east lynne-第35节

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Benjamin　got　off　his　box　and　began　to　search。　Barbara　waited；　gazing　listlessly　down　the　street。　The　sun　was　shining　brilliantly；　and　its　rays　fell　upon　the　large　cable　chain　of　a　gentleman　who　was　sauntering　idly　up　the　pavement；　making　its　gold　links　and　its　drooping　seal　and　key　glitter；　as　they　crossed　his　waistcoat。　It　shone　also　upon　the　enameled　gold　studs　of　his　shirt　front；　making　/them/　glitter；　and　as　he　suddenly　raised　his　ungloved　hand　to　stroke　his　moustacheby　which　action　you　know　a　vain　mana　diamond　ring　he　wore　gleamed　with　a　light　that　was　positively　dazzling。　Involuntarily　Barbara　thought　of　the　description　her　brother　Richard　had　given　of　certain　dazzling　jewels　worn　by　another。

She　watched　him　advance！　He　was　a　handsome　man　of；　perhaps；　seven　or　eight　and　twenty；　tall；　slender　and　well　made；　his　eyes　and　hair　black。　A　very　pleasant　expression　sat　upon　his　countenance；　and　on　the　left　hand　he　wore　a　light　buff　kid　glove；　and　was　swinging　its　fellow　by　the　fingers。　But　for　the　light　cast　at　that　moment　by　the　sun；　Barbara　might　not　have　noticed　the　jewellery；　or　connected　it　in　her　mind　with　the　other　jewellery　in　that　unhappy　secret。

〃Hallo；　Thorn；　is　that　you？　Just　step　over　here。〃

The　speaker　was　Otway　Bethel；　who　was　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street；　the　spoken　to；　the　gentleman　with　the　jewellery。　But　the　latter　was　in　a　brown　study；　and　did　not　hear。　Bethel　called　out　again；　louder。

〃Captain　Thorn！〃

That　was　heard。　Captain　Thorn　nodded；　and　turned　short　off　across　the　street。　Barbara　stood　like　one　in　a　dream；　her　brain；　her　mind；　her　fancy　all　in　a　confused　mass　together。

〃Here's　the　bag；　Miss　Barbara。　It　had　got　among　the　folds　of　the　rug。〃

Benjamin　held　it　out　to　her；　but　she　took　no　notice；　she　was　unconscious　of　all　external　things　save　one。　That　she　beheld　the　real　murderer　of　Hallijohn；　she　entertained　no　manner　of　doubt。　In　every　particular　he　tallied　with　the　description　given　by　Richard；　tall；　dark；　vain；　handsome；　delicate　hands；　jewellery；　andCaptain　Thorn！　Barbara's　cheeks　grew　white　and　her　heart　turned　sick。

〃The　bag；　Miss　Barbara。〃

Away　tore　Barbara；　leaving　Benjamin　and　the　bag　in　wonder。　She　had　caught　sight　of　Mr。　Wainwright；　the　surgeon；　at　a　little　distance；　and　sped　toward　him。

〃Mr。　Wainwright；〃　began　she；　forgetting　ceremony　in　her　agitation；　〃you　see　that　gentleman　talking　to　Otway　Bethelwho　is　he？〃

Mr。　Wainwright　had　to　put　his　glasses　across　the　bridge　of　his　nose　before　he　could　answer；　for　he　was　short…sighted。　〃That？　Oh；　it　is　a　Captain　Thorn。　He　is　visiting　the　Herberts；　I　believe。〃

〃Where　does　he　come　from？　Where　does　he　live？〃　reiterated　Barbara　in　her　eagerness。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　him。　I　saw　him　this　morning　with　young　Smith；　and　he　told　me　he　was　a　friend　of　the　Herberts。　You　are　not　looking　well；　Miss　Barbara。〃

She　made　no　answer。　Captain　Thorn　and　Mr。　Bethel　came　walking　down　the　street；　and　the　latter　saluted　her；　but　she　was　too　much　confused　to　respond　to　it。　Mr。　Wainwright　then　wished　her　good　day；　and　Barbara　walked　slowly　back。　Mrs。　Hare　was　appearing　at　the　shop　door。

