east lynne-第24部分

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The　earl　stood　as　one　petrified；　staring　at　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃I　learnt　it；　I　must　premise；　through　the　chattering　revelations　of　your　little　son；　Isabel；　of　course；　would　not　have　mentioned　it　to　me；　but　when　the　child　had　spoken；　she　did　not　deny　it。　In　short　she　was　too　broken…hearted；　too　completely　bowed　in　spirit　to　deny　it。　It　aroused　all　my　feelings　of　indignationit　excited　in　me　an　irresistible　desire　to　emancipate　her　from　this　cruel　life；　and　take　her　where　she　would　find　affection；　and　I　hope　happiness。　There　was　only　one　way　which　I　could　do　this；　and　I　risked　it。　I　asked　her　to　become　my　wife；　and　to　return　to　her　home　at　East　Lynne。〃

The　earl　was　slowly　recovering　from　his　petrifaction。　〃Then；　am　I　to　understand；　that　when　you　called　that　day　at　my　house；　you　carried　no　intention　with　you　of　proposing　to　Isabel？〃

〃Not　any。　It　was　an　impromptu　step；　the　circumstances　under　which　I　found　her　calling　it　forth。〃

The　earl　paced　the　room；　perplexed　still；　and　evidently　disturbed。　〃May　I　inquire　if　you　love　her？〃　he　abruptly　said。

Mr。　Carlyle　paused　ere　he　spoke；　and　a　red　flush　dyed　his　face。　〃Those　sort　of　feelings　man　rarely　acknowledges　to　man；　Lord　Mount　Severn；　but　I　will　answer　you。　I　do　love　her；　passionately　and　sincerely；　I　learnt　to　love　her　at　East　Lynne；　but　I　could　have　carried　my　love　silently　within　me　to　the　end　of　my　life　and　never　betrayed　it；　and　probably　should　have　done　so；　but　for　the　unexpected　visit　to　Castle　Marling。　If　the　idea　of　making　her　my　wife　had　never　previously　occurred　to　me　as　practicable；　it　was　that　I　deemed　her　rank　incompatible　with　my　own。〃

〃As　it　was；〃　said　the　earl。

〃Country　solicitors　have　married　peers'　daughters　before　now；〃　remarked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　only　add　another　to　the　list。〃

〃But　you　cannot　keep　her　as　a　peer's　daughter；　I　presume？〃

〃East　Lynne　will　be　her　home。　Our　establishment　will　be　small　and　quiet；　as　compared　with　her　father's。　I　explained　to　Isabel　how　quiet　at　the　first；　and　she　might　have　retracted　had　she　wished。　I　explained　also　in　full　to　Lady　Mount　Severn。　East　Lynne　will　descend　to　our　eldest　son；　should　we　have　children。　My　profession　is　most　lucrative；　my　income　good；　were　I　to　die　to…morrow；　Isabel　would　enjoy　East　Lynne　and　about　three　thousand　pounds　per　annum。　I　gave　these　details　in　the　letter；　which　appears　to　have　miscarried。〃

The　earl　made　no　immediate　reply；　he　was　absorbed　in　thought。

〃Your　lordship　perceives；　I　hope；　that　there　has　been　nothing　'clandestine'　in　my　conduct　to　Lady　Isabel。〃

Lord　Mount　Severn　held　out　his　hand。　〃I　refused　my　hand　when　you　came　in；　Mr。　Carlyle；　as　you　may　have　observed；　perhaps　you　will　refuse　yours　now；　though　I　should　be　proud　to　shake　it。　When　I　find　myself　in　the　wrong；　I　am　not　above　acknowledging　the　fact；　and　I　must　state　my　opinion　that　you　have　behaved　most　kindly　and　honorably。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　smiled　and　put　his　hand　into　the　earl's。　The　latter　retained　it；　while　he　spoke　in　a　whisper。

〃Of　course　I　cannot　be　ignorant　that；　in　speaking　of　Isabel's　ill…　treatment；　you　alluded　to　my　wife。　Has　it　transpired　beyond　yourselves？〃

〃You　may　be　sure　that　neither　Isabel　nor　myself　would　mention　it；　we　shall　dismiss　it　from　among　our　reminiscences。　Let　it　be　as　though　you　had　never　heard　it；　it　is　past　and　done　with。〃

〃Isabel；〃　said　the　earl；　as　he　was　departing　that　evening；　for　he　remained　to　spend　the　day　with　them；　〃I　came　here　this　morning　almost　prepared　to　strike　your　husband；　and　I　go　away　honoring　him。　Be　a　good　and　faithful　wife　to　him；　for　he　deserves　it。〃

