第2章

Insidetheshopmoredanglingspectreshungandtheplacewasalmostdark。Itwasashabbypawnshop，andthemanloungingbehindthecounterwasashabbymanwithanunshaven，unamiableface。

"Iwanttolookatthatpistolintheright—handcornerofyourwindow，"

AntonyDartsaid。

Thepawnbrokerutteredasoundsomethingbetweenahalf—laughandagrunt。Hetooktheweaponfromthewindow。

AntonyDartexamineditcritically。

Hemustmakequitesureofit。Hemadenofurtherremark。

Hefelthehaddonewithspeech。

Beingtoldthepriceaskedforthepurchase，hedrewouthispurseandtookthemoneyfromit。Aftermakingthepaymenthenotedthathestillpossessedafive—poundnoteandsomesovereigns。Therepassedthroughhismindawonderastowhowouldspendit。Themostdecentthing，perhaps，wouldbetogiveitaway。Ifitwasinhisroom——to—morrow——theparishwouldnotburyhim，anditwouldbesaferthattheparishshould。

Hewasthinkingofthisashelefttheshopandbegantocrossthestreet。Becausehismindwaswanderinghewaslesswatchful。Suddenlyarubber—tiredhansom，movingwithoutsound，appearedimmediatelyinhispath——thehorse’sheadloomedupabovehisown。Hemadetheinevitableinvoluntarywhirlasidetomoveoutoftheway，thehansompassed，andturningagain，hewenton。Hismovementhadbeentooswifttoallowofhisrealizingthedirectioninwhichhisturnhadbeenmade。Hewaswhollyunawarethatwhenhecrossedthestreethecrossedbackwardinsteadofforward。Heturnedacornerliterallyfeelinghisway，wenton，turnedanother，andafterwalkingthelengthofthestreet，suddenlyunderstoodthathewasinastrangeplaceandhadlosthisbearings。

Thiswasexactlywhathadhappenedtopeopleonthedayofthememorablefogofthreeyearsbefore。

Hehadheardthemtalkingofsuchexperiences，andofthecuriousandbafflingsensationstheygaverisetointhebrain。Nowheunderstoodthem。Hecouldnotbefarfromhislodgings，buthefeltlikeamanwhowasblind，andwhohadbeenturnedoutofthepathheknew。

Hehadnottheresourceofthepeoplewhosestorieshehadheard。Hewouldnotstopandaddressanyone。

Therecouldbenocertaintyastowhomhemightfindhimselfspeakingto。Hewouldspeaktonoone。

Hewouldwanderaboutuntilhecameuponsomeclew。Evenifhecameuponnone，thefogwouldsurelyliftalittleandbecomeatriflelessdenseincourseoftime。Hedrewupthecollarofhisovercoat，pulledhishatdownoverhiseyesandwenton——hishandonthethinghehadthrustintoapocket。

Hedidnotfindhisclewashehadhoped，andinsteadofliftingthefoggrewheavier。Hefoundhimselfatlastnolongerstrivingforanyend，butramblingalongmechanically，feelinglikeamaninadream——anightmare。Onceherecognizedaweirdsuggestioninthemysteryabouthim。To—morrowmightonebewanderingaboutaimlesslyinsomesuchhaze。Hehopednot。

HislodgingswerenotfarfromtheEmbankment，andheknewatlastthathewaswanderingalongit，andhadreachedoneofthebridges。

Hismoodledhimtoturninuponit，andwhenhereachedanembrasuretostopnearitandleanupontheparapetlookingdown。Hecouldnotseethewater，thefogwastoodense，buthecouldhearsomefaintsplashingagainststones。Hehadtakennofoodandwasratherfaint。

Whatastrangethingitwastofeelfaintforwantoffood——tostandalone，cutofffromeveryotherhumanbeing——everythingdonefor。

Nowonderthatsometimes，particularlyonsuchdaysasthese，therewereplungesmadefromtheparapet——nowonder。Heleanedfartheroverandstrainedhiseyestoseesomegleamofwaterthroughtheyellowness。Butitwasnottobedone。Hewasthinkingtheinevitablething，ofcourse;butsuchaplungewouldnotdoforhim。Theotherthingwoulddestroyalltraces。

