east lynne- 第25部分

Yes；　he　was　smiling；　for　he　knew　that　these　moments　of　nervous　fear　are　best　met　jestingly。　He　made　her　drink　the　wine　and　water；　and　then　he　showed　her　where　the　bell　was；　ringing　it　as　he　did　so。　Its　position　had　been　changed　in　some　late　alterations　to　the　house。

〃Your　rooms　shall　be　changed　to…morrow；　Isabel。〃

〃No；　let　us　remain　in　these。　I　shall　like　to　feel　that　papa　was　once　their　occupant。　I　won't　get　nervous　again。〃

But；　even　as　she　spoke；　her　actions　belied　her　words。　Mr。　Carlyle　had　gone　to　the　door　and　opened　it；　and　she　flew　close　up　to　him；　cowering　behind　him。

〃Shall　you　be　gone　very　long；　Archibald？〃　she　whispered。

〃Not　more　than　an　hour；〃　he　answered。　But　he　hastily　put　back　one　of　his　hands；　and　held　her　tightly　in　his　protecting　grasp。　Marvel　was　coming　along　the　corridor　in　answer　to　the　ring。

〃Have　the　goodness　to　let　Miss　Carlyle　know　that　I　am　not　coming　down　again　to…night；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　shut　the　door；　and　then　looked　at　his　wife　and　laughed。　〃He　is　very　kind　to　me；〃　thought　Isabel。

With　the　morning　began　the　perplexities　of　Lady　Isabel　Carlyle。　But；　first　of　all；　just　fancy　the　group　at　breakfast。　Miss　Carlyle　descended　in　the　startling　costume　the　reader　has　seen；　took　her　seat　at　the　breakfast…table；　and　there　sat　bolt　upright。　Mr。　Carlyle　came　down　next；　and　then　Lady　Isabel　entered；　in　an　elegant　half…mourning　dress；　with　flowing　black　ribbons。

〃Good　morning；　ma'am。　I　hope　you　slept　well；〃　was　Miss　Carlyle's　salutation。

〃Quite　well；　thank　you；〃　she　answered；　as　she　took　her　seat　opposite　Miss　Carlyle。　Miss　Carlyle　pointed　to　the　top　of　the　table。

〃That　is　your　place；　ma'am；　but　I　will　pour　out　the　coffee；　and　save　you　the　trouble；　if　you　wish　it。〃

〃I　should　be　glad　if　you　would；〃　answered　Lady　Isabel。

So　Miss　Carlyle　proceeded　to　her　duties；　very　stern　and　grim。　The　meal　was　nearly　over；　when　Peter　came　in；　and　said　the　butcher　had　come　up　for　orders。　Miss　Carlyle　looked　at　Lady　Isabel；　waiting；　of　course；　for　her　to　give　them。　Isabel　was　silent　with　perplexity；　she　had　never　given　such　an　order　in　her　life。　Totally　ignorant　was　she　of　the　requirements　of　a　household；　and　did　not　know　whether　to　suggest　a　few　pounds　of　meat　or　a　whole　cow。　It　was　the　presence　of　that　grim　Miss　Corny　which　put　her　out。　Alone　with　her　husband　she　would　have　said；　〃What　ought　I　to　order；　Archibald？　Tell　me。〃　Peter　waited。

〃A　Something　to　roast　and　boil；　if　you　please；〃　stammered　Lady　Isabel。

She　spoke　in　a　low　tone。　Embarrassment　makes　cowards　of　us；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　repeated　it　after　her。　He　knew　no　more　about　housekeeping　than　she　did。

〃Something　to　roast　and　boil；　tell　the　man；　Peter。〃

Up　started　Miss　Corny；　she　could　not　stand　that。　〃Are　you　aware；　Lady　Isabel；　that　an　order　such　as　that　would　only　puzzle　the　butcher？　Shall　I　give　the　necessary　orders　for　to…day？　The　fishmonger　will　be　here　presently！〃

〃Oh；　I　wish　you　would！〃　cried　the　relieved　Lady　Isabel。　〃I　have　not　been　accustomed　to　it；　but　I　must　learn。　I　don't　think　I　know　anything　about　housekeeping。〃

Miss　Corny's　answer　was　to　stalk　from　the　room。　Isabel　rose　from　her　chair；　like　a　bird　released　from　its　cage；　and　stood　by　his　side。　〃Have　you　finished；　Archibald？〃

〃I　think　I　have；　dear。　Oh！　Here's　my　coffee。　There；　I　have　finished　now。〃

〃Let　us　go　around　the　grounds。〃

He　rose；　laid　his　hands　playfully　on　her　slender　waist；　and　looked　at　her。　〃You　may　as　well　ask　me　to　take　a　journey　to　the　moon。　It　is　past　nine；　and　I　have　not　been　to　the　office　for　a　month。〃

