ng to…day？〃 she continued。 〃Papa is going to London with Squire Pinner to see those new agricultural implementsor whatever it is。 They are sure to be away as much as three days。 I was thinking if we could but persuade mamma to come to us for the time papa is to be away； it would be a delightful little change for hera break in her monotonous life。〃
〃I wish you could；〃 warmly spoke Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Her life； since you left； is a monotonous one； though； in her gentle patience； she will not say so。 It is a happy thought； Barbara； and I only hope it may be carried out。 Mrs。 Carlyle's mother is an invalid； and lonely； for she has no child at home with her now；〃 he added； in a spirit of politeness； addressing himself to Madame Vine。
She simply bowed her head； trust herself to speak she did not。 Mr。 Carlyle scanned her face attentively； as she sat； her spectacles bent downward。 She did not appear inclined to be sociable； and he turned to the baby； who was wider awake than ever。
〃Young sir； I should like to know what brings you up； and here； at this hour。〃
〃You may well ask；〃 said Barbara。 〃I just had him brought down； as you were not here； thinking he would be asleep directly。 And only look at him！no more sleep in his eyes than there is in mine。〃
She would have hushed him to her as she spoke； but the young gentleman stoutly repudiated it。 He set up a half cry； and struggled his arms； and head free again； crowing the next moment most impudently。 Mr。 Carlyle took him。
〃It is no use； Barbara； he is beyond your coaxing this evening。〃 And he tossed the child in his strong arms； held him up to the chandelier； made him bob at the baby in the pier…glass； until the rebel was in an ecstacy of delight。 Finally he smothered his face with kisses； as Barbara had done。 Barbara rang the bell。
Oh！ Can you imagine what it was for Lady Isabel？ So had he tossed； so had he kissed her children； she standing by； the fond； proud； happy mother； as Barbara was standing now。 Mr。 Carlyle came up to her。
〃Are you fond of these little troubles； Madame Vine？ This one is a fine fellow； they say。〃
〃Very fine。 What is his name？〃 she replied； by way of saying something。
〃Arthur。〃
〃Arthur Archibald；〃 put in Barbara to Madame Vine。 〃I was vexed that his name could not be entirely Archibald； but that was already monopolized。 Is that you； Wilson？ I don't know what you'll do with him； but he looks as if he would not be asleep by twelve o'clock。〃
Wilson； with a fresh satisfying of her curiosity； by taking another prolonged stare from the corner of her eyes at Madame Vine； received the baby from Mr。 Carlyle； and departed with him。
Madame Vine rose。 〃Would they excuse her？〃 she asked； in a low tone； 〃she was tired and would be glad to retire to rest。〃
〃Of course。 And anything she might wish in the way of refreshment； would she ring for？〃 Barbara shook hands with her； in her friendly way； and Mr。 Carlyle crossed the room to open the door for her； and bowed her out with a courtly smile。
She went up to her chamber at once。 To rest？ Well； what think you？ She strove to say to her lacerated and remorseful heart that the cross far heavier though it was proving than anything she had imagined or picturedwas only what she had brought upon herself； and /must/ bear。 Very true； but none of us would like such a cross to be upon our shoulders。
〃Is she not droll looking？〃 cried Barbara； when she was alone with Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I can't think why she wears those blue spectacles； it cannot be for her sight； and they are very disfiguring。〃
〃She puts me in mind ofof〃 began Mr。 Carlyle； in a dreamy tone。
〃Of whom？〃
〃Her face； I mean；〃 he said； still dreaming。
〃So little can be seen of it；〃 resumed Mrs。 Carlyle。 〃Of whom does she put you in mind？〃
〃I don't know。 Nobody in particular；〃 returned he； rousing himself。 〃Let us have tea in； Barbara。〃
CHAPTER XXXIV。
THE YEARNING OF A BREAKING HEART。
At her bedroom door； the next morning； stood Lady Isabel； listening whether the coast was clear ere she descended to the gray parlor； for she had a shrinking dread of encountering Mr。 Carlyle。 When he was glancing narrowly at her face the previous evening she had felt the gaze； and it impressed upon her the dread of his recognition。 Not only that； he was the husband of another； therefore it was not expedient that she should see too much of him； for he was far dearer to her than he had ever been。
Almost at the same moment there burst out of a remote roomthe nurseryan upright； fair； noble boy； of some five years old； who began careering along on the corridor； astride upon a hearth…broom。 She did not need to be told it was her boy； Archibald； his likeness to Mr。 Carlyle would have proclaimed it； even if her heart had not。 In an impulse of unrestrainable tenderness； she seized the child； as he was galloping past her； and carried him into her room； broom and all。
〃You must let me make acquaintance with you；〃 she said to him by way of excuse。 〃I love little boys。〃
