按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
us that minute； nobody should stop her； and we should never hear of her
again。'
Mr Meagles had recited all this with such a vivid remembrance of his
original； that he was almost as flushed and hot by this time as he
described her to have been。
'Ah； well！' he said； wiping his face。 'It was of no use trying reason
then； with that vehement panting creature （Heaven knows what her
mother's story must have been）； so I quietly told her that she should
not go at that late hour of night； and I gave her MY hand and took her
to her room； and locked the house doors。 But she was gone this morning。'
'And you know no more of her？'
'No more；' returned Mr Meagles。 'I have been hunting about all day。 She
must have gone very early and very silently。 I have found no trace of
her down about us。'
'Stay！ You want；' said Clennam； after a moment's reflection； 'to see
her？ I assume that？'
'Yes； assuredly； I want to give her another chance； Mother and Pet
want to give her another chance； e！ You yourself；' said Mr Meagles；
persuasively； as if the provocation to be angry were not his own at all；
'want to give the poor passionate girl another chance； I know； Clennam。'
'It would be strange and hard indeed if I did not；' said Clennam； 'when
you are all so forgiving。 What I was going to ask you was； have you
thought of that Miss Wade？'
'I have。 I did not think of her until I had pervaded the whole of our
neighbourhood； and I don't know that I should have done so then but
for finding Mother and Pet； when I went home； full of the idea that
Tattycoram must have gone to her。 Then； of course； I recalled what she
said that day at dinner when you were first with US。'
'Have you any idea where Miss Wade is to be found？'
'To tell you the truth；' returned Mr Meagles； 'it's because I have an
addled jumble of a notion on that subject that you found me waiting
here。 There is one of those odd impressions in my house； which do
mysteriously get into houses sometimes； which nobody seems to have
picked up in a distinct form from anybody； and yet which everybody seems
to have got hold of loosely from somebody and let go again； that she
lives； or was living； thereabouts。' Mr Meagles handed him a slip of
paper； on which was written the name of one of the dull by…streets in
the Grosvenor region； near Park Lane。
'Here is no number；' said Arthur looking over it。
'No number； my dear Clennam？' returned his friend。 'No anything！ The
very name of the street may have been floating in the air； for； as I
tell you； none of my people can say where they got it from。 However；
it's worth an inquiry； and as I would rather make it in pany than
alone； and as you too were a fellow…traveller of that immovable woman's；
I thought perhaps……' Clennam finished the sentence for him by taking up
his hat again； and saying he was ready。
It was now summer…time； a grey； hot； dusty evening。 They rode to the top
of Oxford Street； and there alighting； dived in among the great streets
of melancholy stateliness； and the little streets that try to be as
stately and succeed in being more melancholy； of which there is a
labyrinth near Park Lane。 Wildernesses of corner houses； with barbarous
old porticoes and appurtenances； horrors that came into existence under
some wrong…headed person in some wrong…headed time； still demanding
the blind admiration of all ensuing generations and determined to do
so until they tumbled down； frowned upon the twilight。 Parasite little
tenements； with the cramp in their whole frame； from the dwarf hall…door
on the giant model of His Grace's in the Square to the squeezed window
of the boudoir manding the dunghills in the Mews； made the evening
doleful。 Rickety dwellings of undoubted fashion； but of a capacity to
hold nothing fortably except a dismal smell； looked like the last
result of the great mansions' breeding in…and…in； and； where their
little supplementary bows and balconies were supported on thin iron
columns； seemed to be scrofulously resting upon crutches。
Here and there a Hatchment； with the whole science of Heraldry in it；
loomed down upon the street； like an Archbishop discoursing on Vanity。
The shops； few in number； made no show； for popular opinion was as
nothing to them。 The pastrycook knew who was on his books； and in
that knowledge could be calm； with a few glass cylinders of dowager
peppermint…drops in his window； and half…a…dozen ancient specimens of
currant…jelly。 A few oranges formed the greengrocer's whole concession
to the vulgar mind。 A single basket made of moss； once containing
plovers' eggs； held all that the poulterer had to say to the rabble。
Everybody in those streets seemed （which is always the case at that hour
and season） to be gone out to dinner； and nobody seemed to be giving the
dinners they had gone to。 On the doorsteps there were lounging footmen
with bright parti…coloured plumage and white polls； like an extinct race
of monstrous birds； and butlers； solitary men of recluse demeanour； each
of whom appeared distrustful of all other butlers。 The roll of carriages
in the Park was done for the day； the street lamps were lighting； and
wicked little grooms in the tightest fitting garments； with twists in
their legs answering to the twists in their minds； hung about in pairs；
chewing straws and exchanging fraudulent secrets。 The spotted dogs who
went out with the carriages； and who were so associated with splendid
equipages that it looked like a condescension in those animals to e
out without them； acpanied helpers to and fro on messages。 Here and
there was a retiring public…house which did not require to be supported
on the shoulders of the people； and where gentlemen out of livery were
not much wanted。
This last discovery was made by the two friends in pursuing their
inquiries。 Nothing was there； or anywhere； known of such a person as
Miss Wade； in connection with the street they sought。 It was one of the
parasite streets； long； regular； narrow； dull and gloomy； like a brick
and mortar funeral。 They inquired at several little area gates； where
a dejected youth stood spiking his chin on the summit of a precipitous
little shoot of wooden s