Страница 686 из 896

All the air round was so thick and dark, the people were so

passionately revengeful and fitful, the innocent were so

constantly put to death on vague suspicion and black malice, it

was so impossible to forget that many as blameless as her husband

and as dear to others as he was to her, every day shared the fate

from which he had been clutched, that her heart could not be as

lightened of its load as she felt it ought to be. The shadows of

the wintry afternoon were beginning to fall, and even now the

dreadful carts were rolling through the streets. Her mind pursued

them, looking for him among the Condemned; and then she clung

closer to his real presence and trembled more.

Her father, cheering her, showed a compassionate superiority to

this woman's weakness, which was wonderful to see. No garret, no

shoemaking, no One Hundred and Five, North Tower, now! He had

accomplished the task he had set himself, his promise was

redeemed, he had saved Charles. Let them all lean upon him.