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
eccentric--but 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-law--or he must return
to London, and leave the poor woman to her fate.