Strictly Dickens: Chapters LXX and LXXI

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SPEAKER_00 0:39

I've brought Barnaby Rudge to the Abbey Close here in Sherbourne and it's windy but I'm wrapped up and I've got my old book on my lap and I've got a coffee that I've just picked up from a cafe called The Hub, which is a cafe that serves the boys' school, and the staff there used to be so lovely and now they're really grumpy and I think sometimes when you have one grumpy member of staff they all catch it from each other and I know they've had people leaving and oh it's such a shame. It used to be my favourite place to go. But anyway, I'm sitting in the sunshine and that's coming and going 'cause it's a bit nippy and this is a strictly Barnaby episode and I know I'm sort of out of sync because it's Tuesday tomorrow, but that's just a I'm just gonna have I'm just having a little catch up for you because of my trip away. So let's go with chapter seventy LX Mr Dennis, having dispatched this piece of business without any personal hurt or inconvenience, and having now retired into the tranquil respectability of private life, resolved to solace himself with half an hour or so of female society. Oh how revolting. With this amiable purpose in his mind, he bent his steps towards the house where Dolly and Miss Hairdale were still confined, and whither Miss Miggs had also been removed by order of Mr Simon Tappet. As he walked along the streets with his leather gloves clasped behind him, and his face indicative of cheerful thought, oh and pleasant calculation, Mr Dennis might have been likened unto a farmer ruminating among his crops and enjoying by anticipation the bountiful gifts of Providence revolting Dickens. Look where he would, some heaps of ruins afforded him rich promise of a working off. The whole town appeared to have been ploughed and sown and nurtured by most genial weather, and a goodly harvest was at hand. Having taken up arms and resorted to deeds of violence with the great main object of preserving the old Bailey in all its purity and the gallows in all its pristine usefulness and moral grandeur, it would perhaps be going too far to assert that Mr Dennis had ever distinctly contemplated and foreseen this happy state of things. He rather looked upon it as one of those beautiful dispensations which are inscrutably brought about for the behoof and advantage of good men. He felt, as it were, personally referred to in this prosperous ripening for the gibbet, and had never considered himself so much the pet and favourite child of destiny, or loved that lady so well or with such a calm and virtuous reliance in all his life. As to being taken up himself for a rioter and punished with the rest, Mr Dennis dismissed that possibility from his thoughts as an idle chimera, arguing that the line of conduct he had adopted at Newgate and the service he had rendered that day would be more than a set off against any evidence which might identify him as a member of the crowd, that any charge of companionship which might be made against him by those who were themselves in danger would certainly go for naught, and that if any trivial indiscretion on his part should unluckily come out, the uncommon usefulness of his office at present, and the great demand for the exercise of its functions would certainly cause it to be winked at and passed over. In a word, he had played his cards throughout with great care, had changed sides at the very nick of time, had delivered up two of the most notorious rioters, and a distinguished felon to boot, and was quite at his ease. Saving for there is a reservation, and even Mr Dennis was not perfectly happy, saving for one circumstance, to wit the forcible detention of Dolly and Miss Haredale in a house almost adjoining his own. This was a stumbling block for if they were discovered and released, they could, by the testimony they had it in their power to give, place him in a situation of great jeopardy, and to set them at liberty, first exhort extorting from them an oath of secrecy and silence, was a thing not to be thought of. It was more perhaps with an eye to the danger which lurked in this quarter quarter than from his abstract love of conversation with the sex, that the hangman, quickening his steps, now hastened into their society, cursing the amorous natures of Hugh and Mr Tappet with great heartiness at every step he took. When he entered the miserable room in which they were confined, Dolly and Miss Haredale withdrew in silence to the remotest corner, but Miss Miggs, who was particularly tender of her reputation, immediately fell upon her knees and began to scream very loud, crying What will become of me? Where is my Simmons? Have mercy, good gentleman, on my sex's weaknesses and other doleful lamentations of that nature, which she delivered with great propriety and decorum. Miss, Miss, whispered Dennis, beckoning to her with his forefinger, come here I won't hurt you. Come here, my lamb, will you? On hearing this tender epithet, Miss Miggs, who had left off screaming when he opened his lips, and had listened to him attentively, began again crying Oh why Miss Lamb