east lynne-第32节

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More　timid　and　sensitive　by　nature　than　many　would　believe　or　can　imagine；　reared　in　seclusion　more　simply　and　quietly　than　falls　to　the　general　lot　of　peers'　daughters；　completely　inexperienced；　Isabel　was　unfit　to　battle　with　the　worldtotally　unfit　to　battle　with　Miss　Carlyle。　The　penniless　state　in　which　she　was　left　at　her　father's　death；　the　want　of　a　home　save　that　accorded　her　at　Castle　Marling；　even　the　hundred…pound　note　left　in　her　hand　by　Mr。　Carlyle；　all　had　imbued　her　with　a　deep　consciousness　of　humiliation；　and；　far　from　rebelling　at　or　despising　the　small　establishment；　comparatively　speaking；　provided　for　her　by　Mr。　Carlyle；　she　felt　thankful　to　him　for　it。　But　to　be　told　continuously　that　this　was　more　than　he　could　afford；　that　she　was　in　fact　a　blight　upon　his　prospects；　was　enough　to　turn　her　heart　to　bitterness。　Oh；　that　she　had　had　the　courage　to　speak　out　openly　to　her　husband；　that　he　might；　by　a　single　word　of　earnest　love　and　assurance；　have　taken　the　weight　from　her　heart；　and　rejoiced　it　with　the　truththat　all　these　miserable　complaints　were　but　the　phantoms　of　his　narrow…minded　sister！　But　Isabel　never　did；　when　Miss　Corny　lapsed　into　her　grumbling　mood；　she　would　hear　in　silence；　or　gently　bend　her　aching　forehead　in　her　hands；　never　retorting。

Never　before　Mr。　Carlyle　was　the　lady's　temper　vented　upon　her；　plenty　fell　to　his　own　share；　when　he　and　his　sister　were　alone；　and　he　had　become　so　accustomed　to　the　sort　of　thing　all　his　lifehad　got　used　to　it；　like　the　eels　do　to　skinningthat　it　went；　as　the　saying　runs；　in　at　one　ear　and　out　at　the　other；　making　no　impression。　He　never　dreamt　that　Isabel　also　received　her　portion。

It　was　a　morning　early　in　April。　Joyce　sat；　in　its　gray　dawn；　over　a　large　fire　in　the　dressing…room　of　Lady　Isabel　Carlyle；　her　hands　clasped　to　pain；　and　the　tears　coursing　down　her　cheeks。　Joyce　was　frightened；　she　had　had　some　experience　in　illness；　but　illness　of　this　nature　she　had　never　witnessed；　and　she　was　fervently　hoping　never　to　witness　it　again。　In　the　adjoining　room　lay　Lady　Isabel；　sick　nearly　unto　death。

The　door　from　the　corridor　slowly　opened；　and　Miss　Carlyle　slowly　entered。　She　had　probably　never　walked　with　so　gentle　a　step　in　all　her　life；　and　she　had　got　a　thick…wadded　mantle　over　her　head　and　ears。　Down　she　sat　in　a　chair　quite　meekly；　and　Joyce　saw　that　her　face　looked　as　gray　as　the　early　dawn。

〃Joyce；〃　whispered　she；　〃is　there　any　danger？〃

〃Oh；　ma'am；　I　trust　not！　But　it's　hard　to　witness；　and　it　must　be　awful　to　bear。〃

〃It　is　our　common　curse；　Joyce。　You　and　I　may　congratulate　ourselves　that　we　have　not　chose　to　encounter　it。　Joyce；〃　she　added；　after　a　pause；　〃I　trust　there's　no　danger；　I　should　not　like　her　to　die。〃

Miss　Carlyle　spoke　in　a　low；　dread　tone。　Was　she　fearing　that；　if　her　poor　young　sister…in…law　did　die；　a　weight　would　rest　on　her　own　conscience　for　all　timea　heavy；　ever…present　weight；　whispering　that　she　might　have　rendered　her　short　year　of　marriage　more　happy；　had　she　chosen；　and　that　she　had　not　so　chosen；　but　had　deliberately　steeled　every　crevice　of　her　heart　against　her？　Very　probably；　she　looked　anxious　and　apprehensive　in　the　morning's　twilight。

