第6章

“TheWalkontheWalls，“thoughtthisjudiciousman，withatwinkleofhisparty-coloredeyes。“ThequietestplaceinYork；andtheplacethateverystrangergoestosee。“

IntenminutesmoreCaptainWraggewasexploringthenewfieldofsearch。Hemountedtothewalls(whichinclosethewholewesternportionofthecity)bytheNorthStreetPostern，fromwhichthewalkwindsrounduntilitendsagainatitssouthernlyextremityinthenarrowpassageofRosemaryLane。Itwasthentwentyminutestoseven。Thesunhadsetmorethanhalfanhoursince；theredlightlaybroadandlowinthecloudlesswesternheaven；allvisibleobjectsweresofteninginthetendertwilight，butwerenotdarkeningyet。Thefirstfewlampslitinthestreetbelowlookedlikefaintlittlespecksofyellowlight，asthecaptainstartedonhiswalkthroughoneofthemoststrikingsceneswhichEnglandcanshow。

Onhisrighthand，ashesetforth，stretchedtheopencountrybeyondthewalls——therichgreenmeadows，theboundary-treesdividingthem，thebroadwindingsoftheriverinthedistance，thescatteredbuildingsnearertoview；allwrappedintheeveningstillness，allmadebeautifulbytheeveningpeace。Onhislefthand，themajesticwestfrontofYorkMinstersoaredoverthecityandcaughtthelastbrightestlightofheavenonthesummitsofitsloftytowers。Hadthisnobleprospecttemptedthelostgirltolingerandlookatit？No；thusfar，notasignofher。Thecaptainlookedroundhimattentively，andwalkedon。

Hereachedthespotwheretheironcourseoftherailroadstrikesitswaythrougharchesintheoldwall。Hepausedatthisplace——wherethecentralactivityofagreatrailwayenterprisebeats，withallthepulsesofitsloud-clanginglife，sidebysidewiththedeadmajestyofthepast，deepundertheoldhistoricstoneswhichtelloffortifiedYorkandthesiegesoftwocenturiessince——hestoodonthisspot，andsearchedforheragain，andsearchedinvain。Otherswerelookingidlydownatthedesolateactivityonthewildernessoftheironrails；butshewasnotamongthem。Thecaptainglanceddoubtfullyatthedarkeningsky，andwalkedon。

HestoppedagainwheretheposternofMicklegatestillstands，andstillstrengthensthecitywallasofold。Herethepavedwalkdescendsafewsteps，passesthroughthedarkstoneguardroomoftheancientgate，ascendsagain，andcontinuesitscoursesouthwarduntilthewallsreachtheriveroncemore。Hepaused，andpeeredanxiouslyintothediminnercornersoftheoldguard-room。Wasshewaitingthereforthedarknesstocome，andhideherfrompryingeyes？No:asolitaryworkmanloiteredthroughthestonechamber；butnootherlivingcreaturestirredintheplace。Thecaptainmountedthestepswhichledoutfromtheposternandwalkedon。

Headvancedsomefiftyorsixtyyardsalongthepavedfootway；theoutlyingsuburbsofYorkononesideofhim，arope-walkandsomepatchesofkitchengardenoccupyingavacantstripofgroundontheother。Headvancedwitheagereyesandquickenedstep；forhesawbeforehimthelonelyfigureofawoman，standingbytheparapetofthewall，withherfacesettowardthewestwardview。Heapproachedcautiously，tomakesureofherbeforesheturnedandobservedhim。Therewasnomistakingthattall，darkfigure，asitrestedagainsttheparapetwithalistlessgrace。Thereshestood，inherlongblackcloakandgown，thelastdimlightofeveningfallingtenderlyonherpale，resoluteyoungface。Thereshestood——notthreemonthssincethespoileddarlingofherparents；thepricelesstreasureofthehousehold，neverleftunprotected，nevertrustedalone——thereshestoodinthelovelydawnofherwomanhood，acastawayinastrangecity，wreckedontheworld！

Vagabondashewas，thefirstsightofherstaggeredeventhedauntlessassuranceofCaptainWragge。Assheslowlyturnedherfaceandlookedathim，heraisedhishat，withthenearestapproachtorespectwhichalonglifeofunblushingaudacityhadlefthimcapableofmaking。

“IthinkIhavethehonorofaddressingtheyoungerMissVanstone？“hebegan。“Deeplygratified，Iamsure——formorereasonsthanone。“

Shelookedathimwithacoldsurprise。NorecollectionofthedaywhenhehadfollowedhersisterandherselfontheirwayhomewithMissGarthroseinhermemory，whilehenowconfrontedher，withhisalteredmannerandhisaltereddress。

“Youaremistaken，“shesaid，quietly。“Youareaperfectstrangertome。“

“Pardonme，“repliedthecaptain；“Iamaspeciesofrelation。Ihadthepleasureofseeingyouinthespringofthepresentyear。Ipresentedmyselfonthatmemorableoccasiontoanhonoredpreceptressinyourlatefather\'sfamily。Permitme，underequallyagreeablecircumstances，topresentmyselftoyou。MynameisWragge。“

Bythistimehehadrecoveredcompletepossessionofhisownimpudence；hisparty-coloredeyestwinkledcheerfully，andheaccompaniedhismodestannouncementofhimselfwithadancing-master\'sbow。

Magdalenfrowned，anddrewbackastep。Thecaptainwasnotamantobedauntedbyacoldreception。Hetuckedhisumbrellaunderhisarmandjocoselyspelledhisnameforherfurtherenlightenment。“W，R，A，doubleG，E——Wragge，“saidthecaptain，tickingofftheletterspersuasivelyonhisfingers。

“Irememberyourname，“saidMagdalen。“Excusemeforleavingyouabruptly。Ihaveanengagement。“

Shetriedtopasshimandwalkonnorthwardtowardtherailway。Heinstantlymettheattemptbyraisingbothhands，anddisplayingapairofdarnedblackglovesoutspreadinpoliteprotest。

“Notthatway，“hesaid；“notthatway，MissVanstone，Ibegandentreat！“

“Whynot？“sheaskedhaughtily。

“Because，“answeredthecaptain，“thatisthewaywhichleadstoMr。Huxtable\'s。“

Intheungovernableastonishmentofhearinghisreplyshesuddenlybentforward，andforthefirsttimelookedhimcloseintheface。Hesustainedhersuspiciousscrutinywitheveryappearanceoffeelinghighlygratifiedbyit。“H，U，X——Hux，“saidthecaptain，playfullyturningtotheoldjoke:“T，A——ta，Huxta；B，L，E——ble；Huxtable。“

“WhatdoyouknowaboutMr。Huxtable？“sheasked。“Whatdoyoumeanbymentioninghimtome？“

Thecaptain\'scurlyliptookanewtwistupward。Heimmediatelyreplied，tothebestpracticalpurpose，byproducingthehandbillfromhispocket。

“Thereisjustlightenoughleft，“hesaid，“foryoung(andlovely)eyestoreadby。BeforeIenteruponthepersonalstatementwhichyourflatteringinquiryclaimsfromme，praybestowamoment\'sattentiononthisDocument。“

Shetookthehandbillfromhim。Bythelastgleamoftwilightshereadthelineswhichsetapriceonherrecovery——whichpublishedthedescriptionofherinpitilessprint，likethedescriptionofastrayeddog。Notenderconsiderationhadpreparedherfortheshock，nokindwordsoftenedittoherwhenitcame。Thevagabond，whosecunningeyeswatchedhereagerlywhilesheread，knewnomorethatthehandbillwhichhehadstolenhadonlybeenpreparedinanticipationoftheworst，andwasonlytobepubliclyusedintheeventofallmoreconsideratemeansoftracingherbeingtriedinvain——thansheknewit。Thebilldroppedfromherhand；herfaceflusheddeeply。SheturnedawayfromCaptainWragge，asifallideaofhisexistencehadpassedoutofhermind。

“Oh，Norah，Norah！“shesaidtoherself，sorrowfully。“AftertheletterIwroteyou——afterthehardstruggleIhadtogoaway！Oh，Norah，Norah！“

“HowisNorah？“inquiredthecaptain，withtheutmostpoliteness。

Sheturneduponhimwithanangrybrightnessinherlargegrayeyes。“Isthisthingshownpublicly？“sheasked，stampingherfootonit。“IsthemarkonmyneckdescribedalloverYork？“

“Praycomposeyourself，“pleadedthepersuasiveWragge。“AtpresentIhaveeveryreasontobelievethatyouhavejustperusedtheonlycopyincirculation。Allowmetopickitup。“

Beforehecouldtouchthebillshesnatcheditfromthepavement，toreitintofragments，andthrewthemoverthewall。

“Bravo！“criedthecaptain。“Youremindmeofyourpoordearmother。Thefamilyspirit，MissVanstone。Weallinheritourhotbloodfrommymaternalgrandfather。“

“Howdidyoucomebyit？“sheasked，suddenly。

“Mydearcreature，Ihavejusttoldyou，“remonstratedthecaptain。“Weallcomebyitfrommymaternalgrandfather。“

“Howdidyoucomebythathandbill？“sherepeated，passionately。

“Ibegtenthousandpardons！Myheadwasrunningonthefamilyspirit——HowdidIcomebyit？Brieflythus。“HereCaptainWraggeenteredonhispersonalstatement；takinghiscustomaryvocalexercisethroughthelongestwordsoftheEnglishlanguage，withthehighestelocutionaryrelish。Having，onthisrareoccasion，nothingtogainbyconcealment，hedepartedfromhisordinaryhabits，and，withtheutmostamazementatthenoveltyofhisownsituation，permittedhimselftotelltheunmitigatedtruth。

TheeffectofthenarrativeonMagdalenbynomeansfulfilledCaptainWragge\'santicipationsinrelatingit。Shewasnotstartled；shewasnotirritated；sheshowednodispositiontocastherselfonhismercy，andtoseekhisadvice。Shelookedhimsteadilyintheface；andallshesaid，whenhehadneatlyroundedhislastsentence，was——“Goon。“

“Goon？“repeatedthecaptain。“Shockedtodisappointyou，Iamsure；butthefactis，Ihavedone。“

“No，youhavenot，“sherejoined；“youhaveleftouttheendofyourstory。Theendofitis，youcameheretolookforme；andyoumeantoearnthefiftypoundsreward。“

