Not a letter had reached me since I came to Shoxford, neither had I written any, except one to Uncle Sam; and keeping to this excellent rule, I arrived at Castlewood without notice.
In doing this I took no liberty, because full permission had been given me about it; and indeed I had been expected there, as Stixon told me, some days before.

He added that his master was about as usual, but had shown some uneasiness on my account, though the butler was all in the dark about it, and felt it very hard after all these years, "particular, when he could hardly help thinking that Mrs.Price--a new hand compared to himself, not to speak of being a female--knowed all about it, and were very aggravating.

But there, he would say no more; he knew his place, and he always had been valued in it, long afore Mrs.Price come up to the bottom of his waistcoat." My cousin received me with kindly warmth, and kissed me gently on the forehead.

"My dear, how very well you look!" he said.

"Your native air has agreed with you.