’The necessity is none of my making. You
have brought it about yourself.’
He said nothing more. He said even this as if
he were bound, and in the other’s power, but
had a sullen and suppressed devil within him, which
he could not quite resist. His very gait, as they
walked away together, was like that of a fettered
man; but, striving to work out at his clenched hands,
knitted brows, and fast-set lips, was the same imprisoned
devil still.
They got into a handsome cabriolet which was waiting
for them and drove away.
The whole of this extraordinary scene had passed so
rapidly and the tumult which prevailed around as so
unconscious of any impression from it, that, although
Tom had been one of the chief actors, it was like
a dream. No one had noticed him after they had
left the packet. He had stood behind Jonas, and
so near him, that he could not help hearing all that
passed. He had stood there, with his sister on
his arm, expecting and hoping to have an opportunity
of explaining his strange share in this yet stranger
business. But Jonas had not raised his eyes from
the ground; no one else had even looked towards him;
and before he could resolve on any course of action,
they were all gone.
He gazed round for his landlord. But he had done
that more than once already, and no such man was to
be seen. He was still pursuing this search with
his eyes, when he saw a hand beckoning to him from
a hackney-coach; and hurrying towards it, found it
was Merry’s. She addressed him hurriedly,
but bent out of the window, that she might not be
overheard by her companion, Mrs Gamp.
‘What is it?’ she said. ’Good
heaven, what is it? Why did he tell me last night
to prepare for a long journey, and why have you brought
us back like criminals? Dear Mr Pinch!’
she clasped her hands distractedly, ’be merciful
to us. Whatever this dreadful secret is, be merciful,
and God will bless you!’
‘If any power of mercy lay with me,’ cried
Tom, ’trust me, you shouldn’t ask in vain.
But I am far more ignorant and weak than you.’
She withdrew into the coach again, and he saw the
hand waving towards him for a moment; but whether
in reproachfulness or incredulity or misery, or grief,
or sad adieu, or what else, he could not, being so
hurried, understand. She was gone now; and
Ruth and he were left to walk away, and wonder.
Had Mr Nadgett appointed the man who never came, to
meet him upon London Bridge that morning? He
was certainly looking over the parapet, and down upon
the steamboat-wharf at that moment. It could not
have been for pleasure; he never took pleasure.
No. He must have had some business there.
Mr Jonas and his friend,
arriving at A pleasant understanding,
set forth upon an enterprise
