He turned round to give me a surprised look of his fine blue eyes, but he quietly replied:
"Yes, I admire Spenser very much."
He was at the door again, and this time he condescended to apply to it the heel of a very handsome, aristocratic foot, when a thin, high voice behind us observed:
"This way, Edward; I have found means of entering, but I never saw a more barbarous place, never."
We both looked round; a lady of middle age, very slender, and attired in pale blue bar?ge, a white lace cloak and a tulle bonnet, over which she balanced a delicate white parasol, was advancing towards us with mincing steps. I fancied I recognised Mrs. Brand, and I was not mistaken.
"Have you found no one?" asked her brother.
"I have found an idiotic house-maid, and an old goblin housekeeper, from neither of whom could I extract anything, save that Mr. Thornton never so much as hinted we were coming; but that, as our carriage entered the avenue, he was seen to rush from the study, and vanish down the park. Gracious, very!"
"Characteristic," said Edward Thornton, smiling with languid grace.
"My dear Edward," solemnly observed his sister, "are you aware that there are no beds ready, or indeed, in existence, and that Marks—I believe that is her name—declares there is not a pound of meat in the house."
Edward Thornton's handsome face lengthened visibly.