ThoseplainwordssocompletelystaggeredCaptainWraggethatforthemomenthestoodspeechless。Buthehadfacedawkwardtruthsofallsortsfartoooftentobepermanentlydisconcertedbythem。BeforeMagdalencouldpursueheradvantage，thevagabondhadrecoveredhisbalance:Wraggewashimselfagain。

“Smart，“saidthecaptain，laughingindulgently，anddrummingwithhisumbrellaonthepavement。“Somemenmighttakeitseriously。I\'mnoteasilyoffended。Tryagain。“

Magdalenlookedathimthroughthegatheringdarknessinmuteperplexity。Allherlittleexperienceofsocietyhadbeenexperienceamongpeoplewhopossessedacommonsenseofhonor，andacommonresponsibilityofsocialposition。ShehadhithertoseennothingbutthesuccessfulhumanproductfromthegreatmanufactoryofCivilization。Herewasoneofthefailures，and，withallherquickness，shewaspuzzledhowtodealwithit。

“Pardonmeforreturningtothesubject，“pursuedthecaptain。“Ithasjustoccurredtomymindthatyoumightactuallyhavespokeninearnest。Mypoorchild！howcanIearnthefiftypoundsbeforetherewardisofferedtome？Thosehandbillsmaynotbepubliclypostedforaweektocome。Preciousasyouaretoallyourrelatives(myselfincluded)，takemywordforit，thelawyerswhoaremanagingthiscasewillnotpayfiftypoundsforyouiftheycanpossiblyhelpit。Areyoustillpersuadedthatmyneedypocketsaregapingforthemoney？Verygood。Buttonthemupinspiteofmewithyourownfairfingers。ThereisatraintoLondonatnineforty-fiveto-night。Submityourselftoyourfriend\'swishesandgobackbyit。“

“Never！“saidMagdalen，firingatthebaresuggestion，exactlyasthecaptainhadintendedsheshould。“Ifmymindhadnotbeenmadeupbefore，thatvilehandbillwouldhavedecidedme。IforgiveNorah，“sheadded，turningawayandspeakingtoherself，“butnotMr。Pendril，andnotMissGarth。“

“Quiteright！“saidCaptainWragge。“Thefamilyspirit。Ishouldhavedonethesamemyselfatyourage。Itrunsintheblood。Hark！theregoestheclockagain——half-pastseven。MissVanstone，pardonthisseasonableabruptness！Ifyouaretocarryoutyourresolution——ifyouaretobeyourownmistressmuchlonger，youmusttakeacourseofsomekindbeforeeighto\'clock。Youareyoung，youareinexperienced，youareinimminentdanger。Hereisapositionofemergencyononeside——andhereamI，ontheother，withanuncle\'sinterestinyou，fullofadvice。Tapme。“

“SupposeIchoosetodependonnobody，andtoactformyself？“saidMagdalen。“Whatthen？“

“Then，“repliedthecaptain，“youwillwalkstraightintooneofthefourtrapswhicharesettocatchyouintheancientandinterestingcityofYork。Trapthefirst，atMr。Huxtable\'shouse；trapthesecond，atallthehotels；trapthethird，attherailwaystation；trapthefourth，atthetheater。Thatmanwiththehandbillshashadanhourathisdisposal。Ifhehasnotsetthosefourtraps(withtheassistanceofthelocalsolicitor)bythistime，heisnotthecompetentlawyer\'sclerkItakehimfor。Come，come，mydeargirl！ifthereissomebodyelseinthebackground，whoseadviceyouprefertomine——“

“YouseethatIamalone，“sheinterposed，proudly。“Ifyouknewmebetter，youwouldknowthatIdependonnobodybutmyself。“

Thosewordsdecidedtheonlydoubtwhichnowremainedinthecaptain\'smind——thedoubtwhetherthecoursewasclearbeforehim。Themotiveofherflightfromhomewasevidentlywhatthehandbillsassumedittobe——arecklessfancyforgoingonthestage。“Oneoftwothings，“thoughtWraggetohimself，inhislogicalway。“She\'sworthmorethanfiftypoundstomeinherpresentsituation，orsheisn\'t。Ifsheis，herfriendsmaywhistleforher。Ifsheisn\'t，Ihaveonlytokeephertillthebillsareposted。“Fortifiedbythissimpleplanofaction，thecaptainreturnedtothecharge，andpolitelyplacedMagdalenbetweenthetwoinevitablealternativesoftrustingherselftohim，ontheonehand，orofreturningtoherfriends，ontheother。

“IrespectindependenceofcharacterwhereverIfindit，“hesaid，withanairofvirtuousseverity。“Inayoungandlovelyrelative，Imorethanrespect——Iadmireit。But(excusetheboldassertion)，towalkonawayofyourown，youmustfirsthaveawaytowalkon。Underexistingcircumstances，whereisyourway？Mr。Huxtableisoutofthequestion，tobeginwith。“

“Outofthequestionforto-night，“saidMagdalen；“butwhathindersmefromwritingtoMr。Huxtable，andmakingmyownprivatearrangementswithhimforto-morrow？“

“Grantedwithallmyheart——ahit，apalpablehit。Nowformyturn。Togettoto-morrow(excusetheboldassertion，oncemore)，youmustfirstpassthroughto-night。Whereareyoutosleep？“

“AretherenohotelsinYork？“

“Excellenthotelsforlargefamilies；excellenthotelsforsinglegentlemen。Theveryworsthotelsintheworldforhandsomeyoungladieswhopresentthemselvesaloneatthedoorwithoutmaleescort，withoutamaidinattendance，andwithoutasinglearticleofluggage。Darkasitis，IthinkIcouldseealady\'sbox，iftherewasanythingofthesortinourimmediateneighborhood。“

“Myboxisatthecloak-room。Whatistopreventmysendingtheticketforit？“

“Nothing——ifyouwanttocommunicateyouraddressbymeansofyourbox——nothingwhatever。Think；praythink！Doyoureallysupposethatthepeoplewhoarelookingforyouaresuchfoolsasnottohaveaneyeonthecloakroom？Doyouthinktheyaresuchfools——whentheyfindyoudon\'tcometoMr。Huxtable\'sateightto-night——asnottoinquireatallthehotels？Doyouthinkayoungladyofyourstrikingappearance(eveniftheyconsentedtoreceiveyou)couldtakeupherabodeataninnwithoutbecomingthesubjectofuniversalcuriosityandremark？Hereisnightcomingonasfastasitcan。Don\'tletmeboreyou；onlyletmeaskoncemore——Whereareyoutosleep？“

Therewasnoanswertothatquestion:inMagdalen\'sposition，therewasliterallynoanswertoitonherside。Shewassilent。

“Whereareyoutosleep？“repeatedthecaptain。“Thereplyisobvious——undermyroof。Mrs。Wraggewillbecharmedtoseeyou。Lookuponherasyouraunt；praylookuponherasyouraunt。Thelandladyisawidow，thehouseiscloseby，therearenootherlodgers，andthereisabedroomtolet。Cananythingbemoresatisfactory，underallthecircumstances？Prayobserve，Isaynothingaboutto-morrow——Ileaveto-morrowtoyou，andconfinemyselfexclusivelytothenight。Imay，ormaynot，commandtheatricalfacilities，whichIaminapositiontoofferyou。Sympathyandadmirationmay，ormaynot，bestrongwithinme，whenIcontemplatethedashandindependenceofyourcharacter。HostsofexamplesofbrightstarsoftheBritishdrama，whohavebeguntheirapprenticeshiptothestageasyouarebeginningyours，may，ormaynot，crowdonmymemory。Thesearetopicsforthefuture。Forthepresent，Iconfinemyselfwithinmystrictrangeofduty。Wearewithinfiveminutes\'walkofmypresentaddress。Allowmetoofferyoumyarm。No？Youhesitate？Youdistrustme？Goodheavens！isitpossibleyoucanhaveheardanythingtomydisadvantage？“

“Quitepossible，“saidMagdalen，withoutamoment\'sflinchingfromtheanswer。

“MayIinquiretheparticulars？“askedthecaptain，withthepolitestcomposure。“Don\'tsparemyfeelings；obligemebyspeakingout。Intheplainestterms，now，whathaveyouheard？“

Sheansweredhimwithawoman\'sdesperatedisregardofconsequenceswhensheisdriventobay——sheansweredhiminstantly，“IhaveheardyouareaRogue。“

“Haveyou，indeed？“saidtheimpenetrableWragge。“ARogue？Well，Iwaivemyprivilegeofsettingyourightonthatpointforafittertime。Forthesakeofargument，letussayIamaRogue。WhatisMr。Huxtable？“

“Arespectableman，orIshouldnothaveseenhiminthehousewherewefirstmet。“

“Verygood。Nowobserve！YoutalkedofwritingtoMr。Huxtableaminuteago。Whatdoyouthinkarespectablemanislikelytodowithayoungladywhoopenlyacknowledgesthatshehasrunawayfromherhomeandherfriendstogoonthestage？Mydeargirl，onyourownshowing，it\'snotarespectablemanyouwantinyourpresentpredicament。It\'saRogue——likeme。“

Magdalenlaughed，bitterly。

“Thereissometruthinthat，“shesaid。“Thankyouforrecallingmetomyselfandmycircumstances。Ihavemyendtogain——andwhoamI，topickandchoosethewayofgettingtoit？Itismyturntobegpardonnow。IhavebeentalkingasifIwasayoungladyoffamilyandposition。Absurd！Weknowbetterthanthat，don\'twe，CaptainWragge？Youarequiteright。Nobody\'schildmustsleepunderSomebody\'sroof——andwhynotyours？“

“Thisway，“saidthecaptain，dexterouslyprofitingbythesuddenchangeinherhumor，andcunninglyrefrainingfromexasperatingitbysayingmorehimself。“Thisway。“

Shefollowedhimafewsteps，andsuddenlystopped。

“SupposeIamdiscovered？“shebrokeout，abruptly。“Whohasanyauthorityoverme？Whocantakemeback，ifIdon\'tchoosetogo？Iftheyallfindmeto-morrow，whatthen？Can\'tIsayNotoMr。Pendril？Can\'tItrustmyowncouragewithMissGarth？“

“Canyoutrustyourcouragewithyoursister？“whisperedthecaptain，whohadnotforgottenthereferencestoNorahwhichhadtwiceescapedheralready。

Herheaddrooped。Sheshiveredasifthecoldnightairhadstruckher，andleanedbackwearilyagainsttheparapetofthewall。

