“Let that lady get in here, Unc’ Simmy. We’ll take her to the hotel.”
“Sho’ nuff! Sartainly,” agreed the coachman, and with a flourish he stopped beside the woman who was fairly wading through a muddy river.
The rain was coming down harder again. It did not thunder and lightning much, but the rainfall was fairly appalling to these visitors from the North.
“Do get in, quick!” cried Ruth, opening the low door and peering out from the semi-gloom of the hood.
The school teacher from New England understood instantly what the invitation meant. She plunged toward the carriage and was half inside before she saw who had rescued her from the deluge.
“Get in! get in!” urged Ruth. “Unc’ Simmy will take us right to the hotel.”
Miss Miggs fairly snorted. “What! you? I wouldn’t ride with you in this carriage if we were in the middle of the Atlantic!”
She backed out and stepped right into a puddle of water as deep as her ankles! The excited scream she gave made Helen burst into suppressed laughter. Hearing the girl, the woman glared at her in a way that excited the laughter of the careless Helen to an even greater height.
“Oh, drive on! drive on!” she gasped. “Let her swim if she wants to.”
But Unc’ Simmy would not do this unless Ruth said so. He looked down at the half submerged school teacher from his seat and exclaimed: