east lynne-第80节

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〃Young　sir；　I　should　like　to　know　what　brings　you　up；　and　here；　at　this　hour。〃

〃You　may　well　ask；〃　said　Barbara。　〃I　just　had　him　brought　down；　as　you　were　not　here；　thinking　he　would　be　asleep　directly。　And　only　look　at　him！no　more　sleep　in　his　eyes　than　there　is　in　mine。〃

She　would　have　hushed　him　to　her　as　she　spoke；　but　the　young　gentleman　stoutly　repudiated　it。　He　set　up　a　half　cry；　and　struggled　his　arms；　and　head　free　again；　crowing　the　next　moment　most　impudently。　Mr。　Carlyle　took　him。

〃It　is　no　use；　Barbara；　he　is　beyond　your　coaxing　this　evening。〃　And　he　tossed　the　child　in　his　strong　arms；　held　him　up　to　the　chandelier；　made　him　bob　at　the　baby　in　the　pier…glass；　until　the　rebel　was　in　an　ecstacy　of　delight。　Finally　he　smothered　his　face　with　kisses；　as　Barbara　had　done。　Barbara　rang　the　bell。

Oh！　Can　you　imagine　what　it　was　for　Lady　Isabel？　So　had　he　tossed；　so　had　he　kissed　her　children；　she　standing　by；　the　fond；　proud；　happy　mother；　as　Barbara　was　standing　now。　Mr。　Carlyle　came　up　to　her。

〃Are　you　fond　of　these　little　troubles；　Madame　Vine？　This　one　is　a　fine　fellow；　they　say。〃

〃Very　fine。　What　is　his　name？〃　she　replied；　by　way　of　saying　something。

〃Arthur。〃

〃Arthur　Archibald；〃　put　in　Barbara　to　Madame　Vine。　〃I　was　vexed　that　his　name　could　not　be　entirely　Archibald；　but　that　was　already　monopolized。　Is　that　you；　Wilson？　I　don't　know　what　you'll　do　with　him；　but　he　looks　as　if　he　would　not　be　asleep　by　twelve　o'clock。〃

Wilson；　with　a　fresh　satisfying　of　her　curiosity；　by　taking　another　prolonged　stare　from　the　corner　of　her　eyes　at　Madame　Vine；　received　the　baby　from　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　departed　with　him。

Madame　Vine　rose。　〃Would　they　excuse　her？〃　she　asked；　in　a　low　tone；　〃she　was　tired　and　would　be　glad　to　retire　to　rest。〃

〃Of　course。　And　anything　she　might　wish　in　the　way　of　refreshment；　would　she　ring　for？〃　Barbara　shook　hands　with　her；　in　her　friendly　way；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　crossed　the　room　to　open　the　door　for　her；　and　bowed　her　out　with　a　courtly　smile。

She　went　up　to　her　chamber　at　once。　To　rest？　Well；　what　think　you？　She　strove　to　say　to　her　lacerated　and　remorseful　heart　that　the　cross　far　heavier　though　it　was　proving　than　anything　she　had　imagined　or　picturedwas　only　what　she　had　brought　upon　herself；　and　/must/　bear。　Very　true；　but　none　of　us　would　like　such　a　cross　to　be　upon　our　shoulders。

〃Is　she　not　droll　looking？〃　cried　Barbara；　when　she　was　alone　with　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　can't　think　why　she　wears　those　blue　spectacles；　it　cannot　be　for　her　sight；　and　they　are　very　disfiguring。〃

〃She　puts　me　in　mind　ofof〃　began　Mr。　Carlyle；　in　a　dreamy　tone。

〃Of　whom？〃

〃Her　face；　I　mean；〃　he　said；　still　dreaming。

〃So　little　can　be　seen　of　it；〃　resumed　Mrs。　Carlyle。　〃Of　whom　does　she　put　you　in　mind？〃

〃I　don't　know。　Nobody　in　particular；〃　returned　he；　rousing　himself。　〃Let　us　have　tea　in；　Barbara。〃



