160 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



and a becoming modesty. I follow her to the back 

 premises and up a narrow wooden stair. 



The bed is a procrustean concern, in a very tight 

 corner of the wall. The atmosphere is provided 

 by six drying cheeses. On the other hand, the 

 skylight is innocent of glass a very distinct 

 advantage on such a night. Possibly, much to her 

 surprise, I say it will do. I refrain from telling 

 her that I have put up with worse. 



Half an hour afterwards I am climbing the 

 slope. Two tarns overhead are steaming like 

 volcanoes, with craters formed by the surrounding 

 mountains. The day exhalations are being con- 

 densed by the nightly fall of temperature. About 

 five hundred feet above my lodging for the night, 

 I lie down to watch the sun dipping behind an 

 elevated horizon, picturesquely broken by the 

 mountain-tops; and the mystic light coming out 

 below. 



