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！
〃Something of that sort； I conclude。〃
〃But how is it to be done？ I am at home； and he is over there。 His affairs are in a state of confusion； and nobody can come to the bottom of them without an explanation from him。 Some liabilities； for which I have furnished the money； the creditors swear have not been liquidated。 He must come over if he wants anything done。〃
〃Where is he to come to？ He must be in England /sub rosa/。〃
〃He can't be here；〃 hastily rejoined Sir Peter。 〃Lady Levison would not have him for a day。〃
〃He might be at East Lynne；〃 good…naturedly observed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Nobody would think of looking for him there。 I think it is a pity that you should not meet； if you do feel inclined to help him。〃
〃You are a deal more considerate to him than he deserves； Mr。 Carlyle。 May I ask if you intend to act for him in a professional capacity？〃
〃I do not。〃
A few more words； and it was decided that Captain Levison should be immediately sent for。 As Mr。 Carlyle left Sir Peter's presence； he encountered Lady Levison。
〃I can scarcely be ignorant that your conference with my husband has reference to his grandnephew；〃 she observed。
〃It has；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。
〃I have had a very bad opinion of him； Mr。 Carlyle； at the same time I do not wish you to carry away a wrong impression of me。 Francis Levison is my husband's nephew； his presumptive heir； it may； therefore； appear strange that I set my face against him。 Two or three years ago； previous to my marriage with Sir Peter； in fact before I knew Sir Peter； I was brought into contact with Francis Levison。 He got acquainted with some friends of mine； and at their house I met him。 He behaved shamefully ill； he repaid their hospitality with gross ingratitude； other details and facts regarding his conduct also became known to me。 Altogether I believe him to be a base and despicable man； both by nature and inclination； and that he will remain such to the end of time。〃
〃I know very little indeed of him；〃 observed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃May I inquire the nature of his ill…conduct in that instance？〃
〃He ruined themhe ruined them； Mr。 Carlyle。 They were simple； unsuspicious country people； understanding neither fraud nor vice； nor the ways of an evil world。 Francis Levison got them to put their names to bills； 'as a matter of form； to accommodate him for a month or so；' he stated； and so they believed。 They were not wealthy； they lived upon their own small estate； with none too much of superfluous money to spare； and when the time came for them to payas come it didit brought ruin； and they had to leave their home。 He deliberately did it knowing what would be the end。 And I could tell you of other things。 Sir Peter may have informed you that I object to receive him here。 I do。 My objection is to the manto his character； not owing； as I hear it has been said； to any jealous paltry feeling touching his being the heir。 I must lose my own self…respect before I admit Francis Levison to my house as an inmate。 Sir Peter may assist him in welcomemay pay his debt； and get him out of his scrapes as often as he pleases； but I will not have him here。〃
〃Sir Peter said you declined to receive him。 But it is necessary that he should come to England； if his affairs are to be set straight； and also that he should see Sir Peter。〃
〃Come to England！〃 interrupted Lady Levison。 〃How can he come to England under present circumstances； unless； indeed； he comes /en cachette/？〃
〃/En cachette/； of course；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃There is no other way。 I have offered to let him stay at East Lynne。 He is； you may be aware； a sort of connection of Lady Isabel's。〃
〃Take care that he does not repay /your/ hospitality with ingratitude；〃 warmly returned Lady Levison。 〃It would only be in accordance with his practice。〃
Mr。 Carlyle laughed。
〃I do not see what harm he could do me； allowing that he had the inclination。 He would not scare my clients from me； or beat my children； and I can take care of my pocket。 A few days will； no doubt； be the extent of his sojourn。〃
Lady Levison smiled too； and shook hands with Mr。 Carlyle。
〃In your house； perhaps； there may be no field for his vagaries； but rely upon it； where there is one he is sure to be at some mischief or other。〃