he says I'm his lamb. Oh gracious, why wasn't I born old and ugly? Why was I ever made to be the youngest of six and all of them dead and in their blessed graves excepting one married sister which is settled in Golden Lion Court number twenty seven Second Bell Hand all on the Don't say I ain't gonna hurt you, said Dennis, pointing to a chair. Why, Miss, what's the matter? I don't know what mayn't be the matter, cried Miggs, clasping her hands distractedly. Anything may be the matter. But nothing is, I tell you, said the hangman. First stop that noise and come and sit down here, will you, Chucky? The coaxing tone in which he said these latter words might have failed in its object if he had not accompanied them with a sundry, sharp jerk of his thumb over one shoulder, and with diverse winks and thrustings of his tongue into his cheek, oof, from which signals the damsel gathered that he sought to speak to her apart concerning Miss Haredale and Dolly. Her curiosity being very powerful, and her jealousy by no means inactive, she arose and with a great deal of shivering and starting back, and much muscular action among all the small bones in her throat, gradually approached him. Sit down, said the hangman. Suiting the action to the word, he thrust her rather suddenly and prematurely into a chair, and designing to reassure her by a little harmless jocularity, such as adapted to please and fascinate the sex, converted his right forefinger into an ideal braid bradol or gimlet, and made as though he would screw the same into her side, whereas Miss Miss Miggs shrieked again and evinced symptoms of faintness. Lovey, my dear, whispered Dennis, drawing his chair close to hers. When was your young man here last, eh? My young man, good gentleman, answered Miggs in a tone of exquisite distress. Ah, Simmons, you know him, said Dennis. Mine indeed, cried Miggs with a burst of bitterness, and as she said it she glanced towards Dolly. Mine, good gentleman. Now this is just what Mr Dennis wanted and expected. Ah, he said, looking soothingly, not to say amorously on Miggs as she sat, that she sat and afterwards remarked, on pins and needles of the sharpest white chapel kind, not knowing what intentions might be suggesting that expression to his features. I was afraid of that. I saw as much myself. It's her fault. She will entice em. I wouldn't, cried Miggs, folding her hands and looking upwards with a kind of devout blankness. I wouldn't lay myself out as she does. I wouldn't be so bold as her. I wouldn't seem to say to all male creatures come and kiss me. And here a shudder quite convulsed her frame, that any earthly crowns as might be offered worlds, Miggs added solemnly, should not reduce me. No, not if I were Weenus. Well, but you are Weenus, you know, said Mr Dennis, confidentially. No, I am not good gentleman, answered Miggs, shaking her head with an air of self denial, which seemed to imply that she might be if she chose, but she hoped she knew better. Nope, I am not good gentleman. Don't charge me with it. Up to this time she had turned round every now and then to where Dolly and Miss Haredale had retired, and uttered a scream or groan, or laid her hand upon her heart, and trembled excessively with a view of keeping up appearances, and giving them to understand that she conversed with the visitor under protest and on compulsion, and at a great personal sacrifice for their common good. But at this point Mr Dennis looked so very full of meaning, and gave such a singularly expressive twitch to his face as a request to her to come still nearer to him, that she abandoned these little arts and gave him her whole and undivided attention. When was Simmons here, I say? quoth Dennis in her ear. Not since yesterday morning and then only for a few minutes. Not all day the day before. You know he meant all along to carry that one, said Dennis, indicating Dolly by the slightest possible jerk of his head. And to hand you over to somebody else. Miss Miggs, who had fallen oh god, there's a really noisy tractor behind. Let me see if I can I'm just gonna listen to make sure it's recording okay. Miss Miggs recovered a little and seemed by the sudden check she put upon her tears to intimate that possibly this arrangement might meet her views, and that it might perhaps remain an open question. But unfortunately, pursued Dennis, who observed this, somebody else was fond of her too, you see, and even if he wasn't, somebody else is took for a rioter, and it's all over with him. Miss Miggs relapsed. Now, I want, said Dennis, to clear this house and see you rioted. What if I was to get her off out the way, eh? Miss Miggs, brightening again, rejoined with many breaks and pauses from excessive feeling that temptations had been Simmons' bane, that it was not his fault but hers, meaning Dolly's, that men did not see through these dreadful arts as women did, and therefore was caged and trapped as Simmon has been, that she had no personal motives to serve far from it. On the contrary, her intention was good towards all parties, but for as much as she knowed that Simon, if united, to any designing and artful minxes, she would name no names, for