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my country’s journeyman； henceforward that’s my line of
business。’
‘Be what you like in two hours’ time； but now go up to bed；’
returned the locksmith； planting himself in the doorway。 ‘Do you
hear me？ Go to bed！’
‘I hear you； and defy you； Varden；’ rejoined Simon Tappertit。
‘This night； sir； I have been in the country； planning an expedition
which shall fill your bell…hanging soul with wonder and dismay。
The plot demands my utmost energy。 Let me pass！’
‘I’ll knock you down if you come near the door；’ replied the
locksmith。 ‘You had better go to bed！’
Simon made no answer； but gathering himself up as straight as
he could； plunged head foremost at his old master； and the two
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went driving out into the workshop together； plying their hands
and feet so briskly that they looked like half…a…dozen； while Miggs
and Mrs Varden screamed for twelve。
It would have been easy for Varden to knock his old ’prentice
down； and bind him hand and foot； but as he was loth to hurt him
in his then defenceless state； he contented himself with parrying
his blows when he could； taking them in perfect good part when
he could not； and keeping between him and the door； until a
favourable opportunity should present itself for forcing him to
retreat up…stairs； and shutting him up in his own room。 But； in the
goodness of his heart； he calculated too much upon his adversary’s
weakness； and forgot that drunken men who have lost the power
of walking steadily； can often run。 Watching his time； Simon
Tappertit made a cunning show of falling back； staggered
unexpectedly forward； brushed past him； opened the door （he
knew the trick of that lock well）； and darted down the street like a
mad dog。 The locksmith paused for a moment in the excess of his
astonishment； and then gave chase。
It was an excellent season for a run； for at that silent hour the
streets were deserted； the air was cool； and the flying figure before
him distinctly visible at a great distance； as it sped away； with a
long gaunt shadow following at its heels。 But the short…winded
locksmith had no chance against a man of Sim’s youth and spare
figure； though the day had been when he could have run him
down in no time。 The space between them rapidly increased； and
as the rays of the rising sun streamed upon Simon in the act of
turning a distant corner； Gabriel Varden was fain to give up； and
sit down on a doorstep to fetch his breath。 Simon meanwhile；
without once stopping； fled at the same degree of swiftness to The
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Boot； where； as he well knew； some of his company were lying；
and at which respectable hostelry—for he had already acquired
the distinction of being in great peril of the law—a friendly watch
had been expecting him all night； and was even now on the look…
out for his coming。
‘Go thy ways； Sim； go thy ways；’ said the locksmith； as soon as
he could speak。 ‘I have done my best for thee； poor lad； and would
have saved thee； but the rope is round thy neck； I fear。’
So saying； and shaking his head in a very sorrowful and
disconsolate manner； he turned back； and soon re…entered his own
house； where Mrs Varden and the faithful Miggs had been
anxiously expecting his return。
Now Mrs Varden （and by consequence Miss Miggs likewise）
was impressed with a secret misgiving that she had done wrong；
that she had； to the utmost of her small means； aided and abetted
the growth of disturbances； the end of which it was impossible to
foresee； that she had led remotely to the scene which had just
passed； and that the locksmith’s time for triumph and reproach
had now arrived indeed。 And so strongly did Mrs Varden feel this；
and so crestfallen was she in consequence； that while her husband
was pursuing their lost journeyman； she secreted under her chair
the little red…brick dwelling…house with the yellow roof； lest it
should furnish new occasion for reference to the painful theme；
and now hid the same still more； with the skirts of her dress。
But it happened that the locksmith had been thinking of this
very article on his way home； and that； coming into the room and
not seeing it； he at once demanded where it was。
Mrs Varden had no resource but to produce it； which she did
with many tears； and broken protestations that if she could have
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known—
‘Yes； yes；’ said Varden； ‘of course—I know that。 I don’t mean to
reproach you； my dear。 But recollect from this time that all good
things perverted to evil purposes； are worse than those which are
naturally bad。 A thoroughly wicked woman； is wicked indeed。
When religion goes wrong； she is very wrong； for the same reason。
Let us say no more about it； my dear。’
So he dropped the red…brick dwelling…house on the floor； and
setting his heel upon it； crushed it into pieces。 The halfpence； and
sixpences； and other voluntary contributions； rolled about in all
directions； but nobody offered to touch them； or to take them up。
‘That；’ said the locksmith； ‘is easily disposed of； and I would to
Heaven that everything growing out of the same society could be
settled as easily。’
‘It happens very fortunately； Varden；’ said his wife； with her
handkerchief to her eyes； ‘that in case any more disturbances
should happen—which I hope not； I sincerely hope not—’
‘I hope so too； my dear。’
‘—That in case any should occur； we have the piece of paper
which that poor misguided young man brought。’
‘Ay； to be sure；’ said the locksmith； turning quickly rou