第39章

ateandIdrank；and，asIateanddrank，Imusedwithinmyself，andmyeyeswerefrequentlydirectedtoasmallgreenbox，whichconstitutedpartofmyluggage，andwhich，withtherestofmythings，stoodinonecorneroftheroom，tillatlast，leavingmybreakfastunfinished，Irose，and，goingtothebox，unlockedit，andtookouttwoorthreebundlesofpaperstiedwithredtape，and，placingthemonthetable，Iresumedmyseatandmybreakfast，myeyesintentlyfixeduponthebundlesofpapersallthetime。

AndwhenIhaddrainedthelastcupofteaoutofadingyteapot，andatethelastsliceofthedingyloaf，Iuntiedoneofthebundles，andproceededtolookoverthepapers，whichwerecloselywrittenoverinasingularhand，andIreadforsometime，tillatlastIsaidtomyself，’Itwilldo。’AndthenIlookedattheotherbundleforsometimewithoutuntyingit；andatlastIsaid，’Itwilldoalso。’AndthenIturnedtothefire，and，puttingmyfeetagainstthesidesofthegrate，Ileanedbackonmychair，and，withmyeyesuponthefire，fellintodeepthought。

AndthereIcontinuedinthoughtbeforethefire，untilmyeyesclosed，andIfellasleep；whichwasnottobewonderedat，afterthefatigueandcoldwhichIhadlatelyundergoneonthecoach-top；

and，inmysleep，Iimaginedmyselfstillthere，amidstdarknessandrain，hurryingnowoverwildheaths，andnowalongroadsoverhungwiththickandumbrageoustrees，andsometimesmethoughtI

heardthehornoftheguard，andsometimesthevoiceofthecoachman，nowchiding，nowencouraginghishorses，astheytoiledthroughthedeepandmiryways。Atlengthatremendouscrackofawhipsalutedthetympanumofmyear，andIstartedupbroadawake，nearlyoversettingthechaironwhichIreclined-andlo!Iwasinthedingyroombeforethefire，whichwasbythistimehalfextinguished。InmydreamIhadconfoundedthenoiseofthestreetwiththoseofmynightjourney；thecrackwhichhadarousedmeI

soonfoundproceededfromthewhipofacarter，who，withmanyoaths，wasflogginghisteambelowthewindow。

Lookingataclockwhichstooduponthemantelpiece，Iperceivedthatitwaspasteleven；whereuponIsaidtomyself，’Iamwastingmytimefoolishlyandunprofitably，forgettingthatIamnowinthebigworld，withoutanythingtodependuponsavemyownexertions’；

andthenIadjustedmydress，and，lockingupthebundleofpaperswhichIhadnotread，Itieduptheother，and，takingitundermyarm，Iwentdownstairs；and，afteraskingaquestionortwoofthepeopleofthehouse，Isalliedforthintothestreetwithadeterminedlook，thoughatheartIfeltsomewhattimorousattheideaofventuringoutaloneintothemazesofthemightycity，ofwhichIhadheardmuch，butofwhich，ofmyownknowledge，Iknewnothing。

Ihad，however，nogreatcauseforanxietyinthepresentinstance；

IeasilyfoundmywaytotheplacewhichIwasinquestof-oneofthemanynewsquaresonthenorthernsideofthemetropolis，andwhichwasscarcelytenminutes’walkfromthestreetinwhichIhadtakenupmyabode。Arrivingbeforethedoorofatolerablylargehousewhichboreacertainnumber，Istoodstillforamomentinakindoftrepidation，lookinganxiouslyatt