east lynne-第73节

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〃Very　happy！　Very　honorable！〃　fiercely　cried　Miss　Carlyle；　sarcasm　in　her　tone。　〃His　last　marriage　brought　him　all　that；　did　it　not？〃

〃That's　past　and　done　with；　Miss　Corny；　and　none　of　us　need　recall　it。　I　hope　he　will　find　in　his　present　wife　a　recompense　for　what's　gone；　he　could　not　have　chosen　a　prettier　or　nicer　young　lady　than　Miss　Barbara；　and　I　am　glad　to　my　very　heart　that　he　has　got　her。〃

〃Couldn't　he？〃　jerked　Miss　Carlyle。

〃No；　ma'am；　he　could　not。　Were　I　young；　and　wanted　a　wife；　there's　no　one　in　all　West　Lynne　I　would　so　soon　look　out　for　as　Miss　Barbara。　Not　that　she'd　have　me；　and　I　was　not　speaking　in　that　sense；　Miss　Corny。〃

〃It's　to　be　hoped　you　were　not；〃　retorted　Miss　Corny。　〃She　is　an　idle；　insolent；　vain　fagot；　caring　for　nothing　but　her　own　doll's　face　and　for　Archibald。〃

〃Ah；　well；　ma'am　never　mind　that；　pretty　young　girls　know　they　are　pretty；　and　you　can't　take　their　vanity　from　them。　She'll　be　a　good　and　loving　wife　to　him；　I　know　she　will；　it　is　in　her　nature；　she　won't　serve　him　asasthat　other　poor　unfortunate　did。〃

〃If　I　feared　she　was　one　to　bring　shame　to　him；　as　the　other　did；　I'd　go　into　the　church　this　hour　and　forbid　the　marriage；　and　if　that　didn't　do；　I'dsmother　her！〃　shrieked　Miss　Carlyle。　〃Look　at　that　piece　of　impudence！〃

That　last　sentence　was　uttered　in　a　different　tone；　and　concerned　somebody　in　the　street。　Miss　Carlyle　hopped　off　her　chair　and　strode　to　the　window。　Mr。　Dill's　eyes　turned　in　the　like　direction。

In　a　gay　and　summer's　dress；　fine　and　sparkling；　with　a　coquettish　little　bonnet；　trimmed　with　pink；　shaded　by　one　of　those　nondescript　articles　at　present　called　veils；　which　article　was　made　of　white　spotted　net　with　a　pink　ruche　round　it；　sailed　Afy　Hallijohn；　conceited　and　foolish　and　good…looking　as　ever。　Catching　sight　of　Mr。　Dill；　she　made　him　a　flourishing　and　gracious　bow。　The　courteous　old　gentleman　returned　it；　and　was　pounced　upon　by　Miss　Corny's　tongue　for　his　pains。

〃Whatever　possessed　you　to　do　that？〃

〃Well；　Miss　Corny；　she　spoke　to　me。　You　saw　her。〃

〃I　saw　her？　Yes；　I　did　see　her；　the　brazen　bellwether！　And　she　saw　me；　and　spoke　to　you　in　her　insolence。　And　you　must　answer　her；　in　spite　of　my　presence；　instead　of　shaking　your　fist　and　giving　her　a　reproving　frown。　You　want　a　little　sharp　talking　to；　yourself。〃

〃But；　Miss　Corny；　it's　always　best　to　let　bygones　be　bygones；〃　he　pleaded。　〃She　was　flighty　and　foolish；　and　all　that；　was　Afy；　but　now　that　it's　proved　she　did　not　go　with　Richard　Hare；　as　was　suspected；　and　is　at　present　living　creditably；　why　should　she　not　be　noticed？〃

〃If　the　very　deuce　himself　stood　there　with　his　horns　and　tail；　you　would　find　excuses　to　make　for　him；〃　fired　Miss　Corny。　〃You　are　as　bad　as　Archibald！　Notice　Afy　Hallijohn；　when　she　dresses　and　flirts　and　minces　as　you　saw　her　but　now！　What　creditable　servant　would　flaunt　abroad　in　such　a　dress　and　bonnet　as　that；　with　that　flimsy　gauze　thing　over　her　face。　It's　as　disreputable　as　your　shirt…front。〃

