remove to a mild climate, which will complete my recovery. Trust me,

dearest, I shall neither leave you, nor my brother, nor these dear

children; my firm determination to remain with you to the last, and to

continue to contribute to your happiness and welfare, would keep me alive,

even if grim death were nearer at hand than he really is."

I was only half re-assured by these expressions; I could not believe that

the over-quick flow of her blood was a sign of health, or that her burning

cheeks denoted convalescence. But I had no fears of an immediate

catastrophe; nay, I persuaded myself that she would ultimately recover. And

thus cheerfulness reigned in our little society. Idris conversed with

animation on a thousand topics. Her chief desire was to lead our thoughts

from melancholy reflections; so she drew charming pictures of a tranquil

solitude, of a beauteous retreat, of the simple manners of our little

tribe, and of the patriarchal brotherhood of love, which would survive the

ruins of the populous nations which had lately existed. We shut out from

our thoughts the present, and withdrew our eyes from the dreary landscape

we traversed. Winter reigned in all its gloom. The leafless trees lay

without motion against the dun sky; the forms of frost, mimicking the

foliage of summer, strewed the ground; the paths were overgrown; the

unploughed cornfields were patched with grass and weeds; the sheep

congregated at the threshold of the cottage, the horned ox thrust his head

from the window. The wind was bleak, and frequent sleet or snow-storms,

added to the melancholy appearance wintry nature assumed.

We arrived at Rochester, and an accident caused us to be detained there a

455

The Last Man