that was not her dispositions, to any designing and artful minxes, must be made miserable and unhappy for life she did incline towards preventions. Such, she added, was her free confessions. But as this was private feelings and might perhaps be looked upon as vengeance, she begged the gentleman would say no more, whatever he swi said, wishing her to do her duty by all mankind, even by them as had ever been her bitterst enemies, she would not listen to him. With that she stopped her ears and shook her head from side to side, to intimate to Mr Dennis that though he talked until he had no breath left, she was as deaf as any adder. Look yeah, my sugar stick, said Mr Dennis, if your view's the same as mine, and you'll only be quiet and slip away at the right time, I can have the house clear tomorrow and be out of this trouble. Stop, though, there's the other. Which other, sir? asked Miggs, still with her fingers in her ears, and her head shaking obstinately. Why the tallest one yonder, said Dennis as he stroked his chin, and added in an undertone to himself something about not crossing Muster Gashford. Miss Miggs replied, still being profoundly deaf, that if Miss Haredale stood in the way at all, he might make himself quite easy on that score as she had gathered from what had passed between Hugh and Mr Tappet when they were last here, that she was to be removed alone, not by them, but by somebody else tomorrow night. Mr Dennis opened his eyes very wide. At this piece of information, whistled once, considered once, and finally slapped his head once and nodded once, as if he had got the clue to this mysterious removal, and so dismissed it. Then he imparted his design concerning Dolly to Miss Miggs, who was taken more deaf than before when he began, and so remained all through. The notable scheme was this. Mr Dennis was immediately to seek out from among the rioters some daring young fellow, and he had one in his eye, he said, who, terrified by the threats he could hold out to him, and alarmed by the capture of so many who were no better and no worse than he, would gladly avail himself of any help to get abroad, and out of harm's way with his plunder, even though his journey were encumbered by an unwilling companion. Indeed, the unwilling companion being a beautiful girl, would probably be an additional inducement and temptation. Such a person found he proposed to bring him there on the ensuing night, when the tall one was taken off, and Miss Miggs had purposely retired, and then that Dolly should be gagged, muffled in a cloak, and carried in any handy conveyance down to the river's side, where there were an abundant means of getting her smuggled snugly off in any small craft of doubtful character, and no questions asked. With regard to the expense of this removal, he would say at a rough calculation, that two or three silver tea or coffee pots with something additional for drink, such as a muffin ear or toast rack, would more than cover it. Articles of plate of every kind having been buried by the rioters in several lonely parts of London, and particularly, as he knew, in St. James's Square, which, though easy of access, was little frequented after dark, the needful funds were close at hand, and could be had upon on the shortest notice. With regard to Dolly, the gentleman would exercise his own discretion. He would be bound to do nothing but to take her away and keep her away. All other arrangements and dispositions would rest entirely with himself. If Miss Miggs had had her hearing, no doubt she would have been greatly shocked by the indelicacy of a young female's going away with a stranger by night, for her moral feelings Oh my cup's blown away, hold on. As we have said, were of the tenderest kind, but directly Mr Dennis ceased to speak, she reminded him that he had wasted his breath. She then went on to say, still with her fingers in her ears, that nothing less than a severe practical lesson would save the locksmith's daughter from utter ruin, and that she felt it, as it were, a moral obligation and a sacred duty to the family, to wish that someone would devise one for her reformation. Miss Miggs remarked, very justly, as an abstract sentiment which happened to occur to her at the moment, that she dared to say the locksmith and his wife would murmur and repine if they were ever by forcible abduction or otherwise to lose their child, but that we seldom know in this world what was best for us, such being our sinful and imperfect natures, that very few arrived at that clear understanding. Having brought their conversation to this satisfactory end, they parted, Dennis to pursue his design and take another walk about his farm, Miss Miggs to launch, when he left her, into such a burst of mental anguish which she gave him to understand was occasioned by certain tender feelings he had had the presumption and audacity to say, that little Dolly's heart was quite melted. Indeed, she said and did so much to soothe the outraged feelings of Miss Miggs, and looked so beautiful while doing so that if the young maid had not had ample vent for her passing spite in a knowledge of the mischief that was brewing, she