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iamonds to have got out of it； but there was no escapediamonds that were once Isabel'sat least； that Isabel had worn。 On the Monday in Passion Week the old lady arrived； and with her Francis Levison。 They had no other guests。 Things went on pretty smoothly till Good Friday。
On Good Friday afternoon； Isabel strolled out with little William Vane； Captain Levison joined them； and they never came in till nearly dinner…time； when the three entered together； Lady Mount Severn doing penance all the time； and nursing her rage against Isabel； for Mrs。 Levison kept her indoors。 There was barely time to dress for dinner； and Isabel went straight to her room。 Her dress was off； her dressing… gown on。 Marvel was busy with her hair； and William chattering at her knee； when the door was flung open； and my lady entered。
〃Where have you been？〃 demanded she； shaking with passion。 Isabel knew the signs。
〃Strolling about in the shrubberies and grounds；〃 answered Isabel。
〃How dare you so disgrace yourself！〃
〃I do not understand you；〃 said Isabel； her heart beginning to beat unpleasantly。 〃Marvel； you are pulling my hair。〃
When women liable to intemperate fits of passion give the reins to them； they neither know nor care what they say。 Lady Mount Severn broke into a torrent of reproach and abuses； most degrading and unjustifiable。
〃Is it not sufficient that you are allowed an asylum in my house； but you must also disgrace it！ Three hours have you been hiding yourself with Francis Levison！ You have done nothing but flirt with him from the moment he came； you did nothing else at Christmas。〃
The attack was longer and broader； but that was the substance of it； and Isabel was goaded to resistance； to anger little less great than that of the countess。 This！and before her attendant！ She； an earl's daughter； so much better born than Emma Mount Severn； to be thus insultingly accused in the other's mad jealousy。 Isabel tossed her hair from the hands of Marvel； rose up and confronted the countess； constraining her voice to calmness。
〃I do not flirt！〃 she said； 〃I have never flirted。 I leave that〃and she could not wholly suppress in tone the scorn she felt〃to married women； though it seems to me that it is a fault less venial in them than in single ones。 There is but one inmate of this house who flirts； so far as I have seen since I have lived in it； is it you or I； Lady Mount Severn？〃
The home truth told on her ladyship。 She turned white with rage； forgot her manners； and； raising her right hand； struck Isabel a stinging blow upon the left cheek。 Confused and terrified； Isabel stood in pain； and before she could speak or act； my lady's left hand was raised to the other cheek； and a blow left on that。 Lady Isabel shivered as with a sudden chill； and cried outa sharp； quick cry covered her outraged face； and sank down upon the dressing chair。 Marvel threw up her hands in dismay； and William Vane could not have burst into a louder roar had he been beaten himself。 The boyhe was of a sensitive naturewas frightened。
My good reader； are you one of the inexperienced ones who borrow notions of 〃fashionable life〃 from the novels got in a library； taking their high…flown contents for gospel； and religiously believing that lords and ladies live upon stilts； speak； eat； move； breathe； by the rules of good…breeding only？ Are you under the delusiontoo many are that the days of dukes and duchesses are spent discussing 〃pictures； tastes； Shakespeare； and the musical glasses？〃that they are strung on polite wires of silver； and can't get off the hinges； never giving vent to angry tempers； to words unorthodox； as commonplace mortals do？ That will come to pass when the Great Creator shall see fit to send men into the world free from baneful tempers； evil passions； from the sins bequeathed from the fall of Adam。
Lady Mount Severn finished up the scene by boxing William for his noise； jerked him out of the room； and told him he was a monkey。
Isabel Vane lived through the livelong night； weeping tears of anguish and indignation。 She would not remain at Castle Marlingwho would； after so great an outrage？ Yet where was she to go？ Fifty times in the course of the night did she wish that she was laid beside her father； for her feelings obtained the mastery of her reason； in her calm moments she would have shrunk from the idea of death as the young and healthy must do。
She rose on the Saturday morning weak and languid； the effects of the night of grief； and Marvel brought her breakfast up。 William Vane stole into her room afterward； he was attached to her in a remarkable degree。
〃Mamma's going out；〃 he exclaimed； in the course of the morning。 〃Look； Isabel。〃
Isabel went to the window。 Lady Mount Severn was in the pony carriage； Francis Levison driving。
〃We can go down now； Isabel； nobody will be there。〃
She assented； and went down with William； but scarcely were they in the drawing…room when a servant entered with a card on a salver。
〃A gentleman； my lady； wishes to see you。〃
〃To see me！〃 returned Isabel； in surprise； 〃or Lady Mount Severn？〃
〃He asked for you； my lady。〃
She took up the card。 〃Mr。 Carlyle。〃 〃Oh！〃 she uttered； in a tone of joyful surprise； 〃show him in。〃
It is curious； nay； appalling； to trace the thread in a human life； how the most trivial occurrences lead to the great events of existence； bringing forth happiness or misery； weal or woe。 A client of Mr。 Carlyle's； travelling from one part of England to the other； was arrested by illness at Castle Marlinggrave illness； it appeared to be； inducing fears of death。 He had not； as the phrase goes； settled his affairs； and Mr。 Carlyle was telegraphed for in haste； to make his will； and for other private matters。 A very simple occurrence it appeared to Mr。 Carlyle； this journey； and yet it was destined to lead to events that would end only with his own life。
Mr。 Carlyle entered； unaffected and gentlemanly as ever； with his noble form； his attractive face； and his drooping eyelids。 She advanced to meet him； holding out her hand； her countenance betraying her pleasure。
〃This is indeed unexpected；〃 she exclaimed。 〃How very pleased I am to see you。〃
〃Business brought me yesterday to Castle Marling。 I could not leave it again without calling on you。 I hear that Lord Mount Severn is absent。〃
〃He is in France；〃 she rejoined。 〃I said we should be sure to meet again； do you remember； Mr。 Carlyle？ You〃
Isabel suddenly stopped； for with the word 〃remember；〃 she also remembered somethingthe hundred pound noteand what she was saying faltered on her tongue。 Confused； indeed； grew she： for； alas！ she had changed and partly spent it。 /How/ was it possible to ask Lady Mount Severn for money？ And the earl was nearly always away。 Mr。 Carlyle saw her embarrassment； though he may not have detected its cause。
〃What a fine boy！〃 exclaimed he； looking at the child。
〃It is Lord Vane；〃 said Isabel。
〃A truthful； earnest spire； I am sure；〃 he continued； gazing at his open countenance。 〃How old are you； my little man？〃
〃I am six； sir； and my brother was four。〃
Isabel bent over the childan excuse to cover her perplexity。 〃You do not know this gentleman； William。 I