east lynne-第47章

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She　suffered　Mr。　Carlyle　to　remain　in　the　belief；　and　sat　with　clasped　hands　and　a　despairing　spirit　feeling　that　fate　was　against　her。

How　could　she　accomplish　her　task　of　forgetting　this　man；　if　he　was　thus　to　be　thrown　into　her　home　and　her　companionship？　Suddenly　she　turned　to　her　husband；　and　laid　her　cheek　upon　his　shoulder。

He　thought　she　was　tired。　He　passed　his　arm　round　her　waist；　drew　her　face　to　a　more　comfortable　position；　and　bent　his　own　lovingly　upon　it。　It　came　to　her　mind；　as　she　lay　there；　to　tell　him　a　portion　of　the　truth；　like　it　had　done　once　before。　It　was　a　strong　arm　of　shelter；　that　round　hera　powerful　pillar　of　protection；　him　upon　whom　she　leaned；　why　did　she　not　confide　herself　to　him　as　trustingly　as　a　little　child？　Simply　because　her　courage　failed。　Once；　twice；　the　opening　words　were　upon　her　lips；　but　come　forth　they　did　not；　and　then　the　carriage　stopped　at　East　Lynne；　and　the　opportunity　was　over。　Oh！　How　many　a　time　in　her　after　years　did　Lady　Isabel　recall　that　midnight　drive　with　her　husband；　and　wish；　in　her　vain　repentance；　that　she　had　opened　his　eyes　to　that　dangerous　man。

On　Sunday　Captain　Levison　arrived　at　East　Lynne。



CHAPTER　XXII。

MRS。　HARE'S　DREAM。

The　next　day　rose　bright；　warm；　and　cloudless；　and　the　morning　sun　streamed　into　the　bedroom　of　Mrs。　Hare。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hare　were　of　the　old…fashioned　class　who　knew　nothing　about　dressing…rooms；　their　bedrooms　were　very　large；　and　they　never　used　a　dressing…room　in　their　lives；　or　found　the　want　of　one。　The　justice　rubbed　his　face　to　a　shining　brilliancy；　settled　on　his　morning　wig　and　his　dressing…gown；　and　then　turned　to　the　bed。

〃What　will　you　have　for　breakfast？〃

〃Thank　you；　Richard；　I　do　not　think　that　I　can　eat　any　thing。　I　shall　be　glad　of　my　tea；　I　am　very　thirsty。〃

〃All　nonsense；〃　responded　the　justice；　alluding　to　the　intimation　of　not　eating。　〃Have　a　poached　egg。〃

Mrs。　Hare　smiled　at　him；　and　gently　shook　her　head。　〃You　are　very　kind；　Richard；　but　I　could　not　eat　it　this　morning。　Barbara　may　send　up　the　smallest　bit　of　dry　toast。　Would　you　please　throw　the　window　open　before　you　go　down；　I　should　like　to　feel　the　air。〃

〃You　will　get　the　air　too　near　from　this　window；〃　replied　Mr。　Justice　Hare；　opening　the　further　one。　Had　his　wife　requested　that　the　further　one　to　be　opened；　he　would　have　opened　the　other；　his　own　will　and　opinions　were　ever　paramount。　Then　he　descended。

A　minute　or　two；　and　up　ran　Barbara；　looking　bright　and　fair　as　the　morning；　her　pink　muslin　dress；　with　its　ribbons　and　its　open　white　lace　sleeves；　as　pretty　as　she　was。　She　leaned　over　to　kiss　her　mother。

〃Mamma；　are　you　ill？　And　you　have　been　so　well　lately；　you　went　to　bed　so　well　last　night。　Papa　says〃

〃Barbara；　dear；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Hare；　glancing　round　the　room　with　dread；　and　speaking　in　a　deep　whisper；　〃I　have　had　one　of　those　dreadful　dreams　again。〃

〃Oh；　mamma；　how　/can/　you！〃　exclaimed　Barbara；　starting　up　in　vexation。　〃How　can　you　suffer　a　foolish　dream　to　overcome　you　as　to　make　you　ill？　You　have　good　sense　in　other　matters；　but；　in　this；　you　seem　to　put　all　sense　away　from　you。〃

〃Child；　will　you　tell　me　how　I　am　to　help　it？〃　returned　Mrs。　Hare；　taking　Barbara's　hand　and　drawing　her　to　her　again。　〃I　do　not　give　myself　the　dreams；　I　cannot　prevent　their　making　me　sick；　prostrate；　feverish。　How　can　I　help　these　things；　I　ask？〃

At　this　moment　the　bedroom　door　was　flung　open；　and　the　face　of　the　justice；　especially　stern　and　cross　then　was　pushed　in。　So　startled　was　Mrs。　Hare；　that　she　shook　till　she　shook　the　pillow；　and　Barbara　sprang　away　from　the　bed。　Surely　he　had　not　distinguished　their　topic　of　conversation！

〃Are　you　coming　to　make　the　breakfast　to…day；　or　not　Barbara？　Do　you　expect　me　to　make　it？〃

〃She　is　coming　this　instant；　Richard；〃　said　Mrs。　Hare；　her　voice　more　faint　than　usual。　And　the　justice　turned　and　stamped　down　again。

〃Barbara；　could　your　papa　have　heard　me　mention　Richard？〃

〃No；　no；　mamma　impossible：　the　door　was　shut。　I　will　bring　up　your　breakfast　myself　and　then　you　can　tell　me　the　dream。〃