The　tears　rose　in　her　eyes。　〃I　wish　you　would　be　always　with　me！　East　Lynne　will　not　be　East　Lynne　without　you。〃

〃I　will　be　with　you　as　much　as　ever　I　can；　my　dearest；〃　he　whispered。　〃Come　and　walk　with　me　through　the　park。〃

She　ran　for　her　bonnet；　gloves　and　parasol。　Mr。　Carlyle　waited　for　her　in　the　hall；　and　they　went　out　together。

He　thought　it　a　good　opportunity　to　speak　about　his　sister。　〃She　wishes　to　remain　with　us；〃　he　said。　〃I　do　not　know　what　to　decide。　On　the　one　hand　I　think　she　might　save　you　the　worry　of　household　management；　on　the　other；　I　fancy　we　shall　be　happier　by　ourselves。〃

Isabel's　heart　sank　within　her　at　the　idea　of　that　stern　Miss　Corny；　mounted　over　her　as　resident　guard；　but；　refined　and　sensitive；　almost　painfully　considerate　of　the　feelings　of　others；　she　raised　no　word　of　objection。　〃As　you　and　Miss　Carlyle　please；〃　she　answered。

〃Isabel；〃　he　said；　〃I　wish　it　to　be　as　you　please；　I　wish　matters　to　be　arranged　as　may　best　please　you：　and　I　will　have　them　so　arranged。　My　chief　object　in　life　now　is　your　happiness。〃

He　spoke　in　all　the　sincerity　of　truth；　and　Isabel　knew　it：　and　the　thought　came　across　her　that　with　him　by　her　side；　her　loving　protector；　Miss　Carlyle　could　not　mar　her　life's　peace。　〃Let　her　stay；　Archibald；　she　will　not　incommode　us。〃

〃At　any　rate　it　can　be　tried　for　a　month　or　two；　and　we　shall　see　how　it　works；〃　he　musingly　observed。

They　reached　the　park　gates。　〃I　wish　I　could　go　with　you　and　be　your　clerk；〃　she　cried；　unwilling　to　release　his　hand。　〃I　should　not　have　all　that　long　way　to　go　back　by　myself。〃

He　laughed　and　shook　his　head；　telling　her　that　she　wanted　to　bribe　him　into　taking　her　back；　but　it　could　not　be。　And　away　he　went；　after　saying　farewell。



CHAPTER　XVI。

DOMESTIC　TROUBLES。

Isabel　wandered　back；　and　then　wandered　through　the　rooms；　they　looked　lovely；　not　as　they　had　seemed　to　look　in　her　father's　time。　In　her　dressing…room　knelt　Marvel；　unpacking。　She　rose　when　Lady　Isabel　entered。

〃Can　I　speak　to　you　a　moment；　if　you　please　my　lady？〃

〃What　is　it？〃

Then　Marvel　poured　forth　her　tale。　That　she　feared　so　small　an　establishment　would　not　suit　her；　and　if　my　lady　pleased；　she　would　like　to　leave　at　oncethat　day。　Anticipating　it；　she　had　not　unpacked　her　things。

〃There　has　been　some　mistake　about　the　servants；　Marvel；　but　it　will　be　remedied　as　soon　as　possible。　And　I　told　you　before　I　married　that　Mr。　Carlyle's　establishment　would　be　a　limited　one。〃

〃My　lady　perhaps　I　could　put　up　with　that；　but　I　never　could　stop　in　the　house　with〃　〃that　female　Guy〃　had　been　on　the　tip　of　Marvel's　tongue；　but　she　remembered　in　time　of　whom　she　was　speaking〃with　Miss　Carlyle。　I　fear；　my　lady；　we　have　both　got　tempers　that　would　slash；　and　might　be　flying　at　each　other。　I　could　not　stop；　my　lady；　for　untold　gold。　And　if　you　please　to　make　me　forfeit　my　running　month's　salary；　why　I　must　do　it。　So　when　I　have　set　your　ladyship's　things　to　rights；　I　hope　you'll　allow　me　to　go。〃

Lady　Isabel　would　not　condescend　to　ask　her　to　remain；　but　she　wondered　how　she　should　manage　the　inconvenience。　She　drew　her　desk　toward　her。　〃What　is　the　amount　due　to　you？〃　she　inquired；　as　she　unlocked　it。

