t once about Ayala. Gertrude,
who recovered from the great sickness occasioned by Mr. Houston's
misconduct, though the recovery was intended only to be temporary,
made herself as pleasant as possible. Captain Batsby was made
welcome, and remained three days before he sought an opportunity of
asking a question about Ayala.

During this time he found Gertrude to be a very agreeable companion,
but he made Mrs. Traffick his first confidant. "Well, you know,
Captain Batsby, to tell you the truth, we are not very fond of our
cousin."

"Sir Thomas told me she was to be here."

"So we know. My father is perhaps a little mistaken about Ayala."

"Was she not asked?" demanded Captain Batsby, beginning to think that
he had been betrayed.

"Oh, yes; she was asked. She has been asked very often, because she
is mamma's niece, and did live with us once for a short time. But she
did not come. In fact she won't go anywhere, unless--"

"Unless what?"

"You know Colonel Stubbs?"

"Jonathan Stubbs. Oh dear, yes; very intimately. He is a sort of
connection of mine. He is my half-brother's second cousin by the
father's side."

"Oh indeed! Does that make him very near?"

"Not at all. I don't like him, if you mean that. He always takes
everything upon himself down at Stalham."

"What we hear is that Ayala is always running after him."

"Ayala running after Jonathan?"

"Haven't you heard of that?" asked Mrs. Traffick. "Why;--she is at
Stalham with the Alburys this moment, and I do not doubt that Colonel
Stubbs is there also. She would not have gone had she not been sure
of meeting him."

This disturbed the Captain so violently that for two or three hours
he kept himself apart, not knowing what to do with himself or where
to betake himself. Could this be true about Jonathan Stubbs? There
had been moments of deep jealousy down at Stalham; but then he had
recovered from that, having assured himself that he was wrong. It
had been Larry Twentyman and not Jonathan Stubbs who had led the two
girls over the brook,--into which Stubbs had simply fallen, making
himself an object of pity. But now again the Captain believed it all.
It was on this account, then, that his half-sister-in-law, Rosaline,
had desired him to stay away from Stalham for the present! He knew
well how high in favour with Lady Albury was that traitor Stubbs;
how it was by her favour that Stubbs, who was no more than a second
cousin, was allowed to do just what he ple