第68章

Shelookedathimforaninstant，andthensaidfrowningly，’I

won’t。MissWade，takemeaway，please。’

Thecontentionthatragedwithinherhadnosofteninginitnow；itwaswhollybetweenpassionatedefianceandstubborndefiance。Herrichcolour，herquickblood，herrapidbreath，wereallsettingthemselvesagainsttheopportunityofretracingtheirsteps。’I

won’t。Iwon’t。Iwon’t!’sherepeatedinalow，thickvoice。

’I’dbetorntopiecesfirst。I’dtearmyselftopiecesfirst!’

MissWade，whohadreleasedherhold，laidherhandprotectinglyonthegirl’sneckforamoment，andthensaid，lookingroundwithherformersmileandspeakingexactlyinherformertone，’Gentlemen!

Whatdoyoudouponthat？’

’Oh，Tattycoram，Tattycoram!’criedMrMeagles，adjuringherbesideswithanearnesthand。’Hearthatlady’svoice，lookatthatlady’sface，considerwhatisinthatlady’sheart，andthinkwhatafutureliesbeforeyou。Mychild，whateveryoumaythink，thatlady’sinfluenceoveryou——astonishingtous，andIshouldhardlygotoofarinsayingterribletoustosee——isfoundedinpassionfiercerthanyours，andtempermoreviolentthanyours。

Whatcanyoutwobetogether？Whatcancomeofit？’

’Iamalonehere，gentlemen，’observedMissWade，withnochangeofvoiceormanner。’Sayanythingyouwill。’

’Politenessmustyieldtothismisguidedgirl，ma’am，’saidMrMeagles，’atherpresentpass；thoughIhopenotaltogethertodismissit，evenwiththeinjuryyoudohersostronglybeforeme。

Excusemeforremindingyouinherhearing——Imustsayit——thatyouwereamysterytoallofus，andhadnothingincommonwithanyofuswhensheunfortunatelyfellinyourway。Idon’tknowwhatyouare，butyoudon’thide，can’thide，whatadarkspirityouhavewithinyou。Ifitshouldhappenthatyouareawoman，who，fromwhatevercause，hasaperverteddelightinmakingasister-womanaswretchedassheis(Iamoldenoughtohaveheardofsuch)，Iwarnheragainstyou，andIwarnyouagainstyourself。’

’Gentlemen!’saidMissWade，calmly。’Whenyouhaveconcluded——MrClennam，perhapsyouwillinduceyourfriend——’

’Notwithoutanothereffort，’saidMrMeagles，stoutly。

’Tattycoram，mypoordeargirl，countfive-and-twenty。’

’Donotrejectthehope，thecertainty，thiskindmanoffersyou，’

saidClennaminalowemphaticvoice。’Turntothefriendsyouhavenotforgotten。Thinkoncemore!’

’Iwon’t!MissWade，’saidthegirl，withherbosomswellinghigh，andspeakingwithherhandheldtoherthroat，’takemeaway!’

’Tattycoram，’saidMrMeagles。’Oncemoreyet!TheonlythingI

askofyouintheworld，mychild!Countfive-and-twenty!’

Sheputherhandstightlyoverherears，confusedlytumblingdownherbrightblackhairinthevehemenceoftheaction，andturnedherfaceresolutelytothewall。MissWade，whohadwatchedherunderthisfinalappealwiththatstrangeattentivesmile，andthatrepressinghanduponherownbosomwithwhichshehadwatchedherinherstruggleatMarseilles，thenputherarmaboutherwaistasifshetookpossessionofherforevermore。

Andtherewasavisibletriumphinherfacewhensheturnedittodismissthevisitors。

’AsitisthelasttimeIshallhavethehonour，’shesaid，’andasyouhavespokenofnotknowingwhatIam，anda