Chapter 24

           

           Itwasnotuntiltheywerequiteexhaustedandcouldnolongermaintainthepaceatwhichtheyhadfledfromtherace-ground,thattheoldmanandthechildventuredtostop,andsitdowntorestuponthebordersofalittlewood.Here,thoughthecoursewashiddenfromtheirview,theycouldyetfaintlydistinguishthenoiseofdistantshouts,thehumofvoices,andthebeatingofdrums.Climbingtheeminencewhichlaybetweenthemandthespottheyhadleft,thechildcouldevendiscerntheflutteringflagsandwhitetopsofbooths;butnopersonwasapproachingtowardsthem,andtheirresting-placewassolitaryandstill.

           Sometimeelapsedbeforeshecouldreassurehertremblingcompanion,orrestorehimtoastateofmoderatetranquillity.Hisdisorderedimaginationrepresentedtohimacrowdofpersonsstealingtowardsthembeneaththecoverofthebushes,lurkingineveryditch,andpeepingfromtheboughsofeveryrustlingtree.Hewashauntedbyapprehensionsofbeingledcaptivetosomegloomyplacewherehewouldbechainedandscourged,andworsethanall,whereNellcouldnevercometoseehim,savethroughironbarsandgratingsinthewall.Histerrorsaffectedthechild.Separationfromhergrandfatherwasthegreatestevilshecoulddread;andfeelingforthetimeasthough,gowheretheywould,theyweretobehunteddown,andcouldneverbesafebutinhiding,herheartfailedher,andhercouragedrooped.

           Inonesoyoung,andsounusedtothescenesinwhichshehadlatelymoved,thissinkingofthespiritwasnotsurprising.

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