" Barbara said. "But it
must have been imperceptibly joined, for I have looked in vain for the
damage. Mr. Carlyle bought it for his first wife, when they were in
London, after their marriage. She broke it subsequently here, at East
Lynne. You will never do it, Madame Vine, if your hand shakes like that.
What is the matter?"

A great deal was the matter. First, the ominous words had been upon
her tongue. "It was here where the stem joins the flower;" but she
recollected herself in time. Next came up the past vision of the place
and hour when the accident occurred. Her hanging sleeve had swept it
off the table. Mr. Carlyle was in the room, and he had soothed her
sorrow--her almost childish sorrow with kisses sweet. Ah me! poor thing!
I think our hands would have shaken as hers did. The ornament and the
kisses were Barbara's now.

"I ran quickly up the stairs and back again," was the explanation she
offered to Mrs. Carlyle for her shaking hands.

At that moment Mr. Carlyle and their guests were heard to return, and
ascend to their respective apartments, Lord Vane's gleeful voice echoing
through the house. Mr. Carlyle came into his wife's dressing-room, and
Madame Vine would have made a precipitate retreat.

"No, no," said Barbara, "finish it, now you have begun. Mr. Carlyle will
be going to his room. Look at the misfortune I have had. Archibald, I
have broken this."

Mr. Carlyle glanced carelessly at the trinket, and at Madame Vine's
white fingers. He crossed to the door of his dressing-room and opened
it, then held out his hand in silence for Barbara to approach and drew
her in with him. Madame Vine went on with her work.

Presently Barbara returned, and approached the table where stood Madame
Vine, while she drew on her gloves. Her eyelashes were wet.

"I could not help shedding a few tears of joy," exclaimed Barbara, with
a pretty blush, perceiving that madame observed the signs. "Mr. Carlyle
has been telling me that my brother's innocence is now all but patent
to the world. It came out upon the examination of those two men,
Sir Francis and Otway Bethel. Lord Mount Severn was present at the
proceedings, and says they have in some way incriminated each other.
Papa sat in his place as chairman; I wonder that he liked to do so."

Lower bent the head of Madame Vine over her employment. "Has anything
been proved against them?" she asked, in her usual soft tone, almost a
whisper.

"There is not the least doubt of