第11章

Theyreturnedlaterthanusualtobreakfast。WhileMrs。Wraggewasupstairs，straighteningherselffromheadtofoottomeetthemorninginspectionofherhusband\'sorderlyeye；andwhileMagdalenandthecaptainwerewaitingforherintheparlor，theservantcameinwithanotefromSea-viewCottage。Themessengerwaswaitingforananswer，andthenotewasaddressedtoCaptainWragge。

Thecaptainopenedthenoteandreadtheselines:

“DEARSIR——Mr。NoelVanstonedesiresmetowriteandtellyouthatheproposesenjoyingthisfinedaybytakingalongdrivetoaplaceonthecoastherecalledDunwich。Heisanxioustoknowifyouwillsharetheexpenseofacarriage，andgivehimthepleasureofyourcompanyandMissBygrave\'scompanyonthisexcursion。Iamkindlypermittedtobeoneoftheparty；andifImaysaysowithoutimpropriety，IwouldventuretoaddthatIshallfeelasmuchpleasureasmymasterifyouandyouryoungladywillconsenttojoinus。WeproposeleavingAldboroughpunctuallyateleveno\'clock。Believeme，dearsir，yourhumbleservant，“VIRGINIELECOUNT。“

“Whoistheletterfrom？“askedMagdalen，noticingachangeinCaptainWragge\'sfaceashereadit。“WhatdotheywantwithusatSea-viewCottage？“

“Pardonme，“saidthecaptain，gravely，“thisrequiresconsideration。Letmehaveaminuteortwotothink。“

Hetookafewturnsupanddowntheroom，thensuddenlysteppedasidetoatableinacorneronwhichhiswritingmaterialswereplaced。“Iwasnotbornyesterday，ma\'am！“saidthecaptain，speakingjocoselytohimself。Hewinkedhisbrowneye，tookuphispen，andwrotetheanswer。

“Canyouspeaknow？“inquiredMagdalen，whentheservanthadlefttheroom。“Whatdoesthatlettersay，andhowhaveyouansweredit？“

Thecaptainplacedtheletterinherhand。“Ihaveacceptedtheinvitation，“hereplied，quietly。

Magdalenreadtheletter。“Hiddenenmityyesterday，“shesaid，“andopenfriendshipto-day。Whatdoesitmean？“

“Itmeans，“saidCaptainWragge，“thatMrs。LecountisevensharperthanIthoughther。Shehasfoundyouout。“

“Impossible，“criedMagdalen。“Quiteimpossibleinthetime。“

“Ican\'tsayhowshehasfoundyouout，“proceededthecaptain，withperfectcomposure。“Shemayknowmoreofyourvoicethanwesupposedsheknew。Orshemayhavethoughtus，onreflection，ratherasuspiciousfamily；andanythingsuspiciousinwhichawomanwasconcernedmayhavetakenhermindbacktothatmorningcallofyoursinVauxhallWalk。Whicheverwayitmaybe，themeaningofthissuddenchangeisclearenough。Shehasfoundyouout；andshewantstoputherdiscoverytotheproofbyslippinginanawkwardquestionortwo，undercoverofalittlefriendlytalk。Myexperienceofhumanityhasbeenavariedone，andMrs。LecountisnotthefirstsharppractitionerinpetticoatswhomIhavehadtodealwith。Alltheworld\'sastage，mydeargirl，andoneofthescenesonourlittlestageisshutinfromthismoment。“

WiththosewordshetookhiscopyofJoyce\'sScientificDialoguesoutofhispocket。“You\'redonewithalready，myfriend！“saidthecaptain，givinghisusefulinformationafarewellsmackwithhishand，andlockingitupinthecupboard。“Suchishumanpopularity！“continuedtheindomitablevagabond，puttingthekeycheerfullyinhispocket。“YesterdayJoycewasmyall-in-all。To-dayIdon\'tcarethatforhim！“Hesnappedhisfingersandsatdowntobreakfast。

“Idon\'tunderstandyou，“saidMagdalen，lookingathimangrily。“Areyouleavingmetomyownresourcesforthefuture？“

“Mydeargirl！“criedCaptainWragge，“can\'tyouaccustomyourselftomydashofhumoryet？Ihavedonewithmyready-madesciencesimplybecauseIamquitesurethatMrs。Lecounthasdonebelievinginme。Haven\'tIacceptedtheinvitationtoDunwich？Makeyourmindeasy。ThehelpIhavegivenyoualreadycountsfornothingcomparedwiththehelpIamgoingtogiveyounow。MyhonorisconcernedinbowlingoutMrs。Lecount。Thislastmoveofhershasmadeitapersonalmatterbetweenus。Thewomanactuallythinksshecantakemein！！！““criedthecaptain，strikinghisknife-handleonthetableinatransportofvirtuousindignation。“Byheavens，Ineverwassoinsultedbeforeinmylife！Drawyourchairintothetable，mydear，andgivemehalfaminute\'sattentiontowhatIhavetosaynext。“

Magdalenobeyedhim。CaptainWraggecautiouslyloweredhisvoicebeforehewenton。

“Ihavetoldyouallalong，“hesaid，“theonethingneedfulisnevertoletMrs。Lecountcatchyouwithyourwitswool-gathering。Isaythesameafterwhathashappenedthismorning。Lethersuspectyou！Idefyhertofindafragmentoffoundationforhersuspicions，unlesswehelpher。Weshallseeto-dayifshehasbeenfoolishenoughtobetrayherselftohermasterbeforeshehasanyfactstosupporther。Idoubtit。Ifshehastoldhim，wewillraindownproofsofouridentitywiththeBygravesonhisfeeblelittleheadtillitabsolutelyacheswithconviction。Youhavetwothingstodoonthisexcursion。First，todistrusteverywordMrs。Lecountsaystoyou。Secondly，toexertallyourfascinations，andmakesureofMr。NoelVanstone，datingfromto-day。IwillgiveyoutheopportunitywhenweleavethecarriageandtakeourwalkatDunwich。Wearyourhat，wearyoursmile；doyourfigurejustice，lacetight；putonyourneatestbootsandbrightestgloves；tiethemiserablelittlewretchtoyourapron-string——tiehimfast；andleavethewholemanagementofthematterafterthattome。Steady！hereisMrs。Wragge:wemustbedoublycarefulinlookingafterhernow。Showmeyourcap，Mrs。Wragge！showmeyourshoes！WhatdoIseeonyourapron？Aspot？Iwon\'thavespots！Takeitoffafterbreakfast，andputonanother。Pullyourchairtothemiddleofthetable——moretotheleft——morestill。Makethebreakfast。“

AtaquarterbeforeelevenMrs。Wragge(withherownentireconcurrence)wasdismissedtothebackroom，tobewilderherselfoverthescienceofdressmakingfortherestoftheday。Punctuallyastheclockstruckthehour，Mrs。LecountandhermasterdroveuptothegateofNorthShingles，andfoundMagdalenandCaptainWraggewaitingfortheminthegarden。

OnthewaytoDunwichnothingoccurredtodisturbtheenjoymentofthedrive。NoelVanstonewasinexcellenthealthandhighgood-humor。Lecounthadapologizedforthelittlemisunderstandingofthepreviousnight；Lecounthadpetitionedfortheexcursionasatreattoherself。Hethoughtoftheseconcessions，andlookedatMagdalen，andsmirkedandsimperedwithoutintermission。Mrs。Lecountactedherparttoperfection。ShewasmotherlywithMagdalenandtenderlyattentivetoNoelVanstone。ShewasdeeplyinterestedinCaptainWragge\'sconversation，andmeeklydisappointedtofinditturnongeneralsubjects，totheexclusionofscience。Notawordorlookescapedherwhichhintedintheremotestdegreeatherrealpurpose。Shewasdressedwithhercustomaryeleganceandpropriety；andshewastheonlyoneofthepartyonthatsultrysummer\'sdaywhowasperfectlycoolinthehottestpartofthejourney。

AstheyleftthecarriageontheirarrivalatDunwich，thecaptainseizedamomentwhenMrs。Lecount\'seyewasoffhimandfortifiedMagdalenbyalastwarningword。

“\'Warethecat！“hewhispered。“Shewillshowherclawsonthewayback。“

Theyleftthevillageandwalkedtotheruinsofaconventnearathand——thelastrelicoftheoncepopulouscityofDunwichwhichhassurvivedthedestructionoftheplace，centuriessince，bytheall-devouringsea。Afterlookingattheruins，theysoughttheshadeofalittlewoodbetweenthevillageandthelowsand-hillswhichoverlooktheGermanOcean。HereCaptainWraggemaneuveredsoastoletMagdalenandNoelVanstoneadvancesomedistanceinfrontofMrs。Lecountandhimself，tookthewrongpath，andimmediatelylosthiswaywiththemostconsummatedexterity。Afterafewminutes\'wandering(inthewrongdirection)，hereachedanopenspacenearthesea；andpolitelyopeninghiscamp-stoolforthehousekeeper\'saccommodation，proposedwaitingwheretheywereuntilthemissingmembersofthepartycamethatwayanddiscoveredthem。

Mrs。Lecountacceptedtheproposal。Shewasperfectlywellawarethatherescorthadlosthimselfonpurpose，butthatdiscoveryexercisednodisturbinginfluenceonthesmoothamiabilityofhermanner。Herdayofreckoningwiththecaptainhadnotcomeyet——shemerelyaddedthenewitemtoherlist，andavailedherselfofthecamp-stool。CaptainWraggestretchedhimselfinaromanticattitudeatherfeet，andthetwodeterminedenemies(groupedliketwoloversinapicture)fellintoaseasyandpleasantaconversationasiftheyhadbeenfriendsoftwentyyears\'standing。

“Iknowyou，ma\'am！“thoughtthecaptain，whileMrs。Lecountwastalkingtohim。“Youwouldliketocatchmetrippinginmyready-madescience，andyouwouldn\'tobjecttodrownmeintheProfessor\'sTank！“

“Youvillainwiththebrowneyeandthegreen！“thoughtMrs。Lecount，asthecaptaincaughttheballofconversationinhisturn；“thickasyourskinis，I\'llstingyouthroughityet！“

Inthisframeofmindtowardeachothertheytalkedfluentlyongeneralsubjects，onpublicaffairs，onlocalscenery，onsocietyinEnglandandsocietyinSwitzerland，onhealth，climate，books，marriageandmoney——talked，withoutamoment\'spause，withoutasinglemisunderstandingoneithersidefornearlyanhour，beforeMagdalenandNoelVanstonestrayedthatwayandmadethepartyoffourcompleteagain。

