Isoonpossessedmyselfofavolume,takingcarethatitshouldbeonestoredwithpictures.Imountedintothewindow-seat:gatheringupmyfeet,Isatcross-legged,likeaTurk;and,havingdrawntheredmoreencurtainnearlyclose,Iwasshrinedindoubleretirement.Foldsofscarletdraperyshutinmyviewtotherighthand;totheleftweretheclearpanesofglass,protecting,butnotseparatingmefromthedrearNovemberday.Atintervals,whileturningovertheleavesofmybook,Istudiedtheaspectofthatwinterafternoon.Afar,itofferedapaleblankofmistandcloud;nearasceneofwetlawnandstorm-beatshrub,withceaselessrainsweepingawaywildlybeforealongandlamentableblast.Ireturnedtomybook-Bewick&39;sHistoryofBritishBirds:theletterpressthereofIcaredlittlefor,generallyspeaking;andyettherewerecertainintroductorypagesthat,childasIwas,IcouldnotpassquiteasablankTheyouthremainedawholeyearwiththethirdmasteralso,andwhenhecamehomeagain,andhisfatherinquired,"Myson,whathastthoulearnt?"heanswered,.Theywerethosewhichtreatofthehauntsofsea-fowl;of&39;thesolitaryrocksandpromontories&39;bythemonlyinhabited;ofthecoastofNorway,studdedwithislesfromitssouthernextremity,theLindeness,orNaze,totheNorthCape-&39;WheretheNorthernOcean,invastwhirls,Boilsroundthenaked,melancholyislesOffarthestThule;andtheAtlanticsurgepoursinamongthestormyHebrides.&39;NorcouldIpassunnoticedthesuggestionofthebleakshoresofLapland,Siberia,Spitzbergen,NovaZembla,Iceland,Greenland,with&39;thevastsweepoftheArcticZone,andthoseforlornregionsofdrearyspace,-thatreservoiroffrostandsnow,wherefirmfieldsofice,theaccumulationofcenturiesofwinters,glazedinAlpineheightsaboveheights,surroundthepoleandconcentrethemultipliedrigoursofextremecold.&39;Ofthesedeath-whiterealmsIformedanideaofmyown:shadowy,likeallthehalf-comprehendednotionsthatfloatdimthroughchildren&39;sbrains,butstrangelyimpressive.Thewordsintheseintroductorypagesconnectedthemselveswiththesucceedingvignettes,andgavesignificancetotherockstandingupaloneinaseaofbillowandspray;tothebrokenboatstrandedonadesolatecoast;tothecoldandghastlymoonglancingthroughbarsofcloudatawreckjustsinking.
