Helen and Marshland got hastily into the hansom, to the old servant's inexpressible delight who had never ridden in anything but the customary Kenelham dog cart, and the waggon she had recently quitted. Helen however was too tired to notice anything and the new sights and sounds had no charm for her country eyes.
Presently the cab stopped at a small dreary looking office with the name Sheene & Co: in guilt letters on the window. Two men evidently the clerks, were watching with intense excitement the descent of the two ladies from the cab, their faces being pressed upon the iron blind of the office window.
Helen went up the steps and timidly rang the "visitors bell."
It was soon answered by a rought untidy looking servant girl, with no cap and a dirty cotton dress, whom Marshland eyed with intense disgust.
"Are you Mr. Sheene's ladies?" asked the girl.
"Yes" replied Helen "and Mr. Sheene wished me to say you were to show us to our rooms at once, he himself will not be in till tea time."
"All right" responded the servant "step and in and follow me."
She then led the way down a narrow passage past the home affair, till she came to a door which she flung open, announcing it was the sitting room.
"You wont want your bedrooms yet awhile" she said "because they're not ready."