Whentheyreachedtheinnatwhichthecarriagewaswaitingforthem，CaptainWraggeleftMrs。Lecountinundisturbedpossessionofhermaster，andsignedtoMagdalentodropbackforamomentandspeaktohim。

“Well？“askedthecaptain，inawhisper，“ishefasttoyourapron-string？“

Sheshudderedfromheadtofootassheanswered。

“Hehaskissedmyhand，“shesaid。“Doesthattellyouenough？Don\'tlethimsitnextmeonthewayhome！IhaveborneallIcanbear——sparemefortherestoftheday。“

“I\'llputyouonthefrontseatofthecarriage，“repliedthecaptain，“sidebysidewithme。“

OnthejourneybackMrs。LecountverifiedCaptainWragge\'sprediction。Sheshowedherclaws。

Thetimecouldnothavebeenbetterchosen；thecircumstancescouldhardlyhavefavoredhermore。Magdalen\'sspiritsweredepressed:shewaswearyinbodyandmind；andshesatexactlyoppositethehousekeeper，whohadbeencompelled，bythenewarrangement，tooccupytheseatofhonornexthermaster。WitheveryfacilityforobservingtheslightestchangesthatpassedoverMagdalen\'sface，Mrs。LecounttriedherfirstexperimentbyleadingtheconversationtothesubjectofLondon，andtotherelativeadvantagesofferedtoresidentsbythevariousquartersofthemetropolisonbothsidesoftheriver。Theever-readyWraggepenetratedherintentionsoonerthanshehadanticipated，andinterposedimmediately。“You\'recomingtoVauxhallWalk，ma\'am，“thoughtthecaptain；“I\'llgettherebeforeyou。“

HeenteredatonceintoapurelyfictitiousdescriptionofthevariousquartersofLondoninwhichhehadhimselfresided；and，adroitlymentioningVauxhallWalkasoneofthem，savedMagdalenfromthesuddenquestionrelatingtothatverylocalitywithwhichMrs。Lecounthadproposedstartlingher，tobeginwith。Fromhisresidenceshepassedsmoothlytohimself，andpouredhiswholefamilyhistory(inthecharacterofMr。Bygrave)intothehousekeeper\'sears——notforgettinghisbrother\'sgraveinHonduras，withthemonumentbytheself-taughtnegroartist，andhisbrother\'shugelycorpulentwidow，ontheground-flooroftheboarding-houseatCheltenham。AsameansofgivingMagdalentimetocomposeherself，thisoutburstofautobiographicalinformationattaineditsobject，butitanswerednootherpurpose。Mrs。Lecountlistened，withoutbeingimposedonbyasinglewordthecaptainsaidtoher。HemerelyconfirmedherconvictionofthehopelessnessoftakingNoelVanstoneintoherconfidencebeforeshehadfactstohelpheragainstCaptainWragge\'sotherwiseunassailablepositionintheidentitywhichhehadassumed。Shequietlywaiteduntilhehaddone，andthenreturnedtothecharge。

“ItisacoincidencethatyouruncleshouldhaveonceresidedinVauxhallWalk，“shesaid，addressingherselftoMagdalen。“Mr。Noelhasahouseinthesameplace，andwelivedtherebeforewecametoAldborough。MayIinquire，MissBygrave，whetheryouknowanythingofaladynamedMissGarth？“

Thistimesheputthequestionbeforethecaptaincouldinterfere。Magdalenoughttohavebeenpreparedforitbywhathadalreadypassedinherpresence，buthernerveshadbeenshakenbytheearliereventsoftheday；andshecouldonlyanswerthequestioninthenegative，afteraninstant\'spreliminarypausetocontrolherself。Herhesitationwasoftoomomentaryanaturetoattracttheattentionofanyunsuspiciousperson。ButitlastedlongenoughtoconfirmMrs。Lecount\'sprivateconvictions，andtoencouragehertoadvancealittlefurther。

“Ionlyasked，“shecontinued，steadilyfixinghereyesonMagdalen，steadilydisregardingtheeffortswhichCaptainWraggemadetojoinintheconversation，“becauseMissGarthisastrangertome，andIamcurioustofindoutwhatIcanabouther。Thedaybeforewelefttown，MissBygrave，apersonwhopresentedherselfunderthenameIhavementionedpaidusavisitunderveryextraordinarycircumstances。“

Withasmooth，ingratiatingmanner，witharefinementofcontemptwhichwaslittlelessthandevilishinitsingeniousassumptionofthelanguageofpity，shenowboldlydescribedMagdalen\'sappearanceindisguiseinMagdalen\'sownpresence。SheslightinglyreferredtothemasterandmistressofCombe-Ravenaspersonswhohadalwaysannoyedtheelderandmorerespectablebranchofthefamily；shemournedoverthechildrenasfollowingtheirparents\'example，andattemptingtotakeamercenaryadvantageofMr。NoelVanstone，undertheprotectionofarespectableperson\'scharacterandarespectableperson\'sname。Cleverlyincludinghermasterintheconversation，soastopreventthecaptainfromeffectingadiversioninthatquarter；sparingnopettyaggravation；strikingateverytenderplacewhichthetongueofaspitefulwomancanwound，shewould，beyondalldoubt，havecarriedherpoint，andtorturedMagdalenintoopenlybetrayingherself，ifCaptainWraggehadnotcheckedherinfullcareerbyaloudexclamationofalarm，andasuddenclutchatMagdalen\'swrist。

“Tenthousandpardons，mydearmadam！“criedthecaptain。“Iseeinmyniece\'sface，Ifeelinmyniece\'spulse，thatoneofherviolentneuralgicattackshascomeonagain。Mydeargirl，whyhesitateamongfriendstoconfessthatyouareinpain？Whatmistimedpoliteness！Herfaceshowssheissuffering——doesn\'titMrs。Lecount？Dartingpains，Mr。Vanstone，dartingpainsontheleftsideofthehead。Pulldownyourveil，mydear，andleanonme。Ourfriendswillexcuseyou；ourexcellentfriendswillexcuseyoufortherestoftheday。“

BeforeMrs。Lecountcouldthrowaninstant\'sdoubtonthegenuinenessoftheneuralgicattack，hermaster\'sfidgetysympathydeclareditselfexactlyasthecaptainhadanticipated，inthemostactivemanifestations。Hestoppedthecarriage，andinsistedonanimmediatechangeinthearrangementoftheplaces——thecomfortablebackseatforMissBygraveandheruncle，thefrontseatforLecountandhimself。HadLecountgothersmelling-bottle？Excellentcreature！lethergiveitdirectlytoMissBygrave，andletthecoachmandrivecarefully。IfthecoachmanshookMissBygraveheshouldnothaveahalf-pennyforhimself。Mesmerismwasfrequentlyusefulinthesecases。Mr。NoelVanstone\'sfatherhadbeenthemostpowerfulmesmeristinEurope，andMr。NoelVanstonewashisfather\'sson。Mighthemesmerize？Mightheorderthatinfernalcoachmantodrawupinashadyplaceadaptedforthepurpose？Wouldmedicalhelpbepreferred？CouldmedicalhelpbefoundanynearerthanAldborough？Thatassofacoachmandidn\'tknow。Stopeveryrespectablemanwhopassedinagig，andaskhimifhewasadoctor！SoMr。NoelVanstoneranon，withbriefintervalsforbreathing-time，inacontinually-ascendingscaleofsympathyandself-importance，throughoutthedrivehome。

Mrs。Lecountacceptedherdefeatwithoututteringaword。FromthemomentwhenCaptainWraggeinterruptedher，herthinlipsclosedandopenednomorefortheremainderofthejourney。Thewarmestexpressionsofhermaster\'sanxietyforthesufferingyoungladyprovokedfromhernooutwardmanifestationsofanger。Shetookaslittlenoticeofhimaspossible。Shepaidnoattentionwhatevertothecaptain，whoseexasperatingconsiderationforhisvanquishedenemymadehimmorepolitetoherthanever。ThenearerandthenearertheygottoAldboroughthemoreandmorefixedlyMrs。Lecount\'shardblackeyeslookedatMagdalenrecliningontheoppositeseat，withhereyesclosedandherveildown。

ItwasonlywhenthecarriagestoppedatNorthShingles，andwhenCaptainWraggewashandingMagdalenout，thatthehousekeeperatlastcondescendedtonoticehim。Ashesmiledandtookoffhishatatthecarriagedoor，thestrongrestraintshehadlaidonherselfsuddenlygaveway，andsheflashedonelookathimwhichscorchedupthecaptain\'spolitenessonthespot。Heturnedatonce，withahastyacknowledgmentofNoelVanstone\'slastsympatheticinquiries，andtookMagdalenintothehouse。“Itoldyoushewouldshowherclaws，“hesaid。“ItisnotmyfaultthatshescratchedyoubeforeIcouldstopher。Shehasn\'thurtyou，hasshe？“

“Shehashurtme，tosomepurpose，“saidMagdalen——“shehasgivenmethecouragetogoon。Saywhatmustbedoneto-morrow，andtrustmetodoit。“Shesighedheavilyasshesaidthosewords，andwentuptoherroom。

CaptainWraggewalkedmeditativelyintotheparlor，andsatdowntoconsider。Hefeltbynomeanssocertainashecouldhavewishedofthenextproceedingonthepartoftheenemyafterthedefeatofthatday。Thehousekeeper\'sfarewelllookhadplainlyinformedhimthatshewasnotattheendofherresourcesyet，andtheoldmilitia-manfeltthefullimportanceofpreparinghimselfingoodtimetomeetthenextstepwhichshetookinadvance。Helitacigar，andbenthiswarymindonthedangersofthefuture。

WhileCaptainWraggewasconsideringintheparloratNorthShingles，Mrs。LecountwasmeditatinginherbedroomatSeaView。HerexasperationatthefailureofherfirstattempttoexposetheconspiracyhadnotblindedhertotheinstantnecessityofmakingasecondeffortbeforeNoelVanstone\'sgrowinginfatuationgotbeyondhercontrol。ThesnaresetforMagdalenhavingfailed，thechanceofentrappingMagdalen\'ssisterwasthenextchancetotry。Mrs。Lecountorderedacupoftea，openedherwriting-case，andbegantheroughdraftofalettertobesenttoMissVanstone，theelder，bythemorrow\'spost。

