I took the hand of Elizabeth. “You are
sorrowful, my love. Ah! If you knew what
I have suffered and what I may yet endure, you would
endeavour to let me taste the quiet and freedom from
despair that this one day at least permits me to enjoy.”
“Be happy, my dear Victor,” replied Elizabeth;
“there is, I hope, nothing to distress you;
and be assured that if a lively joy is not painted
in my face, my heart is contented. Something
whispers to me not to depend too much on the prospect
that is opened before us, but I will not listen to
such a sinister voice. Observe how fast we move
along and how the clouds, which sometimes obscure and
sometimes rise above the dome of Mont Blanc, render
this scene of beauty still more interesting.
Look also at the innumerable fish that are swimming
in the clear waters, where we can distinguish every
pebble that lies at the bottom. What a divine
day! How happy and serene all nature appears!”
Thus Elizabeth endeavoured to divert her thoughts
and mine from all reflection upon melancholy subjects.
But her temper was fluctuating; joy for a few instants
shone in her eyes, but it continually gave place to
distraction and reverie.
The sun sank lower in the heavens; we passed the river
Drance and observed its path through the chasms of
the higher and the glens of the lower hills.
The Alps here come closer to the lake, and we approached
the amphitheatre of mountains which forms its eastern
boundary. The spire of Evian shone under the
woods that surrounded it and the range of mountain
above mountain by which it was overhung.
The wind, which had hitherto carried us along with
amazing rapidity, sank at sunset to a light breeze;
the soft air just ruffled the water and caused a pleasant
motion among the trees as we approached the shore,
from which it wafted the most delightful scent of flowers
and hay. The sun sank beneath the horizon as
we landed, and as I touched the shore I felt those
cares and fears revive which soon were to clasp me
and cling to me forever.
It was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked
for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory
light, and then retired to the inn and contemplated
the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured
in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines.
The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose
with great violence in the west. The moon had
reached her summit in the heavens and was beginning
to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than
the flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays, while
the lake reflected the scene of the busy heavens,
rendered still busier by the restless waves that were
beginning to rise. Suddenly a heavy storm of
rain descended.
