The clerk went out, and a moment later John stood in the doorway.
Everyone looked towards him, since it seemed he had been called for some special purpose. But my lord’s eyes were on Mrs Staines’ face. “He does not change much with the passing of time, I believe,” he said.
Mrs Staines was staring. The colour left her face, and she put up a hand to her ample bosom. “Johnny!” she faltered. “Oh, dearie, dearie, am I dreaming?”
Burton was incredulous. “It’s never our John!” he gasped. “Bless my soul, but it is really yourself, John?”
“Ay, it’s me,” John said grimly and sustained the shock of having his sister cast herself on his chest. “Well, Maggie, how do you, eh? Remember where you are, lass!”
Mrs Staines was quite oblivious of her surroundings. “Oh, Johnny, to think of you come back to us after all these years! Snakes, and I scarcely knew you, dearie, you’ve grown so grey! Sam, do you know your brother?”
Mr Samuel Burton gripped Mr John Burton’s hand. “Well, John!” was all he could find to say.
“Did you ever learn to master the bay mare?” John asked grinning.
It appeared to be an old jest. Samuel shook with laughter. “Lordy, John, to think you’d remember that! Ay, I was naught but a stripling then, and the mare the tricksiest piece — well, to think you’d remember!”
Surprise had held the others spellbound, but Mr Brent recovered himself. “Mrs Staines, do you recognise this man?”