"He'll only say what he's come to say and go away." She went out of the room as quickly as she had come into it because she heard the sound of the cheap little door knocker.

She was pale with anxiety when she opened the door and Lord Coombe saw her troubled look and understood its reason.
"I am afraid I have rather alarmed you, Dowie," he said as he stepped into the narrow lobby and shook hands with her.
"It's not bad news of her grace or Miss Robin ?" she faltered.
"I have come to ask you to come back to London.

Her grace is well but Miss Robin needs you," was what he said.
But Dowie knew the words did not tell her everything she was to hear.
She took him into the parlour for which she realised he was much too tall.

When she discreetly closed the door after he had entered, he said seriously, "Thank you," before he seated himself.

And she knew that this meant that they must be undisturbed.
"Will you sit down too," he said as she stood a moment waiting respectfully.