1830.] The Fiend of ike Ferry. 381 



of surrounding objects. You look upon a ruddy cheek as a part of the 

 scene as a sample of rural loveliness, open to admiration. There is no 

 difference between a blue eye and a blue sky, out of town we gaze 

 upon both alike, with the same freedom and the same fondness. You 

 are admiring nature, and must enjoy what she presents to you, whether 

 it be a milk-girl or a mountain. In short, we got into such a chat with 

 our ruddy little directress, that we had nearly forgotten the ferry alto- 

 gether, when we were suddenly reminded of it by the re-appearance of 

 the wandering wonder the hie et ubique, and the hinc illce lachrymce 

 of our tale. This time we fairly started ; I believe one or two of us 

 turned pale ; but I know we all experienced a feeling of curiosity not 

 unmingled with a kind of awe. At this encounter the Wanderer did 

 not speak ; he turned a keen and searching glance on us, intimating 

 that we had disobeyed his directions, and were trifling with him imper- 

 tinently ; and then, pointing to the path we were to take, glided 

 hastily past the window, and disappeared. 



This silence, and the emphatic motion of his finger, alarmed us even 

 more than the sepulchral tone of his voice. We prepared now to seek 

 out the ferry in good earnest though it were for no other reason than 

 to have the Thames between us and our perambulating acquaintance. 

 We bid, therefore, a hasty adieu to the village damsel, and hurried 

 towards the river, of which, in a few minutes, we came in sight. 

 Another cause of delay arose, however ; for, just at this moment, a 

 heavy shower came on. We were driven for shelter into the village 

 church-yard, and took refuge under a dilapidated porch. Determined 

 to preserve the gaiety with which our march commenced, even amidst 

 the gloom of the weather, which had been but a moment before so mild 

 and animating, we drowned, as well as we could, all recollection of the 

 portentous predestrian ; although it was impossible not to associate the 

 sudden and singular change in the heavens the transition from a clear 

 calm sky to a tempestuous range of clouds with the coming arid con- 

 duct of a being whom we were secretly disposed to consider something 

 more than mortal. As we stood under the porch, our attention was 

 drawn to the epitaphs that surrounded us. We admired the piety of 

 some of these, but the poetry of others was of an order so perfectly 

 novel and original, that I fear we read them with any thing but a feel- 

 ing of seriousness. We could not but be struck with the number of 

 " affectionate husbands" and " indulgent fathers," that were mouldering 

 around us ; " faithful wives" were as plenty as blackberries. What a 

 saddening reflection to think how good the world was formerly, and that 

 people should so seldom become amiable until they are dead ! In addi- 

 tion to these mournful truths, we found so many subjects for pathetic 

 puns and moral pleasantry, that I thought it time to quit the scene and 

 pursue our way, particularly as the shower had abated. We proceeded, 

 therefore, along the paved path towards a little gate that led into the 

 public road ; and, in passing close to the white-washed wall of the 

 church, we stopped to look in at a low, small, grated window. The 

 object that first caught our notice was a door standing open at the oppo- 

 site end of the church ; and the next moment we discerned the figure 

 of a person issuing thence, the sight of whom almost chilled our senses. 

 We could not be deceived in that figure, although his back was towards 

 us ; but as he passed from the portal he turned his head, and fixed such 

 a look of recognition upon us, that we stood in mute astonishment, staring 



