The Argosy — page 312: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

294 Lhe Baths of Gastein. e. none came up tothe ’cello, as he called his bass, and he certainly con- trived to make it conspicuous amidst the chorus of instruments. They were a total of twelve or fourteen men, all married, but their wives did not go about with them, and enjoyed the pleasure of their company for a month twice a year. Thus must they have revelled in a life of perpetual honeymoon: and perhaps—who knows ?—were none the less happy in consequence. Wet weeks always seem as if they would never come to an end, like long lanes without turning. But that wet week at Gastein did at last put forth signs of a break up. It was morning, about twelve o'clock, and the eccentric old lady first made the discovery. For some time she had been intently gazing from one of the windows locking southward, the strings of her nightcap had gradually become violently agitated, as if soft winds were playing at hide-and-seek in her brain and running out at her ears. Suddenly she clasped her hands tragically, in a manner pecu- liar to her people, and uttered a cry of ‘‘ Der Himmel! der Himmel!” There was an instant rush towards the spot ; then a confused murmur of voices which gradually grew louder ; and then it was generally known that a small patch of blue was discernable between and beyond the clouds ; just over the mountain called the Barometer. One antiquated spinster of forty-five, with thin curls and a sharp, red nose, who happened to be seated next to me at the time, brought out a pencil and paper and proceeded to jot down a memoratrétam for her diary. She was evidently weak-sighted and wrote in such large characters that it was impossible to pass them over. “For the first time fora whole week, a small portion of azure is visible in the celestial firmament. Ohjoy! Apparently we may now hope shortly for a cessation of the outpouring of the angry and watery ele- ments of the upperregions. How vividly can I at this moment realize the emotions of Herr and Frau Noah, when, sending forth for the third time the dove from the ark she returned no more.” Then she put back paper and pencil into her pocket, and, inadver- tently perhaps, turned upon mea sigh and a gaze expressive of such deep sentimentality, that I was compelled to turn hastily from my seat to avoid a burst of laughter that might not have been in harmony with her own emotions. But the small portion of azure in the celestial firmament proved no false prophet, no delusive hope. The next morning rose bright and glowing. The roads, hitherto impassable, dried up as by magic ; walks | were resumed. During this time I had not relaxed in my habit of early msing. No strict monk of the severest order could have more rigidly followed out the rules of his prison-house. And day after day the events to be recorded were the bath, the table d’héte, and the rain. Though I seemed to derive Lut little benefit from the baths, they ECoOMmicloooks (C(O) mn —_)