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tunate pauper and interloper in the house she was inhabiting。 It has been the custom in romance to present young ladies； especially if they be handsome and interesting； as being entirely oblivious of matter…of…fact cares and necessities； supremely indifferent to future prospects of povertypoverty that brings hunger and thirst and cold and nakedness； but； be assured； this apathy never existed in real life。 Isabel Vane's grief for her fatherwhom； whatever may have been the aspect he wore for others； /she/ had deeply loved and reverenced was sharply poignant； but in the midst of that grief； and of the singular troubles his death had brought forth； she could not shut her eyes to her own future。 Its blank uncertainty； its shadowed…forth embarrassments did obtrude themselves and the words of that plain… speaking creditor kept ringing in her ears： 〃You won't have a roof to put your head under； or a guinea to call your own。〃 Where was she to go？ With whom to live？ She was in Mr。 Carlyle's house now。 And how was she to pay the servants？ Money was owing to them all。
〃Mr。 Carlyle； how long has this house been yours？〃 she asked； breaking the silence。
〃It was in June that the purchase was completed。 Did Lord Mount Severn never tell you he had sold it to me？〃
〃No； never。 All these things are yours？〃 glancing round the room。
〃The furniture was sold with the house。 Not these sort of things；〃 he added； his eye falling on the silver on the breakfast table； 〃not the plate and linen。〃
〃Not the plate and linen！ Then those poor men who were here yesterday have a right to them；〃 she quickly cried。
〃I scarcely know。 I believe the plate goes with the entailand the jewels go also。 The linen cannot be of consequence either way。〃
〃Are my clothes my own？〃
He smiled as he looked at her； smiled at her simplicity； and assured her that they were nobody's else。
〃I did not know；〃 she sighed； 〃I did not understand。 So many strange things have happened in the last day or two； that I seem to understand nothing。〃
Indeed； she could not understand。 She had no definite ideas on the subject of this transfer of East Lynne to Mr。 Carlyle； plenty of indefinite ones； and they were haunting her。 Fears of debt to him； and of the house and its contents being handed over to him in liquidation； perhaps only partial； were working in her brain。
〃Does my father owe you any money？〃 she breathed in a timid tone。
〃Not any；〃 he replied。 〃Lord Mount Severn was never indebted to me in his life。〃
〃Yet you purchased East Lynne？〃
〃As any one else might have done；〃 he answered； discerning the drift of her thoughts。 〃I was in search of an eligible estate to invest money in； and East Lynne suited me。〃
〃I feel my position； Mr。 Carlyle；〃 she resumed； the rebellious fears forcing themselves to her eyes； 〃thus to be intruding upon you for a shelter。 And I cannot help myself。〃
〃You can help grieving me；〃 he gently answered； 〃which you do much when you talk of obligation。 The obligation is on my side； Lady Isabel； and when I express a hope that you will continue at East Lynne while it can be of service； however prolonged that period may be； I assure you； I say it in all sincerity。〃
〃You are very kind；〃 she faltered； 〃and for a few days； until I can think； until Oh； Mr。 Carlyle； are papa's affairs really so bad as they said yesterday？〃 she broke off； her perplexities recurring to her with vehement force。 〃Is there nothing left？〃
Now Mr。 Carlyle might have given the evasive assurance that there would be plenty left； just to tranquilize her。 But to have used deceit with her would have pricked against every feeling of his nature； and he saw how implicitly she relied upon his truth。
〃I fear things are not very bright；〃 he answered。 〃That is； so far as we can see at present。 But there may have been some settlement effected for you that you do not know of。 Warburton & Ware〃
〃No；〃 she interrupted： 〃I never heard of a settlement； and I am sure there is none。 I see the worst plainly。 I have no home； no home and no money。 This house is yours； the town house and Mount Severn go to Mr。 Vane； and I have nothing。〃
〃But surely Mr。 Vane will be delighted to welcome you to your old home。 The houses pass to himit almost seems as though you had the greater right in them； than he or Mrs。 Vane。〃
〃My home with them！〃 she retorted； as if the words had stung her。 〃What are you saying； Mr。 Carlyle？〃
〃I beg your pardon； Lady Isabel。 I should not have presumed to touch upon these points myself； but〃
〃Nay； I think I ought to beg yours；〃 she interrupted； more calmly。 〃I am only grateful for the interest you take in themthe kindness you have shown。 But I could not make my home with Mrs。 Vane。〃
Mr。 Carlyle rose。 He could do no good by remaining； and did not think it well to intrude longer。 He suggested that it might be more pleasant if Isabel had a friend with her； Mrs。 Ducie would no doubt be willing to come； and she was a kind； motherly woman。
Isabel shook her head with a passing shudder。 〃Have strangers； here； withallthatin papa's chamber！〃 she uttered。 〃Mrs。 Ducie drove over yesterday； perhaps to remainI don't know； but I was afraid of questions； and would not see her。 When I think ofthatI feel thankful that I am alone。〃
The housekeeper stopped Mr。 Carlyle as he was going out。
〃Sir； what is the news from Castle Marling？ Pound said there was a letter。 Is Mr。 Vane coming？〃
〃He was out yachting。 Mrs。 Vane expected him home yesterday； so it is to be hoped he will be here to…day。〃
〃Whatever will be done if he does not come？〃 she breathed。 〃The leaden coffin ought to be soldered down； for you know； air； the state he was in when he died。〃
〃It can be soldered down without Mr。 Vane。〃
〃Of coursewithout Mr。 Vane。 It's not that； sir。 Will those men allow it to be done？ The undertakers were here this morning at daybreak； and those men intimated that they were not going to /lose sight/ of the dead。 The words sounded significant to us； but we asked them no questions。 Have they a right to prevent it； sir？〃
〃Upon my word I cannot tell；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃The proceeding is so rare a one； that I know little what right of law they have or have not。 Do not mention this to Lady Isabel。 And when Mr。 Vawhen Lord Mount Severn arrives； send down to apprise me of it。〃
CHAPTER XI。
THE NEW PEERTHE BANK…NOTE
A post…chaise was discerned thundering up the avenue that Sunday afternoon。 It contained the new peer； Lord Mount Severn。 The more direct line of rail from Castle Marling； brought him only to within five miles of West Lynne； and thence he had travelled in a hired chaise。 Mr。 Carlyle soon joined him； and almost at the same time Mr。 Warburton arrived from London。 Absence from town at the period of the earl's death had prevented Mr。 Warburton's earlier attendance。 Business was entered upon immediately。
The present earl knew that his predecessor had been an embarrassed man； but he had no conception of the extent of the evil； they had not been intimate； and rarely came in contact。 As the various items of news were now detailed to himthe wasteful expenditure； the disastrous ruin； the total absence of provision for Isabelhe stood petrified and a