east lynne-第70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！



Again　Barbara　sank　into　thought。　Richard's　words　had　surprised　her。　She　was　aroused　by　it　from　hearing　a　child's　voice　in　the　next　room。　She　ran　into　it；　and　Miss　Carlyle　immediately　fastened　the　intervening　door。

It　was　little　Archibald　Carlyle。　Joyce　had　come　in　with　the　tray　to　lay　the　luncheon；　and　before　she　could　lock　the　door；　Archibald　ran　in　after　her。　Barbara　lifted　him　in　her　arms　to　carry　him　back　to　the　nursery。

〃Oh；　you　heavy　boy！〃　she　exclaimed。

Archie　laughed。　〃Wilson　says　that；〃　he　lisped；　〃if　ever　she　has　to　carry　me。〃

〃I　have　brought　you　a　truant；　Wilson；〃　cried　Barbara。

〃Oh；　is　it　you；　Miss　Barbara？　How　are　you；　miss？　Naughty　boy！yes；　he　ran　away　without　my　noticing　himhe　is　got　now　so　that　he　can　open　the　door。〃

〃You　must　be　so　kind　as　to　keep　him　strictly　in　for　to…day；〃　concluded　Miss　Barbara；　authoritatively。　〃Miss　Carlyle　is　not　well；　and　cannot　be　subjected　to　the　annoyance　of　his　running　into　the　room。〃

Evening　came；　and　the　time　of　Richard's　departure。　It　was　again　snowing　heavily；　though　it　had　ceased　in　the　middle　of　the　day。　Money　for　the　present　had　been　given　to　him；　arrangements　had　been　discussed。　Mr。　Carlyle　insisted　upon　Richard's　sending　him　his　address；　as　soon　as　he　should　own　one　to　send；　and　Richard　faithfully　promised。　He　was　in　very　low　spirits；　almost　as　low　as　Barbara；　who　could　not　conceal　her　tears；　they　dropped　in　silence　on　her　pretty　silk　dress。　He　was　smuggled　down　the　stairs；　a　large　cloak　of　Miss　Carlyle's　enveloping　him；　into　the　room　he　had　entered　by　storm　the　previous　night。　Mr。　Carlyle　held　the　window　open。

〃Good…bye；　Barbara　dear。　If　ever　you　should　be　able　to　tell　my　mother　of　this　day；　say　that　my　chief　sorrow　was　not　to　see　her。〃

〃Oh；　Richard！〃　she　sobbed　forth；　broken…hearted；　〃good…bye。　May　God　be　with　you　and　bless　you！〃

〃Farewell；　Richard；〃　said　Miss　Carlyle；　〃don't　you　be　fool　enough　to　get　into　any　more　scrapes。〃

Last　of　all　he　rung　the　hand　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　latter　went　outside　with　him　for　an　instant；　and　their　leave…taking　was　alone。

Barbara　returned　to　the　chamber　he　had　quitted。　She　felt　that　she　must　indulge　in　a　few　moments　sobbing；　Joyce　was　there；　but　Barbara　was　sobbing　when　she　entered　it。

〃It　/is/　hard　for　him；　Miss　Barbara；　if　he　is　really　innocent。〃

Barbara　turned　her　streaming　eyes　upon　her。　〃/If！/　Joyce　do　you　doubt　that　he　is　innocent？〃

〃I　quite　believe　him　to　be　so　now；　miss。　Nobody　could　so　solemnly　assert　what　was　not　true。　The　thing　at　present　will　be　to　find　that　Captain　Thorn。〃

〃Joyce！〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　in　excitement；　seizing　hold　of　Joyce's　hands；　〃I　thought　I　had　found　him；　I　believed　in　my　own　mind　that　I　knew　who　he　was。　I　don't　mind　telling　you；　though　I　have　never　before　spoken　of　it；　and　with　one　thing　or　other；　this　night　I　feel　just　as　if　I　should　dieas　if　I　must　speak。　I　thought　it　was　Sir　Francis　Levison。〃

