Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/173

 day, may it not, Mrs. Harden? Look at that flock of cranes flying northwards. Should we not take warning by them?"

Margaret looked in the direction indicated by her father. A vast letter V was outlined in the sky by a flight of cranes, which looked as small from their great distance as those on a Japanese fan, although their curious harsh cry was distinctly audible.

"No, it will not be hot for some time to come," said Mrs. Harden, "it will be as it is to-day for a month longer; you must not think of leaving us just yet, General." This with a tender, deprecating smile, which warmed up the harmless vanity of the unwary General to a melting-point.

The game of tennis being ended, Robert Feuardent leaped over the net, and, racket in hand, seated himself at Margaret's feet at a little distance from the others. He had denied himself the sight of her since that morning in the garden, through some idea of atonement to Philip. All the glad blood rushed to his face as he looked into her eyes and saw that she was still friendly and glad to see him.

"When may I come again to you? It is a lifetime since I have seen you. I have missed you so terribly. Do you know what it is to miss a person as I have missed you?" he said.

"How can I tell? I have certainly wanted to