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〃Do you propose staying in Boulogne long？〃
〃I don't know。 As I may find amusement。 Paris is a fast capital； with its heated rooms and its late hours； and I came down for the refreshment of a few sea dips。 Am I walking too fast for you？〃
〃You increased your pace alarmingly when you spoke of Sir Peter's marriage。 And I am not sorry for it；〃 she added； good…naturedly； 〃for it has proved to me how strong I am getting。 A week ago I could not have walked half so fast。〃
He interrupted with eager apologies； and soon they reached her home。 Captain Levison entered with heruninvited。 He probably deemed between connections great ceremonies might be dispensed with； and he sat a quarter of an hour； chatting to amuse her。 When he rose； he inquired what she meant to do with herself in the afternoon。
〃To lie down；〃 replied Isabel。 〃I am not strong enough to sit up all day。〃
〃Should you be going out afterwards； you must allow me to take care of you；〃 he observed。 〃I am glad that I happened to be here； for I am sure you are not fit to wander out without an arm； and only followed by a servant。 When Mr。 Carlyle comes； he will thank me for my pains。〃
What was she to urge in objection？ Simply nothing。 He spoke； let us not doubt； from a genuine wish to serve her； in a plain； easy tone； as any acquaintance might speak。 Lady Isabel schooled herself severely。 If those old feelings were not quite dead within her； why； she must smother them down again as effectually as if they were； the very fact of recognizing such to her own heart； brought a glow of shame to her brow。 She would meet Captain Levison； and suffer his companionship； as she would that of the most indifferent stranger。
It was just the wrong way for her to go to work； though。
As the days passed on； Lady Isabel improved wonderfully。 She was soon able to go to the sands in the morning and sit there to enjoy the sea air； watching the waves come up to recede with the tide。 She made no acquaintance whatever in the place； and when she had a companion it was Captain Levison。 He would frequently join her there； sometimes take her； almost always give her his arm home。 Of all things； she disliked the having to take his arm； would a thousand times over rather have taken good old Peter's。 A secret prick of the conscience whispered it might be better if she did not。 One day she said； in a joking sort of mannershe would not say it in any otherthat now she was strong； she had no need of his arm and his escort。 He demanded； in evident astonishment； what had arisen that he might not still afford it； seeing her husband was not with her to give her his。 She had no answer in reply to this； no excuse to urge； and； in default of one； took his arm； as usual。 In the evening he would be ready to take her to the pier； but they sat apart； mixing not with the bustling crowd he lending to his manner； as he conversed with her； all that he would call up of fascinationand fascination； such as Francis Levison's； might be dangerous to any ear； in the sweet evening twilight。 The walk over； he left her at her own door； she never asked him in in the evening； and he did not intrude without； as he sometimes would of a morning。
Now； where was the help for this？ You may say that she should have remained indoors； and not have subjected herself to his companionship。 But the remaining indoors would not have brought her health； and it was health that she was staying in Boulogne to acquire； and the sooner it came the better pleased she would be； for she wanted to be at home with her husband and children。
In a fortnight from the period of his departure； Mr。 Carlyle was expected in Boulogne。 But what a marvellous change had this fortnight wrought in Lady Isabel！ She did not dare to analyze her feelings； but she was conscious that all the fresh emotions of her youth had come again。 The blue sky seemed as of the sweetest sapphire； the green fields and waving trees were of an emerald brightness； the perfume of the flowers was more fragrant than any perfume had yet seemed。 She knew that the sky； that the grassy plains； the leafy trees； the brilliant flowers； were but as they ever had been； she knew that the sunny atmosphere possessed no more of loveliness or power of imparting delight than of old； and she knew that the change； the sensation of ecstacy； was in her own heart。 No wonder that she shrank from self… examination。
The change from listless languor to her present feeling brought the hue and contour of health to her face far sooner than anything else could have done。 She went down with Captain Levison to meet Mr。 Carlyle； the evening he came in； and when Mr。 Carlyle saw her behind the cords； as he was going to the custom…house； he scarcely knew her。 Her features had lost their sharpness； her cheeks wore a rosy flush； and the light of pleasure at meeting him again shone in her eyes。
〃What can you have been doing to yourself； my darling？〃 he uttered in delight as he emerged from the custom…house and took her hands in his。 〃You look almost well。〃
〃Yes； I am much better； Archibald； but I am warm now and flushed。 We have waited here some time； and the setting sun was full upon us。 How long the boat was in coming in！〃
〃The wind was against us；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle； wondering who the exquisite was at his wife's side。 He thought he remembered his face。
〃Captain Levison；〃 said Lady Isabel。 〃I wrote you word in one of my letters that he was here。 Have you forgotten it？〃 Yes； it had slipped from his memory。
〃And I am happy that it happened so；〃 said that gentleman； interposing； 〃for it has enabled me to attend Lady Isabel in some of her walks。 She is stronger now； but at first she was unfit to venture alone。〃
〃I feel much indebted to you；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； warmly。
The following day was Sunday； and Francis Levison was asked to dine with themthe first meal he had been invited to in the house。 After dinner； when Lady Isabel left them； he grew confidential over his claret to Mr。 Carlyle； laying open all his intricate affairs and his cargo of troubles。
〃This compulsory exile abroad is becoming intolerable；〃 he concluded； 〃and a Paris life plays the very deuce with one。 Do you see any chance of my getting back to England？〃
〃Not the least；〃 was the candid answer； 〃unless you can manage to satisfy or partially satisfy those claims you have been telling me of。 Will not Sir Peter assist you？〃
〃I believe he would； were the case fairly represented to him； but how am I to get over to do it？ I have written several letters to him lately； and for some time I got no reply。 Then came an epistle from Lady Levison； not short and sweet； but short and sour。 It was to the effect that Sir Peter was ill； and could not at present be troubled with business matters。〃
〃He cannot be very ill；〃 remarked Mr。 Carlyle； 〃he passed through West Lynne； in his open carriage； a week ago。〃
〃He ought to help me；〃 grumbled Captain Levison。 〃I am his heir； so long as Lady Levison does not give him one。 I do not hear that she has expectations。〃
〃You should contrive to see him。〃
〃I know I should； but it is not possible under present circumstances。 With these thunder…clouds hanging over me； I dare not set foot in England；