"Good gracious! so are we; and I'm sure I can't tell you any thing more than the name and number I have already given. You'd better ask the first policeman we meet," cried I, with the foreboding fear heavier than before. "All right, mum," and down went the little door, and off rattled the cab. My irrepressible sister burst out laughing at the absurdity of our position. "Don't laugh, M, for mercy's sake! It's no joke to be wandering about this great city at eleven o'clock at night in a thick fog, with a tipsy driver," I croaked, with a warning pinch. "He isn't tipsy, only stupid, as we are, not to have engaged a carriage to come for us." "He is tipsy; I smelt gin in his breath, and he is half asleep up there, I've no doubt, for we have passed one, if not two policemen, I'm sure." "Nonsense! you wouldn't know your own father in this mist. Let Jarvey alone and he will bring us safely home." "We shall see," I answered, grimly, as a splash of mud lit upon my nose, and the cab gave a perilous lurch in cutting round a sharp corner. Did any one ever find a policeman when he was wanted? I never did, though they are as thick as blackberries when they are not needed. On and on we went, but not a felt helmet appeared, and never did escaping fugitive look more eagerly for the North Star than I did for a gleaming badge on a blue coat. "There's a station! I shall stop and ask, for I'm not going slamming and splashing about any longer. Hi there, driver!" and I poked up the door with a vigor that would have startled the soundest sleeper. "Ay, ay, mum," came the wheezy whisper, more wheezy than ever. "Stop at this station-house and hail some one. We _must_ get home, and you _must_ ask the way." "All right, mum," came back the hollow mockery conveyed in those exasperating words. We did stop, and a star did appear, when I, with all the dignity I could muster, stated the case and asked for aid. "Pleeseman X," gave it civilly; but I greatly fear he did not believe that the muddy-faced woman with a croaky voice, and the blonde damsel with curls, long earrings and light gloves, were really respectable members of the glorious American Republic. I felt this and I could not blame him; so, thanking him with a bow which would have done credit to the noblest of my Hancock and Quincy ancestors, we went on again. Alas, alas, it was all go on and no stop; for although our driver had responded briskly, "Ay, ay, sir," to the policeman's inquiry, "You know your way now, don't you?" he evidently did not know it, and the white horse went steadily up and down the long, wet streets, like a phantom steed in a horrid dream.