Miracle Gold (Vol. 1 of 3)

ven think. It was enough that she had been delivered from the danger of discovery

of her sleeping. Although her mind was not actively employed about anything it was sharply awake. The first thing to challenge her attention was a sound. No boding or terrible sou

ld grow stronger every minute, every second. When the day is breaking for joy or deliverance, the light fills the veins with an ethereal intoxication. Th

ts. She was fully dressed for walking. The rain had stopped and the sk

moment opened, she would have simply sprung through the window, without a word. The want of sleep dulls the apprehensions of f

ost at ease. She paused a moment, looked back into the room, and under the shadow of her hand saw that the note she had p

r no significance worthy of attention, and the soliloquy at the window was, upon review, becoming absurd. Indisputably she was right in leaving that house. It would be entirely unpleasant to live in a house where a man whom she did not

e had not bargained for finding her way barred a short distance from the house. A couple of hours ago this would have seemed an insuperable obstacle. Now she was free, and quite

ight. Here all seemed quiet and asleep too. The door was shut, the curtains of the windows, one on each side of the door, were close drawn. She

to be at the other side of that gate, but when she found herself on the open road what should she do? For hours to come the people of Millway would not be stirring. She was fleeing from that house into a desolate and uninhabited plain, for though there might be people within call, they were not within sight. Anyway, s

oor; it moved inward. Disclosed to view was a tiny square hall, in which were two doors. Close to the door which she had opened

ed the key in the lock. In a minute she was outside the gate on the open road. Sh

own, and it lay on her left as she came through the gateway. She hastened back and found the gate quickly. She kept on at this pace until

way? What prevented her staying in the house until ten o'cloc

by saying he had only offered her a patriarchal welcome. The idea of a man who was only thirty-five years claiming the privileges of age was absurd. But, upon reflection, he might not have meant patriarchal to imply length of life, but method of life. He might have intended to convey that he, as male head of the house, assumed the privileges which obtained in patriarchal times, in remote times, wh

, the window was then fully open, the gate had not been fastened, and even when the gate was locked for the night the key was left lying accessible to anyone within the grounds. True, he believed

her his wife had been only a little more absurd than his share in the dialogue between him and his mother. Presently, in a few days, the whole affair would appear nothing more than an unpleasant dream. In all likelihood she

t people of the country were earlier risers than people of the town! Fancy wa

wsy eyes at her as they passed, but said nothing. These were the first people she had met since she left Eltham House. They did not speak to her, ask her any questions, seem to take the slightest interest in her. This was reassuring. When the cart was out of sight, she returned to the seat and rested again. She would not go back towards the house lest she might be seen by Mr. Leigh or Mrs. Brown; she would not go among the sleeping houses lest she might attract attention, invite inquiries. N

eless of her route or speed; it would not do to seem eagerly in haste; it would not do to seem as though she was strange to the place

e other from her left hand, went forward upon each a thousand steps, counting each step in her mind, and then came back to the point from which she had started, also counting each step as she returned

and from town, measured never more than nine hundred and fifty back. As soon as she turned towards Millway, althoug

path, and then the unpleasant object was a plain white-washed wall. Yet it gave h

and open streets, down which she could see far. She passed by several ways which did not look main arteries of traffic. When it was half an hour of train time, she left behind two narrow and unpromising-looking streets, and comi

han before. She did not look around her. She counted her steps in a purely mechanical manner. They, as it were, went on counting themselves without effort on her part. It is do

sappeared, the houses grew mean and dilapidated. Before she counted two hundred and fifty, she was traversing an alley, filthy under foot, with battered, squalid houses and hovels on either side. This

the filthy, rutty ground on which she trod; did not obs

lank white-washed wall. She glanced around in terror, looking for an avenue of escape. There was none exce

look innocent. It had vice and crime written too deeply on its evil face. Fortunately, no one was stirring in the street, but each house and hovel had windows, and windows of fearful aspect, and behind these windows she imagined hide

ntless feet, the clamour of ruthless voices behind her ears. She imagined she felt the touch of claw-like hands upon her shoulder. She imagined she could see out of the corner

e man seemed to be awaiting her approach. He moved a step towards her and said: "Beg pardon, miss. You need

pped out of his lodging. She had failed to notice that she had left the r

ful effort and c

"if you are going up to London by the six-fifteen."

t wish to be late." Her breath was so short from

tion, miss. Would you like

you. I

ssed him. He followed at

ought a moment. He turned to her and said, pointing to a line of carriages drawn up at the platform: "Tha

cto

miss." He looked at her again, and noticed that her boots showed signs

ld pref

your ticket for you, miss, so that

oloured a little more deeply. Her usually pale face was faintly flushed from her late haste and excitement. "Here is the m

en't many passengers by this train, and I may be able to keep the carriage altogether for you, at starting, anyway. The ticket office won't be open for a few

ell upon her with leaden weight of drowsiness. She was safe, at rest now, on her way home. This was a blessed change from the strain of mind in

she would or not. She closed her eyes. A delicious numbness began to steal over her. She had a faint consci

ticket

nd, she started and caught it

miss. You are all right now

you, ve

t she had taken part in it. In another minute she was fast asleep with her

us in sleep, the following dialogue took place on

there, sir, that com

engaged! Rubbish! Open

mean that the compartment i

t this

ome catching complaint and must

key. Porter, you have lost a shilling. But there, I won't be vindictive, here's a shilling for being good to the lady. She is a friend of mine. You are do

re to Victoria, and if you know her she will tell y

ou here before. Go away. Only you are so

dible to the girl, even if she had been awake, b

ed and locked the door softly. In less than a minute the train steamed out of the statio

For a few minutes after the train began to move he remained without moving. The girl slept heavily, swaying slightly from side to side with the motion of the train, her two gloved hands lay pl

the ticket out of her hand, keeping his eyes on her eyelids the whole time. Without taking his eyes off her face, he raised his right hand, thrust it, holding the ticket