Ashedrewbackheheardsomethingfallwiththesolidtinklingsoundofcoinontheflagpavement。

Whenhehadbeeninthepawnbroker’sshophehadtakenthegoldfromhispurseandthrustitcarelesslyintohiswaistcoatpocket，thinkingthatitwouldbeeasytoreachwhenhechosetogiveittoonebeggaroranother，ifheshouldseesomewretchwhowouldbethebetterforit。Somemovementhehadmadeinbendinghadcausedasovereigntoslipoutandithadfallenuponthestones。

Hedidnotintendtopickitup，butinthemomentinwhichhestoodlookingdownatitheheardclosetohimashufflingmovement。

Whathehadthoughtabundleofragsorrubbishcoveredwithsacking——sometramp’sdesertedorforgottenbelongings——wasstirring。Itwasalive，andashebenttolookatitthesackingdivideditself，andasmallhead，coveredwithashockofbrilliantredhair，thrustitselfout，ashrewd，smallfaceturningtolookupathimslylywithdeep—setblackeyes。

Itwasahumangirlcreatureabouttwelveyearsold。

"Areyergoin’todoit？"shesaidinahoarse，street—strainedvoice。

"Yerwouldbeafoolifyerdid——

withasmuchasthatonyer。"

Shepointedwithareddened，chapped，anddirtyhandatthesovereign。

"Pickitup，"hesaid。"Youmayhaveit。"

Herwildshuffleforwardwasanactualleap。Thehandmadeasnatchingclutchatthecoin。Shewasevidentlyafraidthathewaseithernotinearnestorwouldrepent。Thenextsecondshewasonherfeetandreadyforflight。

"Stop，"hesaid;"I’vegotmoretogiveaway。"

Shehesitated——notbelievinghim，yetfeelingitmadnesstoloseachance。

"MORE！"shegasped。Thenshedrewnearertohim，andasingularchangecameuponherface。Itwasachangewhichmadeherlookoddlyhuman。

"Gawd，mister！"shesaid。"Yercangiveawayaquidlikeitwasnothin’——an’yer’vegotmore——an’

yergoin’todoTHAT——jescosyer’adabittoomuchlarsnightan’there’safogthismornin’！Youtakeitstraightfromme——don’tyerdoit。

Igiveyerthattipforthesuvrink。"

Shewas，forheryears，souglyandsoancient，andhardenedinvoiceandskinandmannerthatshefascinatedhim。NotthatamanwhohasnoTo—morrowinviewislikelytobeparticularlyconsciousofmentalprocesses。Hewasdonefor，buthestoodandstaredather。WhatpartofthePowermovingtheschemeoftheuniversestoodnearandthrusthimoninthepathdesignedhedidnotknowthen——perhapsneverdid。Hewasstillholdingontothethinginhispocket，buthespoketoheragain。

"Whatdoyoumean？"heaskedglumly。

Shesidlednearer，hersharpeyesonhisface。

"Ibinwatchin’yer，"shesaid。

"Isatdownandpulledthesackoverme’eadtobreatheinsideitan’

getabitwarm。An’Iseeyercome。

Iknowedwotyerwasafter，Idid。

Iwatchedyerthrougha’oleinmesack。Iwasn’tgoin’tocallacopper。

Ishouldn’twantterbestoppedmeselfifImadeupmemind。I

seedagaldraggedoutlas’weekan’

it’dabrokeyer’arttosee’ertear’erclothesan’scream。Wotbusiness’adtheypreventin’’ergoin’offquiet？Iwouldn’t’a’stoppedyer——butw’enthequidfell，thatmadeitdifferent。"

"I——"hesaid，feelingthefoolishnessofthestatement，butmakingit，nevertheless，"Iamill。"

"Courseyerill。It’syer’ead。

Comealongermean’getacupercawfeeatastand，an’buckup。Ifyer’vegivemethatquidstraight——

wish—yer—may—die——I’llgowithyeran’getacupmyself。Iain’t’adabitesinceyesterday——an’’twa’n’tnothin’

butasliceo’polonysossidgeIfoundonadust—’eap。Comeon，mister。"

