ne."

Mr. Carlyle rose. He could do no good by remaining, and did not think it
well to intrude longer. He suggested that it might be more pleasant if
Isabel had a friend with her; Mrs. Ducie would no doubt be willing to
come, and she was a kind, motherly woman.

Isabel shook her head with a passing shudder. "Have strangers, here,
with--all--that--in papa's chamber!" she uttered. "Mrs. Ducie drove
over yesterday, perhaps to remain--I don't know; but I was afraid of
questions, and would not see her. When I think of--that--I feel thankful
that I am alone."

The housekeeper stopped Mr. Carlyle as he was going out.

"Sir, what is the news from Castle Marling? Pound said there was a
letter. Is Mr. Vane coming?"

"He was out yachting. Mrs. Vane expected him home yesterday, so it is to
be hoped he will be here to-day."

"Whatever will be done if he does not come?" she breathed. "The leaden
coffin ought to be soldered down, for you know, air, the state he was in
when he died."

"It can be soldered down without Mr. Vane."

"Of course--without Mr. Vane. It's not that, sir. Will those men allow
it to be done? The undertakers were here this morning at daybreak, and
those men intimated that they were not going to _lose sight_ of
the dead. The words sounded significant to us, but we asked them no
questions. Have they a right to prevent it, sir?"

"Upon my word I cannot tell," replied Mr. Carlyle. "The proceeding is so
rare a one, that I know little what right of law they have or have not.
Do not mention this to Lady Isabel. And when Mr. Va--when Lord Mount
Severn arrives, send down to apprise me of it."

CHAPTER XI.

THE NEW PEER--THE BANK-NOTE

A post-chaise was discerned thundering up the avenue that Sunday
afternoon. It contained the new peer, Lord Mount Severn. The more direct
line of rail from Castle Marling, brought him only to within five
miles of West Lynne, and thence he had travelled in a hired chaise.
Mr. Carlyle soon joined him, and almost at the same time Mr. Warburton
arrived from London. Absence from town at the period of the earl's death
had prevented Mr. Warburton's earlier attendance. Business was entered
upon immediately.

The present earl knew that his predecessor had been an embarrassed man,
but he had no conception of the extent of the evil; they had not been
intimate, and rarely came in contact. As the various items of news were
now detailed to him--the wasteful expenditure, the disastrous r