Not really edited.

Mrs. John Chubb was growing frustrated. There are some days that just seem to work against the poor people trying to hurry through them, and this one was quite in a league of its own in that regard. The letter had arrived that morning, and ever since reading its contents, Mrs. John had been in a mad rush, only to have the elements of the world set themselves against her. To begin with, the bathtub had sprung a leak, then the train was late, and after that a terrible downpour had begun before she had been able to catch a cab. Now of all things, there was some vehicle ablaze in the middle of the road.

“Driver, what is the meaning of this? Why have you stopped?” Mrs. John demanded from the backseat.

“It seems some poor devil’s had an accident ma’am.” The driver shook his head and flicked his Embassy Regal out the window and into the street.

“Oh, you can’t be serious!” She replied, wringing her hands anxiously.

“Afraid so ma’am, the car’s burning something bad too.”

“Oh does anyone in the world have worse luck than I do?” Mrs. John wailed dismally.

The cabby raised his eyebrows. He reflected that the poor bloke in the burning motor seemed to be having worse luck than Mrs. John, but remarking on the fact didn’t seem wise considering her frame of mind. “Can’t you get this contraption moving?” The lady continued, her brown curls quivering. “Please, you can’t believe how frightfully important it is! I’m late already and my niece needs me!”

“Sorry ma’am but I can’t just mow them over you know.”

“Isn’t there a side road or something? Oh please! I simply must get moving.”

The driver craned his head around, searching for a way to back out of traffic. The firemen had nearly succeeded in putting out the fire, and he, being generally a very calm, easy going person, would have much preferred to sit and wait it out. But there was a side road was not too hard out of reach so he cranked the wheel to the left and to the right and backwards and forwards the cab rocked until at last they had managed to turn amid a chorus of honking horns.

“Oh thank you! I’m very grateful to you I’m sure.” Said Mrs. John, immediately forgetting the driver even existed as soon as she had said it. They made their slow way through the city streets, hitting all the traffic lights and nearly being drowned in puddles. At last the city lights began to fade, as the cab sped out into the darker country roads. They came to a house on Rose Street enclosed by a small white picket fence and roses and daisies blooming in the garden. Mrs. John popped from the cab, quite forgetting to thank the driver, and hurried into the house. “Emily? Emily, I’m here! Oh, where are you all gone to?” She flung her scarf on the chair and called about, wondering.

“Oh Ms. May! Here you are at last! We’d quite given up hope of your coming tonight!” The maid, Ruby, hurried down the stairs.

“How’s she coming Ruby?” Mrs. John asked anxiously.

“Not terribly well, miss, that’s the size of it.”

“Is Doctor Boncrought here?”

“Yes, miss!”

“She’s in good hands then. Never you mind about your mistress, now. She’s a Bervell. And we Bervell girls always knew how to bring strong, healthy babies into this world!” And with that Mrs. John swept up the stairs.