They braved it till it became a drenching down-pour; then they leaped from their machines and fled to any shelter they could find, under trees and in doorways.

The men used their greater agility to get the best places, and kept them; the women made no appeal for them by word or look, but took the rain in the open as if they expected nothing else.
Rose watched the scene with a silent intensity which March interpreted.
"There's your chance, Rose.

Why don't you go down and rebuke those fellows ?" Rose blushed and shrank away without answer, and Mrs.March promptly attacked her husband in his behalf.

"Why don't you go and rebuke them yourself ?" "Well, for one thing, there isn't any conversation in my phrase-book Between an indignant American Herr and a Party of German Wheelmen who have taken Shelter from the Rain and are keeping the Wheelwomen out in the Wet." Mrs.Adding shrieked her delight, and he was flattered into going on.

"For another thing, I think it's very well for you ladies to realize from an object-lesson of this sort what spoiled children of our civilization you are.