"I've an errand down here," he said slyly. "Guess it won't hurt you to take a little walk."
His air was provocative, and Milly followed him breathlessly, her blue eyes wide with wonder. He stopped opposite a low brick building at the end of Market Street, and pointed dramatically across. At first Milly saw nothing to demand attention, then her quick eyes detected the blazon of a new gilt sign above the second-story windows, which read:—
H. RIDGE & CO., IMPORTERS
TEAS AND COFFEES
Horatio broke into an excited grin, as Milly grasped his arm.
"Oh, papa—is it you?"
"It's me all right!" And he flung out a leg with a strut of proprietorship. "Opened last week. Want to see the inside?"
"And Hoppers'?" Milly inquired as they crossed the muddy street, dodging the procession of drays.
"Hoppers'—I just chucked it," Horatio swaggered. "Guess I'm old enough to work for myself if I'm ever going to—no money in working for the other feller."
When they had climbed the narrow, dark stairway to the second floor, Horatio flung open the door to the low, unpartitioned room that ran clear to the rear of the building. A man rose from behind the solitary desk near the front window.
"Let me introduce you to the Company," Horatio announced with gravity. "Mr. Snowden, my daughter!"