said Magdalen. "I come to you because Mr. Noel Vanstone's
intentions toward the two young ladies were made known to them in the
form of a letter from yourself."

That plain answer had its effect. It warned Mrs. Lecount that the
strange lady was better informed than she had at first suspected, and
that it might hardly be wise, under the circumstances, to dismiss her
unheard.

"Pray pardon me," said the housekeeper, "I scarcely understood before;
I perfectly understand now. You are mistaken, ma'am, in supposing that
I am of any importance, or that I exercise any influence in this painful
matter. I am the mouth-piece of Mr. Noel Vanstone; the pen he holds, if
you will excuse the expression--nothing more. He is an invalid, and like
other invalids, he has his bad days and his good. It was his bad day
when that answer was written to the young person--shall I call her
Miss Vanstone? I will, with pleasure, poor girl; for who am I to make
distinctions, and what is it to me whether her parents were married or
not? As I was saying, it was one of Mr. Noel Vanstone's bad days when
that answer was sent, and therefore I had to write it; simply as his
secretary, for want of a better. If you wish to speak on the subject of
these young ladies--shall I call them young ladies, as you did just now?
no, poor things, I will call them the Misses Vanstone.--If you wish to
speak on the subject of these Misses Vanstone, I will mention your name,
and your object in favoring me with this call, to Mr. Noel Vanstone.
He is alone in the parlor, and this is one of his good days. I have the
influence of an old servant over him, and I will use that influence
with pleasure in your behalf. Shall I go at once?" asked Mrs. Lecount,
rising, with the friendliest anxiety to make herself useful.

"If you please," replied Magdalen; "and if I am not taking any undue
advantage of your kindness."

"On the contrary," rejoined Mrs. Lecount, "you are laying me under an
obligation--you are permitting me, in my very limited way, to assist the
performance of a benevolent action." She bowed, smiled, and glided out
of the room.

Left by herself, Magdalen allowed the anger which she had suppressed
in Mrs. Lecount's presence to break free from her. For want of a nobler
object to attack, it took the direction of the toad. The sight of the
hideous little reptile sitting placid on his rock throne, with his
bright eyes staring impenetrably into vacancy, irritated every nerve