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'uthor& Mrs. Henry Wood

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Produced by )agny< 8ohn Bickers< )a"id Widger

E'3T L#::E

by Mrs. Henry Wood

P(EP'(E(=3 :6TE

This te>t was $re$ared fro! an ?@@0 edition,

:ew #ork& 8ohn B. 'den, Pubisher.

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THE L')# 43'BEL.

4n an easy%chair of the s$acious and handso!e ibrary of his town%house, sat

Wiia!, Ear of Mount 3e"ern. His hair was gray, the s!oothness of his

e>$ansi"e brow was defaced by $re!ature wrinkes, and his once attracti"e

face bore the $ae, un!istakabe ook of dissi$ation. 6ne of his feet was

cased in fods of inen, as it rested on the soft "e"et otto!an, s$eaking of

gout as $ainy as any foot e"er s$oke yet. 4t woud see!Cto ook at the !an

as he sat thereCthat he had grown od before his ti!e. 'nd so he had. His

years were barey nine and forty, yet in a sa"e years, he was an aged !an.

' noted character had been the Ear of Mount 3e"ern. :ot that he had been a

renowned $oitician, or a great genera, or an e!inent states!an, or e"en an

acti"e !e!ber in the 9$$er House< not for any of these had the ear=s na!e

been in the !ouths of !en. But for the !ost reckess a!ong the reckess, for

the s$endthrift a!ong s$endthrifts, for the ga!ester abo"e a ga!esters,

and for a gay !an outstri$$ing the gayCby these characteristics did the

word know Lord Mount 3e"ern. 4t was said his fauts were those of his headertions !ust de$end

his own rising in the word. He was of e>ceent fa!iy, but $oor, counting a

reati"e in the od Ear of Mount 3e"ern. The $ossibiity of his succeeding to

the eardo! ne"er occurred to hi!, for three heathy i"es, two of the!

young, stood between hi! and the tite. #et those ha"e died off, one of

a$o$e>y, one of fe"er, in 'frica, the third boating at 6>ford< and the youngTe!$e student, Wiia! Aane, suddeny found hi!sef Ear of Mount 3e"ern,

and the awfu $ossessor of si>ty thousand a year.

His first idea was, that he shoud ne"er be abe to s$end the !oney< that

such a su!, year by year, coud not be s$ent. 4t was a wonder his head was


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not turned by aduation at the onset, for he was courted, fattered and

caressed by a casses, fro! a roya duke downward. He beca!e the !ost

attracti"e !an of his day, the ion in society< for inde$endent of his newy%

acDuired weath and tite, he was of distinguished a$$earance and fascinating

!anners. But unfortunatey, the $rudence which had sustained Wiia! Aane,

the $oor aw student, in his soitary Te!$e cha!bers entirey forsook Wiia!Aane, the young Ear of Mount 3e"ern, and he co!!enced his career on a

scae of s$eed so great, that a staid $eo$e said he was going to ruin and

the deuce headong.

But a $eer of the rea!, and one whose rent%ro is si>ty thousand $er annu!,

does not go to ruin in a day. There sat the ear, in his ibrary now, in his nine%

and%fortieth year, and ruin had not co!e yetCthat is, it had not o"erwhe!ed

hi!. But the e!barrass!ents which had cung to hi!, and been the

destruction of his tranDuiity, the bane of his e>istence, who sha describethe! The $ubic knew the! $retty we, his $ri"ate friends knew better, his

creditors best< but none, sa"e hi!sef knew, or coud e"er know, the worrying

tor!ent that was his $ortion, wenigh dri"ing hi! to distraction. #ears ago,

by dint of ooking things steadiy in the face, and by econo!iFing, he !ight

ha"e retrie"ed his $osition< but he had done what !ost $eo$e do in such

casesC$ut off the e"i day sine die, and gone on increasing his enor!ous ist

of debts. The hour of e>$osure and ruin was now ad"ancing fast.

Perha$s the ear hi!sef was thinking so, as he sat there before an enor!ous!ass of $a$ers which strewed the ibrary tabe. His thoughts were back in the

$ast. That was a fooish !atch of his, that Gretna Green !atch for o"e,

fooish so far as $rudence went< but the countess had been an affectionate

wife to hi!, had borne with his foies and his negect, had been an ad!irabe

!other to their ony chid. 6ne chid aone had been theirs, and in her

thirteenth year the countess had died. 4f they had but been bessed with a

sonCthe ear !oaned o"er the ong%continued disa$$oint!ent stiChe !ight

ha"e seen a way out of his difficuties. The boy, as soon as he was of age,

woud ha"e joined with hi! in cutting off the entai, andCC

My ord, said a ser"ant entering the roo! and interru$ting the ear=s castes

in the air, a gente!an is asking to see you.

Who cried the ear, shar$y, not $ercei"ing the card the !an was bringing.


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:o unknown $erson, athough wearing the e>ternas of a foreign a!bassador,

was e"er ad!itted uncere!oniousy to the $resence of Lord Mount 3e"ern.

#ears of duns had taught the ser"ants caution.

His card is here, !y ord. 4t is Mr. 2arye, of West Lynne.

Mr. 2arye, of West Lynne, groaned the ear, whose foot just then had an

awfu twinge, what does he want 3how hi! u$.

The ser"ant did as he was bid, and introduced Mr. 2arye. Look at the "isitor

we, reader, for he wi $ay his $art in this history. He was a "ery ta !an of

se"en and twenty, of re!arkaby nobe $resence. He was so!ewhat gi"en tostoo$ing his head when he s$oke to any one shorter than hi!sef< it was a

$ecuiar habit, a!ost to be caed a bowing habit, and his father had

$ossessed it before hi!. When tod of it he woud augh, and say he was

unconscious of doing it. His features were good, his co!$e>ion was $ae and

cear, his hair dark, and his fu eyeids droo$ed o"er his dee$ gray eyes.

'together it was a countenance that both !en and wo!en iked to ook u$on

Cthe inde> of an honorabe, sincere natureCnot that it woud ha"e been

caed a handso!e face, so !uch as a $easing and a distinguished one.

Though but the son of a country awyer, and destined to be a awyer hi!sef,

he had recei"ed the training of a gente!an, had been educated at (ugby,

and taken his degree at 6>ford. He ad"anced at once to the ear, in the

straightforward way of a !an of businessCof a !an who has co!e on

business.

Mr. 2arye, said the atter, hoding out his handChe was aways dee!ed

the !ost affabe $eer of the ageC4 a! ha$$y to see you. #ou $ercei"e 4

cannot rise, at east without great $ain and incon"enience. My ene!y, the

gout, has $ossession of !e again. Take a seat. 're you staying in town

4 ha"e just arri"ed fro! West Lynne. The chief object of !y journey was to

see your ordshi$.

What can 4 do for you asked the ear, uneasiy< for a sus$icion had crossed


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his !ind that Mr. 2arye !ight be acting for so!e one of his !any

troubeso!e creditors.

Mr. 2arye drew his chair nearer to the ear, and s$oke in a ow tone,C

' ru!or ca!e to !y ears, !y ord, that East Lynne was in the !arket.

' !o!ent, sir, e>cai!ed the ear, with reser"e, not to say hauteur in his

tone, for his sus$icions were gaining ground< are we to con"erse

confidentiay together, as !en of honor, or is there so!ething conceaed

behind

4 do not understand you, said Mr. 2arye.

4n a wordCe>cuse !y s$eaking $ainy, but 4 !ust fee !y groundCare you

here on the $art of so!e of !y rascay creditors, to $u!$ infor!ation out of

!e, that otherwise they woud not get

My ord, uttered the "isitor, 4 shoud be inca$abe of so dishonorabe an

action. 4 know that a awyer gets credit for $ossessing but a> notions on the

score of honor, but you can scarcey sus$ect that 4 shoud be guity of

underhand work toward you. 4 ne"er was guity of a !ean trick in !y ife, to

!y recoection, and 4 do not think 4 e"er sha be.

Pardon !e, Mr. 2arye. 4f you knew haf the tricks and ruses $ayed u$on

!e, you woud not wonder at !y sus$ecting a the word. Proceed with your

business.

4 heard that East Lynne was for $ri"ate sae< your agent dro$$ed haf a word

to !e in confidence. 4f so, 4 shoud wish to be the $urchaser.


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7or who! inDuired the ear.

Mysef.

#ou aughed the ear. Egad Lawyering can=t be such bad work, 2arye.

:or is it, rejoined Mr. 2arye, with an e>tensi"e, first%cass connection,

such as ours. But you !ust re!e!ber that a good fortune was eft !e by !y

unce, and a arge one by !y father.

4 know. The $roceeds of awyering aso.

:ot atogether. My !other brought a fortune on her !arriage, and it enabed

!y father to s$ecuate successfuy. 4 ha"e been ooking out for an eigibe

$ro$erty to in"est !y !oney u$on, and East Lynne wi suit !e we, $ro"ided

4 can ha"e the refusa of it, and we can agree about the ter!s.

Lord Mount 3e"ern !used for a few !o!ents before he s$oke. Mr. 2arye,he began, !y affairs are "ery bad, and ready !oney 4 !ust find so!ewhere.

:ow East Lynne is not entaied, neither is it !ortgaged to anything ike its

"aue, though the atter fact, as you !ay i!agine, is not $atent to the word.

When 4 bought it at a bargain, eighteen years ago, you were the awyer on

the other side, 4 re!e!ber.

My father, s!ied Mr. 2arye. 4 was a chid at the ti!e.

6f course, 4 ought to ha"e said your father. By seing East Lynne, a few

thousands wi co!e into !y hands, after cai!s on it are setted< 4 ha"e no

other !eans of raising the wind, and that is why 4 ha"e reso"ed to $art with

it. But now, understand, if it were known abroad that East Lynne is going fro!

!e, 4 shoud ha"e a hornet=s nest about !y ears< so that it !ust be dis$osed

of $ri"atey. )o you co!$rehend


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4t did. He had disease of the heart, and the e>cite!ent brought on the crisis.

My $oor wife ne"er was ha$$y fro! that hour< she ba!ed hersef for her

father=s death, and 4 beie"e it ed to her own. 3he was i for years< the

doctors caed it consu!$tion< but it was !ore ike a wasting insensiby away,

and consu!$tion ne"er had been in her fa!iy. :o uck e"er attends runaway

!arriages< 4 ha"e noticed it since, in !any, !any instances< so!ething bad issure to turn u$ fro! it.

There !ight ha"e been a sette!ent e>ecuted after the !arriage, obser"ed

Mr. 2arye, for the ear had sto$$ed, and see!ed ost in thought.

4 know there !ight< but there was not. My wife had $ossessed no fortune< 4

was aready dee$ in !y career of e>tra"agance, and neither of us thought of

!aking $ro"ision for our future chidren< or, if we thought of it, we did not do

it. There is an od saying, Mr. 2arye, that what !ay be done at any ti!e is

ne"er done.