Shepulledhiscoatwithhercrackedhand。Heglanceddownatitmechanically，andsawthatsomeofthefissureshadbledandtheroughenedsurfacewassmearedwiththeblood。Theystoodtogetherinthesmallspaceinwhichthefogenclosedthem——heandshe——themanwithnoTo—morrowandthegirlthingwhoseemedasoldashimself，withhersharp，smallnoseandchin，hersharpeyesandvoice——andyet——perhapsthefogsenclosingdidit——somethingdrewthemtogetherinanuncannyway。

Somethingmadehimforgetthelostclewtothelodging—house——

somethingmadehimturnandgowithher——athingledinthedark。

"Howcanyoufindyourway？"

hesaid。"Ilostmine。"

"Thereain’tnofogcanloseme，"

sheanswered，shufflingalongbyhisside;"’sides，it’sgoin’tolift。

Lookatthatmancomin’to’ardsus。"

Itwastruethattheycouldseethroughtheorange—coloredmisttheapproachingfigureofamanwhowasatayard’sdistancefromthem。

Yes，itwasliftingslightly——atleastenoughtoallowofone’smakingaguessatthedirectioninwhichonemoved。

"Whereareyougoing？"heasked。

"AppleBlossomCourt，"sheanswered。"Thecawfee—stand’sinastreetnearit——andthere’sashopwhereIcanbuythings。"

"AppleBlossomCourt！"heejaculated。"Whataname！"

"Thereain’tnoapple—blossomsthere，"chuckling;"nornosmellof’em。’Tain’tasniceasitsnimeis——AppleBlossomCourtain’t。"

"Whatdoyouwanttobuy？A

pairofshoes？"Theshoeshernakedfeetwerethrustintowereleprous—lookingthingsthroughwhichnearlyallhertoesprotruded。Butshechuckledwhenhespoke。

"No，I’mgoin’tobuyadi’mondtirarertogototheoperyin，"shesaid，draggingheroldsackcloserroundherneck。"Iain’tadanoounsinceIwenttothelastDrorin’—

room。"

Itwasimpudentstreetchaff，buttherewascheerfulspiritinit，andcheerfulspirithassomeocculteffectuponmorbidity。AntonyDartdidnotsmile，buthefeltafaintstirringofcuriosity，whichwas，afterall，notabadthingforamanwhohadnotfeltaninterestforayear。

"Whatisityouaregoingtobuy？"

"I’mgoin’tofillmestummickfust，"withagrinofelation。"Threethicksliceso’breadan’drippin’an’

amugo’cawfee。An’thenI’mgoin’togetsumethin’’eartytocarrytoPolly。Sheain’tnogood，porething！"

"Whoisshe？"

Stoppingamomenttodraguptheheelofherdreadfulshoe，sheansweredhimwithanunprejudiceddirectnesswhichmighthavebeenappallingifhehadbeeninthemoodtobeappalled。

"Ain’teighteen，an’tryin’toearn’erlivin’onthestreet。Sheain’tmadeforit。Littlecountrything，allusfrightenedtodeathan’readytobustoutcryin’。Gentsain’tgoin’

tostandthat。Alotof’emwantscheerin’upasmuchasshedoes。

Gentaswasinliquorlastnightknocked’erdownan’give’erablackeye。’Twan’tillfeelin’，buthelosthistemper，an’give’eraknockcasual。Shecan’tgooutto—night，an’she’sbeen’uddledupalldaycryin’for’ermother。"

"Whereishermother？"

"Inthecountry——onafarm。

Pollytookaplaceinalodgin’—’ousean’gotintrouble。Thebibywasdead，an’whenshecomeouto’

QueenCharlotte’sshewastookinbyawomanan’kep’。Shekicked’eroutinaweek’cosofhercryin’。

Thelifedidn’tsuit’er。Ifound’ercryin’fittosplit’erchistonenight——cornero’AppleBlossomCourt——

an’Itookcareof’er。"

"Where？"

"Mechambers，"grinning;"toploftofa’ouseinthecourt。Ifanyoneelse’d’aveitIshouldbeturnedout。It’san’ole，Icantellyer——

butit’sbetterthansleepin’underthebridges。"

"Takemetoseeit，"saidAntonyDart。"Iwanttoseethegirl。"