〃My　dear；　how　long　you　are！　Cannot　the　bag　be　found？〃

〃I　went　to　speak　to　Mr。　Wainwright；〃　answered　Barbara；　mechanically　taking　the　bag　from　Benjamin　and　giving　it　to　her　mother；　her　whole　heart　and　eyes　still　absorbed　with　that　one　object　moving　away　in　the　distance。

〃You　look　pale；　child。　Are　you　well？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　quite。　Let　us　get　our　shopping　over；　mamma。〃

She　moved　on　to　their　places　at　the　counter　as　she　spoke；　eager　to　〃get　it　over〃　and　be　at　home；　that　she　might　have　time　for　thought。　Mrs。　Hare　wondered　what　had　come　to　her；　the　pleased　interest　displayed　in　their　purchases　previously　was　now　gone；　and　she　sat　inattentive　and　absorbed。

〃Now；　my　dear；　it　is　only　waiting　for　you　to　choose。　Which　of　the　two　silks　will　you　have？〃

〃Eitherany。　Take　which　you　like；　mamma。〃

〃Barbara；　what　/has/　come　to　you？〃

〃I　believe　I　am　tired；〃　said　Barbara；　with　a　forced　laugh；　as　she　compelled　herself　to　pay　some　sort　of　attention。　〃I　don't　like　the　green；　I　will　take　the　other。〃

They　arrived　at　home。　Barbara　got　just　five　minutes　alone　in　her　chamber　before　the　dinner　was　on　the　table。　All　the　conclusion　she　could　come　to　was；　/she/　could　do　nothing　save　tell　the　facts　to　Archibald　Carlyle。

How　could　she　contrive　to　see　him？　The　business　might　admit　of　no　delay。　She　supposed　she　must　go　to　East　Lynne　that　evening；　but　where　would　be　her　excuse　for　it　at　home？　Puzzling　over　it；　she　went　down　to　dinner。　During　the　meal；　Mrs。　Hare　began　talking　of　some　silk　she　had　purchased　for　a　mantle。　She　should　have　it　made　like　Miss　Carlyle's　new　one。　When　Miss　Carlyle　was　at　the　grove；　the　other　day；　about　Wilson's　character；　she　offered　her　the　pattern；　and　she；　Mrs。　Hare；　would　send　one　of　the　servants　up　for　it　after　dinner。

〃Oh；　mamma；　let　me　go！〃　burst　forth　Barbara；　and　so　vehemently　spoke　she；　that　the　justice　paused　in　carving；　and　demanded　what　ailed　her。　Barbara　made　some　timid　excuse。

〃Her　eagerness　is　natural；　Richard；〃　smiled　Mrs。　Hare。　〃Barbara　thinks　she　shall　get　a　peep　at　the　baby；　I　expect。　All　young　folks　are　fond　of　babies。〃

Barbara's　face　flushed　crimson；　but　she　did　not　contradict　the　opinion。　She　could　not　eat　her　dinnershe　was　too　full　of　poor　Richard；　she　played　with　it；　and　then　sent　away　her　plate　nearly　untouched。

〃That's　through　the　finery　she's　been　buying；〃　pronounced　Justice　Hare。　〃Her　head　is　stuffed　up　with　it。〃

No　opposition　was　offered　to　Barbara's　going　to　East　Lynne。　She　reached　it　just　as　their　dinner　was　over。　It　was　for　Miss　Carlyle　she　asked。

〃Miss　Carlyle　is　not　at　home；　miss。　She　is　spending　the　day　out；　and　my　lady　does　not　receive　visitors　yet。〃

It　was　a　sort　of　checkmate。　Barbara　was　compelled　to　say　she　would　see　Mr。　Carlyle。　Peter　ushered　her　into　the　drawing…room；　and　Mr。　Carlyle　came　to　her。

〃I　am　so　very　sorry　to　disturb　youto　have　asked　for　you；〃　began　Barbara；　with　a　burning　face；　for；　somehow；　a　certain　evening　interview　of　hers　with　him；　twelve　months　before；　was　disagreeably　present　to　her。　Never；　since　that　evening　of　agitation；　had　Barbara　suffered　herself　to　betray　emotion　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　her　manner　to　him　had　been　calm；　courteous；　and　indifferent。　And　she　now　more　frequently　called　him　〃Mr。　Carlyle〃　than　〃Archibald。〃

