Alice Lorraine: A Tale of the South Downs

								

does, and with a like simplicity. With this difference, however,
that while the great hits of the little ones, by the proud mother
chronicled, are the lucky outbursts of happy inexperience, the old
man’s sage words were the issue of unhappy experience.
Nevertheless he must have owned a genial nature still at work. For
he loved to go down the village lane, when the wind was cold on the
highland, and there to wait at a cottage door, till the children came
to stare at him. And soon these children had courage to spy that,
in spite of his outlandish dress, pockets were about him, and they
whispered as much to one another, while their eyes were testing him. At
other times when the wind was soft, and shadows of gentle clouds were
shed in chase of one another, this great man who had seen the world,
and knew all the stars hanging over it--his pleasure was to wander in
and out of the ups and downs and nooks of quaintly-plaited hills, and
feast his eyes upon their verdure. After that, when the westering light
was spreading the upland ridge with gold, and the glades with grey
solemnity, this man of declining years was well content to lean on a
bank of turf, and watch the quiet ways of sheep. Often thus his mind
was carried back to the land of childhood, soothed as in his nurse’s
arms by nature’s peace around him. And if his dreams were interrupted
by the crisp fresh sound of browsing, and the ovine tricks as bright
as any human exploits, he would turn and do his best to talk with the
lonely shepherds.
These, in their simple way, amused him, with their homely saws, and
strange content, and independence: and he no less delighted them by
unaccustomed modes of speech, and turns of thought beyond their minds,
and distant wisdom quite brought home. Thus, and by many other means,
this ancient prince, of noble presence, and of flowing snow-white hair,
and vesture undisgraced by tailors, left such trace upon these hills,
that even his ghost was well believed to know all the sheep-tracks
afterwards.
Pleased with England, and with English scenery and customs, as well as
charmed with having five quite baby stars to ephemerise, this great
astrologer settled to stay in our country as long as possible. He
sent his trusty servant, Memel, in a merchant-ship from Shoreham to
fetch his implements and papers, precious things of many kinds, and
curiosities long in store. Memel brought all these quite safe, except
one little thing or two, which he accounted trifles; but his master was
greatly vexed about them.
The prince unpacked his goods most carefully in his own eight-sided
room, allowing none but his daughter to help him, and not too sure
about trusting her. Then forth he set for a real campaign among the
stars of the Southdowns--and supper-call and breakfast-bell were no
more than the bark of a dog to him. And thus he spent his nights, alas!
forgetful of the different clime, under the cold stars, when by rights