“NotwithNorah，“shesaid，sadly。“Icouldtrustmyselfwiththeothers。NotwithNorah。“

“Thisway，“repeatedCaptainWragge。Sherousedherself；lookedupatthedarkeningheaven，lookedroundatthedarkeningview。“Whatmustbe，must，“shesaid，andfollowedhim。

TheMinsterclockstruckthequartertoeightastheylefttheWalkontheWallanddescendedthestepsintoRosemaryLane。Almostatthesamemomentthelawyer\'sclerkfromLondongavethelastinstructionstohissubordinates，andtookuphisownposition，ontheoppositesideoftheriver，withineasyviewofMr。Huxtable\'sdoor。

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene2，Chapter2CHAPTERII。

CAPTAINWRAGGEstoppednearlymidwayintheonelittlerowofhousescomposingRosemaryLane，andlethimselfandhisguestinatthedoorofhislodgingswithhisownkey。Astheyenteredthepassage，acare-wornwomaninawidow\'scapmadeherappearancewithacandle。“Myniece，“saidthecaptain，presentingMagdalen；“mynieceonavisittoYork。Shehaskindlyconsentedtooccupyyouremptybedroom。Consideritlet，ifyouplease，tomyniece——andbeveryparticularinairingthesheets？IsMrs。Wraggeupstairs？Verygood。Youmaylendmeyourcandle。Mydeargirl，Mrs。Wragge\'sboudoirisonthefirstfloor；Mrs。Wraggeisvisible。Allowmetoshowyouthewayup。“

Asheascendedthestairsfirst，thecare-wornwidowwhispered，piteously，toMagdalen，“Ihopeyou\'llpayme，miss。Youruncledoesn\'t。“

Thecaptainthrewopenthedoorofthefrontroomonthefirstfloor，anddisclosedafemalefigure，arrayedinagownoftarnishedamber-coloredsatin，seatedsolitaryonasmallchair，withdingyoldglovesonitshands，withatatteredoldbookonitsknees，andwithonelittlebedroomcandlebyitsside。Thefigureterminatedatitsupperextremityinalarge，smooth，whiteroundface——likeamoon——encircledbyacapandgreenribbons，anddimlyirradiatedbyeyesofmildandfadedblue，whichlookedstraightforwardintovacancy，andtooknotthesmallestnoticeofMagdalen\'sappearance，ontheopeningofthedoor。

“Mrs。Wragge！“criedthecaptain，shoutingatherasifshewasfastasleep。“Mrs。Wragge！“

Theladyofthefadedblueeyesslowlyrosetoanapparentlyinterminableheight。Whenshehadatlastattainedanuprightposition，shetoweredtoastatureoftwoorthreeinchesoversixfeet。Giantsofbothsexesare，byawisedispensationofProvidence，created，forthemostpart，gentle。IfMrs。Wraggeandalambhadbeenplacedsidebyside，comparison，underthosecircumstances，wouldhaveexposedthelambasarankimpostor。

“Tea，captain？“inquiredMrs。Wragge，lookingsubmissivelydownatherhusband，whosehead，whenhestoodontiptoe，barelyreachedhershoulder。

“MissVanstone，theyounger，“saidthecaptain，presentingMagdalen。“Ourfairrelative，whomIhavemetbyfortunateaccident。Ourguestforthenight。Ourguest！“reiteratedthecaptain，shoutingoncemoreasifthetallladywasstillfastasleep，inspiteoftheplaintestimonyofherowneyestothecontrary。

Asmileexpresseditself(infaintoutline)onthelargevacantspaceofMrs。Wragge\'scountenance。“Oh？“shesaid，interrogatively。“Oh，indeed？Please，miss，willyousitdown？I\'msorry——no，Idon\'tmeanI\'msorry；ImeanI\'mglad——“shestopped，andconsultedherhusbandbyahelplesslook。

“Glad，ofcourse！“shoutedthecaptain。

“Glad，ofcourse，“echoedthegiantessoftheambersatin，moremeeklythanever。

“Mrs。Wraggeisnotdeaf，“explainedthecaptain。“She\'sonlyalittleslow。Constitutionallytorpid——ifImayusetheexpression。Iammerelyloudwithher(andIbegyouwillhonormebybeingloud，too)asanecessarystimulanttoherideas。Shoutather——andhermindcomesuptotime。Speaktoher——andshedriftsmilesawayfromyoudirectly。Mrs。Wragge！“

Mrs。Wraggeinstantlyacknowledgedthestimulant。“Tea，captain？“sheinquired，forthesecondtime。

“Putyourcapstraight！“shoutedherhusband。“Ibegtenthousandpardons，“heresumed，againaddressinghimselftoMagdalen。“Thesadtruthis，Iamamartyrtomyownsenseoforder。Alluntidiness，allwantofsystemandregularity，causemetheacutestirritation。Myattentionisdistracted，mycomposureisupset；Ican\'tresttillthingsaresetstraightagain。Externallyspeaking，Mrs。Wraggeis，tomyinfiniteregret，thecrookedestwomanIevermetwith。Moretotheright！“shoutedthecaptain，asMrs。Wragge，likeawell-trainedchild，presentedherselfwithherrevisedhead-dressforherhusband\'sinspection。

Mrs。Wraggeimmediatelypulledthecaptotheleft。Magdalenrose，andsetitrightforher。Themoon-faceofthegiantessbrightenedforthefirsttime。ShelookedadmiringlyatMagdalen\'scloakandbonnet。“Doyoulikedress，miss？“sheasked，suddenly，inaconfidentialwhisper。“Ido。“

“ShowMissVanstoneherroom，“saidthecaptain，lookingasifthewholehousebelongedtohim。“Thespare-room，thelandlady\'sspare-room，onthethirdfloorfront。OfferMissVanstoneallarticlesconnectedwiththetoiletofwhichshemaystandinneed。Shehasnoluggagewithher。Supplythedeficiency，andthencomebackandmaketea。“

Mrs。Wraggeacknowledgedthereceiptoftheseloftydirectionsbyalookofplacidbewilderment，andledthewayoutoftheroom；Magdalenfollowingher，withacandlepresentedbytheattentivecaptain。Assoonastheywerealoneonthelandingoutside，Mrs。WraggeraisedthetatteredoldbookwhichshehadbeenreadingwhenMagdalenwasfirstpresentedtoher，andwhichshehadneverletoutofherhandsince，andslowlytappedherselfontheforeheadwithit。“Oh，mypoorhead！“saidthetalllady，inmeeksoliloquy；“it\'sBuzzingagainworsethanever！“

“Buzzing？“repeatedMagdalen，intheutmostastonishment。

Mrs。Wraggeascendedthestairs，withoutofferinganyexplanation，stoppedatoneoftheroomsonthesecondfloor，andledthewayin。

“Thisisnotthethirdfloor，“saidMagdalen。“Thisisnotmyroom，surely？“

“Waitabit，“pleadedMrs。Wragge。“Waitabit，miss，beforewegoupanyhigher。I\'vegottheBuzzinginmyheadworsethanever。PleasewaitformetillI\'malittlebetteragain。“

“ShallIaskforhelp？“inquiredMagdalen。“ShallIcallthelandlady？“

“Help？“echoedMrs。Wragge。“Blessyou，Idon\'twanthelp！I\'musedtoit。I\'vehadtheBuzzinginmyhead，offandon——howmanyyears？“Shestopped，reflected，lostherself，andsuddenlytriedaquestionindespair。“HaveyoueverbeenatDarch\'sDining-roomsinLondon？“sheasked，withanappearanceofthedeepestinterest。

“No，“repliedMagdalen，wonderingatthestrangeinquiry。

“That\'swheretheBuzzinginmyheadfirstbegan，“saidMrs。Wragge，followingthenewclewwiththedeepestattentionandanxiety。“IwasemployedtowaitonthegentlemenatDarch\'sDining-rooms——Iwas。Thegentlemenallcametogether；thegentlemenwereallhungrytogether；thegentlemenallgavetheirorderstogether——“Shestopped，andtappedherheadagain，despondently，withthetatteredoldbook。

“Andyouhadtokeepalltheirordersinyourmemory，separateonefromtheother？“suggestedMagdalen，helpingherout。“Andthetryingtodothatconfusedyou？“

“That\'sit！“saidMrs。Wragge，becomingviolentlyexcitedinamoment。“Boiledporkandgreensandpease-pudding，forNumberOne。Stewedbeefandcarrotsandgooseberrytart，forNumberTwo。Cutofmutton，andquickaboutit，welldone，andplentyoffat，forNumberThree。Codfishandparsnips，twochopstofollow，hot-and-hot，orI\'llbethedeathofyou，forNumberFour。Five，six，seven，eight，nine，ten。Carrotsandgooseberrytart——pease-puddingandplentyoffat——porkandbeefandmutton，andcut\'emall，andquickaboutit——stoutforone，andalefort\'other——andstalebreadhere，andnewbreadthere——andthisgentlemanlikescheese，andthatgentlemandoesn\'t——Matilda，Tilda，Tilda，Tilda，fiftytimesover，tillIdidn\'tknowmyownnameagain——ohlord！ohlord！！ohlord！！！alltogether，allatthesametime，alloutoftemper，allbuzzinginmypoorheadlikefortythousandmillionbees——don\'ttellthecaptain！don\'ttellthecaptain！“Theunfortunatecreaturedroppedthetatteredoldbook，andbeatbothherhandsonherhead，withalookofblankterrorfixedonthedoor。

“Hush！hush！“saidMagdalen。“Thecaptainhasn\'theardyou。Iknowwhatisthematterwithyourheadnow。Letmecoolit。“

Shedippedatowelinwater，andpresseditonthehotandhelplessheadwhichMrs。Wraggesubmittedtoherwiththedocilityofasickchild。

“Whataprettyhandyou\'vegot！“saidthepoorcreature，feelingthereliefofthecoolnessandtakingMagdalen\'shand，admiringly，inherown。“Howsoftandwhiteitis！Itrytobealady；Ialwayskeepmygloveson——butIcan\'tgetmyhandslikeyours。I\'mnicelydressed，though，ain\'tI？Ilikedress；it\'sacomforttome。I\'malwayshappywhenI\'mlookingatmythings。Isay——youwon\'tbeangrywithme？——Ishouldsoliketotryyourbonneton。“

Magdalenhumoredher，withthereadycompassionoftheyoung。Shestoodsmilingandnoddingatherselfintheglass，withthebonnetperchedonthetopofherhead。“Ihadoneasprettyasthis，once，“shesaid——“onlyitwaswhite，notblack。Iworeitwhenthecaptainmarriedme。“

