it, followed by a plentiful, falling sound, as light, though, as if a shower of sand were being sprinkled from a window overhead; then the fall spread, took on an order, a rhythm, became liquid, loud, drum-ming, musical, innumerable, universal. It was the rain. "There, Francoise, what did I tell you? How it's coming down! But I think I heard the bell at the garden gate: go along and see who can be outside in this weather." Francoise went and returned. "It's
Mme. Amedee" (my grandmother). "She said she was going for a walk. It's raining hard, all the same." "I'm not at all surprised," said my aunt, looking up towards the sky. "I've always said that she was not in the least like other people. Well, I'm glad it's she and not myself who's outside in all this." "Mme. Amedee is always the exact opposite of the rest," said Francoise, not unkindly, refraining until she should be alone with the other servants from stating her belief that my grandmother was 'a bit off her head.' "There's Benediction over! Eulalie will never come now," sighed my aunt. "It will be the weather that's frightened her away." "But it's not five o'clock yet,
Mme. Octave, it's only half-past four." "Only half-past four! And here am I, obliged to draw back the small curtains, just to get a tiny streak of daylight. At half-past four! Only a week before the Rogation-days. Ah, my poor Francoise, the dear Lord must be sorely vexed with us. The world is going too far in these days. As my poor Octave used to say, we have forgotten God too often, and He is taking vengeance upon us."
