Towards evening, the sea looked very much like glass. Nothing to be seen, with the telescope even, but ocean and sky, with an occasional gull. The wind lulled about day-break, and by the afternoon the sea had gone down materially. I do not say satisfied for I believe I should never be satiated with such delight as I have experienced to-day. My passion for solitude could scarcely have been more thoroughly gratified. I have passed this day in a species of ecstasy that I find impossible to describe. She will hardly get within sight of the Norland before noon to-morrow - and yet it can hardly be more than 190 or 200 miles. The swell is subsiding a little, I think - but the cutter will have a rough passage home, nevertheless. To see what I can see indeed ! - not very much. Now for a scramble to the lantern and a good look around to “see what I can see”. I do believe I am going to get nervous about my insulation. It is strange that I never observed, until this moment, how dreary a sound that word has - “alone” ! I could half fancy there was some peculiarity in the echo of these cylindrical walls - but oh, no! - this is all nonsense. I never should have made any way with my book as long as he was within reach of me, with his intolerable gossip - not to mention that everlasting mëerschaum. It never would have done to let Orndoff accompany me. The duty is a mere nothing and the printed instructions are as plain as possible. One man had attended it before now - and got on quite as well as the three that are usually put in. What most surprises me, is the difficulty De Grät had in getting me the appointment - and I a noble of the realm ! It could not be that the Consistory had any doubt of my ability to manage the light. Would to Heaven I had ever found in “society” one half as much faith as in this poor dog: - in such case I and “society” might never have parted - even for the year. So far well ! The cutter had a narrow escape - but why dwell on that, since I am here, all safe? My spirits are beginning to revive already, at the mere thought of being - for once in my life at least - thoroughly alone for, of course, Neptune, large as he is, is not to be taken into consideration as “society”. As regularly as I can keep the journal, I will - but there is no telling what may happen to a man all alone as I am - I may get sick, or worse. This day - my first on the light-house - I make this entry in my Diary, as agreed on with De Grät.
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