His voice jarred upon her heart, now too full, and she ran into the house to hide her feelings, and left him. Even the thought of him now, in her morbid state, began to pierce her like a sword.
"She thinks more of her paltry strawberry-bed than of me," muttered
Arden, and he stalked angrily homeward. "What is the matter with Miss
Allen?" he asked his mother abruptly. "I don't understand her."
"Nor I either," said Mrs. Lacey with a sigh.
The next morning was very warm, and Edith saw that the day would be hotter than any that preceded. A dry wind sprang up and it seemed worse than the sun. The vines began to wither early after the coolness of the night, and those she had watered suffered the most, and seemed to say to her mockingly:
"You can't do anything."
"Oh, heaven!" cried Edith, almost in despair, "there is a black hand pushing me down."
In an excited, feverish manner she roamed restlessly around and could settle down to nothing. She scanned the horizon for a cloud, as the shipwrecked might for a sail.
"Edie, what is the matter?" said Laura, putting her arms about her sister.
"It won't rain," said Edith, bursting into tears. "My home, my happiness, everything depends on rain, and look at these skies."
"But won't He send it?" asked Laura, gently.