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weaker than they used to be。 Do not speak to me。’
‘How can I see what I have seen； and hold my peace！’ returned
the locksmith。 ‘Who was that man； and why has his coming made
this change in you？’
She was silent； but held to the chair as though to save herself
from falling on the ground。
‘I take the licence of an old acquaintance； Mary；’ said the
locksmith； ‘who has ever had a warm regard for you； and maybe
has tried to prove it when he could。 Who is this ill…favoured man；
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and what has he to do with you？ Who is this ghost； that is only
seen in the black nights and bad weather？ How does he know； and
why does he haunt； this house； whispering through chinks and
crevices； as if there was that between him and you； which neither
durst so much as speak aloud of？ Who is he？’
‘You do well to say he haunts this house；’ returned the widow；
faintly。 ‘His shadow has been upon it and me； in light and
darkness； at noonday and midnight。 And now； at last； he has come
in the body！’
‘But he wouldn’t have gone in the body；’ returned the locksmith
with some irritation； ‘if you had left my arms and legs at liberty。
What riddle is this？’
‘It is one；’ she answered； rising as she spoke； ‘that must remain
for ever as it is。 I dare not say more than that。’
‘Dare not！’ repeated the wondering locksmith。
‘Do not press me；’ she replied。 ‘I am sick and faint； and every
faculty of life seems dead within me。—No！—Do not touch me；
either。’
Gabriel； who had stepped forward to render her assistance； fell
back as she made this hasty exclamation； and regarded her in
silent wonder。
‘Let me go my way alone；’ she said in a low voice； ‘and let the
hands of no honest man touch mine to…night。’ When she had
tottered to the door； she turned； and added with a stronger effort；
‘This is a secret； which； of necessity； I trust to you。 You are a true
man。 As you have ever been good and kind to me；—keep it。 If any
noise was heard above； make some excuse—say anything but what
you really saw； and never let a word or look between us； recall this
circumstance。 I trust to you。 Mind； I trust to you。 How much I
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trust； you never can conceive。’
Casting her eyes upon him for an instant； she withdrew； and
left him there alone。
Gabriel； not knowing what to think； stood staring at the door
with a countenance full of surprise and dismay。 The more he
pondered on what had passed； the less able he was to give it any
favourable interpretation。 To find this widow woman； whose life
for so many years had been supposed to be one of solitude and
retirement； and who； in her quiet suffering character； had gained
the good opinion and respect of all who knew her—to find her
linked mysteriously with an ill…omened man； alarmed at his
appearance； and yet favouring his escape； was a discovery that
pained as much as startled him。 Her reliance on his secrecy； and
his tacit acquiescence； increased his distress of mind。 If he had
spoken boldly； persisted in questioning her； detained her when
she rose to leave the room； made any kind of protest； instead of
silently compromising himself； as he felt he had done； he would
have been more at ease。
‘Why did I let her say it was a secret； and she trusted it to me！’
said Gabriel； putting his wig on one side to scratch his head with
greater ease； and looking ruefully at the fire。 ‘I have no more
readiness than old John himself。 Why didn’t I say firmly； “You
have no right to such secrets； and I demand of you to tell me what
this means；” instead of standing gaping at her； like an old moon…
calf as I am！ But there’s my weakness。 I can be obstinate enough
with men if need be； but women may twist me round their fingers
at their pleasure。’
He took his wig off outright as he made this reflection； and；
warming his handkerchief at the fire began to rub and polish his
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bald head with it； until it glistened again。
‘And yet；’ said the locksmith； softening under this soothing
process； and stopping to smile； ‘it may be nothing。 Any drunken
brawler trying to make his way into the house； would have
alarmed a quiet soul like her。 But then’—and here was the
vexation—‘how came it to be that man； how comes he to have this
influence over her； how came she to favour his getting away from
me； and； more than all； how came she not to say it was a sudden
fright； and nothing more？ It’s a sad thing to have； in one minute；
reason to mistrust a person I have known so long； and an old
sweetheart into the bargain； but what else can I do； with all this
upon my mind！—Is that Barnaby outside there？’
‘Ay！’ he cried； looking in and nodding。 ‘Sure enough it’s
Barnaby—how did you guess？’
‘By your shadow；’ said the locksmith。
‘Oho！’ cried Barnaby； glancing over his shoulder； ‘He’s a merry
fellow； that shadow； and keeps close to me； though I am silly。 We
have such pranks； such walks； such runs； such gambols on the
grass！ Sometimes he’ll be half as tall as a church steeple； and
sometimes no bigger than a dwarf。 Now； he goes on before； and
now behind； and anon he’ll be stealing on； on this side； or on that；
stopping whenever I stop； and thinking I can’t see him； though I
have my eye on him sharp enough。 Oh！ he’s a merry fellow。 Tell
me—is he silly too？ I think he is。’
‘Why？’ asked Gabriel。
‘Because be never tires of mocking me； but does it all day
long。—Why don’t you come？’
‘Where？’
‘Upstair