صفحة 262 من 483

"The pleasant sunshine and the pure air of day restored me to

some degree of tranquillity; and when I considered what had

passed at the cottage, I could not help believing that I had been

too hasty in my conclusions. I had certainly acted imprudently.

It was apparent that my conversation had interested the father in

my behalf, and I was a fool in having exposed my person to the

horror of his children. I ought to have familiarised the old De

Lacey to me, and by degrees to have discovered myself to the rest

of his family, when they should have been prepared for my

approach. But I did not believe my errors to be irretrievable,

and after much consideration I resolved to return to the cottage,

seek the old man, and by my representations win him to my party.