Silence followed the terrific clap of thunder—a silence almost as startling as the noise which had preceded it. And then the rain came down in torrents.
It was as if that awful blast had opened the flood-gates of heaven and let down the waters accumulated there for ages past. A pelting, driving, overwhelming storm it was, punctuated by intermittent flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder.
But, as if that were not enough, the condition of the three children—woebegone, dirty and on the verge of tears—was enough to cause a disturbance.
“What has happened? What is going to happen?” murmured Ruth, for once, at least, feeling that her nerves were going to give way.
It was Agnes who saved the situation. Having gained her own equilibrium, she turned to Nalbro and asked:
“What do you think of the Corner House now? Isn’t it an ideal place? So quiet and restful!”
And as she asked this Dot burst into tears and wails, which made her inquiry seem all the more contrasting.
But Nally let out a peal of jolly laughter and exclaimed:
“I just love it! It’s so different!”
“Yes, it’s different, all right!” chuckled Neale.