east lynne-第30节

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A　hot　flush　passed　over　the　brow　of　Lady　Isabel；　a　sensation　very　like　jealousy　flew　to　her　heart。　No　woman　likes　to　hear　of　another's　being；　or　having　been　attached　to　her　husband：　a　doubt　always　arises　whether　the　feeling　may　not　have　been　reciprocated。

Lady　Isabel　descended。　She　wore　a　costly　black　lace　dress；　its　low　body　and　sleeves　trimmed　with　as　costly　white；　and　ornaments　of　jet。　She　looked　inexpressibly　beautiful；　and　Barbara　turned　from　her　with　a　feeling　of　sinking　jealousy；　from　her　beauty；　from　her　attire；　even　from　the　fine；　soft　handkerchief；　which　displayed　the　badge　of　her　rankthe　coronet　of　an　earl's　daughter。　Barbara　looked　well；　too；　she　was　in　a　light　blue　silk　robe；　and　her　pretty　cheeks　were　damask　with　her　mind's　excitement。　On　her　neck　she　wore　the　gold　chain　given　her　by　Mr。　Carlylestrange　that　she　had　not　discarded　that。

They　stood　together　at　the　window；　looking　at　Mr。　Carlyle　as　he　came　up　the　avenue。　He　saw　them；　and　nodded。　Lady　Isabel　watched　the　damask　cheeks　turn　to　crimson　at　sight　of　him。

〃How　do　you　do；　Barbara？〃　he　cried；　as　he　shook　hands。　〃Come　to　pay　us　a　visit　at　last？　You　have　been　rather　tardy　over　it。　And　how　are　you；　my　darling？〃　he　whispered　over　his　wife；　but　she　missed　his　kiss　of　greeting。　Well；　would　she　have　had　him　give　it　her　in　public？　No；　but　she　was　in　the　mood　to　notice　the　omission。

Dinner　over；　Miss　Carlyle　beguiled　Barbara　out　of　doors。　Barbara　would　far　rather　have　remained　in　/his/　presence。　Of　course　they　discussed　Lady　Isabel。

〃How　do　you　like　her？〃　abruptly　asked　Barbara；　alluding　to　Lady　Isabel。

〃Better　than　I　thought　I　should；〃　acknowledged　Miss　Carlyle。　〃I　had　expected　airs　and　graces　and　pretence；　and　I　must　say　she　is　free　from　them。　She　seems　quite　wrapped　up　in　Archibald　and　watches　for　his　coming　home　like　a　cat　watches　for　a　mouse。　She　is　dull　without　him。〃

Barbara　compelled　her　manner　to　indifference。　〃I　suppose　it　is　natural。〃

〃I　suppose　it　is　absurd；〃　was　the　retort　of　Miss　Carlyle。　〃I　give　them　little　of　my　company；　especially　in　an　evening。　They　go　strolling　out　together；　or　she　sings　to　him；　he　hanging　over　her　as　if　she　were　of　gold：　to　judge　by　appearances；　she　is　more　precious　to　him　than　any　gold　that　was　ever　coined　into　money。　I'll　tell　you　what　I　saw　last　night。　Archibald　had　what　he　is　not　often　subject　to；　a　severe　headache；　and　he　went　into　the　next　room　after　dinner；　and　lay　on　the　sofa。　She　carried　a　cup　of　tea　to　him；　and　never　came　back；　leaving　her　own　on　the　table　till　it　was　perfectly　cold。　I　pushed　open　the　door　to　tell　her　so。　There　was　my　lady's　cambric　handkerchief；　soaked　in　eau…de…Cologne；　lying　on　his　forehead；　and　there　was　my　lady　herself；　kneeling　down　and　looking　at　him；　he　with　his　arm　thrown　around　her　there。　Now　I　just　ask　you；　Barbara；　whether　there's　any　sense　in　fadding　with　a　man　like　that？　If　ever　he　did　have　a　headache　before　he　was　married；　I　used　to　mix　him　up　a　good　dose　of　salts　and　senna；　and　tell　him　to　go　to　bed　early　and　sleep　the　pain　off。〃

