east lynne-第59节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d？〃

Not　less　painful　was　her　own　emotion　as　she　hid　her　face。　Lord　Mount　Severn　rose　and　paced　the　room　with　striding　steps。

〃I　did　not　know　it！　I　did　not　know　it！　Wicked；　heartless　villain！　He　ought　to　have　married　you　before　its　birth。　Was　the　divorce　out　previously？〃　he　asked　stopping　short　in　his　strides　to　put　the　question。

〃Yes。〃

〃Coward！　Sneak！　May　good　men　shun　him　from　henceforth！　May　his　queen　refuse　to　receive　him！　You；　an　earl's　daughter！　Oh；　Isabel；　how　utterly　you　have　lost　yourself！〃

Lady　Isabel　started　from　her　chair　in　a　burst　of　hysterical　sobs；　her　hands　extended　beseechingly　toward　the　earl。　〃Spare　me！　Spare　me！　You　have　been　rending　my　heart　ever　since　you　came；　indeed　I　am　too　weak　to　bear　it。〃

The　earl；　in　truth；　had　been　betrayed　into　showing　more　of　his　sentiments　than　he　intended。　He　recalled　his　recollection。

〃Well；　well；　sit　down　again；　Isabel；〃　he　said；　putting　her　into　her　chair。　〃We　shall　go　to　the　point　I　chiefly　came　here　to　settle。　What　sum　will　it　take　you　to　live　upon？　Quietly；　as　of　course　you　would　now　wish　to　live；　but　comfortably。〃

〃I　will　not　accept　anything；〃　she　replied。　〃I　will　get　my　own　living。〃　And　the　earl's　irascibility　again　arose　at　the　speech。　He　spoke　in　a　sharp　tone。

〃Absurd；　Isabel！　Do　not　add　romantic　folly　to　your　own　mistakes。　Get　your　own　living；　indeed！　As　much　as　is　necessary　for　you　to　live　upon；　I　shall　supply。　No　remonstrance；　I　tell　you　I　am　acting　as　for　your　father。　Do　you　suppose　he　would　have　abandoned　you　to　starve　or　to　work？〃

The　allusion　touched　every　chord　within　her　bosom；　and　the　tears　fell　fast。　〃I　thought　I　could　get　my　living　by　teaching；〃　she　sobbed。

〃And　how　much　did　you　anticipate　the　teaching　would　bring　you　in？〃

〃Not　very　much；〃　she　listlessly　said。　〃A　hundred　a　year；　perhaps；　I　am　very　clever　at　music　and　singing。　That　sum　might　keep　us；　I　fancy；　even　if　I　only　went　out　by　the　day。〃

〃And　a　fine　'keep'　it　would　be！　You　shall　have　that　sum　every　quarter！〃

〃No；　no！　no；　no！　I　do　not　deserve　it；　I　could　not　accept　it；　I　have　forfeited　all　claim　to　assistance。〃

〃Not　to　mine。　Now；　it　is　of　no　use　to　excite　yourself；　my　mind　is　made　up。　I　never　willingly　forego　a　duty；　and　I　look　upon　this　not　only　as　a　duty；　but　as　an　imperative　one。　Upon　my　return；　I　shall　immediately　settle　four　hundred　upon　you；　and　you　can　draw　it　quarterly。〃

〃Then　half　that　sum；〃　she　reflected；　knowing　how　useless　it　was　to　contend　with　Lord　Mount　Severn　when　he　got　upon　the　stilts　of　〃duty。〃　〃Indeed；　two　hundred　a　year　will　be　ample；　it　will　seem　like　riches　to　me。〃

〃I　have　named　the　sum；　Isabel；　and　I　shall　not　make　it　less。　A　hundred　pounds　every　three　months　shall　be　paid　to　you；　dating　from　this　day。　This　does　not　count；〃　said　he；　laying　down　some　notes　on　the　table。

