ldren. If I may not take them, the next best thing will be to leave
them in your charge, not Miss Carlyle's," she said, shaking her voice;
"if it were Wilson who remained, I could not do that."

"My lady, I must do whatever you think best. I wish I could attend you
and stay with them, but of course I cannot do both."

"I am sent away to get health and strength, but it may be that I shall
die, Joyce. If I never come back, will you promise to remain with my
children?"

Joyce felt a creeping sensation in her veins, the sobs rose in her
throat, but she swallowed them down and constrained her voice to
calmness. "My lady, I hope you will come back to us as well as you used
to be. I trust you will hope so too, my lady, and not give way to low
spirits."

"I sincerely hope and trust I shall," answered Lady Isabel, fervently.
"Still, there's no telling, for I am very ill. Joyce, give me your
promise. In case of the worst, you will remain with the children."

"I will, my lady--as long as I am permitted."

"And be kind to them and love them, and shield them from--from--any
unkindness that may be put upon them," she added, her head full of Miss
Carlyle, "and talk to them sometimes of their poor mother, who is gone?"

"I will, I will--oh my lady, I will!" And Joyce sat down in the
rocking-chair as Lady Isabel quitted her, and burst into tears.

Mr. Carlyle and Lady Isabel, with Wilson and Peter in attendance,
arrived at Boulogne, and proceeded to the Hotel des Bains. It may be
as well to mention that Peter had been transferred from Miss Carlyle's
service to theirs, when the establishment was first formed at East
Lynne. Upon entering the hotel they inquired for Mrs. Ducie, and then a
disappointment awaited them. A letter was handed them which had arrived
that morning from Mrs. Ducie, expressing her regret that certain family
arrangements prevented her visiting Boulogne; she was proceeding to some
of the baths in Germany instead.

"I might almost have known it," remarked Isabel. "She was always the
most changeable of women."

Mr. Carlyle went out in search of lodgings, Isabel objecting to remain
in the bustling hotel. He succeeded in finding some very desirable ones,
situated in the Rue de l'Ecu, near the port, and they moved into them.
He thought the journey had done her good, for she looked better, and
said she already felt stronger. Mr. Carlyle remained with her three
days; he had promised only one, but he was pleased wit