" The afternoon
answer (relating to Captain Wragge) was, "Mr. Bygrave has just gone
out." That evening Noel Vanstone's temper was very uncertain, and Mrs.
Lecount's patience and tact were sorely tried in the effort to avoid
offending him.
On the third morning the report of the suffering young lady was less
favorable--"Miss Bygrave was still very poorly, and not able to leave
her bed." The servant returning to Sea View with this message, met the
postman, and took into the breakfast-room with her two letters addressed
to Mrs. Lecount.
The first letter was in a handwriting familiar to the housekeeper. It
was from the medical attendant on her invalid brother at Zurich; and it
announced that the patient's malady had latterly altered in so marked
a manner for the better that there was every hope now of preserving his
life.
The address on the second letter was in a strange handwriting. Mrs.
Lecount, concluding that it was the answer from Miss Vanstone, waited to
read it until breakfast was over, and she could retire to her own room.
She opened the letter, looked at once for the name at the end, and
started a little as she read it. The signature was not "Norah Vanstone,"
but "Harriet Garth.
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