A bad piece of
construction, thought he, and he wished, if he could have done so, to
improve it; but there was no way of altering it without pulling the
whole place to pieces. One day, a very short time after the talk
about Free Trade, a fearful storm of rain broke over Cowfold, and he
was startled by Ellen, his servant, running into the shop and telling
him that the staircase was flooded, and missis wanted him at once.
He put on his coat and was off in a moment. When he got there
Priscilla met him at the door crying, and in a great fright. The
well up aloft was full of water, and it was pouring in torrents
through the little window. It had gone through the floor of the
bedroom and into the dining-room, pulling down with it about half the
ceiling, which lay in a horrid mess upon the dining table and the
carpet, George saw in an instant what was the matter. He ran up the
steps to the well, pulled out a quantity of straw and dirt which
blocked up the entrance to the pipe; the water disappeared in two
minutes, and all further danger was arrested.
"Why on earth," he cried in half a passion, "did not you think to
clear away the rubbish, instead of wasting your time in sending for
me? It ought to have entered into anybody's head to do such a simple
thing as that.
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