“She has hurt me, to some purpose,” said Magdalen—­“she has given me the courage to go on.  Say what must be done to-morrow, and trust me to do it.”  She sighed heavily as she said those words, and went up to her room.

Captain Wragge walked meditatively into the parlor, and sat down to consider.  He felt by no means so certain as he could have wished of the next proceeding on the part of the enemy after the defeat of that day.  The housekeeper’s farewell look had plainly informed him that she was not at the end of her resources yet, and the old militia-man felt the full importance of preparing himself in good time to meet the next step which she took in advance.  He lit a cigar, and bent his wary mind on the dangers of the future.

While Captain Wragge was considering in the parlor at North Shingles, Mrs. Lecount was meditating in her bedroom at Sea View.  Her exasperation at the failure of her first attempt to expose the conspiracy had not blinded her to the instant necessity of making a second effort before Noel Vanstone’s growing infatuation got beyond her control.  The snare set for Magdalen having failed, the chance of entrapping Magdalen’s sister was the next chance to try.  Mrs. Lecount ordered a cup of tea, opened her writing-case, and began the rough draft of a letter to be sent to Miss Vanstone, the elder, by the morrow’s post.

So the day’s skirmish ended.  The heat of the battle was yet to come.

CHAPTER VI.

ALL human penetration has its limits.  Accurately as Captain Wragge had seen his way hitherto, even his sharp insight was now at fault.  He finished his cigar with the mortifying conviction that he was totally unprepared for Mrs. Lecount’s next proceeding.  In this emergency, his experience warned him that there was one safe course, and one only, which he could take.  He resolved to try the confusing effect on the housekeeper of a complete change of tactics before she had time to press her advantage and attack him in the dark.  With this view he sent the servant upstairs to request that Miss Bygrave would come down and speak to him.

“I hope I don’t disturb you,” said the captain, when Magdalen entered the room.  “Allow me to apologize for the smell of tobacco, and to say two words on the subject of our next proceedings.  To put it with my customary frankness, Mrs. Lecount puzzles me, and I propose to return the compliment by puzzling her.  The course of action which I have to suggest is a very simple one.  I have had the honor of giving you a severe neuralgic attack already, and I beg your permission (when Mr. Noel Vanstone sends to inquire to-morrow morning) to take the further liberty of laying you up altogether.  Question from Sea-view Cottage:  ‘How is Miss Bygrave this morning?’ Answer from North Shingles:  ’Much worse:  Miss Bygrave is confined to her room.’  Question repeated every day, say for a fortnight:  ‘How is Miss Bygrave?’ Answer repeated, if necessary, for the same time:  ‘No better.’  Can you bear the imprisonment?  I see no objection to your getting a breath of fresh air the first thing in the morning, or the last thing at night.  But for the whole of the day, there is no disguising it, you must put yourself in the same category with Mrs. Wragge—­you must keep your room.”