For he fully meant to do
what he had promised the child, and he did not care to go back to
Charlie Swift, and face the latter's protests and ridicule.
At eight the next morning, tired but happy, he rang the bell of Dr.
Vince's house. Ethel herself opened the door; and at the sight of him
her face lighted up with joy, and she turned, crying out, "Here he
is!"
And she ran halfway down the hall, exclaiming: "He's come! I told you
he'd come! Papa!"
A man appeared at the dining room door, and stood staring at Samuel.
"There he is, papa!" cried Ethel beside herself with delight. "There's
my burglar!"
Dr. Vince came down the hall. He was a stockily built gentleman with a
rather florid complexion and bushy beard. "Good morning," he said.
"Good morning, sir," said Samuel.
"And are you really the young man who was here last night?"
"Yes, sir," said Samuel.
The worthy doctor was obviously disconcerted. "This is quite
extraordinary!" he exclaimed. "Won't you come in?"
They sat down in the library. "I don't want you to think, sir," said
Samuel quickly, "that I come to beg. Your little girl asked me---"
"Don't mention that," said the other. "If the story you told Ethel is
really true, I should be only too glad to do anything that I could."
"Thank you, sir," said Samuel.
"And so you really broke into my house last night!" exclaimed the
other.
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