Approach the Lake of Killarney. S95 



From the moment it was deemed practicable 

 to extend our tour to this enchanting spot, I 

 never ceased to anticipate the highest gratifica- 

 tion from an examination of it, and much satis- 

 faction in the opportunity of being able to de- 

 termine, from the exercise of my own judgment, 

 as to the sum of its pretensions and merits : 

 but what is strange, and not easily to be ac* 

 counted for, when the moment arrived for the 

 accomplishment of objects on which I had 

 dwelt with so much anxiety, I no longer felt 

 the same zest or inclination. We quitted our 

 horses at the rise of the hill, and walked up. 



When the mind is deeply affected with the 

 near approach of some momentous or interesting 

 event, the pulsations of the heart become 

 hurried and irregular the tongue mute con- 

 versation inconvenient ; and, as solitude is pre- 

 ferable on such occasions while my companion 

 was engaged in chat with those going to market, 

 I took the opportunity of proceeding alone. 

 The ascent of two miles gave me ample leisure 

 to commune with myself: I could not hide 

 from my own heart, nor will I disguise it from 

 you, how much I apprehended, lest I should 

 now be compelled to acknowledge there was a 

 spot on the surface of this habitable globe more 

 enchanting than Windermere. The weakness 



