“How are you all this morning?” said Captain Wragge, in his easy jocular way.  “And how’s the wind?  Nor’-west and by west, is it?  Very good.  Who is that lady?”

“That’s Mrs. Strickland, sir.”

“Ay! ay!  The clergyman’s wife and the captain’s sister.  Where’s the captain to-day?”

“On his way to London, I should think, sir.  His ship sails for China at the end of the week.”

China!  As that one word passed the man’s lips, a pang of the old sorrow struck Magdalen to the heart.  Stranger as he was, she began to hate the bare mention of the merchant-captain’s name.  He had troubled her dreams of the past night; and now, when she was most desperately and recklessly bent on forgetting her old home-existence, he had been indirectly the cause of recalling her mind to Frank.

“Come!” she said, angrily, to her companion.  “What do we care about the man or his ship?  Come away.”

“By all means,” said Captain Wragge.  “As long as we don’t find friends of the Bygraves, what do we care about anybody?”

They walked on southward for ten minutes or more, then turned and walked back again to meet Noel Vanstone and Mrs. Lecount.

CHAPTER IV.

CAPTAIN WRAGGE and Magdalen retraced their steps until they were again within view of North Shingles Villa before any signs appeared of Mrs. Lecount and her master.  At that point the housekeeper’s lavender-colored dress, the umbrella, and the feeble little figure in nankeen walking under it, became visible in the distance.  The captain slackened his pace immediately, and issued his directions to Magdalen for her conduct at the coming interview in these words: 

“Don’t forget your smile,” he said.  “In all other respects you will do.  The walk has improved your complexion, and the hat becomes you.  Look Mrs. Lecount steadily in the face; show no embarrassment when you speak; and if Mr. Noel Vanstone pays you pointed attention, don’t take too much notice of him while his housekeeper’s eye is on you.  Mind one thing!  I have been at Joyce’s Scientific Dialogues all the morning; and I am quite serious in meaning to give Mrs. Lecount the full benefit of my studies.  If I can’t contrive to divert her attention from you and her master, I won’t give sixpence for our chance of success.  Small-talk won’t succeed with that woman; compliments won’t succeed; jokes won’t succeed—­ready-made science may recall the deceased professor, and ready-made science may do.  We must establish a code of signals to let you know what I am about.  Observe this camp-stool.  When I shift it from my left hand to my right, I am talking Joyce.  When I shift it from my right hand to my left, I am talking Wragge.  In the first case, don’t interrupt me—­I am leading up to my point.  In the second case, say anything you like; my remarks are not of the slightest consequence.  Would you like a rehearsal?  Are you sure you understand?  Very good—­take my arm, and look happy.  Steady! here they are.”