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The Exodus From London
Oneman’shandspressedonthebackofanother. Mybrotherstoodatthepony’shead. Irresistiblyattracted,headvancedslowly,pacebypace,downthelane.
Edgwarehadbeenasceneofconfusion,ChalkFarmariotoustumult,butthiswasawholepopulationinmovement. Itishardtoimaginethathost.Ithadnocharacterofitsown. Thefigurespouredoutpastthecorner,andrecededwiththeirbackstothegroupinthelane. Alongthemargincamethosewhowereonfootthreatenedbythewheels,stumblingintheditches,blunderingintooneanother.
Thecartsandcarriagescrowdedcloseupononeanother, makinglittlewayforthoseswifterandmoreimpatientvehiclesthatdartedforwardeverynowandthenwhenanopportunityshoweditselfofdoingso,sendingthepeoplescatteringagainstthefencesandgatesofthevillas.
"Pushon!"wasthecry."Pushon!Theyarecoming!"
InonecartstoodablindmanintheuniformoftheSalvationArmy,gesticulatingwithhiscrookedfingersandbawling, "Eternity!Eternity!" Hisvoicewashoarseandveryloudsothatmybrothercouldhearhimlongafterhewaslosttosightinthedust. Someofthepeoplewhocrowdedinthecartswhippedstupidlyattheirhorsesandquarrelledwithotherdrivers; somesatmotionless,staringatnothingwithmiserableeyes; somegnawedtheirhandswiththirst,orlayprostrateinthebottomsoftheirconveyances. Thehorses’bitswerecoveredwithfoam,theireyesbloodshot.
Therewerecabs,carriages,shopcars,waggons,beyondcounting; amailcart,aroad-cleaner’scartmarked"VestryofSt.Pancras,"ahugetimberwaggoncrowdedwithroughs. Abrewer’sdrayrumbledbywithitstwonearwheelssplashedwithfreshblood.
