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〃The bag； Miss Barbara。〃
Away tore Barbara； leaving Benjamin and the bag in wonder。 She had caught sight of Mr。 Wainwright； the surgeon； at a little distance； and sped toward him。
〃Mr。 Wainwright；〃 began she； forgetting ceremony in her agitation； 〃you see that gentleman talking to Otway Bethelwho is he？〃
Mr。 Wainwright had to put his glasses across the bridge of his nose before he could answer； for he was short…sighted。 〃That？ Oh； it is a Captain Thorn。 He is visiting the Herberts； I believe。〃
〃Where does he come from？ Where does he live？〃 reiterated Barbara in her eagerness。
〃I don't know anything about him。 I saw him this morning with young Smith； and he told me he was a friend of the Herberts。 You are not looking well； Miss Barbara。〃
She made no answer。 Captain Thorn and Mr。 Bethel came walking down the street； and the latter saluted her； but she was too much confused to respond to it。 Mr。 Wainwright then wished her good day； and Barbara walked slowly back。 Mrs。 Hare was appearing at the shop door。
〃My dear； how long you are！ Cannot the bag be found？〃
〃I went to speak to Mr。 Wainwright；〃 answered Barbara； mechanically taking the bag from Benjamin and giving it to her mother； her whole heart and eyes still absorbed with that one object moving away in the distance。
〃You look pale； child。 Are you well？〃
〃Oh； yes； quite。 Let us get our shopping over； mamma。〃
She moved on to their places at the counter as she spoke； eager to 〃get it over〃 and be at home； that she might have time for thought。 Mrs。 Hare wondered what had come to her； the pleased interest displayed in their purchases previously was now gone； and she sat inattentive and absorbed。
〃Now； my dear； it is only waiting for you to choose。 Which of the two silks will you have？〃
〃Eitherany。 Take which you like； mamma。〃
〃Barbara； what /has/ come to you？〃
〃I believe I am tired；〃 said Barbara； with a forced laugh； as she compelled herself to pay some sort of attention。 〃I don't like the green； I will take the other。〃
They arrived at home。 Barbara got just five minutes alone in her chamber before the dinner was on the table。 All the conclusion she could come to was； /she/ could do nothing save tell the facts to Archibald Carlyle。
How could she contrive to see him？ The business might admit of no delay。 She supposed she must go to East Lynne that evening； but where would be her excuse for it at home？ Puzzling over it； she went down to dinner。 During the meal； Mrs。 Hare began talking of some silk she had purchased for a mantle。 She should have it made like Miss Carlyle's new one。 When Miss Carlyle was at the grove； the other day； about Wilson's character； she offered her the pattern； and she； Mrs。 Hare； would send one of the servants up for it after dinner。
〃Oh； mamma； let me go！〃 burst forth Barbara； and so vehemently spoke she； that the justice paused in carving； and demanded what ailed her。 Barbara made some timid excuse。
〃Her eagerness is natural； Richard；〃 smiled Mrs。 Hare。 〃Barbara thinks she shall get a peep at the baby； I expect。 All young folks are fond of babies。〃
Barbara's face flushed crimson； but she did not contradict the opinion。 She could not eat her dinnershe was too full of poor Richard； she played with it； and then sent away her plate nearly untouched。
〃That's through the finery she's been buying；〃 pronounced Justice Hare。 〃Her head is stuffed up with it。〃
No opposition was offered to Barbara's going to East Lynne。 She reached it just as their dinner was over。 It was for Miss Carlyle she asked。
〃Miss Carlyle is not at home； miss。 She is spending the day out； and my lady does not receive visitors yet。〃
It was a sort of checkmate。 Barbara was compelled to say she would see Mr。 Carlyle。 Peter ushered her into the drawing…room； and Mr。 Carlyle came to her。
〃I am so very sorry to disturb youto have asked for you；〃 began Barbara； with a burning face； for； somehow； a certain evening interview of hers with him； twelve months before； was disagreeably present to her。 Never； since that evening of agitation； had Barbara suffered herself to betray emotion to Mr。 Carlyle； her manner to him had been calm； courteous； and indifferent。 And she now more frequently called him 〃Mr。 Carlyle〃 than 〃Archibald。〃
〃Take a seattake a seat； Barbara。〃
〃I asked for Miss Carlyle；〃 she continued； 〃for mamma is in want of a pattern that she promised to lend her。 You remember the Lieutenant Thorn whom Richard spoke of as being the real criminal？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I think he is at West Lynne。〃
Mr。 Carlyle was aroused to eager interest。
〃He！ The same Thorn？〃
〃It can be no other。 Mamma and I were shopping to…day； and I went out for her bag； which she left in the carriage。 While Benjamin was getting it； I saw a stranger coming up the streeta tall； good… looking； dark…haired man； with a conspicuous gold chain and studs。 The sun was full upon him； causing the ornaments to shine； especially a diamond ring which he wore； for he had one hand raised to his face。 The thought flashed over me； 'That is just like the description Richard gave of the man Thorn。' Why the idea should have occurred to me in that strange manner； I do not know； but it most assuredly did occur； though I did not really suppose him to be the same。 Just then I heard him spoken to by some one on the other side of the street； it was Otway Bethel； and he called him /Captain Thorn/。〃
〃This is curious； indeed； Barbara。 I did not know any stranger was at West Lynne。〃
〃I saw Mr。 Wainwright； and asked him who it was。 He said a Captain Thorn； a friend of the Herberts。 A Lieutenant Thorn four or five years ago would probably be Captain Thorn now。〃
Mr。 Carlyle nodded； and there was a pause。
〃What can be done？〃 asked Barbara。
Mr。 Carlyle was passing one hand over his brow； it was a habit of his when in deep thought。
〃It is hard to say what is to be done； Barbara。 The description you gave of this man certainly tallies with that given by Richard。 Did he look like a gentleman？〃
〃Very much so。 A remarkably aristocratic looking man； as it struck me。
Mr。 Carlyle again nodded assentingly。 He remembered Richard's words； when describing the other： 〃an out…and…out aristocrat。〃 〃Of course； Barbara； the first thing must be to try and ascertain whether it is the same；〃 he observed。 〃If we find it is； then we must deliberate upon future measures。 I will see what I can pick up and let you know。〃
Barbara rose。 Mr。 Carlyle escorted her across the hall； and then strolled down the park by her side； deep in the subject； and quite unconscious that Lady Isabel's jealous eyes were watching them from her dressing…room window。
'You say he seemed intimate with Otway Bethel？〃
〃As to being intimate； I cannot say。 Otway Bethel spoke as though he knew him。〃
〃This must have caused excitement to Mrs。 Hare。〃
〃You forget； Archibald； that mamma was not told anything about Thorn；〃 was the answer of Barbara。 〃The uncertainty would have worried her to death。 All Richard said to her was； that he was innocent； that it was a stranger who did the deed； and she asked for no particulars； she had implicit faith in Richard's truth。〃
〃True； I did forget；〃 replied Mr。 Carl