Eighto’clockwasthehourfixedforthemeeting；andatitwerereadletters，filledwithdetailsofwoe，fromallpartsofthecountry。Fierce，heavygloombroodedovertheassembly；andfiercelyandheavilydidthemenseparate，towardseleveno’clock，someirritatedbytheoppositionofotherstotheirdesperateplans。Itwasnotanighttocheerthem，astheyquittedtheglareofthegas-lightedroom，andcameoutintothestreet。Unceasing，soakingrainwasfalling；
theverylampsseemedobscuredbythedampupontheglass，andtheirlightreachedbuttoalittledistancefromtheposts。Thestreetswereclearedofpassers-by；notacreatureseemedstirring，excepthereandthereadrenchedpolicemaninhisoil-skincape。Bartonwishedtheothersgoodnight，andsetoffhome。Hehadgonethroughastreetortwo，whenheheardastepbehindhim；buthedidnotcaretolookandseewhoitwas。Alittlefurther，andthepersonquickenedstep，andtouchedhisarmverylightly。
Heturned，andsaw，evenbythedarknessvisibleofthatbadly-lightedstreet，thatthewomanwhostoodbyhimwasofnodoubtfulprofession。
Itwastoldbyherfadedfinery，allunfittomeetthepeltingofthatpitilessstorm；thegauzebonnet，oncepink，nowdirtywhite，themuslingown，alldraggled，andsoakingwetuptotheveryknees；thegay-colouredbaregeshawl，closelywrappedroundtheform，whichyetshiveredandshook，asthewomanwhispered：“Iwanttospeaktoyou。“Hesworeanoath，andbadeherbegone。“Ireallydo。Don’tsendmeaway。I’msooutofbreath，IcannotsaywhatIwouldallatonce。“Sheputherhandtoherside，andcaughtherbreathwithevidentpain。“ItelltheeI’mnotthemanforthee，“addinganopprobriousname。“Stay，“
saidhe，asathoughtsuggestedbyhervoiceflashedacrosshim。Hegrippedherarm——thearmhehadjustbeforeshakenoff，anddraggedher，faintlyresisting，tothenearestlamp-post。Hepushedthebonnetback，androughlyheldthefaceshewouldfainhaveaverted，tothelight，andinherlarge，unnaturallybrightgreyeyes，herlovelymouth，halfopen，asifimploringtheforbearanceshecouldnotaskforinwords，hesawatoncethelong-lostEsther；shewhohadcausedhiswife’sdeath。Muchwaslikethegaycreatureofformeryears；buttheglaringpaint，thesharpfeatures，thechangedexpressionofthewhole!Butmostofall，heloathedthedress；andyetthepoorthing，outofherlittlechoiceofattire，hadputontheplainestshehad，tocomeonthatnight’serrand。“Soit’sthee，isit？It’sthee!“exclaimedJohn，ashegroundhisteeth，andshookherwithpassion。“I’velookedfortheelongatcornerso’streets，andsuchlikeplaces。IknewIshouldfindtheeatlast。Thee’llmaybebethinktheeo’somewordsIspoke，whichputtheeupatth’time；summutaboutstreet-walkers；butohno!thouartnoneo’themnaughts；noonethinksthouart，whoseesthyfinedraggletaileddress，andthyprettypinkcheeks!“stoppingforverywantofbreath。“Oh，mercy!John，mercy!listentomeforMary’ssake!“Shemeanthisdaughter，butthenameonlyfellonhisearasbelongingtohiswife；anditwasaddingfueltothefire。Invaindidherfacegrowdeadlypalearoundthevividcircleofpaint，invaindidshegaspformercy，——heburstforthagain。“Andthounamesthatnametome!andthouthinksthethoughtofherwillbringtheemercy!Dostthouknowitwastheewhokilledher，assureasCainkilledAbel。She’dlovedtheeasherown，andshetrustedtheeasherown，andwhenthouwertgonesheneverheldupheadagain，butdiedinlessthanathreeweek；andatthejudgement-dayshe’llrise，andpointtotheeashermurderer；orifshedon’t，Iwill。“Heflungher，trembling，sinking，fainting，fromhim，andstrodeaway。