He was lying there,
resting upon the turf, enjoying the beauty of the morning. As
the musical voice reached him, and the strange words fell upon
his ear, he smiled and raised his head to see who uttered them.
He saw the young girls, but their faces were turned from him;
those words range in his ears--"Nature and Art are all very
well, but give me life."
Who was it longed for life? He understood the longing; he
resolved to wait there until the girls went away. Again he heard
the same voice.
"I shall leave you to your sails, Lillian. I wish those same
boats would come to carry us away--I wish I had wings and could
fly over the sea and see the bright, grand world that lies beyond
it. Goodbye; I am tired of the never-ending wash of those long,
low waves."
He saw a young girl rise from the fragrant heather and turn to
descend the cliff. Quick as thought he rushed down by another
path, and, turning back, contrived to meet her half-way.
Beatrice came singing down the cliff. Her humor, never the same
ten minutes together, had suddenly changed. She remembered a new
and beautiful song that Lady Earle had sent, and determined to go
home and try it.
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