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houses； but one wishing to avoid the high road could get into it from these grounds； and so on to West Lynne。 He must have gone back directly on foot to West Lynne； to get the post carriage； as was proved； and he would naturally go through Bean lane。 Forgive me； Archibald； for recalling these things to you； but I feel so sure that Levison and Thorn are one。〃
〃I know they are；〃 he quietly said。
Barbara； in her astonishment drew back and stared him in the facea face of severe dignity it was just then。
〃Oh； Archibald！ Did you know it at that time？〃
〃I did not know it until this afternoon。 I never suspected it。〃
〃I wonder you did not。 I have wondered often。〃
〃So do I now。 Dill； Ebenezer James； and Otway Bethelwho came home to…daywere standing before the Raven； listening to his speech； when Bethel recognized him； not as Levisonhe was infinitely astonished to find he was Levison。 Levison； they say； was scared at the recognition； and changed color。 Bethel would give no explanation； and moved away； but James told Dill that Levison was the man Thorn who used to be after Afy Hallijohn。〃
〃How did you know？〃 breathlessly asked Barbara。
〃Because Mr。 Ebenezer was after Afy himself； and repeatedly saw Thorn in the wood。 Barbara； I believe now that it was Levison who killed Hallijohn； but I should like to know what Bethel had to do with it。〃
Barbara clasped her hands。 〃How strange it is！〃 she exclaimed； in some excitement。 〃Mamma told me； yesterday； that she was convinced something or other was going to turn up relative to the murder。 She had had the most distressing dream； she said； connected with Richard and Bethel； and somebody else； whom she appeared to know in the dream； but could not recognize or remember when she was awake。 She was as ill as could beshe does put such faith in these wretched dreams。〃
〃One would think you did also； Barbara； by your vehemence。〃
〃No； no； you know better。 But it is strangeyou must acknowledge that it isthat； so sure as anything fresh happens touching the subject of the murder； so sure is a troubled dream the forerunner of it。 Mamma does not have them at other times。 Bethel denied to you that he knew Thorn。〃
〃I know he did。〃
〃And now it turns out that he does know him； and he is always in mamma's dreamsnone more prominent in them than Bethel。 But； Archibald； I am not telling youI have sent for Richard。〃
〃You have？〃
〃I felt sure that Levison was Thorn。 I did not expect that others would recognize him； and I acted on the impulse of the moment and wrote to Richard； telling him to be here on Saturday evening。 The letter is gone。〃
〃Well； we must shelter him as best we can。〃
〃Archibalddear Archibald； what can be done to clear him？〃 she asked； the tears rising to her eyes。
〃Being Levison； I cannot act。〃
〃What！〃 she uttered。 〃Not actnot act for Richard！〃
He bent his clear； truthful eyes upon her。
〃My dearest； how can I？〃
She looked a little rebellious； and the tears fell。
〃You have not considered； Barbara。 Any one in the world but Levison； it would look like my own revenge。〃
〃Forgive me！〃 she softly whispered。 〃You are always right。 I did not think of it in that light。 But； what steps do you imagine can be taken？〃
〃It is a case encompassed with difficulties；〃 mused Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Let us wait until Richard comes。〃
〃Do you happen to have a five…pound note in your pocket； Archibald？ I had not one to send to him； and borrowed it from Madame Vine。〃
He took out his pocket book and gave it to her。
In the gray parlor； in the dark twilight of the April eveningor it was getting far into the nightwere William Carlyle and Lady Isabel。 It had been a warm day； but the spring evenings were still chilly； and a fire burned in the grate。 There was no blaze； the red embers were smoldering and half dead； but Madame Vine did not bestir herself to heed the fire。 William lay on the sofa； and she sat by； looking at him。 Her glasses were off； for the tears wetted them continually； and it was not the recognition of the children she feared。 He was tired with the drive to Lynneborough and back； and lay with eyes shut； she thought asleep。 Presently he opened them。
〃How long will it be before I die？〃
The words took her utterly by surprise； and her heart went round in a whirl。 〃What do you mean； William？ Who said anything about dying？〃
〃Oh； I know。 I know by the fuss there is over me。 You heard what Hannah said the other night。〃
〃What？ When？〃
〃When she brought in the tea； and I was lying on the rug。 I was not asleep； though you thought I was。 You told her she ought to be more cautious； for that I might not have been asleep。〃
〃I don't remember much about it；〃 said Lady Isabel； at her wits' ends how to remove the impression Hannah's words must have created； had he indeed heard them。 〃Hannah talks great nonsense sometimes。〃
〃She said I was going on fast to the grave。〃
〃Did she？ Nobody attends to Hannah。 She is only a foolish girl。 We shall soon have you well； when the warm weather comes。〃
〃Madame Vine。〃
〃Well； my darling？〃
〃Where's the use of your trying to deceive me？ Do you think I don't see that you are doing it？ I'm not a baby； you might if it were Archibald。 What is it that's the matter with me？〃
〃Nothing。 Only you are not strong。 When you get strong again； you will be as well as ever。〃
William shook his head in disbelief。 He was precisely that sort of child from whom it is next to impossible to disguise facts； quick； thoughtful； observant； and advanced beyond his years。 Had no words been dropped in his hearing； he would have suspected the evil； by the care evinced for him； but plenty of words had been dropped； hints； by which he had gathered suspicion； broad assertions； like Hannah's； which had too fully supplied it； and the boy in his inmost heart； knew as well that death was coming for him as that death itself did。
〃Then； if there's nothing the matter with me； why could not Dr。 Martin speak to you before me to…day？ Why did he send me into the other room while he told you what he thought？ Ah； Madame Vine； I am as wise as you。〃
〃A wise little boy； but mistaken sometimes；〃 she said from her aching heart。
〃It's nothing to die； when God loves us。 Lord Vane says so。 He had a little brother who died。〃
〃A sickly child； who was never likely to live； he had been pale and ailing from a baby；〃 spoke Lady Isabel。
〃Why！ Did you know him？〃
〃II heard so；〃 she replied； turning off her thoughtless avowal in the best manner she could。
〃Don't /you/ know that I am going to die？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then why have you been grieving since we left Dr。 Martin's？ And why do you grieve at all for me？ I am not your child。〃
The words； the scene altogether； overcame her。 She knelt down by the sofa； and her tears burst forth freely。 〃There！ You see！〃 cried William。
〃Oh； William； II had a little boy of my own； and when I look at you； I think of him； and that is why I cry。〃
〃I know。 You have told us of him before。 His name was William； too。〃
She leaned over him； her breath mingling with his； she took his little hand in hers； 〃William； do you know that those whom God loves best He takes first？ Were you to die； you would go to Heaven；