CHAPTER XIII.THE GLORIES OF THE SEA.
any one showed signs of vexation at the decision
arrived at, it was Mr. MacFyne, the hotel-keeper; had
it been possible, he would have had every island lying
in front of Oban blown up. The worthy man had to
console himself, when his visitors were gone, by regretting
that he had ever taken in such a party of monomaniacs.
At eight o'clock in the morning Miss Campbell, her
uncles, Dame Bess, and Partridge, embarked on the
“swift steamer Pioneer,” as said the prospectus, which made the trip round Mull, calling at Iona and Staffa, and returning to Oban the same evening.
Oliver Sinclair had gone down before them to the
quay, and was awaiting his friends on the foot-bridge, between the paddle-boards of the steamer.
Aristobulus Ursiclos was not to be thought of for this
trip, and yet the brothers were obliged to acquaint
him with their sudden departure; it was only common
politeness, and they were the most polite of
men.
Aristobulus received the communication very coolly, and merely thanked them without saying a word as to his own plans.
Thus the brothers had gone off, contenting themselves
with the thought that, though their protégé was
extremely reserved, and their niece somewhat averse
to him, yet all would be changed one fine autumn
evening after a beautiful sunset, which Iona could not
fail to give them.
All the passengers being on board, the moorings were
cast after the third shrill whistle had sounded, and
the Pioneer steamed out of the bay, taking a southerly
course for the straits of Kerera.
There were a good many tourists on board, attracted
by this charming excursion round Mull, which takes
place once or twice a week, but Miss Campbell and
her companions were to leave them at the first landing-place.
They were all impatience to reach Iona, this new field
for their observation. The weather was splendid, the
sea calm as a lake, and there was every promise of a
fine passage. If that same evening did not bring them
the realization of their wishes, well! they would wait
patiently, after having settled down on the island. There, at least, the curtain was always raised and the scenery ready, so that nothing but bad weather could come in the way.
They would reach their destination before midday. The Pioneer passed through the straits of Kerera, doubled the southern point of the island, steamed across the wide mouth of the Frith of Lorn, left behind Colonsay and its ancient abbey, built in the fourteenth century by the celebrated Lords of the Isles, and ranged along the southern coast of Mull, lying in the open sea, like an immense crab with one claw slightly curved towards the south-west. At one moment Ben More, clad with heather, lifted its rugged head three thousand two hundred feet above the range of distant hills, its rounded summit overlooking those pasture-lands, sharply divided by the imposing mass of Ardalanish point.
Then the picturesque island of Iona stood out against
the north-west, almost at the end of the southern point
of Mull, and beyond lay the vast Atlantic.
“Are you fond of the sea, Mr. Sinclair?” asked Miss
Campbell of her young companion, who sat near her
on the deck, gazing at the lovely prospect.
“Am I fond of it, Miss Campbell?” replied he. “Yes, and I am not one of those miserable individuals who find the sight of it monotonous! To me, nothing is more varied than its appearance, but one must see it under its different aspects. The sea takes so many shades of colour, marvellously blended, that it is perhaps more difficult for an artist to produce an effect at the same time uniform and varied, than to paint a face, however changeable the expression may be.”
“Yes,” said Helena, “it changes incessantly with the
slightest breath of wind, and alters every hour of the
day, according to the light with which it is impregnated.”
“Look at it now, Miss Campbell; it is perfectly calm! Does it not look like a lovely face asleep, in its unalterable serenity? It has not a wrinkle, it is young, it is beautiful! or, if you prefer it, it is an immense mirror, which reflects the sky, and in which God Himself is visible!”
“A mirror often dimmed by the breath of tempests!” added Miss Campbell.