Дні мрій
Its Walls Were As Of Jasper
Iwasthroughthetownbythistime,andoutontheothersideofthehill,whereIhadalwayswantedtobe;and,sureenough,therewastheharbour,allthickwithcurlyships.Mostofthemwerepiledhighwithwedding-presents—balesofsilk,andgoldandsilverplate,andcomfortable-lookingbagssuggestingbullion;andthegayestshipofalllaycloseuptothecarpetedlanding-stage.Alreadythebridewassteppingdaintilydownthegangway,herladiesfollowingprimly,onebyone;afewminutesmoreandweshouldallbeaboard,thehawserswouldsplashinthewater,thesailswouldfillandstrain.FromthedeckIshouldseethelittlewalledtownrecedeandsinkandgrowdim,whileeveryplungeofourbowsbroughtusnearertothehappyisland—itwasanislandwewereboundfor,Iknewwell!AlreadyIcouldseetheisland-peoplewavinghandsonthecrowdedquay,whencethelittlehousesranupthehilltothecastle,crowningallwithitstowersandbattlements.Oncemoreweshouldridetogether,amerryprocession,clatteringupthesteepstreetandthroughthegrimgateway;andthenweshouldhavearrived,thenweshouldalldinetogether,thenweshouldhavereachedhome!Andthen—
OW!OW!OW!
Bitteritistostumbleoutofanopalescentdreamintothecolddaylight;crueltoloseinasecondasea-voyage,anisland,andacastlethatwastobepracticallyyourown;butcruellestandbitterestofalltoknow,inadditiontoyourloss,thatthefingersofanangryaunthaveyoutightbythescruffofyourneck.
