shelter,” said he.

And in a few minutes we reached it, and I found myself sitting under a low roof on the red shaft of a cart, watching the downpour outside, while Mr. Reade shook the rain from our umbrellas. A few days before I might have found something to enjoy in this curious encounter with my friend of the dog-cart; but the rudeness and suspicion of his sisters had made me shy with him. So I merely sat there and looked straight in front of me, while he, infected by my reserve, leant against the side of the shed and looked at me. I could see--as one sees so many things, without looking--the rain-drops falling one by one from the low roof on to his hat; but I would not tell him of it.

Things went on like this for some minutes, until a bright flash of lightning dazzled me and made me cry “Oh!”

“You are frightened. Let me stand in front of you,” said my companion, starting forward.

“Oh, no, thank you--I am not nervous!” I replied contemptuously, when a loud peal of thunder startled me so much that I nearly fell off my seat.

He said nothing, did not even smile at my crestfallen look; but he took up his stand in front of me, giving me a fine view of his profile against the dark sky. Every minute of this awkward silence was making it more difficult to me to think of something to say.“I wish it would leave off,” I remarked stupidly, at length. 

“Are you in such a hurry to get back to the Alders? It is no drier there than it is here.” 

“But at least one can change one’s boots.” 

“Have you got your feet wet? Why, you have on little toy town-boots, not fit to walk down a country-lane in! You will be laid up with rheumatic fever, or something of the kind,” said he anxiously, looking vaguely about him for dry boots. 

“Oh, no, no--they are much thicker than they look!” said I. “It isn’t that. But Mr. Rayner will be anxious.” 

“Mr. Rayner; and Mrs. Rayner, won’t she be anxious too?” 

“Oh, Mrs. Rayner is never anything! At least--I mean,” said I, annoyed at having spoken without thinking, “she is so reserved that--” 

“That you like Mr. Rayner best?” 

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