Miss Corny’s answer was to stalk from the room.
Isabel rose from her chair, like a bird released from
its cage, and stood by his side. “Have
you finished, Archibald?”
“I think I have, dear. Oh! Here’s
my coffee. There; I have finished now.”
“Let us go around the grounds.”
He rose, laid his hands playfully on her slender waist,
and looked at her. “You may as well ask
me to take a journey to the moon. It is past
nine, and I have not been to the office for a month.”
The tears rose in her eyes. “I wish you
would be always with me! East Lynne will not
be East Lynne without you.”
“I will be with you as much as ever I can, my
dearest,” he whispered. “Come and
walk with me through the park.”
She ran for her bonnet, gloves and parasol. Mr.
Carlyle waited for her in the hall, and they went
out together.
He thought it a good opportunity to speak about his
sister. “She wishes to remain with us,”
he said. “I do not know what to decide.
On the one hand I think she might save you the worry
of household management; on the other, I fancy we
shall be happier by ourselves.”
Isabel’s heart sank within her at the idea of
that stern Miss Corny, mounted over her as resident
guard; but, refined and sensitive, almost painfully
considerate of the feelings of others, she raised no
word of objection. “As you and Miss Carlyle
please,” she answered.
“Isabel,” he said, “I wish it to
be as you please; I wish matters to be arranged as
may best please you: and I will have them so arranged.
My chief object in life now is your happiness.”
He spoke in all the sincerity of truth, and Isabel
knew it: and the thought came across her that
with him by her side, her loving protector, Miss Carlyle
could not mar her life’s peace. “Let
her stay, Archibald; she will not incommode us.”
“At any rate it can be tried for a month or
two, and we shall see how it works,” he musingly
observed.
They reached the park gates. “I wish I
could go with you and be your clerk,” she cried,
unwilling to release his hand. “I should
not have all that long way to go back by myself.”
He laughed and shook his head, telling her that she
wanted to bribe him into taking her back, but it could
not be. And away he went, after saying farewell.
DOMESTIC TROUBLES.
Isabel wandered back, and then wandered through the
rooms; they looked lovely; not as they had seemed
to look in her father’s time. In her dressing-room
knelt Marvel, unpacking. She rose when Lady Isabel
entered.
“Can I speak to you a moment, if you please
my lady?”
“What is it?”
Then Marvel poured forth her tale. That she feared
so small an establishment would not suit her, and
if my lady pleased, she would like to leave at once—that
day. Anticipating it, she had not unpacked her
things.
