--For the
present, good night.'
She made him no answer, nor did he stop for any. He went slowly away,
turning his head from time to time, and stopping to listen, as if he
were curious to know whether he was watched by any one. The shadows of
night were closing fast around, and he was soon lost in the gloom. It
was not, however, until she had traversed the lane from end to end,
and made sure that he was gone, that she re-entered the cottage, and
hurriedly barred the door and window.
'Mother!' said Barnaby. 'What is the matter? Where is the blind man?'
'He is gone.'
'Gone!' he cried, starting up. 'I must have more talk with him. Which
way did he take?'
'I don't know,' she answered, folding her arms about him. 'You must not
go out to-night. There are ghosts and dreams abroad.'
'Ay?' said Barnaby, in a frightened whisper.
'It is not safe to stir. We must leave this place to-morrow.'
'This place! This cottage--and the little garden, mother!'
'Yes! To-morrow morning at sunrise. We must travel to London; lose
ourselves in that wide place--there would be some trace of us in any
other town--then travel on again, and find some new abode.'
Little persuasion was required to reconcile Barnaby to anything that
promised change.
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