But he never followed her in.

He stood in the doorway, and spoke to her, keeping the door open with his hand.
"Do you mind waiting here for me ?" he asked.
She looked at him, in vacant surprise, doubting whether she had heard him aright.
"It will not be for long," he went on.

"I am far too anxious to hear what you have to tell me to submit to any needless delays.

The truth is, I have had a message from Lady Janet." (From Lady Janet! What could Lady Janet want with him, at a time when she was bent on composing herself in the retirement of her own room ?) "I ought to have said two messages," Horace proceeded.

"The first was given to me on my way downstairs.