'Don't mention it,' murmured Esther, his unexpected appearance completing her mental agitation.
'Hold the umbrella over the girls, you beggar!' said Sidney.
'Oh, I beg your pardon,' said Raphael, poking the rim against a policeman's helmet in his anxiety to obey.
'Don't mention it,' said Addie, smiling.
'All right, sir,' growled the policeman good-humouredly.
Sidney laughed heartily.
'Quite a general amnesty,' he said. 'Ah! here's the carriage. Why didn't you get inside it out of the rain, or stand in the entrance? You're wringing wet!'
'I didn't think of it,' said Raphael. 'Besides, I've only been here a few minutes. The buses are so full when it rains. I had to walk all the way from Whitechapel.'
'You're incorrigible,' grumbled Sidney. 'As if you couldn't have taken a hansom.'
'Why waste money?' said Raphael. They got into the carriage. 'Well, did you enjoy yourselves?' he asked cheerfully.