No,
I
wo
n't
.
”
The
velocity
and
certainty
of
Mr.
Bucket
's
interpretation
on
all
these
heads
is
little
short
of
miraculous
.
Mrs.
Rouncewell
,
who
holds
the
light
,
is
giddy
with
the
swiftness
of
his
eyes
and
hands
,
as
he
starts
up
,
furnished
for
his
journey
.
“
You
're
George
's
mother
,
old
lady
;
that
's
about
what
you
are
,
I
believe
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
aside
,
with
his
hat
already
on
,
and
buttoning
his
coat
.
“
Yes
,
sir
,
I
am
his
distressed
mother
.
”
“
So
I
thought
,
according
to
what
he
mentioned
to
me
just
now
.
Well
,
then
,
I
'll
tell
you
something
.
You
need
n't
be
distressed
no
more
.
Your
son
's
all
right
.
Now
do
n't
you
begin
a-crying
;
because
what
you
've
got
to
do
is
to
take
care
of
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
and
you
wo
n't
do
that
by
crying
.
As
to
your
son
,
he
's
all
right
,
I
tell
you
;
and
he
sends
his
loving
duty
,
and
hoping
you
're
the
same
.
He
's
discharged
honorable
;
that
's
about
what
he
is
;
with
no
more
imputation
on
his
character
than
there
is
on
yours
,
and
yours
is
a
tidy
one
,
I
'
ll
bet
a
pound
.
You
may
trust
me
,
for
I
took
your
son
.
He
conducted
himself
in
a
game
way
,
too
,
on
that
occasion
;
and
he
's
a
fine-made
man
,
and
you
're
a
fine-made
old
lady
,
and
you
're
a
mother
and
son
,
the
pair
of
you
,
as
might
be
showed
for
models
in
a
caravan
.
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
what
you
've
trusted
to
me
,
I
'll
go
through
with
.
Do
n't
you
be
afraid
of
my
turning
out
of
my
way
,
right
or
left
;
or
taking
a
sleep
,
or
a
wash
,
or
a
shave
,
'
till
I
have
found
what
I
go
in
search
of
.
Say
everything
as
is
kind
and
forgiving
on
your
part
?
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
I
will
.
And
I
wish
you
better
,
and
these
family
affairs
smoothed
over
—
as
,
Lord
!
many
other
family
affairs
equally
has
been
,
and
equally
will
be
,
to
the
end
of
time
.
”
With
this
peroration
,
Mr.
Bucket
,
buttoned
up
,
goes
quietly
out
,
looking
steadily
before
him
as
if
he
were
already
piercing
the
night
,
in
quest
of
the
fugitive
.
His
first
step
is
to
take
himself
to
Lady
Dedlock
's
rooms
,
and
look
all
over
them
for
any
trifling
indication
that
may
help
him
.
The
rooms
are
in
darkness
now
;
and
to
see
Mr.
Bucket
with
a
wax-light
in
his
hand
,
holding
it
above
his
head
,
and
taking
a
sharp
mental
inventory
of
the
many
delicate
objects
so
curiously
at
variance
with
himself
,
would
be
to
see
a
sight
—
which
nobody
does
see
,
as
he
is
particular
to
lock
himself
in
.
“
A
spicy
boudoir
this
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
who
feels
in
a
manner
furbished
up
in
his
french
by
the
blow
of
the
morning
.
“
Must
have
cost
a
sight
of
money
.
Rum
articles
to
cut
away
from
,
these
;
she
must
have
been
hard
put
to
it
!
”
Opening
and
shutting
table-drawers
,
and
looking
into
caskets
and
jewel-cases
,
he
sees
the
reflection
of
himself
in
various
mirrors
,
and
moralises
thereon
.
“
One
might
suppose
I
was
a
moving
in
the
fashionable
circles
,
and
getting
myself
up
for
Almack
's
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
I
begin
to
think
I
must
be
a
swell
in
the
Guards
,
without
knowing
it
.
”
Ever
looking
about
,
he
has
opened
a
dainty
little
chest
in
an
inner
drawer
.
His
great
hand
,
turning
over
some
gloves
which
it
can
scarcely
feel
,
they
are
so
light
and
soft
within
it
,
comes
upon
a
white
handkerchief
.
“
Hum
!
Let
's
have
a
look
at
you
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
putting
down
the
light
.
“
What
should
you
be
kept
by
yourself
for
?
What
's
your
motive
?
Are
you
her
Ladyship
's
property
,
or
somebody
elses
?
You
've
got
a
mark
upon
you
,
somewheres
or
another
,
I
suppose
?
”
He
finds
it
as
he
speaks
,
“
Esther
Summerson
.
”
“
Oh
!
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
pausing
,
with
his
finger
at
his
ear
.
“
Come
,
I
'll
take
you
.
”
He
completes
his
observations
as
quietly
and
carefully
as
he
has
carried
them
on
,
leaves
everything
else
precisely
as
he
found
it
,
glides
away
after
some
five
minutes
in
all
,
and
passes
into
the
street
.
With
a
glance
upward
at
the
dimly
lighted
windows
of
Sir
Leicester
's
room
,
he
sets
off
,
full
swing
,
to
the
nearest
coach-stand
,
picks
out
the
horse
for
his
money
,
and
directs
to
be
driven
to
the
Shooting
Gallery
.
Mr.
Bucket
does
not
claim
to
be
a
scientific
judge
of
horses
;
but
he
lays
out
a
little
money
on
the
principal
events
in
that
line
,
and
generally
sums
up
his
knowledge
of
the
subject
in
the
remark
,
that
when
he
sees
a
horse
as
can
go
,
he
knows
him
.
His
knowledge
is
not
at
fault
in
the
present
instance
.
Clattering
over
the
stones
at
a
dangerous
pace
,
yet
thoughtfully
bringing
his
keen
eyes
to
bear
on
every
slinking
creature
whom
he
passes
in
the
midnight
streets
,
and
even
on
the
lights
in
upper
windows
where
people
are
going
or
gone
to
bed
,
and
on
all
the
turnings
that
he
rattles
by
,
and
alike
on
the
heavy
sky
,
and
on
the
earth
where
the
snow
lies
thin
—
for
something
may
present
itself
to
assist
him
,
anywhere
—
he
dashes
to
his
destination
at
such
a
speed
,
that
when
he
stops
,
the
horse
half
smothers
him
in
a
cloud
of
steam
.
“
Unbear
him
half
a
moment
to
freshen
him
up
,
and
I
'll
be
back
.
”
He
runs
up
the
long
wooden
entry
,
and
finds
the
trooper
smoking
his
pipe
.
“
I
thought
I
should
,
George
,
after
what
you
have
gone
through
,
my
lad
.
I
have
n't
a
word
to
spare
.
Now
,
honor
!
All
to
save
a
woman
.
Miss
Summerson
that
was
here
when
Gridley
died
—
that
was
the
name
,
I
know
—
all
right
!
—
where
does
she
live
?
”
The
trooper
has
just
come
from
there
,
and
gives
him
the
address
near
Oxford-street
.
“
You
wo
n't
repent
it
,
George
.
Good
night
!
He
is
off
again
,
with
an
impression
of
having
seen
Phil
sitting
by
the
frosty
fire
,
staring
at
him
open-mouthed
;
and
gallops
away
again
,
and
gets
out
in
a
cloud
of
steam
again
.
