I lighted the lamps of my carriage; I wrapt her in furs, and placed her

along the seat; then taking the reins, made the horses go forward. We

proceeded through the snow, which lay in masses impeding the way, while the

descending flakes, driving against me with redoubled fury, blinded me. The

pain occasioned by the angry elements, and the cold iron of the shafts of

frost which buffetted me, and entered my aching flesh, were a relief to me;

blunting my mental suffering. The horses staggered on, and the reins hung

loosely in my hands. I often thought I would lay my head close to the

sweet, cold face of my lost angel, and thus resign myself to conquering

torpor. Yet I must not leave her a prey to the fowls of the air; but, in

pursuance of my determination place her in the tomb of her forefathers,

where a merciful God might permit me to rest also.

The road we passed through Egham was familiar to me; but the wind and snow

caused the horses to drag their load slowly and heavily. Suddenly the wind

veered from south-west to west, and then again to north-west. As Sampson

with tug and strain stirred from their bases the columns that supported the

Philistine temple, so did the gale shake the dense vapours propped on the

horizon, while the massy dome of clouds fell to the south, disclosing

through the scattered web the clear empyrean, and the little stars, which

were set at an immeasurable distance in the crystalline fields, showered

their small rays on the glittering snow. Even the horses were cheered, and

moved on with renovated strength. We entered the forest at Bishopgate, and

at the end of the Long Walk I saw the Castle, "the proud Keep of Windsor,

rising in the majesty of proportion, girt with the double belt of its

kindred and coeval towers." I looked with reverence on a structure, ancient

468

The Last Man