set, and her face was pale. Altogether
she was plain, but sensible-looking. She was the half-sister of Afy
Hallijohn.

"Shut the door, Joyce."

Joyce did as she was bid, came forward, and stood by the table.

"Have you ever heard from your sister, Joyce?" began Mr. Carlyle,
somewhat abruptly.

"No, sir," was the reply; "I think it would be a wonder if I did hear."

"Why so?"

"If she would go off after Richard Hare, who had sent her father into
his grave, she would be more likely to hide herself and her doings than
to proclaim them to me, sir."

"Who was that other, that fine gentleman, who came after her?"

The color mantled in Joyce's cheeks, and she dropped her voice.

"Sir! Did you hear of him?"

"Not at that time. Since. He came from Swainson, did he not?"

"I believe so, sir. Afy never would say much about him. We did not agree
upon the point. I said a person of his rank would do her no good; and
Afy flew out when I spoke against him."

Mr. Carlyle caught her up. "His rank. What was his rank?"

"Afy bragged of his being next door to a lord; and he looked like it. I
only saw him once; I had gone home early, and there sat him and Afy. His
white hands were all glittering with rings, and his shirt was finished
off with shining stones where the buttons ought to be."

"Have you seen him since?"

"Never since, never but once; and I don't think I should know him if I
did see him. He got up, sir, as soon as I went into the parlor, shook
hands with Afy, and left. A fine, upright man he was, nearly as tall as
you, sir, but very slim. Those soldiers always carry themselves well."

"How do you know he was a soldier?" quickly rejoined Mr. Carlyle.

"Afy told me so. 'The Captain' she used to call him; but she said he was
not a captain yet awhile--the next grade to it, a--a----"

"Lieutenant?" suggested Mr. Carlyle.

"Yes, sir, that was it--Lieutenant Thorn."

"Joyce," said Mr. Carlyle, "has it never struck you that Afy is more
likely to have followed Lieutenant Thorn than Richard Hare?"

"No, sir," answered Joyce; "I have felt certain always that she is with
Richard Hare, and nothing can turn me from the belief. All West Lynne is
convinced of it."

Mr. Carlyle did not attempt to "turn her from her belief." He dismissed
her, and sat on still, revolving the case in all its bearings.

Richard Hare's short interview with his mother had soon terminated. It
lasted but a quarter of an hour, both dreading in