east lynne-第84节

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ushed　scarlet；　and　she　glided　out　of　the　room　again　as　softly　as　she　had　entered　it。　They　had　not　seen　her。　Mr。　Carlyle　drew　his　wife　to　the　window；　and　stood　there；　his　arms　round　her　waist。

〃Barbara；　what　should　you　say　to　living　in　London　for　a　few　months　out　of　the　twelve？〃

〃London？　I　am　very　happy　where　I　am。　Why　should　you　ask　me　that？　You　are　not　going　to　live　in　London？〃

〃I　am　not　sure　of　that。　I　think　I　am　for　a　portion　of　the　year。　I　have　had　an　offer　made　me　this　afternoon；　Barbara。〃

She　looked　at　him；　wondering　what　he　meantwondering　whether　he　was　serious。　An　offer？　What　sort　of　an　offer？　Of　what　nature　could　it　be？

He　smiled　at　her　perplexity。　〃Should　you　like　to　see　M。　P。　attached　to　my　name？　West　Lynne　wants　me　to　become　its　member。〃

A　pause　to　take　in　the　news；　a　sudden　rush　of　color；　and　then　she　gleefully　clasped　her　hands　round　his　arm；　her　eyes　sparkling　with　pleasure。

〃Oh；　Archibald；　how　glad　I　am！　I　knew　how　you　were　appreciated；　and　you　will　be　appreciated　more　and　more。　This　is　right；　it　was　not　well　for　you　to　remain　what　you　are　for　lifea　private　individual；　a　country　lawyer。〃

〃I　am　perfectly　contented　with　my　lot；　Barbara；〃　he　seriously　said。　〃I　am　too　busy　to　be　otherwise。〃

〃I　know　that；　were　you　but　a　laboring　man；　toiling　daily　for　the　bread　you　eat；　you　would　be　contented；　feeling　that　you　were　fulfilling　your　appointed　duty　to　the　utmost；〃　she　impulsively　said；　〃but；　Archibald；　can　you　not　still　be　a　busy　man　at　West　Lynne；　although　you　do　become　its　representative？〃

〃If　I　could　not；　I　should　never　accept　the　honor；　Barbara。　For　some　few　months　of　the　year　I　must　of　necessity　be　in　town；　but　Dill　is　an　efficient　substitute；　and　I　can　run　down　for　a　week　or　so　between　times。　Part　of　Saturday；　Sunday；　and　part　of　Monday；　I　can　always　pass　here；　if　I　please。　Of　course　these　changes　have　their　drawbacks；　as　well　as　their　advantages。〃

〃Where　would　be　the　drawbacks　in　this？〃　she　interrupted。

〃Well；〃　smiled　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃in　the　first　place；　I　suppose　you　could　not　always　be　with　me。〃

Her　hands　fellher　color　faded。　〃Oh；　Archibald！〃

〃If　I　do　become　their　member；　I　must　go　up　to　town　as　soon　as　elected；　and　I　don't　think　it　will　do　for　my　little　wife　to　be　quitting　her　home　to　travel　about　just　now。〃

Barbara's　face　wore　a　very　blank　look。　She　could　not　dissent　from　Mr。　Carlyle's　reasoning。

〃And　you　must　remain　in　London　to　the　end　of　the　session；　while　I　am　here！　Separated！　Archibald；〃　she　passionately　added；　while　the　tears　gushed　into　her　eyes。　〃I　could　not　/live/　without　you。〃

〃Then　what　is　to　be　done？　Must　I　decline　it？〃

〃Decline　it！　Oh；　of　course　not！　I　know　we　are　looking　on　the　dark　side　of　things。　I　can　go　very　well　with　you　for　a　monthperhaps　two。〃

〃You　think　so？〃

〃I　am　sure　so。　And；　mind　you　must　not　encourage　mamma　to　talk　me　out　of　it。　Archibald；〃　she　continued；　resting　her　head　upon　his　breast；　her　sweet　face　turned　up　beseechingly　to　his；　〃you　would　rather　have　me　with　you；　would　you　not？〃

