CHAPTER XXIV. THE SANDS

Ourschoolwasnotsituatedintheheartofthetown:onenteringA——fromthenorth-westthereisarowofrespectable-lookinghouses,oneachsideofthebroad,whiteroad,withnarrowslipsofgarden-groundbeforethem,Venetianblindstothewindows,andaflightofstepsleadingtoeachtrim,brass-handleddoor.InoneofthelargestofthesehabitationsdweltmymotherandI,withsuchyoungladiesasourfriendsandthepublicchosetocommittoourcharge.Consequently,wewereaconsiderabledistancefromthesea,anddividedfromitbyalabyrinthofstreetsandhouses.ButtheseawasmydelightandIwouldoftengladlypiercethetowntoobtainthepleasureofawalkbesideit,whetherwiththepupils,oralonewithmymotherduringthevacations.Itwasdelightfultomeatalltimesandseasons,butespeciallyinthewildcommotionofaroughsea-breeze,andinthebrilliantfreshnessofasummermorning. IawokeearlyonthethirdmorningaftermyreturnfromAshbyPark—thesunwasshiningthroughtheblind,andIthoughthowpleasantitwouldbetopassthroughthequiettownandtakeasolitaryrambleonthesandswhilehalftheworldwasinbed.Iwasnotlonginformingtheresolution,norslowtoactuponit.OfcourseIwouldnotdisturbmymother,soIstolenoiselesslydownstairs,andquietlyunfastenedthedoor.Iwasdressedandout,whenthechurchclockstruckaquartertosix.TherewasafeelingoffreshnessandvigourintheverystreetsandwhenIgotfreeofthetown,whenmyfootwasonthesandsandmyfacetowardsthebroad,brightbay,nolanguagecandescribetheeffectofthedeep,clearazureoftheskyandocean,thebrightmorningsunshineonthesemicircularbarrierofcraggycliffssurmountedbygreenswellinghills,andonthesmooth,widesands,andthelowrocksoutatsea—looking,withtheirclothingofweedsandmoss,likelittlegrass-grownislands—andaboveall,onthebrilliant,sparklingwaves.Andthen,theunspeakablepurity—andfreshnessoftheair!Therewasjustenoughheattoenhancethevalueofthebreeze,andjustenoughwindtokeepthewholeseainmotion,tomakethewavescomeboundingtotheshore,foamingandsparkling,asifwildwithglee.Nothingelsewasstirring—nolivingcreaturewasvisiblebesidesmyself.Myfootstepswerethefirsttopressthefirm,unbro