Mr. Merritt was drawing on his gloves, and kindliness getting the better of his sternness for a moment, he said:
“Oh, don’t take leave of her here. Come along with us. Our course goes the same way as far as the avenue, where we take the up car, and you the down one.”
“Yes; come as far with us as you can,” pleaded Owlet, clinging to his hand.
“Willingly, my dear,” said the young man.
The three left the room together, Harcourt leading the little girl.
In the outer office Mr. Merritt stopped a moment to speak to his clerk.
“I shall not return here again, Lloyd. Lock up at the usual hour.”
Then they went downstairs and left the house.
On their way down Four and One-half Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, Owlet chattered to her friend:
“I do thank you ever so much for being so good to me. I shall be sure to tell Lady all about you, and she will thank you, too, oh! ever so much! And so will Ducky Darling, though she can’t say much, poor little thing. She is so little, and so ignorant, you know. And, oh! I hope your dear mother will soon get well, and you will come to see me and Lady. And you will fetch her, too, won’t you? I shall tell Lady to write and ask her to come with you,” she said.