328 WRAY CASTLE. 



dantly on two or three of the islets we are ap- 

 proaching, and which from that circumstance 

 are named " Lily of the Valley Islands." 



AMICUS. How gracefully the ground on our, 

 right rises and falls ! all the minor hills below 

 the mountains have the same soft perfect lines 

 of beauty. 



PISCATOR. That is in accordance with the 

 general character of the district, here remark- 

 ably well exemplified; and which, as I have 

 before said, I believe is referrible to glacier 

 action, the tendency of which is to remove by 

 its grinding operation all asperities. 



AMICUS. What a contrast between that 

 massive, dark, rectilinear castle and the 

 cheerful green bosom-like hill on which it 

 stands ! What is its history ? I hope there are 

 legends and tales of romance associated with it. 

 Has it a drawbridge and wet ditch, and other 

 appurtenances of a baronial stronghold ? 



PISCATOR. Observe it carefully, and you will 

 no longer entertain such a hope. That is Wray 

 Castle, and is altogether a modern building, and 

 erected by its present proprietor and inhabitant, 

 who has too much knowledge of sanitary con- 

 ditions to surround himself with stagnant water, 



