little novels-第2章

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g　the　ascent　to　the　first　floor；　when　the　spiteful　landlady　left　the　lower　room；　and　called　to　her　lodger　over　their　heads：　〃Take　care　what　you　say　to　this　man；　Mrs。　Zant！　He　thinks　you're　mad。〃

Mrs。　Zant　turned　round　on　the　landing；　and　looked　at　him。　Not　a　word　fell　from　her　lips。　She　suffered；　she　feared；　in　silence。　Something　in　the　sad　submission　of　her　face　touched　the　springs　of　innocent　pity　in　Lucy's　heart。　The　child　burst　out　crying。

That　artless　expression　of　sympathy　drew　Mrs。　Zant　down　the　few　stairs　which　separated　her　from　Lucy。

〃May　I　kiss　your　dear　little　girl？〃　she　said　to　Mr。　Rayburn。　The　landlady；　standing　on　the　mat　below；　expressed　her　opinion　of　the　value　of　caresses；　as　compared　with　a　sounder　method　of　treating　young　persons　in　tears：　〃If　that　child　was　mine；〃　she　remarked；　〃I　would　give　her　something　to　cry　for。〃

In　the　meantime；　Mrs。　Zant　led　the　way　to　her　rooms。

The　first　words　she　spoke　showed　that　the　landlady　had　succeeded　but　too　well　in　prejudicing　her　against　Mr。　Rayburn。

〃Will　you　let　me　ask　your　child；〃　she　said　to　him；　〃why　you　think　me　mad？〃

He　met　this　strange　request　with　a　firm　answer。

〃You　don't　know　yet　what　I　really　do　think。　Will　you　give　me　a　minute's　attention？〃

〃No；〃　she　said　positively。　〃The　child　pities　me；　I　want　to　speak　to　the　child。　What　did　you　see　me　do　in　the　Gardens；　my　dear；　that　surprised　you？〃　Lucy　turned　uneasily　to　her　father；　Mrs。　Zant　persisted。　〃I　first　saw　you　by　yourself；　and　then　I　saw　you　with　your　father；〃　she　went　on。　〃When　I　came　nearer　to　you；　did　I　look　very　oddlyas　if　I　didn't　see　you　at　all？〃

Lucy　hesitated　again；　and　Mr。　Rayburn　interfered。

〃You　are　confusing　my　little　girl；〃　he　said。　〃Allow　me　to　answer　your　questionsor　excuse　me　if　I　leave　you。〃

There　was　something　in　his　look；　or　in　his　tone；　that　mastered　her。　She　put　her　hand　to　her　head。

〃I　don't　think　I'm　fit　for　it；〃　she　answered　vacantly。　〃My　courage　has　been　sorely　tried　already。　If　I　can　get　a　little　rest　and　sleep；　you　may　find　me　a　different　person。　I　am　left　a　great　deal　by　myself；　and　I　have　reasons　for　trying　to　compose　my　mind。　Can　I　see　you　tomorrow？　Or　write　to　you？　Where　do　you　live？〃

Mr。　Rayburn　laid　his　card　on　the　table　in　silence。　She　had　strongly　excited　his　interest。　He　honestly　desired　to　be　of　some　service　to　this　forlorn　creatureabandoned　so　cruelly；　as　it　seemed；　to　her　own　guidance。　But　he　had　no　authority　to　exercise；　no　sort　of　claim　to　direct　her　actions；　even　if　she　consented　to　accept　his　advice。　As　a　last　resource　he　ventured　on　an　allusion　to　the　relative　of　whom　she　had　spoken　downstairs。

〃When　do　you　expect　to　see　your　brother…in…law　again？〃　he　said。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered。　〃I　should　like　to　see　himhe　is　so　kind　to　me。〃

She　turned　aside　to　take　leave　of　Lucy。

〃Good…by；　my　little　friend。　If　you　live　to　grow　up；　I　hope　you　will　never　be　such　a　miserable　woman　as　I　am。〃　She　suddenly　looked　round　at　Mr。　Rayburn。　〃Have　you　got　a　wife　at　home？〃　she　asked。

〃My　wife　is　dead。〃

〃And　_you_　have　a　child　to　comfort　you！　Please　leave　me；　you　harden　my　heart。　Oh；　sir；　don't　you　understand？　You　make　me　envy　you！〃

Mr。　Rayburn　was　silent　when　he　and　his　daughter　were　out　in　the　street　again。　Lucy；　as　became　a　dutiful　child；　was　silent；　too。　But　there　are　limits　to　human　enduranceand　Lucy's　capacity　for　self…control　gave　way　at　last。

