do know it," said Roger, in a low tone, "and I may as well tell you,
Patty, that there's going to be a hard storm before long. Certainly
before we reach Pine Branches."

"How dreadful," said Patty, who was awed more by the anxious note in
Roger's voice, than by the thought of the rain storm. "Don't you think it
would be better," she went on, hoping to make a helpful suggestion, "if
we should put in to some house until the storm is over? Surely anybody
would give us shelter."

"I don't see any houses," said Roger, "and, Patty, I may as well own up,
we're off the road somehow. I think I must have taken the wrong turning
at that fork a few miles back. And though I'm not quite sure, yet I feel
a growing conviction that we're lost."

Although the situation was appalling, for some unexplainable reason Patty
couldn't help giggling.

"Lost!" she exclaimed in a tragic whisper, "in the middle of the night!
in a desolate country region! and a storm coming on!"

Patty's dramatic summary of the situation made Roger laugh too. And their
peals of gaiety reassured the three who sat behind.

"What are you laughing at?" said Elise; "I wish you'd tell me, for I'm
'most scared to death, and Roger, it's beginning to rain."

"You don't say so!" said Roger, in a tone of polite surprise, "why then
we must put on the curtains." He stopped the car, and jumping down from
his place, began to arrange the curtains which were always carried in
case of rain.

Mr. Farrington helped him, and as he did so, remarked, "Looks like
something of a storm, my boy."

"Father," said Roger, in a low voice, "it's going to rain cats and dogs,
and there may be a few thunders and lightnings. I hope mother won't have
hysterics, and I don't believe she will, if you sit by her and hold her
hand. I don't think we'd better stop. I think we'd better drive straight
ahead, but, Dad, I believe we're on the wrong road. We're not lost; I
know the way all right, but to go around the way we are going, is about
forty miles farther than the way I meant to go; and yet I don't dare turn
back and try to get on the other road again, for fear I'll really get
lost."

"Roger," said Mr. Farrington, "you're a first-class chauffeur, and I'll
give you a reference whenever you want one, but I must admit that
to-night you have succeeded in getting us into a pretty mess."

Roger was grateful enough for the light way in which his father treated
the rather serious situation, but the b