English
Itwasadull,close,overcastsummerevening.
Theclouds,whichhadbeenthreateningallday,spreadoutinadenseandsluggishmassofvapour,alreadyyieldedlargedropsofrain,andseemedtopresageaviolentthunder-storm,whenMr.andMrs.Bumble,turningoutofthemainstreetofthetown,directedtheircoursetowardsascatteredlittlecolonyofruinoushouses,distantfromitsomemileanda-half,orthereabouts,anderectedonalowunwholesomeswamp,borderingupontheriver.
Theywerebothwrappedinoldandshabbyoutergarments,whichmight,perhaps,servethedoublepurposeofprotectingtheirpersonsfromtherain,andshelteringthemfromobservation.
Thehusbandcarriedalantern,fromwhich,however,nolightyetshone;andtrudgedon,afewpacesinfront,asthough—thewaybeingdirty—togivehiswifethebenefitoftreadinginhisheavyfootprints.
Theywenton,inprofoundsilence;everynowandthen,Mr.Bumblerelaxedhispace,andturnedhisheadasiftomakesurethathishelpmatewasfollowing;then,discoveringthatshewascloseathisheels,hemendedhisrateofwalking,andproceeded,ataconsiderableincreaseofspeed,towardstheirplaceofdestination.
Thiswasfarfrombeingaplaceofdoubtfulcharacter;forithadlongbeenknownastheresidenceofnonebutlowruffians,who,undervariouspretencesoflivingbytheirlabour,subsistedchieflyonplunderandcrime.
Itwasacollectionofmerehovels:some,hastilybuiltwithloosebricks:others,ofoldworm-eatenship-timber:jumbledtogetherwithoutanyattemptatorderorarrangement,andplanted,forthemostpart,withinafewfeetoftheriver’sbank.
Afewleakyboatsdrawnuponthemud,andmadefasttothedwarfwallwhichskirtedit:andhereandthereanoarorcoilofrope:appeared,atfirst,toindicatethattheinhabitantsofthesemiserablecottagespursuedsomeavocationontheriver;butaglanceattheshatteredanduselessconditionofthearticlesthusdisplayed,wouldhaveledapasser-by,withoutmuchdifficulty,totheconjecturethattheyweredisposedthere,ratherforthepreservationofappearances,thanwithanyviewtotheirbeingactuallyemployed.
Intheheartofthisclusterofhuts;andskirtingtheriver,whichitsupperstoriesoverhung;stoodalargebuilding,formerlyusedasamanufactoryofsomekind.
Ithad,initsday,probablyfurnishedemploymenttotheinhabitantsofthesurroundingtenements.Butithadlongsincegonetoruin.
Therat,theworm,andtheactionofthedamp,hadweakenedandrottedthepilesonwhichitstood;andaconsiderableportionofthebuildinghadalreadysunkdownintothewater;whiletheremainder,totteringandbendingoverthedarkstream,seemedtowaitafavourableopportunityoffollowingitsoldcompanion,andinvolvingitselfinthesamefate.
Itwasbeforethisruinousbuildingthattheworthycouplepaused,asthefirstpealofdistantthunderreverberatedintheair,andtheraincommencedpouringviolentlydown.
‘Theplaceshouldbesomewherehere,’saidBumble,consultingascrapofpaperheheldinhishand.
‘Halloathere!’criedavoicefromabove.
Followingthesound,Mr.Bumbleraisedhisheadanddescriedamanlookingoutofadoor,breast-high,onthesecondstory.
‘Standstill,aminute,’criedthevoice;‘I’llbewithyoudirectly.’Withwhichtheheaddisappeared,andthedoorclosed.
‘Isthattheman?’askedMr.Bumble’sgoodlady.
Mr.Bumblenoddedintheaffirmative.
‘Then,mindwhatItoldyou,’saidthematron:‘andbecarefultosayaslittleasyoucan,oryou’llbetrayusatonce.’
Mr.Bumble,whohadeyedthebuildingwithveryruefullooks,wasapparentlyabouttoexpresssomedoubtsrelativetotheadvisabilityofproceedinganyfurtherwiththeenterprisejustthen,whenhewaspreventedbytheappearanceofMonks:whoopenedasmalldoor,nearwhichtheystood,andbeckonedtheminwards.
‘Comein!’hecriedimpatiently,stampinghisfootupontheground.‘Don’tkeepmehere!’
Thewoman,whohadhesitatedatfirst,walkedboldlyin,withoutanyotherinvitation.