〃Of　course　I　shall；〃　she　answered；　in　surprise。

Lord　Mount　Severn　steamed　on　to　Castle　Marling；　and　there　he　had　a　stormy　interview　with　his　wifeso　stormy　that　the　sounds　penetrated　to　the　ears　of　the　domestics。　He　left　again　the　same　day；　in　anger；　and　proceeded　to　Mount　Severn。

〃He　will　have　time　to　cool　down；　before　we　meet　in　London；〃　was　the　comment　of　my　lady。



CHAPTER　XV。

COMING　HOME。

Miss　Carlyle；　having　resolved　upon　her　course；　quitted　her　own　house；　and　removed　to　East　Lynne　with　Peter　and　her　handmaidens。　In　spite　of　Mr。　Dill's　grieved　remonstrances；　she　discharged　the　servants　whom　Mr。　Carlyle　had　engaged；　all　save　one　man。

On　a　Friday　night；　about　a　month　after　the　wedding；　Mr。　Carlyle　and　his　wife　came　home。　They　were　expected；　and　Miss　Carlyle　went　through　the　hall　to　receive　them；　and　stood　on　the　upper　steps；　between　the　pillars　of　the　portico。　An　elegant　chariot　with　four　post…horses　was　drawing　up。　Miss　Carlyle　compressed　her　lips　as　she　scanned　it。　She　was　attired　in　a　handsome　dark　silk　dress　and　a　new　cap；　her　anger　had　had　time　to　cool　down　in　the　last　month；　and　her　strong　common　sense　told　her　that　the　wiser　plan　would　be　to　make　the　best　of　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　came　up　the　steps　with　Isabel。

〃You　here；　Cornelia！　That　was　kind。　How　are　you？　Isabel；　this　is　my　sister。〃

Lady　Isabel　put　forth　her　hand；　and　Miss　Carlyle　condescended　to　touch　the　tips　of　her　fingers。　〃I　hope　you　are　well；　ma'am；〃　she　jerked　out。

Mr。　Carlyle　left　them　together；　and　went　back　to　search　for　some　trifles　which　had　been　left　in　the　carriage。　Miss　Carlyle　led　the　way　to　a　sitting…room；　where　the　supper…tray　was　laid。　〃You　would　like　to　go　upstairs　and　take　your　things　off　before　upper；　ma'am？〃　she　said；　in　the　same　jerking　tone　to　Lady　Isabel。

〃Thank　you。　I　will　go　to　my　rooms；　but　I　do　not　require　supper。　We　have　dined。〃

〃Then　what　would　you　like　to　take？〃　asked　Miss　Corny。

〃Some　tea；　if　you　please；　I　am　very　thirsty。〃

〃Tea！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Corny。　〃So　late　as　this！　I　don't　know　that　they　have　boiling　water。　You'd　never　sleep　a　wink　all　night；　ma'am；　if　you　took　tea　at　eleven　o'clock。〃

〃Oh；　then；　never　mind；〃　replied　Lady　Isabel。　〃It　is　of　no　consequence。　Do　not　let　me　give　trouble。〃

Miss　Carlyle　whisked　out　of　the　room；　upon　what　errand　was　best　known　to　herself；　and　in　the　hall　she　and　Marvel　came　to　an　encounter。　No　words　passed；　but　each　eyed　the　other　grimly。　Marvel　was　very　stylish；　with　five　flounces　to　her　dress；　a　veil；　and　a　parasol。　Meanwhile；　Lady　Isabel　sat　down　and　burst　into　bitter　tears　and　sobs。　A　chill　had　come　over　her；　it　did　not　seem　like　coming　to　East　Lynne。　Mr。　Carlyle　entered　and　witnessed　the　grief。

〃Isabel！〃　he　uttered　in　amazement；　as　he　hastened　up　to　her。　〃My　darling；　what　ails　you？〃

〃I　am　tired；　I　think；〃　she　gently　answered；　〃and　coming　into　the　house　again　made　me　think　of　papa。　I　should　like　to　go　to　my　rooms；　Archibald；　but　I　don't　know　which　they　are。〃

Neither　did　Mr。　Carlyle　know；　but　Miss　Carlyle　came　whisking　in　again；　and　said：　〃The　best　rooms；　those　next　the　library。　Should　she　go　up　with　my　lady？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　preferred　to　go　himself；　and　he　held　out　his　arm　to　Isabel。　She　drew　her　veil　over　her　face　as　she　passed　Miss　Carlyle。

