But Sawyers was not to be of the party that night; for, before Wegg had found his place, Mrs Boffin's tread was heard upon the stairs, so unusually heavy and hurried, that Mr Boffin would have started up at the sound, anticipating some occurrence much out of the common course, even though she had not also called to him in an agitated tone.
Mr Boffin hurried out, and found her on the dark staircase, panting, with a lighted candle in her hand.
'What's the matter, my dear ?' 'I don't know; I don't know; but I wish you'd come up-stairs.' Much surprised, Mr Boffin went up stairs and accompanied Mrs Boffin into their own room: a second large room on the same floor as the room in which the late proprietor had died.

Mr Boffin looked all round him, and saw nothing more unusual than various articles of folded linen on a large chest, which Mrs Boffin had been sorting.
'What is it, my dear?
Why, you're frightened! YOU frightened ?' 'I am not one of that sort certainly,' said Mrs Boffin, as she sat down in a chair to recover herself, and took her husband's arm; 'but it's very strange!' 'What is, my dear ?' 'Noddy, the faces of the old man and the two children are all over the house to-night.' 'My dear ?' exclaimed Mr Boffin.

But not without a certain uncomfortable sensation gliding down his back.
'I know it must sound foolish, and yet it is so.' 'Where did you think you saw them ?' 'I don't know that I think I saw them anywhere.

I felt them.' 'Touched them ?' 'No.

Felt them in the air.