A sudden gust of wind now completely inverted my umbrella, and nearly threw me down. I felt as if some giant fist had struck me. I turned and saw—nothing:—But how? does not something move there in the corner?—by heaven it does! My amazement was not slight when I now discerned, as clearly as darkness and rain would permit, a figure clad in black from head to foot, with a scarlet cap on its head advancing at a slow and limping pace towards me.
Now, dear Julia, ‘est-ce moi ou le diable qui écrira le reste?’ or do you think I am inventing a fable to amuse you. ‘Point du tout’—Ditchung und Wahrheit[133] is my motto. At all events I must close my letter here: I venture to hope my next will be expected with some impatience. Wholly yours,
L——
LETTER XXXIV.
Kenmare, Sept. 28th, 1828.
Beloved Friend.—Was it the devil or not then? you ask. ‘Ma foi, je n’en sais rien.’ At any rate he had assumed a very ‘recommendable,’ though rather dangerous form,—that of a pretty girl, who, wrapped in her long dark blue cloak, made darker by the rain, and with the red cap of Kerry on her head, barefoot and shivering with cold, was going to pass by me, when I asked her what made her limp? and why she was wandering alone in such weather? “Ah!” said she, in half-intelligible patois, and pointing to her foot bound up, “I was only going to the next village, and I am belated, and I fell into the terrible weather, and I have hurt myself very much;” and then she looked down with an arch bashfulness, and showed the pretty wounded ancle. We walked on together and shared the difficulties of the way,—helped one another where we could, and at length found in the valley, first, better weather; then a place of shelter; and at last, a refreshing draught of new milk.
Thus invigorated I wandered on by night; and when I reached Kenmare, I had walked four German miles in something more than six hours: I was, however, heartily tired, and as soon as I reached my bed-room I exclaimed with Wallenstein,
“Ich denke einen langen Schlaf zu thun!”[134]
Derrinane Abbey, Sept. 29th.