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〃Wilson；〃 harshly interrupted Joyce； 〃have the goodness to recollect yourself。〃
〃What have I said not？ Nothing but truth。 Men are shamefully fickle； husbands worse than sweethearts； and I'm sure I'm not thinking of anything wrong。 But to go back to the argument that we began withI say that if anything happened to my lady； Miss Barbara； as sure as fate； would step into her shoes。〃
〃Nothing is going to happen to her；〃 continued Joyce； with composure。
〃I hope it is not； now or laterfor the sake of this dear little innocent thing upon my lap；〃 went on the undaunted Wilson。 〃She would not make a very kind stepmother； for it is certain that where the first wife had been hated； her children won't be loved。 She would turn Mr。 Carlyle against them〃
〃I tell you what it is； Wilson；〃 interrupted Joyce； in a firm； unmistakable tone； 〃if you think to pursue those sort of topics at East Lynne； I shall inform my lady that you are unsuitable for the situation。〃
〃I dare say！〃
〃And you know that when I make up my mind to a thing I do it；〃 continued Joyce。 〃Miss Carlyle may well say you have the longest tongue in West Lynne； but you might have the grace to know that this subject is one more unsuitable to it than another； whether you are eating Mr。 Hare's bread； or whether you are eating Mr。 Carlyle's。 Another word； Wilson； it appears to me that you have been carrying on a prying system in Mrs。 Hare's housedo not attempt such a thing in this。〃
〃You were always one of the straight…laced sort； Joyce；〃 cried Wilson； laughing good…humoredly。 〃But now that I have had my say out； I shall stop； and you need not fear I shall be such a simpleton as to go prattling of this kind of thing to the servants。〃
Now just fancy this conversation penetrating to Lady Isabel！ She heard every word。 It is all very well to oppose the argument； 〃Who attends to the gossip of the servants？〃 Let me tell you it depends upon what the subject may be； whether the gossip is attended to or not。 It might not； and indeed would not； have made so great an impression upon her had she been in strong health； but she was weak； feverish； and in a state of partial delirium； and she hastily took up the idea that Archibald Carlyle had never loved her； that he had admired her and made her his wife in his ambition； but that his heart had been given to Barbara Hare。
A pretty state of excitement she worked herself into as she lay there； jealousy and fever； ay； and love too； playing pranks with her brain。 It was near the dinner hour； and when Mr。 Carlyle entered； he was startled to see her； her pallid cheeks were burning with a red hectic glow； and her eyes glistened with fever。
〃Isabel； you are worse！〃 he uttered； as he approached her with a quick step。
She partially rose from the sofa； and clasped hold of him in her emotion。 〃Oh； Archibald！ Archibald！〃 she uttered； 〃don't marry her！ I could not rest in my grave。〃
Mr。 Carlyle； in his puzzled astonishment； believed her to be laboring under some temporary hallucination； the result of weakness。 He set himself to soothe her； but it seemed that she could not be soothed。 She burst into a storm of tears and began againwild words。
〃She would ill…treat my child； she would draw your love from it； and from my memory。 Archibald； you must not marry her！〃
〃You must be speaking from the influence of a dream； Isabel；〃 he soothingly said； 〃you have been asleep and are not yet awake。 Be still； and recollection will return to you。 There； love； rest upon me。〃
〃To think of her as your wife brings pain enough to kill me；〃 she continued to reiterate。 〃Promise me that you will not marry her； Archibald； promise it！〃
〃I will promise you anything in reason；〃 he replied； bewildered with her words； 〃but I do not know what you mean。 There is no possibility of my marrying any one； Isabel； you are my wife。〃
〃But if I die？ I mayyou know I may； and many think I shalldo not let her usurp my place。〃
〃Indeed she shall notwhoever you may be talking of。 What have you been dreaming？ Who is it that has been troubling your mind？〃
〃Archibald； do you need to ask？ Did you love no one before you married me？ Perhaps you have loved her sinceperhaps you love her still？〃
Mr。 Carlyle began to discern 〃method in her madness。〃 He changed his cheering tone to one of grave earnestness。 〃Of whom to you speak； Isabel？〃
〃Of Barbara Hare。〃
He knitted his brow； he was both annoyed and vexed。 Whatever had put this bygone nonsense into his wife's head？ He quitted the sofa where he had been supporting her； and stood upright before her； calm； dignified； almost solemn in his seriousness。
