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at he should have suspected it。 If /she/ had not come between us； should you have loved me？〃
〃Do not pursue this unthankful topic；〃 he besought； almost wishing the staring cow would run away with her。
〃I ask you； should you have loved me？〃 persisted Barbara； passing her handkerchief over her ashy lips。
〃I don't know。 How can I know？ Do I not say to you； Barbara； that I only thought of you as a friend； a sister？ I cannot tell what might have been。〃
〃I could bear it better； but that it was known；〃 she murmured。 〃All West Lynne had coupled us together in their prying gossip； and they have only pity to cast on me now。 I would far rather you have killed me； Archibald。〃
〃I can but express to you my deep regret；〃 he repeated。 〃I can only hope you will soon forget it all。 Let the remembrance of this conversation pass away with to…night； let us still be to each other as friendsas brother and sister。 Believe me；〃 he concluded； in a deeper tone； 〃the confession has not lessened you in my estimation。〃
He made a movement as though he would get over the stile； but Barbara did not stir； the tears were silently coursing down her pallid face。 At that moment there was an interruption。
〃Is that you； Miss Barbara？〃
Barbara started as if she had been shot。 On the other side of the stile stood Wilson； their upper maid。 How long might she have been there？ She began to explain that Mr。 Hare had sent Jasper out； and Mrs。 Hare had thought it better to wait no longer for the man's return； so had dispatched her； Wilson； for Miss Barbara。 Mr。 Carlyle got over the stile； and handed over Miss Barbara。
〃You need not come any further now；〃 she said to him in a low tone。
〃I should see you home；〃 was his reply； and he held out his arm。 Barbara took it。
They walked in silence。 Arrived at the back gate of the grove； which gave entrance to the kitchen garden； Wilson went forward。 Mr。 Carlyle took both Barbara's hands in his。
〃Good…night； Barbara。 God bless you。〃
She had had time for reflection； and the excitement gone； she saw her outbreak in all its shame and folly。 Mr。 Carlyle noticed how subdued and white she looked。
〃I think I have been mad；〃 she groaned。 〃I must have been mad to say what I did。 Forget that it was uttered。〃
〃I told you I would。〃
〃You will not betray me totoyour wife？〃 she panted。
〃Barbara！〃
〃Thank you。 Good…night。〃
But he still retained her hands。 〃In a short time； Barbara； I trust you will find one more worthy to receive your love than I have been。〃
〃Never！〃 she impulsively answered。 〃I do not love and forget so lightly。 In the years to come； in my old age； I shall still be nothing but Barbara Hare。〃
Mr。 Carlyle walked away in a fit of musing。 The revelation had given him pain； and possibly a little bit of flattery into the bargain； for he was fond of pretty Barbara。 Fond in his waynot hersnot with the sort of fondness he felt for his wife。 He asked his conscience whether his manner to her in the past days had been a tinge warmer than we bestow upon a sister； and he decided that it might have been； but he most certainly never cast a suspicion to the mischief it was doing。
〃I heartily hope she'll soon find somebody to her liking and forget me；〃 was his concluding thought。 〃As to living and dying Barbara Hare； that's all moonshine； and sentimental rubbish that girls like to〃
〃Archibald！〃
He was passing the very last tree in the park； the nearest to his house； and the interruption came from a dark form standing under it。
〃Is it you； my dearest？〃
〃I came out to meet you。 Have you not been very long？〃
〃I think I have；〃 he answered； as he drew his wife to his side； and walked on with her。
〃We met one of the servants at the second stile； but I went on all the way。〃
〃You have been intimate with the Hares？〃
〃Quite so。 Cornelia is related to them。〃
〃Do you think Barbara pretty？〃
〃Very。〃
〃Thenintimate as you wereI wonder you never fell in love with her。〃
Mr。 Carlyle laughed； a very conscious laugh； considering the recent interview。
〃Did you； Archibald？〃
The words were spoken in a low tone； almost； or he fancied it； a tone of emotion； and he looked at her in amazement。 〃Did I what； Isabel？〃
〃You never loved Barbara Hare？〃
〃Loved /her/！ What is your head running on； Isabel？ I never loved but one； and that one I made my own； my cherished wife。〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
MISS CARLYLEISABEL UNHAPPY。
Another year came in。 Isabel would have been altogether happy but for Miss Carlyle； that lady still inflicted her presence upon East Lynne； and made it the bane of its household。 She deferred outwardly to Lady Isabel as the mistress； but the real mistress was herself。 Isabel was little more than an automaton。 Her impulses were checked； her wishes frustrated； her actions tacitly condemned by the imperiously…willed Miss Carlyle。 Poor Isabel； with her refined manners and her timid and sensitive temperament； had no chance against the strong…minded woman； and she was in a state of galling subjection in her own house。
Not a day passed but Miss Carlyle； by dint of hints and innuendoes； contrived to impress upon Lady Isabel the unfortunate blow to his own interests that Mr。 Carlyle's marriage had been； the ruinous expense she had entailed upon the family。 It struck a complete chill to Isabel's heart； and she became painfully impressed with the incubus she must be to Mr。 Carlyleso far as his pocket was concerned。 Lord Mount Severn； with his little son； had paid them a short visit at Christmas and Isabel had asked him； apparently with unconcern； whether Mr。 Carlyle had put himself very much out to the way to marry her； whether it had entailed on him an expense and a style of living he would not otherwise have deemed himself justified in affording。 Lord Mount Severn's reply was an unfortunate one： his opinion was； that it had； he said； and that Isabel ought to feel grateful to him for his generosity。 She sighed as she listened； and from thenceforth determined to put up with Miss Carlyle。
More timid and sensitive by nature than many would believe or can imagine； reared in seclusion more simply and quietly than falls to the general lot of peers' daughters； completely inexperienced； Isabel was unfit to battle with the worldtotally unfit to battle with Miss Carlyle。 The penniless state in which she was left at her father's death； the want of a home save that accorded her at Castle Marling； even the hundred…pound note left in her hand by Mr。 Carlyle； all had imbued her with a deep consciousness of humiliation； and； far from rebelling at or despising the small establishment； comparatively speaking； provided for her by Mr。 Carlyle； she felt thankful to him for it。 But to be told continuously that this was more than he could afford； that she was in fact a blight upon his prospects； was enough to turn her heart to bitterness。 Oh； that she had had the courage to speak out openly to her husband； that he might； by a single word of earnest love and assurance； have taken the weight from her heart； and rejoiced it with the truththat all these miserable complaints were but the phantoms of his narrow…minded sister！ But Isabel never did； when Miss Corny lapsed into her grumbl