courage till her arrival at my cottage, and then both failed. Now she could

hardly walk. Supporting her as I did, still she lagged: and at the distance

of half a mile, after many stoppages, shivering fits, and half faintings,

she slipt from my supporting arm on the snow, and with a torrent of tears

averred that she must be taken, for that she could not proceed. I lifted

her up in my arms; her light form rested on my breast.--I felt no

burthen, except the internal one of contrary and contending emotions.

Brimming delight now invested me. Again her chill limbs touched me as a

torpedo; and I shuddered in sympathy with her pain and fright. Her head lay

on my shoulder, her breath waved my hair, her heart beat near mine,

transport made me tremble, blinded me, annihilated me--till a suppressed

groan, bursting from her lips, the chattering of her teeth, which she

strove vainly to subdue, and all the signs of suffering she evinced,

recalled me to the necessity of speed and succour. At last I said to her,

There is Englefield Green; there the inn. But, if you are seen thus

strangely circumstanced, dear Idris, even now your enemies may learn your

flight too soon: were it not better that I hired the chaise alone? I will

put you in safety meanwhile, and return to you immediately."

She answered that I was right, and might do with her as I pleased. I

observed the door of a small out-house a-jar. I pushed it open; and, with

some hay strewed about, I formed a couch for her, placing her exhausted

frame on it, and covering her with my cloak. I feared to leave her, she

looked so wan and faint--but in a moment she re-acquired animation, and,

with that, fear; and again she implored me not to delay. To call up the

people of the inn, and obtain a conveyance and horses, even though I

112

The Last Man