Part 20 (1/2)

”Nay, I think I ought to beg yours,” she interrupted, more calmly. ”I am only grateful for the interest you take in them--the kindness you have shown. But I could not make my home with Mrs. Vane.”

Mr. Carlyle rose. He could do no good by remaining, and did not think it well to intrude longer. He suggested that it might be more pleasant if Isabel had a friend with her; Mrs. Ducie would no doubt be willing to come, and she was a kind, motherly woman.

Isabel shook her head with a pa.s.sing shudder. ”Have strangers, here, with--all--that--in papa's chamber!” she uttered. ”Mrs. Ducie drove over yesterday, perhaps to remain--I don't know; but I was afraid of questions, and would not see her. When I think of--that--I feel thankful that I am alone.”

The housekeeper stopped Mr. Carlyle as he was going out.

”Sir, what is the news from Castle Marling? Pound said there was a letter. Is Mr. Vane coming?”

”He was out yachting. Mrs. Vane expected him home yesterday, so it is to be hoped he will be here to-day.”

”Whatever will be done if he does not come?” she breathed. ”The leaden coffin ought to be soldered down, for you know, sir, the state he was in when he died.”

”It can be soldered down without Mr. Vane.”

”Of course--without Mr. Vane. It's not that, sir. Will those men allow it to be done? The undertakers were here this morning at daybreak, and those men intimated that they were not going to lose sight of the dead.

The words sounded significant to us, but we asked them no questions.

Have they a right to prevent it, sir?”

”Upon my word I cannot tell,” replied Mr. Carlyle. ”The proceeding is so rare a one, that I know little what right of law they have or have not.

Do not mention this to Lady Isabel. And when Mr. Va--when Lord Mount Severn arrives, send down to apprise me of it.”

CHAPTER XI.

THE NEW PEER--THE BANK-NOTE

A post-chaise was discerned thundering up the avenue that Sunday afternoon. It contained the new peer, Lord Mount Severn. The more direct line of rail from Castle Marling, brought him only to within five miles of West Lynne, and thence he had travelled in a hired chaise. Mr.

Carlyle soon joined him, and almost at the same time Mr. Warburton arrived from London. Absence from town at the period of the earl's death had prevented Mr. Warburton's earlier attendance. Business was entered upon immediately.

The present earl knew that his predecessor had been an embarra.s.sed man, but he had no conception of the extent of the evil; they had not been intimate, and rarely came in contact. As the various items of news were now detailed to him--the wasteful expenditure, the disastrous ruin, the total absence of provision for Isabel--he stood petrified and aghast. He was a tall stout man, of three-and-forty years, his nature honorable, his manner cold, and his countenance severe.

”It is the most iniquitous piece of business I ever heard of!” he exclaimed to the two lawyers. ”Of all the reckless fools, Mount Severn must have been the worst!”

”Unpardonably improvident as regards his daughter,” was the a.s.senting remark.

”Improvident! It must have been rank madness!” retorted the earl. ”No man in his senses could leave a child to the mercy of the world, as he has left her. She has not a s.h.i.+lling--literally, not a s.h.i.+lling in her possession. I put the question to her, what money there was in the house when the earl died. Twenty or twenty-five pounds, she answered, which she had given to Mason, who required it for housekeeping purposes. If the girl wants a yard of ribbon for herself, she has not the pence to pay for it! Can you realize such a case to the mind?” continued the excited peer. ”I will stake my veracity that such a one never occurred yet.”

”No money for her own personal wants!” exclaimed Mr. Carlyle.

”Not a halfpenny in the world. And there are no funds, and will be none, that I can see, for her to draw upon.”

”Quite correct, my lord,” nodded Mr. Warburton. ”The entailed estates go to you, and what trifling matter of personal property may be left the creditors will take care of.”

”I understand East Lynne is yours,” cried the earl, turning sharply upon Mr. Carlyle; ”Isabel has just said so.”

”It is,” was the reply. ”It became mine last June. I believe his lords.h.i.+p kept the fact a close secret.”