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Richard Hare it was。 When fully assured that Barbara was standing there； he knew the justice was still absent； and ventured to advance。 He appeared to be in a strange state of emotionhis breath labored； his whole frame trembling。
〃Barbara！ Barbara！〃 he called。 〃I have seen Thorn。〃
Barbara thought him demented。 〃I know you saw him；〃 she slowly said； 〃but it was not the right Thorn。〃
〃Not he；〃 breathed Richard； 〃and not the gentleman I saw to…night in Carlyle's office。 I have seen the fellow himself。 Why to you stare at me so； Barbara？〃
Barbara was in truth scanning his face keenly。 It appeared to her a strange tale that he was telling。
〃When I left here； I cut across into Bean lane； which is more private for me than this road；〃 proceeded Richard。 〃Just as I got to that clump of treesyou know it； BarbaraI saw somebody coming toward me from a distance。 I stepped back behind the trunks of the trees； into the shade of the hedge； for I don't care to be met； though I am disguised。 He came along the middle of the lane； going toward West Lynne； and I looked out upon him。 I knew him long before he was abreast of me； it was Thorn。〃 Barbara made no comment； she was digesting the news。
〃Every drop of blood within me began to tingle； and an impulse came upon me to spring upon him and accuse him of the murder of Hallijohn；〃 went on Richard； in the same excited manner。 〃But I resisted it； or； perhaps； my courage failed。 One of the reproaches against me had used to be that I was a physical coward； you know； Barbara；〃 he added； in a tone of bitterness。 〃In a struggle； Thorn would have had the best of it； he is taller and more powerful than I； and might have battered me to death。 A man who can commit one murder won't hesitate at a second。〃
〃Richard； do you think you could have been deceived？〃 she urged。 〃You had been talking of Thorn； and your thoughts were； naturally bearing upon him。 Imagination〃
〃Be still； Barbara；〃 he interrupted in a tone of pain。 〃Imagination； indeed！ Did I not tell you he was stamped here？〃 touching his breast。 〃Do you take me for a child； or an imbecile； that I should fancy I see Thorn in every shadow； or meet people where I do not？ He had his hat off； as if he had been walking fast and had got hotfast he was walking； and he carried the hat in one hand； and what looked like a small parcel。 With the other hand he was pushing the hair from his browin this waya peculiar way；〃 added Richard； slightly lifting his own hat and pushing back his hair。 〃By that action alone I should have known him； for he was always doing it in the old days。 And there was his white hand； adorned with his diamond ring！ Barbara； the diamond glittered in the moonlight！〃
Richard's voice and manner were singularly earnest； and a conviction of the truth of his assertion flashed over his sister。
〃I saw his face as plainly as I ever saw itevery featurehe is scarcely altered； save for a haggardness in his cheeks now。 Barbara； you need not doubt me； I swear it was Thorn！〃
She grew excited as he was； now that she believed the news； it was telling upon her； reason left its place and impulse succeeded； Barbara did not wait to weigh her actions。
〃Richard！ Mr。 Carlyle ought to know this。 He has but just gone； we may overtake him； if we try。〃
Forgetting the strange appearances it would haveher flying along the public road at that hour of the nightshould she meet any who knew herforgetting what the consequence might be； did Justice Hare return and find her absent； Barbara set off with a fleet foot； Richard more stealthily following herhis eyes cast in all directions。 Fortunately Barbara wore a bonnet and mantle； which she had put on to pace the garden with Mr。 Carlyle； fortunately； also； the road was remarkably empty of passengers。 She succeeded in reaching Mr。 Carlyle before he turned into East Lynne gates。
〃Barbara！〃 he exclaimed in the extreme of astonishment。 〃Barbara！〃
〃Archibald！ Archibald！ She panted； gasping for breath。 〃I am not out of my mindbut do come and speak to Richard！ He has just seen the real Thorn。〃
Mr。 Carlyle； amazed and wondering； turned back。 They got over the field stile； nearly opposite the gates； drew behind the hedge； and there Richard told his tale。 Mr。 Carlyle did not appear to doubt it； as Barbara had done； perhaps he could not； in the face of Richard's agitated and intense earnestness。
〃I am sure there is no one named Thorn in the neighborhood； save the gentleman you saw in my office to…night； Richard；〃 observed Mr。 Carlyle； after some deliberation。 〃It is very strange。〃
〃He may be staying here under a feigned name；〃 replied Richard。 〃There can be no mistake that it was Thorn whom I have just met。〃
〃How was he dressed？ As a gentleman？〃
〃Catch him dressing as anything else；〃 returned Richard。 〃He was in an evening suit of black； with a sort of thin overcoat thrown on； but it was flung back at the shoulders； and I distinctly saw his clothes。 A gray alpaca； it looked like。 As I have told Barbara； I should have known him by this action of the hand；〃 imitating it； 〃as he pushed his hair off his forehead； it was the delicate white hand of the days gone by； Mr。 Carlyle； it was the flashing of the diamond ring！〃
Mr。 Carlyle was silent； Barbara also； but the thoughts of both were busy。 〃Richard；〃 observed the former； 〃I should advise you to remain a day or two in the neighborhood； and look out for this man。 You may see him again； and may track him home； it is very desirable to find out who he really is if practicable。〃
〃But the danger？〃 urged Richard。
〃Your fears magnify that。 I am quite certain that nobody would know you in broad daylight； disguised as you are now。 So many years have flown since； that people have forgotten to think about you； Richard。〃
But Richard could not be persuaded； he was full of fears。 He described the man as accurately as he could to Mr。 Carlyle and Barbara； and told them /they/ must look out。 With some trouble； Mr。 Carlyle got from him an address in London； to which he might write； in case anything turned up； and Richard's presence should be necessary。 He then once more said farewell； and quitted them； his way lying past East Lynne。
〃And now to see you back； Barbara；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Indeed you shall not do itlate as it is； and tired as you must be。 I came here alone； Richard did not keep near me。〃
〃I cannot help your having come here alone； but you may rely upon it； I do not suffer you to go back so。 Nonsense； Barbara！ Allow you to go along the high road by yourself at eleven o'clock at night？ What are you thinking of？〃
He gave Barbara his arm； and they pursued their way。 〃How late Lady Isabel will think you！〃 observed Barbara。
〃I don't know that Lady Isabel has returned home yet。 My being late once in a while is of no consequence。〃
Not another word was spoken； save by Barbara。 〃Whatever excuse can I make； should papa come home？〃 Both were buried in their own reflections。 〃Thank you very greatly；〃 she said as they reached her gate； and Mr。 Carlyle finally turned away。 Barbara stole in； and found the coast clear； her papa had not arrived。
Lady Isabel was in her dressing…room when Mr。 Carlyle entered； she was seated at a tab