ON THE COAST OF ARRAN 123 



finest part of the year, winning a little enjoy- 

 ment from the hard world. In truth, the great 

 Elements we know of are no mean comforters : 

 the open sky sits upon our senses like a sapphire 

 crown ; the air is our robe of state ; the earth 

 is our throne; and the sea a mighty minstrel 

 playing before it able, like David's harp, to 

 make such a one as you forget almost the tempest 

 cares of life." ! 



This undisturbed beauty, this sweet peaceful- 

 ness, as of a Sabbath beyond that which comes 

 with the mere procession of time, are the more 

 acceptable because both yesterday and Friday 

 were wild and stormy. The last leaf of this 

 Journal closed as we sighted Arran from the 

 deck of the steamer, with the sky reddening for 

 sunrise. If we could have left that steamer 

 there and then, and made straight for Corrie we 

 should, although the sea was rough, have been 

 delighted to do it. We might then have had our 

 morning dip, and joined the circle at breakfast. 



