Lynne。　And　that　wayI　may　not　presume；　perhaps；　to　point　it　out。〃

She　looked　at　him　and　waited　for　an　explanation。

〃If　my　words　offend　you；　Lady　Isabel；　check　them；　as　their　presumption　deserves；　and　pardon　me。　May　Idare　Ioffer　you　to　return　to　East　Lynne　as　its　mistress？〃

She　did　not　comprehend　him　in　the　slightest　degree：　the　drift　of　his　meaning　never　dawned　upon　her。　〃Return　to　East　Lynne　as　its　mistress？〃　she　repeated；　in　bewilderment。

〃And　as　my　wife？〃

No　possibility　of　misunderstanding　him　now；　and　the　shock　and　surprise　were　great。　She　had　stood　there　by　Mr。　Carlyle's　side　conversing　confidentially　with　him；　esteeming　him　greatly；　feeling　as　if　he　were　her　truest　friend　on　earth；　clinging　to　him　in　her　heart　as　to　a　powerful　haven　of　refuge；　loving　him　almost　as　she　would　a　brother；　suffering　her　hand　to　remain　in　his。　/But　to　be　his　wife！/　the　idea　had　never　presented　itself　to　her　in　any　shape　until　this　moment；　and　her　mind's　first　emotion　was　one　of　entire　opposition；　her　first　movement　to　express　it；　as　she　essayed　to　withdraw　herself　and　her　hand　away　from　him。

But　not　so；　Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　suffer　it。　He　not　only　retained　that　hand；　but　took　the　other　also；　and　spoke；　now　the　ice　was　broken；　eloquent　words　of　love。　Not　unmeaning　phrases　of　rhapsody；　about　hearts　and　darts　and　dying　for　her；　such　as　somebody　else　might　have　given　utterance　to；　but　earnest…hearted　words　of　deep　tenderness；　calculated　to　win　upon　the　mind's　good　sense；　as　well　as　upon　the　ear　and　heart；　and　it　may　be　that；　had　her　imagination　not　been　filled　up　with　that　〃somebody　else；〃　she　would　have　said　〃Yes；〃　there　and　then。

They　were　suddenly　interrupted。　Lady　Mount　Severn　entered；　and　took　in　the　scene　at　a　glance；　Mr。　Carlyle's　bent　attitude　of　devotion；　his　imprisonment　of　the　hands；　and　Isabel's　perplexed　and　blushing　countenance。　She　threw　up　her　head　and　her　little　inquisitive　nose；　and　stopped　short　on　the　carpet；　her　freezing　looks　demanded　an　explanation；　as　plainly　as　looks　can　do　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　to　her；　and　by　way　of　sparing　Isabel；　proceeded　to　introduce　himself。　Isabel　had　just　presence　of　mind　left　to　name　her：　〃Lady　Mount　Severn。〃

〃I　am　sorry　that　Lord　Mount　Severn　should　be　absent；　to　whom　I　have　the　honor　of　being　known；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　you；〃　replied　her　ladyship；　scanning　his　good　looks；　and　feeling　cross　that　his　homage　should　be　given　where　she　saw　it　was　given；　〃but　I　had　/not/　heard　that　you　and　Lady　Isabel　Vane　were　on　the　extraordinary　terms　of　intimacy　thatthat〃

〃Madam；〃　he　interrupted　as　he　handed　a　chair　to　her　ladyship　and　took　another　himself；　〃we　have　never　yet　been　on　terms　of　extraordinary　intimacy。　I　was　begging　the　Lady　Isabel　to　grant　that　we　may　be；　I　was　asking　her　to　become　my　wife。〃

The　avowal　was　as　a　shower　of　incense　to　the　countess；　and　her　ill　humor　melted　into　sunshine。　It　was　a　solution　to　her　great　difficulty；　a　loophole　by　which　she　might　get　rid　of　her　/bete　noire/；　the　hated　Isabel。　A　flush　of　gratification　lighted　her　face；　and　she　became　full　of　graciousness　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃How　very　grateful　Isabel　must　feel　to　you；〃　quoth　she。　〃I　speak　openly；　Mr。　Carlyle；　because　I　know　that　you　were　cognizant　of　the　unprotected　state　in　which　she　was　left　by　the　earl's　improvidence；　putting　marriage　for　her；　at　any　rate；　a　high　marriage；　nearly　out　of　the　question。　East　Lynne　is　a　beautiful　place；　I　have　heard。〃

〃For　its　size；　it　is　not　large；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　he　rose　for　Isabel　had　also　risen　and　was　coming　forward。

〃And　pray　what　is　Lady　Isabel's　answer？〃　quickly　asked　the　countess；　turning　to　her。

Not　to　her　did　Isabel　condescend　to　give　an　answer；　but　she　approached　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　spoke　in　a　low　tone。

〃Will　you　give　me　a　few　hours　for　consideration？〃

〃I　am　only　too　happy　that　you　should　accord　it　consideration；　for　it　speaks　to　me　of　hope；〃　was　his　reply；　as　he　opened　the　door　for　her　to　pass　out。　〃I　will　be　here　again　this　afternoon。〃

