She went on with her knitting, and only laid it down when the servant brought in the letters which had arrived by the morning's post.

They were but two in number--and both were for Mrs.Linley.In the absence of any correspondence of her own, Mrs.Presty took possession of her daughter's letters.
"One addressed in the lawyer's handwriting," she announced; "and one from Randal.

Which shall I open for you first ?" "Randal's letter, if you please." Mrs.Presty handed it across the table.

"Any news is a relief from the dullness of this place," she said.

"If there are no secrets, Catherine, read it out." There were no secrets on the first page.
Randal announced his arrival in London from the Continent, and his intention of staying there for a while.