the spot； and to them； Arthur； and we should every one of us have been
so happy if it had fallen out……but； let us see……how's the weather for
travelling now？' Mr Meagles broke off； cleared his throat； and got up to
look out of the window。
They agreed that the weather was of high promise； and Clennam kept the
talk in that safe direction until it had bee easy again； when he
gently diverted it to Henry Gowan and his quick sense and agreeable
qualities when he was delicately dealt With； he likewise dwelt on the
indisputable affection he entertained for his wife。 Clennam did not fail
of his effect upon good Mr Meagles； whom these mendations greatly
cheered； and who took Mother to witness that the single and cordial
desire of his heart in reference to their daughter's husband； was
harmoniously to exchange friendship for friendship； and confidence for
confidence。 Within a few hours the cottage furniture began to be wrapped
up for preservation in the family absence……or； as Mr Meagles expressed
it； the house began to put its hair in papers……and within a few days
Father and Mother were gone； Mrs Tickit and Dr Buchan were posted； as of
yore； behind the parlour blind； and Arthur's solitary feet were rustling
among the dry fallen leaves in the garden walks。
As he had a liking for the spot； he seldom let a week pass without
paying a visit。 Sometimes； he went down alone from Saturday to Monday；
sometimes his partner acpanied him； sometimes； he merely strolled for
an hour or two about the house and garden； saw that all was right； and
returned to London again。 At all times； and under all circumstances； Mrs
Tickit； with her dark row of curls； and Dr Buchan； sat in the parlour
window； looking out for the family return。
On one of his visits Mrs Tickit received him with the words； 'I
have something to tell you； Mr Clennam； that will surprise you。' So
surprising was the something in question； that it actually brought Mrs
Tickit out of the parlour window and produced her in the garden walk；
when Clennam went in at the gate on its being opened for him。
'What is it； Mrs Tickit？' said he。
'Sir；' returned that faithful housekeeper； having taken him into the
parlour and closed the door； 'if ever I saw the led away and deluded
child in my life； I saw her identically in the dusk of yesterday
evening。'
'You don't mean Tatty……'
'Coram yes I do！' quoth Mrs Tickit； clearing the disclosure at a leap。
'Where？'
'Mr Clennam；' returned Mrs Tickit； 'I was a little heavy in my eyes；
being that I was waiting longer than customary for my cup of tea which
was then preparing by Mary Jane。 I was not sleeping； nor what a person
would term correctly； dozing。 I was more what a person would strictly
call watching with my eyes closed。'
Without entering upon an inquiry into this curious abnormal condition；
Clennam said； 'Exactly。 Well？'
'Well； sir；' proceeded Mrs Tickit； 'I was thinking of one thing and
thinking of another； just as you yourself might。 Just as anybody might。'
'Precisely so；' said Clennam。 'Well？'
'And when I do think of one thing and do think of another；' pursued
Mrs Tickit； 'I hardly need to tell you； Mr Clennam； that I think of the
family。 Because； dear me！ a person's thoughts；' Mrs Tickit said this
with an argumentative and philosophic air； 'however they may stray； will
go more or less on what is uppermost in their minds。 They will do it；
sir； and a person can't prevent them。'
Arthur subscribed to this discovery with a nod。
'You find it so yourself； sir； I'll be bold to say；' said Mrs Tickit；
'and we all find it so。 It an't our stations in life that changes us； Mr
Clennam； thoughts is free！……As I was saying； I was thinking of one thing
and thinking of another； and thinking very much of the family。 Not of
the family in the present times only； but in the past times too。 For
when a person does begin thinking of one thing and thinking of another
in that manner； as it's getting dark； what I say is； that all times
seem to be present； and a person must get out of that state and consider
before they can say which is which。'
He nodded again； afraid to utter a word； lest it should present any new
opening to Mrs Tickit's conversational powers。
'In consequence of which；' said Mrs Tickit； 'y eyes and
saw her actual form and figure looking in at the gate； I let them close
again without so much as starting； for that actual form and figure came
so pat to the time when it belonged to the house as much as mine or your
own； that I never thought at the moment of its having gone away。 But；
sir； y eyes again； and saw that it wasn't there； then
it all flooded upon me with a fright； and I jumped up。'
'You ran out directly？' said Clennam。
'I ran out；' assented Mrs Tickit； 'as fast as ever my feet would carry
me； and if you'll credit it； Mr Clennam； there wasn't in the whole
shining Heavens； no not so much as a finger of that young woman。'
Passing over the absence from the firmament of this novel constellation；
Arthur inquired of Mrs Tickit if she herself went beyond the gate？
'Went to and fro； and high and low；' said Mrs Tickit； 'and saw no sign
of her！'
He then asked Mrs Tickit how long a space of time she supposed there
might have been between the two sets of ocular quiverings she had
experienced？ Mrs Tickit； though minutely circumstantial in her reply；
had no settled opinion between five seconds and ten minutes。
She was so plainly at sea on this part of the case； and had so clearly
been startled out of slumber； that Clennam was much disposed to regard
the appearance as a dream。 Without hurting Mrs Tickit's feelings with
