"I'm so worried," and, pushing quickly past him, she hurriedly rejoined the two women.
They were superintending the erection of a long tent or marquee in the garden, hastily extemporized from the awnings of the veranda and other cloth.

Mrs.Randolph explained that, although all danger was over, there was the possibility of the recurrence of lighter shocks during the day and night, and that they would all feel much more secure and comfortable to camp out for the next twenty-four hours in the open air.
"Only imagine you're picnicking, and you'll enjoy it as most people usually enjoy those horrid al fresco entertainments.

I don't believe there's the slightest real necessity for it, but," she added in a lower voice, "the Irish and Chinese servants are so demoralized now, they wouldn't stay indoors with us.

It's a common practice here, I believe, for a day or two after the shock, and it gives time to put things right again and clear up.

The old, one-storied, Spanish houses with walls three feet thick, and built round a courtyard or patio, were much safer.
It's only when the Americans try to improve upon the old order of things with their pinchbeck shams and stucco that Providence interferes like this to punish them." It was the fact, however, that Rose was more impressed by what seemed to her the absolute indifference of Providence in the matter, and the cool resumption by Nature of her ordinary conditions.