east lynne-第75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！


ys；　and　not　the　least　she　had　to　endure　now　was　the　thought　that　she　had　abandoned　them　to　be　trained　by　strangers。　Would　they　be　trained　to　goodness；　to　morality；　to　religion？　Careless　as　she　herself　had　once　been　upon　these　points；　she　had　learnt　better　now。　Would　Isabel　grow　up　to　indifference；　toperhaps　do　as　she　had　done？　Lady　Isabel　flung　her　hands　before　her　eyes　and　groaned　in　anguish。

It　happened　that　Mrs。　Latimer；　a　lady　living　at　West　Lynne；　betook　herself　about　that　time　to　Stalkenberg；　and　with　her；　three　parts　maid　and　one　part　companion；　went　Afy　Hallijohn。　Not　that　Afy　was　admitted　to　the　society　of　Mrs。　Latimer；　to　sit　with　her　or　dine　with　her；　nothing　of　that；　but　she　did　enjoy　more　privileges　than　most　ladies'　maids　do；　and　Afy；　who　was　never　backward　at　setting　off　her　own　consequence；　gave　out　that　she　was　〃companion。〃　Mrs。　Latimer　was　an　easy　woman；　fond　of　Afy；　and　Afy　had　made　her　own　tale　good　to　her　respecting　the　ill…natured　reports　at　the　time　of　the　murder；　so　that　Mrs。　Latimer　looked　upon　her　as　one　to　be　compassionated。

Mrs。　Latimer　and　Mrs。　Crosby；　whose　apartments　in　the　hotel　joined；　struck　up　a　violent　friendship；　the　one　for　the　other。　Ere　the　former　had　been　a　week　at　the　Ludwig；　they　had　sworn　something　like　eternal　sisterhoodas　both　had　probably　done　for　others　fifty　times　before。



CHAPTER　XXXII。

MEETING　OF　LADY　ISABEL　AND　AFY。

On　the　evening　of　the　day　when　Helena　Crosby　communicated　her　future　prospects　to　Lady　Isabel；　the　latter　strolled　out　in　the　twilight　and　took　her　seat　on　a　bench　in　an　unfrequented　part　of　the　gardens；　where　she　was　fond　of　sitting。　Now　it　occurred　that　Afy；　some　minutes　afterwards；　found　herself　in　the　same　walkand　a　very　dull　one；　too；　she　was　thinking。

〃Who's　that？〃　quoth　Afy　to　herself；　her　eyes　falling　upon　Lady　Isabel。　〃Oh；　it's　that　governess　of　the　Crosby's。　She　may　be　known；　a　half　a　mile　off；　by　her　grandmother's　bonnet。　I'll　go　and　have　a　chat　with　her。〃

Accordingly　Afy；　who　was　never　troubled　with　bashfulness；　went　up　and　seated　herself　beside　Lady　Isabel。　〃Good　evening；　Madame　Vine；〃　cried　she。

〃Good　evening；〃　replied　Lady　Isabel；　courteously；　not　having　the　least　idea　who　Afy　might　be。

〃You　don't　know　me；　I　fancy；〃　pursued　Afy；　so　gathering　from　Lady　Isabel's　looks。　〃I　am　companion　to　Mrs。　Latimer；　and　she　is　spending　the　evening　with　Mrs。　Crosby。　Precious　dull；　this　Stalkenberg。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃

〃It　is　for　me。　I　can't　speak　German　or　French；　and　the　upper　attendants　of　families　here　can't；　most　of　them　speak　English。　I'm　sure　I　go　about　like　an　owl；　able　to　do　nothing　but　stare。　I　was　sick　enough　to　come　here；　but　I'd　rather　be　back　at　West　Lynne；　quiet　as　it　is。〃

Lady　Isabel　had　not　been　encouraging　her　companion；　either　by　words　or　manner；　but　the　last　sentence　caused　her　heart　to　bound　within　her。　Control　herself　as　she　would；　she　could　not　quite　hide　her　feverish　interest。

〃Do　you　come　from　West　Lynne？〃

〃Yes。　Horrid　place。　Mrs。　Latimer　took　a　house　there　soon　after　I　went　to　live　with　her。　I'd　rather　she'd　taken　it　at　Botany　Bay。〃

