east lynne-第94部分

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uld　I　ever　bear　to　be　called　Mrs。　Joe　Jiffin！　Not　but　Goodness　me！　what　do　you　want？〃

The　interruption　to　Afy's　chickens　was　caused　by　Mr。　Ebenezer　James。　That　gentleman；　who　had　been　walking　with　quick　steps　to　overtake　her；　gave　her　flounces　a　twitch　behind；　to　let　her　know　somebody　had　come　up。

〃How　are　you；　Afy？　I　was　going　after　you　to　Mrs。　Latimer's；　not　knowing　but　you　had　returned　home。　I　saw　you　this　morning　at　Miss　Corny's　windows。〃

〃Now；　I　don't　want　any　of　your　sauce；　Ebenezer　James。　Afy…ing　me！　The　other　day；　when　you　were　on　with　your　nonsense；　I　said　you　should　keep　your　distance。　You　took　and　told　Mr。　Jiffin　that　I　was　an　old　sweetheart　of　yours。　I　heard　of　it。〃

〃So　you　were；〃　laughed　Mr。　Ebenezer。

〃I　never　was；〃　flashed　Afy。　〃I　was　the　company　of　your　betters　in　those　days：　and　if　there　had　been　no　betters　in　the　case；　I　should　have　scorned　/you/。　Why！　you　have　been　a　strolling　player！〃

〃And　what　have　you　been？〃　returned　Mr。　Ebenezer；　a　quiet　tone　of　meaning　running　through　his　good…humored　laughter。

Afy's　cheeks　flushed　scarlet；　and　she　raised　her　hand　with　a　quick；　menacing　gesture。　But　that　they　were　in　the　public　street　Mr。　Ebenezer　might　have　found　his　ears　boxed。　Afy　dropped　her　hand　again；　and　made　a　dead　standstill。

〃If　you　think　any　vile；　false　insinuations　that　you　may　concoct　will　injure　me；　you　are　mistaken；　Ebenezer　James。　I　am　too　much　respected　in　the　place。　So　don't　try　it　on。〃

〃Why；　Afy；　what　has　put　you　out？　I　don't　want　to　injure　you。　Couldn't　do　it；　if　I　tried；　as　you　say；〃　he　added；　with　another　quiet　laugh。　〃I　have　been　in　too　many　scrapes　myself　to　let　my　tongue　bring　other　folks　into　one。〃

〃There；　that's　enough。　Just　take　yourself　off。　It's　not　over　reputable　to　have　you　at　one's　side　in　public。〃

〃Well；　I　will　relieve　you　of　my　company；　if　you'll　let　me　deliver　my　commission。　Though；　as　to　'reputable'however；　I　won't　put　you　out　further。　You　are　wanted　at　the　justice…room　at　three　o'clock　this　afternoon。　And　don't　fail；　please。〃

〃Wanted　at　the　justice…room！〃　retorted　Afy。　〃I！　What　for？〃

〃And　must　not　fail；　as　I　say；〃　repeated　Mr。　Ebenezer。　〃You　saw　Levison　taken　upyour　old　flame〃

Afy　stamped　her　foot　in　indignant　interruption。　〃Take　care　what　you　say；　Ebenezer　James！　Flame！　He？　I'll　have　you　put　up　for　defamation　of　character。〃

〃Don't　be　a　goose；　Afy。　It's　of　no　use　riding　the　high　horse　with　me。　You　know　where　I　saw　youand　saw　him。　People　here　said　you　were　with　Dick　Hare；　I　could　have　told　them　better；　but　I　did　not。　It　was　no　affair　of　mine；　that　I　should　proclaim　it；　neither　is　it　now。　Levison　/alias/　Thorn　is　taken　up　for　your　father's　murder；　and　you　are　wanted　to　give　evidence。　There！　that's　your　subpoena；　Ball　thought　you　would　not　come　without　one。〃

〃I　will　never　give　evidence　against　Levison；〃　she　uttered；　tearing　the　subpoena　to　pieces；　and　scattering　them　in　the　street。　〃I　swear　I　won't。　There；　for　you！　Will　I　help　to　hang　an　innocent　man；　when　it　was　Dick　Hare　who　was　the　guilty　one？　No！　I'll　walk　myself　off　a　hundred　miles　away　first；　and　stop　in　hiding　till　it's　over。　I　shan't　forget　this　turn　that　you　have　chosen　to　play　me；　Ebenezer　James。〃

〃I　chosen！　Why；　do　you　suppose　I　have　anything　to　do　with　it？　Don't　take　up　that　notion；　Afy。　Mr。　Ball　put　that　subpoena　in　my　hand；　and　told　me　to　serve　it。　He　might　have　given　it　to　the　other　clerk；　just　as　he　gave　it　to　me；　it　was　all　chance。　If　I　could　do　you　a　good　turn　I'd　do　itnot　a　bad　one。〃