〃Are　you　thinking　of　the　lady；　papa？〃　she　said。

He　only　answered　by　nodding　his　head。　His　daughter　had　interrupted　him　at　that　critical　moment　in　a　man's　reflections；　when　he　is　on　the　point　of　making　up　his　mind。　Before　they　were　at　home　again　Mr。　Rayburn　had　arrived　at　a　decision。　Mrs。　Zant's　brother…in…law　was　evidently　ignorant　of　any　serious　necessity　for　his　interferenceor　he　would　have　made　arrangements　for　immediately　repeating　his　visit。　In　this　state　of　things；　if　any　evil　happened　to　Mrs。　Zant；　silence　on　Mr。　Rayburn's　part　might　be　indirectly　to　blame　for　a　serious　misfortune。　Arriving　at　that　conclusion；　he　decided　upon　running　the　risk　of　being　rudely　received；　for　the　second　time；　by　another　stranger。

Leaving　Lucy　under　the　care　of　her　governess；　he　went　at　once　to　the　address　that　had　been　written　on　the　visiting…card　left　at　the　lodging…house；　and　sent　in　his　name。　A　courteous　message　was　returned。　Mr。　John　Zant　was　at　home；　and　would　be　happy　to　see　him。

IV。

MR。　RAYBURN　was　shown　into　one　of　the　private　sitting…rooms　of　the　hotel。

He　observed　that　the　customary　position　of　the　furniture　in　a　room　had　been；　in　some　respects；　altered。　An　armchair；　a　side…table；　and　a　footstool　had　all　been　removed　to　one　of　the　windows；　and　had　been　placed　as　close　as　possible　to　the　light。　On　the　table　lay　a　large　open　roll　of　morocco　leather；　containing　rows　of　elegant　little　instruments　in　steel　and　ivory。　Waiting　by　the　table；　stood　Mr。　John　Zant。　He　said　〃Good…morning〃　in　a　bass　voice；　so　profound　and　so　melodious　that　those　two　commonplace　words　assumed　a　new　importance；　coming　from　his　lips。　His　personal　appearance　was　in　harmony　with　his　magnificent　voice　he　was　a　tall；　finely…made　man　of　dark　complexion；　with　big　brilliant　black　eyes；　and　a　noble　curling　beard；　which　hid　the　whole　lower　part　of　his　face。　Having　bowed　with　a　happy　mingling　of　dignity　and　politeness；　the　conventional　side　of　this　gentleman's　character　suddenly　vanished；　and　a　crazy　side；　to　all　appearance；　took　its　place。　He　dropped　on　his　knees　in　front　of　the　footstool。　Had　he　forgotten　to　say　his　prayers　that　morning；　and　was　he　in　such　a　hurry　to　remedy　the　fault　that　he　had　no　time　to　spare　for　consulting　appearances？　The　doubt　had　hardly　suggested　itself；　before　it　was　set　at　rest　in　a　most　unexpected　manner。　Mr。　Zant　looked　at　his　visitor　with　a　bland　smile；　and　said：

〃Please　let　me　see　your　feet。〃

For　the　moment；　Mr。　Rayburn　lost　his　presence　of　mind。　He　looked　at　the　instruments　on　the　side…table。

〃Are　you　a　corn…cutter？〃　was　all　he　could　say。

〃Excuse　me；　sir；　〃　returned　the　polite　operator；　〃the　term　you　use　is　quite　obsolete　in　our　profession。〃　He　rose　from　his　knees；　and　added　modestly：　〃I　am　a　Chiropodist。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃

〃Don't　mention　it！　You　are　not；　I　imagine；　in　want　of　my　professional　services。　To　what　motive　may　I　attribute　the　honor　of　your　visit？〃

By　this　time　Mr。　Rayburn　had　recovered　himself。

〃I　have　come　here；〃　he　answered；　〃under　circumstances　which　require　apology　as　well　as　explanation。〃

Mr。　Zant's　highly　polished　manner　betrayed　signs　of　alarm；　his　suspicions　pointed　to　a　formidable　conclusiona　conclusion　that　shook　him　to　the　innermost　recesses　of　the　pocket　in　which　he　kept　his　money。

〃The　numerous　demands　on　me〃　he　began。

Mr。　Rayburn　smiled。

〃Make　your　mind　easy；〃　he　replied。　〃I　don't　want　money。　My　object　is　to　speak　with　you　on　the　subject　of　a　lady　who　is　a　relation　of　yours。〃

〃My　sister…in…law！〃　Mr。　Zant　exclaimed。　〃Pray　take　a　seat。〃

Doubting　if　he　had　chosen　a　convenient　time　for　his　visit；　Mr。　Rayburn　hesitated。

〃Am　I　likely　to　be　in　the　way　of　persons　who　wish　to　consult　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Certainly　not。　My　morning　hours　of　attendance　on　my　clients　are　from　eleven　to　one。〃　The　clock　on　the　mantelpiece　struck　the　quarter…past　one　as　he　spoke。　〃I　hope　you　don't　bring　me　bad　news？〃　he　said；　very　earnestly。　〃When　I　called　on　Mrs。　Zant　this　morning；　I　heard　that　she　had　gone　out　for　a　walk。　Is　it　indiscreet　to　ask　how　you　became　acquainted　with　her？〃

