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through a chain of fits； with short intervals between； of which she
has pathetically availed herself by consuming them in entreaties to
Mrs Snagsby not to give her warning “when she quite comes to；”
and also in appeals to the whole establishment to lay her down on
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the stones； and go to bed。 Hence； Mr Snagsby； at last hearing the
cock at the little dairy in Cursitor Street go into that disinterested
ecstacy of his on the subject of daylight； says； drawing a long
breath； though the most patient of men； “I thought you was dead； I
am sure！”
What question this enthusiastic fowl supposes he settles when
he strains himself to such an extent； or why he should thus crow
（so men crow on various triumphant public occasions； however）
about what cannot be of any moment to him； is his affair。 It is
enough that daylight comes； morning comes； noon comes。
Then the active and intelligent； who has got into the morning
papers as such； comes with his pauper company to Mr Krook’s；
and bears off the body of our dear brother here departed； to a
hemmed…in churchyard； pestiferous and obscene； whence
malignant diseases are communicated to the bodies of our dear
brothers and sisters who have not departed； while our dear
brothers and sisters who hang about official back…stairs—would to
Heaven they had departed！—are very complacent and agreeable。
Into a beastly scrap of ground which a Turk would reject as a
savage abomination； and a Caffre would shudder at； they bring
our dear brother here departed； to receive Christian burial。
With houses looking on； on every side； save where a reeking
little tunnel of a court gives access to the iron gate—with every
villany of life in action close on death； and every poisonous
element of death in action close on life—here； they lower our dear
brother down a foot or two： here； sow him in corruption； to be
raised in corruption： an avenging ghost at many a sick…bedside： a
shameful testimony to future ages； how civilisation and barbarism
walked this boastful island together。
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Come night； come darkness； for you cannot come too soon； or
stay too long； by such a place as this！ Come； straggling lights into
the windows of the ugly houses； and you who do iniquity therein；
do it at least with this dread scene shut out！ Come； flame of gas；
burning so sullenly above the iron gate； on which the poisoned air
deposits its witch…ointment slimy to the touch！ It is well that you
should call to every passer…by； “Look here！”
With the night； comes a slouching figure through the tunnel…
court； to the outside of the iron gate。 It holds the gate with its
hands； and looks in between the bars； stands looking in； for a little
while。
It then； with an old broom it carries； softly sweeps the step； and
makes the archway clean。 It does so； very busily and trimly； looks
in again； a little while； and so departs。
Jo； is it thou？ Well； well！ Though a rejected witness； who “can’t
exactly say” what will be done to him in greater hands than men’s；
thou art not quite in outer darkness。 There is something like a
distant ray of light in thy muttered reason for this：—
“He wos wery good to me； he wos！”
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Chapter 12
On The Watch
t has left off raining down in Lincolnshire； at last； and
IChesney Wold has taken heart。 Mrs Rouncewell is full of
hospitable cares； for Sir Leicester and my Lady are coming
home from Paris。 The fashionable intelligence has found it out；
and communicates the glad tidings to benighted England。 It has
also found out； that they will entertain a brilliant and
distinguished circle of the élite of the beau monde （the fashionable
intelligence is weak in English； but a giant…refreshed in French）； at
the ancient and hospitable family seat in Lincolnshire。
For the greater honour of the brilliant and distinguished circle；
and of Chesney Wold into the bargain； the broken arch of the
bridge in the park is mended； and the water； now retired within its
proper limits and again spanned gracefully； makes a figure in the
prospect from the house。 The clear cold sunshine glances into the
brittle woods； and approvingly beholds the sharp wind scattering
the leaves and drying the moss。 It glides over the park after the
moving shadows of the clouds； and chases them； and never
catches them； all day。 It looks in at the windows； and touches the
ancestral portraits with bars and patches of brightness； never
contemplated by the painters。 Athwart the picture of my Lady；
over the great chimney…piece； it throws a broad bend…sinister of
light that strikes down crookedly into the hearth； and seems to
rend it。
Through the same cold sunshine； and the same sharp wind； my
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Lady and Sir Leicester； in their travelling chariot； （my Lady’s
woman； and Sir Leicester’s man affectionate in the rumble；） start
for home。 With a considerable amount of jingling and whip…
cracking； and many plunging demonstrations on the part of two
bare…backed horses； and two Centaurs with glazed hats； jackboots；
and flowing manes and tales； they rattle out of the yard of the
Hotel Bristol in the Place Vendome； and canter between the sun…
and…shadow…chequered colonnade of the Rue de Rivoli and the
garden of the ill…fated palace of a headless king and queen； off by
the Place of Concord； and the Elysian Fields； and the Gate of the
Star； out of Paris。
Sooth to say； they cannot go away too fast； for even here； my
Lady Dedlock has been bored to death。 Concert； assembly； opera；
theatre； drive； nothing is new to my Lady； under the worn…out
heavens。 Only last Sunday； when poor wretches were gay within
the walls； playing with children among the clipped trees and the
statues in the Palace Garden； walking； a score abreast； in the
Elysian Fields； made more Elysian by performing dogs and
wooden horses； between whiles filtering （a few） through the
gloomy Cathedral of our Lady； to say a word or two at the base of a
pillar； within flare of a rusty little gridiron…full of gusty little
tapers—without