A tray was already waiting upon a side-table, and bringing it to occupy the place where the books had lain, we sat down and ate a hearty meal before we had done, after which I lifted the tray aside, and handed my father the tobacco jar.
In a few minutes he began to fill his pipe, and when he had lit it, I sat watching him and noticed how the soft thin smoke began to curl about his face, and float up between me and the row of cutlasses and pistols with the belts that were arranged along the wall.
“Now, let’s have ten minutes’ fresh air before we go to bed,” he said rising. “You don’t want to come, I suppose.”
“Oh, yes, I’ll come,” I replied, and I stepped out with him into the soft transparent night.
“Ah, that’s delicious!” he exclaimed as we walked a little way down the Gap, and then struck up the path leading to the high cliff track.
It was very dark, but at the same time clear; and as we paused after a time there were the lights below us in the new cottages, while above the stars shone out brilliantly and twinkled as if it was about to be a frost.
“What a calm peace there is over everything!” said my father thoughtfully. “Why, Sep, my very weariness seems to be a pleasure, it is so full of the promise of rest.”
“I’m tired too,” I said. “I’ve been walking a good way to-day. How plainly you can hear the sea!”
“Yes, the wind must be from the north. But how soft, and sweet, and gentle it is! What is that?”
“What?” I replied listening, for I had not detected a sound.