East Lynne

ffices. The name of Carlyle bore a lofty standing in the county; Carlyle and Davidson were known as first-class practitioners; no pettifogging lawyers were they. It was Carlyle & Davidson i

small, just as she had done in the days of his babyhood. And Archibald generally submitted, for the force of habit is strong. She was a woman of strong sense, but, in some things, weak of judgment; and the ruling passions of her life were love of Archibald and love of saving money. Mr. Davidson had died earlier than Mr. Carlyle, and his fortune-he had never married-was left equally divided between Cor

love of her young brother kept her single, for it was not likely that the daughter of the rich Mr. Carlyle had wanted for offers. Other maidens c

ith a bald head. He was on the rolls, had been admitted years and years ago, but he had never set up for himself; perhaps he deemed the post of head manager in the office of Carlyle & Davidson, wit

gaged, and here he issued private orders. A little window, not larger than a pane of glass, looked out from the clerk's office; they called it old Dill's peep-hole and wished it anywhere else, for his spectacles might be discerned at it more frequently than was agreeabl

ee Mr. C

e passage and he closed the door. Perhaps he felt surprised, for it was no

He is engaged just now.

apa one? Whatever shall I do? He must not see me.

d her through the clerks' room, not daring to take her the other way, lest he should encounter them, and shu

he door again. "They are gone now,

you, in confidence, that I am here on some private business for mamma, who was not well eno

ceives visits from many people; and it is n

er into the presence of Mr. Carlyle, and

d laugh, to hide her agitation. "I am here on the part of mamma-and I nearly met papa

able. Barbara could not help noticing how different his manners were in his office from

r, "but-it is impossible that any one can hear us," she brok

ed Mr. Carlyle. "The doors are double

ood close to Mr. Carlyle, resting her h

rd is

ted Mr. Carlyle.

s. You may imagine my alarm. He has been in London all this while, half starving, working-I f

ly had no faith in the assertion. "Sit down,

tranger will be coming in? It would look so peculiar to see me here; but mamma was too unwe

"this room is sacred from the intru

ime the murder was committed; that the person wh

Carlyle, suppressing a

ating it to you, that he was speaking the truth. I want you to see Richard, if possible; he is coming to the same place to-night. If he can t

thing, Barbara. Was this the purpo

as an opportunity of doing better, if he can have that sum. Mamma has sent me to you; she has not the money by her, and she dare not ask papa for

f so, I must send to the bank. Dill never k

g. Can you manage

ean. Still, if he is to be in the grove to-night, I

opping about three miles off, he said, in some obscure hiding-place. And now," continued B

d not understa

ave not yet told mamma it is Richard himself who is here, but that he has se

not? I think you

or she is sure to insist upon seeing him

are must be thankful to hea

's absence from home to-night? It must be accomplished in some way. You know his temper: were I or mamma to suggest to him, to go and see some friend, or to go to the clu

remark. He had dropped his eyelids in thought. "Hav

hink

consider it

It-it might excite suspicions; some one might see me, too, an

noon. Stay, that's your dinner hour; be walking up th

; a courtesy probably not yet shown to any client by Mr. Carlyle. The house door closed upon her, and

ne woman in her day, but angular and bony now. Still, in spite of the a

egan she, "have you be

le over in Asia, stammered out t

see Archibald, and twice did Dill answer that he was engaged and must not be interru

claim there was, before the clerks, or her father. "Mamma wanted Mr. Carlyle's opinion u

ve a word. "What business?

ou. A trifling matter, relating to a

why were you closeted

ulars," replied Barbara,

She was sure there was some mystery astir. She turned and walked down the str

eliberated a few moments, and then

e and the other magistrates are th

els. They obeyed the summons with alacrity, for they believed they had got thems

e less I like it; and I have been considering that you had better all five, come and smoke your pipes at my house this evening, when we shall have time to discuss what

ly. And they were filing out when Mr. Carlyl

on without you; all heads," with a slight inclination towards th

he gratified justice; "fire and

le was left alone an

to see you, sir, and Col

irst," was the answer.

u could not dine at six, as usual, and then marching of

m not going now. We will dine a little earlier, thoug

ibald?" interrup

a, and Colonel Bethel is waiting; I will talk to you

echoed Mi

in to smoke their pipes. You must put o

lyle. "Do you think I'll be poisoned

not sit in

st put up throughout the house, and I'l

ir pipes spoil these," he quietly replied. "And n

ut you can't do me. I asked Barbara what she came here for; business for mamma, touching money matters, was her reply. I ask you: to hear your opinion about the scrape the bench hav

o her brother with regard to him, true as steel. Confide to Miss Carlyle a secret, and she was trustworthy and impervious as he could be; but let her

will tell you, if you wish, Cornelia, but it is not

erfectly aghast. "Ric

d Mrs. Hare sent Barbara to ask me to manage it for her. No wonder po

at thei

have invited the justices to get Mr. Hare safe away from his own house. If he saw Richard, he would undoubtedly give him up to justice, and-putting graver consideration

e revolving the news, a co

nd I do beg you to leave me, for I