east lynne-第25节

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teem　and　respect　you；　but　I　do　not　love　you。〃

〃I　should　wonder　if　you　did。　But　you　will　let　me　earn　your　love；　Isabel？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　earnestly　answered。　〃I　hope　so。〃

He　drew　her　closer　to　him；　bent　his　face；　and　took　from　her　lips　his　first　kiss。　Isabel　was　passive；　she　supposed　he　had　gained　the　right　to　do　so。　〃My　dearest！　It　is　all　I　ask。〃



CHAPTER　XIII。

A　MOONLIGHT　WALK。

The　sensations　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　when　he　returned　to　West　Lynne；　were　much　like　those　of　an　Eton　boy；　who　knows　he　has　been　in　mischief；　and　dreads　detection。　Always　open　as　to　his　own　affairsfor　he　had　nothing　to　concealhe　yet　deemed　it　expedient　to　dissemble　now。　He　felt　that　his　sister　would　be　bitter　at　the　prospect　of　his　marrying；　instinct　had　taught　him　that；　years　past；　and　he　believed　that；　of　all　women；　the　most　objectionable　to　her　would　be　Lady　Isabel；　for　Miss　Carlyle　looked　to　the　useful；　and　had　neither　sympathy　nor　admiration　for　the　beautiful。　He　was　not　sure　but　she　might　be　capable　of　endeavoring　to　frustrate　the　marriage　should　news　of　it　reach　her　ears；　and　her　indomitable　will　had　caused　many　strange　things　in　her　life；　therefore；　you　will　not　blame　Mr。　Carlyle　for　observing　entire　reticence　as　to　his　future　plans。

A　family　of　the　name　of　Carew　had　been　about　taking　East　Lynne；　they　wished　to　rent　it；　furnished；　for　three　years。　Upon　some　of　the　minor　arrangements　they　and　Mr。　Carlyle　were　opposed；　but　the　latter　declined　to　give　way。　During　his　absence　at　Castle　Marling；　news　had　arrived　from　themthey　had　acceded　to　all　his　terms；　and　would　enter　upon　East　Lynne　as　soon　as　it　was　convenient。　Miss　Carlyle　was　full　of　congratulations；　it　was　off　their　hands；　she　said；　but　the　fist　letter　Mr。　Carlyle　wrote　wasto　decline　them。　He　did　not　tell　this　to　Miss　Carlyle。　The　final　touches　to　the　house　were　given；　preparatory　to　the　reception　of　its　inhabitants；　and　three　maids　and　two　men　servants　hired　and　sent　there；　upon　board　wages；　until　the　family　should　arrive。

One　evening　three　weeks　subsequent　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　visit　to　Castle　Marling；　Barbara　Hare　called　at　Miss　Carlyle's；　and　found　them　going　to　tea　much　earlier　than　usual。

〃We　dined　earlier；〃　said　Miss　Corny；　〃and　I　ordered　tea　as　soon　as　the　dinner　went　away。　Otherwise；　Archibald　would　have　taken　none。〃

〃I　am　as　well　without　tea。　And　I　have　a　mass　of　business　to　get　through　yet。〃

〃You　are　not　as　well　without　it；〃　cried　Miss　Corny；　〃and　I　don't　choose　you　should　go　without　it。　Take　off　your　bonnet；　Barbara。　He　does　things　like　nobody　else；　he　is　off　to　Castle　Marling　to…morrow；　and　never　could　open　his　lips　till　just　now　that　he　was　going。〃

〃Is　that　invalidBrewster；　or　whatever　his　name　islaid　up　at　Castle　Marling；　still？〃　exclaimed　Barbara。

〃He　is　still　there；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

Barbara　sprang　up　the　moment　tea　was　over。

〃Dill　is　waiting　for　me　in　the　office；　and　I　have　some　hours'　work　before　me。　However；　I　suppose　you　won't　care　to　put　up　with　Peter's　attendance；　so　make　haste　with　your　bonnet；　Barbara。〃

She　took　his　arm；　and　they　walked　on；　Mr。　Carlyle　striking　the　hedge　and　the　grass　with　her　parasol。　Another　minute；　and　the　handle　was　in　two。

