ON THE COAST OF ARRAN 41 



and invigorating thing. How could it be other- 

 wise in such clear, living, tumbling water as 

 that is which comes with this north wind ? As 

 I lay on the waves I could see the moon still 

 shining faintly in the blue, and the purple crest 

 of Am Binnein peering at me over the green 

 foreland. Wet or fine, hot or cold, we never 

 miss the morning plunge. For that the law 

 was promulgated on the first day of our arrival, 

 and it is not to be broken. We may take a 

 bath at noon, for pure luxury, in that warm and 

 sandy cove which we have discovered on the 

 shore about half a mile towards Brodick, and 

 into which we can pull with the boat, but that 

 is not to excuse the Spartan dip among the 

 rocks opposite the door here. It is an advan- 

 tage in such bathing that the preliminary 

 costume may be of the scantiest character. The 

 figures that are to be seen furtively crossing the 

 road each morning before breakfast are grotesque, 

 if not ridiculous. My esthetic friend says they 



