The landlady understood him.
"I won't intrude my company on you, sir," she said, sharply.

"I have some business to do at Broadstairs, and, now I am so near, I may as well go on.

Good-morning, Mrs.Woodville." She laid a marked emphasis on my name, and she added one significant look at parting, which (in the preoccupied state of my mind at that moment) I entirely failed to comprehend.

There was neither time nor opportunity to ask her what she meant.

With a stiff little bow, addressed to Eustace, she left us as his mother had left us taking the way to Broadstairs, and walking rapidly.
At last we were alone.
I lost no time in beginning my inquiries; I wasted no words in prefatory phrases.