The day before we left town,
Miss Bygrave, a person who presented herself under the name I have
mentioned paid us a visit under very extraordinary circumstances."
With a smooth, ingratiating manner, with a refinement of contempt
which was little less than devilish in its ingenious assumption of the
language of pity, she now boldly described Magdalen's appearance in
disguise in Magdalen's own presence. She slightingly referred to the
master and mistress of Combe-Raven as persons who had always annoyed the
elder and more respectable branch of the family; she mourned over the
children as following their parents' example, and attempting to take
a mercenary advantage of Mr. Noel Vanstone, under the protection of a
respectable person's character and a respectable person's name. Cleverly
including her master in the conversation, so as to prevent the
captain from effecting a diversion in that quarter; sparing no petty
aggravation; striking at every tender place which the tongue of a
spiteful woman can wound, she would, beyond all doubt, have carried her
point, and tortured Magdalen into openly betraying herself, if Captain
Wragge had not checked her in full career by a loud exclamation of
alarm, and a sudden clutch at Magdalen's wrist.
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