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Barnaby Rudge 509
‘Mother；’ said Barnaby； as they were sitting next day in a
waggon which was to take them within ten miles of the capital；
‘we’re going to London first； you said。 Shall we see that blind man
there？’
She was about to answer ‘Heaven forbid！’ but checked herself；
and told him No； she thought not； why did he ask？
‘He’s a wise man；’ said Barnaby； with a thoughtful
countenance。 ‘I wish that we may meet with him again。 What was
it that he said of crowds？ That gold was to be found where people
crowded； and not among the trees and in such quiet places？ He
spoke as if he loved it； London is a crowded place； I think we shall
meet him there。’
‘But why do you desire to see him； love？’ she asked。
‘Because；’ said Barnaby； looking wistfully at her； ‘he talked to
me about gold； which is a rare thing； and say what you will； a thing
you would like to have； I know。 And because he came and went
away so strangely—just as white…headed old men come sometimes
to my bed’s foot in the night； and say what I can’t remember when
the bright day returns。 He told me he’d come back。 I wonder why
he broke his word！’
‘But you never thought of being rich or gay； before； dear
Barnaby。 You have always been contented。’
He laughed and bade her say that again； then cried； ‘Ay ay—oh
yes；’ and laughed once more。 Then something passed that caught
his fancy； and the topic wandered from his mind； and was
succeeded by another just as fleeting。
But it was plain from what he had said； and from his returning
to the point more than once that day； and on the next； that the
blind man’s visit； and indeed his words； had taken strong
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Barnaby Rudge 510
possession of his mind。 Whether the idea of wealth had occurred
to him for the first time on looking at the golden clouds that
evening—and images were often presented to his thoughts by
outward objects quite as remote and distant； or whether their poor
and humble way of life had suggested it； by contrast； long ago； or
whether the accident （as he would deem it） of the blind man’s
pursuing the current of his own remarks； had done so at the
moment； or he had been impressed by the mere circumstance of
the man being blind； and； therefore； unlike any one with whom he
had talked before； it was impossible to tell。 She tried every means
to discover； but in vain； and the probability is that Barnaby
himself was equally in the dark。
It filled her with uneasiness to find him harping on this string；
but all that she could do； was to lead him quickly to some other
subject； and to dismiss it from his brain。 To caution him against
their visitor； to show any fear or suspicion in reference to him；
would only be； she feared； to increase that interest with which
Barnaby regarded him； and to strengthen his desire to meet him
once again。 She hoped； by plunging into the crowd； to rid herself
of her terrible pursuer； and then； by journeying to a distance and
observing increased caution； if that were possible； to live again
unknown； in secrecy and peace。
They reached； in course of time； their halting…place within ten
miles of London； and lay there for the night； after bargaining to be
carried on for a trifle next day； in a light van which was returning
empty； and was to start at five o’clock in the morning。 The driver
was punctual； the road good—save for the dust； the weather being
very hot and dry—and at seven in the forenoon of Friday the
second of June； one thousand seven hundred and eighty； they
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alighted at the foot of Westminster Bridge； bade their conductor
farewell； and stood alone； together； on the scorching pavement。
For the freshness which night sheds upon such busy
thoroughfares had already departed； and the sun was shining with
uncommon lustre。
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Chapter 48
ncertain where to go next； and bewildered by the crowd
Uof people who were already astir； they sat down in one of
the recesses on the bridge； to rest。 They soon became
aware that the stream of life was all pouring one way； and that a
vast throng of persons were crossing the river from the Middlesex
to the Surrey shore； in unusual haste and evident excitement。
They were； for the most part； in knots of two or three； or
sometimes half…a…dozen； they spoke little together—many of them
were quite silent； and hurried on as if they had one absorbing
object in view； which was common to them all。
They were surprised to see that nearly every man in this great
concourse； which still came pouring past； without slackening in
the least； wore in his hat a blue cockade； and that the chance
passengers who were not so decorated； appeared timidly anxious
to escape observation or attack； and gave them the wall as if they
would conciliate them。 This； however； was natural enough；
considering their inferiority in point of numbers； for the
proportion of those who wore blue cockades； to those who were
dressed as usual； was at least forty or fifty to one。 There was no
quarrelling； however： the blue cockades went swarming on；
passing each other when they could； and making all the speed that
was possible in such a multitude； and exchanged nothing more
than looks； and very often not even those； with such of the passers…
by as were not of their number。
At first； the current of people had been confined to the two
pathways； and but a few more eager stragglers kept the road。 But
after half an hour or so； the passage was completely blocked up by
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the great press； which； being now closely wedged together； and
impeded by the carts and coaches it encountered； moved but
slowly； and was sometimes at a stand for five or ten minutes
together。
After the lapse of nearly two hours； the numbers began to
diminish visibly； and gradually dwindling away； by little and little；
left the bridge quite clear； save that； now and then； some hot and
dusty man； with the cockade in his hat； and his coat thrown over
his shoulder； went panting by； fearful of being too late； or stopped
to ask which way his friends had taken； and being directed；
hastened on again like one refreshed。 In this comparative solitude；
which seemed quite strange and novel after the late crowd； the
widow had for the first time an opportunity of inquiring of an old
man who came and sat beside them； what was the meaning of that
great assemblage。
‘Why； where have you come from；’ he returned； ‘that you
haven’t heard of Lord George Gordon’s great association？ This is
the day that he presents the petition against the Catholics； God
bless him！’
‘What have all these men to do with that？’ she said。
‘What have they to do with it！’ the old man replied。 ‘Why； how
you talk！ Don’t you know his lordship has declared he won’t
present it to the house at all； unless it is attended to the door by
forty thousand good and true men at least？ There’s a