Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/134

122 remark for the benefit of those who may be overtaken by similar affliction. In three days’ time I could bend my houghs, and albeit they were not just so soople as I would have liked, with the aid of two sticks I was able to scramble out on the boulders and poke unwary limpets off the rocks into my wife’s hands on the beach below. That sea-side rest afforded me wonderful enjoyment. My wife, who is of a very inquiring turn of mind, spent much time in finding out the habits and modes of life amongst the simple fisher-folk, while I, when I was strong enough to be trusted by myself, would ramble by the lonely seabeach and in crannies of the shore, filling my pocket handkerchief with whelks and out-of-the-way shells, until I fancied myself back again in the happy days of boyhood.

I cannot fully express my thankfulness for the excellent weather we were favoured with, especially during the latter days of our too brief holiday. My wife lightly says it was only what we deserved, seeing we had waited so long for it; but I fear the remark almost savours of irreverence, for both the weather and the great blessings we had vouchsafed to us are altogether beyond our own poor deserts, and should inspire us both with deep and fervent thankfulness. Now we are home again and settling down into quiet matrimonial ways. It is a wondrous change for