rise.

"We had a letter yesterday, and he came to-day--a brother officer with
him. Jack vows if the girls don't cater well for them in the way of
amusement, he'll never honor them by spending his leave at home again;
so mind you keep yourself in readiness for any fun that may turn up.
Good evening."

"Good evening, Miss Hare," added Otway Bethel.

As Barbara was returning the salutation, she became conscious of other
footsteps advancing from the same direction that they had come, and
moved her head hastily round. Two gentlemen, walking arm-in-arm, were
close upon her, in one of whom she recognized "Jack," otherwise Major
Herbert. He stopped, and held out his hand.

"It is some years since we met, but I have not forgotten the pretty face
of Miss Barbara," he cried. "A young girl's face it was then, but it is
a stately young lady's now."

Barbara laughed. "Your brother has just told me you had arrived at West
Lynne; but I did not know you were so close to me. He has been asking me
if I am ready for some pic--"

Barbara's voice faltered, and the rushing crimson dyed her face. Whose
face was _that_, who was he, standing opposite to her, side by side
with John Herbert? She had seen the face but once, yet it had implanted
itself upon her memory in characters of fire. Major Herbert continued
to talk, but Barbara for once lost her self-possession; she could not
listen, she could only stare at that face as if fascinated to the gaze,
looking herself something like a simpleton, her shy blue eyes anxious
and restless, and her lips turning to an ashy whiteness. A strange
feeling of wonder, of superstition was creeping over Barbara. Was that
man behind her in sober, veritable reality--or was it but a phantom
called up in her mind by the associations rising from her mamma's dream;
or by the conversation held not many moments ago with Mr. Carlyle.

Major Herbert may have deemed that Barbara, who evidently could not
attend to himself, but was attending to his companion, wished for an
introduction, and he accordingly made it. "_Captain Thorn_--Miss Hare."

Then Barbara roused herself; her senses were partially coming to her,
and she became alive to the fact that they must deem her behavior
unorthodox for a young lady.

"I--I looked at Captain Thorn, for I thought I remembered his face," she
stammered.

"I was in West Lynne for a day or two, some five years ago," he
observed.

"Ah--yes," returned Barbara. "Are you going to m