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〃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。 It is Mr。 Carlyle； and he has been very kind to me。〃
The little lord had turned his thoughtful eyes on Mr。 Carlyle； apparently studying his countenance。 〃I shall like you； sir； if you are kind to Isabel。 Are you kind to her？〃
〃Very； very kind；〃 murmured Lady Isabel； leaving William； and turning to Mr。 Carlyle； but not looking at him。 〃I don't know what to say； I ought to thank you。 I did not intend to use theto use it； but I I〃
〃Hush！〃 he interrupted； laughing at her confusion。 〃I do not know what you are talking of。 I have a great misfortune to break to you； Lady Isabel。〃
She lifted her eyes and her glowing cheeks； somewhat aroused from her own thoughts。
〃Two of your fish are dead。 The gold ones。〃
〃Are they？〃
〃I believe it was the frost killed them； I don't know what else it could have been。 You may remember those bitter days we had in January； they died then。〃
〃You are very good to take care of them all this while。 How is East Lynne looking？ Dear East Lynne！ Is it occupied？〃
〃Not yet。 I have spent some money upon it； and it repays the outlay。〃
The excitement of his arrival had worn off； and she was looking herself again； pale and sad； he could not help observing that she was changed。
〃I cannot expect to look so well at Castle Marling as I did at East Lynne；〃 she answered。
〃I trust it is a happy home to you？〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； speaking upon impulse。
She glanced up at him a look that he would never forget； it certainly told of despair。 〃No；〃 she said； shaking her head； 〃it is a miserable home； and I cannot remain in it。 I have been awake all night； thinking where I can go； but I cannot tell； I have not a friend in the wide world。〃
Never let people talk secrets before children； for be assured that they comprehend a vast deal more than is expedient； the saying 〃that little pitchers have great ears〃 is wonderfully true。 Lord Vane held up his hand to Mr。 Carlyle；
〃Isabel told me this morning that she should go away from us。 Shall I tell you why？ Mamma beat her yesterday when she was angry。〃
〃Be quiet； William！〃 interrupted Lady Isabel； her face in a flame。
〃Two great slaps upon her cheeks；〃 continued the young viscount； 〃and Isabel cried so； and I screamed； and then mamma hit me。 But boys are made to be hit； nurse says so。 Marvel came into the nursery when we were at tea； and told nurse about it。 She says Isabel's too good… looking； and that's why mamma〃
Isabel stopped the child's tongue； rang a peal on the bell； and marched him to the door； dispatching him to the nursery by the servant who answered it。
Mr。 Carlyle's eyes were full of indignant sympathy。 〃Can this be true？〃 he asked； in a low tone when she returned to him。 〃You do； indeed； want a friend。〃
〃I must bear my lot；〃 she replied； obeying the impulse which prompted her to confide in Mr。 Carlyle； 〃at least till Lord Mount Severn returns。〃
〃And then？〃
〃I really do not know；〃 she said； the rebellious tears rising faster than she could choke them down。 〃He has no other home to offer me； but with Lady Mount Severn I cannot and will not remain。 She would break my heart； as she has already well…nigh broken my spirit。 I have not deserved it of her； Mr。 Carlyle。〃
〃No； I am sure you have not；〃 he warmly answered。 〃I wish I could help you！ What can I do？〃
〃You can do nothing；〃 she said。 〃What can any one do？〃
〃I wish； I wish I could help you！〃 he repeated。 〃East Lynne was not； take it for all in all； a pleasant home to you； but it seems you changed for the worse when you left。〃
〃Not a pleasant home？〃 she echoed； its reminiscences appearing delightful in that moment； for it must be remembered that all things are estimated by comparison。 〃Indeed it was； I may never have so pleasant a one again。 Mr。 Carlyle； do not disparage East Lynne to me！ Would I could awake and find the last few months but a hideous dream！ that I could find my dear father alive again！that we were still living peacefully at East Lynne。 It would be a very Eden to me now。〃
What was Mr。 Carlyle about to say？ What emotion was it that agitated his countenance； impeded his breath； and dyed his face blood…red？ His better genius was surely not watching over him； or those words had never been spoken。
〃There is but one way；〃 he began； taking her hand and nervously playing with it； probably unconscious that he did so； 〃only one way in which you could return to East Lynne。 And that wayI may not presume； perhaps； to point it out。〃
She looked at him and waited for an explanation。
〃If my words offend you； Lady Isabel； check them； as their presumption deserves； and pardon me。 May Idare Ioffer you to return to East Lynne as its mistress？〃
She did not comprehend him in the slightest degree： the drift of his meaning never dawned upon her。 〃Return to East Lynne as its mistress？〃 she repeated； in bewilderment。
〃And as my wife？〃
No possibility of misunderstanding him now； and the shock and surprise were great。 She had stood there by Mr。 Carlyle's side conversing confidentially with him； esteeming him greatly； feeling as if he were her truest friend on earth； clinging to him in her heart as to a powerful haven of refuge； loving him almost as she would a brother； suffering her hand to remain in his。 /But to be his wife！/ the idea had never presented itself to her in any shape until this moment； and her mind's first emotion was one of entire opposition； her first movement to express it； as she essayed to withdraw herself and her hand away from him。
But not so； Mr。 Carlyle did not suffer it。 He not only retained that hand； but took the other also； and spoke； now the ice was broken； eloquent words of love。 Not unmeaning phrases of rhapsody； about hearts and darts and dying for her； such as somebody else might have given utterance to； but earnest…hearted words of deep tenderness； calculated to win upon the mind's good sense； as well as upon the ear and heart； and it may be that； had her imagination not been filled up with that 〃somebody else；〃 she would have said 〃Yes；〃 there and then。
They were suddenly interrupted。 Lady Mount Severn entered； and took in the scene at a glance； Mr。 Carlyle's bent attitude of devotion； his imprisonment of the hands； and Isabel's perplexed and blushing countenance。 She threw up her head and her little inquisitive nose； and stopped short on the carpet； her freezing looks demanded an explanation； as plainly as looks can do it。 Mr。 Carlyle turned to her； and by way of sparing Isabel； proceeded to introduce himself。 Isabel had just presence of mind left to name her： 〃Lady Mount Severn。〃
〃I am sorry that Lord Mount Severn should be absent； to whom I have the honor of being known；〃 he said。 〃I am Mr。 Carlyle。〃
〃I have heard of you；〃 replied her ladyship； scanning his good looks； and feeling cross that his homage should be given where she saw it was given； 〃but I had /not/ heard that you and Lady Isabel Vane were on the extraordinary terms of intimacy thatthat〃
〃Madam；〃 he interrupted as he handed a chair to her ladyship and took another himself； 〃we have never y