Barbara　flew　after　Mr。　Hare；　poured　out　his　coffee；　saw　him　settled　at　his　breakfast；　with　a　plateful　of　grouse…pie　before　him；　and　then　returned　upstairs　with　her　mamma's　tea　and　dry　toast。

〃Go　on　with　your　dream；　mamma；〃　she　said。

〃But　your　breakfast　will　be　cold；　child。〃

〃Oh；　don't　mind　that。　Did　you　dream　of　Richard？〃

〃Not　very　much　of　Richard；　except　that　the　old　and　continuous　trouble　of　his　being　away　and　unable　to　return；　seemed　to　pervade　it　all　through。　You　remember；　Barbara；　Richard　asserted　to　us；　in　that　short；　hidden　night　visit；　that　he　did　not　commit　the　murder；　that　it　was　another　who　did？〃

〃Yes；　I　remember　it；〃　replied　Barbara。

〃Barbara；　I　am　convinced　he　spoke　the　truth；　I　trust　him　implicitly。〃

〃I　feel　sure　of　it　also；　mamma。〃

〃I　asked　him；　you　remember；　whether　it　was　Otway　Bethel　who　committed　it；　for　I　have　always　doubted　Bethel；　in　an　indefinite；　vague　manner。　Richard　replied　it　was　not　Bethel；　but　a　stranger。　Well；　Barbara；　in　my　dream　I　thought　that　stranger　came　to　West　Lynne；　that　he　came　to　this　house　here；　and　we　were　talking　to　him　of　him；　conversing　as　we　might　with　any　other　visitor。　Mind　you；　we　seemed　to　/know/　that　he　was　the　one　who　actually　did　it；　but　he　denied　it。　He　wanted　to　put　it　upon　Richard；　and　I　saw　him；　yes　I　did；　Barbarawhisper　to　Otway　Bethel。　But　oh；　I　cannot　tell　you　the　sickening　horror　that　was　upon　me　throughout；　and　seemed　to　be　upon　you　also；　lest　he　should　make　good　his　own　apparent　innocence；　and　crush　Richard；　his　victim。　I　think　the　dread　and　horror　awoke　me。〃

〃What　was　he　like；　this　stranger？〃　asked　Barbara；　in　a　low　tone。

〃Well；　I　cannot　quite　tell。　The　recollection　of　his　appearance　seemed　to　pass　away　from　me　with　the　dream。　He　was　dressed　as　a　gentleman；　and　we　conversed；　with　him　as　an　equal。〃

Barbara's　mind　was　full　of　Captain　Thorn；　but　his　name　had　not　been　mentioned　to　Mrs。　Hare；　and　neither　would　she　mention　it　now。　She　fell　into　deep　thought；　and　Mrs。　Hare　had　to　speak　twice　before　she　could　be　aroused。

〃Barbara；　I　say；　don't　you　think　this　dream；　coming　uncalled　for　uninduced；　must　forebode　some　ill？　Rely　upon　it；　something　connected　with　that　wretched　murder　is　going　to　be　stirred　up　again。〃

〃You　know；　I　do　not　believe　in　dreams；〃　was　Barbara's　answer。　〃I　think　when　people　say；　'this　dream　is　a　sign　of　such　and　such　a　thing；'　it　is　the　greatest　absurdity　in　the　world。　I　wish　you　could　remember　what　the　man　seemed　like　in　your　dream。〃

〃I　wish　I　could；〃　answered　Mrs。　Hare；　breaking　off　a　particle　of　her　dry　toast。　〃All　I　can　remember　is；　that　he　appeared　to　be　a　gentleman。〃

〃Was　he　tall？　Had　he　black　hair？〃

Mrs。　Hare　shook　her　heard。　〃I　tell　you；　my　dear；　the　remembrance　has　passed　from　me；　so　whether　his　hair　was　black　or　light；　I　cannot　say。　I　think　he　was　tall；　but　he　was　sitting　down；　and　Otway　Bethel　stood　behind　his　chair。　I　seemed　to　feel　that　Richard　was　outside　the　door　in　hiding；　trembling　lest　the　man　should　go　out　and　see　him　there；　and　I　trembled；　too。　Oh；　Barbara；　it　was　a　distressing　dream！〃

〃I　wish　you　could　avoid　having　them；　mamma；　for　they　seem　to　upset　you　very　much。〃

〃Why　did　you　ask　whether　the　man　was　tall；　and　had　black　hair？〃

Barbara　returned　an　evasive　answer。　It　would　not　do　to　tell　Mrs。　Hare　that　her　suspicions　pointed　to　one　particular　quarter；　it　would　have　agitated　her　too　greatly。

So　vivid　was　the　dream；　she　could　scarcely　persuade　herself；　when　she　awoke；　that　it　was　not　real；　and　the　murderer　actually　at　West　Lynne。

〃Oh；　Barbara；　Barbara！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　a　wailing　tone；　〃when　will　this　mystery　be　cleared；　and　my　own　restored　to　me？　Seven　years　since　he　stole　here　to　see　us；　and　no　tidings　yet。〃

〃People　say　that　changes　come　every　seven　years；　mamma；〃　said　Barbara；　hopefully；　〃but　I　will　go　down　and　send　you　up　some　more　tea。〃

〃And　guard　your　countenance　well；〃　returned　her　mother。　〃Don't　let　your　father　suspect　anything。　Remember　his　oath　to　bring　Richard　to　justice。　If　he　thought　we　dwelt　on　his　innocence；　there　is　no　knowing　what　he　might　do　to　find　him；　he　is　so　very　just。〃

〃So　very　cruel　an