按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
us that minute； nobody should stop her； and we should never hear of her
again。'
Mr Meagles had recited all this with such a vivid remembrance of his
original； that he was almost as flushed and hot by this time as he
described her to have been。
'Ah； well！' he said； wiping his face。 'It was of no use trying reason
then； with that vehement panting creature （Heaven knows what her
mother's story must have been）； so I quietly told her that she should
not go at that late hour of night； and I gave her MY hand and took her
to her room； and locked the house doors。 But she was gone this morning。'
'And you know no more of her？'
'No more；' returned Mr Meagles。 'I have been hunting about all day。 She
must have gone very early and very silently。 I have found no trace of
her down about us。'
'Stay！ You want；' said Clennam； after a moment's reflection； 'to see
her？ I assume that？'
'Yes； assuredly； I want to give her another chance； Mother and Pet
want to give her another chance； e！ You yourself；' said Mr Meagles；
persuasively； as if the provocation to be angry were not his own at all；
'want to give the poor passionate girl another chance； I know； Clennam。'
'It would be strange and hard indeed if I did not；' said Clennam； 'when
you are all so forgiving。 What I was going to ask you was； have you
thought of that Miss Wade？'
'I have。 I did not think of her until I had pervaded the whole of our
neighbourhood； and I don't know that I should have done so then but
for finding Mother and Pet； when I went home； full of the idea that
Tattycoram must have gone to her。 Then； of course； I recalled what she
said that day at dinner when you were first with US。'
'Have you any idea where Miss Wade is to be found？'
'To tell you the truth；' returned Mr Meagles； 'it's because I have an
addled jumble of a notion on that subject that you found me waiting
here。 There is one of those odd impressions in my house； which do
mysteriously get into houses sometimes； which nobody seems to have
picked up in a distinct form from anybody； and yet which everybody seems
to have got hold of loosely from somebody and let go again； that she
lives； or was living； thereabouts。' Mr Meagles handed him a slip of
paper； on which was written the name of one of the dull by…streets in
the Grosvenor region； near Park Lane。
'Here is no number；' said Arthur looking over it。
'No number； my dear Clennam？' returned his friend。 'No anything！ The
very name of the street may have been floating in the air； for； as I
tell you； none of my people can say where they got it from。 However；
it's worth an inquiry； and as I would rather make it in pany than
alone； and as you too were a fellow…traveller of that immovable woman's；
I thought perhaps……' Clennam finished the sentence for him by taking up
his hat again； and saying he was ready。
It was now summer…time； a grey； hot； dusty evening。 They rode to the top
of Oxford Street； and there alighting； dived in among the great streets
of melancholy stateliness； and the little streets that try to be as
stately and succeed in being more melancholy； of which there is a
labyrinth near Park Lane。 Wildernesses of corner houses； with barbarous
old porticoes and appurtenances； horrors that came into existence under
some wrong…headed person in some wrong…headed time； still demanding
the blind admiration of all ensuing generations and determined to do
so until they tumbled down； frowned upon the twilight。 Parasite little
tenements； with the cramp in their whole frame； from the dwarf hall…door
on the giant model of His Grace's in the Square to the squeezed window
of the boudoir manding the dunghills in the Mews； made the evening
doleful。 Rickety dwellings of undoubted fashion； but of a capacity to
hold nothing fortably except a dismal smell； looked like the last
result of the great mansions' breeding in…and…in； and； where their
little supplementary bows and balconies were supported on thin iron
columns； seemed to be scrofulously resting upon crutches。
Here and there a Hatchment； with the whole science of Heraldry in it；
loomed down upon the street； like an Archbishop discoursing on Vanity。
The shops； few in number； made no show； for popular opinion was as
nothing to them。 The pastrycook knew who was on his books； and in
that knowledge could be calm； with a few glass cylinders of dowager
peppermint…drops in his window； and half…a…dozen ancient specimens of
currant…jelly。 A few oranges formed the greengrocer's whole concession
to the vulgar mind。 A single basket made of moss； once containing
plovers' eggs； held all that the poulterer had to say to the rabble。
Everybody in those streets seemed （which is always the case at that hour
and season） to be gone out to dinner； and nobody seemed to be giving the
dinners they had gone to。 On the doorsteps there were lounging footmen
with bright parti…coloured plumage and white polls； like an extinct race
of monstrous birds； and butlers； solitary men of recluse demeanour； each
of whom appeared distrustful of all other butlers。 The roll of carriages
in the Park was done for the day； the street lamps were lighting； and
wicked little grooms in the tightest fitting garments； with twists in
their legs answering to the twists in their minds； hung about in pairs；
chewing straws and exchanging fraudulent secrets。 The spotted dogs who
went out with the carriages； and who were so associated with splendid
equipages that it looked like a condescension in those animals to e
out without them； acpanied helpers to and fro on messages。 Here and
there was a retiring public…house which did not require to be supported
on the shoulders of the people； and where gentlemen out of livery were
not much wanted。
This last discovery was made by the two friends in pursuing their
inquiries。 Nothing was there； or anywhere； known of such a person as
Miss Wade； in connection with the street they sought。 It was one of the
parasite streets； long； regular； narrow； dull and gloomy； like a brick
and mortar funeral。 They inquired at several little area gates； where
