Do not terrify yourself, there is no cause for fear; it is only the natural consequence of great heat, and the weather lately has been very warm. We will return home, it is right to leave the trees, they attract the lightning. EMILIA. I dare not stir—O if I was but in the house, in the cellar! CHARLES. And what would you do in the cellar, is it not God who directs the storm? EMILIA. Yes. CHARLES. Then he can preserve you every where; here, in the house, or the cellar, it is all the same; but still we are to exercise our reason while we trust in God: let us then leave the trees, they are dangerous. EMILIA. But who can tell that God will preserve me? CHARLES. Does he not give you daily proofs of his favour? You would be miserable if he did not guard you. Where would you be safe? There is no need of a storm to destroy us, we are every moment in danger, if we lose his protection. A chimney, or only a tile may fall on us from a house:—there are a thousand things which we have reason to be afraid of, if we fear any. Dr. Bartlett says, he only fears offending God. EDWARD. You are a foolish girl, to be afraid of thunder. Come let us play and sing, then the noise will not reach us. CHARLES. No, we can play and sing, when the storm is over. It is not now the time when God lets us see such an astonishing token of his almighty Power—let us view the tempest with reverence. EMILIA. Oh, what a loud clap of thunder! May not that be a sign that God is angry with us? CHARLES. No surely. This stormy weather is a blessing; it is of use to purify the air: the heat of the summer would, without these concussions, occasion a great many contagious disorders. Emilia, be easy, God loves us, we every day receive proofs of it; let us trust in him, as we trust our parents;—we cannot doubt their love, and have we less reliance on our heavenly Father? EMILIA. Come, let us hasten into the house; my father said once, it was dangerous to look at the lightning. CHARLES. Except an extraordinary flash, it has much the same effect as when you look at the sun, the sight is immediately dimmed. EDWARD. Do not go home, how can you be so foolish? CHARLES. Though I do not fear the storm myself, I would not be so ill-natured as to oblige Emilia to stand trembling here. I would avoid, without despising her weakness. It is weak to be afraid, but impious to mock the storm.