east lynne-第69节

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〃Have　you　shown　this　letter　to　Mrs。　Hare；　or　mentioned　it　to　her？〃

〃Not　I。　I　didn't　give　myself　time。　I　had　gone　down　to　the　front　gate；　to　see　how　deep　the　snow　lay　in　the　road；　when　the　postman　came　up；　so　I　read　it　as　I　stood　there。　I　went　in　for　my　coat　and　umbrella；　to　come　off　to　you；　and　Mrs。　Hare　wanted　to　know　where　I　was　going　in　such　a　hurry；　but　I　did　not　satisfy　her。〃

〃I　am　truly　glad　to　hear　it；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃Such　information　as　this　could　not　fail　to　have　a　dangerous　effect　upon　Mrs。　Hare。　Do　not　suffer　a　hint　of　it　to　escape　you　justice；　consider　how　much　anxiety　she　has　already　suffered。〃

〃It's　partly　her　own　fault。　Why　can't　she　drive　the　ill…doing　boy　from　her　mind？〃

〃If　she　could；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃she　would　be　acting　against　human　nature。　There　is　one　phase　of　the　question　which　you　may　possibly　not　have　glanced　at；　justice。　You　speak　of　delivering　your　son　up　to　the　law；　has　it　ever　struck　you　that　you　would　be　delivering　up　at　the　same　time　your　wife's　life？〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　the　justice。

〃You　would　find　it　no　'stuff。'　So　sure　as　Richard　gets　brought　to　trial；　whether　through　your　means；　or　through　any　other；　so　sure　will　it　kill　your　wife。〃

Mr。　Hare　took　up　the　letter；　which　had　lain　open　on　the　table；　folded　it；　and　put　it　in　its　envelope。

〃I　suppose　you　don't　know　the　writing？〃　he　asked　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　never　saw　it　before；　that　I　remember。　Are　you　returning　home？〃

〃No。　I　shall　go　on　to　Beauchamp's　and　show　him　this；　and　hear　what　he　says。　It's　not　much　farther。〃

〃Tell　him　not　to　speak　of　it　then。　Beauchamp's　safe；　for　his　sympathies　are　with　Richardoh；　yes；　they　are；　justice；　ask　him　the　question　plainly　if　you　like；　and　he　will　confess　to　it。　I　can　tell　you　more　sympathy　goes　with　Richard　than　is　acknowledged　to　you。　But　I　would　not　show　that　letter　to　anyone　else　than　Beauchamp；〃　added　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃neither　would　I　speak　of　it。〃

〃Who　can　have　written　it？〃　repeated　the　justice。　〃It　bears；　you　see　the　London　Post…mark。〃

〃It　is　too　wide　a　speculation　to　enter　upon。　And　no　satisfactory　conclusion　could　come　of　it。〃

Justice　Hare　departed。　Mr。　Carlyle　watched　him　down　the　avenue；　striding　under　his　umbrella；　and　then　went　up　to　Richard。　Miss　Carlyle　was　sitting　with　the　latter　then。

〃I　thought　I　should　have　died；〃　spoke　poor　Dick。　〃I　declare；　Mr。　Carlyle；　my　very　blood　seemed　turned　to　water；　and　I　thought　I　should　have　died　with　fright。　Is　he　gone　awayis　all　safe？〃

〃He　is　gone；　and　it's　all　safe。〃

〃And　what　did　he　want？　What　was　it　he　had　heard　about　me？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　gave　a　brief　explanation；　and　Richard　immediately　set　down　the　letter　as　the　work　of　Thorn。

〃Will　it　be　possible　for　me　to　see　my　mother　this　time？〃　he　demanded　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　think　it　would　be　highly　injudicious　to　let　your　mother　know　you　are　here；　or　have　been　here；〃　was　the　answer　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃She　would　naturally　be　inquiring　into　particulars；　and　when　she　came　to　hear　that　you　were　pursued；　she　would　never　have　another　minute's　peace。　You　must　forego　the　pleasure　of　seeing　her　this　time；　Richard。〃

