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chance of my getting back to England？〃
〃Not the least；〃 was the candid answer； 〃unless you can manage to satisfy or partially satisfy those claims you have been telling me of。 Will not Sir Peter assist you？〃
〃I believe he would； were the case fairly represented to him； but how am I to get over to do it？ I have written several letters to him lately； and for some time I got no reply。 Then came an epistle from Lady Levison； not short and sweet； but short and sour。 It was to the effect that Sir Peter was ill； and could not at present be troubled with business matters。〃
〃He cannot be very ill；〃 remarked Mr。 Carlyle； 〃he passed through West Lynne； in his open carriage； a week ago。〃
〃He ought to help me；〃 grumbled Captain Levison。 〃I am his heir； so long as Lady Levison does not give him one。 I do not hear that she has expectations。〃
〃You should contrive to see him。〃
〃I know I should； but it is not possible under present circumstances。 With these thunder…clouds hanging over me； I dare not set foot in England； and run the risk to be dropped upon。 I can stand a few things； but I shudder at the bare idea of a prison。 Something peculiar in my idiosyncrasy； I take it； for those who have tried it； say that it's nothing when you're used to it。〃
〃Some one might see him for you。〃
〃Some onewho？ I have quarreled with my lawyers； Sharp & Steel； of Lincoln's Inn。〃
〃Keen practitioners；〃 put in Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Too keen for me。 I'd send them over the herring…pond if I could。 They have used me shamefully since my uncle's marriage。 If ever I do come into the Levison estates they'll be ready to eat their ears off； they would like a finger in a pie with such property as that。〃
〃Shall I see Sir Peter Levison for you？〃
〃/Will/ you？〃 returned Captain Levison； his dark eyes lighting up。
〃If you like as your friend； you understand； not as your solicitor； that I decline。 I have a slight knowledge of Sir Peter； my father was well acquainted with him； and if I can render you any little service； I shall be happy； in return for your kind attention to my wife。 I cannot promise to see him for those two or three weeks； though；〃 resumed Mr。 Carlyle； 〃for we are terribly busy。 I never was so driven； but for being so I should stay here with my wife。〃
Francis Levison expressed his gratitude； and the prospect； however remote； of being enabled to return to England increased his spirits to exultation。 Whilst they continued to converse； Lady Isabel sat at the window in the adjoining room； listlessly looking out on the crowds of French who were crowding to and from the port in their Sunday holiday attire。 Looking at them with her eyes； not with her sensesher senses were holding commune with herself； and it was not altogether satisfactoryshe was aware that a sensation all too warm； a feeling of attraction toward Francis Levison； was working within her。 Not a voluntary one； she could no more repress it than she could repress her own sense of being； and； mixed with it； was the stern voice of conscience； overwhelming her with the most lively terror。 She would have given all she possessed to be able to overcome it。 She would have given half the years of her future life to separate herself at once and forever from the man。
But do not mistake the word terror； or suppose that Lady Isabel Carlyle applied it here in the vulgar acceptation of the term。 She did not fear for herself； none could be more conscious of self…rectitude of principle and conduct； and she would have believed it as impossible for her ever to forsake her duty as a wife； a gentlewoman； and a Christian； as for the sun to turn round from west to east。 That was not the fear which possessed her； it had never presented itself to her mind； what she did fear was； that further companionship with Francis Levison might augment the sentiments she entertained for him to a height that her life； for perhaps years to come； would be one of unhappiness； a sort of concealment； and； more than all； she shrank form the consciousness of the bitter wrong that these sentiments cast upon her husband。
〃Archibald； I have a favor to ask you；〃 she said； after Captain Levison's departure。 〃Take me back with you。〃
〃Impossible； my love。 The change is doing you so much good； and I took the apartments for six weeks。 You must at least remain that time。〃
The color flowed painfully into her cheek。 〃I cannot stay without you； Archibald。〃
〃Tell me why。〃
〃I am so dull without you；〃 was all she could say。 He felt that this was not reason enough for altering an arrangement that was so beneficial to her； so he left her the following morning； commending her to the continued care of Captain Levison。
