When to all had been added the excitement of the storm and his unexpected words, her overstrained nerves gave way.

She was too desperately unhappy for the common fear which temporarily overwhelmed many--the greater swallows up the less--but the storm had led to words that both wounded and alarmed her.

Why did she so perplex him?
What had the lightning's gleam revealed, to be understood when he should think it all over?
Could the truth of her love, of which she was so conscious, be detected in spite of her efforts and disguises?
Was she doomed, not only to failure and an impoverished life, but also to the humiliation of receiving a lifelong, yet somewhat complacent pity from Graydon, and possibly the triumphant scorn of her rival?
With these thoughts surging in her mind she locked herself in her room and sobbed like the broken-hearted girl she felt herself to be.

The passing storm was nothing to her.

A heavier storm was raging in her soul, nor had it ceased when the skies without grew cloudless and serene.