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Chapter X
Daniel Quilp neither entered nor left the old man's house, unobserved.
In the shadow of an archway nearly opposite, leading to one of the
many passages which diverged from the main street, there lingered
one, who, having taken up his position when the twilight first came
on, still maintained it with undiminished patience, and leaning
against the wall with the manner of a person who had a long time to
wait, and being well used to it was quite resigned, scarcely changed
his attitude for the hour together.
This patient lounger attracted little attention from any of those who
passed, and bestowed as little upon them. His eyes were constantly
directed towards one object; the window at which the child was
accustomed to sit. If he withdrew them for a moment, it was only to
glance at a clock in some neighbouring shop, and then to strain his
sight once more in the old quarter with increased earnestness and
attention.
It had been remarked that this personage evinced no weariness in his
place of concealment; nor did he, long as his waiting was. But as the
time went on, he manifested some anxiety and surprise, glancing at
the clock more frequently and at the window less hopefully than
before. At length, the clock was hidden from his sight by some envious
shutters, then the church steeples proclaimed eleven at night, then
the quarter past, and then the conviction seemed to obtrude itself on
his mind that it was no use tarrying there any longer.
That the conviction was an unwelcome one, and that he was by no
means willing to yield to it, was apparent from his reluctance to quit
the spot; from the tardy steps with which he often left it, still looking
over his shoulder at the same window; and from the precipitation with
which he as often returned, when a fancied noise or the changing and
imperfect light induced him to suppose it had been softly raised. At
length, he gave the matter up, as hopeless for that night, and
suddenly breaking into a run as though to force himself away,
scampered off at his utmost speed, nor once ventured to look behind
him lest he should be tempted back again.
Without relaxing his pace, or stopping to take breath, this mysterious
individual dashed on through a great many alleys and narrow ways
until he at length arrived in a square paved court, when he subsided
into a walk, and making for a small house from the window of which a
light was shining, lifted the latch of the door and passed in.
'
Bless us!' cried a woman turning sharply round, 'who's that? Oh! It's
you, Kit!'
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