Page:Lesbia Newman - Dalton - 1889.djvu/101

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
LESBIA NEWMAN.
85

given to Kentucky. After all, I guess you mustn’t judge of poor Ireland by the outside. Wait till you’ve been inside a bit.’

Presently they came in view of a headland, on the summit of which stood out conspicuously a rather low, round white lighthouse. This, for some unexplained reason, attracted Lesbia’s attention strongly.

‘Do you know that place?’ she asked of Letitia, who was sitting on a camp-stool by her.

‘Yes, that’s Roche’s Tower, and just below it is Roche’s Point, the entrance to Cork Harbour. As soon as we get well round that point, we shall sight Queenstown, and then your little watering pilgrimage will be over, Lesbia. My voyage will continue without you, worse luck! I sha’n’t enjoy it a bit, having left you behind. What on earth makes you stare so at that fumbling old lighthouse up there? You don’t hear what I’m saying, Lesbia.’

‘Roche’s Tower did you say they call it?’ asked Lesbia excitedly, unheeding her friend’s reproach.

‘Certainly, Roche’s Tower. Why? Or rather why not? What’s the matter with it?’

I've seen it before!’ Lesbia exclaimed, looking dazed.

_ Indeed!’ said Letitia. ‘Didn’t know you’d ever been this way.’

‘I have not, that’s the extraordinary part of it,’ answered Lesbia; ‘nevertheless, as sure as I stand here, I’ve seen that place before. I know perfectly well that steep gloomy hill in the fog, with the old lonely lighthouse on the top. Where and how I’ve seen it I can’t divine, but seen it before I have, as sure as I stand here.’

‘Guess you dreamt it, my Lesbia.’

‘Good gracious, yes, that’s it!’ exclaimed the young girl, turning to her friend, with a wild look. ‘It is so; you’re right, Letitia, it’s the Dream, my mother’s dream, the very