east lynne-第104部分

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Mr。　Carlyle　gently　lifted　the　boy　himself。

〃Madame　Vine　is　an　untiring　nurse　to　you；　William；〃　he　observed；　gratefully　casting　a　glance　toward　her　in　the　distance；　where　she　had　retreated；　and　was　shaded　by　the　window　curtain。

William　made　no　reply；　he　seemed　to　be　trying　to　recall　something。　〃I　forget！　I　forget！〃

〃Forget　what？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃It　was　something　I　wanted　to　ask　you；　or　to　tell　you。　Isn't　Lucy　come　home？〃

〃I　suppose　not。〃

〃Papa；　I　want　Joyce。〃

〃I　will　send　her　home　to　you。　I　am　going　for　your　mamma　after　dinner。〃

〃For　mamma？oh；　I　remember　now。　Papa；　how　shall　I　know　mamma　in　Heaven？　Not　this　mamma。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　immediately　reply。　The　question　may　have　puzzled　him。　William　continued　hastily；　possibly　mistaking　the　motive　of　the　silence。

〃She　/will/　be　in　Heaven；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　child；〃　speaking　hurriedly。

〃Madame　Vine　knows　she　will。　She　saw　her　abroad；　and　mamma　told　her　thatwhat　was　it；　madame？〃

Madame　Vine　grew　sick　with　alarm。　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　his　eyes　upon　her　scarlet　faceas　much　as　he　could　get　to　see　of　it。　She　would　have　escaped　from　the　room　if　she　could。

〃Mamma　was　more　sorry　than　she　could　bear；〃　went　on　William；　finding　he　was　not　helped。　〃She　wanted　you；　papa；　and　she　wanted　us；　and　her　heart　broke；　and　she　died。〃

A　flush　rose　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　brow。　He　turned　inquiringly　to　Madame　Vine。

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　she　murmured；　with　desperate　energy。　〃I　ought　not　to　have　spoken；　I　ought　not　to　have　interfered　in　your　family　affairs。　I　spoke　only　as　I　thought　it　must　be；　sir。　The　boy　seemed　troubled　about　his　mother。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　at　sea。　〃Did　you　meet　his　mother　abroad？　I　scarcely　understand。〃

She　lifted　her　hand　and　covered　her　glowing　face。　〃No；　sir。〃　Surely　the　recording　angel　blotted　out　the　words！　If　ever　a　prayer　for　forgiveness　went　up　from　an　aching　heart；　it　must　have　gone　up　then；　for　the　equivocation　over　her　child's　death…bed！

Mr。　Carlyle　went　toward　her。　〃Do　you　perceive　the　change　in　his　countenance？〃　he　whispered。

〃Yes；　sir。　He　has　looked　like　this　since　a　strange　fit　of　trembling　that　came　on　in　the　afternoon。　Wilson　thought　he　might　be　taken　for　death。　I　fear　that　some　four　and　twenty　hours　will　end　it。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　rested　his　elbow　on　the　window　frame；　and　his　hand　upon　his　brow；　his　drooping　eyelids　falling　over　his　eyes。　〃It　is　hard　to　lose　him。〃

〃Oh；　sir；　he　will　be　better　off！〃　she　wailed；　choking　down　the　sobs　and　the　emotion　that　arose　threateningly。　〃We　/can/　bear　death；　it　is　not　the　worst　parting　that　the　earth　knows。　He　will　be　quit　of　this　cruel　world；　sheltered　in　Heaven。　I　wish　we　were　all　there！〃

A　servant　came　to　say　that　Mr。　Carlyle's　dinner　was　served；　and　he　proceeded　to　it　with　what　appetite　he　had。　When　he　returned　to　the　sick　room　the　daylight　had　faded；　and　a　solitary　candle　was　placed　where　its　rays　could　not　fall　upon　the　child's　face。　Mr。　Carlyle　took　the　light　in　his　hand　to　scan　that　face　again。　He　was　lying　sideways　on　the　pillow；　his　hollow　breath　echoing　through　the　room。　The　light　caused　him　to　open　his　eyes。

〃Don't；　papa；　please。　I　like　it　dark。〃

〃Only　for　a　moment；　my　precious　boy。〃　And　not　for　more　than　a　moment　did　Mr。　Carlyle　hold　it。　The　blue；　pinched；　ghastly　look　was　there　yet。　Death　was　certainly　coming　on　quick。

At　that　moment　Lucy　and　Archibald　came　in；　on　their　return　from　their　visit　to　Miss　Carlyle。　The　dying　boy　looked　up　eagerly。

