“Haven’t you as much as an umbrella, Miss Kate,” said he, “or a cloak, in this dreadful weather?”
“I was not thinking of either. Which way do we go towards the inn?”
“I’d advise you to take shelter in a shop here, Miss; the shower is too heavy to last long.”
“I have no time for this; I want to catch the post, and I believe it leaves at six o’clock.”.
“You’ll be drowned with this rain,” muttered he. “But come along. I’ll show you the way.”
As they went, neither spoke; indeed, the noise of the plashing rain, and the sharp gusts of the sweeping wind, would have made it almost impossible to converse, and they plodded onward through the dreary and deserted streets, for even the poorest had now sought shelter. The inn was at the very end of a long straggling street, and, when they reached it, they were completely soaked through with rain.
“You have ordered a room for me here, you said?” asked Elate, as they entered.
“Yes, it’s all ready, and your dinner too, whenever you like to eat it.—This is the young lady, ma’am,” continued he, addressing the landlady, “that’s coming to stop here; she’s wet through, and I hope you’ll take care of her, that she doesn’t catch cold.”
“Will you show me my room?” asked Kate, quietly. But the landlady never moved, but stood scrutinising her with an eye the very reverse of kindly.
“She’s asking you where’s her room,” broke in O’Rorke.