ET DONA FERENTES
1007
denly the storm had burst over their heads-the picnic things all
shook under the blast of the thunder-clap and the whole wood was
lit up by a great fork of lightning which seemed to strike obliquely
at the nearby stream. Before a second and more deafening thunder–
clap had sounded, Mrs. Rackham had jumped to her feet.
"Come on, Richard, pack up the picnic basket. We mustn't stay
under these trees with this lightning about. Make for the car and
the clearing. Help me with the rugs, Elizabeth. Monica," she called
"don't stand there, my dear, we'll all get drenched soon if we don't
move, apart from the danger of the lightning."
But Monica stood a little away from them, her face chalk-white
and her eyes round with terror. As the next fork of lightning zigzagged
viciously in front of them she began to scream.
"Edwin, Edwin! My God! where are you? Oh pray God nothing
happens. We must find him, we must find him" and she turned and
ran down the little path. She had hardly gone a few paces when she
tripped on a tree root and fell on her face, bruising her cheek and cut–
ting the side of her chin.
Richard made as though to move towards her and then blushing
scarlet, turned in the direction of the car. But already Elizabeth had
run to her mother and, throwing herself on her she sobbed.
"Mummie, darling, Mummie darling, let's go away from this
place."
"For heaven's sake, Monica," said Mrs. Rackham "pull yourself
together. You're scaring the child out of her wits." She took her
daughter'S arm and started to pull her to her feet, but Monica pulled
her arm away roughly. "We must find him" she said and began to
weep bitterly.
"Stop this at once" said Mrs. R ackham sternly "Edwin's per–
fectly capable of looking after himself" and she led her sobbing
daughter to the car. By now the rain was pouring down. Monica's
fashionable hair style was washed across on to her face and strands
of hair got stuck to the cut on her chin, meanwhile the blood ran
down on to the white dress beneath. As they came to the clearing
there was a blinding flash of lightning, followed by a crash. In a few
moments smoke was ascending from the other side of the stream–
one of the larches had been struck.
HYau
must drive, Richard" said Mrs. Rackham. "Your mother's
