JULY 381 



resorts than we are, for they look upon absolute idleness 

 as the correct thing, and are content to spend their 

 waking hours in talking. This can be noticed any day 

 at seaside places in France. To my mind, the perfect 

 holiday for people in health is change of scene and 

 occupation and interest ; certainly not what is called 

 'rest,' which means sitting out all day long, doing abso- 

 lutely nothing but chattering to people you have never 

 seen before and will never see again. Without the 

 object of being a companion to those we love, I can 

 imagine no greater trial. 



When I could stand the feeling of being surrounded 

 by invalids no longer, I used to get outside the place 

 and walk by the deep-cut cliffs, rather than banks, of 

 the roaring, rushing river. The land was losing all its 

 wildness, and was being built over ; but nothing can 

 ever alter those steep -ciit sides, which in old days might 

 have been the scene of the following poem : 



By the hoof of the wild goat uptossed 

 From the cliff where she lay in the sun 



Fell the stone 

 To the tarn where the daylight is lost — 

 So she fell from the light of the sun, 



And alone. 



Now the fall was ordained from the first 

 With the goat and the cliff and the tarn, 



But the stone 

 Knows only her life is accursed 

 As she sinks in the depths of the tarn. 



And alone. 



Oh ! Thou who hast builded the world, 

 Oh ! Thou who hast lighted the sun, 

 Oh ! Thou who hast darkened the tarn, 



Judge Thou 



The sin of the stone that was hurled 



By the goat from the light of the sun 



As she sinks in the mire of the tarn 



Even now — even now — even now ! 



