第72章

approachedthetop，however，thedifficultybecamegreater，andlikewisethedanger；butIwasalightboy，andalmostasnimbleasasquirrel，and，moreover，thenervousfeelingwaswithinme，impellingmeupward。Itwasonlybymeansofaspring，however，thatIwasenabledtotouchthetopofthetree；Isprang，touchedthetopofthetree，andfelladistanceofatleasttwentyfeet，amongstthebranches；hadIfallentothebottomImusthavebeenkilled，butIfellintothemiddleofthetree，andpresentlyfoundmyselfastrideupononeoftheboughs；scratchedandbruisedallover，Ireachedtheground，andregainedmychamberunobserved；I

flungmyselfonmybedquiteexhausted；presentlytheycametotellmethatmymotherwasbetter-theyfoundmeinthestatewhichI

havedescribed，andinafeverbesides。ThefavourablecrisismusthaveoccurredjustaboutthetimethatIperformedthemagictouch；

itcertainlywasacuriouscoincidence，yetIwasnotweakenough，eventhoughachild，tosupposethatIhadbaffledtheevilchancebymydaringfeat。

’Indeed，allthetimethatIwasperformingthesestrangefeats，I

knewthemtobehighlyabsurd，yettheimpulsetoperformthemwasirresistible-amysteriousdreadhangingovermetillIhadgivenwaytoit；evenatthatearlyperiodIfrequentlyusedtoreasonwithinmyselfastowhatcouldbethecauseofmypropensitytotouch，butofcourseIcouldcometonosatisfactoryconclusionrespectingit；beingheartilyashamedofthepractice，Ineverspokeofittoanyone，andwasatalltimeshighlysolicitousthatnooneshouldobservemyweakness。’

CHAPTERLXV

Maternalanxiety-Thebaronet-Littlezest-Countrylife-Mr。

Speaker!-Thecraving-Spiritedaddress-Anauthor。

AFTERashortpausemyhostresumedhisnarration。’ThoughIwasneversenttoschool，myeducationwasnotneglectedonthataccount；Ihadtutorsinvariousbranchesofknowledge，underwhomImadeatolerableprogress；bythetimeIwaseighteenIwasabletoreadmostoftheGreekandLatinauthorswithfacility；Iwaslikewise，toacertaindegree，amathematician。IcannotsaythatItookmuchpleasureinmystudies；mychiefaiminendeavouringtoaccomplishmytaskswastogivepleasuretomybelovedparent，whowatchedmyprogresswithanxietytrulymaternal。Mylifeatthisperiodmaybesummedupinafewwords：Ipursuedmystudies，roamedaboutthewoods，walkedthegreenlanesoccasionally，castmyflyinatroutstream，andsometimes，butnotoften，rodea-

huntingwithmyuncle。Aconsiderablepartofmytimewasdevotedtomymother，conversingwithherandreadingtoher；youthfulcompanionsIhadnone，andastomymother，shelivedinthegreatestretirement，devotingherselftothesuperintendenceofmyeducation，andthepracticeofactsofcharity；nothingcouldbemoreinnocentthanthismodeoflife，andsomepeoplesaythatininnocencethereishappiness，yetIcan’tsaythatIwashappy。A

continualdreadovershadowedmymind，itwasthedreadofmymother’sdeath。Herconstitutionhadneverbeenstrong，andithadbeenconsiderablyshakenbyherlastillness；thisIknew，andthisIsaw-fortheeyesoffeararemarvellouslykeen。Well，thingswentoninthiswaytillIhadcomeofage；mytutorswerethendismissed，andmyunclethebaronettookmeinhand，tellingmymotherthatitwashightimeforhimtoexerthisauthority；thatI

mustseesomethingoftheworld，forthat，ifIremainedmuchlongerwithher，Ishouldberuined。“