Love！ Down she sat upon a low chair； the child held upon her lap； kissing him passionately； and the tears raining from her eyes。 She could not have helped the tears had it been to save her life； she could as little have helped the kisses。 Lifting her eyes； there stood Wilson； who had entered without ceremony。 A sick feeling came over Lady Isabel： she felt as if she had betrayed herself。 All that could be done now； was to make the best of it； to offer some lame excuse。 What possessed her thus to forget herself？
〃He did so put me in remembrance of my own children；〃 she said to Wilson； gulping down her emotion； and hiding her tears in the best manner she could； whilst the astonished Archibald； released now； stood with his finger in his mouth and stared at her spectacles； his great blue eyes opened to their utmost width。 〃When we have lost children of our own； we are apt to love fondly all we come near。〃
Wilson； who stared only in a less degree than Archie； for she deemed the new governess had gone suddenly mad； gave some voluble assent； and turned her attention upon Archie。
〃You naughty young monkey！ How dare you rush out in that way with Sarah's heart…broom？ I'll tell you what it is； sir； you are getting a might deal too owdacious and rumbustical for the nursery。 I shall speak to your mamma about it。〃
She seized hold of the child and shook him。 Lady Isabel started forward； her hands up； her voice one of painful entreaty。
〃Oh； don't； don't beat him！ I cannot see him beaten。〃
〃Beaten！〃 echoed Wilson； 〃if he got a good beating it would be all the better for him； but it's what he never does get。 A little shake； or a tap； is all I must give； and it's not half enough。 You wouldn't believe the sturdy impudence of that boy； madame； he runs riot； he does。 The other two never gave a quarter of the trouble。 Come along； you figure！ I'll have a bolt put at the top of the nursery door； and if I did； he'd be for climbing up the door…post to get at it。〃
The last sentence Wilson delivered to the governess； as she jerked Archie out of the room； along the passage； and into the nursery。 Lady Isabel sat down with a wrung heart； a chafed spirit。 Her own child！ And she might not say to the servant； you shall not beat him。
She descended to the gray parlor。 The two older children and breakfast were waiting； Joyce quitted the room when she entered it。
A graceful girl of eight years old； a fragile boy a year younger； both bearing her once lovely featuresher once bright and delicate complexionher large； soft brown eyes。 How utterly her heart yearned to them； but there must be no scene like there had just been above。 Nevertheless she stooped and kissed them bothone kiss each of impassioned fervor。 Lucy was naturally silent； William somewhat talkative。
〃You are our new governess；〃 said he。
〃Yes。 We must be good friends。〃
〃Why not！〃 said the boy。 〃We were good friends with Miss Manning。 I am to go into Latin soonas soon as my cough's gone。 Do you know Latin？〃
〃Nonot to teach it；〃 she said； studiously avoiding all endearing epithets。
〃Papa said you would be almost sure not to know Latin； for that ladies rarely did。 He said he should send up Mr。 Kane to teach me。〃
〃Mr。 Kane？〃 repeated Lady Isabel； the name striking upon her memory。 〃Mr。 Kane； the music…master？〃
〃How did you know he was a music…master？〃 cried shrewd William。 And Lady Isabel felt the red blood flush to her face at the unlucky admission she had made。 It flushed deeper at her own falsehood； as she muttered some evasive words about hearing of him from Mrs。 Latimer。
〃Yes； he is a music…master； but he does not get much money at it； and he teaches the classics as well。 He has come up to teach us music since Miss Manning left； mamma said that we ought not to lose our lessons。〃
Mamma！ How the word； applied to Barbara； grated on her ear。
〃Whom does he teach？〃 she asked。
〃Us two；〃 replied William； pointing to his sister and himself。
〃Do you always take bread and milk？〃 she inquired； perceiving that to be what they were eating。
〃We get tired of it sometimes and then we have milk and water； and bread and butter； or honey； and then we take to bread and milk again。 It's Aunt Cornelia who thinks we should eat bread and milk for breakfast。 She says papa never had anything else when he was a boy。〃
Lucy looked up。
〃Papa would give me an egg when I breakfasted with him；〃 cried she； 〃and Aunt Cornelia said it was not good for me； but papa gave it to me all the same。 I always had breakfast with him then。〃
〃And why do you not now？〃 asked Lady Isabel。
〃I don't know。 I have not since mamma came。〃
The word 〃stepmother〃 rose up rebelliously in the heart of Lady Isabel。 Was Mrs。 Carlyle putting away the children from their father？
Breakfast over； she gathered them to her； asking them various questions about their studies； their hours of recreation； the daily routine of their lives。
〃This is not the schoolroom； you know；〃 cried William； when she made some inquiry as to their books。
〃No？〃
〃The schoolroom is upstairs。 This is for our meals； and for you in an evening。〃
The voice of Mr。 Carlyle was heard at this juncture in the hall； and Lucy was springing toward the sound。 Lady Isabel； fearful lest he