Mr.Bumble,whowasashamedorafraidtolagbehind,followed:obviouslyveryillateaseandwithscarcelyanyofthatremarkabledignitywhichwasusuallyhischiefcharacteristic.
‘Whatthedevilmadeyoustandlingeringthere,inthewet?’saidMonks,turninground,andaddressingBumble,afterhehadboltedthedoorbehindthem.
‘We—wewereonlycoolingourselves,’stammeredBumble,lookingapprehensivelyabouthim.
‘Coolingyourselves!’retortedMonks.
‘Notalltherainthateverfell,oreverwillfall,willputasmuchofhell’sfireout,asamancancarryaboutwithhim.
Youwon’tcoolyourselfsoeasily;don’tthinkit!’
Withthisagreeablespeech,Monksturnedshortuponthematron,andbenthisgazeuponher,tillevenshe,whowasnoteasilycowed,wasfaintowithdrawhereyes,andturnthemtowardstheground.
‘Thisisthewoman,isit?’demandedMonks.
‘Hem!Thatisthewoman,’repliedMr.Bumble,mindfulofhiswife’scaution.
‘Youthinkwomennevercankeepsecrets,Isuppose?’saidthematron,interposing,andreturning,asshespoke,thesearchinglookofMonks.
‘Iknowtheywillalwayskeeponetillit’sfoundout,’saidMonks.
‘Andwhatmaythatbe?’askedthematron.
‘Thelossoftheirowngoodname,’repliedMonks.
‘So,bythesamerule,ifawoman’sapartytoasecretthatmighthangortransporther,I’mnotafraidofhertellingittoanybody;notI!Doyouunderstand,mistress?’
‘No,’rejoinedthematron,slightlycolouringasshespoke.
‘Ofcourseyoudon’t!’saidMonks.‘Howshouldyou?’
Bestowingsomethinghalf-waybetweenasmileandafrownuponhistwocompanions,andagainbeckoningthemtofollowhim,themanhastenedacrosstheapartment,whichwasofconsiderableextent,butlowintheroof.
Hewaspreparingtoascendasteepstaircase,orratherladder,leadingtoanotherfloorofwarehousesabove:whenabrightflashoflightningstreameddowntheaperture,andapealofthunderfollowed,whichshookthecrazybuildingtoitscentre.
‘Hearit!’hecried,shrinkingback.‘Hearit!Rollingandcrashingonasifitechoedthroughathousandcavernswherethedevilswerehidingfromit.Ihatethesound!’
Heremainedsilentforafewmoments;andthen,removinghishandssuddenlyfromhisface,showed,totheunspeakablediscomposureofMr.Bumble,thatitwasmuchdistortedanddiscoloured.
‘Thesefitscomeoverme,nowandthen,’saidMonks,observinghisalarm;‘andthundersometimesbringsthemon.Don’tmindmenow;it’salloverforthisonce.’
Thusspeaking,heledthewayuptheladder;andhastilyclosingthewindow-shutteroftheroomintowhichitled,loweredalanternwhichhungattheendofaropeandpulleypassedthroughoneoftheheavybeamsintheceiling:andwhichcastadimlightuponanoldtableandthreechairsthatwereplacedbeneathit.
‘Now,’saidMonks,whentheyhadallthreeseatedthemselves,‘thesoonerwecometoourbusiness,thebetterforall.Thewomanknowwhatitis,doesshe?’
ThequestionwasaddressedtoBumble;buthiswifeanticipatedthereply,byintimatingthatshewasperfectlyacquaintedwithit.
‘Heisrightinsayingthatyouwerewiththishagthenightshedied;andthatshetoldyousomething—’
‘Aboutthemotheroftheboyyounamed,’repliedthematroninterruptinghim.‘Yes.’
‘Thefirstquestionis,ofwhatnaturewashercommunication?’saidMonks.
‘That’sthesecond,’observedthewomanwithmuchdeliberation.‘Thefirstis,whatmaythecommunicationbeworth?’
‘Whothedevilcantellthat,withoutknowingofwhatkinditis?’askedMonks.
‘Nobodybetterthanyou,Iampersuaded,’answeredMrs.Bumble:whodidnotwantforspirit,asheryoke-fellowcouldabundantlytestify.
‘Humph!’saidMonkssignificantly,andwithalookofeagerinquiry;‘theremaybemoney’sworthtoget,eh?’
‘Perhapstheremay,’wasthecomposedreply.
‘Somethingthatwastakenfromher,’saidMonks.‘Somethingthatshewore.Somethingthat—’
‘Youhadbetterbid,’interruptedMrs.Bumble.‘Ihaveheardenough,already,toassuremethatyouarethemanIoughttotalkto.’
