east lynne-第28节

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ng。〃

Miss　Corny's　answer　was　to　stalk　from　the　room。　Isabel　rose　from　her　chair；　like　a　bird　released　from　its　cage；　and　stood　by　his　side。　〃Have　you　finished；　Archibald？〃

〃I　think　I　have；　dear。　Oh！　Here's　my　coffee。　There；　I　have　finished　now。〃

〃Let　us　go　around　the　grounds。〃

He　rose；　laid　his　hands　playfully　on　her　slender　waist；　and　looked　at　her。　〃You　may　as　well　ask　me　to　take　a　journey　to　the　moon。　It　is　past　nine；　and　I　have　not　been　to　the　office　for　a　month。〃

The　tears　rose　in　her　eyes。　〃I　wish　you　would　be　always　with　me！　East　Lynne　will　not　be　East　Lynne　without　you。〃

〃I　will　be　with　you　as　much　as　ever　I　can；　my　dearest；〃　he　whispered。　〃Come　and　walk　with　me　through　the　park。〃

She　ran　for　her　bonnet；　gloves　and　parasol。　Mr。　Carlyle　waited　for　her　in　the　hall；　and　they　went　out　together。

He　thought　it　a　good　opportunity　to　speak　about　his　sister。　〃She　wishes　to　remain　with　us；〃　he　said。　〃I　do　not　know　what　to　decide。　On　the　one　hand　I　think　she　might　save　you　the　worry　of　household　management；　on　the　other；　I　fancy　we　shall　be　happier　by　ourselves。〃

Isabel's　heart　sank　within　her　at　the　idea　of　that　stern　Miss　Corny；　mounted　over　her　as　resident　guard；　but；　refined　and　sensitive；　almost　painfully　considerate　of　the　feelings　of　others；　she　raised　no　word　of　objection。　〃As　you　and　Miss　Carlyle　please；〃　she　answered。

〃Isabel；〃　he　said；　〃I　wish　it　to　be　as　you　please；　I　wish　matters　to　be　arranged　as　may　best　please　you：　and　I　will　have　them　so　arranged。　My　chief　object　in　life　now　is　your　happiness。〃

He　spoke　in　all　the　sincerity　of　truth；　and　Isabel　knew　it：　and　the　thought　came　across　her　that　with　him　by　her　side；　her　loving　protector；　Miss　Carlyle　could　not　mar　her　life's　peace。　〃Let　her　stay；　Archibald；　she　will　not　incommode　us。〃

〃At　any　rate　it　can　be　tried　for　a　month　or　two；　and　we　shall　see　how　it　works；〃　he　musingly　observed。

They　reached　the　park　gates。　〃I　wish　I　could　go　with　you　and　be　your　clerk；〃　she　cried；　unwilling　to　release　his　hand。　〃I　should　not　have　all　that　long　way　to　go　back　by　myself。〃

He　laughed　and　shook　his　head；　telling　her　that　she　wanted　to　bribe　him　into　taking　her　back；　but　it　could　not　be。　And　away　he　went；　after　saying　farewell。



CHAPTER　XVI。

DOMESTIC　TROUBLES。

Isabel　wandered　back；　and　then　wandered　through　the　rooms；　they　looked　lovely；　not　as　they　had　seemed　to　look　in　her　father's　time。　In　her　dressing…room　knelt　Marvel；　unpacking。　She　rose　when　Lady　Isabel　entered。

〃Can　I　speak　to　you　a　moment；　if　you　please　my　lady？〃

〃What　is　it？〃

Then　Marvel　poured　forth　her　tale。　That　she　feared　so　small　an　establishment　would　not　suit　her；　and　if　my　lady　pleased；　she　would　like　to　leave　at　oncethat　day。　Anticipating　it；　she　had　not　unpacked　her　things。

〃There　has　been　some　mistake　about　the　servants；　Marvel；　but　it　will　be　remedied　as　soon　as　possible。　And　I　told　you　before　I　married　that　Mr。　Carlyle's　establishment　would　be　a　limited　one。〃