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
the
only
person
up
in
the
house
,
is
just
going
to
bed
;
rises
from
his
book
,
on
hearing
the
rapid
ringing
at
the
bell
;
and
comes
down
to
the
door
in
his
dressing-gown
.
“
Do
n't
be
alarmed
,
sir
.
”
In
a
moment
,
his
visitor
is
confidential
with
him
in
the
hall
,
has
shut
the
door
,
and
stands
with
his
hand
upon
the
lock
.
“
I
've
had
the
pleasure
of
seeing
you
before
.
Inspector
Bucket
.
Look
at
that
handkerchief
,
sir
.
Miss
Esther
Summerson
's
.
Found
it
myself
,
put
away
in
a
drawer
of
Lady
Dedlock
's
,
quarter
of
an
hour
ago
.
Not
a
moment
to
lose
.
Matter
of
life
or
death
.
You
know
Lady
Dedlock
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
There
has
been
a
discovery
there
,
to-day
.
Family
affairs
have
come
out
.
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
has
had
a
fit
—
apoplexy
or
paralysis
—
and
could
n't
be
brought
to
,
and
precious
time
has
been
lost
.
Lady
Dedlock
disappeared
this
afternoon
,
and
left
a
letter
for
him
that
looks
bad
.
Run
your
eye
over
it
.
Here
it
is
!
”
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
having
read
it
,
asks
him
what
he
thinks
?
“
I
do
n't
know
.
It
looks
like
suicide
.
Anyways
there
's
more
and
more
danger
,
every
minute
,
of
its
drawing
to
that
.
I
'd
give
a
hundred
pound
an
hour
to
have
got
the
start
of
the
present
time
.
Now
,
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
I
am
employed
by
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
to
follow
her
and
find
her
—
to
save
her
,
and
take
her
his
forgiveness
.
I
have
money
and
full
power
,
but
I
want
something
else
.
I
want
Miss
Summerson
.
”
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
in
a
troubled
voice
,
repeats
“
Miss
Summerson
?
”
“
Now
Mr.
Jarndyce
;
”
Mr.
Bucket
has
read
his
face
with
the
greatest
attention
all
along
;
“
I
speak
to
you
as
a
gentleman
of
a
humane
heart
,
and
under
such
pressing
circumstances
as
do
n't
often
happen
.
If
ever
delay
was
dangerous
,
it
's
dangerous
now
;
and
if
ever
you
could
n't
afterwards
forgive
yourself
for
causing
it
,
this
is
the
time
.
Eight
or
ten
hours
,
worth
,
as
I
tell
you
,
a
hundred
pound
a-piece
at
least
,
have
been
lost
since
Lady
Dedlock
disappeared
.
I
am
charged
to
find
her
.
I
am
Inspector
Bucket
.
Besides
all
the
rest
that
's
heavy
on
her
,
she
has
upon
her
,
as
she
believes
,
suspicion
of
murder
.
If
I
follow
her
alone
,
she
,
being
in
ignorance
of
what
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
has
communicated
to
me
,
may
be
driven
to
desperation
.
But
if
I
follow
her
in
company
with
a
young
lady
,
answering
to
the
description
of
a
young
lady
that
she
has
a
tenderness
for
—
I
ask
no
question
,
and
I
say
no
more
than
that
—
she
will
give
me
credit
for
being
friendly
.
Let
me
come
up
with
her
,
and
be
able
to
have
the
hold
upon
her
of
putting
that
young
lady
for'ard
,
and
I
'll
save
her
and
prevail
with
her
if
she
is
alive
.
Let
me
come
up
with
her
alone
—
a
harder
matter
—
and
I
'll
do
my
best
;
but
I
do
n't
answer
for
what
the
best
may
be
.
Time
flies
;
it
's
getting
on
for
one
o'clock
.
When
one
strikes
,
there
's
another
hour
gone
;
and
it
's
worth
a
thousand
pound
now
,
instead
of
a
hundred
.
”
This
is
all
true
,
and
the
pressing
nature
of
the
case
cannot
be
questioned
.
Mr.
Jarndyce
begs
him
to
remain
there
,
while
he
speaks
to
Miss
Summerson
.
Mr.
Bucket
says
he
will
;
but
,
acting
on
his
usual
principle
,
does
no
such
thing
—
following
up-stairs
instead
,
and
keeping
his
man
in
sight
.
So
he
remains
,
dodging
and
lurking
about
in
the
gloom
of
the
staircase
,
while
they
confer
.
In
a
very
little
time
,
Mr.
Jarndyce
comes
down
,
and
tells
him
that
Miss
Summerson
will
join
him
directly
,
and
place
herself
under
his
protection
,
to
accompany
him
where
he
pleases
.
Mr.
Bucket
,
satisfied
,
expresses
high
approval
;
and
awaits
her
coming
,
at
the
door
.
There
,
he
mounts
a
high
tower
in
his
mind
,
and
looks
out
,
far
and
wide
.
Many
solitary
figures
he
perceives
,
creeping
through
the
streets
;
many
solitary
figures
out
on
heaths
,
and
roads
,
and
lying
under
haystacks
.
But
the
figure
that
he
seeks
,
is
not
among
them
.
Other
solitaries
he
perceives
,
in
nooks
of
bridges
,
looking
over
;
and
in
shadowed
places
down
by
the
river
's
level
;
and
a
dark
,
dark
,
shapeless
object
drifting
with
the
tide
,
more
solitary
than
all
,
clings
with
a
drowning
hold
on
his
attention
.
Where
is
she
?
Living
or
dead
,
where
is
she
?
If
,
as
he
folds
the
handkerchief
and
carefully
puts
it
up
,
it
were
able
,
with
an
enchanted
power
,
to
bring
before
him
the
place
where
she
found
it
,
and
the
night
landscape
near
the
cottage
where
it
covered
the
little
child
,
would
he
descry
her
there
?
On
the
waste
,
where
the
brick-kilns
are
burning
with
a
pale
blue
flare
;
where
the
straw-roofs
of
the
wretched
huts
in
which
the
bricks
are
made
,
are
being
scattered
by
the
wind
;
where
the
clay
and
water
are
hard
frozen
,
and
the
mill
in
which
the
gaunt
blind
horse
goes
round
all
day
,
looks
like
an
instrument
of
human
torture
;
—
traversing
this
deserted
blighted
spot
,
there
is
a
lonely
figure
with
the
sad
world
to
itself
,
pelted
by
the
snow
and
driven
by
the
wind
,
and
cast
out
,
it
would
seem
,
from
all
companionship
.
It
is
the
figure
of
a
woman
,
too
;
but
it
is
miserably
dressed
,
and
no
such
clothes
ever
came
through
the
hall
,
and
out
at
the
great
door
,
of
the
Dedlock
mansion
.
CHAPTER
LVII
.
ESTHER
'S
NARRATIVE
.
I
HAD
gone
to
bed
and
fallen
asleep
,
when
my
guardian
knocked
at
the
door
of
my
room
and
begged
me
to
get
up
directly
.
On
my
hurrying
to
speak
to
him
and
learn
what
had
happened
,
he
told
me
,
after
a
word
or
two
of
preparation
,
that
there
had
been
a
discovery
at
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
's
.
That
my
mother
had
fled
;
that
a
person
was
now
at
our
door
who
was
empowered
to
convey
to
her
the
fullest
assurances
of
affectionate
protection
and
forgiveness
,
if
he
could
possibly
find
her
;
and
that
I
was
sought
for
to
accompany
him
,
in
the
hope
that
my
entreaties
might
prevail
upon
her
,
if
his
failed
.
