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Barnaby Rudge 518
expectation of their return had alarmed the tradesmen for their
goods and windows）； and where； in the upper stories； all the
inhabitants were congregated； looking down into the street below；
with faces variously expressive of alarm； of interest； expectancy；
and indignation。 Some of these applauded； and some hissed； but
regardless of these interruptions—for the noise of a vast
congregation of people at a little distance； sounded in his ears like
the roaring of the sea—Lord George Gordon quickened his pace；
and presently arrived before St George’s Fields。
They were really fields at that time； and of considerable extent。
Here an immense multitude was collected； bearing flags of various
kinds and sizes； but all of the same colour—blue； like the
cockades—some sections marching to and fro in military array；
and others drawn up in circles； squares； and lines。 A large portion；
both of the bodies which paraded the ground； and of those which
remained stationary； were occupied in singing hymns or psalms。
With whomsoever this originated； it was well done； for the sound
of so many thousand voices in the air must have stirred the heart
of any man within him； and could not fail to have a wonderful
effect upon enthusiasts； however mistaken。
Scouts had been posted in advance of the great body； to give
notice of their leader’s coming。 These falling back； the word was
quickly passed through the whole host； and for a short interval
there ensued a profound and deathlike silence； during which the
mass was so still and quiet； that the fluttering of a banner caught
the eye； and became a circumstance of note。 Then they burst into
a tremendous shout； into another； and another； and the air
seemed rent and shaken； as if by the discharge of cannon。
‘Gashford！’ cried Lord George； pressing his secretary’s arm
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 519
tight within his own； and speaking with as much emotion in his
voice； as in his altered face； ‘I am called indeed； now。 I feel and
know it。 I am the leader of a host。 If they summoned me at this
moment with one voice to lead them on to death； I’d do it—Yes；
and fall first myself！’
‘It is a proud sight；’ said the secretary。 ‘It is a noble day for
England； and for the great cause throughout the world。 Such
homage； my lord； as I； an humble but devoted man； can render—’
‘What are you doing？’ cried his master； catching him by both
hands； for he had made a show of kneeling at his feet。 ‘Do not unfit
me； dear Gashford； for the solemn duty of this glorious day—’ the
tears stood in the eyes of the poor gentleman as he said the
words。—‘Let us go among them； we have to find a place in some
division for this new recruit—give me your hand。’
Gashford slid his cold insidious palm into his master’s grasp；
and so； hand in hand； and followed still by Barnaby and by his
mother too； they mingled with the concourse。
They had by this time taken to their singing again； and as their
leader passed between their ranks； they raised their voices to their
utmost。 Many of those who were banded together to support the
religion of their country； even unto death； had never heard a hymn
or psalm in all their lives。 But these fellows having for the most
part strong lungs； and being naturally fond of singing； chanted any
ribaldry or nonsense that occurred to them； feeling pretty certain
that it would not be detected in the general chorus； and not caring
much if it were。 Many of these voluntaries were sung under the
very nose of Lord George Gordon； who； quite unconscious of their
burden； passed on with his usual stiff and solemn deportment；
very much edified and delighted by the pious conduct of his
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Barnaby Rudge 520
followers。
So they went on and on； up this line； down that； round the
exterior of this circle； and on every side of that hollow square； and
still there were lines； and squares； and circles out of number to
review。 The day being now intensely hot； and the sun striking
down his fiercest rays upon the field； those who carried heavy
banners began to grow faint and weary； most of the number
assembled were fain to pull off their neckcloths； and throw their
coats and waistcoats open； and some； towards the centre； quite
overpowered by the excessive heat； which was of course rendered
more unendurable by the multitude around them； lay down upon
the grass； and offered all they had about them for a drink of water。
Still； no man left the ground； not even of those who were so
distressed； still Lord George； streaming from every pore； went on
with Gashford； and still Barnaby and his mother followed close
behind them。
They had arrived at the top of a long line of some eight hundred
men in single file； and Lord George had turned his head to look
back； when a loud cry of recognition—in that peculiar and half…
stifled tone which a voice has； when it is raised in the open air and
in the midst of a great concourse of persons—was heard； and a
man stepped with a shout of laughter from the rank； and smote
Barnaby on the shoulders with his heavy hand。
‘How now！’ he cried。 ‘Barnaby Rudge！ Why； where have you
been hiding for these hundred years？’
Barnaby had been thinking within himself that the smell of the
trodden grass brought back his old days at cricket； when he was a
young boy and played on Chigwell Green。 Confused by this
sudden and boisterous address； he stared in a bewildered manner
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Barnaby Rudge 521
at the man； and could scarcely say ‘What！ Hugh！’
‘Hugh！’ echoed the other； ‘ay； Hugh—Maypole Hugh！ You
remember my dog？ He’s alive now； and will know you； I warrant。
What； you wear the colour； do you？ Well done！ Ha ha ha！’
‘You know this young man； I see；’ said Lord George。
‘Know him； my lord！ as well as I know my own right hand。 My
captain knows him。 We all know him。’
‘Will you take him into your division？’
‘It hasn’t in it a better； nor a nimbler； nor a more active man；
than Barnaby Rudge；’ said Hugh。 ‘Show me the man who says it
has！ Fall in； Barnaby。 He shall march； my lord； between me and
Dennis； and he shall carry；’ he added； taking a flag from the hand
of a tired man who tendered it； ‘the gayest silken streamer in this
valiant army。’
‘In the name of God； no！’ shrieked the widow； darting forward。
‘Barnaby—my lord—see—he’ll come back—Barnaby—Barnaby！’
‘Women in the field！’ cried Hugh； stepping between them； and
holding her off。 ‘Holloa！ My captain there！’
‘What’s the matter here？’ cried Simon Tappertit； bustling up in
a great heat。 ‘Do you call this order？’
‘Nothing like it； captain；’ answered Hugh； still holding her back
with his outstretched hand。 ‘It’s against all orders。 Ladies are
carrying off our gallant soldiers from their duty。 The word of
command； captain！ They’re filing off the ground。 Quick！’
‘Close！’ cried Simon； with the whole power of his lungs。 ‘Form！
March！’
She was thrown to the ground； the whole field was in motion；
Barnaby was whirled away into the heart of a dense mass of men；
and she saw him no more。
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