"
He rose to open the door, stopped half-way to it, and came back again.
"Leave me to arrange matters with the servant downstairs," he continued.
"You can't absolutely keep your bed, and we must purchase the girl's
discretion when she answers the door, without taking her into our
confidence, of course. I will make her understand that she is to say you
are ill, just as she might say you are not at home, as a way of keeping
unwelcome acquaintances out of the house. Allow me to open the door
for you--I beg your pardon, you are going into Mrs. Wragge's work-room
instead of going to your own."
"I know I am," said Magdalen. "I wish to remove Mrs. Wragge from the
miserable room she is in now, and to take her upstairs with me."
"For the evening?"
"For the whole fortnight."
Captain Wragge followed her into the dining-room, and wisely closed the
door before he spoke again.
"Do you seriously mean to inflict my wife's society on yourself for a
fortnight?" he asked, in great surprise.
"Your wife is the only innocent creature in this guilty house," she
burst out vehemently. "I must and will have her with me!"
"Pray don't agitate yourself," said the captain.
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