must have scratched her features on the spot. Chapter seventy one All next day Emma Haredale, Dolly, and Miggs remained cooped up together in what had now been their prison for so many days, without seeing any person or hearing any sound, but the murmured conversation in an outer room of the men who kept watch over them. There appeared to be more of these fellows than there had been hitherto, and they could no longer hear the voices of women which they had before plainly distinguished. Some new excitement too seemed to prevail among them, for there was much stealthy going in and out, and a constant questioning of those who were newly arrived. Ooh, Windy. They had previously been quite reckless in their behaviour, often making a great uproar, quarrelling amongst themselves, fighting, dancing and singing, but they were now very subdued and silent, conversing almost in whispers, and stealing in and out with a soft and stealthy tread, very difficult from the boy different from the boisterous trampling in which their arrivals and departures had hitherto been announced to the trembling captives. Whether this change was occasioned by the presence among them of some person of authority in their ranks, or by another cause they were unable to decide. Sometimes they thought it was in part attributable to there being a sick man in the chamber, for last night there had been a shuffling of feet as though a burden were brought in, and afterwards a moaning noise, but they had no means of ascertaining the truth, for any question or entreaty on their parts only provoked a storm of execrations or something worse, and they were too happy to be left alone, unassailed by threats or admiration, to risk even that comfort by any voluntary communication with those who held them endurance. It was sufficiently evident both to Emma and to the locksmith's poor little daughter herself that she, Dolly, was the great object of attraction, and that soon as they should have the leisure to indulge in the softer passion, Hugh and Mr Tappertit would certainly fall to blows for her sake, in which latter case it was not very difficult to foresee whose prize she would become. With all her old horror of that man revived and deepened into a degree of aversion and abhorrence which no language can describe, with a thousand old recollections and regrets and causes of distress, anxiety and fear besetting her on all sides, poor Dolly Varden, sweet, blooming, buxome Dolly, began to hang her head and fade and droop like a beautiful flower. The colour fled from her cheeks, her courage forsook her, her gentle heart failed. Unmindful of all her provoking caprices, forgetful of all her conquests and inconstancy, with all her winning little vanities quite gone, she nestled all the live long day in Emma Hairedale's bosom, and sometimes calling on her dear old grey haired father, sometimes on her mother, and sometimes even on her old home, pined slowly away like a poor bird in its cage. Light hearts, light hearts that float so gaily on a smooth stream, that are so sparkling and buoyant in the sunshine, down upon fruit, bloom upon the upon flowers, blush in summer air, life on the winged of the winged insect, whose whole existence is a day, how soon thee sink in troubled water. Poor Dolly's heart, a little, gentle, idle, fickle thing, giddy, restless, fluttering, constant to nothing but bright looks and smiles and laughter, Dolly's heart was breaking. Emma had known grief and could bear it better. She had little comfort to impart, but she could soothe and tend her, and she did so and Dolly clung to her like a child to its nurse. In endeavouring to inspire inspire her with some fortitude, she increased her own, and though the nights were long and the days dismal, and she felt the wasting influence of watching and fatigue, and had perhaps a more defined and clear perception of their destitute condition and its worst dangers, she uttered no complaint. Before the ruffians in whose power they were, she bore herself so calmly, and with such an appearance in the midst of all her terror, of a secret conviction that they dare not harm her, that there was not a man among them but held her in some degree of dread, and more than one believed she had a weapon hidden in her dress and was prepared to use it. Such was their condition when they were joined by Miss Miggs who gave them to understand that she too had been taken prisoner because of her charms, and detailed such feats of resistance she had performed, her virtue having given her supernatural strength, that they felt it quite a happiness to have her for a champion, nor was this the only comfort they derived at first from Miggs's presence and society, for that young lady displayed such resignation and long suffering, and so much meek endurance under her trials and breathed in all her chaste discourse a spirit of such holy confidence and resignation and devout belief that all would happen for the best, that Emma felt her courage strengthened by the bright example, never doubting but that everything she said was true, and that she, like them, was torn from all she loved, and agonised by doubt and