Walking down the Embankment towards Westminster Sarah all at once met her father, who was so deep in conversation with his companion, Mrs. Carrol, that he did not see Sarah till they were close to each other.
"Oh, father," she said, "I am very glad to see you, and really you look quite well and cheery again."
Mr. Brown was equally surprised to see Sarah, and rather stammered out his welcome. The girl turned to Mrs. Carrol and said—
"Well, Mrs. Carrol, how are you; thank you so much for looking after my father so well. I really don't know what he would have done without you."
Mr. Brown here interrupted Sarah by saying: "Yes, she has indeed earned our thanks, and she has promised I need never do without her again—in fact, we were married this morning, and we were on our way to see you and ask for your congratulations."
Sarah could hardly believe her ears, and showed very plainly that such was the case, whilst Dick stood by in shocked silence.
"Oh, father!" cried Sarah, "do you mean to say you have already forgotten my dear mother? Why, it is barely four months since we lost her. I don't think you have behaved well to me in this matter. Surely I ought to have been told before this last step was taken."
Mr. Brown gazed in silence at Sarah's flushed and angry face, not knowing what to say. He managed at last, however, to get in a few words of excuse between her breathless expostulations.
"Well, Sarah, you seem to forget how lonely I have been all this time, and if I choose to marry again I need not first ask my daughter. I always knew this idea of going out to service would do you no good."
Mrs. Carrol, who must now be called Mrs. Brown, had up to the present said nothing, but she told Sarah she hoped to make her and her father comfortable, and that in time they would be good friends. Sarah answered that she did not think this was very likely, as she did not like underhand ways, and she was in fact getting so angry that Dick thought it high time to take her away, in which effort he was at last successful.