They were welcomed, at least one of them was, with every appearance of sincerity by the most respectable-looking personage who opened to them, and whom Fleda remembered instantly. The array of servants in the hall would almost have startled her if she had not recollected the same thing on her first coming to Carleton. She stepped in with a curious sense of that first time, when she had come there a little child.
"Where is your master?" was Mrs. Carleton's immediate demand.
"Mr. Carleton set off this morning for Liverpool."
Mrs. Carleton gave a quick glance at Fleda, who kept her eyes at home.
"We did not meet him we have not passed him how long ago?" were her next rapid words.
"My master left Carleton as early as five o'clock; he gave orders to drive as fast as possible."
"Then he had gone through Hollonby an hour before we left it," said Mrs. Carleton, looking again to her companion; "but he will hear of us at Carstairs we stopped there yesterday afternoon he will be back again in a few hours, I am sure. Then we have been expected?"
"Yes Ma'am my master gave orders that you should be expected."
"Is all well, Popham?"
"All is well, Madam."