apprehension. As to poor Dolly, she was roused at first by seeing one who came from home, but when she heard under what circumstances she had left it and into whose hands her father had fallen, she wept more bitterly than ever, and refused all comfort. Miss Miggs was at some trouble to reprove her for this state of mind and to entreat her to take example by herself, who she said, was now receiving back with interest tenfold the amount of her subscriptions to the red brick dwelling house in the articles of peace of mind and quiet conscience, and while on serious topics Miss Miggs considered it her duty to try in hand at the conversion of Miss Haredale, for whose improvement she launched into a polemical address of some length in the course whereof she likened herself unto a chosen missionary and that young lady to a cannibal in darkness. Indeed she returned so often to these subjects and so frequently called upon them to take a lesson from her, at the same time vaunting as it were, rioting in her huge unworthiness and abundant excess of sin that in the course of a short time she became in that small chamber rather a nuisance than a comfort, and rendered them if possible even more unhappy than they had been before. The night had now come and for the first time, for their jailers had been regular in bringing food and candles, they were left in darkness. Any change in their condition in such a place inspired new fears, and when some hours had passed and the gloom was still unbroken, Emma could no longer repress her alarm. They listened attentively. There was the same murmuring in the outer room and now and then a moan which seemed to be rung from a person in great pain who made an effort to subdue it but could not. Even these men seemed to be in darkness too, for no light shone through the chinks in the door, nor were they moving as their custom was but quite still, the silence being unbroken by so much as the creaking of a board. At first Miss Miggs wondered greatly in her own mind who the sick person might be, but arriving on second thoughts at the conclusion that he was part of the schemes on foot and an artful device soon to be employed with great success, she opined, for Miss Haredale's comfort, that it must be some misguided papist who had been wounded, and this happy supposition encouraged her to say under her breath Alleluia several times Once upon a time about maybe six years ago it must be more than that, maybe eight years ago, my daughter was at a school where they used to go to church every Wednesday morning, St. Gregory's Church in Marnall in Dorset, and I used to go as a voluntary helper at the school and you know help take them there and look make sure they were being quiet and so on. And I was watching her as well, as a devoted mother watches her child and didn't think anything of it as we stood up to sing a hymn give me oil in my lamp and when it came to the chorus Lucy belted out at the top of her voice Sing Lasagna, sing lasagna and she sang it really loudly, really happily, really confidently, and I never was a prouder mother than her singing Sing Lasagna Is it possible, said Emma, with some indignation that you who have seen these men coming committing the outrages you have told us of and who have fallen into their hands like us can exult in their cruelties Personal considerations, Miss, rejoined Miggs, sinks into nothing for a noble cause Alleluia, allelujahlujah good gentleman It seemed from the shrill pertinacity with which Miss Miggs repeated this form of acclamation, that she was calling the same through the keyhole of the door, but in the profound darkness she could not be seen. If the time has come, heaven knows it may come at any moment when they are bent on prosecuting the designs, whatever they may be, with which they have brought us here, can you still encourage and take part with them? demanded Emma. I think my goodness gracious blessed stars I can, Miss, returned Miggs, with increased energy. Hallelujah, good gentleman. Even Dolly, cast down, disappointed as she was, revived at this and bade Miggs hold her tongue directly Which was you pleased to observe, Miss Varzen? said Miss said Miggs, with a strong emphasis on the irrelative pronoun. Dolly repeated her request. Ho gracious me cried Miggs with hysterical derision. Ho gracious me, yes to be sure I will Oh yes I am an abject slave and a toiling, moiling, constant working, always being found fault with, never giving satisfactions nor having no time to clean oneself Potters wrestle, ain't I miss? Oh yes My situation is lowly and my capacities is limited and my duties is to humble myself afore the base degenerating daughters of their blessed mothers as is fit to keep companies with holy saints but is born to persecutions from wicked relatives and to demean myself before em as no better than infidels, ain't it, Miss Oh yes my only becoming occupations is to help young flaunting pagans to brush and comb and titate themselves into whitening and sepulchres and leave the young men to think that there ain't a bit of padding in it, nor no pinching ins nor fillings out, nor pomatums nor deceits nor earthly wan vanities ain't it