第38章

Strange，ifthelittlesick-roomfirewereineffectabeaconfire，summoningsomeone，andthatthemostunlikelysomeoneintheworld，tothespotthatMUSTbecometo。Strange，ifthelittlesick-roomlightwereineffectawatch-light，burninginthatplaceeverynightuntilanappointedeventshouldbewatchedout!Whichofthevastmultitudeoftravellers，underthesunandthestars，climbingthedustyhillsandtoilingalongthewearyplains，journeyingbylandandjourneyingbysea，comingandgoingsostrangely，tomeetandtoactandreactononeanother；whichofthehostmay，withnosuspicionofthejourney’send，betravellingsurelyhither？

Timeshallshowus。Thepostofhonourandthepostofshame，thegeneral’sstationandthedrummer’s，apeer’sstatueinWestminsterAbbeyandaseaman’shammockinthebosomofthedeep，themitreandtheworkhouse，thewoolsackandthegallows，thethroneandtheguillotine——thetravellerstoallareonthegreathighroad，butithaswonderfuldivergencies，andonlyTimeshallshowuswhithereachtravellerisbound。

Onawintryafternoonattwilight，MrsFlintwinch，havingbeenheavyallday，dreamedthisdream：

Shethoughtshewasinthekitchengettingthekettlereadyfortea，andwaswarmingherselfwithherfeetuponthefenderandtheskirtofhergowntuckedup，beforethecollapsedfireinthemiddleofthegrate，borderedoneitherhandbyadeepcoldblackravine。Shethoughtthatasshesatthus，musinguponthequestionwhetherlifewasnotforsomepeoplearatherdullinvention，shewasfrightenedbyasuddennoisebehindher。Shethoughtthatshehadbeensimilarlyfrightenedoncelastweek，andthatthenoisewasofamysteriouskind——asoundofrustlingandofthreeorfourquickbeatslikearapidstep；whileashockortremblewascommunicatedtoherheart，asifthestephadshakenthefloor，orevenasifshehadbeentouchedbysomeawfulhand。Shethoughtthatthisrevivedwithinhercertainoldfearsofhersthatthehousewashaunted；andthatsheflewupthekitchenstairswithoutknowinghowshegotup，tobenearercompany。

MistressAfferythoughtthatonreachingthehall，shesawthedoorofherliegelord’sofficestandingopen，andtheroomempty。Thatshewenttotheripped-upwindowinthelittleroombythestreetdoortoconnectherpalpitatingheart，throughtheglass，withlivingthingsbeyondandoutsidethehauntedhouse。Thatshethensaw，onthewalloverthegateway，theshadowsofthetwocleveronesinconversationabove。Thatshethenwentupstairswithhershoesinherhand，partlytobenearthecleveronesasamatchformostghosts，andpartlytohearwhattheyweretalkingabout。

’Noneofyournonsensewithme，’saidMrFlintwinch。’Iwon’ttakeitfromyou。’

MrsFlintwinchdreamedthatshestoodbehindthedoor，whichwasjustajar，andmostdistinctlyheardherhusbandsaytheseboldwords。

’Flintwinch，’returnedMrsClennam，inherusualstronglowvoice，’thereisademonofangerinyou。Guardagainstit。’

’Idon’tcarewhetherthere’soneoradozen，’saidMrFlintwinch，forciblysuggestinginhistonethatthehighernumberwasnearerthemark。’Iftherewasfifty，theyshouldallsay，Noneofyournonsensewithme，Iwon’ttakeitfromyou——I’dmake’emsayit，whethertheylikeditornot。’

’WhathaveIdone，youwrathfulman？’herstrongvoiceasked。

’Done？’saidMrFlintwinch。’Droppeddownuponme。’

’Ifyoumean，remonstratedwithyou——’

’Don’tputwordsintomymouththatIdon’tmean，’saidJeremiah，stickingtohisfigurativeexpressionwithtenacio