第37章

Threeo’clock，andhalf-pastthree，andtheyhadpassedoverLondonBridge。Theyhadheardtherushofthetideagainstobstacles；andlookeddown，awed，throughthedarkvapourontheriver；hadseenlittlespotsoflightedwaterwherethebridgelampswerereflected，shininglikedemoneyes，withaterriblefascinationinthemforguiltandmisery。Theyhadshrunkpasthomelesspeople，lyingcoiledupinnooks。Theyhadrunfromdrunkards。Theyhadstartedfromslinkingmen，whistlingandsigningtooneanotheratbyecorners，orrunningawayatfullspeed。Thougheverywheretheleaderandtheguide，LittleDorrit，happyforonceinheryouthfulappearance，feignedtoclingtoandrelyuponMaggy。Andmorethanoncesomevoice，fromamongaknotofbrawlingorprowlingfiguresintheirpath，hadcalledouttotherestto’letthewomanandthechildgoby!’

So，thewomanandthechildhadgoneby，andgoneon，andfivehadsoundedfromthesteeples。Theywerewalkingslowlytowardstheeast，alreadylookingforthefirstpalestreakofday，whenawomancameafterthem。

’Whatareyoudoingwiththechild？’shesaidtoMaggy。

Shewasyoung——fartooyoungtobethere，Heavenknows!——andneitheruglynorwicked-looking。Shespokecoarsely，butwithnonaturallycoarsevoice；therewasevensomethingmusicalinitssound。

’Whatareyoudoingwithyourself？’retortedMaggy，forwantOfabetteranswer。

’Can’tyousee，withoutmytellingyou？’

’Idon’tknowasIcan，’saidMaggy。

’Killingmyself!NowIhaveansweredyou，answerme。Whatareyoudoingwiththechild？’

Thesupposedchildkeptherheaddroopeddown，andkeptherformcloseatMaggy’sside。

’Poorthing!’saidthewoman。’Haveyounofeeling，thatyoukeepheroutinthecruelstreetsatsuchatimeasthis？Haveyounoeyes，thatyoudon’tseehowdelicateandslendersheis？Haveyounosense(youdon’tlookasifyouhadmuch)thatyoudon’ttakemorepityonthiscoldandtremblinglittlehand？’

Shehadsteppedacrosstothatside，andheldthehandbetweenherowntwo，chafingit。’Kissapoorlostcreature，dear，’shesaid，bendingherface，’andtellmewhere’sshetakingyou。’

LittleDorritturnedtowardsher。

’Why，myGod!’shesaid，recoiling，’you’reawoman!’

’Don’tmindthat!’saidLittleDorrit，claspingoneofherhandsthathadsuddenlyreleasedhers。’Iamnotafraidofyou。’

’Thenyouhadbetterbe，’sheanswered。’Haveyounomother？’

’No。’

’Nofather？’

’Yes，averydearone。’

’Gohometohim，andbeafraidofme。Letmego。Goodnight!’

’Imustthankyoufirst；letmespeaktoyouasifIreallywereachild。’

’Youcan’tdoit，’saidthewoman。’Youarekindandinnocent；butyoucan’tlookatmeoutofachild’seyes。Inevershouldhavetouchedyou，butIthoughtthatyouwereachild。’Andwithastrange，wildcry，shewentaway。

Nodayyetinthesky，buttherewasdayintheresoundingstonesofthestreets；inthewaggons，carts，andcoaches；intheworkersgoingtovariousoccupations；intheopeningofearlysho