Where is the
solitary walk you mentioned just now? Which way do we go?"
The captain pointed southward toward Slaughden, and offered his arm.
Magdalen hesitated before she took it. Her eyes wandered away
inquiringly to Noel Vanstone's house. He was out in the garden, pacing
backward and forward over the little lawn, with his head high in the
air, and with Mrs. Lecount demurely in attendance on him, carrying her
master's green fan. Seeing this, Magdalen at once took Captain Wragge's
right arm, so as to place herself nearest to the garden when they passed
it on their walk.
"The eyes of our neighbors are on us; and the least your niece can do is
to take your arm," she said, with a bitter laugh. "Come! let us go on."
"They are looking this way," whispered the captain. "Shall I introduce
you to Mrs. Lecount?"
"Not to-night," she answered. "Wait, and hear what I have to say to you
first."
They passed the garden wall. Captain Wragge took off his hat with a
smart flourish, and received a gracious bow from Mrs. Lecount in return.
Magdalen saw the housekeeper survey her face, her figure, and her dress,
with that reluctant interest, that distrustful curiosity, which women
feel in observing each other.
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