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husbands who come up every Saturday from town might well be impatient for
a Monday of final return。 Those who came from remoter distances have
gone back already； and the lady cottagers； lingering hardily on till
October； must find the sight of the empty hotels and the windows of the
neighboring houses； which no longer brighten after the chilly nightfall；
rather depressing。 Every one says that this is the loveliest time of
year； and that it will be divine here all through October。 But there are
sudden and unexpected defections； there is a steady pull of the heart
cityward； which it is hard to resist。 The first great exodus was on the
first of the month； when the hotels were deserted by four…fifths of their
guests。 The rest followed； half of them within the week； and within a
fortnight none but an all but inaudible and invisible remnant were left；
who made no impression of summer sojourn in the deserted trolleys。
The days now go by in moods of rapid succession。 There have been days
when the sea has lain smiling in placid derision of the recreants who
have fled the lingering summer； there have been nights when the winds
have roared round the cottages in wild menace of the faithful few who
have remained。
We have had a magnificent storm； which came； as an equinoctial storm
should； exactly at the equinox； and for a day and a night heaped the sea
upon the shore in thundering surges twenty and thirty feet high。 I
watched these at their awfulest； from the wide windows of a cottage that
crouched in the very edge of the surf； with the effect of clutching the
rocks with one hand and holding its roof on with the other。 The sea was
such a sight as I have not seen on shipboard； and while I luxuriously
shuddered at it； I had the advantage of a mellow log…fire at my back；
purring and softly crackling in a quiet indifference to the storm。
Twenty…four hours more made all serene again。 Bloodcurdling tales of
lobster…pots carried to sea filled the air； but the air was as blandly
unconscious of ever having been a fury as a lady who has found her lost
temper。 Swift alternations of weather are so characteristic of our
colonial climate that the other afternoon I went out with my umbrella
against the raw； cold rain of the morning； and had to raise it against
the broiling sun。 Three days ago I could say that the green of the woods
had no touch of hectic in it； but already the low trees of the swamp…land
have flamed into crimson。 Every morning； when I look out； this crimson
is of a fierier intensity； and the trees on the distant uplands are
beginning slowly to kindle； with a sort of inner glow which has not yet
burst into a blaze。 Here and there the golden…rod is rusting； but there
seems only to be more and more asters sorts； and I have seen ladies
coming home with sheaves of blue gentians； I have heard that the orchids
are beginning again to light their tender lamps from the burning
blackberry vines that stray from the pastures to the edge of the swamps。
After an apparently total evanescence there has been a like resuscitation
of the spirit of summer society。 In the very last week of September we
have gone to a supper； which lingered far out of its season like one of
these late flowers； and there has been an afternoon tea which assembled
an astonishing number of cottagers； all secretly surprised to find one
another still here； and professing openly a pity tinged with contempt for
those who are here no longer。
I blamed those who had gone home； but I myself sniff the asphalt afar；
the roar of the street calls to me with the magic that the voice of the
sea is losing。 Just now it shines entreatingly； it shines winningly； in
the sun which is mellowing to an October tenderness； and it shines under
a moon of perfect orb； which seems to have the whole heavens to itself in
〃the first watch of the night；〃 except for 〃the red planet Mars。〃 This
begins to burn in the west before the flush of sunset has passed from it；
and then； later； a few moon…washed stars pierce the vast vault with their
keen points。 The stars which so powdered the summer sky seem mostly to
have gone back to town； where no doubt people take them for electric
lights。
End