east lynne-第52节

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Mr。　Carlyle；　amazed　and　wondering；　turned　back。　They　got　over　the　field　stile；　nearly　opposite　the　gates；　drew　behind　the　hedge；　and　there　Richard　told　his　tale。　Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　appear　to　doubt　it；　as　Barbara　had　done；　perhaps　he　could　not；　in　the　face　of　Richard's　agitated　and　intense　earnestness。

〃I　am　sure　there　is　no　one　named　Thorn　in　the　neighborhood；　save　the　gentleman　you　saw　in　my　office　to…night；　Richard；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　after　some　deliberation。　〃It　is　very　strange。〃

〃He　may　be　staying　here　under　a　feigned　name；〃　replied　Richard。　〃There　can　be　no　mistake　that　it　was　Thorn　whom　I　have　just　met。〃

〃How　was　he　dressed？　As　a　gentleman？〃

〃Catch　him　dressing　as　anything　else；〃　returned　Richard。　〃He　was　in　an　evening　suit　of　black；　with　a　sort　of　thin　overcoat　thrown　on；　but　it　was　flung　back　at　the　shoulders；　and　I　distinctly　saw　his　clothes。　A　gray　alpaca；　it　looked　like。　As　I　have　told　Barbara；　I　should　have　known　him　by　this　action　of　the　hand；〃　imitating　it；　〃as　he　pushed　his　hair　off　his　forehead；　it　was　the　delicate　white　hand　of　the　days　gone　by；　Mr。　Carlyle；　it　was　the　flashing　of　the　diamond　ring！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　silent；　Barbara　also；　but　the　thoughts　of　both　were　busy。　〃Richard；〃　observed　the　former；　〃I　should　advise　you　to　remain　a　day　or　two　in　the　neighborhood；　and　look　out　for　this　man。　You　may　see　him　again；　and　may　track　him　home；　it　is　very　desirable　to　find　out　who　he　really　is　if　practicable。〃

〃But　the　danger？〃　urged　Richard。

〃Your　fears　magnify　that。　I　am　quite　certain　that　nobody　would　know　you　in　broad　daylight；　disguised　as　you　are　now。　So　many　years　have　flown　since；　that　people　have　forgotten　to　think　about　you；　Richard。〃

But　Richard　could　not　be　persuaded；　he　was　full　of　fears。　He　described　the　man　as　accurately　as　he　could　to　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Barbara；　and　told　them　/they/　must　look　out。　With　some　trouble；　Mr。　Carlyle　got　from　him　an　address　in　London；　to　which　he　might　write；　in　case　anything　turned　up；　and　Richard's　presence　should　be　necessary。　He　then　once　more　said　farewell；　and　quitted　them；　his　way　lying　past　East　Lynne。

〃And　now　to　see　you　back；　Barbara；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Indeed　you　shall　not　do　itlate　as　it　is；　and　tired　as　you　must　be。　I　came　here　alone；　Richard　did　not　keep　near　me。〃

〃I　cannot　help　your　having　come　here　alone；　but　you　may　rely　upon　it；　I　do　not　suffer　you　to　go　back　so。　Nonsense；　Barbara！　Allow　you　to　go　along　the　high　road　by　yourself　at　eleven　o'clock　at　night？　What　are　you　thinking　of？〃

He　gave　Barbara　his　arm；　and　they　pursued　their　way。　〃How　late　Lady　Isabel　will　think　you！〃　observed　Barbara。

〃I　don't　know　that　Lady　Isabel　has　returned　home　yet。　My　being　late　once　in　a　while　is　of　no　consequence。〃

Not　another　word　was　spoken；　save　by　Barbara。　〃Whatever　excuse　can　I　make；　should　papa　come　home？〃　Both　were　buried　in　their　own　reflections。　〃Thank　you　very　greatly；〃　she　said　as　they　reached　her　gate；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　finally　turned　away。　Barbara　stole　in；　and　found　the　coast　clear；　her　papa　had　not　arrived。

