'Of course. I never knew a landlady who had not. And so she is kind to you?'
'And to Mary—unvaryingly so.'
'Ah, I must thank her for all this.'
'Here she comes to lay the tea things. Mrs. Fubsby,' said Ellinor, as the latter entered the room, 'this is the gentleman who bought——'
'Fubsby!' interrupted Sleath, in a dismayed tone. 'What the devil—Seraphina Fubsby!'
'Gentleman!' shrieked Mrs. Fubsby, letting her tray fall crash with all its contents on the floor. 'Villain! double-dyed villain, do we meet again—again after all these years?'
'She is mad!' said he, starting to his feet and keeping the table between herself and him.
'This is Sir Redmond Sleath!' exclaimed Ellinor, in tones of terror and explanation.
'The same man who married me under the name of Redmond, and then deserted me in France. My husband at last, after all these years of cruel desertion.'
'Your husband?' said Ellinor, in a voice like a husky whisper.