east lynne-第47节

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〃Who　is　it　from？〃　began　the　justice；　as　Barbara　returned　to　her　chair。　In　letters　as　in　other　things；　he　was　always　curious　to　know　their　contents；　whether　they　might　be　addressed　to　himself　or　not。

〃It　is　from　Anne；　papa；〃　replied　Barbara；　as　she　laid　the　letter　by　her　side　on　the　table。

〃Why　don't　you　open　it　and　see　what　she　says？〃

〃I　will；　directly；　I　am　just　going　to　pour　out　some　more　tea　for　mamma。〃

Finally　the　justice　finished　his　breakfast；　and　strolled　out　into　the　garden。

Barbara　opened　her　letter；　Mrs。　Hare　watched　her　movements　and　her　countenance。　She　saw　the　latter　flush　suddenly　and　vividly；　and　then　become　deadly　pale；　she　saw　Barbara　crush　the　note　in　her　hand　when　read。

〃Oh；　mamma！〃　she　uttered。

The　flush　of　emotion　came　also　into　Mrs。　Hare's　delicate　cheeks。　〃Barbara；　is　it　bad　news？〃

〃Mamma；　ititis　about　Richard；〃　she　whispered；　glancing　at　the　door　and　window；　to　see　that　none　might　be　within　sight　or　hearing。　〃I　never　thought　of　him；　I　only　fancied　Anne　might　be　sending　me　some　bit　of　news　concerning　her　own　affairs。　Good　Heavens！　How　fortunatehow　providential　that　papa　did　not　see　the　paper　fall；　and　that　you　did　not　persist　in　your　inquiries。　If　he〃

〃Barbara；　you　are　keeping　me　in　suspense；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Hare；　who　had　also　grown　white。　〃What　should　Anne　know　about　Richard？〃

Barbara　smoothed　out　the　writing；　and　held　it　before　her　mother。　It　was　as　follows：

　〃I　have　had　a　curious　note　from　R。　It　was　without　date　or　　　signature；　but　I　knew　his　handwriting。　He　tells　me　to　let　you　　　know；　in　the　most　sure　and　private　manner　that　I　can；　that　he　will　　　soon　be　paying　another　night　visit。　You　are　to　watch　the　grove　　　every　evening　when　the　present　moon　gets　bright。〃

Mrs。　Hare　covered　her　face　for　some　minutes。　〃Thank　God　for　all　his　mercies；〃　she　murmured。

〃Oh；　mamma；　but　it　is　an　awful　risk　for　him　to　run！〃

〃But　to　know　that　he　is　in　lifeto　know　that　he　is　in　life！　And　for　the　riskBarbara；　I　dread　it　not。　The　same　God　who　protected　him　through　the　last　visit；　will　protect　him　through　this。　He　will　not　forsake　the　oppressed；　the　innocent。　Destroy　the　paper；　child。〃

〃Archibald　Carlyle　must　first　see　it；　mamma。〃

〃I　shall　not　be　easy　until　it　is　destroyed；　Barbara。〃

Braving　the　comments　of　the　gossips；　hoping　the　visit　would　not　reach　the　ears　or　eyes　of　the　justice；　Barbara　went　that　day　to　the　office　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　He　was　not　there；　he　was　at　West　Lynne；　he　had　gone　to　Lynneborough　on　business；　and　Mr。　Dill　thought　it　a　question　if　he　would　be　at　the　office　again　that　day。　If　so；　it　would　be　late　in　the　afternoon。　Barbara；　as　soon　as　their　own　dinner　was　over；　took　up　her　patient　station　at　the　gate；　hoping　to　see　him　pass；　but　the　time　went　by　and　he　did　not。　She　had　little　doubt　that　he　had　returned　home　without　going　to　West　Lynne。

What　should　she　do？　〃Go　up　to　East　Lynne　and　see　him；〃　said　her　conscience。　Barbara's　mind　was　in　a　strangely　excited　state。　It　appeared　to　her　that　this　visit　of　Richard's　must　have　been　specially　designed　by　Providence；　that　he　might　be　confronted　by　Thorn。

