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opinions at this minute。 That makes it worse。 Somebody’s longing
to work me off。 I know by myself that somebody must be！’
‘He’ll soon have his longing；’ said Hugh； resuming his walk。
‘Think of that； and be quiet。’
Although one of these men displayed； in his speech and
bearing； the most reckless hardihood； and the other； in his every
word and action； testified such an extreme of abject cowardice
that it was humiliating to see him； it would be difficult to say
which of them would most have repelled and shocked an observer。
Hugh’s was the dogged desperation of a savage at the stake； the
hangman was reduced to a condition little better； if any； than that
of a hound with the halter round his neck。 Yet； as Mr Dennis knew
and could have told them； these were the two commonest states of
mind in persons brought to their pass。 Such was the wholesome
growth of the seed sown by the law； that this kind of harvest was
usually looked for； as a matter of course。
In one respect they all agreed。 The wandering and
uncontrollable train of thought； suggesting sudden recollections of
things distant and long forgotten and remote from each other—the
vague restless craving for something undefined； which nothing
could satisfy—the swift flight of the minutes； fusing themselves
into hours； as if by enchantment—the rapid coming of the solemn
night—the shadow of death always upon them； and yet so dim and
faint； that objects the meanest and most trivial started from the
gloom beyond； and forced themselves upon the view—the
impossibility of holding the mind； even if they had been so
disposed； to penitence and preparation； or of keeping it to any
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point while one hideous fascination tempted it away—these things
were common to them all； and varied only in their outward tokens。
‘Fetch me the book I left within—upon your bed；’ she said to
Barnaby； as the clock struck。 ‘Kiss me first。’
He looked in her face； and saw there； that the time was come。
After a long embrace； he tore himself away； and ran to bring it to
her； bidding her not stir till he came back。 He soon returned； for a
shriek recalled him；—but she was gone。
He ran to the yard…gate； and looked through。 They were
carrying her away。 She had said her heart would break。 It was
better so。
‘Don’t you think；’ whimpered Dennis； creeping up to him； as he
stood with his feet rooted to the ground； gazing at the blank
walls—‘don’t you think there’s still a chance？ It’s a dreadful end；
it’s a terrible end for a man like me。 Don’t you think there’s a
chance？ I don’t mean for you； I mean for me。 Don’t let him hear us
（meaning Hugh）； ‘he’s so desperate。’
Now then；’ said the officer； who had been lounging in and out
with his hands in his pockets； and yawning as if he were in the last
extremity for some subject of interest： ‘it’s time to turn in； boys。’
‘Not yet；’ cried Dennis； ‘not yet。 Not for an hour yet。’
‘I say；—your watch goes different from what it used to；’
returned the man。 ‘Once upon a time it was always too fast。 It’s got
the other fault now。’
‘My friend；’ cried the wretched creature； falling on his knees；
‘my dear friend—you always were my dear friend—there’s some
mistake。 Some letter has been mislaid； or some messenger has
been stopped upon the way。 He may have fallen dead。 I saw a man
once； fall down dead in the street； myself； and he had papers in his
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Barnaby Rudge 822
pocket。 Send to inquire。 Let somebody go to inquire。 They never
will hang me。 They never can。—Yes； they will；’ he cried； starting to
his feet with a terrible scream。 ‘They’ll hang me by a trick； and
keep the pardon back。 It’s a plot against me。 I shall lose my life！’
And uttering another yell； he fell in a fit upon the ground。
‘See the hangman when it comes home to him！’ cried Hugh
again； as they bore him away—‘Ha ha ha！ Courage； bold Barnaby；
what care we？ Your hand！ They do well to put us out of the world；
for if we got loose a second time； we wouldn’t let them off so easy；
eh？ Another shake！ A man can die but once。 If you wake in the
night； sing that out lustily； and fall asleep again。 Ha ha ha！’
Barnaby glanced once more through the grate into the empty
yard； and then watched Hugh as he strode to the steps leading to
his sleeping…cell。 He heard him shout； and burst into a roar of
laughter； and saw him flourish his hat。 Then he turned away
himself； like one who walked in his sleep； and； without any sense
of fear or sorrow； lay down on his pallet； listening for the clock to
strike again。
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Chapter 77
he time wore on。 The noises in the streets became less
frequent by degrees； until silence was scarcely broken
T
save by the bells in church towers； marking the progress—
softer and more stealthy while the city slumbered—of that Great
Watcher with the hoary head； who never sleeps or rests。 In the
brief interval of darkness and repose which feverish towns enjoy；
all busy sounds were hushed； and those who awoke from dreams
lay listening in their beds； and longed for dawn； and wished the
dead of the night were past。
Into the street outside the jail’s main wall； workmen came
straggling at this solemn hour； in groups of two or three； and
meeting in the centre； cast their tools upon the ground and spoke
in whispers。 Others soon issued from the jail itself； bearing on
their shoulders planks and beams： these materials being all
brought fo