The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5)Burney, Fanny
History
The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5)
Burney, Fanny
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Refugees -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Refugees -- Fiction; War stories
This, in a few minutes, was performed; and, without daring to see the
children, who would have cried at her departure, Juliet took a hasty
leave, silent but full of gratitude, of the good dame; into whose bosom,
as her hand refused it, she slipt a guinea for the little ones; and,
having received full directions, set forward, by the shortest cut, to
the nearest high road.
She reached it unannoyed, but breathless; and seated herself upon a bank
by its side; not to hesitate which way to turn; the right and the left
were alike unknown to her, and alike liable to danger; but to recover
respiration, and force to proceed.
She could now form no plan, save to hasten to some other part of the
country; certain that here she was sought all around; and conscious that
the disguise of her habiliment, if not already betrayed, must shortly,
from a thousand accidents, prove nugatory.
In her ignorance what course the pilot might take, upon quitting the
cottage of Fairfield, she determined upon seeking, immediately, some
decent lodging for the rest of the day; hoping thus, should he pursue
the same route, to escape being overtaken.
She had soon the satisfaction to come to a small habitation, a little
out of the high road, where she was accommodated, by a man and his wife,
with a room that precisely answered her purpose: and here she spent the
night.
Thankful in obtaining any sort of tranquillity, she would fain have
remained longer; but she durst not continue in the neighbourhood of
Fairfield; and, the following morning, she re-commenced her wanderings.
She asked the way to Salisbury, though merely that she might take an
opposite direction. She ventured not to raise her eyes from the earth,
nor to cast even a glance at any one whom she passed. She held her
handkerchief to her face at the sound of every carriage; and trembled at
the approach of every horseman. Her steps were quick and eager; though
not more precipitate to fly from those by whom she was followed, than
fearful of being observed by those whom she met.
In a short time, the sight of several hostlers, helpers, and postilions,
before a large house, which appeared to be a capital inn, made her cross
the way. She wished to turn wholly from the high road; but low
brick-walls had now, on either side, taken place of hedges, and she
searched in vain for an opening. Her earnestness to press onward, joined
to her fear of looking up, made her soon follow, unconsciously, an
ordinary man, till she was so close behind him, as suddenly to perceive,
by his now well known coat, that he was the pilot! A scream struggled to
escape her, in the surprize of her affright; but she stifled it, and,
turning short back, speeded her retrograde way with all her force.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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