204 BUSINESS, RECREATION ; SUNSHINE, SHADOW. 



beautiful, with a fine sun-set behind Benlomond, which 

 stands like a giant at the head of the loch, we enjoyed 

 ourselves somewhat. When I talk of enjoyment, it is, 

 perhaps, more in reference to the general feeling of the 

 party than my own individual feelings, which cannot be 

 otherwise than disconsolate; for the greater the apparent 

 resources of enjoyment within my reach, the more bitterly 

 do I feel the dread change which has befallen us in the 

 removal of one whose happiness I often hoped to connect 

 with some such scene as that which is now before my eyes. 

 During my former excursions my chief pleasure was in 

 writing to, or receiving letters from, her whose place knows 

 her no longer ; and if for a moment the sun seems to 

 shine as it was wont, and a sense of pleasure passes 

 through my heart, then a wave of darkness seems to over- 

 shadow me, and I feel as if it were selrish and unkind to 

 others even to seek for any happiness. But all this, I 

 know, proves the low and eartniy nature of my hopes and 

 aspirations, and how unable 1 am to raise my thoughts to 

 that brighter world, where we know there are ; many 

 mansions.' I pray God I may be enabled by degrees to 

 wean myself from all these ' vexing thoughts/ by which 

 for some time past I have been so disquieted. We know 

 unto whom we may go when weary and heavy laden, and 

 He will give us rest. I hope you have been enjoying the 

 two fine days we have had. I was thankful lor them, 



