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He wore； hanging with a long strap round his neck； a kind of
scrip or wallet； in which to carry food。 The widow set some bread
and cheese before him； but he thanked her； and said that through
the kindness of the charitable he had broken his fast once since
morning； and was not hungry。 When he had made her this reply；
he opened his wallet； and took out a few pence； which was all it
appeared to contain。
‘Might I make bold to ask；’ he said； turning towards where
Barnaby stood looking on； ‘that one who has the gift of sight；
would lay this out for me in bread to keep me on my way？
Heaven’s blessing on the young feet that will bestir themselves in
aid of one so helpless as a sightless man！’
Barnaby looked at his mother； who nodded assent； in another
moment he was gone upon his charitable errand。 The blind man
sat listening with an attentive face； until long after the sound of his
retreating footsteps was inaudible to the widow； and then said；
suddenly； and in a very altered tone：
‘There are various degrees and kinds of blindness； widow。
There is the connubial blindness； ma’am； which perhaps you may
have observed in the course of your own experience； and which is
a kind of wilful and self…bandaging blindness。 There is the
blindness of party； ma’am； and public men； which is the blindness
of a mad bull in the midst of a regiment of soldiers clothed in red。
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There is the blind confidence of youth； which is the blindness of
young kittens； whose eyes have not yet opened on the world； and
there is that physical blindness； ma’am； of which I am； contrary to
my own desire； a most illustrious example。 Added to these； ma’am；
is that blindness of the intellect； of which we have a specimen in
your interesting son； and which； having sometimes glimmerings
and dawnings of the light； is scarcely to be trusted as a total
darkness。 Therefore； ma’am； I have taken the liberty to get him
out of the way for a short time； while you and I confer together；
and this precaution arising out of the delicacy of my sentiments
towards yourself； you will excuse me； ma’am； I know。’
Having delivered himself of this speech with many flourishes of
manner； he drew from beneath his coat a flat stone bottle； and
holding the cork between his teeth； qualified his mug of water with
a plentiful infusion of the liquor it contained。 He politely drained
the bumper to her health； and the ladies； and setting it down
empty； smacked his lips with infinite relish。
‘I am a citizen of the world； ma’am；’ said the blind man； corking
his bottle； ‘and if I seem to conduct myself with freedom； it is
therefore。 You wonder who I am； ma’am； and what has brought
me here。 Such experience of human nature as I have； leads me to
that conclusion； without the aid of eyes by which to read the
movements of your soul as depicted in your feminine features。 I
will satisfy your curiosity immediately； ma’am； immediately。’ With
that he slapped his bottle on its broad back； and having put it
under his garment as before； crossed his legs and folded his hands；
and settled himself in his chair； previous to proceeding any
further。
The change in his manner was so unexpected； the craft and
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Barnaby Rudge 489
wickedness of his deportment were so much aggravated by his
condition—for we are accustomed to see in those who have lost a
human sense； something in its place almost divine—and this
alteration bred so many fears in her whom he addressed； that she
could not pronounce one word。 After waiting； as it seemed； for
some remark or answer； and waiting in vain； the visitor resumed：
‘Madam； my name is Stagg。 A friend of mine who has desired
the honour of meeting with you any time these five years past； has
commissioned me to call upon you。 I should be glad to whisper
that gentleman’s name in your ear。—Zounds； ma’am； are you
deaf？ Do you hear me say that I should be glad to whisper my
friend’s name in your ear？’
‘You need not repeat it；’ said the widow； with a stifled groan； ‘I
see too well from whom you come。’
‘But as a man of honour； ma’am；’ said the blind man； striking
himself on the breast； ‘whose credentials must not be disputed； I
take leave to say that I will mention that gentleman’s name。 Ay；
ay；’ he added； seeming to catch with his quick ear the very motion
of her hand； ‘but not aloud。 With your leave； ma’am； I desire the
favour of a whisper。’
She moved towards him； and stooped down。 He muttered a
word in her ear； and； wringing her hands； she paced up and down
the room like one distracted。 The blind man； with perfect
composure； produced his bottle again； mixed another glassful； put
it up as before； and； drinking from time to time； followed her with
his face in silence。
‘You are slow in conversation； widow；’ he said after a time；
pausing in his draught。 ‘We shall have to talk before your son。’
‘What would you have me do？’ she answered。 ‘What do you
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want？’
‘We are poor； widow； we are poor；’ he retorted； stretching out
his right hand； and rubbing his thumb upon its palm。
‘Poor！’ she cried。 ‘And what am I？’
‘Comparisons are odious；’ said the blind man。 ‘I don’t know； I
don’t care。 I say that we are poor。 My friend’s circumstances are
indifferent； and so are mine。 We must have our rights； widow； or
we must be bought off。 But you know that； as well as I； so where is
the use of talking？’