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 furtherance of these precautions, barked like a lusty house-dog.
    »In league with that ill-looking figure that might have fallen from a gibbet
- he listening and hiding here - Barnaby first upon the spot last night - can
she who has always borne so fair a name be guilty of such crimes in secret!«
said the locksmith, musing. »Heaven forgive me if I am wrong, and send me just
thoughts; but she is poor, the temptation may be great, and we daily hear of
things as strange. - Ay, bark away, my friend. If there's any wickedness going
on, that raven's in it, I'll be sworn.«
 

                                  Chapter VII

Mrs. Varden was a lady of what is commonly called an uncertain temper - a phrase
which being interpreted signifies a temper tolerably certain to make everybody
more or less uncomfortable. Thus it generally happened, that when other people
were merry, Mrs. Varden was dull; and that when other people were dull, Mrs.
Varden was disposed to be amazingly cheerful. Indeed the worthy housewife was of
such a capricious nature, that she not only attained a higher pitch of genius
than Macbeth, in respect of her ability to be wise, amazed, temperate and
furious, loyal and neutral in an instant, but would sometimes ring the changes
backwards and forwards on all possible moods and flights in one short quarter of
an hour; performing, as it were, a kind of triple bob major on the peal of
instruments in the female belfry, with a skilfulness and rapidity of execution
that astonished all who heard her.
    It had been observed in this good lady (who did not want for personal
attractions, being plump and buxom to look at, though