They were the more relieved at the arrival of the three, because the
station was close and heated, and it was a very warm summer day, so
that the air was extremely oppressive.
"It feels like thunder," said some one. And thenceforth Kate's
perfect felicity was clouded. She had a great dislike to a thunder-
storm, and she instantly began asking her neighbours if they REALLY
thought it would be thunder.
"I hope it will," said Lady Fanny; "it would cool the air, and sound
so grand in those domes."
Kate thought this savage, and with an imploring look asked Lady de la
Poer if she thought there would be a storm.
"I can't see the least sign of one," was the answer. "See how clear
the sky is!" as they steamed out of the station.
"But do you think there will be one to-day?" demanded Kate.
"I do not expect it," said Lady de la Poer, smiling; "and there is no
use in expecting disagreeables."
"Disagreeables! O Mamma, it would be such fun," cried Grace, "if we
only had a chance of getting wet through!"
Here Lord de la Poer adroitly called off the public attention from
the perils of the clouds, by declaring that he wanted to make out the
fourth line of an advertisement on the banks, of which he said he had
made out one line as he was whisked by on each journey he had made;
and as it was four times over in four different languages, he
required each damsel to undertake one; and there was a great deal of
laughing over which it should be that should undertake each language.
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