The Argosy — page 351: what you’re looking at

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

A Secret of the Sea. 337 up,” said Gerald, “I feel that I could go on like this for a week, and not feel weary.” — ‘You are an Englishman, Mr. Pomeroy, and I am afraid that you would soon begin to cry out for your dinner.” . Would not the gods feed us, and have a care of us? To-day we are their children. I feel that I have but to summon Hebe, and she would come and wait upon us.” “For my part, Minerva is the only one of the divinities whom I should care to summon.” **So much wisdom would surely overweight our little boat.” ‘* But are we not rather short of ballast just at present?” asked Eleanor, slily. ‘Possibly so; but Minerva would certainly overbalance us. I should greatly prefer the company of a certain juvenile, whom Schiller terms der lachelorde Knabe: he would make the proper ballast for sucha voyage as ours.” ‘When I was at school in Germany they never would let us read Schiller,” said Eleanor, demurely. ‘‘ How happy those swans look!” she added, a moment afterwards, as if to change the subject. “'Yes,”’ said Gerald, “they find their happiness as certain people one sometimes meets with find theirs—in groping about amongst the. mud—seeking what they can devour.” ‘‘ And yet how graceful they are !”’ ‘‘They are graceful enough as long as they are in their proper element. Out of it, they are as ungraccful as a scullion-maid in 2. drawing-room. And yet, I daresay that if they can think at all, they think that they look far more graceful dumng their perambulations - ashore than ever they do in the water. But, then, how many of us . think the same thing !” ‘Why you are quite a cynic, Mr. Pomeroy. But it is considered fashionable nowadays for young men to be cynical, and one must be - in the fashion, you know.” Gerald laughed a little dismally, ‘I tasted the bitters of life at - so early an age that I suppose the flavour of them still clings to my, palate.” “Pardon me if I have hurt your feelings!” said Eleanor, earnestly: “T certainly did not intend to do so. But see, the tide is on the turn, and we must turn with it.” ‘Have we not time to go a hittle further? the afternoon is stil] young.” “Yes, you shall row me round yonder tiny island, that looks so pretty from here ; and then we must really go back.” When they had rounded the islet, said Eleanor: “I am sure you must be tired, Mr. Pomeroy. Suppose you ship your oars and let the tide float us gently down.” VOL. XIX. Y CORnniclooolkks