AN OLD ROAD. 69 



my road, as I said to begin with, is a kind 

 of saunterer's paradise. When we come to 

 particulars, indeed, it is nothing to boast of ; 

 but waiving particulars, and taking it for 

 all in all, there is no highway upon the 

 planet where I better enjoy an idle hour. 

 There is a boy of perhaps ten years whose 

 companionship is out of all reason dear to 

 me ; and nowhere am I surer to find him at 

 my side, hand in hand, than in this same 

 lonely road, although I know very well that 

 those who meet or pass me here see only 

 one person, and that a man of several times 

 ten years. But thank Heaven, we are not 

 always alone when we seem to be. 



