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before this river wakes to the first glimpse of daylight； you shall be
placed as entirely beyond the reach of your former associates； and
leave as utter an absence of all trace behind you； as if you were to
disappear from the earth this moment。 Come！ I would not have
you go back to exchange one word with any old companion or take
one look at any old haunt； or breathe the very air which is
pestilence and death to you。 Quit them all； while there is time and
opportunity！”
“She will be persuaded now；” cried the young lady。 “She
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hesitates； I am sure。”
“I fear not； my dear；” said the gentleman。
“No； sir； I do not；” replied the girl； after a short struggle。 “I am
chained to my old life。 I loathe and hate it now； but I cannot leave
it。 I must have gone too far to turn back—and yet I don’t know； for
if you had spoken to me so； some time ago； I should have laughed
it off。 But；” she said； looking hastily round； “this fear comes over
me again。 I must go home。”
“Home！” repeated the young lady； with great stress upon the
word。
“Home； lady；” rejoined the girl。 “To such a home as I have
raised for myself with the work of my whole life。 Let us part。 I shall
be watched or seen。 Go！ Go！ If I have done you any service； all I
ask is； that you leave me； and let me go my way alone。”
“It is useless；” said the gentleman； with a sigh。 “We
compromise her safety； perhaps； by staying here。 We may have
detained her longer than she expected already。”
“Yes； yes；” urged the girl。 “You have。”
“What；” cried the young lady； “can be the end of this poor
creature’s life！”
“What！” repeated the girl。 “Look before you； lady。 Look at that
dark water。 How many times do you read of such as I who spring
into the tide； and leave no living thing； to care for； or bewail them。
It may be years hence； or it may be only months； but I shall come
to that at last。”
“Do not speak thus； pray；” returned the young lady； sobbing。
“It will never reach your ears； dear lady； and God forbid such
horrors should！” replied the girl。 “Good…night； good…night！”
The gentleman turned away。
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“This purse；” cried the young lady。 “Take it for my sake； that
you may have some resource in an hour of need and trouble。”
“No！” replied the girl。 “I have not done this for money。 Let me
have that to think of。 And yet—give me something that you have
worn—I should like to have something—no； no； not a ring—your
gloves or handkerchief—anything that I can keep； as having
belonged to you； sweet lady。 There。 Bless you！ God bless you。
Good…night； good…night！”
The violent agitation of the girl； and the apprehension of some
discovery which would subject her to ill…usage and violence；
seemed to determine the gentleman to leave her； as she requested。
The sound of retreating footsteps were audible and the voices
ceased。
The two figures of the young lady and her companion soon
afterwards appeared upon the bridge。 They stopped at the summit
of the stairs。
“Hark！” cried the young lady； listening。 “Did she call！ thought I
heard her voice。”
“No； my love；” replied Mr。 Brownlow； looking sadly back。 “She
has not moved； and will not till we are gone。”
Rose Maylie lingered； but the old gentleman drew her arm
through his； and led her； with gentle force； away。 As they
disappeared； the girl sank down nearly at her full length upon one
of the stone stairs； and vented the anguish of her heart in bitter
tears。
After a time she arose； and； with feeble and tottering steps；
ascended to the street。 The astonished listener remained
motionless on his post for some minutes afterwards； and having
ascertained； with many cautious glances round him； that he was
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again alone； crept slowly from his hiding…place； and returned；
stealthily and in the shade of the wall； in the same manner as he
had descended。
Peeping out； more than once； when he reached the top； to make
sure that he was unobserved； Noah Claypole darted away at his
utmost speed； and made for the Jew’s house as fast as his legs
would carry him。
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Chapter 47
Fatal Consequences。
It was nearly two hours before daybreak； that time which in
the autumn of the year may be truly called the dead of night；
when the streets are silent and deserted； when even sounds
appear to slumber； and profligacy and riot have staggered home to
dream； it was at this still and silent hour； that Fagin sat watching
in his old lair； with face so distorted and pale； and eyes so red and
bloodshot； that he looked less like a man； than like some hideous
phantom； moist from the grave； and worried by an evil spirit。
He sat crouching over a cold hearth； wrapped in an old torn
coverlet； with his face turned towards a wasting candle that stood
upon a table by his side。 His right hand was raised to his lips； and
as； absorbed in thought； he bit his long black nails； he disclosed
among his toothless gums a few such fangs as should have been a
dog’s or rat’s。
Stretched upon a mattress on the floor； lay Noah Claypole； fast
asleep。 Towards him the old man sometimes directed his eyes for
an instant； and then brought them back again to the candle； which
was a long…burnt wick drooping almost double； and hot grease
falling down in clots upon the table； plainly showed that his
thoughts were busy elsewhere。
Indeed they were。 Mortification at the overthrow of his notable
scheme； hatred of the girl who had dared to palter with strangers；
an utter distrust of the sincerity of her refusal to yield him up；
bitter disappointment at the loss of his revenge on Sikes； the fear
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of detection； and ruin； and death； and a fierce and deadly rage
kindled by all； these were the passionate considerations which；
following close upon each other with rapid and ceaseless whirl；
shot through the brain of Fagin； as every evil thought and blackest
purpose lay working at his heart。
He sat without changing his attitude in the least； or appearing
to take the smallest heed of time； until his quick ear seemed to be
attracted by a footstep in the street。
“At last；” he muttered； wiping his dry and fevered mouth。 “At
last！”
The bell rang gently as he spoke。 He crept upstairs to the door；
and presently returned accompanied by a man muffled to the
chin； who carried a bundle under one arm。 Sitting down and
throwing back his outer coat； the man displayed the burly frame of
Sikes。
“There！” he said； laying the bundle on the table。 “Take care of
that； and do the most you can with it。 It’s been trouble enough to
get： I thought I should have been here three hours ago。”
Fagin laid his hand upon the bundle； and locking it in the
cupboard； sat down again without speaking。 But he did not take
his eyes off the robber； for an instant； during this action； and now
that they sat over against each other； face to face； he looked fixedly
at him； with his lips quivering so violently； and his face so altered
by the emotions which had mastered him； that the housebreaker
involuntarily drew back his chair； and surveyed him with a look of
real affright。
“Wot now？” cried Sikes。 “Wot do you look at a man so for？”
Fagin raised his right hand； and shook his trembling forefinger
in the air； but his passion was so great； that the power of speech
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was for the moment gone。
“Damme！” said Sikes； feeling in his breast with a look of alarm。
“He’s gone mad。 I must look to myself here。”
“No； no；” rejoined Fagin； finding his voice。 “It’s not—You’re not
the person； Bill。 I’ve no—no fault to find with you。”
“Oh； you haven’t； haven’t you？” said Sikes； looking sternly at
him； and ostentatiously passing a pistol into a more