There were no horses to be procured, and I must return by the
lake; but the wind was unfavourable, and the rain fell in
torrents. However, it was hardly morning, and I might reasonably
hope to arrive by night. I hired men to row, and took an oar
[myself, for] <myself; for> I had always
experienced relief from mental torment in bodily exercise. But
the overflowing misery I now felt, and the excess of agitation
that I endured, rendered me incapable of any exertion. I threw
down the oar; [and, leaning] <and
leaning> my head upon my hands, gave way to every gloomy
idea that arose. If I looked up, I saw the scenes which were
familiar to me in my happier time, and which I had contemplated
but the day before in the company of her who was now but a
shadow and a recollection. Tears streamed from my eyes. The rain
had ceased for a moment, and I saw the fish play in the waters
as they had done a few hours before; they had then been observed
by Elizabeth. Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great
and sudden change. The sun might shine, or the clouds might
{MS lower -- but} {FC lour; but}
[lour; but] <lour: but> nothing could
appear to me as it had done the day before. A fiend had snatched
from me every hope of future happiness: no creature had ever
been so miserable as I was; so frightful an event is single in
the history of man.
But why should I dwell upon the incidents that followed this
last overwhelming event. Mine has been a tale of horrors; I have
reached their acme, and
what I must now relate can but be tedious to you. Know that, one
by one, my friends were snatched away; I was left desolate. My
own strength is exhausted; and I must tell, in a few words, what
remains of my hideous narration.