sformed. It was as if youth and strength
entered afresh into something already dead to sensibility and intention.
As if by inspiration, she grasped the other's band with a force which
blenched the knuckles. Her face suddenly flamed, as if some divine light
shone through it. Her form expanded till it stood out majestically.
Lifting her right hand, she stepped forward towards Caswall, and with a
bold sweep of her arm seemed to drive some strange force towards him.
Again and again was the gesture repeated, the man falling back from her
at each movement. Towards the door he retreated, she following. There
was a sound as of the cooing sob of doves, which seemed to multiply and
intensify with each second. The sound from the unseen source rose and
rose as he retreated, till finally it swelled out in a triumphant peal,
as she with a fierce sweep of her arm, seemed to hurl something at her
foe, and he, moving his hands blindly before his face, appeared to be
swept through the doorway and out into the open sunlight.

"All at once my own faculties were fully restored; I could see and hear
everything, and be fully conscious of what was going on. Even the
figures of the baleful group were there, though dimly seen as through a
veil--a shadowy veil. I saw Lilla sink down in a swoon, and Mimi throw
up her arms in a gesture of triumph. As I saw her through the great
window, the sunshine flooded the landscape, which, however, was
momentarily becoming eclipsed by an onrush of a myriad birds."

By the next morning, daylight showed the actual danger which threatened.
From every part of the eastern counties reports were received concerning
the enormous immigration of birds. Experts were sending--on their own
account, on behalf of learned societies, and through local and imperial
governing bodies--reports dealing with the matter, and suggesting
remedies.

The reports closer to home were even more disturbing. All day long it
would seem that the birds were coming thicker from all quarters.
Doubtless many were going as well as coming, but the mass seemed never to
get less. Each bird seemed to sound some note of fear or anger or
seeking, and the whirring of wings never ceased nor lessened. The air
was full of a muttered throb. No window or barrier could shut out the
sound, till the ears of any listener became dulled by the ceaseless
murmur. So monotonous it was, so cheerless, so disheartening, so
melancholy, that all longed, but