〃If　there's　any　danger；　Joyce〃

〃Why；　do　you　think　there's　danger；　ma'am？〃　interrupted　Joyce。　〃Are　other　people　not　as　ill　as　this？〃

〃It　is　to　be　hoped　they　are　not；〃　rejoined　Miss　Carlyle。　〃And　why　is　the　express　gone　to　Lynneborough　for　Dr。　Martin？〃

Up　started　Joyce；　awe　struck。　〃An　express　for　Dr。　Martin！　Oh；　ma'am！　Who　sent　it？　When　did　it　go？〃

〃All　I　know　is；　that's　its　gone。　Mr。　Wainwright　went　to　your　master；　and　he　came　out　of　his　room　and　sent　John　galloping　to　the　telegraph　office　at　West　Lynne；　where　could　your　ears　have　been；　not　to　hear　the　horse　tearing　off？　/I/　heard　it；　I　know　that；　and　a　nice　fright　it　put　me　in。　I　went　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　room　to　ask　what　was　amiss；　and　he　said　he　did　not　know　himselfnothing；　he　hoped。　And　then　he　shut　his　door　again　in　my　face；　instead　of　stopping　to　speak　to　me　as　any　other　Christian　would。〃

Joyce　did　not　answer；　she　was　faint　with　apprehension；　and　there　was　a　silence；　broken　only　by　the　sounds　from　the　next　room。　Miss　Carlyle　rose；　and　a　fanciful　person　might　have　thought　she　was　shivering。

〃I　can't　stand　this；　Joyce；　I　shall　go。　If　they　want　coffee；　or　anything　of　that；　it　can　be　sent　here。　Ask。〃

〃I　will　presently；　in　a　few　minutes；〃　answered　Joyce；　with　a　real　shiver。　〃You　are　not　going　in；　are　you；　ma'am？〃　she　uttered；　in　apprehension；　as　Miss　Carlyle　began　to　steal　on　tip…toe　to　the　inner…　door；　and　Joyce　had　a　lively　consciousness　that　her　sight　would　not　be　an　agreeable　one　to　Lady　Isabel。　〃They　want　the　room　free；　they　sent　me　out。〃

〃Not　I；〃　answered　Miss　Corny。　〃I　could　do　no　good；　and　those　who　cannot；　are　better　away。〃

〃Just　what　Mr。　Wainwright　said　when　he　dismissed　me；〃　murmured　Joyce。　And　Miss　Carlyle　finally　passed　into　the　corridor　and　withdrew。

Joyce　sat　on；　it　seemed　to　her　an　interminable　time。　And　then　she　heard　the　arrival　of　Dr。　Martin；　heard　him　go　into　the　next　room。　By　and　by　Mr。　Wainwright　came　out　of　it；　into　the　room　where　Joyce　was　sitting。　Her　tongue　clove　to　the　roof　of　her　mouth；　and　before　she　could　bring　out　the　ominous　words；　〃Is　there　any　danger？〃　he　had　passed　through　it。

Mr。　Wainwright　was　on　his　way　to　the　apartment　where　he　expected　to　find　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　latter　was　pacing　it；　he　had　so　paced　it　all　the　night。　His　pale　face　flushed　as　the　surgeon　entered。

〃You　have　little　mercy　on　my　suspense；　Wainwright。　Dr。　Martin　has　been　here　this　twenty　minutes。　What　does　he　say？〃

〃Well；　he　cannot　say　any　more　than　I　did。　The　symptoms　are　critical；　but　he　hopes　she　will　do　well。　There's　nothing　for　it　but　patience。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　resumed　his　weary　walk。

〃I　come　now　to　suggest　that　you　should　send　for　Little。　In　these　protracted　cases〃

The　speech　was　interrupted　by　a　cry　from　Mr。　Carlyle；　half　horror；　half　despair。　For　the　Rev。　Mr。　Little　was　the　incumbent　of　St。　Jude's；　and　his　apprehensions　had　flownhe　hardly　knew　to　what　they　had　flown。

