CHAPTER VII.

LATE that evening, when Magdalen and Mrs. Wragge came back from their
walk in the dark, the captain stopped Magdalen on her way upstairs to
inform her of the proceedings of the day. He added the expression of
his opinion that the time had come for bringing Noel Vanstone, with
the least possible delay, to the point of making a proposal. She
merely answered that she understood him, and that she would do what was
required of her. Captain Wragge requested her in that case to oblige him
by joining a walking excursion in Mr. Noel Vanstone's company at seven
o'clock the next morning. "I will be ready," she replied. "Is there
anything more?" There was nothing more. Magdalen bade him good-night and
returned to her own room.

She had shown the same disinclination to remain any longer than was
necessary in the captain's company throughout the three days of her
seclusion in the house.

During all that time, instead of appearing to weary of Mrs. Wragge's
society, she had patiently, almost eagerly, associated herself with her
companion's one absorbing pursuit. She who had often chafed and
fretted in past days under the monotony of her life in the freedom of
Combe-Raven, now accepted without a murmur the monotony of her life at
Mrs. Wragge's work-table. She who had hated the sight of her needle and
thread in old times--who had never yet worn an article of dress of her
own making--now toiled as anxiously over the making of Mrs. Wragge's
gown, and bore as patiently with Mrs. Wragge's blunders, as if the sole
object of her existence had been the successful completion of that one
dress. Anything was welcome to her--the trivial difficulties of fitting
a gown: the small, ceaseless chatter of the poor half-witted
creature who was so proud of her assistance, and so happy in her
company--anything was welcome that shut her out from the coming future,
from the destiny to which she stood self-condemned. That sorely-wounded
nature was soothed by such a trifle now as the grasp of her companion's
rough and friendly hand--that desolate heart was cheered, when night
parted them, by Mrs. Wragge's kiss.

The captain's isolated position in the house produced no depressing
effect on the captain's easy and equal spirits. Instead of resenting
Magdalen's systematic avoidance of his society, he looked to results,
and highly approved of it. The more she neglected him for his wife
the more directly useful she became in the character of Mrs.