east lynne-第51部分

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〃Return　them　to　mefor　what？〃　inquired　Sir　Francis；　in　amazement。

〃I　have　no　longer　anything　whatever　to　do　with　you　in　any　way。　Do　not　make　my　arm　ache；　holding　out　these　notes　to　you　so　long！　Take　them！〃

Sir　Francis　took　the　notes　from　her　hand　and　placed　them　on　a　stand　near　to　her。

〃If　it　be　your　wish　that　all　relations　should　end　between　us；　why；　let　it　be　so；〃　he　said。　〃I　must　confess　I　think　it　may　be　the　wisest　course；　as　things　have　come　to　this　pass；　for　a　cat　and　dog　life；　which　would　seemingly　be　ours；　is　not　agreeable。　Remember；　though；　that　it　is　your　doing；　not　mine。　But　you　cannot　think　I　am　going　to　see　you　starve；　Isabel。　A　sumwe　will　fix　upon　the　amount　amicably　shall　be　placed　to　your　credit　half…yearly；　and〃

〃I　beg　of　you　to　cease；〃　she　passionately　interrupted。　〃What　do　you　take　me　for？〃

〃Take　you　for！　Why；　how　can　you　live？　You　have　no　fortuneyou　must　receive　assistance　from　some　one。〃

〃I　will　not　receive　it　from　you。　If　the　whole　world　denied　me；　and　I　could　find　no　help　from　strangers；　or　means　of　earning　my　own　bread；　and　it　was　necessary　that　I　should　still　exist；　I　would　apply　to　my　husband　for　means；　rather　than　to　you。　In　saying　this；　it　ought　to　convince　you　that　the　topic　may　cease。〃

〃Your　husband！〃　sarcastically　rejoined　Sir　Francis。　〃Generous　man！〃

A　flush；　deep　and　painful；　dyed　her　cheeks。　〃I　should　have　said　my　late　husband。　You　need　not　have　reminded　me　of　the　mistake。〃

〃If　you　will　accept　nothing　for　yourself；　you　must　for　the　child。　He；　at　any　rate；　falls　to　my　share。　I　shall　give　you　a　few　hundred　a　year　with　him。〃

She　beat　her　hands　before　her；　as　if　beating　off　the　man　and　his　words。　〃Not　a　farthing；　now　or　ever。　Were　you　to　attempt　to　send　money　to　him；　I　would　throw　it　into　the　nearest　river。　/Whom/　do　you　take　me　for？　What　do　you　take　me　for？〃　she　repeated；　rising　in　her　bitter　mortification。　〃If　you　have　put　me　beyond　the　pale　of　the　world；　I　am　still　Lord　Mount　Severn's　daughter！〃

〃You　did　as　much　toward　putting　yourself　beyond　its　pale　as〃

〃Don't　I　know　it？　Have　I　not　said　so？〃　she　sharply　interrupted。　And　then　she　sat；　striving　to　calm　herself；　clasping　together　her　shaking　hands。

〃Well；　if　you　will　persist　in　this　perverse　resolution；　I　cannot　mend　it；〃　resumed　Sir　Francis。　〃In　a　little　time　you　may　probably　wish　to　recall　it；　in　which　case　a　line；　addressed　to　me　at　my　banker's；　will〃

Lady　Isabel　drew　herself　up。　〃Put　away　those　notes；　if　you　please；〃　she　interrupted；　not　allowing　him　to　finish　his　sentence。〃

He　took　out　his　pocket…book　and　placed　the　bank　notes　within　it。

〃Your　clothesthose　you　left　here　when　you　went　to　Englandyou　will　have　the　goodness　to　order　Pierre　to　take　away　this　afternoon。　And　now；　Sir　Francis；　I　believe　that　is　all：　we　will　part。〃

〃To　remain　mortal　enemies　from　henceforth？　Is　that　to　be　it？〃

〃To　be　strangers；〃　she　replied；　correcting　him。　〃I　wish　you　a　good　day。〃

〃So　you　will　not　even　shake　hands　with　me；　Isabel？〃

〃I　would　prefer　not。〃

And　thus　they　parted。　Sir　Francis　left　the　room；　but　not　immediately　the　house。　He　went　into　a　distant　apartment；　and；　calling　the　servants　before　himthere　were　but　twogave　them　each　a　year's　wages　in　advance〃That　they　might　not　have　to　trouble　miladi　for　money；〃　he　said　to　them。　Then　he　paid　a　visit　to　the　landlord；　and　handed　him；　likewise　a　year's　rent　in　advance；　making　the　same　remark。　After　that；　he　ordered　dinner　at　a　hotel；　and　the　same　night　he　and　Pierre　departed　on　their　journey　home　again；　Sir　Francis　thanking　his　lucky　star　that　he　had　so　easily　got　rid　of　a　vexatious　annoyance。

