DRIFT. 



CHAPTER II. 



DRIFT. 



A COTTAGE in which I had my lodging for some 

 time, was close to a stream. After the work of the 

 day was over I often sat outside till late in the 

 night, when all was quiet around, save the night- 

 ingale that sang close to me, his whole heart thrown 

 into his sobbing song. There was a little fall. in 

 the stream, caused by the broken branch of a tree 

 and a few large stones a little tinkling fall, which 

 you would not notice by day, because of the songs 

 of the birds ; but at night, the sound of the water, 

 and the voice of that solitary singer fell on my ears 

 by turns. Water running over stones has, at night, 

 notes that make one wonder. There is a rise and 

 a fall : a succession of murmurs, sometimes very 



