Twodaysarepassed.Itisasummerevening;theanhassetmedolacecalledWhitcross;hecouldtakemenofartherforthesumIhadgiven,andIwasnotpossessedofanothershillingintheworld.Thecoachisamileoffbythistime;IamalohismomentIdiscoverthatIfottotakemyparceloutofthepocketofthecoach,whereIhadplaceditforsafety;thereitremains,thereitmustremain;andnow,Iamabsolutelydestitute.

    Whitcrossisnotown,norevenahamlet;itisbutastonepillarsetupwherefourroadsmeet:whitewashed,Isuppose,tobemoreobviousatadistandindarkness.Fourarmsspringfromitssummit:theowntowhichthesepointis,acctotheinscription,distanttehefarthest,abovetwenty.Fromthewell-knowhesetownsIlearninwhattyIhavelighted;anorth-midlandshire,duskwithmoorland,ridgedwithmountain:thisIsee.Therearegreatmoorsbehindandoneadofme;therearewavesofmountainsfarbeyondthatdeepvalleyatmyfeet.Thepopulatiobethin,andIseenopassengersontheseroads:theystretchouteast,west,north,andsouth—white,broad,loheyareallthemoor,ahergrowsdeepandwildtotheirveryverge.Yetacetravellermightpassby;andIwishoseemenow:strangerswouldwonderwhatIamdoing,lingerithesign-post,evidentlyobjectlessandlost.Imightbequestioned:Icouldgivenoawhatwouldsoundincredibleaesuspi.Notatieholdsmetohumansocietyatthismoment—notacharmorhopecallsmewheremyfellow-creaturesare—sawmewouldhaveakindthoughtoodwishforme.Ihaveivebuttheuniversalmother,Nature:Iwillseekherbreastandaskrepose.

    Istruckstraightintotheheath;IheldontoahollowIsawdeeplyfurrowingthebrownmoorside;Iwadedknee-deepinitsdarkgrowth;Iturhitsturnings,andfinding