Something
to
this
general
purpose
,
I
made
out
;
but
I
was
thrown
into
such
a
tumult
of
alarm
,
and
hurry
and
distress
,
that
in
spite
of
every
effort
I
could
make
to
subdue
my
agitation
,
I
did
not
seem
,
to
myself
,
fully
to
recover
my
right
mind
until
hours
had
passed
.
But
,
I
dressed
and
wrapped
up
expeditiously
without
waking
Charley
,
or
any
one
;
and
went
down
to
Mr.
Bucket
,
who
was
the
person
entrusted
with
the
secret
.
In
taking
me
to
him
my
guardian
told
me
this
,
and
also
explained
how
it
was
that
he
had
come
to
think
of
me
.
Mr.
Bucket
,
in
a
low
voice
,
by
the
light
of
my
guardian
's
candle
,
read
to
me
,
in
the
hall
,
a
letter
that
my
mother
had
left
upon
her
table
;
and
,
I
suppose
within
ten
minutes
of
my
having
been
aroused
,
I
was
sitting
beside
him
,
rolling
swiftly
through
the
streets
.
His
manner
was
very
keen
,
and
yet
considerate
when
he
explained
to
me
that
a
great
deal
might
depend
on
my
being
able
to
answer
,
without
confusion
,
a
few
questions
that
he
wished
to
ask
me
.
These
were
,
chiefly
,
whether
I
had
had
much
communication
with
my
mother
(
to
whom
he
only
referred
as
Lady
Dedlock
)
;
when
and
where
I
had
spoken
with
her
last
;
and
how
she
had
become
possessed
of
my
handkerchief
.
When
I
had
satisfied
him
on
these
points
,
he
asked
me
particularly
to
consider
—
taking
time
to
think
—
whether
,
within
my
knowledge
,
there
was
any
one
,
no
matter
where
,
in
whom
she
might
be
at
all
likely
to
confide
,
under
circumstances
of
the
last
necessity
.
I
could
think
of
no
one
but
my
guardian
.
But
,
bye
and
bye
,
I
mentioned
Mr.
Boythorn
.
He
came
into
my
mind
,
as
connected
with
his
old
chivalrous
manner
of
mentioning
my
mother
's
name
;
and
with
what
my
guardian
had
informed
me
of
his
engagement
to
her
sister
,
and
his
unconscious
connexion
with
her
unhappy
story
.
My
companion
had
stopped
the
driver
while
we
held
this
conversation
,
that
we
might
the
better
hear
each
other
.
He
now
told
him
to
go
on
again
;
and
said
to
me
,
after
considering
within
himself
for
a
few
moments
,
that
he
had
made
up
his
mind
how
to
proceed
.
He
was
quite
willing
to
tell
me
what
his
plan
was
;
but
I
did
not
feel
clear
enough
to
understand
it
.
We
had
not
driven
very
far
from
our
lodgings
,
when
we
stopped
in
a
bye
street
,
at
a
public-looking
place
lighted
up
with
gas
.
Mr.
Bucket
took
me
in
and
sat
me
in
an
arm-chair
,
by
a
bright
fire
.
It
was
now
past
one
,
as
I
saw
by
the
clock
against
the
wall
.
Two
police
officers
,
looking
in
their
perfectly
neat
uniform
not
at
all
like
people
who
were
up
all
night
,
were
quietly
writing
at
a
desk
;
and
the
place
seemed
very
quiet
altogether
,
except
for
some
beating
and
calling
out
at
distant
doors
underground
,
to
which
nobody
paid
any
attention
.
A
third
man
in
uniform
,
whom
Mr.
Bucket
called
and
to
whom
he
whispered
his
instructions
,
went
out
;
and
then
the
two
others
advised
together
,
while
one
wrote
from
Mr.
Bucket
's
subdued
dictation
.
It
was
a
description
of
my
mother
that
they
were
busy
with
;
for
Mr.
Bucket
brought
it
to
me
when
it
was
done
,
and
read
it
in
a
whisper
.
It
was
very
accurate
indeed
.
The
second
officer
,
who
had
attended
to
it
closely
,
then
copied
it
out
,
and
called
in
another
man
in
uniform
(
there
were
several
in
an
outer
room
)
who
took
it
up
and
went
away
with
it
.
All
this
was
done
with
the
greatest
dispatch
,
and
without
the
waste
of
a
moment
;
yet
nobody
was
at
all
hurried
.
As
soon
as
the
paper
was
sent
out
upon
its
travels
,
the
two
officers
resumed
their
former
quiet
work
of
writing
with
neatness
and
care
.
Mr.
Bucket
thoughtfully
came
and
warmed
the
soles
of
his
boots
,
first
one
and
then
the
other
,
at
the
fire
.
“
Are
you
well
wrapped
up
,
Miss
Summerson
?
”
he
asked
me
,
as
his
eyes
met
mine
.
“
It
's
a
desperate
sharp
night
for
a
young
lady
to
be
out
in
.
”
I
told
him
I
cared
for
no
weather
,
and
was
warmly
clothed
.
“
It
may
be
a
long
job
,
”
he
observed
;
“
but
so
that
it
ends
well
,
never
mind
,
miss.
”
“
I
pray
to
Heaven
it
may
end
well
!
”
said
I
.
He
nodded
comfortingly
.
“
You
see
,
whatever
you
do
,
do
n't
you
go
and
fret
yourself
.
You
keep
yourself
cool
,
and
equal
for
anything
that
may
happen
;
and
it
'll
be
the
better
for
you
,
the
better
for
me
,
the
better
for
Lady
Dedlock
,
and
the
better
for
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
.
”
He
was
really
very
kind
and
gentle
;
and
as
he
stood
before
the
fire
warming
his
boots
,
and
rubbing
his
face
with
his
forefinger
,
I
felt
a
confidence
in
his
sagacity
which
re-assured
me
.
It
was
not
yet
a
quarter
to
two
,
when
I
heard
horses
'
feet
and
wheels
outside
.
“
Now
,
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
he
,
“
we
are
off
,
if
you
please
!
”
He
gave
me
his
arm
,
and
the
two
officers
courteously
bowed
me
out
,
and
we
found
at
the
door
a
phaeton
or
barouche
,
with
a
postilion
and
post
horses
.
Mr.
Bucket
handed
me
in
,
and
took
his
own
seat
on
the
box
.
The
man
in
uniform
whom
he
had
sent
to
fetch
this
equipage
,
then
handed
him
up
a
dark
lantern
at
his
request
;
and
when
he
had
given
a
few
directions
to
the
driver
,
we
rattled
away
.
I
was
far
from
sure
that
I
was
not
in
a
dream
.
We
rattled
with
great
rapidity
through
such
a
labyrinth
of
streets
,
that
I
soon
lost
all
idea
where
we
were
;
except
that
we
had
crossed
and
re-crossed
the
river
,
and
still
seemed
to
be
traversing
a
low-lying
,
water-side
,
dense
neighbourhood
of
narrow
thoroughfares
,
chequered
by
docks
and
basins
,
high
piles
of
warehouses
,
swing-bridges
,
and
masts
of
ships
.
At
length
we
stopped
at
the
corner
of
a
little
slimy
turning
,
which
the
wind
from
the
river
,
rushing
up
it
,
did
not
purify
;
and
I
saw
my
companion
,
by
the
light
of
his
lantern
,
in
conference
with
several
men
,
who
looked
like
a
mixture
of
police
and
sailors
.
