east lynne-第93章
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y recollection？
Terribly； indeed； were their positions reversed； most terribly was she feeling it。 And by whose act and will had the change been wrought？ Barbara was now the cherished wife； East Lynne's mistress。 And what was she？ Not even the courted； welcomed guest of an hour； as Barbara had been； but an interloper； a criminal woman who had thrust herself into the house； her act； in doing so； not justifiable； her position a most false one。 Was it right； even if she did succeed in remaining undiscovered； that she and Barbara should dwell in the same habitation； Mr。 Carlyle being in it？ Did she deem it to be right？ No； she did not； but one act of ill…doing entails more。 These thoughts were passing through her mind as she stood there； listening to the song； stood there as one turned to stone； her throbbing temples pressed against the door's pillar。
The song was over； and Barbara turned to her husband； a whole world of love in her bright blue eyes。 He laid his hand upon her head； Lady Isabel saw that； but she would not wait to see the caress that most probably followed it。 She turned and crossed the room again； her hands clasped tightly on her bosom； her breath catching itself in hysterical sobs。 Miss Carlyle was entering the hall。 They had not yet met； and Lady Isabel swept meekly past her with a hurried courtesy。 Miss Carlyle spoke； but she dared not answer； to wait would have been to betray herself。
Sunday came； and that was the worst of all。 In the old East Lynne pew at St。 Jude's； so conspicuous to the congregation； sat she； as in former times； no excuse； dared she； the governess make； to remain away。 It was the first time she had entered an English Protestant church since she had last sat in it； there； with Mr。 Carlyle。 Can you wonder that the fact alone； with all the terrible remembrances it brought in its train； was sufficient to overwhelm her with emotion？ She sat at the upper end now； with Lucy； Barbara occupied the place that had been hers； by the side of Mr。 Carlyle。 Barbara there； in her own right his wife； she severed from him forever and forever！
She scarcely raised her head； she tightened her thick veil over her face； she kept her spectacles bent toward the ground。 Lucy thought she must be crying； she never had seen anyone so still at church before。 Lucy was mistaken； tears came not to solace the bitter anguish of hopeless； self…condemning remorse。 How she sat out the service she could not tell； she could not tell how she could sit out other services； as the Sundays came round！ The congregation did not forget to stare at her。 What an extraordinary looking governess Mrs。 Carlyle had picked up！
They went out when it was over。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Carlyle in advance； she； humbly following them with Lucy。 She glanced aside at the tomb in the churchyard's corner； where moldered the remains of her father； and a yearning cry went forth from the very depth of her soul。 〃Oh； that I were laid there with him！ Why did I come back again to East Lynne？〃
Why； truly？ But she had never thought that her cross would be so sharp as this。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
AN M。 P。 FOR WEST LYNNE。
As this is not a history of the British constitution； it does not concern it to relate how or why West Lynne got into hot water with the House of Commons。 The House threatened to disfranchise it； and West Lynne under the fear； went into mourning for its sins。 The threat was not carried out； but one of the sitting members was unseated with ignominy； and sent to the right about。 Being considerably humiliated thereby； and in disgust with West Lynne； he retired accordingly； and a fresh writ was issued。 West Lynne then returned the Hon。 Mr。 Attley； a county nobleman's son； but he died in the very midst of his first session； and another writ had to be issued。
Of course the consideration now was； who should be the next lucky man fixed upon。 All the notables within ten miles were discussed； not excepting the bench justices。 Mr。 Justice Hare？ No！ he was too uncompromising； he would study his own will； but not that of West Lynne。 Squire Pinner？ He never made a speech in his life； and had not an idea beyond turnips and farming stock。 Colonel Bethel？ He had no money to spend upon an election。 Sir John Dobede？ He was too old。 〃By a good twenty years；〃 laughed Sir John； to himself。 〃But here we stand； like a pack of noodles； conning over the incapables； and passing by the right one；〃 continued Sir John。 〃There's only one man amongst us fit to be our member。〃
〃Who's that？〃 cried the meeting。
〃Archibald Carlyle。〃
A pause of consternationconsternation at their collective forgetfulnessand then a loud murmur of approaching to a shout； filled the room。 Archibald Carlyle。 It should be no other。
〃If we can get him；〃 cried Sir John。 〃He may decline； you know。〃
The best thing； all agreed； was to act promptly。 A deputation； half the length of the streetits whole length； if you include the tagrag and bobtail that attended behindset off on the spur of the moment to the office of Mr。 Carlyle。 They found that gentleman about to leave it for the evening； to return home to dinner； for； in the discussion of the all…important topic； the meeting had suffered time to run on to a late hour； those gentlemen who dined at a somewhat earlier one had； for once in their lives； patiently allowed their dinners and their stomachs to waitwhich is saying a great deal for the patience of a justice。
Mr。 Carlyle was taken by surprise。 〃Make me your member？〃 cried he； merrily。 〃How do you know I should not sell you all？〃
〃We'll trust you； Carlyle。 Too happy to do it。〃
〃I am not sure that I could spare the time；〃 deliberated Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Now； Carlyle； you must remember that you avowed to me； no longer than last Christmas； your intention of going into parliament some time；〃 struck in Mr。 Justice Herbert。 〃You can't deny it。〃
〃Some time！yes；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle； 〃but I did not say when。 I have no thoughts of it yet awhile。〃
〃You must allow us to put you in nominationyou must； indeed； Mr。 Carlyle。 There's nobody else fit for it。 As good send a pig to the House as some of us。〃
〃An extremely flattering reason for proposing to shift the honor upon me；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Well； you know what we mean； Carlyle； there's not a man in the whole county so suitable as you； search it to the extremity of its boundariesyou must know there is not。〃
〃I don't know anything of the sort；〃 returned Mr。 Carlyle。
〃At any rate； we shall do it； for we have determined upon having you。 When you walk into West Lynne to…morrow； you'll see the walks alive with placards； 'Carlyle forever！' 〃
〃Suppose you allow me until to…morrow to consider of it； and defer the garnishing of the walls a day later；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； a serious tone peeping out in the midst of his jocularity。
〃You do not fear the expenses？〃
It was but a glance he returned in answer。 As soon as the question had been putit was stupid old Pinner who propounded itthey had felt how foolish it was。 And indeed the cost would be a mere nothing； were there no opposition。
〃Come； decide now； Carlyle。 Give us your promise。〃
〃If I decide now； it will be in the negative；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃It is a question that demands consideration。 Give me till to…morrow for that； and it is possible that I may accede to your request。〃
This was the best that could be made of him； and the deputation backed out； and as nothing more could be done； departed to their several dinner…tables。 Mr。 Dill； who had been present； remained rubbing his hands with satisfaction； and casting admiring glances at Mr。 Carlyle。
〃What's the matter； Dill？〃 asked the latter； 〃you look as though you were pleased at this movement； and assumed that I should accept it。〃
〃And so you will； Mr。 Archibald。 And as to the looking pleased； there's not a man； woman or child in West Lynne who won't do that。〃
〃Don't make too sure； Dill。〃
〃Of which； sirof your becoming our member； or of the people looking pleased？〃
〃Of either；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle。
He quitted the office to walk home； revolving the proposition as he did so。 That he had long thought of some time entering parliament was certain； though no definite period of the 〃when〃 had fixed
