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altered her face more than Time had altered it from my remembrance
of the face that had once looked down upon me into the fragrant
dungeons of Seringapatam。 But when her youngest child came in
after dinner （for I dined with them； and we had no other company
than Specks； Junior； Barrister…at…law； who went away as soon as the
cloth was removed； to look after the young lady to whom he was
going to be married next week）； I saw again； in that little
daughter； the little face of the hayfield； unchanged； and it quite
touched my foolish heart。 We talked immensely； Specks and Mrs。
Specks； and I； and we spoke of our old selves as though our old
selves were dead and gone； and indeed； indeed they were … dead and
gone as the playing…field that had become a wilderness of rusty
iron； and the property of S。E。R。
Specks； however； illuminated Dullborough with the rays of interest
that I wanted and should otherwise have missed in it； and linked
its present to its past； with a highly agreeable chain。 And in
Specks's society I had new occasion to observe what I had before
noticed in similar communications among other men。 All the
schoolfellows and others of old； whom I inquired about； had either
done superlatively well or superlatively ill … had either become
uncertificated bankrupts； or been felonious and got themselves
transported； or had made great hits in life； and done wonders。 And
this is so commonly the case； that I never can imagine what becomes
of all the mediocre people of people's youth … especially
considering that we find no lack of the species in our maturity。
But； I did not propound this difficulty to Specks； for no pause in
the conversation gave me an occasion。 Nor； could I discover one
single flaw in the good doctor … when he reads this； he will
receive in a friendly spirit the pleasantly meant record … except
that he had forgotten his Roderick Random； and that he confounded
Strap with Lieutenant Hatchway； who never knew Random； howsoever
intimate with Pickle。
When I went alone to the Railway to catch my train at night （Specks
had meant to go with me； but was inopportunely called out）； I was
in a more charitable mood with Dullborough than I had been all day；
and yet in my heart I had loved it all day too。 Ah！ who was I that
I should quarrel with the town for being changed to me； when I
myself had come back； so changed； to it！ All my early readings and
early imaginations dated from this place； and I took them away so
full of innocent construction and guileless belief； and I brought
them back so worn and torn； so much the wiser and so much the
worse！
CHAPTER XIII … NIGHT WALKS
Some years ago； a temporary inability to sleep； referable to a
distressing impression； caused me to walk about the streets all
night； for a series of several nights。 The disorder might have
taken a long time to conquer； if it had been faintly experimented
on in bed； but； it was soon defeated by the brisk treatment of
getting up directly after lying down； and going out； and coming
home tired at sunrise。
In the course of those nights； I finished my education in a fair
amateur experience of houselessness。 My principal object being to
get through the night； the pursuit of it brought me into
sympathetic relations with people who have no other object every
night in the year。
The month was March； and the weather damp； cloudy； and cold。 The
sun not rising before half…past five； the night perspective looked
sufficiently long at half…past twelve： which was about my time for
confronting it。
The restlessness of a great city； and the way in which it tumbles
and tosses before it can get to sleep； formed one of the first
entertainments offered to the contemplation of us houseless people。
It lasted about two hours。 We lost a great deal of companionship
when the late public…houses turned their lamps out； and when the
potmen thrust the last brawling drunkards into the street； but
stray vehicles and stray people were left us； after that。 If we
were very lucky； a policeman's rattle sprang and a fray turned up；
but； in general； surprisingly little of this diversion was
provided。 Except in the Haymarket； which is the worst kept part of
London； and about Kent…street in the Borough； and along a portion
of the line of the Old Kent…road； the peace was seldom violently
broken。 But； it was always the case that London； as if in
imitation of individual citizens belonging to it； had expiring fits
and starts of restlessness。 After all seemed quiet； if one cab
rattled by； half…a…dozen would surely follow； and Houselessness
even observed that intoxicated people appeared to be magnetically
attracted towards each other； so that we knew when we saw one
drunken object staggering against the shutters of a shop； that
another drunken object would stagger up before five minutes were
out； to fraternise or fight with it。 When we made a divergence
from the regular species of drunkard； the thin…armed； puff…faced；
leaden…lipped gin…drinker； and encountered a rarer specimen of a
more decent appearance； fifty to one but that specimen was dressed
in soiled mourning。 As the street experience in the night； so the
street experience in the day； the common folk who come unexpectedly
into a little property； come unexpectedly into a deal of liquor。
At length these flickering sparks would die away； worn out … the
last veritable sparks of waking life trailed from some late pieman
or hot…potato man … and London would sink to rest。 And then the
yearning of the houseless mind would be for any sign of company；
any lighted place； any movement； anything suggestive of any one
being up … nay； even so much as awake； for the houseless eye looked
out for lights in windows。
Walking the streets under the pattering rain； Houselessness would
walk and walk and walk； seeing nothing but the interminable tangle
of streets； save at a corner； here and there； two policemen in
conversation； or the sergeant or inspector looking after his men。
Now and then in the night … but rarely … Houselessness would become
aware of a furtive head peering out of a doorway a few yards before
him； and； coming up with the head； would find a man standing bolt
upright to keep within the doorway's shadow； and evidently intent
upon no particular service to society。 Under a kind of
fascination； and in a ghostly silence suitable to the time；
Houselessness and this gentleman would eye one another from head to
foot； and so； without exchange of speech； part； mutually
suspicious。 Drip； drip； drip； from ledge and coping； splash from
pipes and water…spouts； and by…and…by the houseless shadow would
fall upon the stones that pave the way to Waterloo…bridge； it being
in the houseless mind to have a halfpenny worth of excuse for
saying 'Good…night' to the toll…keeper； and catching a glimpse of
his fire。 A good fire and a good great…coat and a good woollen
neck…shawl； were comfo