He stayed some time longer, and then bowed himself away with a gracious condescension worthy of the Prince of Wales himself, carrying with him the shy, gentle Lord Ravenel, who had spoken scarcely six words the whole time.
When he was gone the father and mother seemed both relieved.
"Truly, John, he has gained little by his visit, and I hope it may be long before we see an earl in our quiet house again.

Come in to dinner, my children." But his lordship had left an uncomfortable impression behind him.

It lasted even until that quiet hour--often the quietest and happiest of our day--when, the children being all in bed, we elders closed in round the fire.
Ursula and I sat there, longer alone than usual.
"John is late to-night," she said more than once; and I could see her start, listening to every foot under the window, every touch at the door-bell; not stirring, though: she knew his foot and his ring quite well always.
"There he is!" we both said at once--much relieved; and John came in.
Brightness always came in with him.

Whatever cares he had without--and they were heavy enough, God knows--they always seemed to slip off the moment he entered his own door; and whatever slight cares we had at home, we put them aside; as they could not but be put aside, nay, forgotten--at the sight of him.
"Well, Uncle Phineas! Children all right, my darling?
A fire! I'm glad of it.

Truly to-night is as cold as November." "John, if you have a weakness, it is for fire.