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before the stately portico of a large house with long windows descending
to the ground。
I rose with some difficulty from under the superincumbent snowdrift；
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and alighted from the carriage； expecting that a kind and hospitable
reception would indemnify me for the toils and hardships of the day。 A
gentleman person in black opened the door； and admitted me into a
spacious hall； lighted by an amber…coloured lamp suspended from the
ceiling； he led me through this； along a passage； and opening the door of a
back room； told me that was the schoolroom。 I entered； and found two
young ladies and two young gentlemen … my future pupils； I supposed。
After a formal greeting； the elder girl； who was trifling over a piece of
canvas and a basket of German wools； asked if I should like to go upstairs。
I replied in the affirmative； of course。
'Matilda； take a candle； and show her her room；' said she。
Miss Matilda； a strapping hoyden of about fourteen； with a short frock
and trousers； shrugged her shoulders and made a slight grimace； but took a
candle and proceeded before me up the back stairs （a long； steep； double
flight）； and through a long； narrow passage； to a small but tolerably
comfortable room。 She then asked me if I would take some tea or coffee。
I was about to answer No； but remembering that I had taken nothing since
seven o'clock that morning； and feeling faint in consequence； I said I
would take a cup of tea。 Saying she would tell 'Brown；' the young lady
departed； and by the time I had divested myself of my heavy； wet cloak；
shawl； bonnet； &c。； a mincing damsel came to say the young ladies desired
to know whether I would take my tea up there or in the schoolroom。
Under the plea of fatigue I chose to take it there。 She withdrew； and；
after a while； returned again with a small tea…tray； and placed it on the
chest of drawers； which served as a dressing…table。 Having civilly
thanked her； I asked at what time I should be expected to rise in the
morning。
'The young ladies and gentlemen breakfast at half…past eight； ma'am；'
said she； 'they rise early； but； as they seldom do any lessons before
breakfast； I should think it will do if you rise soon after seven。'
I desired her to be so kind as to call me at seven； and； promising to do
so； she withdrew。 Then； having broken my long fast on a cup of tea and a
little thin bread and butter； I sat down beside the small； smouldering fire；
and amused myself with a hearty fit of crying； after which； I said my
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prayers； and then； feeling considerably relieved； began to prepare for bed。
Finding that none of my luggage was brought up； I instituted a search for
the bell； and failing to discover any signs of such a convenience in any
corner of the room； I took my candle and ventured through the long
passage； and down the steep stairs； on a voyage of discovery。 Meeting a
well…dressed female on the way； I told her what I wanted； but not without
considerable hesitation； as I was not quite sure whether it was one of the
upper servants； or Mrs。 Murray herself： it happened； however； to be the
lady's…maid。 With the air of one conferring an unusual favour； she
vouchsafed to undertake the sending up of my things； and when I had re…
entered my room； and waited and wondered a long time （greatly fearing
that she had forgotten or neglected to perform her promise； and doubting
whether to keep waiting or go to bed； or go down again）； my hopes； at
length； were revived by the sound of voices and laughter； accompanied by
the tramp of feet along the passage； and presently the luggage was brought
in by a rough…looking maid and a man； neither of them very respectful in
their demeanour to me。 Having shut the door upon their retiring
footsteps； and unpacked a few of my things； I betook myself to rest； gladly
enough； for I was weary in body and mind。
It was with a strange feeling of desolation； mingled with a strong sense
of the novelty of my situation； and a joyless kind of curiosity concerning
what was yet unknown； that I awoke the next morning； feeling like one
whirled away by enchantment； and suddenly dropped from the clouds into
a remote and unknown land； widely and completely isolated from all he
had ever seen or known before； or like a thistle…seed borne on the wind to
some strange nook of uncongenial soil； where it must lie long enough
before it can take root and germinate； extracting nourishment from what
appears so alien to its nature： if； indeed； it ever can。 But this gives no
proper idea of my feelings at all； and no one that has not lived such a
retired； stationary life as mine； can possibly imagine what they were：
hardly even if he has known what it is to awake some morning； and find
himself in Port Nelson； in New Zealand； with a world of waters between
himself and all that knew him。
I shall not soon forget the peculiar feeling with which I raised my
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blind and looked out upon the unknown world： a wide； white wilderness
was all that met my gaze； a waste of
Deserts tossed in snow； And heavy laden groves。
I descended to the schoolroom with no remarkable eagerness to join
my pupils； though not without some feeling of curiosity respecting what a
further acquaintance would reveal。 One thing； among others of more
obvious importance； I determined with myself … I must begin with calling
them Miss and Master。 It seemed to me a chilling and unnatural piece of
punctilio between the children of a family and their instructor and daily
companion； especially where the former were in their early childhood； as
at Wellwood House； but even there； my calling the little Bloomfields by
their simple names had been regarded as an offensive liberty： as their
parents had taken care to show me； by