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ight his wife； she severed from him forever and forever！
She scarcely raised her head； she tightened her thick veil over her face； she kept her spectacles bent toward the ground。 Lucy thought she must be crying； she never had seen anyone so still at church before。 Lucy was mistaken； tears came not to solace the bitter anguish of hopeless； self…condemning remorse。 How she sat out the service she could not tell； she could not tell how she could sit out other services； as the Sundays came round！ The congregation did not forget to stare at her。 What an extraordinary looking governess Mrs。 Carlyle had picked up！
They went out when it was over。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Carlyle in advance； she； humbly following them with Lucy。 She glanced aside at the tomb in the churchyard's corner； where moldered the remains of her father； and a yearning cry went forth from the very depth of her soul。 〃Oh； that I were laid there with him！ Why did I come back again to East Lynne？〃
Why； truly？ But she had never thought that her cross would be so sharp as this。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
AN M。 P。 FOR WEST LYNNE。
As this is not a history of the British constitution； it does not concern it to relate how or why West Lynne got into hot water with the House of Commons。 The House threatened to disfranchise it； and West Lynne under the fear； went into mourning for its sins。 The threat was not carried out； but one of the sitting members was unseated with ignominy； and sent to the right about。 Being considerably humiliated thereby； and in disgust with West Lynne； he retired accordingly； and a fresh writ was issued。 West Lynne then returned the Hon。 Mr。 Attley； a county nobleman's son； but he died in the very midst of his first session； and another writ had to be issued。
Of course the consideration now was； who should be the next lucky man fixed upon。 All the notables within ten miles were discussed； not excepting the bench justices。 Mr。 Justice Hare？ No！ he was too uncompromising； he would study his own will； but not that of West Lynne。 Squire Pinner？ He never made a speech in his life； and had not an idea beyond turnips and farming stock。 Colonel Bethel？ He had no money to spend upon an election。 Sir John Dobede？ He was too old。 〃By a good twenty years；〃 laughed Sir John； to himself。 〃But here we stand； like a pack of noodles； conning over the incapables； and passing by the right one；〃 continued Sir John。 〃There's only one man amongst us fit to be our member。〃
〃Who's that？〃 cried the meeting。
〃Archibald Carlyle。〃
A pause of consternationconsternation at their collective forgetfulnessand then a loud murmur of approaching to a shout； filled the room。 Archibald Carlyle。 It should be no other。
〃If we can get him；〃 cried Sir John。 〃He may decline； you know。〃
The best thing； all agreed； was to act promptly。 A deputation； half the length of the streetits whole length； if you include the tagrag and bobtail that attended behindset off on the spur of the moment to the office of Mr。 Carlyle。 They found that gentleman about to leave it for the evening； to return home to dinner； for； in the discussion of the all…important topic； the meeting had suffered time to run on to a late hour； those gentlemen who dined at a somewhat earlier one had； for once in their lives； patiently allowed their dinners and their stomachs to waitwhich is saying a great deal for the patience of a justice。
Mr。 Carlyle was taken by surprise。 〃Make me your member？〃 cried he； merrily。 〃How do you know I should not sell you all？〃
〃We'll trust you； Carlyle。 Too happy to do it。〃
〃I am not sure that I could spare the time；〃 deliberated Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Now； Carlyle； you must remember that you avowed to me； no longer than last Christmas； your intention of going into parliament some time；〃 struck in Mr。 Justice Herbert。 〃You can't deny it。〃
〃Some time！yes；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle； 〃but I did not say when。 I have no thoughts of it yet awhile。〃
〃You must allow us to put you in nominationyou must； indeed； Mr。 Carlyle。 There's nobody else fit for it。 As good send a pig to the House as some of us。〃
〃An extremely flattering reason for proposing to shift the honor upon me；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Well； you know what we mean； Carlyle； there's not a man in the whole county so suitable as you； search it to the extremity of its boundariesyou must know there is not。〃
〃I don't know anything of the sort；〃 returned Mr。 Carlyle。
〃At any rate； we shall do it； for we have determined upon having you。 When you walk into West Lynne to…morrow； you'll see the walks alive with placards； 'Carlyle forever！' 〃
