The Argosy — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

A Drive to the Land’s End. 297 made friendly with them. Far out on the horizon the guide pointed to some black lines, which he said were the Scilly Islands. ‘‘ You might come here a hundred times, sir,” cried he, “and never see them. I have never seen them myself as distinctly as to-day.” The walk proved longer than had been anticipated. But for the guide I could never have found my way to the Land’s End without difficulty and delay. It was a succession of going up and down hill ; now darting inland for some litttle distance ; now clearing a wall mys- teriously hidden in brush and furze; now descending almost to the. water’s edge; now rising to the top of the cliff; a most capricious roadway, but the most delightful imaginable. Instead of one hour, it was nearer three before we reached the inn, where Z. awaited me in pale terror, fancying that all kinds of dreadful possibilities must have happened. I was not a little done up ; but some excellent ham and eggs, and a bottle of really good champagne, did much to restore exhausted nature, Then I threw myself on the sofa, and for awhile contemplated the wonderful sea before me, bathed in a flood of golden sunshine, which broke into jewels, as the water played round the rocks jutting out for some distance. This was the Land’s End, though no more the end of the land, as far as was to be seen, than any other part of the coast. A snot more retired could scarcely be conceived. ‘To anyone requiring perfect rest, a week spent here would be invaluable : especially in the warm spring time, before tourists have begun to appear and disturb un- pleasantly the solitude. The drive back was if possible more beautiful than it had been in the morning. The lanes and hedges were cooler and in: greater repose: here and there a bank appearing lined with ferns to the height of ten or twelve feet. In due time we reached Penzance, and drove through it on to Marazion. : In passing through Marazion the previous day we both fancied to have caught sight of a comfortable looking inn. But either this was a delusion, or the inn had been swallowed up by an earthquake ; for to-day nothing of the sort appeared. All we could see was a neglected looking building called ‘‘ Thomas’s Hotel,” which, upon in- quiry, we found to be the best the place afforded. Deploring our error we drove up to the inn door, and were. agreeably surprised at the result. It was one of those old fashioned inns where comfort is not sacrificed to show. A coat of paint on the outside would have set everything right; perhaps, ere now it has been given. ‘The sitting-room on the first floor was clean, and from the win- dows the view of St. Michael’s Mount was exceedingly pleasant. Above, we were given two good.bed-rooms, from whose windows the view was still more charming. A substantial tea was soon served up in a homely but most com. CoOnniclooolkks (SO) im