Suddenly she heard the swift patter of bare feet.

From outside came the hum of many voices, dull and subdued, like the buzzing of a swarm of bees, and against the small window panes the incessant patter of icy rain driven and lashed by the gale.

Now take your place while I give them a little patter.

But she would not relinquish her hold, only she turned and looked steadily at the young lad, whilst her voice rose firm and harsh above the loud patter of the rain and the moaning of the wind through the distant; trees.

And I hear the gentle patter of the rain.

Next came a fox, slouching warily and cautiously along; then a couple of lean, hungry-looking jackals; next a sharp patter on the crisp dry leaves, and several peafowl with resplendent plumage ran rapidly past.

His quickened senses perceive a busy patter of sandalled feet outside his cell, and a whispering of consultation,and then the silvery, snaky tones of Father Johannes, which had that oily, penetrative quality which passes through all substances with such distinctness.

A moment later there was a continuous patter, as the storm, which had been gathering all day, broke in earnest.

A dreary day, with a leaden sky overhead and the monotonous patter of incessant rain against the window panes.

An occasional shower patters on the dry leaves, but it does not silence the robin on the outskirts of the wood: indeed, he sings louder than ever, though the song-sparrow and the bluebird are silent.

There is a good share of pleasant patter in the following abridged from the Metropolitan.

There was no preliminary patter, but the storm broke suddenly, hurling great gray drops of moisture against the windows.

He leaned over the rail, unmindful of the ragged patter of bullets from below, and with a judicial eye observed the prospect.

Forgetful of every possible danger and of all prudence, I had already darted down the corridor, determined to do my duty as a gentleman as soon as I had ascertained whence had come those cries of anguish, when I heard the frou-frou of skirts and a rapid patter of small feet down the stairs.

It is a soft, smoke-colored day; half an hour ago, there was a showereach drop a separate loud patter on the sycamore-leavesbut now it is fair again.

At nine o'clock the spasmodic patter of rifles was heard in front.

I'll bet my soul they're in their billets at this moment, MacTavish mugging up some stable-patter out of NAT GOULD, and Blenkinsop imbibing a dose of ship-chatter from 'BARTIMEUS.'

The steady patter of the dew was like the long roll beatinglow, incessant, imperiousand my heart leaped responsive to the summons, till I found myself standing rigid, staring into the darkness with fevered eyes.

By and bye they ceased to scold me, and I was left to listen to the wind, and to the tiny patter of dropping seeds and needles from the spruces.

" "Base is the slave who pays, and baser prose Hang uninspired patter!

Entirely against her will Suewhilst she looked on her guardiancould think of nothing save of that day in Dover, the lonely church, the gloomy vestry, and that weird patter of the rain against the window panes.

Then there is the ceaseless patter overhead, and so close overhead that one almost feels like raising an umbrella.

A dull patter on the windowif one sits unbuttoned on the hearthgives a zest to a languid chapter.

Except for the faint patter of the rain, however, everything was as silent as the dead.

"Don't interfere with our friendly patter," cried out his thief neighbor, who for this exclamation was thrown into the dungeon.