My object in coming here is to warn Mr. Noel Vanstone against
the course which he is now taking."
"Don't!" pleaded Mrs. Lecount. "Oh, if you want to help these poor
girls, don't talk in that way! Soften his resolution, ma'am, by
entreaties; don't strengthen it by threats!" She a little overstrained
the tone of humility in which she spoke those words--a little overacted
the look of apprehension which accompanied them. If Magdalen had not
seen plainly enough already that it was Mrs. Lecount's habitual practice
to decide everything for her master in the first instance, and then to
persuade him that he was not acting under his housekeeper's resolution
but under his own, she would have seen it now.
"You hear what Lecount has just said?" remarked Noel Vanstone. "You hear
the unsolicited testimony of a person who has known me from childhood?
Take care, Miss Garth--take care!" He complacently arranged the tails
of his white dressing-gown over his knees and took the plate of
strawberries back on his lap.
"I have no wish to offend you," said Magdalen. "I am only anxious to
open your eyes to the truth. You are not acquainted with the characters
of the two sisters whose fortunes have fallen into your possession.
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