Sotheday\'sskirmishended。Theheatofthebattlewasyettocome。

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene4，Chapter6CHAPTERVI。

ALLhumanpenetrationhasitslimits。AccuratelyasCaptainWraggehadseenhiswayhitherto，evenhissharpinsightwasnowatfault。HefinishedhiscigarwiththemortifyingconvictionthathewastotallyunpreparedforMrs。Lecount\'snextproceeding。Inthisemergency，hisexperiencewarnedhimthattherewasonesafecourse，andoneonly，whichhecouldtake。Heresolvedtotrytheconfusingeffectonthehousekeeperofacompletechangeoftacticsbeforeshehadtimetopressheradvantageandattackhiminthedark。WiththisviewhesenttheservantupstairstorequestthatMissBygravewouldcomedownandspeaktohim。

“IhopeIdon\'tdisturbyou，“saidthecaptain，whenMagdalenenteredtheroom。“Allowmetoapologizeforthesmelloftobacco，andtosaytwowordsonthesubjectofournextproceedings。Toputitwithmycustomaryfrankness，Mrs。Lecountpuzzlesme，andIproposetoreturnthecomplimentbypuzzlingher。ThecourseofactionwhichIhavetosuggestisaverysimpleone。Ihavehadthehonorofgivingyouasevereneuralgicattackalready，andIbegyourpermission(whenMr。NoelVanstonesendstoinquireto-morrowmorning)totakethefurtherlibertyoflayingyouupaltogether。QuestionfromSea-viewCottage:\'HowisMissBygravethismorning？\'AnswerfromNorthShingles:\'Muchworse:MissBygraveisconfinedtoherroom。\'Questionrepeatedeveryday，sayforafortnight:\'HowisMissBygrave？\'Answerrepeated，ifnecessary，forthesametime:\'Nobetter。\'Canyoubeartheimprisonment？Iseenoobjectiontoyourgettingabreathoffreshairthefirstthinginthemorning，orthelastthingatnight。Butforthewholeoftheday，thereisnodisguisingit，youmustputyourselfinthesamecategorywithMrs。Wragge——youmustkeepyourroom。“

“Whatisyourobjectinwishingmetodothis？“inquiredMagdalen。

“Myobjectistwofold，“repliedthecaptain。“Iblushformyownstupidity；butthefactis，Ican\'tseemywayplainlytoMrs。Lecount\'snextmove。AllIfeelsureofis，thatshemeanstomakeanotherattemptatopeninghermaster\'seyestothetruth。Whatevermeansshemayemploytodiscoveryouridentity，personalcommunicationwithyoumustbenecessarytotheaccomplishmentofherobject。Verygood。IfIstopthatcommunication，Iputanobstacleinherwayatstarting——or，aswesayatcards，Iforceherhand。Doyouseethepoint？“

Magdalensawitplainly。Thecaptainwenton。

“Mysecondreasonforshuttingyouup，“hesaid，“refersentirelytoMrs。Lecount\'smaster。Thegrowthoflove，mydeargirl，is，inonerespect，unlikeallothergrowths——itflourishesunderadversecircumstances。OurfirstcourseofactionistomakeMr。NoelVanstonefeelthecharmofyoursociety。Ournextistodrivehimdistractedbythelossofit。Ishouldhaveproposedafewmoremeetings，withaviewtofurtheringthisend，butforourpresentcriticalpositiontowardMrs。Lecount。Asitis，wemusttrusttotheeffectyouproducedyesterday，andtrytheexperimentofasuddenseparationrathersoonerthanIcouldhaveotherwisewished。IshallseeMr。NoelVanstone，thoughyoudon\'t；andifthereisarawplaceestablishedanywhereabouttheregionofthatgentleman\'sheart，trustmetohithimonit！Youarenowinfullpossessionofmyviews。Takeyourtimetoconsider，andgivemeyouranswer——Yesorno。“

“Anychangeisforthebetter，“saidMagdalen“whichkeepsmeoutofthecompanyofMrs。Lecountandhermaster！Letitbeasyouwish。“

Shehadhithertoansweredfaintlyandwearily；butshespokethoselastwordswithaheightenedtoneandarisingcolor——signswhichwarnedCaptainWraggenottopressherfurther。

“Verygood，“saidthecaptain。“Asusual，weunderstandeachother。Iseeyouaretired；andIwon\'tdetainyouanylonger。“

Herosetoopenthedoor，stoppedhalf-waytoit，andcamebackagain。“Leavemetoarrangematterswiththeservantdownstairs，“hecontinued。“Youcan\'tabsolutelykeepyourbed，andwemustpurchasethegirl\'sdiscretionwhensheanswersthedoor，withouttakingherintoourconfidence，ofcourse。Iwillmakeherunderstandthatsheistosayyouareill，justasshemightsayyouarenotathome，asawayofkeepingunwelcomeacquaintancesoutofthehouse。Allowmetoopenthedoorforyou——Ibegyourpardon，youaregoingintoMrs。Wragge\'swork-roominsteadofgoingtoyourown。“

“IknowIam，“saidMagdalen。“IwishtoremoveMrs。Wraggefromthemiserableroomsheisinnow，andtotakeherupstairswithme。“

“Fortheevening？“

“Forthewholefortnight。“

CaptainWraggefollowedherintothedining-room，andwiselyclosedthedoorbeforehespokeagain。

“Doyouseriouslymeantoinflictmywife\'ssocietyonyourselfforafortnight？“heasked，ingreatsurprise。

“Yourwifeistheonlyinnocentcreatureinthisguiltyhouse，“sheburstoutvehemently。“Imustandwillhaveherwithme！“

“Praydon\'tagitateyourself，“saidthecaptain。“TakeMrs。Wragge，byallmeans。Idon\'twanther。“Havingresignedthepartnerofhisexistenceinthoseterms，hediscreetlyreturnedtotheparlor。“Theweaknessofthesex！“thoughtthecaptain，tappinghissagacioushead。“Layastrainonthefemaleintellect，andthefemaletempergiveswaydirectly。“

ThestraintowhichthecaptainalludedwasnotconfinedthateveningtothefemaleintellectatNorthShingles:itextendedtothefemaleintellectatSeaView。FornearlytwohoursMrs。Lecountsatatherdeskwriting，correcting，andwritingagain，beforeshecouldproducealettertoMissVanstone，theelder，whichexactlyaccomplishedtheobjectshewantedtoattain。Atlasttheroughdraftwascompletedtohersatisfaction；andshemadeafaircopyofitforthwith，tobepostedthenextday。

Herletterthusproducedwasamasterpieceofingenuity。Afterthefirstpreliminarysentences，thehousekeeperplainlyinformedNorahoftheappearanceofthevisitorindisguiseatVauxhallWalk；oftheconversationwhichpassedattheinterview；andofherownsuspicionthatthepersonclaimingtobeMissGarthwas，inallprobability，theyoungerMissVanstoneherself。Havingtoldthetruththusfar，Mrs。Lecountnextproceededtosaythathermasterwasinpossessionofevidencewhichwouldjustifyhiminputtingthelawinforce；thatheknewtheconspiracywithwhichhewasthreatenedtobetheninprocessofdirectionagainsthimatAldborough；andthatheonlyhesitatedtoprotecthimselfindeferencetofamilyconsiderations，andinthehopethattheelderMissVanstonemightsoinfluencehersisterastorenderitunnecessarytoproceedtoextremities。

Underthesecircumstances(thelettercontinued)itwasplainlynecessarythatthedisguisedvisitortoVauxhallWalkshouldbeproperlyidentified；forifMrs。Lecount\'sguessprovedtobewrong，andifthepersonturnedouttobeastranger，Mr。NoelVanstonewaspositivelyresolvedtoprosecuteinhisowndefense。EventsatAldborough，onwhichitwasnotnecessarytodwell，wouldenableMrs。Lecountinafewdaystogainsightofthesuspectedpersoninherowncharacter。ButasthehousekeeperwasentirelyunacquaintedwiththeyoungerMissVanstone，itwasobviouslydesirablethatsomebetterinformedpersonshould，inthisparticular，takethematterinhand。IftheelderMissVanstonehappenedtobeatlibertytocometoAldboroughherself，wouldshekindlywriteandsayso？andMrs。Lecountwouldwritebackagaintoappointaday。If，ontheotherhand，MissVanstonewaspreventedfromtakingthejourney，Mrs。Lecountsuggestedthatherreplyshouldcontainthefullestdescriptionofhersister\'spersonalappearance——shouldmentionanylittlepeculiaritieswhichmightexistinthewayofmarksonherfaceorherhands——andshouldstate(incaseshehadwrittenlately)whattheaddresswasinherlastletter，andfailingthat，whatthepost-markwasontheenvelope。Withthisinformationtohelpher，Mrs。Lecountwould，intheinterestofthemisguidedyoungladyherself，accepttheresponsibilityofprivatelyidentifyingher，andwouldwritebackimmediatelytoacquainttheelderMissVanstonewiththeresult。

ThedifficultyofsendingthislettertotherightaddressgaveMrs。Lecountverylittletrouble。RememberingthenameofthelawyerwhohadpleadedthecauseofthetwosistersinMichaelVanstone\'stime，shedirectedherletterto“MissVanstone，careof——Pendril，Esquire，London。“Thissheinclosedinasecondenvelope，addressedtoMr。NoelVanstone\'ssolicitor，withalineinside，requestingthatgentlemantosenditatoncetotheofficeofMr。Pendril。

“Now，“thoughtMrs。Lecount，asshelockedtheletterupinherdesk，preparatorytopostingitthenextdaywithherownhand，“nowIhavegother！“

ThenextmorningtheservantfromSeaViewcame，withhermaster\'scompliments，tomakeinquiriesafterMissBygrave\'shealth。CaptainWragge\'sbulletinwasdulyannounced——MissBygravewassoillastobeconfinedtoherroom。

Onthereceptionofthisintelligence，NoelVanstone\'sanxietyledhimtocallatNorthShingleshimselfwhenhewentoutforhisafternoonwalk。MissBygravewasnobetter。HeinquiredifhecouldseeMr。Bygrave。Theworthycaptainwaspreparedtomeetthisemergency。HethoughtalittleirritatingsuspensewoulddoNoelVanstonenoharm，andhehadcarefullychargedtheservant，incaseofnecessity，withheranswer:“Mr。Bygravebeggedtobeexcused；hewasnotabletoseeanyone。“

Ontheseconddayinquiriesweremadeasbefore，bymessageinthemorning，andbyNoelVanstonehimselfintheafternoon。Themorninganswer(relatingtoMagdalen)was，“ashadebetter。“Theafternoonanswer(relatingtoCaptainWragge)was，“Mr。Bygravehasjustgoneout。“ThateveningNoelVanstone\'stemperwasveryuncertain，andMrs。Lecount\'spatienceandtactweresorelytriedintheefforttoavoidoffendinghim。

