the Lake of Como
The Lake of Como is the Italian lake where Archibald Craven experiences a pivotal dream that calls him back to Misselthwaite Manor and his son, Colin, marking the beginning of his emotional and spiritual return to life.
Setting and Context
As the golden summer changed into the deep golden autumn, Archibald Craven traveled to the Lake of Como, where he found "the loveliness of a dream." He spent his days upon the crystal blueness of the lake or walked back into the soft thick verdure of the hills, tramping until he was tired so that he might sleep. By this time he had begun to sleep better, and his dreams had ceased to be a terror to him. He thought, "Perhaps my body is growing stronger." But because of the rare peaceful hours when his thoughts were changed, his soul was slowly growing stronger, too.
The Dream and Its Aftermath
One marvel of a day he had walked so far that when he returned the moon was high and full and all the world was purple shadow and silver. The stillness of lake and shore and wood was so wonderful that he did not go into the villa he lived in. He walked down to a little bowered terrace at the water's edge and sat upon a seat, breathing in all the heavenly scents of the night. He felt the strange calmness stealing over him and it grew deeper and deeper until he fell asleep. He did not know when he fell asleep and when he began to dream; his dream was so real that he did not feel as if he were dreaming. He thought that as he sat and breathed in the scent of the late roses and listened to the lapping of the water at his feet he heard a voice calling. It was sweet and clear and happy and far away. It seemed very far, but he heard it as distinctly as if it had been at his very side. "Archie! Archie! Archie!" it said, and then again, sweeter and clearer than before, "Archie! Archie!" He thought he sprang to his feet not even startled. It was such a real voice and it seemed so natural that he should hear it. "Lilias! Lilias!" he answered. "Lilias! where are you?" "In the garden," it came back like a sound from a golden flute. "In the garden!" And then the dream ended. But he did not awaken. He slept soundly and sweetly all through the lovely night. When he did awake at last it was brilliant morning and a servant was standing staring at him. The man held a salver with some letters on it and he waited quietly until Mr. Craven took them. When he had gone away Mr. Craven sat a few moments holding them in his hand and looking at the lake. His strange calm was still upon him and something more—a lightness as if the cruel thing which had been done had not happened as he thought—as if something had changed. He was remembering the dream—the real—real dream. "In the garden!" he said, wondering at himself. "In the garden! But the door is locked and the key is buried deep."
Consequences and Significance
When he glanced at the letters a few minutes later, he saw that the one lying at the top of the rest was an English letter from Yorkshire, directed in a plain woman's hand. It was from Susan Sowerby, who wrote, "Please, sir, I would come home if I was you. I think you would be glad to come and—if you will excuse me, sir—I think your lady would ask you to come if she was here." Mr. Craven read the letter twice before he put it back in its envelope. He kept thinking about the dream. "I will go back to Misselthwaite," he said. "Yes, I'll go at once." And he went through the garden to the villa and ordered Pitcher to prepare for his return to England. The Lake of Como thus serves as the threshold where Archibald Craven, after ten years of self-imposed exile and grief, receives the supernatural summons that breaks his paralysis and sets him on the path home to his son and the secret garden.
