1. THE NINTH OF JULY
437 Words
1. THE NINTH OF JULYThe day of their departure was one of the most glowing that the
climax of a long series of summer heats could evolve. The wide
expanse of landscape quivered up and down like the flame of a
taper, as they steamed along through the midst of it. Placid flocks
of sheep reclining under trees a little way off appeared of a pale
blue colour. Clover fields were livid with the brightness of the
sun upon their deep red flowers. All waggons and carts were moved
to the shade by their careful owners, rain-water butts fell to
pieces; well-buckets were lowered inside the covers of the
well-hole, to preserve them from the fate of the butts, and
generally, water seemed scarcer in the country than the beer and
cider of the peasantry who toiled or idled there.
To see persons looking with children's eyes at any ordinary
scenery, is a proof that they possess the charming faculty of
drawing new sensations from an old experience—a healthy sign, rare
in these feverish days—the mark of an imperishable brightness of
nature.
Both brother and sister could do this; Cytherea more noticeably.
They watched the undulating corn-lands, monotonous to all their
companions; the stony and clayey prospect succeeding those, with
its angular and abrupt hills. Boggy moors came next, now withered
and dry—the spots upon which pools usually spread their waters
showing themselves as circles of smooth bare soil, over-run by a
net-work of innumerable little fissures. Then arose plantations of
firs, abruptly terminating beside meadows cleanly mown, in which
high-hipped, rich-coloured cows, with backs horizontal and straight
as the ridge of a house, stood motionless or lazily fed. Glimpses
of the sea now interested them, which became more and more frequent
till the train finally drew up beside the platform at Budmouth.
'The whole town is looking out for us,' had been Graye's
impression throughout the day. He called upon Mr. Gradfield—the
only man who had been directly informed of his coming—and found
that Mr. Gradfield had forgotten it.
However, arrangements were made with this gentleman—a stout,
active, grey-bearded burgher of sixty—by which Owen was to commence
work in his office the following week.
The same day Cytherea drew up and sent off the advertisement
appended:—
'A YOUNG LADY is desirous of meeting with an engagement
as governess or companion. She is competent to
teach English, French, and Music. Satisfactory references—Address,
C. G., Post-Office, Budmouth.'
It seemed a more material existence than her own that she saw
thus delineated on the paper. 'That can't be myself; how odd I
look!' she said, and smiled.
- Writer
