The truth was, that gigs to Nuncombe Putney had gone up, since a lady, separated from her husband, with a colonel running after her, had been taken in at the Clock House.
"Here's Hugh!" said Priscilla, hurrying to the front door.

And Mrs.
Stanbury hurried after her.

Her son Hugh was the apple of her eye, the best son that ever lived, generous, noble, a thorough man,--almost a god! "Dear, dear, oh dear! Who'd have expected it?
God bless you, my boy! Why didn't you write?
Priscilla, what is there in the house that he can eat ?" "Plenty of bread and cheese," said Priscilla, laughing, with her hand inside her brother's arm.

For though Priscilla hated all other men, she did not hate her brother Hugh.

"If you wanted things nice to eat directly you got here, you ought to have written." "I shall want my dinner, like any other Christian,--in due time," said Hugh.