He　bent　his　own　down　upon　it。　〃What　do　you　think　about　it；　my　darling？〃

Once　morean　opportune　moment　for　her　to　enterLady　Isabel。　Barbara　heard　her　this　time；　and　sprang　away　from　her　husband。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　round　at　the　movement；　and　saw　Madame　Vine。　She　came　forward；　her　lips　ashy；　her　voice　subdued。

Six　months　now　had　she　been　at　East　Lynne；　and　had　hitherto　escaped　detection。　Time　and　familiarity　render　us　accustomed　to　most　things　to　danger　among　the　rest；　and　she　had　almost　ceased　to　fear　recognition；　livingso　far　as　that　point　wentfar　more　peaceably　than　she　had　done　at　first。　She　and　the　children　were　upon　the　best　of　terms。　She　had　greatly　endeared　herself　to　them；　she　loved　them；　and　they　loved　herperhaps　nature　was　asserting　her　own　hidden　claims。

She　felt　very　anxious　about　William。　He　seemed　to　grow　weaker；　and　she　determined　to　make　her　fears　known　to　Mr。　Carlyle。

She　quitted　the　parlor。　She　had　heard　Mr。　Carlyle　come　in。　Crossing　the　hall；　she　tapped　softly　at　the　drawing…room　door；　and　then　as　softly　entered。　It　was　the　moment　of　Mr。　Carlyle's　loud　greeting　to　his　wife。　They　stood　together　heedless　of　her。

Gliding　out　again；　she　paced　the　hall；　her　hands　pressed　upon　her　beating　heart。　How　/dared/　that　heart　rise　up　in　sharp　rebellion　at　these　witnessed　tokens　of　love？　Was　Barbara　not　his　wife？　Had　she　not　a　legal　claim　to　all　his　tenderness？　Who　was　she　that　she　should　resent　them　in　her　jealousy？　What；　though　they　had　once　been　hers；　hers　only；　had　she　not　signed　and　sealed　her　own　forfeit　of　them；　and　so　made　room　for　Barbara？

Back　to　the　gray　parlor；　there　she　stood；　her　elbow　on　the　mantelpiece；　her　eyes　hidden　by　her　hand。　Thus　she　remained　for　some　minutes；　and　Lucy　thought　how　sad　she　looked。

But　Lucy　felt　hungry；　and　was　casting　longing　glances　to　the　tea…　table。　She　wondered　how　long　her　governess　meant　to　keep　it　waiting。　〃Madame　Vine；〃　cried　she　presently；　〃don't　you　know　that　tea　is　ready？〃

This　caused　Madame　Vine　to　raise　her　eyes。　They　fell　on　the　pale　boy　at　her　feet。　She　made　no　immediate　answer；　only　placed　her　hand　on　Lucy's　shoulder。

〃Oh；　Lucy　dear；　II　have　many　sorrows　to　bear。〃

〃The　tea　will　warm　you；　and　there　is　some　nice　jam；〃　was　Miss　Lucy's　offered　consolation。

〃Their　greeting；　tender　as　it　may　be；　is　surely　over　by　this　time；〃　thought　Lady　Isabel；　an　expression　something　like　mockery　curving　her　lips。　〃I　will　venture　again。〃

Only　to　see　him　with　his　wife's　face　on　his　breast；　and　his　lips　bent　upon　it。　But　they　had　heard　her　this　time；　and　she　had　to　advance；　in　spite　of　her　spirit　of　misery　and　her　whitened　features。

〃Would　you　be　so　good　sir；　as　to　come　and　look　at　William？〃　she　asked　in　a　low　tone；　of　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Certainly。〃

〃What　for？〃　interjected　Barbara。

〃He　looks　very　ill。　I　do　not　like　his　looks。　I　am　fearing　whether　he　can　be　worse　than　we　have　thought。〃

They　went　to　the　gray　parlor；　all　three　of　them。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　in　first；　and　had　taken　a　long；　silent　look　at　William　before　the　others　entered。

〃What　is　he　doing　on　the　floor？〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　in　her　astonishment。　〃He　should　not　lie　on　the　floor；　Madame　Vine。〃

