human
Yes, it is a very lovely view; but really I must say one more word about this matter. I have to thank you, you know, for the good faith which you have kept with me.
gpt
and he bowed;
human
Pray tell me--for of course you know--the name of this exquisite valley up which I am looking.
gpt
Gwynnant. You must go up it when you are well enough; and see the lakes; they are the only ones in Snowdon from the banks of which the primaeval forest has not disappeared.
human
Indeed? I must make shift to go there this very afternoon, for--do not laugh at me--but I never saw a lake in my life.
gpt
Never saw a lake?
human
No. I am a true Lowlander: born and bred among bleak Norfolk sands and fens--so much the worse for this chest of mine; and this is my first sight of mountains. It is all like a dream to me, and a dream which I never expected to be realised.
gpt
Ah, you should see our Irish lakes and mountains--you should see Killarney!
human
I am content with these; I suppose it is as wrong to break the tenth commandment about scenery, as about anything else.
gpt
Ah, but it seems so hard that you, who I am sure would appreciate fine scenery, should have been debarred from it, while hundreds of stupid people run over the Alps and Italy every summer, and come home, as far as I can see, rather more stupid than they went; having made confusion worse confounded by filling their poor brains with hard names out of Murray.
human
Not quite so hard as that thousands, every day, who would enjoy a meat dinner, should have nothing but dry bread, and not enough of that. I fancy sometimes, that, in some mysterious way, that want will be made up to them in the next life; and so with all the beautiful things which travelled people talk of--I comfort myself with the fancy, that I see as much as is good for me here, and that if I make good use of that, I shall see the Alps and the Andes in the world to come, or something much more worth seeing. Tell me now, how far may that range of crags be from us? I am sure that I could walk there after luncheon, this mountain air is strengthening me so.
gpt
Walk thither? I assure you they are at least four miles off.
human
Four? And I thought them one! So clear and sharp as they stand out against the sky, one fancies that one could almost stretch out a hand and touch those knolls and slabs of rock, as distinct as in a photograph; and yet so soft and rich withal, dappled with pearly-grey stone and purple heath. Ah!--So it must be, I suppose. The first time that one sees a glorious thing, one's heart is lifted up towards it in love and awe, till it seems near to one--ground on which one may freely tread, because one appreciates and admires; and so one forgets the distance between its grandeur and one's own littleness.
gpt
But now--I have been troubling you too long with this stupid _tête-à-tête_ sentimentality of mine. I will make my bow, and find the Major. I am afraid, if it be possible for him to forget any one, he has forgotten me in some new moss or other.