CHAPTER　XXXIV。

THE　YEARNING　OF　A　BREAKING　HEART。

At　her　bedroom　door；　the　next　morning；　stood　Lady　Isabel；　listening　whether　the　coast　was　clear　ere　she　descended　to　the　gray　parlor；　for　she　had　a　shrinking　dread　of　encountering　Mr。　Carlyle。　When　he　was　glancing　narrowly　at　her　face　the　previous　evening　she　had　felt　the　gaze；　and　it　impressed　upon　her　the　dread　of　his　recognition。　Not　only　that；　he　was　the　husband　of　another；　therefore　it　was　not　expedient　that　she　should　see　too　much　of　him；　for　he　was　far　dearer　to　her　than　he　had　ever　been。

Almost　at　the　same　moment　there　burst　out　of　a　remote　roomthe　nurseryan　upright；　fair；　noble　boy；　of　some　five　years　old；　who　began　careering　along　on　the　corridor；　astride　upon　a　hearth…broom。　She　did　not　need　to　be　told　it　was　her　boy；　Archibald；　his　likeness　to　Mr。　Carlyle　would　have　proclaimed　it；　even　if　her　heart　had　not。　In　an　impulse　of　unrestrainable　tenderness；　she　seized　the　child；　as　he　was　galloping　past　her；　and　carried　him　into　her　room；　broom　and　all。

〃You　must　let　me　make　acquaintance　with　you；〃　she　said　to　him　by　way　of　excuse。　〃I　love　little　boys。〃

Love！　Down　she　sat　upon　a　low　chair；　the　child　held　upon　her　lap；　kissing　him　passionately；　and　the　tears　raining　from　her　eyes。　She　could　not　have　helped　the　tears　had　it　been　to　save　her　life；　she　could　as　little　have　helped　the　kisses。　Lifting　her　eyes；　there　stood　Wilson；　who　had　entered　without　ceremony。　A　sick　feeling　came　over　Lady　Isabel：　she　felt　as　if　she　had　betrayed　herself。　All　that　could　be　done　now；　was　to　make　the　best　of　it；　to　offer　some　lame　excuse。　What　possessed　her　thus　to　forget　herself？

〃He　did　so　put　me　in　remembrance　of　my　own　children；〃　she　said　to　Wilson；　gulping　down　her　emotion；　and　hiding　her　tears　in　the　best　manner　she　could；　whilst　the　astonished　Archibald；　released　now；　stood　with　his　finger　in　his　mouth　and　stared　at　her　spectacles；　his　great　blue　eyes　opened　to　their　utmost　width。　〃When　we　have　lost　children　of　our　own；　we　are　apt　to　love　fondly　all　we　come　near。〃

Wilson；　who　stared　only　in　a　less　degree　than　Archie；　for　she　deemed　the　new　governess　had　gone　suddenly　mad；　gave　some　voluble　assent；　and　turned　her　attention　upon　Archie。

〃You　naughty　young　monkey！　How　dare　you　rush　out　in　that　way　with　Sarah's　heart…broom？　I'll　tell　you　what　it　is；　sir；　you　are　getting　a　might　deal　too　owdacious　and　rumbustical　for　the　nursery。　I　shall　speak　to　your　mamma　about　it。〃

She　seized　hold　of　the　child　and　shook　him。　Lady　Isabel　started　forward；　her　hands　up；　her　voice　one　of　painful　entreaty。

〃Oh；　don't；　don't　beat　him！　I　cannot　see　him　beaten。〃

〃Beaten！〃　echoed　Wilson；　〃if　he　got　a　good　beating　it　would　be　all　the　better　for　him；　but　it's　what　he　never　does　get。　A　little　shake；　or　a　tap；　is　all　I　must　give；　and　it's　not　half　enough。　You　wouldn't　believe　the　sturdy　impudence　of　that　boy；　madame；　he　runs　riot；　he　does。　The　other　two　never　gave　a　quarter　of　the　trouble。　Come　along；　you　figure！　I'll　have　a　bolt　put　at　the　top　of　the　nursery　door；　and　if　I　did；　he'd　be　for　climbing　up　the　door…post　to　get　at　it。〃

The　last　sentence　Wilson　delivered　to　the　governess；　as　she　jerked　Archie　out　of　the　room；　along　the　passage；　and　into　the　nursery。　Lady　Isabel　sat　down　with　a　wrung　heart；　a　chafed　spirit。　Her　own　child！　And　she　might　not　say　to　the　servant；　you　shall　not　beat　him。

