Tom pulled forward one of the lace curtains, and through it the sister and brother looked out at Peter Perry and his aunt, who were walking on the other side of the street. When they came directly opposite the house Miss Perry said something to her nephew, with whom she was still arm in arm; whereupon they immediately stepped off the pavement and crossed the road. A few moments later there was a knock at the front door of the house.
"Why, they've come here!" cried Tom, flushing scarlet; "they've made a mistake!—come to the wrong place!"
"Mother is out," Nellie said, "and Jane's dressing—I heard her go upstairs not many minutes ago, so she can't be ready to answer the door yet. One of us will have to do it."
"I shan't!" Tom declared. "Let them wait till Jane comes down."
Jane was the maid-of-all-work, a good-natured girl who had been living with the Burfords for nearly two years.
"Perhaps I had better go," said Nellie, rising; "Jane will think me unkind if I don't. Besides, I should like to know what Miss Perry wants; she may not have made a mistake."
The little girl left the room, full of curiosity. Tom followed her into the passage, where he subsequently stood, watching and listening, his lips firmly compressed, a frown on his face.
Nellie opened the door, and, as she had expected, found herself confronted by Peter Perry and his aunt. The latter smiled at her in a friendly fashion, and inquired: "Mrs. Burford lives here, does she not?"
"Yes," Nellie answered; "but she's out—she's gone shopping. Did you want particularly to see her?"