Mr。　Rayburn　at　once　mentioned　what　he　had　seen　and　heard　in　Kensington　Gardens；　not　forgetting　to　add　a　few　words；　which　described　his　interview　afterward　with　Mrs。　Zant。

The　lady's　brother…in…law　listened　with　an　interest　and　sympathy；　which　offered　the　strongest　possible　contrast　to　the　unprovoked　rudeness　of　the　mistress　of　the　lodging…house。　He　declared　that　he　could　only　do　justice　to　his　sense　of　obligation　by　following　Mr。　Rayburn's　example；　and　expressing　himself　as　frankly　as　if　he　had　been　speaking　to　an　old　friend。

〃The　sad　story　of　my　sister…in…law's　life；〃　he　said；　〃will；　I　think；　explain　certain　things　which　must　have　naturally　perplexed　you。　My　brother　was　introduced　to　her　at　the　house　of　an　Australian　gentleman；　on　a　visit　to　England。　She　was　then　employed　as　governess　to　his　daughters。　So　sincere　was　the　regard　felt　for　her　by　the　family　that　the　parents　had；　at　the　entreaty　of　their　children；　asked　her　to　accompany　them　when　they　returned　to　the　Colony。　The　governess　thankfully　accepted　the　proposal。〃

〃Had　she　no　relations　in　England？〃　Mr。　Rayburn　asked。

〃She　was　literally　alone　in　the　world；　sir。　When　I　tell　you　that　she　had　been　brought　up　in　the　Foundling　Hospital；　you　will　understand　what　I　mean。　Oh；　there　is　no　romance　in　my　sister…in…law's　story！　She　never　has　known；　or　will　know；　who　her　parents　were　or　why　they　deserted　her。　The　happiest　moment　in　her　life　was　the　moment　when　she　and　my　brother　first　met。　It　was　an　instance；　on　both　sides；　of　love　at　first　sight。　Though　not　a　rich　man；　my　brother　had　earned　a　sufficient　income　in　mercantile　pursuits。　His　character　spoke　for　itself。　In　a　word；　he　altered　all　the　poor　girl's　prospects；　as　we　then　hoped　and　believed；　for　the　better。　Her　employers　deferred　their　return　to　Australia；　so　that　she　might　be　married　from　their　house。　After　a　happy　life　of　a　few　weeks　only〃

His　voice　failed　him；　he　paused；　and　turned　his　face　from　the　light。

〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　not　able；　even　yet；　to　speak　composedly　of　my　brother's　death。　Let　me　only　say　that　the　poor　young　wife　was　a　widow；　before　the　happy　days　of　the　honeymoon　were　over。　That　dreadful　calamity　struck　her　down。　Before　my　brother　had　been　committed　to　the　grave；　her　life　was　in　danger　from　brain…fever。〃

Those　words　placed　in　a　new　light　Mr。　Rayburn's　first　fear　that　her　intellect　might　be　deranged。　Looking　at　him　attentively；　Mr。　Zant　seemed　to　understand　what　was　passing　in　the　mind　of　his　guest。

〃No！〃　he　said。　〃If　the　opinions　of　the　medical　men　are　to　be　trusted；　the　result　of　the　illness　is　injury　to　her　physical　strengthnot　injury　to　her　mind。　I　have　observed　in　her；　no　doubt；　a　certain　waywardness　of　temper　since　her　illness；　but　that　is　a　trifle。　As　an　example　of　what　I　mean；　I　may　tell　you　that　I　invited　her；　on　her　recovery；　to　pay　me　a　visit。　My　house　is　not　in　Londonthe　air　doesn't　agree　with　memy　place　of　residence　is　at　St。　Sallins…on…Sea。　I　am　not　myself　a　married　man；　but　my　excellent　housekeeper　would　have　received　Mrs。　Zant　with　the　utmost　kindness。　She　was　resolvedobstinately　resolved；　poor　thingto　remain　in　London。　It　is　needless　to　say　that；　in　her　melancholy　position；　I　am　attentive　to　her　slightest　wishes。　I　took　a　lodging　for　her；　and；　at　her　special　request；　I　chose　a　house　which　was　near　Kensington　Gardens。

〃Is　there　any　association　with　the　Gardens　which　led　Mrs。　Zant　to　make　that　request？〃

〃Some　association；　I　believe；　with　the　memory　of　her　husband。　By　the　way；　I　wish　to　be　sure　of　finding　her　at　home；　when　I　call　to…morrow。　Did　you　say　（in　the　course　of　your　interesting　statement）　that　she　intendedas　you　supposedto　return　to　Kensington　Gardens　to…morrow？　Or　has　my　memory　deceived　me？〃

〃Your　memory　is　perfectly　accurate。〃

〃Thank　you。　I　confess　I　am　not　only　distressed　by　what　you　have　to