The Unveiling of the Stranger

           Thestrangerwentintothelittleparlourofthe"CoachandHorses"abouthalf-pastfiveinthemorning,andthereheremaineduntilnearmidday,theblindsdown,thedoorshut,andnone,afterHall'srepulse,venturingnearhim. 

           Allthattimehemusthavefasted. Thriceheranghisbell,thethirdtimefuriouslyandcontinuously,butnooneansweredhim. "Himandhis'gotothedevil'indeed!"saidMrs.Hall. Presentlycameanimperfectrumouroftheburglaryatthevicarage,andtwoandtwowereputtogether. Hall,assistedbyWadgers,wentofftofindMr.Shuckleforth,themagistrate,andtakehisadvice. Nooneventuredupstairs. Howthestrangeroccupiedhimselfisunknown. Nowandthenhewouldstrideviolentlyupanddown,andtwicecameanoutburstofcurses,atearingofpaper,andaviolentsmashingofbottles. 

           Thelittlegroupofscaredbutcuriouspeopleincreased. Mrs.Huxtercameover;somegayyoungfellowsresplendentinblackready-madejacketsandpiquépaperties—foritwasWhitMonday—joinedthegroupwithconfusedinterrogations. YoungArchieHarkerdistinguishedhimselfbygoinguptheyardandtryingtopeepunderthewindow-blinds. Hecouldseenothing,butgavereasonforsupposingthathedid,andothersoftheIpingyouthpresentlyjoinedhim. 

           ItwasthefinestofallpossibleWhitMondays,anddownthevillagestreetstoodarowofnearlyadozenbooths,ashootinggallery,andonthegrassbytheforgewerethreeyellowandchocolatewaggonsandsomepicturesquestrangersofbothsexesputtingupacocoanutshy. Thegentlemenworebluejerseys,theladieswhiteapronsandquitefashionablehatswithheavyplumes.Wodger,ofthe"PurpleFawn,"andMr.Jaggers,thecobbler,whoalsosoldoldsecond-handordinarybicycles,werestretchingastringofunion-jacksandroyalensigns(whichhadoriginallycelebratedthefirstVictorianJubilee)acrosstheroad.