126 STUDIES OF NATURE 



in his eye, and I answered, * What's Hecuba to 

 me or I to Hecuba ? ' After that there were 

 evidently doubts on his mind as to my sanity. 



About eight o'clock we found a means of 

 escape. The Lord of the Isles was starting on 

 her daily trip to Inverary. We could travel by 

 her as far as Dunoon and wait there for the 

 Guinevere; and besides, we could breakfast as 

 we journeyed. The Lord of the Isles is a mag- 

 nificently appointed boat, and her meals are 

 admirable. I know a shrewd old Scotchman 

 whose best ideal of pleasure is to travel by this 

 boat or the lona, backwards and forwards, day 

 after day. He says : ' You get pure air ; the 

 most splendid scenery in the kingdom ; music, 

 society, and excellent feeding at less than hotel 

 prices ; ' and besides, he adds, * you can have 

 your boots cleaned on board ; and buy your 

 penny paper, or your pound of apples ; and the 

 whisky well, that's just fine.' 