〃Mamma；〃　she　said；　returning　indoors；　after　seeing　the　justice　depart　upon　an　evening　visit　to　the　Buck's　Head；　where　he　and　certain　other　justices　and　gentlemen　sometimes　congregated　to　smoke　and　chat；　〃I　shall　go　up　to　East　Lynne；　if　you　have　no　objection。　I　must　see　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

Away　went　Barbara。　It　had　struck　seven　when　she　arrived　at　East　Lynne。

〃Is　Mr。　Carlyle　disengaged？〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle　is　not　yet　home；　miss。　My　lady　and　Miss　Carlyle　are　waiting　dinner　for　him。〃

A　check　for　Barbara。　The　servant　asked　her　to　walk　in；　but　she　declined　and　turned　from　the　door。　She　was　in　no　mood　for　visit　paying。

Lady　Isabel　had　been　standing　at　the　window　watching　for　her　husband　and　wondering　what　made　him　so　late。　She　observed　Barbara　approach　the　house；　and　saw　her　walk　away　again。　Presently　the　servant　who　had　answered　the　door；　entered　the　drawing…room。

〃Was　not　that　Miss　Hare？〃

〃Yes；　my　lady；〃　was　the　man's　reply。　〃She　wanted　master。　I　said　your　ladyship　was　at　home；　but　she　would　not　enter。〃

Isabel　said　no　more；　she　caught　the　eyes　of　Francis　Levison　fixed　on　her　with　as　much　meaning；　compassionate　meaning；　as　they　dared　express。　She　clasped　her　hands　in　pain；　and　turned　again　to　the　window。

Barbara　was　slowly　walking　down　the　avenue；　Mr。　Carlyle　was　then　in　sight；　walking　quickly　up　it。　Lady　Isabel　saw　their　hands　meet　in　greeting。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　thankful　to　have　met　you！〃　Barbara　exclaimed　to　him；　impulsively。　〃I　actually　went　to　your　office　to…day；　and　I　have　been　now　to　your　house。　We　have　such　news！〃

〃Ay！　What？　About　Thorn？〃

〃No；　about　Richard；〃　replied　Barbara；　taking　the　scrap　of　paper　from　the　folds　of　her　dress。　〃This　came　to　me　this　morning　from　Anne。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　took　the　document；　and　Barbara　looked　over　him　whilst　he　read　it；　neither　of　them　thinking　that　Lady　Isabel's　jealous　eyes；　and　Captain　Levison's　evil　ones；　were　strained　upon　them　from　the　distant　windows。　Miss　Carlyle's　also；　for　the　matter　of　that。

〃Archibald；　it　seems　to　me　that　Providence　must　be　directing　him　hither　at　this　moment。　Our　suspicions　with　regard　to　Thorn　can　now　be　set　at　rest。　You　must　contrive　that　Richard　shall　see　him。　What　can　he　be　coming　again　for？〃

〃More　money；〃　was　the　supposition　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Does　Mrs。　Hare　know　of　this？〃

〃She　does；　unfortunately。　I　opened　the　paper　before　her；　never　dreaming　it　was　connected　with　Richardpoor；　unhappy　Richard！and　not　to　be　guilty。〃

〃He　acted　as　though　he　were　guilty；　Barbara；　and　that　line　of　conduct　often　entails　as　much　trouble　as　real　guilt。〃

〃You　do　not　believe　him　guilty？〃　she　most　passionately　uttered。

〃I　do　not。　I　have　little　doubt　of　the　guilt　of　Thorn。〃

〃Oh；　if　it　could　but　be　brought　home　to　him！〃　returned　Barbara；　〃so　that　Richard　might　be　cleared　in　the　sight　of　day。　How　can　you　contrive　that　he　shall　see　Thorn？〃

〃I　cannot　tell；　I　must　think　it　over。　Let　me　know　the　instant　he　arrives；　Barbara。〃

〃Of　course　I　shall。　It　may　be　that　he　does　not　want　money；　that　his　errand　is　only　to　see　mamma。　He　was　always　so　fond　of　her。〃

