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？〃 Inclining to adopt this conclusion； Mr。 Rayburn answered cautiously that his stay at the seaside would depend on circumstances。 Mr。 John Zant looked at his sister…in…law； sitting silent in a corner with Lucy on her lap。 〃Exert your attractions；〃 he said； 〃make the circumstances agreeable to our good friend。 Will you dine with us to…day； my dear sir； and bring your little fairy with you？〃
Lucy was far from receiving this complimentary allusion in the spirit in which it had been offered。 〃I'm not a fairy；〃 she declared。 〃I'm a child。〃
〃And a naughty child；〃 her father added； with all the severity that he could assume。
〃I can't help it； papa； the man with the big beard puts me out。〃
The man with the big beard was amusedamiably； paternally amusedby Lucy's plain speaking。 He repeated his invitation to dinner； and he did his best to look disappointed when Mr。 Rayburn made the necessary excuses。
〃Another day；〃 he said （without； however； fixing the day）。 〃I think you will find my house comfortable。 My housekeeper may perhaps be eccentricbut in all essentials a woman in a thousand。 Do you feel the change from London already？ Our air at St。 Sallins is really worthy of its reputation。 Invalids who come here are cured as if by magic。 What do you think of Mrs。 Zant？ How does she look？〃
Mr。 Rayburn was evidently expected to say that she looked better。 He said it。 Mr。 John Zant seemed to have anticipated a stronger expression of opinion。
〃Surprisingly better！〃 he pronounced。 〃Infinitely better！ We ought both to be grateful。 Pray believe that we _are_ grateful。〃
〃If you mean grateful to me；〃 Mr。 Rayburn remarked； 〃I don't quite understand〃
〃You don't quite understand？ Is it possible that you have forgotten our conversation when I first had the honor of receiving you？ Look at Mrs。 Zant again。〃
Mr。 Rayburn looked； and Mrs。 Zant's brother…in…law explained himself。
〃You notice the return of her color； the healthy brightness of her eyes。 （No； my dear； I am not paying you idle compliments； I am stating plain facts。） For that happy result； Mr。 Rayburn； we are indebted to you。〃
〃Surely not？〃
〃Surely yes！ It was at your valuable suggestion that I thought of inviting my sister…in…law to visit me at St。 Sallins。 Ah； you remember it now。 Forgive me if I look at my watch； the dinner hour is on my mind。 Not； as your dear little daughter there seems to think； because I am greedy； but because I am always punctual； in justice to the cook。 Shall we see you to…morrow？ Call early； and you will find us at home。〃
He gave Mrs。 Zant his arm； and bowed and smiled； and kissed his hand to Lucy； and left the room。 Recalling their interview at the hotel in London； Mr。 Rayburn now understood John Zant's object （on that occasion） in assuming the character of a helpless man in need of a sensible suggestion。 If Mrs。 Zant's residence under his roof became associated with evil consequences； he could declare that she would never have entered the house but for Mr。 Rayburn's advice。
With the next day came the hateful necessity of returning this man's visit。
Mr。 Rayburn was placed between two alternatives。 In Mrs。 Zant's interests he must remain； no matter at what sacrifice of his own inclinations； on good terms with her brother…in…lawor he must return to London； and leave the poor woman to her fate。 His choice； it is needless to say； was never a matter of doubt。 He called at the house； and did his innocent bestwithout in the least deceiving Mr。 John Zantto make himself agreeable during the short duration of his visit。 Descending the stairs on his way out； accompanied by Mrs。 Zant； he was surprised to see a middle…aged woman in the hall； who looked as if she was waiting there expressly to attract notice。
〃The housekeeper；〃 Mrs。 Zant whispered。 〃She is impudent enough to try to make acquaintance with you。〃
This was exactly what the housekeeper was waiting in the hall to do。
〃I hope you like our watering…place； sir；〃 she began。 〃If I can be of service to you； pray command me。 Any friend of this lady's has a claim on meand you are an old friend； no doubt。 I am only the housekeeper； but I presume to take a sincere interest in Mrs。 Zant； and I am indeed glad to see you here。 We none of us knowdo we？how soon we may want a friend。 No offense； I hope？ Thank you； sir。 Good…morning。〃
There was nothing in the woman's eyes which indicated an unsettled mind； nothing in the appearance of her lips which suggested habits of intoxication。 That her strange outburst of familiarity proceeded from some strong motive seemed to be more than probable。 Putting together what Mrs。 Zant had already told him； and what he had himself observed； Mr。 Rayburn suspected that the motive might be found in the housekeeper's jealousy of her master。
XI。
REFLECTING in the solitude of his own room； Mr。 Rayburn felt that the one prudent course to take would be to persuade Mrs。 Zant to leave St。 Sallins。 He tried to prepare her for this strong proceeding； when she came the next day to take Lucy out for a walk。
〃If you still regret having forced yourself to accept your brother…in…law's invitation；〃 was all he ventured to say； 〃don't forget that you are perfect mistress of your own actions。 You have only to come to me at the hotel； and I will take you back to London by the next train。〃
She positively refused to entertain the idea。
〃I should be a thankless creature； indeed；〃 she said； 〃if I accepted your proposal。 Do you think I am ungrateful enough to involve you in a personal quarrel with John Zant？ No！ If I find myself forced to leave the house； I will go away alone。〃
There was no moving her from this resolution。 When she and Lucy had gone out together； Mr。 Rayburn remained at the hotel； with a mind ill at ease。 A man of readier mental resources might have felt at a loss how to act for the best； in the emergency that now confronted him。 While he was still as far as ever from arriving at a decision； some person knocked at the door。
Had Mrs。 Zant returned？ He looked up as the door was opened； and saw to his astonishmentMr。 John Zant's housekeeper。
〃Don't let me alarm you； sir；〃 the woman said。 〃Mrs。 Zant has been taken a little faint； at the door of our house。 My master is attending to her。〃
〃Where is the child？〃 Mr。 Rayburn asked。
〃I was bringing her back to you； sir； when we met a lady and her little girl at the door of the hotel。 They were on their way to the beachand Miss Lucy begged hard to be allowed to go with them。 The lady said the two children were playfellows； and she was sure you would not object。〃
〃The lady is quite right。 Mrs。 Zant's illness is not serious； I hope？〃
〃I think not； sir。 But I should like to say something in her interests。 May I？ Thank you。〃 She advanced a step nearer to him； and spoke her next words in a whisper。 〃Take Mrs。 Zant away from this place； and lose no time in doing it。〃
Mr。 Rayburn was on his guard。 He merely asked： 〃Why？〃
The housekeeper answered in a curiously indirect mannerpartly in jest； as it seemed； and partly in earnest。
〃When a man has lost his wife；〃 she said； 〃there's some difference of opinion in Parliament； as I hear； whether he does right or wrong； if he marries his wife