caffold. For my own wrong, no. But the remaining negative has cost me
something. Many a time, since this appearance of his at West Lynne,
have I been obliged to lay violent control upon myself, or I should have
horsewhipped him within an ace of his life."

"If you horsewhipped him to death he would only meet his deserts."

"I leave him to a higher retribution--to One who says, 'Vengeance is
mine.' I believe him to be guilty of the murder but if the uplifting of
my finger would send him to his disgraceful death, I would tie down my
hand rather than lift it, for I could not, in my own mind, separate
the man from the injury. Though I might ostensibly pursue him as the
destroyer of Hallijohn, to me he would appear ever as the destroyer
of another, and the world, always charitable, would congratulate Mr.
Carlyle upon gratifying his revenge. I stir in it not, Richard."

"Couldn't Barbara?" pleaded Richard.

Barbara was standing with her arm entwined within her husband's, and Mr.
Carlyle looked down as he answered,--

"Barbara is my wife."

It was a sufficient answer.

"Then the thing's again at an end," said Richard, gloomily, "and I must
give up hope of ever being cleared."

"By no means," said Mr. Carlyle. "The one who ought to act in this is
your father, Richard; but we know he will not. Your mother cannot. She
has neither health nor energy for it; and if she had a full supply of
both, she would not dare to brave her husband and use them in the cause.
My hands are tied; Barbara's equally so, as part of me. There only
remains yourself."

"And what can I do?" wailed poor Dick. "If your hands are tied, I'm sure
my whole body is, speaking in comparison; hands, and legs, and _neck_.
It's in jeopardy, that is, every hour."

"Your acting in this affair need not put it any the more in jeopardy.
You must stay in the neighborhood for a few days--"

"I dare not," interposed Richard, in a fright. "Stay in the neighborhood
for a few days! No; that I never may."

"Listen, Richard. You must put away these timorous fears, or else you
must make up your mind to remain under the ban for good; and, remember,
your mother's happiness is at stake equally with yours--I could almost
say her life. Do you suppose I would advise you for danger? You used
to say there was some place, a mile or two from this, where you could
sojourn in safety."

"So there is. But I always feel safer when I get away from it."

"There your quarters must b