The Green Ray/Chapter XXIII

CHAPTER XXIII. CONCLUSION.
following day, the 12th of September, the Clorinda, with the whole party on board, set sail with a calm sea and favourable breeze, making for the south-west of the Hebrides, and soon Staffa, Iona, and the point of Mull disappeared behind the high cliffs of that island.

After a pleasant trip, the passengers of the yacht were landed in the little harbour of Oban; then by rail from Oban to Dunolly, and from Dunolly to Glasgow, across the most picturesque country in the Highlands, they returned to Helensburgh.

Three weeks later, a marriage was celebrated with great ceremony at St. George's, Glasgow, but it must be confessed it was not that of Aristobulus Ursiclos with Miss Campbell, and although the bridegroom happened to be Oliver Sinclair, the uncles appeared no less satisfied than their niece.

That this union, contracted under such peculiar circumstances, was a particularly happy one, it is needless to say. Helensburgh, Glasgow, nay even the whole world could scarcely hold all the happiness which had nevertheless been contained in Fingal's Cave.

Although Oliver Sinclair had not seen the much-sought-after phenomenon, he was determined to have a souvenir of the last evening spent on Staffa. So one day he exhibited a remarkably fine sunset, in which a particular effect of a green ray of extreme intensity, as though it had been painted with liquid emerald, was very much admired.

This picture aroused at the same time admiration and discussion, some said it was a natural effect marvellously reproduced, others maintained that it was purely imaginative and that nature could never produce such an effect, to the great indignation of both brothers, who had seen this ray, and declared that the young artist was quite correct.

“And it is even better,” said Sam, “to see the Green Ray in a painting—”

“Than in nature,” added Sib, “for looking at so many sunsets, one after the other, does the eyesight no good.”

And the brothers were right.

Two months after this, the newly-married couple and their uncles were walking in the park on the banks of the Clyde, when they unexpectedly came upon Aristobulus Ursiclos.

The young savant, who was taking great interest in the work of dragging the river, was going towards the station of Helensburgh when he saw his old Oban companions.

To say that Aristobulus had suffered by Miss Campbell's desertion of him, would be to entirely misunderstand his character. He felt not the slightest embarrassment before Mistress Sinclair.

They bowed to each other, and Aristobulus politely congratulated the newly-married pair.

Seeing this friendly feeling, the brothers could not conceal the happiness which this marriage had given them.

“Such happiness,” said Sam, “that sometimes when I am alone I find myself smiling.”

“And I weeping,” said Sib.

“Well, gentlemen,” remarked Aristobulus, “it must be allowed that this is the first time you have ever disagreed; one of you smiles, and the other weeps.”

“It is exactly the same thing,” interposed Sinclair.

“Exactly,” repeated his young wife, taking each uncle by the hand.

“How can that be?” replied Aristobulus, in his usual tone of superiority, “No! no! not at all! What is a smile? A voluntary and particular movement of the muscles of the face, whilst tears—”

“And tears?” asked Mistress Sinclair.

“Are simply a humour which lubricates the eye-ball, a composition of chloride of sodium, phosphate of chalk, and chlorate of soda!”

“Speaking chemically, sir, you are right,” said Oliver Sinclair, “but chemically only.”

“I don't understand the distinction,” sharply retorted Aristobulus.

And bowing with the rigidity of a geometrician, he resumed his way to the station, with measured steps.

“Mr. Ursiclos would explain sentiment on the same principle as he accounted for the Green Ray,” observed Mistress Sinclair.

“But after all, my dear Helena,” said Oliver, “we never saw that ray, much as we wished to.”

“We have seen something better still!” quietly replied his young wife. “We have seen the happiness which the legend attached to the observation of that phenomenon! And since we have found it, my dear Oliver, let us be contented, and leave to those who have never yet known it, the search for the Green Ray!”

Le Rayon vert/Chapitre XXIII Promień zielony/Rozdział XXIII