eagerness.

"Come in and sit down, Mr. Mallock," he said. "We have dined early; and
are presently off to town again. Are you riding our way?"

"Why, yes," I said, "I am going up to my lodgings for a little."

(As I spoke a thousand questions beseiged me. Why was there this air of
expectation in them at all? How did Mr. Chiffinch know that they would
be here at this time? Why had he arranged that I should meet them? Why
had he not spoken of their names to me; since he had told me so freely
of them before? Well; I must wait, thought I, and meantime go very
gingerly. I was not going to put my hand to this kind of work; but I did
not wish to spoil Mr. Chiffinch's design if I could help it.)

"Why," said my Lord, "if you are going to town, may I not ride with you?
Some of these gentlemen are in a hurry; but I am sure I am not. Have you
no servants, Mr. Mallock?"

"I have sent mine on before," I said, marvelling more than ever at the
man's friendliness, "but I shall be very happy to ride with your
Lordship, if you can wait till I have dined."

My Lord said a word to a man who sat near the door, who slipped out: and
I heard his voice ordering dinner for me. Meantime I observed the
company.

There were eight, as I have said; but I knew for certain two only--the
maltster and my Lord Essex. The rest puzzled me not a little. They
seemed well-bred fellows enough; but they were dressed very plainly, and
appeared no more than country squires or lawyers or suchlike. They were
talking of the most indifferent things in the world, with silences, as
if they wondered what next to speak of; they hardly looked at me at all
after a minute or two; and presently one by one began to stand up and
take their leave, saluting my Lord by name, and bowing only to me. By
the time that my dinner came there were left only my Lord, who was very
attentive to me, and Mr. Rumbald; and before I was well set-to, even Mr.
Rumbald stood up to say good-bye.

Again I was puzzled by the man; for again he appeared very friendly with
me, and again shewed no sign of astonishment at my acquaintance with my
Lord and at my appearance as a gentleman.

"I am very glad, sir," he said, shaking my hand with great warmth,
"that you will have so pleasant a ride to town with your friend. And you
will remember my house too, will you not, over the river, if ever you
are by that way."

I told him that I would: and thanked him for his courtesy; and he went
out, after s