god’scareeraclear,vastpathofazure,amidstcloudssoftaspearlandwarmasflame.Difficultyandtoilweretobemylot,butsustainedbyenergy,drawnonbyhopesasbrightasvague,Ideemedsuchalotnohardship.Imountednowthehillinshadetherewerepebbles,inequalities,briarsinmypath,butmyeyeswerefixedonthecrimsonpeakabovemyimaginationwaswiththerefulgentfirmamentbeyond,andIthoughtnothingofthestonesturningundermyfeet,orofthethornsscratchingmyfaceandhands.
Igazedoften,andalwayswithdelight,fromthewindowofthediligence(these,beitremembered,werenotthedaysoftrainsandrailroads).Well!andwhatdidIsee?Iwilltellyoufaithfully.Green,reedyswampsfieldsfertilebutflat,cultivatedinpatchesthatmadethemlooklikemagnifiedkitchen-gardensbeltsofcuttrees,formalaspollardwillows,skirtingthehorizonnarrowcanals,glidingslowbytheroad-sidepaintedFlemishfarmhousessomeverydirtyhovelsagray,deadskywetroad,wetfields,wethouse-tops:notabeautiful,scarcelyapicturesqueobjectmetmyeyealongthewholerouteyettome,allwasbeautiful,allwasmorethanpicturesque.Itcontinuedfairsolongasdaylightlasted,thoughthemoistureofmanyprecedingdampdayshadsoddenthewholecountryasitgrewdark,however,therainrecommenced,anditwasthroughstreamingandstarlessdarknessmyeyecaughtthefirstgleamofthelightsofBrussels.Isawlittleofthecitybutitslightsthatnight.Havingalightedfromthediligence,afiacreconveyedmetotheHotelde——,whereIhadbeenadvisedbyafellow-travellertoputuphavingeatenatraveller’ssupper,Iretiredtobed,andsleptatraveller’ssleep.
NextmorningIawokefromprolongedandsoundreposewiththeimpressionthatIwasyetinX——,andperceivingittobebroaddaylightIstartedup,imaginingthatIhadoversleptmyselfandshouldbebehindtimeatthecounting-house.Themomentaryandpainfulsenseofrestraintvanishedbeforetherevivedandrevivingconsciousnessoffreedom,as,throwingbackthewhitecurtainsofmybed,Ilookedforthintoawide,loftyforeignchamberhowdifferentfromthesmallanddingy,thoughnotuncomfortable,apartmentIhadoccupiedforanightortwoatarespectableinninLondonwhilewaitingforthesailingofthepacket!Yetfarbeitfrommetoprofanethememoryofthatlittledingyroom!It,too,isdeartomysoulforthere,asIlayinquietanddarkness,IfirstheardthegreatbellofSt.Paul’stellingLondonitwasmidnight,andwelldoIrecallthedeep,deliberatetones,sofullchargedwithcolossalphlegmandforce.Fromthesmall,narrowwindowofthatroom,IfirstsawTHEdome,loomingthroughaLondo