It does not matter; he should not have exasperated
me by slighting me."
Then the coppery haze seemed to gather itself together--great purple
masses of clouds piled themselves in the sky, a lurid light overspread
the heavens, the dense oppressive silence was broken by a distant peal
of thunder, great rain-drops fell--fierce, heavy drops. The trees seemed
to stretch out their leaves to drink in the moisture, the parched
flowers welcomed the downpour; and still the Duchess of Hazlewood stood
out on the terrace, so deeply engrossed in her thoughts that she never
heeded the rain.
Madaline hastened out to her with a shawl.
"Dear duchess," she cried, "it is raining; and you are so absorbed in
thought that you do not notice it."
She laughed a strange, weird laugh, and raised her beautiful face with
its expression of gloom.
"I did not notice it, Madaline," she said; "but there is no need for
anxiety about me," she added, proudly.
They re-entered the house together. Madaline believed that the duchess
was thinking of and grieving over the departure of the duke. Lady Peters
thought the same. They both did their best to comfort her--to amuse her
and distract her thoughts.
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