98 STUDIES OF NATURE 



relished it immensely; but now, at midnight, 

 I am thankful it is over. The noise and the 

 shouting have ceased ; the roisterers have all 

 gone, some to a yacht which lies off the shore ; 

 some to Brodick, some to Loch Eanza the last 

 will have a wild and lonely ride through the 

 moonless night and Corrie is once more restored 

 to its native quiet. As I walk up and down 

 before the door of our house I hear nothing 

 but the wind on the mountain, and the gurgle 

 of the tide as it rushes up the estuary. 



Monday, August 18. 



Beginning in the early morning, the rain 

 lasted yesterday until evening. The landscape 

 was grey and cool; the sea, a slate-coloured 

 green, passing at the horizon into a line of 

 black. At eight o'clock, when the rain ceased, 

 although the sky did not clear, we could not 

 help noting what a soft light fell upon all 

 things more beautiful than that of many a 



