t prepared for. And this made me
wretched; for I cannot bear having much to do with people who think
differently from myself. All sorts of wandering thoughts kept coming
into my head. I thought of my master's hut, and my seat upon the
mountain side, where I had first conceived the insane idea of exploring.
What years and years seemed to have passed since I had begun my journey!

I thought of my adventures in the gorge, and on the journey hither, and
of Chowbok. I wondered what Chowbok told them about me when he got
back,--he had done well in going back, Chowbok had. He was not
handsome--nay, he was hideous; and it would have gone hardly with him.
Twilight drew on, and rain pattered against the windows. Never yet had I
felt so unhappy, except during three days of sea-sickness at the
beginning of my voyage from England. I sat musing and in great
melancholy, until Yram made her appearance with light and supper. She
too, poor girl, was miserable; for she had heard that I was to leave
them. She had made up her mind that I was to remain always in the town,
even after my imprisonment was over; and I fancy had resolved to marry me
though I had never so much as hinted at her doing so. So what with the
distressingly strange conversation with my teacher, my own friendless
condition, and Yram's melancholy, I felt more unhappy than I can
describe, and remained so till I got to bed, and sleep sealed my eyelids.

On awaking next morning I was much better. It was settled that I was to
make my start in a conveyance which was to be in waiting for me at about
eleven o'clock; and the anticipation of change put me in good spirits,
which even the tearful face of Yram could hardly altogether derange. I
kissed her again and again, assured her that we should meet hereafter,
and that in the meanwhile I should be ever mindful of her kindness. I
gave her two of the buttons off my coat and a lock of my hair as a
keepsake, taking a goodly curl from her own beautiful head in return: and
so, having said good-bye a hundred times, till I was fairly overcome with
her great sweetness and her sorrow, I tore myself away from her and got
down-stairs to the caleche which was in waiting. How thankful I was when
it was all over, and I was driven away and out of sight. Would that I
could have felt that it was out of mind also! Pray heaven that it is so
now, and that she is married happily among her own people, and has
forgotten me!

And now beg