east lynne-第3节

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artly　because　she　had　hitherto　been　secluded　from　the　great　world；　partly　from　the　care　bestowed　upon　her　training。　During　the　lifetime　of　her　mother；　she　had　lived　occasionally　at　East　Lynne；　but　mostly　at　a　larger　seat　of　the　earl's　in　Wales；　Mount　Severn；　since　her　mother's　death；　she　had　remained　entirely　at　Mount　Severn；　under　the　charge　of　a　judicious　governess；　a　very　small　establishment　being　kept　for　them；　and　the　earl　paying　them　impromptu　and　flying　visits。　Generous　and　benevolent　she　was；　timid　and　sensitive　to　a　degree；　gentle；　and　considerate　to　all。　Do　not　cavil　at　her　being　thus　praisedadmire　and　love　her　whilst　you　may；　she　is　worthy　of　it　now；　in　her　innocent　girlhood；　the　time　will　come　when　such　praise　would　be　misplaced。　Could　the　fate　that　was　to　overtake　his　child　have　been　foreseen　by　the　earl；　he　would　have　struck　her　down　to　death；　in　his　love；　as　she　stood　before　him；　rather　than　suffer　her　to　enter　upon　it。



CHAPTER　II。

THE　BROKEN　CROSS。

Lady　Isabel's　carriage　continued　its　way；　and　deposited　her　at　the　residence　of　Mrs。　Levison。　Mrs。　Levison　was　nearly　eighty　years　of　age；　and　very　severe　in　speech　and　manner；　or；　as　Mrs。　Vane　expressed　it；　〃crabbed。〃　She　looked　the　image　of　impatience　when　Isabel　entered；　with　her　cap　pushed　all　awry；　and　pulling　at　the　black　satin　gown；　for　Mrs。　Vane　had　kept　her　waiting　dinner；　and　Isabel　was　keeping　her　from　her　tea；　and　that　does　not　agree　with　the　aged；　with　their　health　or　with　their　temper。

〃I　fear　I　am　late；〃　exclaimed　Lady　Isabel；　as　she　advanced　to　Mrs。　Levison；　〃but　a　gentleman　dined　with　papa　to…day；　and　it　made　us　rather　longer　at　table。〃

〃You　are　twenty…five　minutes　behind　your　time；〃　cried　the　old　lady　sharply；　〃and　I　want　my　tea。　Emma；　order　it　in。〃

Mrs。　Vane　rang　the　bell；　and　did　as　she　was　bid。　She　was　a　little　woman　of　six…and…twenty；　very　plain　in　face；　but　elegant　in　figure；　very　accomplished；　and　vain　to　her　fingers'　ends。　Her　mother；　who　was　dead；　had　been　Mrs。　Levison's　daughter；　and　her　husband；　Raymond　Vane；　was　presumptive　heir　to　the　earldom　of　Mount　Severn。

〃Won't　you　take　that　tippet　off；　child？〃　asked　Mrs。　Levison；　who　knew　nothing　of　the　new…fashioned　names　for　such　articles；　mantles；　burnous；　and　all　the　string　of　them；　and　Isabel　threw　it　off　and　sat　down　by　her。

〃The　tea　is　not　made；　grandmamma！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Vane；　in　an　accent　of　astonishment；　as　the　servant　appeared　with　the　tray　and　the　silver　urn。　〃You　surely　do　not　have　it　made　in　the　room。〃

〃Where　should　I　have　it　made？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Levison。

〃It　is　much　more　convenient　to　have　it　brought　in；　ready　made；〃　said　Mrs。　Vane。　〃I　dislike　the　/embarass/　of　making　it。〃

〃Indeed！〃　was　the　reply　of　the　old　lady；　〃and　get　it　slopped　over　in　the　saucers；　and　as　cold　as　milk！　You　always　were　lazy；　Emmaand　given　to　use　those　French　words。　I'd　rather　stick　a　printed　label　on　my　forehead；　for　my　part；　'I　speak　French；'　and　let　the　world　know　it　in　that　way。〃

〃Who　makes　tea　for　you　in　general？〃　asked　Mrs。　Vane；　telegraphing　a　contemptuous　glance　to　Isabel　behind　her　grandmother。

