in her body. She looked at the creature with a shrinking intensity of
hatred; she whispered at it maliciously through her set teeth. "I wonder
whose blood runs coldest," she said, "yours, you little monster, or Mrs.
Lecount's? I wonder which is the slimiest, her heart or your back? You
hateful wretch, do you know what your mistress is? Your mistress is a
devil!"

The speckled skin under the toad's mouth mysteriously wrinkled itself,
then slowly expanded again, as if he had swallowed the words just
addressed to him. Magdalen started back in disgust from the first
perceptible movement in the creature's body, trifling as it was, and
returned to her chair. She had not seated herself again a moment too
soon. The door opened noiselessly, and Mrs. Lecount appeared once more.

"Mr. Vanstone will see you," she said, "if you will kindly wait a few
minutes. He will ring the parlor bell when his present occupation is
at an end, and he is ready to receive you. Be careful, ma'am, not to
depress his spirits, nor to agitate him in any way. His heart has been
a cause of serious anxiety to those about him, from his earliest years.
There is no positive disease; there is only a chronic feebleness--a
fatty degeneration--a want of vital power in the organ itself. His heart
will go on well enough if you don't give his heart too much to do--that
is the advice of all the medical men who have seen him. You will not
forget it, and you will keep a guard over your conversation accordingly.
Talking of medical men, have you ever tried the Golden Ointment for that
sad affliction in your eyes? It has been described to me as an excellent
remedy."

"It has not succeeded in my case," replied Magdalen, sharply. "Before I
see Mr. Noel Vanstone," she continued, "may I inquire--"

"I beg your pardon," interposed Mrs. Lecount. "Does your question refer
in any way to those two poor girls?"

"It refers to the Misses Vanstone."

"Then I can't enter into it. Excuse me, I really can't discuss these
poor girls (I am so glad to hear you call them the Misses Vanstone!)
except in my master's presence, and by my master's express permission.
Let us talk of something else while we are waiting here. Will you notice
my glass Tank? I have every reason to believe that it is a perfect
novelty in England."

"I looked at the tank while you were out of the room," said Magdalen.

"Did you? You take no interest in the subject, I dare say? Quite
natural. I took no interes