〃Why　do　you　not　like　it？〃

〃Because　I　don't；〃　was　Afy's　satisfactory　answer。

〃Do　you　know　East　Lynne？〃　resumed　Lady　Isabel；　her　heart　beating　and　her　brain　whirling；　as　she　deliberated　how　she　could　put　all　the　questions　she　wished　to　ask。

〃I　ought　to　know　it；〃　returned　Afy。　〃My　own　sister；　Miss　Hallijohn；　is　head　maid　there。　Why；　do　you　know　it；　Madame　Vine？〃

Lady　Isabel　hesitated；　she　was　deliberating　upon　her　answer。

〃Some　years　ago　I　was　staying　in　the　neighborhood　for　a　little　time；〃　she　said。　〃I　should　like　to　hear　of　the　Carlyles　again；　they　were　a　nice　family。〃

Afy　tossed　her　head。

〃Ah！　But　there　have　been　changes　since　that。　I　dare　say　you　knew　them　in　the　time　of　Lady　Isabel？〃

Another　pause。

〃Lady　Isabel？　Yes　she　was　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife。〃

〃And　a　nice　wife　she　made　him！〃　ironically　rejoined　Afy。　〃You　must　have　heard　of　it；　Madame　Vine；　unless　you　lived　in　the　wood。　She　elope　abandoned　him　and　her　children。〃

〃Are　the　children　living？〃

〃Yes；　poor　things。　But　the　one's　on　the　road　to　the　churchyardif　ever　I　saw　threatened　consumption　yet。　Joyce；　that's　my　sister；　is　in　a　flaring　temper　when　I　say　it。　She　thinks　it　will　get　strong　again。〃

Lady　Isabel　passed　her　handkerchief　across　her　moist　brow。

〃Which　of　the　children　is　it？〃　she　faintly　asked。　〃Isabel？〃

〃Isabel！〃　retorted　Afy。　〃Who's　Isabel？〃

〃The　eldest　child；　I　mean；　Miss　Isabel　Carlyle。〃

〃There's　no　Isabel。　There's　Lucy。　She's　the　only　daughter。〃

〃WhenwhenI　knew　them；　there　was　only　one　daughter；　the　other　two　were　boys；　I　remember　quite　well　that　she　was　called　Isabel。〃

〃Stay；〃　said　Afy；　〃now　you　speak　of　it；　what　was　it　that　I　heard？　It　was　Wilson　told　me；　I　recollectshe's　the　nurse。　Why；　the　very　night　that　his　wife　went　away　Mr。　Carlyle　gave　orders　that　the　child　in　future　should　be　called　Lucy；　her　second　name。　No　wonder；〃　added　Afy；　violently　indignant；　〃that　he　could　no　lager　endure　the　sound　of　her　mother's　or　suffer　the　child　to　bear　it。〃

〃No　wonder；〃　murmured　Lady　Isabel。　〃Which　child　is　it　that's　ill？〃

〃It's　William；　the　eldest　boy。　He　is　not　to　say　ill；　but　he　is　as　thin　as　a　herring；　with　an　unnaturally　bright　look　on　his　cheek；　and　a　glaze　upon　his　eye。　Joyce　says　that　his　cheeks　are　no　brighter　than　his　mother's　were；　but　I　know　better。　Folks　in　health　don't　have　those　brilliant　colors。〃

〃Did　you　ever　see　Lady　Isabel？〃　she　asked；　in　a　low　tone。

〃Not　I；〃　returned　Afy；　〃I　should　have　thought　it　demeaning。　One　does　not　care　to　be　brought　into　contact　with　that　sort　of　misdoing　lot；　you　know；　Madame　Vine。〃

〃There　as　another　one；　a　little　boyArchibald；　I　think；　his　name　was。　Is　he　well？〃

〃Oh；　the　troublesome　youngster！　He　is　as　sturdy　as　a　Turk。　No　fear　of　his　going　into　consumption。　He　is　the　very　image　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　is　that　child。　I　say　though；　madame；〃　continued　Afy；　changing　the　subject　unceremoniously；　〃if　you　were　stopping　at　West　Lynne；　perhaps　you　heard　some　wicked　mischief…making　stories　concerning　me？〃

〃I　believe　I　did　hear　your　name　mentioned。　I　cannot　charge　my　memory　now　with　the　particulars。〃

