east lynne-第60章
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rounds； and was lingering there。 By this time the house was aroused； and the servants were astir。 Joyce surely a supernatural strength was given her； for though she had been able to put her foot to the ground； she had not yet walked upon itcrept downstairs； and went into Lady Isabel's dressing…room。 Mr。 Carlyle was hastily assuming the articles of attire he had not yet put on； to go out and search the grounds； when Joyce limped in； holding out a note。 Joyce did not stand on ceremony that night。
〃I found this in the dressing…glass drawer； sir。 It is my lady's writing。〃
He took it in his hand and looked at the address〃Archibald Carlyle。〃 Though a calm man； one who had his emotions under his own control； he was no stoic； and his fingers shook as he broke the seal。
〃When years go on； and my children ask where their mother is； and why she left them； tell them that you； their father； goaded her to it。 If they inquire what she is； tell them； also； if you so will； but tell them； at the same time； that you outraged and betrayed her； driving her to the very depth of desperation ere she quitted them in her despair。〃
The handwriting； his wife's； swam before the eyes of Mr。 Carlyle。 All； save the disgraceful fact that she had /flown/and a horrible suspicion began to dawn upon him； with whomwas totally incomprehensible。 How had he outraged her？ In what manner had he goaded her to it。 The discomforts alluded to by Joyce； and the work of his sister； had evidently no part in this； yet what had /he/ done？ He read the letter again； more slowly。 No he could not comprehend it； he had not the clue。
At that moment the voices of the servants in the corridor outside penetrated his ears。 Of course they were peering about； and making their own comments。 Wilson； with her long tongue； the busiest。 They were saying that Captain Levison was not in his room； that his bed had not been slept in。
Joyce sat on the edge of a chairshe could not standwatching her master with a blanched face。 Never had she seen him betray agitation so powerful。 Not the faintest suspicion of the dreadful truth yet dawned upon her。 He walked to the door； the open note in his hand； then turned； wavered； and stood still； as if he did not know what he was doing。 Probably he did not。 Then he took out his pocket…book； put the note inside it； and returned it to his pocket； his hands trembling equally with his livid lips。
〃You need not mention this；〃 he said to Joyce； indicating the note。 〃It concerns myself alone。〃
〃Sir； does it say she's dead？〃
〃She is not dead；〃 he answered。 〃Worse than that；〃 he added in his heart。
〃Whywho's this？〃 uttered Joyce。
It was little Isabel； stealing in with a frightened face； in her white nightgown。 The commotion had aroused her。
〃What's the matter？〃 she asked。 〃Where's mamma？〃
〃Child； you'll catch your death of cold；〃 said Joyce。 〃Go back to bed。〃
〃But I want mamma。〃
〃In the morning； dear；〃 evasively returned Joyce。 〃Sir； please； must not Isabel go back to bed？〃
Mr。 Carlyle made no reply to the question； most likely he never heard its import。 But he touched Isabel's shoulder to draw Joyce's attention to the child。
〃Joyce/Miss Lucy/ in future。〃
He left the room； and Joyce remained silent from amazement。 She heard him go out at the hall door and bang it after him。 Isabelnay； we must say 〃Lucy〃 alsowent and stood outside the chamber door； the servants gathered in a group near； did not observe her。 Presently she came running back； and disturbed Joyce from her reverie。
〃Joyce； is it true？〃
〃Is what true； my dear？〃
〃They are saying that Captain Levison has taken away my mamma。〃
Joyce fell back in her chair with a scream。 It changed to a long； low moan of anguish。
〃What has he taken her forto kill her？ I thought it was only kidnappers who took people。〃
〃Child； child； go to bed。〃
〃Oh； Joyce； I want mamma。 When will she come back？〃
Joyce hid her face in her hands to conceal its emotion from the motherless child。 And just then Miss Carlyle entered on tiptoe； and humbly sat down on a low chair； her green facegreen that nightin its grief； its remorse； and its horror； looking nearly as dark as her stockings。
She broke into a subdued wail。
〃God be merciful to this dishonored house！〃
Mr。 Justice Hare turned into the gate between twelve and oneturned in with a jaunty air； for the justice was in spirits； he having won nine sixpences； and his friend's tap of ale having been unusually good。 When he reached his bedroom； he told Mrs。 Hare of a chaise and four which had gone tearing past at a furious pace as he was closing the gate； coming from the direction of East Lynne。 He wondered where it could be going at that midnight hour； and whom it contained。
CHAPTER XXV。
CHARMING RESULTS。
Nearly a year went by。
Lady Isabel Carlyle had spent it on the continentthat refuge for such fugitivesnow moving about from place to place with her companion； now stationary and alone。 Quite half the timetaking one absence with the otherhe had been away from her； chiefly in Paris； pursuing his own course and his own pleasure。
How fared it with Lady Isabel？ Just as it must be expected to fare； and does fare； when a high…principled gentlewoman falls from her pedestal。 Never had she experienced a moment's calm； or peace； or happiness； since the fatal night of quitting her home。 She had taken a blind leap in a moment of wild passion； when； instead of the garden of roses it had been her persuader's pleasure to promise her she would fall into； but which； in truth； she had barely glanced at； for that had not been her moving motive； she had found herself plunged into a yawning abyss of horror； from which there was never more any escape never more； never more。 The very instantthe very night of her departure； she awoke to what she had done。 The guilt； whose aspect had been shunned in the prospective； assumed at once its true frightful color； the blackness of darkness； and a lively remorse； a never…dying anguish； took possession of her soul forever。 Oh； reader； believe me！ Ladywifemother！ Should you ever be tempted to abandon your home； so will you awake。 Whatever trials may be the lot of your married life； though they may magnify themselves to your crushed spirit as beyond the nature； the endurance of woman to bear； /resolve/ to bear them； fall down upon your knees； and pray to be enabled to bear them pray for patiencepray for strength to resist the demon that would tempt you to escape； bear unto death； rather than forfeit your fair name and your good conscience； for be assured that the alternative； if you do rush on to it； will be found worse than death。
Poor thingpoor Lady Isabel！ She had sacrificed husband； children； reputation； home； all that makes life of value to woman。 She had forfeited her duty to God； had deliberately broken his commandments； for the one poor miserable mistake of flying with Francis Levison。 But the instant the step was irrevocable； the instant she had left the barrier behind； repentance set in。 Even in the first days of her departure； in the fleeting moments of abandonment； when it may be supposed she might momentarily forget conscience； it was sharply wounding her with its adder stings； and she knew that her whole future existence； whether spent with that man or without him； would be a dark course of gnawing retribution。
Nearly a year went by； save some six or eight weeks； when； one morning in July； Lady Isabel made her appearance in the breakfast…room。 They were staying now at Grenoble。 Taking that town on their way to Switzerland through Savoy； it had been Captain Levison's pleasure to halt in it。 He engaged apartments； furnished； in the vicinity of the Place Grenette。 A windy； old house it was； full of doors and windows； chimneys and cupboards； and he said he should remain there。 Lady Isabel remonstrated； she wished to go farther on； where they might get quicker news from England； but her will now was as nothing。 She was looking like the ghost of her former self。 Talk of her having looked ill when she took that voyage over the water with Mr。 Carlyle； you should have seen her nowmisery marks the countenance worse than sickness。 Her face was white and worn； her hands we