“Wheredidyoumeetwithhim？“askedMagdalen，puttingthequestionasachancemeansofincreasingherscantystockofinformationonthesubjectofCaptainWragge。

“AttheDining-rooms，“saidMrs。Wragge。“Hewasthehungriestandtheloudesttowaituponofthelotof\'em。ImademoremistakeswithhimthanIdidwithalltherestofthemputtogether。Heusedtoswear——oh，didn\'theusetoswear！Whenheleftoffswearingatmehemarriedme。Therewasotherswantedmebesideshim。Blessyou，Ihadmypick。Whynot？Whenyouhaveatrifleofmoneyleftyouthatyoudidn\'texpect，ifthatdon\'tmakealadyofyou，whatdoes？Isn\'taladytohaveherpick？Ihadmytrifleofmoney，andIhadmypick，andIpickedthecaptain——Idid。Hewasthesmartestandtheshortestofthemall。Hetookcareofmeandmymoney。I\'mhere，themoney\'sgone。Don\'tyouputthattoweldownonthetable——hewon\'thavethat！Don\'tmovehisrazors——don\'t，please，orIshallforgetwhichiswhich。I\'vegottorememberwhichiswhichto-morrowmorning。Blessyou，thecaptaindon\'tshavehimself！Hehadmetaught。Ishavehim。Idohishair，andcuthisnails——he\'sawfullyparticularabouthisnails。Soheisabouthistrousers。Andhisshoes。Andhisnewspaperinthemorning。Andhisbreakfasts，andlunches，anddinners，andteas——“Shestopped，struckbyasuddenrecollection，lookedabouther，observedthetatteredoldbookonthefloor，andclaspedherhandsindespair。“I\'velosttheplace！“sheexclaimedhelplessly。“Oh，mercy，whatwillbecomeofme！I\'velosttheplace。“

“Nevermind，“saidMagdalen；“I\'llsoonfindtheplaceforyouagain。“

Shepickedupthebook，lookedintothepages，andfoundthattheobjectofMrs。Wragge\'sanxietywasnothingmoreimportantthananold-fashionedTreatiseontheArtofCookery，reducedundertheusualheadsofFish，Flesh，andFowl，andcontainingthecustomaryseriesofrecipes。Turningovertheleaves，Magdalencametooneparticularpage，thicklystuddedwithlittledropsofmoisturehalfdry。“Curious！“shesaid。“Ifthiswasanythingbutacookery-book，Ishouldsaysomebodyhadbeencryingoverit。“

“Somebody？“echoedMrs。Wragge，withastareofamazement。“Itisn\'tsomebody——it\'sMe。Thankyoukindly，that\'stheplace，sureenough。Blessyou，I\'musedtocryingoverit。You\'dcry，too，ifyouhadtogetthecaptain\'sdinnersoutofit。AssureaseverIsitdowntothisbooktheBuzzinginmyheadbeginsagain。Who\'stomakeitout？SometimesIthinkI\'vegotit，anditallgoesawayfromme。SometimesIthinkIhaven\'tgotit，anditallcomesbackinaheap。Lookhere！Here\'swhathe\'sorderedforhisbreakfastto-morrow:\'OmelettewithHerbs。Beatuptwoeggswithalittlewaterormilk，salt，pepper，chives，andparsley。Mincesmall。\'——There！mincesmall！HowamItomincesmallwhenit\'sallmixedupandrunning？\'Putapieceofbutterthesizeofyourthumbintothefrying-pan。\'——Lookatmythumb，andlookatyours！whosesizedoesshemean？\'Boil，butnotbrown。\'——Ifitmustn\'tbebrown，whatcolormustitbe？Shewon\'ttellme；sheexpectsmetoknow，andIdon\'t。\'Pourintheomelette。\'——There！Icandothat。\'Allowittoset，raiseitroundtheedge；whendone，turnitovertodoubleit。\'——Oh，thenumberoftimesIturneditoveranddoubleditinmyhead，beforeyoucameinto-night！\'Keepitsoft；putthedishonthefrying-pan，andturnitover。\'WhichamItoturnover——oh，mercy，trythecoldtowelagain，andtellmewhich——thedishorthefrying-pan？“

“Putthedishonthefrying-pan，“saidMagdalen；“andthenturnthefrying-panover。Thatiswhatitmeans，Ithink。“

“Thankyoukindly，“saidMrs。Wragge，“Iwanttogetitintomyhead；pleasesayitagain。“

Magdalensaiditagain。

“Andthenturnthefrying-panover，“repeatedMrs。Wragge，withasuddenburstofenergy。“I\'vegotitnow！Oh，thelotsofomelettesallfryingtogetherinmyhead；andallfryingwrong！Muchobliged，I\'msure。You\'veputmeallrightagain:I\'monlyalittletiredwithtalking。Andthenturnthefrying-pan，thenturnthefrying-pan，thenturnthefrying-panover。Itsoundslikepoetry，don\'tit？“

Hervoicesank，andshedrowsilyclosedhereyes。Atthesamemomentthedooroftheroombelowopened，andthecaptain\'smellifluousbassnotesfloatedupstairs，chargedwiththecustomarystimulanttohiswife\'sfaculties。

“Mrs。Wragge！“criedthecaptain。“Mrs。Wragge！“

Shestartedtoherfeetatthatterriblesummons。“Oh，whatdidhetellmetodo？“sheasked，distractedly。“Lotsofthings，andI\'veforgottenthemall！“

“Sayyouhavedonethemwhenheasksyou，“suggestedMagdalen。“Theywerethingsforme——thingsIdon\'twant。Irememberallthatisnecessary。Myroomisthefrontroomonthethirdfloor。GodownstairsandsayIamcomingdirectly。“

ShetookupthecandleandpushedMrs。Wraggeoutonthelanding。“SayIamcomingdirectly，“shewhisperedagain——andwentupstairsbyherselftothethirdstory。

Theroomwassmall，close，andverypoorlyfurnished。InformerdaysMissGarthwouldhavehesitatedtooffersucharoomtooneoftheservantsatCombe-Raven。Butitwasquiet；itgaveherafewminutesalone；anditwasendurable，evenwelcome，onthataccount。Shelockedherselfinandwalkedmechanically，withawoman\'sfirstimpulseinastrangebedroom，tothericketylittletableandthedingylittlelooking-glass。Shewaitedthereforamoment，andthenturnedawaywithwearycontempt。“WhatdoesitmatterhowpaleIam？“shethoughttoherself。“Frankcan\'tseeme——whatdoesitmatternow！“

Shelaidasidehercloakandbonnet，andsatdowntocollectherself。Buttheeventsofthedayhadwornherout。Thepast，whenshetriedtorememberit，onlymadeherheartache。Thefuture，whenshetriedtopenetrateit，wasablackvoid。Sheroseagain，andstoodbytheuncurtainedwindow——stoodlookingout，asiftherewassomehiddensympathyforherowndesolationinthedesolatenight。

“Norah！“shesaidtoherself，tenderly；“IwonderifNorahisthinkingofme？Oh，ifIcouldbeaspatientassheis！IfIcouldonlyforgetthedebtweowetoMichaelVanstone！“

Herfacedarkenedwithavindictivedespair，andshepacedthelittlecageofaroombackwardandforward，softly。“No:nevertillthedebtispaid！“HerthoughtsveeredbackagaintoFrank。“Stillatsea，poorfellow；furtherandfurtherawayfromme；sailingthroughtheday，sailingthroughthenight。Oh，Frank，loveme！“

Hereyesfilledwithtears。Shedashedthemaway，madeforthedoor，andlaughedwithadesperatelevity，assheunlockeditagain。

“Anycompanyisbetterthanmyownthoughts，“sheburstout，recklessly，asshelefttheroom。“I\'mforgettingmyready-maderelations——myhalf-wittedaunt，andmyuncletherogue。“Shedescendedthestairstothelandingonthefirstfloor，andpausedthereinmomentaryhesitation。“Howwillitend？“sheaskedherself。“Whereismyblindfoldedjourneytakingmetonow？Whoknows，andwhocares？“

Sheenteredtheroom。

CaptainWraggewaspresidingatthetea-traywiththeairofaprinceinhisownbanqueting-hall。AtonesideofthetablesatMrs。Wragge，watchingherhusband\'seyelikeananimalwaitingtobefed。Attheothersidewasanemptychair，towardwhichthecaptainwavedhispersuasivehandwhenMagdalencamein。“Howdoyoulikeyourroom？“heinquired；“ItrustMrs。Wraggehasmadeherselfuseful？Youtakemilkandsugar？Trythelocalbread，honortheYorkbutter，testthefreshnessofanewandneighboringegg。Ioffermylittleall。Apauper\'smeal，mydeargirl——seasonedwithagentleman\'swelcome。“

“Seasonedwithsalt，pepper，chivesandparsley，“murmuredMrs。Wragge，catchinginstantlyatawordinconnectionwithcookery，andharnessingherheadtotheomelettefortherestoftheevening。

“Sitstraightatthetable！“shoutedthecaptain。“Moretotheleft，morestill——thatwilldo。Duringyourabsenceupstairs，“hecontinued，addressinghimselftoMagdalen，“mymindhasnotbeenunemployed。Ihavebeenconsideringyourpositionwithaviewexclusivelytoyourownbenefit。Ifyoudecideonbeingguidedto-morrowbythelightofmyexperience，thatlightisunreservedlyatyourservice。Youmaynaturallysay:\'Iknowbutlittleofyou，captain，andthatlittleisunfavorable。\'Granted，ononecondition——thatyoupermitmetomakemyselfandmycharacterquitefamiliartoyouwhenteaisover。Falseshameisforeigntomynature。Youseemywife，myhouse，mybread，mybutter，andmyeggs，allexactlyastheyare。Seeme，too，mydeargirl，whileyouareaboutit。“

Whenteawasover，Mrs。Wragge，atasignalfromherhusband，retiredtoacorneroftheroom，withtheeternalcookery-bookstillinherhand。“Mincesmall，“shewhispered，confidentially，asshepassedMagdalen。“That\'sateaser，isn\'tit？“

