east lynne-第58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！


t　upon　him。　I　knew　him　long　before　he　was　abreast　of　me；　it　was　Thorn。〃　Barbara　made　no　comment；　she　was　digesting　the　news。

〃Every　drop　of　blood　within　me　began　to　tingle；　and　an　impulse　came　upon　me　to　spring　upon　him　and　accuse　him　of　the　murder　of　Hallijohn；〃　went　on　Richard；　in　the　same　excited　manner。　〃But　I　resisted　it；　or；　perhaps；　my　courage　failed。　One　of　the　reproaches　against　me　had　used　to　be　that　I　was　a　physical　coward；　you　know；　Barbara；〃　he　added；　in　a　tone　of　bitterness。　〃In　a　struggle；　Thorn　would　have　had　the　best　of　it；　he　is　taller　and　more　powerful　than　I；　and　might　have　battered　me　to　death。　A　man　who　can　commit　one　murder　won't　hesitate　at　a　second。〃

〃Richard；　do　you　think　you　could　have　been　deceived？〃　she　urged。　〃You　had　been　talking　of　Thorn；　and　your　thoughts　were；　naturally　bearing　upon　him。　Imagination〃

〃Be　still；　Barbara；〃　he　interrupted　in　a　tone　of　pain。　〃Imagination；　indeed！　Did　I　not　tell　you　he　was　stamped　here？〃　touching　his　breast。　〃Do　you　take　me　for　a　child；　or　an　imbecile；　that　I　should　fancy　I　see　Thorn　in　every　shadow；　or　meet　people　where　I　do　not？　He　had　his　hat　off；　as　if　he　had　been　walking　fast　and　had　got　hotfast　he　was　walking；　and　he　carried　the　hat　in　one　hand；　and　what　looked　like　a　small　parcel。　With　the　other　hand　he　was　pushing　the　hair　from　his　browin　this　waya　peculiar　way；〃　added　Richard；　slightly　lifting　his　own　hat　and　pushing　back　his　hair。　〃By　that　action　alone　I　should　have　known　him；　for　he　was　always　doing　it　in　the　old　days。　And　there　was　his　white　hand；　adorned　with　his　diamond　ring！　Barbara；　the　diamond　glittered　in　the　moonlight！〃

Richard's　voice　and　manner　were　singularly　earnest；　and　a　conviction　of　the　truth　of　his　assertion　flashed　over　his　sister。

〃I　saw　his　face　as　plainly　as　I　ever　saw　itevery　featurehe　is　scarcely　altered；　save　for　a　haggardness　in　his　cheeks　now。　Barbara；　you　need　not　doubt　me；　I　swear　it　was　Thorn！〃

She　grew　excited　as　he　was；　now　that　she　believed　the　news；　it　was　telling　upon　her；　reason　left　its　place　and　impulse　succeeded；　Barbara　did　not　wait　to　weigh　her　actions。

〃Richard！　Mr。　Carlyle　ought　to　know　this。　He　has　but　just　gone；　we　may　overtake　him；　if　we　try。〃

Forgetting　the　strange　appearances　it　would　haveher　flying　along　the　public　road　at　that　hour　of　the　nightshould　she　meet　any　who　knew　herforgetting　what　the　consequence　might　be；　did　Justice　Hare　return　and　find　her　absent；　Barbara　set　off　with　a　fleet　foot；　Richard　more　stealthily　following　herhis　eyes　cast　in　all　directions。　Fortunately　Barbara　wore　a　bonnet　and　mantle；　which　she　had　put　on　to　pace　the　garden　with　Mr。　Carlyle；　fortunately；　also；　the　road　was　remarkably　empty　of　passengers。　She　succeeded　in　reaching　Mr。　Carlyle　before　he　turned　into　East　Lynne　gates。

〃Barbara！〃　he　exclaimed　in　the　extreme　of　astonishment。　〃Barbara！〃

〃Archibald！　Archibald！　She　panted；　gasping　for　breath。　〃I　am　not　out　of　my　mindbut　do　come　and　speak　to　Richard！　He　has　just　seen　the　real　Thorn。〃

Mr。　Carlyle；　amazed　and　wondering；　turned　back。　They　got　over　the　field　stile；　nearly　opposite　the　gates；　drew　behind　the　hedge；　and　there　Richard　told　his　tale。　Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　appear　to　doubt　it；　as　Barbara　had　done；　perhaps　he　could　not；　in　the　face　of　Richard's　agitated　and　intense　earnestness。

〃I　am　sure　there　is　no　one　named　Thorn　in　the　neighborhood；　save　the　gentleman　you　saw　in　my　office　to…night；　Richard；〃　observed　Mr。　Carlyle；　after　some　deliberation。　〃It　is　very　strange。〃

〃He　may　be　staying　here　under　a　feigned　name；〃　replied　Richard。　〃There　can　be　no　mistake　that　it　was　Thorn　whom　I　have　just　met。〃

〃How　was　he　dressed？　As　a　gentleman？〃

〃Catch　him　dressing　as　anything　else；〃　returned　Richard。　〃He　was　in　an　evening　suit　of　black；　with　a　sort　of　thin　overcoat　thrown　on；　but　it　was　flung　back　at　the　shoulders；　and　I　distinctly　saw　his　clothes。　A　gray　alpaca；　it　looked　like。　As　I　have　told　Barbara；　I　should　have　known　him　by　this　action　of　the　hand；〃　imitating　it；　〃as　he　pushed　his　hair　off　his　forehead；　it　was　the　delicate　white　hand　of　the　days　gone　by；　Mr。　Carlyle；　it　was　the　flashing　of　the　diamond　ring！〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　silent；　Barbara　also；　but　the　thoughts　of　both　were　busy。　〃Richard；〃　observed　the　former；　〃I　should　advise　you　to　remain　a　day　or　two　in　the　neighborhood；　and　look　out　for　this　man。　You　may　see　him　again；　and　may　track　him　home；　it　is　very　desirable　to　find　out　who　he　really　is　if　practicable。〃

