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and look well after your sparkles。 You will find them grow and
gather and unite； until you are afloat on a sea of radiancewith
cloud shadows no doubt。'
'And yet；' I resumed； 'I never seem to have room。'
'That is just why。'
'But I feel that I cannot find it。 I know that if I fly to that
bounding cape on the far horizon there； I shall only find a placea
place to want another in。 There is no fortunate island out on that
sea。'
'I fancy；' said Falconer； 'that until a man loves space； he will
never be at peace in a place。 At least so I have found it。 I am
content if you but give me room。 All space to me throbs with being
and life； and the loveliest spot on the earth seems but the
compression of space till the meaning shines out of it； as the fire
flies out of the air when you drive it close together。 To seek
place after place for freedom； is a constant effort to flee from
space； and a vain one； for you are ever haunted by the need of it；
and therefore when you seek most to escape it； fancy that you love
it and want it。'
'You are getting too mystical for me now；' I said。 'I am not able to
follow you。'
'I fear I was on the point of losing myself。 At all events I can go
no further now。 And indeed I fear I have been but skirting the
Limbo of Vanities。'
He rose； for we could both see that this talk was not in the least
interesting to our companion。 We got again into the carriage；
which； by Falconer's orders； was turned and driven in the opposite
direction； still at no great distance from the lofty edge of the
heights that rose above the shore。
We came at length to a lane bounded with stone walls； every stone of
which had its moss and every chink its fern。 The lane grew more and
more grassy； the walls vanished； and the track faded away into a
narrow winding valley； formed by the many meeting curves of opposing
hills。 They were green to the top with sheep…grass； and spotted
here and there with patches of fern； great stones； and tall withered
foxgloves。 The air was sweet and healthful； and Andrew evidently
enjoyed it because it reminded him again of his boyhood。 The only
sound we heard was the tinkle of a few tender sheep…bells； and now
and then the tremulous bleating of a sheep。 With a gentle winding；
the valley led us into a more open portion of itself； where the old
man paused with a look of astonished pleasure。
Before us； seaward； rose a rampart against the sky； like the
turreted and embattled wall of a huge eastern city； built of loose
stones piled high； and divided by great peaky rocks。 In the centre
rose above them all one solitary curiously…shaped mass； one of the
oddest peaks of the Himmalays in miniature。 From its top on the
further side was a sheer descent to the waters far below the level
of the valley from which it immediately rose。 It was altogether a
strange freaky fantastic place； not without its grandeur。 It looked
like the remains of a frolic of the Titans； or rather as if reared
by the boys and girls； while their fathers and mothers 'lay
stretched out huge in length；' and in breadth too； upon the slopes
around； and laughed thunderously at the sportive invention of their
sons and daughters。 Falconer helped his father up to the edge of
the rampart that he might look over。 Again he started back； 'afraid
of that which was high；' for the lowly valley was yet at a great
height above the diminished waves。 On the outside of the rampart
ran a narrow path whence the green hill…side went down steep to the
sea。 The gulls were screaming far below us； we could see the little
flying streaks of white。 Beyond was the great ocean。 A murmurous
sound came up from its shore。
We descended and seated ourselves on the short springy grass of a
little mound at the foot of one of the hills； where it sank slowly；
like the dying gush of a wave； into the hollowest centre of the
little vale。
'Everything tends to the cone…shape here；' said Falconer；'the
oddest and at the same time most wonderful of mathematical figures。'
'Is it not strange；' I said； 'that oddity and wonder should come so
near？'
'They often do in the human world as well；' returned he。 'Therefore
it is not strange that Shelley should have been so fond of this
place。 It is told of him that repeated sketches of the spot were
found on the covers of his letters。 I know nothing more like
Shelley's poetry than this valleywildly fantastic and yet
beautifulas if a huge genius were playing at grandeur； and
producing little models of great things。 But there is one grand
thing I want to show you a little further on。'
We rose； and walked out of the valley on the other side； along the
lofty coast。 When we reached a certain point； Falconer stood and
requested us to look as far as we could； along the cliffs to the
face of the last of them。
'What do you see？' he asked。
'A perpendicular rock； going right down into the blue waters；' I
answered。
'Look at it： what is the outline of it like？ Whose face is it？'
'Shakspere's； by all that is grand！' I cried。
'So it is；' said Andrew。
'Right。 Now I'll tell you what I would do。 If I were very rich；
and there were no poor people in the country； I would give a
commission to some great sculptor to attack that rock and work out
its suggestion。 Then； it I had any money left； we should find one
for Bacon； and one for Chaucer； and one for Milton； and； as we are
about it； we may fancy as many more as we like； so that from the
bounding rocks of our island； the memorial faces of our great
brothers should look abroad over the seas into the infinite sky
beyond。'
'Well； now；' said the elder； 'I think it is grander as it is。'
'You are quite right； father；' said Robert。 'And so with many of our
fancies for perfecting God's mighty sketches； which he only can
finish。'
Again we seated ourselves and looked out over the waves。
'I have never yet heard；' I said； 'how you managed with that poor
girl that wanted to drown herselfon Westminster Bridge； I
meanthat night； you remember。'
'Miss St。 John has got her in her own house at present。 She has
given her those two children we picked up at the door of the
public…house to take care of。 Poor little darlings！ they are
bringing back the life in her heart already。 There is actually a
little colour in her cheekthe dawn； I trust； of the eternal life。
That is Miss St。 John's way。 As often as she gets hold of a poor
hopeless woman； she gives her a motherless child。 It is wonderful
what the childless woman and motherless child do for each other。'
'I was much amused the other day with the lecture one of the police
magistrates gave a poor creature who was brought before him for
attempting to drown herself。 He did give her a sovereign out of the
poor box； though。'
'Well； that might just tide her over the shoal of self…destruction；'
said Falconer。 'But I cannot hel