“Downatheelagain！“shoutedthecaptain，pointingtohiswife\'sheavyflatfeetastheyshuffledacrosstheroom。“Therightshoe。Pullitupatheel，Mrs。Wragge——pullitupatheel！Prayallowme，“hecontinued，offeringhisarmtoMagdalen，andescortinghertoadirtylittlehorse-hairsofa。“Youwantrepose——afteryourlongjourney，youreallywantrepose。“Hedrewhischairtothesofa，andsurveyedherwithablandlookofinvestigation——asifhehadbeenhermedicalattendant，withadiagnosisonhismind。

“Verypleasant！verypleasant！“saidthecaptain，whenhehadseenhisguestcomfortableonthesofa。“Ifeelquiteinthebosomofmyfamily。Shallwereturntooursubject——thesubjectofmyrascallyself？No！no！Noapologies，noprotestations，pray。Don\'tmincethematteronyourside——anddependonmenottominceitonmine。Nowcometofacts；praycometofacts。Who，andwhatamI？CarryyourmindbacktoourconversationontheWallsofthisinterestingCity，andletusstartoncemorefromyourpointofview。IamaRogue；and，inthatcapacity(asIhavealreadypointedout)，themostusefulmanyoupossiblycouldhavemetwith。Nowobserve！TherearemanyvarietiesofRogue；letmetellyoumyvariety，tobeginwith。IamaSwindler。“

Hisentireshamelessnesswasreallysuper-human。Notthevestigeofablushvariedthesallowmonotonyofhiscomplexion；thesmilewreathedhiscurlylipsaspleasantlyaseverhisparty-coloredeyestwinkledatMagdalenwiththeself-enjoyingfranknessofanaturallyharmlessman。Hadhiswifeheardhim？Magdalenlookedoverhisshouldertothecorneroftheroominwhichshewassittingbehindhim。Notheself-taughtstudentofcookerywasabsorbedinhersubject。Shehadadvancedherimaginaryomelettetothecriticalstageatwhichthebutterwastobethrownin——thatvaguely-measuredmorselofbutter，thesizeofyourthumb。Mrs。Wraggesatlostincontemplationofoneofherownthumbs，andshookherheadoverit，asifitfailedtosatisfyher。

“Don\'tbeshocked，“proceededthecaptain；“don\'tbeastonished。Swindlerisnothingbutawordoftwosyllables。S，W，I，N，D——swind；L，E，R——ler；Swindler。Definition:Amoralagriculturist；amanwhocultivatesthefieldofhumansympathy。Iamthatmoralagriculturist，thatcultivatingman。Narrow-mindedmediocrity，enviousofmysuccessinmyprofession，callsmeaSwindler。Whatofthat？Thesamelowtoneofmindassailsmeninotherprofessionsinasimilarmanner——callsgreatwritersscribblers——greatgenerals，butchers——andsoon。Itentirelydependsonthepointofview。Adoptingyourpoint，IannouncemyselfintelligiblyasaSwindler。Nowreturntheobligation，andadoptmine。HearwhatIhavetosayformyself，intheexerciseofmyprofession——ShallIcontinuetoputitfrankly？“

“Yes，“saidMagdalen；“andI\'lltellyoufranklyafterwardwhatIthinkofit。“

Thecaptainclearedhisthroat；mentallyassembledhisentirearmyofwords——horse，foot，artillery，andreserves；puthimselfatthehead；anddashedintoaction，tocarrythemoralintrenchmentsofSocietybyageneralcharge。

“Nowobserve，“hebegan。“HereamI，aneedyobject。Verygood。WithoutcomplicatingthequestionbyaskinghowIcometobeinthatcondition，Iwillmerelyinquirewhetheritis，orisnot，thedutyofaChristiancommunitytohelptheneedy。IfyousayNo，yousimplyshockme；andthereisanendofit；ifyousayYes，thenIbegtoask，WhyamItoblameformakingaChristiancommunitydoitsduty？Youmaysay，Isacarefulmanwhohassavedmoneyboundtospenditagainonacarelessstrangerwhohassavednone？Whyofcourseheis！Andonwhatground，pray？Goodheavens！onthegroundthathehasgotthemoney，tobesure。Alltheworldover，themanwhohasnotgotthething，obtainsit，ononepretenseoranother，ofthemanwhohas——and，inninecasesoutoften，thepretenseisafalseone。What！yourpocketsarefull，andmypocketsareempty；andyourefusetohelpme？Sordidwretch！doyouthinkIwillallowyoutoviolatethesacredobligationsofcharityinmyperson？Iwon\'tallowyou——Isay，distinctly，Iwon\'tallowyou。Thosearemyprinciplesasamoralagriculturist。Principleswhichadmitoftrickery？Certainly。AmItoblameifthefieldofhumansympathycan\'tbecultivatedinanyotherway？Consultmybrotheragriculturistsinthemerefarmingline——dotheygettheircropsfortheasking？No！theymustcircumventaridNatureexactlyasIcircumventsordidMan。Theymustplow，andsow，andtop-dress，andbottom-dress，anddeep-drain，andsurface-drain，andalltherestofit。WhyamItobecheckedinthevastoccupationofdeep-drainingmankind？WhyamItobepersecutedforhabituallyexcitingthenoblestfeelingsofourcommonnature？Infamous！——Icancharacterizeitbynootherword——infamous！IfIhadn\'tconfidenceinthefuture，Ishoulddespairofhumanity——butIhaveconfidenceinthefuture。Yes！oneofthesedays(whenIamdeadandgone)，asideasenlargeandenlightenmentprogresses，theabstractmeritsoftheprofessionnowcalledswindlingwillberecognized。Whenthatdaycomes，don\'tdragmeoutofmygraveandgivemeapublicfuneral；don\'ttakeadvantageofmyhavingnovoicetoraiseinmyowndefense，andinsultmebyanationalstatue。No！domejusticeonmytombstone；dashmeoff，inonemasterlysentence，onmyepitaph。HereliesWragge，embalmedinthetardyrecognitionofhisspecies:heplowed，sowed，andreapedhisfellow-creatures；andenlightenedposteritycongratulateshimontheuniformexcellenceofhiscrops。“

Hestopped；notfromwantofconfidence，notfromwantofwords——purelyfromwantofbreath。“Iputitfrankly，withadashofhumor，“hesaid，pleasantly。“Idon\'tshockyou——doI？“Wearyandheart-sickasshewas——suspiciousofothers，doubtfulofherself——theextravagantimpudenceofCaptainWragge\'sdefenseofswindlingtouchedMagdalen\'snaturalsenseofhumor，andforcedasmiletoherlips。“IstheYorkshirecropaparticularlyrichonejustatpresent？“sheinquired，meetinghim，inherneatlyfeminineway，withhisownweapons。

“Ahit——apalpablehit，“saidthecaptain，jocoselyexhibitingthetailsofhisthreadbareshootingjacket，asapracticalcommentaryonMagdalen\'sremark。“Mydeargirl，hereorelsewhere，thecropneverfails——butonemancan\'talwaysgatheritin。Theassistanceofintelligentco-operationis，Iregrettosay，deniedme。Ihavenothingincommonwiththeclumsyrankandfileofmyprofession，whoconvictthemselves，beforerecordersandmagistrates，oftheworstofalloffenses——incurablestupidityintheexerciseoftheirownvocation。Suchasyouseeme，Istandentirelyalone。Afteryearsofsuccessfulself-dependence，thepenaltiesofcelebrityarebeginningtoattachtome。OnmywayfromtheNorth，Ipauseatthisinterestingcityforthethirdtime；IconsultmyBooksforthecustomaryreferencestopastlocalexperience；Ifindundertheheading，\'PersonalpositioninYork，\'theinitials，T。W。K。，signifyingTooWellKnown。IrefertomyIndex，andturntothesurroundingneighborhood。Thesamebriefmarksmeetmyeye。\'Leeds。T。W。K——Scarborough。T。W。K——Harrowgate。T。W。K。\'——andsoon。Whatistheinevitableconsequence？Isuspendmyproceedings；myresourcesevaporate；andmyfairrelativefindsmethepaupergentlemanwhomshenowseesbeforeher。“

“Yourbooks？“saidMagdalen。“Whatbooksdoyoumean？“

“Youshallsee，“repliedthecaptain。“Trustme，ornot，asyoulike——Itrustyouimplicitly。Youshallsee。“

Withthosewordsheretiredintothebackroom。Whilehewasgone，MagdalenstoleanotherlookatMrs。Wragge。Wasshestillself-isolatedfromherhusband\'sdelugeofwords？Perfectlyself-isolated。Shehadadvancedtheimaginaryomelettetothelaststageofculinaryprogress；andshewasnowrehearsingthefinaloperationofturningitover——withthepalmofherhandtorepresentthedish，andthecookery-booktoimpersonatethefrying-pan。“I\'vegotit，“saidMrs。Wragge，noddingacrosstheroomatMagdalen。“Firstputthefrying-panonthedish，andthentumblebothofthemover。“

CaptainWraggereturned，carryinganeatblackdispatch-box，adornedwithabrightbrasslock。Heproducedfromtheboxfiveorsixplumplittlebooks，boundincommercialcalfandvellum，andeachfittedcomfortablywithitsownlittlelock。

“Mind！“saidthemoralagriculturist，“Itakenocredittomyselfforthis:itismynaturetobeorderly，andorderlyIam。Imusthaveeverythingdowninblackandwhite，orIshouldgomad！Hereismycommerciallibrary:Daybook，Ledger，BookofDistricts，BookofLetters，BookofRemarks，andsoon。Kindlythrowyoureyeoveranyoneofthem。Iflattermyselfthereisnosuchthingasablot，oracarelessentryinit，fromthefirstpagetothelast。Lookatthisroom——isthereachairoutofplace？NotifIknowit！Lookatme。AmIdusty？amIdirty？amIhalfshaved？AmI，inbrief，aspecklesspauper，oramInot？Mind！Itakenocredittomyself；thenatureoftheman，mydeargirl——thenatureoftheman！“

Heopenedoneofthebooks。Magdalenwasnojudgeoftheadmirablecorrectnesswithwhichtheaccountsinsidewereallkept；butshecouldestimatetheneatnessofthehandwriting，theregularityintherowsoffigures，themathematicalexactnessoftheruledlinesinredandblackink，thecleanlyabsenceofblots，stains，orerasures。AlthoughCaptainWragge\'sinbornsenseoforderwasinhim——asitisinothers——asensetooinveteratelymechanicaltoexerciseanyelevatingmoralinfluenceoverhisactions，ithadproduceditslegitimateeffectonhishabits，andhadreducedhisrogueriesasstrictlytomethodandsystemasiftheyhadbeenthecommercialtransactionsofanhonestman。

