Dick, hot and disappointed and disgusted at the coachman’s stupidity in bringing him into this obviously mechanic’s suburb, leaned out to say, “Drive on!” And then he saw her. There was a flutter in the tenement at seeing a hack draw up. Johnny Graham rose, seeing in a burst of fancy an important and hasty job, and a carriage sent to convey him to a wilderness of leaks or broken tips. Mrs. Pugsley conceived the hack to be a summons from a lady friend who had expected to need her services on a felicitous occasion, and was instantly agitated, and got up panting, and saying:-- “Goodness! they’ve sent!” But Annie knew. One wonders if she flinched, there in the twilight. She rose at once and went to the front door, her hand outstretched in pleased welcome. “Why, Mr. Temple! This is very pleasant,” she said. “Father, dear, this is Mr. Temple.” Dick’s face was white. He took Johnny Graham’s hand and bowed, with some murmured reference to pleasure. “This is my friend, Mr. Duggan, Mr. Temple,” Annie went on placidly, “and Mrs. Pugsley.” Dick bowed twice. He saw dimly, in the dusky kitchen interior, two other figures, one of which, assisted by the other, was struggling into a coat. “Why, now set down, sir,” Johnny said joyously; “take a seat and set down. Annie, now, can’t you make room there by Dave? We was just setting out to eat our tea, sir; it’s so hot, we was late,--but it’s the style to be late, I hear! I guess we ain’t eat up everything, have we, Annie? I guess there’s something left for your gentleman friend.” “You’re very kind,” Dick protested feebly; but he sat down, too bewildered to find any excuse. Annie put a plate before him, and told him he must have some iced tea. “It’s the only thing that makes life possible in this weather,” she said; “but I can’t make father believe it; he takes his boiling.” “Well, sir,” said Johnny, “you had quite a jaunt to get out here, hadn’t you? But I don’t mind the walk myself, back and forth from my work, for it’s fresher out here.” “I didn’t know your address,” Dick said, not looking at Annie; “I’ve been driving round”-- “When I saw that carriage drive up,” Mrs. Pugsley said, still panting, “I thought a lady friend of mine had sent for me; it give me such a start!” “Tell me how you left Mrs. Paul,” Annie asked. “Oh, thanks, very well,” Dick assured her; and there was a moment’s pause. Mrs. Pugsley and Dave were blankly silent. Annie talked against time. “It was so nice to get home. Just think, I had been away five years,” she said; “that’s a pretty long time not to see one’s father; father didn’t know me when he met me at the station;--now, I would have known you anywhere!” she reproached Johnny, with a loving look. “Well, but now, you’d growed, Annie; that’s what I said when I saw her. I says, ‘Why, Annie, you’ve growed!’ Dave, here, don’t see no change in her. But I do,” Johnny ended proudly. “You must have missed your daughter very much,” Mr. Temple murmured.