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plainly showed that if ever a man were—not to say over head and
ears； but over the Monument and the top of Saint Paul’s in love；
that man was himself。 The road was a very good one； not at all a
jolting road； or an uneven one； and yet Dolly held the side of the
chaise with one little hand； all the way。 If there had been an
executioner behind him with an uplifted axe ready to chop off his
head if he touched that hand； Joe couldn’t have helped doing it。
From putting his own hand upon it as if by chance； and taking it
away again after a minute or so； he got to riding along without
taking it off at all； as if he； the escort； were bound to do that as an
important part of his duty； and had come out for the purpose。 The
most curious circumstance about this little incident was； that Dolly
didn’t seem to know of it。 She looked so innocent and unconscious
when she turned her eyes on Joe； that it was quite provoking。
She talked though； talked about her fright； and about Joe’s
coming up to rescue her； and about her gratitude； and about her
fear that she might not have thanked him enough； and about their
always being friends from that time forth—and about all that sort
of thing。 And when Joe said； not friends he hoped； Dolly was quite
surprised； and said not enemies she hoped； and when Joe said；
couldn’t they be something much better than either； Dolly all of a
sudden found out a star which was brighter than all the other
stars； and begged to call his attention to the same； and was ten
thousand times more innocent and unconscious than ever。
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In this manner they travelled along； talking very little above a
whisper； and wishing the road could be stretched out to some
dozen times its natural length—at least that was Joe’s desire—
when； as they were getting clear of the forest and emerging on the
more frequented road； they heard behind them the sound of a
horse’s feet at a round trot； which growing rapidly louder as it
drew nearer； elicited a scream from Mrs Varden； and the cry ‘a
friend！’ from the rider； who now came panting up； and checked his
horse beside them。
‘This man again！’ cried Dolly； shuddering。
‘Hugh！’ said Joe。 ‘What errand are you upon？’
‘I come to ride back with you；’ he answered； glancing covertly at
the locksmith’s daughter。 ‘He sent me。
‘My father！’ said poor Joe； adding under his breath； with a very
unfilial apostrophe； ‘Will he never think me man enough to take
care of myself！’
‘Aye！’ returned Hugh to the first part of the inquiry。 ‘The roads
are not safe just now； he says； and you’d better have a companion。’
‘Ride on then；’ said Joe。 ‘I’m not going to turn yet。’
Hugh complied； and they went on again。 It was his whim or
humour to ride immediately before the chaise； and from this
position he constantly turned his head； and looked back。 Dolly felt
that he looked at her； but she averted her eyes and feared to raise
them once； so great was the dread with which he had inspired her。
This interruption； and the consequent wakefulness of Mrs
Varden； who had been nodding in her sleep up to this point；
except for a minute or two at a time； when she roused herself to
scold the locksmith for audaciously taking hold of her to prevent
her nodding herself out of the chaise； put a restraint upon the
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Barnaby Rudge 244
whispered conversation； and made it difficult of resumption。
Indeed； before they had gone another mile； Gabriel stopped at his
wife’s desire； and that good lady protested she would not hear of
Joe’s going a step further on any account whatever。 It was in vain
for Joe to protest on the other hand that he was by no means tired；
and would turn back presently； and would see them safely past
such a point； and so forth。 Mrs Varden was obdurate； and being so
was not to be overcome by mortal agency。
‘Good night—if I must say it；’ said Joe； sorrowfully。
‘Good night；’ said Dolly。 She would have added； ‘Take care of
that man； and pray don’t trust him；’ but he had turned his horse’s
head； and was standing close to them。 She had therefore nothing
for it but to suffer Joe to give her hand a gentle squeeze； and when
the chaise had gone on for some distance； to look back and wave it；
as he still lingered on the spot where they had parted； with the tall
dark figure of Hugh beside him。
What she thought about； going home； and whether the coach…
maker held as favourable a place in her meditations as he had
occupied in the morning； is unknown。 They reached home at
last—at last； for it was a long way； made none the shorter by Mrs
Varden’s grumbling。 Miggs hearing the sound of wheels was at the
door immediately。
‘Here they are； Simmun！ Here they are！’ cried Miggs； clapping
her hands； and issuing forth to help her mistress to alight。 ‘Bring a
chair； Simmun。 Now； an’t you the better for it； mim？ Don’t you
feel more yourself than you would have done if you’d have stopped
at home？ Oh； gracious！ how cold you are！ Goodness me； sir； she’s a
perfect heap of ice。’
‘I can’t help it； my good girl。 You had better take her in to the
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fire；’ said the locksmith。
‘Master sounds unfeeling； mim；’ said Miggs； in a tone of
commiseration； ‘but such is not his intentions； I’m sure。 After what
he has seen of you this day； I never will believe but that he has a
deal more affection in his heart than to speak unkind。 Come in and
sit yourself down by the fire； there’s a good dear—do。’
Mrs Varden complied。 The locksmith followed with his hands in
his pockets； and Mr Tappertit trundled off with the chaise to a
neighbouring stable。
‘Martha； my dear；’ said the locksmith； when they reached the
parlour； ‘if you’ll look to Dolly yourself or let somebody else do it；
perhaps it will be only kind and reasonable。 She has been
frightened； you know； and is not at all well to…night。’
In fact； Dolly had thrown herself upon the sofa； quite regardless
of all the little finery of which she had been so proud in the
morning； and with her face buried in her hands was crying very
much。
At first sight of this phenomenon （for Dolly was by no means
accustomed to displays of this sort； rather learning from her
mother’s example to avoid them as much as possible） Mrs Varden
expressed her belief that never was any woman so beset as she；
that her life was a continued scene of trial； that whenever she was
disposed to be well and cheerful； so sure were the people around
her to throw； by some means or other； a damp upon her spirits；
and that； as she had enjoyed herself that day； and Heaven knew it
was very seldom she did enjoy herself so she was now to pay the
penalty。 To all such propositions Miggs assented freely。 Poor
Dolly； however； grew none the better for these restoratives； but
rather worse； indeed； and seeing that she was really ill； both Mrs
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Varden and Miggs were moved to compassion； and tended her in
earnest。
But even then； their very kindness shaped itself into their usual
course of policy； and though Dolly was in a swoon； it was rendered
clear to the meanest capacity； that Mrs Varden was the sufferer。
Thus when Dolly began to get a little better； and passed into that
stage in w