326 OUTDOOR STUDIES 
first essential of life had been a change of um- 
brellas ; it had been colder than usual, making 
it a comfort to look at our stove, though we 
had never lighted it; but our invalids had 
gained by even this degree of mildness, by the 
wholesome salt dampness, by the comforts of 
our hotel with its good Portuguese landlord and 
English landlady, and by the constant kindness 
shown us by all. At last we had begun to feel 
that we had squeezed the orange of the Azores 
a little dry, and we were ready to go. And 
when, after three weeks of rough sailing, we 
saw Cape Ann again, although it looked some- 
what flat and prosaic after the headlands of 
Fayal, yet we knew that behind those low 
shores lay all that our hearts held dearest, and 
all the noblest hopes of the family of man. 
ew 