Barbara　made　no　reply；　but　she　turned　her　face　from　Miss　Carlyle。

On　Barbara's　return　to　the　house；　she　found　that　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Lady　Isabel　were　in　the　adjoining　room；　at　the　piano；　and　Barbara　had　an　opportunity　of　hearing　that　sweet　voice。　She　did；　as　Miss　Carlyle　confessed　to　have　done；　pushed　open　the　door　between　the　two　rooms；　and　looked　in。　It　was　the　twilight　hour；　almost　too　dusk　to　see；　but　she　could　distinguish　Isabel　seated　at　the　piano；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　standing　behind　her。　She　was　singing　one　of　the　ballads　from　the　opera　of　the　〃Bohemian　Girl；〃　〃When　other　Lips。〃

〃Why　do　you　like　that　song　so　much；　Archibald？〃　she　asked　when　she　had　finished　it。

〃I　don't　know。　I　never　liked　it　so　much　until　I　heard　it　from　you。〃

〃I　wonder　if　they　are　come　in。　Shall　we　go　into　the　next　room？〃

〃Just　this　one　firstthis　translation　from　the　German'　'Twere　vain　to　tell　thee　all　I　feel。'　There's　real　music　in　that　song。〃

〃Yes；　there　is。　Do　you　know；　Archibald；　your　taste　is　just　like　papa's。　He　liked　all　these　quiet；　imaginative　songs；　and　so　do　you。　And　so　do　I；〃　she　laughingly　added；　〃if　I　must　speak　the　truth。〃

She　ceased　and　began　the　song；　singing　it　exquisitely；　in　a　low；　sweet；　earnest　tone；　the　chords　of　the　accompaniment；　at　its　conclusion；　dying　off　gradually　into　silence。

〃There；　Archibald；　I　am　sure　I　have　sung　you　ten　songs　at　least；〃　she　said；　leaning　her　head　back　against　him；　and　looking　at　him　from　her　upturned　face。　〃You　ought　to　pay　me。〃

He　did　pay　her：　holding　the　dear　face　to　him；　and　taking　from　it　some　impassioned　kisses。　Barbara　turned　to　the　window；　a　low　moan　of　pain　escaping　her；　as　she　pressed　her　forehead　on　one　of　its　panes；　and　looked　forth　at　the　dusky　night。　Isabel　came　in　on　her　husband's　arm。

〃Are　you　here　alone；　Miss　Hare？　I　really　beg　your　pardon。　I　supposed　you　were　with　Miss　Carlyle。〃

〃Where　is　Cornelia；　Barbara？〃

〃I　have　just　come　in；〃　was　Barbara's　reply。　〃I　dare　say　she　is　following　me。〃

So　she　was；　for　she　entered　a　moment　after；　her　voice　raised　in　anger　at　the　gardener；　who　had　disobeyed　her　orders；　and　obeyed　the　wishes　of　Lady　Isabel。

The　evening　wore　on　to　ten；　and　as　the　time…piece　struck　the　hour；　Barbara　rose　from　her　chair　in　amazement。

〃I　did　not　think　it　was　so　late。　Surely　some　one　must　have　come　for　me。〃

〃I　will　inquire；〃　was　Lady　Isabel's　answer；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　touched　the　bell。　No　one　had　come　for　Miss　Hare。

〃Then　I　fear　I　must　trouble　Peter；〃　cried　Barbara。　〃Mamma　may　be　gone　to　rest；　tired；　and　papa　must　have　forgotten　me。　It　would　never　do　for　me　to　get　locked　out；〃　she　gaily　added。

〃As　you　were　one　night　before；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　significantly。

He　alluded　to　the　night　when　Barbara　was　in　the　grove　of　trees　with　her　unfortunate　brother；　and　Mr。　Hare　was　on　the　point；　unconsciously；　of　locking　her　out。　She　had　given　Mr。　Carlyle　the　history；　but　its　recollection　now　called　up　a　smart　pain；　and　a　change　passed　over　her　face。

