CHAPTER III.
THE ARTICLE IN THE “MORNING POST.”
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Lovers of physical curiosities might have read in that day's Morning Post:—
“Have you sometimes observed the sun set over the sea? Have you watched it till the upper rim of its disk, skimming the surface of the water, is just about to disappear? Very likely you have; but did you notice the phenomenon which occurs at the very instant the heavenly body sends forth its last ray, which, if the sky be cloudless, is of unparalleled purity? No, perhaps not. Well, the first time you have the opportunity, and it happens but rarely, of making this observation, it will not be, as one might think, a crimson ray which falls upon the retina of the eye, it will be ‘green,’ but a most wonderful green, a green which no artist could ever obtain on his palette, a green which neither the varied tints of vegetation nor the shades of the most limpid sea could ever produce the like! If there be green in Paradise, it cannot but be of this shade, which most surely is the true green of Hope!”
So ran the article in the Morning Post, the newspaper which Miss Campbell held in her hand when she entered the hall. This paragraph had simply bewitched her, and with great excitement she read to her uncles these few hurried lines, which sang the praises of the Green Ray in a somewhat lyric form.
But what Miss Campbell did not tell them was that this Green Ray tallied with an ancient legend, which till now she had never been able to understand. It was one among the numerous inexplicable legends of the Highlands, which avers that this ray has the virtue of making him who has seen it impossible to be deceived in matters of sentiment; at its apparition all deceit and falsehood are done away, and he who has been fortunate enough once to behold it is enabled to see closely into his own heart and read the thoughts of others.
A young Scotchwoman of the Highlands must be pardoned for a romantic credulity which this article in the Morning Post had just revived.
Sam and Sib looked at each other with blank astonishment, as Miss Campbell read. They had lived till now without seeing the Green Ray, and imagined it was quite possible to exist without ever doing so. However, it seemed that this was not Helena's opinion, who intended to make the most important action of her life subordinate to the observation of this unique phenomenon.
“Ah! and is that what is meant by the Green Ray?” said her uncle Sam, gently nodding his head.
“Yes,” replied Miss Campbell.
“And do you really want to see it?” said Sib.
“I will see it with your permission, uncles, and as soon as possible, with all due deference to you.”
“And then when you have seen it—?”
“When I have seen it, we can talk of Mr. Aristobulus Ursiclos.”
The brothers exchanged a knowing glance.
“Then let us go and see this Green Ray,” said one.
“Without losing a moment!” added the other.
Miss Campbell stopped them just as they were about to open the hall window.
“We must wait till the sun sets,” said she.
“This evening then—” said Sam,
“Should the sun set on a clear horizon,” added Miss Campbell.
“Very well, after dinner we will all three go to Roseneath Point—” said Sib.
“Or else we might simply go on to the tower,” added Sam.
“We can only see the coast of the Clyde from Roseneath Point, or from the tower,” replied Miss Campbell; “and, remember, we must see the sun set on the sea-line, so take my advice, uncles, and let me see that horizon as quickly as possible.”
Miss Campbell spoke so seriously, and smiled at them so prettily, that the brothers could not refuse a proposition made in such terms.
“Perhaps there is no immediate hurry—?” Sam, however, thought fit to observe.
And Sib came to his assistance, adding,—
“We have plenty of time—”
Miss Campbell shook her head prettily.
“There is not plenty of time,” she replied, “and this, on the contrary, is most urgent.”
“On account of Mr. Aristobulus Ursiclos—” said Sam.
“Whose happiness, it seems, depends upon your seeing the Green Ray, and—” continued Sib.
“No, simply because we are already in the month of August, and it will not be long before our Scotch skies are hidden by fogs! We must take advantage of the fine evenings still left us! When shall we go?”
It was very certain Miss Campbell was determined to see the Green Ray that year, and there was no time to be lost. What they had to do was to go at once to some place on the Scotch coast facing the west, to settle down there as comfortably as possible, to see the sun set every evening and to watch for its last ray, without a day's delay. Perhaps then by some happy chance Miss Campbell would have her whim gratified, should the sky favour the observation, which is a rare occurrence—as the Morning Post justly remarked.
And this well-informed journal was quite right.
First of all they must choose some place on the western coast, where the phenomenon would be likely to be visible. Now to find that, they would be obliged to go beyond the Frith of Clyde.
