22 STUDIES OF NATURE 



the afternoon. If we want a change we go 

 out in the ferry-boat, jump on to one of these 

 passing steamers, and get a delightful sail of 

 twenty miles or so. Sometimes we do this for 

 the sake of the sail only. We have a pleasant 

 lounge on deck, and come back without landing. 

 On hot afternoons this is a sensible way of 

 taking the siesta ; and one smokes, and another 

 reads, and another sketches. It is healthier 

 and ever so much better than the traditional 

 slumber in an arm-chair. But to-day we landed 

 at Lamlash and walked home. The wind was 

 in our favourite north-west, fresh but not cold ; 

 the sky blue and breezy, the sea ever changing 

 but ever beautiful. As we scud along by the 

 shore we sit so that our faces are turned towards 

 Arran. Nothing else is so interesting. The 

 eye, never wearied, runs again and again along 

 the wonderful mountain-line just as on some 

 ancient melody the ear will dwell for a hundred 

 times without sense of satiety. The visible ridge 



