ssical allusion) cast into your
household. I think she is right so far, and I frankly confess that
I have exaggerated a nervous indisposition, from which she is really
suffering, into a serious illness--purely and entirely to prevent these
two ladies for the present from meeting every day on the Parade, and
from carrying unpleasant impressions of each other into your domestic
establishment and mine."

"I allow nothing unpleasant in _my_ establishment," remarked Noel
Vanstone. "I'm master--you must have noticed that already, Mr.
Bygrave--I'm master."

"No doubt of it, my dear sir. But to live morning, noon, and night in
the perpetual exercise of your authority is more like the life of a
governor of a prison than the life of a master of a household. The wear
and tear--consider the wear and tear."

"It strikes you in that light, does it?" said Noel Vanstone, soothed by
Captain Wragge's ready recognition of his authority. "I don't know that
you're not right. But I must take some steps directly. I won't be made
ridiculous--I'll send Lecount away altogether, sooner than be made
ridiculous." His color rose, and he folded his little arms fiercely.
Captain Wragge's artfully irritating explanation had awakened that
dormant suspicion of his housekeeper's influence over him which
habitually lay hidden in his mind, and which Mrs. Lecount was now not
present to charm back to repose as usual. "What must Miss Bygrave think
of me!" he exclaimed, with a sudden outburst of vexation. "I'll send
Lecount away. Damme, I'll send Lecount away on the spot!"

"No, no, no!" said the captain, whose interest it was to avoid driving
Mrs. Lecount to any desperate extremities. "Why take strong measures
when mild measures will do? Mrs. Lecount is an old servant; Mrs.
Lecount is attached and useful. She has this little drawback of
jealousy--jealousy of her domestic position with her bachelor master.
She sees you paying courteous attention to a handsome young lady; she
sees that young lady properly sensible of your politeness; and, poor
soul, she loses her temper! What is the obvious remedy? Humor her--make
a manly concession to the weaker sex. If Mrs. Lecount is with you, the
next time we meet on the Parade, walk the other way. If Mrs. Lecount
is not with you, give us the pleasure of your company by all means. In
short, my dear sir, try the _suaviter in modo_ (as we classical men say)
before you commit yourself to the _fortiter in re!"_

There was