Nyoda. For no reason at all the maid began to giggle violently. I
suppose she was still amused over the grimaces of the chauffeur. It
takes so little to amuse some people.

"Come this way," she said, and led the way from the entry into a hall
and up a flight of stairs. There was a big triple window on the landing
and as we passed the rain was dashing against it so violently that we
thought the glass must give way. Severe as the storm had been when we
were caught in it, it was twice as bad now, and we gave a thankful sigh
that we were under shelter, and blessed the gasoline for giving out
when it did, for if it hadn't we must have been overtaken on the road
and would have missed this chance of getting in the dry. We went up-
stairs as quickly as possible so as not to drip on the rich carpet that
covered the steps. The maid threw open the door into the most luxurious
bedchamber I have ever seen. It was clear that we were in the house of
a very wealthy man. Another maid was in the room which we entered and
she looked at us five dripping refugees with a stare of curiosity.

"Some friends who were caught in the rain," explained the maid who had
acted as our guide. "Come, get them some dry clothes."

The two of them bustled about laying out things for us to put on, and
for the first time in my life I was waited on by a maid. The first one,
whom the other addressed as Carrie, was inclined to be talkative, and
sympathized noisily with our drenched state. She was quite pretty, with
rosy cheeks and black hair and black eyes. There was something odd
about her appearance at first and upon looking at her closely I
discovered this odd appearance came from the fact that her eyes did not
seem to be on a level. But she was very deft in her movements and had
our wet garments hung up on hangers and spread out before the little