WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 25 



to the latest edition of his Essays. I was read- 

 ing for an examination, and used, on the Squire's 

 invitation, to go and chat with him just after 

 midnight, for at that hour he always awoke, and 

 paid a short visit to his chapel. A little before 

 midnight on May 24th I visited him in his room. 

 He was sitting asleep by his fire wrapped up in a 

 large Italian cloak. 



His head rested upon his wooden pillow, which 

 was placed on a table, and his thick silvery hair 

 formed a beautiful contrast with the dark colour 

 of the oak. He soon woke up, and withdrew to the 

 chapel, and on his return we talked together for 

 three-quarters of an hour about the brown owl, 

 the nightjar, and other birds. The next morning. 

 May 25, he was unusually cheerful, and said to 

 me, *'That was a very pleasant little confab we 

 had last night: I do not suppose there was such 

 another going on in England at the same time." 

 After breakfast we went with a carpenter to finish 

 some bridges at the far end of the park. The 

 work was completed, and we were proceeding 

 homewards when, in crossing a small bridge, a 

 bramble caught the Squire's foot, and he fell 

 heavily upon a log. He was greatly shaken, and 

 said he thought he was dying. He walked, not- 

 withstanding, a little way, and was then compelled 

 to lie down. He would not permit his sufferings 

 to distract his mind, and he pointed out to the 

 carpenter some trees which were to be felled. He 

 presently continued his route, and managed to 

 reach the spot where the boat was moored. Hith- 

 erto he had refused all assistance, but he could not 

 step from the bank into the boat, and he said, "I 



