"I've no idea he can manage her in such a squall." Sophie gave a little scream, and Charlotte and Henrietta both grew very pale, as a frightful shock of thunder followed.

The wind was furious, and the unfastened shutters in various parts of the house sounded like so many reports of pistols, and in an instant the whole force of the rain fell suddenly and at once upon the windows.

Somewhere some glass was shattered, and all these sounds added to the sense of danger, and the darkness was so great and so sudden, that it was difficult to realize that half an hour before, the sunset could have whitened the sails of a boat upon the river.
"I'm afraid it's too late to do much now," said Kilian, stopping in front of his brother in the doorway.
"What's the use of talking in that way," returned Richard in a hoarse, low voice.

"If you hav'nt more sense than to talk so before women, you can stay at home with them," he continued, striding across the hall, and picking up a lantern that stood in a corner near the door.

Charlotte Benson caught up one of the candles from the table, and ran to him and lit the lamp within the lantern.