.

Benjamin drew the rug carefully over his mistress's knees--the servants
did not like Mr. Hare, but would have laid down their lives for
her--ascended to his box, and drove them to their destination, the linen
draper's. It was an excellent shop, situated a little beyond the office
of Mr. Carlyle, and Mrs. Hare and Barbara were soon engaged in that
occupation said to possess for all women a fascination. They had been in
about an hour, when Mrs. Hare discovered that her bag was missing.

"I must have left it in the carriage, Barbara. Go and bring it, will
you, my dear? The pattern of that silk is in it."

Barbara went out. The carriage and Benjamin and the sleek old horse were
all waiting drowsily together. Barbara could not see the bag, and she
appealed to the servant.

"Find mamma's bag, Benjamin. It must be somewhere in the carriage."

Benjamin got off his box and began to search. Barbara waited, gazing
listlessly down the street. The sun was shining brilliantly, and its
rays fell upon the large cable chain of a gentleman who was sauntering
idly up the pavement, making its gold links and its drooping seal and
key glitter, as they crossed his waistcoat. It shone also upon the
enameled gold studs of his shirt front, making _them_ glitter; and as
he suddenly raised his ungloved hand to stroke his moustache--by which
action you know a vain man--a diamond ring he wore gleamed with a light
that was positively dazzling. Involuntarily Barbara thought of the
description her brother Richard had given of certain dazzling jewels
worn by another.

She watched him advance! He was a handsome man of, perhaps, seven or
eight and twenty, tall, slender and well made, his eyes and hair black.
A very pleasant expression sat upon his countenance; and on the left
hand he wore a light buff kid glove, and was swinging its fellow by the
fingers. But for the light cast at that moment by the sun, Barbara might
not have noticed the jewellery, or connected it in her mind with the
other jewellery in that unhappy secret.

"Hallo, Thorn, is that you? Just step over here."

The speaker was Otway Bethel, who was on the opposite side of the
street; the spoken to, the gentleman with the jewellery. But the latter
was in a brown study, and did not hear. Bethel called out again, louder.

"Captain Thorn!"

That was heard. Captain Thorn nodded, and turned short off across the
street. Barbara stood like one in a dream, her brain, her mind, her
fan