IN THE RAIN 143 



&quot;Of course!&quot; I went off and made myself 

 fit woolen for warmth, though the day 

 was not cold, a short khaki skirt, an old 

 felt hat, and old shoes. Out we went into 

 the drenched world. Whish! A gust of rain 

 in my eyes half blinded me, and I ran 

 under the big maples. I heard Jonathan 

 chuckle. &quot;I can t help it,&quot; I gasped; &quot;I ll be 

 wet enough in a few minutes, and then I 

 shan t care.&quot; 



From the maples I made for the lee of the 

 barn eaves, disturbing the hens who were 

 sulking there. They stepped ostentatiously 

 out into the rainy barnyard with an air of 

 pointedly not noticing me, but of knowing all 

 the time whose fault it was. They were n t 

 liking the weather, anyhow, the hens were n t, 

 and showed it plainly in the wet, streaky 

 droop of their feathers and the exasperated 

 look in their red eyes. &quot;Those hens look as if 

 they thought I could do something about it if 

 I only would,&quot; I said to Jonathan as we passed 

 them. 



&quot;Yes, they are n t a cordial crowd. Here, 

 we ll show them how to take weather!&quot; 



We were passing under an apple tree; Jona- 



