"Good Heavens! what have they done that for?" he said, springing to his feet in uncontrollable excitement.
"Done what?" said Rachel.
"Why, they have announced—they have put in something that Lord Stamfordham——" He snatched up the paper again and looked at it eagerly. "It is incredible! and the map too, the very map, at this stage! Well, upon my word, he has made a mistake this time, I do believe." And he still gazed at the paper as though trying to fathom the whole hearing of what he saw.
At this moment the door opened, and Thacker came in.
"Sir William wished me to ask you for some foolscap paper, ma'am, please," he said, "with lines on it."
"Foolscap paper? What is he doing?" said Rachel anxiously.
"He is writing, ma'am," said Thacker. "He seems to be doing accounts."
"Oh, I wish he wouldn't!" Rachel said. "I must go and see. I'll bring the foolscap paper myself, Thacker. Frank, there is some in your study, isn't there?"
"What?" said Rendel, who, still absorbed in what he had just seen, had only dimly heard their colloquy.