t him go, and had never made any effort
to follow him or punish him. As for Hilda, if he ever gave her a
thought, it was one of vexation at finding her so fond of him that
she would still stay with him rather than leave. "Why can't she go
quietly back to Chetwynde?" he thought; and then his more generous
nature interposed to quell the thought. He could not forget her
devotion in saving his life; though there were times when he felt
that the prolongation of that life was not a thing to be thankful
for.

As for the family, every thing went on pleasantly and smoothly. Obed
was always delighted to see Windham, and would have felt disappointed
if he had missed coming every alternate day. Miss Chute shared her
brother's appreciation of the visitor. Zillah herself showed no signs
which they were able to perceive of the depth of her feelings.
Filled, as she was, with one strong passion, it did not interfere
with the performance of her duties; nor, if it had done so, would her
friends have noticed it. She had the morning hours for the children,
and the afternoon for Lord Chetwynde.

In setting about this new task Gualtier felt the need of caution. It
was far more perilous than any which he had yet undertaken. Once he
relied upon Lord Chetwynde's ignorance of his face, or his
contemptuous indifference to his existence. On the strength of this
he had been able to come to him undiscovered and to obtain
employment. But now all was changed. Lord Chetwynde was keen and
observant. When he had once chosen to take notice of a face he would
not readily forget it; and to venture into his presence now would be
to insure discovery. To guard against that was his first aim, and so
he determined to adopt some sort of a disguise. Even with a disguise
he saw that it would be perilous to let Lord Chetwynde see him. Hilda
had told him enough to make known to him that his late master was
fully conscious now of the cause of his disease, and suspected his
valet only, so that the watch of the pursuer must now be maintained
without his ever exposing himself to the view of this man.

After a long and careful deliberation he chose for a disguise the
costume of a Tuscan peasant. Although he had once told Hilda that he
never adopted any disguises but such as were suited to his character,
yet on this occasion his judgment was certainly at fault, since such
a disguise was not the one most appropriate to a man of his
appearance and nature. His figure had n