Allanston, or the Infidel (Volume 3); A Novel in Three Volumes (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844. Excerpt: ... tions, that he became insensible to all around. There is in an extremity of sorrow, as well as of joy, but more especially of the former (from its being a much more positive sensation, and more deeply felt, ) a sort of concentrativeness in the mind, so wholly occupied with one object, that time is no longer felt; a slight grief or common misfortune makes time appear long, but as extremes meet, so does overwhelming grief as well as excessive joy annihilate time; there is no succession of ideas, no perceptibility of outward occurrences to mark its progress. Days, hours, or minutes, may pass; but the eternal, immeasurable feeling of woe, swallows up all minor considerations and susceptibilities. When Fitzmore entered the carriage, the sun had not yet penetrated the smoky atmosphere of London. Afterwards the morning beams shone brightly on his fevered brow, but he did not feel the change, the sun pursued its course till the long shadows of the carriage and horses were cast upon the Southdown hills near Portsmouth; it sank into the sea, all was gloom again, but Arthur felt it not, or rather when a sudden stop of the carriage, and a loud shriek caused him to look up, he almost thought it was morning still. The carriage had been driving at a furious rate, and coming in contact with another, had carried off its wheel, and upset it. "I hope no one is hurt," exclaimed Fitzmore, when he became aware of the accident. "Oh indeed I am killed, gone, disabled for ever; my arm is broke, and oh my nose, ' moaned a squeaking voice from under the wheels, while a kind of echo in the shape of a woman's voice emerged from the upset carriage, and broke forth in tones of condolence and lamentation. "Oh, poor John, if I could but get out, I would help you, and oh mercy on us, my unf...