AUGUST MONK"S PLEASURES.
"There was not on that day a speck to stain The azure heaven, the blessed sun alone, In unapproachable divinity, Careered, rejoicing in his fields of light.
How beautiful beneath the bright blue sky The billows heave, one glowing green expanse, Save where along the bending line of sh.o.r.e Such hue is thrown, as when the peac.o.c.k"s neck a.s.sumes its proudest tint of amethyst, Embathed in emerald glory! All the flocks Of ocean are abroad. Like floating foam The sea-gulls rise and fall upon the waves.
With long protruding neck the cormorants Wing their far flight aloft; and round and round The plovers wheel, and give their note of joy.
It was a day that sent into the heart A summer feeling. Even the insect swarms, From their dark nooks and coverts, issued forth To sport through one day of existence more.
The solitary primrose on the bank Seemed now as though it had no cause to mourn Its brief Autumnal birth. The rocks and sh.o.r.es, The forest and the everlasting hills, Smiled in that joyful sunshine; they partook The universal blessing."--Southey.
Grace expected company!
What that meant to the lonely lighthouse-maiden, those young people who can meet their friends every evening cannot imagine. They do not like to be solitary, even for a week, but if, instead, it should be--not a week, but months and years--then the pining for companionship would indeed be intense. It has already been mentioned that, on one occasion, Grace went to the mainland to help some friends with the ingathering of the harvest. These friends were the Herberts, who lived near Bamborough, in a pleasant farmstead, and it was them whom she was expecting.
The joyous excitement of such a remarkable event, as the arrival of guests, was enough to wake the heroine of the lighthouse early in the morning. It was the first of August, and the day dawned brightly, the sun looking like a ma.s.s of burnished gold. Grace rose and cast her eyes anxiously over the sea. It was as calm as a lake, and looked as if it might be trusted to bring her friends safely to her side. There was plenty to do that day, for the lighthouse-home was to be set in order, and everything made to look its best. Grace, therefore, was up betimes, and busily at work in the rooms. But ever and anon she turned her beautiful hazel eyes to the opposite sh.o.r.e, searching for an object to appear like a speck upon the waters. Presently she saw what she looked for, and her heart leaped for joy.
"Mother, mother, they are coming!"
"They cannot be here yet, though," said Mrs. Darling, who saw how far away they were still.
"They will come rapidly, I know; for they are as anxious to be here as I am to see them," said Grace.
Presently they had come over the glittering sea, and were near the island. Handkerchiefs were waved then, and Grace went down to the beach to greet them as they arrived.
They were her friends, Ellen and Mary Herbert, and their brothers, Henry and George.
Grace had a warm welcome for the girls, and to the young men she held her outstretched hand.
"Now, Grace," said George, laughingly, "why are you so partial? I have as much right to a welcome as my sisters have," and with that he stooped to kiss her.
"Now, George, I am afraid you have not improved."
"No, indeed; why should I! I have been good enough always. You are not offended with me, are you, Grace?"
"With you? No, indeed! Whoever thought enough of George Herbert to be offended with him!"
"Grace, you are incorrigible; and very much too hard on a poor fellow, who has not the courage to take his own part."
Grace turned from the good-humoured and merry banter of the young man to his more serious elder brother, who stood by his side, waiting for her greeting. She held out her hand to him, and he took it, bowing respectfully, but holding it warmly in a clasp that brought a deepened colour to the cheeks of the lighthouse-girl.
"Come into the house; father and mother are waiting for you. Is not the morning lovely? I am so glad it is. I a.s.sure you I have been watching the weather most anxiously," said Grace.
"So have we. But it is a lovely August, and Grace, you must make up your mind to return with us. We do not intend to go home without you.
So you had better promise at once, unless you wish us to become residents of the lighthouse."
"But I should rather like you to reside here," said Grace; "what a nice party we should make."
Mr. and Mrs. Darling received the young folks most kindly, giving them a hearty welcome, and expressing a hope that they would stay as long as possible, and have a good time.
"We shall," said Mary Herbert. "We are always happy in the Longstone lighthouse."
The father of the Herberts was Mr. Darling"s friend, so that the children did but cement the friendship which the elders entertained for each other. The Misses Herbert were Grace"s nearest and dearest friends, and the young people came oftener perhaps than any others to spend a few days on the island.
They had not been long in the house before Mr. Darling made a suggestion, which delighted them.
"To-morrow," said he, "I have a leisure day; and I should like to join you in an excursion. What do you say to going over to Lindisfarne?"
"I say, let us go by all means," said Mary. "If the day is as lovely as this has been, it will be a splendid opportunity for a pic-nic. Do you not all think so?"
"I do," said George; "and let us be up early, so as to have a long day.
When I go to visit ruins, I do not like to be hurried.
"You will not have to wait for the girls," said Mrs. Darling. "Grace is an early riser."
"It is well to rise early, but that is not better than to spend the day well. I knew a man who was fond of praising himself, and blaming others. When he rose betimes he used to rebuke us with the words--"It is the early bird that picks up the worm;" but when he had laid longer than he intended, he excused himself by saying, "It is not altogether the early rising, but the well spending of the day, that is of the highest importance." Whatever he did was right in his own eyes."
"But we will do both on our holiday," said Henry; "we will rise early, and also spend the day well."
The weather on the following morning was all that could be desired.
The young people were animated and merry, and there was nothing to bring a cloud over the day. They were soon among the romantic ruins on the Holy Island, having had a most enjoyable sail across the blue water.
"I think I should never tire of visiting these old places," said Henry Herbert. "They are so venerable, and therefore dear to me. Do you like them, Grace?"
"Yes, they are sombre and melancholy, but, to my mind, it is much more interesting to live amongst them than in new places. One cannot help thinking of the past, and the strange scenes that were enacted in it."
"Do you understand much about ancient architecture?"
"No, I know almost nothing of it."
"I have always been fond of it, and I think I can give you some explanation of these walls and relics."
"I shall be glad if you will," said Grace, whom nothing could delight more than the acquirement of fresh knowledge.
She spent a very pleasant time listening to the young man while he described the different characteristics of the antiquities that were before them.
"We had better seek the others," said Grace presently; "they will be wondering what has become of us."
At that moment, looking up, they saw that a stranger was pa.s.sing the archway.
Excursionists were not so many in those days as they are In these, and Grace was surprised. Henry Herbert, however, looking intently at the new comer, said to his companion, "I believe it is an old school-fellow of ours, who is now studying in the University of Durham. Yes, indeed, it is he!"
The young men greeted each other with evident satisfaction, and the stranger was soon introduced to the others. He was quite an acquisition to the party, whom he was only too glad to join, as he was taking his holiday alone. They were all sorry when the pleasant day at Lindisfarne was over, and it was time to return to the Longstone lighthouse, where, however, an evening spent in the genial society of each other fitly closed the delightful day.
The next morning all rose early; and so soon as breakfast was concluded, they were eager to be afloat on the blue sea.
"George and I will each take an oar," said Henry, "and our friend will attend the ladies."
"With pleasure," replied the student, as he took his seat.
"Tell us about your foreign travels, and give us a description of the places you have visited," said Mary.