In the same spirit he said to the gate-
porter as he went out, 'If some one staying in the hotel should
wish to send across the road to me in the night, a crown will be
ready for the messenger.' In the same spirit, he walked up and
down outside the iron gate for the best part of an hour, with some
solicitude; occasionally looking in between the bars, as if he had
laid a dove in a high roost in a cage of lions, and had it on his
mind that she might tumble out.
CHAPTER XXI--A RECOGNITION
Nothing occurred in the night to flutter the tired dove; and the
dove arose refreshed. With Mr. Grewgious, when the clock struck
ten in the morning, came Mr. Crisparkle, who had come at one plunge
out of the river at Cloisterham.
'Miss Twinkleton was so uneasy, Miss Rosa,' he explained to her,
'and came round to Ma and me with your note, in such a state of
wonder, that, to quiet her, I volunteered on this service by the
very first train to be caught in the morning. I wished at the time
that you had come to me; but now I think it best that you did AS
you did, and came to your guardian.'
'I did think of you,' Rosa told him; 'but Minor Canon Corner was so
near him--'
'I understand. It was quite natural.'
'I have told Mr. Crisparkle,' said Mr. Grewgious, 'all that you
told me last night, my dear. Of course I should have written it to
him immediately; but his coming was most opportune.
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