136 STUDIES OF NATURE 



out to sea. After a while she turns away, as it 

 were sadly, and moves back into the black wood. 

 It is a picture and a mystery. We should like 

 to paint the one and solve the other. We are 

 able to do neither, and I only whisper to my 

 friend : 



In such a night 



Stood Dido with a willow in her hand, 

 Upon the wild sea banks and waft her love 

 To come again to Carthage. 



The marvellous transparency of the air 

 yesterday was no doubt closely connected with 

 the zone of cloud and storm into which we 

 entered this morning, yet who would have 

 expected that a sunset so hushed and calm 

 would have been closely followed by a sunrise 

 whose accompaniments were heavy rain and 

 violent thunder. The wind, too, had the swing 

 and roar of a tempest. 



On the beach I met the Provost, abroad as 

 usual, notwithstanding wind and weather. ' A 

 bad day Provost,' I said. 