He　took　her　hand　within　his　in　token　of　farewell；　turned　and　was　gone。

And　Lady　Isabel　remained　in　her　chamber　alone。

Alone；　alone！　/Alone/　for　evermore！



CHAPTER　XXVII。

BARBARA'S　MISDOINGS。

A　sunny　afternoon　in　summer。　More　correctly　speaking；　it　may　be　said　a　summer's　evening；　for　the　bright　beams　were　already　slanting　athwart　the　substantial　garden　of　Mr。　Justice　Hare；　and　the　tea　hour；　seven；　was　passing。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hare　and　Barbara　were　seated　at　the　meal；　somehow；　meals　always　did　seem　in　process　at　Justice　Hare's；　if　it　was　not　breakfast；　it　was　luncheonif　it　was　not　luncheon；　it　was　dinner　if　it　was　not　dinner；　it　was　tea。　Barbara　sat　in　tears；　for　the　justice　was　giving　her　a　〃piece　of　his　mind；〃　and　poor　Mrs。　Hare　deferently　agreeing　with　her　husband；　as　she　would　have　done　had　he　proposed　to　set　the　house　on　fire　and　burn　her　up　in　it；　yet　sympathizing　with　Barbara；　moved　uneasily　in　her　chair。

〃You　do　it　for　the　purpose；　you　do　it　to　anger　me；〃　thundered　the　justice；　bringing　down　his　hand　on　the　tea…table　and　causing　the　cups　to　rattle。

〃No　I　don't；　papa；〃　sobbed　Barbara。

〃Then　why　/do/　you　do　it？〃

Barbara　was　silent。

〃No；　you　can't　answer；　you　have　nothing　to　urge。　What　is　the　matter；　pray；　with　Major　Thorn？　Come；　I　will　be　answered。〃

〃I　don't　like　him；〃　faltered　Barbara。

〃You　do　like　him；　you　are　telling　me　an　untruth。　You　have　liked　him　well　enough　whenever　he　has　been　here。〃

〃I　like　him　as　an　acquaintance；　papa；　not　as　a　husband。〃

〃Not　as　a　husband！〃　repeated　the　exasperated　justice。　〃Why；　bless　my　heart　and　body；　the　girl's　going　mad！　Not　as　a　husband！　Who　asked　you　to　like　him　as　a　husband　before　he　became　such？　Did　ever　you　hear　that　it　was　necessary　or　expedient；　or　becoming　for　a　young　lady　to　act　on　and　begin　to　'like'　a　gentleman　as　'her　husband？'　〃

Barbara　felt　a　little　bewildered。

〃Here's　the　whole　parish　saying　that　Barbara　Hare　can't　be　married；　that　nobody　will　have　her；　on　account　ofofof　that　cursed　stain　left　by；　I　won't　trust　myself　to　name　him；　I　should　go　too　far。　Now；　don't　you　think　that's　a　pretty　disgrace；　a　fine　state　of　things？〃

〃But　it　is　not　true；〃　said　Barbara；　〃people　do　ask　me。〃

〃But　what's　the　use　of　their　asking　when　you　say　'No？'　〃　raved　the　justice。　〃Is　that　the　way　to　let　the　parish　know　that　they　ask？　You　are　an　ungrateful；　rebellious；　self…willed　daughter；　and　you'll　never　be　otherwise。〃

Barbara's　tears　flowed　freely。　The　justice　gave　a　dash　at　the　bell　handle；　to　order　the　tea　things　carried　away；　and　after　their　removal　the　subject　was　renewed；　together　with　Barbara's　grief。　That　was　the　worst　of　Justice　Hare。　Let　him　seize　hold　of　a　grievance；　it　was　not　often　he　got　upon　a　real　one；　and　he　kept　on　at　it；　like　a　blacksmith　hammering　at　his　forge。　In　the　midst　of　a　stormy　oration；　tongue　and　hands　going　together；　Mr。　Carlyle　came　in。

Not　much　altered；　not　much。　A　year　and　three…quarters　had　gone　by　and　they　had　served　to　silver　his　hair　upon　the　temples。　His　manner；　too；　would　never　again　be　careless　and　light　as　it　once　had　been。　He　was　the　same　keen　man　of　business；　the　same　pleasant；　intelligent　companion；　the　generality　of　people　saw　no　change　in　him。　Barbara　rose　to　escape。