Mr。　Dill　coughed　humbly；　not　wishing　to　renew　the　point　of　the　shirt…　front。　〃She　is　not　exactly　a　servant；　Miss　Corny；　she's　a　lady's　maid；　and　ladies'　maids　do　dress　outrageously　fine。　I　had　great　respect　for　her　father；　ma'am；　never　a　better　clerk　came　into　our　office。〃

〃Perhaps　you'll　tell　me　you　have　a　respect　for　her！　The　world's　being　turned　upside　down；　I　think。　Formerly；　mistresses　kept　their　servants　to　work；　now　it　seems　they　keep　them　for　play！　She's　going　to　St。　Jude's；　you　may　be　sure　of　it；　to　stare　at　this　fine　wedding；　instead　of　being　at　home；　in　a　cotton　gown　and　white　apron；　making　beds。　Mrs。　Latimer　must　be　a　droll　mistress；　to　give　her　liberty　in　this　way。　What's　that　fly　for？〃　sharply　added　Miss　Corny；　as　one　drew　up　to　the　office　door。

〃Fly；〃　said　Mr。　Dill；　stretching　forward　his　bald　head。　〃It　must　be　the　one　I　ordered。　Then　I'll　wish　you　good…day；　Miss　Corny。〃

〃Fly　for　you？〃　cried　Miss　corny。　〃Have　you　got　the　gout；　that　you　could　not　walk　to　St。　Jude's　on　foot？〃

〃I　am　not　going　to　the　church　yet；　I　am　going　on　to　the　Grove；　Miss　Corny。　I　thought　it　would　look　more　proper　to　have　a　fly　ma'am；　more　respectful。〃

〃Not　a　doubt　but　you　need　it　in　that　trim；〃　retorted　she。　〃Why　didn't　you　put　on　pumps　and　silk　stockings　with　pink　clocks？〃

He　was　glad　to　bow　himself　out；　she　kept　on　so。　But　he　thought　he　would　do　it　with　a　pleasant　remark；　to　show　her　he　bore　no　ill…will。　〃Just　look　at　the　crowds　pouring　down；　Miss　Corny；　the　church　will　be　as　full　as　it　can　cram。〃

〃I　dare　say　it　will；〃　retorted　she。　〃One　fool　makes　many。〃

〃I　fear　Miss　Cornelia　does　not　like　this　marriage；　any　more　than　she　did　the　last；〃　quoth　Mr。　Dill　to　himself　as　he　stepped　into　his　fly。　〃Such　a　sensible　woman　as　she　is　in　other　things；　to　be　so　bitter　against　Mr。　Archibald　because　he　marries！　It's　not　like　her。　I　wonder；〃　he　added；　his　thoughts　changing；　〃whether　I　do　look　foolish　in　this　shirt？　I'm　sure　I　never　thought　of　decking　myself　out　to　appear　youngas　Miss　Corny　saidI　only　wished　to　testify　respect　to　Mr。　Archibald　and　Miss　Barbara；　nothing　else　would　have　made　me　give　five…and…twenty　shillings　for　it。　Perhaps　it's　not　etiquetteor　whatever　they　call　itto　wear　them　in　the　morning；　Miss　Corny　ought　to　know；　and　there　certainly　must　be　something　wrong　about　it；　by　the　way　it　put　her　up。　Well；　it　can't　be　helped　now；　it　must　go；　there's　no　time　to　return　home　now　to　change　it。〃

St。　Jude's　Church　was　in　a　cram；　all　the　world　and　his　wife　had　flocked　into　it。　Those　who　could　not　get　in；　took　up　their　station　in　the　churchyard　and　in　the　road。