〃Suppose you allow me until to…morrow to consider of it； and defer the garnishing of the walls a day later；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； a serious tone peeping out in the midst of his jocularity。
〃You do not fear the expenses？〃
It was but a glance he returned in answer。 As soon as the question had been putit was stupid old Pinner who propounded itthey had felt how foolish it was。 And indeed the cost would be a mere nothing； were there no opposition。
〃Come； decide now； Carlyle。 Give us your promise。〃
〃If I decide now； it will be in the negative；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。 〃It is a question that demands consideration。 Give me till to…morrow for that； and it is possible that I may accede to your request。〃
This was the best that could be made of him； and the deputation backed out； and as nothing more could be done； departed to their several dinner…tables。 Mr。 Dill； who had been present； remained rubbing his hands with satisfaction； and casting admiring glances at Mr。 Carlyle。
〃What's the matter； Dill？〃 asked the latter； 〃you look as though you were pleased at this movement； and assumed that I should accept it。〃
〃And so you will； Mr。 Archibald。 And as to the looking pleased； there's not a man； woman or child in West Lynne who won't do that。〃
〃Don't make too sure； Dill。〃
〃Of which； sirof your becoming our member； or of the people looking pleased？〃
〃Of either；〃 laughed Mr。 Carlyle。
He quitted the office to walk home； revolving the proposition as he did so。 That he had long thought of some time entering parliament was certain； though no definite period of the 〃when〃 had fixed itself in his mind。 He saw not why he should confine his days entirely to toil； to the work of his calling。 Pecuniary considerations did not require it； for his realized property； combined with the fortune brought by Barbara； was quite sufficient to meet expenses； according to their present style of living。 Not that he had the least intention of giving up his business； it was honorable； as he conducted it； and lucrative； and he really liked it。 He would not have been condemned to lead an idle life for the world； but there was no necessity for his being always at it。 Mr。 Dill made as good a principal as he did； andif length of service and experience might be counteda better one。 He could safely be left to manage during the time it would be necessary for him； Mr。 Carlyle； to be in London。 He would rather represent West Lynne than any other spot on the face of the earth； no matter what might be the other's importance； and； as West Lynne was now in want of a member； perhaps his opportunity had come。 That he would make a good and efficient public servant； he believed； his talents were superior； his oratory persuasive； and he had the gift of a true and honest spirit。 That he would have the interest of West Lynne； at heart was certain； and he knew that he should serve his constituents to the very best of his power and ability。 They knew it also。
Before Mr。 Carlyle had reached East Lynne； he had decided that it should be。
It was a fine spring evening。 The lilac was in bloom； the hedges and trees were clothed in their early green； and all things seemed full of promise。 Even Mr。 Carlyle's heart was rejoicing in the prospect opened to it； he was sure he should like a public life； but in the sanguine moments of realization or of hope； some dark shade will step in to mar the brightness。
Barbara stood at the drawing…room window watching for him。 Not in her was the dark shade； her dress was a marvel of vanity and prettiness； and she had chosen to place on her fair hair a dainty headdress of laceas if her hair required any such ornament！ She waltzed up to Mr。 Carlyle when he entered； and saucily held up her face； the light of love dancing in her bright blue eyes。
〃What do you want？〃 he provokingly asked； putting his hands behind him； and letting her stand there。
〃Oh； wellif you won't say good…evening to me； I have a great mind to say you should not kiss me for a week； Archibald。〃
He laughed。 〃Who would be punished by that？〃 whispered he。
Barbara pouted her pretty lips； and the tears positively came into her eyes。 〃Which is as much as to say it would be no punishment to you。 Archibald； /don't/ you care for me？〃
He threw his arms around her and clasped her to his heart； taking plenty of kisses then。 〃You know whether I care not；〃 he fondly whispered。
But now； will you believe that that unfortunate Lady Isabel had been a witness to this？ Well； it was only what his greeting to her had once been。 Her pale face flushed scarlet； and she glided out of the room again as softly as she had entered it。 They had not se