Joyce　stared　with　all　her　eyes。　〃Miss　Barbara！〃

〃I　did。　I　have　thought　it　ever　since　the　night　that　Lady　Isabel　went　away。　My　poor　brother　was　at　West　Lynne　thenhe　had　come　for　a　few　hours；　and　he　met　the　man　Thorn　walking　in　Bean　lane。　He　was　in　evening　dress；　and　Richard　described　a　peculiar　motion　of　histhe　throwing　off　of　his　hair　from　his　brow。　He　said　his　white　hand　and　his　diamond　ring　glittered　in　the　moonlight。　The　white　hand；　the　ring；　the　motionfor　he　was　always　doing　itall　reminded　me　of　Captain　Levison；　and　from　that　hour　until　to…day　I　believed　him　to　be　the　man　Richard　saw。　To…day　Richard　tells　me　that　he　knows　Sir　Francis　Levison；　and　that　he　and　Thorn　are　intimate。　What　I　think　now　is；　that　this　Thorn　must　have　paid　a　flying　visit　to　the　neighborhood　that　night　to　assist　Captain　Levison　in　the　wicked　work　that　he　had　on　hand。〃

〃How　strange　it　all　sounds！〃　uttered　Joyce。

〃And　I　never　could　tell　my　suspicions　to　Mr。　Carlyle！　I　did　not　like　to　mention　Francis　Levison's　name　to　him。〃

Barbara　soon　returned　down　stairs。　〃I　must　be　going　home；〃　she　said　to　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃It　is　turned　half…past　seven；　and　mamma　will　be　uneasy。〃

〃Whenever　you　like；　Barbara。〃

〃But　can　I　not　walk？　I　am　sorry　to　take　out　your　ponies　again；　and　in　this　storm。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　laughed。　〃Which　would　feel　the　storm　the　worst；　you　or　the　ponies？〃

But　when　Barbara　got　outside；　she　saw　that　it　was　not　the　pony　carriage；　but　the　chariot　that　was　in　waiting　for　her。　She　turned　inquiringly　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Did　you　think　I　should　allow　you　to　go　home　in　an　open　carriage　to…night；　Barbara？〃

〃Are　you　coming　also？〃

〃I　suppose　I　had　better；〃　he　smiled。　〃To　see　that　you　and　the　carriage　do　not　get　fixed　in　a　rut。〃

Barbara　withdrew　to　her　corner　of　the　chariot；　and　cried　silently。　Very；　very　deeply　did　she　mourn　the　unhappy　situationthe　privations　of　her　brother；　and　she　knew　that　he　was　one　to　feel　them　deeply。　He　could　not　battle　with　the　world's　hardships　so　bravely　as　many　could。　Mr。　Carlyle　only　detected　her　emotion　as　they　were　nearing　the　Grove。　He　leaned　forward；　took　her　hand；　and　held　it　between　his。

〃Don't　grieve；　Barbara。　Bright　days　may　be　in　store　for　us　yet。〃

The　carriage　stopped。

〃You　may　go　back；〃　he　said　to　the　servants；　when　he　alighted。　〃I　shall　walk　home。〃

〃Oh；〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　〃I　do　think　you　intend　to　spend　the　evening　with　us？　Mamma　will　be　so　pleased。〃

Her　voice　sounded　as　if　she　was　also。　Mr。　Carlyle　drew　her　hand　within　his　arm　as　they　walked　up　the　path。

But　Barbara　had　reckoned　without　her　host。　Mrs。　Hare　was　in　bed；　consequently　could　not　be　pleased　at　the　visit　of　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　justice　had　gone　out；　and　she；　feeling　tired　and　not　well；　thought　she　would　retire　to　rest。　Barbara　stole　into　her　room；　but　found　her　asleep；　so　that　it　fell　to　Barbara　to　entertain　Mr。　Carlyle。

They　stood　together　before　the　large　pierglass；　in　front　of　the　blazing　fire。　Barbara　was　thinking　over　the　events　of　the　day。　What　Mr。　Carlyle　was　thinking　of　was　best　known　to　himself；　his　eyes；　covered　with　their　drooping　eyelids；　were　cast　upon　Barbara。　There　was　a　long　silence；　at　length　Barbara　seemed　to　feel　that　his　gaze　was　upon　her；　and　she　looked　up　at　him。

