.

The clouds within a little time have gathered over all the sky,
hanging heavily, as if about to drop in one unbroken mass upon the
earth. At intervals the lightning flashes from their brooding hearts,
quivers, disappears, and then comes the thunder, travelling slowly
after its twin-born flame. A strong wind has sprung up, howls through
the darkened streets, and raises the dust in dense bodies to rebel
against the approaching storm. The disbanded soldiers fly, the funeral
has already vanished like its dead, and all people hurry homeward--all
that have a home--while a few lounge by the corners or trudge on
desperately at their leisure. In a narrow lane which communicates with
the shady street I discern the rich old merchant putting himself to
the top of his speed lest the rain should convert his hair-powder to a
paste. Unhappy gentleman! By the slow vehemence and painful moderation
wherewith he journeys, it is but too evident that Podagra has left its
thrilling tenderness in his great toe. But yonder, at a far more rapid
pace, come three other of my acquaintance, the two pretty girls and
the young man unseasonably interrupted in their walk. Their footsteps
are supported by the risen dust, the wind lends them its velocity,
they fly like three sea-birds driven landward by the tempestuous
breeze. The ladies would not thus rival Atalanta if they but knew that
any one were at leisure to observe them. Ah! as they hasten onward,
laughing in the angry face of nature, a sudden catastrophe has
chanced. At the corner where the narrow lane enters into the street
they come plump against the old merchant, whose tortoise-motion has
just brought him to that point. He likes not the sweet encounter; the
darkness of the whole air gathers speedily upon his visage, and there
is a pause on both sides. Finally he thrusts aside the youth with
little courtesy, seizes an arm of each of the two girls, and plods
onward like a magician with a prize of captive fairies. All this is
easy to be understood. How disconsolate the poor lover stands,
regardless of the rain that threatens an exceeding damage to his
well-fashioned habiliments, till he catches a backward glance of mirth
from a bright eye, and turns away with whatever comfort it conveys!

The old man and his daughters are safely housed, and now the storm
lets loose its fury. In every dwelling I perceive the faces of the
chambermaids as they shut down the windows, excluding the impetuous
show