Onthethirdmorningthereportofthesufferingyoungladywaslessfavorable——“MissBygravewasstillverypoorly，andnotabletoleaveherbed。“TheservantreturningtoSeaViewwiththismessage，metthepostman，andtookintothebreakfast-roomwithhertwolettersaddressedtoMrs。Lecount。

Thefirstletterwasinahandwritingfamiliartothehousekeeper。ItwasfromthemedicalattendantonherinvalidbrotheratZurich；anditannouncedthatthepatient\'smaladyhadlatterlyalteredinsomarkedamannerforthebetterthattherewaseveryhopenowofpreservinghislife。

Theaddressonthesecondletterwasinastrangehandwriting。Mrs。Lecount，concludingthatitwastheanswerfromMissVanstone，waitedtoreadituntilbreakfastwasover，andshecouldretiretoherownroom。

Sheopenedtheletter，lookedatonceforthenameattheend，andstartedalittleasshereadit。Thesignaturewasnot“NorahVanstone，“but“HarrietGarth。“

MissGarthannouncedthattheelderMissVanstonehad，aweeksince，acceptedanengagementasgoverness，subjecttotheconditionofjoiningthefamilyofheremployerattheirtemporaryresidenceinthesouthofFrance，andofreturningwiththemwhentheycamebacktoEngland，probablyinamonthorsixweeks\'time。DuringtheintervalofthisnecessaryabsenceMissVanstonehadrequestedMissGarthtoopenallherletters，hermainobjectinmakingthatarrangementbeingtoprovideforthespeedyansweringofanycommunicationwhichmightarriveforherfromhersister。MissMagdalenVanstonehadnotwrittensincethemiddleofJuly——onwhichoccasionthepostmarkonthelettershowedthatitmusthavebeenpostedinLondon，inthedistrictofLambeth——andhereldersisterhadleftEnglandinastateofthemostdistressinganxietyonheraccount。

Havingcompletedthisexplanation，MissGarththenmentionedthatfamilycircumstancespreventedherfromtravelingpersonallytoAldboroughtoassistMrs。Lecount\'sobject，butthatshewasprovidedwithasubstitute；ineverywayfitterforthepurpose，inthepersonofMr。Pendril。ThatgentlemanwaswellacquaintedwithMissMagdalenVanstone，andhisprofessionalexperienceanddiscretionwouldrenderhisassistancedoublyvaluable。HehadkindlyconsentedtotraveltoAldboroughwheneveritmightbethoughtnecessary。Butashistimewasveryvaluable，MissGarthspeciallyrequestedthathemightnotbesentforuntilMrs。Lecountwasquitesureofthedayonwhichhisservicesmightberequired。

Whileproposingthisarrangement，MissGarthaddedthatshethoughtitrighttofurnishhercorrespondentwithawrittendescriptionoftheyoungerMissVanstoneaswell。AnemergencymighthappenwhichwouldallowMrs。LecountnotimeforsecuringMr。Pendril\'sservices；andtheexecutionofMr。NoelVanstone\'sintentionstowardtheunhappygirlwhowastheobjectofhisforbearancemightbefatallydelayedbyanunforeseendifficultyinestablishingheridentity。Thepersonaldescription，transmittedunderthesecircumstances，thenfollowed。ItomittednopersonalpeculiaritybywhichMagdalencouldberecognized，anditincludedthe“twolittlemolesclosetogetherontheleftsideoftheneck，“whichhadbeenformerlymentionedintheprintedhandbillssenttoYork。

Inconclusion，MissGarthexpressedherfearsthatMrs。Lecount\'ssuspicionswereonlytoolikelytobeprovedtrue。While，however，therewasthefaintestchancethattheconspiracymightturnouttobedirectedbyastranger，MissGarthfeltbound，ingratitudetowardMr。NoelVanstone，toassistthelegalproceedingswhichwouldinthatcasebeinstituted。Sheaccordinglyappendedherownformaldenial——whichshewouldpersonallyrepeatifnecessary——ofanyidentitybetweenherselfandthepersonindisguisewhohadmadeuseofhername。ShewastheMissGarthwhohadfilledthesituationofthelateMr。AndrewVanstone\'sgoverness，andshehadneverinherlifebeenin，ornear，theneighborhoodofVauxhallWall。

Withthisdisclaimer，andwiththewriter\'sferventassurancesthatshewoulddoallforMagdalen\'sadvantagewhichhersistermighthavedoneifhersisterhadbeeninEngland，theletterconcluded。Itwassignedinfull，andwasdatedwiththebusiness-likeaccuracyinsuchmatterswhichhadalwaysdistinguishedMissGarth\'scharacter。

Thisletterplacedaformidableweaponinthehousekeeper\'shands。

ItprovidedameansofestablishingMagdalen\'sidentitythroughtheinterventionofalawyerbyprofession。Itcontainedapersonaldescriptionminuteenoughtobeusedtoadvantage，ifnecessary，beforeMr。Pendril\'sappearance。ItpresentedasignedexposureofthefalseMissGarthunderthehandofthetrueMissGarth；anditestablishedthefactthatthelastletterreceivedbytheelderMissVanstonefromtheyoungerhadbeenposted(andthereforeprobablywritten)intheneighborhoodofVauxhallWalk。IfanylaterletterhadbeenreceivedwiththeAldboroughpostmark，thechainofevidence，sofarasthequestionoflocalitieswasconcerned，mightdoubtlesshavebeenmorecomplete。Butasitwas，therewastestimonyenough(aidedasthattestimonymightbebythefragmentofthebrownalpacadressstillinMrs。Lecount\'spossession)toraisetheveilwhichhungovertheconspiracy，andtoplaceMr。NoelVanstonefacetofacewiththeplainandstartlingtruth。

Theoneobstaclewhichnowstoodinthewayofimmediateactiononthehousekeeper\'spartwastheobstacleofMissBygrave\'spresentseclusionwithinthelimitsofherownroom。ThequestionofgainingpersonalaccesstoherwasaquestionwhichmustbedecidedbeforeanycommunicationcouldbeopenedwithMr。Pendril。Mrs。Lecountputonherbonnetatonce，andcalledatNorthShinglestotrywhatdiscoveriesshecouldmakeforherselfbeforepost-timeOnthisoccasionMr。Bygravewasathome，andshewasadmittedwithouttheleastdifficulty。

CarefulconsiderationthatmorninghaddecidedCaptainWraggeonadvancingmattersalittlenearertothecrisis。Themeansbywhichheproposedachievingthisresultmadeitnecessaryforhimtoseethehousekeeperandhermasterseparately，andtosetthematvariancebyproducingtwototallyoppositeimpressionsrelatingtohimselfontheirminds。Mrs。Lecount\'svisit，therefore，insteadofcausinghimanyembarrassment，wasthemostwelcomeoccurrencehecouldhavewishedfor。Hereceivedherintheparlorwithamarkedrestraintofmannerforwhichshewasquiteunprepared。Hisingratiatingsmilewasgone，andanimpenetrablesolemnityofcountenanceappearedinitsstead。

“Ihaveventuredtointrudeonyou，sir，“saidMrs。Lecount，“toexpresstheregretwithwhichbothmymasterandIhaveheardofMissBygrave\'sillness。Istherenoimprovement？“

“No，ma\'am，“repliedthecaptain，asbrieflyaspossible。“Mynieceisnobetter。“

“Ihavehadsomeexperience，Mr。Bygrave，innursing。IfIcouldbeofanyuse——“

“Thankyou，Mrs。Lecount。Thereisnonecessityforourtakingadvantageofyourkindness。“

Thisplainanswerwasfollowedbyamoment\'ssilence。Thehousekeeperfeltsomelittleperplexity。WhathadbecomeofMr。Bygrave\'selaboratecourtesy，andMr。Bygrave\'smanywords？Didhewanttooffendher？Ifhedid，Mrs。Lecountthenandtheredeterminedthatheshouldnotgainhisobject。

“MayIinquirethenatureoftheillness？“shepersisted。“Itisnotconnected，Ihope，withourexcursiontoDunwich？“

“Iregrettosay，ma\'am，“repliedthecaptain，“itbeganwiththatneuralgicattackinthecarriage。“

“So！so！“thoughtMrs。Lecount。“Hedoesn\'teventrytomakemethinktheillnessarealone；hethrowsoffthemaskatstarting——Isitanervousillness，sir？“sheadded，aloud。

Thecaptainansweredbyasolemnaffirmativeinclinationofthehead。

“Thenyouhavetwonervoussufferersinthehouse，Mr。Bygrave？“

“Yes，ma\'am——two。Mywifeandmyniece。“

“Thatisratherastrangecoincidenceofmisfortunes。“

“Itis，ma\'am。Verystrange。“

InspiteofMrs。Lecount\'sresolutionnottobeoffended，CaptainWragge\'sexasperatinginsensibilitytoeverystrokesheaimedathimbegantoruffleher。Shewasconsciousofsomelittledifficultyinsecuringherself-possessionbeforeshecouldsayanythingmore。

“Istherenoimmediatehope，“sheresumed，“ofMissBygravebeingabletoleaveherroom？“

“Nonewhatever，ma\'am。“

“Youaresatisfied，Isuppose，withthemedicalattendance？“

“Ihavenomedicalattendance，“saidthecaptain，composedly。“Iwatchthecasemyself。“

ThegatheringvenominMrs。Lecountswelledupatthatreply，andoverflowedatherlips。

“Yoursmatteringofscience，sir，“shesaid，withamalicioussmile，“includes，Ipresume，asmatteringofmedicineaswell？“

“Itdoes，ma\'am，“answeredthecaptain，withouttheslightestdisturbanceoffaceormanner。“IknowasmuchofoneasIdooftheother。“

ThetoneinwhichhespokethosewordsleftMrs。Lecountbutonedignifiedalternative。Sherosetoterminatetheinterview。Thetemptationofthemomentprovedtoomuchforher，andshecouldnotresistcastingtheshadowofathreatoverCaptainWraggeatparting。

“Ideferthankingyou，sir，forthemannerinwhichyouhavereceivedme，“shesaid，“untilIcanpaymydebtofobligationtosomepurpose。InthemeantimeIamgladtoinfer，fromtheabsenceofamedicalattendantinthehouse，thatMissBygrave\'sillnessismuchlessseriousthanIhadsupposedittobewhenIcamehere。“

