Children -- Death -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Farm life -- Juvenile fiction; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
Winthrop had not time to open his lips, for either civility or
consolation, when a phaeton, coming at a furious rate,
suddenly pulled up before them, and Mr. Satterthwaite jumped
out of it and joined himself to the group. His business was to
persuade Miss Haye to take the empty place in his carriage and
escape with him to the shelter of her own house or his
father's. Miss Haye however preferred getting wet, and walking
through the mud, and being blinded with the lightning, all of
which alternatives Mr. Satterthwaite presented to her; at
least no other conclusion could be drawn, for she very
steadily and coolly refused to ride home with him.
"Mr. Landholm," said Mr. Satterthwaite in desperation, "don't
you advise Miss Haye to agree to my proposition?"
"I never give advice, sir," said Winthrop, "after I see that
people's minds are made up. Perhaps Miss Cadwallader may be
less stubborn."
Mr. Satterthwaite could do no other than turn to Miss
Cadwallader, who wanted very little urging.
"But Rose!" said her cousin, -- "you're not going to leave me
alone?"
"No, I don't," said Rose. "I'm sure you've got somebody with
you; and he's got an umbrella."
"Don't, Rose!" said Elizabeth, -- "stay and go home with me --
the storm will be over directly."
"It won't -- I can't," said Rose, -- "It won't be over this
hour, and I'm afraid --"
And into Mr. Satterthwaite's phaeton she jumped, and away Mr.
Satterthwaite's phaeton went, with him and her in it.
"You had better step under shelter, Miss Haye," said Winthrop;
"it is beginning to sprinkle pretty fast."
"No," said Elizabeth, "I'll go home -- I don't mind it. I would
rather go right home -- I don't care for the rain."
"But you can't go without the umbrella," said Winthrop, "and
that belongs to me."
"Well, won't you go with me?" said Elizabeth, with a look half
doubtful and half daunted.
"Yes, as soon as it is safe. This is a poor place, but it is
better than nothing. You must come in here and have patience
till then."
He went in and Elizabeth followed him, and she stood there
looking very doubtful and very much annoyed; eyeing the fast
falling drops as if her impatience could dry them up. The
little smithy was black as such a place should be; nothing
looked like a seat but the anvil, and that was hardly safe to
take advantage of.
"I wish there was something here for you to sit down upon,"
said Winthrop peering about, -- "but everything is like
Vulcan's premises. It is a pity I am not Sir Walter Raleigh
for your behoof; for I suppose Sir Walter didn't mind walking
home without his coat, and I do."
"He only threw off his cloak," said Elizabeth.
"I never thought of wearing mine this afternoon," said
Winthrop, "though I brought an umbrella. But see here, Miss
Elizabeth, -- here is a box, one end of which, I think, may be
trusted. Will you sit down?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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