AsthestreetsthatleadfromtheStrandtotheEmbankmentareverynarrow，itisbetternottowalkdownthemarm-in-arm。
　　Ifyoupersist，lawyers’clerkswillhavetomakeflyingleapsintothemud；youngladytypistswillhavetofidgetbehindyou。
　　InthestreetsofLondonwherebeautygoesunregarded，eccentricitymustpaythepenalty，anditisbetternottobeverytall，towearalongbluecloak，ortobeattheairwithyourlefthand。
　　OneafternooninthebeginningofOctoberwhenthetrafficwasbecomingbriskatallmanstrodealongtheedgeofthepavementwithaladyonhisarm。Angryglancesstruckupontheirbacks。
　　Thesmall，agitatedfigures——forincomparisonwiththiscouplemostpeoplelookedsmall——decoratedwithfountainpens，andburdenedwithdespatch-boxes，hadappointmentstokeep，anddrewaweeklysalary，sothattherewassomereasonfortheunfriendlystarewhichwasbestoweduponMr。Ambrose’sheightanduponMrs。Ambrose’scloak。
　　Butsomeenchantmenthadputbothmanandwomanbeyondthereachofmaliceandunpopularity。Inhisguessonemightguessfromthemovinglipsthatitwasthought；andinhersfromtheeyesfixedstonilystraightinfrontofheratalevelabovetheeyesofmostthatitwassorrow。
　　Itwasonlybyscorningallshemetthatshekeptherselffromtears，andthefrictionofpeoplebrushingpastherwasevidentlypainful。
　　AfterwatchingthetrafficontheEmbankmentforaminuteortwowithastoicalgazeshetwitchedherhusband’ssleeve，andtheycrossedbetweentheswiftdischargeofmotorcars。Whentheyweresafeonthefurtherside，shegentlywithdrewherarmfromhis，allowinghermouthatthesametimetorelax，totremble；thentearsrolleddown，andleaningherelbowsonthebalustrade，sheshieldedherfacefromthecurious。Mr。Ambroseattemptedconsolation；
　　hepattedhershoulder；butsheshowednosignsofadmittinghim，andfeelingitawkwardtostandbesideagriefthatwasgreaterthanhis，hecrossedhisarmsbehindhim，andtookaturnalongthepavement。
　　Theembankmentjutsoutinangleshereandthere，likepulpits；
　　insteadofpreachers，however，smallboysoccupythem，danglingstring，droppingpebbles，orlaunchingwadsofpaperforacruise。
　　Withtheirsharpeyeforeccentricity，theywereinclinedtothinkMr。Ambroseawful；butthequickestwittedcried“Bluebeard！“
　　ashepassed。Incasetheyshouldproceedtoteasehiswife，Mr。Ambroseflourishedhisstickatthem，uponwhichtheydecidedthathewasgrotesquemerely，andfourinsteadofonecried“Bluebeard！“inchorus。
　　AlthoughMrs。Ambrosestoodquitestill，muchlongerthanisnatural，thelittleboysletherbe。SomeoneisalwayslookingintotherivernearWaterlooBridge；acouplewillstandtheretalkingforhalfanhouronafineafternoon；mostpeople，walkingforpleasure，contemplateforthreeminutes；when，havingcomparedtheoccasionwithotheroccasions，ormadesomesentence，theypasson。SometimestheflatsandchurchesandhotelsofWestminsterareliketheoutlinesofConstantinopleinamist；sometimestheriverisanopulentpurple，sometimesmud-coloured，sometimessparklingbluelikethesea。
　　Itisalwaysworthwhiletolookdownandseewhatishappening。
　　Butthisladylookedneitherupnordown；theonlythingshehadseen，sinceshestoodthere，wasacirculariridescentpatchslowlyfloatingpastwithastrawinthemiddleofit。Thestrawandthepatchswamagainandagainbehindthetremulousmediumofagreatwellingtear，andthetearroseandfellanddroppedintotheriver。Thentherestruckcloseuponherears——
　　LarsPorsenaofClusiumBythenineGodsheswore——
