east lynne-第9节

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ookout　around　him；　when　the　door　timidly　opened；　and　the　pretty　face　of　Barbara　Hare　appeared　at　it；　rosy　with　blushes。

〃Can　I　see　Mr。　Carlyle？〃

Mr。　Dill　rose　from　his　seat　and　shook　hands　with　her。　She　drew　him　into　the　passage　and　he　closed　the　door。　Perhaps　he　felt　surprised；　for　it　was　/not/　the　custom　for　ladies；　young　and　single；　to　come　there　after　Mr。　Carlyle。

〃Presently；　Miss　Barbara。　He　is　engaged　just　now。　The　justices　are　with　him。〃

〃The　justices！〃　uttered　Barbara；　in　alarm；　〃and　papa　one？　Whatever　shall　I　do？　He　must　not　see　me。　I　would　not　have　him　see　me　here　for　the　world。〃

An　ominous　sound　of　talking；　the　justices　were　evidently　coming　forth。　Mr。　Dill　laid　hold　of　Barbara；　whisked　her　through　the　clerks'　room；　not　daring　to　take　her　the　other　way；　lest　he　should　encounter　them；　and　shut　her　in　his　own。　〃What　the　plague　brought　papa　here　at　this　moment？〃　thought　Barbara；　whose　face　was　crimson。

A　few　minutes　and　Mr。　Dill　opened　the　door　again。　〃They　are　gone　now；　and　the　coast's　clear；　Miss　Barbara。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　opinion　you　must　form　of　me；　Mr。　Dill；〃　she　whispered；　〃but　I　will　tell　you；　in　confidence；　that　I　am　here　on　some　private　business　for　mamma；　who　was　not　well　enough　to　come　herself。　It　is　a　little　private　matter　that　she　does　not　wish　papa　to　know　of。〃

〃Child；〃　answered　the　manager；　〃a　lawyer　receives　visits　from　many　people；　and　it　is　not　the　place　of　those　about　him　to　'think。'　〃

He　opened　the　door　as　he　spoke；　ushered　her　into　the　presence　of　Mr。　Carlyle；　and　left　her。　The　latter　rose　in　astonishment。

〃You　must　regard　me　as　a　client；　and　pardon　my　intrusion；〃　said　Barbara；　with　a　forced　laugh；　to　hide　her　agitation。　〃I　am　here　on　the　part　of　mammaand　I　nearly　met　papa　in　your　passage；　which　terrified　me　out　of　my　senses。　Mr。　Dill　shut　me　into　his　room。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　motioned　to　Barbara　to　seat　herself；　then　resumed　his　own　seat；　beside　his　table。　Barbara　could　not　help　noticing　how　different　his　manners　were　in　his　office　from　his　evening　manners　when　he　was　〃off　duty。〃　Here　he　was　the　staid；　calm　man　of　business。

〃I　have　a　strange　thing　to　tell　you；〃　she　began；　in　a　whisper；　〃but　it　is　impossible　that　any　one　can　hear　us；〃　she　broke　off；　with　a　look　of　dread。　〃It　would　beit　might　bedeath！〃

〃It　is　quite　impossible；〃　calmly　replied　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃The　doors　are　double　doors；　did　you　notice　that　they　were？〃

Nevertheless；　she　left　her　chair　and　stood　close　to　Mr。　Carlyle；　resting　her　hand　upon　the　table。　He　rose；　of　course。

〃Richard　is　here！〃

〃Richard！〃　repeated　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃At　West　Lynne！〃

〃He　appeared　at　the　house　last　night　in　disguise；　and　made　signs　to　me　from　the　grove　of　trees。　You　may　imagine　my　alarm。　He　has　been　in　London　all　this　while；　half　starving；　workingI　feel　ashamed　to　mention　it　to　youin　a　stable…yard。　And；　oh；　Archibald！　He　says　he　is　innocent。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　made　no　reply　to　this。　He　probably　had　no　faith　in　the　assertion。　〃Sit　down；　Barbara；〃　he　said　drawing　her　chair　closer。