Well；　it　was　a　goodly　show。　Ladies　and　gentlemen　as　smart　as　fine　feathers　could　make　them。　Mr。　Carlyle　was　one　of　the　first　to　enter　the　church；　self…possessed　and　calm；　the　very　sense　of　a　gentleman。　Oh；　but　he　was　noble　to　look　upon；　though　when　was　he　otherwise？　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Clithero　were　there；　Anne　Hare；　that　was；　a　surprise　for　some　of　the　gazers；　who　had　not　known　they　were　expected　at　the　wedding。　Gentle；　delicate　Mrs。　Hare　walked　up　the　church　leaning　on　the　arm　of　Sir　John　Dobede；　a　paler　shade　than　usual　on　her　sweet；　sad　face。　〃She's　thinking　of　her　wretched；　ill…doing　son；〃　quoth　the　gossips；　one　to　another。　But　who　comes　in　now；　with　an　air　as　if　the　whole　church　belonged　to　him？　An　imposing；　pompous　man；　stern　and　grim；　in　a　new　flaxen　wig；　and　a　white　rose　in　his　buttonhole。　It　is　Mr。　Justice　Hare；　and　he　leads　in　one；　whom　folks　jump　upon　seats　to　get　a　look　at。

Very　lovely　was　Barbara；　in　her　soft　white　silk　robes　and　her　floating　veil。　Her　cheeks；　now　blushing　rosy　red；　now　pale　as　the　veil　that　shaded　them；　betrayed　how　intense　was　her　emotion。　The　bridesmaids　came　after　her　with　jaunty　steps；　vain　in　their　important　office　Louisa　Dobede；　Augusta　and　Kate　Herbert；　and　Mary　Pinner。

Mr。　Carlyle　was　already　in　his　place　at　the　altar；　and　as　Barbara　neared　him；　he　advanced；　took　her　hand；　and　placed　her　on　his　left。　I　don't　think　that　it　was　quite　usual；　but　he　had　been　married　before；　and　ought　to　know。　The　clerk　directed　the　rest　where　to　stand；　and；　after　some　little　delay；　the　service　proceeded。

In　spite　of　her　emotionand　that　it　was　great；　scarcely　to　be　suppressed；　none　could　doubtBarbara　made　the　responses　bravely。　Be　you　very　sure　that　a　woman　who　/loves/　him　she　is　being　united　to；　must　experience　this　emotion。

〃Wilt　though　have　this　man　to　be　thy　wedded　husband；　to　live　together　after　God's　ordinance；　in　the　holy　estate　of　matrimony？〃　spoke　the　Rev。　Mr。　Little。　〃Wilt　thou　obey　him；　and　serve　him；　love；　honor；　and　keep　him　in　sickness　and　in　health；　and　forsaking　all　others；　keep　thee　only　unto　him；　so　long　as　ye　both　shall　live？〃

〃I　will。〃

Clearly；　firmly；　impressively　was　the　answer　given。　It　was　as　if　Barbara　had　in　her　thoughts　one　who　had　not　〃kept　holy　unto　him；〃　and　would　proclaim　her　own　resolution　never　so　to　betray　him；　God　helping　her。

The　ceremony　was　very　soon　over；　and　Barbara；　the　magic　ring　upon　her　finger　and　her　arm　within　Mr。　Carlyle's　was　led　out　to　his　chariot；　now　hershad　he　not　just　endowed　her　with　his　worldly　goods？

The　crowd　shouted　and　hurrahed　as　they　caught　sight　of　her　blushing　face；　but　the　carriage　was　soon　clear　of　the　crowd；　who　concentrated　their　curiosity　upon　the　other　carriages　that　were　to　follow　it。　The　company　were　speeding　back　to　the　Grove　to　breakfast。　Mr。　Carlyle；　breaking　the　silence；　suddenly　turned　to　his　bride　and　spoke；　his　tone　impassioned；　almost　unto　pain。

〃Barbara；　/you/　will　keep　your　vows　to　me？〃

She　raised　her　shy　blue　eyes；　so　full　of　love　to　his；　earnest　feeling　had　brought　the　tears　to　them。

〃Always；　in　the　spirit　and　in　the　letter；　until　death　shall　claim　me。　So　help　me　Heaven！〃



The　German　watering…places　were　crowded　that　early　autumn。　They　generally　are　crowded　at　that　season；　now　that　the　English　flock　abroad　in　shoals；　like　the　swallows　quitting　our　cold　country；　to　return　again　some　time。　France　has　been　pretty　well　used　up；　so　now　we　fall　upon　Germany。　Stalkenberg　was　that　year　particularly　full；　for　its　sizeyou　might　have　put　it　in　a　nutshell；　and　it　derived　its　importance；　name；　and　most　else　belonging　to　it；　from　its　lord　of　the　soil；　the　Baron　von　Stalkenberg。　A