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dreadful； and nobody had happened to mention it in her hearing。
〃Is he condemned？〃 she breathed； in a low tone。
〃He is condemned； and good luck to him！ And Mr。 Otway Bethel's let loose again； and good luck to /him/。 A nice pair they are！ Nobody went from this house to hear the trialit might not have been pleasant； you know； to Mr。 Carlyle； but people came in last night and told us all about it。 Young Richard Hare chiefly convicted him。 He is back again； and so nice…looking； they sayten times more so than he was when quite a young man。 You should have heard； they say； the cheering and shouts that greeted Mr。 Richard when his innocence came out； it pretty near rose off the roof of the court； and the judge didn't stop it。〃
Wilson paused； but there was no answering comment。 On she went again。
〃When Mr。 Carlyle brought the news home last evening； and broke it to his wife； telling her how Mr。 Richard had been received with acclamations； she nearly fainted； for she's not strong yet。 Mr。 Carlyle called out to me to bring some waterI was in the next room with the babyand there she was； the tears raining from her eyes； and he holding her to him。 I always said there was a whole world of love between those two； though he did go and marry another。 Mr。 Carlyle ordered me to put the water down； and sent me away again。 But I don't fancy he told her of old Hare's attack until this morning。〃
Lady Isabel lifted her aching forehead。 〃What attack？〃
〃Why； madame； don't you know。 I declare you box yourself up in the house； keeping from everybody； and you hear nothing。 You might as well be living at the bottom of a coal…pit。 Old Hare had another stroke in the court at Lynneborough； and that's why my mistress is gone to the Grove to…day。〃
〃Who says Richard Hare's come home； Wilson？〃
The questionthe weak； scarcely audible questionhad come from the dying boy。 Wilson threw up her hands； and made a bound to the bed。 〃The like of that！〃 she uttered； aside to Mrs。 Vine。 〃One never knows when to take these sick ones。 Master William； you hold your tongue and drop to sleep again。 Your papa will be home soon from Lynneborough； and if you talk and get tired； he'll say it's my fault。 Come shut your eyes。 Will you have a bit more jelly？〃
William； making no reply to the offer of jelly； buried his face again on the pillow。 But he was grievously restless； the nearly worn…out spirit was ebbing and flowing。
Mr。 Carlyle was at Lynneborough。 He always had much business there at assize time and the /Nisi Prius/ Court； but the previous day he had not gone himself； Mr。 Dill had been dispatched to represent him。
Between seven and eight he returned home； and came into William's chamber。 The boy brightened up at the well…known presence。
〃Papa！〃
Mr。 Carlyle sat down on the bed and kissed him。 The passing beams of the sun； slanting from the horizon； shone into the room； and Mr。 Carlyle could view well the dying face。 The gray hue of death was certainly on it。
〃Is he worse？〃 he exclaimed hastily； to Madame Vine； who was jacketed； and capped； and spectacled； and tied up round the throat； and otherwise disguised； in her universal fashion。
〃He appears worse this evening； sirmore weak。〃
〃Papa；〃 panted William； 〃is the trial over？〃
〃What trial； my boy？〃
〃Sir Francis Levison's。〃
〃It was over yesterday。 Never trouble your head about him； my brave boy； he is not worth it。〃
〃But I want to know。 Will they hang him？〃
〃He is sentenced to it。〃
〃Did he kill Hallijohn？〃
〃Yes。 Who has been talking to him upon the subject？〃 Mr。 Carlyle continued to Madame Vine； with marked displeasure in his tone。
〃Wilson mentioned it； sir；〃 was the low answer。
〃Oh； papa！ What will he do？ Will Jesus forgive /him/？〃
〃We must hope it。〃
〃Do you hope it； papa？〃
〃Yes。 I wish that all the world may be forgiven； William； whatever may have been their sins。 My child； how restless you seem！〃
〃I can't keep in one place； the bed gets wrong。 Pull me up on the pillow； will you Madame Vine？〃
Mr。 Carlyle gently lifted the boy himself。
〃Madame Vine is an untiring nurse to you； William；〃 he observed； gratefully casting a glance toward her in the distance； where she had retreated； and was shaded by the window curtain。
William made no reply； he seemed to be trying to recall something。 〃I forget！ I forget！〃
〃Forget what？〃 asked Mr。 Carlyle。
〃It was something I wanted to ask you； or to tell you。 Isn't Lucy come home？〃
〃I suppose not。〃
〃Papa； I want Joyce。〃
〃I will send her home to you。 I am going for your mamma after dinner。〃
