The Argosy . s ifthey wanted to do itall over again. For-tunately, it takes twoto make a bargain. Thelandlord had movedme a stage higher inthe world, but it was acase of closing thedoor when the steedwas stolen — therewould be no meetingand no music thatnight, said mine it came to pass. Thenight was not madehideous (or harmo-nious) by this concord of sweet sounds. All was still and calm ;the whole place was steeped in silence profound as the grave. Thechemist opposite and his little wife, who had come to the windowtime after time in costumes that nothing but midsummer renderedprudent,
The Argosy . s ifthey wanted to do itall over again. For-tunately, it takes twoto make a bargain. Thelandlord had movedme a stage higher inthe world, but it was acase of closing thedoor when the steedwas stolen — therewould be no meetingand no music thatnight, said mine it came to pass. Thenight was not madehideous (or harmo-nious) by this concord of sweet sounds. All was still and calm ;the whole place was steeped in silence profound as the grave. Thechemist opposite and his little wife, who had come to the windowtime after time in costumes that nothing but midsummer renderedprudent, nothing but darkness irreproachable, to-night might havetaken for their motto, Requiescat in pace. Gazing out upon thislittle world from this upper window, long after its simple inhabi-tants had sought and found slumber, was like looking out upon a life-in-death kind of scene. The mountains around seemed ponderous,gloomy and portentous : a weird night influence was abroad thatalmost weighed upon the ?-^^ ^^£- -^KK^.-^^ In the Black Forest. 134 ^^^ ^^^ Black Forest. But it was a charming place, this Schonau. Next morning, whencompelled to bid it farewell, I felt that it was all too soon. Verymuch of the neighbourhood had to be left unexplored. I longedto accept the landlords offer, who proposed to guide me to thesummit of the Belchen, it only I would stay yet a few days. Thesummit of the Belchen, where so fine, so grand a panorama unfoldeditself; so many chains of mountains, the Alps, the Jura, the Vorarl-berg, the Vosges. But the weather was unfavourable to excursions,and time pressed. I had made far-away promises and engagements;was, as it were, on parole. To fail, would be almost to fail inhonour. And, beloved reader, have you not found that where dutycalls one way and pleasure another—answer the latter if you will, butthe apple you have plucked inevitably turns to ashes in the mouth. So, the next morning at eight oclock, the willing horses wereonce more at the
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