Against
the
mouldering
wall
by
which
they
stood
,
there
was
a
bill
,
on
which
I
could
discern
the
words
,
“
FOUND
DROWNED
;
”
and
this
,
and
an
inscription
about
Drags
,
possessed
me
with
the
awful
suspicion
shadowed
forth
in
our
visit
to
that
place
.
I
had
no
need
to
remind
myself
that
I
was
not
there
,
by
the
indulgence
of
any
feeling
of
mine
,
to
increase
the
difficulties
of
the
search
,
or
to
lessen
its
hopes
,
or
enhance
its
delays
.
I
remained
quiet
;
but
what
I
suffered
in
that
dreadful
spot
,
I
never
can
forget
.
And
still
it
was
like
the
horror
of
a
dream
.
A
man
yet
dark
and
muddy
,
in
long
swollen
sodden
boots
and
a
hat
like
them
,
was
called
out
of
a
boat
,
and
whispered
with
Mr.
Bucket
,
who
went
away
with
him
down
some
slippery
steps
—
as
if
to
look
at
something
secret
that
he
had
to
show
.
They
came
back
,
wiping
their
hands
upon
their
coats
,
after
turning
over
something
wet
;
but
thank
God
it
was
not
what
I
feared
!
After
some
further
conference
,
Mr.
Bucket
(
whom
everybody
seemed
to
know
and
defer
to
)
went
in
with
the
others
at
a
door
,
and
left
me
in
the
carriage
;
while
the
driver
walked
up
and
down
by
his
horses
,
to
warm
himself
.
The
tide
was
coming
in
,
as
I
judged
from
the
sound
it
made
;
and
I
could
hear
it
break
at
the
end
of
the
alley
,
with
a
little
rush
towards
me
.
It
never
did
so
—
and
I
thought
it
did
so
,
hundreds
of
times
,
in
what
can
have
been
at
the
most
a
quarter
of
an
hour
,
and
probably
was
less
—
but
the
thought
shuddered
through
me
that
it
would
cast
my
mother
at
the
horses
'
feet
.
Mr.
Bucket
came
out
again
,
exhorting
the
others
to
be
vigilant
,
darkened
his
lantern
,
and
once
more
took
his
seat
.
“
Do
n't
you
be
alarmed
,
Miss
Summerson
,
on
account
of
our
coming
down
here
,
”
he
said
,
turning
to
me
.
“
I
only
want
to
have
everything
in
train
,
and
to
know
that
it
is
in
train
by
looking
after
it
myself
.
Get
on
,
my
lad
!
”
We
appeared
to
retrace
the
way
we
had
come
.
Not
that
I
had
taken
note
of
any
particular
objects
in
my
perturbed
state
of
mind
,
but
judging
from
the
general
character
of
the
streets
.
We
called
at
another
office
or
station
for
a
minute
,
and
crossed
the
river
again
.
During
the
whole
of
this
time
,
and
during
the
whole
search
,
my
companion
,
wrapped
up
on
the
box
,
never
relaxed
in
his
vigilance
a
single
moment
;
but
,
when
we
crossed
the
bridge
he
seemed
,
if
possible
,
to
be
more
on
the
alert
than
before
.
He
stood
up
to
look
over
the
parapet
;
he
alighted
,
and
went
back
after
a
shadowy
female
figure
that
flitted
past
us
;
and
he
gazed
into
the
profound
black
pit
of
water
,
with
a
face
that
made
my
heart
die
within
me
.
The
river
had
a
fearful
look
,
so
overcast
and
secret
,
creeping
away
so
fast
between
the
low
flat
lines
of
shore
:
so
heavy
with
indistinct
and
awful
shapes
,
both
of
substance
and
shadow
:
so
deathlike
and
mysterious
.
I
have
seen
it
many
times
since
then
,
by
sunlight
and
by
moonlight
,
but
never
free
from
the
impressions
of
that
journey
.
In
my
memory
,
the
lights
upon
the
bridge
are
always
burning
dim
;
the
cutting
wind
is
eddying
round
the
homeless
woman
whom
we
pass
;
the
monotonous
wheels
are
whirling
on
;
and
the
light
of
the
carriage
lamps
reflected
back
,
looks
palely
in
upon
me
—
a
face
,
rising
out
of
the
dreaded
water
.
Clattering
and
clattering
through
the
empty
streets
,
we
came
at
length
from
the
pavement
on
to
dark
smooth
roads
,
and
began
to
leave
the
houses
behind
us
.
After
a
while
,
I
recognised
the
familiar
way
to
St.
Albans
.
At
Barnet
,
fresh
horses
were
ready
for
us
,
and
we
changed
and
went
on
.
It
was
very
cold
indeed
;
and
the
open
country
was
white
with
snow
,
though
none
was
falling
then
.
“
An
old
acquaintance
of
yours
,
this
road
,
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
cheerfully
.
“
Yes
,
”
I
returned
.
“
Have
you
gathered
any
intelligence
?
”
“
None
that
can
be
quite
depended
on
as
yet
,
”
he
answered
;
“
but
it
's
early
times
as
yet
.
”
He
had
gone
into
every
late
or
early
public-house
where
there
was
a
light
(
they
were
not
a
few
at
that
time
,
the
road
being
then
much
frequented
by
drovers
)
,
and
had
got
down
to
talk
to
the
turnpike-keepers
.
I
had
heard
him
ordering
drink
,
and
chinking
money
,
and
making
himself
agreeable
and
merry
everywhere
;
but
whenever
he
took
his
seat
upon
the
box
again
,
his
face
resumed
its
watchful
steady
look
,
and
he
always
said
to
the
driver
in
the
same
business
tone
,
“
Get
on
,
my
lad
!
”
With
all
these
stoppages
,
it
was
between
five
and
six
o'clock
and
we
were
yet
a
few
miles
short
of
Saint
Albans
,
when
he
came
out
of
one
of
these
houses
and
handed
me
in
a
cup
of
tea
.
“
Drink
it
,
Miss
Summerson
,
it
'll
do
you
good
.
You
're
beginning
to
get
more
yourself
now
,
ai
n't
you
?
”
I
thanked
him
,
and
said
I
hoped
so
.
“
You
was
what
you
may
call
stunned
at
first
,
”
he
returned
;
“
and
Lord
!
no
wonder
.
Do
n't
speak
loud
,
my
dear
.
It
's
all
right
.
She
's
on
a-head
.
”
I
do
n't
know
what
joyful
exclamation
I
made
,
or
was
going
to
make
,
but
he
put
up
his
finger
,
and
I
stopped
myself
.
“
Passed
through
here
on
foot
,
this
evening
,
about
eight
or
nine
.
I
heard
of
her
first
at
the
archway
toll
,
over
at
Highgate
,
but
could
n't
make
quite
sure
.
Traced
her
all
along
,
on
and
off
.
Picked
her
up
at
one
place
,
and
dropped
her
at
another
;
but
she
's
before
us
now
,
safe
.
Take
hold
of
this
cup
and
saucer
,
Ostler
.
Now
,
if
you
was
n't
brought
up
to
the
butter
trade
,
look
out
and
see
if
you
can
catch
half-a-crown
in
your
t'other
hand
.
One
,
two
,
three
,
and
there
you
are
!
Now
,
my
lad
,
try
a
gallop
!
