CHAPTER IV

Leaving by an early train, I got to limbridge and time for dinner.

The house was a pressively empty and dull.

I had expected that Goudmous' Vessie would have been company for me in the absence of

the young ladies, but she was confined to her room by a cold.

The servants were so surprised at seeing me that they hurried and bustled absurdly,

and made all sorts of annoying mistakes.

In the bottler, who was old enough to have known better, brought me a bottle of port that

was chilled.

The reports of Mr. Fairly's health were just as usual, and when I sent up a message

to announce my arrival, I was told that he would be delighted to see me the next morning,

but that the sudden news of my appearance had prostrated him with palpitations for the

rest of the evening.

The wind howled dismally all night, and strange cracking and groaning noises sounded here,

there and everywhere in the empty house.

I slept as wretchedly as possible, and got up in a mighty bad humor to breakfast by myself

the next morning.

At ten o'clock I was conducted to Mr. Fairly's apartments.

He was an as usual room, his usual chair, and his usual aggravating state of mind and

body.

When I went in, his valet was standing before him, holding up for inspection, a heavy volume

of etchings, as long and as broad as my office writing desk.

...