His choice, it is
needless to say, was never a matter of doubt. He called at the house,
and did his innocent best--without in the least deceiving Mr. John
Zant--to 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 me--and 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 know--do 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 readi