little novels-第2节

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emarkably　little　trouble。　I　have　no　claim　to　interfere　with　her　proceedings；　and　no　reason　to　doubt　that　she　is　capable　of　taking　care　of　herself。〃

Mr。　Rayburn　unwisely　attempted　to　say　a　word　in　his　own　defense。

〃Allow　me　to　remind　you〃　he　began。

〃Of　what；　sir？〃

〃Of　what　I　observed；　when　I　happened　to　see　the　lady　in　Kensington　Gardens。〃

〃I　am　not　responsible　for　what　you　observed　in　Kensington　Gardens。　If　your　time　is　of　any　value；　pray　don't　let　me　detain　you。〃

Dismissed　in　those　terms；　Mr。　Rayburn　took　Lucy's　hand　and　withdrew。　He　had　just　reached　the　door；　when　it　was　opened　from　the　outer　side。　The　Lady　of　Kensington　Gardens　stood　before　him。　In　the　position　which　he　and　his　daughter　now　occupied；　their　backs　were　toward　the　window。　Would　she　remember　having　seen　them　for　a　moment　in　the　Gardens？

〃Excuse　me　for　intruding　on　you；〃　she　said　to　the　landlady。　〃Your　servant　tells　me　my　brother…in…law　called　while　I　was　out。　He　sometimes　leaves　a　message　on　his　card。〃

She　looked　for　the　message；　and　appeared　to　be　disappointed：　there　was　no　writing　on　the　card。

Mr。　Rayburn　lingered　a　little　in　the　doorway　on　the　chance　of　hearing　something　more。　The　landlady's　vigilant　eyes　discovered　him。

〃Do　you　know　this　gentleman？〃　she　said　maliciously　to　her　lodger。

〃Not　that　I　remember。〃

Replying　in　those　words；　the　lady　looked　at　Mr。　Rayburn　for　the　first　time；　and　suddenly　drew　back　from　him。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　correcting　herself；　〃I　think　we　met〃

Her　embarrassment　overpowered　her；　she　could　say　no　more。

Mr。　Rayburn　compassionately　finished　the　sentence　for　her。

〃We　met　accidentally　in　Kensington　Gardens；〃　he　said。

She　seemed　to　be　incapable　of　appreciating　the　kindness　of　his　motive。　After　hesitating　a　little　she　addressed　a　proposal　to　him；　which　seemed　to　show　distrust　of　the　landlady。

〃Will　you　let　me　speak　to　you　upstairs　in　my　own　rooms？〃　she　asked。

Without　waiting　for　a　reply；　she　led　the　way　to　the　stairs。　Mr。　Rayburn　and　Lucy　followed。　They　were　just　beginning　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　str