hear people moving about and talking on the terrace, and peeping out, I
beheld a curious and interesting spectacle. Down the broad steps leading
to the water the people of the house were hurrying, and flinging
themselves like agile, startled frogs on the bosom of the stream. There,
in the midst of his family, my venerable host was already disporting
himself, his long, silvery beard and hair floating like a foam on the
waves of his own creating. And presently from other sleeping-rooms on a
line with mine shot forth new bewitching forms, each sparsely clothed in
a slender clinging garment, which concealed no beauteous curve beneath;
and nimbly running and leaping down the slope, they quickly joined the
masculine bathers.

Looking about I soon found a pretty thing in which to array myself, and
quickly started after the others, risking my neck in my desire to
imitate the new mode of motion I had just witnessed. The water was
delightfully cool and refreshing, and the company very agreeable, ladies
and gentlemen all swimming and diving about together with the
unconventional freedom and grace of a company of grebes.

After dressing, we assembled in the eating-room or portico where we had
supped, just when the red disk of the sun was showing itself above the
horizon, kindling the clouds with yellow flame, and filling the green
world with new light. I felt happy and strong that morning, very able
and willing to work in the fields, and, better than all, very hopeful
about that affair of the heart. Happiness, however, is seldom perfect,
and in the clear, tender morning light I could not help contrasting my
own repulsively ugly garments with the bright and beautiful costumes
worn by the others, which seemed to harmonize so well with their fresh,
happy morning mood. I also missed the fragrant cup of coffee, the
streaky rasher from the dear familiar pig, and, after breakfast, the