”
We
were
soon
in
Saint
Albans
,
and
alighted
a
little
before
day
,
when
I
was
just
beginning
to
arrange
and
comprehend
the
occurrences
of
the
night
,
and
really
to
believe
that
they
were
not
a
dream
.
Leaving
the
carriage
at
the
posting-house
,
and
ordering
fresh
horses
to
be
ready
,
my
companion
gave
me
his
arm
,
and
we
went
towards
home
.
“
As
this
is
your
regular
abode
,
Miss
Summerson
,
you
see
,
”
he
observed
,
“
I
should
like
to
know
whether
you
've
been
asked
for
by
any
stranger
answering
the
description
,
or
whether
Mr.
Jarndyce
has
.
I
do
n't
much
expect
it
,
but
it
might
be
.
”
As
we
ascended
the
hill
,
he
looked
about
him
with
a
sharp
eye
—
the
day
was
now
breaking
—
and
reminded
me
that
I
had
come
down
it
one
night
,
as
I
had
reason
for
remembering
with
my
little
servant
and
poor
Jo
:
whom
he
called
Toughey
.
I
wondered
how
he
knew
that
.
“
When
you
passed
a
man
upon
the
road
,
just
yonder
,
you
know
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
.
Yes
,
I
remembered
that
too
,
very
well
.
“
That
was
me
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
.
Seeing
my
surprise
,
he
went
on
:
“
I
drove
down
in
a
gig
that
afternoon
,
to
look
after
that
boy
.
You
might
have
heard
my
wheels
when
you
came
out
to
look
after
him
yourself
,
for
I
was
aware
of
you
and
your
little
maid
going
up
,
when
I
was
walking
the
horse
down
.
Making
an
inquiry
or
two
about
him
in
the
town
,
I
soon
heard
what
company
he
was
in
;
and
was
coming
among
the
brick-fields
to
look
for
him
,
when
I
observed
you
bringing
him
home
here
.
”
“
Had
he
committed
any
crime
?
”
I
asked
.
“
None
was
charged
against
him
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
coolly
lifting
off
his
hat
;
“
but
I
suppose
he
was
n't
over-particular
.
No.
What
I
wanted
him
for
,
was
in
connexion
with
keeping
this
very
matter
of
Lady
Dedlock
quiet
.
He
had
been
making
his
tongue
more
free
than
welcome
,
as
to
a
small
accidental
service
he
had
been
paid
for
by
the
deceased
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
;
and
it
would
n't
do
,
at
any
sort
of
price
,
to
have
him
playing
those
games
.
So
having
warned
him
out
of
London
,
I
made
an
afternoon
of
it
to
warn
him
to
keep
out
of
it
now
he
was
away
,
and
go
farther
from
it
,
and
maintain
a
bright
look
out
that
I
did
n't
catch
him
coming
back
again
.
”
“
Poor
creature
!
”
said
I
.
“
Poor
enough
,
”
assented
Mr.
Bucket
,
“
and
trouble
enough
,
and
well
enough
away
from
London
,
or
anywhere
else
.
I
was
regularly
turned
on
my
back
when
I
found
him
taken
up
by
your
establishment
,
I
do
assure
you
.
”
I
asked
him
why
?
“
Why
,
my
dear
?
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Naturally
there
was
no
end
to
his
tongue
then
.
He
might
as
well
have
been
born
with
a
yard
and
a
half
of
it
,
and
a
remnant
over
.
”
Although
I
remember
this
conversation
now
,
my
head
was
in
confusion
at
the
time
,
and
my
power
of
attention
hardly
did
more
than
enable
me
to
understand
that
he
entered
into
these
particulars
to
divert
me
.
With
the
same
kind
intention
,
manifestly
,
he
often
spoke
to
me
of
indifferent
things
,
while
his
face
was
busy
with
the
one
object
that
we
had
in
view
.
He
still
pursued
this
subject
,
as
we
turned
in
at
the
garden
gate
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Here
we
are
,
and
a
nice
retired
place
it
is
.
Puts
a
man
in
mind
of
the
country
house
in
the
Woodpecker
tapping
,
that
was
known
by
the
smoke
which
so
gracefully
curled
.
They
're
early
with
the
kitchen
fire
,
and
that
denotes
good
servants
.
But
what
you
've
always
got
to
be
careful
of
with
servants
,
is
,
who
comes
to
see
'
em
;
you
never
know
what
they
're
up
to
,
if
you
do
n't
know
that
.
And
another
thing
,
my
dear
.
Whenever
you
find
a
young
man
behind
the
kitchen
door
,
you
give
that
young
man
in
charge
on
suspicion
of
being
secreted
in
a
dwelling-house
with
an
unlawful
purpose
.
”
We
were
now
in
front
of
the
house
;
he
looked
attentively
and
closely
at
the
gravel
for
footprints
,
before
he
raised
his
eyes
to
the
windows
.
“
Do
you
generally
put
that
elderly
young
gentleman
in
the
same
room
,
when
he
's
on
a
visit
here
,
Miss
Summerson
?
”
he
inquired
,
glancing
at
Mr.
Skimpole
's
usual
chamber
.
“
You
know
Mr.
Skimpole
!
”
said
I
.
“
What
do
you
call
him
again
?
”
returned
Mr.
Bucket
,
bending
down
his
ear
.
“
Skimpole
,
is
it
?
I
've
often
wondered
what
his
name
might
be
.
Skimpole
.
Not
John
,
I
should
say
,
nor
yet
Jacob
?
”
“
Harold
,
”
I
told
him
.
“
Harold
.
Yes
.
He
's
a
queer
bird
is
Harold
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
eyeing
me
with
great
expression
.
“
He
is
a
singular
character
,
”
said
I
.
“
No
idea
of
money
,
”
observed
Mr.
Bucket
.
—
“
He
takes
it
though
!
”
I
involuntarily
returned
for
answer
,
that
I
perceived
Mr.
Bucket
knew
him
.
“
Why
,
now
I
'll
tell
you
,
Miss
Summerson
,
”
he
rejoined
.
“
Your
mind
will
be
all
the
better
for
not
running
on
one
point
too
continually
,
and
I
'll
tell
you
for
a
change
.
It
was
him
as
pointed
out
to
me
where
Toughey
was
.
I
made
up
my
mind
,
that
night
,
to
come
to
the
door
and
ask
for
Toughey
,
if
that
was
all
;
but
,
willing
to
try
a
move
or
so
first
,
if
any
such
was
on
the
board
,
I
just
pitched
up
a
morsel
of
gravel
at
that
window
where
I
saw
a
shadow
.
As
soon
as
Harold
opens
it
and
I
have
had
a
look
at
him
,
thinks
I
,
you
're
the
man
for
me
.
So
I
smoothed
him
down
a
bit
,
about
not
wanting
to
disturb
the
family
after
they
was
gone
to
bed
,
and
about
its
being
a
thing
to
be
regretted
that
charitable
young
ladies
should
harbor
vagrants
;
and
then
,
when
I
pretty
well
understood
his
ways
,
I
said
,
I
should
consider
a
fypunnote
well
bestowed
if
I
could
relieve
the
premises
of
Toughey
without
causing
any
noise
or
trouble
.
Then
says
he
,
lifting
up
his
eyebrows
in
the
gayest
way
,
‘it
's
no
use
mentioning
a
fypunnote
to
me
,
my
friend
,
because
I
'm
a
mere
child
in
such
matters
,
and
have
no
idea
of
money.’