Mr. 2arye bowed.

3o !y chid is $ortioness, resu!ed the ear, with a su$$ressed sigh. The

thought that it !ay be an e!barrassing thing for her, were 4 to die before sheis setted in ife, crosses !y !ind when 4 a! in a serious !ood. That she wi

!arry we, there is itte doubt, for she $ossesses beauty in a rare degree,

and has been reared as an Engish gir shoud be, not to fri"oity and fo$$ery.

3he was trained by her !other, who sa"e for the !ad act she was $ersuaded

into by !e, was a goodness and refine!ent, for the first twe"e years of her

ife, and since then by an ad!irabe go"erness. :o fear that she wi be

deca!$ing to Gretna Green.

3he was a "ery o"ey chid, obser"ed the awyer< 4 re!e!ber that.

'y< you ha"e seen her at East Lynne, in her !other=s ifeti!e. But, to return

to business. 4f you beco!e the $urchaser of the East Lynne estate, Mr.

2arye, it !ust be under the rose. The !oney that it brings, after $aying off

the !ortgage, 4 !ust ha"e, as 4 te you, for !y $ri"ate use< and you know 4


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shoud not be abe to touch a farthing of it if the confounded $ubic got an

inking of the transfer. 4n the eyes of the word, the $ro$rietor of East Lynne

!ust be Lord Mount 3e"ernCat east for so!e itte ti!e afterwards. Perha$s

you wi not object to that.

Mr. 2arye considered before re$ying< and then the con"ersation was

resu!ed, when it was decided that he shoud see Warburton and Ware the

first thing in the !orning, and confer with the!. 4t was growing ate when he

rose to ea"e.

3tay and dine with !e, said the ear.

Mr. 2arye hesitated, and ooked down at his dressCa $ain, gente!any,

!orning attire, but certainy not a dinner costu!e for a $eer=s tabe.

6h, that=s nothing, said the ear< we sha be Duite aone, e>ce$t !y

daughter. Mrs. Aane, of 2aste Maring, is staying with us. 3he ca!e u$ to

$resent !y chid at the ast drawing%roo!, but 4 think 4 heard so!ething

about her dining out to%day. 4f not, we wi ha"e it by ourse"es here. 6bige

!e by touching the be, Mr. 2arye.

The ser"ant entered.

4nDuire whether Mrs. Aane dines at ho!e, said the ear.

Mrs. Aane dines out, !y ord, was the !an=s i!!ediate re$y. The carriage

is at the door now.

Aery we. Mr. 2arye re!ains.

't se"en o=cock the dinner was announced, and the ear wheeed into the


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adjoining roo!. 's he and Mr. 2arye entered it at one door, so!e one ese

ca!e in by the o$$osite one. WhoCwhatCwas it Mr. 2arye ooked, not

Duite sure whether it was a hu!an beingChe a!ost thought it !ore ike an

ange.

' ight, gracefu, girish for!< a face of sur$assing beauty, beauty that is

rarey seen, sa"e fro! the i!agination of a $ainter< dark shining curs faing

on her neck and shouders, s!ooth as a chid=s< fair, deicate ar!s decorated

with $ears, and a fowing dress of costy white ace. 'together the "ision did

indeed ook to the awyer as one fro! a fairer word than this.

My daughter, Mr. 2arye, the Lady 4sabe.

They took their seats at the tabe, Lord Mount 3e"ern at its head, in s$ite of

his gout and his footstoo. 'nd the young ady and Mr. 2arye o$$osite each

other. Mr. 2arye had not dee!ed hi!sef a $articuar ad!irer of wo!en=s

beauty, but the e>traordinary o"einess of the young gir before hi! neary

took away his senses and his sef%$ossession. #et it was not so !uch the

$erfect contour or the e>Duisite features that struck hi!, or the rich da!ask

of the deicate cheek, or the u>uriant faing hair< no, it was the sweet

e>$ression of the soft dark eyes. :e"er in his ife had he seen eyes so

$easing. He coud not kee$ his gaFe fro! her, and he beca!e conscious, as

he grew !ore fa!iiar with her face, that there was in its character a sad,

sorrowfu ook< ony at ti!es was it to be noticed, when the features were at

re$ose, and it ay chiefy in the "ery eyes he was ad!iring. :e"er does this

unconsciousy !ournfu e>$ression e>ist, but it is a sure inde> of sorrow and

suffering< but Mr. 2arye understood it not. 'nd who coud connect sorrow

with the antici$ated briiant future of 4sabe Aane

4sabe, obser"ed the ear, you are dressed.

#es, $a$a. :ot to kee$ od Mrs. Le"ison waiting tea. 3he ikes to take it eary,

and 4 know Mrs. Aane !ust ha"e ke$t her waiting dinner. 4t was haf%$ast si>

when she dro"e fro! here.


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4 ho$e you wi not be ate to%night, 4sabe.

4t de$ends u$on Mrs. Aane.

Then 4 a! sure you wi be. When the young adies in this fashionabe word

of ours turn night into day, it is a bad thing for their roses. What say you, Mr.

2arye

Mr. 2arye ganced at the roses on the cheeks o$$osite to hi!< they ooked

too fresh and bright to fade ighty.

't the concusion of dinner a !aid entered the roo! with a white cash!ere

!ante, $acing it o"er the shouders of her young ady, as she said the

carriage was waiting.

Lady 4sabe ad"anced to the ear. Good%bye, $a$a.

Good%night, !y o"e, he answered, drawing her toward hi!, and kissing hersweet face. Te Mrs. Aane 4 wi not ha"e you ke$t out ti !orning hours. #ou

are but a chid yet. Mr. 2arye, wi you ring 4 a! debarred fro! seeing !y

daughter to the carriage.

4f your ordshi$ wi aow !eCif Lady 4sabe wi $ardon the attendance of

one itte used to wait u$on young adies, 4 sha be $roud to see her to her

carriage, was the so!ewhat confused answer of Mr. 2arye as he touched

the be.

The ear thanked hi!, and the young ady s!ied, and Mr. 2arye conducted

her down the broad, ighted staircase and stood bareheaded by the door of

the u>urious chariot, and handed her in. 3he $ut out her hand in her frank,

$easant !anner, as she wished hi! good night. The carriage roed on its

way, and Mr. 2arye returned to the ear.


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We, is she not a handso!e gir he de!anded.

Handso!e is not the word for beauty such as hers, was Mr. 2arye=s re$y,in a ow, war! tone. 4 ne"er saw a face haf so beautifu.

3he caused Duite a sensation at the drawing%roo! ast weekCas 4 hear. This

e"erasting gout ke$t !e indoors a day. 'nd she is as good as she is

beautifu.

The ear was not $artia. Lady 4sabe was wondrousy gifted by nature, notony in !ind and $erson but in heart. 3he was as itte ike a fashionabe

young ady as it was we $ossibe to be, $arty because she had hitherto

been secuded fro! the great word, $arty fro! the care bestowed u$on her

training. )uring the ifeti!e of her !other, she had i"ed occasionay at East

Lynne, but !osty at a arger seat of the ear=s in Waes, Mount 3e"ern< since

her !other=s death, she had re!ained entirey at Mount 3e"ern, under the

charge of a judicious go"erness, a "ery s!a estabish!ent being ke$t for

the!, and the ear $aying the! i!$ro!$tu and fying "isits. Generous and

bene"oent she was, ti!id and sensiti"e to a degree, gente, and considerate

to a. )o not ca"i at her being thus $raisedCad!ire and o"e her whist you

!ay, she is worthy of it now, in her innocent girhood< the ti!e wi co!e

when such $raise woud be !is$aced. 2oud the fate that was to o"ertake his

chid ha"e been foreseen by the ear, he woud ha"e struck her down to

death, in his o"e, as she stood before hi!, rather than suffer her to enter

u$on it.

2H'PTE( 44.

THE B(6;E: 2(633.


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Lady 4sabe=s carriage continued its way, and de$osited her at the residence

of Mrs. Le"ison. Mrs. Le"ison was neary eighty years of age, and "ery se"ere

in s$eech and !anner, or, as Mrs. Aane e>$ressed it, crabbed. 3he ooked

the i!age of i!$atience when 4sabe entered, with her ca$ $ushed a awry,

and $uing at the back satin gown, for Mrs. Aane had ke$t her waiting

dinner, and 4sabe was kee$ing her fro! her tea< and that does not agree withthe aged, with their heath or with their te!$er.

4 fear 4 a! ate, e>cai!ed Lady 4sabe, as she ad"anced to Mrs. Le"isoncai!ed Mrs. Aane, in an accent of

astonish!ent, as the ser"ant a$$eared with the tray and the si"er urn. #ou

surey do not ha"e it !ade in the roo!.

Where shoud 4 ha"e it !ade inDuired Mrs. Le"ison.

4t is !uch !ore con"enient to ha"e it brought in, ready !ade, said Mrs.

Aane. 4 disike the e!barass of !aking it.


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4ndeed was the re$y of the od ady< and get it so$$ed o"er in the

saucers, and as cod as !ik #ou aways were aFy, E!!aCand gi"en to use

those 7rench words. 4=d rather stick a $rinted abe on !y forehead, for !y

$art, =4 s$eak 7rench,= and et the word know it in that way.

Who !akes tea for you in genera asked Mrs. Aane, teegra$hing a

conte!$tuous gance to 4sabe behind her grand!other.

But the eyes of Lady 4sabe fe ti!idy and a bush rose to her cheeks. 3he

did not ike to a$$ear to differ fro! Mrs. Aane, her senior, and her father=s

guest, but her !ind re"oted at the bare idea of ingratitude or ridicue cast on

an aged $arent.

Harriet co!es in and !akes it for !e, re$ied Mrs. Le"ison< aye, and sits

down and takes it with !e when 4 a! aone, which is $retty often. What do

you say to that, Mada!e E!!aCyou, with your fine notions

8ust as you $ease, of course, grand!a!!a.

'nd there=s the tea%caddy at your ebow, and the urn=s fiFFing away, and if

we are to ha"e any tea to%night, it had better be !ade.

4 don=t know how !uch to $ut in, gru!bed Mrs. Aane, who had the greatest

horror of soiing her hands or her go"es< who, in short, had a $articuar

anti$athy to doing anything usefu.

3ha 4 !ake it, dear Mrs. Le"ison said 4sabe, rising with aacrity. 4 had

used to !ake it Duite as often as !y go"erness at Mount 3e"ern, and 4 !ake

it for $a$a.


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)o, chid, re$ied the od ady. #ou are worth ten of her.

4sabe aughed !erriy, drew off her go"es, and sat down to the tabe< and at

that !o!ent a young and eegant !an ounged into the roo!. He was

dee!ed handso!e, with his ceary%cut features, his dark eyes, his ra"en

hair, and his white teeth< but to a keen obser"er those features had not an

attracti"e e>$ression, and the dark eyes had a great knack of ooking away

whie he s$oke to you. 4t was 7rancis, 2a$tain Le"ison.

