Twas a sober-looking morning, with little sun at all
Catherine hoped it augured well, a sunny curtain call
A bright morning early in the year, often turns to rain
But a cloudy one might foretell, the sun would shine again

Poor Catherine grew restless, and very near to mope
She applied to Mr. Allen, to confirm her dearest hope
But not having his own skies, or a barometer to try
Declined giving any promise, of a bright and sunny sky

Not heartened by this answer, a better to procure
She applied to Mrs. Allen, who indeed was very sure
There's no doubt in the world, it will be a lovely day
If the sun will come out, and the clouds will go away

At eleven o'clock, a few specks of small rain
Caught Catherine's eye, on the Dear window pane
"I do believe it will be wet," was a sort of a moan
That broke from her lips, in a most desponding tone.

"I thought how it would be," Mrs. Allen then said
A triumphant prediction, that went to her head
"No walk today then," Catherine sighed in a gloom
"But it may come to nothing, or hold up by noon"

"Perhaps it may my dear, but it will--so dirty be"
"Oh! That will not signify; dirt never bothers me"
"I know you never mind dirt," Mrs Allen replied
In placid acceptance, of what cannot be denied

"It comes on faster and faster" (after a brief respite)
Catherine said, standing by a window in the declining light
"It does so indeed, and the streets will be very wet
If it continues so to rain, and for much longer yet"

"Look, at the umbrellas, I can already count four
How I hate to see them, should it even downpour"
"They are such disagreeable things, to hold or to carry
I would much rather take a chair, or indeed simply tarry"

"Such a nice-looking morning, I was sure it would be dry"
Young Catherine Morland said, looking at the ugly sky
"Anyone would have thought it, yes thought it indeed
Such thoughtful concordance; as Mrs Allen agreed

"The pump-room will be half empty, if the rainfall grows
I hope Mr. Allen, will wear his greatcoat when he goes
But I dare say he will not, for he had far rather not
I wonder he should dislike it, so comfortable and hot"

The rain continued--fast, though not heavy, it fell
Catherine continued to watch, in an emotional swell
Went every five minutes to the clock, saying in firmness
Another five minutes, and she would give-it-up as hopeless

The clock struck twelve, and still it rained.
"You will not be able to go" Mrs. Allen proclaimed
"I do not quite despair yet" Miss Morland replied
"Till a quarter after twelve" I won't be denied

At twenty minutes after twelve, she gave it up entirely
And at half past, the weather began to clear voluntarily
When Catherine's anxious attention to the weather was past
And she could claim no merit from its amendment, at last

A gleam of sunshine, took her quite by surprise
The clouds were now parting, before her wide eyes
She instantly returned to the window to appreciate
And encourage the appearance of this happy state

Ten minutes more, made it quite certain that
A bright afternoon must be, a new cheerful fact
And justified the opinion that Mrs. Allen related
"It was bound to clear up, she had always stated"

But whether Catherine might still expect her friends today
Whether there had not been too much rain, for Miss Tilney
Whether they would venture out, into dirt and such mud
Were questions that stirred the mind, and cooled the blood

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