236 FLOWERS OF THE SUN 



lated. Later on the balance would be more equal, 

 and though she might rest balmily in the open, it 

 would not be with closed eyes, and she would aban- 

 don the formality of holding a book in her lap when 

 the Magician spreads his open pages before her, 

 turning them to suit every mood, with fingers 

 none the less real because invisible. 



We had been sitting with our backs toward the 

 west. Suddenly the sun -rays that flooded the road 

 were withdrawn, and we turned together to see 

 the thunder -heads racing up the sky toward their 

 favorite point, from which, however, they have often 

 veered. But this day determination was written on 

 each puffy ridge, and emphasized by a smoky yellow 

 underscud that made me immediately wish for the 

 sight of a farmhouse, ever so small. 



"Did I say Adagio a moment ago?" cried Flower 

 Hat, on her feet in an instant, and jamming the 

 things into the chaise. "That is over, and in a 

 moment the Rondo will be jangling over us. Really, 

 though this movement is out of its authorized place, 

 the Sonata is progressing finely. If we only had 

 the musical impressionist to transfer it from the air 

 to paper! Did you see that flash? Don't put the 

 drinking-cup on top of the plate - holders ? I didn't 

 mean to ; but please do hurry with that camera, and 



