dmoreencurtainnearlyclose,Iwasshrinedindoubleretirement.

    Foldsofscarletdraperyshutinmyviewththand;totheleftweretheclearpanesofglass,proteg,butnotseparatingmefromthedrearNovemberday.Atintervals,whileturniheleavesofmybook,Istudiedtheaspectofthatwiernoon.Afar,itofferedapaleblankofmistandcloud;nearaseofwetlawnandstorm-beatshrub,withceaselessrainsweepingawaywildlybeforealongandlamentableblast.

    Ireturomybook—Bewick’sHistoryofBritishBirds:theletterpressthereofIcaredlittlefenerallyspeaking;aherewerecertainintroductesthat,childasIwas,Icouldnotpassquiteasablank.Theywerethosewhichtreatofthehauntsofsea-fowl;of“thesolitaryrodpromontories”bythemonlyinhabited;ofthecoastofNorway,studdedwithislesfromitssoutherremity,theLindeness,orheNorthCape—

    “WheretheNorthernO,invastwhirls,

    Boilsroundthenaked,melancholyisles

    OffarthestThule;alanticsurge

    PoursinamoormyHebrides.”

    NorcouldIpassunnoticedthesuggestionofthebleakshoresofLapland,Siberia,Spitzbergen,NovaZembla,Id,Greenland,with“thevastsweepoftheArctie,andthosefionsofdrearyspace,—thatreservoiroffrostandsnow,wherefirmfieldsofice,theaccumulatiouriesofwinters,glazedinAlpisaboveheights,surroundthepole,andtrethemultipliedrigoursofextremecold.”Ofthesedeath-whiterealmsIformedanideaofmyown:shadowy,likeallthehalf-preheionsthatfloatdimthroughchildren’sbrains,butstrangelyimpressive.Thewordsintheseintroductesectedthemselveswiththesucceedingviges,andgavesignificetotherockstandingupaloneinaseaofbilloray;tothebrokenb