east lynne-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



So　Marvel　left。　And　when　Lady　Isabel　went　to　her　room　to　dress　for　dinner；　Joyce　entered　it。

〃I　am　not　much　accustomed　to　a　lady's　maid's　duties；〃　began　she；　〃but　Miss　Carlyle　has　sent　me；　my　lady；　to　do　what　I　can　for　you；　if　you　will　allow　me。〃

Isabel　thought　it　was　kind　of　Miss　Carlyle。

〃And　if　you　please　to　trust　me　with　the　keys　of　your　things；　I　will　take　charge　of　them　for　you；　my　lady；　until　you　are　suited　with　a　maid；〃　Joyce　resumed。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　the　keys；〃　answered　Isabel；　〃I　never　keep　them。〃

Joyce　did　her　best；　and　Lady　Isabel　went　down。　It　was　nearly　six　o'clock；　the　dinner　hour；　and　she　strolled　to　the　park　gates；　hoping　to　meet　Mr。　Carlyle。　Taking　a　few　steps　out；　she　looked　down　the　road；　but　could　not　see　him　coming；　so　she　turned　in　again；　and　sat　down　under　a　shady　tree　out　of　view　of　the　road。　It　was　remarkably　warm　weather　for　the　closing　days　of　May。

Half　an　hour；　and　then　Mr。　Carlyle　came　pelting　up；　passed　the　gates；　and　turned　on　to　the　grass。　There　he　saw　his　wife。　She　had　fallen　asleep；　her　head　leaning　against　the　trunk　of　a　tree。　Her　bonnet　and　parasol　lay　at　her　feet；　her　scarf　had　dropped；　and　she　looked　like　a　lovely　child；　her　lips　partly　open；　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　her　beautiful　hair　falling　around。　It　was　an　exquisite　picture；　and　his　heart　beat　quicker　within　him　as　he　felt　that　it　was　all　his　own。　A　smile　stole　to　his　lips　as　he　stood　looking　at　her。　She　opened　her　eyes；　and　for　a　minute　could　not　remember　where　she　was。　Then　she　started　up。

〃Oh；　Archibald！　Have　I　been　asleep？〃

〃Ay；　and　might　have　been　stolen　and　carried　off。　I　could　not　afford　that；　Isabel。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　it　came　about。　I　was　listening　for　you。〃

〃What　have　you　been　doing　all　day？〃　he　asked；　as　he　drew　her　arm　within　his；　and　they　walked　on。

〃Oh；　I　hardly　know；〃　she　sighed。　〃Trying　the　new　piano；　and　looking　at　my　watch；　wishing　the　time　would　go　quicker；　that　you　might　come　home。　The　ponies　and　carriage　have　arrived；　Archibald。〃

〃I　know　they　have；　my　dear。　Have　you　been　out　of　doors　much？〃

〃No；　I　waited　for　you。〃　And　then　she　told　him　about　Marvel。　He　felt　vexed；　saying　she　must　replace　her　with　all　speed。　Isabel　said　she　knew　of　one；　a　young　woman　who　had　left　Lady　Mount　Severn　while　she；　Isabel；　was　at　Castle　Marling；　her　health　was　delicate；　and　Lady　Mount　Severn's　place　too　hard　for　her。　She　might　suit。

〃Write　to　her；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

The　carriage　came　rounda　beautiful　little　equipageand　Isabel　was　ready。　As　Mr。　Carlyle　drove　slowly　down　the　dusty　road；　they　came　upon　Miss　Corny；　striding　along　in　the　sun　with　a　great　umbrella　over　her　head。　She　would　not　turn　to　look　at　them。

Once　more；　as　in　the　year　gone　by；　St。　Jude's　Church　was　in　a　flutter　of　expectation。　It　expected　to　see　a　whole　paraphernalia　of　bridal　finery；　and　again　it　was　doomed　to　disappointment；　for　Isabel　had　not　put　off　the　mourning　for　her　father。　She　was　in　blacka　thin　gauze　dressand　her　white　bonnet　had　small　black　flowers　inside　and　out。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Mr。　Carlyle　took　possession　of　the　pew　belonging　to　East　Lynne；　filling　the　place　where　the　poor　earl　used　to　sit。　Not　so　Miss　Cornyshe　sat　in　her　own。

Barbara　was　there　with　the　Justice　and　Mrs。　Hare。　Her　face　wore　a　gray；　dusky　hue；　of　which　she　was　only　too　conscious；　but　could　not　subdue。　Her　covetous　eyes　would　wander　to　that　other　face；　with　its　singular　loveliness　and　its　sweetly　earnest　eyes；　sheltered　under　the　protection　of　him　for　whose　sheltering　protection　she　had　so　long　yearned。　Poor　Barbara　did　not　benefit　much　by　the　services　that　day。

Afterward　they　went　across　the　churchyard　to　the　west　corner；　where　stood　the　tomb　of　Lord　Mount　Severn。　Isabel　looked　at　the　inscription；　her　veil　shading　her　face。

〃Not　here；　and　now；　my　darling；〃　he　whispered；　pressing　her　arm　to　his　side；　for　he　felt　her　silent　sobs。　〃Strive　for　calmness。〃

〃It　seems　but　the　other　day　he　was　at　church　with　me；　and　nowhere！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　suddenly　changed　their　places；　so　that　they　stood　with　their　backs　to　the　hedge；　and　to　any　staring　stragglers　who　might　be　lingering　on　the　road。