　　andthenmorefaintly，asifthespeakerhadpassedheronhiswalk——
　　ThattheGreatHouseofTarquinShouldsufferwrongnomore。
　　Yes，sheknewshemustgobacktoallthat，butatpresentshemustweep。
　　Screeningherfaceshesobbedmoresteadilythanshehadyetdone，hershouldersrisingandfallingwithgreatregularity。Itwasthisfigurethatherhusbandsawwhen，havingreachedthepolishedSphinx，havingentangledhimselfwithamansellingpicturepostcards，heturned；
　　thestanzainstantlystopped。Hecameuptoher，laidhishandonhershoulder，andsaid，“Dearest。“Hisvoicewassupplicating。
　　Butsheshutherfaceawayfromhim，asmuchastosay，“Youcan’tpossiblyunderstand。“
　　Ashedidnotleaveher，however，shehadtowipehereyes，andtoraisethemtothelevelofthefactorychimneysontheotherbank。
　　ShesawalsothearchesofWaterlooBridgeandthecartsmovingacrossthem，likethelineofanimalsinashootinggallery。
　　Theywereseenblankly，buttoseeanythingwasofcoursetoendherweepingandbegintowalk。
　　“Iwouldratherwalk，“shesaid，herhusbandhavinghailedacabalreadyoccupiedbytwocitymen。
　　Thefixityofhermoodwasbrokenbytheactionofwalking。
　　Theshootingmotorcars，morelikespidersinthemoonthanterrestrialobjects，thethunderingdrays，thejinglinghansoms，andlittleblackbroughams，madeherthinkoftheworldshelivedin。
　　Somewhereupthereabovethepinnacleswherethesmokeroseinapointedhill，herchildrenwerenowaskingforher，andgettingasoothingreply。Asforthemassofstreets，squares，andpublicbuildingswhichpartedthem，sheonlyfeltatthismomenthowlittleLondonhaddonetomakeherloveit，althoughthirtyofherfortyyearshadbeenspentinastreet。Sheknewhowtoreadthepeoplewhowerepassingher；thereweretherichwhowererunningtoandfromeachothers’housesatthishour；therewerethebigotedworkersdrivinginastraightlinetotheiroffices；therewerethepoorwhowereunhappyandrightlymalignant。Already，thoughtherewassunlightinthehaze，tatteredoldmenandwomenwerenoddingofftosleepupontheseats。Whenonegaveupseeingthebeautythatclothedthings，thiswastheskeletonbeneath。
　　Afinerainnowmadeherstillmoredismal；vanswiththeoddnamesofthoseengagedinoddindustries——Sprules，ManufacturerofSaw-dust；Grabb，towhomnopieceofwastepapercomesamiss——
　　fellflatasabadjoke；boldlovers，shelteredbehindonecloak，seemedtohersordid，pasttheirpassion；theflowerwomen，acontentedcompany，whosetalkisalwaysworthhearing，weresoddenhags；
　　thered，yellow，andblueflowers，whoseheadswerepressedtogether，wouldnotblaze。Moreover，herhusbandwalkingwithaquickrhythmicstride，jerkinghisfreehandoccasionally，waseitheraVikingorastrickenNelson；thesea-gullshadchangedhisnote。
　　“Ridley，shallwedrive？Shallwedrive，Ridley？“
　　Mrs。Ambrosehadtospeaksharply；bythistimehewasfaraway。
　　Thecab，bytrottingsteadilyalongthesameroad，soonwithdrewthemfromtheWestEnd，andplungedthemintoLondon。Itappearedthatthiswasagreatmanufacturingplace，wherethepeoplewereengagedinmakingthings，asthoughtheWestEnd，withitselectriclamps，itsvastplate-glasswindowsallshiningyellow，itscarefully-finishedhouses，andtinylivefigurestrottingonthepavement，orbowledalongonwheelsintheroad，wasthefinishedwork。Itappearedtoheraverysmallbitofworkforsuchanenormousfactorytohavemade。Forsomereasonitappearedtoherasasmallgoldentasselontheedgeofavastblackcloak。
