east lynne-第49章

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〃That　Thorn　does　not　appear　in　a　hurry　again　to　favor　West　Lynne　with　his〃

Mr。　Carlyle　paused；　for　Barbara　had　hurriedly　laid　her　hand　upon　his　arm；　with　a　warning　gesture。　In　talking　they　had　wandered　across　the　park　to　its　ornamental　grounds；　and　were　now　in　a　quiet　path；　overshadowed　on　the　other　side　by　a　chain　of　imitation　rocks。　Seated　astride　on　the　summit　of　these　rocks；　right　above　where　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Barbara　were　standing　was　Francis　Levison。　His　face　was　turned　from　them　and　he　appeared　intent　upon　a　child's　whip；　winding　leather　round　its　handle。　Whether　he　heard　their　footsteps　or　not；　he　did　not　turn。　They　quickened　their　pace；　and　quitted　the　walk；　bending　their　steps　backward　toward　the　group　of　ladies。

〃Could　he　have　heard　what　we　were　saying？〃　ejaculated　Barbara；　below　her　breath。

Mr。　Carlyle　looked　down　upon　the　concerned；　flushed　cheeks　with　a　smile。　Barbara　was　so　evidently　perturbed。　But　for　a　certain　episode　of　their　lives；　some　years　ago；　he　might　have　soothed　her　tenderly。

〃I　think　he　must　have　heard　a　little；　Barbara；　unless　his　wits　were　wool…gathering。　He　might　not　be　attending。　What　if　he　did　hear？　It　is　of　no　consequence。〃

〃I　was　speaking；　you　know；　of　Captain　Thornof　his　being　the　murderer。〃

〃You　were　not　speaking　of　Richard　or　his　movements；　so　never　mind。　Levison　is　a　stranger　to　the　whole。　It　is　nothing　to　him。　If　he　did　hear　the　name　of　Thorn　mentioned；　or　even　distinguished　the　subject；　it　would　bear　for　him　no　interestwould　go；　as　the　saying　runs；　'in　at　one　ear　and　out　at　the　other。'　Be　at　rest；　Barbara。〃

He　really　did　look　somewhat　tenderly　upon　her　as　he　spokeand　they　were　near　enough　to　Lady　Isabel　for　her　to　note　the　glance。　She　need　not　have　been　jealous：　it　bore　no　treachery　to　her。　But　she　did　note　it；　she　had　noted　also　their　wandering　away　together；　and　she　jumped　to　the　conclusion　that　it　was　premeditated；　that　they　had　gone　beyond　her　sight　to　enjoy　each　other's　society　for　a　few　stolen　moments。　Wonderfully　attractive　looked　Barbara　that　evening；　for　Mr。　Carlyle　or　any　one　else　to　steal　away　with。　Her　tasty；　elegant　airy　summer　attire；　her　bright　blue　eyes；　her　charming　features；　and　her　damask　cheeks！　She　had　untied　the　strings　of　her　pretty　white　bonnet；　and　was　restlessly　playing　with　them；　more　in　thought　than　nervousness。

〃Barbara；　love；　how　are　we　to　get　home？〃　asked　Mrs。　Hare。　〃I　do　fear　I　shall　never　walk　it。　I　wish　I　had　told　Benjamin　to　bring　the　phaeton。〃

〃I　can　send　to　him；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃But　it　is　too　bad　of　me；　Archibald；　to　take　you　and　Lady　Isabel　by　storm　in　this　unceremonious　manner；　and　to　give　your　servants　trouble　besides。〃

〃A　great　deal　too　bad；　I　think；〃　returned　Mr。　Carlyle；　with　mock　gravity。　〃As　to　the　servants；　the　one　who　has　to　go　will　never　get　over　the　trouble；　depend　upon　it。　You　always　were　more　concerned　for　others　than　for　yourself；　dear　Mrs。　Hare。〃

〃And　you　were　always　kind；　Archibald；　smoothing　difficulties　for　all；　and　making　a　trouble　of　nothing。　Ah；　Lady　Isabel；　were　I　a　young　woman；　I　should　be　envying　you　your　good　husband；　there　are　not　many　like　him。〃

Possibly　the　sentence　reminded　Lady　Isabel　that　another；　who　was　young；　might　be　envying　her；　for　her　cheeksIsabel'sflushed　crimson。　Mr。　Carlyle　held　out　his　strong　arm　of　help　to　Mrs。　Hare。

〃If　sufficiently　rested；　I　fancy　you　would　be　more　comfortable　on　a　sofa　indoors。　Allow　me　to　support　you　thither。〃

〃And　you　can　take　my　arm　on　the　other　side；〃　cried　Miss　Carlyle；　placing　her　tall　form　by　Mrs。　Hare。　〃Between　us　both　we　will　pull　you　bravely　along；　your　feet　need　scarcely　touch　the　ground。〃

Mrs。　Hare　laughed；　but　said　she　thought　Mr。　Carlyle's　arm　would　be　sufficient。　She　took　it；　and　they　were　turning　toward　the　house；　when　her　eye　caught　the　form　of　a　gentleman　passing　along　the　road　by　the　park　gate。

〃Barbara；　run；〃　she　hurriedly　exclaimed。　〃There's　Tom　Herbert　going　toward　our　house；　and　he　will　just　call　in　and　tell　them　to　send　the　phaeton；　if　you　ask　him；　which　will　save　the　trouble　to　Mr。　Carlyle's　servants　of　going　expressly。　Make　haste；　child！　You　will　be　up　with　him　in　half　a　minute。〃

