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〃He has been married nowoh； getting on for fifteen months； a twelvemonth last June。 I went to the church to see them married。 Wasn't there a cram！ She looked beautiful that day。〃
Lady Isabel laid her hand upon her breast。 But for that delectable 〃loose jacket；〃 Afy might have detected her bosom rise and fall。 She steadied her voice sufficiently to speak。
〃Did he marry Barbara Hare？〃
〃You may take your oath of that；〃 said Afy。 〃If folks tell true； there was love scenes between them before he ever thought of Lady Isabel。 I had that from Wilson； and she ought to know； for she lived at the Hares'。 Another thing is saidonly you must just believe one word of West Lynne talk； and disbelieve tenthat if Lady Isabel had not died； Mr。 Carlyle never would have married again； he had scruples。 Half a dozen were given him by report； Louisa Dobede for one； and Mary Pinner for another。 Such nonsense！ Folks might have made sure it would be Barbara Hare。 There's a baby now。〃
〃Is there？〃 was the faint answer。
〃A beautiful boy three or four months old。 Mrs。 Carlyle is not a little proud of him。 She worships her husband。〃
〃Is she kind to the first children？〃
〃For all I know。 I don't think she has much to do with them。 Archibald is in the nursery； and the other two are mostly with the governess。〃
〃I wonder；〃 cried the governess； 〃how the tidings of Lady Isabel's death were received at East Lynne？〃
〃I don't know anything about that。 They held it as a jubilee； I should say； and set all the bells in town to ring； and feasted the men upon legs of mutton and onion sauce afterward。 I should； I know。 A brute animal； deaf and dumb； such as a cow or a goose； clings to its offspring； but /she/ abandoned hers。 Are you going in Madame Vine？〃
〃I must go in now。 Good evening to you。〃
She had sat till she could sit no longer； her very heartstrings were wrung； and she might not rise up in defence of herself。 Defence？ Did she not deserve more； ten thousand times more reproach than had met her ears now？ This girl did not say of her half what the world must say。
〃There is a governess？〃
〃Nearly the first thing that Mr。 Carlyle did； after his wife's moonlight flitting； was to seek a governess； and she has been there ever since。 She is going to leave now； to be married； Joyce told me。〃
〃Are you much at East Lynne？〃
Afy shook her head。 〃I am not going much； I can tell you； where I am looked down upon。 Mrs。 Carlyle does not favor me。 She knew that her brother Richard would have given his hand to marry me； and she resents it。 Not such a great catch； I'm sure； that Dick Hare； even if he had gone on right；〃 continued Afy； somewhat after the example of the fox； looking at the unattainable grapes。 〃He had no brains to speak of； and what he had were the color of a peacock's tailgreen。〃
To bed at the usual time； but not to sleep。 What she had heard only increased her vain； insensate longing。 A stepmother at East Lynne； and one of her children gliding on to death！ Oh！ To be with them！ To see them once again！ To purchase that boon； she would willingly forfeit all the rest of her existence。
Her frame was fevered； the bed was fevered； and she arose and paced the room。 This state of mind would inevitably bring on bodily illness； possibly an attack of the brain。 She dreaded that； for there was no telling what she might reveal in her delirium。 Her temples were throbbing； her heart was beating； and she once more threw herself upon the bed； and pressed the pillow down upon her forehead。 There is no doubt that the news of Mr。 Carlyle's marriage helped greatly the excitement。 She did not pray to die； but she did wish that death might come to her。
What would have been the ending； it is impossible to say； but a strange turn in affairs came； one of those wonderful coincidences sometimes； but not often to be met with。 Mrs。 Crosby appeared in Madame Vine's room after breakfast； and gave her an account of Helena's projected marriage。 She then apologized； the real object of her visit； for dispensing so summarily with madame's services； but had reason to hope that she could introduce her to another situation。 Would madame have any objection to take one in England？ Madame was upon the point of replying that she should not choose to enter one in England； when Mrs。 Crosby stopped her； saying that she would call in Mrs。 Latimer； who could tell her about it better than she could。
