Day was fast fading away into a soft twilight; the shadows which had
been drawing out longer and longer as the sun declined, lay now in
all their length, like bands stretched over the greensward. The
breeze went down with the sun, and the smooth surface of the lake
lay like a sheet of molten gold reflecting the parting glories of
the day that still lit up the western sky.
A few stars began to twinkle here and there--they were not destined
to shine brilliantly to-night, for they would ere long be eclipsed
by the splendor of the full moon, which was just at hand, rising in
a hemisphere of light, which stood like a royal pavilion on the
eastern horizon. From it in a few minutes would emerge the queen
of heaven, and mildly replace the vanishing glory of the day.
The company, after a repast under the trees, rose full of life and
merriment and rearranged themselves into little groups and couples
as chance or inclination led them. They trooped down to the beach
to embark in their canoes for a last joyous cruise round the lake
and its fairy islands, by moonlight, before returning home.
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