re I have been."

"Working in a stable-yard?"

"I could not do better. I was not brought up to anything, and I did
understand horses. Besides, a man that the police-runners were after
could be more safe in obscurity, considering that he was a gentleman,
than--"

Barbara turned suddenly, and placed her hand upon her brother's mouth.
"Be silent for your life," she whispered, "here's papa."

Voices were heard approaching the gate--those of Justice Hare and Squire
Pinner. The latter walked on; the former came in. The brother and sister
cowered together, scarcely daring to breathe; you might have heard
Barbara's heart beating. Mr. Hare closed the gate and walked on up the
path.

"I must go, Richard," said Barbara, hastily; "I dare not stay another
minute. Be here again to-morrow night, and meanwhile I will see what can
be done."

She was speeding away, but Richard held her back. "You did not seem to
believe my assertion of innocence. Barbara, we are here alone in the
still night, with God above us; as truly as that you and I must sometime
meet Him face to face, I told you the truth. It was Thorn murdered
Hallijohn, and I had nothing whatever to do with it."

Barbara broke out of the trees and flew along, but Mr. Hare was already
in, locking and barring the door. "Let me in, papa," she called out.

The justice opened the door again, and thrusting forth his flaxen wig,
his aquiline nose, and his amazed eyes, gazed at Barbara.

"Halloo! What brings you out at this time of night, young lady?"

"I went down to the gate to look for you," she panted, "and
had--had--strolled over to the side path. Did you not see me?"

Barbara was truthful by nature and habit; but in such a cause, how could
she avoid dissimulation?

"Thank you, papa," she said, as she went in.

"You ought to have been in bed an hour ago," angrily responded Mr.
Justice Hare.

CHAPTER V.

MR. CARLYLE'S OFFICE.

In the centre of West Lynne stood two houses adjoining each other, one
large, the other much smaller. The large one was the Carlyle residence,
and the small one was devoted to the Carlyle offices. The name of
Carlyle bore a lofty standing in the county; Carlyle and Davidson were
known as first-class practitioners; no pettifogging lawyers were they.
It was Carlyle & Davidson in the days gone by; now it was Archibald
Carlyle. The old firm were brothers-in-law--the first Mrs. Carlyle
having been Mr. Davidson's sister. She had died and left