Mr.Bumble,whohadnotyetbeenadmittedbyhisbetterhalfintoanygreatershareofthesecretthanhehadoriginallypossessed,listenedtothisdialoguewithoutstretchedneckanddistendedeyes:whichhedirectedtowardshiswifeandMonks,byturns,inundisguisedastonishment;increased,ifpossible,whenthelattersternlydemanded,whatsumwasrequiredforthedisclosure.
‘What’sitworthtoyou?’askedthewoman,ascollectedlyasbefore.
‘Itmaybenothing;itmaybetwentypounds,’repliedMonks.‘Speakout,andletmeknowwhich.’
‘Addfivepoundstothesumyouhavenamed;givemefive-and-twentypoundsingold,’saidthewoman;‘andI’lltellyouallIknow.Notbefore.’
‘Five-and-twentypounds!’exclaimedMonks,drawingback.
‘IspokeasplainlyasIcould,’repliedMrs.Bumble.‘It’snotalargesum,either.’
‘Notalargesumforapaltrysecret,thatmaybenothingwhenit’stold!’criedMonksimpatiently;‘andwhichhasbeenlyingdeadfortwelveyearspastormore!’
‘Suchmatterskeepwell,and,likegoodwine,oftendoubletheirvalueincourseoftime,’answeredthematron,stillpreservingtheresoluteindifferenceshehadassumed.
‘Astolyingdead,therearethosewhowillliedeadfortwelvethousandyearstocome,ortwelvemillion,foranythingyouorIknow,whowilltellstrangetalesatlast!’
‘WhatifIpayitfornothing?’askedMonks,hesitating.
‘Youcaneasilytakeitawayagain,’repliedthematron.‘Iambutawoman;alonehere;andunprotected.’
‘Notalone,mydear,norunprotected,neither,’submittedMr.Bumble,inavoicetremulouswithfear:‘Iamhere,mydear.
Andbesides,’saidMr.Bumble,histeethchatteringashespoke,‘Mr.Monksistoomuchofagentlemantoattemptanyviolenceonporochialpersons.
Mr.MonksisawarethatIamnotayoungman,mydear,andalsothatIamalittleruntoseed,asImaysay;buhehasheerd:IsayIhavenodoubtMr.Monkshasheerd,mydear:thatIamaverydeterminedofficer,withveryuncommonstrength,ifI’monceroused.
Ionlywantalittlerousing;that’sall.’
AsMr.Bumblespoke,hemadeamelancholyfeintofgraspinghislanternwithfiercedetermination;andplainlyshowed,bythealarmedexpressionofeveryfeature,thathedidwantalittlerousing,andnotalittle,priortomakinganyverywarlikedemonstration:unless,indeed,againstpaupers,orotherpersonorpersonstraineddownforthepurpose.
‘Youareafool,’saidMrs.Bumble,inreply;‘andhadbetterholdyourtongue.’
‘Hehadbetterhavecutitout,beforehecame,ifhecan’tspeakinalowertone,’saidMonks,grimly.‘So!He’syourhusband,eh?’
‘Hemyhusband!’titteredthematron,parryingthequestion.
‘Ithoughtasmuch,whenyoucamein,’rejoinedMonks,markingtheangryglancewhichtheladydartedatherspouseasshespoke.
‘Somuchthebetter;Ihavelesshesitationindealingwithtwopeople,whenIfindthatthere’sonlyonewillbetweenthem.I’minearnest.Seehere!’
Hethrusthishandintoaside-pocket;andproducingacanvasbag,toldouttwenty-fivesovereignsonthetable,andpushedthemovertothewoman.
‘Now,’hesaid,‘gatherthemup;andwhenthiscursedpealofthunder,whichIfeeliscominguptobreakoverthehouse-top,isgone,let’shearyourstory.’
Thethunder,whichseemedinfactmuchnearer,andtoshiverandbreakalmostovertheirheads,havingsubsided,Monks,raisinghisfacefromthetable,bentforwardtolistentowhatthewomanshouldsay.
Thefacesofthethreenearlytouched,asthetwomenleantoverthesmalltableintheireagernesstohear,andthewomanalsoleantforwardtorenderherwhisperaudible.
Thesicklyraysofthesuspendedlanternfallingdirectlyuponthem,aggravatedthepalenessandanxietyoftheircountenances:which,encircledbythedeepestgloomanddarkness,lookedghastlyintheextreme.