Barbara；　thus　urged；　set　off；　on　the　spur　of　the　moment；　toward　the　gates；　before　the　rest　of　the　party　well　knew　what　was　being　done。　It　was　too　late　for　Mr。　Carlyle　to　stop　her　and　repeat　that　the　servant　should　go；　for　Barbara　was　already　up　with　Mr。　Tom　Herbert。　The　latter　had　seen　her　running　toward　him；　and　waited　at　the　gate。

〃Are　you　going　past　our　house？〃　inquired　Barbara；　perceiving　then　that　Otway　Bethel　also　stood　there；　but　just　beyond　the　view　of　the　women。

〃Yes。　Why？〃　replied　Tom　Herbert；　who　was　not　famed　for　his　politeness；　being　blunt　by　nature　and　〃fast〃　by　habit。

〃Mamma　would　be　so　much　obliged　to　you；　if　you　would　just　call　in　and　leave　word　that　Benjamin　is　to　bring　up　the　phaeton。　Mamma　walked　here；　intending　to　walk　home；　but　she　finds　herself　so　fatigued　as　to　be　unequal　to　it。〃

〃All　right。　I'll　call　and　send　him。　What　time？〃

Nothing　had　been　said　to　Barbara　about　the　time；　so　she　was　at　liberty　to　name　her　own。　〃Ten　o'clock。　We　shall　be　home　then　before　papa。〃

〃That　you　will；〃　responded　Tom　Herbert。　〃He　and　the　governor；　and　two　or　three　more　old　codgers；　are　blowing　clouds　till　you　can't　see　across　the　room；　and　they　are　sure　to　get　at　it　after　supper。　I　say；　Miss　Barbara　are　you　engaged　for　a　few　picnics？〃

〃Good　for　a　great　many；〃　returned　Barbara。

〃Our　girls　want　to　get　up　some　in　the　next　week　or　two。　Jack's　home；　you　know。〃

〃Is　he？〃　said　Barbara；　in　surprise。

〃We　had　a　letter　yesterday；　and　he　came　to…daya　brother　officer　with　him。　Jack　vows　if　the　girls　don't　cater　well　for　them　in　the　way　of　amusement；　he'll　never　honor　them　by　spending　his　leave　at　home　again；　so　mind　you　keep　yourself　in　readiness　for　any　fun　that　may　turn　up。　Good　evening。〃

〃Good　evening；　Miss　Hare；〃　added　Otway　Bethel。

As　Barbara　was　returning　the　salutation；　she　became　conscious　of　other　footsteps　advancing　from　the　same　direction　that　they　had　come；　and　moved　her　head　hastily　round。　Two　gentlemen；　walking　arm…in…arm；　were　close　upon　her；　in　one　of　whom　she　recognized　〃Jack；〃　otherwise　Major　Herbert。　He　stopped；　and　held　out　his　hand。

〃It　is　some　years　since　we　met；　but　I　have　not　forgotten　the　pretty　face　of　Miss　Barbara；〃　he　cried。　〃A　young　girl's　face　it　was　then；　but　it　is　a　stately　young　lady's　now。〃

Barbara　laughed。　〃Your　brother　has　just　told　me　you　had　arrived　at　West　Lynne；　but　I　did　not　know　you　were　so　close　to　me。　He　has　been　asking　me　if　I　am　ready　for　some　pic〃

Barbara's　voice　faltered；　and　the　rushing　crimson　dyed　her　face。　Whose　face　was　/that/；　who　was　he；　standing　opposite　to　her；　side　by　side　with　John　Herbert？　She　had　seen　the　face　but　once；　yet　it　had　implanted　itself　upon　her　memory　in　characters　of　fire。　Major　Herbert　continued　to　talk；　but　Barbara　for　once　lost　her　self…possession；　she　could　not　listen；　she　could　only　stare　at　that　face　as　if　fascinated　to　the　gaze；　looking　herself　something　like　a　simpleton；　her　shy　blue　eyes　anxious　and　restless；　and　her　lips　turning　to　an　ashy　whiteness。　A　strange　feeling　of　wonder；　of　superstition　was　creeping　over　Barbara。　Was　that　man　behind　her　in　sober；　veritable　realityor　was　it　but　a　phantom　called　up　in　her　mind　by　the　associations　rising　from　her　mamma's　dream；　or　by　the　conversation　held　not　many　moments　ago　with　Mr。　Carlyle。

Major　Herbert　may　have　deemed　that　Barbara；　who　evidently　could　not　attend　to　himself；　but　was　attending　to　his　companion；　wished　for　an　introduction；　and　he　accordingly　made　it。　〃/Captain　Thorn/Miss　Hare。〃

Then　Barbara　roused　herself；　her　senses　were　partially　coming　to　her；　and　she　became　alive　to　the　fact　that　they　must　deem　her　behavior　unorthodox　for　a　young　lady。

〃II　looked　at　Captain　Thorn；　for　I　thought　I　remembered　his　face；〃　she　stammered。

〃I　was　in　West　Lynne　for　a　day　or　two；　some　five　years　ago；〃　he　observed。

〃Ahyes；〃　returned　Barbara。　〃Are　you　going　to　make　a　long　stay　now？〃

〃We　have　several　weeks'　leave　of　absence。　Whether　we　shall　remain　here　all　the　time　I　cannot　say。〃

Barbara　parted　from　them。　Thought　upon　thought　crowded　upon　her　brain　as　she　flew　back　to　East