thepadlockofsilenceonmentalwealthinwhichhewasnosharer.Ifhecouldhaveonceplacedmeinaridiculousormortifyingposition,hewouldhaveforgivenmemuch,butIwasguardedbythreefaculties—Caution,Tact,ObservationandprowlingandpryingaswasEdward’smalignity,itcouldneverbafflethelynx-eyesofthese,mynaturalsentinels.Daybydaydidhismalicewatchmytact,hopingitwouldsleep,andpreparedtostealsnake-likeonitsslumberbuttact,ifitbegenuine,neversleeps.
Ihadreceivedmyfirstquarter’swages,andwasreturningtomylodgings,possessedheartandsoulwiththepleasantfeelingthatthemasterwhohadpaidmegrudgedeverypennyofthathard-earnedpittance—(IhadlongceasedtoregardMr.Crimsworthasmybrother—hewasahard,grindingmasterhewishedtobeaninexorabletyrant:thatwasall).Thoughts,notvariedbutstrong,occupiedmymindtwovoicesspokewithinmeagainandagaintheyutteredthesamemonotonousphrases.Onesaid:“William,yourlifeisintolerable.”Theother:“Whatcanyoudotoalterit?”Iwalkedfast,foritwasacold,frostynightinJanuaryasIapproachedmylodgings,Iturnedfromageneralviewofmyaffairstotheparticularspeculationastowhethermyfirewouldbeoutlookingtowardsthewindowofmysitting-room,Isawnocheeringredgleam.
“Thatslutofaservanthasneglecteditasusual,”saidI,“andIshallseenothingbutpaleashesifIgoinitisafinestarlightnight—Iwillwalkalittlefarther.”
ItWASafinenight,andthestreetsweredryandevencleanforX——therewasacrescentcurveofmoonlighttobeseenbytheparishchurchtower,andhundredsofstarsshonekeenlybrightinallquartersofthesky.
UnconsciouslyIsteeredmycoursetowardsthecountryIhadgotintoGrove-street,andbegantofeelthepleasureofseeingdimtreesattheextremity,roundasuburbanhouse,whenapersonleaningovertheirongateofoneofthesmallgardenswhichfronttheneatdwelling-housesinthisstreet,addressedmeasIwashurryingwithquickstridepast.
“Whatthedeuceisthehurry?JustsomustLothaveleftSodom,whenheexpectedfiretopourdownuponit,outofburningbrassclouds.”
Istoppedshort,andlookedtowardsthespeaker.Isme