that infidel solution of her mystery； he took it away from the cottage
with him； and probably would have retained it ever afterwards if a
circumstance had not soon happened to change his opinion。 He was passing
at nightfall along the Strand； and the lamp…lighter was going on before
him； under whose hand the street…lamps； blurred by the foggy air； burst
out one after another； like so many blazing sunflowers ing into
full…blow all at once；……when a stoppage on the pavement； caused by a
train of coal…waggons toiling up from the wharves at the river…side；
brought him to a stand…still。 He had been walking quickly； and going
with some current of thought； and the sudden check given to both
operations caused him to look freshly about him； as people under such
circumstances usually do。
Immediately； he saw in advance……a few people intervening； but still
so near to him that he could have touched them by stretching out
his arm……Tattycoram and a strange man of a remarkable appearance： a
swaggering man； with a high nose； and a black moustache as false in its
colour as his eyes were false in their expression； who wore his heavy
cloak with the air of a foreigner。 His dress and general appearance were
those of a man on travel； and he seemed to have very recently joined
the girl。 In bending down （being much taller than she was）； listening
to whatever she said to him； he looked over his shoulder with the
suspicious glance of one who was not unused to be mistrustful that his
footsteps might be dogged。 It was then that Clennam saw his face； as
his eyes lowered on the people behind him in the aggregate； without
particularly resting upon Clennam's face or any other。
He had scarcely turned his head about again； and it was still bent down；
listening to the girl； when the stoppage ceased； and the obstructed
stream of people flowed on。 Still bending his head and listening to the
girl； he went on at her side； and Clennam followed them； resolved to
play this unexpected play out； and see where they went。
He had hardly made the determination （though he was not long about it）；
when he was again as suddenly brought up as he had been by the stoppage。
They turned short into the Adelphi；……the girl evidently leading；……and
went straight on； as if they were going to the Terrace which overhangs
the river。
There is always； to this day； a sudden pause in that place to the roar
of the great thoroughfare。 The many sounds bee so deadened that the
change is like putting cotton in the ears； or having the head thickly
muffled。 At that time the contrast was far greater； there being no small
steam…boats on the river； no landing places but slippery wooden stairs
and foot…causeways； no railroad on the opposite bank； no hanging bridge
or fish…market near at hand； no traffic on the nearest bridge of stone；
nothing moving on the stream but watermen's wherries and coal…lighters。
Long and broad black tiers of the latter； moored fast in the mud as if
they were never to move again； made the shore funereal and silent after
dark； and kept what little water…movement there was； far out towards
mid…stream。 At any hour later than sunset； and not least at that hour
when most of the people who have anything to eat at home are going home
to eat it； and when most of those who have nothing have hardly yet slunk
out to beg or steal； it was a deserted place and looked on a deserted
scene。
Such was the hour when Clennam stopped at the corner； observing the girl
and the strange man as they went down the street。 The man's footsteps
were so noisy on the echoing stones that he was unwilling to add the
sound of his own。 But when they had passed the turning and were in the
darkness of the dark corner leading to the terrace； he made after them
with such indifferent appearance of being a casual passenger on his way；
as he could assume。
When he rounded the dark corner； they were walking along the terrace
towards a figure which was ing towards them。 If he had seen it by
itself； under such conditions of gas…lamp； mist； and distance； he might
not have known it at first sight； but with the figure of the girl to
prompt him； he at once recognised Miss Wade。
He stopped at the corner； seeming to look back expectantly up the street
as if he had made an appointment with some one to meet him there； but he
kept a careful eye on the three。 When they came together； the man took
off his hat； and made Miss Wade a bow。 The girl appeared to say a few
words as though she presented him； or accounted for his being late； or
early； or what not； and then fell a pace or so behind； by herself。 Miss
Wade and the man then began to walk up and down； the man having the
appearance of being extremely courteous and plimentary in manner；
Miss Wade having the appearance of being extremely haughty。
When they came down to the corner and turned； she was saying；
'If I pinch myself for it； sir； that is my business。 Confine yourself to
yours； and ask me no question。'
'By Heaven； ma'am！' he replied； making her another bow。 'It was my
profound respect for the strength of your character； and my admiration
of your beauty。'
'I want neither the one nor the other from any one；' said she； 'and
certainly not from you of all creatures。 Go on with your report。'
'Am I pardoned？' he asked； with an air of half abashed gallantry。
'You are paid；' she said； 'and that is all you want。'
Whether the girl hung behind because she was not to hear the business；
or as already knowing enough about it； Clennam could not determine。 They
turned and she turned。 She looked away at the river； as