〃There　ought　to　be　railings　round　the　tomb；〃　she　presently　said；　after　a　successful　battle　with　her　emotion。

〃I　thought　so；　and　I　suggested　it　to　Lord　Mount　Severn　but　he　appeared　to　think　differently。　I　will　have　it　done。〃

〃I　put　you　to　great　expense；〃　she　said；　〃taking　one　thing　with　another。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　glanced　quickly　at　her；　a　dim　fear　penetrating　his　mind　that　his　sister　might　have　been　/talking/　in　her　hearing。　〃An　expense　I　would　not　be　without　for　the　whole　world。　You　know　it；　Isabel。〃

〃And　I　have　nothing　to　repay　you　with；〃　she　sighed。

He　looked　expressively　amused；　and；　gazing　into　her　face；　the　expression　of　his　eyes　made　her　smile。　〃Here　is　John　with　the　carriage；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Let　us　go；　Archibald。〃

Standing　outside　the　gates；　talking　to　the　rector's　family；　were　several　ladies；　one　of　them　Barbara　Hare。　She　watched　Mr。　Carlyle　place　his　wife　in　the　carriage；　she　watched　him　drive　away。　Barbara's　lips　were　white；　as　she　bowed　in　return　to　his　greeting。

〃The　heat　is　so　great！〃　murmured　Barbara；　when　those　around　noticed　her　paleness。

〃Ah！　You　ought　to　have　gone　in　the　phaeton；　with　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hare　as　they　desired　you。〃

〃I　wished　to　walk；〃　returned　the　unhappy　Barbara。

〃What　a　pretty　girl　that　is！〃　uttered　Lady　Isabel　to　her　husband。　〃What　is　her　name？〃

〃Barbara　Hare。〃



CHAPTER　XVII。

VISIT　OF　THE　HARE　FAMILY。

The　county　carriages　began　to　pour　to　East　Lynne；　to　pay　the　wedding　visit；　as　it　is　called；　to　Mr。　and　Lady　Isabel　Carlyle。　Of　course　they　displayed　themselves　in　their　most　courtly　state。　Mr。　Carlyle；　always　a　popular　man；　had　gained　double　his　former　importance　by　his　marriage　with　the　daughter　of　the　late　Earl　of　Mount　Severn。　Among　the　earliest　visitors　went　Justice　and　Mrs。　Hare；　with　Barbara。

Isabel　was　in　her　dressing…gown；　attended　by　Joyce；　whom　she　was　just　asking　to　take　the　place　of　her　late　maid；　if　Miss　Carlyle　would　consent　to　the　transfer。

Joyce's　face　lighted　up　with　pleasure　at　the　proposal。　〃Oh；　my　lady；　you　are　very　kind！　I　should　so　like　it！　I　would　serve　you　faithfully　to　the　best　of　my　ability。〃

Isabel　laughed。　〃But　Miss　Carlyle　may　not　be　inclined　to　transfer　you。〃

〃I　think　she　would　be；　my　lady。　She　said　a　day　or　two　ago；　that　I　appeared　to　suit　you；　and　you　might　have　me　altogether　if　you　wished；　provided　I　could　still　make　her　gowns。　I　make　them　to　please　her；　you　see；　my　lady。〃

〃Do　you　make　her　caps　also？〃　demurely　asked　Lady　Isabel。

Joyce　smiled。　〃Yes；　my　lady；　but　I　am　allowed　to　make　them　only　according　to　her　own　pattern。〃

〃Joyce；　if　you　become　my　maid；　you　must　wear　smarter　caps　yourself。　I　do　not　wish　you　to　be　fine　like　Marvel。〃

〃Oh；　my　lady！　I　shall　never　be　fine；〃　shuddered　Joyce。　And　Joyce　believed　she　had　cause　to　shudder　at　finery。

She　was　about　to　speak　further；　when　a　knock　came　to　the　dressing…room　door。　Joyce　went　to　open　it；　and　saw　one　of　the　housemaids；　a　girl　who　had　recently　been　engaged；　a　native　of　West　Lynne。　Isabel　heard　the　colloquy；

〃Is　my　lady　there？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Some　visitors。　Pete　ordered　me　to　come　and　tell　you。　I　say；　Joyce；　it's　the　Hares。　And　/she's/　with　them。　I　watched　her　get　out　of　the　carriage。〃

〃Who？〃　sharply　returned　Joyce。

〃Why；　Miss　Barbara。　Only　fancy　her　coming　to　pay　the　wedding　visit　/here/。　My　lady　had　better　take　care　that　she　don't　get　a　bowl　of　poison　mixed　for　her。　Master's　out　or　else　I'd　have　given　a　shilling　to　see　the　interview　between　the　three。〃

Joyce　sent　the　girl　away；　shut　the　door；　and　turned　to　her　mistress；　quite　unconscious　that　the　half…whispered　conversation　had　been　audible。

〃Some　visitors　are　in　the　drawing…room；　my　lady；　Susan　says。　Mr。　Justice　Hare　and　Mrs。　Hare　and　Miss　Barbara。〃

Isabel　descended；　her　mind　full　of　the　mysterious　words　spoken　by　Susan。　The　justice　was　in　a　new　flaxen　wig；　obstinate…looking　and　pompous；　Mrs。　Hare；　pale；　delicate；　and　lady…like；　Barbara　beautiful；　such　was　the　impression　they　made　upon　Isabel。

They　paid　rather　a　long　visit；　Isabel　quite　falling　in　love　with　the　gentle　and　suffering　Mrs。　Hare；　an