〃My　lady　perhaps　I　could　put　up　with　that；　but　I　never　could　stop　in　the　house　with〃　〃that　female　Guy〃　had　been　on　the　tip　of　Marvel's　tongue；　but　she　remembered　in　time　of　whom　she　was　speaking〃with　Miss　Carlyle。　I　fear；　my　lady；　we　have　both　got　tempers　that　would　slash；　and　might　be　flying　at　each　other。　I　could　not　stop；　my　lady；　for　untold　gold。　And　if　you　please　to　make　me　forfeit　my　running　month's　salary；　why　I　must　do　it。　So　when　I　have　set　your　ladyship's　things　to　rights；　I　hope　you'll　allow　me　to　go。〃

Lady　Isabel　would　not　condescend　to　ask　her　to　remain；　but　she　wondered　how　she　should　manage　the　inconvenience。　She　drew　her　desk　toward　her。　〃What　is　the　amount　due　to　you？〃　she　inquired；　as　she　unlocked　it。

〃Up　to　the　end　of　the　quarter；　my　lady？〃　cried　Marvel；　in　a　brisk　tone。

〃No；〃　coldly　answered　Lady　Isabel。　〃Up　to　to…day。〃

〃I　have　not　had　time　to　reckon；　my　lady。〃

Lady　Isabel　took　a　pencil　and　paper；　made　out　the　account；　and　laid　it　down　in　gold　and　silver　on　the　table。　〃It　is　more　than　you　deserve；　Marvel；〃　she　remarked；　〃and　more　than　you　would　get　in　most　places。　You　ought　to　have　given　me　proper　notice。〃

Marvel　melted　into　tears；　and　began　a　string　of　excuses。　〃She　should　never　have　wished　to　leave　so　kind　a　lady；　but　for　attendant　ill…　conveniences；　and　she　hoped　my　lady　would　not　object　to　testify　to　her　character。〃

Lady　Isabel　quitted　the　room　in　the　midst　of　it；　and　in　the　course　of　the　day　Marvel　took　her　departure；　Joyce　telling　her　that　she　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　herself。

〃I　couldn't　help　myself；〃　retorted　Marvel；　〃and　I　am　sorry　to　leave　her；　for　she's　a　pleasant　young　lady　to　serve。〃

〃Well；　I　know　I'd　have　helped　myself；〃　was　Joyce's　remark。　〃I　would　not　go　off　in　this　unhandsome　way　from　a　good　mistress。〃

〃Perhaps　you　wouldn't；〃　loftily　returned　Marvel；　〃but　my　inside　feelings　are　delicate　and　can't　bear　to　be　trampled　upon。　The　same　house　is　not　going　to　hold　me　and　that　tall　female　image；　who's　more　fit　to　be　carried　about　at　a　foreign　carnival　than　some　that　they　do　carry。〃

So　Marvel　left。　And　when　Lady　Isabel　went　to　her　room　to　dress　for　dinner；　Joyce　entered　it。

〃I　am　not　much　accustomed　to　a　lady's　maid's　duties；〃　began　she；　〃but　Miss　Carlyle　has　sent　me；　my　lady；　to　do　what　I　can　for　you；　if　you　will　allow　me。〃

Isabel　thought　it　was　kind　of　Miss　Carlyle。

〃And　if　you　please　to　trust　me　with　the　keys　of　your　things；　I　will　take　charge　of　them　for　you；　my　lady；　until　you　are　suited　with　a　maid；〃　Joyce　resumed。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　the　keys；〃　answered　Isabel；　〃I　never　keep　them。〃

Joyce　did　her　best；　and　Lady　Isabel　went　down。　It　was　nearly　six　o'clock；　the　dinner　hour；　and　she　strolled　to　the　park　gates；　hoping　to　meet　Mr。　Carlyle。　Taking　a　few　steps　out；　she　looked　down　the　road；　but　could　not　see　him　coming；　so　she　turned　in　again；　and　sat　down　under　a　shady　tree　out　of　view　of　the　road。　It　was　remarkably　warm　weather　for　the　closing　days　of　May。

