Hunted Down: The Detective Stories of Charles Dickens

s friend’s assurance was effected in March. Late in September or early in October I was down at Scarborough for a breath of sea-air, where I met him on the beach. It was a hot even

, but had a youn

he appearance of being extremely delicate, and her face was remarkably pale and

r. Sampson? Is it pos

ble, and I W

stroll t

plea

, and we walked on the cool sea

‘And now I look again, the wheels of a hand-carria

I repeated, looking d

returned, laughing. ‘Margaret

pt that I constantly see the same invalid old gentleman at all times, wherever

in Scarborou

staying

ive in Sc

uncle has placed me with a

hadow?’ sai

t other times. We both seem liable to confinement to the house. I have not seen my shadow for days and days; but it does oddly happen, occas

said I, poin

t loop on the sand in turning. Bringing the loop back towards us, a

ner, ‘this really i

of wrappers. He was drawn by a very quiet but very keen-looking man, with iron-gray hair, who was slightly lame. They had passed us, when the carriage stopped

e first to speak. Indeed, he said to me i

r my niece might have died of curiosity

f our friend’s, at whose house I first had the pleasure of

ev

n, sensible — much interested in you. He has just been expatiating on

he passed his hand up the straight walk, as

as always a strong one, for we have had but few near ties. We have still fewer now

young lady, and turned her

indeed if the relations between us were cold or indifferent. If I remember a conversation we once had together, you will und

ch great need of a restorative, that he presently went away, to take a bath of sea-water, leaving the young lady and me sitting by a point o

ild and terrible fantasies had come over her toward the end, but he had never been impatient with her, or at a loss; had always been gentle, watchful, and self-possessed. The sister had known him, as she

is drawing to an end; and when I am gone, I hope he will marry and be happy. I am

n the damp sand, and was coming back again, gradually

nd upon her arm, and speaking in a low voice, ‘tim

the utmost wonder an

a voice is in it wh

es

e us, and you know what an awful sight of pow

es

elty, could you believe that it beats every inanimate thing in it

e, sir, by the

irmness! If you were here alone, and hemmed in by the rising tide on the flow to fifty feet abo

d straggled off into a crooked little j

nd your dead sister’s friend, I solemnly entreat you, Miss Niner, wi

m the rock. I did not remain there with her two minutes. Certainly within five, I had the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing her — from the point we had sat on, and to which I

ws were heavy, when he came round the point, with his hat hanging at his button-hole, smoothing h

Mr. Sampson?’ he s

chill in the air after the su

ot accustomed to do anything without him;

Miss Niner,

hank you, Mr. Sampson; she is better within doors. The ba

very delicate

nce intervened has not strengthened her. The gloomy shadow that fell upon her sister so early in life seems, in

an invalid vehicle, and was making most irregular curves upon the sand. Mr

earances, your friend wi

bable, certai

ant must

gentlemen will get dr

ws very light,

oes draw lig

r a little, side by side over the sand, in silence. After a short while he said, in a v

here long,

am going awa

n like Mr. Sampson are too important to others, to be

that,’ said I. ‘Howe

Lond

Lond

here too, soo

defensive weapon my right hand rested on in my pocket, as I walked by his side. Any mo

ged. We exchanged goodnight, and had

? Poor Meltham, whom we

too broken a man to live long, and

eat feeling. ‘Sad, sad, sad! The wor

ned those other things just now enumerated. He went his way, and I went mine with all expedition. This happened, as I have sa