of sitting still in the library through a whole long morning： Mrs。 Fairfax had just written a letter which was waiting to be posted； so I put on my bon and cloak and volunteered to carry it to Hay； the distance； two miles； would be a pleasant winter afternoon walk。 Having seen Adèle fortably seated in her little chair by Mrs。 Fairfax’s parlour fireside； and given her her best wax doll （which I usually kept enveloped in silver paper in a drawer） to play with； and a story…book for change of amusement； and having replied to her “Revenez bient？t； ma bonne amie； ma chère Mdlle。 Jeante；” with a kiss I set out。
The ground was hard； the air was still； my road was lonely； I walked fast till I got warm； and then I walked slowly to enjoy and analyse the species of pleasure brooding for me in the hour and situation。 It was three o’clock； the church bell tolled as I passed under the belfry： the charm of the hour lay in its approaching dimness； in the low…gliding and pale…beaming sun。 I was a mile from Thornfield； in a lane noted for wild roses in summer； for nuts and blackberries in autumn； and even now possessing a few coral treasures in hips and haws； but whose best winter delight lay in its utter solitude and leafless repose。 If a breath of air stirred； it made no sound here； for there was not a holly； not an evergreen to rustle； and the stripped hawthorn and hazel bushes were as still as the white； worn stones which causewayed the middle of the path。 Far and wide； on each side； there were only fields； where no cattle now browsed； and the little brown birds； which stirred occasionally in the hedge； looked like single russet leaves that had forgotten to drop。
This lane inclined up…hill all the way to Hay； having reached the middle； I sat down on a stile which led