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acter； and what he supposed the justice would say to him。 He vowed with tears in his eyes that the fellow should not be there another hour； and that he should never have entered it； had he known who he was。〃
A little more conversation； and the visitors filed off。 Mr。 Carlyle sat down calmly to finish his breakfast。 Barbara approached him。
〃Archibald； you will not suffer this man's insolent doings to deter you from your plansyou will not withdraw？〃 she whispered。
〃I think not； Barbara。 He has thrust himself offensively upon me in this measure； I believe my better plan will be to take no more heed of him than I should of the dirt under my feet。〃
〃Rightright；〃 she answered； a proud flush deepening the rose on her cheeks。
Mr。 Carlyle was walking into West Lynne。 There were the placards； sure enough； side by side with his own； bearing the name of that wicked coward who had done him the greatest injury one man can do to another。 Verily； he must possess a face of brass to venture there。
〃Archibald； have you heard the disgraceful news？〃
The speaker was Miss Carlyle； who had come down upon her brother like a ship with all sails set。 Her cheeks wore a flush； her eyes glistened； her tall form was drawn up to its most haughty height。
〃I have heard it； Cornelia； and； had I not； the walls would have enlightened me。〃
〃Is he out of his mind？〃
〃Out of his reckoning； I fancy；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。
〃You will carry on the contest now；〃 she continued； her countenance flashing。 〃I was averse to it before； but I now withdraw all my objection。 You will be no brother of mine if you yield the field to him。〃
〃I do not intend to yield it。〃
〃Good。 You bear on upon your course； and let him crawl on upon his。 Take no more heed of him than if he were a viper。 Archibald； you must canvass now。〃
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； 〃I shall be elected without canvass。 You'll see； Cornelia。〃
〃There will be plenty canvassing for you； if you don't condescend to take the trouble； my indifferent brother。 I'll give a thousand pounds myself； for ale； to the electors。〃
〃Take care；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Keep your thousand pounds in your pocket； Cornelia。 I have no mind to be unseated； on the plea of 'bribery and corruption。' Here's Sir John Dobede galloping in； with a face as red as the sun in a fog。〃
〃Well； it may be he has heard the news。 I can tell you； Archibald； West Lynne is in a state of excitement that has not been its lot for many a day。〃
Miss Carlyle was right。 Excitement and indignation had taken possession of West Lynne。 How the people rallied around Mr。 Carlyle！ Town and country were alike up in arms。 But government interest was rife at West Lynne； and； whatever the private and public feeling might be； collectively or individually； many votes should be recorded for Sir Francis Levison。
One of the first to become cognizant of the affair was Lord Mount Severn。 He was at his club one evening in London； poring over an evening paper； when the names 〃Carlyle；〃 〃West Lynne；〃 caught his view。 Knowing that Mr。 Carlyle had been named as the probable member； and heartily wishing that he might become such； the earl naturally read the paragraph。
He read it； and read it again； he rubbed his eyes； he rubbed his glasses； he pinched himself； to see whether he was awake or dreaming。 For believe what that paper assertedthat Sir Francis Levison had entered the lists in opposition to Mr。 Carlyle； and was at West Lynne； busily canvassinghe could not。
〃Do you know anything of this infamous assertion？〃 he inquired of an intimate friend〃infamous； whether true or false。〃
〃It's true； I heard of it an hour ago。 Plenty of cheek that Levison must have。〃
〃/Cheek！/〃 repeated the dismayed earl； feeling as if every part of him； body and mind； were outraged by the news； 〃don't speak of it in that way。 The hound deserves to be gibbeted。〃
He threw aside the paper； quitted the club； returned home for a carpet bag； and went shrieking and whistling down to West Lynne； taking his son with him。 Or； if he did not whistle and shriek the engine did。 Fully determined was the earl of Mount Severn to show /his/ opinion of the affair。
On these fine spring mornings； their breakfast over； Lady Isabel was in the habit of going into the grounds with the children。 They were on the lawn before the house； when two gentlemen came walking up the avenue； or； rather； one gentleman； and a handsome young stripling growing into another。 Lady Isabel thought she should have dropped； for she stood face to face with Lord Mount Severn。 The earl stopped to salute the children； and raised his hat to the strange lady。
〃It is my governess； Madame Vine；〃 said Lucy。
A silent courtesy from Madame Vine。 She turned away her head and gasped for breath。
〃Is your papa at home； Lucy？〃 cried the earl。
〃Yes； I think he is at breakfast。 I'm so glad you are come！〃
Lord Mount Severn walked on； holding William by the hand； who had eagerly offered to 〃take him〃 to papa。 Lord Vane bent over Lucy to kiss her。 A little while； a very few more years； and my young lady would not hold up her rosy lips so boldly。
〃You have grown a dearer girl than ever； Lucy。 Have you forgotten our compact？〃
〃No；〃 laughed she。
〃And you will not forget it？〃
〃Never；〃 said the child； shaking her head。 〃You shall see if I do。〃
〃Lucy is to be my wife；〃 cried he； turning to Madame Vine。 〃It is a bargain； and we have both promised。 I mean to wait for her till she is old enough。 I like her better than anybody else in the world。〃
〃And I like him；〃 spoke up Miss Lucy。 〃And it's all true。〃
Lucy was a childit may almost be said an infantand the viscount was not of an age to render important such avowed passions。 Nevertheless； the words did thrill through the veins of the hearer。 She spoke； she thought； not as Madame Vine would have spoken and thought； but as the unhappy mother； the ill…fated Lady Isabel。
〃You must not say these things to Lucy。 It could never be。〃
Lord Vane laughed。
〃Why？〃 asked he。
〃Your father and mother would not approve。〃
〃My father wouldI know he would。 He likes Lucy。 As to my motheroh； well； she can't expect to be master and mistress too。 You be off for a minute； Lucy； I want to say some thing to Madame Vine。 Has Carlyle shot that fellow？〃 he continued； as Lucy sprung away。 〃My father is so stiff； especially when he's put up； that he would not sully his lips with the name； or make a single inquiry when we arrived； neither would he let me； and I walked up here with my tongue burning。〃
She would have responded； what fellow？ But she suspected too well； and the words died away on her unwilling lips。
〃That brute； Levison。 If Carlyle riddled his body with shots for this move； and then kicked him till he died； he'd only get his deserts； and the world would applaud。 /He/ oppose Carlyle！ I wish I had been a man a few years ago； he'd have got a shot through his heart then。 I say；〃 dropping his voice； 〃did you know Lady Isabel？〃
〃Yesnoyes。〃
She was at a loss what to sayalmost as unconscious what she did say。
〃She was Lucy's mother； you know； and I loved her。 I think that's why I love Lucy； for she is the very image of her。 Where did you know her？