〃I　must　leave　you；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　taking　her　hand　in　token　of　farewell。　Then；　as　a　thought　occurred　to　him；　he　turned　and　walked　a　few　steps　with　her　without　releasing　it。　He　was　probably　unconscious　that　he　retained　it；　she　was　not。

〃You　know；　Barbara；　if　he　should　want　money；　and　it　be　not　convenient　to　Mrs。　Hare　to　supply　it　at　so　short　a　notice；　I　can　give　it　to　him；　as　I　did　before。〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；　Archibald。　Mamma　felt　sure　you　would。〃

She　lifted　her　eyes　to　his　with　an　expression　of　gratitude；　a　warmer　feeling　for　an　uncontrolled　moment　mingled　with　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　nodded　pleasantly；　and　then　set　off　toward　his　house　at　the　pace　of　a　steam　engine。

Two　minutes　in　his　dressing…room；　and　he　entered　the　drawing…room；　apologizing　for　keeping　them　waiting　dinner；　and　explaining　that　he　had　been　compelled　to　go　to　his　office　to　give　some　orders　subsequent　to　his　return　to　Lynneborough。　Lady　Isabel's　lips　were　pressed　together；　and　she　preserved　an　obstinate　silence。　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　his　unsuspicion；　did　not　notice　it。

〃What　did　Barbara　Hare　want？〃　demanded　Miss　Carlyle；　during　dinner。

〃She　wanted　to　see　me　on　business；〃　was　his　reply；　given　in　a　tone　that　certainly　did　not　invite　his　sister　to　pursue　the　subject。　〃Will　you　take　some　more　fish；　Isabel？〃

〃What　was　that　you　were　reading　over　with　her？〃　pursued　the　indefatigable　Miss　Corny。　〃It　looked　like　a　note。〃

〃Ah；　that　would　be　telling；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle；　willing　to　turn　it　off　with　gayety。　〃If　young　ladies　choose　to　make　me　party　to　their　love　letters；　I　cannot　betray　confidence；　you　know。〃

〃What　rubbish　Archibald！〃　quoth　she。　〃As　if　you　could　not　say　outright　what　Barbara　wants；　without　making　a　mystery　of　it。　And　she　seems　to　be　always　wanting　you　now。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　his　sister　a　quick；　peculiar　look；　it　seemed　to　her　to　speak　both　of　seriousness　and　warning。　Involuntarily　her　thoughtsand　her　fearsflew　back　to　the　past。

〃Archibald；　Archibald！〃　she　uttered；　repeating　the　name；　as　if　she　could　not　get　any　further　words　out　in　her　dread。　〃Ititis　never　that　old　affair　is　never　being　raked　up　again？〃

Now　Miss　Carlyle's　〃old　affair〃　referred　to　one　sole　and　sore　point　Richard　Hare；　and　so　Mr。　Carlyle　understood　it。　Lady　Isabel　unhappily　believing　that　any　〃old　affair〃　could　only　have　reference　to　the　bygone　loves　of　her　husband　and　Barbara。

〃You　will　oblige　me　by　going　on　with　your　dinner；　Cornelia；〃　gravely　responded　Mr。　Carlyle。　Thenassuming　a　more　laughing　tone〃I　tell　you　it　is　unreasonable　to　expect　me　to　betray　a　young　woman's　secrets；　although　she　may　choose　to　confide　them　professionally　to　me。　What　say　you；　Captain　Levison？〃

The　gentleman　addressed　bowed；　a　smile　of　mockery；　all　too　perceptible　to　Lady　Isabel；　on　his　lips。　And　Miss　Carlyle　bent　her　head　over　her　plate；　and　went　on　with　her　dinner　as　meek　as　any　lamb。

That　same　evening；　Lady　Isabel's　indignant　and　rebellious　heart　condescended　to　speak　of　it　when　alone　with　her　husband。

〃What　is　it　that　she　wants　with　you　so　much；　that　Barbara　Hare？〃

〃It　is　private　bus