Miss Yes, to be sure it is oh yes having delivered these ironical passages with a most wonderful volubility and a shrillness perfectly deafening, especially when she jerked out the interjections, Miss Miggs, from mere habit and not because weeping was at all appropriate to the occasion was my bookly blew away hold on where am I Oh dear burst into a flood of tears and called in an impassionate manner on the name of Simmons. What Emma Haredale and Dolly would have done or how long Miss Miggs, now that she had hoisted her true colours, would have gone on waving them before their astonished senses is impossible to tell, nor is it necessary to speculate on these matters, for a startling interruption occurred at that moment, which took their whole attention by storm. This was a violent knocking at the door of the house and then its sudden bursting open, which was immediately succeeded by a scuffle in the room without and the clash of weapons. Transported with the hope that rescue had at length arrived, Emma and Dolly shrieked aloud for help, nor were the shrieks unanswered for after a hurried interval a man bearing in one hand a drawn sword, and in the other a taper, rushed into the chamber where they were confined. It was some check upon their transport to find in this person an entire stranger, but they appealed to him nevertheless and besought him in impassioned language to restore them to their friends. For what other purpose am I here? he answered, closing the door and standing with his back against it. With what object have I made my way to this place through difficulty and danger but to preserve you? With a joy for which it was impossible to find adequate expression, they embraced each other and thanked heaven for this most timely aid. Their deliverer stepped forward for a moment to put the light upon the table, and immediately returning to his former position against the door, bared his head and looked on, smilingly. You have news of my uncle, sir, said Emma, turning hastily towards him and of my father and mother added Dolly. Yes, he said good news. They are alive and unhurt they both cried at once. Yes, and unhurt, he rejoined. And close at hand? Ah, I did not say close at hand, he answered smoothly. They are at no great distance. Your friends, sweet one, he added, addressing Dolly, are within a few hours journey. You will be restored to them, I hope, tonight. My uncle, sir, faltered Emma. Your uncle, dear Miss Haredale, happily I say happily because he has succeeded where many of our creed have failed, and is safe, has crossed the sea and is out of Britain. I thank God for it, said Emma, faintly. You say well, you have reason to be thankful, greater reason than it is possible for you who have seen but one night of these cruel outrages to imagine. Does he desire, said Emma, that I should follow him? Do you ask if he desires it, cries the stranger in surprise. If he desires it, but you do not know the danger of remaining in England, the difficulty of escape or the price hundreds will pay to secure the means when you make that inquiry. Pardon me, I'd forgotten that you could not, being prisoner here. I gather, sir, said Emma, after a moment's pause, from what you hint at, but fear to tell me, that I have witnessed but the beginning and the least of the violence to which we were exposed, and that it is not slackened in its fury. He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, lifted up his hands, and with the same smooth smile, which was not a pleasant one to see, cast his eyes upon the ground, and remained silent. You may venture, sir, to speak plain, said Emma, and to tell me the worst we have undergone some preparation for it. But here Dolly interposed and entreated her not to hear the worst but the best, and besought the gentleman to tell them the best, and to keep the remainder of his news until they were safe among their friends again. It is told in three words, he said, glancing at the locksmith's daughter with a look of some displeasure the people have risen to a man against us. The streets are filled with soldiers who support them and do their bidding. We have no protection but from above and no safety but in flight, and that is a poor resource for we are watched on every hand and detained here both by force and fraud. Miss Haredale I cannot bear, believe me, that I cannot bear, by speaking of myself or what I have done or am prepared to do, to seem to vaunt my services before you, but having powerful Protestant connections, and having my whole wealth embarked with theirs in shipping and commerce, I happily possessed the means of saving your uncle I have the means of saving you, and in redemption of my sacred promise made to him, I am here, pledged not to leave you until I have placed you in his arms. The treachery or penitence of one of the men about you led to the discovery of your place of confinement, and that I have forced my way here, sword in hand, you see. You bring, said Emma, faltering, some note or token from my uncle? No he doesn't, cried Dolly, pointing at him earnestly. Now I am sure he doesn't don't go with him for the world Hush, pretty fool, be silent, he