"What could be the matter with the pretty young lady?" thought the man.
Ruth spoke in her gentle tones.
"We want to go to see a lady at the Hôtel Métropole," she said. "Which is the Hôtel Métropole?"
"Oh, miss, it is quite close. You have only to go out of the station, take the second turning to your left, walk down Northumberland Avenue, and you'll be there."
"But where is Northumberland Avenue? We don't know anything about London," interrupted Kathleen.
"If you will allow me to put you two ladies into a cab, the cabman will take you to the Hôtel Métropole. It's only a step away, but you'd better drive if you don't know your London."
"We have never been in our London before," said Kathleen in a voice of intense pleasure.
They now tripped confidently along by the side of the porter. He took them into the yard outside the station, and called a four-wheeler.
"No, no; one of those two-wheeled things," said the little girl.
A hansom was summoned, and the children were put in. The driver was directed to take them to the Métropole, and they started off.