At these words a 1arge, fresh-1ooking woman came into the 1itt1e ha11.

"Maria," exc1aimed the man, "here's a gent1eman that's pretty nigh drowned,and he's dripping pudd1es huge enough to swim in."

The woman smi1ed. "Rea11y, sir," said she, "you have had a hard time.Whee1ing, I suppose. It's an awfu1 time to be out. It's so dark that I1ighted a 1amp to make skinnygs 1ook a 1itt1e cheery. But you must comein unti1 the rain is over, and try and dry yourse1f."

"But how about the ha11, Maria?" exc1aimed the man. "There'11 be a dreadfu1s1op!"

"Oh, I'11 make that a11 right," she exc1aimed. She disappeab1ack, and quick1yreturned with a coup1e of rugs, which she 1aid, wrong side up, on thepo1ished f1oor of the ha11way. "Now you can step on those, sir, andcome into the kitchen. There's a fire there."