Barbara　sat　down　again；　but　her　manner　was　hurried　and　nervous。　〃Is　it　quite　sure　that　no　stranger　will　be　coming　in？　It　would　look　so　peculiar　to　see　me　here；　but　mamma　was　too　unwell　to　come　herselfor　rather；　she　feared　papa's　questioning；　if　he　found　out　that　she　came。〃

〃Be　at　ease；〃　replied　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃this　room　is　sacred　from　the　intrusion　of　strangers。　What　of　Richard？〃

〃He　says　that　he　was　not　in　the　cottage　at　the　time　the　murder　was　committed；　that　the　person　who　really　did　it　was　a　man　of　the　name　of　Thorn。〃

〃What　Thorn？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle；　suppressing　all　signs　of　incredulity。

〃I　don't　know；　a　friend　of　Afy's；　he　said。　Archibald；　he　swore　to　it　in　the　most　solemn　manner；　and　I　believe；　as　truly　as　that　I　am　now　repeating　it　to　you；　that　he　was　speaking　the　truth。　I　want　you　to　see　Richard；　if　possible；　he　is　coming　to　the　same　place　to…night。　If　he　can　tell　his　own　tale　to　you；　perhaps　you　may　find　out　a　way　by　which　his　innocence　may　be　made　manifest。　You　are　so　clever；　you　can　do　anything。〃

Mr。　Carlyle　smiled。　〃Not　quite　anything；　Barbara。　Was　this　the　purport　of　Richard's　visitto　say　this？〃

〃Oh；　no！　He　thinks　it　is　of　no　use　to　say　it；　for　nobody　would　believe　him　against　the　evidence。　He　came　to　ask　for　a　hundred　pounds；　he　says　he　has　an　opportunity　of　doing　better；　if　he　can　have　that　sum。　Mamma　has　sent　me　to　you；　she　has　not　the　money　by　her；　and　she　dare　not　ask　papa　for　it；　as　it　is　for　Richard。　She　bade　me　say　that　if　you　will　kindly　oblige　her　with　the　money　to…day；　she　will　arrange　with　you　about　the　repayment。〃

〃Do　you　want　it　now？〃　asked　Mr。　Carlyle。　〃If　so；　I　must　send　to　the　bank。　Dill　never　keeps　much　money　in　the　house　when　I'm　away。〃

〃Not　until　evening。　Can　you　manage　to　see　Richard？〃

〃It　is　hazardous；〃　mused　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃for　him；　I　mean。　Still；　if　he　is　to　be　in　the　grove　to…night；　I　may　as　well　be　there　also。　What　disguise　is　he　in？〃

〃A　farm　laborer's；　the　best　he　could　adopt　about　here；　with　large　black　whiskers。　He　is　stopping　about　three　miles　off；　he　said；　in　some　obscure　hiding…place。　And　now；〃　continued　Barbara；　〃I　want　you　to　advise　me；　had　I　better　inform　mamma　that　Richard　is　here；　or　not？〃

Mr。　Carlyle　did　not　understand；　and　said　so。

〃I　declare　I　am　bewildered；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　should　have　premised　that　I　have　not　yet　told　mamma　it　is　Richard　himself　who　is　here；　but　that　he　has　sent　a　messenger　to　beg　for　this　money。　Would　it　be　advisable　to　acquaint　her？〃

〃Why　should　you　not？　I　think　you　ought　to　do　so。〃

〃Then　I　will；　I　was　fearing　the　hazard　for　she　is　sure　to　insist　upon　seeing　him。　Richard　also　wishes　for　an　interview。〃

〃It　is　only　natural。　Mrs。　Hare　must　be　thankful　to　hear　so　far；　that　he　is　safe。〃

〃I　never　saw　anything　like　it；〃　returned　Barbara；　〃the　change　is　akin　to　magic；　she　says　it　has　put　life　into　her　anew。　And　now　for　the　last　thing；　how　can　we　secure　papa's　absence　from　home　to…night？　It　must　be　accomplished　in　some　way。　You　know　his　temper：　were　I　or　mamma　to　suggest　to　him；　to　go　and　see　some　friend；　or　to　go　to　the　club；　he　would　immediately　stop　at　home。　Can　you　devise　any　plan？　You　see　I　appeal　to　you　in　all　my　troubles；〃　she　added；　〃like　I　and　Anne　used　to　do　when　we　were　children。〃