Lady　Isabel　was　in　her　dressing…room　when　Mr。　Carlyle　entered；　she　was　seated　at　a　table；　writing。　A　few　questions　as　to　her　evening's　visit；　which　she　answered　in　the　briefest　way　possible；　and　then　he　asked　her　if　she　was　not　going　to　bed。

〃By　and　by。　I　am　not　sleepy。〃

〃I　must　go　at　once；　Isabel；　for　I　am　dead　tired。〃　And　no　wonder。

〃You　can　go；〃　was　her　answer。

He　bent　down　to　kiss　her；　but　she　dexterously　turned　her　face　away。　He　supposed　that　she　felt　hurt　that　he　had　not　gone　with　her　to　the　party；　and　placed　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　with　a　pleasant　smile。

〃You　foolish　child；　to　be　aggrieved　at　that！　It　was　no　fault　of　mine；　Isabel；　I　could　not　help　myself。　I　will　talk　to　you　in　the　morning；　I　am　too　tired　to…night。　I　suppose　you　will　not　be　long。〃

Her　head　was　bent　over　her　writing　again；　and　she　made　no　reply。　Mr。　Carlyle　went　into　his　bedroom　and　shut　the　door。　Some　time　after；　Lady　Isabel　went　softly　upstairs　to　Joyce's　room。　Joyce；　fast　in　her　first　sleep；　was　suddenly　aroused　from　it。　There　stood　her　mistress；　a　wax　light　in　her　hand。　Joyce　rubbed　her　eyes；　and　collected　her　senses；　and　finally　sat　up　in　bed。

〃My　lady！　Are　you　ill？〃

〃Ill！　Yes；　ill　and　wretched；〃　answered　Lady　Isabel；　and　ill　she　did　look；　for　she　was　perfectly　white。　〃Joyce；　I　want　a　promise　from　you。　If　anything　should　happen　to　me；　stay　at　East　Lynne　with　my　children。〃

Joyce　stared　in　amazement；　too　much　astonished　to　make　any　reply。

〃Joyce；　you　promised　it　once　before；　promise　it　again。　Whatever　betide　you；　you　will　stay　with　my　children　when　I　am　gone。〃

〃I　will　stay　with　them。　But；　oh；　my　lady；　what　can　be　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　taken　suddenly　ill？〃

〃Good…bye；　Joyce；〃　murmured　Lady　Isabel；　gliding　from　the　chamber　as　quietly　as　she　had　entered　it。　And　Joyce；　after　an　hour　of　perplexity；　dropped　asleep　again。

Joyce　was　not　the　only　one　whose　rest　was　disturbed　that　eventful　night。　Mr。　Carlyle　himself　awoke；　and　to　his　surprise　found　that　his　wife　had　not　come　to　bed。　He　wondered　what　the　time　was；　and　struck　his　repeater。　A　quarter　past　three！

Rising；　he　made　his　way　to　the　door　of　his　wife's　dressing…room。　It　was　in　darkness；　and；　so　far　as　he　could　judge　by　the　absence　of　sound；　unoccupied。

〃Isabel！〃

No　reply。　Nothing　but　the　echo　of　his　own　voice　in　the　silence　of　the　night。

He　struck　a　match　and　lighted　a　taper；　partially　dressed　himself；　and　went　about　to　look　for　her。　He　feared　she　might　have　been　taken　ill；　or　else　that　she　had　fallen　asleep　in　some　one　of　the　rooms。　But　nowhere　could　he　find　her；　and　feeling　perplexed；　he　proceeded　to　his　sister's　chamber　door　and　knocked。

Miss　Carlyle　was　a　slight　sleeper；　and　rose　up　in　bed　at　once。　〃Who's　that？〃　cried　out　she。

〃It　is　only　I；　Cornelia；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃You！〃　cried　Miss　Corny。　〃What　in　the　name　of　fortune　do　you　want？　You　can　come　in。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　opened　the　door；　and　met　the　keen　eyes　of　his　sister　bent　on　him　from　the　bed。　Her　head　was　surmounted　by　a　remarkable　nightcap；　at　least　a　foot　high。

