ast Francis Levison told me at
Boulogne. There appeared to be no love lost between them."

"At any rate, his ill doings or well doings cannot affect us for the
short period he is likely to remain. You have taken a prejudice against
him also, I suppose, Isabel."

She suffered Mr. Carlyle to remain in the belief, and sat with clasped
hands and a despairing spirit feeling that fate was against her.

How could she accomplish her task of forgetting this man, if he was thus
to be thrown into her home and her companionship? Suddenly she turned to
her husband, and laid her cheek upon his shoulder.

He thought she was tired. He passed his arm round her waist, drew her
face to a more comfortable position, and bent his own lovingly upon
it. It came to her mind, as she lay there, to tell him a portion of the
truth, like it had done once before. It was a strong arm of shelter,
that round her--a powerful pillar of protection, him upon whom she
leaned; why did she not confide herself to him as trustingly as a little
child? Simply because her courage failed. Once, twice, the opening words
were upon her lips, but come forth they did not; and then the carriage
stopped at East Lynne, and the opportunity was over. Oh! How many a time
in her after years did Lady Isabel recall that midnight drive with her
husband, and wish, in her vain repentance, that she had opened his eyes
to that dangerous man.

On Sunday Captain Levison arrived at East Lynne.

CHAPTER XXII.

MRS. HARE'S DREAM.

The next day rose bright, warm, and cloudless, and the morning sun
streamed into the bedroom of Mrs. Hare. Mr. and Mrs. Hare were of
the old-fashioned class who knew nothing about dressing-rooms, their
bedrooms were very large, and they never used a dressing-room in their
lives, or found the want of one. The justice rubbed his face to a
shining brilliancy, settled on his morning wig and his dressing-gown,
and then turned to the bed.

"What will you have for breakfast?"

"Thank you, Richard, I do not think that I can eat any thing. I shall be
glad of my tea; I am very thirsty."

"All nonsense," responded the justice, alluding to the intimation of not
eating. "Have a poached egg."

Mrs. Hare smiled at him, and gently shook her head. "You are very kind,
Richard, but I could not eat it this morning. Barbara may send up the
smallest bit of dry toast. Would you please throw the window open before
you go down; I should like to feel the air."

"You w