He was grandson to the od ady, and first cousin to Mrs. Aane. 7ew !en were

so fascinating in !anners, at ti!es and seasons, in face and in for!, few !en

won so co!$etey u$on their hearers= ears, and few were so heartess in

their hearts of hearts. The word courted hi!, and society honored hi!< for,

though he was a graceess s$endthrift, and it was known that he was, he was

the $resu!$ti"e heir to the od and rich 3ir Peter Le"ison.

The ancient ady s$oke u$, 2a$tain Le"ison, Lady 4sabe Aane. They both

acknowedged the introduction< and 4sabe, a chid yet in the ways of the

word, fushed cri!son at the ad!iring ooks cast u$on her by the young

guards!an. 3trangeCstrange that she shoud !ake the acDuaintance of

these two !en in the sa!e day, a!ost in the sa!e hour< the two, of a the

hu!an race, who were to e>ercise so $owerfu an infuence o"er her future

ife

That=s a $retty cross, chid, cried Mrs. Le"ison as 4sabe stood by her when

tea was o"er, and she and Mrs. Aane were about to de$art on their e"ening

"isit.

3he auded to a goden cross, set with se"en e!erads, which 4sabe wore on

her neck. 4t was of ight, deicate te>ture, and was sus$ended fro! a thin,short, god chain.

4s it not $retty answered 4sabe. 4t was gi"en !e by !y dear !a!!a just

before she died. 3tay, 4 wi take it off for you. 4 ony wear it u$on great

occasions.


21/769

This, her first a$$earance at the grand duke=s, see!ed a "ery great occasion

to the si!$y%reared and ine>$erienced gir. 3he uncas$ed the chain, and

$aced it with the cross in the hands of Mrs. Le"ison.

Why, 4 decare you ha"e nothing on but that cross and so!e rubbishing $ear

braceets uttered Mrs. Aane to 4sabe. 4 did not ook at you before.

Ma!!a ga"e !e both. The braceets are those she used freDuenty to

wear.

#ou od%fashioned chid Because your !a!!a wore those braceets, years

ago, is that a reason for your doing so retorted Mrs. Aane. Why did you not

$ut on your dia!onds

4CdidC$ut on !y dia!onds< but 4Ctook the! off again, sta!!ered 4sabe.

What on earth for

4 did not ike to ook too fine, answered 4sabe, with a augh and a bush.

They gittered so 4 feared it !ight be thought 4 had $ut the! on to ook

fine.

'h 4 see you !ean to set u$ in that cass of $eo$e who $retend to des$ise

orna!ents, scornfuy re!arked Mrs. Aane. 4t is the refine!ent of

affectation, Lady 4sabe.

The sneer fe har!essy on Lady 4sabe=s ear. 3he ony beie"ed so!ething

had $ut Mrs. Aane out of te!$er. 4t certainy had< and that so!ething, though

4sabe itte sus$ected it, was the e"ident ad!iration 2a$tain Le"ison e"inced

for her fresh, young beauty< it Duite absorbed hi!, and rendered hi!


22/769

negectfu e"en of Mrs. Aane.

Here, chid, take your cross, said the od ady. 4t is "ery $retty< $rettier on

your neck than dia!onds woud be. #ou don=t want e!beishing< ne"er !ind

what E!!a says.

7rancis Le"ison took the cross and chain fro! her hand to $ass the! to Lady

4sabe. Whether he was awkward, or whether her hands were fu, for she hed

her go"es, her handkerchief, and had just taken u$ her !ante, certain it is

that it fe< and the gente!an, in his too Duick effort to regain it, !anaged to

set his foot u$on it, and the cross was broken in two.

There :ow whose faut was that cried Mrs. Le"ison.

4sabe did not answer< her heart was "ery fu. 3he took the broken cross, and

the tears dro$$ed fro! her eyes< she coud not he$ it.

Why #ou are ne"er crying o"er a stu$id baube of a cross uttered Mrs.

Aane, interru$ting 2a$tain Le"ison=s e>$ression of regret at his awkwardness.

#ou can ha"e it !ended, dear, inter$osed Mrs. Le"ison.

Lady 4sabe chased away the tears, and turned to 2a$tain Le"ison with a

cheerfu ook. Pray do not ba!e yoursef, she good%naturedy said< the

faut was as !uch !ine as yours< and, as Mrs. Le"ison says, 4 can get it

!ended.

3he disengaged the u$$er $art of the cross fro! the chain as she s$oke, and

cas$ed the atter round her throat.

#ou wi not go with that thin string of god on, and nothing ese uttered


23/769

Mrs. Aane.

Why not returned 4sabe. 4f $eo$e say anything, 4 can te the! an

accident ha$$ened to the cross.

Mrs. Aane burst into a augh of !ocking ridicue. =4f $eo$e say anything=

she re$eated, in a tone according with the augh. They are not ikey to =say

anything,= but they wi dee! Lord Mount 3e"ern=s daughter unfortunatey

short of jeweery.

4sabe s!ied and shook her head. They saw !y dia!onds at the drawing%

roo!.

4f you had done such an awkward thing for !e, 7rank Le"ison, burst forth

the od ady, !y doors shoud ha"e been cosed against you for a !onth.

There, if you are to go, E!!a, you had better go< dancing off to begin an

e"ening at ten o=cock at night 4n !y ti!e we used to go at se"en< but it=s

the custo! now to turn night into day.

When George the Third dined at one o=cock u$on boied !utton and

turni$s, $ut in the graceess ca$tain, who certainy hed his grand!other in

no greater re"erence than did Mrs. Aane.

He turned to 4sabe as he s$oke, to hand her downstairs. Thus she was

conducted to her carriage the second ti!e that night by a stranger. Mrs. Aane

got down by hersef, as she best coud, and her te!$er was not i!$ro"ed by

the $rocess.

Good%night, said she to the ca$tain.

4 sha not say good%night. #ou wi find !e there a!ost as soon as you.


24/769

#ou tod !e you were not co!ing. 3o!e bacheor=s $arty in the way.

#es, but 4 ha"e changed !y !ind. 7arewe for the $resent, Lady 4sabe.

What an object you wi ook, with nothing on your neck but a schoogir=s

chain began Mrs. Aane, returning to the grie"ance as the carriage dro"e on.

6h, Mrs. Aane, what does it signify 4 can ony think of !y broken cross. 4 a!

sure it !ust be an e"i o!en.

'n e"iCwhat

'n e"i o!en. Ma!!a ga"e !e that cross when she was dying. 3he tod !e

to et it be to !e as a tais!an, aways to kee$ it safey< and when 4 was in

any distress, or in need of counse, to ook at it and stri"e to reca what her

ad"ice woud be, and to act accordingy. 'nd now it is brokenCbroken

' garing gasight fashed into the carriage, right into the face of 4sabe. 4

decare, uttered Mrs. Aane, you are crying again 4 te you what it is, 4sabe,

4 a! not going to cha$erone red eyes to the )uchess of )artford=s, so if you

can=t $ut a sto$ to this, 4 sha order the carriage ho!e, and go on aone.

4sabe !eeky dried her eyes, sighing dee$y as she did so. 4 can ha"e the

$ieces joined, 4 dare say< but it wi ne"er be the sa!e cross to !e again.

What ha"e you done with the $ieces irasciby asked Mrs. Aane.

4 foded the! in the thin $a$er Mrs. Le"ison ga"e !e, and $ut it inside !y

frock. Here it is, touching the body. 4 ha"e no $ocket on.


25/769

Mrs. Aane ga"e "ent to a groan. 3he ne"er had been a gir hersefCshe had

been a wo!an at ten< and she co!$i!ented 4sabe u$on being itte better

than an i!becie. Put it inside !y frock she uttered in a torrent of scorn.

'nd you eighteen years of age 4 fancied you eft off =frocks= when you eftthe nursery. 7or sha!e, 4sabe

4 !eant to say !y dress, corrected 4sabe.

Meant to say you are a baby idiot was the inward co!!ent of Mrs. Aane.

' few !inutes and 4sabe forgot her grie"ance. The briiant roo!s were to

her as an enchanting scene of drea!and, for her heart was in its s$ringtide

of eary freshness, and the satiety of e>$erience had not co!e. How coud

she re!e!ber troube, e"en the broken cross, as she bent to the ho!age

offered her and drank in the honeyed words $oured forth into her ear

Haoo cried an 6>ford student, with a ong rent%ro in $ros$ecti"e, who

was screwing hi!sef against the wa, not to be in the way of the watFers, 4

thought you had gi"en u$ co!ing to these $aces

3o 4 had, re$ied the fast nobe!an addressed, the son of a !arDuis. But 4

a! on the ookout, so a! forced into the! again. 4 think a ba%roo! the

greatest bore in ife.

6n the ookout for what

7or a wife. My go"ernor has sto$$ed su$$ies, and has "owed by his beard

not to ad"ance another shiing, or $ay a debt, ti 4 refor!. 's a $rei!inary

ste$ toward it, he insists u$on a wife, and 4 a! trying to choose one for 4 a!

dee$er in debt than you i!agine.


26/769

Take the new beauty, then.

Who is she

Lady 4sabe Aane.

Much obiged for the suggestion, re$ied the ear. But one ikes a

res$ectabe father%in%aw, and Mount 3e"ern is going to s!ash. He and 4 are

too !uch in the sa!e ine, and !ight cash, in the ong run.

6ne can=t ha"e e"erything< the gir=s beauty is beyond co!!on. 4 saw that

rake, Le"ison, !ake u$ to her. He fancies he can carry a before hi!, where

wo!en are concerned.

3o he does, often, was his Duiet re$y.

4 hate the feow He thinks so !uch of hi!sef, with his cured hair and

shining teeth, and his white skin< and he=s as heartess as an ow. What wasthat hushed%u$ business about Miss 2harteris

Who=s to know Le"ison si$$ed out of the esca$ade ike an ee, and the

wo!an $rotested that he was !ore sinned against than sinning. Three%

fourths of the word beie"ed the!.

'nd she went abroad and died< and Le"ison here he co!es 'nd Mount

3e"ern=s daughter with hi!.

They were a$$roaching at that !o!ent, 7rancis Le"ison and Lady 4sabe. He

was e>$ressing his regret at the untoward accident of the cross for the tenth

ti!e that night. 4 fee that it can ne"er be atoned for, whis$ered he< that

the heartfet ho!age of !y whoe ife woud not be sufficient co!$ensation.


27/769

He s$oke in a tone of thriing genteness, gratifying to the ear but dangerous

to the heart. Lady 4sabe ganced u$ and caught his eyes gaFing u$on her

with the dee$est tendernessCa anguage hers had ne"er yet encountered. '

"i"id bush again arose to her cheek, her eyeids fe, and her ti!id wordsdied away in sience.

