第66部分(第3/7 页)

　to　gather　the　heath　honey　before　the　dew　was　dried—　when　the　long　morning　shadows　were　curtailed；　and　the　sun　filled　earth　and　sky—I　got　up；　and　I　looked　round　me。

What　a　still；　hot；　perfect　day！　What　a　golden　desert　this　spreading　moor！　Everywhere　sunshine。　I　wished　I　could　live　in　it　and　on　it。　I　saw　a　lizard　run　over　the　crag；　I　saw　a　bee　busy　among　the　sweet　bilberries。　I　would　fain　at　the　moment　have　bee　bee　or　lizard；　that　I　might　have　found　fitting　nutriment；　permanent　shelter　here。　But　I　was　a　human　being；　and　had　a　human　being’s　wants：　I　must　not　linger　where　there　was　nothing　to　supply　them。　I　rose；　I　looked　back　at　the　bed　I　had　left。　Hopeless　of　the　future；　I　wished　but　this—that　my　Maker　had　that　night　thought　good　to　require　my　soul　of　me　while　I　slept；　and　that　this　weary　frame；　absolved　by　death　from　further　conflict　with　fate；　had　noingle　in　peace　with　the　soil　of　this　wilderness。　Life；　however；　was　yet　in　my　possession；　ents；　and　pains；　and　responsibilities。　The　burden　must　be　carried；　the　want　provided　for；　the　suffering　endured；　the　responsibility　fulfilled。　I　set　out。

Whitcross　regained；　I　followed　a　road　which　led　from　the　sun；　now　fervent　and　high。　By　no　other　circumstance　had　I　will　to　decide　my　choice。　I　walked　a　long　time；　and　when　I　thought　I　had　nearly　done　enough；　and　might　conscientiously　yield　to　the　fatigue　that　almost　overpowered　me—might　relax　this　forced　action；　and；　sitting　down　on　a　stone　I　saw　near；　submit　resistlessly　to　the　apathy　that　clogged　heart　and　limb—I　heard　a　bell　chime—a　church　bell。

I　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　sound；　and　there；　amongst　the　romantic　hills；　whose　changes　and　aspect　I　had　ceased　to　note　an　hour　ago；　I　saw　a　hamlet　and　a　spire。　All　the　valley　at　my　right　hand　was　full　of　pasture…f