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〃Who has done itdo you know？〃 inquired Mr。 Warburton。
〃Somebody of the name of Anstey；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃In the absence of any member of the family； I took upon myself to pay the chamber a visit and examine into the men's authority。 The claim is about three thousand pounds。〃
〃If it's Anstey who has done it it is a personal debt of the earl's； really owing； every pound of it；〃 observed Mr。 Warburton。 〃A sharp man； though； that Anstey； to hit upon such a scheme。〃
〃And a shameless and a scandalous man；〃 added Lord Mount Severn。 〃Well； this is a pretty thing。 What's to be done？〃
While they consult； let us look for a moment at Lady Isabel。 She sat alone； in great perplexity； indulging the deepest grief。 Lord Mount Severn had intimated to her； kindly and affectionately； that henceforth she must find her home with him and his wife。 Isabel returned a faint 〃Thank you〃 and as soon as he left her； burst into a paroxysm of rebellious tears。 〃Have her home with Mrs。 Vane！〃 she uttered to her own heart； 〃No； never； rather would she dierather would she eat a crust and drink water！〃 and so on； and so on。 Young demoiselles are somewhat prone to indulge in these flights of fancy； but they are in most cases impracticable and foolishexceedingly so in that of Lady Isabel Vane。 Work for their living？ It may appear very feasible in theory； but theory and practice are as opposite as light and dark。 The plain fact was； that Isabel had no alternative whatever； save that of accepting a home with Lady Mount Severn； and the conviction that it must be so stole over her spirit； even while her hasty lips were protesting that she would not。
Two mourners only attended the funeralthe earl and Mr。 Carlyle。 The latter was no relative of the deceased； and but a very recent friend； but the earl had invited him； probably not liking the parading； solus； his trappings of woe。 Some of the county aristocracy were pallbearers； and many private carriages followed。
All was bustle on the following morning。 The earl was to depart； and Isabel was to depart； but not together。 In the course of the day the domestics would disperse。 The earl was speeding to London； and the chaise to convey him to the railway station at West Lynne was already at the door when Mr。 Carlyle arrived。
〃I was getting fidgety fearing you would not be here； for I have barely five minutes to spare；〃 observed the earl； as he shook hands。 〃You are sure you fully understood about the tombstone？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃How is Lady Isabel？〃
〃Very down…hearted； I fear； poor child； for she did not breakfast with me；〃 replied the earl。 〃Mason privately told me that she was in a convulsion of grief。 A bad man； a /bad/ man； was Mount Severn；〃 he emphatically added； as he rose and rang the bell。
〃Let Lady Isabel be informed that I am ready to depart； and that I wait to see her；〃 he said the servant who answered it。 〃And while she is coming； Mr。 Carlyle；〃 he added； 〃allow me to express my obligations to you。 How I should have got along in this worrying business without you； I cannot divine。 You have promised； mind； to pay me a visit； and I shall expect it speedily。〃
〃Promised conditionallythat I find myself in your neighborhood；〃 smiled Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Should〃
Isabel entered； dressed also； and ready； for she was to depart immediately after the earl。 Her crape veil was over her face； but she threw it back。
〃My time is up； Isabel； and I must go。 Is there anything you wish to say to me？〃
She opened her lips to speak； but glanced at Mr。 Carlyle and hesitated。 He was standing at the window； his back towards them。
〃I suppose not；〃 said the earl； answering himself； for he was in a fever of hurry to be off； like many others are when starting on a journey。 〃You will have no trouble whatever； my dear； only mind you get some refreshments in the middle of the day； for you won't be at Castle Marling before dinner…time。 Tell Mrs。 Vatell Lady Mount Severn that I had no time to write； but will do so from town。〃
But Isabel stood before him in an attitude of uncertaintyof expectancy； it may be said； her color varying。
〃What is it； you wish to say something？〃
She certainly did wish to say something； but she did not know how。 It was a moment of embarrassment to her； intensely painful； and the presence of Mr。 Carlyle did not tend to lessen it。 The latter had no idea his absence was wished for。
〃Bless me； Isabel！ I declare I forgot all about it；〃 cried the earl； in a tone of vexation。 〃Not being accustomed tothis aspect of affairs is so new〃 He broke off his disjointed sentences； unbuttoned his coat； drew out his purse； and paused over its contents。
〃Isabel； I have run myself very short； and have but little beyond what will take me to town。 You must make three pounds do for now； my dear。 Once at Castle MarlingPound has the funds for the journeyLady Mount Severn will supply you； but you must tell her； or she will not know。〃
He shot some gold out of his purse as he spoke； and left two sovereigns and two half sovereigns on the table。 〃Farewell； my dear； make yourself happy at Castle Marling。 I shall be home soon。〃
Passing from the room with Mr。 Carlyle； he stood talking with that gentleman a minute； his foot on the step of the chaise； and the next was being whisked away。 Mr。 Carlyle returned to the breakfast…room； where Isabel； an ashy whiteness having replaced the crimson on her cheeks； was picking up the gold。
〃Will you do me a favor； Mr。 Carlyle？〃
〃I will do anything I can for you。〃
She pushed a sovereign and a half toward him。 〃It is for Mr。 Kane。 I told Marvel to send in and pay him； but it seems she forgot it； or put it off； and he is not paid。 The tickets were a sovereign； the rest is for tuning the piano。 Will you kindly give it him？ If I trust one of the servants it may be forgotten again in the hurry of their departure。〃
〃Kane's charge for tuning a piano is five shillings；〃 remarked Mr。 Carlyle。
〃But he was a long time occupied with it； and did something with the leathers。 It is not too much； besides I never ordered him anything to eat。 He wants money even worse than I do；〃 she added； with a poor attempt at a smile。 〃But for thinking of him I should not have mustered the courage to beg of Lord Mount Severn； as you have just heard me do。 In that case do you know what I should have done？〃
〃What should you have done？〃 he smiled。
〃I should have asked you to pay him for me； and I would have repaid you as soon as I had any money。 I had a great mind to ask you； do you know； it would have been less painful than being obliged to beg of Lord Mount Severn。〃
〃I hope it would；〃 he answered； in a low； earnest tone。 〃What else can I do for you？〃
She was about to answer 〃Nothingthat he had done enough；〃 but at that moment their attention was attracted by a bustle outside； and they moved to the window。
It was the carriage coming round for Lady Isabelthe late earl's chariot； which was to convey her to the railway station six or seven miles off。 It had four post…horses to it； the number having been designated by Lord Mount Severn； who appeared to wish Isabel to leave the neighborhood in as much state as she had entered it。 The carriage was pac