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But we lose time。 Are you ready？’
‘Quite；’ said Edward。 ‘Put out the torch； Joe； and go on。 And be
silent； there’s a good fellow。’
‘Silent or not silent；’ murmured Joe； as he dropped the flaring
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link upon the ground； crushed it with his foot； and gave his hand
to Mr Haredale； ‘it was a brave and glorious action；—no man can
alter that。’
Both Mr Haredale and the worthy vintner were too amazed and
too much hurried to ask any further questions； so followed their
conductors in silence。 It seemed； from a short whispering which
presently ensued between them and the vintner relative to the
best way of escape； that they had entered by the back…door； with
the connivance of John Grueby； who watched outside with the key
in his pocket； and whom they had taken into their confidence。 A
party of the crowd coming up that way； just as they entered； John
had double…locked the door again； and made off for the soldiers； so
that means of retreat was cut off from under them。
However； as the front…door had been forced； and this minor
crowd； being anxious to get at the liquor； had no fancy for losing
time in breaking down another； but had gone round and got in
from Holborn with the rest； the narrow lane in the rear was quite
free of people。 So； when they had crawled through the passage
indicated by the vintner （which was a mere shelving…trap for the
admission of casks）； and had managed with some difficulty to
unchain and raise the door at the upper end； they emerged into
the street without being observed or interrupted。 Joe still holding
Mr Haredale tight； and Edward taking the same care of the
vintner； they hurried through the streets at a rapid pace；
occasionally standing aside to let some fugitives go by； or to keep
out of the way of the soldiers who followed them； and whose
questions； when they halted to put any； were speedily stopped by
one whispered word from Joe。
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Chapter 68
hile Newgate was burning on the previous night；
WBarnaby and his father； having been passed among the
crowd from hand to hand； stood in Smithfield； on the
outskirts of the mob； gazing at the flames like men who had been
suddenly roused from sleep。 Some moments elapsed before they
could distinctly remember where they were； or how they got there；
or recollected that while they were standing idle and listless
spectators of the fire； they had tools in their hands which had been
hurriedly given them that they might free themselves from their
fetters。
Barnaby； heavily ironed as he was； if he had obeyed his first
impulse； or if he had been alone； would have made his way back to
the side of Hugh； who to his clouded intellect now shone forth with
the new lustre of being his preserver and truest friend。 But his
father’s terror of remaining in the streets； communicated itself to
him when he comprehended the full extent of his fears； and
impressed him with the same eagerness to fly to a place of safety。
In a corner of the market among the pens for cattle； Barnaby
knelt down； and pausing every now and then to pass his hand over
his father’s face； or look up to him with a smile； knocked off his
irons。 When he had seen him spring； a free man； to his feet； and
had given vent to the transport of delight which the sight
awakened； he went to work upon his own； which soon fell rattling
down upon the ground； and left his limbs unfettered。
Gliding away together when this task was accomplished； and
passing several groups of men； each gathered round a stooping
figure to hide him from those who passed； but unable to repress
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Barnaby Rudge 730
the clanking sound of hammers； which told that they too were
busy at the same work；—the two fugitives made towards
Clerkenwell； and passing thence to Islington； as the nearest point
of egress； were quickly in the fields。 After wandering about for a
long time； they found in a pasture near Finchley a poor shed； with
walls of mud； and roof of grass and brambles； built for some
cowherd； but now deserted。 Here； they lay down for the rest of the
night。
They wandered to and fro when it was day； and once Barnaby
went off alone to a cluster of little cottages two or three miles
away； to purchase some bread and milk。 But finding no better
shelter； they returned to the same place； and lay down again to
wait for night。
Heaven alone can tell； with what vague hopes of duty； and
affection； with what strange promptings of nature； intelligible to
him as to a man of radiant mind and most enlarged capacity； with
what dim memories of children he had played with when a child
himself； who had prattled of their fathers； and of loving them； and
being loved； with how many half…remembered； dreamy
associations of his mother’s grief and tears and widowhood； he
watched and tended this man。 But that a vague and shadowy
crowd of such ideas came slowly on him； that they taught him to
be sorry when he looked upon his haggard face； that they
overflowed his eyes when he stooped to kiss him； that they kept
him waking in a tearful gladness； shading him from the sun；
fanning him with leaves； soothing him when he started in his
sleep—ah！ what a troubled sleep it was—and wondering when she
would come to join them and be happy； is the truth。 He sat beside
him all that day； listening for her footsteps in every breath of air；
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Barnaby Rudge 731
looking for her shadow on the gently…waving grass； twining the
hedge flowers for her pleasure when she came； and his when he
awoke； and stooping down from time to time to listen to his
mutterings； and wonder why he was so restless in that quiet place。
The sun went down； and night came on； and he was still quite
tranquil； busied with these thoughts； as if there were no other
people in the world； and the dull cloud of smoke hanging on the
immense city in the distance； hid no vices； no crimes； no life or
death； or cause of disquiet—nothing but clear air。
But the hour had now come when he must go alone to find out
the blind man （a task that filled him with delight） and bring him to
that place； taking especial care that he was not watched or
followed on his way back。 He listened to the directions he must
observe； repeated them again and again； and after twice or thrice
returning to surprise his father with a light…hearted laugh； went
forth； at last； upon his errand： leaving Grip； whom he had carried
from the jail in his arms； to his care。
Fleet of foot； and anxious to return； he sped swiftly on towards
the city； but could not reach it before the fires began； and made
the night angry with their dismal lustre。 When he entered the
town—it might be that he was changed by going there without his
late companions； and on no violent errand； or by the beautiful
solitude in which he had passed the day； or by the thoughts that
had come upon him；—but it seemed peopled by a legion of dev