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Mrs。 Carlyle looked at her。 The firelight played especially upon the spectacles； and she moved her chair into the shade。
〃Dr。 Martin will see him again next week； he is coming to West Lynne。 I am sure； by the tone of his voice； by his evasive manner； that he anticipates the worst； although he would not say so in words。〃
〃I will take William into West Lynne myself；〃 observed Barbara。 〃The doctor will； of course； tell me。 I came in to pay my debts；〃 she added； dismissing the subject of the child； and holding out a five… pound note。
Lady Isabel mechanically stretched out her hand for it。
〃Whilst we are； as may be said； upon the money topic；〃 resumed Barbara； in a gay tone； 〃will you allow me to intimate that both myself and Mr。 Carlyle very much disapprove of your making presents to the children。 I was calculating； at a rough guess the cost of the toys and things you have bought for them； and I think it must amount to a very large portion 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 doa '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 homethough 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 meanI 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？〃
〃No。〃 Her answer would have been 〃Yes；〃 but possibly the next question might have been； 〃From whom did you hear them？〃
〃He was staying at East Lynne。 The man had been abroad； outlawed； dared not show his face in England； and Mr。 Carlyle； in his generosity； invited him to East Lynne as a place of shelter； where he would be safe from his creditors while something was arranged。 He was a connection in some way of Lady Isabel's； and they repaid Mr。 Carlyle； he and she； by quitting East Lynne together。〃
〃Why did Mr。 Carlyle give that invitation？〃 The words were uttered in a spirit of remorseful wailing。 Mrs。 Carlyle believed they were a question put； and she rose up haughtily against it。
〃Why did he give the invitation？ Did I hear you aright； Madame Vine？ Did Mr。 Carlyle know he was a reprobate？ And； if he had known it； was not Isabel his wife？ Could he dream of danger for her？ If it pleased Mr。 Carlyle to fill East Lynne with bad men to…morrow； what would that be to meto my safety； to my well…being； to my love and allegiance to my husband？ What were you thinking of； madame？〃
〃Thinking of？〃 She leaned her troubled head upon her hand。 Mrs。 Carlyle resumed；
〃Sitting alone in the drawing…room just now； and thinking matters over； it did seem to me very like what people call a fatality。 That man； I say； was the one who wrought the disgrace； the trouble to Mr。 Carlyle's family； and it is he； I have every reason now to believe； who brought a nearly equal disgrace and trouble upon mine。 Did you know〃 Mrs。 Carlyle lowered her voice〃that I have a brother in evil in shame？〃
Lady Isabel did not dare to answer that she did know it。 Who had there been likely to inform her； the strange governess of the tale of Richard Hare！
〃So the world calls itshame；〃 pursued Barbara； growing excited。 〃And it is shame； but not as the world thinks it。 The shame lies with another； who had thrust the suffering and shame upon Richard； and that other is Francis Levison。 I will tell you the tale。 It is worth the telling。〃
She could only dispose herself to listen； but she wondered what Francis Levison had to do with Richard Hare。
〃In the days long gone by； when I was little more than a child； Richard took to going after Afy Hallijohn。 You have seen the cottage in the wood； she lived there with her father and Joyce。 It was very foolish for him； but young men will be foolish。 As many more went after her； or wanted to go after her； as she could count upon her ten fingers。 Among them； chief of them； more favored even than Richard； was one called Thorn； by social position a gentleman。 He was a stranger； and used to ride over in secret。 The night of the murder camethe dreadful murder； when Hallijohn was shot down dead。 Richard ran away； testimony was strong against him； and the coroner's jury brought in a verdict of 'Wilful Murder against Richard Hare the younger。' We never supposed but what he was guiltyof the act； mind you； not of the intention； even mamma； who so loved him； believed he had done it； but she believed it was the result of accident； not design。 Oh； the trouble that has been the lot of my poor mamma！〃 cried Barbara； clasping her hands。 〃And she had no one to sympathize with herno one； no one！ I； as I tell you； was little more than a child； and papa； who might have done it； took part against Richard。 It went on for three or four years； the sorrow； and there was no mitigation。 At the end of that period Richard came for a few hours to West Lynne came in secretand we learnt for the first time that he was /not/ guilty。 The man who did the deed was Thorn； Richard was not even present。 The next question was； how to find Thorn。 Nobody knew anything about himwho he was； what he was； where he came from； where he went to； and thus more years passed on。 Another Thorn came to West Lynnean officer in her majesty's service； and his appearance tallied with the description Richard had given。 I assumed it to be the one； Mr。 Carlyle assumed it； but； before anything could be done or even thought of Captain Thorn was gone again。〃
Barbara paused to take breath； Madame Vine sat listless enough。 What was this tale to her？
〃Again years went on。 The period came of Francis Levison's sojourn at East Lynne。 Whilst I was there； Captain Thorn arrived once more； on a visit to the Herberts。 We then strove to find out points of his antecedents； Mr。 Carlyle and I； and we became nearly convinced that he was the man。 I had to come here often to see Mr。 Carlyle； for mamma did not dare to stir in the affair； papa was so violent against Richard。 Thus I often saw Francis Levison； but he was visible to scarcely any other visitor； being at East Lynne /en cachette/。 He intimated that he was afraid of encountering creditors。 I now begin to doubt whether that was not a false plea； and I remember Mr。 Carlyle said； at the time； that he had no creditors in or near West Lynne。〃
〃Then what was his motive for shunning societyfor never going out？〃 interrupted 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 Barb