east lynne-第27节

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rances；　she　discharged　the　servants　whom　Mr。　Carlyle　had　engaged；　all　save　one　man。

On　a　Friday　night；　about　a　month　after　the　wedding；　Mr。　Carlyle　and　his　wife　came　home。　They　were　expected；　and　Miss　Carlyle　went　through　the　hall　to　receive　them；　and　stood　on　the　upper　steps；　between　the　pillars　of　the　portico。　An　elegant　chariot　with　four　post…horses　was　drawing　up。　Miss　Carlyle　compressed　her　lips　as　she　scanned　it。　She　was　attired　in　a　handsome　dark　silk　dress　and　a　new　cap；　her　anger　had　had　time　to　cool　down　in　the　last　month；　and　her　strong　common　sense　told　her　that　the　wiser　plan　would　be　to　make　the　best　of　it。　Mr。　Carlyle　came　up　the　steps　with　Isabel。

〃You　here；　Cornelia！　That　was　kind。　How　are　you？　Isabel；　this　is　my　sister。〃

Lady　Isabel　put　forth　her　hand；　and　Miss　Carlyle　condescended　to　touch　the　tips　of　her　fingers。　〃I　hope　you　are　well；　ma'am；〃　she　jerked　out。

Mr。　Carlyle　left　them　together；　and　went　back　to　search　for　some　trifles　which　had　been　left　in　the　carriage。　Miss　Carlyle　led　the　way　to　a　sitting…room；　where　the　supper…tray　was　laid。　〃You　would　like　to　go　upstairs　and　take　your　things　off　before　upper；　ma'am？〃　she　said；　in　the　same　jerking　tone　to　Lady　Isabel。

〃Thank　you。　I　will　go　to　my　rooms；　but　I　do　not　require　supper。　We　have　dined。〃

〃Then　what　would　you　like　to　take？〃　asked　Miss　Corny。

〃Some　tea；　if　you　please；　I　am　very　thirsty。〃

〃Tea！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Corny。　〃So　late　as　this！　I　don't　know　that　they　have　boiling　water。　You'd　never　sleep　a　wink　all　night；　ma'am；　if　you　took　tea　at　eleven　o'clock。〃

〃Oh；　then；　never　mind；〃　replied　Lady　Isabel。　〃It　is　of　no　consequence。　Do　not　let　me　give　trouble。〃

Miss　Carlyle　whisked　out　of　the　room；　upon　what　errand　was　best　known　to　herself；　and　in　the　hall　she　and　Marvel　came　to　an　encounter。　No　words　passed；　but　each　eyed　the　other　grimly。　Marvel　was　very　stylish；　with　five　flounces　to　her　dress；　a　veil；　and　a　parasol。　Meanwhile；　Lady　Isabel　sat　down　and　burst　into　bitter　tears　and　sobs。　A　chill　had　come　over　her；　it　did　not　seem　like　coming　to　East　Lynne。　Mr。　Carlyle　entered　and　witnessed　the　grief。

〃Isabel！〃　he　uttered　in　amazement；　as　he　hastened　up　to　her。　〃My　darling；　what　ails　you？〃

〃I　am　tired；　I　think；〃　she　gently　answered；　〃and　coming　into　the　house　again　made　me　think　of　papa。　I　should　like　to　go　to　my　rooms；　Archibald；　but　I　don't　know　which　they　are。〃

Neither　did　Mr。　Carlyle　know；　but　Miss　Carlyle　came　whisking　in　again；　and　said：　〃The　best　rooms；　those　next　the　library。　Should　she　go　up　with　my　lady？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　preferred　to　go　himself；　and　he　held　out　his　arm　to　Isabel。　She　drew　her　veil　over　her　face　as　she　passed　Miss　Carlyle。

The　branches　were　not　lighted；　and　the　room　looked　cold　and　comfortless。　〃Things　seem　all　sixes　and　sevens　in　the　house；〃　remarked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃I　fancy　the　servants　must　have　misunderstood　my　letter；　and　not　have　expected　us　until　to…morrow　night。〃

On　returning　to　the　sitting…room　Mr。　Carlyle　inquired　the　cause　of　the　servants'　negligence。

