amoss-blaedgranitecraginahiddenangle,Isatdow.Highbanksofmoorwereaboutme;thecragprotectedmyhead:theskywasoverthat.

    SometimepassedbeforeIfelttranquilevenhere:Ihadavaguedreadthatwildcattlemightbenear,orthatsomesportsmanorpoachermightdise.Ifagustofwihewaste,Ilookedup,fearingitwastherushofabull;ifaploverwhistled,Iimagiaman.Findingmyapprehensionsunfounded,however,andcalmedbythedeepsilereignedaseveningdeedatnightfall,Itookfidence.AsyetIhadnotthought;Ihadonlylistened,watched,dreaded;naihefacultyofrefle.

    WhatwasItodo?Wheretogo?Oh,intolerablequestions,whenIcoulddonothingandgonowhere!—whenalongwaymustyetbemeasuredbymyweary,tremblinglimbsbeforeIcouldreachhumanhabitation—whencoldcharitymustbeeedbeforeIcouldgetalodgiantsympathyimportuned,almostcertainrepulseincurred,beforemytalecouldbelisteo,oroneofmywantsrelieved!

    Itouchedtheheath,itwasdry,awarmwiththebeatofthesummerday.Ilookedatthesky;iture:akindlystartwinkledjustabovethechasmridge.Thedewfell,butwithpropitioussoftness;nobreezewhispered.Natureseemedtomebenignandgood;Ithoughtshelovedme,outcastasIwas;andI,whofrommancouldanticipateonlymistrust,reje,insult,gtoherwithfilialfoo-night,atleast,Iwouldbeherguest,asIwasherchild:mymotherwouldlodgemewithoutmoneyandwithoutprice.Ihadonemorselofbreadyet:theremnantofarollIhadboughtinatownwepassedthroughatnoonwithastraypenny—mylast.Isawripebilberriesgleaminghereandthere,likejetbeadsih:Igatheredahandfulahemwiththebread.Myhunger,sharpbefore,was,ifnotsatisfied,appeasedbythishermit’smeal.I