seclusion within the limits of her own room. The
question of gaining personal access to her, was
a question which must be decided before any
communication could be opened with Mr. Pendril.
Mrs. Lecount put on her bonnet at once, and
called at North Shingles to try what discoveries
she could make for herself, before post-time.

On this occasion, Mr. Bygrave was at home;
and she was admitted without the least difficulty.

Careful consideration that morning, had decided
Captain Wragge on advancing matters a little
nearer to the crisis. The means by which he
proposed achieving this result, made it necessary for
him to see the housekeeper and her master
separately, and to set them at variance by producing
two totally opposite impressions relating to
himself, on their minds. Mrs. Lecount's visit, therefore,
instead of causing him any embarrassment,
was the most welcome occurrence he could have
wished for. He received her in the parlour, with
a marked restraint of manner, for which she was
quite unprepared. His ingratiating smile was
gone, and an impenetrable solemnity of countenance
appeared in its stead.

"I have ventured to intrude on you, sir," said
Mrs. Lecount, "to express the regret with which
both my master and I have heard of Miss
Bygrave's illness. Is there no improvement?"

"No, ma'am," replied the captain, as briefly
as possible. "My niece is no better."

"I have had some experience, Mr. Bygrave, in
nursing. If I could be of any use—-"

"Thank you, Mrs. Lecount. There is no necessity
for our taking advantage of your kindness."

This plain answer was followed by a moment's
silence. The housekeeper felt some little
perplexity. What had become of Mr. Bygrave's
elaborate courtesy, and Mr. Bygrave's many
words? Did he want to offend her? If he did,
Mrs. Lecount then and there determined that
he should not gain his object.

"May I inquire the nature of the illness?" she
persisted. "It is not connected, I hope, with
our excursion to Dunwich?"

"I regret to say, ma'am," replied the captain,
"it began with that neuralgic attack in the
carriage."

"So! so!" thought Mrs. Lecount. "He
doesn't even try to make me think the illness
a real one; he throws off the mask, at starting!
—Is it a nervous illness, sir?" she added, aloud.

The captain answered by a solemn affirmative
inclination of the head.

"Then you have two nervous sufferers in the
house, Mr. Bygrave?"

"Yes, ma'am—two. My wife and my niece."

"That is rather a strange coincidence of
misfortunes."

"It is, ma'am. Very strange."

In spite of Mrs. Lecount's resolution not to
be offended, Captain Wragge's exasperating
insensibility to every stroke she aimed at him
began to ruffle her. She was conscious of some
little difficulty in securing her self-possession,
before she could say anything more.

"Is there no immediate hope," she resumed,
"of Miss Bygrave being able to leave her room?"

"None whatever, ma'am."

"You are satisfied, I suppose, with the medical
attendance?"

"I have no medical attendance," said the
captain, composedly. "I watch the case myself."

The gathering venom in Mrs. Lecount swelled
up at that reply, and overflowed at her lips.

"Your smattering of science, sir," she said,
with a malicious smile, "includes, I presume, a
smattering of medicine as well?"

"It does, ma'am," answered the captain, without
the slightest disturbance of face or manner.
"I know as much of one as I do of the other."

The tone in which he spoke those words, left
Mrs. Lecount but one dignified alternative. She
rose to terminate the interview. The temptation
of the moment proved too much for her; and
she could not resist casting the shadow of a
threat over Captain Wragge at parting.

"I defer thanking you, sir, for the manner in
which you have received me," she said, "until
I can pay my debt of obligation to some purpose.
In the mean time, I am glad to infer, from the
absence of a medical attendant in the house, that
Miss Bygrave's illness is much less serious than
I had supposed it to be when I came here."

"I never contradict a lady, ma'am," rejoined
the incorrigible captain. "If it is your pleasure,
when we next meet, to think my niece quite well,
I shall bow resignedly to the expression of your
opinion." With those words, he followed the
housekeeper into the passage, and politely opened
the door for her. "I mark the trick, ma'am!"
he said to himself, as he closed it again. "The
trump-card in your hand, is a sight of my niece;
and I'll take care you don't play it!"

He returned to the parlour, and composedly
awaited the next event which was likely to
happen—a visit from Mrs. Lecount's master.
In less than an hour, results justified Captain
Wragge's anticipations; and Mr. Noel Vanstone
walked in.

"My dear sir!" cried the captain, cordially
seizing his visitor's reluctant hand,"I know what
you have come for. Mrs. Lecount has told you
of her visit here, and has no doubt declared that
my niece's illness is a mere subterfuge. You feel
surprised, you feel hurt—you suspect me of
trifling with your kind sympathies—in short,
you require an explanation. That explanation
you shall have. Take a seat, Mr. Vanstone.
I am about to throw myself on your sense and
judgment as a man of the world. I acknowledge
that we are in a false position, sir; and I tell you
plainly at the outset—your housekeeper is the
cause of it."

For once in his life, Mr. Noel Vanstone opened
his eyes. "Lecount!" he exclaimed, in the
utmost bewilderment.

"The same, sir," replied Captain Wragge. "I
am afraid I offended Mrs. Lecount, when she came
here this morning, by a want of cordiality in my
manner. I am a plain man; and I can't assume