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stressing blush which this gaze called into her cheeks。 〃It's very odd；〃 thought Miss Corny。 〃The likeness； especially in the eyes； is Where are you going； madame？〃
They were passing a spectacle shop； and Madame Vine had halted at the door； one foot on its step。 〃I must have my glasses to be mended； if you please。〃
Miss Carlyle followed her in。 She pointed out what she wanted done to the old glasses； and said she would buy a pair of new ones to wear while the job was about。 The man had no blue ones； no green； plenty of white。 One ugly； old pair of green things he had； with tortoise…shell rims； left by some stranger； ages and ages ago； to be mended； and never called for again。 This very pair of ugly old green things was chosen by Lady Isabel。 She put them on； there and then； Miss Carlyle's eyes searching her face inquisitively all the time。
〃Why do you wear glasses？〃 began Miss Corny； abruptly as soon as they were indoors。
Another deep flush； and an imperceptible hesitation。
〃My eyes are not strong。〃
〃They look as strong as eyes can look。 But why wear colored glasses？ White ones would answer every purpose； I should suppose。〃
〃I am accustomed to colored ones。 I should not like white ones now。〃
Miss Corny paused。
〃What is your Christian name； madame？〃 began she； again。
〃Jane；〃 replied madame； popping out an unflinching story in her alarm。
〃Here！ Here！ What's up？ What's this？〃
It was a crowd in the street； and rather a noisy one。 Miss Corny flew to the window； Lady Isabel in her wake。 Two crowds； it may almost be said； for； from the opposite way； the scarlet…and…purple partyas Mr。 Carlyle's was called； in allusion to his colorscame in view。 Quite a collection of gentlemenMr。 Carlyle and Lord Mount Severn heading them。
What could it mean； the mob they were encountering？ The yellow party； doubtless； but in a disreputable condition。 Who or what /was/ that object in advance of it； supported between Drake and the lawyer； and looking like a drowned rat； hair hanging； legs tottering； cheeks shaking； and clothes in tatters； while the mob； behind； had swollen to the length of the street； and was keeping up a perpetual fire of derisive shouts； groans； and hisses。 The scarlet…and…purple halted in consternation； and Lord Mount Severn； whose sight was not as good as it had been twenty years back； stuck his pendent eye glasses astride on the bridge of his nose。
/Sir Francis Levison？/ Could it be？ Yes； it actually was！ What on earth had put him into that state？ Mr。 Carlyle's lip curled； he continued his way and drew the peer with him。
〃What the deuce is a…gate now？〃 called out the followers of Mr。 Carlyle。 〃That's Levison！ Has he been in a railway smash； and got drenched by the engine？〃
〃He has been /ducked/！〃 grinned the yellows； in answer。 〃They have been and ducked him in the rush pool on Mr。 Justice Hare's land。〃
The soaked and miserable man increased his speed as much as his cold and trembling legs would allow him； he would have borne on without legs at all； rather than remain under the enemy's gaze。 The enemy loftily continued their way； their heads in the air； and scorning further notice； all； save young Lord Vane。 He hovered round the ranks of the unwashed； and looked vastly inclined to enter upon an Indian jig； on his own account。
〃What a thundering ass I was to try it on at West Lynne！〃 was the enraged comment of the sufferer。
Miss Carlyle laid her hand upon the shrinking arm of her pale companion。
〃You see himmy brother Archibald？〃
〃I see him；〃 faltered Lady Isabel。
〃And you see /him/； that pitiful outcast； who is too contemptible to live？ Look at the two； and contrast them。 Look well。〃
〃Yes！〃 was the gaping answer。
〃The woman who called him； that noble man； husband； quitted him for the other！ Did she come to repentance； think you？〃
You may wonder that the submerged gentleman should be /walking/ through the streets； on his way to his quarters； the Raven Innfor he had been ejected from the Buck's Headbut he could not help himself。 As he was dripping and swearing on the brink of the pond； wondering how he should get to the Raven； an empty fly drove past； and Mr。 Drake immediately stopped it； but when the driver saw that he was expected to convey not only a passenger； but a tolerable quantity of water as well； and that the passenger； moreover； was Sir Francis Levison； he refused the job。 His fly was fresh lined with red velvet； and he 〃weren't a going to have it spoilt；〃 he called out； as he whipped his horse and drove away； leaving the three in wrathful despair。 Sir Francis wanted another conveyance procured； his friends urged that if he waited for that he might catch his death； and that the shortest way would be to hasten to the inn on foot。 He objected。 But his jaws were chattering； his limbs were quaking； so they seized him between them； and made off； but never bargained for the meeting of Mr。 Carlyle and his party。 Francis Levison would have stopped in the pond； of his own accord； head downward； rather than faced /them/。
