Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

Closed

The sun had set, and the streets were dim in the dusty twilight,
when the figure so long unused to them hurried on its way. In the
immediate neighbourhood of the old house it attracted little
attention, for there were only a few straggling people to notice
it; but, ascending from the river by the crooked ways that led to
London Bridge, and passing into the great main road, it became
surrounded by astonishment.

Resolute and wild of look, rapid of foot and yet weak and
uncertain, conspicuously dressed in its black garments and with its
hurried head-covering, gaunt and of an unearthly paleness, it
pressed forward, taking no more heed of the throng than a sleep-
walker. More remarkable by being so removed from the crowd it was
among than if it had been lifted on a pedestal to be seen, the
figure attracted all eyes. Saunterers pricked up their attention
to observe it; busy people, crossing it, slackened their pace and
turned their heads; companions pausing and standing aside,
whispered one another to look at this spectral woman who was coming
by; and the sweep of the figure as it passed seemed to create a
vortex, drawing the most idle and most curious after it.

Made giddy by the turbulent irruption of this multitude of staring
faces into her cell of years, by the confusing sensation of being
in the air, and the yet more confusing sensation of being afoot, by
the unexpected changes in half-remembered objects, and the want of
likeness between the controllable pictures her imagination had
often drawn of the life from which she was secluded and the
overwhelming rush of the reality, she held her way as if she were
environed by distracting thoughts, rather than by external humanity
and observation. But, having crossed the bridge and gone some
distance straight onward, she remembered that she must ask for a
direction; and it was only then, when she stopped and turned to
look about her for a promising place of inquiry, that she found
herself surrounded by an eager glare of faces.

'Why are you encircling me?' she asked, trembling.

None of those who were nearest answered; but from the outer ring
there arose a shrill cry of "Cause you're mad!'

'I am sure as sane as any one here. I want to find the Marshalsea
prison.'

The shrill outer circle again retorted, 'Then that 'ud show you was
mad if nothing else did, 'cause it's right opposite!'

A short, mild, quiet-looking young man made his way through to her,
as a whooping ensued on this reply, and said: 'Was it the
Marshalsea you wanted? I'm going on duty there. Come across with
me.'

She laid her hand upon his arm, and he took her over the way; the
crowd, rather injured by the