his life might soon pass away into the bosom of the "ever-during Dark."
But against the clouds rose one of the many spires that characterize the
town of Bruges; and on that spire, tapering into heaven, rested the eyes
of Gertrude Vane. The different objects that caught the gaze of each was
emblematic both of the different channel of their thoughts and the
different elements of their nature: he thought of the sorrow, she of the
consolation; his heart prophesied of the passing away from earth, hers of
the ascension into heaven. The lower part of the landscape was wrapped
in shade; but just where the bank curved round in a mimic bay, the waters
caught the sun's parting smile, and rippled against the herbage that
clothed the shore, with a scarcely noticeable wave. There are two of the
numerous mills which are so picturesque a feature of that country,
standing at a distance from each other on the rising banks, their sails
perfectly still in the cool silence of the evening, and adding to the
rustic tranquillity which breathed around. For to me there is something
in the still sails of one of those inventions of man's industry
peculiarly eloquent of repose: the rest seems typical of the repose of
our own passions, short and uncertain, contrary to their natural
ordination; and doubly impressive from the feeling which admonishes us
how precarious is the stillness, how utterly dependent on every wind
rising at any moment and from any quarter of the heavens! They saw
before them no living forms, save of one or two peasants yet lingering by
the water-side.

Trevylyan drew closer to his Gertrude; for his love was inexpressibly
tender, and his vigilant anxiety for her made his stern frame feel the
first coolness of the evening even before she felt it herself.

"Dearest, let me draw your mantle closer round you."