CHAPTER XVI 



THE SHOWER 



BLAZE of sunlight, a yellow gleam 

 of dusty road, a brown expanse of 

 parched and dying lawns, of drooping 

 leaves, a dry filing of crickets in the 

 hayfields, and a bank of purple-black clouds 

 rising rapidly in the west. 



Beneath the currant bushes, now crimson with 

 fruit, the fowls with drooping wings and with 

 wide-opened mouths, pant with the heat. Not a 

 bird-song is heard ; only a faint and distant coo- 

 ing from the pigeon-loft makes the stillness more 

 marked. All nature seems prostrated by the heat 

 of early afternoon. In the distance the faint rattle 

 of the mowing machines sounds hot and dry. 



On the main business street the sun blazes with 

 an oven-like heat. Under the shade of the 

 withered elms and faded maples stand the store 

 horses, with drooping heads, stamping impa- 

 tiently at the flies. An occasional heavy cart 

 rumbles by, the driver lolling with throat bare 

 and shirt sleeves rolled to his shoulders. The 

 street is dry, dusty, panting and lifeless. 



