At length arriving at a very large
building with an archway, near the entrance of a town, I sat down
on what appeared to be a stepping-block, and presently experienced
a great depression of spirits. I began to ask myself whither I was
going, and what I should do with myself and the horse which I held
by the bridle? It appeared to me that I was alone in the world
with the poor animal, who looked for support to me, who knew not
how to support myself. Then the image of Isopel Berners came into
my mind, and when I thought how I had lost her for ever, and how
happy I might have been with her in the New World had she not
deserted me, I became yet more miserable.
As I sat in this state of mind, I suddenly felt some one clap me on
the shoulder, and heard a voice say, "Ha! comrade of the dingle,
what chance has brought you into these parts?" I turned round, and
beheld a man in the dress of a postillion, whom I instantly
recognized as he to whom I had rendered assistance on the night of
the storm.
"Ah!" said I, "is it you? I am glad to see you, for I was feeling
very lonely and melancholy."
"Lonely and melancholy," he replied, "how is that? how can any one
be lonely and melancholy with such a noble horse as that you hold
by the bridle?"
"The horse," said I, "is one cause of my melancholy, for I know not
in the world what to do with it.
Pages:
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229