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her time she went boldly to East Lynne in eager anxiety； ostensibly to make a call on Lady Isabeland a very restless one it wascontriving to make Mr。 Carlyle understand that she wanted to see him alone。 He went out with her when she departed； and accompanied her as far as the park gates； the two evidently absorbed in earnest converse。 Lady Isabel's jealous eye saw that。 The communication Barbara had to make was； that Captain Thorn had let fall the avowal that he had once been 〃in trouble；〃 though of its nature there was no indication given。 Another journey of hers took the scrap of news that she had discovered he knew Swainson well。 Part of this； nay； perhaps the whole of it； Mr。 Carlyle had found out for himself； nevertheless he always received Barbara with vivid interest。 Richard Hare was related to Miss Carlyle； and if his innocence could be made clear in the sight of men； it would be little less gratifying to them than to the Hares。 Of Richard's innocence； Mr。 Carlyle now entertained little； if any doubt； and he was becoming impressed with the guilt of Captain Thorn。 The latter spoke mysteriously of a portion of his past lifewhen he could be brought to speak of it at alland he bore evidently some secret that he did not care to have alluded to。
But now look at the mean treachery of that man； Francis Levison！ The few meetings that Lady Isabel did witness between her husband and Barbara would have been quite enough to excite her anger and jealousy； to trouble her peace； but； in addition； Francis Levison took care to tell her of those she did not see。 It pleased himhe could best tell with what motiveto watch the movements of Mr。 Carlyle and Barbara。 There was a hedge pathway through the fields； on the opposite side of the road to the residence of Justice Hare； and as Mr。 Carlyle walked down the road to business in his unsuspicion （not one time in fifty did he choose to ride； the walk to and fro kept him in health； he said）； Captain Levison would be strolling down like a serpent behind the hedge； watching all his movements； watching his interviews with Barbara； did any take place； watching Mr。 Carlyle turn into the grove； as he sometimes did； and perhaps watch Barbara run out of the house to meet him。 It was all related over； and with miserable exaggeration； to Lady Isabel； whose jealousy； as a natural sequence； grew feverish in its extent。
It is scarcely necessary to explain； that of this feeling of Lady Isabel's Barbara knew nothing； not a shadow of suspicion had ever penetrated to her mind that Lady Isabel was jealous of her。 Had she been told that such was the fact； she would have laughed in derision at her informant。 Mr。 Carlyle's happy wife； proudly secure in her position and in his affection； jealous of /her！/ of her； to whom he had never given an admiring look or a loving word！ It would have taken a great deal to make Barbara believe that。
How different were the facts in reality。 These meetings of Mr。 Carlyle's and Barbara's； instead of episodes of love…making and tender speeches； were positively painful； especially to Barbara； from the unhappy nature of the subject to be discussed。 Far from feeling a reprehensible pleasure at seeking the meetings with Mr。 Carlyle； Barbara shrank from them； but that she was urged by dire necessity； in the interests of Richard； she would wholly have avoided such。 Poor Barbara； in spite of that explosion of bottled…up excitement years back； was a lady； possessed of a lady's ideas and feelings； and remembering the explosionit did not accord with her pride at all to be pushing herself into what might be called secret meetings with Archibald Carlyle。 But Barbara； in her sisterly love； pressed down all thought of self； and went perseveringly forward for Richard's sake。
Mr。 Carlyle was seated one morning in his private room at his office； when his head clerk； Mr。 Dill came in。 〃A gentleman is asking to see you； Mr。 Archibald。〃
〃I am too busy to see anybody for this hour to come。 You know that； Dill。〃
〃So I told him； sir； and he says he'll wait。 It is that Captain Thorn who is staying here with John Herbert。〃
Mr。 Carlyle raised his eyes； and they encountered those of the old man； a peculiar expression was in the face of both。 Mr。 Carlyle glanced down at the parchment he was perusing； as if calculating his time。 Then he looked up again and spoke。
〃I will see /him/； Dill。 Send him in。〃
The business leading to the visit was quite simple。 Captain Frederick Thorn had got himself into some trouble and vexation about 〃a bill〃 as too many captains will doand he had come to crave advice of Mr。 Carlyle。
Mr。 Carlyle felt dubious about giving it。 This Captain Thorn was a pleasant； attractive sort of a man； who won much on acquaintance； one whom Mr。 Carlyle would have been pleased； in a friendly point of view； and setting professional interest apart； to help out of his difficulties； but if he were the villain they suspected him to be； the man with crime upon his hand； then Mr。 Carlyle would have ordered his office door held wide for him to slink out of it。
〃Cannot you advise me what my course ought to be？〃 he inquired； detecting Mr。 Carlyle's hesitation。
〃I could advise you； certainly。 Butyou must excuse my being plain； Captain ThornI like to know who my clients are before I take up their cause or accept them as clients。〃
〃I am able to pay you；〃 was Captain Thorn's reply。 〃I am not short of ready money； only this bill〃
Mr。 Carlyle laughed out； after having bit his lip with annoyance。 〃It was a natural inference of yours；〃 he said； 〃but I assure you I was not thinking of your purse or my pocket。 My father held it right never to undertake business for a strangerunless a man was good； in a respectable point of view； and his cause was good； he did not mention itand I have acted on the same principle。 By these means； the position and character of our business； is rarely attained by a solicitor。 Now； in saying that you are a stranger to me； I am not casting any doubt upon you； Captain Thorn； I am merely upholding my common practice。〃
〃My family is well connected；〃 was Captain Thorn's next venture。
〃Excuse me； family has nothing to do with it。 If the poorest day laborer； if a pauper out of the workhouse came to me for advice； he should be heartily welcome to it； provided he were an honest man in the face of the day。 Again I repeat； you must take no offence at what I say； for I cast no reflection on you； I only urge that you and your character are unknown to me。〃
Curious words from a lawyer to a client…aspirant； and Captain Thorn found them so。 But Mr。 Carlyle's tone was so courteous； his manner so affable； in fact he was so thoroughly the gentleman； that it was impossible to feel hurt。
〃Well； how can I convince you that I am respectable？ I have served my country ever since I was sixteen； and my brother officers have found no cause of complaintany position as an officer and a gentleman would be generally deemed a sufficient guarantee。 Inquire of John Herbert。 The Herberts； too； are friends of yours； and they have not disdained to give me room amidst their family。〃
〃True；〃 returned Mr。 Carlyle； feeling that he could not well object further； and also that all men s