Waiting only to give certain orders to the head clerk, Mr. Dill proceeded to the office of Ball & Treadman.  A full hour was he closeted there with the senior partner.

Not until three o’clock that afternoon did the justices take their seats on the bench.  Scarcely were they seated when Lawyer Ball bustled in and craved a secret hearing.  His application was of the last importance, he promised, but, that the ends of justice might not be defeated it was necessary their worships should entertain it in private; he therefore craved the bench to accord it to him.

The bench consulted, looked wise, and, possibly possessing some latent curiosity themselves upon the point, graciously acceded.  They adjourned to a private room, and it was full half-past four before they came out of it.  Very long faces, scared and grim, were their worships’, as if Lawyer Ball’s communication had both perplexed and confounded them.

“This is the afternoon we are to meet Dr. Martin at papa’s office,” William Carlyle had suddenly exclaimed that day at dinner.  “Do we walk in, Madame Vine?”

“I do not know, William.  Mrs. Carlyle is going to take you.”

“No, she is not; you are going to take me.”

A flush passed over Lady Isabel’s face at the bare thought, though she did not believe it. She go to Mr. Carlyle’s office!  “Mrs. Carlyle told me herself that she should take you,” was the reply.

“All I know is, mamma told me this morning you would take me to West Lynne to-day,” persisted William.

The discussion was interrupted by the appearance of Mrs. Carlyle—­interrupted and decided also.

“Madame Vine,” she said, “you will be ready at three o’clock to go in with William?”

Lady Isabel’s heart beat.  “I understood you to say that you should go with him yourself, madame.”

“I know I did.  I intended to do so, but I heard this morning that some friends from a distance are coming this afternoon to call upon me, therefore I shall not go out.”

How she, Lady Isabel, wished that she dare say, also, “I shall not go out either.”  But that might not be.  Well, she must go through with it as she had to go through with the rest.

William rode his pony into West Lynne, the groom attending to take it back again.  He was to walk home with Madame Vine, who walked both ways.

Mr. Carlyle was not in when they arrived at the office.  The boy went boldly on to the private room, leaving Madame Vine to follow him.

Presently Mr. Carlyle appeared.  He was talking to Mr. Dill, who followed him.

“Oh, you are here, Madame Vine!  I left word that you were to go into Miss Carlyle’s.  Did I not leave word, Dill?”

“Not with me, sir.”

“I forgot it, then; I meant to do so.  What is the time?” He looked at his watch:  ten minutes to four.  “Did the doctor say at what hour he should call?” Mr. Carlyle added to Madame Vine.