'Where is it? I do not see it,' said I, looking eagerly out into the
gray morning mist.
'Why, there, to be sure! Don't you see that steeple? There's another!
and there's another!'
Yes, surely there was Bangor at last, welcome to me as ever the Holy
City to the penance-worn pilgrim.
In my gratitude, I overflowed with benignity to all the world, and even
granted the poor Frenchman permission to enjoy his pipe, a privilege of
which he made haste to avail himself. It was an ill-timed charity, to be
sure, but I could well afford to submit to the temporary discomfort in
the fulness of my satisfaction.
The driver hastened the horses. With ever-increasing speed we passed the
lowly cottages in the suburbs, where people were getting up and
preparing breakfast by candle light, and at last the 'three grays'
cantered triumphantly to the ---- Hotel--in time for breakfast, too!
There was not a moment to spare, however, and so, without waiting even
to make my toilet, we hurried to the train.
The relief I experienced when fairly seated in the car, the excitement
of finding myself in the world once more, among bustling, wide-awake
people, stimulated me, and for some time I was unconscious of my
fatigue.
The Englishman was to leave me at a station a few miles beyond Bangor,
as his journey lay in a different direction. We exchanged cards, and I
could not help saying, as we parted:
'I met you a stranger, but I have found in you a friend and a
brother.'[A]
The Scotchman continued on to Boston with me.
His chivalrous and thoughtful consideration remained undiminished.
At last, after many intervals of lassitude and reanimation, I broke down
altogether. My strength left me. Over-powered with grief and fatigue, I
was glad to rest my weary head on my old plaid cloak, which the
Scotchman rolled into a pillow for me in the saloon of the car, where I
lay for the last six hours until we reached Boston.
Kind friends were there to meet me, and the Scotchman gave me into their
charge, a poor, exhausted creature.
But I was in _time_--and that was enough.