A Day of Punishment 



my thoughts. I wandered vaguely out 

 into the street, I had but one clear idea in 

 my head, that I could not, would not, go 

 home. 



We had come through the greater part 

 of October, and although the Pavilion 

 clock had only just struck five, the dark- 

 ness was settling down apace. The day 

 had been curiously sultry for the time of 

 year, but the evening for all its stillness 

 was keen with autumn. As I stood there 

 like a lost thing, a little inconsequent breeze 

 came and boomed in my ears and lifted my 

 hair pleasantly, and when it had passed I 

 could hear the deep and gentle breathing 

 of the sea : and that gave me a clue. I 

 would drown myself, 1 thought, since there 

 was no kindness or justice left for me in 

 the world, since every one was turning 

 against me, except my Father, whom I 

 loved better than all the world, and who 

 too would turn against me when they had 

 raked up the old tales again. 



There was certainly no play in my 

 thought just then ; it was a very desperate 

 little being indeed, that ran down the 

 street and hurried over the beach till he 

 stumbled over the stump of an old capstan, 

 and fell and lay. How long I lay there 

 pressing my cheek on the hard smooth 



