A fine Gothic building, of which we easily traced
the outlines. The present church of Notre Dame was formerly the chapel
of the Castle.
Here we longed to explore, but it did not enter into our plans. So,
also, the interesting town of Guingamp had to be passed over for the
present.
For we were impatient to see Morlaix. Having heard much of its
picturesqueness and antiquity, we hoped for great things. Yet our
experiences began in an adventurous and not very agreeable manner.
Darkness had fallen when we reached the old town, after a long and
tedious journey. Nothing is so tiring as a slow train, which crawls upon
the road and lingers at every station. Of Morlaix we could see nothing.
We felt ourselves rumbling over a viaduct which seemed to reach the
clouds, and far down we saw the lights of the town shining like stars;
so that, with the stars above, we seemed to be placed between two
firmaments; but that was all. Everything was wrapped in gloom and
mystery. The train steamed into the station and its few lights only
rendered darkness yet more visible. The passengers stumbled across the
line in a small flock to the point of exit.
We had been strongly recommended to the Hotel d'Europe, as strongly
cautioned against any other; but we found that the omnibus was not at
the station; nor any flys; nothing but the omnibus of a small hotel we
had never heard of, in charge of a conductor, rough, uncivil, and less
than half sober.
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