FLOWERS OF THE SUN 237 



let us get away from these trees. Trees are very 

 bad things to be under. Go over in that old shed 

 yonder? Never! you know that hay attracts light- 

 ning, and I see wisps sticking through the cracks." 



"Then," said I, "there is nothing to be done 

 but to pull up the chaise top and boot and follow 

 the road until we come to the first house, which is 

 all of a mile away, I 'm sure. Oh ! there are the 

 first notes of your Rondo, and, of course, as a mu- 

 sician, you must expect many repetitions of them," 

 I continued, teasingly, as a heavy peal of thunder 

 started a downpour of staccato rain. 



"Do keep in the middle of the road," begged 

 Flower Hat, as branches brushed the chaise top. 



"Doan* you look to de lef, doan' you look to de right, 

 Keep in de middle ob de road!" 



I hummed, assuming a gayety which I did not feel. 

 Poor Flower Hat, however, was not looking at 

 anything except the trembling sleeve in which her 

 face was hidden. So I whipped up Nell, much to 

 her indignation, which, however, showed itself effec- 

 tively in a snort, curvet, and spurt of speed it was 

 a down-grade, to be sure which soon brought us 

 to the farmhouse. I also confess that I do not 

 like thunder-storms, and prefer, when caught out 



