“But, Miss Anne,” said Lucy, “it is a great way home. I am afraid it will rain on us before we get there.”
“Why, if we can get across the bridge,” said Miss Anne, “we can go into some of the houses.”
“Are there no houses before we come to the bridge?” asked Lucy.
“No,” said Miss Anne; “but I think we shall have time to go farther than that.”
By this time they had put up their drawing materials, and began to walk along towards the main road. Miss Anne said that she presumed that they should have ample time to get home; for showers seldom came up so very suddenly as to prevent their getting home from a walk.
But when they had gone about half way to the bridge, Miss Anne began to be afraid that they should not get home. There was a large, black cloud spreading along the western sky, and the low and distant peals of thunder came oftener, and grew gradually louder and louder. Miss Anne walked very fast, leading Lucy, who ran along by her side.
Just as they came to the bridge, the great drops of rain began to fall.
“There!” said Lucy,—“it’s beginning.”
“Yes,” said Miss Anne, “and I have a great mind to go under the bridge.”
Miss Anne had just time to say “under the bridge,” when there came another heavy clap of thunder, which sounded louder and nearer than any which they had heard before. This decided Miss Anne at once. She turned off from the entrance to the bridge, and began to walk down the steep bank, leading Lucy. When they had descended to the margin of the stream, they found a narrow strip of sand between the water and the foundation of the bridge.