In fact, the whole expanse of the Frith is full of obstacles, which limit the range of view. These are the Kyles of Bute, the peninsulas of Knapdale and Kintyre, the isles of Arran, Jura, Islay, and a number of rocky islets, which form a kind of archipelago all along the western coast of Argyleshire. It would be impossible to get a glimpse here of the sea-horizon, where one might observe the sunset.
So that if they did not wish to leave Scotland, they must go further north or further south to an open coast, and that before autumn set in.
It mattered very little to Miss Campbell where they went, were it to the coast of Ireland, France, Norway, Spain, or Portugal; she would go to any place wherever the last ray of the setting sun could be seen, and whether it were convenient to the brothers or not, they would be obliged to follow her.
Both uncles were eager to offer their opinions after having exchanged a shrewd glance.
“Well, dear Helena,” said Sam, “nothing can be easier than to satisfy you; let us go to Oban.”
“It is very certain no place could be better than Oban,” added Sib.
“Oban, let it be,” replied Miss Campbell; “but is there a clear sea-horizon at Oban?”
“If there is one anywhere!” said Sam.
“More likely two than one,” exclaimed Sib.
“Well, then, let us go!”
“In three days' time,” said one uncle.
“In two,” said the other, who thought it wise to make this prudent concession.
“No, to-morrow,” insisted Miss Campbell, rising from her seat just as the dinner-bell rang.
“To-morrow. Yes. It shall be to-morrow!” assented Sam.
“We only wish we were there now!” put in Sib.
Pages 38-39 missing from scans. Following paragraphs are translated by the contributor.
They spoke the truth, but wherefore this haste? Precisely because Aristobulus Ursiclos happened to be staying at Oban, and without being aware of this fact, Miss Campbell would be brought in contact with this young man, chosen from among the scholars, and, of what the Melville brothers had little doubt, among the most tedious.
That is how, thought the two scheming characters, Miss Campbell, after becoming fatigued observing the sunsets in vain, would give up the fantasy and finally place her hand in the hand of her fiancee. Moreover, had Helena suspected it, she would still have left. The presence of Aristobulus Ursiclos was not to obstruct her.
“Betty!”
“Bess!”
“Betsey!”
The series of names resounded again in the hall, but this time Dame Bess appeared and accepted the order to be ready, the following day, for an immediate departure.
It was indeed necessary to hasten. The barometer, which was above thirty and three-tenth inches (769 mm), promised some duration of good weather. By leaving the next morning, one could hope to arrive in Oban at a good hour, to observe the setting of the sun.
Naturally, during this day, Dame Bess and Partridge were occupied preparing for departure. The housekeeper's forty-seven keys clicked in the pocket of her skirt, like the bells of a Spanish mule. What cupboards and drawers had to be opened, and especially closed! Perhaps the Helensburgh cottage would remain empty for a long time? Didn't one have to take into account the whims of Miss Campbell? And if it pleased this charming person to run after her Green Ray? And if this Green Ray put on some coquettery to be hidden? And if the horizons of Oban did not offer all the clarity necessary for this kind of observation? And if it were necessary to seek another astronomical post on the southermost coast of Scotland, England, or Ireland, or even of the continent! They would leave the following day, it was agreed, but when would they return to the cottage? In a month, in six, in a year, in ten years?
“And why this idea to see the Green Ray?” asked Dame Bess, which Partridge helped to sound better.
“I do not know,” replied Partridge, “but it must have its importance, and our young mistress does not do anything without reason, as you know, mavourneen.”
Mavourneen is an expression which is used readily in Scotland,---something like ma chère in France, and it did not displease the excellent housekeeper to be called this name by the honest Scotch.
“Partridge,” she replied, “I believe like you that this fantasy of Miss Campbell, which one hardly suspected, could hide some secret thought as well.”
“Which is?”
“Eh! who knows? if not a refusal, at least an end to her uncles' projects.”
“In truth,” said Partridge, I do not know why the Melvilles are so much enticed by this Mr. Ursiclos! Is that the husband for our lady?
“It is certain, Partridge,” replied Dame Bess, “that if he does not entirely satisfy her, she will never marry him. She will say something pretty to her uncles, and give them a kiss, and they will be quite surprised that they ever thought of this suitor for a moment. For my own part, I think very little of him.”
End of missing pages and translation by contributor.
“No more than I do, honey.”
“Look here. Partridge, Miss Campbell's heart is like this drawer, safely locked, and she only has the key, which she must give up before it can be opened.”
“Unless they take it from her!” added Partridge, with an approving smile.
