best met jestingly. He made her drink the wine and water, and then he
showed her where the bell was, ringing it as he did so. Its position had
been changed in some late alterations to the house.

"Your rooms shall be changed to-morrow, Isabel."

"No, let us remain in these. I shall like to feel that papa was once
their occupant. I won't get nervous again."

But, even as she spoke, her actions belied her words. Mr. Carlyle had
gone to the door and opened it, and she flew close up to him, cowering
behind him.

"Shall you be gone very long, Archibald?" she whispered.

"Not more than an hour," he answered. But he hastily put back one of his
hands, and held her tightly in his protecting grasp. Marvel was coming
along the corridor in answer to the ring.

"Have the goodness to let Miss Carlyle know that I am not coming down
again to-night," he said.

"Yes, sir."

Mr. Carlyle shut the door, and then looked at his wife and laughed. "He
is very kind to me," thought Isabel.

With the morning began the perplexities of Lady Isabel Carlyle. But,
first of all, just fancy the group at breakfast. Miss Carlyle descended
in the startling costume the reader has seen, took her seat at the
breakfast-table, and there sat bolt upright. Mr. Carlyle came down next;
and then Lady Isabel entered, in an elegant half-mourning dress, with
flowing black ribbons.

"Good morning, ma'am. I hope you slept well," was Miss Carlyle's
salutation.

"Quite well, thank you," she answered, as she took her seat opposite
Miss Carlyle. Miss Carlyle pointed to the top of the table.

"That is your place, ma'am; but I will pour out the coffee, and save you
the trouble, if you wish it."

"I should be glad if you would," answered Lady Isabel.

So Miss Carlyle proceeded to her duties, very stern and grim. The meal
was nearly over, when Peter came in, and said the butcher had come up
for orders. Miss Carlyle looked at Lady Isabel, waiting, of course, for
her to give them. Isabel was silent with perplexity; she had never given
such an order in her life. Totally ignorant was she of the requirements
of a household; and did not know whether to suggest a few pounds of meat
or a whole cow. It was the presence of that grim Miss Corny which put
her out. Alone with her husband she would have said, "What ought I to
order, Archibald? Tell me." Peter waited.

"A----Something to roast and boil, if you please," stammered Lady
Isabel.

She spoke in a low tone. Embar