"Oh, look!" she cried delightedly. "He's leading me in."
The situation was saved. I followed thankfully. As I entered the hall:
"He has taken to your ladyship," a gentle housekeeper was saying. "It's not many he welcomes like that."
The woman bowed to me, and turned towards the staircase. Mechanically I took the two letters from the salver the footman was holding out. Then I thought of something. I looked at the girl. She was half-way up the stairs.
"Er—darling," I said.
She swung round and stopped, flushing furiously. Then:
"Yes, dear?"
I went to where she was standing. The housekeeper was twenty paces away at the top of the stairs. I spoke as carelessly as I could, and in an undertone.
"They will want to unpack your things. Also they will soon know that there is no luggage. Ours, of course, went on to Whinnerley proper. Say your maid is coming on with it by the next train, and that she will unpack when she comes."
"All right."