Страница 980 из 1118

Towards the middle of the day he stopped in a grove to eat his

meat and bread; he was bountifully supplied with fruits from the

gardens by the road, for the year was remarkably fertile, the

trees along the road were laden with figs, peaches, plums,

apples, and other various kinds, with hardly a living creature to

gather them.

Towards evening he discovered his village; although prepared for

the sight, he felt his heart beat, and he was assailed in a

moment by a crowd of painful recollections and harrowing

presentiments: a deathlike silence reigned around. His agitation

increased as he entered the churchyard, and became hardly

supportable at the end of the lane-it was there, where stood the

house of Lucy-one only of its inmates could now be there, and the

only favour he asked from Heaven was to find Agnes still living;

he hoped to find an asylum at her cottage, as he judged truly

that his own must be in ruins.