〃I　sent　them　away　because　they　were　superfluous　encumbrances；〃　hastily　replied　Miss　Carlyle。　〃We　have　four　in　the　house；　and　my　lady　has　brought　a　fine　maid；　I　see；　making　five。　I　have　come　up　here　to　live。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　felt　checkmated。　He　had　always　bowed　to　the　will　of　Miss　Corny；　but　he　had　an　idea　that　he　and　his　wife　should　be　better　without　her。　〃And　your　house？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃I　have　let　it　furnished；　the　people　enter　to…day。　So　you　cannot　turn　me　out　of　East　Lynne　into　the　road；　or　to　furnished　lodgings；　Archibald。　There'll　be　enough　expense　without　our　keeping　on　two　houses；　and　most　people　in　your　place　would　jump　at　the　prospect　of　my　living　here。　Your　wife　will　be　mistress。　I　do　not　intend　to　take　her　honors　from　her；　but　I　will　save　her　a　world　of　trouble　in　managementbe　as　useful　to　her　as　a　housekeeper。　She　will　be　glad　of　that；　inexperienced　as　she　is。　I　dare　say　she　never　gave　a　domestic　order　in　her　life。〃

This　was　a　view　of　the　case；　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　so　plausibly　put；　that　he　began　to　think　it　might　be　all　for　the　best。　He　had　great　reverence　for　his　sister's　judgment；　force　of　habit　is　strong　upon　all　of　us。　Still　he　did　not　know。

〃Did　you　buy　that　fine　piano　which　has　arrived？〃　angrily　asked　Miss　Carlyle。

〃It　was　my　present　to　Isabel。〃

Miss　Corny　groaned。　〃What　did　it　cost？〃

〃The　cost　is　of　no　consequence。　The　old　piano　here　was　a　bad　one；　and　I　bought　a　better。〃

〃What　did　it　cost？〃　repeated　Miss　Carlyle。

〃A　hundred　and　twenty　guineas；〃　he　answered。　Obedience　to　her　will　was　yet　powerful　within　him。

Miss　Corny　threw　up　her　hands　and　eyes。　But　at　that　moment　Peter　entered　with　some　hot　water　which　his　master　had　rung　for。　Mr。　Carlyle　rose　and　looked　on　the　side…board。

〃Where　is　the　wine；　Peter？〃

The　servant　put　it　out；　port　and　sherry。　Mr。　Carlyle　drank　a　glass；　and　then　proceeded　to　mix　some　wine　and　water。　〃Shall　I　mix　some　for　you；　Cornelia？〃　he　asked。

〃I'll　mix　for　myself　if　I　want　any。　Who's　that　for？〃

〃Isabel。〃

He　quitted　the　room；　carrying　the　wine　and　water；　and　entered　his　wife's。　She　was　sitting　half　buried；　it　seemed；　in　the　arm…chair；　her　face　muffled　up。　As　she　raised　it；　he　saw　that　it　was　flushed　and　agitated；　that　her　eyes　were　bright；　and　her　frame　was　trembling。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　hastily　asked。

〃I　got　nervous　after　Marvel　went；〃　she　whispered；　laying　hold　of　him；　as　if　for　protection　from　terror。　〃I　came　back　to　the　chair　and　covered　my　head　over；　hoping　some　one　would　come　up。〃

〃I　have　been　talking　to　Cornelia。　But　what　made　you　nervous？〃

〃Oh！　I　was　very　foolish。　I　kept　thinking　of　frightful　things。　They　would　come　into　my　mind。　Do　not　blame　me；　Archibald。　This　is　the　room　papa　died　in。〃

〃Blame　you；　my　darling；〃　he　uttered　with　deep　feeling。

〃I　thought　of　a　dreadful　story　about　the　bats；　that　the　servants　told　I　dare　say　you　never　heard　it；　and　I　kept　thinking。　'Suppose　they　were　at　the　windows　now；　behind　the　blinds。'　And　then　I　was　afraid　to　look　at　the　bed；　I　fancied　I　might　seeyou　are　laughing！〃

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　rele