east lynne-第67章
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〃No;〃 said Justice Hare; planting himself between her and the door; 〃that's the way you like to get out of my reach when I am talking to you。 You won't go; so sit down again。 I'll tell you of your ill… conduct before Mr。 Carlyle; and see if that will shame you。〃
Barbara resumed her seat; a rush of crimson dyeing her cheeks。 And Mr。 Carlyle looked inquiringly; seeming to ask an explanation of her distress。 The justice continued after his own fashion。
〃You know; Carlyle; that horrible blow that fell upon us; that shameless disgrace。 Well; because the parish can't clack enough about the fact itself; it must begin about Barbara; saying that the disgrace and humiliation are reflected upon her; and that nobody will come near her to ask her to be his wife。 One would think; rather than lie under the stigma and afford the parish room to talk; she'd marry the first man that came; if it was the parish beadleanybody else would。 But now; what are the facts? You'll stare when you know them。 She has received a bushel of good offersa bushel of them;〃 repeated the justice; dashing his hand down on his knee; 〃and she says 'No!' to all。 The last was to…day; from Major Thorn; and; my young lady takes and puts the stopper upon it; as usual; without reference to me or her mother; without saying with your leave or by your leave。 She wants to be kept in her room for a week upon bread and water; to bring her to her senses。〃
Mr。 Carlyle glanced at Barbara。 She was sitting meekly under the infliction; her wet eyelashes falling on her flushed cheeks and shading her eyes。 The justice was heated enough; and had pushed his flaxen wig nearly hind…part before; in the warmth of his argument。
〃What did you say to her?〃 snapped the justice。
〃Matrimony may not have charms for Barbara;〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle half jokingly。
〃Nothing does have charms for her that ought to have;〃 growled Justice Hare。 〃She's one of the contrary ones。 By the way; though;〃 hastily resumed the justice; leaving the objectionable subject; as another flashed across his memory; 〃they were coupling your name and matrimony together; Carlyle; last night; at the Buck's Head。〃
A very perceptible tinge of red rose to the face of Mr。 Carlyle; telling of inward emotion; but his voice and manner betrayed none。
〃Indeed;〃 he carelessly said。
〃Ah; you are a sly one; you are; Carlyle。 Remember how sly you were over your first〃 marriage; Justice Hare was going to bring out; but it suddenly occurred to him that all circumstances considered; it was not precisely the topic to recall to Mr。 Carlyle。 So he stopped himself in the utterance; coughed; and went on again。 〃There you go; over to see Sir John Dobede; /not/ to see Sir John; but paying court to Miss Dobede。〃
〃So the Buck's Head was amusing itself with that!〃 good…naturedly observed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Well; Miss Dobede is going to be married; and I am drawing up the settlements。〃
〃It's not she; she marries young Somerset; everybody knows that。 It's the other one; Louisa。 A nice girl; Carlyle。〃
〃Very;〃 responded Mr。 Carlyle; and it was all the answer he gave。 The justice; tired of sitting indoors; tired; perhaps; of extracting nothing satisfactory from Mr。 Carlyle; rose; shook himself; set his wig aright before the chimney…glass; and quitted the house on his customary evening visit to the Buck's Head。 Barbara; who watched him down the path; saw that he encountered someone who happened to be passing the gate。 She could not at first distinguish who it might be; nothing but an arm and shoulder cased in velveteen met her view; but as their positions changed in conversationhis and her father'sshe saw that it was Locksley; he had been the chief witness; not a vindictive one; he could not help himself; against her brother Richard; touching the murder of Hallijohn。
Meanwhile Mrs。 Hare had drawn Mr。 Carlyle into a chair close by her own。
