stone's last sympathetic inquiries, and took
Magdalen into the house. "I told you she would show her claws," he said.
"It is not my fault that she scratched you before I could stop her. She
hasn't hurt you, has she?"

"She has hurt me, to some purpose," said Magdalen--"she has given me the
courage to go on. Say what must be done to-morrow, and trust me to do
it." She sighed heavily as she said those words, and went up to her
room.

Captain Wragge walked meditatively into the parlor, and sat down to
consider. He felt by no means so certain as he could have wished of the
next proceeding on the part of the enemy after the defeat of that day.
The housekeeper's farewell look had plainly informed him that she was
not at the end of her resources yet, and the old militia-man felt the
full importance of preparing himself in good time to meet the next step
which she took in advance. He lit a cigar, and bent his wary mind on the
dangers of the future.

While Captain Wragge was considering in the parlor at North Shingles,
Mrs. Lecount was meditating in her bedroom at Sea View. Her exasperation
at the failure of her first attempt to expose the conspiracy had not
blinded her to the instant necessity of making a second effort before
Noel Vanstone's growing infatuation got beyond her control. The snare
set for Magdalen having failed, the chance of entrapping Magdalen's
sister was the next chance to try. Mrs. Lecount ordered a cup of tea,
opened her writing-case, and began the rough draft of a letter to be
sent to Miss Vanstone, the elder, by the morrow's post.

So the day's skirmish ended. The heat of the battle was yet to come.

CHAPTER VI.

ALL human penetration has its limits. Accurately as Captain Wragge
had seen his way hitherto, even his sharp insight was now at fault. He
finished his cigar with the mortifying conviction that he was totally
unprepared for Mrs. Lecount's next proceeding. In this emergency, his
experience warned him that there was one safe course, and one only,
which he could take. He resolved to try the confusing effect on the
housekeeper of a complete change of tactics before she had time to press
her advantage and attack him in the dark. With this view he sent the
servant upstairs to request that Miss Bygrave would come down and speak
to him.

"I hope I don't disturb you," said the captain, when Magdalen entered
the room. "Allow me to apologize for the smell of tobacco, and to say
two words on the s