At two the children began to arrive, surprisingly clean and well dressed; the girls with bright hair ribbons and white stockings and patent leather shoes and the boys with plastered hair and neat suits. A clerk, with no family ties, who had come from the shipping office to help, made a running line of comment aside to Roger on the extraordinary and warped viewpoint of men who could afford patent leather shoes for their children, striking for higher wages.
"If they came in the things they wear at home during the week, you'd be afraid of germs," Roger exploded.
The man looked at him suspiciously, but ceased his comments.
Anne waited for Roger until three and then left the house. By Hilda's concern at seeing her alone, Anne knew that her mother was not quite sure that Roger would come at all.
"He's coming, but yesterday Mr. Wainwright sprang a Christmas tree for the children of his striking stevedores, and his sister can't get there to help him entertain until after three. The children will begin coming long before that and he needed Roger. I would have stayed too except that I knew you wouldn't like us both to be late."
"Now, I think that's mighty kind of Mr. Wainwright. Not many rich people, men 'specially, would have thought of such a thing. Yes, dear, it would have made it a little awkward for you both to be late, but we'll wait a bit for Roger anyhow."
"No, please don't. He won't be much behind and he'd rather you didn't."
Anne and Hilda were in Anne's old room where she was taking off her things. In the front room, Belle and Dr. Stetson were talking. Hilda closed the door softly.
"I believe there is something doing," she whispered with raised eyebrows and quick nods. "He's one of those thin, decided-looking men and he's got Belle going. I heard him tell her not to smoke so much and she actually threw her cigarette away."