Take care, take care, !y young Lady 4sabe, !ur!ured the 6>onian under

his breath, as they $assed hi!, that !an is as fase as he is fair.

4 think he is a rasca, re!arked the ear.

4 know he is< 4 know a thing or two about hi!. He woud ruin her heart for the

renown of the e>$oit, because she=s a beauty, and then fing it away broken.

He has none to gi"e in return for the gift.

8ust as !uch as !y new race%horse has, concuded the ear. 3he is "ery

beautifu.

2H'PTE( 444.

B'(B'(' H'(E.

West Lynne was a town of so!e i!$ortance, $articuary in its own eyes,

though being neither a !anufacturing one nor a cathedra one, nor e"en the

chief town of the county, it was so!ewhat $ri!iti"e in its !anners and

custo!s. Passing out at the town, toward the east, you ca!e u$on se"era

detached gente!an=s houses, in the "icinity of which stood the church of 3t.

8ude, which was !ore aristocratic, in the !atter of its congregation, than the


28/769

other churches of West Lynne. 7or about a !ie these houses were scattered,

the church being situated at their co!!ence!ent, cose to that busy $art of

the $ace, and about a !ie further on you ca!e u$on the beautifu estate

which was caed East Lynne.

Between the gente!en=s houses !entioned and East Lynne, the !ie of road

was "ery soitary, being !uch o"ershadowed with trees. 6ne house aone

stood there, and that was about three%Duarters of a !ie before you ca!e to

East Lynne. 4t was on the eft hand side, a sDuare, ugy, red brick house with a

weathercock on the to$, standing so!e itte distance fro! the road. ' fat

awn e>tended before it, and cose to the $aings, which di"ided it fro! the

road, was a gro"e of trees, so!e yards in de$th. The awn was di"ided by a

narrow !idde gra"e $ath, to which you gained access fro! the $ortico of

the house. #ou entered u$on a arge fagged ha with a rece$tion roo! on

either hand, and the staircase, a wide one, facing you< by the side of thestaircase you $assed on to the ser"ants= a$art!ents and offices. That $ace

was caed the Gro"e, and was the $ro$erty and residence of (ichard Hare,

EsD., co!!ony caed Mr. 8ustice Hare.

The roo! to the eft hand, as you went in, was the genera sitting%roo!< the

other was "ery !uch ke$t bo>ed u$ in a"ender and brown Hoand, to be

o$ened on state occasions. 8ustice and Mrs. Hare had three chidren, a son

and two daughters. 'nnie was the eder of the girs, and had !arried youngion, and s!a aDuiine features. 3he

was istessy turning o"er the ea"es of a book.

Barbara, 4 a! sure it !ust be tea%ti!e now.

The ti!e see!s to !o"e sowy with you, !a!!a. 4t is scarcey a Duarter of

an hour since 4 tod you it was but ten !inutes $ast si>.


29/769

4 a! so thirsty announced the $oor in"aid. )o go and ook at the cock

again, Barbara.

Barbara Hare rose with a gesture of i!$atience, not su$$ressed, o$ened the

door, and ganced at the arge cock in the ha. 4t wants nine and twenty

!inutes to se"en, !a!!a. 4 wish you woud $ut your watch on of a day< four

ti!es you ha"e sent !e to ook at that cock since dinner.

4 a! so thirsty re$eated Mrs. Hare, with a sort of sob. 4f se"en o=cock

woud but strike 4 a! dying for !y tea.

4t !ay occur to the reader, that a ady in her own house, dying for her tea,

!ight surey order it brought in, athough the custo!ary hour had not struck.

:ot so Mrs. Hare. 3ince her husband had first brought her ho!e to that

house, four and twenty%years ago, she had ne"er dared to e>$ress a wi in it$ressed it, BarbaraC=suddeny.= ' !atter of business

suddeny arose, and 4 suddeny went u$on it.

2orneia said you were ony gone for a day.

)id she When in London 4 find so !any things to do 4s Mrs. Hare better

8ust the sa!e. 4 think !a!!a=s ai!ents are fancies, haf of the!< if she

woud rouse hersef she woud be better. What is in that $arce

#ou are not to inDuire, Miss Barbara. 4t does not concern you. 4t ony

concerns Mrs. Hare.

4s it so!ething you ha"e brought for !a!!a, 'rchibad

6f course. ' country!an=s "isit to London entais buying $resents for his

friends< at east, it used to be so, in the od%fashioned days.

When $eo$e !ade their wis before starting, and were a fortnight doing the

journey in a wagon, aughed Barbara. Grand$a$a used to te us taes of

that, when we were chidren. But is it reay so!ething for !a!!a

)on=t 4 te you so 4 ha"e brought so!ething for you.

6h What is it she uttered, her coor rising, and wondering whether he was


35/769

in jest or earnest.

There=s an i!$atient gir =What is it= Wait a !o!ent, and you sha see

what it is.

He $ut the $arce or ro he was carrying u$on a garden chair, and $roceeded

to search his $ockets. E"ery $ocket was "isited, a$$arenty in "ain.

Barbara, 4 think it is gone. 4 !ust ha"e ost it so!ehow.

Her heart beat as she stood there, sienty ooking u$ at hi! in the !oonight.

Was it ost What had it been

But, u$on a second search, he ca!e u$on so!ething in the $ocket of his

coat%tai. Here it is, 4 beie"e< what brought it there He o$ened a s!a bo>,

and taking out a ong, god chain, threw it around her neck. ' ocket was

attached to it.

Her cheeks= cri!son went and ca!e< her heart beat !ore ra$idy. 3he coud

not s$eak a word of thanks< and Mr. 2arye took u$ the ro, and waked on

into the $resence of Mrs. Hare.

Barbara foowed in a few !inutes. Her !other was standing u$, watching

with $eased e>$ectation the !o"e!ents of Mr. 2arye. :o candes were in

the roo!, but it was bright with fireight.

:ow, don=t augh at !e, Duoth he, untying the string of the $arce. 4t is not

a ro of "e"et for a dress, and it is not a ro of $arch!ent, conferring twenty

thousand $ounds a year. But it isCan air cushion

4t was what $oor Mrs. Hare, so worn with sitting and ying, had often onged


36/769

for. 3he had heard such a u>ury was to be bought in London, but ne"er

re!e!bered to ha"e seen one. 3he took it a!ost with a greedy hand,

casting a gratefu ook at Mr. 2arye.

How a! 4 to thank you for it she !ur!ured through her tears.

4f you thank !e at a, 4 wi ne"er bring you anything again, cried he, gaiy.

4 ha"e been teing Barbara that a "isit to London entais bringing gifts for

friends, he continued. )o you see how s!art 4 ha"e !ade her

Barbara hastiy took off the chain, and aid it before her !other.

What a beautifu chain !uttered Mrs. Hare, in sur$rise. 'rchibad, you are

too good, too generous This !ust ha"e cost a great dea< this is beyond a

trife.

:onsense aughed Mr. 2arye. 4= te you both how 4 ha$$ened to buy it. 4

went into a jeweer=s about !y watch, which has taken to ose atey in a

!ost uncere!onious fashion, and there 4 saw a whoe dis$ay of chains

hanging u$< so!e $onderous enough for a sheriff, so!e ight and eegant

enough for Barbara. 4 disike to see a thick chain on a ady=s neck. They $ut

!e in !ind of the chain she ost, the day she and 2orneia went with !e to

Lynchborough, which oss Barbara $ersisted in decaring was !y faut, for

dragging her through the town sight%seeing, whie 2orneia did her sho$$ing

Cfor it was then the chain was ost.

But 4 was ony joking when 4 said so, was the interru$tion of Barbara. 6f

course it woud ha"e ha$$ened had you not been with !e< the inks were

aways sna$$ing.

We, these chains in the sho$ in London $ut !e in !ind of Barbara=s

!isfortune, and 4 chose one. Then the sho$!an brought forth so!e ockets,

and enarged u$on their con"enience for hoding deceased reati"es= hair, not

to s$eak of sweethearts=, unti 4 tod hi! he !ight attach one. 4 thought it


37/769

!ight hod that $iece of hair you $riFe, Barbara, he concuded, dro$$ing his

"oice.

What $iece asked Mrs. Hare.

Mr. 2arye ganced round the roo!, as if fearfu the "ery was !ight hear his

whis$er. (ichard=s. Barbara showed it !e one day when she was turning out

her desk, and said it was a cur taken off in that iness.

Mrs. Hare sank back in her chair, and hid her face in her hands, shi"ering

"isiby. The words e"identy awoke so!e $oignant source of dee$ sorrow. 6h,

!y boy My boy she waiedC!y boy My unha$$y boy Mr. Hare wondersat !y i%heath, 'rchibad< Barbara ridicues it< but there ies the source of a

!y !isery, !enta and bodiy. 6h, (ichard (ichard

There was a distressing $ause, for the to$ic ad!itted of neither ho$e nor

consoation. Put your chain on again, Barbara, Mr. 2arye said, after a

whie, and 4 wish you heath to wear it out. Heath and refor!ation, young

ady

Barbara s!ied and ganced at hi! with her $retty bue eyes, so fu of o"e.

What ha"e you brought for 2orneia she resu!ed.

3o!ething s$endid, he answered, with a !ock serious face< ony 4 ho$e 4

ha"e not been taken in. 4 bought her a shaw. The "enders "owed it was true

Parisian cash!ere. 4 ga"e eighteen guineas for it.

That is a great dea, obser"ed Mrs. Hare. 4t ought to be a "ery good one. 4

ne"er ga"e !ore than si> guineas for a shaw in a !y ife.

'nd 2orneia, 4 dare say, ne"er !ore than haf si>, aughed Mr. 2arye.

We, 4 sha wish you good e"ening, and go to her< for if she knows 4 a! back


38/769

a this whie, 4 sha be ectured.

He shook hands with the! both. Barbara, howe"er, acco!$anied hi! to the

front door, and ste$$ed outside with hi!.

#ou wi catch cod, Barbara. #ou ha"e eft your shaw indoors.

6h, no, 4 sha not. How "ery soon you are ea"ing. #ou ha"e scarcey stayed

ten !inutes.

But you forget 4 ha"e not been at ho!e.

#ou were on your road to Beaucha!$=s, and woud not ha"e been at ho!e

for an hour or two in that case, s$oke Barbara, in a tone that sa"ored of

resent!ent.

That was different< that was u$on business. But, Barbara, 4 think your

!other ooks unusuay i.

#ou know she suffers a itte thing to u$set her< and ast night she had what

she cas one of her drea!s, answered Barbara. 3he says that it is a

warning that so!ething bad is going to ha$$en, and she has been in the

!ost unha$$y, fe"erish state $ossibe a day. Pa$a has been Duite angry o"er

her being so weak and ner"ous, decaring that she ought to rouse hersef out

of her =ner"es.= 6f course we dare not te hi! about the drea!.

