The blackness covered everything now, changing to lurid light in the storm quarter, and big scattered drops began to come plashing down.

This time Winthrop's mind was so much in the clouds that he did not know what was going on in the earth; for while he stood looking and gazing, two ladies almost ran over him.

Winthrop's senses came back to the door of the blacksmith's shop, and the ladies recovered themselves.
"How do you do, Mr.Landholm," said the one, with a bow.
"O Mr.Winthrop!" cried the other, -- "what shall we do?
we can't get home, and I'm so frightened! -- " Winthrop had not time to open his lips, for either civility or consolation, when a phaeton, coming at a furious rate, suddenly pulled up before them, and Mr.Satterthwaite jumped out of it and joined himself to the group.

His business was to persuade Miss Haye to take the empty place in his carriage and escape with him to the shelter of her own house or his father's.

Miss Haye however preferred getting wet, and walking through the mud, and being blinded with the lightning, all of which alternatives Mr.Satterthwaite presented to her; at least no other conclusion could be drawn, for she very steadily and coolly refused to ride home with him.
"Mr.Landholm," said Mr.Satterthwaite in desperation, "don't you advise Miss Haye to agree to my proposition ?" "I never give advice, sir," said Winthrop, "after I see that people's minds are made up.