replied, frowning angrily upon her. No, Miss Haidale, I have no letter nor any token of such kind, for while I sympathise with you and such as you, on whom misfortune so heavy and so undeserved has fallen, I value my life and I carry, therefore, no writing which, found upon me, would lead to its certain loss. I never thought of bringing any other token, nor did Mr Haredale think of entrusting me with one, possibly because he had good experience of my faith and honesty, and owed his life to me. There was a reproof conveyed in these words which to a nature like Emma Haredale's, was well addressed, but Dolly, who was differently constituted, was by no means touched by it, and still conjured her, in all the terms of affection and attachment she could think of, not to be lured away. Time presses, said their visitor, who, although he sought to express the deepest interest, had something cold and even in his speech that grated on the ear, and danger surrounds us if I have exposed myself to it in vain, let it be so, but if you and he should ever meet again, do me justice. If you decide to remain as I think you do, remember, Miss Haredale that I left you with a solemn caution, and acquitting myself of all the consequences to which you expose yourself. Stay, sir, cried Emma, one moment I beg you, cannot we and she drew Dolly closer to her. Cannot we go together? The task of conveying one female in safety through such scenes as we must encounter, to say nothing of attracting the attention of those who crowd the streets, he answered is enough. I have said she will be restored to her friends to night. If you accept the service I tender, Miss Haredale, she shall be instantly placed in safe conduct, and that promise redeemed. Do you decide to remain? People of all ranks and creeds are flying from the town which is sacked from end to end. Let me be of some use in some quarter. Do you stay or go? Dolly, said Emma in a hurried manner, my dear girl this is our last hope. If we part now it is only that we may meet again in happiness and honour. I will trust to this gentleman. No, no, no, cried Dolly, clinging to her, pray, pray do not You hear, said Emma, that tonight, only to night within a few hours, think of that you will be among those who would die of grief to lose you, and who are now plundered into the deepest misery for your sake. Pray for me, dear girl, as I will for you and never forget the many quiet hours we have passed together. Say one, God bless you, say that at parting. But Dolly could say nothing, no, not when Emma kissed her cheek a hundred times, and covered it with tears could she do more than hang upon her neck, and sob and clasp and hold her tight. We have no time for any more of this, cried the man, unclenching her hands and pushing her roughly off, as he drew Emma Haredale towards the door. Now, quick, outside there, are you ready? Aye, cried a loud voice, which made him start quite ready, stand back there for your lives and in an instant he was felt like an ox in the butcher's shambles, struck down as though a block of marble had fallen from the roof and crushed him, and cheerful light and beaming faces came pouring in, and Emma was clasped in her uncle's embrace, and Dolly with a shriek that pierced the air, fell into the arms of her mother and father. 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 the hands and falling into all these raptures over and over and over again no language can 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 fool 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 gentlemen, get your senses together for you haven't longed 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 a sin subdued and pledged 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. They are very important documents among them there are very great many 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, said 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 dispicable humility all 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 straight a 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 dollies. 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 dark 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 open, Simon Tappet, the recreant apprentice, burnt and bruised, and with a gunshot wound in his body, and his legs, his perfect legs, the pride and glory of his life, the comfort of his whole existence, crushed into shapeless ugliness. Wondering no longer at the moans they had heard, Dolly crept closer to her father and shuddered at the sight, but neither bruises, burns nor gunshot 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 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. And that's the end of that chapter, how wonderful, and tomorrow Tuesday we'll read chapter seventy two and it starts as follows The Black Lion was so far off and occupied such a length of time in the getting at that notwithstanding the strong presumptive evidence she had about her of the later 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. Good night for me, this lovely sunny Monday afternoon in Dorset. I hope you're all okay and lots of love to you. Bye-bye for now.