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llness； but that is a trifle。 As an example of what I mean； I may tell you that I invited her； on her recovery； to pay me a visit。 My house is not in Londonthe air doesn't agree with memy place of residence is at St。 Sallins…on…Sea。 I am not myself a married man； but my excellent housekeeper would have received Mrs。 Zant with the utmost kindness。 She was resolvedobstinately resolved； poor thingto remain in London。 It is needless to say that； in her melancholy position； I am attentive to her slightest wishes。 I took a lodging for her； and； at her special request； I chose a house which was near Kensington Gardens。
〃Is there any association with the Gardens which led Mrs。 Zant to make that request？〃
〃Some association； I believe； with the memory of her husband。 By the way； I wish to be sure of finding her at home； when I call to…morrow。 Did you say （in the course of your interesting statement） that she intendedas you supposedto return to Kensington Gardens to…morrow？ Or has my memory deceived me？〃
〃Your memory is perfectly accurate。〃
〃Thank you。 I confess I am not only distressed by what you have told me of Mrs。 ZantI am at a loss to know how to act for the best。 My only idea； at present； is to try change of air and scene。 What do you think yourself？〃
〃I think you are right。〃
Mr。 Zant still hesitated。
〃It would not be easy for me； just now；〃 he said； 〃to leave my patients and take her abroad。〃
The obvious reply to this occurred to Mr。 Rayburn。 A man of larger worldly experience might have felt certain suspicions； and might have remained silent。 Mr。 Rayburn spoke。
〃Why not renew your invitation and take her to your house at the seaside？〃 he said。
In the perplexed state of Mr。 Zant's mind； this plain course of action had apparently failed to present itself。 His gloomy face brightened directly。
〃The very thing！〃 he said。 〃I will certainly take your advice。 If the air of St。 Sallins does nothing else； it will improve her health and help her to recover her good looks。 Did she strike you as having been （in happier days） a pretty woman？〃
This was a strangely familiar question to askalmost an indelicate question； under the circumstances A certain furtive expression in Mr。 Zant's fine dark eyes seemed to imply that it had been put with a purpose。 Was it possible that he suspected Mr。 Rayburn's interest in his sister…in…law to be inspired by any motive which was not perfectly unselfish and perfectly pure？ To arrive at such a conclusion as this might be to judge hastily and cruelly of a man who was perhaps only guilty of a want of delicacy of feeling。 Mr。 Rayburn honestly did his best to assume the charitable point of view。 At the same time； it is not to be denied that his words； when he answered； were carefully guarded； and that he rose to take his leave。
Mr。 John Zant hospitably protested。
〃Why are you in such a hurry？ Must you really go？ I shall have the honor of returning your visit to…morrow； when I have made arrangements to profit by that excellent suggestion of yours。 Good…by。 God bless you。〃
He held out his hand： a hand with a smooth s urface and a tawny color； that fervently squeezed the fingers of a departing friend。 〃Is that man a scoundrel？〃 was Mr。 Rayburn's first thought； after he had left the hotel。 His moral sense set all hesitation at restand answered： 〃You're a fool if you doubt it。〃
V。
DISTURBED by presentiments； Mr。 Rayburn returned to his house on foot； by way of trying what exercise would do toward composing his mind。
The experiment failed。 He went upstairs and played with Lucy； he drank an extra glass of wine at dinner； he took the child and her governess to a circus in the evening； he ate a little supper； fortified by another glass of wine； before he went to bedand still those vague forebodings of evil persisted in torturing him。 Looking back through his past life； he asked himself if any woman （his late wife of course excepted！） had ever taken the predominant place in his thoughts which Mrs。 Zant had assumedwithout any discernible reason to account for it？ If he had ventured to answer his own question； the reply would have been： Never！
All the next day he waited at home； in expectation of Mr。 John Zant's promised visit； and waited in vain。
Toward evening the parlor…maid appeared at the family tea…table； and presented to her master an unusually large envelope sealed with black wax； and addressed in a strange handwriting。 The absence of stamp and postmark showed that it had been left at the house by a messenger。
〃Who brought this？〃 Mr。 Rayburn asked。
〃A lady； sirin deep mourning。〃
〃Did she leave any message？〃
〃No； sir。〃
Having drawn the inevitable conclusion； Mr。 Rayburn shut himself up in his library。 He was afraid of Lucy's curiosity and Lucy's questions； if he read Mrs。 Zant's letter in his daughter's presence。
Looking at the open envelope after he had taken out the leaves of writing which it contained； he noticed these lines traced inside the cover：
〃My one excuse for troubling you； when I might have consulted my brother…in…law； will be found in the pages which I inclose。 To speak plainly； you have been led to fear that I am not in my right senses。 For this very reason； I now appeal to you。 Your dreadful doubt of me； sir； is my doubt too。 Read what I have written about myselfand then tell me； I entreat you； which I am： A person who has been the object of a supernatural revelation？ or an unfortunate creature who is only fit for imprisonment in a mad…house？〃
Mr。 Rayburn opened the manuscript。 With steady attention； which soon quickened to breathless interest； he read what follows：
VI。
THE LADY'S MANUSCRIPT。
YESTERDAY morning the sun shone in a clear blue skyafter a succession of cloudy days； counting from the first of the month。
The radiant light had its animating effect on my poor spirits。 I had passed the night more peacefully than usual； undisturbed by the dream； so cruelly familiar to me； that my lost husband is still livingthe dream from which I always wake in tears。 Never； since the dark days of my sorrow； have I been so little troubled by the self…tormenting fancies and fears which beset miserable women； as when I left the house； and turned my steps toward Kensington Gardensfor the first time since my husband's death。
Attended by my only companion； the little dog who had been his favorite as well as mine； I went to the quiet corner of the Gardens which is nearest to Kensington。
On that soft grass； under the shade of those grand trees； we had loitered together in the days of our betrothal。 It was his favorite walk； and he had taken me to see it in the early days of our acquaintance。 There； he had first asked me to be his wife。 There； we had felt the rapture of our first kiss。 It was surely natural that I should wish to see once more a place sacred to such memories as these？ I am only twenty…three years old； I have no child to comfort me； no companion of my own age； nothing to love but the dumb creature who is so faithfully fond of me。
I went to the tree under which we stood； when my dear one's eyes told his love before he could utter it in words。 The sun of that vanished day shone on me again； it was th