"I received the Indian papers to-day."
"I was aware of that, my lady," said Gualtier, respectfully. "Did you see any thing in them of importance?"
"Nothing certain, but something sufficient to excite concern."
"About Lord Chetwynde?"
"Yes."
"He can not be coming home, surely?" said Gualtier, interrogatively.
"I'm afraid that he is."
Gualtier looked serious.
"I thought," said he, "my lady, that you had nearly given up all expectation of seeing him for some time to come."
"I have never yet given up those expectations. I have all along thought it possible, though not probable; and so I have always watched all the papers to see if he had left his station."