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as much behind us？ It was evident that it was not from ignorance。
They knew my watch as a watch when they saw it； and the care with
which the broken machines were preserved and ticketed； proved that
they had not lost the recollection of their former civilisation。
The more I thought； the less I could understand it； but at last I
concluded that they must have worked out their mines of coal and
iron； till either none were left； or so few； that the use of these
metals was restricted to the very highest nobility。 This was the
only solution I could think of； and； though I afterwards found how
entirely mistaken it was； I felt quite sure then that it must be
the right one。
I had hardly arrived at this opinion for above four or five
minutes； when the door opened； and a young woman made her
appearance with a tray； and a very appetising smell of dinner。 I
gazed upon her with admiration as she laid a cloth and set a
savoury…looking dish upon the table。 As I beheld her I felt as
though my position was already much ameliorated； for the very sight
of her carried great comfort。 She was not more than twenty； rather
above the middle height； active and strong； but yet most delicately
featured； her lips were full and sweet； her eyes were of a deep
hazel； and fringed with long and springing eyelashes； her hair was
neatly braided from off her forehead； her complexion was simply
exquisite； her figure as robust as was consistent with the most
perfect female beauty； yet not more so； her hands and feet might
have served as models to a sculptor。 Having set the stew upon the
table； she retired with a glance of pity； whereon （remembering
pity's kinsman） I decided that she should pity me a little more。
She returned with a bottle and a glass； and found me sitting on the
bed with my hands over my face； looking the very picture of abject
misery； and； like all pictures； rather untruthful。 As I watched
her； through my fingers； out of the room again； I felt sure that
she was exceedingly sorry for me。 Her back being turned； I set to
work and ate my dinner； which was excellent。
She returned in about an hour to take away； and there came with her
a man who had a great bunch of keys at his waist； and whose manner
convinced me that he was the jailor。 I afterwards found that he
was father to the beautiful creature who had brought me my dinner。
I am not a much greater hypocrite than other people； and do what I
would； I could not look so very miserable。 I had already recovered
from my dejection； and felt in a most genial humour both with my
jailor and his daughter。 I thanked them for their attention
towards me； and； though they could not understand； they looked at
one another and laughed and chattered till the old man said
something or other which I suppose was a joke； for the girl laughed
merrily and ran away； leaving her father to take away the dinner
things。 Then I had another visitor； who was not so prepossessing；
and who seemed to have a great idea of himself and a small one of
me。 He brought a book with him； and pens and paperall very
English； and yet； neither paper； nor printing； nor binding； nor
pen； nor ink； were quite the same as ours。
He gave me to understand that he was to teach me the language and
that we were to begin at once。 This delighted me； both because I
should be more comfortable when I could understand and make myself
understood； and because I supposed that the authorities would
hardly teach me the language if they intended any cruel usage
towards me afterwards。 We began at once； and I learnt the names of
everything in the room； and also the numerals and personal
pronouns。 I found to my sorrow that the resemblance to European
things； which I had so frequently observed hitherto； did not hold
good in the matter of language； for I could detect no analogy
whatever between this and any tongue of which I have the slightest
knowledge；a thing which made me think it possible that I might be
learning Hebrew。
I must detail no longer； from this time my days were spent with a
monotony which would have been tedious but for the society of Yram；
the jailor's daughter； who had taken a great fancy for me and
treated me with the utmost kindness。 The man came every day to
teach me the language； but my real dictionary and grammar were
Yram； and I consulted them to such purpose that I made the most
extraordinary progress； being able at the end of a month to
understand a great deal of the conversation which I overheard
between Yram and her father。 My teacher professed himself well
satisfied； and said he should make a favourable report of me to the
authorities。 I then questioned him as to what would probably be
done with me。 He told me that my arrival had caused great
excitement throughout the country； and that I was to be detained a
close prisoner until the receipt of advices from the Government。
My having had a watch； he said； was the only damaging feature in
the case。 And then； in answer to my asking why this should be so；
he gave me a long story of which with my imperfect knowledge of the
language I could make nothing whatever； except that it was a very
heinous offence； almost as bad （at least； so I thought I understood
him） as having typhus fever。 But he said he thought my light hair
would save me。
I was allowed to walk in the garden； there was a high wall so that
I managed to play a sort of hand fives； which prevented my feeling
the bad effects of my confinement； though it was stupid work
playing alone。 In the course of time people from the town and
neighbourhood began to pester the jailor to be allowed to see me；
and on receiving handsome fees he let them do so。 The people were
good to me； almost too good； for they were inclined to make a lion
of me； which I hatedat least the women were； only they had to
beware of Yram； who was a young lady of a jealous temperament； and
kept a sharp eye both on me and on my lady visitors。 However； I
felt so kindly towards her； and was so entirely dependent upon her
for almost all that made my life a blessing and a comfort to me；
that I took good care not to vex her； and we remained excellent
friends。 The men were far less inquisitive； and would not； I
believe； have come near me of their own accord； but the women made
them come as escorts。 I was delighted with their handsome mien；
and pleasant genial manners。
My food was plain； but always varied and wholesome； and the good
red wine was admirable。 I had found a sort of wort in the garden；
which I sweated in heaps and then dried； obtaining thus a
substitute for tobacco； so that what with Yram； the language；
visitors； fives in the garden； smoking； and bed； my time slipped by
more rapidly and pleasantly than might have been expected。 I also
made myself a small flute； and being a tolerable player； amused
myself at times with playing snatches from operas； and airs such as
〃O where and oh where；〃 and 〃Home； sweet home。〃 This was of great
advantage to me； for the people of the country were ignorant of the
diatonic scale and could hardly believe their ears on hearing some
of our most common melodies。 Often； too； they would make me sing；
and I could at any time make Yram's eyes swim with tears by singing
〃Wilkins and his Dinah；〃 〃Billy Taylor；〃 〃The Ratcatcher's
Daughter；〃 or as much of them as I could remember。
I had one or two discussions with them because I never would sing
on Sunday （of which I kept count in my pocket…book）； except chants
and hymn tunes； of these I regret to say that I had forgotten the
words； so that I could only sing the tune。 They appeared to have
little or no religious feeling； and to have never so much as heard
of the divine institution of the Sabbath； so they ascribed my
observance of it to a fit of sulkiness； which they remarked as
coming over me upon every seventh day。 But they were very
tolerant； and one of them said to me quite kindly that she knew how
impossible it was to help being sulky at times； only she thought I
ought to see some one if it became more seriousa piece of advice
which I then failed to understand； though I pretended to take it
quite as a matter of course。
Once only did Yram tre