〃Oh！　Don't；　Archibald；〃　she　uttered；　in　the　impulse　of　the　moment；　〃don't　recall　it。〃

Isabel　wondered。

〃Can　Peter　take　me？〃　continued　Barbara。

〃I　had　better　take　you；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃It　is　late。〃

Barbara's　heart　beat　at　the　words；　beat　as　she　put　her　things　onas　she　said　good…night　to　Lady　Isabel　and　Miss　Carlyle；　it　beat　to　throbbing　as　she　went　out　with　him；　and　took　his　arm。　All　just　as　it　used　to　beonly　now　that　he　was　the　husband　of　another。　Only！

It　was　a　warm；　lovely　June　night；　not　moonlight；　but　bright　with　its　summer　twilight。　They　went　down　the　park　into　the　road；　which　they　crossed；　and　soon　came　to　a　stile。　From　that　stile　there　led　a　path　through　the　fields　which　would　pass　the　back　of　Justice　Hare's。　Barbara　stopped　at　it。

〃Would　you　choose　the　field　way　to…night；　Barbara？　The　grass　will　be　damp；　and　this　is　the　longest　way。〃

〃But　we　shall　escape　the　dust　of　the　road。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；　if　you　prefer　it。　It　will　not　make　three　minutes'　difference。〃

〃He　is　very　anxious　to　get　home　to　/her/！〃　mentally　exclaimed　Barbara。　〃I　shall　fly　out　upon　him；　presently；　or　my　heart　will　burst。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　crossed　the　stile；　helped　over　Barbara；　and　then　gave　her　his　arm　again。　He　had　taken　her　parasol；　as　he　had　taken　it　the　last　night　they　had　walked　togetheran　elegant　little　parasol；　this；　of　blue　silk　and　white　lace；　and　he　did　not　switch　the　hedges　with　it。　That　night　was　present　to　Barbara　now；　with　all　its　words　and　its　delusive　hopes；　terribly　present　to　her　was　their　bitter　ending。

There　are　women　of　warm；　impulsive　temperaments　who　can　scarcely　help；　in　certain　moments　of　highly　wrought　excitement；　over…stepping　the　bounds　of　nature　and　decorum；　and　giving　the　reins　to　temper；　tongue；　and　imaginationmaking　a　scene；　in　short。　Barbara　had　been　working　herself　into　this　state　during　the　whole　evening。　The　affection　of　Isabel　for　her　husband；　her　voice；　his　caressesseen　through　the　half　open　doorshad　maddened　her。　She　felt　it　impossible　to　restrain　her　excitement。

Mr。　Carlyle　walked　on；　utterly　unconscious　that　a　storm　was　brewing。　More　than　that；　he　was　unconscious　of　having　given　cause　for　one；　and　dashed　into　an　indifferent；　common　place　topic　in　the　most　provoking　manner。

〃When　does　the　justice　begin　haymaking；　Barbara？〃

There　was　no　reply。　Barbara　was　swelling　and　panting；　and　trying　to　keep　her　emotion　down。　Mr。　Carlyle　tried　again；

〃Barbara；　I　asked　you　which　day　your　papa　cut　his　hay。〃

Still　no　reply。　Barbara　was　literally　incapable　of　making　one。　The　steam　of　excitement　was　on；　nearly　to　its　highest　pitch。　Her　throat　was　working；　the　muscles　of　her　mouth　began　to　twitch；　and　a　convulsive　sob；　or　what　sounded　like　it；　broke　from　her。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　his　head　hastily。

〃Barbara！　are　you　ill？　What　is　it？〃

On　it　came；　passion；　temper；　wrongs；　and　nervousness；　all　boiling　over　together。　She　shrieked；　she　sobbed；　she　was　in　strong　hysterics。　Mr。　Carlyle　half…carried；　half…dragged　her　to　the　second　stile；　and　placed　her　against　it；　his　arm　supporting　her；　and　an　old　cow　and　two　calves；　wondering　what　the　disturbance　could　mean　at　that　sober　time　of　night；　walked　up　and　stared　at　them。

Barbara　struggled　with　her　emotionstruggled　manfullyand　the　sobs