〃Is　anybody　ill？〃　she　demanded。

〃I　think　Isabel　must　be；　I　cannot　find　her。〃

〃Not　find　he？〃　echoed　Miss　Corny。　〃Why；　what's　the　time？　Is　she　not　in　bed？〃

〃It　is　three　o'clock。　She　had　not　been　to　bed。　I　cannot　find　her　in　the　sitting…rooms；　neither　is　she　in　the　children's　room。〃

〃Then　I'll　tell　you　what　it　is；　Archibald；　she's　gone　worrying　after　Joyce。　Perhaps　the　girl　may　be　in　pain　to…night。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　in　full　retreat　toward　Joyce's　room；　at　this　suggestion；　when　his　sister　called　to　him。

〃If　anything　is　amiss　with　Joyce；　you　come　and　tell　me；　Archibald；　for　I　shall　get　up　and　see　after　her。　The　girl　was　my　servant　before　she　was　your　wife's。〃

He　reached　Joyce's　room；　and　softly　unlatched　the　door；　fully　expecting　to　find　a　light　there；　and　his　wife　sitting　by　the　bedside。　There　was　no　light　there；　however；　save　that　which　came　from　the　taper　he　held；　and　he　saw　no　signs　of　his　wife。　/Where/　was　she？　Was　it　probable　that　Joyce　should　tell　him？　He　stepped　inside　the　room　and　called　to　her。

Joyce　started　up　in　a　fright；　which　changed　to　astonishment　when　she　recognized　her　master。　He　inquired　whether　Lady　Isabel　had　been　there；　and　for　a　few　moments　Joyce　did　not　answer。　She　had　been　dreaming　of　Lady　Isabel；　and　could　not　at　first　detach　the　dream　from　the　visit　which　had　probably　given　rise　to　it。

〃What　did　you　say；　sir？　Is　my　lady　worse？〃

〃I　asked　if　she　had　been　here。　I　cannot　find　her。〃

〃Why；　yes；〃　said　Joyce；　now　fully　aroused。　〃She　came　here　and　woke　me。　That　was　just　before　twelve；　for　I　heard　the　clock　strike。　She　did　not　stay　here　a　minute；　sir。〃

〃Woke　you！〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃What　did　she　want？　What　did　she　come　here　for？〃

Thoughts　are　quick；　imagination　is　still　quicker；　and　Joyce　was　giving　the　reins　to　both。　Her　mistress's　gloomy　and　ambiguous　words　were　crowding　on　her　brain。　Three　o'clock　and　she　had　not　been　in　bed；　and　was　not　to　be　found　in　the　house？　A　nameless　horror　struggled　to　Joyce's　face；　her　eyes　were　dilating　with　it；　she　seized　and　threw　on　a　large　flannel　gown　which　lay　on　a　chair　by　the　bed；　and　forgetful　of　her　master　who　stood　there；　out　she　sprang　to　the　floor。　All　minor　considerations　faded　to　insignificance　beside　the　terrible　dread　which　had　taken　possession　of　her。　Clasping　the　flannel　gown　tight　around　her　with　one　hand；　she　laid　the　other　on　the　arm　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Oh；　master！　Oh；　master！　She　has　destroyed　herself！　I　see　it　all　now。〃

〃Joyce！〃　sternly　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃She　has　destroyed　herself；　as　true　as　that　we　two　are　living　here；〃　persisted　Joyce；　her　own　face　livid　with　emotion。　〃I　can　understand　her　words　now；　I　could　not　before。　She　came　hereand　her　face　was　like　a　corpse　as　the　light　fell　upon　itsaying　she　had　come　to　get　a　promise　from　me　to　stay　with　her　children　when　she　was　gone；　I　asked　whether　she　was　ill；　and　she　answered；　'Yes；　ill　and　wretched。'　Oh；　sir；　may　heaven　support　you　under　this　dreadful　trial！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　felt　bewilderedperplexed。　Not　a　syllable　did　he　believe。　He　was　not　angry　with　Joyce；　for　he　thought　she　had　lost　her　reason。

〃It　is　so；　sir；　incredible　as　you　may　deem　my　wo