Miss Carlyle went that day to dine at East Lynne； walking back with Mrs。 Carlyle； Madame Vine and Lucy。 Lord Vane found them out； and returned at the same time； of course East Lynne was the headquarters of himself and his father。 He was in the seventh heaven； and had been ever since the encounter with the yellows。
〃You'd have gone into laughing convulsions； Lucy had you seen the drowned cur。 I'd give all my tin for six months to come to have a photograph of him as he looked then！〃
Lucy laughed in glee； she was unconscious； poor child； how deeply the 〃drowned cur〃 had injured her。
When Miss Carlyle was in her dressing…room taking her things offthe room where once had slept Richard Hareshe rang for Joyce。 These two rooms were still kept for Miss Carlylefor she did sometimes visit them for a few daysand were distinguished by her name〃Miss Carlyle's rooms。〃
〃A fine row we have had in the town； Joyce； this afternoon。〃
〃I have heard of it； ma'am。 Served him right； if they had let him drown！ Bill White； Squire Pinner's plowman； called in here and told us the news。 He'd have burst with it； if he hadn't； I expect； I never saw a chap so excited。 Peter cried。〃
〃Cried？〃 echoed Miss Carlyle。
〃Well； ma'am； you know he was very fond of Lady Isabel； was Peter； and somehow his feelings overcame him。 He said he had not heard anything to please him so much for many a day； and with that he burst out crying； and gave Bill White half a crown out of his pocket。 Bill White said it was he who held one leg when they soused him in。 Afy saw it if you'll excuse me mentioning her name to you； ma'am； for I know you don't think well of herand when she got in here； she fell into hysterics。〃
〃How did she see it？〃 snapped Miss Carlyle； her equanimity upset by the sound of the name。 〃I didn't see her； and I was present。〃
〃She was coming here with a message from Mrs。 Latimer to the governess。〃
〃What did she go into hysterics for？〃 again snapped Miss Carlyle。
〃It upset her so； she said；〃 returned Joyce。
〃It wouldn't have done her harm had they ducked her too；〃 was the angry response。
Joyce was silent。 To contradict Miss Corny brought triumph to nobody。 And she was conscious； in her innermost heart； that Afy merited a little wholesome correction； not perhaps to the extent of a ducking。
〃Joyce；〃 resumed Miss Carlyle； abruptly changing the subject； 〃who does the governess put you in mind of？〃
〃Ma'am？〃 repeated Joyce； in some surprise； as it appeared。 〃The governess？ Do you mean Madame Vine？〃
〃Do I mean you； or do I mean me？ Are we governesses？〃 irascibly cried Miss Corny。 〃Who should I mean； but Madame Vine？〃
She turned herself round from the looking…glass； and gazed full in Joyce's face； waiting for the answer。 Joyce lowered her voice as she gave it。
〃There are times when she puts me in mind of my late lady both in her face and manner。 But I have never said so； ma'am； for you know Lady Isabel's name must be an interdicted one in this house。〃
〃Have you seen her without her glasses？〃
〃No； never；〃 said Joyce。
〃I did to…day；〃 returned Miss Carlyle。 〃And I can tell you； Joyce； that I was confounded at the likeness。 It is an extraordinary likeness。 One would think it was a ghost of Lady Isabel Vane come into the world again。〃
That evening after dinner； Miss Carlyle and Lord Mount Severn sat side by side on the same sofa； coffee cups in hand。 Miss Carlyle turned to the earl。
〃Was it a positively ascertained fact that Lady Isabel died？〃
The earl stared with all his might； he thought it the strangest question that ever was asked him。 〃I scarcely understand you； Miss Carlyle。 Died？ Certainly she died。〃
〃When the result of the accident was communicated to you； you made inquiry yourself into its truth； its details； I believe？〃
〃It was my duty to do so。 There was no one else to undertake it。〃
〃Did you ascertain positively； beyond all doubt； that she did die？〃
〃Of a surety I did。 She died in the course of the same night。 Terribly injured she was。〃
A pause。 Miss Carlyle was ruminating。 But she returned to the charge； as if difficult to be convinced。
〃You deem that there could be no possibility of an error？ You are su