Mr. Flushing explained that they had been on the roof watching the
storm.
"It was a wonderful sight," he said. "The lightning went right out over
the sea, and lit up the waves and the ships far away. You can't think
how wonderful the mountains looked too, with the lights on them, and the
great masses of shadow. It's all over now."
He slid down into a chair, becoming interested in the final struggle of
the game.
"And you go back to-morrow?" said Mrs. Thornbury, looking at Mrs.
Flushing.
"Yes," she replied.
"And indeed one is not sorry to go back," said Mrs. Elliot, assuming an
air of mournful anxiety, "after all this illness."
"Are you afraid of dyin'?" Mrs. Flushing demanded scornfully.
"I think we are all afraid of that," said Mrs. Elliot with dignity.
"I suppose we're all cowards when it comes to the point," said Mrs.
Flushing, rubbing her cheek against the back of the chair. "I'm sure I
am."
"Not a bit of it!" said Mr. Flushing, turning round, for Mr. Pepper took
a very long time to consider his move. "It's not cowardly to wish to
live, Alice. It's the very reverse of cowardly. Personally, I'd like to
go on for a hundred years--granted, of course, that I had the full use
of my faculties. Think of all the things that are bound to happen!"
"That is what I feel," Mrs. Thornbury rejoined. "The changes, the
improvements, the inventions--and beauty.
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