o in a calmer moment. She rose, tottered across
the chamber, and prepared to descend. Susanne's tongue was let loose at
the proceeding.

"Was miladi out of her senses? To attempt going downstairs would be a
pretty ending, for she'd surely fall by the way. Miladi knew that the
bottom step was of lead, and that no head could pitch down upon that,
without ever never being a head any more, except in the hospitals. Let
miladi sit still in her place and she'd bring the monsieur up. What did
it signify? He was not a young _petit maitre_, to quiz things: he was
fifty, if he was a day: his hair already turned to fine gray."

This set the question touching Mr. Carlyle at rest, and her heart
stilled again. The next moment she was inwardly laughing in her bitter
mockery at her insensate folly. Mr. Carlyle come to see her! _Her_!
Francis Levison might be sending over some man of business, regarding
the money question, was her next thought: if so, she should certainly
refuse to see him.

"Go down to the gentleman and ask him his name Susanne. Ask also from
whence he came."

Susanne disappeared, and returned, and the gentleman behind her. Whether
she had invited him, or whether he had chosen to come uninvited, there
he was. Lady Isabel caught a glimpse, and flung her hands over her
burning cheeks of shame. It was Lord Mount Severn.

"How did you find out where I was?" she gasped, when some painful words
had been uttered on both sides.

"I went to Sir Francis Levison and demanded your address. Certain recent
events implied that he and you must have parted, and I therefore deemed
it time to inquire what he had done with you."

"Since last July," she interrupted. Lifting up her wan face, now
colorless again. "Do not think worse of me than I am. He was here in
December for an hour's recriminating interview, and we parted for life."

"What have you heard of him lately?"

"Not anything. I never know what is passing in the world at home; I have
no newspaper, no correspondence; and he would scarcely be so bold as to
write to me again."

"I shall not shock you, then by some tidings I bring you regarding him,"
returned Lord Mount Severn.

"The greatest shock to me would be to hear that I should ever again be
subjected to the sight of him," she answered.

"He is married."

"Heaven have pity on his poor wife!" was all the comment of Lady Isabel.

"He has married Alice Challoner."

She lifted her head, then, in simple surprise.