Lady Janet felt suddenly repelled, without knowing why.

Julian and Horace felt suddenly repelled, without knowing why.
Asked to describe their own sensations at the moment, they would have shaken their heads in despair, and would have answered in those words.
The vague presentiment of some misfortune to come had entered the room with the entrance of the woman in black.

But it moved invisibly; and it spoke as all presentiments speak, in the Unknown Tongue.
A moment passed.

The crackling of the fire and the ticking of the clock were the only sounds audible in the room.
The voice of the visitor--hard, clear, and quiet--was the first voice that broke the silence.
"Mr.Julian Gray ?" she said, looking interrogatively from one of the two gentlemen to the other.
Julian advanced a few steps, instantly recovering his self-possession.
"I am sorry I was not at home," he said, "when you called with your letter from the consul.

Pray take a chair." By way of setting the example, Lady Janet seated herself at some little distance, with Horace in attendance standing near.