—“‘Exposed to a snowstorm, and I am wet and cold;’ that’s what he would say, my Minie. Come right up into my room, farmer, and change your clothes at once.”
“Thank ye kindly, no. I’m not wet. We came in a covered wagon as far as the Drover’s Rest, close by here, and only walked the little bit from there here. Bless you, we do look powdered over pretty well, but it’s all on the outside. It don’t penetrate like some things do, doctor. No, Miss Minie; the circumstance to which I allude was the being turned out of my home by a lot of lunatics, who are also trying to turn the Government upside down!” said the farmer, beginning to unbutton his overcoat as he stood.
Erminie and her father stared in silence for a moment, and then exclaimed in surprise, and at the same instant:
“Driven out of your home, Mr. Fielding!”
“Yes, driven out of our home—nothing else. Ask my girl, here!”
“Yes—that was it!” broke in Elfie. “Old Virginny was made too hot to hold us—literally too hot. In short, our houses were burned over our heads, and we should have been burned in it if we hadn’t made good our escape.”
“You shock me beyond measure!” exclaimed the minister, in consternation.
“Oh, my dear Elfie, what a misfortune! How did that happen? But don’t try to tell me here, my darling. Come up to my room and change your clothes first,” said Erminie, in deep sympathy.
“Oh, no. I can just take off my hood and cloak and overshoes here, if you please, and let your maid carry them away. I am dying to tell you all about it. Let us go into that pleasant-looking room, there. I dare say it is your usual sitting-room,” said Elfie, nodding her head toward the open door, while she impatiently tore off her hood and cloak and kicked off her overshoes.
“It is our library, and a favorite room with us all,” replied Erminie, pushing the door wider open and leading the way.