〃I　thought　you　would　do　it；〃　said　Barbara；　while　he　was　regarding　the　parasol　with　ludicrous　dismay。　〃Never　mind；　it　is　an　old　one。〃

〃I　will　bring　you　another　to　replace　it。　What　is　the　color？　Brown。　I　won't　forget。　Hold　the　relics　a　minute；　Barbara。〃

He　put　the　pieces　in　her　hand；　and　taking　out　a　note　case；　made　a　note　in　pencil。

〃What's　that　for？〃　she　inquired。

He　held　it　close　to　her　eyes；　that　she　might　discern　what　he　had　written：　〃Brown　parasol。　B。　H。〃

〃A　reminder　for　me；　Barbara；　in　case　I　forget。〃

Barbara's　eyes　detected　another　item　or　two　already　entered　in　the　note　case：　〃piano；〃　〃plate。〃

〃I　jot　down　the　things　as　they　occur　to　me；　that　I　must　get　in　London；〃　he　explained。　〃Otherwise　I　should　forget　half。〃

〃In　London？　I　thought　you　were　going　in　an　opposite　directionto　Castle　Marling？〃

It　was　a　slip　of　the　tongue；　but　Mr。　Carlyle　repaired　it。

〃I　may　probably　have　to　visit　London　as　well　as　Castle　Marling。　How　bright　the　moon　looks　rising　there；　Barbara！〃

〃So　brightthat　or　the　skythat　I　saw　your　secret；〃　answered　she。　〃Piano！　Plate！　What　can　you　want　with　either；　Archibald？〃

〃They　are　for　East　Lynne；〃　he　quietly　replied。

〃Oh；　for　the　Carews。〃　And　Barbara's　interest　in　the　item　was　gone。

They　turned　into　the　road　just　below　the　grove；　and　reached　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　held　the　gate　open　for　Barbara。

〃You　will　come　in　and　say　good…night　to　mamma。　She　was　saying　to…day　what　a　stranger　you　have　made　of　yourself　lately。〃

〃I　have　been　busy；　and　I　really　have　not　the　time　to…night。　You　must　remember　me　to　her　instead。〃　And　cordially　shaking　her　by　the　hand；　he　closed　the　gate。

It　was　two　or　three　mornings　after　the　departure　of　Mr。　Carlyle　that　Mr。　Dill　appeared　before　Miss　Carlyle；　bearing　a　letter。　She　was　busy　regarding　the　effect　of　some　new　muslin　curtains；　just　put　up；　and　did　not　pay　attention　to　him。

〃Will　you　please　take　the　letter；　Miss　Cornelia？　The　postman　left　it　in　the　office　with　ours。　It　is　from　Mr。　Archibald。〃

〃Why；　what　has　he　got　to　write　to　me　about？〃　retorted　Miss　Corny。　〃Does　he　say　when　he　is　coming　home？〃

〃You　had　better　see；　Miss　Cornelia。　Mine　does　not。〃


〃CASTLE　MARLING；　May　1st。

　〃MY　DEAR　CORNELIAI　was　married　this　morning　to　Lady　Isabel　Vane；　　　and　hasten　briefly　to　acquaint　you　with　the　fact。　I　will　write　you　　　more　fully　to…morrow　or　the　next　day；　and　explain　all　things。

〃Your　ever　affectionate　brother；　〃ARCHIBALD　CARLYLE。〃


〃It　is　a　hoax；〃　was　the　first　gutteral　sound　that　escaped　from　Miss　Carlyle's　throat　when　speech　came　to　her。

Mr。　Dill　only　stood　like　a　stone　image。

〃It　is　a　hoax；　I　say；〃　raved　Miss　Carlyle。　〃What　are　you　standing　there　for；　like　a　gander　on　one　leg？〃　she　reiterated；　venting　her　anger　upon　the　unoffending　man。　〃/Is/　it　a　hoax　or　not？〃

〃I　am　overdone　with　amazement；　Miss　Corny。　It　is　not　a　hoax；　I　have　had　a　letter；　too。〃

〃It　can't　be　trueit　/can't/　be　true。　He　had　no　more　thought　of　being　married　when　he　left　here；　three　days　ago；　than　I　have。〃