〃No；〃　said　Justice　Hare；　planting　himself　between　her　and　the　door；　〃that's　the　way　you　like　to　get　out　of　my　reach　when　I　am　talking　to　you。　You　won't　go；　so　sit　down　again。　I'll　tell　you　of　your　ill…　conduct　before　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　see　if　that　will　shame　you。〃

Barbara　resumed　her　seat；　a　rush　of　crimson　dyeing　her　cheeks。　And　Mr。　Carlyle　looked　inquiringly；　seeming　to　ask　an　explanation　of　her　distress。　The　justice　continued　after　his　own　fashion。

〃You　know；　Carlyle；　that　horrible　blow　that　fell　upon　us；　that　shameless　disgrace。　Well；　because　the　parish　can't　clack　enough　about　the　fact　itself；　it　must　begin　about　Barbara；　saying　that　the　disgrace　and　humiliation　are　reflected　upon　her；　and　that　nobody　will　come　near　her　to　ask　her　to　be　his　wife。　One　would　think；　rather　than　lie　under　the　stigma　and　afford　the　parish　room　to　talk；　she'd　marry　the　first　man　that　came；　if　it　was　the　parish　beadleanybody　else　would。　But　now；　what　are　the　facts？　You'll　stare　when　you　know　them。　She　has　received　a　bushel　of　good　offersa　bushel　of　them；〃　repeated　the　justice；　dashing　his　hand　down　on　his　knee；　〃and　she　says　'No！'　to　all。　The　last　was　to…day；　from　Major　Thorn；　and；　my　young　lady　takes　and　puts　the　stopper　upon　it；　as　usual；　without　reference　to　me　or　her　mother；　without　saying　with　your　leave　or　by　your　leave。　She　wants　to　be　kept　in　her　room　for　a　week　upon　bread　and　water；　to　bring　her　to　her　senses。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　Barbara。　She　was　sitting　meekly　under　the　infliction；　her　wet　eyelashes　falling　on　her　flushed　cheeks　and　shading　her　eyes。　The　justice　was　heated　enough；　and　had　pushed　his　flaxen　wig　nearly　hind…part　before；　in　the　warmth　of　his　argument。

〃What　did　you　say　to　her？〃　snapped　the　justice。

〃Matrimony　may　not　have　charms　for　Barbara；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle　half　jokingly。

〃Nothing　does　have　charms　for　her　that　ought　to　have；〃　growled　Justice　Hare。　〃She's　one　of　the　contrary　ones。　By　the　way；　though；〃　hastily　resumed　the　justice；　leaving　the　objectionable　subject；　as　another　flashed　across　his　memory；　〃they　were　coupling　your　name　and　matrimony　together；　Carlyle；　last　night；　at　the　Buck's　Head。〃

A　very　perceptible　tinge　of　red　rose　to　the　face　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　telling　of　inward　emotion；　but　his　voice　and　manner　betrayed　none。

〃Indeed；〃　he　carelessly　said。

〃Ah；　you　are　a　sly　one；　you　are；　Carlyle。　Remember　how　sly　you　were　over　your　first〃　marriage；　Justice　Hare　was　going　to　bring　out；　but　it　suddenly　occurred　to　him　that　all　circumstances　considered；　it　was　not　precisely　the　topic　to　recall　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　So　he　stopped　himself　in　the　utterance；　coughed；　and　went　on　again。　〃There　you　go；　over　to　see　Sir　John　Dobede；　/not/　to　see　Sir　John；　but　paying　court　to　Miss　Dobede。〃

〃So　the　Buck's　Head　was　amusing　itself　with　that！〃　good…naturedly　observed　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Well；　Miss　Dobede　is　going　to　be　married；　and　I　am　drawing　up　the　settlements。〃

〃It's　not　she；　she　marries　young　Somerset；　everybody　knows　that。　It's　the　other　one；　Louisa。　A　nice　girl；　Carlyle。〃

〃Very；〃　responded　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　it　was　all　the　answer　he　gave。　The　justice；　tired　of　sitting　indoors；　tired；　perhaps；　of　extracting　nothing　satisfactory　from　Mr。　Carlyle；　rose；　sh