."

Possibly the sentence reminded Lady Isabel that another, who was young,
might be envying her, for her cheeks--Isabel's--flushed crimson. Mr.
Carlyle held out his strong arm of help to Mrs. Hare.

"If sufficiently rested, I fancy you would be more comfortable on a sofa
indoors. Allow me to support you thither."

"And you can take my arm on the other side," cried Miss Carlyle, placing
her tall form by Mrs. Hare. "Between us both we will pull you bravely
along; your feet need scarcely touch the ground."

Mrs. Hare laughed, but said she thought Mr. Carlyle's arm would be
sufficient. She took it, and they were turning toward the house, when
her eye caught the form of a gentleman passing along the road by the
park gate.

"Barbara, run," she hurriedly exclaimed. "There's Tom Herbert going
toward our house, and he will just call in and tell them to send the
phaeton, if you ask him, which will save the trouble to Mr. Carlyle's
servants of going expressly. Make haste, child! You will be up with him
in half a minute."

Barbara, thus urged, set off, on the spur of the moment, toward the
gates, before the rest of the party well knew what was being done. It
was too late for Mr. Carlyle to stop her and repeat that the servant
should go, for Barbara was already up with Mr. Tom Herbert. The latter
had seen her running toward him, and waited at the gate.

"Are you going past our house?" inquired Barbara, perceiving then that
Otway Bethel also stood there, but just beyond the view of the women.

"Yes. Why?" replied Tom Herbert, who was not famed for his politeness,
being blunt by nature and "fast" by habit.

"Mamma would be so much obliged to you, if you would just call in and
leave word that Benjamin is to bring up the phaeton. Mamma walked here,
intending to walk home, but she finds herself so fatigued as to be
unequal to it."

"All right. I'll call and send him. What time?"

Nothing had been said to Barbara about the time, so she was at liberty
to name her own. "Ten o'clock. We shall be home then before papa."

"That you will," responded Tom Herbert. "He and the governor, and two or
three more old codgers, are blowing clouds till you can't see across the
room; and they are sure to get at it after supper. I say, Miss Barbara
are you engaged for a few picnics?"

"Good for a great many," returned Barbara.

"Our girls want to get up some in the next week or two. Jack's home, you
know."

"Is he?" said Barbara, in surp