as he was capable of feeling while
absorbed in the enjoyment of Magdalen's society. The walking-party left
the house at once, directing their steps northward, so as not to
pass the windows of Sea-view Cottage. To Mrs. Wragge's unutterable
astonishment, her husband, for the first time in the course of their
married life, politely offered her his arm, and led her on in advance
of the young people, as if the privilege of walking alone with her
presented some special attraction to him! "Step out!" whispered the
captain, fiercely. "Leave your niece and Mr. Vanstone alone! If I catch
you looking back at them, I'll put the Oriental Cashmere Robe on the top
of the kitchen fire! Turn your toes out, and keep step--confound you,
keep step!" Mrs. Wragge kept step to the best of her limited ability.
Her sturdy knees trembled under her. She firmly believed the captain was
intoxicated.

The walk lasted for rather more than an hour. Before nine o'clock they
were all back again at North Shingles. The ladies went at once into the
house. Noel Vanstone remained with Captain Wragge in the garden. "Well,"
said the captain, "what do you think now of Mrs. Lecount?"

"Damn Lecount!" replied Noel Vanstone, in great agitation. "I'm half
inclined to agree with you. I'm half inclined to think my infernal
housekeeper is mad."

He spoke fretfully and unwillingly, as if the merest allusion to Mrs.
Lecount was distasteful to him. His color came and went; his manner was
absent and undecided; he fidgeted restlessly about the garden walk.
It would have been plain to a far less acute observation than Captain
Wragge's, that Magdalen had met his advances by an unexpected grace
and readiness of encouragement which had entirely overthrown his
self-control.

"I never enjoyed a walk so much in my life!" he exclaimed, with a sudden
outburst of enthusiasm. "I hope Miss Bygrave feels all the better, for
it. Do you go out at the same time to-morrow morning? May I join you
again?"

"By all means, Mr. Vanstone," said the Captain, cordially. "Excuse me
for returning to the subject--but what do you propose saying to Mrs.
Lecount?"

"I don't know. Lecount is a perfect nuisance! What would you do, Mr.
Bygrave, if you were in my place?"

"Allow me to ask a question, my dear sir, before I tell you. What is
your breakfast-hour?"

"Half-past nine."

"Is Mrs. Lecount an early riser?"

"No. Lecount is lazy in the morning. I hate lazy women! If you were in
my plac