“Inevercontradictalady，ma\'am，“rejoinedtheincorrigiblecaptain。“Ifitisyourpleasure，whenwenextmeettothinkmyniecequitewell，Ishallbowresignedlytotheexpressionofyouropinion。“Withthosewords，hefollowedthehousekeeperintothepassage，andpolitelyopenedthedoorforher。“Imarkthetrick，ma\'am！“hesaidtohimself，ashecloseditagain。“Thetrump-cardinyourhandisasightofmyniece，andI\'lltakecareyoudon\'tplayit！“

Hereturnedtotheparlor，andcomposedlyawaitedthenexteventwhichwaslikelytohappen——avisitfromMrs。Lecount\'smaster。InlessthananhourresultsjustifiedCaptainWragge\'santicipations，andNoelVanstonewalkedin。

“Mydearsir！“criedthecaptain，cordiallyseizinghisvisitor\'sreluctanthand，“Iknowwhatyouhavecomefor。Mrs。Lecounthastoldyouofhervisithere，andhasnodoubtdeclaredthatmyniece\'sillnessisameresubterfuge。Youfeelsurprised——youfeelhurt——yoususpectmeoftriflingwithyourkindsympathies——inshort，yourequireanexplanation。Thatexplanationyoushallhave。Takeaseat。Mr。Vanstone。Iamabouttothrowmyselfonyoursenseandjudgmentasamanoftheworld。Iacknowledgethatweareinafalseposition，sir；andItellyouplainlyattheoutset——yourhousekeeperisthecauseofit。“

Foronceinhislife，NoelVanstoneopenedhiseyes。“Lecount！“heexclaimed，intheutmostbewilderment。

“Thesame，sir，“repliedCaptainWragge。“IamafraidIoffendedMrs。Lecount，whenshecameherethismorning，byawantofcordialityinmymanner。Iamaplainman，andIcan\'tassumewhatIdon\'tfeel。Farbeitfrommetobreatheawordagainstyourhousekeeper\'scharacter。Sheis，nodoubt，amostexcellentandtrustworthywoman，butshehasoneseriousfailingcommontopersonsathertimeoflifewhooccupyhersituation——sheisjealousofherinfluenceoverhermaster，althoughyoumaynothaveobservedit。“

“Ibegyourpardon，“interposedNoelVanstone；“myobservationisremarkablyquick。Nothingescapesme。“

“Inthatcase，sir，“resumedthecaptain，“youcannotfailtohavenoticedthatMrs。Lecounthasallowedherjealousytoaffectherconducttowardmyniece？“

NoelVanstonethoughtofthedomesticpassageatarmsbetweenMrs。LecountandhimselfwhenhisguestsoftheeveninghadleftSeaView，andfailedtoseehiswaytoanydirectreply。Heexpressedtheutmostsurpriseanddistress——hethoughtLecounthaddoneherbesttobeagreeableonthedrivetoDunwich——hehopedandtrustedtherewassomeunfortunatemistake。

“Doyoumeantosay，sir，“pursuedthecaptain，severely，“thatyouhavenotnoticedthecircumstanceyourself？Asamanofhonorandamanofobservation，youcan\'ttellmethat！Yourhousekeeper\'ssuperficialcivilityhasnothiddenyourhousekeeper\'srealfeeling。Myniecehasseenit，andsohaveyou，andsohaveI。Myniece，Mr。Vanstone，isasensitive，high-spiritedgirl；andshehaspositivelydeclinedtocultivateMrs。Lecount\'ssocietyforthefuture。Don\'tmisunderstandme！Tomynieceaswellastomyself，theattractionofyoursociety，Mr。Vanstone，remainsthesame。MissBygravesimplydeclinestobeanappleofdiscord(ifyouwillpermittheclassicalallusion)castintoyourhousehold。Ithinksheisrightsofar，andIfranklyconfessthatIhaveexaggeratedanervousindisposition，fromwhichsheisreallysuffering，intoaseriousillness——purelyandentirelytopreventthesetwoladiesforthepresentfrommeetingeverydayontheParade，andfromcarryingunpleasantimpressionsofeachotherintoyourdomesticestablishmentandmine。“

“Iallownothingunpleasantinmyestablishment，“remarkedNoelVanstone。“I\'mmaster——youmusthavenoticedthatalready，Mr。Bygrave——I\'mmaster。“

“Nodoubtofit，mydearsir。Buttolivemorning，noon，andnightintheperpetualexerciseofyourauthorityismorelikethelifeofagovernorofaprisonthanthelifeofamasterofahousehold。Thewearandtear——considerthewearandtear。“

“Itstrikesyouinthatlight，doesit？“saidNoelVanstone，soothedbyCaptainWragge\'sreadyrecognitionofhisauthority。“Idon\'tknowthatyou\'renotright。ButImusttakesomestepsdirectly。Iwon\'tbemaderidiculous——I\'llsendLecountawayaltogether，soonerthanbemaderidiculous。“Hiscolorrose，andhefoldedhislittlearmsfiercely。CaptainWragge\'sartfully-irritatingexplanationhadawakenedthatdormantsuspicionofhishousekeeper\'sinfluenceoverhimwhichhabituallylayhiddeninhismind，andwhichMrs。Lecountwasnownotpresenttocharmbacktoreposeasusual。“WhatmustMissBygravethinkofme！“heexclaimed，withasuddenoutburstofvexation。“I\'llsendLecountaway。Damme，I\'llsendLecountawayonthespot！“

“No，no，no！“saidthecaptain，whoseinterestitwastoavoiddrivingMrs。Lecounttoanydesperateextremities。“Whytakestrongmeasureswhenmildmeasureswilldo？Mrs。Lecountisanoldservant；Mrs。Lecountisattachedanduseful。Shehasthislittledrawbackofjealousy——jealousyofherdomesticpositionwithherbachelormaster。Sheseesyoupayingcourteousattentiontoahandsomeyounglady；sheseesthatyoungladyproperlysensibleofyourpoliteness；and，poorsoul，sheloseshertemper！Whatistheobviousremedy？Humorher——makeamanlyconcessiontotheweakersex。IfMrs。Lecountiswithyou，thenexttimewemeetontheParade，walktheotherway。IfMrs。Lecountisnotwithyou，giveusthepleasureofyourcompanybyallmeans。Inshort，mydearsir，trythesuaviterinmodo(asweclassicalmensay)beforeyoucommityourselftothefortiterinre！“

TherewasoneexcellentreasonwhyNoelVanstoneshouldtakeCaptainWragge\'sconciliatoryadvice。AnopenrupturewithMrs。Lecount——evenifhecouldhavesummonedthecouragetofaceit——wouldimplytherecognitionofherclaimstoaprovision，inacknowledgmentoftheservicesshehadrenderedtohisfatherandtohimself。Hissordidnaturequailedwithinhimatthebareprospectofexpressingtheemotionofgratitudeinapecuniaryform；and，afterfirstconsultingappearancesbyashowofhesitation，heconsentedtoadoptthecaptain\'ssuggestion，andtohumorMrs。Lecount。

“ButImustbeconsideredinthismatter，“proceededNoelVanstone。“MyconcessiontoLecount\'sweaknessmustnotbemisunderstood。MissBygravemustnotbeallowedtosupposeIamafraidofmyhousekeeper。“

Thecaptaindeclaredthatnosuchideaeverhadentered，orevercouldenter，MissBygrave\'smind。NoelVanstonereturnedtothesubjectnevertheless，againandagain，withhiscustomarypertinacity。WoulditbeindiscreetifheaskedleavetosethimselfrightpersonallywithMissBygrave？Wasthereanyhopethathemighthavethehappinessofseeingheronthatday？or，ifnot，onthenextday？orifnot，onthedayafter？CaptainWraggeansweredcautiously:hefelttheimportanceofnotrousingNoelVanstone\'sdistrustbytoogreatanalacrityincomplyingwithhiswishes。

“Aninterviewto-day，mydearsir，isoutofthequestion，“hesaid。“Sheisnotwellenough；shewantsrepose。To-morrowIproposetakingheroutbeforetheheatofthedaybegins——notmerelytoavoidembarrassment，afterwhathashappenedwithMrs。Lecount，butbecausethemorningairandthemorningquietareessentialinthesenervouscases。Weareearlypeoplehere——weshallstartatseveno\'clock。Ifyouareearly，too，andifyouwouldliketojoinus，Ineedhardlysaythatwecanfeelnoobjectiontoyourcompanyonourmorningwalk。Thehour，Iamaware，isanunusualone——butlaterinthedaymyniecemayberestingonthesofa，andmaynotbeabletoseevisitors。“

HavingmadethisproposalpurelyforthepurposeofenablingNoelVanstonetoescapetoNorthShinglesatanhourinthemorningwhenhishousekeeperwouldbeprobablyinbed，CaptainWraggelefthimtotakethehint，ifhecould，asindirectlyasithadbeengiven。Heprovedsharpenough(thecasebeingoneinwhichhisowninterestswereconcerned)toclosewiththeproposalonthespot。Politelydeclaringthathewasalwaysanearlymanwhenthemorningpresentedanyspecialattractiontohim，heacceptedtheappointmentforseveno\'clock，androsesoonafterwardtotakehisleave。

“Onewordatparting，“saidCaptainWragge。“Thisconversationisentirelybetweenourselves。Mrs。Lecountmustknownothingoftheimpressionshehasproducedonmyniece。Ihaveonlymentionedittoyoutoaccountformyapparentlychurlishconductandtosatisfyyourownmind。Inconfidence，Mr。Vanstone——strictlyinconfidence。Good-morning！“

Withthesepartingwords，thecaptainbowedhisvisitorout。Unlesssomeunexpecteddisasteroccurred，henowsawhiswaysafelytotheendoftheenterprise。Hehadgainedtwoimportantstepsinadvancethatmorning。Hehadsowntheseedsofvariancebetweenthehousekeeperandhermaster，andhehadgivenNoelVanstoneacommoninterestwithMagdalenandhimself，inkeepingasecretfromMrs。Lecount。“Wehavecaughtourman，“thoughtCaptainWragge，cheerfullyrubbinghishands——“wehavecaughtourmanatlast！“

OnleavingNorthShinglesNoelVanstonewalkedstraighthome，fullyrestoredtohisplaceinhisownestimation，andsternlydeterminedtocarrymatterswithahighhandifhefoundhimselfincollisionwithMrs。Lecount。

Thehousekeeperreceivedhermasteratthedoorwithhermildestmannerandhergentlestsmile。Sheaddressedhimwithdowncasteyes；sheopposedtohiscontemplatedassertionofindependenceabarrierofimpenetrablerespect。

“MayIventuretoask，sir，“shebegan，“ifyourvisittoNorthShingleshasledyoutoformthesameconclusionasmineonthesubjectofMissBygrave\'sillness？“

