e direction of the house. He recognised her at once, and exclaimed,
"Miss Gertrude, you'll be wet through; and Miss Pace too. Sure, and ye'd
better baith hasten to her house, where ye'll be secure."

So saying, he caught Miss Pace in his arms, and signing to Gertrude to
follow, rushed across the street, and hurrying on to a cottage near by,
did not stop until he had placed the old lady in safety beneath her own
porch; and Gerty also gained its shelter. Miss Pace was so bewildered
that it took her some minutes to recover her consciousness; and it was
arranged that Gertrude should stop where she was for an hour or two, and
that George should call for her when he passed that way with the
carriage on his return from the depot.

Miss Patty Pace was not a person of much hospitality. She owned the
cottage which she occupied and lived alone, keeping no servants and
entertaining no visitors. She was herself a famous visitor; and, as but
a small part of her life had been passed in D----, and all her friends
and connexions lived either in Boston or at a much greater distance, she
was a constant frequenter of omnibuses. But though, through her
travelling propensities and her regular attendance at church, she was
well known, Gertrude was perhaps the first visitor who had ever entered
her house.

Even when she was at her door, she had to take the old lady's key,
unlock and open it herself, and finally lead her hostess into the
parlour, and help her off with her innumerable capes, shawls, and veils.
Once come to a distinct consciousness of her situation, however, and
Miss Patty Pace conducted herself with all the elegant politeness for
which she was remarkable. Suffering a thousand regrets at the trying
experience her own clothes had sustained, she expressed nearly as many
fears lest Gertrude had ruined every article of her dress. It was only
after many assurances from the latter that her boots were scarcely wet
at all, her gingham dress and cape not hurt by rain, and her nice straw
bonnet safe under the scarf she had thrown over it, that Miss Patty
could be prevailed upon to so far forget the duties of a hostess as to
retire, and change her lace flounces for something more suitable for
home wear. As soon as she left the room, Gertrude, whose curiosity was
excited, took a nearer view of many articles, both of ornament and use,
which had attracted her attention, from their singular appearance. Miss
Pace's room was remarkable as its o