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And this interview with Bethel brought him no nearer the point he wished to find outwhether this Thorn was the same man。 In walking back to his office he met Mr。 Tom Herbert。
〃Does Captain Thorn purpose making a long stay with you？〃 he stopped him to inquire。
〃He's gone； I have just seen him off by the train；〃 was the reply of Tom Herbert。 〃It seemed rather slow with him without Jack； so he docked his visit； and says he'll pay us one when Jack's to the fore。〃
As Mr。 Carlyle went home to dinner that evening； he entered the grove； ostensibly to make a short call on Mrs。 Hare。 Barbara； on the tenterhooks of impatience； accompanied him outside when he departed； and walked down the path。
〃What have you learnt？〃 she eagerly asked。
〃Nothing satisfactory；〃 was the reply of Mr。 Carlyle。 〃And the man has left again。〃
〃Left？〃 uttered Barbara。
Mr。 Carlyle explained。 He told her how they had come to his house the previous evening after Barbara's departure； and his encounter with Tom Herbert that day； he mentioned； also； his interview with Bethel。
〃Can he have gone on purpose； fearing consequences？〃 wondered Barbara。
〃Scarcely； or why should he have come？〃
〃You did not suffer any word to escape you last night causing him to suspect for a moment that he was hounded？〃
〃Not any。 You would make a bad lawyer； Barbara。〃
〃Who or what is he？〃
〃An officer in her majesty's service； in John Herbert's regiment。 I ascertained no more。 Tom said he was of good family。 But I cannot help suspecting it is the same man。〃
〃Can nothing more be done？〃
〃Nothing in the present stage of the affair；〃 continued Mr。 Carlyle； as he passed through the gate to continue his way。 〃We can only wait on again with what patience we may； hoping that time will bring about its own elucidation。〃
Barbara pressed her forehead down on the cold iron of the gate as his footsteps died away。 〃Aye； to wait on；〃 she murmured； 〃to wait on in dreary pain； to wait on； perhaps； for years； perhaps forever！ And poor Richardwearing out his days in poverty and exile！〃
CHAPTER XX。
GOING FROM HOME。
〃I should recommend a complete change of scene altogether； Mr。 Carlyle。 Say some place on the French or Belgian coast。 Sea bathing might do wonders。〃
〃Should you think it well for her to go so far from home？〃
〃I should。 In these cases of protracted weakness； where you can do nothing but try to coax the strength back again； change of air and scene are of immense benefit。〃
〃I will propose it to her；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。
〃I have just done so；〃 replied Dr。 Martin； who was the other speaker。 〃She met it with objection； which I expected； for invalids naturally feel a disinclination to move from home。 But it is necessary that she should go。〃
The object of their conversation was Lady Isabel。 Years had gone on； and there were three children now at East LynneIsabel； William； and Archibaldthe latter twelve months old。 Lady Isabel had； a month or two back； been attacked with illness； she recovered from the disorder； but it had left her in an alarming state of weakness； she seemed to get worse instead of better； and Dr。 Martin was summoned from Lynneborough。 The best thing he could recommendas you save seenwas change of air。
Lady Isabel was unwilling to take the advice； more especially to go so far as the 〃French coast。〃 And but for a circumstance that seemed to have happened purposely to induce her to decide； would probably never have gone。 Mrs。 Duciethe reader may not have forgotten her name had； in conjunction with her husband； the honorable Augustus； somewhat run out at the elbows； and found it convenient to enter for a time on the less expensive life of the Continent。 For eighteen months she had been staying in Paris； the education of her younger daughters being the plea put forth； and a very convenient plea it is； and serves hundreds。 Isabel had two or three letters from her during her absence； and she now received another； saying they were going to spend a month or two at Boulogne…sur…Mer。 Mr。 Carlyle； Mr。 Wainwright； and Dr。 Martinin short； everybodydeclared this must remove all Lady Isabel's unwillingness to go from home； for Mrs。 Ducie's society would do away with the loneliness she had anticipated； which had been the ostensible score of her objection。
〃Boulogne…sur…Mer； of all places； in the world！〃 remonstrated Lady Isabel。 〃It is spoken of as being crowded and vulgar。〃
〃The more amusing for you； my lady；〃 cried Dr。 Martin； while Mr。 Carlyle laughed at her。 And finding she had no chance against them all； she consented to go； and plans were hastily decided upon。
〃Joyce；〃 said Lady Isabel to her waiting maid； 〃I shall leave you at home； I must take Wilson instead。〃
〃Oh； my lady！ What have I done？〃
〃You have done all that you ought； Joyce； but you must stay with the children。 If I may not take them； the next best thing will be to leave them in your charge； not Miss Carlyle's；〃 she said； shaking her voice； 〃if it were Wilson who remained； I could not do that。〃
〃My lady； I must do whatever you think best。 I wish I could attend you and stay with them； but of course I cannot do both。〃
〃I am sent away to get health and strength； but it may be that I shall die； Joyce。 If I never come back； will you promise to remain with my children？〃
Joyce felt a creeping sensation in her veins； the sobs rose in her throat； but she swallowed them down and constrained her voice to calmness。 〃My lady； I hope you will come back to us as well as you used to be。 I trust you will hope so too； my lady； and not give way to low spirits。〃
〃I sincerely hope and trust I shall；〃 answered Lady Isabel； fervently。 〃Still； there's no telling； for I am very ill。 Joyce； give me your promise。 In case of the worst； you will remain with the children。〃
〃I will； my ladyas long as I am permitted。〃
〃And be kind to them and love them； and shield them fromfromany unkindness that may be put upon them；〃 she added； her head full of Miss Carlyle； 〃and talk to them sometimes of their poor mother； who is gone？〃
〃I will； I willoh my lady； I will！〃 And Joyce sat down in the rocking…chair as Lady Isabel quitted her； and burst into tears。
Mr。 Carlyle and Lady Isabel； with Wilson and Peter in attendance； arrived at Boulogne； and proceeded to the Hotel des Bains。 It may be as well to mention that Peter had been transferred from Miss Carlyle's service to theirs； when the establishment was first formed at East Lynne。 Upon entering the hotel they inquired for Mrs。 Ducie； and then a disappointment awaited them。 A letter was handed them which had arrived that morning from Mrs。 Ducie； expressing her regret that certain family arrangements prevented her visiting Boulogne； she was proceeding to some of the baths in Germany instead。
〃I might almost have known it；〃 remarked Isabel。 〃She was always the most changeable of women。〃
Mr。 Carlyle went out in search of lodgings； Isabel objecting to remain in the bustling hotel。 He succeeded in finding some very desirable ones； situated in the Rue de l'Ecu； near the port； and they moved into them。 He thought the journey had done her good； for she looked better； and said she already felt stronger。 Mr。 Carlyle remained with