n inmate. Sir Peter may assist him in welcome--may pay his
debt, and get him out of his scrapes as often as he pleases, but I will
not have him here."

"Sir Peter said you declined to receive him. But it is necessary that he
should come to England, if his affairs are to be set straight, and also
that he should see Sir Peter."

"Come to England!" interrupted Lady Levison. "How can he come to England
under present circumstances, unless, indeed, he comes _en cachette_?"

"_En cachette_, of course," replied Mr. Carlyle. "There is no other way.
I have offered to let him stay at East Lynne. He is, you may be aware, a
sort of connection of Lady Isabel's."

"Take care that he does not repay _your_ hospitality with ingratitude,"
warmly returned Lady Levison. "It would only be in accordance with his
practice."

Mr. Carlyle laughed.

"I do not see what harm he could do me, allowing that he had the
inclination. He would not scare my clients from me, or beat my children,
and I can take care of my pocket. A few days will, no doubt, be the
extent of his sojourn."

Lady Levison smiled too, and shook hands with Mr. Carlyle.

"In your house, perhaps, there may be no field for his vagaries, but
rely upon it, where there is one he is sure to be at some mischief or
other."

This visit of Mr. Carlyle's to Levison Park took place on a Friday
morning, and on his return to his office he dispatched an account of it
to Captain Levison at Boulogne, telling him he had better come over. But
now Mr. Carlyle, like many another man whose mind has its share of work,
was sometimes forgetful of trifles, and it entirely slipped his
memory to mention the expected arrival at home. The following evening,
Saturday, he and Lady Isabel were dining in the neighborhood, when the
conversation at table turned upon the Ducies and their embarrassments.
The association of ideas led Mr. Carlyle's thoughts to Boulogne, to
Captain Levison and _his_ embarrassments, and it immediately occurred to
him that he had not told his wife of the anticipated visit. He kept
it in his mind then, and spoke as soon as they were in the chariot
returning home.

"Isabel," began he, "I suppose we have always rooms ready for visitors,
because I am expecting one."

"Oh, yes; or if not, they are soon made ready."

"Ah, but to-morrow's Sunday, and I have no doubt that's the day he will
take advantage of to come. I am sorry I forgot to mention it yesterday."

"Who is coming, then