390 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



ly out of the world, very dull, &c., &c. I was so sur- 

 prised that I must have looked very stupid. She v^as 

 not regularly handsome, but her mouth and eyes v^ere 

 beautiful ; and her manner w^as so different from the 

 cold, av^kward, and bashful air of her countrywomen, 

 so much like the frank and fascinating welcome which 

 a young lady at home might extend to a friend after a 

 long absence, that if the table had not been between 

 us I could have taken her in my arms and kissed her. 

 I pulled up my check collar, and forgot all my troubles 

 and perplexities. Though living in that little remote 

 town, like young ladies in large cities, she had a fancy 

 for strangers, which at the time I regarded as a delight- 

 ful trait of character in a woman. Her every-day 

 beaux had no chance. At first they were very civil to 

 me, but they became short and crusty, and, very much 

 to my satisfaction, took themselves off. It was so long 

 since I had felt the least interest in a woman, that I 

 gave myself a benefit. The simplest stories of other 

 countries and other people were to her romance, and 

 her eye kindled as she listened ; soon the transition 

 came from facts to feelings, and then that highest earth- 

 ly pleasure, of being lifted above every-day thoughts 

 by the enthusiasm of a high-minded girl. 



We sat up till twelve o'clock. The mother, who at 

 first had wearied me, I found exceedingly agreeable ; 

 indeed, I had seldom known a more interesting old 

 lady ; for she pressed me to remain two or three days 

 and rest ; said the place was dull, but that her daughter 

 would try to make it agreeable ; and her daughter said 

 nothing, but looked unutterable things. 



All pleasure is fleeting. Twelve o'clock came, an 

 unprecedented hour for that country. My ordinary 

 prudence in looking out for a sleeping-place had not 



