east lynne-第30章
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dest 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 of nervous fear are best met jestingly。 He made her drink the wine and wat
