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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 she walked
with her hands folded before her； and that was all he could make of
her without showing his face。 There happened； by good fortune； to be a
lounger really waiting for some one； and he sometimes looked over the
railing at the water； and sometimes came to the dark corner and looked
up the street； rendering Arthur less conspicuous。
When Miss Wade and the man came back again； she was saying； 'You must
wait until to…morrow。'
'A thousand pardons？' he returned。 'My faith！ Then it's not convenient
to…night？'
'No。 I tell you I must get it before I can give it to you。'
She stopped in the roadway； as if to put an end to the conference。 He of
course stopped too。 And the girl stopped。
'It's a little inconvenient；' said the man。 'A little。 But； Holy Blue！
that's nothing in such a service。 I am without money to…night； by
chance。 I have a good banker in this city； but I would not wish to draw
upon the house until the time when I shal