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alderman…like form； and his bright eye growing smaller and
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smaller； really seemed to be subsiding into a state of repose。 Now
and then he muttered in a sepulchral voice； ‘Polly put the ket—’
but very drowsily； and more like a drunken man than a reflecting
raven。
The widow； scarcely venturing to breathe； rose from her seat。
The man glided from the closet； and extinguished the candle。
‘—tle on；’ cried Grip； suddenly struck with an idea and very
much excited。 ‘—tle on。 Hurrah！ Polly put the ket…tle on； we’ll all
have tea； Polly put the ket…tle on； we’ll all have tea。 Hurrah；
hurrah； hurrah！ I’m a devil； I’m a devil； I’m a ket…tle on； Keep up
your spirits； Never say die； Bow； wow； wow； I’m a devil； I’m a ket…
tle； I’m a—Polly put the ket…tle on； we’ll all have tea。’
They stood rooted to the ground； as though it had been a voice
from the grave。
But even this failed to awaken the sleeper。 He turned over
towards the fire； his arm fell to the ground； and his head drooped
heavily upon it。 The widow and her unwelcome visitor gazed at
him and at each other for a moment； and then she motioned him
towards the door。
‘Stay；’ he whispered。 ‘You teach your son well。’
‘I have taught him nothing that you heard to…night。 Depart
instantly； or I will rouse him。’
‘You are free to do so。 Shall I rouse him？’
‘You dare not do that。’
‘I dare do anything； I have told you。 He knows me well； it
seems。 At least I will know him。’
‘Would you kill him in his sleep？’ cried the widow； throwing
herself between them。
‘Woman；’ he returned between his teeth； as he motioned her
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aside； ‘I would see him nearer； and I will。 If you want one of us to
kill the other； wake him。’
With that he advanced； and bending down over the prostrate
form； softly turned back the head and looked into the face。 The
light of the fire was upon it； and its every lineament was revealed
distinctly。 He contemplated it for a brief space； and hastily uprose。
‘Observe；’ he whispered in the widow’s ear： ‘In him； of whose
existence I was ignorant until to…night； I have you in my power。 Be
careful how you use me。 Be careful how you use me。 I am destitute
and starving； and a wanderer upon the earth。 I may take a sure
and slow revenge。’
‘There is some dreadful meaning in your words。 I do not fathom
it。’
‘There is a meaning in them； and I see you fathom it to its very
depth。 You have anticipated it for years； you have told me as
much。 I leave you to digest it。 Do not forget my warning。’
He pointed； as he left her； to the slumbering form； and stealthily
withdrawing； made his way into the street。 She fell on her knees
beside the sleeper； and remained like one stricken into stone； until
the tears which fear had frozen so long； came tenderly to her
relief。
‘Oh Thou；’ she cried； ‘who hast taught me such deep love for
this one remnant of the promise of a happy life； out of whose
affliction； even； perhaps the comfort springs that he is ever a
relying； loving child to me—never growing old or cold at heart； but
needing my care and duty in his manly strength as in his cradle…
time—help him； in his darkened walk through this sad world； or
he is doomed； and my poor heart is broken！’
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Chapter 18
liding along the silent streets； and holding his course
where they were darkest and most gloomy； the man who
G
had left the widow’s house crossed London Bridge； and
arriving in the City； plunged into the backways； lanes； and courts；
between Cornhill and Smithfield； with no more fixedness of
purpose than to lose himself among their windings； and baffle
pursuit； if any one were dogging his steps。
It was the dead time of the night； and all was quiet。 Now and
then a drowsy watchman’s footsteps sounded on the pavement； or
the lamplighter on his rounds went flashing past； leaving behind a
little track of smoke mingled with glowing morsels of his hot red
link。 He hid himself even from these partakers of his lonely walk；
and； shrinking in some arch or doorway while they passed； issued
forth again when they were gone and so pursued his solitary way。
To be shelterless and alone in the open country； hearing the
wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary
night； to listen to the falling rain； and crouch for warmth beneath
the lee of some old barn or rick； or in the hollow of a tree； are
dismal things—but not so dismal as the wandering up and down
where shelter is； and beds and sleepers are by thousands； a
houseless rejected creature。 To pace the echoing stones from hour
to hour； counting the dull chimes of the clocks； to watch the lights
twinkling in chamber windows； to think what happy forgetfulness
each house shuts in； that here are children coiled together in their
beds； here youth； here age； here poverty； here wealth； all equal in
their sleep； and all at rest； to have nothing in common with the
slumbering world around； not even sleep； Heaven’s gift to all its
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creatures； and be akin to nothing but despair； to feel； by the
wretched contrast with everything on every hand； more utterly
alone and cast away than in a trackless desert； this is a kind of
suffering； on which the rivers of great cities close full many a time；
and which the solitude in crowds alone awakens。
The miserable man paced up and down the streets—so long； so
wearisome； so like each other—and often cast a wistful look
towards the east； hoping to see the first faint streaks of day。 But
obdurate night had yet possession of the sky； and his disturbed
and restless walk found no relief。
One house in a back street was bright with the cheerful glare of
lights； there was the sound of music in it too； and the tread of
dancers； and there were cheerful voices； and many a burst of
laughter。 To this place—to be near something that was awake and
glad—he returned again and again； and more than one of those
who left it when the merriment was at its height； felt it a check
upon their mirthful mood to see him flitting to and fro like an
uneasy ghost。 At last the guests departed； one and all； and then
the house was close shut up； and became as dull and silent as the
rest。
His wanderings brought him at one time to the city jail。 Instead
of hastening from it as a place of ill omen； and one he had cause to
shun； he sat down on some steps hard by； and resting his chin
upon his hand； gazed upon its rough and frowning walls as though
even they became a refuge in his jaded eyes。 He paced it round
and round； came back to the same spot； and sat down again。 He
did this often； and once； with a hasty movement； crossed to where
some men were watching in the prison lodge； and had his foot
upon the steps as though determined to accost them。 But looking
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