The Argosy — page 397: what you’re looking at

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

376 Under Northern Skies. had flown down the chimney, and was caught in its own trap. There it might have remained and in turn become an antiquity also, but for our visit. Windows were opened, and it soon found its way out, and was soaring over land and lake. We, too, longed for wings to do likewise. Who has not felt the longing, especially when listen- ing to Shelley’s lark, that for very happiness “ soaring still doth sing ?” Our visit over, luncheon had to be thought of. One cannot live upon tapestry and beautiful objects. They are very interesting, but their inspection is terribly exhausting. We cannot live upon them—it is not so sure that one cannot die of them. ‘There is no inn at Skokloster, and some of the dependents of the castle undertake to provide luncheon for visitors. ‘The attendant led the way to some neat but humble rooms, and here they promised that in half an hour exhausted nature should be provided with food. ‘There was a delicious vagueness as to the kind and measure of the supplies. We had visions of nectar and ambrosia. To pass away the time, the custodian accompanied us to the church, which belonged to the original monastery and is interesting. Then he finally bowed himself out of our presence, and left us to wander at will about gardens and avenues. ‘The clock with its melancholy voice struck two, and we hastened to obey the signal. The windows of the little room were open to the pure, warm air and rustling trees and bright blue sky : windows with deep old-fashioned casements, in which we sat and lounged with a feeling of intense, pleasurable rest- fulness after our late antiquarian feast ; whilst a savoury smell, wafted up through an open doorway, announced a feast in which we devoutly hoped antiquity would have no part. A little maid waited upon us, and from regions unseen brought excellent supplies, if not precisely Olympian food ; whilst all was served on the whitest of plain damask. Altogether that visit to Skokloster was wonderfully pleasant ; left behind it a feeling of temporary seclusion from the world; of wandering in unfrequented paths; of a chateau large and imposing if not strictly beautiful, and containing objects of rare interest. The little steamer was due at three o’clock, and when the hour sounded from the cracked and melancholy bell, we went down to the small landing-stage. Lake and opposite and surrounding shores were in full sunshine, but no boat was visible. About half past three a black speck came into sight. Could this be the craft that was to have the honour of conveying us to Upsala ? A thin line of smoke, rising upwards, and slightly troubling the clear sky, seemed to answer the question. It puffed on to a distant point on our side, and was lost in the shadow of the trees. On the opposite shore a red flag was suddenly hoisted, signal of distress or need. Ina few minutes the boat darted across ; and with the help of glasses one made out a small landing-stage, and a group of people in every attitude of expectation. CORNICLOOKS (E() 0 ae