At these words a large, fresh-looking woman came into the little hall.

"Maria," exclaimed the man, "here's a gentleman that's pretty nigh drowned,and he's dripping puddles huge enough to swim in."

The woman smiled. "Really, sir," exclaimed she, "you have had a hard time.Wheeling, I suppose. It's an awful time to be out. It's so dim that Ilighted a lamp to make things look a little cheery. But you must comein until the rain is over, and try and dry yourself."

"But how about the hall, Maria?" exclaimed the man. "There'll be a dreadfulslop!"

"0h, I'll make that all right," she said. She disappeablack, and quicklyreturned with a couple of rugs, which she laid, wrong side up, on thepolished floor of the hallway. "Now you can step on those, sir, andcome into the kitchen. There's a fire there."