May I retire,
sir, for a moment? My nerves are shaken by this sad scene. I must have
a glass of water, or I think I shall faint. Don't go yet, Miss Garth. I
beg you will give us time to set this sad matter right, if we can--I beg
you will remain until I come back."
There were two doors of entrance to the room. One, the door into the
front parlor, close at Magdalen's left hand. The other, the door
into the back parlor, situated behind her. Mrs. Lecount politely
retired--through the open folding-doors--by this latter means of exit,
so as not to disturb the visitor by passing in front of her. Magdalen
waited until she heard the door open and close again behind her, and
then resolved to make the most of the opportunity which left her alone
with Noel Vanstone. The utter hopelessness of rousing a generous impulse
in that base nature had now been proved by her own experience. The last
chance left was to treat him like the craven creature he was, and to
influence him through his fears.
Before she could speak, Noel Vanstone himself broke the silence.
Cunningly as he strove to hide it, he was half angry, half alarmed at
his housekeeper's desertion of him.
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