In a few minutes Mrs. Wragge made her appearance, and excited as much surprise in Noel Vanstone’s mind as he was capable of feeling while absorbed in the enjoyment of Magdalen’s society.  The walking-party left the house at once, directing their steps northward, so as not to pass the windows of Sea-view Cottage.  To Mrs. Wragge’s unutterable astonishment, her husband, for the first time in the course of their married life, politely offered her his arm, and led her on in advance of the young people, as if the privilege of walking alone with her presented some special attraction to him!  “Step out!” whispered the captain, fiercely.  “Leave your niece and Mr. Vanstone alone!  If I catch you looking back at them, I’ll put the Oriental Cashmere Robe on the top of the kitchen fire!  Turn your toes out, and keep step—­confound you, keep step!” Mrs. Wragge kept step to the best of her limited ability.  Her sturdy knees trembled under her.  She firmly believed the captain was intoxicated.

The walk lasted for rather more than an hour.  Before nine o’clock they were all back again at North Shingles.  The ladies went at once into the house.  Noel Vanstone remained with Captain Wragge in the garden.  “Well,” said the captain, “what do you think now of Mrs. Lecount?”

“Damn Lecount!” replied Noel Vanstone, in great agitation.  “I’m half inclined to agree with you.  I’m half inclined to think my infernal housekeeper is mad.”

He spoke fretfully and unwillingly, as if the merest allusion to Mrs. Lecount was distasteful to him.  His color came and went; his manner was absent and undecided; he fidgeted restlessly about the garden walk.  It would have been plain to a far less acute observation than Captain Wragge’s, that Magdalen had met his advances by an unexpected grace and readiness of encouragement which had entirely overthrown his self-control.

“I never enjoyed a walk so much in my life!” he exclaimed, with a sudden outburst of enthusiasm.  “I hope Miss Bygrave feels all the better, for it.  Do you go out at the same time to-morrow morning?  May I join you again?”

“By all means, Mr. Vanstone,” said the Captain, cordially.  “Excuse me for returning to the subject—­but what do you propose saying to Mrs. Lecount?”

“I don’t know.  Lecount is a perfect nuisance!  What would you do, Mr. Bygrave, if you were in my place?”

“Allow me to ask a question, my dear sir, before I tell you.  What is your breakfast-hour?”

“Half-past nine.”

“Is Mrs. Lecount an early riser?”

“No.  Lecount is lazy in the morning.  I hate lazy women!  If you were in my place, what should you say to her?”

“I should say nothing,” replied Captain Wragge.  “I should return at once by the back way; I should let Mrs. Lecount see me in the front garden as if I was taking a turn before breakfast; and I should leave her to suppose that I was only just out of my room.  If she asks you whether you mean to come here today, say No.  Secure a quiet life until circumstances force you to give her an answer.  Then tell the plain truth—­say that Mr. Bygrave’s niece and Mrs. Lecount’s description are at variance with each other in the most important particular, and beg that the subject may not be mentioned again.  There is my advice.  What do you think of it?”