one excellent reason why Noel Vanstone should take Captain
Wragge's conciliatory advice. An open rupture with Mrs. Lecount--even
if he could have summoned the courage to face it--would imply the
recognition of her claims to a provision, in acknowledgment of the
services she had rendered to his father and to himself. His sordid
nature quailed within him at the bare prospect of expressing the
emotion of gratitude in a pecuniary form; and, after first consulting
appearances by a show of hesitation, he consented to adopt the captain's
suggestion, and to humor Mrs. Lecount.

"But I must be considered in this matter," proceeded Noel Vanstone. "My
concession to Lecount's weakness must not be misunderstood. Miss Bygrave
must not be allowed to suppose I am afraid of my housekeeper."

The captain declared that no such idea ever had entered, or ever could
enter, Miss Bygrave's mind. Noel Vanstone returned to the subject
nevertheless, again and again, with his customary pertinacity. Would
it be indiscreet if he asked leave to set himself right personally with
Miss Bygrave? Was there any hope that he might have the happiness of
seeing her on that day? or, if not, on the next day? or if not, on the
day after? Captain Wragge answered cautiously: he felt the importance
of not rousing Noel Vanstone's distrust by too great an alacrity in
complying with his wishes.

"An interview to-day, my dear sir, is out of the question," he said.
"She is not well enough; she wants repose. To-morrow I propose
taking her out before the heat of the day begins--not merely to avoid
embarrassment, after what has happened with Mrs. Lecount, but because
the morning air and the morning quiet are essential in these nervous
cases. We are early people here--we shall start at seven o'clock. If you
are early, too, and if you would like to join us, I need hardly say that
we can feel no objection to your company on our morning walk. The hour,
I am aware, is an unusual one--but later in the day my niece may be
resting on the sofa, and may not be able to see visitors."

Having made this proposal purely for the purpose of enabling Noel
Vanstone to escape to North Shingles at an hour in the morning when his
housekeeper would be probably in bed, Captain Wragge left him to take
the hint, if he could, as indirectly as it had been given. He proved
sharp enough (the case being one in which his own interests were
concerned) to close with the proposal on the spot. Politely d