　　Observingthattheypassednootherhansomcab，butonlyvansandwaggons，andthatnotoneofthethousandmenandwomenshesawwaseitheragentlemanoralady，Mrs。Ambroseunderstoodthatafterallitistheordinarythingtobepoor，andthatLondonisthecityofinnumerablepoorpeople。StartledbythisdiscoveryandseeingherselfpacingacircleallthedaysofherliferoundPicadillyCircusshewasgreatlyrelievedtopassabuildingputupbytheLondonCountyCouncilforNightSchools。
　　“Lord，howgloomyitis！“herhusbandgroaned。“Poorcreatures！“
　　Whatwiththemiseryforherchildren，thepoor，andtherain，hermindwaslikeawoundexposedtodryintheair。
　　Atthispointthecabstopped，foritwasindangerofbeingcrushedlikeanegg-shell。ThewideEmbankmentwhichhadhadroomforcannonballsandsquadrons，hadnowshrunktoacobbledlanesteamingwithsmellsofmaltandoilandblockedbywaggons。
　　WhileherhusbandreadtheplacardspastedonthebrickannouncingthehoursatwhichcertainshipswouldsailforScotland，Mrs。Ambrosedidherbesttofindinformation。Fromaworldexclusivelyoccupiedinfeedingwaggonswithsacks，halfobliteratedtooinafineyellowfog，theygotneitherhelpnorattention。
　　Itseemedamiraclewhenanoldmanapproached，guessedtheircondition，andproposedtorowthemouttotheirshipinthelittleboatwhichhekeptmooredatthebottomofaflightofsteps。Withsomehesitationtheytrustedthemselvestohim，tooktheirplaces，andweresoonwavingupanddownuponthewater，Londonhavingshrunktotwolinesofbuildingsoneithersideofthem，squarebuildingsandoblongbuildingsplacedinrowslikeachild’savenueofbricks。
　　Theriver，whichhadacertainamountoftroubledyellowlightinit，ranwithgreatforce；bulkybargesfloateddownswiftlyescortedbytugs；
　　policeboatsshotpasteverything；thewindwentwiththecurrent。
　　Theopenrowing-boatinwhichtheysatbobbedandcurtseyedacrossthelineoftraffic。Inmid-streamtheoldmanstayedhishandsupontheoars，andasthewaterrushedpastthem，remarkedthatoncehehadtakenmanypassengersacross，wherenowhetookscarcelyany。
　　Heseemedtorecallanagewhenhisboat，mooredamongrushes，carrieddelicatefeetacrosstolawnsatRotherhithe。
　　“Theywantbridgesnow，“hesaid，indicatingthemonstrousoutlineoftheTowerBridge。MournfullyHelenregardedhim，whowasputtingwaterbetweenherandherchildren。Mournfullyshegazedattheshiptheywereapproaching；anchoredinthemiddleofthestreamtheycoulddimlyreadhername——_Euphrosyne_。
　　Verydimlyinthefallingdusktheycouldseethelinesoftherigging，themastsandthedarkflagwhichthebreezeblewoutsquarelybehind。
　　Asthelittleboatsidleduptothesteamer，andtheoldmanshippedhisoars，heremarkedoncemorepointingabove，thatshipsalltheworldoverflewthatflagthedaytheysailed。Inthemindsofboththepassengerstheblueflagappearedasinistertoken，andthisthemomentforpresentiments，butneverthelesstheyrose，gatheredtheirthingstogether，andclimbedondeck。
　　Downinthesaloonofherfather’sship，MissRachelVinrace，agedtwenty-four，stoodwaitingheruncleandauntnervously。
　　Tobeginwith，thoughnearlyrelated，shescarcelyrememberedthem；
　　togoonwith，theywereelderlypeople，andfinally，asherfather’sdaughtershemustbeinsomesortpreparedtoentertainthem。
　　Shelookedforwardtoseeingthemascivilisedpeoplegenerallylookforwardtothefirstsightofcivilisedpeople，asthoughtheywereofthenatureofanapproachingphysicaldiscomfort——
