terrupted Lady Isabel. Too well she remembered that bygone time;
Francis Levison had told that the fear of his creditors kept him up so
closely; though he had once said to her they were not in the immediate
neighborhood of East Lynne.

"He had a worse fear upon him than that of creditors," returned Mrs.
Carlyle. "Singular to say, during this visit of Captain Thorn to the
Herberts, we received an intimation from my brother that he was once
more about to venture for a few hours to West Lynne. I brought the news
to Mr. Carlyle. I had to see him and consult with him more frequently
than ever; mamma was painfully restless and anxious, and Mr. Carlyle as
eager as we were for the establishment of Richard's innocence; for Miss
Carlyle and papa are related, consequently the disgrace may be said to
reflect on the Carlyle name."

Back went Lady Isabel's memory and her bitter repentance. She remembered
how jealously she had attributed these meetings between Mr. Carlyle and
Barbara to another source. Oh! Why had she suffered her mind to be so
falsely and fatally perverted?

"Richard came. It was hastily arranged that he should go privately
to Mr. Carlyle's office, after the clerks had left for the night, be
concealed there, and have an opportunity given him of seeing Captain
Thorn. There was no difficulty, for Mr. Carlyle was transacting some
matter of business for the captain, and appointed him to be at the
office at eight o'clock. A memorable night, that, to Mr. Carlyle, for it
was the one of his wife's elopement."

Lady Isabel looked up with a start.

"It was, indeed. She--Lady Isabel--and Mr. Carlyle were engaged to a
dinner party; and Mr. Carlyle had to give it up, otherwise he could
not have served Richard. He is always considerate and kind, thinking of
others' welfare--never of his own gratification. Oh, it was an anxious
night. Papa was out. I waited at home with mamma, doing what I could
to sooth her restless suspense, for there was hazard to Richard in his
night walk through West Lynne to keep the appointment; and, when it was
over, he was to come home for a short interview with mamma, who had not
seen him for several years."

Barbara stopped, lost in thought. Not a word spoke Madame Vine. She
still wondered what this affair touching Richard Hare and Thorn could
have to do with Francis Levison.

"I watched from the window and saw them come in at the garden gate--Mr.
Carlyle and Richard--between nine and ten o'clock