The　branches　were　not　lighted；　and　the　room　looked　cold　and　comfortless。　〃Things　seem　all　sixes　and　sevens　in　the　house；〃　remarked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　fancy　the　servants　must　have　misunderstood　my　letter；　and　not　have　expected　us　until　to…morrow　night。〃

On　returning　to　the　sitting…room　Mr。　Carlyle　inquired　the　cause　of　the　servants'　negligence。

〃I　sent　them　away　because　they　were　superfluous　encumbrances；〃　hastily　replied　Miss　Carlyle。　〃We　have　four　in　the　house；　and　my　lady　has　brought　a　fine　maid；　I　see；　making　five。　I　have　come　up　here　to　live。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　felt　checkmated。　He　had　always　bowed　to　the　will　of　Miss　Corny；　but　he　had　an　idea　that　he　and　his　wife　should　be　better　without　her。　〃And　your　house？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃I　have　let　it　furnished；　the　people　enter　to…day。　So　you　cannot　turn　me　out　of　East　Lynne　into　the　road；　or　to　furnished　lodgings；　Archibald。　There'll　be　enough　expense　without　our　keeping　on　two　houses；　and　most　people　in　your　place　would　jump　at　the　prospect　of　my　living　here。　Your　wife　will　be　mistress。　I　do　not　intend　to　take　her　honors　from　her；　but　I　will　save　her　a　world　of　trouble　in　managementbe　as　useful　to　her　as　a　housekeeper。　She　will　be　glad　of　that；　inexperienced　as　she　is。　I　dare　say　she　never　gave　a　domestic　order　in　her　life。〃

This　was　a　view　of　the　case；　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　so　plausibly　put；　that　he　began　to　think　it　might　be　all　for　the　best。　He　had　great　reverence　for　his　sister's　judgment；　force　of　habit　is　strong　upon　all　of　us。　Still　he　did　not　know。

〃Did　you　buy　that　fine　piano　which　has　arrived？〃　angrily　asked　Miss　Carlyle。

〃It　was　my　present　to　Isabel。〃

Miss　Corny　groaned。　〃What　did　it　cost？〃

〃The　cost　is　of　no　consequence。　The　old　piano　here　was　a　bad　one；　and　I　bought　a　better。〃

〃What　did　it　cost？〃　repeated　Miss　Carlyle。

〃A　hundred　and　twenty　guineas；〃　he　answered。　Obedience　to　her　will　was　yet　powerful　within　him。

Miss　Corny　threw　up　her　hands　and　eyes。　But　at　that　moment　Peter　entered　with　some　hot　water　which　his　master　had　rung　for。　Mr。　Carlyle　rose　and　looked　on　the　side…board。

〃Where　is　the　wine；　Peter？〃

The　servant　put　it　out；　port　and　sherry。　Mr。　Carlyle　drank　a　glass；　and　then　proceeded　to　mix　some　wine　and　water。　〃Shall　I　mix　some　for　you；　Cornelia？〃　he　asked。

〃I'll　mix　for　myself　if　I　want　any。　Who's　that　for？〃

〃Isabel。〃

He　quitted　the　room；　carrying　the　wine　and　water；　and　entered　his　wife's。　She　was　sitting　half　buried；　it　seemed；　in　the　arm…chair；　her　face　muffled　up。　As　she　raised　it；　he　saw　that　it　was　flushed　and　agitated；　that　her　eyes　were　bright；　and　her　frame　was　trembling。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　hastily　asked。

〃I　got　nervous　after　Marvel　went；〃　she　whispered；　laying　hold　of　him；　as　if　for　protection　from　terror。　〃I　came　back　to　the　chair　and　covered　my　head　over；　hoping　some　one　would　come　up。〃

〃I　have　been　talking　to　Cornelia。　But　what　made　you　nervous？〃

〃Oh！　I　was　very　foolish。　I　kept　thinking　of　frightful　things。　They　would　come　into　my　mind。　Do　not　blame　me；　Archibald。　This　is　the　room　papa　died　in。〃

〃Blame　you；　my　darling；〃　he　uttered　with　deep　feeling。

〃I　thought　of　a　dreadful　story　about　the　bats；　that　the　servants　told　I　dare　say　you　never　heard　it；　and　I　kept　thinking。　'Suppose　they　were　at　the　windows　now；　behind　the　blinds。'　And　then　I　was　afraid　to　look　at　the　bed；　I　fancied　I　might　seeyou　are　laughing！〃

Yes；　he　was　smiling；　for　he　knew　that　these　moments