At length the Doctor bawled,-- "We shall have a crack closer than any yet, you'll see; we always have one particular one;--our atmosphere is not restored to its balance yet,--there!" The curtains were drawn, and yet, for an instant, the room was as bright as day.

Simultaneously there came a crack and an explosion, so loud and terrifying, that, used as I was to such an event, I involuntarily jumped up from my seat.
"Are you all right here ?" said the Doctor; and, running out into the kitchen, shouted, "Any one hurt ?" The kitchen girl said that the lightning had run all down her back like cold water, and the housekeeper averred that she thought the thunder had taken the roof of the house off.

So we soon perceived that nothing was the matter, and sat down again to our discourse, and our supper.
"Well," began I, "here's the rain come at last.

In a fortnight there will be good grass again.

We ought to start and get some store cattle." "But where ?" replied James.