a dejected youth stood spiking his chin on the summit of a precipitous
little shoot of wooden steps； but could gain no information。 They walked
up the street on one side of the way； and down it on the other； what
time two vociferous news…sellers； announcing an extraordinary event that
had never happened and never would happen； pitched their hoarse voices
into the secret chambers； but nothing came of it。 At length they stood
at the corner from which they had begun； and it had fallen quite dark；
and they were no wiser。
It happened that in the street they had several times passed a dingy
house； apparently empty； with bills in the windows； announcing that it
was to let。 The bills； as a variety in the funeral procession； almost
amounted to a decoration。 Perhaps because they kept the house separated
in his mind； or perhaps because Mr Meagles and himself had twice agreed
in passing； 'It is clear she don't live there；' Clennam now proposed
that they should go back and try that house before finally going away。
Mr Meagles agreed； and back they went。
They knocked once； and they rang once； without any response。
'Empty；' said Mr Meagles； listening。 'Once more；' said Clennam； and
knocked again。 After that knock they heard a movement below； and
somebody shuffling up towards the door。
The confined entrance was so dark that it was impossible to make out
distinctly what kind of person opened the door； but it appeared to be an
old woman。 'Excuse our troubling you；' said Clennam。 'Pray can you
tell us where Miss Wade lives？' The voice in the darkness unexpectedly
replied； 'Lives here。'
'Is she at home？'
No answer ing； Mr Meagles asked again。 'Pray is she at home？'
After another delay； 'I suppose she is；' said the voice abruptly； 'you
had better e in； and I'll ask。'
They 'were summarily shut into the close black house； and the figure
rustling away； and speaking from a higher level； said； 'e up； if you
please； you can't tumble over anything。' They groped their way up…stairs
towards a faint light； which proved to be the light of the street
shining through a window； and the figure left them shut in an airless
room。
'This is odd； Clennam；' said Mr Meagles； softly。
'Odd enough；' assented Clennam in the same tone； 'but we have succeeded；
that's the main point。 Here's a light ing！'
The light was a lamp； and the bearer was an old woman： very dirty； very
wrinkled and dry。 'She's at home；' she said （and the voice was the same
that had spoken before）； 'she'll e directly。' Having set the lamp
down on the table； the old woman dusted her hands on her apron； which
she might have done for ever without cleaning them； looked at the
visitors with a dim pair of eyes； and backed out。
The lady whom they had e to see； if she were the present occupant
of the house； appeared to have taken up her quarters there as she might
have established herself in an Eastern caravanserai。 A small square
of carpet in the middle of the room； a few articles of furniture that
evidently did not belong to the room； and a disorder of trunks and
travelling articles； formed the whole of her surroundings。 Under some
former regular inhabitant； the stifling little apartment had broken out
into a pier…glass and a gilt table； but the gilding was as faded as last
year's flowers； and the glass was so clouded that it seemed to hold in
magic preservation all the fogs and bad weather it had ever reflected。
The visitors had had a minute or two to look about them； when the door
opened and Miss Wade came in。
She was exactly the same as when they had parted； just as handsome； just
as scornful； just as repressed。 She manifested no surprise in seeing
them； nor any other emotion。 She requested them to be seated； and
declining to take a seat herself； at once anticipated any introduction
of their business。
'I apprehend；' she said； 'that I know the cause of your favouring me
with this visit。 We may e to it at once。'
'The cause then； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； 'is Tattycoram。'
'So I supposed。'
'Miss Wade；' said Mr Meagles； 'will you be so kind as to say whether you
know anything of her？'
'Surely。 I know she is here with me。'
'Then； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； 'allow me to make known to you that I
shall be happy to have her back； and that my wife and daughter will
be happy to have her back。 She has been with us a long time： we don't
forget her claims upon us； and I hope we know how to make allowances。'
'You hope to know how to make allowances？' she returned； in a level；
measured voice。 'For what？'
'I think my friend would say； Miss Wade；' Arthur Clennam interposed；
seeing Mr Meagles rather at a loss； 'for the passionate sense that
sometimes es upon the poor girl； of being at a disadvantage。 Which
occasionally gets the better of better remembrances。'
The lady broke into a smile as she turned her eyes upon him。 'Indeed？'
was all she answered。
She stood by the table so perfectly posed and still after this
acknowledgment of his remark that Mr Meagles stared at her under a sort
of fascination； and could not even look to Clennam to make another move。
After waiting； awkwardly enough； for some moments； Arthur said： 'Perhaps
it would be well if Mr Meagles could see her； Miss Wade？'
'That is easily done；' said she。 'e here； child。' She had opened a
door while saying this； and now led the girl in by the hand。 It was
very curious to see them standing together： the girl with her disengaged
fingers plaiting the bosom of her dress； half irresolutely； half
passionately； Miss Wade with her posed face attentively regarding
her； and suggesting to an observer； with extraordinary force； in her
posure itself （as a veil will suggest the form it covers）； the
unquenchable passion of her own nature。
'See here；' she said； in the same level way as before。 'Here is your
patron； your master。 He is willing to take you back； my dear； if you are
sensible of the favour and choose to go。 You can be； again； a foil to
his pretty daughter； a slave to her pleasant wilfulness； and a toy in
the house showing the goodness of the family。 You can have your droll
name again； playfully pointing you out and setting yo