the muddy hole until it rested in the cab, stepped lightly across, took
the child in his arms, bore her to the embankment and set her down,
then sprang back for her young mother, who, trembling slightly, rose and
took his outstretched hand just as another lash fell on the horse's back
and another lurch followed. Waring caught at the cab-rail with one hand,
threw the other arm about her slender waist, and, fairly lifting little
Madame over the wheel, sprang with her to the shore, and in an instant
more had carried her, speechless and somewhat agitated, to the top of
the levee.

"Now," said he, "let me drive you and Nin Nin wherever you were going.
Is it to market or church?"

"_Mais non_--to _bonne maman's_, of whom it is the _fete_," cried the
eager little one, despite her mother's stern orders of silence. "Look!"
she exclaimed, showing her dainty little legs and feet in creamy silken
hose and kid.

It was "bonne maman," explained Madame, who had ordered the cab from
town for them, never dreaming of the condition of the river road or
suspecting that of the driver.

"So much the happier for me," laughed Waring.--"Take the front seat,
Jeffers.--Now, Nin Nin, _ma fleurette_, up with you!" And the delighted
child was lifted to her perch in the stylish trap she had so often
admired. "Now, madame," he continued, extending his hand.

But Madame hung back, hesitant and blushing.

"Oh, Monsieur Wareeng, I cannot, I must not. Is it not that some one
shall extricate the cab?"

"No one from this party, at least," laughed Waring, mischievously making
the most of her idiomatic query. "Your driver is more _cochon_ than
_cocher_, and if he drowns in that mud 'twill only serve him right. Like
your famous compatriot, he'll have a chance to say, 'I will drown, and
no one shall help me,' for all I care. The brute! _Allons!_ I will drive
you to _bonne maman's_ of whom it is the _fete_. Bless that baby
daughter! And Madame d'Hervilly shall bless Nin Nin's _tout devoue_
Sam."

And Madame Lascelles found further remonstrance useless. She was lifted
into the seat, by which time the driver, drunken and truculent, had
waded after them.

"Who's to pay for this?" was his surly question.

"You, I fancy, as soon as your employer learns of your driving into that
hole," was Waring's cool reply.

"Well, by God, I want five dollars for my fare and trouble, and I want
it right off." And, whip in hand, the burly, mud-covered fellow came
lur