east lynne-第7节

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Mr。　Carlyle　had　been　all　his　life　upon　intimate　terms　with　the　Hare　family。　His　father's　first　wifefor　the　late　lawyer　Carlyle　had　been　twice　marriedhad　been　a　cousin　of　Justice　Hare's；　and　this　had　caused　them　to　be　much　together。　Archibald；　the　child　of　the　second　Mrs。　Carlyle；　had　alternately　teased　and　petted　Anne　and　Barbara　Hare；　boy　fashion。　Sometimes　he　quarreled　with　the　pretty　little　girls；　sometimes　he　caressed　them；　as　he　would　have　done　had　they　been　his　sisters；　and　he　made　no　scruple　of　declaring　publicly　to　the　pair　that　Anne　was　his　favorite。　A　gentle；　yielding　girl　she　was；　like　her　mother；　whereas　Barbara　displayed　her　own　will；　and　it　sometimes　clashed　with　young　Carlyle's。

The　clock　struck　ten。　Mrs。　Hare　took　her　customary　sup　of　brandy　and　water；　a　small　tumbler　three　parts　full。　Without　it　she　believed　she　could　never　get　to　sleep；　it　deadened　unhappy　thought；　she　said。　Barbara；　after　making　it；　had　turned　again　to　the　window；　but　she　did　not　resume　her　seat。　She　stood　right　in　front　of　it；　her　forehead　bent　forward　against　its　middle　pane。　The　lamp；　casting　a　bright　light；　was　behind　her；　so　that　her　figure　might　be　distinctly　observable　from　the　lawn；　had　any　one　been　there　to　look　upon　it。

She　stood　there　in　the　midst　of　dreamland；　giving　way　to　all　its　enchanting　and　most　delusive　fascinations。　She　saw　herself；　in　anticipation；　the　wife　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　the　envied；　thrice　envied；　of　all　West　Lynne；　for；　like　as　he　was　the　dearest　on　earth　to　her　heart；　so　was　he　the　greatest　match　in　the　neighborhood　around。　Not　a　mother　but　what　coveted　him　for　her　child；　and　not　a　daughter　but　would　have　said；　〃Yes；　and　thank　you；〃　to　an　offer　from　the　attractive　Archibald　Carlyle。　〃I　never　was　sure；　quite　sure　of　it　till　to…night；〃　murmured　Barbara；　caressing　the　locket；　and　holding　it　to　her　cheek。　〃I　always　thought　he　meant　something；　or　he　might　mean　nothing：　but　to　give　me　thisto　kiss　meoh　Archibald！〃

A　pause。　Barbara's　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　moonlight。

〃If　he　would　but　say　he　loved　me！　If　he　would　but　save　the　suspense　of　my　aching　heart！　But　it　must　come；　I　know　it　will；　and　if　that　cantankerous　toad　of　a　Corny〃

Barbara　Hare　stopped。　What　was　that；　at　the　far　end　of　the　lawn；　just　in　advance　of　the　shade　of　the　thick　trees？　Their　leaves　were　not　causing　the　movement；　for　it　was　a　still　night。　It　had　been　there　some　minutes；　it　was　evidently　a　human　form。　What　/was/　it？　Surely　it　was　making　signs　to　her！

Or　else　it　looked　as　though　it　was。　That　was　certainly　its　arm　moving；　and　now　it　advanced　a　pace　nearer；　and　raised　something　which　it　wore　on　its　heada　battered　hat　with　a　broad　brim；　a　〃wide…awake；〃　encircled　with　a　wisp　of　straw。

Barbara　Hare's　heart　leaped；　as　the　saying　runs；　into　her　mouth；　and　her　face　became　deadly　white　in　the　moonlight。　Her　first　thought　was　to　alarm　the　servants；　her　second；　to　be　still；　for　she　remembered　the　fear　and　mystery　that　attached　to　the　house。　She　went　into　the　hall；　shutting　her　mamma　in　the　parlor；　and　stood　in　the　shade　of　the　portico；　gazing　still。　But　the　figure　evidently　followed　her　movement　with　its　sight；　and　the　hat　was　again　taken　off；　and　waved　violently。