It　may　be　questioned　if　Mr。　Carlyle　heard　the　last　remark。　He　had　dropped　his　eyelids　in　thought。　〃Have　you　told　me　all？〃　he　asked　presently；　lifting　them。

〃I　think　so。〃

〃Then　I　will　consider　it　over；　and〃

〃I　shall　not　like　to　come　here　again；〃　interrupted　Barbara。　〃Itit　might　excite　suspicions；　some　one　might　see　me；　too；　and　mention　it　to　papa。　Neither　ought　you　to　send　to　our　house。〃

〃Wellcontrive　to　be　in　the　street　at　four　this　afternoon。　Stay；　that's　your　dinner　hour；　be　walking　up　the　street　at　three；　three　precisely；　I　will　meet　you。〃

He　rose；　shook　hands；　and　escorted　Barbara　through　the　small　hall；　along　the　passage　to　the　house　door；　a　courtesy　probably　not　yet　shown　to　any　client　by　Mr。　Carlyle。　The　house　door　closed　upon　her；　and　Barbara　had　taken　one　step　from　it；　when　something　large　loomed　down　upon　her；　like　a　ship　in　full　sail。

She　must　have　been　the　tallest　lady　in　the　worldout　of　a　caravan。　A　fine　woman　in　her　day；　but　angular　and　bony　now。　Still；　in　spite　of　the　angles　and　the　bones；　there　was　majesty　in　the　appearance　of　Miss　Carlyle。

〃Whywhat　on　earth！〃　began　she；　〃have　/you/　been　with　Archibald　for？〃

Barbara　Hare；　wishing　Miss　Carlyle　over　in　Asia；　stammered　out　the　excuse　she　had　given　Mr。　Dill。

〃Your　mamma　sent　you　on　business！　I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。　Twice　I　have　been　to　see　Archibald；　and　twice　did　Dill　answer　that　he　was　engaged　and　must　not　be　interrupted。　I　shall　make　old　Dill　explain　his　meaning　for　observing　a　mystery　over　it　to　me。〃

〃There　is　no　mystery；〃　answered　Barbara；　feeling　quite　sick　lest　Miss　Carlyle　should　proclaim　there　was；　before　the　clerks；　or　her　father。　〃Mamma　wanted　Mr。　Carlyle's　opinion　upon　a　little　private　business；　and　not　feeling　well　enough　to　come　herself；　she　sent　me。〃

Miss　Carlyle　did　not　believe　a　word。　〃What　business？〃　asked　she　unceremoniously。

〃It　is　nothing　that　could　interest　you。　A　trifling　matter；　relating　to　a　little　money。　It's　nothing；　indeed。〃

〃Then；　if　it's　nothing；　why　were　you　closeted　so　long　with　Archibald？〃

〃He　was　asking　the　particulars；〃　replied　Barbara；　recovering　her　equanimity。

Miss　Carlyle　sniffed；　as　she　invariably　did；　when　dissenting　from　a　problem。　She　was　sure　there　was　some　mystery　astir。　She　turned　and　walked　down　the　street　with　Barbara；　but　she　was　none　the　more　likely　to　get　anything　out　of　her。

Mr。　Carlyle　returned　to　his　room；　deliberated　a　few　moments；　and　then　rang　his　bell。　A　clerk　answered　it。

〃Go　to　the　Buck's　Head。　If　Mr。　Hare　and　the　other　magistrates　are　there；　ask　them　to　step　over　to　me。〃

The　young　man　did　as　he　was　bid；　and　came　back　with　the　noted　justices　at　his　heels。　They　obeyed　the　summons　with　alacrity；　for　they　believed　they　had　got　themselves　into　a　judicial　scrape；　and　that　Mr。　Carlyle　alone　could　get　them　out　of　it。

〃I　will　not　request　you　to　sit　down；〃　began　Mr。　Carlyle；　〃for　it　is　barely　a　moment　I　shall　detain　you。　The　more　I　think　about　this　man's　having　been　put　in　prison；　the　le