But　the　eyes　of　Lady　Isabel　fell　timidly　and　a　blush　rose　to　her　cheeks。　She　did　not　like　to　appear　to　differ　from　Mrs。　Vane；　her　senior；　and　her　father's　guest；　but　her　mind　revolted　at　the　bare　idea　of　ingratitude　or　ridicule　cast　on　an　aged　parent。

〃Harriet　comes　in　and　makes　it　for　me；〃　replied　Mrs。　Levison；　〃aye；　and　sits　down　and　takes　it　with　me　when　I　am　alone；　which　is　pretty　often。　What　do　you　say　to　that；　Madame　Emmayou；　with　your　fine　notions？〃

〃Just　as　you　please；　of　course；　grandmamma。〃

〃And　there's　the　tea…caddy　at　your　elbow；　and　the　urn's　fizzing　away；　and　if　we　are　to　have　any　tea　to…night；　it　had　better　be　made。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　much　to　put　in；〃　grumbled　Mrs。　Vane；　who　had　the　greatest　horror　of　soiling　her　hands　or　her　gloves；　who；　in　short；　had　a　particular　antipathy　to　doing　anything　useful。

〃Shall　I　make　it；　dear　Mrs。　Levison？〃　said　Isabel；　rising　with　alacrity。　〃I　had　used　to　make　it　quite　as　often　as　my　governess　at　Mount　Severn；　and　I　make　it　for　papa。〃

〃Do；　child；〃　replied　the　old　lady。　〃You　are　worth　ten　of　her。〃

Isabel　laughed　merrily；　drew　off　her　gloves；　and　sat　down　to　the　table；　and　at　that　moment　a　young　and　elegant　man　lounged　into　the　room。　He　was　deemed　handsome；　with　his　clearly…cut　features；　his　dark　eyes；　his　raven　hair；　and　his　white　teeth；　but　to　a　keen　observer　those　features　had　not　an　attractive　expression；　and　the　dark　eyes　had　a　great　knack　of　looking　away　while　he　spoke　to　you。　It　was　Francis；　Captain　Levison。

He　was　grandson　to　the　old　lady；　and　first　cousin　to　Mrs。　Vane。　Few　men　were　so　fascinating　in　manners；　at　times　and　seasons；　in　face　and　in　form；　few　men　won　so　completely　upon　their　hearers'　ears；　and　few　were　so　heartless　in　their　hearts　of　hearts。　The　world　courted　him；　and　society　honored　him；　for；　though　he　was　a　graceless　spendthrift；　and　it　was　known　that　he　was；　he　was　the　presumptive　heir　to　the　old　and　rich　Sir　Peter　Levison。

The　ancient　lady　spoke　up；　〃Captain　Levison；　Lady　Isabel　Vane。〃　They　both　acknowledged　the　introduction；　and　Isabel；　a　child　yet　in　the　ways　of　the　world；　flushed　crimson　at　the　admiring　looks　cast　upon　her　by　the　young　guardsman。　Strangestrange　that　she　should　make　the　acquaintance　of　these　two　men　in　the　same　day；　almost　in　the　same　hour；　the　two；　of　all　the　human　race；　who　were　to　exercise　so　powerful　an　influence　over　her　future　life！

〃That's　a　pretty　cross；　child；〃　cried　Mrs。　Levison　as　Isabel　stood　by　her　when　tea　was　over；　and　she　and　Mrs。　Vane　were　about　to　depart　on　their　evening　visit。

She　alluded　to　a　golden　cross；　set　with　seven　emeralds；　which　Isabel　wore　on　her　neck。　It　was　of　light；　delicate　texture；　and　was　suspended　from　a　thin；　short；　gold　chain。

〃Is　it　not　pretty？〃　answered　Isabel。　〃It　was　given　me　by　my　dear　mamma　just　before　she　died。　Stay；　I　will　take　it　off　for　you。　I　only　wear　it　upon　great　occasions。〃

This；　her　first　appearance　at　the　grand　duke's；　seemed　a　very　great　occasion　to　the　simply…reared　and　inexperienced　girl。　She　unclasped　the　chain；　and　placed　it　with　the　cross　in　the　hands　of　Mrs。　Levison。

