For all answer the woman seized her hand, and while the lightning
flashed and the thunder rolled, and the wind and rain beat down, she
drew her the whole length of the hall before a back window that
overlooked the neglected garden, and, regardless of the electric
fluid that incessantly blazed upon them, she held her there and
scrutinized her features.

"Well, I like this! Upon my word, I do!" said Cap, composedly.

Without replying, the strange woman seized her right hand, forcibly
opened it, gazed upon the palm and then, flinging it back with a
shudder, exclaimed:

"Capitola, what brought you under this roof? Away! Begone! Mount
your horse and fly while there is yet time!"

"What! expose myself again to the storm? I won't, and that's flat!"
said Cap.

"Girl! girl! there are worse dangers in the world than any to be
feared from thunder, lightning, rain or wind!"

"Very well, then, when I meet them it will be time enough to deal
with them! Meanwhile the stormy night and my soaked clothing are
very palpable evils, and as I see no good end to be gained by my
longer enduring them, I will just beg you to stop soothsaying--(as I
have had enough of that from another old witch)--and be as good as
to permit me to change my clothes!"

"It is madness! You shall not stay here!" cried the woman, in a