I was
there, everybody saw me there. I was conspicuous, and prominent. I will
abide the consequences.'
The locksmith, really disturbed and agitated, paced to and fro in
silence--glancing at his former 'prentice every now and then--and at
length stopping before him, said:
'Get to bed, and sleep for a couple of hours that you may wake penitent,
and with some of your senses about you. Be sorry for what you have
done, and we will try to save you. If I call him by five o'clock,' said
Varden, turning hurriedly to his wife, and he washes himself clean
and changes his dress, he may get to the Tower Stairs, and away by the
Gravesend tide-boat, before any search is made for him. From there he
can easily get on to Canterbury, where your cousin will give him
work till this storm has blown over. I am not sure that I do right in
screening him from the punishment he deserves, but he has lived in this
house, man and boy, for a dozen years, and I should be sorry if for this
one day's work he made a miserable end. Lock the front-door, Miggs, and
show no light towards the street when you go upstairs. Quick, Simon! Get
to bed!'
'And do you suppose, sir,' retorted Mr Tappertit, with a thickness
and slowness of speech which contrasted forcibly with the rapidity and
earnestness of his kind-hearted master--'and do you suppose, sir, that I
am base and mean enough to accept your servile proposition?--Miscreant!'
'Whatever you please, Sim, but get to bed.
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