Barbara　Hare　turned　sick　with　utter　terror。　/She/　must　fathom　it；　she　must　see　who；　and　what　it　was；　for　the　servants　she　dared　not　call；　and　those　movements　were　imperative；　and　might　not　be　disregarded。　But　she　possessed　more　innate　courage　than　falls　to　the　lot　of　some　young　ladies。

〃Mamma；〃　she　said；　returning　to　the　parlor　and　catching　up　her　shawl；　while　striving　to　speak　without　emotion。　〃I　shall　just　walk　down　the　path　and　see　if　papa　is　coming。〃

Mrs。　Hare　did　not　reply。　She　was　musing　upon　other　things；　in　that　quiescent　happy　mood；　which　a　small　portion　of　spirits　will　impart　to　one　weak　in　body；　and　Barbara　softly　closed　the　door；　and　stole　out　again　to　the　portico。　She　stood　a　moment　to　rally　her　courage；　and　again　the　hat　was　waved　impatiently。

Barbara　Hare　commenced　her　walk　towards　it　in　dread　unutterable；　an　undefined　sense　of　evil　filling　her　sinking　heart；　mingling　with　which；　came；　with　a　rush　of　terror；　a　fear　of　that　other　undefinable　evilthe　evil　Mrs。　Hare　had　declared　was　foreboded　by　her　dream。



CHAPTER　IV。

THE　MOONLIGHT　INTERVIEW。

Cold　and　still　looked　the　old　house　in　the　moonbeams。　Never　was　the　moon　brighter；　it　lighted　the　far…stretching　garden；　it　illuminated　even　the　weathercock　aloft；　it　shone　upon　the　portico；　and　upon　one　who　appeared　in　it。　Stealing　to　the　portico　from　the　house　had　come　Barbara　Hare；　her　eyes　strained　in　dread　affright　on　the　grove　of　trees　at　the　foot　of　the　garden。　What　was　it　that　had　stepped　out　of　that　groove　of　trees；　and　mysteriously　beckoned　to　her　as　she　stood　at　the　window；　turning　her　heart　to　sickness　as　she　gazed？　Was　it　a　human　being；　one　to　bring　more　evil　to　the　house；　where　so　much　evil　had　already　fallen？　Was　it　a　supernatural　visitant；　or　was　it　but　a　delusion　of　her　own　eyesight？　Not　the　latter；　certainly；　for　the　figure　was　now　emerging　again；　motioning　to　her　as　before；　and　with　a　white　face　and　shaking　limbs；　Barbara　clutched　her　shawl　around　her　and　went　down　that　path　in　the　moonlight。　The　beckoning　form　retreated　within　the　dark　recess　as　she　neared　it；　and　Barbara　halted。

〃Who　and　what　are　you？〃　she　asked；　under　her　breath。　〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃Barbara；〃　was　the　whispered；　eager　answer；　〃don't　you　recognize　me？〃

Too　surely　she　didthe　voice　at　any　rateand　a　cry　escaped　her；　telling　more　of　sorrow　than　of　joy；　though　betraying　both。　She　penetrated　the　trees；　and　burst　into　tears　as　one　in　the　dress　of　a　farm　laborer　caught　her　in　his　arms。　In　spite　of　his　smock…frock　and　his　straw…wisped　hat；　and　his　false　whiskers；　black　as　Erebus；　she　knew　him　for　her　brother。

〃Oh；　Richard！　Where　have　you　come　from？　What　brings　you　here？〃

〃Did　you　know　me；　Barbara？〃　was　his　rejoinder。

〃How　was　it　likelyin　this　disguise？　A　thought　crossed　my　mind　that　it　might　be　some　one　from　you；　and　even　that　made　me　sick　with　terror。　How　could　you　run　such　a　risk　as　to　come　here？〃　she　added；　wringing　her　hands。　〃If　you　are　discovered；　it　is　certain　death；　deathupon　you　know！〃