〃For mamma？oh； I remember now。 Papa； how shall I know mamma in Heaven？ Not this mamma。〃
Mr。 Carlyle did not immediately reply。 The question may have puzzled him。 William continued hastily； possibly mistaking the motive of the silence。
〃She /will/ be in Heaven； you know。〃
〃Yes； yes； child；〃 speaking hurriedly。
〃Madame Vine knows she will。 She saw her abroad； and mamma told her thatwhat was it； madame？〃
Madame Vine grew sick with alarm。 Mr。 Carlyle turned his eyes upon her scarlet faceas much as he could get to see of it。 She would have escaped from the room if she could。
〃Mamma was more sorry than she could bear；〃 went on William； finding he was not helped。 〃She wanted you； papa； and she wanted us； and her heart broke； and she died。〃
A flush rose to Mr。 Carlyle's brow。 He turned inquiringly to Madame Vine。
〃Oh； I beg your pardon； sir；〃 she murmured； with desperate energy。 〃I ought not to have spoken； I ought not to have interfered in your family affairs。 I spoke only as I thought it must be； sir。 The boy seemed troubled about his mother。〃
Mr。 Carlyle was at sea。 〃Did you meet his mother abroad？ I scarcely understand。〃
She lifted her hand and covered her glowing face。 〃No； sir。〃 Surely the recording angel blotted out the words！ If ever a prayer for forgiveness went up from an aching heart； it must have gone up then； for the equivocation over her child's death…bed！
Mr。 Carlyle went toward her。 〃Do you perceive the change in his countenance？〃 he whispered。
〃Yes； sir。 He has looked like this since a strange fit of trembling that came on in the afternoon。 Wilson thought he might be taken for death。 I fear that some four and twenty hours will end it。〃
Mr。 Carlyle rested his elbow on the window frame； and his hand upon his brow； his drooping eyelids falling over his eyes。 〃It is hard to lose him。〃
〃Oh； sir； he will be better off！〃 she wailed； choking down the sobs and the emotion that arose threateningly。 〃We /can/ bear death； it is not the worst parting that the earth knows。 He will be quit of this cruel world； sheltered in Heaven。 I wish we were all there！〃
A servant came to say that Mr。 Carlyle's dinner was served； and he proceeded to it with what appetite he had。 When he returned to the sick room the daylight had faded； and a solitary candle was placed where its rays could not fall upon the child's face。 Mr。 Carlyle took the light in his hand to scan that face again。 He was lying sideways on the pillow； his hollow breath echoing through the room。 The light caused him to open his eyes。
〃Don't； papa； please。 I like it dark。〃
〃Only for a moment； my precious boy。〃 And not for more than a moment did Mr。 Carlyle hold it。 The blue； pinched； ghastly look was there yet。 Death was certainly coming on quick。
At that moment Lucy and Archibald came in； on their return from their visit to Miss Carlyle。 The dying boy looked up eagerly。
〃Good…bye； Lucy；〃 he said； putting out his cold； damp hand。
〃I am not going out；〃 replied Lucy。 〃We have but just come home。〃
〃Good…bye； Lucy；〃 repeated he。
She laid hold of the little hand then； leaned over； and kissed him。 〃Good…bye； William； but indeed I am not going out anywhere。〃
〃I am；〃 said he。 〃I am going to Heaven。 Where's Archie？〃
Mr。 Carlyle lifted Archie on to the bed。 Lucy looked frightened； Archie surprised。
〃Archie； good…bye； good…bye； dear； I am going to Heaven； to that bright； blue sky； you know。 I shall see mamma there； and I'll tell her that you and Lucy are coming soon。〃
Lucy； a sensitive child； broke into a loud storm of sobs； enough to disturb the equanimity of any sober sick room。 Wilson hastened in at the sound； and Mr。 Carlyle sent the two children away； with soothing promises that they should see William in the morning； if he continued well enough。
Down on her knees； her face buried in the counterpane； a corner of it stuffed into her mouth that it might help to stifle her agony； knelt Lady Isabel。 The moment's excitement was well nigh beyond her strength of endurance。 Her own childhis childthey alone around its death… bed； and she might not ask or receive a word of comfort； of consolation！
Mr。 Carlyle glanced at her as he caught her choking sobs just as he would have glanced at any other attentive governessfeeling her sympathy； doubtless； but nothing more； she was not heart and part with him and his departing boy。 Lower and lower bent he over that boy； for his eyes were wet。 〃Don't cry； papa；〃 whispered William； raising his feeble hand caressingly to his father's cheek； 〃I am not afraid to go。 Jesus is coming for me。〃
〃Afraid to go！ Indeed I hope not； my gentle boy。 You are going to God t