With any other servant, he would have thought he had been drinking, but such a supposition, in John's case, was altogether out of the question.
He could have had no bad news, so far as the squire knew, for the only children he had, had died young, and he had no near relatives or connections.

It was ridiculous to suppose that John, at his age, had fallen in love.

Altogether, the squire failed to suggest to himself any explanation of his old butler's conduct, and had just concluded, philosophically, by the reflection that he supposed he should know what it was sooner or later, when the door of the room quietly opened.
The squire did not look up.

It closed again as quietly, and then he glanced towards it.

He could hardly believe his eyes.