She had hardly taken her stand under the lamp before some one did come by whom she recognized at once. It was the old gentleman who had spoken to her in the picture gallery. In an instant she darted forward and touched his arm timidly.
"Please, I'm lost; do help me."
"Eh? What! Lost? No begging tricks! Why, bless my soul, it's my little friend who ran away from the pictures and me!"
"Yes; I've lost the boys, and I can't find my way home; will you help me?"
"Can't find your way home? Delightful! I'm as dull as ditch water to-day, you shall come home with me and cheer me up. Have you had your tea? I have not. Come along, come along, my house is not far from here. We'll send you home when we've done with you."
He took her hand in his. Christina followed him happily, till a sudden fear seized her.
"Please, don't mind my asking you, but you are not a burglar or a pickpocket, are you? You wouldn't rob me, would you? I—I don't know anybody in London, and Puggy and Dawn tell me such dreadful stories!"
The old gentleman laughed huskily. She went on with increasing nervousness:
"If you would take me back to our hotel, I should like it best; for, you see, the boys will be looking for me."
