CHRISTOPHER IN HIS SPORTING JACKET 



in its shed the preparations made for us in the dis- 

 tant moorland farmhouse were vain the fishing-rods 

 hung useless on the nails and disconsolate school- 

 boys sat moping in corners, sorry, ashamed, and an- 

 gry with Scotland^ springs. But though the "leafy 

 month of June" be frequently showery, it is almost 

 always sunny too. Every half hour there is such a 

 radiant blink that the young heart sings aloud for 

 joy; summer rain makes the hair grow, and hats are 

 of little or no use towards the Longest Day; there 

 is something cheerful even in thunder, if it be not 

 rather too near; the lark has not yet ceased alto- 

 gether to sing, for he soars over his second nest, un- 

 appalled beneath the sablest cloud; the green earth 

 repels from her refulgent bosom the blackest shadows, 

 nor will suffer herself to be saddened in the fulness and 

 brightness of her contentment; through the heaviest 

 flood the blue skies will still be making their appear- 

 ance with an impatient smile, and all the rivers and 

 burns, with the multitude of their various voices, sing 

 praises unto Heaven. 



Therefore, bathing our feet in beauty, we went 

 bounding over the flowery fields and broomy braes 

 to the grove-girdled Craig-Hall. During the long 

 noisy day, we thought not of the coming evening, 

 happy as we knew it was to be; and during the long 

 and almost as noisy evening, we forgot all the pastime 

 [60] 



