' Can you bear the
imprisonment? I see no objection to your getting a breath of fresh air
the first thing in the morning, or the last thing at night. But for the
whole of the day, there is no disguising it, you must put yourself in
the same category with Mrs. Wragge--you must keep your room."
"What is your object in wishing me to do this?" inquired Magdalen.
"My object is twofold," replied the captain. "I blush for my own
stupidity; but the fact is, I can't see my way plainly to Mrs. Lecount's
next move. All I feel sure of is, that she means to make another attempt
at opening her master's eyes to the truth. Whatever means she may employ
to discover your identity, personal communication with you _must_ be
necessary to the accomplishment of her object. Very good. If I stop that
communication, I put an obstacle in her way at starting--or, as we say
at cards, I force her hand. Do you see the point?"
Magdalen saw it plainly. The captain went on.
"My second reason for shutting you up," he said, "refers entirely to
Mrs. Lecount's master. The growth of love, my dear girl, is, in
one respect, unlike all other growths--it flourishes under adverse
circumstances.
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