“Now, if she knocks at the window again, it's that rug,” I thought to
myself. “Well, I won't stop....”
Hour after hour passed; it was pitch dark now, raining and snowing
harder than ever, and the road growing worse all the time. Now and again
I would jump down from the box and run along beside the horses to keep
warm; the water was pouring from my clothes.
We were nearing home now.
I was hoping there would not be too much light when we drove up, so
that she recognized the rug. Unfortunately, there were lights in all the
windows, waiting her arrival.
In desperation I checked the horses a little before we got to the steps,
and got down to open the carriage door.
“But why ... what on earth have you pulled up here for?”
“I only thought if perhaps Fruen wouldn't mind getting out here. It's
all mud on ahead ... the wheels....”
She must have thought I was trying to entice her into something, Heaven
knows!...
“Drive on, man, do!” she said.
The horses moved on, and the carriage stopped just where the light was
at its full.
Emma came out to receive her mistress. Fruen handed her the rugs all in
a bundle, as she had rolled them up before getting out of the carriage.
“Thanks,” she said to me, glancing round as she went in. “Heavens, how
dreadfully wet you are!”