CHAPTER XXI。
QUITTING THE DANGER。
Lady Isabel was seated on one of the benches of the Petit Camp； as it is called； underneath the ramparts of the upper tower。 A week or ten days had passed away since the departure of Mr。 Carlyle； and in her health there was a further visible improvement。
It was still evening； cool for July； no sound was heard save the hum of the summer insects； and Lady Isabel sat in silence with her companion； her rebellious heart beating with a sense of its own happiness。 But for the voice of conscience； strong within her； but for the sense of right and wrong； but for the existing things； in short； but that she was a wife； she might have been content to sit by his side forever； never to wish to move or to break the silence。 Did he read her feelings？ He told her； months afterward； that he did； but it may have been a vain boast； an excuse。
〃Do you remember the evening； Lady Isabel； just such a one as this； that we all passed at Richmond？〃 he suddenly asked。 〃Your father； Mrs。 Vane； you； I and others？〃
〃Yes； I remember it。 We had spent a pleasant day； the two Miss Challoners were with us。 You drove Mrs。 Vane home； and I went with papa。 You drove recklessly； I recollect； and Mrs。 Vane said when we got home that you should never drive her again。〃
〃Which meant； not until the next time。 Of all capricious； vain； exacting women； Emma Vane was the worst； and Emma Mount Severn is no improvement upon it； she's a systematic flirt； and nothing better。 I drove recklessly on purpose to put her in a fright； and pay her off。〃
〃What had she done？〃
〃Put me in a rage。 She had saddled herself upon me； when I wantedI wished for another to be my companion。〃
〃Blanche Challoner。〃
〃Blanche Challoner！〃 echoed Captain Levison； in a mocking tone； 〃what did I care for Blanche Challoner？〃
Isabel remembered that he had been supposed in those days to care a great deal for Miss Blanche Challonera most lovely girl of seventeen。 〃Mrs。 Vane used to accuse you of caring too much for her；〃 she said； aloud。
〃She accused me of caring for some one else more than for Blanche Challoner；〃 he significantly returned； 〃and for once her jealous surmises were not misplaced。 No Lady Isabel； it was not Blanche Challoner I had wished to drive home。 Could you not have given a better guess than that at the time？〃 he added； turning to her。
There was no mistaking the tone of his voice or the glance of his eye。 Lady Isabel felt a crimson flush rising and she turned her face away。
〃The past is gone； and cannot be recalled；〃 he continued； 〃but we both played our cards like simpletons。 If ever two beings were formed to love each other； you and I were。 I sometimes thought you read my feelings〃
Surprise had kept her silent； but she interrupted him now； haughtily enough。
〃I must speak； Lady Isabel； it is but a few words； and then I am silent forever。 I would have declared myself had I dared； but my uncertain position； my debts； my inability to keep a wife； weighed me down； and； instead of appealing to Sir Peter； as I ought to have done； for the means to assume a position that would justify me in asking Lord Mount Severn's daughter； I crushed my hopes within me； and suffered you to escape〃
〃I will not hear this； Captain Levison；〃 she cried； rising from her seat in anger。
He touched her arm to place her on it again。
〃One single moment yet； I pray you。 I have for years wished that you should know why I lost youa loss that tells upon me yet。 I have bitterly worked out my own folly since I knew not how passionately I loved you until you became the wife of another。 Isabel； I love you passionately still。〃
〃How dare you presume so to address me？〃
She spoke in a cold； dignified tone of hauteur； as it was her bounden duty to speak； but； nevertheless； she was conscious of an undercurrent of feeling； whispering that； under other auspices； the avowal would have brought to her heart the most intense bliss。
〃What I have said can do no hurt now；〃 resumed Captain Levison； 〃the time has gone by for it； for neither you nor I are likely to forget that you are a wife。 We have each chosen our path in life； and must abide by it； the gulf between us is impassable but the fault was mine。 I ought to have avowed my affection； and not have suffered you to throw yourself away upon Mr。 Carlyle。〃
〃Throw myself away！〃 she indignantly uttered； roused to the retort。 〃Mr。 Carlyle is my dear husband； esteemed； respected； and beloved。 I married him of my own free choice； and I have never repented it； I have grown more attached