fice the box--we must, indeed."

While her husband was addressing Magdalen, Mrs. Wragge had stolen out
again from her corner, and had ventured near enough to the captain to
hear the words "shop" and "parcel." She clapped her great hands
together in ungovernable excitement, and lost all control over herself
immediately.

"Oh, if it's shopping, let me do it!" cried Mrs. Wragge. "She's going
out to buy her Things! Oh, let me go with her--please let me go with
her!"

"Sit down!" shouted the captain. "Straight! more to the right--more
still. Stop where you are!"

Mrs. Wragge crossed her helpless hands on her lap, and melted meekly
into tears.

"I do so like shopping," pleaded the poor creature; "and I get so little
of it now!"

Magdalen completed her list; and Captain Wragge at once left the room
with it. "Don't let my wife bore you," he said, pleasantly, as he went
out. "Cut her short, poor soul--cut her short!"

"Don't cry," said Magdalen, trying to comfort Mrs. Wragge by patting her
on the shoulder. "When the parcel comes back you shall open it."

"Thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Wragge, meekly, drying her eyes; "thank
you kindly. Don't notice my handkerchief, please. It's such a very
little one! I had a nice lot of them once, with lace borders. They're
all gone now. Never mind! It will comfort me to unpack your Things.
You're very good to me. I like you. I say--you won't be angry, will you?
Give us a kiss."

Magdalen stooped over her with the frank grace and gentleness of past
days, and touched her faded cheek. "Let me do something harmless!" she
thought, with a pang at her heart--"oh let me do something innocent and
kind for the sake of old times!"

She felt her eyes moistening, and silently turned away.

That night no rest came to her. That night the roused forces of Good
and Evil fought their terrible fight for her soul--and left the strife
between them still in suspense when morning came. As the clock of York
Minster struck nine, she followed Mrs. Wragge to the chaise, and took
her seat by the captain's side. In a quarter of an hour more York was
in the distance, and the highroad lay bright and open before them in the
morning sunlight.

THE END OF THE SECOND SCENE.

BETWEEN THE SCENES.

CHRONICLE OF EVENTS: PRESERVED IN CAPTAIN WRAGGE'S DISPATCH-BOX.

I.

_Chronicle for October, 1846._

I HAVE retired into the bosom of my family. We are residing in the
secluded village of Ruswarp, on the