〃My　father　was　murderedyou　must　have　heard　of　that？〃

〃Yes；　I　recollect　so　far。〃

〃He　was　murdered　by　a　chap　called　Richard　Hare；　who　decamped　instanter。　Perhaps　you　know　the　Hares　also？　Well；　directly　after　the　funeral　I　left　West　Lynne；　I　could　not　bear　the　place；　and　I　stopped　away。　And　what　do　you　suppose　they　said　of　me？　That　I　had　gone　after　Richard　Hare。　Not　that　I　knew　they　were　saying　it；　or　I　should　pretty　soon　have　been　back　and　given　them　the　length　of　my　tongue。　But　now　I　just　ask　you；　as　a　lady；　Madame　Vine；　whether　a　more　infamous　accusation　was　ever　pitched　upon？〃

〃And　you　had　not　gone　after　him？〃

〃No；　that　I　swear；〃　passionately　returned　Afy。　〃Make　myself　a　companion　of　my　father's　murderer！　If　Mr。　Calcraft；　the　hangman；　finished　off　a　few　of　those　West　Lynne　scandalmongers；　it　might　be　a　warning　to　the　others。　I　said　so　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃To　Mr。　Carlyle？〃　repeated　Lady　Isabel；　hardly　conscious　that　she　did　repeat　it。

〃He　laughed；　I　remember；　and　said　that　would　not　stop　the　scandal。　The　only　one　who　did　not　misjudge　me　was　himself；　he　did　not　believe　that　I　was　with　Richard　Hare；　but　he　was　ever　noble…judging　was　Mr。　Carlyle。〃

〃I　suppose　you　were　in　a　situation？〃

Afy　coughed。

〃To　be　sure。　More　than　one。　I　lived　as　companion　with　an　old　lady；　who　so　valued　me　that　she　left　me　a　handsome　legacy　in　her　will。　I　lived　two　years　with　the　Countess　of　Mount　Severn。〃

〃With　the　Countess　of　Mount　Severn！〃　echoed　Lady　Isabel；　surprised　into　the　remark。　〃Why；　sheshewas　related　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife。　At　least　Lord　Mount　Severn　was。〃

〃Of　course；　everybody　knows　that。　I　was　living　there　at　the　time　the　business　happened。　Didn't　the　countess　pull　Lady　Isabel　to　pieces！　She　and　Miss　Levison　used　to　sit；　cant；　cant　all　day　over　it。　Oh；　I　assure　you　I　know　all　about　it；　just　as　much　as　Joyce　did。　Have　you　got　that　headache；　that　you　are　leaning　on　your　hand？〃

〃Headache　and　heartache　both；〃　she　might　have　answered。

Miss　Afy　resumed。

〃So；　after　the　flattering　compliment　West　Lynne　had　paid　to　me；　you　may　judge　I　was　in　no　hurry　to　go　back　to　it；　Madame　Vine。　And　if　I　had　not　found　that　Mrs。　Latimer's　promised　to　be　an　excellent　place；　I　should　have　left　it；　rather　than　be　marshaled　there。　But　I　have　lived　it　down；　I　should　like　to　hear　any　of　them　fibbing　against　me　now。　Do　you　know　that　blessed　Miss　Corny？〃

〃I　have　seen　her。〃

〃She　shakes　her　head　and　makes　eyes　at　me　still。　But　so　she　would　at　an　angel；　a　cross…grained　old　cockatoo！〃

〃Is　she　still　at　East　Lynne？〃

〃Not　she；　indeed。　There　would　be　drawn　battles　between　her　and　Mrs。　Carlyle；　if　she　were。〃

A　dart；　as　of　an　ice…bolt；　seemed　to　arrest　the　blood　in　Lady　Isabel's　veins。

〃Mrs。　Carlyle；〃　she　faltered。　〃Who　is　Mrs。　Carlyle？〃

〃Mr。　Carlyle's　wifewho　should　she　be？〃

The　rushing　blood　leaped　on　now　fast　and　fiery。

〃I　did　not　know　he　had　married　again。〃

〃He　has　been　married　nowoh；　getting　on　for　fifteen　months；　a　twelvemonth　last　June。　I　went　to　the　church　to　see　them　married。　Wasn't　there　a　cram！　She　looked　beau