fascination--and fascination,
such as Francis Levison's, might be dangerous to any ear, in the sweet
evening twilight. The walk over, he left her at her own door; she never
asked him in in the evening, and he did not intrude without, as he
sometimes would of a morning.

Now, where was the help for this? You may say that she should have
remained indoors, and not have subjected herself to his companionship.
But the remaining indoors would not have brought her health, and it was
health that she was staying in Boulogne to acquire, and the sooner it
came the better pleased she would be, for she wanted to be at home with
her husband and children.

In a fortnight from the period of his departure, Mr. Carlyle was
expected in Boulogne. But what a marvellous change had this fortnight
wrought in Lady Isabel! She did not dare to analyze her feelings, but
she was conscious that all the fresh emotions of her youth had come
again. The blue sky seemed as of the sweetest sapphire, the green fields
and waving trees were of an emerald brightness, the perfume of the
flowers was more fragrant than any perfume had yet seemed. She knew that
the sky, that the grassy plains, the leafy trees, the brilliant flowers,
were but as they ever had been; she knew that the sunny atmosphere
possessed no more of loveliness or power of imparting delight than of
old; and she knew that the change, the sensation of ecstacy, was in her
own heart. No wonder that she shrank from self-examination.

The change from listless languor to her present feeling brought the hue
and contour of health to her face far sooner than anything else could
have done. She went down with Captain Levison to meet Mr. Carlyle, the
evening he came in, and when Mr. Carlyle saw her behind the cords, as
he was going to the custom-house, he scarcely knew her. Her features
had lost their sharpness, her cheeks wore a rosy flush, and the light of
pleasure at meeting him again shone in her eyes.

"What can you have been doing to yourself, my darling?" he uttered in
delight as he emerged from the custom-house and took her hands in his.
"You look almost well."

"Yes, I am much better, Archibald, but I am warm now and flushed. We
have waited here some time, and the setting sun was full upon us. How
long the boat was in coming in!"

"The wind was against us," replied Mr. Carlyle, wondering who the
exquisite was at his wife's side. He thought he remembered his face.

"Captain Levison," said L