Of
course
I
understood
what
his
taking
it
so
easy
meant
;
and
being
now
quite
sure
he
was
the
man
for
me
,
I
wrapped
the
note
round
a
little
stone
and
threw
it
up
to
him
.
Well
!
He
laughs
and
beams
,
and
looks
as
innocent
as
you
like
,
and
says
,
‘But
I
do
n't
know
the
value
of
these
things
.
What
am
I
to
do
with
this
?
’
‘Spend
it
,
sir
,
’
says
I
.
‘But
I
shall
be
taken
in
,
’
he
says
,
‘they
wo
n't
give
me
the
right
change
,
I
shall
lose
it
,
it
's
no
use
to
me.’
Lord
,
you
never
saw
such
a
face
as
he
carried
it
with
!
Of
course
he
told
me
where
to
find
Toughey
,
and
I
found
him
.
”
I
regarded
this
as
very
treacherous
on
the
part
of
Mr.
Skimpole
towards
my
guardian
,
and
as
passing
the
usual
bounds
of
his
childish
innocence
.
“
Bounds
,
my
dear
?
”
returned
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Bounds
?
Now
,
Miss
Summerson
,
I
'll
give
you
a
piece
of
advice
that
your
husband
will
find
useful
when
you
are
happily
married
,
and
have
got
a
family
about
you
.
Whenever
a
person
says
to
you
that
they
are
as
innocent
as
can
be
in
all
concerning
money
,
look
well
after
your
own
money
,
for
they
are
dead
certain
to
collar
it
,
if
they
can
.
Whenever
a
person
proclaims
to
you
‘In
worldly
matters
I
'm
a
child
,
’
you
consider
that
that
person
is
only
a
crying
off
from
being
held
accountable
,
and
that
you
have
got
that
person
's
number
,
and
it
's
Number
One
.
Now
I
am
not
a
poetical
man
myself
except
in
a
vocal
way
when
it
goes
round
a
company
,
but
I
'm
a
practical
one
,
and
that
's
my
experience
.
So
's
this
rule
.
Fast
and
loose
in
one
thing
,
Fast
and
loose
in
everything
.
I
never
knew
it
fail
.
No
more
will
you
.
Nor
no
one
.
With
which
caution
to
the
unwary
,
my
dear
,
I
take
the
liberty
of
pulling
this
here
bell
,
and
so
go
back
to
our
business
.
”
I
believe
it
had
not
been
for
a
moment
out
of
his
mind
,
any
more
than
it
had
been
out
of
my
mind
,
or
out
of
his
face
.
The
whole
household
were
amazed
to
see
me
,
without
any
notice
,
at
that
time
in
the
morning
,
and
so
accompanied
;
and
their
surprise
was
not
diminished
by
my
inquiries
.
No
one
,
however
,
had
been
there
.
It
could
not
be
doubted
that
this
was
the
truth
.
“
Then
,
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
my
companion
,
“
we
ca
n't
be
too
soon
at
the
cottage
where
those
brickmakers
are
to
be
found
.
Most
inquiries
there
I
leave
to
you
,
if
you
'll
be
so
good
as
to
make
'
em
.
The
naturalest
way
is
the
best
way
,
and
the
naturalest
way
is
your
own
way
.
”
We
set
off
again
immediately
.
On
arriving
at
the
cottage
,
we
found
it
shut
up
,
and
apparently
deserted
;
but
one
of
the
neighbours
who
knew
me
,
and
who
came
out
when
I
was
trying
to
make
some
one
hear
,
informed
me
that
the
two
women
and
their
husbands
now
lived
together
in
another
house
,
made
of
loose
rough
bricks
,
which
stood
on
the
margin
of
the
piece
of
ground
where
the
kilns
were
,
and
where
the
long
rows
of
bricks
were
drying
.
We
lost
no
time
in
repairing
to
this
place
,
which
was
within
a
few
hundred
yards
;
and
as
the
door
stood
ajar
,
I
pushed
it
open
.
There
were
only
three
of
them
sitting
at
breakfast
;
the
child
lying
asleep
on
a
bed
in
the
corner
.
It
was
Jenny
,
the
mother
of
the
dead
child
,
who
was
absent
.
The
other
woman
rose
on
seeing
me
;
and
the
men
,
though
they
were
,
as
usual
,
sulky
and
silent
,
each
gave
me
a
morose
nod
of
recognition
.
A
look
passed
between
them
when
Mr.
Bucket
followed
me
in
,
and
I
was
surprised
to
see
that
the
woman
evidently
knew
him
.
I
had
asked
leave
to
enter
,
of
course
.
Liz
(
the
only
name
by
which
I
knew
her
)
rose
to
give
me
her
own
chair
,
but
I
sat
down
on
a
stool
near
the
fire
,
and
Mr.
Bucket
took
a
corner
of
the
bedstead
.
Now
that
I
had
to
speak
,
and
was
among
people
with
whom
I
was
not
familiar
,
I
became
conscious
of
being
hurried
and
giddy
.
It
was
very
difficult
to
begin
,
and
I
could
not
help
bursting
into
tears
.
“
Liz
,
”
said
I
,
“
I
have
come
a
long
way
in
the
night
and
through
the
snow
,
to
inquire
after
a
lady
—
”
“
Who
has
been
here
,
you
know
,
”
Mr.
Bucket
struck
in
,
addressing
the
whole
group
,
with
a
composed
propitiatory
face
;
“
that
's
the
lady
the
young
lady
means
.
The
lady
that
was
here
last
night
,
you
know
.
”
“
And
who
told
you
as
there
was
anybody
here
?
”
inquired
Jenny
's
husband
,
who
had
made
a
surly
stop
in
his
eating
,
to
listen
,
and
now
measured
him
with
his
eye
.
“
A
person
of
the
name
of
Michael
Jackson
,
in
a
blue
welveteen
waistcoat
with
a
double
row
of
mother
of
pearl
buttons
,
”
Mr.
Bucket
immediately
answered
.
“
He
had
as
good
mind
his
own
business
,
whoever
he
is
,
”
growled
the
man
.
“
He
's
out
of
employment
,
I
believe
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
apologetically
for
Michael
Jackson
,
“
and
so
gets
talking
.
”
The
woman
had
not
resumed
her
chair
,
but
stood
faltering
with
her
hand
upon
its
broken
back
,
looking
at
me
.
I
thought
she
would
have
spoken
to
me
privately
,
if
she
had
dared
.
She
was
still
in
this
attitude
of
uncertainty
,
when
her
husband
,
who
was
eating
with
a
lump
of
bread
and
fat
in
one
hand
,
and
his
clasp-knife
in
the
other
,
struck
the
handle
of
his
knife
violently
on
the
table
,
and
told
her
with
an
oath
to
mind
her
business
at
any
rate
,
and
sit
down
.
“
I
should
like
to
have
seen
Jenny
very
much
,
”
said
I
,
“
for
I
am
sure
she
would
have
told
me
all
she
could
about
this
lady
,
whom
I
am
very
anxious
indeed
—
you
cannot
think
how
anxious
—
to
overtake
.
Will
Jenny
be
here
soon
?
Where
is
she
?
”
The
woman
had
a
great
desire
to
answer
,
but
the
man
,
with
another
oath
,
openly
kicked
at
her
foot
with
his
heavy
boot
.
He
left
it
to
Jenny
's
husband
to
say
what
he
chose
,
and
after
a
dogged
silence
the
latter
turned
his
shaggy
head
towards
me
.
“
I
'm
not
partial
to
gentlefolks
coming
into
my
place
,
as
you
've
heerd
me
say
afore
now
,
I
think
,
miss.
