Explore "The Laurel Walk" by Mary Louisa Molesworth on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
If Mrs Littlewood's intention had been to meet the newcomer in the hall, and by the exercise of some diplomacy prevent his joining the party of ladies in the drawing-room, it was frustrated. For before she reached the door it was thrown open, not by a servant, but by Horace himself. An expression of surprise crossed his face on first catching sight of the six or seven occupants of the room, to be, however, quickly replaced by a smile of pleasure and slightly heightened colour.
"So glad I am in time for a cup of tea," he said; "I was in luck to find the dog-cart waiting for Con at the station -- don't be afraid, Elise, I've sent it straight back again -- I wasn't expected," he continued, to Lady Emma, as he shook hands with her, then with Betty, who happened to come next, and lastly with Frances, on whose fingers he bestowed an earnest pressure which brought the colour into her cheeks, this latter incident, slight as it was, not passing unperceived by Elise's observant eyes.