All was in readiness by the hour fixed for the arrival of their little guests, and very punctually to it, in fact a quarter of an hour before five o'clock. Minnie, who was always the one to watch at the window, announced that two of them were loitering about outside.
"How cold they'll be," she said pitifully.
"Not they," said Hugh.
"I should be," answered Minnie.
"Oh, you! but these poor little mites are used to be in the streets all day."
"So they are. But I wonder if Agnes will let me bring them in?"
"Not yet," answered John, who came in at that moment, "wait till it strikes five; as Hugh says, they are used to it."
Before the hand was on the hour, twelve or fourteen children crowded up the steps, and one of them, the boldest of the party, ventured to give a single 'dab' at the door, which brought Hugh to open it; and then began the disrobing, which orderly John had promised to superintend.
They were ushered into the dining-room, where tea was laid all ready, and it did not take them long to sit down and begin.
After all were satisfied, the table was pushed back into a corner, and in a few moments John and Hugh packed the children round the room so that all could see well, Minnie squeezing herself into a little corner by the sheet, where she would not have at all a good view, remarking, "Of course it does not matter a bit about me."