〃And　Barbara？〃

〃Barbara　might　come　and　stay　the　day　with　you。　Only〃

〃Only　what；　sir？〃　cried　Richard；　for　Mr。　Carlyle　had　hesitated。

〃I　was　thinking　what　a　wretched　morning　it　is　for　her　to　come　out　in。〃

〃She　would　go　through　an　avalancheshe'd　wade　through　mountains　of　snow；　to　see　me；〃　cried　Richard　eagerly；　〃and　be　delighted　to　do　it。〃

〃She　always　was　a　little　fool；〃　put　in　Miss　Carlyle；　jerking　some　stitches　out　of　her　knitting。

〃I　know　she　would；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　answer　to　Richard。　〃We　will　try　and　get　her　here。〃

〃She　can　arrange　about　the　money　I　am　to　have；　just　as　well　as　my　mother　could　you　know；　sir。〃

〃Yes；　for　Barbara　is　in　receipt　of　money　of　her　own　now；　and　I　know　she　would　not　wish　better　than　to　apply　some　of　it　to　you。　Cornelia；　as　an　excuse　for　getting　her　here；　I　must　say　to　Mrs。　Hare　that　you　are　ill；　and　wish　Barbara　to　come　for　the　day　and　bear　your　company。　Shall　I？〃

〃Say　I　am　dead；　if　you　like；〃　responded　Miss　Corny；　who　was　in　one　of　her　cross　moods。

Mr。　Carlyle　ordered　the　pony　carriage；　and　drove　forth　with　John。　He　drew　in　at　the　grove。　Barbara　and　Mrs。　Hare　were　seated　together；　and　looked　surprised　at　the　early　visit。

〃Do　you　want　Mr。　Hare；　Archibald？　He　is　out。　He　went　while　the　breakfast　was　on　the　table；　apparently　in　a　desperate　hurry。〃

〃I　don't　want　Mr。　Hare；　I　want　Barbara。　I　have　come　to　carry　her　off。〃

〃To　carry　off　Barbara！〃　echoed　Mrs。　Hare。

〃Cornelia　is　not　well；　she　had　caught　a　violent　cold；　and　wishes　Barbara　to　spend　the　day　with　her。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Carlyle；　I　cannot　leave　mamma　to…day。　She　is　not　well　herself；　and　she　would　be　dull　without　me。〃

〃Neither　can　I　spare　her；　Archibald。　It　is　not　a　day　for　Barbara　to　go　out。〃

How　could　he　get　to　say　a　word　to　Barbara　alone？　Whilst　he　deliberated；　talking　on；　though；　all　the　while　to　Mrs。　Hare；　a　servant　appeared　at　the　sitting…room　door。

〃The　fishmonger's　boy　is　come　up；　ma'am。　His　master　has　sent　him　to　say　that　he　fears　there'll　be　no　fish　in　to…day；　in　anything　like　time。　The　trains　won't　get　up；　with　this　weather。〃

Mrs。　Hare　rose　from　her　seat　to　hold　a　confab　at　the　door　with　the　maid；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　seized　his　opportunity。

〃Barbara；〃　he　whispered；　〃make　no　opposition。　You　/must/　come。　What　I　really　want　you　for　is　connected　with　Richard。〃

She　looked　up　at　him；　a　startled　glance；　and　the　crimson　flew　to　her　face。　Mrs。　Hare　returned　to　her　seat。　〃Oh；　such　a　day！〃　she　shivered。　〃I　am　sure　Cornelia　cannot　expect　Barbara。〃

〃But　Cornelia　does。　And　there　is　my　pony　carriage　waiting　to　take　her　before　I　go　to　the　office。　Not　a　flake　of　snow　can　come　near　her；　Mrs。　Hare。　The　large　warm　apron　will　be　up；　and　an　umbrella　shield　her　bonnet　and　face。　Get　your　things　on；　Barbara。〃

〃Mamma　if　you　would　not　very　much　mind　being　left；　I　should　like　to　go；〃　said　Barbara；　with　almost　trembling　eagerness。

