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a flush and glow； with the haste she had made； and the pleasure of
being safe at home； she stooped to draw it out； when； raising her
head； she saw him standing silently beside her： the apparition of a
dream。
His hand was on her mouth； but that was needless； for her
tongue clove to its roof； and her power of utterance was gone。 ‘I
have been looking for you many nights。 Is the house empty？
Answer me。 Is any one inside？’
She could only answer by a rattle in her throat。
‘Make me a sign。’
She seemed to indicate that there was no one there。 He took the
key； unlocked the door； carried her in； and secured it carefully
behind them。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 189
Chapter 17
t was a chilly night； and the fire in the widow’s parlour had
burnt low。 Her strange companion placed her in a chair； and
Istooping down before the half…extinguished ashes； raked them
together and fanned them with his hat。 From time to time he
glanced at her over his shoulder； as though to assure himself of
her remaining quiet and making no effort to depart； and that done；
busied himself about the fire again。
It was not without reason that he took these pains； for his dress
was dank and drenched with wet； his jaws rattled with cold； and
he shivered from head to foot。 It had rained hard during the
previous night and for some hours in the morning； but since noon
it had been fine。 Wheresoever he had passed the hours of
darkness； his condition sufficiently betokened that many of them
had been spent beneath the open sky。 Besmeared with mire； his
saturated clothes clinging with a damp embrace about his limbs；
his beard unshaven； his face unwashed； his meagre cheeks worn
into deep hollows；—a more miserable wretch could hardly be；
than this man who now cowered down upon the widow’s hearth；
and watched the struggling flame with bloodshot eyes。
She had covered her face with her hands； fearing； as it seemed；
to look towards him。 So they remained for some short time in
silence。 Glancing round again； he asked at length：
‘Is this your house？’
‘It is。 Why； in the name of Heaven； do you darken it？’
‘Give me meat and drink；’ he answered sullenly； ‘or I dare do
more than that。 The very marrow in my bones is cold； with wet
and hunger。 I must have warmth and food； and I will have them
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 189…
Barnaby Rudge 190
here。’
‘You were the robber on the Chigwell road。’
‘I was。’
‘And nearly a murderer then。’
‘The will was not wanting。 There was one came upon me and
raised the hue…and…cry’； that it would have gone hard with； but for
his nimbleness。 I made a thrust at him。’
‘You thrust your sword at him！’ cried the widow； looking
upwards。 ‘You hear this man！ you hear and saw！’
He looked at her； as； with her head thrown back； and her hands
tight clenched together； she uttered these words in an agony of
appeal。 Then； starting to his feet as she had done； he advanced
towards her。
‘Beware！’ she cried in a suppressed voice； whose firmness
stopped him midway。 ‘Do not so much as touch me with a finger；
or you are lost； body and soul； you are lost。’
‘Hear me；’ he replied； menacing her with his hand。 ‘I； that in
the form of a man live the life of a hunted beast； that in the body
am a spirit； a ghost upon the earth； a thing from which all
creatures shrink； save those curst beings of another world； who
will not leave me；—I am； in my desperation of this night； past all
fear but that of the hell in which I exist from day to day。 Give the
alarm； cry out； refuse to shelter me。 I will not hurt you。 But I will
not be taken alive； and so surely as you threaten me above your
breath； I fall a dead man on this floor。 The blood with which I
sprinkle it； be on you and yours； in the name of the Evil Spirit that
tempts men to their ruin！’
As he spoke； he took a pistol from his breast； and firmly
clutched it in his hand。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 191
‘Remove this man from me； good Heaven！’ cried the widow。 ‘In
thy grace and mercy； give him one minute’s penitence； and strike
him dead！’
‘It has no such purpose；’ he said； confronting her。 ‘It is deaf。
Give me to eat and drink； lest I do that it cannot help my doing；
and will not do for you。’
‘Will you leave me； if I do thus much？ Will you leave me and
return no more？’
‘I will promise nothing；’ he rejoined； seating himself at the
table； ‘nothing but this—I will execute my threat if you betray me。’
She rose at length； and going to a closet or pantry in the room；
brought out some fragments of cold meat and bread and put them
on the table。 He asked for brandy； and for water。 These she
produced likewise； and he ate and drank with the voracity of a
famished hound。 All the time he was so engaged she kept at the
uttermost distance of the chamber； and sat there shuddering； but
with her face towards him。 She never turned her back upon him
once； and although when she passed him （as she was obliged to do
in going to and from the cupboard） she gathered the skirts of her
garment about her； as if even its touching his by chance were
horrible to think of； still； in the midst of all this dread and terror；
she kept her face towards his own； and watched his every
movement。
His repast ended—if that can be called one； which was a mere
ravenous satisfying of the calls of hunger—he moved his chair
towards the fire again； and warming himself before the blaze
which had now sprung brightly up； accosted her onc