“Inappearance，mysystemlookscomplicated？“pursuedthecaptain。“Inreality，itissimplicityitself。Imerelyavoidtheerrorsofinferiorpractitioners。Thatistosay，Ineverpleadformyself；andIneverapplytorichpeople——bothfatalmistakeswhichtheinferiorpractitionerperpetuallycommits。Peoplewithsmallmeanssometimeshavegenerousimpulsesinconnectionwithmoney——richpeople，never。Mylord，withfortythousandayear；SirJohn，withpropertyinhalfadozencounties——thosearethemenwhoneverforgivethegenteelbeggarforswindlingthemoutofasovereign；thosearethemenwhosendforthemendicityofficers；thosearethemenwhotakecareoftheirmoney。Whoarethepeoplewholoseshillingsandsixpencesbysheerthoughtlessness？Servantsandsmallclerks，towhomshillingsandsixpencesareofconsequence。DidyoueverhearofRothschildorBaringdroppingafourpenny-piecedownagutter-hole？FourpenceinRothschild\'spocketissaferthanfourpenceinthepocketofthatwomanwhoiscryingstaleshrimpsinSkeldergateatthismoment。Fortifiedbythesesoundprinciples，enlightenedbythestoresofwritteninformationinmycommerciallibrary，Ihaverangedthroughthepopulationforyearspast，andhaveraisedmycharitablecropswiththemostcheeringsuccess。Here，inbookNumberOne，areallmyDistrictsmappedout，withtheprevalentpublicfeelingtoappealtoineach:MilitaryDistrict，ClericalDistrict，AgriculturalDistrict；etcetera，etcetera。Here，inNumberTwo，aremycasesthatIplead:FamilyofanofficerwhofellatWaterloo；Wifeofapoorcuratestrickendownbynervousdebility；Widowofagrazierindifficultiesgoredtodeathbyamadbull；etcetera，etcetera。Here，inNumberThree，arethepeoplewhohaveheardoftheofficer\'sfamily，thecurate\'swife，thegrazier\'swidow，andthepeoplewhohaven\'t；thepeoplewhohavesaidYes，andthepeoplewhohavesaidNo；thepeopletotryagain，thepeoplewhowantafreshcasetostirthemup，thepeoplewhoaredoubtful，thepeopletobewareof；etcetera，etcetera。Here，inNumberFour，aremyAdoptedHandwritingsofpubliccharacters；mytestimonialstomyownworthandintegrity；myHeartrendingStatementsoftheofficer\'sfamily，thecurate\'swife，andthegrazier\'swidow，stainedwithtears，blottedwithemotion；etcetera，etcetera。Here，inNumbersFiveandSix，aremyownpersonalsubscriptionstolocalcharities，actuallypaidinremunerativeneighborhoods，ontheprincipleofthrowingasprattocatchaherring；also，mydiaryofeachday\'sproceedings，mypersonalreflectionsandremarks，mystatementofexistingdifficulties(suchasthedifficultyoffindingmyselfT。W。K。inthisinterestingcity)；myoutgivingsandincomings；windandweather；politicsandpublicevents；fluctuationsinmyownhealth；fluctuationsinMrs。Wragge\'shead；fluctuationsinourmeansandmeals，ourpayments，prospects，andprinciples；etcetera，etcetera。So，mydeargirl，theSwindler\'sMillgoes。SoyouseemeexactlyasIam。Youknew，beforeImetyou，thatIlivedonmywits。Well！haveI，orhaveInot，shownyouthatIhavewitstoliveon？“

“Ihavenodoubtyouhavedoneyourselffulljustice，“saidMagdalen，quietly。

“Iamnotatallexhausted，“continuedthecaptain。“Icangoon，ifnecessary，fortherestoftheevening——However，ifIhavedonemyselffulljustice，perhapsImayleavetheremainingpointsinmycharactertodevelopthemselvesatfutureopportunities。Forthepresent，Iwithdrawmyselffromnotice。ExitWragge。Andnowtobusiness！PermitmetoinquirewhateffectIhaveproducedonyourownmind？DoyoustillbelievethattheRoguewhohastrustedyouwithallhissecretsisaRoguewhoisbentontakingameanadvantageofafairrelative？“

“Iwillwaitalittle，“Magdalenrejoined，“beforeIanswerthatquestion。WhenIcamedowntotea，youtoldmeyouhadbeenemployingyourmindformybenefit。MayIaskhow？“

“Byallmeans，“saidCaptainWragge。“Youshallhavethenetresultofthewholementalprocess。Saidprocessrangesoverthepresentandfutureproceedingsofyourdisconsolatefriends，andofthelawyerswhoarehelpingthemtofindyou。Theirpresentproceedingsare，inallprobability，assumingthefollowingform:thelawyer\'sclerkhasgivenyouupatMr。Huxtable\'s，andhasalso，bythistime，givenyouup，aftercarefulinquiry，atallthehotels。Hislastchanceisthatyoumaysendforyourboxtothecloak-room——youdon\'tsendforit——andtheretheclerkisto-night(thankstoCaptainWraggeandRosemaryLane)attheendofhisresources。HewillforthwithcommunicatethatfacttohisemployersinLondon；andthoseemployers(don\'tbealarmed！)willapplyforhelptothedetectivepolice。Allowingforinevitabledelays，aprofessionalspy，withallhiswitsabouthim，andwiththosehandbillstohelphimprivatelyinidentifyingyou，willbeherecertainlynotlaterthanthedayaftertomorrow——possiblyearlier。IfyouremaininYork，ifyouattempttocommunicatewithMr。Huxtable，thatspywillfindyouout。If，ontheotherhand，youleavethecitybeforehecomes(takingyourdeparturebyothermeansthantherailway，ofcourse)youputhiminthesamepredicamentastheclerk——youdefyhimtofindafreshtraceofyou。Thereismybriefabstractofyourpresentposition。Whatdoyouthinkofit？“

“Ithinkithasonedefect，“saidMagdalen。“Itendsinnothing。“

“Pardonme，“retortedthecaptain。“Itendsinanarrangementforyoursafedeparture，andinaplanfortheentiregratificationofyourwishesinthedirectionofthestage。Bothdrawnfromtheresourcesofmyownexperience，andbothwaitingawordfromyou，tobepouredforthimmediatelyinthefullestdetail。“

“IthinkIknowwhatthatwordis，“repliedMagdalen，lookingathimattentively。

“Charmedtohearit，Iamsure。Youhaveonlytosay，\'CaptainWragge，takechargeofme\'——andmyplansareyoursfromthatmoment。“

“Iwilltaketo-nighttoconsideryourproposal，“shesaid，afteraninstant\'sreflection。“Youshallhavemyanswerto-morrowmorning。“

CaptainWraggelookedalittledisappointed。Hehadnotexpectedthereservationonhissidetobemetsocomposedlybyareservationonhers。

“Whynotdecideatonce？“heremonstrated，inhismostpersuasivetones。“Youhaveonlytoconsider——“

“Ihavemoretoconsiderthanyouthinkfor，“sheanswered。“Ihaveanotherobjectinviewbesidestheobjectyouknowof。“

“MayIask——？“

“Excuseme，CaptainWragge——youmaynotask。Allowmetothankyouforyourhospitality，andtowishyougood-night。Iamwornout。Iwantrest。“

Oncemorethecaptainwiselyadaptedhimselftoherhumorwiththereadyself-controlofanexperiencedman。

“Wornout，ofcourse！“hesaid，sympathetically。“Unpardonableonmypartnottohavethoughtofitbefore。Wewillresumeourconversationto-morrow。Permitmetogiveyouacandle。Mrs。Wragge！“

Prostratedbymentalexertion，Mrs。Wraggewaspursuingthecourseoftheomeletteindreams。Herheadwastwistedoneway，andherbodytheother。Shesnoredmeekly。Atintervalsoneofherhandsraiseditselfintheair，shookanimaginaryfrying-pan，anddroppedagainwithafaintthumponthecookery-bookinherlap。Atthesoundofherhusband\'svoice，shestartedtoherfeet，andconfrontedhimwithhermindfastasleep，andhereyeswideopen。

“AssistMissVanstone，“saidthecaptain。“Andthenexttimeyouforgetyourselfinyourchair，fallasleepstraight——don\'tannoymebyfallingasleepcrooked。“

Mrs。Wraggeopenedhereyesalittlewider，andlookedatMagdaleninhelplessamazement。

“Isthecaptainbreakfastingbycandle-light？“sheinquired，meekly。“Andhaven\'tIdonetheomelette？“

Beforeherhusband\'scorrectivevoicecouldapplyafreshstimulant，Magdalentookhercompassionatelybythearmandledheroutoftheroom。

“AnotherobjectbesidestheobjectIknowof？“repeatedCaptainWragge，whenhewasleftbyhimself。“Isthereagentlemaninthebackground，afterall？IstheremischiefbrewinginthedarkthatIdon\'tbargainfor？“

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene2，Chapter3CHAPTERIII。

TOWARDsixo\'clockthenextmorning，thelightpouringinonherfaceawokeMagdaleninthebedroominRosemaryLane。

Shestartedfromherdeep，dreamlessreposeofthepastnightwiththatpainfulsenseofbewilderment，onfirstwaking，whichisfamiliartoallsleepersinstrangebeds。“Norah！“shecalledoutmechanically，whensheopenedhereyes。Thenextinstanthermindrouseditself，andhersensestoldherthetruth。Shelookedroundthemiserableroomwithaloathingrecognitionofit。Thesordidcontrastwhichtheplacepresentedtoallthatshehadbeenaccustomedtoseeinherownbed-chamber——thepracticalabandonment，impliedinitsscantyfurniture，ofthoseelegantpuritiesofpersonalhabittowhichshehadbeenaccustomedfromherchildhood——shockedthatsenseofbodilyself-respectinMagdalenwhichisarefinedwoman\'ssecondnature。Contemptibleastheinfluenceseemed，whencomparedwithhersituationatthatmoment，thebaresightofthejugandbasininacorneroftheroomdecidedherfirstresolutionwhenshewoke。Shedetermined，thenandthere，toleaveRosemaryLane。

