"I am no lawyer," said I; "but I presume all authority over your person
and property would devolve upon the guardian of your own choice." "Then I am free." Saying this, with a sudden motion, she tore in several
pieces the will, which, during this dialogue, she had held in her hand,
and threw the fragments into the fire. No action was more unexpected to me than this. My astonishment hindered
me from attempting to rescue the paper from the flames. It was consumed
in a moment. I was at a loss in what manner to regard this sacrifice. It
denoted a force of mind little in unison with that simplicity and
helplessness which this girl had hitherto displayed. It argued the
deepest apprehensions of mistreatment from her uncle. Whether his
conduct had justified this violent antipathy, I had no means of judging. Mr. Hadwin's choice of him, as his executor, was certainly one proof of
his integrity. My abstraction was noticed by Eliza with visible anxiety. It was plain
that she dreaded the impression which this act of seeming temerity had
made upon me. "Do not be angry with me," said she; "perhaps I have been
wrong, but I could not help it. I will have but one guardian and one
protector." The deed was irrevocable. In my present ignorance of the domestic
history of the Hadwins, I was unqualified to judge how far circumstances
might extenuate or justify the act. On both accounts, therefore, it was
improper to expatiate upon it. It was concluded to leave the care of the house to honest Caleb; to
fasten closets and drawers, and, carrying away the money which was found
in one of them, and which amounted to no inconsiderable sum, to repair
to the house formerly mentioned. The air was cold; a heavy snow began to
fall in the night; the wind blew tempestuously; and we were compelled to
confront it. In leaving her dwelling, in which she had spent her whole life, the
unhappy girl gave way afresh to her sorrow. It made her feeble and
helpless. When placed upon the horse, she was scarcely able to maintain
her seat. Already chilled by the cold, blinded by the drifting snow, and
cut by the blast, all my remonstrances were needed to inspire her with
resolution. I am not accustomed to regard the elements, or suffer them to retard or
divert me from any design that I have formed. I had overlooked the weak
and delicate frame of my companion, and made no account of her being
less able to support cold and fatigue than myself. It was not till we
had made some progress in our way, that I began to view, in their true
light, the obstacles that were to be encountered. I conceived it,
however, too late to retreat, and endeavoured to push on with speed. My companion was a skilful rider, but her steed was refractory and
unmanageable. She was able, however, to curb his spirit till we had
proceeded ten or twelve miles from Malverton. The wind and the cold
became too violent to be longer endured, and I resolved to stop at the
first house which should present itself to my view, for the sake of
refreshment and warmth. We now entered a wood of some extent, at the termination of which I
remembered that a dwelling stood. To pass this wood, therefore, with
expedition, was all that remained before we could reach a hospitable
asylum. I endeavoured to sustain, by this information, the sinking
spirits of my companion. While busy in conversing with her, a blast of
irresistible force twisted off the highest branch of a tree before us. It fell in the midst of the road, at the distance of a few feet from her
horse's head. Terrified by this accident, the horse started from the
path, and, rushing into the wood, in a moment threw himself and his
rider on the ground, by encountering the rugged stock of an oak. I dismounted and flew to her succour. The snow was already dyed with the
blood which flowed from some wound in her head, and she lay without
sense or motion. My terrors did not hinder me from anxiously searching
for the hurt which was received, and ascertaining the extent of the
injury. Her forehead was considerably bruised; but, to my unspeakable
joy, the blood flowed from the nostrils, and was, therefore, to be
regarded as no mortal symptom. I lifted her in my arms, and looked around me for some means of relief. The house at which I proposed to stop was upwards of a mile distant. I
remembered none that was nearer. To place the wounded girl on my own
horse, and proceed gently to the house in question, was the sole
expedient; but, at present, she was senseless, and might, on recovering,
be too feeble to sustain her own weight. To recall her to life was my first duty; but I was powerless, or
unacquainted with the means. I gazed upon her features, and endeavoured,
by pressing her in my arms, to inspire her with some warmth. I looked
towards the road, and listened for the wished-for sound of some carriage
that might be prevailed on to stop and receive her. Nothing was more
improbable than that either pleasure or business would induce men to
encounter so chilling and vehement a blast. To be lighted on by some
traveller was, therefore, a hopeless event. Meanwhile, Eliza's swoon continued, and my alarm increased. What effect
her half-frozen blood would have in prolonging this condition, or
preventing her return to life, awakened the deepest apprehensions. I
left the wood, still bearing her in my arms, and re-entered the road,
from the desire of descrying, as soon as possible, the coming passenger. I looked this way and that, and again listened. Nothing but the sweeping
blast, rent and fallen branches, and snow that filled and obscured the
air, were perceivable. Each moment retarded the course of my own blood
and stiffened my sinews, and made the state of my companion more
desperate. How was I to act? To perish myself, or see her perish, was an
ignoble fate; courage and activity were still able to avert it. My horse
stood near, docile and obsequious; to mount him and to proceed on my
way, holding my lifeless burden in my arms, was all that remained. At this moment my attention was called by several voices issuing from
the wood. It was the note of gayety and glee. Presently a sleigh, with
several persons of both sexes, appeared, in a road which led through the
forest into that in which I stood. They moved at a quick pace, but their
voices were hushed, and they checked the speed of their horses, on
discovering us. No occurrence was more auspicious than this; for I
relied with perfect confidence on the benevolence of these persons, and,
as soon as they came near, claimed their assistance. My story was listened to with sympathy, and one of the young men,
leaping from the sleigh, assisted me in placing Eliza in the place which
he had left. A female, of sweet aspect and engaging manners, insisted
upon turning back and hastening to the house, where it seems her father
resided, and which the party had just left. I rode after the sleigh,
which in a few minutes arrived at the house.