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Barbara parted from them。 Thought upon thought crowded upon her brain as she flew back to East Lynne。 She ran up the steps to the hall； gliding toward a group which stood near its further endher mother； Miss Carlyle； Mr。 Carlyle； and little Isabel； Lady Isabel she did not see。 Mrs。 Hare was then going up to see Joyce。
In the agitation of the moment she stealthily touched Mr。 Carlyle； and he stepped away from the rest to speak to her； she drawing back toward the door of one of the reception rooms； and motioning him to approach。
〃Oh； Archibald； I must speak to you alone！ Could you not come out again for a little while？〃
He nodded； and walked out openly by her side。 Why should he not？ What had he to conceal？ But； unfortunately； Lady Isabel； who had but gone into that same room for a minute； and was coming out again to join Mrs。 Hare； both saw Barbara's touch upon her husband's arm； marked her agitation； and heard her words。 She went to one of the hall windows and watched them saunter toward the more private part of the ground； she saw her husband send back Isabel。 Never； since her marriage； had Lady Isabel's jealousy been excited as it was excited that evening。
〃II feelI scarcely know whether I am awake or dreaming；〃 began Barbara； putting up her hand to her brow and speaking in a dreamy tone。 〃Pardon me for bringing you out in this unceremonious fashion。〃
〃What state secrets have you to discuss？〃 asked Mr。 Carlyle in a jesting manner。
〃We were speaking of mamma's dream。 She said the impression it had left upon her mindthat the murderer was in West Lynnewas so vivid that in spite of common sense she could not persuade herself that he was not。 Welljust now〃
〃Barbara； what /can/ be the matter？〃 uttered Mr。 Carlyle； perceiving that her agitation was so great as to impede her words。
〃/I have just seen him！/〃 she rejoined。
〃Seen him！〃 echoed Mr。 Carlyle； looking at her fixedly； a doubt crossing his mind whether Barbara's mind might be as uncollected as her manner。
〃What were nearly my last words to you？ That if ever that Thorn did come to West Lynne again； I would leave no stone unturned to bring it home to him。 He is here； Archibald。 Now； when I went to the gate to speak to Tom Herbert； his brother； Major Herbert； was also there； and with him Captain Thorn。 Bethel； also。 Do you wonder I say that I know not whether I am awake or dreaming？ They have some weeks' holiday； and are here to spend it。〃
〃It is a singular coincidence；〃 exclaimed Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Had anything been wanting to convince me that Thorn is the guilty man； this would have done it；〃 went on Barbara； in her excitement。 〃Mamma's dream； with the steadfast impression it left upon her that Hallijohn's murderer was now at West Lynne〃
In turning the sharp corner of the covered walk they came in contact with Captain Levison； who appeared to be either standing or sauntering there； his hands underneath his coat…tails。 Again Barbara felt vexed； wondering how much he had heard； and beginning in her heart to dislike the man。 He accosted them familiarly； and appeared as if he would have turned with them； but none could put down presumption more effectually than Mr。 Carlyle； calm and gentlemanly though he always was。
〃I will join you presently； Captain Levison；〃 he said with a wave of the hand。 And he turned back with Barbara toward the open parts of the park。
〃Do you like that Captain Levison？〃 she abruptly inquired； when they were beyond hearing。
〃I cannot say I do；〃 was Mr。 Carlyle's reply。 〃He is one who does not improve upon acquaintance。〃
〃To me it looks as though he had placed himself in our way to hear what we were saying。〃
〃No； no； Barbara。 What interest could it bear for him？〃
Barbara did not contest the point； she turned to the one nearer at heart。 〃What must be our course with regard to Thorn？〃
〃It is more than I can tell you；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I cannot go up to the man and unceremoniously accuse him of being Hallijohn's murderer。〃
They took their way to the house； for there was nothing further to discuss。 Captain Levison entered it before them； and saw Lady Isabel standing at the hall window。 Yes； she was standing and looking still； brooding over her fancied wrongs。
〃Who is that Miss Hare？〃 he demanded in a cynical tone。 〃They appear to have a pretty good understanding together。 Twice this evening I have met them enjoying a private walk and a private confab。〃
〃What did you say？〃 sharply and haughtily returned Lady Isabel。
〃Nay； I did not mean to offend you；〃 was the answer； for he knew that she heard his words distinctly in spite of her question。 〃I spoke of /Monsieur votre mari/。〃
CHAPTER XXIII。
CAPTAIN THORN IN TROUBLE ABOUT 〃A BILL。〃
In talking over a bygone misfortune； we sometimes make the remark； or hear it made to us； 〃Circumstances worked against it。〃 Such and such a thing might have turned out differently； we say； had the surrounding circumstances been more favorable； but they were in opposition； they were dead against it。 Now； if ever attendant circumstances can be said to have borne a baneful influence upon any person in this world； they most assuredly did at this present time against Lady Isabel Carlyle。
Coeval； you see； with the arrival of the ex…captain； Levison； at East Lynne； all the jealous feeling； touching her husband and Barbara Hare； was renewed； and with greater force than ever。 Barbara； painfully anxious that something should be brought to light； it would have puzzled her to say how or by what means； by which her brother should be exonerated from the terrible charge under which he lay； fully believing that Frederick Thorn； captain in her majesty's service； was the man who had committed the crime； as asserted by Richard； was in a state of excitement bordering upon frenzy。 Too keenly she felt the truth of her own words； that she was powerless； that she could； herself； do nothing。 When she rose in the morning； after a night passed in troubled reflection more than in sleep； her thoughts were； 〃Oh； that I could this day find out something certain！〃 She was often at the Herberts'； frequently invited theresometimes going uninvited。 She and the Herberts were intimate and they pressed Barbara into all the impromptu gay doings； now their brother was at home。 There she of course saw Captain Thorn； and now and then she was enabled to pick up scraps of his past history。 Eagerly were these scraps carried to Mr。 Carlyle。 Not at his office； Barbara would not appear there。 Perhaps she was afraid of the gossiping tongues of West Lynne； or that her visits might have come to the knowledge of that stern； prying； and questioning old gentleman whom she called sire。 It may be too； that she feared； if seen haunting Mr。 Carlyle's office； Captain Thorn might come to hear of it and suspect the agitation； that was afloatfor who could know better than he； the guilt that was falsely attaching to Richard？ Therefore she chose rather to go to East Lynne； or to waylay Mr。 Carlyle as he passed to and from business。 It was little she gathered to tell him； one evening she met him with the news that Mr。 Thorn /had/ been in former years at West Lynne； though she could not fix the date； another time sh