ittleroom,aomeettranquilMrs.Fairfax,ahelongwintereveningwithher,andheronly,wastoquellwhollythefaiementwakenedbymywalk,—toslipagainovermyfacultiestheviewlessfettersofanuniformandtoostillexistence;ofaencewhoseveryprivilegesofsecurityandeaseIwasbeingincapableofappreciating.Whatgooditwouldhavedohattimetohavebeentossediormsofaainstrugglinglife,andtohavebeentaughtbyroughandbitterexperieolongforthecalmamidstwhiowrepined!Yes,justasmuchgoodasitwoulddoamantiredofsittingstillina“tooeasychair”totakealongwalk:andjustasnaturalwasthewishtostir,undermycircumstances,asitwouldbeunderhis.

    Ilihegates;Ilihelawn;Ipacedbackwardsandforwardsonthepavement;theshuttersoftheglassdoorwereclosed;Icouldotheinterior;andbothmyeyesandspiritseemeddrawnfromthegloomyhouse—fromthegrey-hollowfilledwithraylesscells,asitappearedtome—tothatskyexpandedbeforeme,—ablueseaabsolvedfromtaintofcloud;themoonasdingitinsolemnmarch;herorbseemingtolookupassheleftthehill-tops,frombehindwhichshehade,farandfartherbelowher,andaspiredtothezenith,midnightdarkinitsfathomlessdepthandmeasurelessdistandforthosetremblingstarsthatfollowedhercourse;theymademyhearttremble,myveinsglowwhehem.Littlethingsrecallustoearth;theclockstruthehall;thatsufficed;Iturnedfrommoonandstars,openedaside-door,ain.

    Thehallwasnotdark,wasitlit,onlybythehigh-hungbronzelamp;awarmglowsuffusedbothitandthelowerstepsoftheoakstaircase.Thisruddyshineissuedfromthegreatdining-room,whosetwo-leaveddoorstoodopen,andshowedagenialfireie,glanarblehearthandbrassfire-ir