4t reated toCtheCC

Mr. 2arye sto$$ed, and Barbara ganced round with a shudder, and drew

coser to hi! as she whis$ered. He had not gi"en her his ar! this ti!e.


39/769

#es, to the !urder. #ou know !a!!a has aways decared that Bethe had

so!ething to do with it< she says her drea!s woud ha"e con"inced her of it,

if nothing ese did< and she drea!t she saw hi! withCwithCyou know.

Haijohn whis$ered Mr. 2arye.

With Haijohn, assented Barbara, with a shi"er. He was standing o"er hi!

as he ay on the foor< just as he did ay on it. 'nd that wretched 'fy was

standing at the end of the kitchen, ooking on.

But Mrs. Hare ought not to suffer drea!s to disturb her $eace by day,

re!onstrated Mr. 2arye. 4t is not to be sur$rised at that she drea!s of the

!urder, because she is aways dweing u$on it< but she shoud stri"e and

throw the feeing fro! her with the night.

#ou know what !a!!a is. 6f course she ought to do so, but she does not.

Pa$a wonders what !akes her get u$ so i and tre!bing of a !orning< and

!a!!a has to !ake a sorts of e"asi"e e>cuses< for not a hint, as you are

aware, !ust be breathed to hi! about the !urder.

Mr. 2arye gra"ey nodded.

Ma!!a does so har$ about Bethe. 'nd 4 know that drea! arose fro!

nothing in the word but because she saw hi! $ass the gate yesterday. :ot

that she thinks that it was he who did it< unfortunatey, there is no roo! for

that< but she wi $ersist that he had a hand in it in so!e way, and he haunts

her drea!s.

Mr. 2arye waked on in sience< indeed there was no re$y that he coud

!ake. ' coud had faen u$on the house of Mr. Hare, and it was an unha$$y

subject. Barbara continued,C


40/769

But for !a!!a to ha"e taken it into her head that =so!e e"i is going to

ha$$en,= because she had this drea!, and to !ake hersef !iserabe o"er it,

is so absurd, that 4 ha"e fet Duite cross with her a day. 3uch nonsense, you

know, 'rchibad, to beie"e that drea!s gi"e signs of what is going toha$$en, so far behind these enightened days

#our !a!!a=s troube is great, Barbara< and she is not strong.

4 think a our troubes ha"e been great sinceCsince that dark e"ening,

res$onded Barbara.

Ha"e you heard fro! 'nne inDuired Mr. 2arye, wiing to change the

subject.

#es, she is "ery we. What do you think they are going to na!e the baby

'nne< after her !a!!a. 3o "ery ugy a na!e 'nne

4 do not think so, said Mr. 2arye. 4t is si!$e and un$retending, 4 ike it!uch. Look at the ong, $retentious na!es of our fa!iyC'rchibad 2orneia

'nd yours, tooCBarbara What a !outhfu they a are

Barbara contracted her eyebrows. 4t was eDui"aent to saying that he did not

ike her na!e.

They reached the gate, and Mr. 2arye was about to $ass out of it when

Barbara aid her hand on his ar! to detain hi!, and s$oke in a ti!id "oice,C

'rchibad


41/769

What is it

4 ha"e not said a word of thanks to you for this, she said, touching the chain

and ocket< !y tongue see!ed tied. )o not dee! !e ungratefu.

#ou fooish gir 4t is not worth the!. There :ow 4 a! $aid. Good%night,

Barbara.

He had bent down and kissed her cheek, swung through the gate, aughing,

and strode away. )on=t say 4 ne"er ga"e you anything, he turned his head

round to say, Good%night.

' her "eins were tinging, a her $uses beating< her heart was throbbing

with its sense of biss. He had ne"er kissed her, that she coud re!e!ber,

since she was a chid. 'nd when she returned indoors, her s$irits were so

e>tra"aganty high that Mrs. Hare wondered.

(ing for the a!$, Barbara, and you can get to your work. But don=t ha"e the

shutters cosed< 4 ike to ook out on these ight nights.

Barbara, howe"er, did not get to her work< she aso, $erha$s, iked ooking

out on a ight night, for she sat down at the window. 3he was i"ing the ast

haf hour o"er again. =)on=t say 4 ne"er ga"e you anything,= she !ur!uredcai!ed.

Barbara, 4 swear that 4 a! innocent< 4 swear 4 was not $resent when the !an

was !urdered< 4 swear that fro! !y own $ositi"e knowedge, !y eyesight, 4

know no !ore who did it than you. The guessing at it is enough for !e< and

!y guess is as sure and true a one as that the !oon is in the hea"ens.

Barbara shi"ered as she drew cose to hi!. 4t was a shi"ering subject. #ou

surey do not !ean to throw the guit on Bethe

Bethe ighty returned (ichard Hare. He had nothing to do with it. He was

after his gins and his snares, that night, though, $oacher as he is

Bethe is no $oacher, (ichard.

4s he not rejoined (ichard Hare, significanty. The truth as to what he is

!ay co!e out, so!e ti!e. :ot that 4 wish it to co!e out< the !an has done

no har! to !e, and he !ay go on $oaching with i!$unity ti doo!sday for

a 4 care. He and LockseyC

(ichard, interru$ted his sister, in a hushed "oice, !a!!a entertains one

fi>ed idea, which she cannot $ut fro! her. 3he is certain that Bethe had

so!ething to do with the !urder.

Then she is wrong. Why shoud she think so


47/769

How the con"iction arose at first, 4 cannot te you< 4 do not think she knows

hersef. But you re!e!ber how weak and fancifu she is, and since that

dreadfu night she is aways ha"ing what she cas =drea!s=C!eaning that

she drea!s of the !urder. 4n a these drea!s Bethe is $ro!inent< and shesays she fees an absoute certainty that he was, in so!e way or other, !i>ed

u$ in it.

Barbara, he was no !ore !i>ed u$ in it than you.

'ndCyou say that you were not

4 was not e"en at the cottage at the ti!e< 4 swear it to you. The !an who did

the deed was Thorn.

Thorn echoed Barbara, ifting her head. Who is Thorn

4 don=t know who. 4 wish 4 did< 4 wish 4 coud unearth hi!. He was a friend of

'fy=s.

Barbara threw back her neck with a haughty gesture. (ichard

What

#ou forget yoursef when you !ention that na!e to !e.

We, returned (ichard. 4t was not to discuss these things that 4 $ut !ysef

in jeo$ardy< and to assert !y innocence can do no good< it cannot set aside

the coroner=s "erdict of =Wifu !urder against (ichard Hare, the younger.= 4s

!y father as bitter against !e as e"er


48/769

Juite. He ne"er !entions your na!e, or suffers it to be !entioned< he ga"e

his orders to the ser"ants that it ne"er was to be s$oken in the house again.

EiFa coud not, or woud not re!e!ber, and she $ersisted in caing your

roo! =Mr. (ichard=s.= 4 think the wo!an did it heedessy, not !aiciousy, to$ro"oke $a$a< she was a good ser"ant, and had been with us three years you

know. The first ti!e she transgressed, $a$a warned her< the second, he

thundered at her as 4 beie"e nobody ese in the word can thunder< and the

third he turned her fro! the doors, ne"er aowing her to get her bonnet< one

of the others carrying her bonnet and shaw to the gate, and her bo>es were

sent away the sa!e day. Pa$a took an oathCdid you hear of it

What oath He takes !any.

This was a soe!n one, (ichard. 'fter the dei"ery of the "erdict, he took an

oath in the justice%roo!, in the $resence of his brother !agistrates, that if he

coud find you he woud dei"er you u$ to justice, and that he woud do it,

though you !ight not turn u$ for ten years to co!e. #ou know his dis$osition,

(ichard, and therefore !ay be sure he wi kee$ it. 4ndeed, it is !ost

dangerous for you to be here.

4 know that he ne"er treated !e as he ought, cried (ichard, bittery. 4f !y

heath was deicate, causing !y $oor !other to induge !e, ought that to

ha"e been a reason for his ridicuing !e on e"ery $ossibe occasion, $ubic

and $ri"ate Had !y ho!e been !ade ha$$ier 4 shoud not ha"e sought the

society 4 did esewhere. Barbara, 4 !ust be aowed an inter"iew with !y

!other.

Barbara Hare refected before she s$oke. 4 do not see how it can be

!anaged.

Why can=t she co!e out to !e as you ha"e done 4s she u$, or in bed

4t is i!$ossibe to think of it to%night, returned Barbara in an aar!ed tone.


49/769

Pa$a !ay be in at any !o!ent< he is s$ending the e"ening at

Beaucha!$=s.

4t is hard to ha"e been se$arated fro! her for eighteen !onths, and to go

back without seeing her, returned (ichard. 'nd about the !oney 4t is a

hundred $ounds that 4 want.

#ou !ust be here again to%!orrow night, (ichard< the !oney, no doubt, can

be yours, but 4 a! not so sure about your seeing !a!!a. 4 a! terrified for

your safety. But, if it is as you say, that you are innocent, she added, after a

$ause, coud it not be $ro"ed

Who is to $ro"e it The e"idence is strong against !e< and Thorn, did 4

!ention hi!, woud be as a !yth to other $eo$e< nobody knew anything of

hi!.

4s he a !yth said Barbara, in a ow "oice.

're you and 4 !yths retorted (ichard. 3o, e"en you doubt !e

(ichard, she suddeny e>cai!ed, why not te the whoe circu!stances to

'rchibad 2arye 4f any one can he$ you, or take !easures to estabish your

innocence, he can. 'nd you know that he is true as stee.

There=s no other !an i"ing shoud be trusted with the secret that 4 a! here,

e>ce$t 2arye. Where is it they su$$ose that 4 a!, Barbara

3o!e think that you are dead< so!e that you are in 'ustraia< the "ery

uncertainty has neary kied !a!!a. ' re$ort arose that you had been seen

at Li"er$oo, in an 'ustraian%bound shi$, but we coud not trace it to any

foundation.


50/769

4t had none. 4 dodged !y way to London, and there 4 ha"e been.

Working in a stabe%yard

4 coud not do better. 4 was not brought u$ to anything, and 4 did understand

horses. Besides, a !an that the $oice%runners were after coud be !ore safe

in obscurity, considering that he was a gente!an, thanC

Barbara turned suddeny, and $aced her hand u$on her brother=s !outh. Be

sient for your ife, she whis$ered, here=s $a$a.

Aoices were heard a$$roaching the gateCthose of 8ustice Hare and 3Duire

Pinner. The atter waked on< the for!er ca!e in. The brother and sister

cowered together, scarcey daring to breathe< you !ight ha"e heard

Barbara=s heart beating. Mr. Hare cosed the gate and waked on u$ the $ath.

