er," echoed the captain. "Exactly so--the
natural result of firmness of character."

"No--the natural result of having nothing else to think of. I had
something else to think of before you found me ill in Vauxhall Walk. I
have nothing else to think of now. Remember that, if you find me for the
future always harping on the same string. One question first. Did
you guess what I meant to do on that morning when you showed me the
newspaper, and when I read the account of Michael Vanstone's death?"

"Generally," replied Captain Wragge--"I guessed, generally, that you
proposed dipping your hand into his purse and taking from it (most
properly) what was your own. I felt deeply hurt at the time by your not
permitting me to assist you. Why is she so reserved with me? (I remarked
to myself)--why is she so unreasonably reserved?"

"You shall have no reserve to complain of now," pursued Magdalen. "I
tell you plainly, if events had not happened as they did, you _would_
have assisted me. If Michael Vanstone had not died, I should have gone
to Brighton, and have found my way safely to his acquaintance under an
assumed name. I had money enough with me to live on respectably for many
months together. I would have employed that time--I would have waited
a whole year, if necessary, to destroy Mrs. Lecount's influence over
him--and I would have ended by getting that influence, on my own terms,
into my own hands. I had the advantage of years, the advantage of
novelty, the advantage of downright desperation, all on my side, and I
should have succeeded. Before the year was out--before half the year was
out--you should have seen Mrs. Lecount dismissed by her master, and
you should have seen me taken into the house in her place, as Michael
Vanstone's adopted daughter--as the faithful friend--who had saved him
from an adventuress in his old age. Girls no older than I am have tried
deceptions as hopeless in appearance as mine, and have carried them
through to the end. I had my story ready; I had my plans all considered;
I had the weak point in that old man to attack in my way, which Mrs.
Lecount had found out before me to attack in hers, and I tell you again
I should have succeeded."

"I think you would," said the captain. "And what next?"

"Mr. Michael Vanstone would have changed his man of business next. You
would have succeeded to the place; and those clever speculations on
which he was so fond of venturing would have cost him the fortunes