Vol.1 f.078 recto

that she shrunk from his eye; and that she busied herself about the wounded gentleman to avoid him the better.
It was time he went to bed, she said. He was to be removed to his own home on the morrow, and he had already exceeded his time for sitting up, by a full hour. Acting on this hint, the locksmith prepared to take his leave.
"By the bye' said Edward, as he shook him by the hand, and looked from him to Mrs Rudge and back again, "what noise was that below? I heard your voice in the midst of it, and should have inquired before, but our other conversation drove it from my memory. What was it?'
The locksmith looked towards her, and bit his lip. She leant against the chair, and bent her eyes upon the ground. Barnaby too -- he was listening.
--"Some mad or drunken fellow, sir,' Varden at length made answer, looking steadily at the widow as he spoke. "He mistook the house, and tried to force an entrance.'
She breathed more freely, but stood quite motionless. As the locksmith said " Good night,' and Barnaby caught up the candle to light him down the stairs, she took it from him, and charged him[dash]with morre haste and earnestness than so slight an occasion appeared to warrant -- not to stir. The raven followed them to sarisfy himself that all was right below, and when they reached the street-door, stood on the bottom stair drawing corks out of number.
With a trembling hand she unfastened the chain and bolts, and turned the key. As she had her hand upon the latch, the locksmith said in a low voice,
"I have told a lie to-night, for your sake, Mary, and for the sake of bygone times and old acquaintance, when I would scorn to do so for my own. I hope I may have done no harm, or led to none. I can't help the suspicions you have forced upon me, and I am loth, I tell you plainly, to leave Mr Edward here. Take care he comes to no hurt. I doubt the safety of this roof, and am glad he leaves it so soon. Now, let me go.'
For a moment she hid her face in her hands and wept; but resisting the strong impulse which evidently moved her to reply, opened the door -- no wider than was sufficient for the passage of his body -- and motioned him away. As the locksmith stood upon the step, it was chained and locked behind him, and the raven, in