FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148  
149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   >>  
o frequent in the south, which appear likely to overthrow heaven and earth, and which end rapidly, leaving behind them a bright sky and a cool atmosphere, so that they do more good than harm. "Oh, heavens!" exclaimed my companion, "we shall have a storm." "Yes," I say, "and although the chaise is covered, the rain will spoil your pretty dress. I am very sorry." "I do not mind the dress; but the thunder frightens me so!" "Close your ears." "And the lightning?" "Postillion, let us go somewhere for shelter." "There is not a house, sir, for a league, and before we come to it, the storm will have passed off." He quietly keeps on his way, and the lightning flashes, the thunder sends forth its mighty voice, and the lady shudders with fright. The rain comes down in torrents, I take off my cloak to shelter us in front, at the same moment we are blinded by a flash of lightning, and the electric fluid strikes the earth within one hundred yards of us. The horses plunge and prance with fear, and my companion falls in spasmodic convulsions. She throws herself upon me, and folds me in her arms. The cloak had gone down, I stoop to place it around us, and improving my opportunity I take up her clothes. She tries to pull them down, but another clap of thunder deprives her of every particle of strength. Covering her with the cloak, I draw her towards me, and the motion of the chaise coming to my assistance, she falls over me in the most favourable position. I lose no time, and under pretence of arranging my watch in my fob, I prepare myself for the assault. On her side, conscious that, unless she stops me at once, all is lost, she makes a great effort; but I hold her tightly, saying that if she does not feign a fainting fit, the post-boy will turn round and see everything; I let her enjoy the pleasure of calling me an infidel, a monster, anything she likes, but my victory is the most complete that ever a champion achieved. The rain, however, was falling, the wind, which was very high, blew in our faces, and, compelled to stay where she was, she said I would ruin her reputation, as the postillion could see everything. "I keep my eye upon him," I answered, "he is not thinking of us, and even if he should turn his head, the cloak shelters us from him. Be quiet, and pretend to have fainted, for I will not let you go." She seems resigned, and asks how I can thus set the storm at defiance. "The storm, dear one, is my b
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148  
149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   >>  



Top keywords:

thunder

 

lightning

 

shelter

 

chaise

 

companion

 

fainting

 

tightly

 
conscious
 

arranging

 

pretence


position

 

favourable

 

motion

 

coming

 

assistance

 

prepare

 
assault
 

effort

 

shelters

 

thinking


postillion

 

answered

 

pretend

 

defiance

 

fainted

 

resigned

 
reputation
 

complete

 

victory

 

champion


achieved

 

calling

 

pleasure

 

infidel

 

monster

 

falling

 

compelled

 

convulsions

 
frightens
 

covered


pretty
 
Postillion
 

passed

 
quietly
 

league

 
heaven
 

rapidly

 

leaving

 

overthrow

 

frequent