east lynne-第33章
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They paid rather a long visit； Isabel quite falling in love with the gentle and suffering Mrs。 Hare； and had risen to leave when Miss Carlyle entered。 She wished them to remain longerhad something； she said； to show Barbara。 The justice declined； he had a brother justice coming to dine with him at five； and it was then half…past four。 Barbara might stop if she liked。
Barbara's faced turned crimson； but nevertheless she accepted the invitation； immediately proffered her by Miss Carlyle to remain at East Lynne for the rest of the day。
Dinner time approached； and Isabel went to dress for it。 Joyce was waiting； and entered upon the subject of the service。
〃My lady； I have spoken to Miss Carlyle； and she is willing that I should be transferred to you； but she says I ought first to acquaint you with certain unpleasant facts in my history； and the same thought had occurred to me。 Miss Carlyle is not over pleasant in manner； my lady； but she is very upright and just。〃
〃What facts？〃 asked Lady Isabel； sitting down to have her hair brushed。
〃My lady； I'll tell you as shortly as it can。 My father was a clerk in Mr。 Carlyle's officeof course I mean the late Mr。 Carlyle。 My mother died when I was eight years old； and my father afterwards married again； a sister of Mr。 Kane's wife〃
〃Mr。 Kane； the music master？〃
〃Yes； my lady。 She and Mrs。 Kane were quite ladies； had been governesses。 People said she lowered herself greatly in marrying my father。 However； they did marry； and at the end of the year my little sister Afy was born。 We lived in a pretty cottage in the wood and were happy。 But in twelve months more my step…mother died； and an aunt of hers adopted Afy。 I lived with my father； going to school； then to learn dressmaking； and finally going out to work to ladies' houses。 After many years。 Afy came home。 Her aunt had died and her income with her； but not the vanity and love of finery that Afy had acquired。 She did nothing but dress herself and read novels。 My father was angry； he said no good could come of it。 She had several admirers； Mr。 Richard Hare； Miss Barbara's own brother；〃 continued Joyce； lowering her voice； 〃and she flirted with them all。 My father used to go out to shoot on fine evenings after office； or to his duties as secretary to the library； and so Afy was generally all alone until I came home at nine o'clock； and was free to flirt with her beaux。〃
〃Had she any she favored particularly； was it thought？〃 asked Lady Isabel。
〃The chief one； my lady； was Richard Hare。 She got acquainted with somebody else； a stranger； who used to ride over from a distance to see her； but I fancy there was nothing in itRichard was the one。 And it went on tilltillhe killed her father。〃
〃Who？〃 uttered the startled Isabel。
〃Richard Hare； my lady。 Father had told Afy that Mr。 Richard should not come there any longer； for when gentlemen go in secret after poor girls； it's well known they have not got marriage in their thoughts； father would have interfered more than he did； but that he judged well of Mr。 Richard； and did not think he was one to do Afy real harm；but he did not know how flighty she was。 However； one day he heard people talk about it in West Lynne； coupling her name and Mr。 Richard's offensively together； and at night he told Afy； before me； that it should not go on any longer； and she must not encourage him。 My lady； the next night Richard Hare shot my father。〃
〃How very dreadful！〃
〃Whether it was done on purpose； or that they had a scuffle； and the gun went off accidentally and killed my father； no one can tell。 Afy said she had been in the woods at the back of the house； and when she came in； father lay dead； and Mr。 Locksley was standing over him。 He said he had heard the shot； and come up just in time to see Richard fly from the house； his shoes covered with blood。 He has never been heard of since； but there is a judgment of murder out against him； and the fear and shame is killing his mother by inches。〃
〃And Afy？〃
〃The worst is to come my lady。 Afy followed him directly after the inquest； and nothing has been known since of either of them。 I was taken ill； after all these shocks； with nervous fever； and Miss Carlyle took care of me； and I have remained with her ever since。 This was what I had to tell you； my lady； before you decided to take me into service； it is not every lady who would like to engage one whose sister has turned out so badly。〃
Lady Isabel did not see that it could make any difference； or that it ought to。 She said so； and then leaned back in her chair and mused。
〃What dress； my lady？〃
〃Joyce； what was that I heard you and Susan gossiping over at the door？〃 Lady Isabel suddenly asked。 〃About Miss Hare giving me a bowl of poison。 Something in the dramatic line that would be。 You should tell Susan not to make her whispers so loud。〃
〃It was only a bit of nonsense； my lady。 These ignorant servants will talk； and every one at West Lynne knew Miss Barbara was in love with Mr。 Carlyle。 But I don't fancy she would have been the one to make him happy with all her love。〃
A hot flush passed over the brow of Lady Isabel； a sensation very like jealousy flew to her heart。 No woman likes to hear of another's being； or having been attached to her husband： a doubt always arises whether the feeling may not have been reciprocated。
Lady Isabel descended。 She wore a costly black lace dress； its low body and sleeves trimmed with as costly white； and ornaments of jet。 She looked inexpressibly beautiful； and Barbara turned from her with a feeling of sinking jealousy； from her beauty； from her attire； even from the fine； soft handkerchief； which displayed the badge of her rankthe coronet of an earl's daughter。 Barbara looked well； too； she was in a light blue silk robe； and her pretty cheeks were damask with her mind's excitement。 On her neck she wore the gold chain given her by Mr。 Carlylestrange that she had not discarded that。
They stood together at the window； looking at Mr。 Carlyle as he came up the avenue。 He saw them； and nodded。 Lady Isabel watched the damask cheeks turn to crimson at sight of him。
〃How do you do； Barbara？〃 he cried； as he shook hands。 〃Come to pay us a visit at last？ You have been rather tardy over it。 And how are you； my darling？〃 he whispered over his wife； but she missed his kiss of greeting。 Well； would she have had him give it her in public？ No； but she was in the mood to notice the omission。
Dinner over； Miss Carlyle beguiled Barbara out of doors。 Barbara would far rather have remained in /his/ presence。 Of course they discussed Lady Isabel。
〃How do you like her？〃 abruptly asked Barbara； alluding to Lady Isabel。
〃Better than I thought I should；〃 acknowledged Miss Carlyle。 〃I had expected airs and graces and pretence； and I must say she is free from them。 She seems quite wrapped up in Archibald and watches for his coming home like a cat watches for a mouse。 She is dull without him。〃
Barbara compelled her manner to indifference。 〃I suppose it is natural。〃
〃I suppose it is absurd；〃 was the retort of Miss Carlyle。 〃I give them little of my company； especially in an evening。 They go strolling out together； or she sings to him； he hanging over her as if she were of gold： to judge by appearances； she is more precious to him than any gold that was ever coined into money。 I'll tell you what I saw last night。 Archibald had what he is not often subject to； a severe headache； and he went into the next room after dinner； and lay on the sofa。 She carried a cup of tea to him； and never came back； leaving her own on the table till it was perfectly cold。 I pushed open the door to tell her so。 There was my lady's cambric handkerchief； soaked in eau…de…Cologne； lying on his forehead； and there was my lady herself； kneeling down and looking at him； he with his arm thrown around her there。 Now I just ask you； Barbara； whether there's any sense in fadding with a man like that？ If ever he did have a headache before he was married； I used to mix him up a good dose of salts and senna； and tell him to go to bed early and sleep the pain off。〃
Barbara made no reply； but she turned her face from Miss Carlyle。
On Barbara's return to the house； she fo