〃But　you　would　be　sure　to　take　cold；　child。〃

〃Oh；　dear　no。　I　can　wrap　up　well。〃

〃And　I　will　see　that　she　comes　home　all　right　this　evening；〃　added　Mr。　Carlyle。

In　a　few　minutes　they　were　seated　in　the　pony　carriage。　Barbara's　tongue　was　burning　to　ask　questions；　but　John　sat　behind　them；　and　would　have　overheard。　When　they　arrived　at　East　Lynne；　Mr。　Carlyle　gave　her　his　arm　up　the　steps；　and　took　her　into　the　breakfast…room。

〃Will　you　prepare　yourself　for　a　surprise；　Barbara？〃

Suspensefearhad　turned　her　very　pale。　〃Something　that　has　happened　to　Richard！〃　she　uttered。

〃Nothing　that　need　agitate　you。　He　is　here。〃

〃Here？　Where？

〃Here。　Under　this　roof。　He　slept　here　last　night。〃

〃Oh；　Archibald！〃

〃Only　fancy；　Barbara；　I　opened　the　window　at　nine　last　night　to　look　at　the　weather；　and　in　burst　Richard。　We　could　not　let　him　go　out　again　in　the　snow；　so　he　slept　here；　in　that　room　next　Cornelia's。〃

〃Does　she　know　of　it？〃

〃Of　course。　And　Joyce　also；　we　were　obliged　to　tell　Joyce。　It　is　he　you　have　come　to　spend　the　day　with。　But　just　imagine　Richard's　fear。　Your　father　came　this　morning；　calling　up　the　stairs　after　me；　saying　he　heard　Richard　was　here。　I　thought　Richard　would　have　gone　out　of　his　mind　with　fright。〃

A　few　more　explanations；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　took　Barbara　into　the　room；　Miss　Carlyle　and　her　knitting　still　keeping　Richard　company。　In　fact；　that　was　to　be　the　general　sitting　room　of　the　day；　and　a　hot　lunch；　Richard's　dinner；　would　be　served　to　Miss　Carlyle's　chamber　at　one　o'clock。　Joyce　only　admitted　to　wait　on　her。

〃And　now　I　must　go；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle；　after　chatting　a　few　minutes。　〃The　office　is　waiting　for　me；　and　my　poor　ponies　are　in　the　snow。〃

〃But　you'll　be　sure　to　be　home　early；　Mr。　Carlyle；〃　said　Richard。　〃I　dare　not　stop　here；　I　must　be　off　not　a　moment　later　than　six　or　seven　o'clock。〃

〃I　will　be　home；　Richard。〃

Anxiously　did　Richard　and　Barbara　consult　that　day；　Miss　Carlyle　of　course　putting　in　her　word。　Over　and　over　again　did　Barbara　ask　the　particulars　of　the　slight　interviews　Richard　had　had　with　Thorn；　over　and　over　again　did　she　openly　speculate　upon　what　his　name　really　was。　〃If　you　could　but　discover　some　one　whom　he　knows；　and　inquire　it；〃　she　exclaimed。

〃I　have　seen　him　with　one　person；　but　I　can't　inquire　of　him。　They　are　too　thick　together；　he　and　Thorn；　and　are　birds　of　a　feather　also；　I　suspect。　Great　swells　both。〃

〃Oh；　Richard　don't　use　those　expressions。　They　are　unsuited　to　a　gentleman。〃

Richard　laughed　bitterly。　〃A　gentleman？〃

〃Who　is　it　you　have　seen　Thorn　with？〃　inquired　Barbara。

〃Sir　Francis　Levison；〃　replied　Richard；　glancing　at　Miss　Carlyle；　who　drew　in　her　lips　ominously。

〃With　whom？〃　uttered　Barbara；　betraying　complete　astonishment。　〃Do　you　know　Sir　Francis　Levison？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　know　/him/。　Nearly　the　only　man　about　town　that　I　do　know。〃

Barbara　seemed　lost　in　a　puzzled　reverie；　and　it　was　some　time　before　she　aroused　herself　from　it。

〃Are　they　at　all　alike？〃　she　asked。

〃Very　much　so；　I　suspect。　Both　bad　men。〃

〃But　I　meant　in　person。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　Except　that　they　are　both　tall。〃

Again　Barbara　sank　into　thought。　Richard's　words　had　surprised　her。　She　was　aroused　by　it　from　hearing　a　child'