grief, and inclement weather, all united to hush his sorrows, and bring

repose to his heart, whose beats were agony. He died embracing the sod,

which was piled above his breast, when he was placed beside the beings whom

he regretted with such wild despair.

I returned to Windsor at the wish of Idris, who seemed to think that there

was greater safety for her children at that spot; and because, once having

taken on me the guardianship of the district, I would not desert it while

an inhabitant survived. I went also to act in conformity with Adrian's

plans, which was to congregate in masses what remained of the population;

for he possessed the conviction that it was only through the benevolent and

social virtues that any safety was to be hoped for the remnant of mankind.

It was a melancholy thing to return to this spot so dear to us, as the

scene of a happiness rarely before enjoyed, here to mark the extinction of

our species, and trace the deep uneraseable footsteps of disease over the

fertile and cherished soil. The aspect of the country had so far changed,

that it had been impossible to enter on the task of sowing seed, and other

autumnal labours. That season was now gone; and winter had set in with

sudden and unusual severity. Alternate frosts and thaws succeeding to

floods, rendered the country impassable. Heavy falls of snow gave an arctic

appearance to the scenery; the roofs of the houses peeped from the white

mass; the lowly cot and stately mansion, alike deserted, were blocked up,

their thresholds uncleared; the windows were broken by the hail, while the

prevalence of a north-east wind rendered out-door exertions extremely

painful. The altered state of society made these accidents of nature,

403

The Last Man