And　Lady　Isabel？　She　passed　her　evening　alone；　sitting　in　the　same　place；　close　to　the　fire　and　the　sparks。　The　attendant　remonstrated　that　miladi　was　remaining　up　too　late　for　her　strength；　but　miladi　ordered　her　and　her　remonstrances　into　an　adjoining　room。

When　Lady　Isabel　lay　down　to　rest；　she　sank　into　a　somewhat　calmer　sleep　than　she　had　known　of　late；　also　into　a　dream。　She　thought　she　was　back　at　East　Lynnenot　/back/；　in　one　sense；　but　that　she　seemed　never　to　have　gone　away　from　itwalking　in　the　flower　garden　with　Mr。　Carlyle；　while　the　three　children　played　on　the　lawn。　Her　arm　was　within　her　husband's；　and　he　was　relating　something　to　her。　What　the　news　was；　she　could　not　remember　afterward；　excepting　that　it　was　connected　with　the　office　and　old　Mr。　Dill；　and　that　Mr。　Carlyle　laughed　when　he　told　it。　They　appeared　to　be　interrupted　by　the　crying　of　Archibald；　and；　in　turning　to　the　lawn　to　ask　what　was　the　matter；　she　awoke。　Alas！　It　was　the　actual　crying　of　her　own　child　which　awoke　herthis　last　childthe　ill…fated　little　being　in　the　cradle　beside　her。　But；　for　a　single　instant；　she　forgot　recent　events　and　doings；　she　believed　she　was　indeed　in　her　happy　home　at　East　Lynne；　a　proud　woman；　an　honored　wife。　As　recollection　flashed　across　her；　with　its　piercing　stings；　she　gave　vent　to　a　sharp　cry　of　agony；　of　unavailing　despair。



CHAPTER　XXVI。

ALONE　FOR　EVERMORE。

A　surprise　awaited　Lady　Isabel　Vane。　It　was　on　a　windy　day　in　the　following　March　that　a　traveller　arrived　at　Grenoble；　and　inquired　his　way　of　a　porter；　to　the　best　hotel　in　the　place；　his　French　being　such　as　only　an　Englishman　can　produce。

〃Hotel？　Let's　see；〃　returned　the　man；　politely；　but　with　native　indifference。　〃There　are　two　hotels；　nearly　contiguous　to　each　other；　and　monsieur　would　find　himself　comfortable　at　either。　There　is　the　Tross　Dauphins；　and　there　is　the　Ambassadeurs。〃

〃Monsieur〃　chose　haphazard；　the　Hotel　des　Ambassadeurs；　and　was　conducted　to　it。　Shortly　after　his　arrival　there；　he　inquired　his　road　to　the　Place　Grenette；　and　was　offered　to　be　shown：　but　he　preferred　that　it　should　be　described　to　him；　and　to　go　alone。　The　Place　was　found；　and　he　thence　turned　to　the　apartments　of　Lady　Isabel　Vane。

Lady　Isabel　was　sitting　where　you　saw　her　the　previous　Decemberin　the　precise　spotcourting　the　warmth　of　the　fire；　and　it　seemed；　courting　the　sparks　also；　for　they　appeared　as　fond　of　her　as　formerly。　The　marvel　was；　how　she　had　escaped　spontaneous　combustion；　but　there　she　was　yet；　and　her　clothes　likewise。　You　might　think　that　but　a　night　had　passed；　when　you　looked　at　the　room；　for　it　wore　precisely　the　same　aspect　now；　as　then；　everything　was　the　same；　even　to　the　child's　cradle　in　the　remote　corner；　partially　hidden　by　the　bed…curtains；　and　the　sleeping　child　in　it。　Lady　Isabel's　progress　toward　recovery　was　remarkably　lingering；　as　is　frequently　the　case　when　mind　and　body　are　both　diseased。　She　was　so　sitting　when　Susanne　entered　the　room；　and　said　that　a　〃Monsieur　Anglais〃　had　arrived　in　the　town　to　see　her；　and　was　waiting　below；　in　the　saloon。

Lady　Isabel　was　startled。　An　English　gentlemanto　see　/her/！

English　for　certain；　was　Susanne's　answer；　for　she　had　difficulty　to　comprehend　his　French。

