"
"Ah! me," thought Morley, "and could not they spare one
Missionary from Tahiti for their fellow countrymen at
Wodgate!"
Book 3 Chapter 5
The summer twilight had faded into sweet night; the young and
star-attended moon glittered like a sickle in the deep purple
sky; of all the luminous host, Hesperus alone was visible; and
a breeze, that bore the last embrace of the flowers by the
sun, moved languidly and fitfully over the still and odorous
earth.
The moonbeam fell upon the roof and garden of Gerard. It
suffused the cottage with its brilliant light, except where
the dark depth of the embowered porch defied its entry. All
around the beds of flowers and herbs spread sparkling and
defined. You could trace the minutest walk; almost
distinguish every leaf. Now and then there came a breath, and
the sweet-peas murmured in their sleep; or the roses rustled,
as if they were afraid they were about to be roused from their
lightsome dreams. Farther on the fruit-trees caught the
splendour of the night; and looked like a troop of sultanas
taking their gardened air, when the eye of man could not
profane them, and laden with jewels. There were apples that
rivalled rubies; pears of topaz tint: a whole paraphernalia of
plums, some purple as the amethyst, others blue and brilliant
as the sapphire; an emerald here, and now a golden drop that
gleamed like the yellow diamond of Gengis Khan.
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