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He pushed the door open as he called to her； but did not return
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into the room； or wait to be lighted down the narrow stairs。 He
was at the bottom when she began to descend； and was in the
street before she could take his arm。
Mrs Pegler remained in her corner until the brother and sister
were gone； and until Stephen came back with the candle in his
hand。 She was in a state of inexpressible admiration of Mrs
Bounderby； and； like an unaccountable old woman； wept；
“because she was such a pretty dear。” Yet Mrs Pegler was so
flurried lest the object of her admiration should return by chance；
or anybody else should come； that her cheerfulness was ended for
that night。 It was late too； to people who rose early and worked
hard； therefore the party broke up； and Stephen and Rachael
escorted their mysterious acquaintance to the door of the
Traveller’s Coffee House； where they parted from her。
They walked back together to the corner of the street where
Rachael lived； and as they drew nearer and nearer to it； silence
crept upon them。 When they came to the dark corner where their
unfrequent meetings always ended； they stopped； still silent； as if
both were afraid to speak。
“I shall strive t’ see thee agen； Rachael； afore I go； but if not—”
“Thou wilt not； Stephen； I know。 ’Tis better that we make up
our minds to be open wi’ one another。”
“Thou’rt awlus right。 ’Tis bolder and better。 I ha been thinkin
then； Rachael； that as ’tis but a day or two that remains ’twere
better for thee； my dear； not t’ be seen wi’ me。 ’T might bring thee
into trouble fur no good。”
“’Tis not for that； Stephen； that I mind。 But thou know’st our
old agreement。 ’Tis for that。”
“Well； well；” said he。 “’Tis better onyways。”
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“Thou’lt write to me； and tell me all that happens； Stephen？”
“Yes。 What can I say now； but Heaven be wi’ thee； Heaven bless
thee； Heaven thank thee and reward thee！”
“May it bless thee； Stephen； too； in all thy wanderings； and send
thee peace and rest at last！”
“I towd thee； my dear；” said Stephen Blackpool—“that night—
that I would never see or think o’ onything that angered me； but
thou； so much better than me； shouldst be beside it。 Thou’rt beside
it now。 Thou mak’st me see it wi’ a better eye。 Bless thee。 Good
night。 Good…bye！”
It was but a hurried parting in a common street； yet it was a
sacred remembrance to these two common people。 Utilitarian
economists； skeletons of schoolmasters； Commissioners of Fact；
genteel and used…up infidels； gabblers of many little dog’s…eared
creeds； the poor you will have always with you。 Cultivate in them；
while there is yet time； the utmost graces of the fancies and
affections； to adorn their lives so much in need of ornament； or； in
the day of your triumph； when romance is utterly driven out of
their souls； and they and a bare existence stand face to face；
Reality will take a wolfish turn； and make an end of you。
Stephen worked the next day； and the next； uncheered by a
word from any one； and shunned in all his comings and goings； as
before。 At the end of the second day； he saw land； at the end of the
third； his loom stood empty。
He had overstayed his hour in the street outside the Bank； on
each of the two first evenings； and nothing had happened there；
good or bad。 That he might not be remiss in his part of the
engagement； he resolved to wait full two hours； on this third and
last night。
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There was the lady who had once kept Mr Bounderby’s house；
sitting at the first floor window as he had seen her before； and
there was the light porter； sometimes talking with her there； and
sometimes looking over the blind below which had Bank upon it；
and sometimes coming to the door and standing on the steps for a
breath of air。 When he first came out； Stephen thought he might
be looking for him； and passed near； but the light porter only cast
his winking eyes upon him slightly； and said nothing。
Two hours were a long stretch of lounging about； after a long
day’s labour。 Stephen sat upon the step of a door； leaned against a
wall under an archway； strolled up and down； listened for the
church clock； stopped and watched children playing in the street。
Some purpose or other is so natural to every one； that a mere
loiterer always looks and feels remarkable。 When the first hour
was out； Stephen even began to have an uncomfortable sensation
upon him of being for the time a disreputable character。
Then came the lamplighter； and two lengthening lines of light
all down the long perspective of the street； until they were blended
and lost in the distance。 Mrs Sparsit closed the first floor window；
drew down the blind； and went upstairs。 Presently； a light went
upstairs after her； passing first the fanlight of the door； and
afterwards the two staircase windows； on its way up。 By…and…by；
one corner of the second floor blind was disturbed； as if Mrs
Sparsit’s eye were there； also the other corner； as if the light
porter’s eye were on that side。 Still no communication was made
to Stephen。 Much relieved when the two hours were at last
accomplished； he went away at a quick pace； as a recompense for
so much loitering。
He had only to take leave of his landlady； and lie down on his
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Hard Times