NOTES

These reflections have dispelled the agitation

We are thus invited to return at this point to the beginning of Walton's letter (and the novel), perhaps to reflect on the fact that the first noun we encounter in the novel is "disaster" (I:L1:1). Clearly, however he may publicly suppress their effects, Walton, to some extent at least, shares the "evil forebodings" of his sister he recalls in that initial sentence.