〃Not　for　your　wife；〃　hastily　rejoined　the　surgeon〃what　good　should　a　clergyman　do　to　her？　I　spoke　on　the　score　of　the　child。　Should　it　not　live；　it　may　be　satisfactory　to　you　and　Lady　Isabel　to　know　that　it　was　baptized。〃

〃I　thank　youI　thank　you；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle　grasping　his　hand；　in　his　inexpressible　relief。　〃Little　shall　be　sent　for。〃

〃You　jumped　to　the　conclusion　that　your　wife's　soul　was　flitting。　Please　God；　she　may　yet　live　to　bear　you　other　children；　if　this　one　does　die。〃

〃Please　God！〃　was　the　inward　aspiration　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Carlyle；〃　added　the　surgeon；　in　a　musing　sort　of　tone；　as　he　laid　his　hand　on　Mr。　Carlyle's　shoulder；　which　his　own　head　scarcely　reached；　〃I　am　sometimes　at　death…beds　where　the　clergyman　is　sent　for　in　this　desperate　need　to　the　fleeting　spirit；　and　I　am　tempted　to　ask　myself　what　good　another　man；　priest　though　he　be；　can　do　at　the　twelfth　hour；　where　accounts　have　not　been　made　up　previously？〃

It　was　hard　upon　midday。　The　Rev。　Mr。　Little；　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　Miss　Carlyle　were　gathered　in　the　dressing…room；　round　a　table；　on　which　stood　a　rich　china　bowl；　containing　water　for　the　baptism。　Joyce；　her　pale　face　working　with　emotion；　came　into　the　room；　carrying　what　looked　like　a　bundle　of　flannel。　Little　cared　Mr。　Carlyle　for　the　bundle；　in　comparison　with　his　care　for　his　wife。

〃Joyce；〃　he　whispered；　〃is　it　well　still？〃

〃I　believe　so；　sir。〃

The　services　commenced。　The　clergyman　took　the　child。　〃What　name？〃　he　asked。

Mr。　Carlyle　had　never　thought　about　the　name。　But　he　replied；　pretty　promptly。

〃William；〃　for　he　knew　it　was　a　name　revered　and　loved　by　Lady　Isabel。

The　minister　dipped　his　fingers　in　the　water。　Joyce　interrupted　in　much　confusion；　looking　at　her　master。

〃It　is　a　little　girl；　sir。　I　beg　your　pardon；　I'm　sure　I　thought　I　had　said　so；　but　I'm　so　flurried　as　I　never　was　before。〃

There　was　a　pause；　and　then　the　minister　spoke　again。　〃Name　the　child。〃

〃Isabel　Lucy；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　Upon　which　a　strange　sort　of　resentful　sniff　was　heard　from　Miss　Corny。　She　had　probably　thought　to　hear　him　mention　her　own；　but　he　had　named　it　after　his　wife　and　his　mother。

Mr。　Carlyle　was　not　allowed　to　see　his　wife　until　evening。　His　eyelashes　glistened；　as　he　looked　down　at　her。　She　detected　his　emotion；　and　a　faint　smile　parted　her　lips。

〃I　fear　I　bore　it　badly；　Archibald；　but　let　us　be　thankful　that　it　is　over。　How　thankful；　none　can　know；　save　those　who　have　gone　through　it。〃

〃I　think　they　can；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　never　knew　what　thankfulness　was　until　this　day。〃

〃That　the　baby　is　safe？〃

〃That　/you/　are　safe；　my　darling；　safe　and　spared　to　me；　Isabel；〃　he　whispered；　hiding　his　face　upon　hers。　〃I　never；　until　to…day；　knew　what　prayer　wasthe　prayer　of　a　heart　in　its　sore　need。〃

〃Have　you　written　to　Lord　Mount　Severn？〃　she　asked　after　a　while。

〃This　afternoon；〃　he　replied。

〃Why　did　you　give　baby　my　nameIsabel？〃

〃Do　you　think　I　could　have　given　it　a　prettier　one？　I　don't。〃

〃Why　do　you　not　bring　a　chair；　and　sit　down　by　me？〃

He　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　wish　I　might。　But　they　limited　my　stay　with　you　to　f