Chapter XXXIV

lings,thewell-keptgravel,contrastedrathersurprisinglywiththesurroundingdesolation.Onecouldwalkformileswithoutmeetingasoul,andthecountryspreadoutfromthesea,lowandflatandmarshy.Thebeachwasofcountlessshellsofeverypossiblevariety,whichcrumbledunderfootwhilehereandthereweregreatbanksofseaweedandbitsofwoodorrope,thejetsamofathousandtides.Inonespot,afewyardsoutbuthighanddryatlowwater,weretheremainsofanoldhulk,whosewoodenribsstoodoutweirdlyliketheskeletonofsomehugesea-beast.Andthenallroundwasthelonelysea,withneverashipnorafishing-smackinsight.Inwinteritwasasifaspiritofsolitude,likeamysticshroud,haddescendedupontheshoreanduponthedesertwaters. Then,inthemelancholy,inthedreariness,Berthafoundasubtlefascination.Theskywasathreateningheavycloud,lowdownandthewindtorealongshouting,screaming,andwhistling:therewaspanicintheturbulentsea,murkyandyellow,andthewavesleapedup,oneattheother’sheels,andbeatdownonthebeachwithanangryroar.Itwasdesolate,desolatetheseawassomercilessthattheverysightappalledone:itwasawrathfulpower,beatingforwards,everwrathfullybeatingforwards,roaringwithpainwhenthechainsthatbounditwrencheditbackandaftereachdesperateeffortitshrankwithayellofanguish.Andtheseagullsswayedabovethewavesintheirmelancholyflight,risingandfallingwiththewind. Berthalovedalsothecalmofwinter,whenthesea-mistandthemistofheavenwereonewhentheseawassilentandheavy,andthesolitarygullflewscreechingoverthegraywaters,screechingmournfully.Shelovedthecalmofsummerwhentheskywascloudlessandinfinite.Thenshespentlonghours,lyingatthewater’sedge,delightedwiththesolitudeandwithherabsolutepeace.Thesea,placidasalake,unmovedbythelightestripple,wasalooking-glassreflectingthegloryofheavenanditturnedtofirewhenthesunsankinthewestitwasaseaofmoltencopper,red,brilliant,sothattheeyesweredazzled.Atroopofseagullssleptonthewaterandtherewerehundredsofthem,motionlessandsilentonearosenowandthen,andflewforamomentwithheavywing,andsankdown,andallwasstill. OncethecoolnesswassotemptingthatBerthacouldnotresistit.Timidly,rapidly,sheslippedoffherclothesandlookingroundtoseethattherewasreallynooneinsight,steppedin.Thewaveletsaboutherfeetmadehershiveralittle,andthenwithasplash,stretchingoutherarms,sheranforward,andhalffell,halfdivedintothewater.Nowitwasdelightfulsherejoicedinthefreedomofherlimbs,foritwasanunknownpleasuretoswimunhamperedbycostume.Itgaveafinesenseofpower,andthesaltwater,lappingroundher,waswonderfullyexhilarating.Shewantedtosingaloudinthejoyofherheart.Divingbelowthesurface,shecameupwithashakeoftheheadandalittlecryofdelightthenherhairwasloosenedandwithamotionitallcametumblingabouthershouldersandtrailedoutinitsringletsoverthewater. Sheswamout,afearlessswimmeranditgaveherafeelingofstrengthandindependencetohavethedeepwatersallabouther,thedeepcalmseaofsummersheturnedonherbackandfloated,tryingtolookthesunintheface.Theseaglimmeredwiththesunbeamsandtheskywasdazzling.Then,returning,Berthafloatedagain,quiteneartheshoreitamusedhertolieonherback,rockedbythetinywaves,andtosinkherearssothatshecouldheartheshinglerubtogethercuriouslywiththeebbandflowofthetide.Sheshookoutherlonghairanditstretchedaboutherlikeanaureole. Sheexultedinheryouth—inheryouth?Berthafeltnooldert