In a few minutes they were both seated inside the coach, and were
driving away. The coach was a gloomy one, with windows only in the
doors. The rest was solid woodwork. These windows in the doors were
small, and when let down were scarcely large enough for one to put his
head through. When sitting down it was impossible for Lady Dudleigh to
see the road. She could see nothing but the tops of the trees, between
which the sky appeared occasionally. She saw that she was driving along
a road which was shaded with trees on both sides; but more than this she
could not see.
They drove for about an hour at a moderate pace, and during this time
Sir Lionel preserved that same peculiar demeanor which has already been
described, while Lady Dudleigh maintained her usual silent watchfulness.
At length they stopped for a moment. Voices sounded outside, and then
Lady Dudleigh saw that she was passing through a gateway. Thinking that
this was Dudleigh Manor, she made no remark, but calmly awaited the time
when she should reach the house. She did not have to wait long. Sooner
than she expected the coach stopped. The driver got down and opened the
door. Sir Lionel sprang out with surprising agility, and held out his
hand politely to assist his companion. She did not accept his offer, but
stepped out without assistance, and looked around.
To her surprise, the place was not Dudleigh Manor at all, but one which
was entirely different, and quite unfamiliar. It was a brick house of no
very great size, though larger than most private houses, of plain
exterior, and with the air of a public building of some sort. The
grounds about were stiff and formal and forbidding. The door was open,
and one or two men were standing there. It did not look like an inn, and
yet it certainly was not a private residence.
“I have to stop here for a little while,” said Sir Lionel, “to see a
friend on business. We are not half-way to Dudleigh Manor yet; it's
further than you think.”
He turned and went up the steps. Lady Dudleigh looked around once more,
and then followed him. The men at the head of the steps looked at her
curiously as she went in. She took no notice of them, however, but
walked past them, looking calmly beyond them.
On entering the house she saw a bare hall covered with slate-colored
oil-cloth, and with a table against the wall. A gray-headed man came out
of one of the rooms, and advanced to meet Sir Lionel, who shook hands
with him very cordially, and whispered to him a few words. The
gray-headed man wore spectacles, was clean shaven, with a double chin,
and a somewhat sleek and oily exterior.
“Lady Dudleigh,” said Sir Lionel, leading the gray-headed man forward by
the arm, “allow me to make you acquainted with my particular friend, Dr.
Leonard Morton.”
Lady Dudleigh bowed slightly, and Dr. Morton made a profound obeisance
that seemed like a caricature of politeness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account