〃But　the　danger？〃　urged　Richard。

〃Your　fears　magnify　that。　I　am　quite　certain　that　nobody　would　know　you　in　broad　daylight；　disguised　as　you　are　now。　So　many　years　have　flown　since；　that　people　have　forgotten　to　think　about　you；　Richard。〃

But　Richard　could　not　be　persuaded；　he　was　full　of　fears。　He　described　the　man　as　accurately　as　he　could　to　Mr。　Carlyle　and　Barbara；　and　told　them　/they/　must　look　out。　With　some　trouble；　Mr。　Carlyle　got　from　him　an　address　in　London；　to　which　he　might　write；　in　case　anything　turned　up；　and　Richard's　presence　should　be　necessary。　He　then　once　more　said　farewell；　and　quitted　them；　his　way　lying　past　East　Lynne。

〃And　now　to　see　you　back；　Barbara；〃　said　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Indeed　you　shall　not　do　itlate　as　it　is；　and　tired　as　you　must　be。　I　came　here　alone；　Richard　did　not　keep　near　me。〃

〃I　cannot　help　your　having　come　here　alone；　but　you　may　rely　upon　it；　I　do　not　suffer　you　to　go　back　so。　Nonsense；　Barbara！　Allow　you　to　go　along　the　high　road　by　yourself　at　eleven　o'clock　at　night？　What　are　you　thinking　of？〃

He　gave　Barbara　his　arm；　and　they　pursued　their　way。　〃How　late　Lady　Isabel　will　think　you！〃　observed　Barbara。

〃I　don't　know　that　Lady　Isabel　has　returned　home　yet。　My　being　late　once　in　a　while　is　of　no　consequence。〃

Not　another　word　was　spoken；　save　by　Barbara。　〃Whatever　excuse　can　I　make；　should　papa　come　home？〃　Both　were　buried　in　their　own　reflections。　〃Thank　you　very　greatly；〃　she　said　as　they　reached　her　gate；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　finally　turned　away。　Barbara　stole　in；　and　found　the　coast　clear；　her　papa　had　not　arrived。

Lady　Isabel　was　in　her　dressing…room　when　Mr。　Carlyle　entered；　she　was　seated　at　a　table；　writing。　A　few　questions　as　to　her　evening's　visit；　which　she　answered　in　the　briefest　way　possible；　and　then　he　asked　her　if　she　was　not　going　to　bed。

〃By　and　by。　I　am　not　sleepy。〃

〃I　must　go　at　once；　Isabel；　for　I　am　dead　tired。〃　And　no　wonder。

〃You　can　go；〃　was　her　answer。

He　bent　down　to　kiss　her；　but　she　dexterously　turned　her　face　away。　He　supposed　that　she　felt　hurt　that　he　had　not　gone　with　her　to　the　party；　and　placed　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　with　a　pleasant　smile。

〃You　foolish　child；　to　be　aggrieved　at　that！　It　was　no　fault　of　mine；　Isabel；　I　could　not　help　myself。　I　will　talk　to　you　in　the　morning；　I　am　too　tired　to…night。　I　suppose　you　will　not　be　long。〃

Her　head　was　bent　over　her　writing　again；　and　she　made　no　reply。　Mr。　Carlyle　went　into　his　bedroom　and　shut　the　door。　Some　time　after；　Lady　Isabel　went　softly　upstairs　to　Joyce's　room。　Joyce；　fast　in　her　first　sleep；　was　suddenly　aroused　from　it。　There　stood　her　mistress；　a　wax　light　in　her　hand。　Joyce　rubbed　her　eyes；　and　collected　her　senses；　and　finally　sat　up　in　bed。

〃My　lady！　Are　you　ill？〃

〃Ill！　Yes；　ill　and　wretched；〃　answered　Lady　Isabel；　and　ill　she　did　look；　for　she　was　perfectly　white。　〃Joyce；　I　want　a　promise　from　you。　If　anything　should　happen　to　me；　stay　at　East　Lynne　with　my　children。〃

Joyce　stared　in　amazement；　too　much　astonished　to　make　any　reply。

〃Joyce；　you　promised　it　once　before；　promise　it　again。　Whatever　betide　you；　you　will　stay　with　my　children　when　I　am　gone。〃

〃I　will　stay　with　them。　But；　oh；　my　lady；　what　can　be　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　taken　suddenly　ill？〃

〃Good…bye；　Joyce；〃　murmured　Lady　Isabel；　gliding　from　the　chamber　as　quietly　as　she　had　entered　it。　And　Joyce；　after　an　hour　of　perplexity；　dropped　asleep　again。

Joyce　was　not　the　only　one　whose　rest　was　disturbed　that　eventful　night。　Mr。　Carlyle　himself　awoke；　and　to　his　surprise　found　that　his　wife　had　not　come　to　bed。　He　wondered　what　the　time　was；　and　struck　his　repeater。　A　quarter　past　three！

Rising；　he　made　his　way　to　the　door　of　his　wife's　dressing…room。　It　was　in　darkness；