This visit of Mr。 Carlyle's to Levison Park took place on a Friday morning； and on his return to his office he dispatched an account of it to Captain Levison at Boulogne； telling him he had better come over。 But now Mr。 Carlyle； like many another man whose mind has its share of work； was sometimes forgetful of trifles； and it entirely slipped his memory to mention the expected arrival at home。 The following evening； Saturday； he and Lady Isabel were dining in the neighborhood； when the conversation at table turned upon the Ducies and their embarrassments。 The association of ideas led Mr。 Carlyle's thoughts to Boulogne； to Captain Levison and /his/ embarrassments； and it immediately occurred to him that he had not told his wife of the anticipated visit。 He kept it in his mind then； and spoke as soon as they were in the chariot returning home。
〃Isabel；〃 began he； 〃I suppose we have always rooms ready for visitors； because I am expecting one。〃
〃Oh； yes； or if not； they are soon made ready。〃
〃Ah； but to…morrow's Sunday； and I have no doubt that's the day he will take advantage of to come。 I am sorry I forgot to mention it yesterday。〃
〃Who is coming； then？〃
〃Captain Levison。〃
〃Who？〃 repeated Lady Isabel； in a sharp tone of consternation。
〃Captain Levison。 Sir Peter consents to see him； with a view to the settlement of his liabilities； but Lady Levison declines to receive him at the Park。 So I offered to give him house…room at East Lynne for a few days。〃
There is an old saying； 〃the heart leaping into the mouth；〃 and Lady Isabel's leaped into hers。 She grew dizzy at the wordsher senses seemed momentarily to desert her。 Her first sensation was as if the dull earth had opened and shown her a way into Paradise； her second； a lively consciousness that Francis Levison ought not to be suffered to come again into companionship with her。 Mr。 Carlyle continued to converse of the man's embarrassments； of his own interview with Sir Peter and Lady Levison； but Isabel was as one who heard not。 She was debating the question； how she could prevent his coming？
〃Archibald；〃 she presently said； 〃I do not wish Francis Levison to stay at East Lynne。〃
〃It will only be for a few daysperhaps but a day or two。 Sir Peter is in the humor to discharge the claims； and； the moment his resolve is known； the ex…captain can walk on her majesty's dominions； an unmolested man； free to go where he will。〃
〃That may be；〃 interrupted Lady Isabel； in an accent of impatience； 〃but why should he come to our house？〃
〃I proposed it myself。 I had no idea you would dislike his coming。 Why should you？〃
〃I don't like Francis Levison；〃 she murmured。 〃That is； I don't care to have him at East Lynne。〃
〃My dear； I fear there is no help for it now； he is most likely on his road； and will arrive to…morrow。 I cannot turn him out again； after my own voluntary invitation。 Had I known it would be disagreeable to you； I would not have proposed it。〃
〃To…morrow！〃 she exclaimed； all the words that caught her ear。 〃Is he coming to…morrow？〃
〃Being Sunday； a free day； he will be sure to take advantage of it。 What has he done that you should object to his coming？ You did not say in Boulogne that you disliked him。〃
〃He had done nothing；〃 was her faltering answer； feeling that her grounds of opposition must melt under her one by one。
〃Lady Levison appears to possess a very ill opinion of him；〃 resumed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃She says she knew him in years gone by。 She mentioned one or two things which； if true； must be bad enough。 But possibly she may be prejudiced。〃
〃She is prejudiced；〃 said Isabel。 〃At least Francis Levison told me at Boulogne。 There appeared to be no love lost between them。〃
〃At any rate； his ill doings or well doings cannot affect us for the short period he is likely to remain。 You have taken a prejudice against him also； I suppose； Isabel。〃
She suffered Mr。 Carlyle to remain in the belief； and sat with clasped hands and a despairing spirit feeling that fate was against her。
How could she accomplish her task of forgetting this man； if he was thus to be thrown into her home and her companionship？ Suddenly she turned to her husband； and laid her cheek upon his shoulder。
He thought she was tired。 He passed his arm round her waist； drew her face to a more comfortable position； and bent his own lovingly upon it。 It came to her mind； as she lay there； to tell him a portion of the truth； like it had done once before。 It was a strong arm of shelter； that round hera powerful pillar of protection； him upon whom she leaned； why did she not confide herself to him as trustingly as a little child？ Simply because her courage failed。 Once； twice； the opening words were upon her lips； but come forth they did not； and then the carriage stopped at East Lynne； and the opportunity was over。 Oh！ How many a time in her after years did Lady Isabel recall that midnight drive with her husband； and wish； in her vain repentance； that she had ope