Thus far the housekeeper's conclusions led her, but no further. She
was too shrewd a woman to trust the future to chance and fortune. Her
master's variable temper might relent. Accident might at any time give
Mr. Bygrave an opportunity of repairing the error that he had committed,
and of artfully regaining his lost place in Noel Vanstone's estimation.
Admitting that circumstances had at last declared themselves
unmistakably in her favor, Mrs. Lecount was not the less convinced that
nothing would permanently assure her master's security for the future
but the plain exposure of the conspiracy which she had striven to
accomplish from the first--which she was resolved to accomplish still.
"I always enjoy myself at St. Crux," thought Mrs. Lecount, opening her
account-books, and sorting the tradesmen's bills. "The admiral is a
gentleman, the house is noble, the table is excellent. No matter!
Here at Sea View I stay by myself till I have seen the inside of Miss
Bygrave's wardrobe."
She packed her master's collection of curiosities in their various
cases, settled the claims of the trades-people, and superintended the
covering of the furniture in the course of the day.
Pages:
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757