The pain sobered him, and he thought how Elizabeth had told him that they always used lanterns in the grounds; and he made up his mind to borrow one for his return journey.
"I wonder if Carlyon will be there," he muttered, as he went up to the front door.

He had never seen it closed before, for in summer it was always open from morning to night.

Somehow the sight chilled him: he was outside in the darkness and the cold, and for him no household fires would burn warm and bright, and a bitter sigh came to his lips.
He had raised his hand to the bell, when the door opened suddenly, and the rosy-cheeked housemaid he remembered peered out into the darkness.
She was evidently very much startled when she saw Malcolm.
"Did you ring, sir ?" she asked in some confusion, "for no one heard a bell.

The ladies are still in the dining-room, but I will tell Mullins." "Please do not bring them, I can well wait.

I know my way to the drawing-room." And Malcolm put down his hat and crossed the hall, which looked warm and cheery with its bright fire.
The lamps had been lighted in the drawing-room, and the fireplace was heaped with pine logs that spluttered and blazed merrily, and diffused a sort of aromatic fragrance.