of the salary you have received. Pray do not continue this, Madame
Vine."

"I have no one else to spend my money on; I love the children," was
madame's answer, somewhat sharply given, as if she were jealous of the
interference between her and the children, and would resent it.

"Nay, you have yourself. And if you do not require much outlay, you
have, I should suppose, a reserve fund to which to put your money. Be
so kind as to take the hint, madame, otherwise I shall be compelled more
peremptorily to forbid your generosity. It is very good of you, very
kind; but if you do not think yourself, we must for you."

"I will buy them less," was the murmured answer. "I must give them a
little token of love now and then."

"That you are welcome to do--a 'little token,' once in a way, but
not the costly toys you have been purchasing. Have you ever had an
acquaintance with Sir Francis Levison?" continued Mrs. Carlyle, passing
with abruptness from one point to another.

An inward shiver, a burning cheek, a heartpang of wild remorse, and a
faint answer. "No."

"I fancied from your manner when I was speaking of him the other day,
that you knew him or had known him. No compliment, you will say, to
assume an acquaintance with such a man. He is a stranger to you, then?"

Another faint reply. "Yes."

Barbara paused.

"Do you believe in fatality, Madame Vine?"

"Yes, I do," was the steady answer.

"I don't," and yet the very question proved that she did not wholly
disbelieve it. "No, I don't," added Barbara, stoutly, as she approached
the sofa vacated by William, and sat down upon it, thus bringing herself
opposite and near to Madame Vine. "Are you aware that it was Francis
Levison who brought the evil to this house?"

"The evil----" stammered Madame Vine.

"Yes, it was he," she resumed, taking the hesitating answer for an
admission that the governess knew nothing, or but little, of past
events. "It was he who took Lady Isabel from her home--though perhaps
she was as willing to go as he was to take her; I do know--"

"Oh, no, no!" broke from the unguarded lips of Madame Vine. "At least--I
mean--I should think not," she added, in confusion.

"We shall never know; and of what consequence is it? One thing is
certain, _she went_; another thing, almost equally certain, is, she did
not go against her will. Did you ever hear the details?"

"N--o." Her answer would have been "Yes," but possibly the next question
might have b