〃Isabel； what notion can you possibly have picked up about myself and Barbara Hare； I never entertained the faintest shadow of love for her； either before my marriage or since。 You must tell me what has given rise to this idea in your mind。〃
〃But she loved you。〃
A moment's hesitation； for； of course； Mr。 Carlyle was conscious that she had； but； taking all the circumstances into consideration； more especially how he learnt the fact； he could not； in honor； acknowledge it to his wife。 〃If it was so； Isabel； she was more reprehensibly foolish than I should have given Barbara's good sense could be； for a woman may almost as well lose herself as to suffer herself to love unsought。 If she did give her love to me； I can only say； I was entirely unconscious of it。 Believe me； you have as much cause to be jealous of Cornelia as you have of Barbara Hare。〃
An impulse rose within her that she would tell him all； the few words dropped by Susan and Joyce； twelve months before； the conversation she had just overheard； but in that moment of renewed confidence； it did appear to her that she must have been very foolish to attach importance to itthat a sort of humiliation； in listening to the converse of servants； was reflected on her； and she remained silent。
There never was a passion in this worldthere never will be oneso fantastic； so delusive； so powerful as jealousy。 Mr。 Carlyle dismissed the episode from his thoughts； he believed his wife's emotion to have been simply from a feverish dream； and never supposed but that； with the dream； its recollection would pass away from her。 Not so。 Implicitly relying upon her husband's words at the moment； feeling quite ashamed at her own suspicion； Lady Isabel afterward suffered the unhappy fear to regain its influence； the ill…starred revelations of Wilson reasserted their power； overmastering the denial of Mr。 Carlyle。 Shakspeare calls jealousy yellow and green； I think it may be called black and white for it most assuredly views white as black； and black as white。 The most fanciful surmises wear the aspect of truth； the greatest improbabilities appear as consistent realities。 Not another word said Isabel to her husband； and the feelingyou will understand this if you have ever been foolish enough to sun yourself in its delightsonly caused her to grow more attached to him； to be more eager for his love。 But certain it is that Barbara Hare dwelt on her heart like an incubus。
CHAPTER XIX。
CAPTAIN THORN AT WEST LYNNE。
〃Barbara； how fine the day seems！〃
〃It is a beautiful day mamma。〃
〃I do think I should be all the better for going out。〃
〃I am sure you would； mamma；〃 was Barbara's answer。 〃If you went out more； you would find the benefit。 Every fine day you ought to do so。 I will go and ask papa if he can spare Benjamin and the carriage。〃 She waltzed gaily out of the room； but returned in a moment。
〃Mamma； it is all right。 Benjamin is gone to get the carriage ready。 You would like a bit of luncheon before you goI will order the tray。〃
〃Anything you please； dear；〃 said the sweet…tempered gentlewoman。 〃I don't know why； but I feel glad to go out to…day； perhaps because it is lovely。〃
Benjamin made ready his carriage and himself； and drove out of the yard at the back； and brought the carriage round to the front gate。
The carriageor phaeton as it was often calledwas a somewhat old fashioned concern； as many country things are apt to be。 A small box in front for the driver； and a wide seat with a head behind； accommodating Barbara well between them when Mr。 and Mrs。 Hare both sat in。
Benjamin drew the rug carefully over his mistress's kneesthe servants did not like Mr。 Hare； but would have laid down their lives for herascended to his box； and drove them to their destination； the linen draper's。 It was an excellent shop； situated a little beyond the office of Mr。 Carlyle； and Mrs。 Hare and Barbara were soon engaged in that occupation said to possess for all women a fascination。 They had been in about an hour； when Mrs。 Hare discovered that her bag was missing。
〃I must have left it in the carriage； Barbara。 Go and bring it； will you； my dear？ The pattern of that silk is in it。〃
Barbara went out。 The carriage and Benjamin and the sleek old horse were all waiting drowsily together。 Barbara could not see the bag； and she appealed to the servant。
〃Find mamma's bag； Benjamin。 It must be somewhere in the carriage。〃
Benjamin got off his box and began to search。 Barbara waited； gazing listlessly down the street。 The sun was shining brilliantly； and its rays fell upon the large cable chain of a gent