She began
to argue, "I was naughty, I know, to teaze Mary; and Mary at home
would not have let me; but I could not help the tumbling into the
pond. I wanted to get out of the way of the lightning."
"Now, Kate, you ARE trying to show how silly you can make yourself."
"But I can't bear thunder and lightning. It frightens me so, I don't
know what to do; and Aunt Jane is just as bad. She always has the
shutters shut."
"Your Aunt Jane has had her nerves weakened by bad health; but you
are young and strong, and you ought to fight with fanciful terrors."
"But it is not fancy about lightning. It does kill people."
"A storm is very awful, and is one of the great instances of God's
power. He does sometimes allow His lightnings to fall; but I do not
think it can be quite the thought of this that terrifies you, Kate,
for the recollection of His Hand is comforting."
"No," said Kate honestly, "it is not thinking of that. It is that
the glare--coming no one knows when--and the great rattling clap are
so--so frightful!"
"Then, my dear, I think all you can do is to pray not only for
protection from lightning and tempest, but that you may be guarded
from the fright that makes you forget to watch yourself, and so
renders the danger greater! You could not well have been drowned
where you fell; but if it had been a river--"
"I know," said Kate.
"And try to get self-command. That is the great thing, after all,
that would hinder things from being horrid!" said Lady de la Poer,
with a pleasant smile, just as a knock came to the door, and the maid
announced that it was five o'clock, and Miss's things were quite
ready; and in return she was thanked, and desired to bring them up.
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