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The Exodus From London
Mybrotherstopped.
Forthemainroadwasaboilingstreamofpeople,atorrentofhumanbeingsrushingnorthward,onepressingonanother. Agreatbankofdust,whiteandluminousintheblazeofthesun,madeeverythingwithintwentyfeetofthegroundgreyandindistinctandwasperpetuallyrenewedbythehurryingfeetofadensecrowdofhorsesandofmenandwomenonfoot,andbythewheelsofvehiclesofeverydescription.
"Way!"mybrotherheardvoicescrying."Makeway!"
Itwaslikeridingintothesmokeofafiretoapproachthemeetingpointofthelaneandroad; thecrowdroaredlikeafire,andthedustwashotandpungent. And,indeed,alittlewayuptheroadavillawasburningandsendingrollingmassesofblacksmokeacrosstheroadtoaddtotheconfusion.
Twomencamepastthem. Thenadirtywoman,carryingaheavybundleandweeping. Alostretrieverdog,withhangingtongue,circleddubiouslyroundthem,scaredandwretched,andfledatmybrother’sthreat.
SomuchastheycouldseeoftheroadLondonwardbetweenthehousestotherightwasatumultuousstreamofdirty,hurryingpeople,pentinbetweenthevillasoneitherside; theblackheads,thecrowdedforms,grewintodistinctnessastheyrushedtowardsthecorner,hurriedpast,andmergedtheirindividualityagaininarecedingmultitudethatwasswallowedupatlastinacloudofdust.
"Goon!Goon!"criedthevoices."Way!Way!"