‘Whenthiswoman,thatwecalledoldSally,died,’thematronbegan,‘sheandIwerealone.’
‘Wastherenooneby?’askedMonks,inthesamehollowwhisper;‘Nosickwretchoridiotinsomeotherbed?Noonewhocouldhear,andmight,bypossibility,understand?’
‘Notasoul,’repliedthewoman;‘wewerealone.Istoodalonebesidethebodywhendeathcameoverit.’
‘Good,’saidMonks,regardingherattentively.‘Goon.’
‘Shespokeofayoungcreature,’resumedthematron,‘whohadbroughtachildintotheworldsomeyearsbefore;notmerelyinthesameroom,butinthesamebed,inwhichshethenlaydying.’
‘Ay?’saidMonks,withquiveringlip,andglancingoverhisshoulder,‘Blood!Howthingscomeabout!’
‘Thechildwastheoneyounamedtohimlastnight,’saidthematron,noddingcarelesslytowardsherhusband;‘themotherthisnursehadrobbed.’
‘Inlife?’askedMonks.
‘Indeath,’repliedthewoman,withsomethinglikeashudder.
‘Shestolefromthecorpse,whenithadhardlyturnedtoone,thatwhichthedeadmotherhadprayedher,withherlastbreath,tokeepfortheinfant’ssake.’
‘Shesoldit,’criedMonks,withdesperateeagerness;‘didshesellit?Where?When?Towhom?Howlongbefore?’
‘Asshetoldme,withgreatdifficulty,thatshehaddonethis,’saidthematron,‘shefellbackanddied.’
‘Withoutsayingmore?’criedMonks,inavoicewhich,fromitsverysuppression,seemedonlythemorefurious.‘It’salie!I’llnotbeplayedwith.Shesaidmore.
I’lltearthelifeoutofyouboth,butI’llknowwhatitwas.’
‘Shedidn’tutteranotherword,’saidthewoman,toallappearanceunmoved(asMr.Bumblewasveryfarfrombeing)bythestrangeman’sviolence;‘butsheclutchedmygown,violently,withonehand,whichwaspartlyclosed;andwhenIsawthatshewasdead,andsoremovedthehandbyforce,Ifounditclaspedascrapofdirtypaper.’
‘Whichcontained—’interposedMonks,stretchingforward.
‘Nothing,’repliedthewoman;‘itwasapawnbroker’sduplicate.’
‘Forwhat?’demandedMonks.
‘IngoodtimeI’lltellyou.’saidthewoman.
‘Ijudgethatshehadkeptthetrinket,forsometime,inthehopeofturningittobetteraccount;andthenhadpawnedit;andhadsavedorscrapedtogethermoneytopaythepawnbroker’sinterestyearbyyear,andpreventitsrunningout;sothatifanythingcameofit,itcouldstillberedeemed.
Nothinghadcomeofit;and,asItellyou,shediedwiththescrapofpaper,allwornandtattered,inherhand.
Thetimewasoutintwodays;Ithoughtsomethingmightonedaycomeofittoo;andsoredeemedthepledge.’
‘Whereisitnow?’askedMonksquickly.
‘There,’repliedthewoman.And,asifgladtoberelievedofit,shehastilythrewuponthetableasmallkidbagscarcelylargeenoughforaFrenchwatch,whichMonkspouncingupon,toreopenwithtremblinghands.
Itcontainedalittlegoldlocket:inwhichweretwolocksofhair,andaplaingoldwedding-ring.
‘Ithastheword“Agnes”engravedontheinside,’saidthewoman.
‘Thereisablankleftforthesurname;andthenfollowsthedate;whichiswithinayearbeforethechildwasborn.Ifoundoutthat.’
‘Andthisisall?’saidMonks,afteracloseandeagerscrutinyofthecontentsofthelittlepacket.
‘All,’repliedthewoman.
Mr.Bumbledrewalongbreath,asifheweregladtofindthatthestorywasover,andnomentionmadeoftakingthefive-and-twentypoundsbackagain;andnowhetookcouragetowipetheperspirationwhichhadbeentricklingoverhisnose,unchecked,duringthewholeofthepreviousdialogue.
‘Iknownothingofthestory,beyondwhatIcanguessat,’saidhiswifeaddressingMonks,afterashortsilence;‘andIwanttoknownothing;forit’ssafernot.
ButImayaskyoutwoquestions,mayI?’
‘Youmayask,’saidMonks,withsomeshowofsurprise;‘butwhetherIanswerornotisanotherquestion.’
’—Whichmakesthree,’observedMr.Bumble,essayingastrokeoffacetiousness.
