MS-HRC-SB-4-3

[2720] times, four times, at a pinch. [2721] A land receding, another approach-
ing, big and little islands. [2722] No sound save the oars, the rowlocks,
the blue sea against the keel. [2723] In the stern-sheets Lady Pedal, sad.
[2724] What beauty! she murmured. [2725] Alone, not understood, good, too good.
[2726] Taking off her glove she trailed in the transparent water her
sapphire-laden hand.

[2727] Four oars, no rudder, the oars steer. [2728] My crear^t-
ures, what of them? [2729] Nothing. [2730] They are there, each as best he can, as
best he can be somewhere. [2731] Lemuel watches the steeples rising
mountains rising behind the steeples beyond the harbour, no, they
are no more

[2732] No, they are no more than hills, [2733] they raise themselves gently,
faintly blue, out of the confused plain. [2734] It was there somewhere he
was born, in a fine house, of loving parents. [2735] Their slopes are
covered with ling and furze, its hot yellow bells, better known as
gorse. [2736] The hammers of the stone-cutters ring all day like bells.

[2737] The island. [2738] A last effort. [2739] The islet. The shore facing the open
sea is jagged with creeks. [2740] One could live there, perhaps happy, if
life was a possible thing, but nov^body lives there. [2741] The deep water
comes washing into its heart, between high walls of rock. [2742] One day
nothing will remain of it but two islands, separated by a gulf,
narrow at first, then wider and wider as the centuries slip by,
two islands, two reefs. [2743] It is difficult to speak of man, under such
conditions. [2744] Come, Ernest, said Lady Pedal, let us find a place to