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Blackwood, Algernon, 1869-1951

"The Extra Day"

It
shouted, whistled, sang, using a dozen different voices all at once.
The roar fell into syllables. It was amazing. A great throat uttered
words. They could scarcely believe their ears.
The wind was shouting with a joyful, boisterous shout: "Open the
window! _I'll_ put out the light!"
All heard the wonderful thing. Yet it seemed quite natural in a way.
Uncle Felix, still standing and waiting as though he knew not exactly
what was going to happen, moved forward at once and boldly opened the
window's lower sash. In swept the mighty visitor, the stranger from
the air. The lamp gave one quick flicker and went out. Deep stillness
followed. There was a silence like the moon.
The shy Night-Wind had come into the room.
Ah, there was awe and wonder then! The silence was so unexpected. The
whole wind, not merely part of it, was in. It had come so gently,
softly, delicately too! In the darkness the outline of the window-
frame was visible; Uncle Felix's big figure blocked against the stars.
Judy's head could be seen in silhouette against the other window, but
Tim and Maria, being smaller, were merged in the pool of shadow below
the level of the sill.


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