She　descended　to　the　gray　parlor。　The　two　older　children　and　breakfast　were　waiting；　Joyce　quitted　the　room　when　she　entered　it。

A　graceful　girl　of　eight　years　old；　a　fragile　boy　a　year　younger；　both　bearing　her　once　lovely　featuresher　once　bright　and　delicate　complexionher　large；　soft　brown　eyes。　How　utterly　her　heart　yearned　to　them；　but　there　must　be　no　scene　like　there　had　just　been　above。　Nevertheless　she　stooped　and　kissed　them　bothone　kiss　each　of　impassioned　fervor。　Lucy　was　naturally　silent；　William　somewhat　talkative。

〃You　are　our　new　governess；〃　said　he。

〃Yes。　We　must　be　good　friends。〃

〃Why　not！〃　said　the　boy。　〃We　were　good　friends　with　Miss　Manning。　I　am　to　go　into　Latin　soonas　soon　as　my　cough's　gone。　Do　you　know　Latin？〃

〃Nonot　to　teach　it；〃　she　said；　studiously　avoiding　all　endearing　epithets。

〃Papa　said　you　would　be　almost　sure　not　to　know　Latin；　for　that　ladies　rarely　did。　He　said　he　should　send　up　Mr。　Kane　to　teach　me。〃

〃Mr。　Kane？〃　repeated　Lady　Isabel；　the　name　striking　upon　her　memory。　〃Mr。　Kane；　the　music…master？〃

〃How　did　you　know　he　was　a　music…master？〃　cried　shrewd　William。　And　Lady　Isabel　felt　the　red　blood　flush　to　her　face　at　the　unlucky　admission　she　had　made。　It　flushed　deeper　at　her　own　falsehood；　as　she　muttered　some　evasive　words　about　hearing　of　him　from　Mrs。　Latimer。

〃Yes；　he　is　a　music…master；　but　he　does　not　get　much　money　at　it；　and　he　teaches　the　classics　as　well。　He　has　come　up　to　teach　us　music　since　Miss　Manning　left；　mamma　said　that　we　ought　not　to　lose　our　lessons。〃

Mamma！　How　the　word；　applied　to　Barbara；　grated　on　her　ear。

〃Whom　does　he　teach？〃　she　asked。

〃Us　two；〃　replied　William；　pointing　to　his　sister　and　himself。

〃Do　you　always　take　bread　and　milk？〃　she　inquired；　perceiving　that　to　be　what　they　were　eating。

〃We　get　tired　of　it　sometimes　and　then　we　have　milk　and　water；　and　bread　and　butter；　or　honey；　and　then　we　take　to　bread　and　milk　again。　It's　Aunt　Cornelia　who　thinks　we　should　eat　bread　and　milk　for　breakfast。　She　says　papa　never　had　anything　else　when　he　was　a　boy。〃

Lucy　looked　up。

〃Papa　would　give　me　an　egg　when　I　breakfasted　with　him；〃　cried　she；　〃and　Aunt　Cornelia　said　it　was　not　good　for　me；　but　papa　gave　it　to　me　all　the　same。　I　always　had　breakfast　with　him　then。〃

〃And　why　do　you　not　now？〃　asked　Lady　Isabel。

〃I　don't　know。　I　have　not　since　mamma　came。〃

The　word　〃stepmother〃　rose　up　rebelliously　in　the　heart　of　Lady　Isabel。　Was　Mrs。　Carlyle　putting　away　the　children　from　their　father？

Breakfast　over；　she　gathered　them　to　her；　asking　them　various　questions　about　their　studies；　their　hours　of　recreation；　the　daily　routine　of　their　lives。

〃This　is　not　the　schoolroom；　you　know；〃　cried　William；　when　she　made　some　inquiry　as　to　their　books。

〃No？〃

〃The　schoolroom　is　upstairs。　This　is　for　our　meals；　and　for　you　in　an　evening。〃

The　voice　of　Mr。　Carlyle　was　heard　at　this　juncture　in　the　hall；　and　Lucy　was　springing　toward　the