Altogether, I didn't take to him at first glance, still less when he broke into the conversation and distinctly took the part of Mrs Hudson's adversary.
"What is all this, Miss Henniker ?" he said in a quick, sharp voice, which made me very uncomfortable.
"This is Mr Jakeman's servant," answered the female.

"She was talking a little rudely about Frederick Batchelor's luggage here." "And so was I!" I shouted valiantly.

"It's not _your_ luggage, and you sha'n't have it, you old--beast!" The last word came out half-involuntarily, and I was terribly frightened as soon as it had escaped my lips.
I do not know how Mr Ladislaw or Miss Henniker took it, for I dare not look up.

I heard Mrs Hudson utter a mild protest, and next moment was conscious of being taken firmly by the hand by Mr Ladislaw and led to the door from which he had just emerged.
"Remain here, Batchelor," said he, sternly, "till I come back." There was something in his voice and manner which took the spirit out of me, and he might have spared himself the trouble of locking the door behind him.

I found myself in a small study, with shelves on the walls and a writing-table in the window, which looked out on to a playground, where, in the distance, I could catch sight of three boys swinging.
This first prospect of my future companions so interested me that I had actually nearly forgotten all about poor Mrs Hudson, when Mr Ladislaw entered the study and said--"The person is going now, Batchelor.