Yes, it
wanted but one hour to dinner. Now, her brother was rather a Tartar about
punctuality at dinner. She felt she was already in danger of censure for
her long _te'te-'a-te'te_ with Severne, though the rain was the culprit.
She could not afford to draw every eye upon her by being late for dinner
along with him.
She told Severne they must go home now, rain or no rain, and she walked
resolutely out into the weather.
Severne did not like it at all, but he was wise enough to deplore it only
on her account; and indeed her light alpaca was soon drenched, and began
to cling to her. But the spirited girl only laughed at his condolences,
as she hurried on. "Why, it is only warm water," said she; "this is no
more than a bath in the summer sea. Bathing is getting wet through in
blue flannel. Well, I am bathing in blue alpaca."
"But it will ruin your dress."
"My dress! Why, it is as old as the hills. When I get home I'll give it
to Rosa, ready washed--ha-ha!"
The rain pelted and poured, and long before they reached the inn, Zoe's
dress had become an external cuticle, an alpaca skin.
But innocence is sometimes very bold. She did not care a bit; and, to
tell the truth, she had little need to care.
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