CHAPTER XXI. THE EXPEDITION

otheairwithgreatdisdain,andrunningintotheparlourwindowsoverthewayafterperformingthosefeats,andsupportinghimselfforashorttimeonhishind-legs,hestartedoffatgreatspeed,andrattledoutofthetownrightgallantly. Thenightwasverydark.Adampmistrosefromtheriver,andthemarshygroundaboutandspreaditselfoverthedrearyfields.Itwaspiercingcold,tooallwasgloomyandblack.NotawordwasspokenforthedriverhadgrownsleepyandSikeswasinnomoodtoleadhimintoconversation.Oliversathuddledtogether,inacornerofthecartbewilderedwithalarmandapprehensionandfiguringstrangeobjectsinthegaunttrees,whosebrancheswavedgrimlytoandfro,asifinsomefantasticjoyatthedesolationofthescene. AstheypassedSunburyChurch,theclockstruckseven.Therewasalightintheferry-housewindowopposite:whichstreamedacrosstheroad,andthrewintomoresombreshadowadarkyew-treewithgravesbeneathit.Therewasadullsoundoffallingwaternotfaroffandtheleavesoftheoldtreestirredgentlyinthenightwind.Itseemedlikequietmusicforthereposeofthedead. Sunburywaspassedthrough,andtheycameagainintothelonelyroad.Twoorthreemilesmore,andthecartstopped.Sikesalighted,tookOliverbythehand,andtheyonceagainwalkedon. TheyturnedintonohouseatShepperton,asthewearyboyhadexpectedbutstillkeptwalkingon,inmudanddarkness,throughgloomylanesandovercoldopenwastes,untiltheycamewithinsightofthelightsofatownatnogreatdistance.Onlookingintentlyforward,Oliversawthatthewaterwasjustbelowthem,andthattheywerecomingtothefootofabridge. Sikeskeptstraighton,untiltheywerecloseuponthebridgethenturnedsuddenlydownabankupontheleft. “Thewater!”thoughtOliver,turningsickwithfear.“Hehasbroughtmetothislonelyplacetomurderme!” Hewasabouttothrowhimselfontheground,andmakeonestruggleforhisyounglife,whenhesawthattheystoodbeforeasolitaryhouse:allruinousanddecayed.Therewasawindowoneachsideofthedilapidatedentranceandonestoryabovebutnolightwasvisible.Thehousewasdark,dismantled:and,toallappearance,uninhabited. Sikes,withOliver’shandstillinhis,softlyapproachedthelowporch,andraisedthelatch.Thedooryieldedtothepressure,andtheypassedintogether.