With what joy did we round the old Needles, and run past Hurst Castle; and with what shivering, too.

For the wind, though dead south, came to us as a continental wind, harsh and keen from off the frozen land of France, and chilled us to the very marrow all the way up to Southampton.
But there were warm hearts and kind faces waiting us on the quay, and good news too.

The gentlemen at the Custom-house courteously declined the least inspection of our luggage; and we were at once away in the train home.

At first, I must confess, an English winter was a change for the worse.

Fine old oaks and beeches looked to us, fresh from ceibas and balatas, like leafless brooms stuck into the ground by their handles; while the want of light was for some days painful and depressing But we had done it; and within the three months, as we promised.