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embrace； and Dolly； with a shriek that pierced the air； fell into the
arms of her father and mother。
What fainting there was； what laughing； what crying； what
sobbing； what smiling； how much questioning； no answering； all
talking together； all beside themselves with joy； what kissing；
congratulating； embracing； shaking of hands； and falling into all
these raptures； over and over and over again； no language can
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describe。
At length； and after a long time； the old locksmith went up and
fairly hugged two strangers； who had stood apart and left them to
themselves； and then they saw—whom？ Yes； Edward Chester and
Joseph Willet。
‘See here！’ cried the locksmith。 ‘See here！ where would any of
us have been without these two？ Oh； Mr Edward； Mr Edward—oh；
Joe； Joe； how light； and yet how full； you have made my old heart
to…night！’
‘It was Mr Edward that knocked him down； sir；’ said Joe： ‘I
longed to do it； but I gave it up to him。 Come； you brave and
honest gentleman！ Get your senses together； for you haven’t long
to lie here。’
He had his foot upon the breast of their sham deliverer； in the
absence of a spare arm； and gave him a gentle roll as he spoke。
Gashford； for it was no other； crouching yet malignant； raised his
scowling face； like sin subdued； and pleaded to be gently used。
‘I have access to all my lord’s papers； Mr Haredale；’ he said； in a
submissive voice： Mr Haredale keeping his back towards him； and
not once looking round： ‘there are very important documents
among them。 There are a great many in secret drawers； and
distributed in various places； known only to my lord and me。 I can
give some very valuable information； and render important
assistance to any inquiry。 You will have to answer it； if I receive ill
usage。
‘Pah！’ cried Joe； in deep disgust。 ‘Get up； man； you’re waited
for； outside。 Get up； do you hear？’
Gashford slowly rose； and picking up his hat； and looking with a
baffled malevolence； yet with an air of despicable humility； all
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round the room； crawled out。
‘And now； gentlemen；’ said Joe； who seemed to be the
spokesman of the party； for all the rest were silent； ‘the sooner we
get back to the Black Lion； the better； perhaps。’
Mr Haredale nodded assent； and drawing his niece’s arm
through his； and taking one of her hands between his own； passed
out straightway； followed by the locksmith； Mrs Varden； and
Dolly—who would scarcely have presented a sufficient surface for
all the hugs and caresses they bestowed upon her though she had
been a dozen Dollys。 Edward Chester and Joe followed。
And did Dolly never once look behind—not once？ Was there
not one little fleeting glimpse of the dark eyelash； almost resting
on her flushed cheek； and of the downcast sparkling eye it
shaded？ Joe thought there was—and he is not likely to have been
mistaken； for there were not many eyes like Dolly’s； that’s the
truth。
The outer room through which they had to pass； was full of
men； among them； Mr Dennis in safe keeping； and there； had been
since yesterday； lying in hiding behind a wooden screen which
was now thrown down； Simon Tappertit； the recreant ’prentice；
burnt and bruised； and with a gun…shot wound in his body； and his
legs—his perfect legs； the pride and glory of his life； the comfort of
his existence—crushed into shapeless ugliness。 Wondering no
longer at the moans they had heard； Dolly kept closer to her
father； and shuddered at the sight； but neither bruises； burns； nor
gun…shot wound； nor all the torture of his shattered limbs； sent
half so keen a pang to Simon’s breast； as Dolly passing out； with
Joe for her preserver。
A coach was ready at the door； and Dolly found herself safe and
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whole inside； between her father and mother； with Emma
Haredale and her uncle； quite real； sitting opposite。 But there was
no Joe； no Edward； and they had said nothing。 They had only
bowed once； and kept at a distance。 Dear heart！ what a long way it
was to the Black Lion！
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Chapter 72
he Black Lion was so far off； and occupied such a length of
time in the getting at； that notwithstanding the strong
T
presumptive evidence she had about her of the late events
being real and of actual occurrence； Dolly could not divest herself
of the belief that she must be in a dream which was lasting all
night。 Nor was she quite certain that she saw and heard with her
own proper senses； even when the coach； in the fulness of time；
stopped at the Black Lion； and the host of that tavern approached
in a gush of cheerful light to help them to dismount； and give them
hearty welcome。
There too； at the coach door； one on one side； one upon the
other； were already Edward Chester and Joe Willet； who must
have followed in another coach： and this was such a strange and
unaccountable proceeding； that Dolly was the more inclined to
favour the idea of her being fast asleep。 But when Mr Willet
appeared—old John himself—so heavy…headed and obstinate； and
with such a double chin as the liveliest imagination could never in
its boldest flights have conjured up in all its vast proportions—
then she stood corrected； and unwillingly admitted to herself that
she was broad awake。
And Joe had lost an arm—he—that well…made； handsome；
gallant fellow！ As Dolly glanced towards him； and thought of the
pain he must have suffered； and the far…off places in which he had
been wandering； and wondered who had been his nurse； and
hoped that whoever it was； she had been as kind and gentle and
considerate as she would have been； the tears came rising to her
bright eyes； one by one； little by little； until she could keep them
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back no longer； and so before them all； wept bitterly。
‘We are all safe now； Dolly；’ said her father； kindly。 ‘We shall
not be separated any more。 Cheer up； my love； cheer up！’
The locksmith’s wife knew better perhaps； than he； what ailed
her daughter。 But Mrs Varden being quite an altered woman—for
the riots had done that good—added her word to his； and
comforted her with similar representations。
‘Mayhap；’ said Mr Willet； senior； looking round upon the
company； ‘she’s hungry。 That’s what it is； depend upon it—I am；
myself。’
The Black Lion； who； like old John； had been waiting supper
past all reasonable and conscionable hours； hailed this as a
philosophical discovery of the profoundest and most penetrating
kind； and the table being already spread； they sat down to supper
straightway。
The conversation was not of the liveliest nature； nor were the
appetites of some among them very keen。 But； in both these
respects； old John more than atoned for any deficiency on the part
of the rest； and very much distinguished himself。