I
let
their
places
be
,
and
it
's
curous
they
ca
n't
let
my
place
be
.
There
'd
be
a
pretty
shine
made
if
I
was
to
go
a
wisitin
them
,
I
think
.
Howsever
,
I
do
n't
so
much
complain
of
you
as
of
some
others
;
and
I
'm
agreeable
to
make
you
a
civil
answer
,
though
I
give
notice
that
I
'm
not
a
going
to
be
drawed
like
a
badger
.
Will
Jenny
be
here
soon
?
No
she
wo
n't
.
Where
is
she
?
She
's
gone
up
to
Lunnun
.
”
“
Did
she
go
last
night
?
”
I
asked
.
“
Did
she
go
last
night
?
Ah
!
she
went
last
night
,
”
he
answered
,
with
a
sulky
jerk
of
his
head
.
“
But
was
she
here
when
the
lady
came
?
And
what
did
the
lady
say
to
her
?
And
where
is
the
lady
gone
?
I
beg
and
pray
you
to
be
so
kind
as
to
tell
me
,
”
said
I
,
“
for
I
am
in
great
distress
to
know
.
”
“
If
my
master
would
let
me
speak
,
and
not
say
a
word
of
harm
—
”
the
woman
timidly
began
.
“
Your
master
,
”
said
her
husband
,
muttering
an
imprecation
with
slow
emphasis
,
“
will
break
your
neck
if
you
meddle
with
wot
do
n't
concern
you
.
”
After
another
silence
,
the
husband
of
the
absent
woman
,
turning
to
me
again
,
answered
me
with
his
usual
grumbling
unwillingness
.
“
Wos
Jenny
here
when
the
lady
come
?
Yes
,
she
wos
here
when
the
lady
come
.
Wot
did
the
lady
say
to
her
?
Well
,
I
'll
tell
you
wot
the
lady
said
to
her
.
She
said
‘You
remember
me
as
come
one
time
to
talk
to
you
about
the
young
lady
as
had
been
a
wisiting
of
you
?
You
remember
me
as
give
you
somethink
handsome
for
a
hankecher
wot
she
had
left
?
’
Ah
,
she
remembered
.
So
we
all
did
.
Well
,
then
,
wos
that
young
lady
up
at
the
house
now
?
No
,
she
war
n't
up
at
the
house
now
.
Well
,
then
,
lookee
here
.
The
lady
was
upon
a
journey
all
alone
,
strange
as
we
might
think
it
,
and
could
she
rest
herself
where
you
're
a
setten
,
for
a
hour
or
so
.
Yes
she
could
,
and
so
she
did
.
Then
she
went
—
it
might
be
at
twenty
minutes
past
eleven
,
and
it
might
be
at
twenty
minutes
past
twelve
;
we
ai
n't
got
no
watches
here
to
know
the
time
by
,
nor
yet
clocks
.
Where
did
she
go
?
I
do
n't
know
where
she
go
'd
.
She
went
one
way
,
and
Jenny
went
another
;
one
went
right
to
Lunnun
,
and
t'other
went
right
from
it
.
That
's
all
about
it
.
Ask
this
man
.
He
heerd
it
all
,
and
see
it
all
.
He
knows
.
”
The
other
man
repeated
,
“
That
's
all
about
it
.
”
“
Was
the
lady
crying
?
”
I
inquired
.
“
Devil
a
bit
,
”
returned
the
first
man
.
“
Her
shoes
was
the
worse
,
and
her
clothes
was
the
worse
,
but
she
war
n't
—
not
as
I
see
.
”
The
woman
sat
with
her
arms
crossed
,
and
her
eyes
upon
the
ground
.
Her
husband
had
turned
his
seat
a
little
,
so
as
to
face
her
;
and
kept
his
hammer-like
hand
upon
the
table
,
as
if
it
were
in
readiness
to
execute
his
threat
if
she
disobeyed
him
.
“
I
hope
you
will
not
object
to
my
asking
your
wife
,
”
said
I
,
“
how
the
lady
looked
?
”
“
Come
then
!
”
he
gruffly
cried
to
her
.
“
You
hear
wot
she
says
.
Cut
it
short
,
and
tell
her
.
”
“
Bad
,
”
replied
the
woman
.
“
Pale
and
exhausted
.
Very
bad
.
”
“
Did
she
speak
much
?
”
“
Not
much
,
but
her
voice
was
hoarse
.
”
She
answered
,
looking
all
the
while
at
her
husband
for
leave
.
“
Was
she
faint
?
”
said
I
.
“
Did
she
eat
or
drink
here
?
”
“
Go
on
!
”
said
the
husband
,
in
answer
to
her
look
.
“
Tell
her
,
and
cut
it
short
.
”
“
She
had
a
little
water
,
Miss
,
and
Jenny
fetched
her
some
bread
and
tea
.
But
she
hardly
touched
it
.
”
“
And
when
she
went
from
here
”
—
I
was
proceeding
,
when
Jenny
's
husband
impatiently
took
me
up
.
“
When
she
went
from
here
,
she
went
right
away
Nor'ard
by
the
high
road
.
Ask
on
the
road
if
you
doubt
me
,
and
see
if
it
war
n't
so
.
Now
,
there
's
the
end
.
That
's
all
about
it
.
”
I
glanced
at
my
companion
;
and
finding
that
he
had
already
risen
and
was
ready
to
depart
,
thanked
them
for
what
they
had
told
me
,
and
took
my
leave
.
The
woman
looked
full
at
Mr.
Bucket
as
he
went
out
,
and
he
looked
full
at
her
.
“
Now
,
Miss
Summerson
,
”
he
said
to
me
,
as
we
walked
quickly
away
.
“
They
've
got
her
ladyship
's
watch
among
'
em
.
That
's
a
positive
fact
.
”
“
You
saw
it
?
”
I
exclaimed
.
“
Just
as
good
as
saw
it
,
”
he
returned
.
“
Else
why
should
he
talk
about
his
‘twenty
minutes
past
,
’
and
about
his
having
no
watch
to
tell
the
time
by
?
Twenty
minutes
!
He
do
n't
usually
cut
his
time
so
fine
as
that
.
If
he
comes
to
half
hours
,
it
's
as
much
as
he
does
.
Now
,
you
see
,
either
her
ladyship
gave
him
that
watch
,
or
he
took
it
.
I
think
she
gave
it
him
.
Now
,
what
should
she
give
it
him
for
?
What
should
she
give
it
him
for
?
”
He
repeated
this
question
to
himself
several
times
,
as
we
hurried
on
;
appearing
to
balance
between
a
variety
of
answers
that
arose
in
his
mind
.
“
If
time
could
be
spared
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
—
“
which
is
the
only
thing
that
ca
n't
be
spared
in
this
case
—
I
might
get
it
out
of
that
woman
;
but
it
's
too
doubtful
a
chance
to
trust
to
,
under
present
circumstances
.
They
are
up
to
keeping
a
close
eye
upon
her
,
and
any
fool
knows
that
a
poor
creetur
like
her
,
beaten
and
kicked
and
scarred
and
bruised
from
head
to
foot
,
will
stand
by
the
husband
that
ill
uses
her
,
through
thick
and
thin
.
There
's
something
kept
back
.
It
's
a
pity
but
what
we
had
seen
the
other
woman
.
