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on a little more。
The trooper stands in the doorway； still and silent。 Phil has
stopped in a low clinking noise； with his little hammer in his hand。
Mr Woodcourt looks round with that grave professional interest
and attention on his face； and； glancing significantly at the
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trooper； signs to Phil to carry his table out。 When the little
hammer is next used； there will be a speck of rust upon it。
“Well； Joe！ What is the matter？ Don’t be frightened。”
“I thought；” says Jo； who has started； and is looking round； “I
thought I was in Tom…all…Alone’s agin。 Ain’t there nobody here but
you； Mr Woodcot？”
“Nobody。”
“And I ain’t took back to Tom…all…Alone’s。 Am I； sir？”
“No。” Jo closes his eyes； muttering； “I’m wery thankful。”
After watching him closely a little while； Allan puts his mouth
very near his ear； and says to him in a low； distinct voice：
“Jo！ Did you ever know a prayer？”
“Never knowd nothink； sir。”
“Not so much as one short prayer？”
“No； sir。 Nothink at all。 Mr Chadbands he wos a…prayin wunst
at Mr Sangsby’s and I heerd him； but he sounded as if he wos a…
speakin’ to hisself； and not to me。 He prayed a lot； but I couldn’t
make out nothink on it。 Different times； there was other genlmen
come down Tom…all…Alone’s a…prayin； but they all mostly sed as
the t’other wuns prayed wrong； and all mostly sounded to be a…
talking to theirselves； or a…passing blame on the t’others； and not
a…talkin to us。 We never knowd nothink。 I never knowd what it wos
all about。”
It takes him a long time to say this； and few but an experienced
and attentive listener could hear； or； hearing； understand him。
After a short relapse into sleep or stupor； he makes； of a sudden； a
strong effort to get out of bed。
“Stay； Jo？ What now？”
“It’s time for me to go to that there berryin ground； sir；” he
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returns with a wild look。
“Lie down； and tell me。 What burying ground； Jo！”
“Where they laid him as wos wery good to me； wery good to me
indeed； he wos。 It’s time fur me to go down to that there berryin
ground sir； and ask to be put along with him。 I wants to go there
and be berried。 He used fur to say to me； ‘I am as poor as you
today； Jo；’ he ses。 I wants to tell him that I am as poor as him now；
and have come there to be laid along with him。”
“By and by； Jo。 By and by。”
“Ah！ P’raps they wouldn’t do it if I wos to go myself。 But will
you promise to have me took there； sir； and laid along with him？”
“I will； indeed。”
“Thank’ee； sir。 Thank’ee； sir。 They’ll have to get the key of the
gate afore they can take me in； for it’s allus locked。 And there’s a
step there； as I used fur to clean with my broom。—It’s turned wery
dark； sir。 Is there any light a…comin？”
“It is coming fast； Jo。”
Fast。 The cart is shaken all to pieces； and the rugged road is
very near its end。
“Jo； my poor fellow！”
“I hear you； sir； in the dark； but I’m a…gropin—a…gropin—let me
catch hold of your hand。”
“Jo； can you say what I say？”
“I’ll say anythink as you say； sir； for I knows it’s good。”
“OUR FATHER。”
“Our Father！—yes； that’s wery good； sir。”
“WHICH ART IN HEAVEN。”
“Art in Heaven—is the light a…comin； sir？”
“It is close at hand。 HALLOWED BE THY NAME。”
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“Hallowed be—thy—”
The light is come upon the dark benighted way。 Dead！
Dead； your Majesty。 Dead； my lords and gentlemen。 Dead；
Right Reverends and Wrong Reverends of every order。 Dead； men
and women； born with Heavenly compassion； in your hearts。 And
dying thus around us every day。
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Chapter 48
Closing In
he place in Lincolnshire has shut its many eyes again； and
the house in town is awake。 In Lincolnshire； the Dedlocks
T
of the past doze in their picture…frames； and the low wind
murmurs through the long drawing…room as if they were
breathing pretty regularly。 In town； the Dedlocks of the present
rattle in their fire…eyed carriages through the darkness of the
night； and the Dedlock Mercuries； with ashes （or hair…powder） on
their heads； symptomatic of their great humility； loll away the
drowsy mornings in the little windows of the hall。 The fashionable
world…tremendous orb； nearly five miles round—is in full swing；
and the solar system works respectfully at its appointed distances。
Where the throng is thickest； where the lights are brightest；
where all the senses are ministered to with the greatest delicacy
and refinement； Lady Dedlock is。 From the shining heights she
has scaled and taken； she is never absent。 Though the belief she of
old reposed in herself； as one able to reserve whatsoever she
would under her mantel of pride； is beaten down； though she has
no assurance that what she is to those around her； she will remain
another day； it is not her nature； when envious eyes are looking
on； to yield or to droop。 They say of her； that she has lately grown
more handsome and more haughty。 The debilitated cousin says of
her that she’s beauty nough—tsetup Shopofwomen—but rather
larming kind—remindingmanfact—inconvenient woman—who
will getoutofbedandbawthstablishment—Shakespeare。
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Mr Tulkinghorn says nothing； looks nothing。 Now； as
heretofore； he is to be found in doorways of rooms； with his limp
white cravat loosely twisted into its old…fashioned tie； receiving
patronage from the Peerage and making no sign。 Of all men he is
still the last who might be supposed to have any influence upon
my Lady。 Of all women she is still the last who might be supposed
to have any dread of him。
One thing has been much on her mind since their late interview
in his turret…room at Chesney Wold。 She is now decided； and
prepared to throw it off。
It is morning in the great world； afternoon according to the
little sun。 The Mercuries； exhausted by looking out of window； are
reposing in the hall； and hang their heavy heads； the gorgeous
creatures； like overblown sunflowers。 Like them； too； they seem to
run to a deal of seed in their tags and trimmings。 Sir Leicester； in
the library； has fallen asleep for the good of the country； over the