After tea we had quite a little concert, in which Richard--who was enthralled by Ada's singing and told me that she seemed to know all the songs that ever were written--and Mr.Jarndyce, and I were the audience.

After a little while I missed first Mr.Skimpole and afterwards Richard, and while I was thinking how could Richard stay away so long and lose so much, the maid who had given me the keys looked in at the door, saying, "If you please, miss, could you spare a minute ?" When I was shut out with her in the hall, she said, holding up her hands, "Oh, if you please, miss, Mr.Carstone says would you come upstairs to Mr.Skimpole's room.

He has been took, miss!" "Took ?" said I.
"Took, miss.

Sudden," said the maid.
I was apprehensive that his illness might be of a dangerous kind, but of course I begged her to be quiet and not disturb any one and collected myself, as I followed her quickly upstairs, sufficiently to consider what were the best remedies to be applied if it should prove to be a fit.

She threw open a door and I went into a chamber, where, to my unspeakable surprise, instead of finding Mr.Skimpole stretched upon the bed or prostrate on the floor, I found him standing before the fire smiling at Richard, while Richard, with a face of great embarrassment, looked at a person on the sofa, in a white great-coat, with smooth hair upon his head and not much of it, which he was wiping smoother and making less of with a pocket-handkerchief.
"Miss Summerson," said Richard hurriedly, "I am glad you are come.
You will be able to advise us.