After the lapse of nearly two hours, the numbers began to diminish
visibly, and gradually dwindling away, by little and little, left the
bridge quite clear, save that, now and then, some hot and dusty man,
with the cockade in his hat, and his coat thrown over his shoulder, went
panting by, fearful of being too late, or stopped to ask which way
his friends had taken, and being directed, hastened on again like one
refreshed. In this comparative solitude, which seemed quite strange
and novel after the late crowd, the widow had for the first time an
opportunity of inquiring of an old man who came and sat beside them,
what was the meaning of that great assemblage.
'Why, where have you come from,' he returned, 'that you haven't heard of
Lord George Gordon's great association? This is the day that he presents
the petition against the Catholics, God bless him!'
'What have all these men to do with that?' she said.
'What have they to do with it!' the old man replied. 'Why, how you talk!
Don't you know his lordship has declared he won't present it to the
house at all, unless it is attended to the door by forty thousand good
and true men at least? There's a crowd for you!'
'A crowd indeed!' said Barnaby.
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