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.”