And upward , accordingly , went the pilgrims of the Great Carbuncle , now treading upon the tops and thickly-interwoven branches of dwarf pines which by the growth of centuries , though mossy with age , had barely reached three feet in altitude . Next they came to masses and fragments of naked rock heaped confusedly together like a cairn reared by giants in memory of a giant chief . In this bleak realm of upper air nothing breathed , nothing grew ; there was no life but what was concentred in their two hearts ; they had climbed so high that Nature herself seemed no longer to keep them company . She lingered beneath them within the verge of the forest-trees , and sent a farewell glance after her children as they strayed where her own green footprints had never been . But soon they were to be hidden from her eye . Densely and dark the mists began to gather below , casting black spots of shadow on the vast landscape and sailing heavily to one centre , as if the loftiest mountain-peak had summoned a council of its kindred clouds . Finally the vapors welded themselves , as it were , into a mass , presenting the appearance of a pavement over which the wanderers might have trodden , but where they would vainly have sought an avenue to the blessed earth which they had lost . And the lovers yearned to behold that green earth again -- more intensely , alas ! than beneath a clouded sky they had ever desired a glimpse of heaven . They even felt it a relief to their desolation when the mists , creeping gradually up the mountain , concealed its lonely peak , and thus annihilated -- at least , for them -- the whole region of visible space . But they drew closer together with a fond and melancholy gaze , dreading lest the universal cloud should snatch them from each other 's sight . Still , perhaps , they would have been resolute to climb as far and as high between earth and heaven as they could find foothold if Hannah 's strength had not begun to fail , and with that her courage also . Her breath grew short . She refused to burden her husband with her weight , but often tottered against his side , and recovered herself each time by a feebler effort . At last she sank down on one of the rocky steps of the acclivity . `` We are lost , dear Matthew , '' said she , mournfully ; `` we shall never find our way to the earth again . And oh how happy we might have been in our cottage ! '' `` Dear heart , we will yet be happy there , '' answered Matthew . `` Look ! In this direction the sunshine penetrates the dismal mist ; by its aid I can direct our course to the passage of the Notch .
Let us go back , love , and dream no more XXXXX the Great Carbuncle . ''
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