Who　could　be　desirous　to　see　her？　One　out　of　the　world　and　forgotten！　〃Susanne；〃　she　cried　aloud；　a　thought　striking　her；　〃it　is　never　Sir　Franit　is　not　monsieur！〃

〃Not　in　the　least　like　monsieur；〃　complacently　answered　Susanne。　〃It　is　a　tall；　brave　English　gentleman；　proud　and　noble　looking　like　a　prince。〃

Every　pulse　within　Lady　Isabel's　body　throbbed　rebelliously：　her　heart　bounded　till　it　was　like　to　burst　her　side；　and　she　turned　sick　with　astonishment。

〃Tall；　brave；　noble？〃　could　that　description　apply　to　any　but　Mr。　Carlyle？　Strange　that　so　unnatural　an　idea　should　have　occurred　to　her；　it　would　not　have　done　so　in　a　calmer　moment。　She　rose；　tottered　across　the　chamber；　and　prepared　to　descend。　Susanne's　tongue　was　let　loose　at　the　proceeding。

〃Was　miladi　out　of　her　senses？　To　attempt　going　downstairs　would　be　a　pretty　ending；　for　she'd　surely　fall　by　the　way。　Miladi　knew　that　the　bottom　step　was　of　lead；　and　that　no　head　could　pitch　down　upon　that；　without　ever　never　being　a　head　any　more；　except　in　the　hospitals。　Let　miladi　sit　still　in　her　place　and　she'd　bring　the　monsieur　up。　What　did　it　signify？　He　was　not　a　young　/petit　maitre/；　to　quiz　things：　he　was　fifty；　if　he　was　a　day：　his　hair　already　turned　to　fine　gray。〃

This　set　the　question　touching　Mr。　Carlyle　at　rest；　and　her　heart　stilled　again。　The　next　moment　she　was　inwardly　laughing　in　her　bitter　mockery　at　her　insensate　folly。　Mr。　Carlyle　come　to　see　her！　/Her/！　Francis　Levison　might　be　sending　over　some　man　of　business；　regarding　the　money　question；　was　her　next　thought：　if　so；　she　should　certainly　refuse　to　see　him。

〃Go　down　to　the　gentleman　and　ask　him　his　name　Susanne。　Ask　also　from　whence　he　came。〃

Susanne　disappeared；　and　returned；　and　the　gentleman　behind　her。　Whether　she　had　invited　him；　or　whether　he　had　chosen　to　come　uninvited；　there　he　was。　Lady　Isabel　caught　a　glimpse；　and　flung　her　hands　over　her　burning　cheeks　of　shame。　It　was　Lord　Mount　Severn。

〃How　did　you　find　out　where　I　was？〃　she　gasped；　when　some　painful　words　had　been　uttered　on　both　sides。

〃I　went　to　Sir　Francis　Levison　and　demanded　your　address。　Certain　recent　events　implied　that　he　and　you　must　have　parted；　and　I　therefore　deemed　it　time　to　inquire　what　he　had　done　with　you。〃

〃Since　last　July；〃　she　interrupted。　Lifting　up　her　wan　face；　now　colorless　again。　〃Do　not　think　worse　of　me　than　I　am。　He　was　here　in　December　for　an　hour's　recriminating　interview；　and　we　parted　for　life。〃

〃What　have　you　heard　of　him　lately？〃

〃Not　anything。　I　never　know　what　is　passing　in　the　world　at　home；　I　have　no　newspaper；　no　correspondence；　and　he　would　scarcely　be　so　bold　as　to　write　to　me　again。〃

〃I　shall　not　shock　you；　then　by　some　tidings　I　bring　you　regarding　him；〃　returned　Lord　Mount　Severn。

〃The　greatest　shock　to　me　would　be　to　hear　that　I　should　ever　again　be　subjected　to　the　sight　of　him；〃　she　answered。

〃He　is　married。〃

〃Heaven　have　pity　on　his　poor　wife！〃　was　all　the　comment　of　Lady　Isabel。

〃He　has　married　Alice　Challoner。〃

She　lifted　her　head；　then；　in　simple　surprise。　〃Alice？　Not　Blanche？〃

〃The　story　runs　that　he　has　played　Blanche　very　false。　That　he　has　been　with　her　much　during　the　last　three　or　four　months；　leading　on　her　expectations；　and　then　suddenly　proposed　for　her　younger　sister。　I　know　nothing　of　the　details　myself；　it　is　not　likely；　and　I　heard　nothing；　until　one　e