, his foot on the step of the chaise, and the next was
being whisked away. Mr. Carlyle returned to the breakfast-room, where
Isabel, an ashy whiteness having replaced the crimson on her cheeks, was
picking up the gold.

"Will you do me a favor, Mr. Carlyle?"

"I will do anything I can for you."

She pushed a sovereign and a half toward him. "It is for Mr. Kane. I
told Marvel to send in and pay him, but it seems she forgot it, or put
it off, and he is not paid. The tickets were a sovereign; the rest is
for tuning the piano. Will you kindly give it him? If I trust one of the
servants it may be forgotten again in the hurry of their departure."

"Kane's charge for tuning a piano is five shillings," remarked Mr.
Carlyle.

"But he was a long time occupied with it, and did something with the
leathers. It is not too much; besides I never ordered him anything
to eat. He wants money even worse than I do," she added, with a poor
attempt at a smile. "But for thinking of him I should not have mustered
the courage to beg of Lord Mount Severn, as you have just heard me do.
In that case do you know what I should have done?"

"What should you have done?" he smiled.

"I should have asked you to pay him for me, and I would have repaid you
as soon as I had any money. I had a great mind to ask you, do you know;
it would have been less painful than being obliged to beg of Lord Mount
Severn."

"I hope it would," he answered, in a low, earnest tone. "What else can I
do for you?"

She was about to answer "Nothing--that he had done enough," but at that
moment their attention was attracted by a bustle outside, and they moved
to the window.

It was the carriage coming round for Lady Isabel--the late earl's
chariot, which was to convey her to the railway station six or seven
miles off. It had four post-horses to it, the number having been
designated by Lord Mount Severn, who appeared to wish Isabel to leave
the neighborhood in as much state as she had entered it. The carriage
was packed, and Marvel was perched outside.

"All is ready," she said, "and the time is come for me to go. Mr.
Carlyle I am going to leave you a legacy--those pretty gold and silver
fish that I bought a few weeks back."

"But why do you not take them?"

"Take them to Lady Mount Severn! No, I would rather leave them with you.
Throw a few crumbs into the globe now and then."

Her face was wet with tears, and he knew that she was talking hurriedly
to cover her