About noon
He wished to go there in order to induce Mrs. Middleton to send her daughters back to school . The next Saturday was fixed upon for the visit , and at an early hour Mr. Miller and Kate were on their way to Mr. Middleton 's . Kate Wilmot was not only handsome , but was also very intelligent and agreeable , and by the time their ride was half-completed , Mr. Miller was more than half in love and was building air castles just as he had done months before when Fanny was mistress of them all . About noon they reached Mr. Middleton 's , where they were received very kindly by Mrs. Middleton , very joyfully by Fanny , and very coldly by Julia , whose face always wore a darker frown whenever Mr. Miller was present ; but he apparently did not notice it , and went on conversing upon different subjects . At last he asked when Mr. Middleton was expected home . `` I am expecting him every day , '' said Mrs. Middleton , `` and , '' she added in a lower tone , `` I almost dread to have him come , for I do not know that he has ever heard a word of Richard 's illness and death . '' `` Why , have you never written to him ? ''