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mind？〃
〃Archibald； do you need to ask？ Did you love no one before you married me？ Perhaps you have loved her sinceperhaps you love her still？〃
Mr。 Carlyle began to discern 〃method in her madness。〃 He changed his cheering tone to one of grave earnestness。 〃Of whom to you speak； Isabel？〃
〃Of Barbara Hare。〃
He knitted his brow； he was both annoyed and vexed。 Whatever had put this bygone nonsense into his wife's head？ He quitted the sofa where he had been supporting her； and stood upright before her； calm； dignified； almost solemn in his seriousness。
〃Isabel； what notion can you possibly have picked up about myself and Barbara Hare； I never entertained the faintest shadow of love for her； either before my marriage or since。 You must tell me what has given rise to this idea in your mind。〃
〃But she loved you。〃
A moment's hesitation； for； of course； Mr。 Carlyle was conscious that she had； but； taking all the circumstances into consideration； more especially how he learnt the fact； he could not； in honor； acknowledge it to his wife。 〃If it was so； Isabel； she was more reprehensibly foolish than I should have given Barbara's good sense could be； for a woman may almost as well lose herself as to suffer herself to love unsought。 If she did give her love to me； I can only say； I was entirely unconscious of it。 Believe me； you have as much cause to be jealous of Cornelia as you have of Barbara Hare。〃
An impulse rose within her that she would tell him all； the few words dropped by Susan and Joyce； twelve months before； the conversation she had just overheard； but in that moment of renewed confidence； it did appear to her that she must have been very foolish to attach importance to itthat a sort of humiliation； in listening to the converse of servants； was reflected on her； and she remained silent。
There never was a passion in this worldthere never will be oneso fantastic； so delusive； so powerful as jealousy。 Mr。 Carlyle dismissed the episode from his thoughts； he believed his wife's emotion to have been simply from a feverish dream； and never supposed but that； with the dream； its recollection would pass away from her。 Not so。 Implicitly relying upon her husband's words at the moment； feeling quite ashamed at her own suspicion； Lady Isabel afterward suffered the unhappy fear to regain its influence； the ill…starred revelations of Wilson reasserted their power； overmastering the denial of Mr。 Carlyle。 Shakspeare calls jealousy yellow and green； I think it may be called black and white for it most assuredly views white as black； and black as white。 The most fanciful surmises wear the aspect of truth； the greatest improbabilities appear as consistent realities。 Not another word said Isabel to her husband； and the feelingyou will understand this if you have ever been foolish enough to sun yourself in its delightsonly caused her to grow more attached to him； to be more eager for his love。 But certain it is that Barbara Hare dwelt on her heart like an incubus。
CHAPTER XIX。
CAPTAIN THORN AT WEST LYNNE。
〃Barbara； how fine the day seems！〃
〃It is a beautiful day mamma。〃
〃I do think I should be all the better for going out。〃
〃I am sure you would； mamma；〃 was Barbara's answer。 〃If you went out more； you would find the benefit。 Every fine day you ought to do so。 I will go and ask papa if he can spare Benjamin and the carriage。〃 She waltzed gaily out of the room； but returned in a moment。
〃Mamma； it is all right。 Benjamin is gone to get the carriage ready。 You would like a bit of luncheon before you goI will order the tray。〃
〃Anything you please； dear；〃 said the sweet…tempered gentlewoman。 〃I don't know why； but I feel glad to go out to…day； perhaps because it is lovely。〃
Benjamin made ready his carriage and himself； and drove out of the yard at the back； and brought the carriage round to the front gate。
The carriageor phaeton as it was often calledwas a somewhat old fashioned concern； as many country things are apt to be。 A small box in front for the driver； and a wide seat with a head behind； accommodating Barbara well between them when Mr。 and Mrs。 Hare both sat in。
Benjamin drew the rug carefully over his mistress's kneesthe servants did not like Mr。 Hare； but would have laid down their lives for herascended to his box； and drove them to their destination； the linen draper's。 It was an excellent shop； situated a little beyond the office of Mr。 Carlyle； and Mrs。 Hare and Barbara were soon engaged in that occupation said to possess for all women a fascination。 They had been in about an hour； when Mrs。 Hare discovered that her bag was missing。
〃I must have left it in the carriage； Barbara。 Go and bring it； will you； my dear？ The pattern of that silk is in it。〃
Barbara went out。 The carriage and Benjamin and the sleek old horse were all waiting drowsily together。 Barbara could not see the bag； and she appealed to the servant。
〃Find mamma's bag； Benjamin。 It must be somewhere in the carriage。〃
Benjamin got off his box and began to search。 Barbara waited； gazing listlessly down the street。 The sun was shining brilliantly； and its rays fell upon the large cable chain of a gentleman who was sauntering idly up the pavement； making its gold links and its drooping seal and key glitter； as they crossed his waistcoat。 It shone also upon the enameled gold studs of his shirt front； making /them/ glitter； and as he suddenly raised his ungloved hand to stroke his moustacheby which action you know a vain mana diamond ring he wore gleamed with a light that was positively dazzling。 Involuntarily Barbara thought of the description her brother Richard had given of certain dazzling jewels worn by another。
She watched him advance！ He was a handsome man of； perhaps； seven or eight and twenty； tall； slender and well made； his eyes and hair black。 A very pleasant expression sat upon his countenance； and on the left hand he wore a light buff kid glove； and was swinging its fellow by the fingers。 But for the light cast at that moment by the sun； Barbara might not have noticed the jewellery； or connected it in her mind with the other jewellery in that unhappy secret。
〃Hallo； Thorn； is that you？ Just step over here。〃
The speaker was Otway Bethel； who was on the opposite side of the street； the spoken to； the gentleman with the jewellery。 But the latter was in a brown study； and did not hear。 Bethel called out again； louder。
〃Captain Thorn！〃
That was heard。 Captain Thorn nodded； and turned short off across the street。 Barbara stood like one in a dream； her brain； her mind； her fancy all in a confused mass together。
〃Here's the bag； Miss Barbara。 It had got among the folds of the rug。〃
Benjamin held it out to her； but she took no notice； she was unconscious of all external things save one。 That she beheld the real murderer of Hallijohn； she entertained no manner of doubt。 In every particular he tallied with the description given by Richard； tall； dark； vain； handsome； delicate hands； jewellery； andCaptain Thorn！ Barbara's cheeks grew white and her heart turned sick。
〃The bag； Miss Barbara。〃
Away tore Barbara； leaving Benjamin and the bag in wonder。 She had caught sight of Mr。 Wainwri