〃How　can　we　tell　that；　Miss　Corny？　How　are　we　to　know　he　did　not　go　to　be　married？　I　fancy　he　did。〃

〃Go　to　be　married！〃　shrieked　Miss　Corny；　in　a　passion。　〃He　would　not　be　such　a　fool。　And　to　that　fine　lady…child！　Nono。〃

〃He　has　sent　this　to　be　put　in　the　county　journals；〃　said　Mr。　Dill；　holding　forth　a　scrap　of　paper。　〃They　are　married；　safe　enough。〃

Miss　Carlyle　took　it　and　held　it　before　her：　her　hand　was　cold　as　ice；　and　shook　as　if　with　palsy。

　〃MARRIED。On　the　1st　inst。；　at　Castle　Marling；　by　the　chaplain　to　　　the　Earl　of　Mount　Severn；　Archibald　Carlyle；　Esquire；　of　East　　　Lynne；　to　the　Lady　Isabel　Mary　Vane；　only　child　of　William；　late　　　Earl　of　Mount　Severn。〃

Miss　Carlyle　tore　the　paper　to　atoms　and　scattered　it。　Mr。　Dill　afterward　made　copies　from　memory；　and　sent　them　to　the　journal　offices。　But　let　that　pass。

〃I　will　never　forgive　him；〃　she　deliberately　uttered；　〃and　I　will　never　forgive　or　tolerate　her。〃



CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　EARL'S　ASTONISHMENT。

The　announcement　of　the　marriage　in　the　newspapers　was　the　first　intimation　of　it　Lord　Mount　Severn　received。　He　was　little　less　thunderstruck　than　Miss　Corny；　and　came　steaming　to　England　the　same　day；　thereby　missing　his　wife's　letter；　which　gave　/her/　version　of　the　affair。　He　met　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　in　London；　where　they　were　staying　at　one　of　the　west…end　hotelsonly　for　a　day　or　two；　however；　for　they　were　going　further。　Isabel　was　alone　when　the　earl　was　announced。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this；　Isabel？〃　began　he；　without　the　circumlocution　of　greeting。　〃You　are　married？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　with　her　pretty；　innocent　blush。　〃Some　time　ago。〃

〃And　to　Carlyle；　the　lawyer！　How　did　it　come　about？〃

Isabel　began　to　think　how　it　did　come　about；　sufficiently　to　give　a　clear　answer。　〃He　asked　me；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　accepted　him。　He　came　to　Castle　Marling　at　Easter；　and　asked　me　then。　I　was　very　much　surprised。〃

The　earl　looked　at　her　attentively。　〃Why　was　I　kept　in　ignorance　of　this；　Isabel？〃

〃I　did　not　know　you　were　kept　in　ignorance　of　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　wrote　to　you；　as　did　Lady　Mount　Severn。〃

Lord　Mount　Severn　was　a　man　in　the　dark；　and　looked　like　it。　〃I　suppose　this　comes；〃　soliloquized　he；　aloud；　〃of　your　father's　having　allowed　the　gentleman　to　dance　daily　attendance　at　East　Lynne。　And　so　you　fell　in　love　with　him。〃

〃Indeed；　no！〃　answered　she；　in　an　amused　tone。　〃I　never　thought　of　such　a　thing　as　falling　in　love　with　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃Then　don't　you　love　him？〃　abruptly　asked　the　earl。

'No！〃　she　whispered；　timidly；　〃but　I　like　him　muchoh；　very　much！　And　he　is　so　good　to　me！〃

The　earl　stroked　his　chin　and　mused。　Isabel　had　destroyed　the　only　reasonable　conclusion　he　had　been　able　to　come　to　as　to　the　motives　for　the　hasty　marriage。　〃If　you　do　not　love　Mr。　Carlyle；　how　comes　it　that　you　are　so　wise　in　the　distinction　between　'liking'　and　'love？'　It　cannot　be　that　you　love　anybody　else？〃

The　question　turned　home；　and　Isabel　turned　crimson。　〃I　shall　love　my　husband　in　time；〃　was　all　she　answered；　as　she　b