"Been caught in the rain, eh?
Well, this is a storm! And now what're we going to do?
You must come in.

But you're in a pretty mess, I must say! Hi, Maria!" At these words a large, fresh-looking woman came into the little hall.
"Maria," said the man, "here's a gentleman that's pretty nigh drowned, and he's dripping puddles big enough to swim in." The woman smiled.

"Really, sir," said she, "you've had a hard time.
Wheeling, I suppose.

It's an awful time to be out.

It's so dark that I lighted a lamp to make things look a little cheery.