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s owning that name； they took it for granted she was dead。 They wrote him word that the child and nurse were killed on the spot； two ladies； occupying the same compartment of the carriage； had since died； one of whom was no doubt the mother and lady he inquired for。 She was dead and buried； sufficient money having been found upon her person to defray the few necessary expenses。
Thus； through no premeditated intention of Lady Isabel； news of her death went forth to Lord Mount Severn and to the world。 /Her/ first intimation that she was regarded as dead； was through a copy of that very day's /Times/ seen by Mr。 Carlyleseen by Lord Mount Severn。 An English traveller； who had been amongst the sufferers； and who received the English newspaper daily； sometimes lent them to her to read。 She was not travelling under her own name； she left that behind her when she left Grenoble； she had rendered her own too notorious to risk the chance recognition of travellers； and the authorities little thought that the quiet unobtrusive Madame Vine； slowly recovering at the inn； was the Dame Isabella Vane； respecting whom the grand English comte wrote。
Lady Isabel understood it at once； that the dispatching of her letter had been the foundation of the misapprehension； and she began to ask herself now； why she should undeceive Lord Mount Severn and the world。 She longed； none knew with what intense longings； to be unknown； obscure； totally unrecognized by all； none can know it； till they have put a barrier between themselves and the world； as she had done。 The child was gonehappy being！ She thought she could never be sufficiently thankful that it was released from the uncertain future therefore she had not his support to think of。 She had only herself； and surely she could with ease earn enough for that； or she could starve； it mattered little which。 No； there was no necessity for her continuing to accept the bounty of Lord Mount Severn； and she would let him and everybody else continue to believe that she was dead； and be henceforth only Madame Vine。 A resolution she adhered to。
Thus the unhappy Isabel's career was looked upon as run。 Lord Mount Severn forwarded her letter to Mr。 Carlyle； with the confirmation of her death； which he had obtained from the French authorities。 It was a nine day's wonder： 〃That poor； erring Lady Isabel was dead〃people did not call her names in the very teeth of her fateand then it was over。
It was over。 Lady Isabel was as one forgotten。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR AT EAST LYNNE。
There went； sailing up the avenue to East Lynne； a lady； one windy afternoon。 If not a lady； she was attired as one； a flounced dress； and a stylish looking shawl； and a white veil。 A very pretty woman； tall and slender was she； and she minced as she walked； and coquetted with her head； and； altogether contrived to show that she had quite as much vanity as brains。 She went boldly up to the broad entrance of the house； and boldly rang at it； drawing her white veil over her face as she did so。
One of the men…servants answered it； not Peter； and； seeing somebody very smart before him； bowed deferentially。
〃Miss Hallijohn is residing here； I believe。 Is she within？〃
〃Who； ma'am？〃
〃Miss Hallijohn； Miss Joyce Hallijohn；〃 somewhat sharply repeated the lady； as if impatient of any delay。 〃I wish to see her。〃
The man was rather taken aback。 He had deemed it a visitor to the house； and was prepared to usher her to the drawing…room； at least； but it seemed it was only a visitor to Joyce。 He showed her into a small parlor； and went upstairs to the nursery； where Joyce was sitting with Wilsonfor there had been no change in the domestic department of East Lynne。 Joyce remained as upper maid； partially superintending the servants； attending upon Lucy； and making Miss Carlyle's dresses as usual。 Wilson was nurse still。
〃Miss Joyce； there's a lady asking for you；〃 said the man。 〃I have shown her into the gray parlor。〃
〃A lady for me？〃 repeated Joyce。 〃Who is it？ Some one to see the children； perhaps。〃
〃It's for yourself； I think。 She asked for Miss Hallijohn。〃
Joyce looked at the man； but she put down her work and proceeded to the gray parlor。 A pretty woman； vain and dashing； threw up her white veil at her entrance。
〃Well； Joyce； how are you？〃
Joyce； always pale； turned paler still； as she gazed in blank consternation。 Was it really /Afy/ who stood before herAfy； the erring？
Afy it was。 And she stood there； holding out her hand to Joyce； with what Wilson would have called； all the brass in the world。 Joyce could not reconcile her mind to link her own with it。
〃Excuse me； Afy； but I cannot take your hand； I cannot welcome you here。 What could have induced you to come？〃
〃If you are going to be upon the high ropes； it seems I might as well have stayed away；〃 was Afy's reply； given in the pert； but good… humored manner she had ever used to Joyce。 〃My hand won't damage yours。 I am not poison。〃
〃You are looked upon in the neighborhood as worse than poison； Afy；〃 returned Joyce； in a tone； not of anger but of sorrow。 〃Where's Richard Hare？〃
Afy tossed her head。 〃Where's who？〃 asked she。
〃Richard Hare。 My question was plain enough。〃
〃How should I know where he is？ It's like your impudence to mention him to me。 Why don't you ask me where Old Nick is； and how he does？ I'd rather own acquaintance with him than with Richard Hare； if I'd my choice between the two。〃
〃Then you have left Richard Hare？ How long since？〃
〃I have leftwhat do you say？〃 broke off Afy； whose lips were quivering ominously with suppressed passion。 〃Perhaps you'll condescend to explain。 I don't understand。〃
〃When you left here； did you not go after Richard Haredid you not join him？〃
〃I'll tell you what it is； Joyce；〃 flashed Afy； her face indignant and her voice passionate； 〃I have put up with some things from you in my time； but human nature has its limits of endurance； and I won't bear /that/。 I have never set eyes on Richard Hare since that night of horror； I wish I could； I'd help to hang him。〃
Joyce paused。 The belief that Afy was with him had been long and deeply imbued within her； it was the long…continued and firm conviction of all West Lynne； and a settled belief； such as that； is not easily shaken。 Was Afy telling the truth？ She knew her propensity for making false assertions； when they served to excuse herself。
〃Afy；〃 she said at length； 〃let me understand you。 When you left this place； was it not to share Richard Hare's flight？ Have you not been living with him？〃
〃No！〃 burst forth Afy； with kindling eyes。 〃Living with /him/with our father's murderer！ Shame upon you； Joyce Hallijohn！ You must be precious wicked yourself to suppose it。〃
〃If I have judged you wrongly； Afy； I sincerely beg your pardon。 Not only myself； but the whole of West Lynne； believed you were with him； and the thought has caused me pain night and day。〃
〃What a cannibal minded set you all must be； then！〃 was Afy's indignant rejoinder。
〃What have you been doing ever since； then？ Where have you been？〃
〃Never mind； I say；〃 repeated Afy。 〃West Lynne has not been so complimentary to me； it appears； that I need pu