〃Archibald; will you forgive me if I say a word upon the topic introduced by Mr。 Hare?〃 she said; in a low tone; as she shook his hand。 〃You know how fondly I have ever regarded you; second only to my poor Richard。 Your welfare and happiness are precious to me。 I wish I could in any way promote them。 It occurs to me; sometimes; that you are not at present so happy as you might be。〃
〃I have some sources of happiness;〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。 〃My children and I have plenty of sources of interest。 What do you mean; dear Mrs。 Hare?〃
〃Your home might be made happier。〃
Mr。 Carlyle smiled; nearly laughed。 〃Cornelia takes care of that; as she did in the old days; you know。〃
〃Yes; I know。 Would it not be as well to consider whether she would not be better in a home of her ownand for you to give East Lynne another mistress?〃
He shook his head。
〃Archibald; it would be happier for you; it would indeed。 It is only in new ties that you can forget the past。 You might find recompense yet for the sorrow you have gone through; and I know none;〃 repeated Mrs。 Hare; emphatically; 〃more calculated to bring it you than that sweet girl; Louisa Dobede。〃
〃So long as〃 Mr。 Carlyle was beginning; and had not got so far in his sentence; when he was interrupted by an exclamation from Barbara。
〃What can be the matter with papa? Locksley must have said something to anger him。 He is coming in the greatest passion; mamma; his face crimson; and his hands and arms working。〃
〃Oh; dear; Barbara!〃 was all poor Mrs。 Hare's reply。 The justice's great bursts of passion frightened her。
In he came; closed the door; and stood in the middle of the room; looking alternately at Mrs。 Hare and Barbara。
〃What is this cursed report; that's being whispered in the place!〃 quoth he; in a tone of suppressed rage; but not unmixed with awe。
〃What report?〃 asked Mr。 Carlyle; for the justice waited for an answer; and Mrs。 Hare seemed unable to speak。 Barbara took care to keep silence; she had some misgivings that the justice's words might be referring to herselfto the recent grievance。
〃A report that he/he/has been here disguised as a laborer; has dared to show himself in the place where he'll come yet; to the gibbet。〃
Mrs。 Hare's face turned as white as death; Mr。 Carlyle rose and dexterously contrived to stand before her; so that it should not be seen。 Barbara silently locked her hands; one within the other; and turned to the window。
〃Of whom did you speak?〃 asked Mr。 Carlyle; in a matter…of…fact tone; as if he were putting the most matter…of…fact question。 He knew too well; but he thought to temporize for the sake of Mrs。 Hare。
〃Of whom do I speak!〃 uttered the exasperated justice; nearly beside himself with passion; 〃of whom would I speak but the bastard Dick! Who else in West Lynne is likely to come to a felon's death?〃
〃Oh; Richard!〃 sobbed forth Mrs。 Hare; as she sank back in her chair; 〃be merciful。 He is our own true son。〃
〃Never a true son of the Hares;〃 raved the justice。 〃A true son of wickedness; and cowardice; and blight; and evil。 If he has dared to show his face at West Lynne; I'll set the whole police of England upon his track; that he may be brought here as he ought; if he must come。 When Locksley told me of it just now; I raised my hand to knock him down; so infamously false did I deem the report。 Do /you/ know anything of his having been here?〃 continued the justice to his wife; in a pointed; resolute tone。
How Mrs。 Hare would have extricated herself; or what she would have answered; cannot even be imagined; but Mr。 Carlyle interposed。
〃You are frightening Mrs。 Hare; sir。 Don't you see that she knows nothing of itthat the very report of such a thing is alarming her into illness? Butallow me to inquire what it may be that Locksley said?〃
〃I met him at the gate;〃 retorted Justice Hare; turning his attention upon Mr。 Carlyle。 〃He was going by as I reached it。 'Oh; justice; I am glad I met you。 That's a nasty report in the place that Richard has been here。 I'd see what I could do toward hushing it up; sir; if I were you; for it may only serve to put the police in mind of by gone things; which it may be better they should forget。' Carlyle; I went; as I tell you; to knock him down。 I asked him how he could have the hardihood to repeat such slander to my face。 He was on the high horse direc