Afy　strode　on　at　railroad　speed；　waving　him　off。　〃Mind　you　don't　fail；　Afy；〃　he　said；　as　he　prepared　to　return。

〃Fail；〃　answered　she；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃I　shall　fail　giving　evidence；　if　you　mean　that。　They　don't　get　me　up　to　their　justice…　room；　neither　by　force　or　stratagem。〃

Ebenezer　James　stood　and　looked　after　her　as　she　tore　along。

〃What　a　spirit　that　Afy　has　got；　when　it's　put　up！〃　quoth　he。　〃She'll　be　doing　as　she　saidmake　offunless　she's　stopped。　She's　a　great　simpleton！　Nothing　particular　need　come　out　about　her　and　Thorn；　unless　she　lets　it　out　herself　in　her　tantrums。　Here　comes　Ball；　I　declare！　I　must　tell　him。〃

On　went　Afy；　and　gained　Mrs。　Latimer's。　That　lady；　suffering　from　indisposition　was　confined　to　the　house。　Afy；　divesting　herself　of　certain　little　odds　and　ends　of　her　finery；　made　her　way　into　Mrs。　Latimer's　presence。

〃Oh；　ma'am；　such　heartrending　news　as　I　have　had！〃　began　she。　〃A　relation　of　mine　is　dying；　and　wants　to　see　me。　I　ought　to　be　away　by　the　next　train。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　cried　Mrs。　Latimer；　after　a　pause　of　dismay。　〃But　how　can　I　do　without　you；　Afy？〃

〃It's　a　dying　request；　ma'am；〃　pleaded　Afy；　covering　her　eyes　with　her　handkerchiefnot　the　lace　oneas　if　in　the　depth　of　woe。　〃Of　course　I　wouldn't　ask　you　under　any　other　circumstances；　suffering　as　you　are！〃

〃Where　is　it　to！〃　asked　Mrs。　Latimer。　〃How　long　shall　you　be　away？〃

Afy　mentioned　the　first　town　that　came　uppermost；　and　〃hoped〃　she　might　be　back　to…morrow。

〃What　relation　is　it？〃　continued　Mrs。　Latimer。　〃I　thought　you　had　no　relatives；　except　Joyce　and　your　aunt；　Mrs。　Kane。〃

〃This　is　another　aunt；〃　cried　Afy；　softly。　〃I　have　never　mentioned　her；　not　being　friends。　Differences　divided　us。　Of　course　that　makes　me　all　the　more　anxious　to　obey　her　request。〃

An　uncommon　good　hand　at　an　impromptu　tale　was　Afy。　And　Mrs。　Latimer　consented　to　her　demand。　Afy　flew　upstairs；　attired　herself　once　more；　put　one　or　two　things　in　a　small　leather　bag；　placed　some　money　in　her　purse；　and　left　the　house。

Sauntering　idly　on　the　pavement　on　the　sunny　side　of　the　street　was　a　policeman。　He　crossed　over　to　Afy；　with　whom　he　had　a　slight　acquaintance。

〃Good…day；　Miss　Hallijohn。　A　fine　day；　is　it　not？〃

〃Fine　enough；〃　returned　Afy；　provoked　at　being　hindered。　〃I　can't　talk　to　you　now；　for　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃

The　faster　she　walked；　the　faster　he　walked；　keeping　at　her　side。　Afy's　pace　increased　to　a　run。　His　increased　to　a　run　too。

〃Whatever　are　you　in　such　haste　over？〃　asked　he。

〃Well；　it's　nothing　to　you。　And　I　am　sure　I　don't　want　you　to　dance　attendance　upon　me　just　now。　There's　a　time　for　all　things。　I'll　have　some　chatter　with　you　another　day。〃

〃One　would　think　you　were　hurrying　to　catch　a　train。〃

〃So　I　amif　you　must　have　your　curiosity　satisfied。　I　am　going　on　a　little　pleasure　excursion；　Mr。　Inquisitive。〃

〃For　long？〃

〃Um！　Home　to…morrow；　perhaps。　Is　it　true　that　Mr。　Carlyle's　elected？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　don't　go　up　that　way；　please。〃

〃Not　up　this　way？〃　repeated　Afy。　〃It's　the　nearest　road　to　the　station。　It　cuts　off　all　that　corner。〃