〃Will　you　marry　me；　Barbara？〃

The　words　were　spoken　in　the　quietest；　most　matter…of…fact　tone；　just　as　if　he　had　said；　〃Shall　I　give　you　a　chair；　Barbara？〃　But；　oh！　The　change　that　passed　over　her　countenance！　The　sudden　light　of　joy！　The　scarlet　flush　of　emotion　and　happiness。　Then　it　all　faded　down　to　paleness　and　sadness。

She　shook　her　head　in　the　negative。　〃But　you　are　very　kind　to　ask　me；〃　she　added　in　words。

〃What　is　the　impediment；　Barbara？〃

Another　rush　of　color　as　before　and　a　deep　silence。　Mr。　Carlyle　stole　his　arm　around　her　and　bent　his　face　on　a　level　with　hers。

〃Whisper　it　to　me；　Barbara。〃

She　burst　into　a　flood　of　tears。

〃Is　it　because　I　once　married　another？〃

〃No；　no。　It　is　the　remembrance　of　that　nightyou　cannot　have　forgotten　it；　and　it　is　stamped　on　my　brain　in　letters　of　fire。　I　never　thought　so　to　betray　myself。　But　for　what　passed　that　night　you　would　not　have　asked　me　now。〃

〃Barbara！〃

She　glanced　up　at　him；　the　tone　was　so　painful。

〃Do　you　know　that　I　/love/　you？　That　there　is　none　other　in　the　whole　world　whom　I　would　care　to　marry　but　you？　Nay；　Barbara；　when　happiness　is　within　our　reach；　let　us　not　throw　it　away　upon　a　chimera。〃

She　cried　more　softly；　leaning　upon　his　arm。　〃Happiness？　Would　it　be　happiness　for　you？〃

〃Great　and　deep　happiness；〃　he　whispered。

She　read　truth　in　his　countenance；　and　a　sweet　smile　illumined　her　sunny　features。　Mr。　Carlyle　read　its　signs。

〃You　love　me　as　much　as　ever；　Barbara！〃

〃Far　more；　far　more；〃　was　the　murmured　answer；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　held　her　closer；　and　drew　her　face　fondly　to　his。　Barbara's　heart　was　at　length　at　rest；　and　she　had　been　content　to　remain　where　she　was　forever。

And　Richard？　Had　he　got　clear　off？　Richard　was　stealing　along　the　road；　plunging　into　the　snow　by　the　hedge　because　it　was　more　sheltered　there　than　in　the　beaten　path；　when　his　umbrella　came　in　contact　with　another　umbrella。　Miss　Carlyle　had　furnished　it　to　him；　not　to　protect　his　battered　hat　but　to　protect　his　face　from　being　seen　by　the　passers　by。　The　umbrella　he　encountered　was　an　aristocratic　silk　one；　with　an　ivory　handle；　Dick's　was　of　democratic　cotton；　with　hardly　any　handle　at　all；　and　the　respective　owners　had　been　bearing　on；　heads　down　and　umbrellas　out；　till　they；　the　umbrellas；　met　smash；　right　under　a　gas　lamp。　Aside　went　the　umbrellas；　and　the　antagonists　stared　at　each　other。

〃How　dare　you；　fellow？　Can't　you　see　where　you　are　going　on？〃

Dick　thought　he　should　have　dropped。　He　would　have　given　all　the　money　his　pockets　held　if　the　friendly　earth　had　but　opened　and　swallowed　him　in；　for　he　was　now　peering　into　the　face　of　his　own　father。

Uttering　an　exclamation　of　dismay；　which　broke　from　him　involuntarily；　Richard　sped　away　with　the　swiftness　of　an　arrow。　Did　Justice　Hare　recognize　the　tones？　It　cannot　be　said。　He　saw　a　rough；　strange　looking　man；　with　bushy；　black　whiskers；　who　was　evidently　scared　at　the　sight　of　him。　That　was　nothing；　for　the　justice；　being　a　justice；　and　a　strict　one；　was　regarded　with　considerable　awe　in　the　parish　by　those　of　Dick's　apparent　caliber。　Neve