John Footman followed, stately, after; afraid too, for all his stateliness, of splashing his pure white stockings.

Suddenly my lady turned round and said something to him, and he returned to the carriage with a half-pleased, half-puzzled air.
My lady went on to a cluster of rude mud houses at the higher end of the Common; cottages built, as they were occasionally at that day, of wattles and clay, and thatched with sods.

As far as we could make out from dumb show, Lady Ludlow saw enough of the interiors of these places to make her hesitate before entering, or even speaking to any of the children who were playing about in the puddles.

After a pause, she disappeared into one of the cottages.

It seemed to us a long time before she came out; but I dare say it was not more than eight or ten minutes.