Little Novels | Page 5

he saw her. The ways in
which it is possible to cultivate the social virtues are more numerous
and more varied than is generally supposed. This lady's way had
apparently accustomed her to meet her fellow-creatures on the hard
ground of justice without mercy. Something in her eyes, when she
looked at Lucy, said: "I wonder whether that child gets punished when
she deserves it?"
"Do you wish to see the rooms which I have to let?" she began.
Mr. Rayburn at once stated the object of his visit--as clearly, as civilly,
and as concisely as a man could do it. He was conscious (he added) that
he had been guilty perhaps of an act of intrusion.
The manner of the mistress of the house showed that she entirely
agreed with him. He suggested, however, that his motive might excuse
him. The mistress's manner changed, and asserted a difference of
opinion.
"I only know the lady whom you mention," she said, "as a person of the
highest respectability, in delicate health. She has taken my first- floor
apartments, with excellent references; and she gives remarkably 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,