“Certainlynot，Lecount。Iconsideryourconclusiontohavebeenbothhastyandprejudiced。“

“Iamsorrytohearit，sir。IfelthurtbyMr。Bygrave\'srudereceptionofme，butIwasnotawarethatmyjudgmentwasprejudicedbyit。Perhapshereceivedyou，sir，withawarmerwelcome？“

“Hereceivedmelikeagentleman——thatisallIthinkitnecessarytosay，Lecount——hereceivedmelikeagentleman。“

ThisanswersatisfiedMrs。Lecountontheonedoubtfulpointthathadperplexedher。WhateverMr。Bygrave\'ssuddencoolnesstowardherselfmightmean，hispolitereceptionofhermasterimpliedthattheriskofdetectionhadnotdauntedhim，andthattheplotwasstillinfullprogress。Thehousekeeper\'seyesbrightened；shehadexpresslycalculatedonthisresult。Afteramoment\'sthinking，sheaddressedhermasterwithanotherquestion:“YouwillprobablyvisitMr。Bygraveagain，sir？“

“OfcourseIshallvisithim——ifIplease。“

“AndperhapsseeMissBygrave，ifshegetsbetter？“

“Whynot？Ishouldbegladtoknowwhynot？Isitnecessarytoaskyourleavefirst，Lecount？“

“Bynomeans，sir。Asyouhaveoftensaid(andasIhaveoftenagreedwithyou)，youaremaster。Itmaysurpriseyoutohearit，Mr。Noel，butIhaveaprivatereasonforwishingthatyoushouldseeMissBygraveagain。“

Mr。Noelstartedalittle，andlookedathishousekeeperwithsomecuriosity。

“Ihaveastrangefancyofmyown，sir，aboutthatyounglady，“proceededMrs。Lecount。“Ifyouwillexcusemyfancy，andindulgeit，youwilldomeafavorforwhichIshallbeverygrateful。“

“Afancy？“repeatedhermaster，ingrowingsurprise。“Whatfancy？“

“Onlythis，sir，“saidMrs。Lecount。

Shetookfromoneoftheneatlittlepocketsofherapronamorselofnote-paper，carefullyfoldedintothesmallestpossiblecompass，andrespectfullyplaceditinNoelVanstone\'shands。

“Ifyouarewillingtoobligeanoldandfaithfulservant，Mr。Noel，“shesaid，inaveryquietandveryimpressivemanner，“youwillkindlyputthatmorselofpaperintoyourwaistcoatpocket；youwillopenandreadit，forthefirsttime，whenyouarenextinMissBygrave\'scompany，andyouwillsaynothingofwhathasnowpassedbetweenustoanylivingcreature，fromthistimetothat。Ipromisetoexplainmystrangerequest，sir，whenyouhavedonewhatIask，andwhenyournextinterviewwithMissBygravehascometoanend。“

Shecourtesiedwithherbestgrace，andquietlylefttheroom。

NoelVanstonelookedfromthefoldedpapertothedoor，andfromthedoorbacktothefoldedpaper，inunutterableastonishment。Amysteryinhisownhouse！underhisownnose！Whatdiditmean？“

ItmeantthatMrs。Lecounthadnotwastedhertimethatmorning。WhilethecaptainwascastingthenetoverhisvisitoratNorthShingles，thehousekeeperwassteadilyminingthegroundunderhisfeet。ThefoldedpapercontainednothinglessthanacarefullywrittenextractfromthepersonaldescriptionofMagdaleninMissGarth\'sletter。WithadaringingenuitywhichevenCaptainWraggemighthaveenvied，Mrs。Lecounthadfoundherinstrumentforexposingtheconspiracyintheunsuspectingpersonofthevictimhimself！

[NextChapter]

[TableofContents]NoName，Scene4，Chapter7CHAPTERVII。

LATEthatevening，whenMagdalenandMrs。Wraggecamebackfromtheirwalkinthedark，thecaptainstoppedMagdalenonherwayupstairstoinformheroftheproceedingsoftheday。HeaddedtheexpressionofhisopinionthatthetimehadcomeforbringingNoelVanstone，withtheleastpossibledelay，tothepointofmakingaproposal。Shemerelyansweredthatsheunderstoodhim，andthatshewoulddowhatwasrequiredofher。CaptainWraggerequestedherinthatcasetoobligehimbyjoiningawalkingexcursioninMr。NoelVanstone\'scompanyatseveno\'clockthenextmorning。“Iwillbeready，“shereplied。“Isthereanythingmore？“Therewasnothingmore。Magdalenbadehimgood-nightandreturnedtoherownroom。

Shehadshownthesamedisinclinationtoremainanylongerthanwasnecessaryinthecaptain\'scompanythroughoutthethreedaysofherseclusioninthehouse。

Duringallthattime，insteadofappearingtowearyofMrs。Wragge\'ssociety，shehadpatiently，almosteagerly，associatedherselfwithhercompanion\'soneabsorbingpursuit。ShewhohadoftenchafedandfrettedinpastdaysunderthemonotonyofherlifeinthefreedomofCombe-Raven，nowacceptedwithoutamurmurthemonotonyofherlifeatMrs。Wragge\'swork-table。Shewhohadhatedthesightofherneedleandthreadinoldtimes——whohadneveryetwornanarticleofdressofherownmaking——nowtoiledasanxiouslyoverthemakingofMrs。Wragge\'sgown，andboreaspatientlywithMrs。Wragge\'sblunders，asifthesoleobjectofherexistencehadbeenthesuccessfulcompletionofthatonedress。Anythingwaswelcometoher——thetrivialdifficultiesoffittingagown:thesmall，ceaselesschatterofthepoorhalf-wittedcreaturewhowassoproudofherassistance，andsohappyinhercompany——anythingwaswelcomethatshutheroutfromthecomingfuture，fromthedestinytowhichshestoodself-condemned。Thatsorely-woundednaturewassoothedbysuchatriflenowasthegraspofhercompanion\'sroughandfriendlyhand——thatdesolateheartwascheered，whennightpartedthem，byMrs。Wragge\'skiss。

Thecaptain\'sisolatedpositioninthehouseproducednodepressingeffectonthecaptain\'seasyandequalspirits。InsteadofresentingMagdalen\'ssystematicavoidanceofhissociety，belookedtoresults，andhighlyapprovedofit。ThemoresheneglectedhimforhiswifethemoredirectlyusefulshebecameinthecharacterofMrs。Wragge\'sself-appointedguardian。Hehadmorethanonceseriouslycontemplatedrevokingtheconcessionwhichhadbeenextortedfromhim，andremovinghiswife，athisownsoleresponsibility，outofharm\'sway；andhehadonlyabandonedtheideaondiscoveringthatMagdalen\'sresolutiontokeepMrs。Wraggeinherowncompanywasreallyserious。Whilethetwoweretogether，hismainanxietywassetatrest。Theykepttheirdoorlockedbyhisowndesirewhilehewasoutofthehouse，and，whateverMrs。Wraggemightdo，Magdalenwastobetrustednottoopenituntilhecameback。ThatnightCaptainWraggeenjoyedhiscigarwithamindatease，andsippedhisbrandy-and-waterinhappyignoranceofthepitfallwhichMrs。Lecounthadpreparedforhiminthemorning。

Punctuallyatseveno\'clockNoelVanstonemadehisappearance。ThemomentheenteredtheroomCaptainWraggedetectedachangeinhisvisitor\'slookandmanner。“Somethingwrong！“thoughtthecaptain。“WehavenotdonewithMrs。Lecountyet。“

“HowisMissBygravethismorning？“askedNoelVanstone。“Wellenough，Ihope，forourearlywalk？“Hishalf-closedeyes，weakandwaterywiththemorninglightandthemorningair，lookedabouttheroomfurtively，andheshiftedhisplaceinarestlessmannerfromonechairtoanother，ashemadethosepoliteinquiries。

“Mynieceisbetter——sheisdressingforthewalk，“repliedthecaptain，steadilyobservinghisrestlesslittlefriendwhilehespoke。“Mr。Vanstone！“headded，onasudden，“IamaplainEnglishman——excusemybluntwayofspeakingmymind。Youdon\'tmeetmethismorningascordiallyasyoumetmeyesterday。Thereissomethingunsettledinyourface。Idistrustthathousekeeperofyours，sir！Hasshebeenpresumingonyourforbearance？Hasshebeentryingtopoisonyourmindagainstmeormyniece？“

IfNoelVanstonehadobeyedMrs。Lecount\'sinjunctions，andhadkeptherlittlemorselofnote-paperfoldedinhispocketuntilthetimecametouseit，CaptainWragge\'sdesignedlybluntappealmightnothavefoundhimunpreparedwithananswer。Butcuriosityhadgotthebetterofhim；hehadopenedthenoteatnight，andagaininthemorning；ithadseriouslyperplexedandstartledhim；andithadlefthismindfartoodisturbedtoallowhimthepossessionofhisordinaryresources。Hehesitated；andhisanswer，whenhesucceededinmakingit，beganwithaprevarication。

CaptainWraggestoppedhimbeforehehadgotbeyondhisfirstsentence。

“Pardonme，sir，“saidthecaptain，inhisloftiestmanner。“Ifyouhavesecretstokeep，youhaveonlytosayso，andIhavedone。Iintrudeonnoman\'ssecrets。Atthesametime，Mr。Vanstone，youmustallowmetorecalltoyourmemorythatImetyouyesterdaywithoutanyreservesonmyside。Iadmittedyoutomyfrankestandfullestconfidence，sir——and，highlyasIprizetheadvantagesofyoursociety，Ican\'tconsenttocultivateyourfriendshiponanyotherthanequalterms。“Hethrewopenhisrespectablefrock-coatandsurveyedhisvisitorwithamanlyandvirtuousseverity。

“Imeannooffense！“criedNoelVanstone，piteously。“Whydoyouinterruptme，Mr。Bygrave？Whydon\'tyouletmeexplain？Imeannooffense。“

“Nooffenseistaken，sir，“saidthecaptain。“Youhaveaperfectrighttotheexerciseofyourowndiscretion。Iamnotoffended——IonlyclaimformyselfthesameprivilegewhichIaccordtoyou。“Herosewithgreatdignityandrangthebell。“TellMissBygrave，“hesaidtotheservant，“thatourwalkthismorningisputoffuntilanotheropportunity，andthatIwon\'ttroublehertocomedownstairs。“