　　atightshoeoradraughtywindow。Shewasalreadyunnaturallybracedtoreceivethem。Assheoccupiedherselfinlayingforksseverelystraightbythesideofknives，sheheardaman’svoicesayinggloomily:
　　“Onadarknightonewouldfalldownthesestairsheadforemost，“
　　towhichawoman’svoiceadded，“Andbekilled。“
　　Asshespokethelastwordsthewomanstoodinthedoorway。Tall，large-eyed，drapedinpurpleshawls，Mrs。Ambrosewasromanticandbeautiful；
　　notperhapssympathetic，forhereyeslookedstraightandconsideredwhattheysaw。HerfacewasmuchwarmerthanaGreekface；ontheotherhanditwasmuchbolderthanthefaceoftheusualprettyEnglishwoman。
　　“Oh，Rachel，howd’youdo，“shesaid，shakinghands。
　　“Howareyou，dear，“saidMr。Ambrose，inclininghisforeheadtobekissed。Hisnieceinstinctivelylikedhisthinangularbody，andthebigheadwithitssweepingfeatures，andtheacute，innocenteyes。
　　“TellMr。Pepper，“Rachelbadetheservant。Husbandandwifethensatdownononesideofthetable，withtheirnieceoppositetothem。
　　“Myfathertoldmetobegin，“sheexplained。“Heisverybusywiththemen……YouknowMr。Pepper？“
　　Alittlemanwhowasbentassometreesarebyagaleononesideofthemhadslippedin。NoddingtoMr。Ambrose，heshookhandswithHelen。
　　“Draughts，“hesaid，erectingthecollarofhiscoat。
　　“Youarestillrheumatic？“askedHelen。Hervoicewaslowandseductive，thoughshespokeabsentlyenough，thesightoftownandriverbeingstillpresenttohermind。
　　“Oncerheumatic，alwaysrheumatic，Ifear，“hereplied。“Tosomeextentitdependsontheweather，thoughnotsomuchaspeopleareapttothink。“
　　“Onedoesnotdieofit，atanyrate，“saidHelen。
　　“Asageneralrule——no，“saidMr。Pepper。
　　“Soup，UncleRidley？“askedRachel。
　　“Thankyou，dear，“hesaid，and，asheheldhisplateout，sighedaudibly，“Ah！she’snotlikehermother。“HelenwasjusttoolateinthumpinghertumbleronthetabletopreventRachelfromhearing，andfromblushingscarletwithembarrassment。
　　“Thewayservantstreatflowers！“shesaidhastily。Shedrewagreenvasewithacrinkledliptowardsher，andbeganpullingoutthetightlittlechrysanthemums，whichshelaidonthetable-cloth，arrangingthemfastidiouslysidebyside。
　　Therewasapause。
　　“YouknewJenkinson，didn’tyou，Ambrose？“askedMr。Pepperacrossthetable。
　　“JenkinsonofPeterhouse？“
　　“He’sdead，“saidMr。Pepper。
　　“Ah，dear！——Iknewhim——agesago，“saidRidley。“Hewastheheroofthepuntaccident，youremember？Aqueercard。Marriedayoungwomanoutofatobacconist’s，andlivedintheFens——neverheardwhatbecameofhim。“
　　“Drink——drugs，“saidMr。Pepperwithsinisterconciseness。
　　“Heleftacommentary。Hopelessmuddle，I’mtold。“
　　“Themanhadreallygreatabilities，“saidRidley。
　　“HisintroductiontoJellabyholdsitsownstill，“wentonMr。Pepper，“whichissurprising，seeinghowtext-bookschange。“
　　“Therewasatheoryabouttheplanets，wasn’tthere？“askedRidley。
　　“Ascrewloosesomewhere，nodoubtofit，“saidMr。Pepper，shakinghishead。
　　Nowatremorranthroughthetable，andalightoutsideswerved。
　　Atthesametimeanelectricbellrangsharplyagainandagain。
　　“We’reoff，“saidRidley。
　　Aslightbutperceptiblewaveseemedtorollbeneaththefloor；
　　thenitsank；thenanothercame，moreperceptible。Lightsslidrightacrosstheuncurtainedwindow。Theshipgavealoudmelancholymoan。
　　“We’reoff！“saidMr。Pepper。Otherships，assadasshe，answeredheroutsideontheriver。Thechucklingandhissingofwatercouldbeplainlyheard，andtheshipheavedsothatthestewardbringingplateshadtobalancehimselfashedrewthecurtain。