Anything was welcome to her--the trivial difficulties of fitting
a gown: the small, ceaseless chatter of the poor half-witted
creature who was so proud of her assistance, and so happy in her
company--anything was welcome that shut her out from the coming future,
from the destiny to which she stood self-condemned. That sorely-wounded
nature was soothed by such a trifle now as the grasp of her companion's
rough and friendly hand--that desolate heart was cheered, when night
parted them, by Mrs. Wragge's kiss.
The captain's isolated position in the house produced no depressing
effect on the captain's easy and equal spirits. Instead of resenting
Magdalen's systematic avoidance of his society, he looked to results,
and highly approved of it. The more she neglected him for his wife
the more directly useful she became in the character of Mrs. Wragge's
self-appointed guardian. He had more than once seriously contemplated
revoking the concession which had been extorted from him, and removing
his wife, at his own sole responsibility, out of harm's way; and he had
only abandoned the idea on discovering that Magdalen's resolution to
keep Mrs. Wragge in her own company was really serious.
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