down the avenue, Mr. Carlyle was then in
sight, walking quickly up it. Lady Isabel saw their hands meet in
greeting.

"Oh, I am so thankful to have met you!" Barbara exclaimed to him,
impulsively. "I actually went to your office to-day, and I have been now
to your house. We have such news!"

"Ay! What? About Thorn?"

"No; about Richard," replied Barbara, taking the scrap of paper from the
folds of her dress. "This came to me this morning from Anne."

Mr. Carlyle took the document, and Barbara looked over him whilst he
read it; neither of them thinking that Lady Isabel's jealous eyes, and
Captain Levison's evil ones, were strained upon them from the distant
windows. Miss Carlyle's also, for the matter of that.

"Archibald, it seems to me that Providence must be directing him hither
at this moment. Our suspicions with regard to Thorn can now be set
at rest. You must contrive that Richard shall see him. What can he be
coming again for?"

"More money," was the supposition of Mr. Carlyle. "Does Mrs. Hare know
of this?"

"She does, unfortunately. I opened the paper before her, never dreaming
it was connected with Richard--poor, unhappy Richard!--and not to be
guilty."

"He acted as though he were guilty, Barbara; and that line of conduct
often entails as much trouble as real guilt."

"You do not believe him guilty?" she most passionately uttered.

"I do not. I have little doubt of the guilt of Thorn."

"Oh, if it could but be brought home to him!" returned Barbara, "so that
Richard might be cleared in the sight of day. How can you contrive that
he shall see Thorn?"

"I cannot tell; I must think it over. Let me know the instant he
arrives, Barbara."

"Of course I shall. It may be that he does not want money; that his
errand is only to see mamma. He was always so fond of her."

"I must leave you," said Mr. Carlyle, taking her hand in token of
farewell. Then, as a thought occurred to him, he turned and walked a few
steps with her without releasing it. He was probably unconscious that he
retained it; she was not.

"You know, Barbara, if he should want money, and it be not convenient to
Mrs. Hare to supply it at so short a notice, I can give it to him, as I
did before."

"Thank you, thank you, Archibald. Mamma felt sure you would."

She lifted her eyes to his with an expression of gratitude; a warmer
feeling for an uncontrolled moment mingled with it. Mr. Carlyle nodded
pleasantly, and then set off toward hi