Just at this moment a gentle tap was heard at the door; Lady Gordon gave her permission to enter; and the opening door displayed to their astonished eyes, Howard himself.
Yes, there he was, to all appearance perfectly well,—the man whom they had been mourning over as dead, stood before them in flesh and blood, with no other difference from his usual air, than that he looked rather flushed with exercise, and somewhat surprised at his reception.
"Mr. Howard!" gasped Lady Gordon, scarcely believing her senses.
Emma was speechless with twenty different feelings.
"I fear I am an unwelcome visitor," said he, amazed at his reception; "shall I withdraw?"
Before either of the ladies could reply, Sir William precipitately entered the room; he had apparently been in the act of dressing, for he made his appearance without a coat, and unmindful of where he was, he rushed up to Howard, and actually embracing him in the excitement of his joy, exclaimed:
"My dear fellow, twenty millions of welcomes to you, how came you here—we never thought to see you again!"
Lady Gordon too, had risen, and clasping both his hands in hers, she exclaimed:
"Oh, how I rejoice to see you alive—you cannot think how we all grieved when we heard you were dead!"
It was now Howard's turn to look bewildered: he turned from the husband to the wife in uncontrollable amazement, and said: