Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Lecount's habitual practice to decide everything for her master in the first instance, and then to persuade him that he was not acting under his housekeeper's resolution but under his own, she would have seen it now. "You hear what Lecount has just said?" remarked Noel Vanstone. "You hear the unsolicited testimony of a person who has known me from childhood? Take care, Miss Garth take care!"
Bygrave, which role Captain Wragge adopted, she laid siege to the selfish affections of Noel Vanstone. Her task proved ridiculously easy. Noel fell hopelessly in love with her, and before many days were out proposed marriage. So far, everything had worked smoothly, but at this point Mrs. Lecount's fears were aroused.
That evening Noel Vanstone's temper was very uncertain, and Mrs. Lecount's patience and tact were sorely tried in the effort to avoid offending him. On the third morning the report of the suffering young lady was less favorable "Miss Bygrave was still very poorly, and not able to leave her bed."
Having reached this conclusion, how was she to shape her future course? What new means could she discover which would lead her secretly to her end, in defiance of Mrs. Lecount's malicious vigilance and Noel Vanstone's miserly distrust? She was seated before the looking-glass, mechanically combing out her hair, while that all-important consideration occupied her mind.
With perfect composure she drew the chair back into the corner of the room beyond the window and seated herself, keeping the shadow of her bonnet well over her face. Mrs. Lecount's persuasive lips murmured a polite expression of sympathy; Mrs. Lecount's amiable black eyes looked more interested in the strange lady than ever.
Lecount's questions on the subject of her letter the answers wrung from her under the sudden pressure of confusion and alarm may be used to Magdalen's prejudice by the woman who purposely startled her into giving the information.
In a minute more, Captain Wragge's own observation informed him that one among the passengers who left Aldborough that morning was Mrs. Lecount. The main uncertainty disposed of, a serious question suggested by the events of the morning still remained to be solved. Which was the destined end of Mrs. Lecount's journey Zurich or St. Crux? That she would certainly inform her master of Mrs.
Lecount's mind relaxed at last. She left her seat on the Parade, and returned in higher spirits than usual, to perform the closing household ceremonies at Sea View. She sat down alone in the parlor and drew a long breath of relief. Captain Wragge's calculations had not deceived him.
Lecount's watch, and still Noel Vanstone remained lost in doubt; still no summons for the servants disturbed the tranquillity of the parlor bell. Meanwhile, after parting with Mrs. Lecount, Magdalen had cautiously abstained from crossing the road to her lodgings, and had only ventured to return after making a circuit in the neighborhood.
"His Tank!" exclaimed the captain, in tones of mournful interest; "and his Toad! Pardon my blunt way of speaking my mind, ma'am. You possess an object of public interest; and, as one of the public, I acknowledge my curiosity to see it." Mrs. Lecount's smooth cheeks colored with pleasure. The one assailable place in that cold and secret nature was the place occupied by the memory of the Professor.
Word Of The Day