〃Good…bye；　Lucy；〃　he　said；　putting　out　his　cold；　damp　hand。

〃I　am　not　going　out；〃　replied　Lucy。　〃We　have　but　just　come　home。〃

〃Good…bye；　Lucy；〃　repeated　he。

She　laid　hold　of　the　little　hand　then；　leaned　over；　and　kissed　him。　〃Good…bye；　William；　but　indeed　I　am　not　going　out　anywhere。〃

〃I　am；〃　said　he。　〃I　am　going　to　Heaven。　Where's　Archie？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　lifted　Archie　on　to　the　bed。　Lucy　looked　frightened；　Archie　surprised。

〃Archie；　good…bye；　good…bye；　dear；　I　am　going　to　Heaven；　to　that　bright；　blue　sky；　you　know。　I　shall　see　mamma　there；　and　I'll　tell　her　that　you　and　Lucy　are　coming　soon。〃

Lucy；　a　sensitive　child；　broke　into　a　loud　storm　of　sobs；　enough　to　disturb　the　equanimity　of　any　sober　sick　room。　Wilson　hastened　in　at　the　sound；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　sent　the　two　children　away；　with　soothing　promises　that　they　should　see　William　in　the　morning；　if　he　continued　well　enough。

Down　on　her　knees；　her　face　buried　in　the　counterpane；　a　corner　of　it　stuffed　into　her　mouth　that　it　might　help　to　stifle　her　agony；　knelt　Lady　Isabel。　The　moment's　excitement　was　well　nigh　beyond　her　strength　of　endurance。　Her　own　childhis　childthey　alone　around　its　death…　bed；　and　she　might　not　ask　or　receive　a　word　of　comfort；　of　consolation！

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　at　her　as　he　caught　her　choking　sobs　just　as　he　would　have　glanced　at　any　other　attentive　governessfeeling　her　sympathy；　doubtless；　but　nothing　more；　she　was　not　heart　and　part　with　him　and　his　departing　boy。　Lower　and　lower　bent　he　over　that　boy；　for　his　eyes　were　wet。　〃Don't　cry；　papa；〃　whispered　William；　raising　his　feeble　hand　caressingly　to　his　father's　cheek；　〃I　am　not　afraid　to　go。　Jesus　is　coming　for　me。〃

〃Afraid　to　go！　Indeed　I　hope　not；　my　gentle　boy。　You　are　going　to　God　to　happiness。　A　few　yearswe　know　not　how　fewand　we　shall　all　come　to　you。〃

〃Yes；　you　will　be　sure　to　come；　I　know　that。　I　shall　tell　mamma　so。　I　dare　say　she　is　looking　out　for　me　now。　Perhaps　she's　standing　on　the　banks　of　the　river；　watching　the　boats。〃

He　had　evidently　got　that　picture　of　Martin's　in　his　mind；　〃The　Plains　of　Heaven。〃　Mr。　Carlyle　turned　to　the　table。　He　saw　some　strawberry　juice；　pressed　from　the　fresh　fruit；　and　moistened　with　it　the　boy's　fevered　lips。

〃Papa；　I　can't　think　how　Jesus　can　be　in　all　the　boats！　Perhaps　they　don't　go　quite　at　the　same　time。　He　must　be；　you　know；　because　He　comes　to　fetch　us。〃

〃He　will　be　yours；　darling；〃　was　the　whispered；　fervent　answer。

〃Oh；　yes。　He　will　take　me　all　the　way　up　to　God；　and　say；　'Here's　a　poor　little　boy　come；　you　must　please　to　forgive　him　and　let　him　go　into　Heaven；　because　I　died　for　him！'　Papa　did　you　know　that　mamma's　heart　broke？〃

〃William；　I　think　it　likely　that　your　poor　mamma's　heart　did　break；　ere　death　came。　But　let　us　talk　of　you；　not　of　her。　Are　you　in　pain？〃

〃I　can't　breathe；　I　can't　swallow。　I　wish　Joyce　was　here。〃

〃She　will　not　be　long　now。〃

The　boy　nestled　himself　in　his　father's　arms；　and　in　a　few　minutes　appeared　to　be　asleep。　Mr。　Carlyle；　after　a　while；　gently　laid　him　on　his　pillow；　and　watched　him；　and　then　turned　to　depart。

〃Oh；　papa！　Papa！〃　he　cried　out；　in　a　tone　of　painful　entreaty；　opening　wide　his　yearning　eyes；　〃say　good…bye　to　me！〃

Mr。　Carlyle's　tears　fell　upon　the　little　upturned　face；　as　he　once　more　caught　it　to　his　breast。

