Page:Autobiography of William Love, P.C..pdf/49

49 manner. I put forth my hand to release her, and when I touched her the whole fabric dissolved with a rushing sound, and I found myself at the bottom of the sea. Curiously shaped creatures swam around me, and seemed to regard me with interest. While looking at them I saw a monster approaching me—it was of immense size, with an enormous head, and large round eyes—in shape like a man—like one of the Knights of Old, with his visior down, and encased in leather. It seized hold of me; I struggled and shrieked, and then I heard a voice saying, “what’ll ye ’ave for breakfast. I looked up, all in a tremor, with my forehead covered with perspiration, and found that I was snug in bed, and the landlady standing beside me. I saw at once how matters stood. “Ham and Eggs,” said I, and turned round for a little on my side to settle my confused ideas.

After breakfasting I took the road homewards, and travelled on foot from London to Liverpool, passing through the classical city of Oxford, and the great iron towns Birmingham and Sheffield. On reaching Liverpool, I put up for the day, and sailed next morning for Glasgow, and on my arrival there I started for Paisley, and reached home safe and sound, having seen the Great Exhibition, and met with many adventures on the journey, which very considerably increased my knowledge and wisdom.