〃He　lays　himself　down　there　at　the　dusk　hour；　and　I　cannot　get　him　up　again。　I　try　to　persuade　him　to　use　the　sofa；　but　it　is　of　no　use。〃

〃The　floor　will　not　hurt　him；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。　/This/　was　the　dark　shade：　his　boy's　failing　health。

William　opened　his　eyes。　〃Who's　thatpapa？〃

〃Don't　you　feel　well；　William？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I'm　very　well；　but　I　am　tired。〃

〃Why　do　you　lie　down　here？〃

〃I　like　lying　here。　Papa；　that　pretty　white　rabbit　of　mine　is　dead。〃

〃Indeed。　Suppose　you　get　up　and　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

〃I　don't　know　about　it　myself　yet；〃　said　William；　softly　rising。　〃The　gardener　told　Lucy　when　she　was　out　just　now：　I　did　not　go；　I　was　tired。　He　said〃

〃What　has　tired　you？〃　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle；　taking　hold　of　the　boy's　hand。

〃Oh；　nothing。　I　am　always　tired。〃

〃Do　you　tell　Mr。　Wainwright　that　you　are　tired？〃

〃No。　Why　should　I　tell　him？　I　wish　he　would　not　order　me　to　take　that　nasty　medicine；　that　cod　liver　oil。〃

〃But　it　is　to　make　you　strong；　my　boy。〃

〃It　makes　me　sick。　I　always　feel　sick　after　it；　papa。　Madame　Vine　says　I　ought　to　have　cream。　That　would　be　nice。〃

〃Cream？〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle；　turning　his　eyes　on　Madame　Vine。

〃I　have　known　cream　to　do　a　great　deal　of　good　in　a　case　like　William's；〃　she　observed。　〃I　believe　that　no　better　medicine　can　be　given；　that　it　has　in　fact　no　substitute。〃

〃It　can　be　tried；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Pray　give　your　orders；　Madame　Vine；　for　anything　you　think　may　be　beneficial　to　him；〃　Mrs。　Carlyle　added。　〃You　have　had　more　experience　with　children　than　I。　Joyce〃

〃What　does　Wainwright　say？〃　interrupted　Mr。　Carlyle；　speaking　to　his　wife；　in　his　low　tone。

〃I　do　not　always　see　him　when　he　comes；　Archibald。　Madame　Vine　does；　I　believe。〃

〃Oh；　dear！〃　cried　Lucy；　〃can't　we　have　tea？　I　want　some　bread　and　jam。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　turned　round；　smiled　and　nodded　at　her。　〃Patience　is　good　for　little　girls；　Miss　Lucy。　Would　you　like　some　bread　and　jam；　my　boy？〃

William　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　eat　jam。　I　am　only　thirsty。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　cast　a　long　and　intent　look　at　him；　and　then　left　the　room。　Lady　Isabel　followed　him；　her　thoughts　full　of　her　ailing　child。

〃Do　you　think　him　very　ill；　sir？〃　she　whispered。

〃I　think　he　looks　so。　What　does　Mr。　Wainwright　say？〃

〃He　says　nothing　to　me。　I　have　not　inquired　his　true　condition。　Until　to…night　it　did　not　come　to　me　that　there　was　any　apprehension。〃

〃Does　he　look　so　much　worse　to…night？〃

〃Not　any　worse　than　customary。　Latterly　he　had　looked　just　like　this　in　the　evening。　It　was　a　remark　of　Hannah's　that　roused　my　alarm：　she　thinks　he　is　on　the　road　to　death。　What　can　we　do　to　save　him？〃

She　clasped　her　hands　as　she　spoke；　in　the　intensity　of　her　emotion。　She　almost　forgot；　as　they　stood　there　together　talking　of　the　welfare　of　the　child；　their　child；　that　he　was　no　longer　her　husband。　Almost；　not　quite；　utterly　impossible　would　it　be　for　her　wholly　to　forget　the　dreadful　present。　Neither　he　nor　the　child　could　again　belong　to　her　in　this　world。

A　strange　rising　of　the　throat　in　her