按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
decline to tell them to you； on my own account； as well as on yours。 Lay not discourtesy to my charge； Lady Levison。 Were I to speak of the man； even to you； his name would blister my lips。〃
〃In every word of hate spoken by you I would sympathize； every contemptuous expression of scorn； cast upon him from your heart； I would join in； tenfold。〃
Barbara was shocked。 〃He is your husband； after all；〃 she took leave to whisper。
〃My husband！〃 broke forth Lady Levison； in agitation； seemingly。 〃Yes！ there's the wrong。 Why did he； knowing what he was； delude me into becoming his wife？ You ought to feel for me； Mrs。 Carlyle； and you do feel for me； for you are a wife and mother。 How dare these base men marrytake to themselves an innocent； inexperienced girl； vowing； before God； to love and honor and cherish her？ Were not his other sins impediment enough but he must have crime； also； and woo me！ He has done me deep and irredeemable wrong； and has entailed upon his child an inheritance of shame。 What had he or I done to deserve it； I ask？〃
Barbara felt half frightened at her vehemence； and Barbara might be thankful not to understand it。 All her native gentleness； all her reticence of feeling； as a wife and a gentlewoman； had been goaded out of her。 The process had been going on for some time； but this last revelation was the crowning point； and Alice； Lady Levison； turned round upon the world in her helpless resentment； as any poor wife； working in a garret； might have done。 There are certain wrongs which bring out human nature in the high…born； as well as in the low。 〃Still he is your husband；〃 was all Barbara could； with deprecation； again plead。
〃He made himself my husband by deceit； and I will throw him off in the face of day；〃 returned Lady Levison。 〃There is no moral obligation why I should not。 He has worked ill and ruinill and ruin upon me and my child； and the world shall never be allowed to think I have borne my share in it。 How was it you kept your hands off him； when he reappeared； to brave you； in West Lynne？〃 she added； in a changed tone； turning to Mr。 Carlyle。
〃I cannot tell。 I was a marvel oftentimes to myself。〃
He quitted the room as he spoke； adding a few civil words about her with Mrs。 Carlyle。 Barbara； not possessing the scruples of her husband； yielded to Lady Levison's request； and gave her the outline of the dark tale。 Its outline only； and generously suppressing Afy's name beyond the evening of the fatal event。 Lady Levison listened without interruption。
〃Do you and Mr。 Carlyle believe him to have been guilty？〃
〃Yes； but Mr。 Carlyle will not express his opinion to the world。 He does not repay wrong with revenge。 I have heard him say that if the lifting of his finger would send the man to his punishment； he would tie down his hand rather than lift it。〃
〃Was his first wife； Isabel Vane； mad？〃 she presently asked。
〃Mad！〃 echoed Barbara； in surprise。
〃When she quitted him for the other。 It could have been nothing else than madness。 I could understand a woman's flying from /him/ for love of Mr。 Carlyle； but now that I have seen your husband； I cannot understand the reverse side of the picture。 I thank you for your courtesy； Mrs。 Carlyle。〃
And； without another word； Alice Levison quitted the room as abruptly as she had entered it。
Well； the London visit came to an end。 It was of little more than three weeks' duration； for Barbara must be safe at home again。 Mr。 Carlyle remained for the rest of the season alone； but he varied it with journeys to East Lynne。 He had returned home for good now； July； although the session had not quite terminated。 There was another baby at East Lynne； a lovely little baby； pretty as Barbara herself had been at a month old。 William was fading rapidly。 The London physicians had but confirmed the opinion of Dr。 Martin； and it was evident to all that the close would not be long protracted。
Somebody else was fadingLady Isabel。 The cross had been too heavy； and she was sinking under its weight。 Can you wonder at it？
An intensely hot day it was under the July sun。 Afy Hallijohn was sailing up the street in its beams； finer and vainer than ever。 She encountered Mr。 Carlyle。
〃So； Afy； you are really going to be married at last？〃
〃Jiffin fancies so； sir。 I am not sure yet but what I shall change my mind。 Jiffin thinks there's nobody like me。 If I could eat gold and silver； he'd provide it； and he's as fond as fond can be。 But then you know； sir； he's half soft。〃
〃Soft as to you； perhaps；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I consider him a very civil； respectable man； Afy。〃
〃And then； I never did think to marry a shopkeeper；〃 grumbled Afy； 〃I looked a little higher than that。 Only fancy； sir； having a husband who wears a white apron tied round him！〃
〃Terrible！〃 responded Mr。 Carlyle； with a grave face。
〃Not but what it will be a tolerable settlement；〃 rejoined Afy； veering round a point。 〃He's having his house done up in style； and I shall keep two good servants； and do nothing myself but dress and subscribe to the library。 He makes plenty of money。〃
〃A very tolerable settlement； I should say；〃 returned Mr。 Carlyle； and Afy's face fell before the glance of his eye； merry though it was。 〃Take care you don't spend all his money for him； Afy。〃
〃I'll take care of that；〃 nodded Afy； significantly。 〃Sir；〃 she somewhat abruptly added； 〃what is it that's the matter with Joyce？〃
〃I do not know；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； becoming serious。 〃There does appear to be something the matter with her； for she is much changed。〃
〃I never saw anybody so changed in my life；〃 exclaimed Afy。 〃I told her the other day that she was just like one who had got some dreadful secret upon their mind。〃
〃It is really more like that than anything else；〃 observed Mr。 Carlyle。
〃But she is one of the close ones； is Joyce；〃 continued Afy。 〃No fear that she'll give out a clue； if it does not suit her to do so。 She told me； in answer； to mind my own business； and not to take absurd fancies in my head。 How is the baby； sir； and Mrs。 Carlyle？〃
〃All well。 Good day； Afy。〃
CHAPTER XLII。
THE TRIAL。
Spacious courts were the assize courts of Lynneborough； and it was well they were so； otherwise more people had been disappointed； and numbers were； of hearing the noted trial of Sir Francis Levison for the murder of George Hallijohn。
The circumstances attending the case caused it to bear for the public an unparalleled interest。 The rank of the accused； and his antecedents； more especially that particular local antecedent touching the Lady Isabel Carlyle； the verdict still out against Richard Hare； the length of time which had elapsed since； the part played in it by Afy； the intense curiosity as to the part taken in it by Otway Bethel； the speculation as to what had been the exact details； and the doubt of a convictionall contributed to fan the curiosity of the public。 People came from far and near to be presentfriends of Mr。 Carlyle； friends of the Hares； friends of the Challoner family； friends of the prisoner； besides the general public。 Colonel Bethel and Mr。 Justice Hare had conspicuous seats。
At a few minutes past nine the judge took his place on the bench； but not