bestowed upon her training. During the lifetime of her mother, she had
lived occasionally at East Lynne, but mostly at a larger seat of
the earl's in Wales, Mount Severn; since her mother's death, she had
remained entirely at Mount Severn, under the charge of a judicious
governess, a very small establishment being kept for them, and the earl
paying them impromptu and flying visits. Generous and benevolent she
was, timid and sensitive to a degree, gentle, and considerate to all. Do
not cavil at her being thus praised--admire and love her whilst you may,
she is worthy of it now, in her innocent girlhood; the time will come
when such praise would be misplaced. Could the fate that was to overtake
his child have been foreseen by the earl, he would have struck her down
to death, in his love, as she stood before him, rather than suffer her
to enter upon it.



CHAPTER II.

THE BROKEN CROSS.

Lady Isabel's carriage continued its way, and deposited her at the
residence of Mrs. Levison. Mrs. Levison was nearly eighty years of age,
and very severe in speech and manner, or, as Mrs. Vane expressed it,
"crabbed." She looked the image of impatience when Isabel entered, with
her cap pushed all awry, and pulling at the black satin gown, for Mrs.
Vane had kept her waiting dinner, and Isabel was keeping her from her
tea; and that does not agree with the aged, with their health or with
their temper.

"I fear I am late," exclaimed Lady Isabel, as she advanced to Mrs.