"Oh," broke in Melina, "was that my father? Why, I saw him—he spoke to Mr. Jones!"
"So Mr. Jones told me. Mr. Jones did not recognise him then, but he has since done so. It seems that your father slept at an hotel last night, and this morning the first news he heard was of the fire. On learning who it was that had been injured he went to the hospital to see his mother. He saw her; she was conscious and knew him; I believe he is with her now."
"Oh! And Mr. Jones has seen him this morning?" questioned Melina.
"Yes, for a few minutes at the hospital."
"I wonder when I shall see him," Melina said wistfully; "I have so hoped and longed for him to come. And oh, I do wonder what he is like!" she added with an anxious sigh, whilst the expression of her face told of her conflicting feelings.
Before Mrs. Brown had time to reply there was a knock at the front door, and she went downstairs to answer it. She returned almost immediately, her countenance even graver than it had been before.
"Melina, Mr. Blackmore has come to take you to your grandmother," she said; "she has asked for you. You must go at once."
The little girl, trembling with agitation, hastened to obey. She had come to Gladstone Street without a hat, but Agnes now lent her one, and, having put it on, she hurried downstairs, where she found Mr. Blackmore. He took her hand without a word, and led her to a cab which was waiting outside the door.
"Get in, Melina," he said.
She did so, and he followed her, seating himself opposite to her. Then the cab drove off.