It　was　a　perplexing　debate　that　Lady　Isabel　held　with　herself　in　the　solitude　of　her　chamber；　whilst　Mr。　Carlyle　touched　upon　ways　and　means　to　Lady　Mount　Severn。　Isabel　was　little　more　than　a　child；　and　as　a　child　she　reasoned；　looking　neither　far　nor　deep：　the　shallow　palpable　aspect　of　affairs　alone　presenting　itself　to　her　view。　That　Mr。　Carlyle　was　not　of　rank　equal　to　her　own；　she　scarcely　remembered；　East　Lynne　seemed　a　very　fair　settlement　in　life；　and　in　point　of　size；　beauty　and　importance；　it　was　far　superior　to　the　house　she　was　now　in。　She　forgot　that　her　position　in　East　Lynne　as　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife　would　not　be　what　it　had　been　as　Lord　Mount　Severn's　daughter；　she　forgot　that　she　would　be　tied　to　a　quiet　house；　shut　out　from　the　great　world；　the　pomps　and　vanities　to　which　she　was　born。　She　liked　Mr。　Carlyle　much；　she　experienced　pleasure　in　conversing　with　him；　she　liked　to　be　with　him；　in　short；　but　for　that　other　ill…omened　fancy　which　had　crept　over　her；　there　would　have　been　danger　of　her　falling　in　love　with　Mr。　Carlyle。　And　oh！　to　be　removed　forever　from　the　bitter　dependence　on　Lady　Mount　SevernEast　Lynne　would　in　truth；　after　that；　seem　what　she　had　called　it：　Eden。

〃So　far　it　looks　favorable；〃　mentally　exclaimed　poor　Isabel；　〃but　there　is　the　other　side　of　the　question。　It　is　not　only　that　I　do　not　love　Mr。　Carlyle；　but　I　fear　I　do　love；　or　very　nearly　love；　Francis　Levison。　I　wish　/he/　would　ask　me　to　be　his　wife！or　that　I　had　never　seen　him。〃

Isabel's　soliloquy　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　Mrs。　Levison　and　the　countess。　What　the　latter　had　said　to　the　old　lady　to　win　her　to　the　cause；　was　best　known　to　herself；　but　she　was　eloquent　in　it。　They　both　used　every　possible　argument　to　induce　her　to　accept　Mr。　Carlyle：　the　old　lady　declaring　that　she　had　never　been　introduced　to　any　one　she　was　so　much　taken　with；　and　Mrs。　Levison　was　incapable　of　asserting　what　was　not　true；　that　he　was　worth　a　dozen　empty…headed　men　of　the　great　world。

Isabel　listened；　now　swayed　one　way；　now　the　other；　and　when　afternoon　came；　her　head　was　aching　with　perplexity。　The　stumbling　block　that　she　could　not　get　over　was　Francis　Levison。　She　saw　Mr。　Carlyle　approach　from　her　window；　and　went　down　to　the　drawing…room；　not　in　the　least　knowing　what　her　answer　was　to　be；　a　shadowy　idea　was　presenting　itself；　that　she　would　ask　him　for　longer　time；　and　write　her　answer。

In　the　drawing…room　was　Francis　Levison；　and　her　heart　beat　wildly；　which　said　beating　might　have　convinced　her　that　she　ought　not　to　marry　another。

〃Where　have　you　been　hiding　yourself？〃　cried　he。　〃Did　you　hear　of　our　mishap　with　the　pony　carriage？〃

〃No；〃　was　her　answer。

〃I　was　driving　Emma　into　town。　The　pony　took　fright；　kicked；　plunged　and　went　down　upon　his　knees；　she　took　fright　in　turn；　got　out；　and　walked　back。　So　I　gave　the　brute　some　chastisement　and　a　race；　and　brought　him　to　the　stables；　getting　home　in　time　to　be　introduced　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　He　seems　an　out…and…out　good　fellow；　Isabel；　and　I　congratulate　you。〃

〃What！〃　she　uttered。

〃Don't　start。　We　are　all　in　the　family；　and　my　lady　told；　I　won't　betray　it　abroad。　She　says　East　Lynne　is　a　place　to　be　coveted；　I　wish　you　happiness；　Isabel。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　returned　in　a　sarcastic　tone；　though　her　throat　beat　and　her　lips　quivered。　〃You　are　premature　in　your　congratulations；　Captain　Levison。〃

〃Am　I？　Keep　my　good　wishes；　then；　till　the　right　man　comes。　I　am　beyond　the　pale　myself；　and　dare　not　think　of　entering　the　happy　state；〃　he　added；　in　a　pointed　tone。　〃I　have　indulged　dreams　of　it；　like　others；　but　I　cannot　afford　to　indulge　them　seriously；　a　poor　man；　with　uncertain　prospects　can　only　play　the　butterfly；　perhaps　to　his　life's　end。〃

He　quitted　the　room　as　he　spoke。　It　was　impossible　for　Isabel　to　misunderstand　him；　but　a　feeling　shot　across　her　mind；　for　the　first　time；　that　he　was　false　and　heartless。　One　of　the　servants　appeared；　showing　in　Mr。　Carlyle；　nothing　false　or　heartless　about　/him/。　He　closed　the　door；　and　approached　her；　but　she　did　not　speak；　and　her　lips　were　white　and　trembling。　Mr。　Carlyle　waited。

〃Well；〃　he　said　at　length；　in　a　gentle　tone；　〃have　you　decided　to　grant　my　prayer？〃

〃Yes。　But〃　She　could　not　go　on。　What　with　one　agitation　and　another；　she　had　difficulty　in　conquering　her　emotion。　〃ButI　was　going　to　tell　you〃

〃Presently；〃　he　whispered；　leading　her　to　a　sofa；　〃we　can　both　afford　to　wait　now。　Oh；　Isabel；　you　have　made　me　very　happy！〃

〃I　ought　to　tell　you；　I　must　tell　you；〃　she　began　again；　in　the　midst　of　hysterical　tears。　〃Though　I　have　said　'yes'　to　your　proposal；　I　do　notyet　It　has　come　upon　me　by　surprise；〃　she　stammered。　〃I　like　you　very　much；　I　esteem　and　respect　you；　but　I　do　not　love　you。〃

〃I　should　wonder　if　you　did。　But　you　will　let　me　ea