〃Why；　I　declare　you　have　nothing　on　but　that　cross　and　some　rubbishing　pearl　bracelets！〃　uttered　Mrs。　Vane　to　Isabel。　〃I　did　not　look　at　you　before。〃

〃Mamma　gave　me　both。　The　bracelets　are　those　she　used　frequently　to　wear。〃

〃You　old…fashioned　child！　Because　your　mamma　wore　those　bracelets；　years　ago；　is　that　a　reason　for　your　doing　so？〃　retorted　Mrs。　Vane。　〃Why　did　you　not　put　on　your　diamonds？〃

〃Ididput　on　my　diamonds；　but　Itook　them　off　again；〃　stammered　Isabel。

〃What　on　earth　for？〃

〃I　did　not　like　to　look　too　fine；〃　answered　Isabel；　with　a　laugh　and　a　blush。　〃They　glittered　so！　I　feared　it　might　be　thought　I　had　put　them　on　/to　look/　fine。〃

〃Ah！　I　see　you　mean　to　set　up　in　that　class　of　people　who　pretend　to　despise　ornaments；〃　scornfully　remarked　Mrs。　Vane。　〃It　is　the　refinement　of　affectation；　Lady　Isabel。〃

The　sneer　fell　harmlessly　on　Lady　Isabel's　ear。　She　only　believed　something　had　put　Mrs。　Vane　out　of　temper。　It　certainly　had；　and　that　something；　though　Isabel　little　suspected　it；　was　the　evident　admiration　Captain　Levison　evinced　for　her　fresh；　young　beauty；　it　quite　absorbed　him；　and　rendered　him　neglectful　even　of　Mrs。　Vane。

〃Here；　child；　take　your　cross；〃　said　the　old　lady。　〃It　is　very　pretty；　prettier　on　your　neck　than　diamonds　would　be。　You　don't　want　embellishing；　never　mind　what　Emma　says。〃

Francis　Levison　took　the　cross　and　chain　from　her　hand　to　pass　them　to　Lady　Isabel。　Whether　he　was　awkward；　or　whether　her　hands　were　full；　for　she　held　her　gloves；　her　handkerchief；　and　had　just　taken　up　her　mantle；　certain　it　is　that　it　fell；　and　the　gentleman；　in　his　too　quick　effort　to　regain　it；　managed　to　set　his　foot　upon　it；　and　the　cross　was　broken　in　two。

〃There！　Now　whose　fault　was　that？〃　cried　Mrs。　Levison。

Isabel　did　not　answer；　her　heart　was　very　full。　She　took　the　broken　cross；　and　the　tears　dropped　from　her　eyes；　she　could　not　help　it。

〃Why！　You　are　never　crying　over　a　stupid　bauble　of　a　cross！〃　uttered　Mrs。　Vane；　interrupting　Captain　Levison's　expression　of　regret　at　his　awkwardness。

〃You　can　have　it　mended；　dear；〃　interposed　Mrs。　Levison。

Lady　Isabel　chased　away　the　tears；　and　turned　to　Captain　Levison　with　a　cheerful　look。　〃Pray　do　not　blame　yourself；〃　she　good…naturedly　said；　〃the　fault　was　as　much　mine　as　yours；　and；　as　Mrs。　Levison　says；　I　can　get　it　mended。〃

She　disengaged　the　upper　part　of　the　cross　from　the　chain　as　she　spoke；　and　clasped　the　latter　round　her　throat。

〃You　will　not　go　with　that　thin　string　of　gold　on；　and　nothing　else！〃　uttered　Mrs。　Vane。

〃Why　not？〃　returned　Isabel。　〃If　people　say　anything；　I　can　tell　them　an　accident　happened　to　the　cross。〃

Mrs。　Vane　burst　into　a　laugh　of　mocking　ridicule。　〃　'If　people　say　anything！'　〃　she　repeated；　in　a　tone　according　with　the　laugh。　〃They　are　not　likely　to　'say　anything；'　but　they　will　deem　Lord　Mount　Severn's　daughter　unfortunately　short　of　jewellery。〃

Isabel　smiled　and　shook　her　head。　〃They　saw　my　diamonds　at　the　drawing…room。〃

〃If　you　had　done　such　an　awkward　thing　for　me；　Frank　Levison；〃