4 !ust go, (ichard, said Barbara, hastiy< 4 dare not stay another !inute.

Be here again to%!orrow night, and !eanwhie 4 wi see what can be done.

3he was s$eeding away, but (ichard hed her back. #ou did not see! to

beie"e !y assertion of innocence. Barbara, we are here aone in the sti

night, with God abo"e us< as truy as that you and 4 !ust so!eti!e !eet Hi!

face to face, 4 tod you the truth. 4t was Thorn !urdered Haijohn, and 4 had

nothing whate"er to do with it.

Barbara broke out of the trees and few aong, but Mr. Hare was aready in,

ocking and barring the door. Let !e in, $a$a, she caed out.

The justice o$ened the door again, and thrusting forth his fa>en wig, his

aDuiine nose, and his a!aFed eyes, gaFed at Barbara.


51/769

Haoo What brings you out at this ti!e of night, young ady

4 went down to the gate to ook for you, she $anted, and hadChadCstroed o"er to the side $ath. )id you not see !e

Barbara was truthfu by nature and habit< but in such a cause, how coud she

a"oid dissi!uation

Thank you, $a$a, she said, as she went in.

#ou ought to ha"e been in bed an hour ago, angriy res$onded Mr. 8ustice

Hare.

2H'PTE( A.

M(. 2'(L#LE=3 67742E.

4n the centre of West Lynne stood two houses adjoining each other, one arge,

the other !uch s!aer. The arge one was the 2arye residence, and the

s!a one was de"oted to the 2arye offices. The na!e of 2arye bore a ofty

standing in the county< 2arye and )a"idson were known as first%cass

$ractitioners< no $ettifogging awyers were they. 4t was 2arye I )a"idson inthe days gone by< now it was 'rchibad 2arye. The od fir! were brothers%in%

awCthe first Mrs. 2arye ha"ing been Mr. )a"idson=s sister. 3he had died

and eft one chid. The second Mrs. 2arye died when her son was bornC

'rchibad< and his haf%sister reared hi!, o"ed hi! and rued hi!. 3he bore

for hi! a the authority of a !other< the boy had known no other, and, when

a itte chid he had caed her Ma!!a 2orny. Ma!!a 2orny had done her


52/769


53/769

kee$ing a shar$ ookout around hi!, when the door ti!idy o$ened, and the

$retty face of Barbara Hare a$$eared at it, rosy with bushes.

2an 4 see Mr. 2arye

Mr. )i rose fro! his seat and shook hands with her. 3he drew hi! into the

$assage and he cosed the door. Perha$s he fet sur$rised, for it was not the

custo! for adies, young and singe, to co!e there after Mr. 2arye.

Presenty, Miss Barbara. He is engaged just now. The justices are with hi!.

The justices uttered Barbara, in aar!< and $a$a one Whate"er sha 4

do He !ust not see !e. 4 woud not ha"e hi! see !e here for the word.

'n o!inous sound of taking< the justices were e"identy co!ing forth. Mr. )i

aid hod of Barbara, whisked her through the cerks= roo!, not daring to take

her the other way, est he shoud encounter the!, and shut her in his own.

What the $ague brought $a$a here at this !o!ent thought Barbara,

whose face was cri!son.

' few !inutes and Mr. )i o$ened the door again. They are gone now, and

the coast=s cear, Miss Barbara.

4 don=t know what o$inion you !ust for! of !e, Mr. )i, she whis$ered,

but 4 wi te you, in confidence, that 4 a! here on so!e $ri"ate business for

!a!!a, who was not we enough to co!e hersef. 4t is a itte $ri"ate !atter

that she does not wish $a$a to know of.

2hid, answered the !anager, a awyer recei"es "isits fro! !any $eo$ecai!ed. 4 shoud ha"e $re!ised that 4ha"e not yet tod !a!!a it is (ichard hi!sef who is here, but that he has

sent a !essenger to beg for this !oney. Woud it be ad"isabe to acDuaint

her

Why shoud you not 4 think you ought to do so.

Then 4 wi< 4 was fearing the haFard for she is sure to insist u$on seeing hi!.

(ichard aso wishes for an inter"iew.

4t is ony natura. Mrs. Hare !ust be thankfu to hear so far, that he is safe.


57/769

4 ne"er saw anything ike it, returned Barbara< the change is akin to !agiccite

sus$icions< so!e one !ight see !e, too, and !ention it to $a$a. :either

ought you to send to our house.

WeCcontri"e to be in the street at four this afternoon. 3tay, that=s your

dinner hour< be waking u$ the street at three, three $recisey< 4 wi !eet

you.

He rose, shook hands, and escorted Barbara through the s!a ha, aong the

$assage to the house door< a courtesy $robaby not yet shown to any cient

by Mr. 2arye. The house door cosed u$on her, and Barbara had taken one

ste$ fro! it, when so!ething arge oo!ed down u$on her, ike a shi$ in fu

sai.

3he !ust ha"e been the taest ady in the wordCout of a cara"an. ' fine

wo!an in her day, but anguar and bony now. 3ti, in s$ite of the anges and

the bones, there was !ajesty in the a$$earance of Miss 2arye.


58/769

WhyCwhat on earth began she, ha"e you been with 'rchibad for

Barbara Hare, wishing Miss 2arye o"er in 'sia, sta!!ered out the e>cuse

she had gi"en Mr. )i.

#our !a!!a sent you on business 4 ne"er heard of such a thing. Twice 4

ha"e been to see 'rchibad, and twice did )i answer that he was engaged

and !ust not be interru$ted. 4 sha !ake od )i e>$ain his !eaning for

obser"ing a !ystery o"er it to !e.

There is no !ystery, answered Barbara, feeing Duite sick est Miss 2arye

shoud $rocai! there was, before the cerks, or her father. Ma!!a wantedMr. 2arye=s o$inion u$on a itte $ri"ate business, and not feeing we

enough to co!e hersef, she sent !e.

Miss 2arye did not beie"e a word. What business asked she

uncere!oniousy.

4t is nothing that coud interest you. ' trifing !atter, reating to a itte

!oney. 4t=s nothing, indeed.

Then, if it=s nothing, why were you coseted so ong with 'rchibad

He was asking the $articuars, re$ied Barbara, reco"ering her eDuani!ity.

Miss 2arye sniffed, as she in"ariaby did, when dissenting fro! a $robe!.

3he was sure there was so!e !ystery astir. 3he turned and waked down the

street with Barbara, but she was none the !ore ikey to get anything out of

her.

Mr. 2arye returned to his roo!, deiberated a few !o!ents, and then rang


59/769

his be. ' cerk answered it.

Go to the Buck=s Head. 4f Mr. Hare and the other !agistrates are there, ask

the! to ste$ o"er to !e.

The young !an did as he was bid, and ca!e back with the noted justices at

his hees. They obeyed the su!!ons with aacrity, for they beie"ed they had

got the!se"es into a judicia scra$e, and that Mr. 2arye aone coud get

the! out of it.

4 wi not reDuest you to sit down, began Mr. 2arye, for it is barey a

!o!ent 4 sha detain you. The !ore 4 think about this !an=s ha"ing been $utin $rison, the ess 4 ike it< and 4 ha"e been considering that you had better a

fi"e, co!e and s!oke your $i$es at !y house this e"ening, when we sha

ha"e ti!e to discuss what !ust be done. 2o!e at se"en, not ater, and you

wi find !y father=s od jar re$enished with the best broadcut, and haf a

doFen churchwarden $i$es. 3ha it be so

The whoe fi"e acce$ted the in"itation eagery. 'nd they were fiing out when

Mr. 2arye aid his finger on the ar! of 8ustice Hare.

#ou wi be sure to co!e, Hare, he whis$ered. We coud not get on without

you< a heads, with a sight incination towards those going out, are not

gifted with the cear good sense of yours.

3ure and certain, res$onded the gratified justice< fire and water shoudn=t

kee$ !e away.

3oon after Mr. 2arye was eft aone another cerk entered.

Miss 2arye is asking to see you, sir, and 2oone Bethe=s co!e again.


60/769

3end in Miss 2arye first, was the answer. What is it, 2orneia

'h #ou !ay we ask what 3aying this !orning that you coud not dine atsi>, as usua, and then !arching off, and ne"er fi>ing the hour. How can 4 gi"e

!y orders

4 thought business woud ha"e caed !e out, but 4 a! not going now. We wi

dine a itte earier, though, 2orneia, say a Duarter before si>. 4 ha"e in"ited

C

What=s u$, 'rchibad interru$ted Miss 2arye.

9$ :othing that 4 know of. 4 a! "ery busy, 2orneia, and 2oone Bethe is

waiting< 4 wi tak to you at dinner%ti!e. 4 ha"e in"ited a $arty for to%night.

' $arty echoed Miss 2arye.

7our or fi"e of the justices are co!ing in to s!oke their $i$es. #ou !ust $ut

out your father=s eaden tobacco%bo>, andC

They shan=t co!e screa!ed Miss 2arye. )o you think 4= be $oisoned

with tobacco s!oke fro! a doFen $i$es

#ou need not sit in the roo!.

:or they either. 2ean curtains are just $ut u$ throughout the house, and 4=

ha"e no horrid $i$es to backen the!.


61/769

4= buy you so!e new curtains, 2orneia, if their $i$es s$oi these, he Duiety

re$ied. 'nd now, 2orneia, 4 reay !ust beg you to ea"e !e.

When 4 ha"e co!e to the botto! of this affair with Barbara Hare, resoutey

returned Miss 2orny, dro$$ing the $oint of the contest as to the $i$es. #ou

are "ery ce"er, 'rchie, but you can=t do !e. 4 asked Barbara what she ca!e

here for< business for !a!!a, touching !oney !atters, was her re$y. 4 ask

you& to hear your o$inion about the scra$e the bench ha"e got into, is yours.

:ow, it=s neither one nor the other< and 4 te you, 'rchibad, 4= hear what it

is. 4 shoud ike to know what you and Barbara do with a secret between you.

Mr. 2arye knew her and her resoute e>$ression we, and he took his course,

to te her the truth. 3he was, to borrow the words Barbara had used to her

brother with regard to hi!, true as stee. 2onfide to Miss 2arye a secret, and

she was trustworthy and i!$er"ious as he coud be< but et her co!e to

sus$ect that there was a secret which was being ke$t fro! her, and she

woud set to work ike a ferret, and ne"er sto$ unti it was unearthed.

Mr. 2arye bent forward and s$oke in a whis$er. 4 wi te you, if you wish,

2orneia, but it is not a $easant thing to hear. (ichard Hare has returned.

Miss 2arye ooked $erfecty aghast. (ichard Hare 4s he !ad

4t is not a "ery sane $roceeding. He wants !oney fro! his !other, and Mrs.

Hare sent Barbara to ask !e to !anage it for her. :o wonder $oor Barbara

was furried and ner"ous, for there=s danger on a sides.