Mrs。 Latimer came in； all eagerness and volubility。 〃Ah； my dear madame；〃 she exclaimed； 〃you would be fortunate indeed if you were to get into this family。 The nicest people they are； he so liked and respected； she so pretty and engaging。 A most desirable situation； too； treated as a lady； and all things comfortable。 There's only one pupil； a girl； one of the little boys； I believe； goes in for an hour or two； but that's not much； and the salary's seventy guineas。 They are friends of mine； the Carlyles； such a beautiful place they live atEast Lynne。〃
The Carlyles！ East Lynne！ Go governess there？ Lady Isabel's breath was taken away。
〃They are parting with their governess；〃 continued Mrs。 Latimer； 〃and when I was there； a day or two before I started on my tour to Germany； Mrs。 Carlyle said to me； 'I suppose you could not pick us up a desirable governess for Lucy； one who is mistress of French and German。' She spoke in a half joking tone； but I feel sure that were I to write word I /had/ found one desirable； it would give her pleasure。 Now； Mrs。 Crosby tells me your French is quite that of a native； Madame Vine； that you read and speak German well； and that your musical abilities are excellent。 I think you would be just the one to suit； and I have no doubt I could get you the situation。 What do you say？〃
What could she say？ Her brain was in a whirl。
〃I am anxious to find you one if I can；〃 put in Mrs。 Crosby。 〃We have been much pleased with you； and I should like you to be desirably placed。 As Mrs。 Latimer is so kind as to interest herself； it appears to me an opportunity that should not be missed。〃
〃Shall I write to Mrs。 Carlyle？〃 rejoined Mrs。 Latimer。
Lady Isabel roused herself； and so far cleared her intellect as to understand and answer the question。 〃Perhaps you would kindly give me until to…morrow morning to consider on it？ I had not intended to take a situation in England。〃
A battle she had with herself that day。 At one moment it seemed to her that Providence must have placed this opportunity in her way that she might see her children； in her desperate longing； at another； a voice appeared to whisper that it was a wily； dangerous temptation flung across her path； one which it was her duty to resist and flee from。 Then came another phase of the picturehow should she bear to see Mr。 Carlyle the husband of anotherto live in the same house with them； to witness his attentions； possibly his caresses？ It might be difficult； but she could force and school her heart to endurance。 Had she not resolved； in her first bitter repentance； /to take up her cross/ daily； and bear it？ No； her own feelings； let them be wrung as they would； should not prove the obstacle。
Evening came； and she had not decided。 She passed another night of pain； of restlessness； of longing for her children； this intense longing appeared to be overmastering all her powers of mind and body。 The temptation at length proved too strong； the project having been placed before her covetous eyes could not be relinquished； and she finally consented to go。 〃What is it that would keep me away？〃 she argued。 〃The dread of discovery？ Well if that comes it must； they could not hang me or kill me。 Deeper humiliation than ever would be my portion when they drive me from East Lynne with abhorrence and ignominy； as a soldier is drummed out of his regiment； but I could bear that as I must bear the rest and I can shrink under the hedge and lay myself down to die。 Humiliation for me？ No； I will not put that in comparison with seeing and being with my children。〃
Mrs。 Latimer wrote to Mrs。 Carlyle。 She had met with a governess； one desirable in every way who could not fail to suit her views precisely。 She was a Madame Vine； English by birth； but the widow of a Frenchman； a Protestant； a thorough gentlewoman； an efficient linguist and musician； and competent to her duties in all ways。 Mrs。 Crosby； with whom she had lived two years regarded her as a treasure； and would not have parted with her but for Helena's marriage with a German nobleman。 〃You must not mind her appearance；〃 went on the letter。 〃She is the oddest…looking person； wears spectacles； caps； enormous bonnets； and has a great scar on her mouth and chin； and though she can't be more than thirty； her hair is gray； she is also slightly lame。 But； understand you； she is a /lady/； with it all； and looks one。〃
When this description reached East Lynne； Barbara laughed at it as she read it aloud to Mr。 Carlyle。 He laughed also。
〃It is well governesses are not chosen according to their looks；〃 he said； 〃or I fear Madame Vine would stand but a poor chance。〃
They resolved to engage her； and word went back to that effect。
A strangely wild tumult filled Lady Isabel's bosom。 She first of all hunted her luggage over； her desk； everything belonging to her