〃Upon　the　gibbet；〃　returned　Richard　Hare。　〃I　do　know　it；　Barbara。〃

〃Then　why　risk　it？　Should　mamma　see　you　it　will　kill　her　outright。〃

〃I　can't　live　on　as　I　am　living；〃　he　answered；　gloomily。　〃I　have　been　working　in　London　ever　since〃

〃In　London！〃　interrupted　Barbara。

〃In　London；　and　have　never　stirred　out　of　it。　But　it　is　hard　work　for　me；　and　now　I　have　an　opportunity　of　doing　better；　if　I　can　get　a　little　money。　Perhaps　my　mother　can　let　me　have　it；　it　is　what　I　have　come　to　ask　for。〃

〃How　are　you　working？　What　at？〃

〃In　a　stable…yard。〃

〃A　stable…yard！〃　she　uttered；　in　a　deeply　shocked　tone。　〃Richard！〃

〃Did　you　expect　it　would　be　as　a　merchant；　or　a　banker；　or　perhaps　as　secretary　to　one　of　her　majesty's　ministersor　that　I　was　a　gentleman　at　large；　living　on　my　fortune？〃　retorted　Richard　Hare；　in　a　tone　of　chafed　anguish；　painful　to　hear。　〃I　get　twelve　shillings　a　week；　and　that　has　to　find　me　in　everything！〃

〃Poor　Richard；　poor　Richard！〃　she　wailed；　caressing　his　hand　and　weeping　over　it。　〃Oh；　what　a　miserable　night's　work　that　was！　Our　only　comfort　is；　Richard；　that　you　must　have　committed　the　deed　in　madness。〃

〃I　did　not　commit　it　at　all；〃　he　replied。

〃What！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Barbara；　I　swear　that　I　am　innocent；　I　swear　I　was　not　present　when　the　man　was　murdered；　I　swear　that　from　my　own　positive　knowledge；　my　eyesight；　I　know　no　more　who　did　it　than　you。　The　guessing　at　it　is　enough　for　me；　and　my　guess　is　as　sure　and　true　a　one　as　that　the　moon　is　in　the　heavens。〃

Barbara　shivered　as　she　drew　close　to　him。　It　was　a　shivering　subject。　〃You　surely　do　not　mean　to　throw　the　guilt　on　Bethel？〃

〃Bethel！〃　lightly　returned　Richard　Hare。　〃He　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　He　was　after　his　gins　and　his　snares；　that　night；　though；　poacher　as　he　is！〃

〃Bethel　is　no　poacher；　Richard。〃

〃Is　he　not？〃　rejoined　Richard　Hare；　significantly。　〃The　truth　as　to　what　he　is　may　come　out；　some　time。　Not　that　I　wish　it　to　come　out；　the　man　has　done　no　harm　to　me；　and　he　may　go　on　poaching　with　impunity　till　doomsday　for　all　I　care。　He　and　Locksley〃

〃Richard；〃　interrupted　his　sister；　in　a　hushed　voice；　〃mamma　entertains　one　fixed　idea；　which　she　cannot　put　from　her。　She　is　certain　that　Bethel　had　something　to　do　with　the　murder。〃

〃Then　she　is　wrong。　Why　should　she　think　so？〃

〃How　the　conviction　arose　at　first；　I　cannot　tell　you；　I　do　not　think　she　knows　herself。　But　you　remember　how　weak　and　fanciful　she　is；　and　since　that　dreadful　night　she　is　always　having　what　she　calls　'dreams'　meaning　that　she　dreams　of　the　murder。　In　all　these　dreams　Bethel　is　prominent；　and　she　says　she　feels　an　absolute　certainty　that　he　was；　in　some　way　or　other；　mixed　up　in　it。〃

〃Barbara；　he　was　no　more　mixed　up　in　it　than　you。〃

〃Andyou　say　that　you　were　not？〃

〃I　was　not　even　at　the　cottage　at　the　time；　I　swear　it　to　you。　The　man　who　did　the　deed　was　Thorn。〃

〃Thorn！〃　echoed　Barbara；　lifting　her　head。　〃Who　is　Thorn？〃

〃I　don't　know　who。　I　wish　I　did；　I　wish　I　could　unearth　him。　He　was　a　friend　of　Afy's。〃

Barba