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Mrs。 Carlyle was astonished。 Why should her communication have produced this effect upon Madame Vine？ A renewed suspicion that she knew more of Francis Levison than she would acknowledge； stole over her。
〃Madame Vine； what is he to you？〃 she asked； bending forward。
Madame Vine； doing fierce battle with herself； recovered her outward equanimity。 〃I beg your pardon； Mrs。 Carlyle；〃 she said； shivering； 〃I am apt to picture things too vividly。 It is； as you say； so very horrible。〃
〃Is he nothing to you？ Don't you know him？〃
〃He is nothing to meless than nothing。 As to knowing himI saw him yesterday； when they put him into the pond。 A man like that！ I should shudder to meet him！〃
〃Ay； indeed！〃 said Barbara； reassured。 〃You will understand； Madame Vine； that this history has been given to you in confidence。 I look upon you as one of ourselves。〃
There was no answer。 Madame Vine sat on； with her white face。 She and it wore altogether a ghastly look。
〃It tells like a fable out of a romance；〃 resumed Mrs。 Carlyle。 〃Well for him if the romance be not ended in the gibbet。 Fancy what it would be for himSir Francis Levisonto be hung for murder！〃
〃Barbara； my dearest！〃
The voice was Mr。 Carlyle's； and she flew off on the wings of love。 It appeared that the gentlemen had not yet departed； and now thought they would take coffee first。
She flew off to her idolized husband； leaving her who had once been idolized to her loneliness。 She sank down on the sofa； she threw her arms up in her heart…sickness； she thought she would faint； she prayed to die。 It /was/ horrible； as Barbara had called it。 For that man with the red stain upon his hand and soul she had flung away Archibald Carlyle。
If ever retribution came home to woman； it came home in that hour to Lady Isabel。
CHAPTER XXXVII。
MR。 CARLYLE INVITED TO SOME PATE DE FOIE GRAS。
A sighing morning wind swept round the domains of East Lynne； bending the tall poplar trees in the distance； swaying the oak and elms nearer； rustling the fine old chestnuts in the park； a melancholy； sweeping； fitful wind。 The weather had changed from brightness and warmth； and heavy； gathering clouds seemed to be threatening rain； so； at least； deemed one wayfarer； who was journeying on a solitary road that Saturday night。
He was on foot。 A man attired in the garb of a sailor； with black； curling ringlets of hair； and black； curling whiskers； a prodigious pair of whiskers； hiding his neck above his blue； turned collar； hiding partially his face。 The glazed hat； brought low upon his brows； concealed it still more； and he wore a loose； rough pea…jacket and wide rough trousers hitched up with a belt。 Bearing steadily on； he struck into Bean lane； a by…way already mentioned in this history； and from thence； passing through a small； unfrequented gate； he found himself in the grounds of East Lynne。
〃Let me see；〃 mused he as he closed the gate behind him； and slipped the bolt。 〃The covered walk？ That must be near the acacia trees。 Then I must wind round to the right。 I wonder if either of them will be there； waiting for me？〃
Yes。 Pacing the covered walk in her bonnet and mantle； as if taking an evening strollhad any one encountered her； which was very unlikely； seeing that it was the most retired spot in the groundswas Mrs。 Carlyle。
〃Oh； Richard！ My poor brother！〃
Locked in a yearning embrace； emotion overpowered both。 Barbara sobbed like a child。 A little while； and then he put her from him； to look at her。
〃So Barbara； you are a wife now？〃
〃Oh； the happiest wife！ Richard； sometimes I ask myself what I have done that God should have showered down blessings so great upon me。 But for the sad trouble when I think of you； my life would be as one long summer's day。 I have the sweetest babynearly a year old he is now； I shall have another soon； God willing。 And Archibaldoh； I am so happy！〃
She broke suddenly off with the name 〃Archibald；〃 not even to Richard could she speak of her intense love for； and happiness in her husband。
〃How is it at the Grove？〃 he asked。
〃Quite well； quite as usual。 Mamma has been in better health lately。 She does not know of this visit； but〃
〃I must see her；〃 interrupted Richard。 〃I did not see her the last time； you remember。〃
〃All in good time to talk of that。 How are you getting on in Liverpool？ What are you doing？〃
〃Don't inquire too closely； Barbara。 I have no regular work； but I get a job at the docks； now and then； and rub on。 It is seasonable help； that； which comes to me occasionally from you。 Is it from you or Carlyle？〃
Barbara laughed。 〃How are we to distinguish？ His money is mine now； and mine is his。 We don't have separate purses； Richard； we send it to you jointly。〃
〃Sometimes I have fancied it came from my mother。〃
Barbara shook her head。 〃We have never allowed mamma to know that you left London； or that we hold an address where we can write to you。 It would not have done。〃
〃Why have you summoned me here； Barbara？ What has turned up？〃
〃Thorn hasI think。 You would know him again Richard？〃
〃Know him！〃 passionately echoed Richard Hare。
〃Were you aware that a contest for the membership is going on at West Lynne？〃
〃I saw it in the newspapers。 Carlyle against Sir Francis Levison。 I say； Barbara； how could he think of coming here to oppose Carlyle after his doing with Lady Isabel？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Barbara。 〃I wonder that he should come here for other reasons also。 First of all； Richard； tell me how you came to know Sir Francis Levison。 You say you did know him； and that you had seen him with Thorn。〃
〃So I do know him；〃 answered Richard。 〃And I saw him with Thorn twice。〃
〃Know him by sight only； I presume。 Let me hear how you came to know him。〃
〃He was pointed out to me。 I saw him walk arm…in…arm with a gentleman； and I showed them to the waterman at the cab…stand hard by。 'Do you know that fellow？' I asked him； indicating Thorn； for I wanted to come at who he really iswhich I didn't do。 'I don't know that one；' the old chap answered； 'but the one with him is Levison the baronet。 They are often togethera couple of swells they looked。' 〃
〃And that's how you got to know Levison？〃
〃That was it；〃 said Richard Hare。
〃Then； Richard； you and the waterman made a mess of it between you。 He pointed out the wrong one； or you did not look at the right。 Thorn is Sir Francis Levison。〃
Richard stared at her with all his eyes。
〃Nonsense； Barbara！〃
〃He is； I have never doubted it since the night you saw him in Bean lane。 The action you described； of his pushing back his hair； his white hands； his sparkling diamond ring； could only apply in my mind to one personFrancis Levison。 On Thursday I drove by the Raven； when he was speechifying to the people； and I noticed the selfsame action。 In the impulse of the moment I wrote off for you； that you might come and set the doubt at rest。 I need not have done it； it seems； for when Mr。 Carlyle returned home that evening； and I acquainted him with what I had done； he told me that Thorn and Francis Levison are one and the same。 Otway Bethel recognized him that same afternoon； and so did Ebenezer James。〃
〃They'd both know him；〃 eagerly c