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bara？〃
〃If we were to get there byby seven； I should think； their dinner will be over then。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Mrs。 Hare； with alacrity； who was always pleased when somebody else decided for her。 〃But I should like some tea before we start； Barbara。〃
Barbara took care that her mamma should have some tea and then they proceeded toward East Lynne。 It was a lovely eveningthe air warm； and the humming gnats sported in it as if to make the most of the waning summer。 Mrs。 Hare enjoyed it at first； but ere she reached East Lynne； she became aware that the walk was too much for her。 She did not usually venture upon half so long a one； and probably the fever and agitation of the morning had somewhat impaired her day's strength。 She laid her hand upon the iron gate as they turned into the park； and stood still。
〃I did wrong to come； Barbara。〃
〃Lean on me； mamma。 When you reach those benches； you can take a good rest before proceeding to the house。 It is very warm； and that may have fatigued you。〃
They gained the benches； which were placed under some of the park trees； in front of the gates and the road； but not of the house； and Mrs。 Hare sat down。 Another minute and they were surrounded。 Mr。 Carlyle； his wife； and sister； who were taking an after…dinner stroll amidst the flowers with their guest； Francis Levison； discerned them； and came up。 The children； except the youngest； were of the party。 Lady Isabel warmly welcomed Mrs。 Hare； she had become quite attached to the delicate and suffering woman。
〃A pretty one； I am； am I not； Archibald； to come inquiring after one invalid； and am so much of an invalid myself that I have to stop half… way？〃 Mrs。 Hare exclaimed； as Mr。 Carlyle shook her hand。 〃I was so greatly concerned to hear of poor Joyce。〃
〃You must stay the evening； now you are here；〃 cried Lady Isabel。 〃It will afford you a good rest； and tea will refresh you。〃
〃Oh thank you； but we have taken tea；〃 said Mrs。 Hare。
〃There is no reason why you should not take some more；〃 she laughed。 〃Indeed； you seem too fatigued to be anything but a prisoner with us for the next hour or two。〃
〃I fear I am；〃 answered Mrs。 Hare。
〃Who the dickens are they？〃 Captain Levison was muttering to himself； as he contemplated the guests from a distance。 〃It's a deuced pretty girl； whoever she may be。 I think I'll approach； they don't look formidable。〃
He did approach； and the introduction was made： 〃Captain Levison； Mrs。 Hare and Miss Hare。〃 A few formal words； and Captain Levison disappeared again； challenging little William Carlyle to a foot…race。
〃How very poorly your mamma looks！〃 Mr。 Carlyle exclaimed to Barbara； when they were beyond the hearing of Mrs。 Hare； who was busy talking with Lady Isabel and Miss Carlyle。 〃And she has appeared so much stronger lately； altogether better。〃
〃The walk here has fatigued her； I feared it would be too long； so that she looks unusually pale；〃 replied Barbara。 〃But what do you think it is that has upset her again； Mr。 Carlyle？〃
He turned his inquiring eyes upon Barbara。
〃Papa came downstairs this morning； saying mamma was ill； that she had one of her old attacks of fever and restlessness。 I declare； as papa spoke； I thought to myself could mamma have been dreaming some foolish dream againfor you remember how ill she used to be after them。 I ran upstairs and the first thing that mamma said to me was； that she had had one of those dreadful dreams。〃
〃I fancied she must have outlived her fear of them； that her own plain sense had come to her aid long ago； showing her how futile dreams are； meaning nothing； even if hers do occasionally touch upon thatthat unhappy mystery。〃
〃You may just as well reason with a post as reason with mamma when she is suffering from the influence of one of those dreams；〃 returned Barbara。 〃I tried it this morning。 I asked her to call upas you observegood sense to her aid。 And her reply was； 'How could she help her feelings？ She did not induce the dream by thinking of Richard； or in any other way； and yet it came and shattered her。' Of course so far； mamma is right； for she cannot help the dreams coming。〃
Mr。 Carlyle made no immediate reply。 He picked up a ball belonging to one of the children； which lay in his path； and began tossing it gently in his hand。 〃It is a singular thing；〃 he observed； presently； 〃that we do not hear from Richard。〃
〃Oh； very； very。 And I know mamma distresses over it。 A few words which she let fall this morning； betrayed it plainly。 I am no believer in dreams；〃 continued Barbara； 〃but I cannot deny that these； which take such a hold upon mamma； do bear upon the case in a curious manner the one she had last night especially。〃
〃What was it？〃 asked Mr。 Carlyle。
〃She dreamed that the real murderer was at West Lynne。 She thought he was at our houseas a visitor； she said； or like one making a morning calland we； she and I； were conversing with him about the murder。 He wanted to deny itto put it on Richard； and he turned and whispered to Otway Bethel； who stood behind his chair。 This is another strange thing；〃 added Barbara； lifting her blue eyes in their deep earnestness to the face of Mr。 Carlyle。
〃What is strange？ You speak in enigmas； Barbara。〃
〃I mean that Otway Bethel should invariably appear in her dreams。 Until that stolen visit of Richard's we had no idea he was near the spot at the time； and yet he had always made a prominent feature in these dreams。〃
〃And who was the murdererin your mamma's dream？〃 continued Mr。 Carlyle； speaking as gravely as though he were upon a subject that men ridicule not。
〃She cannot remember； except that he seemed a gentleman； and that we held intercourse with him as such。 Now； that again is remarkable。 We never told her； you know； of our suspicions of Captain Thorn。〃
〃I think you must be becoming a convert to the theory of dreams yourself； Barbara； you are so very earnest；〃 smiled Mr。 Carlyle。
〃No； not to dreams； but I am earnest for my dear brother Richard's sake。〃
〃That Thorn does not appear in a hurry again to favor West Lynne with his〃
Mr。 Carlyle paused； for Barbara had hurriedly laid her hand upon his arm； with a warning gesture。 In talking they had wandered across the park to its ornamental grounds； and were now in a quiet path； overshadowed on the other side by a chain of imitation rocks。 Seated astride on the summit of these rocks； right above where Mr。 Carlyle and Barbara were standing was Francis Levison。 His face was turned from them and he appeared intent upon a child's whip； winding leather round its handle。 Whether he heard their footsteps or not； he did not turn。 They quickened their pace； and quitted the walk； bending their steps backward toward the group of ladies。
〃Could he have heard what we were saying？〃 ejaculated Barbara； below her breath。
Mr。 Carlyle looked down upon the concerned； flushed cheeks with a smile。 Barbara was so evidently perturbed。 But for a certain episode of their lives； some years ago； he might have soothed her tenderly。
〃I think he must have heard a little； Barbara； unless his wits were wool…gathering。 He might not be attending。 What if he did hear？ It is of no consequence。〃
〃I was speaking； you know；