No Name

In that period what measures could she take to remove the obstacles which now stood in her way, and to provide herself with the weapons which she now wanted?

Reflection showed her three different chances in her favor—three different ways of arriving at the necessary discovery.

The first chance was to cultivate friendly terms with Magdalen, and then, taking her unawares, to entrap her into betraying herself in Noel Vanstone's presence. The second chance was to write to the elder Miss Vanstone, and to ask (with some alarming reason for putting the question) for information on the subject of her younger sister's whereabouts, and of any peculiarities in her personal appearance which might enable a stranger to identify her. The third chance was to penetrate the mystery of Mrs. Bygrave's seclusion, and to ascertain at a personal interview whether the invalid lady's real complaint might not possibly be a defective capacity for keeping her husband's secrets. Resolving to try all three chances, in the order in which they are here enumerated, and to set her snares for Magdalen on the day that was now already at hand, Mrs. Lecount at last took off her dressing-gown and allowed her weaker nature to plead with her for a little sleep.

The dawn was breaking over the cold gray sea as she lay down in her bed again. The last idea in her mind before she fell asleep was characteristic of the woman—it was an idea that threatened the captain. 'He has trifled with the sacred memory of my husband,' thought the Professor's widow. 'On my life and honor, I will make him pay for it.'

Early the next morning Magdalen began the day, according to her agreement with the captain, by taking Mrs. Wragge out for a little exercise at an hour when there was no fear of her attracting the public attention. She pleaded hard to be left at home; having the Oriental Cashmere Robe still on her mind, and feeling it necessary to read her directions for dressmaking, for the hundredth time at least, before (to use her own expression) she could 'screw up her courage to put the scissors into the stuff.' But her companion would take no denial, and she was forced to go out. The one guileless purpose of the life which Magdalen now led was the resolution that poor Mrs. Wragge should not be made a prisoner on her account; and to that resolution she mechanically clung, as the last token left her by which she knew her better-self.

They returned later than usual to breakfast. While Mrs. Wragge was upstairs, straightening herself from head to foot to meet the morning inspection of her husband's orderly eye; and while Magdalen and the captain were waiting for her in the parlor, the servant came in with a note from Sea-view Cottage. The messenger was waiting for an answer, and the note was addressed to Captain Wragge.

The captain opened the note and read these lines:

'DEAR SIR—Mr. Noel Vanstone desires me to write and tell you that he proposes enjoying this fine day by taking a long drive to a place on the coast here called Dunwich. He is anxious to know if you will share the expense of a carriage, and give him the pleasure of your company and Miss Bygrave's company on this excursion. I am kindly permitted to be one of the party; and if I may say so without impropriety, I would venture to add that I shall feel as much pleasure as my master if you and your young lady will consent to join us. We propose leaving Aldborough punctually at eleven o'clock. Believe me, dear sir, your humble servant,

'VIRGINIE LECOUNT.'

'Who is the letter from?' asked Magdalen, noticing a change in Captain Wragge's face as he read it. 'What do they want with us at Sea-view Cottage?'

'Pardon me,' said the captain, gravely, 'this requires consideration. Let me have a minute or two to think.'

He took a few turns up and down the room, then suddenly stepped aside to a table in a corner on which his writing materials were placed. 'I was not born yesterday, ma'am!' said the captain, speaking jocosely to himself. He winked his brown eye, took up his pen, and wrote the answer.

'Can you speak now?' inquired Magdalen, when the servant had left the room. 'What does that letter say, and how have you answered it?'

The captain placed the letter in her hand. 'I have accepted the invitation,' he replied, quietly.

Magdalen read the letter. 'Hidden enmity yesterday,' she said, 'and open friendship to-day. What does it mean?'

'It means,' said Captain Wragge, 'that Mrs. Lecount is even sharper than I thought her. She has found you out.'

'Impossible,' cried Magdalen. 'Quite impossible in the time.'

'I can't say how she has found you out,' proceeded the captain, with perfect composure. 'She may know more of your voice than we supposed she knew. Or she may have thought us, on reflection, rather a suspicious family; and anything suspicious in which a woman was concerned may have taken her mind back to that morning call of yours in Vauxhall Walk. Whichever way it may be, the meaning of this sudden change is clear enough. She has found you out; and she wants to put her discovery to the proof by slipping in an awkward question or two, under cover of a little friendly talk. My experience of humanity has been a varied one, and Mrs. Lecount is not the first sharp practitioner in petticoats whom I have had to deal with. All the world's a stage, my dear girl, and one of the scenes on our little stage is shut in from this moment.'

With those words he took his copy of Joyce's Scientific Dialogues out of his pocket. 'You're done with already, my friend!' said the captain, giving his useful information a farewell smack with his hand, and locking it up in the cupboard. 'Such is human popularity!' continued the indomitable vagabond, putting the key cheerfully in his pocket. 'Yesterday Joyce was my all-in-all. To-day I don't care that for him!' He snapped his fingers and sat down to breakfast.

'I don't understand you,' said Magdalen, looking at him angrily. 'Are you leaving me to my own resources for the future?'

'My dear girl!' cried Captain Wragge, 'can't you accustom yourself to my dash of humor yet? I have done with my ready-made science simply because I am quite sure that Mrs. Lecount has done believing in me. Haven't I accepted the invitation to Dunwich? Make your mind easy. The help I have given you already counts for nothing compared with the help I am going to give you now. My honor is concerned in bowling out Mrs. Lecount. This last move of hers has made it a personal matter between us. The woman actually thinks she can take me in!!!' cried the captain, striking his knife-handle on the table in a transport of virtuous indignation. 'By heavens, I never was so insulted before in my life! Draw your chair in to the table, my dear, and give me half a minute's attention to what I have to say next.'

Magdalen obeyed him. Captain Wragge cautiously lowered his voice before he went on.

'I have told you all along,' he said, 'the one thing needful is never to let Mrs. Lecount catch you with your wits wool-gathering. I say the same after what has happened this morning. Let her suspect you! I defy her to find a