After driving three or four times round the pump, for the houses
were numbered anyhow, we found No. 17, and I jumped out.

"Now don't be in such a fierce hurry, Miss Wood," cried the Major, who
was now a little crusty; "English ladies allow themselves to be handed
out, without hurrying the gentlemen who have the honor."

"But I wanted to save you the honor," I said. "I will come back
immediately, if you will kindly wait." And with this I ran up the old
steps, and rang and knocked, while several bearded faces came and gazed
through dingy windows.

"Can I see Mrs. Strouss?" I asked, when a queer old man in faded brown
livery came to the door with a candle in his hand, though the sun was
shining.

"I am the Meesther Strouss; when you see me, you behold the good Meeses
Strouss also."

"Thank you, but that will not do," I replied; "my business is with Mrs.
Strouss alone."

He did not seem to like this at first sight, but politely put the
chain-bolt on the door while he retired to take advice; and the Major
looked out of the cab and laughed.

"You had better come back while you can," he said, "though they seem in
no hurry to swallow you."

This was intended to vex me, and I did not even turn my head to him. The
house looked very respectable, and there were railings to the area.

"The house is very respectable," continued Major Hockin, who always
seemed to know what I was thinking of, and now in his quick manner ran
up the steps; "just look, the scraper is clean. You never see that, or
at least not often, except with respectable people, Erema."

"Pray what would my scraper be? and who is Erema?" cried a strong, clear
voice, as the chain of the door was set free, and a stout, tall woman
with a flush in her cheeks confronted us. "I never knew more than one
Erema--Good mercy!"

My eyes met hers, and she turned as pale as death, and fell back into
a lobby chair. She knew me by my likeness to my father, falling on
the memories started by my name; and strong as she was, the surprise
overcame her, at the sound of which up rushed the small Herr Strouss.

"Vhat are you doing dere, all of you? vhat have you enterprised with my
frau? Explain, Vilhelmina, or I call de policemans, vhat I should say de
peelers."

"Stop!" cried the Major, and he stopped at once, not for the word, which
would have had no power, although I knew nothing about it then, but
because he had received a sign which assured him that here was a brother