The sea may destroy
all the other houses--it can't destroy Mine. My father took care of
that; my father was a remarkable man. He had My house built on piles. I
have reason to believe they are the strongest piles in England. Nothing
can possibly knock them down--I don't care what the sea does--nothing
can possibly knock them down."
"Then, if the sea invades us," said Magdalen, "we must all run for
refuge to you."
Noel Vanstone saw his way to another compliment; and, at the same
moment, the wary captain saw his way to another burst of science.
"I could almost wish the invasion might happen," murmured one of the
gentlemen, "to give me the happiness of offering the refuge."
"I could almost swear the wind had shifted again!" exclaimed the other.
"Where is a man I can ask? Oh, there he is. Boatman! How's the wind now?
Nor'west and by west still--hey? And southeast and by south yesterday
evening--ha? Is there anything more remarkable, Mrs. Lecount, than
the variableness of the wind in this climate?" proceeded the captain,
shifting the camp-stool to the scientific side of him. "Is there any
natural phenomenon more bewildering to the scientific inquirer? You
will tell me that the electric fluid which abounds in the air is
the principal cause of this variableness.
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