Drivers and Front Outside Passengers — Fatigue¹ of Body and Mind — Unexpected Greeting — My Inn — The Governor — Engagement

I continued my journey, passing through one or two villages. The day was exceedingly hot, and the roads dusty. In order to cause my horse as little fatigue as possible, and not to chafe² his back, I led him by the bridle³, my doing which brought upon me a shower of remarks, jests, and would-be witticisms⁴ from the drivers and front outside passengers of sundry⁵ stage-coaches, which passed me in one direction or the other. In this way I proceeded till considerably⁶ past noon, when I felt myself very fatigued⁷, and my horse appeared no less so; and it is probable that the lazy and listless manner in which we were moving on tired us both much more effectually than hurrying along at a swift trot⁸ would have done, for I have observed that when the energies of the body are not exerted a languor⁹ frequently comes over it. At length, arriving at a very large building with an archway, near the entrance of a town, 138 I sat down on what appeared to be a stepping-block, and presently experienced a great depression of spirits. I began to ask myself whither I was going, and what I should do with myself and the horse which I held by the bridle? It appeared to me that I was alone in the world with the poor animal, who looked for support to me, who knew not how to support myself. Then the image of Isopel Berners came into my mind, and when I bethought me how I had lost her for ever, and how happy I might have been with her in the New World had she not deserted

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