Howwasshetoleaveit？WithCaptainWragge，orwithouthim？

Shedressedherself，withadaintyshrinkingfromeverythingintheroomwhichherhandsorherclothestouchedintheprocess，andthenopenedthewindow。Theautumnairfeltkeenandsweet；andthelittlepatchofskythatshecouldseewaswarmlybrightalreadywiththenewsunlight。Distantvoicesofbargemenontheriver，andthechirpingofbirdsamongtheweedswhichtoppedtheoldcitywall，weretheonlysoundsthatbrokethemorningsilence。Shesatdownbythewindow；andsearchedhermindforthethoughtswhichshehadlost，whenwearinessovercameheronthenightbefore。

ThefirstsubjecttowhichshereturnedwasthevagabondsubjectofCaptainWragge。

The“moralagriculturist“hadfailedtoremoveherpersonaldistrustofhim，cunninglyashehadtriedtopleadagainstitbyopenlyconfessingtheimposturesthathehadpracticedonothers。Hehadraisedheropinionofhisabilities；hehadamusedherbyhishumor；hehadastonishedherbyhisassurance；buthehadleftheroriginalconvictionthathewasaRogueexactlywhereitwaswhenhefirstmetwithher。Iftheonedesigntheninhermindhadbeenthedesignofgoingonthestage，shewould，atallhazards，haverejectedthemorethandoubtfulassistanceofCaptainWraggeonthespot。

Buttheperilousjourneyonwhichshehadnowadventuredherselfhadanotherendinview——anend，darkanddistant——anend，withpitfallshiddenonthewaytoit，farotherthantheshallowpitfallsonthewaytothestage。Inthemysteriousstillnessofthemorning，hermindlookedontoitssecondanditsdeeperdesign，andthedespicablefigureoftheswindlerrosebeforeherinanewview。

Shetriedtoshuthimout——tofeelabovehimandbeyondhimagain，asshehadfeltuptothistime。

Afteralittletriflingwithherdress，shetookfromherbosomthewhitesilkbagwhichherownhandshadmadeonthefarewellnightatCombe-Raven。Itdrewtogetheratthemouthwithdelicatesilkenstrings。Thefirstthingshetookout，onopeningit，wasalockofFrank\'shair，tiedwithamorselofsilverthread；thenextwasasheetofpapercontainingtheextractswhichshehadcopiedfromherfather\'swillandherfather\'sletter；thelastwasaclosely-foldedpacketofbank-notes，tothevalueofnearlytwohundredpounds——theproduce(asMissGarthhadrightlyconjectured)ofthesaleofherjewelryandherdresses，inwhichtheservantattheboarding-schoolhadprivatelyassistedher。Sheputbackthenotesatonce，withoutasecondglanceatthem，andthensatlookingthoughtfullyatthelockofhairasitlayonherlap。“Youarebetterthannothing，“shesaid，speakingtoitwithagirl\'sfancifultenderness。“Icansitandlookatyousometimes，tillIalmostthinkIamlookingatFrank。Oh，mydarling！mydarling！“Hervoicefalteredsoftly，andsheputthelockofhair，withalanguidgentleness，toherlips。Itfellfromherfingersintoherbosom。Alovelytingeofcolorroseonhercheeks，andspreaddownwardtoherneck，asifitfollowedthefallinghair。Sheclosedhereyes，andletherfairheaddroopsoftly。Theworldpassedfromher；and，foroneenchantedmoment，LoveopenedthegatesofParadisetothedaughterofEve。

Thetrivialnoisesintheneighboringstreet，gatheringinnumberasthemorningadvanced，forcedherbacktothehardrealitiesofthepassingtime。Sheraisedherheadwithaheavysigh，andopenedhereyesoncemoreonthemeanandmiserablelittleroom。

Theextractsfromthewillandtheletter——thoselastmemorialsofherfather，nowsocloselyassociatedwiththepurposewhichhadpossessionofhermind——stilllaybeforeher。Thetransientcolorfadedfromherface，asshespreadthelittlemanuscriptopenonherlap。Theextractsfromthewillstoodhighestonthepage；theywerelimitedtothosefewtouchingwordsinwhichthedeadfatherbeggedhischildren\'sforgivenessforthestainontheirbirth，andimploredthemtoremembertheuntiringloveandcarebywhichhehadstriventoatoneforit。TheextractfromthelettertoMr。Pendrilcamenext。Shereadthelastmelancholysentencesaloudtoherself:“ForGod\'ssakecomeonthedaywhenyoureceivethis——comeandrelievemefromthedreadfulthoughtthatmytwodarlinggirlsareatthismomentunprovidedfor。Ifanythinghappenedtome，andifmydesiretodotheirmotherjusticeended(throughmymiserableignoranceofthelaw)inleavingNorahandMagdalendisinherited，Ishouldnotrestinmygrave！“Undertheselinesagain，andcloseatthebottomofthepage，waswrittentheterriblecommentaryonthatletterwhichhadfallenfromMr。Pendril\'slips:“Mr。Vanstone\'sdaughtersareNobody\'sChildren，andthelawleavesthemhelplessattheiruncle\'smercy。“

Helplesswhenthosewordswerespoken——helplessstill，afterallthatshehadresolved，afterallthatshehadsacrificed。Theassertionofhernaturalrightsandhersister\'s，sanctionedbythedirectexpressionofherfather\'slastwishes；therecallofFrankfromChina；thejustificationofherdesertionofNorah——allhungonherdesperatepurposeofrecoveringthelostinheritance，atanyrisk，fromthemanwhohadbeggaredandinsultedhisbrother\'schildren。Andthatmanwasstillashadowtoher！Solittledidsheknowofhimthatshewasevenignorantatthatmomentofhisplaceofabode。

Sheroseandpacedtheroomwiththenoiseless，negligentgraceofawildcreatureoftheforestinitscage。“HowcanIreachhiminthedark？“shesaidtoherself。“HowcanIfindout——？“Shestoppedsuddenly。Beforethequestionhadshapeditselftoanendinherthoughts，CaptainWraggewasbackinhermindagain。

Amanwellusedtoworkinginthedark；amanwithendlessresourcesofaudacityandcunning；amanwhowouldhesitateatnomeanemploymentthatcouldbeofferedtohim，ifitwasemploymentthatfilledhispockets——wasthistheinstrumentforwhich，initspresentneed，herhandwaswaiting？Twoofthenecessitiestobemet，beforeshecouldtakeasinglestepinadvance，wereplainlypresenttoher——thenecessityofknowingmoreofherfather\'sbrotherthansheknewnow；andthenecessityofthrowinghimoffhisguardbyconcealingherselfpersonallyduringtheprocessofinquiry。Resolutelyself-dependentasshewas，theinevitablespy\'sworkattheoutsetmustbeworkdelegatedtoanother。Inherposition，wasthereanyreadyhumancreaturewithinreachbutthevagabonddownstairs？Notone。Shethoughtofitanxiously，shethoughtofitlong。Notone！Therethechoicewas，steadilyconfrontingher:thechoiceoftakingtheRogue，orofturningherbackonthePurpose。

Shepausedinthemiddleoftheroom。“Whatcanhedoathisworst？“shesaidtoherself。“Cheatme。Well！ifmymoneygovernshimforme，whatthen？Lethimhavemymoney！“Shereturnedmechanicallytoherplacebythewindow。Amomentmoredecidedher。Amomentmore，andshetookthefirstfatalstepdownward——shedeterminedtofacetherisk，andtryCaptainWragge。

Atnineo\'clockthelandladyknockedatMagdalen\'sdoor，andinformedher(withthecaptain\'skindcompliments)thatbreakfastwasready。

ShefoundMrs。Wraggealone，attiredinavoluminousbrownhollandwrapper，withalimpcapeandatrimmingofdingypinkribbon。Theex-waitressatDarch\'sDining-roomswasabsorbedinthecontemplationofalargedish，containingaleathery-lookingsubstanceofamottledyellowcolor，profuselysprinkledwithlittleblackspots。

“Thereitis！“saidMrs。Wragge。“Omelettewithherbs。Thelandladyhelpedme。Andthat\'swhatwe\'vemadeofit。Don\'tyouaskthecaptainforanywhenhecomesin——don\'t，there\'sagoodsoul。Itisn\'tnice。Wehadsomeaccidentswithit。It\'sbeenunderthegrate。It\'sbeenspilledonthestairs。It\'sscaldedthelandlady\'syoungestboy——hewentandsatonit。Blessyou，itisn\'thalfasniceasitlooks！Don\'tyouaskforany。Perhapshewon\'tnoticeifyousaynothingaboutit。Whatdoyouthinkofmywrapper？Ishouldsoliketohaveawhiteone。Haveyougotawhiteone？Howisittrimmed？Dotellme！“

Theformidableentranceofthecaptainsuspendedthenextquestiononherlips。FortunatelyforMrs。Wragge，herhusbandwasfartooanxiousforthepromisedexpressionofMagdalen\'sdecisiontopayhiscustomaryattentiontoquestionsofcookery。Whenbreakfastwasover，hedismissedMrs。Wragge，andmerelyreferredtotheomelettebytellingherthatshehadhisfullpermissionto“giveittothedogs。“

“Howdoesmylittleproposallookbydaylight？“heasked，placingchairsforMagdalenandhimself。“Whichisittobe:\'CaptainWragge，takechargeofme？\'or，\'CaptainWragge，good-morning？\'“

“Youshallheardirectly，“repliedMagdalen。“Ihavesomethingtosayfirst。Itoldyou，lastnight，thatIhadanotherobjectinviewbesidestheobjectofearningmylivingonthestage——“

“Ibegyourpardon，“interposedCaptainWragge。“Didyousay，earningyourliving？“

“Certainly。Bothmysisterandmyselfmustdependonourownexertionstogainourdailybread。“

“What！！！“criedthecaptain，startingtohisfeet。“Thedaughtersofmywealthyandlamentedrelativebymarriagereducedtoearntheirownliving？Impossible——wildly，extravagantlyimpossible！“Hesatdownagain，andlookedatMagdalenasifshehadinflictedapersonalinjuryonhim。

“Youarenotacquaintedwiththefullextentofourmisfortune，“shesaid，quietly。“IwilltellyouwhathashappenedbeforeIgoanyfurther。“Shetoldhimatonce，intheplainesttermsshecouldfind，andwithasfewdetailsaspossible。

CaptainWragge\'sprofoundbewildermentlefthimconsciousofbutonedistinctresultproducedbythenarrativeonhisownmind。Thelawyer\'sofferofFiftyPoundsRewardforthemissingyoungladyascendedinstantlytoaplaceinhisestimationwhichithadneveroccupieduntilthatmoment。

