He let himself in with his latchkey. He went moodily into the dining-room and got out the plans to look at them. He had a vague hope that there would prove to be only ten bedrooms. But he found there were still eleven. He became aware of Ann standing over him. "Look 'ere, Artie!" said Ann. He looked up and found her holding a number of white oblongs. His eyebrows rose. "It's Callers," said Ann. He put his plans aside slowly and took and read the cards in silence, with a sort of solemnity. Callers after all! Then perhaps he wasn't to be left out of the world after all. Mrs. G. Porrett Smith, Miss Porrett Smith, Miss Mabel Porrett Smith, and two smaller cards of the Rev. G. Porrett Smith. "Lor'!" he said, "_Clergy!_" "There was a lady," said Ann, "and two growed-up gals--all dressed up!" "And 'im?" "There wasn't no _'im_." "Not----?" He held out the little card. "No; there was a lady and two young ladies." "But--these cards! Wad they go and leave these two little cards with the Rev. G. Smith on for? Not if 'e wasn't with 'em." "'E wasn't with 'em." "Not a little chap--dodgin' about be'ind the others? And didn't come in?" "I didn't see no gentleman with them at all," said Ann. "Rum!" said Kipps. A half-forgotten experience came back to him. "_I_ know," he said, waving the reverend gentleman's card; "'e give 'em the slip, that's what he'd done. Gone off while they was rapping before you let 'em in. It's a fair call, any'ow." He felt a momentary base satisfaction at his absence. "What did they talk about, Ann?" There was a pause. "I didn't let 'em in," said Ann. He looked up suddenly and perceived that something unusual was the matter with Ann. Her face was flushed, her eyes were red and hard. "Didn't let 'em in?" "No! They didn't come in at all." He was too astonished for words. "I answered the door," said Ann; "I'd been upstairs 'namelling the floor. 'Ow was I to think about Callers, Artie? We ain't never 'ad Callers all the time we been 'ere. I'd sent Gwendolen out for a bref of fresh air, and there I was upstairs 'namelling that floor she done so bad, so's to get it done before she came back. I thought I'd 'namel that floor and then get tea and 'ave it quiet with you, toce and all, before she came back. 'Ow was I to think about Callers?" She paused. "Well," said Kipps, "what them?" "They came and rapped. 'Ow was I to know? I thought it was a tradesman or something. Never took my apron off, never wiped the 'namel off my 'ands--nothing. There they was!" She paused again. She was getting to the disagreeable part. "Wad they say?" said Kipps. "She says, 'Is Mrs. Kipps at home?' See? To me." "Yes."