THE CALLERS
Then perhaps he wasn't to be left out of the world after all. Mrs. G. Porrett Smith, Miss Porrett Smith, Miss Mabel Porrett Smith, and two smaller cards of the Rev. G. Porrett Smith. "Lor'!" he said, "Clergy!"
"There was a lady," said Ann, "and two growed-up gals—all dressed up!"
"And 'im?"
"There wasn't no 'im."
"Not—?" He held out the little card.
"No; there was a lady and two young ladies."
"But—these cards! Wad they go and leave these two little cards with the Rev. G. Smith on for? Not if 'e wasn't with 'em."
"'E wasn't with 'em."
"Not a little chap—dodgin' about be'ind the others? And didn't come in?"
"I didn't see no gentleman with them at all," said Ann.
"Rum!" said Kipps. A half-forgotten experience came back to him. "I know," he said, waving the reverend gentleman's card; "'e give 'em the slip, that's what he'd done. Gone off while they was rapping before you let 'em in. It's a fair call, any'ow." He felt a momentary base satisfaction at his absence. "What did they talk about, Ann?"
There was a pause. "I didn't let 'em in," said Ann.
He looked up suddenly and perceived that something unusual was the matter with Ann. Her face was flushed, her eyes were red and hard.
"Didn't let 'em in?"
"No! They didn't come in at all."
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