"I am; and I have been in this, my house, for some three-quarters of an hour."
"They never told me," he groaned. "And I left particular instructions —But perhaps you have already seen the mistress?"
"I have not. May I ask you to take me to her—since I have not the pleasure of her acquaintance?"
"Cert'nly, sir. Oh, at once! She is in the drawing-room putting the best face on it. Twice she has sent in to know if you have arrived, and I sent word, 'No, not yet,' though it cut me to the 'eart."
"She is anxious to see me?"
"Desprit, sir."
"She thinks to avoid exposure, then?" said I darkly, keeping a set face.
"She 'opes, sir: she devoutly 'opes." He groaned and led the way. "It may, after all, be a lesson to Mr. 'Erbert," he muttered as we reached the landing.
"I fancy it's going to be a lesson to several of you."
"The things we've 'ad to keep dark, sir—the goings-on!"