At last Austin, waiting behind a door, heard her enter her room to dress.

Very gently he stole out with something in his pocket, and two minutes afterwards was standing on the lawn with his straw hat tilted over his eyes, chattering with Lubin about tubers, corms, and bulbs, potting and bedding-out, and other pleasant mysteries of garden-craft.
It was not very long, however, before a singular bustle was heard on the first floor.

Maids ran scuttling up and down stairs, voices resounded through the open windows, and then came the sound of thumps, as of somebody vigorously battering at a door.

Austin turned round, and began walking towards the house.

He was met by old Martha, who seemed to be in a tremendous fluster about something.
"Master Austin! Master Austin! Oh, here you are.