East Lynne

f the county, it was somewhat primitive in its manners and customs. Passing out at the town, toward the east, you came upon several detached gentleman's houses

their commencement, close to that busy part of the place, and about a mil

on the top, standing some little distance from the road. A flat lawn extended before it, and close to the palings, which divided it from the road, was a grove of trees, some yards in depth. The lawn was divided by a narrow middle gravel path, to which you gained access from the portico of the house. You entered u

n Holland, to be opened on state occasions. Justice and Mrs. Hare had three children, a son and two daughters. Anne was the elder o

of Mount Severn, sat Mrs. Hare, a pale, delicate woman, buried in shawls and cushions: but the day had been warm. At the window sat a pretty gir

sure it must be

ma. It is scarcely a quarter of an hour sinc

he poor invalid. "Do go and lo

the large clock in the hall. "It wants nine and twenty minutes to seven, mamma. I wish you wou

with a sort of sob. "If seven o'clock w

ill in it; scarcely, on her own responsibility, to give an order. Justice Hare was stern, imperative, obstinate, and self-conceited; she, timid, gentle and submissive. She had loved him with all her heart, and her life had been one long yielding of her will to his; in fact, she had no will; his

hen she thought another quarter of

l, m

g it in readiness so that when se

urry, for papa may not be at home." But she rose, and rang the bell with a pet

oat is, how parched my mouth, you

the window. She seemed tired, not with fatigue but with what the Fre

"Perhaps he will not mind having the tea i

xen wig. In his aquiline nose, compressed lips, and pointed chin, might be traced a resemblan

e from between her shawls, t

el

mind taking it a little earlier this evening? I am feverish

ven; you won't ha

banged the door. He had not spoken unkindly or roughly, simply with indifference. But ere Mrs. Hare

moonlight night and I am going with Pinner as far a

im at the gate. Mr. Beauchamp was a gentleman who farmed a great deal of land, and who was also Lord Mount

e justice down the gravel path. "I wonder if your papa would s

will know nothing about it, one way or the other, for he won't be home t

quickly," said Mrs. Hare, in a pleading voice

stand there, threw it over her shoulders, and went out. She strolled down the straight formal path, and stood at the iron gate, looking over it into the public road. Not very public in

would life be like without him? How miserable these few days have been! I wonder what

trees, not choosing to be seen by any stray passer-by. But, as they drew near, a sudden change came over her; her eyes lighted up, her

of West Lynne. Again she shrank away; true love is ever timid; and whatever may have been Barbara Hare's other qualities, her love at least was true and deep. But instead of the gate opening, with the firm qui

of her, not coming to her; and she, in the disappo

hiba

her-turned on his heel,

tching for thieves and

for him to enter, as he shook hands, and striving

ng drawled unpardonably at the stations. They little thought they had me

will Cor

ords to say to Beauchamp, and am going up at once. Thank y

ne up to Mr.

are! H

a smoking bout. And if you wait there with papa, it will be too lat

is of little use my going on," said he, "for my business w

to walk with her to the house. It was done in a matter-of-fact, real sort of way; not

all been, Barbar

ff so suddenly? You never said you we

suddenly.' A matter of business sudden

you were only g

I find so many things to

ancies, half of them; if she would rouse herse

Barbara. It does not concern y

ou have brought fo

ails buying presents for his friends; at least

the journey in a wagon," laughed Barbara. "Grandpapa used to tell us tal

so? I have brought

er color rising, and wondering w

What is it?' Wait a moment, a

garden chair, and proceeded to search his pocke

t is gone. I must h

ilently looking up at him in the moo

. "Here it is, I believe; what brought it there?" He opened a small box, and tak

ly. She could not speak a word of thanks; and Mr. Carlyle to

watching with pleased expectation the movements of Mr. Carlyle.

It is not a roll of velvet for a dress, and it is not a roll of parchme

had heard such a luxury was to be bought in London, but never remembered to have see

u for it?" she murmur

gaily. "I have been telling Barbara that a visit to London entails bringi

ff the chain, and laid

ise. "Archibald, you are too good, too generous! This

lay of chains hanging up; some ponderous enough for a sheriff, some light and elegant enough for Barbara. I dislike to see a thick chain on a lady's neck. They put me in mind of the chain she lost, the day she an

ption of Barbara. "Of course it would have happened had

th some lockets, and enlarged upon their convenience for holding deceased relatives' hair, not to speak of sweethearts', until

e?" asked

hear his whisper. "Richard's. Barbara showed it me one day when she was

nant source of deep sorrow. "Oh, my boy! My boy!" she wailed-"my boy! My unhappy boy! Mr. Hare wonders at my ill-health

solation. "Put your chain on again, Barbara," Mr. Carlyle said, after a while

pretty blue eyes, so full of love. "What

I hope I have not been taken in. I bought her a shawl. The venders

t ought to be a very good one. I never gave mo

. Carlyle. "Well, I shall wish you good evening, and go to her;

a, however, accompanied him to the fr

Barbara. You have le

soon you are leaving. You hav

et I have not

have been at home for an hour or two in that case,"

n business. But, Barbara, I think

a warning that something bad is going to happen, and she has been in the most unhappy, feverish state possible all day. Papa has been quite angry

ated to

with a shudder, and drew closer to him as she w

something to do with it; she says her dreams would have convinced her of

" whispered

over him as he lay on the floor; just as he did lay on it. And tha

Carlyle. "It is not to be surprised at that she dreams of the murder, because she is alwa

makes her get up so ill and trembling of a morning; and mamma has to make all sorts of ev

le gravel

saw him pass the gate yesterday. Not that she thinks that it was he who did it; unfortunately, there i

that he could make. A cloud had fallen upon the house of M

to make herself miserable over it, is so absurd, that I have felt quite cross with her all day. Such nonsense, you

is great, Barbara; a

been great since-since that d

" inquired Mr. Carlyle, wi

they are going to name the baby? Anne; a

I like it much. Look at the long, pretentious names of our family-Arc

s. It was equivalent to saying

to pass out of it when Barbara laid her hand on h

hiba

t is

s," she said, touching the chain and locket; "my

worth them. There! Now I am

ate, laughing, and strode away. "Don't say I never gave yo

se of bliss. He had never kissed her, that she could remember, since she was a child. And

to your work. But don't have the shutters clo

at down at the window. She was living the last half hour over again. "'Don't say I never gave you anything,'"

Archibald, the child of the second Mrs. Carlyle, had alternately teased and petted Anne and Barbara Hare, boy fashion. Sometimes he quarreled with the pretty little girls, sometimes he caressed them, as he would have done had they bee

nhappy thought, she said. Barbara, after making it, had turned again to the window, but she did not resume her seat. She stood right in front of it, her forehead bent forward ag

arest on earth to her heart, so was he the greatest match in the neighborhood around. Not a mother but what coveted him for her child, and not a daughter but would have said, "Yes, and thank you," to an offer from the attractive Archibald

eyes were fixed u

the suspense of my aching heart! But it must come; I

he thick trees? Their leaves were not causing the movement, for it was a still night. It had been

it advanced a pace nearer, and raised something which it wore on its head-a b

her second, to be still; for she remembered the fear and mystery that attached to the house. She went into the hall, shutting her mamma in the parlor, and stoo

was; for the servants she dared not call, and those movements were imperative, and might not b

p her shawl, while striving to speak without emotion. "I

portion of spirits will impart to one weak in body; and Barbara softly closed the door, and stole out

vil filling her sinking heart; mingling with which, came, with a rush of terror, a fear