Thisstrongproceedinghadthedesiredeffect。NoelVanstonevehementlypleadedforamoment\'sprivateconversationbeforethemessagewasdelivered。CaptainWragge\'sseveritypartiallyrelaxed。Hesenttheservantdownstairsagain，and，resuminghischair，waitedconfidentlyforresults。Incalculatingthefacilitiesforpracticingonhisvisitor\'sweakness，hehadonegreatsuperiorityoverMrs。Lecount。Hisjudgmentwasnotwarpedbylatentfemalejealousies，andheavoidedtheerrorintowhichthehousekeeperhadfallen，self-deluded——theerrorofunderratingtheimpressiononNoelVanstonethatMagdalenhadproduced。Oneoftheforcesinthisworldwhichnomiddle-agedwomaniscapableofestimatingatitsfullvalue，whenitactsagainsther，istheforceofbeautyinawomanyoungerthanherself。

“Youaresohasty，Mr。Bygrave——youwon\'tgivemetime——youwon\'twaitandhearwhatIhavetosay！“criedNoelVanstone，piteously，whentheservanthadclosedtheparlordoor。

“Myfamilyfailing，sir——thebloodoftheBygraves。Acceptmyexcuses。Wearealone，asyouwished；prayproceed。“

PlacedbetweenthealternativesoflosingMagdalen\'ssocietyorbetrayingMrs。Lecount，unenlightenedbyanysuspicionofthehousekeeper\'sultimateobject，cowedbytheimmovablescrutinyofCaptainWragge\'sinquiringeye，NoelVanstonewasnotlonginmakinghischoice。HeconfusedlydescribedhissingularinterviewofthepreviouseveningwithMrs。Lecount，and，takingthefoldedpaperfromhispocket，placeditinthecaptain\'shand。

AsuspicionofthetruthdawnedonCaptainWragge\'smindthemomenthesawthemysteriousnote。Hewithdrewtothewindowbeforeheopenedit。Thefirstlinesthatattractedhisattentionwerethese:“Obligeme，Mr。Noel，bycomparingtheyoungladywhoisnowinyourcompanywiththepersonaldescriptionwhichfollowstheselines，andwhichhasbeencommunicatedtomebyafriend。Youshallknowthenameofthepersondescribed——whichIhaveleftablank——assoonastheevidenceofyourowneyeshasforcedyoutobelievewhatyouwouldrefusetocreditontheunsupportedtestimonyofVirginieLecount。“

Thatwasenoughforthecaptain。Beforehehadreadawordofthedescriptionitself，heknewwhatMrs。Lecounthaddone，andfelt，withaprofoundsenseofhumiliation，thathisfemaleenemyhadtakenhimbysurprise。

Therewasnotimetothink；thewholeenterprisewasthreatenedwithirrevocableoverthrow。TheoneresourceinCaptainWragge\'spresentsituationwastoactinstantlyonthefirstimpulseofhisownaudacity。Linebylinehereadon，andstillthereadyinventivenesswhichhadneverdesertedhimyetfailedtoanswerthecallmadeonitnow。Hecametotheclosingsentence——tothelastwordswhichmentionedthetwolittlemolesonMagdalen\'sneck。Atthatcrowningpointofthedescription，anideacrossedhismind；hisparty-coloredeyestwinkled；hiscurlylipstwistedupatthecorners；Wraggewashimselfagain。Hewheeledroundsuddenlyfromthewindow，andlookedNoelVanstonestraightinthefacewithagrimly-quietsuggestivenessofsomethingserioustocome。

“Pray，sir，doyouhappentoknowanythingofMrs。Lecount\'sfamily？“heinquired。

“Arespectablefamily，“saidNoelVanstone——“that\'sallIknow。Whydoyouask？“

“Iamnotusuallyabettingman，“pursuedCaptainWragge。“ButonthisoccasionIwilllayyouanywageryoulikethereismadnessinyourhousekeeper\'sfamily。“

“Madness！“repeatedNoelVanstone，amazedly“Madness！“reiteratedthecaptain，sternlytappingthenotewithhisforefinger。“Iseethecunningofinsanity，thesuspicionofinsanity，thefelinetreacheryofinsanityineverylineofthisdeplorabledocument。Thereisafarmorealarmingreason，sir，thanIhadsupposedforMrs。Lecount\'sbehaviortomyniece。ItiscleartomethatMissBygraveresemblessomeotherladywhohasseriouslyoffendedyourhousekeeper——whohasbeenformerlyconnected，perhaps，withanoutbreakofinsanityinyourhousekeeper——andwhoisnowevidentlyconfusedwithmynieceinyourhousekeeper\'swanderingmind。Thatismyconviction，Mr。Vanstone。Imayberight，orImaybewrong。AllIsayisthis——neitheryou，noranyman，canassignasanemotivefortheproductionofthatincomprehensibledocument，andfortheusewhichyouarerequestedtomakeofit。“

“Idon\'tthinkLecount\'smad，“saidNoelVanstone，withaveryblanklook，andaverydiscomposedmanner。“Itcouldn\'thaveescapedme，withmyhabitsofobservation；itcouldn\'tpossiblyhaveescapedmeifLecounthadbeenmad。“

“Verygood，mydearsir。Inmyopinion，sheisthesubjectofaninsanedelusion。Inyouropinion，sheisinpossessionofhersenses，andhassomemysteriousmotivewhichneitheryounorIcanfathom。Eitherway，therecanbenoharminputtingMrs。Lecount\'sdescriptiontothetest，notonlyasamatterofcuriosity，butforourownprivatesatisfactiononbothsides。Itisofcourseimpossibletotellmyniecethatsheistobemadethesubjectofsuchapreposterousexperimentasthatnoteofyourssuggests。Butyoucanuseyourowneyes，Mr。Vanstone；youcankeepyourowncounsel；and——madornot——youcanatleasttellyourhousekeeper，onthetestimonyofyourownsenses，thatsheiswrong。Letmelookatthedescriptionagain。Thegreaterpartofitisnotworthtwostrawsforanypurposeofidentification；hundredsofyoungladieshavetallfigures，faircomplexions，lightbrownhair，andlightgrayeyes。Youwillsay，ontheotherhand，hundredsofyoungladieshavenotgottwolittlemolesclosetogetherontheleftsideoftheneck。Quitetrue。ThemolessupplyuswithwhatwescientificmencallaCrucialTest。Whenmyniececomesdownstairs，sir，youhavemyfullpermissiontotakethelibertyoflookingatherneck。“

NoelVanstoneexpressedhishighapprovaloftheCrucialTestbysmirkingandsimperingforthefirsttimethatmorning。

“Oflookingatherneck，“repeatedthecaptain，returningthenotetohisvisitor，andthenmakingforthedoor。“Iwillgoupstairsmyself，Mr。Vanstone，“hecontinued，“andinspectMissBygrave\'swalking-dress。Ifshehasinnocentlyplacedanyobstaclesinyourway，ifherhairisalittletoolow，orherfrillisalittletoohigh，Iwillexertmyauthority，onthefirstharmlesspretextIcanthinkof，tohavethoseobstaclesremoved。AllIaskis，thatyouwillchooseyouropportunitydiscreetly，andthatyouwillnotallowmyniecetosupposethatherneckistheobjectofagentleman\'sinspection。“

ThemomenthewasoutoftheparlorCaptainWraggeascendedthestairsatthetopofhisspeedandknockedatMagdalen\'sdoor。Sheopenedittohiminherwalking-dress，obedienttothesignalagreedonbetweenthemwhichsummonedherdownstairs。

“Whathaveyoudonewithyourpaintsandpowders？“askedthecaptain，withoutwastingawordinpreliminaryexplanations。“TheywerenotintheboxofcostumeswhichIsoldforyouatBirmingham。Wherearethey？“

“Ihavegotthemhere，“repliedMagdalen。“Whatcanyoupossiblymeanbywantingthemnow？“

“Bringtheminstantlyintomydressing-room——thewholecollection，brushes，palette，andeverything。Don\'twastetimeinaskingquestions；I\'lltellyouwhathashappenedaswegoon。Everymomentisprecioustous。Followmeinstantly！“

Hisfaceplainlyshowedthattherewasaseriousreasonforhisstrangeproposal。Magdalensecuredhercollectionofcosmeticsandfollowedhimintothedressing-room。Helockedthedoor，placedheronachairclosetothelight，andthentoldherwhathadhappened。

“Weareonthebrinkofdetection，“proceededthecaptain，carefullymixinghiscolorswithliquidglue，andwithastrong“drier“addedfromabottleinhisownpossession。“Thereisonlyonechanceforus(liftupyourhairfromtheleftsideofyourneck)——IhavetoldMr。NoelVanstonetotakeaprivateopportunityoflookingatyou；andIamgoingtogivetheliedirecttothatshe-devilLecountbypaintingoutyourmoles。“

“Theycan\'tbepaintedout，“saidMagdalen。“Nocolorwillstoponthem。“

“Mycolorwill，“remarkedCaptainWragge。“Ihavetriedavarietyofprofessionsinmytime——theprofessionofpaintingamongtherest。DidyoueverhearofsuchathingasaBlackEye？IlivedsomemonthsonceintheneighborhoodofDruryLaneentirelyonBlackEyes。Myflesh-colorstoodonbruisesofallsorts，shades，andsizes，anditwillstand，Ipromiseyou，onyourmoles。“

Withthisassurance，thecaptaindippedhisbrushintoalittlelumpofopaquecolorwhichhehadmixedinasaucer，andwhichhehadgraduatedasnearlyasthematerialswouldpermittothecolorofMagdalen\'sskin。Afterfirstpassingacambrichandkerchief，withsomewhitepowderonit，overthepartofherneckonwhichhedesignedtooperate，heplacedtwolayersofcoloronthemoleswiththetipofthebrush。Theprocesswasperformedinafewmoments，andthemoles，asifbymagic，disappearedfromview。Nothingbuttheclosestinspectioncouldhavediscoveredtheartificebywhichtheyhadbeenconcealed；atthedistanceoftwoorthreefeetonly，itwasperfectlyinvisible。

“Waitherefiveminutes，“saidCaptainWragge，“toletthepaintdry——andthenjoinusintheparlor。Mrs。Lecountherselfwouldbepuzzledifshelookedatyounow。“

“Stop！“saidMagdalen。“Thereisonethingyouhavenottoldmeyet。HowdidMrs。Lecountgetthedescriptionwhichyoureaddownstairs？Whateverelseshehasseenofme，shehasnotseenthemarkonmyneck——itistoofarback，andtoohighup；myhairhidesit。“

“Whoknowsofthemark？“askedCaptainWragge。

SheturneddeadlypaleundertheanguishofasuddenrecollectionofFrank。

“Mysisterknowsit，“shesaid，faintly。

“Mrs。Lecountmayhavewrittentoyoursister，“suggestedthecaptain:

