Chapter 12

           Ilayonmystraw,butIcouldnotsleep.Ithoughtoftheoccurrencesoftheday.Whatchieflystruckmewasthegentlemannersofthesepeople,andIlongedtojointhem,butdarednot.IrememberedtoowellthetreatmentIhadsufferedthenightbeforefromthebarbarousvillagers,andresolved,whatevercourseofconductImighthereafterthinkitrighttopursue,thatforthepresentIwouldremainquietlyinmyhovel,watchingandendeavouringtodiscoverthemotiveswhichinfluencedtheiractions.

           "Thecottagersarosethenextmorningbeforethesun.Theyoungwomanarrangedthecottageandpreparedthefood,andtheyouthdepartedafterthefirstmeal.

           "Thisdaywaspassedinthesameroutineasthatwhichprecededit.Theyoungmanwasconstantlyemployedoutofdoors,andthegirlinvariouslaboriousoccupationswithin.Theoldman,whomIsoonperceivedtobeblind,employedhisleisurehoursonhisinstrumentorincontemplation.Nothingcouldexceedtheloveandrespectwhichtheyoungercottagersexhibitedtowardstheirvenerablecompanion.Theyperformedtowardshimeverylittleofficeofaffectionanddutywithgentleness,andherewardedthembyhisbenevolentsmiles.

           "Theywerenotentirelyhappy.Theyoungmanandhiscompanionoftenwentapartandappearedtoweep.Isawnocausefortheirunhappiness,butIwasdeeplyaffectedbyit.Ifsuchlovelycreaturesweremiserable,itwaslessstrangethatI,animperfectandsolitarybeing,shouldbewretched.Yetwhywerethesegentlebeingsunhappy?Theypossessedadelightfulhouse(forsuchitwasinmyeyes)andeveryluxury;theyhadafiretowarmthemwhenchillanddeliciousviandswhenhungry;theyweredressedinexcellentclothes;and,stillmore,theyenjoyedoneanother’scompanyandspeech,interchangingeachdaylooksofaffectionandkindness.