“They will never take it from her, unless she likes,” replied Bess; “and may the wind carry my cap to the top of St. Mungo's steeple, if ever our young mistress marries this Mr. Ursiclos!”
“A Southron!” cried Partridge, “who, though he was born in Scotland, has always lived the other side of the Tweed!”
Dame Bess shook her head. These two Highlanders understood each other well. They would hardly allow that the Lowlands were part of old Caledonia. Decidedly they were not in favour of this projected marriage; they hoped Miss Campbell would do better. It might be very suitable; but that did not seem enough to please them.
“After all, Partridge,” continued Dame Bess, “the customs of the old clans were the best, and it's my belief that marriages were happier then than they are now-a-days.”
“You never said a truer word in your life, my dear,” gravely replied Partridge; “they thought more of the heart, and not so much of the purse in those days. Money, of course, is all very well, but affection is better!”
“Yes, Partridge, and they were careful above everything to know each other well before they married! Do you remember what used to take place at St. Olla's fair at Kirkwall? All the time it lasted, from the beginning of August, the young people coupled off; and these couples were called “brother and sister of the first of August.” Brother and sister! Now wasn't that a good way of preparing them for becoming husband and wife? And, upon my word, this is the very day the fair used to open! God grant the old custom may be revived.”
“And so say I!” replied Partridge. “If the masters had only met with some nice young ladies in that way, they would never have escaped matrimony, and Miss Campbell would now have two aunts to look after her.”
“I quite agree with you, Partridge” said Dame Bess; “but if you could couple off Miss Campbell with Mr. Ursiclos to-day, I'll warrant that in a week's time you would not find them together.”
Without dwelling upon the inconveniences which might arise from this familiarity, authorized by the ancient customs of Kirkwall, which have now died out, it must be acknowledged that Dame Bess was perhaps right in her statements. However, Miss Campbell and Arsitobulus Ursiclos were not brother and sister of the first of August, and if their marriage ever took place, they would have no chance of knowing each other as they might have done, had they gone through the test of St. Olla's fair!
Be this as it may, fairs are now held for business and not for match-making. So we must leave Dame Bess and Partridge to their regrets, who lost not a moment while they talked.
The departure was decided on, and the place of resort chosen. The brothers and Miss Campbell would figure the next day under the heading of “Departures and Arrivals” in the fashionable papers, as having left for Oban. But which route were they to take? This matter had now to be arranged.
There are two different ways of going to this little town, which is some distance north-west of Glasgow.
The first is by road. One goes to Bowling, then past Dumbarton, and, skirting Loch Leven, touches at Balloch, the extreme end of Loch Lomond; crossing this most beautiful of the Scotch lakes, with its thirty isles lying between those historic shores, teeming with memories of MacGregor, MacFarlane, Rob Roy, and Robert Bruce, Dalmally is reached; from thence, following a road which winds round, and very often half way up the mountain side, overhanging torrents and fords, across the first range of the Grampian Hills, through undulating glens of heather, diversified with firs, oaks, larches, and birches, the wondering tourist at last finds himself at Oban, where the coast is as picturesque as any along the shores of the Atlantic.
It is a charming excursion which every traveller in Scotland has made, or ought to make; but as for sea-horizon, along this route, there is none; so when the uncles proposed going this way to Miss Campbell, they met with very little success.
The second route is both by river and sea. To descend the Clyde as far as the gulf to which it gives its name, and sail between the islands and islets which make that curious archipelago look like an enormous skeleton hand spread over part of the ocean, then to reascend the right of this hand as far as Oban, was the one which tempted Miss Campbell most, for whom the beautiful country round Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine had no longer any charms. Besides, through the spaces between the islands, in the distance, there must be glimpses of the sea-horizon. Now, when the sun was setting during the last hour of the journey, if the horizon were not hidden by fog, might it not be possible to see this Green Ray, which lasted scarcely the fiftieth part of a minute?
“You understand, uncles,” said Miss Campbell, “it is for but one moment! So if I see what I want, the journey is at end, and we need not go on to Oban.”
This was precisely what the brothers had not bargained for; they had made up their minds to stay some time at Oban, the reason of which we know, and they had no intention of disarranging their plans through a too speedy apparition of the phenomenon.
Nevertheless, as Miss Campbell invariably had her own way, and as she wished to go by the sea route, that way was chosen in preference to the other.
“I wish the Green Ray at Jericho!” said Sam, when Helena had left the room.
“And all who conceived the idea with it,” added Sib.