“Doyouthinkmysisterwouldtellastrangerwhatnostrangerhasarighttoknow？Never！never！“

“IstherenobodyelsewhocouldtellMrs。Lecount？ThemarkwasmentionedinthehandbillsatYork。Whoputitthere？“

“NotNorah！PerhapsMr。Pendril。PerhapsMissGarth。“

“ThenMrs。LecounthaswrittentoMr。PendrilorMissGarth——morelikelytoMissGarth。Thegovernesswouldbeeasiertodealwiththanthelawyer。“

“WhatcanshehavesaidtoMissGarth？“

CaptainWraggeconsideredalittle。

“Ican\'tsaywhatMrs。Lecountmayhavewritten，“hesaid，“butIcantellyouwhatIshouldhavewritteninMrs。Lecount\'splace。IshouldhavefrightenedMissGarthbyfalsereportsaboutyou，tobeginwith，andthenIshouldhaveaskedforpersonalparticulars，tohelpabenevolentstrangerinrestoringyoutoyourfriends。“TheangryglitterflashedupinstantlyinMagdalen\'seyes。

“WhatyouwouldhavedoneiswhatMrs。Lecounthasdone，“shesaid，indignantly。“Neitherlawyernorgovernessshalldisputemyrighttomyownwillandmyownway。IfMissGarththinksshecancontrolmyactionsbycorrespondingwithMrs。Lecount，IwillshowMissGarthsheismistaken！Itishightime，CaptainWragge，tohavedonewiththesewretchedrisksofdiscovery。WewilltaketheshortwaytotheendwehaveinviewsoonerthanMrs。LecountorMissGarththinkfor。Howlongcanyougivemetowringanofferofmarriageoutofthatcreaturedownstairs？“

“Idarenotgiveyoulong，“repliedCaptainWragge。“Nowyourfriendsknowwhereyouare，theymaycomedownonusataday\'snotice。Couldyoumanageitinaweek？“

“I\'llmanageitinhalfthetime，“shesaid，withahard，defiantlaugh。“LeaveustogetherthismorningasyouleftusatDunwich，andtakeMrs。Wraggewithyou，asanexcuseforpartingcompany。Isthepaintdryyet？GodownstairsandtellhimIamcomingdirectly。“

So，forthesecondtime，MissGarth\'swell-meanteffortsdefeatedtheirownend。SothefatalforceofcircumstanceturnedthehandthatwouldfainhaveheldMagdalenbackintothehandthatdroveheron。

Thecaptainreturnedtohisvisitorintheparlor，afterfirststoppingonhiswaytoissuehisordersforthewalkingexcursiontoMrs。Wragge。

“Iamshockedtohavekeptyouwaiting，“hesaid，sittingdownagainconfidentiallybyNoelVanstone\'sside。“Myonlyexcuseis，thatmyniecehadaccidentallydressedherhairsoastodefeatourobject。Ihavebeenpersuadinghertoalterit，andyoungladiesareapttobealittleobstinateonquestionsrelatingtotheirtoilet。Giveherachaironthatsideofyouwhenshecomesin，andtakeyourlookatherneckcomfortablybeforewestartforourwalk。“

Magdalenenteredtheroomashesaidthosewords，andafterthefirstgreetingswereexchanged，tookthechairpresentedtoherwiththemostunsuspiciousreadiness。NoelVanstoneappliedtheCrucialTestonthespot，withthehighestappreciationofthefairmaterialwhichwasthesubjectofexperiment。NotthevestigeofamolewasvisibleonanypartofthesmoothwhitesurfaceofMissBygrave\'sneck。ItmutelyansweredtheblinkinginquiryofNoelVanstone\'shalf-closedeyesbytheflattestpracticalcontradictionofMrs。Lecount。Thatonecentralincidentintheeventsofthemorningwasofalltheincidentsthathadhithertooccurred，themostimportantinitsresults。Thatonediscoveryshookthehousekeeper\'sholdonhermasterasnothinghadshakenityet。

InafewminutesMrs。Wraggemadeherappearance，andexcitedasmuchsurpriseinNoelVanstone\'smindashewascapableoffeelingwhileabsorbedintheenjoymentofMagdalen\'ssociety。Thewalking-partyleftthehouseatonce，directingtheirstepsnorthward，soasnottopassthewindowsofSea-viewCottage。ToMrs。Wragge\'sunutterableastonishment，herhusband，forthefirsttimeinthecourseoftheirmarriedlife，politelyofferedherhisarm，andledheroninadvanceoftheyoungpeople，asiftheprivilegeofwalkingalonewithherpresentedsomespecialattractiontohim！“Stepout！“whisperedthecaptain，fiercely。“LeaveyournieceandMr。Vanstonealone！IfIcatchyoulookingbackatthem，I\'llputtheOrientalCashmereRobeonthetopofthekitchenfire！Turnyourtoesout，andkeepstep——confoundyou，keepstep！“Mrs。Wraggekeptsteptothebestofherlimitedability。Hersturdykneestrembledunderher。Shefirmlybelievedthecaptainwasintoxicated。

Thewalklastedforrathermorethananhour。Beforenineo\'clocktheywereallbackagainatNorthShingles。Theladieswentatonceintothehouse。NoelVanstoneremainedwithCaptainWraggeinthegarden。“Well，“saidthecaptain，“whatdoyouthinknowofMrs。Lecount？“

“DamnLecount！“repliedNoelVanstone，ingreatagitation。“I\'mhalfinclinedtoagreewithyou。I\'mhalfinclinedtothinkmyinfernalhousekeeperismad。“

Hespokefretfullyandunwillingly，asifthemerestallusiontoMrs。Lecountwasdistastefultohim。Hiscolorcameandwent；hismannerwasabsentandundecided；hefidgetedrestlesslyaboutthegardenwalk。ItwouldhavebeenplaintoafarlessacuteobservationthanCaptainWragge\'s，thatMagdalenhadmethisadvancesbyanunexpectedgraceandreadinessofencouragementwhichhadentirelyoverthrownhisself-control。

“Ineverenjoyedawalksomuchinmylife！“heexclaimed，withasuddenoutburstofenthusiasm。“IhopeMissBygravefeelsallthebetter，forit。Doyougooutatthesametimeto-morrowmorning？MayIjoinyouagain？“

“Byallmeans，Mr。Vanstone，“saidtheCaptain，cordially。“Excusemeforreturningtothesubject——butwhatdoyouproposesayingtoMrs。Lecount？“

“Idon\'tknow。Lecountisaperfectnuisance！Whatwouldyoudo，Mr。Bygrave，ifyouwereinmyplace？“

“Allowmetoaskaquestion，mydearsir，beforeItellyou。Whatisyourbreakfast-hour？“

“Half-pastnine。“

“IsMrs。Lecountanearlyriser？“

“No。Lecountislazyinthemorning。Ihatelazywomen！Ifyouwereinmyplace，whatshouldyousaytoher？“

“Ishouldsaynothing，“repliedCaptainWragge。“Ishouldreturnatoncebythebackway；IshouldletMrs。LecountseemeinthefrontgardenasifIwastakingaturnbeforebreakfast；andIshouldleavehertosupposethatIwasonlyjustoutofmyroom。Ifsheasksyouwhetheryoumeantocomeheretoday，sayNo。Secureaquietlifeuntilcircumstancesforceyoutogiveherananswer。Thentelltheplaintruth——saythatMr。Bygrave\'snieceandMrs。Lecount\'sdescriptionareatvariancewitheachotherinthemostimportantparticular，andbegthatthesubjectmaynotbementionedagain。Thereismyadvice。Whatdoyouthinkofit？“

IfNoelVanstonecouldhavelookedintohiscounselor\'smind，hemighthavethoughtthecaptain\'sadviceexcellentlyadaptedtoservethecaptain\'sinterests。AslongasMrs。Lecountcouldbekeptinignoranceofhermaster\'svisitstoNorthShingles，solongshewouldwaituntiltheopportunitycamefortryingherexperiment，andsolongshemightbetrustednottoendangertheconspiracybyanyfurtherproceedings。NecessarilyincapableofviewingCaptainWragge\'sadviceunderthisaspect，NoelVanstonesimplylookedatitasofferinghimatemporarymeansofescapefromanexplanationwithhishousekeeper。Heeagerlydeclaredthatthecourseofactionsuggestedtohimshouldbefollowedtotheletter，andreturnedtoSeaViewwithoutfurtherdelay。

OnthisoccasionCaptainWragge\'santicipationswereinnorespectfalsifiedbyMrs。Lecount\'sconduct。Shehadnosuspicionofhermaster\'svisittoNorthShingles:shehadmadeuphermind，ifnecessary，towaitpatientlyforhisinterviewwithMissBygraveuntiltheendoftheweek；andshedidnotembarrasshimbyanyunexpectedquestionswhenheannouncedhisintentionofholdingnopersonalcommunicationwiththeBygravesonthatday。Allshesaidwas，“Don\'tyoufeelwellenough，Mr。Noel？ordon\'tyoufeelinclined？“Heanswered，shortly，“Idon\'tfeelwellenough“；andtheretheconversationended。

Thenextdaytheproceedingsofthepreviousmorningwereexactlyrepeated。ThistimeNoelVanstonewenthomerapturouslywithakeepsakeinhisbreast-pocket；hehadtakentenderpossessionofoneofMissBygrave\'sgloves。Atintervalsduringtheday，wheneverhewasalone，hetookoutthegloveandkisseditwithadevotionwhichwasalmostpassionateinitsfervor。Themiserablelittlecreatureluxuriatedinhismomentsofstolenhappinesswithaspeechlessandstealthydelightwhichwasanewsensationtohim。Thefewyounggirlswhomhehadmetwith，inhisfather\'snarrowcircleatZurich，hadfeltamischievouspleasureintreatinghimlikeaquaintlittleplaything；thestrongestimpressionhecouldmakeontheirheartswasanimpressioninwhichtheirlap-dogsmighthaverivaledhim；thedeepestinteresthecouldcreateinthemwastheinteresttheymighthavefeltinanewtrinketoranewdress。Theonlywomenwhohadhithertoinvitedhisadmiration，andtakenhiscomplimentsseriouslyhadbeenwomenwhosecharmswereonthewane，andwhosechancesofmarriagewerefastfailingthem。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehehadnowpassedhoursofhappinessinthesocietyofabeautifulgirl，whohadlefthimtothinkofherafterwardwithoutasinglehumiliatingremembrancetolowerhiminhisownesteem。