〃Up　to　the　end　of　the　quarter；　my　lady？〃　cried　Marvel；　in　a　brisk　tone。

〃No；〃　coldly　answered　Lady　Isabel。　〃Up　to　to…day。〃

〃I　have　not　had　time　to　reckon；　my　lady。〃

Lady　Isabel　took　a　pencil　and　paper；　made　out　the　account；　and　laid　it　down　in　gold　and　silver　on　the　table。　〃It　is　more　than　you　deserve；　Marvel；〃　she　remarked；　〃and　more　than　you　would　get　in　most　places。　You　ought　to　have　given　me　proper　notice。〃

Marvel　melted　into　tears；　and　began　a　string　of　excuses。　〃She　should　never　have　wished　to　leave　so　kind　a　lady；　but　for　attendant　ill…　conveniences；　and　she　hoped　my　lady　would　not　object　to　testify　to　her　character。〃

Lady　Isabel　quitted　the　room　in　the　midst　of　it；　and　in　the　course　of　the　day　Marvel　took　her　departure；　Joyce　telling　her　that　she　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　herself。

〃I　couldn't　help　myself；〃　retorted　Marvel；　〃and　I　am　sorry　to　leave　her；　for　she's　a　pleasant　young　lady　to　serve。〃

〃Well；　I　know　I'd　have　helped　myself；〃　was　Joyce's　remark。　〃I　would　not　go　off　in　this　unhandsome　way　from　a　good　mistress。〃

〃Perhaps　you　wouldn't；〃　loftily　returned　Marvel；　〃but　my　inside　feelings　are　delicate　and　can't　bear　to　be　trampled　upon。　The　same　house　is　not　going　to　hold　me　and　that　tall　female　image；　who's　more　fit　to　be　carried　about　at　a　foreign　carnival　than　some　that　they　do　carry。〃

So　Marvel　left。　And　when　Lady　Isabel　went　to　her　room　to　dress　for　dinner；　Joyce　entered　it。

〃I　am　not　much　accustomed　to　a　lady's　maid's　duties；〃　began　she；　〃but　Miss　Carlyle　has　sent　me；　my　lady；　to　do　what　I　can　for　you；　if　you　will　allow　me。〃

Isabel　thought　it　was　kind　of　Miss　Carlyle。

〃And　if　you　please　to　trust　me　with　the　keys　of　your　things；　I　will　take　charge　of　them　for　you；　my　lady；　until　you　are　suited　with　a　maid；〃　Joyce　resumed。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　the　keys；〃　answered　Isabel；　〃I　never　keep　them。〃

Joyce　did　her　best；　and　Lady　Isabel　went　down。　It　was　nearly　six　o'clock；　the　dinner　hour；　and　she　strolled　to　the　park　gates；　hoping　to　meet　Mr。　Carlyle。　Taking　a　few　steps　out；　she　looked　down　the　road；　but　could　not　see　him　coming；　so　she　turned　in　again；　and　sat　down　under　a　shady　tree　out　of　view　of　the　road。　It　was　remarkably　warm　weather　for　the　closing　days　of　May。

Half　an　hour；　and　then　Mr。　Carlyle　came　pelting　up；　passed　the　gates；　and　turned　on　to　the　grass。　There　he　saw　his　wife。　She　had　fallen　asleep；　her　head　leaning　against　the　trunk　of　a　tree。　Her　bonnet　and　parasol　lay　at　her　feet；　her　scarf　had　dropped；　and　she　looked　like　a　lovely　child；　her　lips　partly　open；　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　her　beautiful　hair　falling　around。　It　was　an　exquisite　picture；　and　his　heart　beat　quicker　within　him　as　he　felt　that　it　was　all　his　own。　A　smile　stole　to　his　lips　as　he　stood　looking　at　her。　She　opened　her　eyes；　and　for　a　minute　could　not　remember　where　she　was。　Then　she　started　up。

〃Oh；　Archibald！　Have　I　been　asleep？〃

〃Ay；　and　might　have　been　stolen　and　carried　off。　I　could　not　afford　that；　Isabel。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　it　came　about。　I　was　listening　for　you。〃

〃What　have　you　been　doing　all　day？〃　he　asked；　as　he　drew　her　arm　within　his；　and　they　walked　on。

〃Oh；　I　hardly　know；〃　she　sighed。　〃Trying　the　new　piano；　and　looking　at　my　watch；　wishing　the　time　would　go　quicker；　that　you　might　come　home。　The　ponies　and　carriage　have　arrived；　Archibald。〃

〃I　know　they　have；　my　dear。　Have　you　been　out　of　doors　much？〃

〃No；　I　waited　for　you。〃　And　then　she　told　him　about　Marvel。　He　felt　vexed；