am a respectable married woman, accountable for my actions
to nobody under heaven but my husband. I have got a place in the world,
and a name in the world, at last. Even the law, which is the friend of
all you respectable people, has recognized my existence, and has become
_my_ friend too! The Archbishop of Canterbury gave me his license to be
married, and the vicar of Aldborough performed the service. If I
found your spies following me in the street, and if I chose to claim
protection from them, the law would acknowledge my claim. You forget
what wonders my wickedness has done for me. It has made Nobody's Child
Somebody's Wife.

"If you will give these considerations their due weight; if you will
exert your excellent common sense, I have no fear of being obliged to
appeal to my newly-found friend and protector--the law. You will feel,
by this time, that you have meddled with me at last to some purpose. I
am estranged from Norah--I am discovered by my husband--I am defeated
by Mrs. Lecount. You have driven me to the last extremity; you have
strengthened me to fight the battle of my life with the resolution which
only a lost and friendless woman can feel. Badly as your schemes have
prospered, they have not proved totally useless after all!

"I have no more to say. If you ever speak about me to Norah, tell her
that a day may come when she will see me again--the day when we two
sisters have recovered our natural rights; the day when I put Norah's
fortune into Norah's hand.

"Those are my last words. Remember them the next time you feel tempted
to meddle with me again.

"MAGDALEN VANSTONE."

IV.

_From Mr. Loscombe to Mrs. Noel Vanstone._

"Lincoln's Inn, November 6th.

"DEAR MADAM--This morning's post has doubtless brought you the same
shocking news which it has brought to me. You must know by this time
that a terrible affliction has befallen you--the affliction of your
husband's sudden death.

"I am on the point of starting for the North, to make all needful
inquiries, and to perform whatever duties I may with propriety
undertake, as solicitor to the deceased gentleman. Let me earnestly
recommend you not to follow me to Baliol Cottage, until I have had time
to write to you first, and to give you such advice as I cannot, through
ignorance of all the circumstances, pretend to offer now. You may rely
on my writing, after my arrival in Scot-land, by the first post. I
remain, dear madam, faithfully yours,

"JO