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！
〃You told me you were not coming。 Some bachelor's party in the way。〃
〃Yes； but I have changed my mind。 Farewell for the present； Lady Isabel。〃
〃What an object you will look； with nothing on your neck but a schoolgirl's chain！〃 began Mrs。 Vane； returning to the grievance as the carriage drove on。
〃Oh； Mrs。 Vane； what does it signify？ I can only think of my broken cross。 I am sure it must be an evil omen。〃
〃An evilwhat？〃
〃An evil omen。 Mamma gave me that cross when she was dying。 She told me to let it be to me as a talisman； always to keep it safely； and when I was in any distress； or in need of counsel； to look at it and strive to recall what her advice would be； and to act accordingly。 And now it is brokenbroken！〃
A glaring gaslight flashed into the carriage； right into the face of Isabel。 〃I declare；〃 uttered Mrs。 Vane； 〃you are crying again！ I tell you what it is； Isabel； I am not going to chaperone red eyes to the Duchess of Dartford's； so if you can't put a stop to this； I shall order the carriage home； and go on alone。〃
Isabel meekly dried her eyes； sighing deeply as she did so。 〃I can have the pieces joined； I dare say； but it will never be the same cross to me again。〃
〃What have you done with the pieces？〃 irascibly asked Mrs。 Vane。
〃I folded them in the thin paper Mrs。 Levison gave me； and put it inside my frock。 Here it is；〃 touching the body。 〃I have no pocket on。〃
Mrs。 Vane gave vent to a groan。 She never had been a girl herselfshe had been a woman at ten； and she complimented Isabel upon being little better than an imbecile。 〃Put it inside my frock！〃 she uttered in a torrent of scorn。 〃And you eighteen years of age！ I fancied you left off 'frocks' when you left the nursery。 For shame； Isabel！〃
〃I meant to say my dress；〃 corrected Isabel。
〃Meant to say you are a baby idiot！〃 was the inward comment of Mrs。 Vane。
A few minutes and Isabel forgot her grievance。 The brilliant rooms were to her as an enchanting scene of dreamland； for her heart was in its springtide of early freshness； and the satiety of experience had not come。 How could she remember trouble； even the broken cross； as she bent to the homage offered her and drank in the honeyed words poured forth into her ear？
〃Halloo！〃 cried an Oxford student； with a long rent…roll in prospective； who was screwing himself against the wall； not to be in the way of the waltzers； 〃I thought you had given up coming to these places？〃
〃So I had；〃 replied the fast nobleman addressed； the son of a marquis。 〃But I am on the lookout； so am forced into them again。 I think a ball…room the greatest bore in life。〃
〃On the lookout for what？〃
〃For a wife。 My governor has stopped supplies； and has vowed by his beard not to advance another shilling； or pay a debt； till I reform。 As a preliminary step toward it； he insists upon a wife； and I am trying to choose one for I am deeper in debt than you imagine。〃
〃Take the new beauty； then。〃
〃Who is she？〃
〃Lady Isabel Vane。〃
〃Much obliged for the suggestion；〃 replied the earl。 〃But one likes a respectable father…in…law； and Mount Severn is going to smash。 He and I are too much in the same line； and might clash； in the long run。〃
〃One can't have everything； the girl's beauty is beyond common。 I saw that rake； Levison； make up to her。 He fancies he can carry all before him； where women are concerned。〃
〃So he does； often；〃 was his quiet reply。
〃I hate the fellow！ He thinks so much of himself； with his curled hair and shining teeth； and his white skin； and he's as heartless as an owl。 What was that hushed…up business about Miss Charteris？〃
〃Who's to know？ Levison slipped out of the escapade like an eel； and the woman protested that he was more sinned against than sinning。 Three…fourths of the world believed them。〃
〃And she went abroad and died； and Levison here he comes！ And Mount Severn's daughter with him。〃
They were approaching at that moment； Francis Levison and Lady Isabel。 He was expressing his regret at the untoward accident of the cross for the tenth time that night。 〃I feel that it can never be atoned for；〃 whispered he； 〃that the heartfelt homage of my whole life would not be sufficient compensation。〃
He spoke in a tone of thrilling gentleness； gratifying to the ear but dangerous to the heart。 Lady Isabel glanced up and caught his eyes gazing upon her with the deepest tendernessa language hers had never yet encountered。 A vivid blush again arose to her cheek； her eyelids fell； and her timid words died away in silence。
〃Take care； take care； my young Lady Isabel；〃 murmured the Oxonian under his breath； as they passed him； 〃that man is as false as he is fair。〃
〃I think he is a rascal；〃 remarked the earl。
〃I know he is； I know a thing or two about him。 He would ruin her heart for the renown of the exploit； because she's a beauty； and then fling it away broken。 He has none to give in return for the gift。〃
〃Just as much as my new race…horse has；〃 concluded the earl。 〃She is very beautiful。〃
CHAPTER III。
BARBARA HARE。
West Lynne was a town of some importance； particularly in its own eyes； though being neither a manufacturing one nor a cathedral one； nor even the chief town of the county； it was somewhat primitive in its manners and customs。 Passing out at the town； toward the east； you came upon several detached gentleman's houses； in the vicinity of which stood the church of St。 Jude； which was more aristocratic； in the matter of its congregation； than the other churches of West Lynne。 For about a mile these houses were scattered； the church being situated at their commencement； close to that busy part of the place； and about a mile further on you came upon the beautiful estate which was called East Lynne。
Between the gentlemen's houses mentioned and East Lynne； the mile of road was very solitary； being much overshadowed with trees。 One house alone stood there； and that was about three…quarters of a mile before you came to East Lynne。 It was on the left hand side； a square； ugly； red brick house with a weathercock on the top； standing some little distance from the road。 A flat lawn extended before it； and close to the palings； which divided it from the road； was a grove of trees； some yards in depth。 The lawn was divided by a narrow middle gravel path； to which you gained access from the portico of the house。 You entered upon a large flagged hall with a reception room on either hand； and the staircase； a wide one； facing you； by the side of the staircase you passed on to the servants' apartments and offices。 That place was called the Grove； and was the property and residence of Richard Hare； Esq。； commonly called Mr。 Justice Hare。
The room to the left hand； as you went in； was the general sitting… room； the other was very much kept boxed up in lavender and brown Holland； to be opened on state occasions。 Justice and Mrs。 Hare had three children； a son and two daughters。 Annie was the elder of the girls； and had married young； Barbara； the younger was now nineteen； and Richard the eldestbut we shall come to him hereafter。
In this sitting…room； on a chilly evening； early in May； a few days subsequent to that which had witnessed the vi