“DoIunderstand，“heinquired，“thatyouareentirelydeprivedofpresentresources？“

“Ihavesoldmyjewelryandmydresses，“saidMagdalen，impatientofhismeanharpingonthepecuniarystring。“Ifmywantofexperiencekeepsmebackinatheater，Icanaffordtowaittillthestagecanaffordtopayme。“

CaptainWraggementallyappraisedtherings，bracelets，andnecklaces，thesilks，satins，andlacesofthedaughterofagentlemanoffortune，at——say，athirdoftheirrealvalue。Inamomentmore，theFiftyPoundsRewardsuddenlysankagaintothelowestdepthsinthedeepestimationofthisjudiciousman。

“Justso，“hesaid，inhismostbusiness-likemanner。“Thereisnottheleastfear，mydeargirl，ofyourbeingkeptbackinatheater，ifyoupossesspresentresources，andifyouprofitbymyassistance。“

“Imustacceptmoreassistancethanyouhavealreadyoffered——ornone，“saidMagdalen。“IhavemoreseriousdifficultiesbeforemethanthedifficultyofleavingYork，andthedifficultyoffindingmywaytothestage。“

“Youdon\'tsayso！Iamallattention；prayexplainyourself！“

Sheconsideredhernextwordscarefullybeforetheypassedherlips。

“Therearecertaininquiries，“shesaid，“whichIaminterestedinmaking。IfIundertookthemmyself，Ishouldexcitethesuspicionofthepersoninquiredafter，andshouldlearnlittleornothingofwhatIwishtoknow。Iftheinquiriescouldbemadebyastranger，withoutmybeingseeninthematter，aservicewouldberenderedmeofmuchgreaterimportancethantheserviceyouofferedlastnight。“

CaptainWragge\'svagabondfacebecamegravelyanddeeplyattentive。

“MayIask，“hesaid，“whatthenatureoftheinquiriesislikelytobe？“

Magdalenhesitated。ShehadnecessarilymentionedMichaelVanstone\'snameininformingthecaptainofthelossofherinheritance。Shemustinevitablymentionittohimagainifsheemployedhisservices。Hewoulddoubtlessdiscoveritforhimself，byaplainprocessofinference，beforeshesaidmanywordsmore，framethemascarefullyasshemight。Underthesecircumstances，wasthereanyintelligiblereasonforshrinkingfromdirectreferencetoMichaelVanstone？Nointelligiblereason——andyetsheshrank。

“Forinstance，“pursuedCaptainWragge，“aretheyinquiriesaboutamanorawoman；inquiriesaboutanenemyorafriend——？“

“Anenemy，“sheanswered，quickly。

Herreplymightstillhavekeptthecaptaininthedark——buthereyesenlightenedhim。“MichaelVanstone！“thoughtthewaryWragge。“Shelooksdangerous；I\'llfeelmywayalittlefurther。“

“Withregard，now，tothepersonwhoistheobjectoftheseinquiries，“heresumed。“Areyouthoroughlyclearinyourownmindaboutwhatyouwanttoknow？“

“Perfectlyclear，“repliedMagdalen。“Iwanttoknowwherehelives，tobeginwith。“

“Yes。Andafterthat？“

“Iwanttoknowabouthishabits；aboutwhothepeoplearewhomheassociateswith；aboutwhathedoeswithhismoney——“Sheconsideredalittle。“Andonethingmore，“shesaid；“Iwanttoknowwhetherthereisanywomanabouthishouse——arelation，orahousekeeper——whohasaninfluenceoverhim。“

“Harmlessenough，sofar，“saidthecaptain。“Whatnext？“

“Nothing。Therestismysecret。“

ThecloudsonCaptainWragge\'scountenancebegantoclearawayagain。Hereverted，withhiscustomaryprecision，tohiscustomarychoiceofalternatives。“Theseinquiriesofhers，“hethought，“meanoneoftwothings——Mischief，orMoney！Ifit\'sMischief，I\'llslipthroughherfingers。Ifit\'sMoney，I\'llmakemyselfuseful，withaviewtothefuture。“

Magdalen\'svigilanteyeswatchedtheprogressofhisreflectionssuspiciously。“CaptainWragge，“shesaid，“ifyouwanttimetoconsider，saysoplainly。“

“Idon\'twantamoment，“repliedthecaptain。“PlaceyourdeparturefromYork，yourdramaticcareer，andyourprivateinquiriesundermycare。HereIam，unreservedlyatyourdisposal。Saytheword——doyoutakeme？“

Herheartbeatfast；herlipsturneddry——butshesaidtheword。

“Ido。“

Therewasapause。Magdalensatsilent，strugglingwiththevaguedreadofthefuturewhichhadbeenrousedinhermindbyherownreply。CaptainWragge，onhisside，wasapparentlyabsorbedintheconsiderationofanewsetofalternatives。Hishandsdescendedintohisemptypockets，andpropheticallytestedtheircapacityasreceptaclesforgoldandsilver。Thebrightnessofthepreciousmetalswasinhisface，thesmoothnessofthepreciousmetalswasinhisvoice，asheprovidedhimselfwithanewsupplyofwords，andresumedtheconversation。

“Thenextquestion，“hesaid，“isthequestionoftime。Dotheseconfidentialinvestigationsofoursrequireimmediateattention——orcantheywait？“

“Forthepresent，theycanwait，“repliedMagdalen。“Iwishtosecuremyfreedomfromallinterferenceonthepartofmyfriendsbeforetheinquiriesaremade。“

“Verygood。Thefirststeptowardaccomplishingthatobjectistobeatourretreat——excuseaprofessionalmetaphorfromamilitaryman——tobeatourretreatfromYorkto-morrow。Iseemywayplainlysofar；butIamallabroad，asweusedtosayinthemilitia，aboutmymarchingordersafterward。Thenextdirectionwetakeoughttobechosenwithaneyetoadvancingyourdramaticviews。Iamallready，whenIknowwhatyourviewsare。Howcameyoutothinkofthetheateratall？Iseethesacredfireburninginyou；tellme，wholitit？“

Magdalencouldonlyanswerhiminoneway。Shecouldonlylookbackatthedaysthatweregoneforever，andtellhimthestoryofherfirststeptowardthestageatEvergreenLodge。CaptainWraggelistenedwithhisusualpoliteness；butheevidentlyderivednosatisfactoryimpressionfromwhatheheard。Audiencesoffriendswereaudienceswhomheprivatelydeclinedtotrust；andtheopinionofthestage-managerwastheopinionofamanwhospokewithhisfeeinhispocketandhiseyeonafutureengagement。

“Interesting，deeplyinteresting，“hesaid，whenMagdalenhaddone。“Butnotconclusivetoapracticalman。Aspecimenofyourabilitiesisnecessarytoenlightenme。Ihavebeenonthestagemyself；thecomedyoftheRivalsisfamiliartomefrombeginningtoend。AsampleisallIwant，ifyouhavenotforgottenthewords——asampleof\'Lucy，\'andasampleof\'Julia。\'“

“Ihavenotforgottenthewords，“saidMagdalen，sorrowfully；“andIhavethelittlebookswithmeinwhichmydialoguewaswrittenout。Ihaveneverpartedwiththem；theyremindmeofatime——“Herliptrembled，andapangoftheheart-achesilencedher。

“Nervous，“remarkedthecaptain，indulgently。“Notatallabadsign。Thegreatestactressesonthestagearenervous。Followtheirexample，andgetoverit。Wherearetheparts？Oh，heretheyare！Verynicelywritten，andremarkablyclean。I\'llgiveyouthecues——itwillallbeover(asthedentistssay)innotime。Takethebackdrawing-roomforthestage，andtakemefortheaudience。Tinglegoesthebell；uprunsthecurtain；orderinthegallery，silenceinthepit——enterLucy！“

Shetriedhardtocontrolherself；sheforcedbackthesorrow——theinnocent，natural，humansorrowfortheabsentandthedead——pleadinghardwithherforthetearsthatsherefused。Resolutely，withcold，clinchedhands，shetriedtobegin。Asthefirstfamiliarwordspassedherlips，Frankcamebacktoherfromthesea，andthefaceofherdeadfatherlookedatherwiththesmileofhappyoldtimes。Thevoicesofhermotherandhersistertalkedgentlyinthefragrantcountrystillness，andthegarden-walksatCombe-Ravenopenedoncemoreonherview。Withafaint，wailingcry，shedroppedintoachair；herheadfellforwardonthetable，andsheburstpassionatelyintotears。

CaptainWraggewasonhisfeetinamoment。Sheshudderedashecamenearher，andwavedhimbackvehementlywithherhand。“Leaveme！“shesaid；“leavemeaminutebymyself！“ThecompliantWraggeretiredtothefrontroom；lookedoutofthewindow；andwhistledunderhisbreath。“Thefamilyspiritagain！“hesaid。“Complicatedbyhysterics。“

Afterwaitingaminuteortwohereturnedtomakeinquiries。

“IsthereanythingIcanofferyou？“heasked。“Coldwater？burnedfeathers？smellingsalts？medicalassistance？ShallIsummonMrs。Wragge？Shallweputitofftillto-morrow？“

Shestartedup，wildandflushed，withadesperateself-commandinherface，withanangryresolutioninhermanner。

“No！“shesaid。“Imusthardenmyself——andIwill！Sitdownagainandseemeact。“

“Bravo！“criedthecaptain。“Dashatit，mybeauty——andit\'sdone！“

Shedashedatit，withamaddefianceofherself——witharaisedvoice，andaglowlikefeverinhercheeks。Alltheartless，girlishcharmoftheperformanceinhappierandbetterdayswasgone。Thenativedramaticcapacitythatwasinhercame，hardandbold，tothesurface，strippedofeverysofteningallurementwhichhadonceadornedit。Shewouldhavesaddenedanddisappointedamanwithanydelicacyoffeeling。SheabsolutelyelectrifiedCaptainWragge。Heforgothispoliteness，heforgothislongwords。Theessentialspiritoftheman\'swholevagabondlifeburstoutofhimirresistiblyinhisfirstexclamation。“Whothedevilwouldhavethoughtit？Shecanact，afterall！“Theinstantthewordsescapedhislipsherecoveredhimself，andglidedoffintohisordinarycolloquialchannels。Magdalenstoppedhiminthemiddleofhisfirstcompliment。“No，“shesaid；“Ihaveforcedthetruthoutofyouforonce。Iwantnomore。“