Ellen Wood

“ So vivid was the dream, she could scarcely persuade herself, when she awoke, that it was not real, and the murderer actually at West Lynne.
"Oh, Barbara, Barbara!" she exclaimed, in a wailing tone, "when will this mystery be cleared, and my own restored to me? Seven years since he stole here to see us, and no tidings yet."
"People say that changes come every seven years, mamma," said Barbara, hopefully; "but I will go down and send you up some more tea."
"And guard your countenance well," returned her mother. "Don't let your father suspect anything. ”

“ I am no believer in dreams," continued Barbara, "but I cannot deny that these, which take such a hold upon mamma, do bear upon the case in a curious manner—the one she had last night especially."
"What was it?" asked Mr. Carlyle.
"She dreamed that the real murderer was at West Lynne. She thought he was at our house—as a visitor, she said, or like one making a morning call—and we, she and I, were conversing with him about the murder. He wanted to deny it—to put it on Richard; and he turned and whispered to Otway Bethel, who stood behind his chair. ”

“ A few formal words, and Captain Levison disappeared again, challenging little William Carlyle to a foot-race.
"How very poorly your mamma looks!" Mr. Carlyle exclaimed to Barbara, when they were beyond the hearing of Mrs. Hare, who was busy talking with Lady Isabel and Miss Carlyle. "And she has appeared so much stronger lately; altogether better."
"The walk here has fatigued her; I feared it would be too long; so that she looks unusually pale," replied Barbara. "But what do you think it is that has upset her again, Mr. Carlyle?" ”

“ Hare. "Between us both we will pull you bravely along; your feet need scarcely touch the ground."
Mrs. Hare laughed, but said she thought Mr. Carlyle's arm would be sufficient. She took it, and they were turning toward the house, when her eye caught the form of a gentleman passing along the road by the park gate.
"Barbara, run," she hurriedly exclaimed. "There's Tom Herbert going toward our house, and he will just call in and tell them to send the phaeton, if you ask him, which will save the trouble to Mr. Carlyle's servants of going expressly. Make haste, child! ”

“ It is of no consequence."
"I was speaking, you know, of Captain Thorn—of his being the murderer."
"You were not speaking of Richard or his movements, so never mind. Levison is a stranger to the whole. It is nothing to him. If he did hear the name of Thorn mentioned, or even distinguished the subject, it would bear for him no interest—would go, as the saying runs, 'in at one ear and out at the other.' Be at rest, Barbara."
He really did look somewhat tenderly upon her as he spoke—and they were near enough to Lady Isabel for her to note the glance. ”

“ Carlyle, looking at her fixedly, a doubt crossing his mind whether Barbara's mind might be as uncollected as her manner.
"What were nearly my last words to you? That if ever that Thorn did come to West Lynne again, I would leave no stone unturned to bring it home to him. He is here, Archibald. Now, when I went to the gate to speak to Tom Herbert, his brother, Major Herbert, was also there, and with him Captain Thorn. Bethel, also. Do you wonder I say that I know not whether I am awake or dreaming? They have some weeks' holiday, and are here to spend it." ”

“ Until that stolen visit of Richard's we had no idea he was near the spot at the time, and yet he had always made a prominent feature in these dreams."
"And who was the murderer—in your mamma's dream?" continued Mr. Carlyle, speaking as gravely as though he were upon a subject that men ridicule not.
"She cannot remember, except that he seemed a gentleman, and that we held intercourse with him as such. Now, that again is remarkable. We never told her, you know, of our suspicions of Captain Thorn."
"I think you must be becoming a convert to the theory of dreams yourself, Barbara ”

“ At this moment the bedroom door was flung open, and the face of the justice, especially stern and cross then was pushed in. So startled was Mrs. Hare, that she shook till she shook the pillow, and Barbara sprang away from the bed. Surely he had not distinguished their topic of conversation!
"Are you coming to make the breakfast to-day, or not Barbara? Do you expect me to make it?"
"She is coming this instant, Richard," said Mrs. ”

“ Carlyle, with mock gravity. "As to the servants, the one who has to go will never get over the trouble, depend upon it. You always were more concerned for others than for yourself, dear Mrs. Hare."
"And you were always kind, Archibald, smoothing difficulties for all, and making a trouble of nothing. Ah, Lady Isabel, were I a young woman, I should be envying you your good husband; there are not many like him."
Possibly the sentence reminded Lady Isabel that another, who was young, might be envying her, for her cheeks—Isabel's—flushed crimson. Mr. Carlyle held out his strong arm of help to Mrs. ”

“ I trust him implicitly."
"I feel sure of it also, mamma."
"I asked him, you remember, whether it was Otway Bethel who committed it; for I have always doubted Bethel, in an indefinite, vague manner. Richard replied it was not Bethel, but a stranger. Well, Barbara, in my dream I thought that stranger came to West Lynne, that he came to this house here, and we were talking to him of him, conversing as we might with any other visitor. Mind you, we seemed to know that he was the one who actually did it; but he denied it. He wanted to put it upon Richard ”

“ Hare.
"Who the dickens are they?" Captain Levison was muttering to himself, as he contemplated the guests from a distance. "It's a deuced pretty girl, whoever she may be. I think I'll approach, they don't look formidable." ”