“Egad! it w-won't be long so, if she goes on as she's d-doing. Martha saw the meat-cart come in this morning, and I had a p-p-peep into the servants' hall when the fl-flunkeys were feeding, and such w-w-waste, such re-reckless—”
“Good-evening, Mr. Purvis; I cannot stay longer,” said Kate. And, before he could interpose a word, she hastened from the spot, and, passing rapidly up the stairs, gained her own room, leaving Purvis to bethink him over the mass of things he had not touched upon, and on which he had mainly intended to debate.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. AN ARRIVAL.
LET us go back a few hours in our history, and follow the short and burly figure which, emerging from the travelling-carriage in the courtyard of the palace, pushed his way through the noisy throng of duns, and entered the house.
“How are you, Proctor how is your master?” said he, as he threw off his great-coat, and unrolled a capacious muffler from his throat. “How is Sir Stafford?”
“Oh, Dr. Grounsell, glad you've come, sir. It will be a real pleasure to my master to see you again, sir.”
“How is he, man, how 's the gout?”
“Poorly, very poorly, sir. Things have gone badly here, doctor, since you left us,” said he, with a sigh.
“Yes, yes; I know it all; I have heard all about that. But his health tell me of his health.”