The　officer　laid　his　hand　upon　her；　gently。　Afy　thought　he　was　venturing　upon　it　in　sportas　if　he　deemed　her　too　charming　to　be　parted　with。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　your　nonsense？　I　tell　you　I　have　not　time　for　it　now。　Take　your　hand　off　me；〃　she　added　grimlyfor　the　hand　was　clasping　her　closer。

〃I　am　sorry　to　hurt　a　lady's　feelings；　especially　yours；　miss；　but　I　daren't　take　it　off；　and　I　daren't　part　with　you。　My　instructions　are　to　take　you　on　at　once　to　the　witness…room。　Your　evidence　is　wanted　this　afternoon。〃

If　you　ever　saw　a　ghost　more　livid　than　ghosts　in　ordinary；　you　may　picture　to　your　mind　the　appearance　of　Afy　Hallijohn　just　then。　She　did　not　faint　as　she　had　done　once　before　that　day；　but　she　looked　as　if　she　should　die。　One　sharp　cry；　instantly　suppressed；　for　Afy　did　retain　some　presence　of　mind；　and　remembered　that　she　was　in　the　public　roadone　sharp　tussle　for　liberty；　over　as　soon；　and　she　resigned　herself；　perforce；　to　her　fate。

〃I　have　no　evidence　to　give；〃　she　said；　in　a　calmer　tone。　〃I　know　nothing　of　the　facts。〃

〃I'm　sure　/I/　don't　know　anything　of　them；〃　returned　the　man。　〃I　don't　know　why　you　are　wanted。　When　instructions　are　given　us；　miss；　we　can't　ask　what　they　mean。　I　was　bid　to　watch　that　you　didn't　go　off　out　of　the　town；　and　to　bring　you　on　to　the　witness…room　if　you　attempted　it；　and　I　have　tried　to　do　it　as　politely　as　possible。〃

〃You　don't　imagine　I　am　going　to　walk　through　West　Lynne　with　your　hand　upon　me！〃

〃I'll　take　it　off；　Miss　Hallijohn；　if　you'll　give　a　promise　not　to　bolt。　You　see；　'twould　come　to　nothing　if　you　did；　for　I　should　be　up　with　you　in　a　couple　of　yards；　besides；　it　would　be　drawing　folks'　attention　on　you。　You　couldn't　hope　to　outrun　me；　or　be　a　match　for　me　in　strength。〃

〃I　will　go　quietly；〃　said　Afy。　〃Take　it　off。〃

She　kept　her　word。　Afy　was　no　simpleton；　and　knew　that　she　/was/　no　match　for　him。　She　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　Philistines；　was　powerless；　and　must　make　the　best　of　it。　So　they　walked　through　the　street　as　if　they　were　taking　a　quiet　stroll；　he　gallantly　bearing　the　leather　bag。　Miss　Carlyle's　shocked　eyes　happened　to　fall　upon　them　as　they　passed　her　window。　She　wondered　where　could　be　the　eyes　of　the　man's　inspector。



CHAPTER　XL。

THE　JUSTICE…ROOM。

The　magistrates　took　their　seats　on　the　bench。　The　bench　would　not　hold　them。　All　in　the　commission　of　the　peace　flocked　in。　Any　other　day　they　would　not　have　been　at　West　Lynne。　As　to　the　room；　the　wonder　was　how　it　ever　got　emptied　again；　so　densely　was　it　packed。　Sir　Francis　Levison's　friends　were　there　in　a　body。　They　did　not　believe　a　word　of　the　accusation。　〃A　scandalous　affair；〃　cried　they；　〃got　up；　probably；　by　some　sneak　of　the　scarlet…and…purple　party。〃　Lord　Mount　Severn；　who　chose　to　be　present；　had　a　place　assigned　him　on　the　bench。　Lord　Vane　got　the　best　place　he　could　fight　for　amid　the　crowd。　Mr。　Justice　Hare　sat　as　chairman；　unusually　stern；　unbending；　and　grim。　No　favor　would　he　show；　but　no　unfairness。　Had　it　been　to　save　his　son　from　hanging；　he　would　not　adjudge　guilt　to　Francis　Levison　against　his　conscience。　Colonel　Bethel　was　likewise　on　the　bench；　stern　also。

In　that　primitive　placeprimitive　in　what　related　to　the　justice…room　and　the　justicesthings　were　not　conducted　with　the　regularity　of　the　law。　The　law　there　was　often　a　dead　letter。　No　very　grave　cases　were　decided　there；　they　went　to　Lynneborough。　A　month　at　the　treadmill；　or　a　week's　imprisonment；　or　a　bout　of　juvenile　whipping；　were　pretty　near　the　harshest　sentences　pronounced。　Thus；　in　this　examination；　as　in　others；　evidence　was　advanced　that　was　inadmissibleat　least；　that　would　have　been　inad