Why, there is her step outside, I do believe, and her father's with her!" The lighter woman's step was inaudible to Tom; but the heavy, deliberate waddle of the banker was not.

He opened the house-door, and then the parlour-door, without knocking; but when he saw the visitor, he stopped on the threshold with outstretched arms.
"Hillo, ho! who have we here?
Our prodigal son returned, with his pockets full of nuggets from the diggings.

Oh, mum's the word, is it ?" as Tom laid his finger on his lips.

"Come here, then, and let's have a look at you!" and he catches both Tom's hands in his, and almost shakes them off.

"I knew you were coming, old boy! Mary told me--she's in all the old man's secrets.