Chapter 10

           Thenindeedpeacehadcome.Messagesofpeacebreathedfromtheseatotheshore.Nevertobreakitssleepanymore,tolullitrathermoredeeplytorest,andwhateverthedreamersdreamtholily,dreamtwisely,toconfirm—whatelsewasitmurmuring—asLilyBriscoelaidherheadonthepillowinthecleanstillroomandheardthesea.Throughtheopenwindowthevoiceofthebeautyoftheworldcamemurmuring,toosoftlytohearexactlywhatitsaid—butwhatmatteredifthemeaningwereplain?entreatingthesleepers(thehousewasfullagain;Mrs.Beckwithwasstayingthere,alsoMr.Carmichael),iftheywouldnotactuallycomedowntothebeachitselfatleasttolifttheblindandlookout.Theywouldseethennightflowingdowninpurple;hisheadcrowned;hissceptrejewelled;andhowinhiseyesachildmightlook.Andiftheystillfaltered(Lilywastiredoutwithtravellingandsleptalmostatonce;butMr.Carmichaelreadabookbycandlelight),iftheystillsaidno,thatitwasvapour,thissplendourofhis,andthedewhadmorepowerthanhe,andtheypreferredsleeping;gentlythenwithoutcomplaint,orargument,thevoicewouldsingitssong.Gentlythewaveswouldbreak(Lilyheardtheminhersleep);tenderlythelightfell(itseemedtocomethroughhereyelids).Anditalllooked,Mr.Carmichaelthought,shuttinghisbook,fallingasleep,muchasitusedtolook.