"God bless the girl!—what for?"
"For company's sake—it's late for you to be alone, sir."
"Don't you think I can take care of myself?—am I so old, feeble, and drivelling as that? Are they right at the office, after all?" he added in a lower tone.
"I shouldn't like to be left here all alone," murmured Ann Packet; "particularly after there's been robberies, and——"
There was the rattle of cab-wheels in the street, coming nearer and nearer towards the house.
"Hark!" said Mattie and Mr. Hinchford in one breath.
The rattling ceased before the door, the cab stopped, Mr. Hinchford pointed to the door, and gasped, and gesticulated.
"Open, o—open the door!—he has met with an accident!"
"No, no, he has only taken a cab to get here earlier, and escape the wet," said Mattie, opening the door with a beating heart, nevertheless.
Sidney Hinchford, safe and sound, was already out of the cab and close to the door. Mattie met him with a bright smile of welcome, to which his sombre face did not respond. He came into the shop, stern and silent, and then looked towards his father.