Half　an　hour；　and　then　Mr。　Carlyle　came　pelting　up；　passed　the　gates；　and　turned　on　to　the　grass。　There　he　saw　his　wife。　She　had　fallen　asleep；　her　head　leaning　against　the　trunk　of　a　tree。　Her　bonnet　and　parasol　lay　at　her　feet；　her　scarf　had　dropped；　and　she　looked　like　a　lovely　child；　her　lips　partly　open；　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　her　beautiful　hair　falling　around。　It　was　an　exquisite　picture；　and　his　heart　beat　quicker　within　him　as　he　felt　that　it　was　all　his　own。　A　smile　stole　to　his　lips　as　he　stood　looking　at　her。　She　opened　her　eyes；　and　for　a　minute　could　not　remember　where　she　was。　Then　she　started　up。

〃Oh；　Archibald！　Have　I　been　asleep？〃

〃Ay；　and　might　have　been　stolen　and　carried　off。　I　could　not　afford　that；　Isabel。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　it　came　about。　I　was　listening　for　you。〃

〃What　have　you　been　doing　all　day？〃　he　asked；　as　he　drew　her　arm　within　his；　and　they　walked　on。

〃Oh；　I　hardly　know；〃　she　sighed。　〃Trying　the　new　piano；　and　looking　at　my　watch；　wishing　the　time　would　go　quicker；　that　you　might　come　home。　The　ponies　and　carriage　have　arrived；　Archibald。〃

〃I　know　they　have；　my　dear。　Have　you　been　out　of　doors　much？〃

〃No；　I　waited　for　you。〃　And　then　she　told　him　about　Marvel。　He　felt　vexed；　saying　she　must　replace　her　with　all　speed。　Isabel　said　she　knew　of　one；　a　young　woman　who　had　left　Lady　Mount　Severn　while　she；　Isabel；　was　at　Castle　Marling；　her　health　was　delicate；　and　Lady　Mount　Severn's　place　too　hard　for　her。　She　might　suit。

〃Write　to　her；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

The　carriage　came　rounda　beautiful　little　equipageand　Isabel　was　ready。　As　Mr。　Carlyle　drove　slowly　down　the　dusty　road；　they　came　upon　Miss　Corny；　striding　along　in　the　sun　with　a　great　umbrella　over　her　head。　She　would　not　turn　to　look　at　them。

Once　more；　as　in　the　year　gone　by；　St。　Jude's　Church　was　in　a　flutter　of　expectation。　It　expected　to　see　a　whole　paraphernalia　of　bridal　finery；　and　again　it　was　doomed　to　disappointment；　for　Isabel　had　not　put　off　the　mourning　for　her　father。　She　was　in　blacka　thin　gauze　dressand　her　white　bonnet　had　small　black　flowers　inside　and　out。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Mr。　Carlyle　took　possession　of　the　pew　belonging　to　East　Lynne；　filling　the　place　where　the　poor　earl　used　to　sit。　Not　so　Miss　Cornyshe　sat　in　her　own。

Barbara　was　there　with　the　Justice　and　Mrs。　Hare。　Her　face　wore　a　gray；　dusky　hue；　of　which　she　was　only　too　conscious；　but　could　not　subdue。　Her　covetous　eyes　would　wander　to　that　other　face；　with　its　singular　loveliness　and　its　sweetly　earnest　eyes；　sheltered　under　the　protection　of　him　for　whose　sheltering　protection　she　had　so　long　yearned。　Poor　Barbara　did　not　benefit　much　by　the　services　that　day。

Afterward　they　went　across　the　churchyard　to　the　west　corner；　where　stood　the　tomb　of　Lord　Mount　Severn。　Isabel　looked　at　the　inscription；　her　veil　shading　her　face。

〃Not　here；　and　now；　my　darling；〃　he　whispered；　pressing　her　arm　to　his　side；　for　he　felt　her　silent　sobs。　〃Strive　for　calmness。〃

〃It　seems　but　the　other　day　he　was　at　church　with　me；　and　nowhere！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　suddenly　changed　their　places；　so　that　they　stood　with　their　backs　to　the　hedge；　and　to　any　staring　stragglers　who　might　be　lingering　on　the　road。

〃There　ought　to　be　railings　round　the　tomb；〃　she　presently　said；　a