4s he at their house

How coud he be there and his father in it He is in hiding two or three !ies

off, disguised as a aborer, and wi be at the gro"e to%night to recei"e this

!oney. 4 ha"e in"ited the justices to get Mr. Hare safe away fro! his own

house. 4f he saw (ichard, he woud undoubtedy gi"e hi! u$ to justice, andC

$utting gra"er considerations asideCthat woud be $easant for neither you


62/769

nor for !e. To ha"e a connection gibbeted for a wifu !urder woud be an

ugy bot on the 2arye escutcheon, 2orneia.

Miss 2arye sat in sience re"o"ing the news, a contraction on her a!$e

brow.

'nd now you know a, 2orneia, and 4 do beg you to ea"e !e, for 4 a!

o"erwhe!ed with work to%day.

2H'PTE( A4.

(42H'() H'(E, THE #69:GE(.

The bench of justices did not fai to kee$ their a$$oint!ent< at se"en o=cock

they arri"ed at Miss 2arye=s, one foowing cosey u$on the hees of another.

The reader !ay dissent fro! the e>$ression Miss 2arye=s, but it is thecorrect one, for the house was hers, not her brother=s< though it re!ained his

ho!e, as it had been in his father=s ti!e, the house was a!ong the $ro$erty

beDueathed to Miss 2arye.

Miss 2arye chose to be $resent in s$ite of the $i$es and the s!oke, and she

was soon as dee$ in the discussion as the justices were. 4t was said in the

town, that she was as good a awyer as her father had been< she undoubtedy

$ossessed sound judg!ent in ega !atters, and Duick $enetration. 't eight

o=cock a ser"ant entered the roo! and addressed his !aster.

Mr. )i is asking to see you, sir.

Mr. 2arye rose, and ca!e back with an o$en note in his hand.


63/769

4 a! sorry to find that 4 !ust ea"e you for haf an hour< so!e i!$ortant

business has arisen, but 4 wi be back as soon as 4 can.

Who has sent for you


64/769

Mrs. Hare, fe"erish and agitated, with a burning s$ot on her deicate cheeks,

stood by the chair, not occu$ying it. Mr. 2arye $aced a $ocket%book in her

hands. 4 ha"e brought it chiefy in notes, he said& they wi be easier for hi!

to carry than god.

Mrs. Hare answered ony by a ook of gratitude, and cas$ed Mr. 2arye=s

hand in both hers. 'rchibad, 4 !ust see !y boy< how can it be !anaged

Must 4 go into the garden to hi!, or !ay he co!e in here

4 think he !ight co!e in< you know how bad the night air is for you. 're the

ser"ants astir this e"ening

Things see! to ha"e turned out Duite kindy, s$oke u$ Barbara. 4t ha$$ens

to be 'nne=s birthday, so !a!!a sent !e just now into the kitchen with a

cake and a botte of wine, desiring the! to drink her heath. 4 shut the door

and tod the! to !ake the!se"es co!fortabe< that if we wanted anything

we woud ring.

Then they are safe, obser"ed Mr. 2arye, and (ichard !ay co!e in.

4 wi go and ascertain whether he is co!e, said Barbara.

3tay where you are, Barbara< 4 wi go !ysef, inter$osed Mr. 2arye. Ha"e

the door o$en when you see us co!ing u$ the $ath.

Barbara ga"e a faint cry, and, tre!bing, cutched the ar! of Mr. 2arye.

There he is 3ee 3tanding out fro! the trees, just o$$osite this window.

Mr. 2arye turned to Mrs. Hare. 4 sha not bring hi! in i!!ediatey< for if 4

a! to ha"e an inter"iew with hi!, it !ust be got o"er first, that 4 !ay go

back ho!e to the justices, and kee$ Mr. Hare a safe.


65/769

He $roceeded on his way, gained the trees, and $unged into the!< and,

eaning against one, stood (ichard Hare. '$art fro! his disguise, and the

fase and fierce back whiskers, he was a bue%eyed, fair, $easant%ooking

young !an, sight, and of !idde height, and Duite as yieding and gente ashis !other. 4n her, this !id yiedingness of dis$osition was rather a gracefu

Duaity< in (ichard it was regarded as a conte!$tibe !isfortune. 4n his

boyhood he had been nickna!ed Leafy )ick, and when a stranger inDuired

why, the answer was that, as a eaf was swayed by the wind, so he was

swayed by e"erybody about hi!, ne"er $ossessing a wi of his own. 4n short,

(ichard Hare, though of an a!iabe and o"ing nature, was not o"er%burdened

with what the word cas brains. Brains he certainy had, but they were not

shar$ ones.

4s !y !other co!ing out to !e asked (ichard, after a few interchanged

sentences with Mr. 2arye.

:o. #ou are to go indoors. #our father is away, and the ser"ants are shut u$

in the kitchen and wi not see you. Though if they did, they coud ne"er

recogniFe you in that tri!. ' fine $air of whiskers, (ichard.

Let us go in, then. 4 a! a in a twitter ti 4 get away. '! 4 to ha"e the

!oney

#es, yes. But, (ichard, your sister says you wish to discose to !e the true

history of that a!entabe night. #ou had better s$eak whie we are here.

4t was Barbara hersef wanted you to hear it. 4 think it of itte !o!ent. 4f the

whoe $ace heard the truth fro! !e, it woud do no good, for 4 shoud get nobeiefCnot e"en fro! you.

Try !e, (ichard, in as few words as $ossibe.


66/769

We, there was a row at ho!e about !y going so !uch to Haijohn=s. The

go"ernor and !y !other thought 4 went after 'fy< $erha$s 4 did, and $erha$s

4 didn=t. Haijohn had asked !e to end hi! !y gun, and that e"ening, when 4

went to see 'fCwhen 4 went to see so!e oneCne"er !indC

(ichard, interru$ted Mr. 2arye, there=s an od saying, and it is sound

ad"ice& =Te the whoe truth to your awyer and your doctor.= 4f 4 a! to judge

whether anything can be atte!$ted for you, you !ust te it to !e< otherwise,

4 woud rather hear nothing. 4t sha be sacred trust.

Then, if 4 !ust, 4 !ust, returned the yieding (ichard. 4 did o"e the gir. 4

woud ha"e waited ti 4 was !y own !aster to !ake her !y wife, though it

had been for years and years. 4 coud not do it, you know, in the face of !y

father=s o$$osition.

#our wife rejoined Mr. 2arye, with so!e e!$hasis.

(ichard ooked sur$rised. Why, you don=t su$$ose 4 !eant anything ese 4

woudn=t ha"e been such a backguard.

We, go on, (ichard. )id she return your o"e

4 can=t be certain. 3o!eti!es 4 thought she did, so!eti!es not< she used to

$ay and shuffe, and she iked too !uch to be withChi!. 4 woud think her

ca$riciousCteing !e 4 !ust not co!e this e"ening, and 4 !ust not co!e the

other< but 4 found out they were the e"enings when she was e>$ecting hi!.

We were ne"er there together.

#ou forget that you ha"e not indicted =hi!= by any na!e, (ichard. 4 a! at

faut.

(ichard Hare bent forward ti his back whiskers brushed Mr. 2arye=s


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shouder. 4t was that cursed Thorn.

Mr. 2arye re!e!bered the na!e Barbara had !entioned. Who was Thorn

4 ne"er heard of hi!.

:either had anybody ese, 4 e>$ect, in West Lynne. He took $recious good

care of that. He i"es so!e !ies away, and used to co!e o"er in secret.

2ourting 'fy

#es, he did co!e courting her, returned (ichard, in a sa"age tone.

)istance was no barrier. He woud co!e gao$ing o"er at dusk, tie his horse

to a tree in the wood, and $ass an hour or two with 'fy. 4n the house, when

her father was not at ho!e< roa!ing about the woods with her, when he

was.

2o!e to the $oint, (ichardCto the e"ening.

Haijohn=s gun was out of order, and he reDuested the oan of !ine. 4 had

!ade an a$$oint!ent with 'fy to be at her house that e"ening, and 4 went

down after dinner, carrying the gun with !e. My father caed after !e to

know where 4 was going< 4 said, out with young Beaucha!$, not caring to

!eet his o$$osition< and the ie tod against !e at the inDuest. When 4

reached Haijohn=s, going the back way aong the fieds, and through the

wood%$ath, as 4 generay did go, 'fy ca!e out, a reser"e, as she coud be at

ti!es, and said she was unabe to recei"e !e then, that 4 !ust go back

ho!e. We had a few words about it, and as we were s$eaking, Locksey

$assed, and saw !e with the gun in !y hand< but it ended in !y gi"ing way.

3he coud do just what she iked with !e, for 4 o"ed the "ery ground she trod

on. 4 ga"e her the gun, teing her it was oaded, and she took it indoors,

shutting !e out. 4 did not go away< 4 had a sus$icion that she had got Thorn

there, though she denied it to !e< and 4 hid !ysef in so!e trees near the

house. 'gain Locksey ca!e in "iew and saw !e there, and caed out to

know why 4 was hiding. 4 shied further off, and did not answer hi!Cwhat

were !y $ri"ate !o"e!ents to hi!Cand that aso tod against !e at the


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inDuest. :ot ong afterwardsCtwenty !inutes, $erha$sC4 heard a shot, which

see!ed to be in the direction of the cottage. =3o!ebody ha"ing a ate $o$ at

the $artridges,= thought 4< for the sun was then setting, and at the !o!ent 4

saw Bethe e!erge fro! the trees, and run in the direction of the cottage.

That was the shot that kied Haijohn.

There was a $ause. Mr. 2arye ooked keeny at (ichard there in the

!oonight.

Aery soon, a!ost in the sa!e !o!ent, as it see!ed, so!e one ca!e

$anting and tearing aong the $ath eading fro! the cottage. 4t was Thorn.

His a$$earance started !e& 4 had ne"er seen a !an show !ore utter terror.

His face was i"id, his eyes see!ed starting, and his i$s were drawn back

fro! his teeth. Had 4 been a strong !an 4 shoud surey ha"e attacked hi!. 4

was !ad with jeaousy< for 4 then saw that 'fy had sent !e away that she

!ight entertain hi!.

4 thought you said this Thorn ne"er ca!e but at dusk, obser"ed Mr. 2arye.

4 ne"er knew hi! to do so unti that e"ening. ' 4 can say is, he was there

then. He few aong swifty, and 4 afterwards heard the sound of his horse=shoofs gao$ing away. 4 wondered what was u$ that he shoud ook so scared,

and scutter away as though the deuce was after hi!< 4 wondered whether he

had Duarreed with 'fy. 4 ran to the house, ea$ed u$ the two ste$s, andC

2aryeC4 fe o"er the $rostrate body of Haijohn He was ying just within, on

the kitchen foor, dead. Bood was round about hi!, and !y gun, just

discharged, was thrown near. He had been shot in the side.