〃My　darling；　your　papa　will　soon　be　back。　He　is　going　to　bring　mamma　to　see　you。〃

〃And　pretty　little　baby　Anna？〃

〃And　baby　Anna；　if　you　would　like　her　to　come　in。　I　will　not　leave　my　darling　boy　for　long；　he　need　not　fear。　I　shall　not　leave　you　again　to…night；　William；　when　once　I　am　back。〃

〃Then　put　me　down；　and　go；　papa。〃

A　lingering　embracea　fond；　lingering；　tearful　embraceMr。　Carlyle　holding　him　to　his　beating　heart；　then　he　laid　him　comfortably　on　his　pillow；　gave　him　a　teaspoonful　of　strawberry　juice；　and　hastened　away。

〃Good…bye；　papa！〃　came　forth　the　little　feeble　cry。

It　was　not　heard。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　gone；　gone　from　his　living　child　forever。　Up　rose　Lady　Isabel；　and　flung　her　arms　aloft　in　a　storm　of　sobs！

〃Oh；　William；　darling！　in　this　dying　moment　let　me　be　to　you　as　your　mother！〃

Again　he　unclosed　his　wearied　eyelids。　It　is　probable　that　he　only　partially　understood。

〃Papa's　gone　for　her。〃

〃Not　/her/！　II〃　Lady　Isabel　checked　herself；　and　fell　sobbing　on　the　bed。　No；　not　even　at　the　last　hour　when　the　world　was　closing　on　him；　dared　she　say；　I　am　your　mother。

Wilson　re…entered。　〃He　looks　as　if　he　were　dropping　off　to　sleep；〃　quoth　she。

〃Yes；〃　said　Lady　Isabel。　〃You　need　not　wait；　Wilson。　I　will　ring　if　he　requires　anything。〃

Wilson　though　withal　not　a　bad…hearted　woman；　was　not　one　to　remain　for　pleasure　in　a　sick…room；　if　told　she　might　leave　it。　She；　Lady　Isabel；　remained　alone。　She　fell　on　her　knees　again；　this　time　in　prayer　for　the　departing　spirit；　on　its　wing；　and　that　God　would　mercifully　vouchsafe　herself　a　resting…place　with　it　in　heaven。

A　review　of　the　past　then　rose　up　before　her；　from　the　time　of　her　first　entering　that　house；　the　bride　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　to　her　present　sojourn　in　it。　The　old　scenes　passed　through　her　mind　like　the　changing　picture　in　a　phantasmagoria。

Why　should　they　have　come；　there　and　then？　She　knew　not。

William　slept　on　silently；　/she/　thought　of　the　past。　The　dreadful　reflection；　〃If　I　had　not　done　as　I　did；　how　different　would　it　have　been　now！〃　had　been　sounding　its　knell　in　her　heart　so　often　that　she　had　almost　ceased　to　shudder　at　it。　The　very　nails　of　her　hands　had；　before　now；　entered　the　palms；　with　the　sharp　pain　it　brought。　Stealing　over　her　more　especially　this　night；　there；　as　she　knelt；　her　head　lying　on　the　counterpane；　came　the　recollection　of　that　first　illness　of　hers。　How　she　had　lain；　and；　in　that　unfounded　jealousy；　imagined　Barbara　the　house's　mistress。　She　dead！　Barbara　exalted　to　her　place。　Mr。　Carlyle's　wife；　her　child's　stepmother！　She　recalled　the　day　when；　her　mind　excited　by　a　certain　gossip　of　Wilson'sit　was　previously　in　a　state　of　fever　bordering　on　deliriumshe　had　prayed　her　husband；　in　terror　and　anguish；　not　to　marry　Barbara。　〃How　could　he　marry　her？〃　he　had　replied；　in　his　soothing　pity。　〃She；　Isabel；　was　his　wife。　Who　was　Barbara？　Nothing　to　them？〃　But　it　had　all　come　to　pass。　/She/　had　brought　it　forth。　Not　Mr。　Carlyle；　not　Barbara；　she　alone。　Oh；　the　dreadful　misery　of　the　retrospect！

Lost　in　thought；　in　anguish　past　and　present；　in　self…condemning　repentance；　the　time　passed　on。　Nearly　an　hour　must　have　elapsed　since　Mr。　Carlyle's　departure；　and　William　had　not　disturbed　her。　But　who　was　this；　coming　into　the　room？　Joyce。

She　hastily　rose　up；　as　Joyce；　advancing　with　a　quiet　step　drew　aside　the　clothes　to　look　at　William。　〃Master　says　he　has　been　wanting　me；〃　she　observed。　〃Whyoh！〃

It　was　a