”
I
regretted
it
exceedingly
;
for
she
was
very
grateful
,
and
I
felt
sure
would
have
resisted
no
entreaty
of
mine
.
“
It
's
possible
,
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
pondering
on
it
,
“
that
her
ladyship
sent
her
up
to
London
with
some
word
for
you
,
and
it
's
possible
that
her
husband
got
the
watch
to
let
her
go
.
It
do
n't
come
out
altogether
so
plain
as
to
please
me
,
but
it
's
on
the
cards
.
Now
I
do
n't
take
kindly
to
laying
out
the
money
of
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
on
these
Roughs
,
and
I
do
n't
see
my
way
to
the
usefulness
of
it
at
present
.
No
!
So
far
,
our
road
,
Miss
Summerson
,
is
for'ard
—
straight
ahead
—
and
keeping
everything
quiet
!
”
We
called
at
home
once
more
,
that
I
might
send
a
hasty
note
to
my
guardian
,
and
then
we
hurried
back
to
where
we
had
left
the
carriage
.
The
horses
were
brought
out
as
soon
as
we
were
seen
coming
,
and
we
were
on
the
road
again
in
a
few
minutes
.
It
had
set
in
snowing
at
daybreak
,
and
it
now
snowed
hard
.
The
air
was
so
thick
with
the
darkness
of
the
day
and
the
density
of
the
fall
,
that
we
could
see
but
a
very
little
way
in
any
direction
.
Although
it
was
extremely
cold
,
the
snow
was
but
partially
frozen
,
and
it
churned
—
with
a
sound
as
if
it
were
a
beach
of
small
shells
—
under
the
hoofs
of
the
horses
,
into
mire
and
water
.
They
sometimes
slipped
and
floundered
for
a
mile
together
,
and
we
were
obliged
to
come
to
a
standstill
to
rest
them
.
One
horse
fell
three
times
in
this
first
stage
,
and
trembled
so
,
and
was
so
shaken
,
that
the
driver
had
to
dismount
from
his
saddle
and
lead
him
at
last
.
I
could
eat
nothing
,
and
could
not
sleep
;
and
I
grew
so
nervous
under
these
delays
,
and
the
slow
pace
at
which
we
travelled
,
that
I
had
an
unreasonable
desire
upon
me
to
get
out
and
walk
.
Yielding
to
my
companion
's
better
sense
,
however
,
I
remained
where
I
was
.
All
this
time
,
kept
fresh
by
a
certain
enjoyment
of
the
work
in
which
he
was
engaged
,
he
was
up
and
down
at
every
house
we
came
to
;
addressing
people
whom
he
had
never
beheld
before
,
as
old
acquaintances
;
running
in
to
warm
himself
at
every
fire
he
saw
;
talking
and
drinking
and
shaking
hands
,
at
every
bar
and
tap
;
friendly
with
every
waggoner
,
wheelwright
,
blacksmith
,
and
toll-taker
;
yet
never
seeming
to
lose
time
,
and
always
mounting
to
the
box
again
with
his
watchful
,
steady
face
,
and
his
business-like
“
Get
on
,
my
lad
!
”
When
we
were
changing
horses
the
next
time
,
he
came
from
the
stable
yard
,
with
the
wet
snow
encrusted
upon
him
,
and
dropping
off
him
—
plashing
and
crashing
through
it
to
his
wet
knees
,
as
he
had
been
doing
frequently
since
we
left
Saint
Albans
—
and
spoke
to
me
at
the
carriage
side
.
“
Keep
up
your
spirits
.
It
's
certainly
true
that
she
came
on
here
,
Miss
Summerson
.
There
's
not
a
doubt
of
the
dress
by
this
time
,
and
the
dress
has
been
seen
here
.
”
“
Still
on
foot
?
”
said
I
.
“
Still
on
foot
.
I
think
the
gentleman
you
mentioned
must
be
the
point
she
's
aiming
at
;
and
yet
I
do
n't
like
his
living
down
in
her
own
part
of
the
country
,
neither
.
”
“
I
know
so
little
,
”
said
I
.
“
There
may
be
some
one
else
nearer
here
,
of
whom
I
never
heard
.
”
“
That
's
true
.
But
whatever
you
do
,
do
n't
you
fall
a
crying
,
my
dear
;
and
do
n't
you
worry
yourself
no
more
than
you
can
help
.
Get
on
my
lad
!
”
The
sleet
fell
all
that
day
unceasingly
,
a
thick
mist
came
on
early
,
and
it
never
rose
or
lightened
for
a
moment
.
Such
roads
I
had
never
seen
.
I
sometimes
feared
we
had
missed
the
way
,
and
got
into
the
ploughed
grounds
,
or
the
marshes
.
If
I
ever
thought
of
the
time
I
had
been
out
,
it
presented
itself
as
an
indefinite
period
of
great
duration
;
and
I
seemed
,
in
a
strange
way
,
never
to
have
been
free
from
the
anxiety
under
which
I
then
labored
.
As
we
advanced
,
I
began
to
feel
misgivings
that
my
companion
lost
confidence
.
He
was
the
same
as
before
with
all
the
roadside
people
,
but
he
looked
graver
when
he
sat
by
himself
on
the
box
.
I
saw
his
finger
uneasily
going
across
and
across
his
mouth
,
during
the
whole
of
one
long
weary
stage
.
I
overheard
that
he
began
to
ask
the
drivers
of
coaches
and
other
vehicles
coming
towards
us
,
what
passengers
they
had
seen
in
other
coaches
and
vehicles
that
were
in
advance
.
Their
replies
did
not
encourage
him
.
He
always
gave
me
a
re-assuring
beck
of
his
finger
,
and
lift
of
his
eyelid
as
he
got
upon
the
box
again
;
but
he
seemed
perplexed
now
,
when
he
said
,
“
Get
on
my
lad
!
”
At
last
,
when
we
were
changing
,
he
told
me
that
he
had
lost
the
track
of
the
dress
so
long
that
he
began
to
be
surprised
.
It
was
nothing
,
he
said
,
to
lose
such
a
track
for
one
while
,
and
to
take
it
up
for
another
while
,
and
so
on
;
but
it
had
disappeared
here
in
an
unaccountable
manner
,
and
we
had
not
come
upon
it
since
.
This
corroborated
the
apprehensions
I
had
formed
,
when
he
began
to
look
at
direction-posts
,
and
to
leave
the
carriage
at
cross
roads
for
a
quarter
of
an
hour
at
a
time
,
while
he
explored
them
.
But
,
I
was
not
to
be
down-hearted
,
he
told
me
,
for
it
was
as
likely
as
not
that
the
next
stage
might
set
us
right
again
.
The
next
stage
,
however
,
ended
as
that
one
ended
;
we
had
no
new
clue
.
There
was
a
spacious
inn
here
,
solitary
,
but
a
comfortable
substantial
building
,
and
as
we
drove
in
under
a
large
gateway
,
before
I
knew
it
,
where
a
landlady
and
her
pretty
daughters
came
to
the
carriage
door
,
entreating
me
to
alight
and
refresh
myself
while
the
horses
were
making
ready
,
I
thought
it
would
be
uncharitable
to
refuse
.
They
took
me
up
stairs
to
a
warm
room
,
and
left
me
there
.
It
was
at
the
corner
of
the
house
,
I
remember
,
looking
two
ways
.
On
one
side
,
to
a
stable-yard
open
to
a
bye-road
,
where
the
ostlers
were
unharnessing
the
splashed
and
tired
horses
from
the
muddy
carriage
