"We have forgotten something," she said. "Suppose my master refuses to see you. His temper might get the better of him; he might make it so unpleasant for you that you would be obliged to go.""_My_ temper might get the better of _me_," Mr. Rayburn replied;"and--if I thought it was in Mrs. Zant's interests--I might refuse to leave the house unless she accompanied me.""That will never do, sir."
"Why not?"
"Because I should be the person to suffer."
"In what way?"
"In this way. If you picked a quarrel with my master, I should be blamed for it because I showed you upstairs. Besides, think of the lady. You might frighten her out of her senses, if it came to a struggle between you two men."The language was exaggerated; but there was a force in this last objection which Mr. Rayburn was obliged to acknowledge.
"And, after all," the housekeeper continued, "he has more right over her than you have. He is related to her, and you are only her friend."Mr. Rayburn declined to let himself be influenced by this consideration, "Mr. John Zant is only related to her by marriage," he said. "If she prefers trusting in me--come what may of it, I will be worthy of her confidence."The housekeeper shook her head.