Thewordsspokethemselves。Whyshouldhecaretoseeeithercockloftorgirl？Hedidnot。Hewantedtogobacktohislodgingswiththatwhichhehadcomeouttobuy。

Yethesaidthisthing。Hiscompanionlookedupathimwithanexpressionactuallyrelieved。

"Wouldyertikeupwith’er？"

witheagersharpness，asifconfrontingasimplebusinessproposition。

"She’sprettyan’clean，an’shewon’tdrinkadropo’nothin’。Ifshewastreatedkindshe’dbecheerfler。She’sgotaroundficean’

light’airan’eyes。’Er’air’scurly。

P’rapsyer’dlike’er。"

"Takemetoseeher。"

"She’dlookbetterto—morrow，"

cautiously，"whentheswellin’sgonedownround’ereye。"

Dartstarted——anditwasbecausehehadforthelastfiveminutesforgottensomething。

"Ishallnotbehereto—morrow，"

hesaid。Hisgraspuponthethinginhispockethadloosened，andhetightenedit。

"Ihavesomemoremoneyinmypurse，"hesaiddeliberately。"I

meanttogiveitawaybeforegoing。

Iwanttogiveittopeoplewhoneeditverymuch。"

Shegavehimoneofthesly，squintingglances。

"Deservin’cases？"Sheputittohiminbrazenmockery。

"Idon’tcare，"heansweredslowlyandheavily。"Idon’tcareadamn。"

Herfacechangedexactlyashehadseenitchangeonthebridgewhenshehaddrawnnearertohim。

Itsuglyhardnesssuddenlylookedhuman。Andthatshecouldlookhumanwasfantastic。

"’Owmuch’aveyer？"sheasked。

"’Owmuchisit？"

"Abouttenpounds。"

Shestoppedandstaredathimwithopenmouth。

"Gawd！"shebrokeout;"tenpounds’dsendAppleBlossomCourtto’eving。Leastways，it’dtakesomeofitouto’’ell。"

"Takemetoit，"hesaidroughly。

"Takeme。"

Shebegantowalkquickly，breathingfast。Thefogwaslighter，anditwasnolongerablindingthing。

AquestionoccurredtoDart。

"Whydon’tyouaskmetogivethemoneytoyou？"hesaidbluntly。

"Dunno，"sheansweredasbluntly。

Butaftertakingafewstepsfarthershespokeagain。

"I’mcheerflerthanmostof’em，"

sheelaborated。"Ifyerborncheerfleyercanstandthings。WhenI

getsajobnussin’women’sbibiestheydon’tcrywhenI’andles’em。

Igetsmanyabitean’acopper’coso’that。Folkslikesyer。IshallgetonbetterthanPollywhenI’moldenoughtogoonthestreet。"

Theorganofwhoselagging，sickpumpingsAntonyDarthadscarcelybeenawareformonthsgaveasuddenleapinhisbreast。Hisbloodactuallyhasteneditspace，andranthroughhisveinsinsteadofcrawling——adistinctphysicaleffectofanactualmentalcondition。Itwasproduceduponhimbythemerematter—of—factordinarinessofhertone。Hehadneverbeenasenti—

mentalman，andhadlongceasedtobeafeelingone，butatthatmomentsomethingemotionalandnormalhappenedtohim。

"Youexpecttoliveinthatway？"

hesaid。

"Ain’tnothin’elsefermetodo。

WishtIwasbetterlookin’。ButI’vegotalotof’air，"clawinghermop，"an’it’sred。Oneday，"

chuckling，"agentsestome——heses:`Oh！yer’lldo。Yeranuglylittledevil——butyeAREadevil。’"

Shewasleadinghimthroughanarrow，filthybackstreet，andshestopped，grinningupinhisface。

"Isay，mister，"shewheedled，"let’sstopatthecawfee—stand。

It’supthisway。"

Whenheaccededandfollowedher，shequicklyturnedacorner。

Theywereinanotherlanethickwithfog，whichflaredwiththeflameoftorchesstuckincosters’

barrowswhichstoodhereandthere。

barrowswithfriedfishuponthem，barrowswithsecond—hand—lookingvegetablesandotherspiledwithmorethansecond—hand—lookinggarments。