‘Isthatwhatyouexpectedtogetfromme?’demandedthematron.
‘Itis,’repliedMonks.‘Theotherquestion?’
‘Whatdoyouproposetodowithit?Canitbeusedagainstme?’
‘Never,’rejoinedMonks;‘noragainstmeeither.Seehere!Butdon’tmoveastepforward,oryourlifeisnotworthabulrush.’
Withthesewords,hesuddenlywheeledthetableaside,andpullinganironringintheboarding,threwbackalargetrap-doorwhichopenedcloseatMr.Bumble’sfeet,andcausedthatgentlemantoretireseveralpacesbackward,withgreatprecipitation.
‘Lookdown,’saidMonks,loweringthelanternintothegulf.‘Don’tfearme.Icouldhaveletyoudown,quietlyenough,whenyouwereseatedoverit,ifthathadbeenmygame.’
Thusencouraged,thematrondrewneartothebrink;andevenMr.Bumblehimself,impelledbycuriousity,venturedtodothesame.
Theturbidwater,swollenbytheheavyrain,wasrushingrapidlyonbelow;andallothersoundswerelostinthenoiseofitsplashingandeddyingagainstthegreenandslimypiles.
Therehadoncebeenawater-millbeneath;thetidefoamingandchafingroundthefewrottenstakes,andfragmentsofmachinerythatyetremained,seemedtodartonward,withanewimpulse,whenfreedfromtheobstacleswhichhadunavailinglyattemptedtostemitsheadlongcourse.
‘Ifyouflungaman’sbodydownthere,wherewoulditbeto-morrowmorning?’saidMonks,swingingthelanterntoandfrointhedarkwell.
‘Twelvemilesdowntheriver,andcuttopiecesbesides,’repliedBumble,recoilingatthethought.
Monksdrewthelittlepacketfromhisbreast,wherehehadhurriedlythrustit;andtyingittoaleadenweight,whichhadformedapartofsomepulley,andwaslyingonthefloor,droppeditintothestream.
Itfellstraight,andtrueasadie;clovethewaterwithascarcelyaudiblesplash;andwasgone.
Thethreelookingintoeachother’sfaces,seemedtobreathemorefreely.
‘There!’saidMonks,closingthetrap-door,whichfellheavilybackintoitsformerposition.
‘Iftheseaevergivesupitsdead,asbookssayitwill,itwillkeepitsgoldandsilvertoitself,andthattrashamongit.
Wehavenothingmoretosay,andmaybreakupourpleasantparty.’
‘Byallmeans,’observedMr.Bumble,withgreatalacrity.
‘You’llkeepaquiettongueinyourhead,willyou?’saidMonks,withathreateninglook.‘Iamnotafraidofyourwife.’
‘Youmaydependuponme,youngman,’answeredMr.Bumble,bowinghimselfgraduallytowardstheladder,withexcessivepoliteness.‘Oneverybody’saccount,youngman;onmyown,youknow,Mr.Monks.’
‘Iamglad,foryoursake,tohearit,’remarkedMonks.‘Lightyourlantern!Andgetawayfromhereasfastasyoucan.’
Itwasfortunatethattheconversationterminatedatthispoint,orMr.Bumble,whohadbowedhimselftowithinsixinchesoftheladder,wouldinfalliblyhavepitchedheadlongintotheroombelow.
HelightedhislanternfromthatwhichMonkshaddetachedfromtherope,andnowcarriedinhishand;andmakingnoefforttoprolongthediscourse,descendedinsilence,followedbyhiswife.
Monksbroughtuptherear,afterpausingonthestepstosatisfyhimselfthattherewerenoothersoundstobeheardthanthebeatingoftherainwithout,andtherushingofthewater.
Theytraversedthelowerroom,slowly,andwithcaution;forMonksstartedateveryshadow;andMr.Bumble,holdinghislanternafootabovetheground,walkednotonlywithremarkablecare,butwithamarvellouslylightstepforagentlemanofhisfigure:lookingnervouslyabouthimforhiddentrap-doors.
Thegateatwhichtheyhadentered,wassoftlyunfastenedandopenedbyMonks;merelyexchanginganodwiththeirmysteriousacquaintance,themarriedcoupleemergedintothewetanddarknessoutside.
Theywerenosoonergone,thanMonks,whoappearedtoentertainaninvinciblerepugnancetobeingleftalone,calledtoaboywhohadbeenhiddensomewherebelow.
Biddinghimgofirst,andbearthelight,hereturnedtothechamberhehadjustquitted.
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