Short connexion, and pleasant thoughts of the strange
places and things we have seen together; as I take away
with me a most affectionate memory of his frank and kindly
nature, his ready sympathy, and his imperturbable good
humour. From the day on which I shipped him - an entire
stranger - until this eve of our separation - as friends,
through scenes of occasional discomfort, and circumstances
which might sometimes have tried both temper and
spirits - shut up as we were for four months in the
necessarily close communion of life on board a vessel of
eighty tons, - there has never been the shadow of a cloud
between us; henceforth, the words "an Icelander" can
convey no cold or ungenial associations to my ears, and
however much my imagination has hitherto delighted in
the past history of that singular island, its Present
will always claim a deeper and warmer interest from me,
for Sigurdr's sake.
To-morrow Fitz and I start for Hamburg, and very soon
after - at least as soon as railroad and steamer can bring
me - I look for the joy of seeing your face again.
By the time this reaches Portsmouth, the "Foam" will have
perfomed a voyage of six thousand miles.
I have had a most happy time of it, but I fear my amusement
will have cost you many a weary hour of anxiety and suspense.
End of Letters From High Latitudes, by Lord Dufferin
