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coarseness of the fare； I ate with appetite。 My provisions had by
this time been very much diminished； and I saw that it would be
speedily necessary； in the event of my continuing to reside in the
dingle； to lay in a fresh store。 After my meal； I went to the pit
and filled a can with water； which I brought to the dingle； and
then again sat down on my stone。 I considered what I should next
do： it was necessary to do something； or my life in this solitude
would be insupportable。 What should I do？ rouse up my forge and
fashion a horse…shoe？ But I wanted nerve and heart for such an
employment； moreover； I had no motive for fatiguing myself in this
manner； my own horse was shod； no other was at hand； and it is hard
to work for the sake of working。 What should I do？ read？ Yes； but
I had no other book than the Bible which the Welsh Methodist had
given me。 Well； why not read the Bible？ I was once fond of reading
the Bible； ay； but those days were long gone by。 However； I did
not see what else I could well do on the present occasion … so I
determined to read the Bible … it was in Welsh； at any rate it
might amuse me。 So I took the Bible out of the sack； in which it
was lying in the cart； and began to read at the place where I
chanced to open it。 I opened it at that part where the history of
Saul commences。 At first I read with indifference； but after some
time my attention was riveted； and no wonder； I had come to the
visitations of Saul … those dark moments of his； when he did and
said such unaccountable things； it almost appeared to me that I was
reading of myself； I； too； had my visitations； dark as ever his
were。 Oh； how I sympathised with Saul； the tall dark man！ I had
read his life before； but it had made no impression on me； it had
never occurred to me that I was like him； but I now sympathised
with Saul； for my own dark hour was but recently passed； and；
perhaps； would soon return again； the dark hour came frequently on
Saul。
Time wore away； I finished the book of Saul； and； closing the
volume； returned it to its place。 I then returned to my seat on
the stone； and thought of what I had read； and what I had lately
undergone。 All at once I thought I felt well…known sensations； a
cramping of the breast； and a tingling of the soles of the feet；
they were what I had felt on the preceding day … they were the
forerunners of the fear。 I sat motionless on my stone； the
sensations passed away； and the fear came not。 Darkness was now
coming again over the earth； the dingle was again in deep shade； I
roused the fire with the breath of the bellows； and sat looking at
the cheerful glow； it was cheering and comforting。 My little horse
came now and lay down on the ground beside the forge； I was not
quite deserted。 I again ate some of the coarse food； and drank
plentifully of the water which I had fetched in the morning。 I
then put fresh fuel on the fire； and sat for a long time looking on
the blaze； I then went into my tent。
I awoke； on my own calculation； about midnight … it was pitch dark；
and there was much fear upon me。
CHAPTER LXXXV
Free and independent … I don't see why … Oats … A noise … Unwelcome
visitors … What's the matter？ … Good…day to ye … The tall girl …
Dovrefeld … Blow on the face … Civil enough … What's this？ … Vulgar
woman … Hands off … Gasping for breath … Long Melford … A pretty
manoeuvre … A long draught … Signs of animation … It won't do … No
malice … Bad people。
Two mornings after the period to which I have brought the reader in
the preceding chapter； I sat by my fire at the bottom of the
dingle； I had just breakfasted； and had finished the last morsel of
food which I had brought with me to that solitude。
'What shall I now do？' said I to myself； 'shall I continue here； or
decamp？ … this is a sad lonely spot … perhaps I had better quit it；
but whither shall I go？ the wide world is before me； but what can I
do therein？ I have been in the world already without much success。
No； I had better remain here； the place is lonely； it is true； but
here I am free and independent； and can do what I please； but I
can't remain here without food。 Well； I will find my way to the
nearest town； lay in a fresh supply of provision； and come back；
turning my back upon the world； which has turned its back upon me。
I don't see why I should not write a little sometimes； I have pens
and an ink…horn； and for a writing…desk I can place the Bible on my
knee。 I shouldn't wonder if I could write a capital satire on the
world on the back of that Bible； but； first of all； I must think of
supplying myself with food。'
I rose up from the stone on which I was seated； determining to go
to the nearest town； with my little horse and cart； and procure
what I wanted。 The nearest town； according to my best calculation；
lay about five miles distant； I had no doubt； however； that； by
using ordinary diligence； I should be back before evening。 In
order to go lighter； I determined to leave my tent standing as it
was； and all the things which I had purchased of the tinker； just
as they were。 'I need not be apprehensive on their account；' said
I to myself； 'nobody will come here to meddle with them … the great
recommendation of this place is its perfect solitude … I daresay
that I could live here six months without seeing a single human
visage。 I will now harness my little gry and be off to the town。'
At a whistle which I gave； the little gry； which was feeding on the
bank near the uppermost part of the dingle； came running to me； for
by this time he had become so accustomed to me that he would obey
my call； for all the world as if he had been one of the canine
species。 'Now；' said I to him； 'we are going to the town to buy
bread for myself and oats for you … I am in a hurry to be back；
therefore I pray you to do your best； and to draw me and the cart
to the town with all possible speed； and to bring us back； if you
do your best； I promise you oats on your return。 You know the
meaning of oats； Ambrol？' Ambrol whinnied as if to let me know
that he understood me perfectly well； as indeed he well might； as I
had never once fed him during the time that he had been in my
possession without saying the word in question to him。 Now；
Ambrol； in the gypsy tongue； signifieth a pear。
So I caparisoned Ambrol； and then； going to the cart； I removed two
or three things from it into the tent； I then lifted up the shafts；
and was just going to call to the pony to come and be fastened to
them； when I thought I heard a noise。
I stood stock still； supporting the shaft of the little cart in my
hand； and bending the right side of my face slightly towards the
ground； but I could hear nothing； the noise which I thought I had
heard was not one of those sounds which I was accustomed to hear in
that solitude … the note of a bird； or the rustling of a bough； it
was … there I heard it again； a sound very much resembling the
grating of a wheel amongst gravel。 Could it proceed from the road？
Oh no； the road was too far distant for me to hear the noise of
anything moving along it。 Again I listened； and now I distinctly
heard the sound of wheels； which seemed to be approaching the
dingle； nearer and nearer they drew； and presently the sound of
wheels was blended with the murmur of voices。 Anon I heard a
boisterous shout； which seemed to proceed from the entrance of the
dingle。 'Here are folks at hand；' said I； letting the shaft of the
cart fall to the ground； 'is it possible that they can be coming
here？' My doubts on that point； if I entertained any； were soon
dispelled； the wheels； which had ceased moving for a moment or two；
were once again in motion； and were now evidently moving down the
winding path which led to my retreat。 Leaving my cart； I came
forward and placed myself near the entrance of the open space； with
my eyes fixed on the path down which my unexpected； and I may say
unwelcome； visitors were coming。 Presently I heard a stamping or
sliding； as if of a horse in some difficulty； then a loud curse；
and the next moment appeared a man and a horse and cart； the former
holding the head of the horse up to prevent him from falling； of
which he was in danger； owing to the precipitous nature of the
path。 Whilst thus occupied； the head of the man was averted from
me。 When； however； he had reached the bottom of the descent； he
turned his head； and perceiving me； as I stood bareheaded； without
either coat or waistcoat； about two yards from him； he gave a
sudden start； so violent that the backward motion of his hand had
nearly flung the horse upon his haunches。
'Why don't you move forward？' said a voice from behind； apparently
that of a female； 'you are stopping up the way； and we