〃Take　a　seattake　a　seat；　Barbara。〃

〃I　asked　for　Miss　Carlyle；〃　she　continued；　〃for　mamma　is　in　want　of　a　pattern　that　she　promised　to　lend　her。　You　remember　the　Lieutenant　Thorn　whom　Richard　spoke　of　as　being　the　real　criminal？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　think　he　is　at　West　Lynne。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　was　aroused　to　eager　interest。

〃He！　The　same　Thorn？〃

〃It　can　be　no　other。　Mamma　and　I　were　shopping　to…day；　and　I　went　out　for　her　bag；　which　she　left　in　the　carriage。　While　Benjamin　was　getting　it；　I　saw　a　stranger　coming　up　the　streeta　tall；　good…　looking；　dark…haired　man；　with　a　conspicuous　gold　chain　and　studs。　The　sun　was　full　upon　him；　causing　the　ornaments　to　shine；　especially　a　diamond　ring　which　he　wore；　for　he　had　one　hand　raised　to　his　face。　The　thought　flashed　over　me；　'That　is　just　like　the　description　Richard　gave　of　the　man　Thorn。'　Why　the　idea　should　have　occurred　to　me　in　that　strange　manner；　I　do　not　know；　but　it　most　assuredly　did　occur；　though　I　did　not　really　suppose　him　to　be　the　same。　Just　then　I　heard　him　spoken　to　by　some　one　on　the　other　side　of　the　street；　it　was　Otway　Bethel；　and　he　called　him　/Captain　Thorn/。〃

〃This　is　curious；　indeed；　Barbara。　I　did　not　know　any　stranger　was　at　West　Lynne。〃

〃I　saw　Mr。　Wainwright；　and　asked　him　who　it　was。　He　said　a　Captain　Thorn；　a　friend　of　the　Herberts。　A　Lieutenant　Thorn　four　or　five　years　ago　would　probably　be　Captain　Thorn　now。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　nodded；　and　there　was　a　pause。

〃What　can　be　done？〃　asked　Barbara。

Mr。　Carlyle　was　passing　one　hand　over　his　brow；　it　was　a　habit　of　his　when　in　deep　thought。

〃It　is　hard　to　say　what　is　to　be　done；　Barbara。　The　description　you　gave　of　this　man　certainly　tallies　with　that　given　by　Richard。　Did　he　look　like　a　gentleman？〃

〃Very　much　so。　A　remarkably　aristocratic　looking　man；　as　it　struck　me。

Mr。　Carlyle　again　nodded　assentingly。　He　remembered　Richard's　words；　when　describing　the　other：　〃an　out…and…out　aristocrat。〃　〃Of　course；　Barbara；　the　first　thing　must　be　to　try　and　ascertain　whether　it　is　the　same；〃　he　observed。　〃If　we　find　it　is；　then　we　must　deliberate　upon　future　measures。　I　will　see　what　I　can　pick　up　and　let　you　know。〃

Barbara　rose。　Mr。　Carlyle　escorted　her　across　the　hall；　and　then　strolled　down　the　park　by　her　side；　deep　in　the　subject；　and　quite　unconscious　that　Lady　Isabel's　jealous　eyes　were　watching　them　from　her　dressing…room　window。

'You　say　he　seemed　intimate　with　Otway　Bethel？〃

〃As　to　being　intimate；　I　cannot　say。　Otway　Bethel　spoke　as　though　he　knew　him。〃

〃This　must　have　caused　excitement　to　Mrs。　Hare。〃

〃You　forget；　Archibald；　that　mamma　was　not　told　anything　about　Thorn；〃　was　the　answer　of　Barbara。　〃The　uncertainty　would　have　worried　her　to　death。　All　Richard　said　to　her　was；　that　he　was　innocent；　that　it　was　a　stranger　who　did　the　deed；　and　she　asked　for　no　particulars；　she　had　implicit　faith