(ichard sto$$ed for breath. Mr. 2arye did not s$eak.

4 caed to 'fy. :o one answered. :o one was in the ower roo!< and it

see!ed that no one was in the u$$er. ' sort of $anic ca!e o"er !e, a fear.

#ou know they aways said at ho!e 4 was a coward& 4 coud not ha"e

re!ained another !inute with that dead !an, had it been to sa"e !y own

ife. 4 caught u$ the gun, and was !aking off, whenC


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Why did you catch u$ the gun interru$ted Mr. 2arye.

4deas $ass through our !inds Duicker than we can s$eak the!, es$eciay inthese sorts of !o!ents, was the re$y of (ichard Hare. 3o!e "ague notion

fashed on !y brain that !y gun ought not to be found near the !urdered

body of Haijohn. 4 was fying fro! the door, 4 say, when Locksey e!erged

fro! the wood, fu in "iew< and what $ossessed !e 4 can=t te, but 4 did the

worst thing 4 coud doCfung the gun indoors again, and got away, athough

Locksey caed after !e to sto$.

:othing tod against you so !uch as that, obser"ed Mr. 2arye. Locksey

de$osed that he had seen you ea"e the cottage, gun in hand, a$$arenty ingreat co!!otion< that the !o!ent you saw hi!, you hesitated, as fro! fear,

fung back the gun, and esca$ed.

(ichard sta!$ed his foot. 'ye< and a owing to !y cursed cowardice. They

had better ha"e !ade a wo!an of !e, and brought !e u$ in $etticoats. But

et !e go on. 4 ca!e u$on Bethe. He was standing in that haf%circe where

the trees ha"e been cut. :ow 4 knew that Bethe, if he had gone straight in

the direction of the cottage, !ust ha"e !et Thorn Duitting it. =)id you

encounter that hound= 4 asked hi!. =What hound= returned Bethe. =That fine

feow, that Thorn, who co!es after 'fy,= 4 answered, for 4 did not !ind

!entioning her na!e in !y $assion. =4 don=t know any Thorn,= returned

Bethe, =and 4 did not know anybody was after 'fy but yoursef.= =)id you hear

a shot= 4 went on. =#es, 4 did,= he re$ied< =4 su$$ose it was Locksey, for he=s

about this e"ening,= ='nd 4 saw you,= 4 continued, =just at the !o!ent the shot

was fired, turn round the corner in the direction of Haijohn=s.= =3o 4 did,= he

said, =but ony to strike into the wood, a few $aces u$. What=s your drift= =)id

you not encounter Thorn, running fro! the cottage= 4 $ersisted. =4 ha"e

encountered no one,= he said, =and 4 don=t beie"e anybody=s about but

ourse"es and Locksey.= 4 Duitted hi!, and ca!e off, concuded (ichardHare. He e"identy had not seen Thorn, and knew nothing.

'nd you deca!$ed the sa!e night, (ichard< it was a fata ste$.


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#es, 4 was a foo. 4 thought 4=d wait Duiet, and see how things turned out< but

you don=t know a. Three or four hours ater, 4 went to the cottage again, and

4 !anaged to get a !inute=s s$eech with 'fy. 4 ne"er sha forget it< before 4

coud say one syabe she few out at !e, accusing !e of being the !urderer

of her father, and she fe into hysterics out there on the grass. The noise

brought $eo$e fro! the houseC$enty were in it thenCand 4 retreated. =4fshe can think !e guity, the word wi think !e guity,= was !y argu!ent$ected the answer, for neither had he heard of

the brothers Thorn, tanners, curriers, and eather%dressers, $ossessing a

reati"e of the na!e. )i, said he, so!ething has arisen which, in !y

!ind, casts a doubt u$on (ichard Hare=s guit. 4 Duestion whether he had

anything to do with the !urder.


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Mr. )i o$ened his eyes. But his fight, Mr. 'rchibad, 'nd his sto$$ing

away

3us$icious circu!stances, 4 grant. 3ti, 4 ha"e good cause to doubt. 't the

ti!e it ha$$ened, so!e dandy feow used to co!e courting 'fy Haijohn in

secret< a ta, sender !an, as he is described to !e, bearing the na!e of

Thorn, and i"ing at 3wainson. 2oud it ha"e been one of the Thorn fa!iy

Mr. 'rchibad re!onstrated the od cerk< as if those two res$ected

gente!en, with their wi"es and babies, woud co!e sneaking after that

fyaway 'fy

:o refection on the!, returned Mr. 2arye. This was a young !an, three

or four and twenty, a head taer than either. 4 thought it !ight be a reati"e.

4 ha"e re$eatedy heard the! say that they are aone in the word< that they

are the two ast of the na!e. )e$end u$on it, it was nobody connected with

the!ious $i$es. Mr.

2arye sat in a brown study< $resenty he ooked round at the !an.

4s 8oyce gone to bed

:o, sir. 3he is just going.

3end her here when you ha"e taken away those things.

8oyce ca!e inCthe u$$er ser"ant at Miss 2arye=s. 3he was of !idde height,

and woud ne"er see fi"e and thirty again< her forehead was broad, her gray

eyes were dee$y set, and her face was $ae. 'together she was $ain, but


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sensibe%ooking. 3he was the haf%sister of 'fy Haijohn.

3hut the door, 8oyce.

8oyce did as she was bid, ca!e forward, and stood by the tabe.

Ha"e you e"er heard fro! your sister, 8oyce began Mr. 2arye, so!ewhat

abru$ty.

:o, sir, was the re$y< 4 think it woud be a wonder if 4 did hear.

Why so

4f she woud go off after (ichard Hare, who had sent her father into his

gra"e, she woud be !ore ikey to hide hersef and her doings than to

$rocai! the! to !e, sir.

Who was that other, that fine gente!an, who ca!e after her

The coor !anted in 8oyce=s cheeks, and she dro$$ed her "oice.

3ir )id you hear of hi!

:ot at that ti!e. 3ince. He ca!e fro! 3wainson, did he not

4 beie"e so, sir. 'fy ne"er woud say !uch about hi!. We did not agree u$on

the $oint. 4 said a $erson of his rank woud do her no good< and 'fy few out

when 4 s$oke against hi!.


77/769

Mr. 2arye caught her u$. His rank. What was his rank

'fy bragged of his being ne>t door to a ord< and he ooked ike it. 4 ony sawhi! once< 4 had gone ho!e eary, and there sat hi! and 'fy. His white hands

were a gittering with rings, and his shirt was finished off with shining stones

where the buttons ought to be.

Ha"e you seen hi! since

:e"er since, ne"er but once< and 4 don=t think 4 shoud know hi! if 4 did seehi!. He got u$, sir, as soon as 4 went into the $aror, shook hands with 'fy,

and eft. ' fine, u$right !an he was, neary as ta as you, sir, but "ery si!.

Those sodiers aways carry the!se"es we.

How do you know he was a sodier Duicky rejoined Mr. 2arye.

'fy tod !e so. =The 2a$tain= she used to ca hi!< but she said he was not a

ca$tain yet awhieCthe ne>t grade to it, aCaCC

Lieutenant suggested Mr. 2arye.

#es, sir, that was itCLieutenant Thorn.

8oyce, said Mr. 2arye, has it ne"er struck you that 'fy is !ore ikey toha"e foowed Lieutenant Thorn than (ichard Hare

:o, sir, answered 8oyce< 4 ha"e fet certain aways that she is with (ichard

Hare, and nothing can turn !e fro! the beief. ' West Lynne is con"inced of

it.


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Mr. 2arye did not atte!$t to turn her fro! her beief. He dis!issed her,

and sat on sti, re"o"ing the case in a its bearings.

(ichard Hare=s short inter"iew with his !other had soon ter!inated. 4t asted

but a Duarter of an hour, both dreading interru$tions fro! the ser"ants< and

with a hundred $ounds in his $ocket, and desoation in his heart, the i%fated

young !an once !ore Duitted his chidhood=s ho!e. Mrs. Hare and Barbara

watched hi! stea down the $ath in the tetae !oonight, and gain the road,

both feeing that those farewe kisses they had $ressed u$on his i$s woud

not be renewed for years, and !ight not be fore"er.

2H'PTE( A44.

M433 2'(L#LE 'T H6ME.

The church cocks at West Lynne struck eight one o"ey !orning in 8uy, andthen the bes chi!ed out, gi"ing token that it was 3unday.

East Lynne had changed owners, and now it was the $ro$erty of Mr. 2arye.

He had bought it as it stood, furniture and a< but the transfer had been

conducted with secrecy, and was sus$ected by none, sa"e those engaged in

the negotiations. Whether Lord Mount 3e"ern thought it !ight $re"ent any

one getting on the scent, or whether he wished to take farewe of a $ace he

had for!ery been fond of, certain it is that he cra"ed a week or two=s "isit to

it. Mr. 2arye !ost readiy and graciousy acDuiesced< and the ear, his

daughter, and retinue had arri"ed the $re"ious day.

West Lynne was in ecstacies. 4t caed itsef an aristocratic $ace, and it

induged ho$es that the ear !ight be intending to confer $er!anenty the

ight of his $resence, by taking u$ his residence again at East Lynne. The


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toiettes $re$ared to !eet his ad!iring eyes were $rodigious and $retty

Barbara Hare was not the ony young ady who had thereby to encounter the

$aterna stor!.

Miss 2arye was ready for church at the usua ti!e, $ainy, but we dressed.

's she and 'rchibad were ea"ing their house, they saw so!ething oo!ing

u$ the street, fashing and gea!ing in the sun. ' $ink $araso ca!e first, a

$ink bonnet and feather ca!e behind it, a gray brocaded dress and white

go"es.

The "ain itte idiot ejacuated Miss 2arye. But Barbara s!ied u$ the

street toward the!, unconscious of the a$ostro$he.

We done, Barbara was the sautation of Miss 2arye. The justice !ight

we ca outCyou are finer than a sunbea!

:ot haf so fine as !any another in the church wi be to%day, res$onded

Barbara, as she ifted her shy bue eyes and bushing face to answer the

greetings of Mr. 2arye. West Lynne see!s bent on out%dressing the Lady

4sabe. #ou shoud ha"e been at the !iiner=s yesterday !orning, Miss

2arye.

4s a the finery co!ing out to%day gra"ey inDuired Mr. 2arye, as Barbara

turned with the! toward the church, and he waked by her side and his

sister=s, for he had an objection, a!ost in"incibe as a 7rench!an=s, to gi"e

his ar! to two adies.

6f course, re$ied Barbara. 7irst i!$ression is e"erything, you know, and

the ear and his daughter wi be co!ing to church.

3u$$ose she shoud not be in $eacock=s $u!es cried Miss 2arye, with an

i!$erturbabe face.


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6h But she is sure to beCif you !ean richy dressed, cried Barbara, hastiy.

east lynne

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