east lynne-第87章
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ur bed…chamber。〃
〃A cup of tea；〃 answered Lady Isabel。
〃Tea and some cold meat？〃 suggested Joyce。 But Lady Isabel interrupted her。
〃Nothing but tea and a little cold toast。〃
Joyce rang the bell； ordered the refreshment to be made ready； and then preceded Lady Isabel upstairs。 On she followed her heart palpitating； past the rooms that used to be hers； along the corridor； toward the second staircase。 The door of her old dressing…room stood open； and she glanced in with a yearning look。 No； never more； never more could it be hers； she had put it from her by her own free act and deed。 Not less comfortable did it look now than in former days； but it had passed into another's occupancy。 The fire threw its blaze on the furniture。 There were the little ornaments on the large dressing… table； as they used to be in /her/ time； and the cut glass of crystal essence…bottles was glittering in the firelight。 On the sofa lay a shawl and a book； and on the bed a silk dress； as thrown there after being taken off。 No； those rooms were not for her now； and she followed Joyce up the other staircase。 The bedroom she was shown to was commodious and well furnished。 It was the one Miss Carlyle had occupied when she； Isabella； had been taken a bride to East Lynne； though that lady had subsequently quitted it for one on the lower floor。 Joyce put down the waxlight she carried and looked round。
〃Would you like a fire lighted here； madame； for to…night？ Perhaps it will feel welcome after travelling。〃
〃Oh； no； thank you；〃 was the answer。
Stephen； with somebody to help him； was bringing up the luggage。 Joyce directed him where to place it； telling him to uncord the boxes。 That done； the man left the room； and Joyce turned to Lady Isabel； who had stood like a statue； never so much as attempting to remove her bonnet。
〃Can I do anything for you； madame？〃 she asked。
Lady Isabel declined。 In the first moments of her arrival she was dreading detectionhow was it possible that she should notand she feared Joyce's keen eyes more； perhaps than she feared any others。 She was only wishing that the girl would go down。
〃Should you want anything； please to ring； and Hannah will come up；〃 said Joyce； preparing to retire。 〃She is the maid who waits upon the gray parlor； and will do anything you like up here。〃
Joyce had quitted the room； and Lady Isabel had got her bonnet off； when the door opened again。 She hastily thrust it on； somewhat after the fashion of Richard Hare's rushing on his hat and false whiskers。 It was Joyce。
〃Do you think you shall find your way down alone； madame？〃
〃Yes； I can do that；〃 she answered。 Find her way in that house！
Lady Isabel slowly took her things off。 What was the use of lingering she /must/ meet their eyes； sooner or later。 Though； in truth； there was little； if any； fear of her detection； so effectually was she disguised by nature's altering hand； or by art's。 It was with the utmost difficulty she kept tranquil。 Had the tears once burst forth； they would have gone on to hysterics； without the possibility of control。 The coming home again to East Lynne！ Oh； it was indeed a time of agitation； terrible； painful agitation； and none can wonder at it。 Shall I tell you what she did？ Yes； I will at the expense of ridicule。 She knelt down by the bed and prayed for courage to go through the task she had undertaken； prayed for self…controleven she； the sinful； who had quitted that house under circumstances notorious。 But I am not sure that this mode of return to it was an expedition precisely calculated to call down a blessing。
There was no excuse for lingering longer； and she descended； the waxlight in her hand。 Everything was ready in the gray parlorthe tea…tray on the table； the small urn hissing away； the tea…caddy in proximity to it。 A silver rack of dry toast； butter； and a hot muffin covered with a small silver cover。 The things were to her sight as old facesthe rack； the small cover； the butter…dish； the tea…service she remembered them all； not the urna copper oneshe had no recollection of that。 It had possibly been bought for the use of the governess； when a governess came into use at East Lynne。 Could she have given herself leisure to reflect on the matter； she might have told； by the signs observable in the short period she had been in the house； that governesses of East Lynne were regarded as gentlewomen treated well and liberally。 Yes； for East Lynne owned Mr。 Carlyle for its master。
She made the tea； and sat down with what appetite she might； her brain； her thoughts； all in a chaos together。 She wondered whether Mr。 and Mrs。 Carlyle were at dinnershe wondered in what part of the house were the children。 She heard bells ring now and then； she heard servants cross and recross the hall。 Her meal over； she rang her own。
A neat…looking； good…tempered maid answered it； Hannah； who； as Joyce had informed her； waited upon the gray parlor； and was at her； the governess's； especial command。 She took away the things； and then Lady Isabel sat on alone。 For how long； she scarcely knew； when a sound caused her heart to beat as if it would burst its bounds； and she started from her chair like one who has received an electric shock。
It was nothing to be startled at eitherfor ordinary peoplefor it was but the sound of children's voices。 /Her/ children！ Were they being brought in to her？ She pressed her hand upon her heaving bosom。
No； they were but traversing the hall； and the voices faded away up the wide staircase。 Perhaps they had been in to desert； as in the old times； and were now going up to bed。 She looked at her new watchhalf past seven。
Her /new/ watch。 The old one had been changed away for it。 All her trinkets had been likewise parted with； sold or exchanged away； lest they should be recognized at East Lynne。 Nothing whatever had she kept except her mother's miniature and a small golden cross； set with its seven emeralds。 Have you forgotten that cross？ Francis Levison accidentally broke it for her； the first time they ever met。 If she had looked upon the breaking of that cross which her mother had enjoined her to set such store by； as an evil omen； at the time of the accident； how awfully had the subsequent events seemed to bear her fancy out！ These two articlesthe miniature and the crossshe could not bring her mind to part with。 She had sealed them up； and placed them in the remotest spot of her dressing…case； away from all chance of public view。 Peter entered。
〃My mistress says； ma'am； she would be glad to see you； if you are not too tired。 Will you please to walk into the drawing…room？〃
A mist swam before her eyes。 Was she about to enter the presence of Mrs。 Carlyle？ Had the moment really come？ She moved to the door； which Peter held open。 She turned her head from the man； for she could feel how ashy white were her face and lips。
〃Is Mrs。 Carlyle alone？〃 she asked； in a subdued voice。 The most indirect way she could put the question； as to whether Mr。 Carlyle was there。
〃Quite alone； ma'am。 My master is dining out to…day。 Madame Vine； I think？〃 he added； waiting to announce her； as； the hall traversed； he laid his hand on the drawing…room door。
〃Madame Vine；〃 she said； correcting him。 For Peter had spoken the name； Vine； broadly； according to our English habitude； she set him right； and pronounced it /a la mode Francaise/。
〃Madame Vine； ma'am；〃 quoth Peter to his mistress； as he ushered in Lady Isabel。
The old familiar drawing…room； its large handsome proportions； the well arranged furniture； its bright chandelier！ It all came back to her with a heart…sickness。 No longer /her/ drawing…room； that she should take pride in it； she had flung it away from her when she flung away the rest。
Seated under the blaze of the chandelier was Barbara。 Not a day older did she look than when Lady Isabel had first seen her at the churchyard gates； when she had inquired of her husband who was that pretty girl。 〃Barbara Hare；〃 he answered。 Ay。 She was Barbara Hare then； but now she was Barbara Carlyle； and she； she； who had been Isabel Carlyle； was Isabel Vane again！ Oh； woe！ Woe！
Inexpressibly more beautiful； looked Barbara than Lady Isabel had ever seen heror else she fancied it。
