Theringingandknockingstillcontinuing——hispanictoo——hewentbacktothedoorinthebed-chamber，andwithsomenewefforts，eachmorestubbornthanthelast，wrencheditopen。Seeingthelittlestaircasenotfaroff，andfeelingthenight-aircomingup，hestolebackforhishatandcoat，madethedoorassecureafterhimashecould，creptdownlampinhand，extinguisheditonseeingthestreet，andhavingputitinacorner，wentoutwherethestarswereshining。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]DICKENS：DombeyandSon，Chapter55[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERLVRobtheGrinderloseshisPlaceTHEporterattheirongatewhichshutthecourt-yardfromthestreet，hadleftthelittlewicketofhishouseopen，andwasgoneaway；nodoubttomingleinthedistantnoiseatthedoorofthegreatstaircase。Liftingthelatchsoftly，Carkercreptout，andshuttingthejanglinggateafterhimwithaslittlenoiseaspossible，hurriedoff。
Inthefeverofhismortificationandunavailingrage，thepanicthathadseizeduponhimmasteredhimcompletely。Itrosetosuchaheightthathewouldhaveblindlyencounteredalmostanyrisk，ratherthanmeetthemanofwhom，twohoursago，hehadbeenutterlyregardless。Hisfiercearrival，whichhehadneverexpected；thesoundofhisvoice；theirhavingbeensonearameeting，facetoface，hewouldhavebravedoutthis，afterthefirstmomentaryshockofalarm，andwouldhaveputasboldafrontuponhisguiltasanyvillain。Butthespringingofhismineuponhimself，seemedtohaverentandshiveredallhishardihoodandself-reliance。Spurnedlikeanyreptile；entrappedandmocked；turnedupon，andtroddendownbytheproudwomanwhosemindhehadslowlypoisoned，ashethought，untilshehadsunkintothemerecreatureofhispleasure；undeceivedinhisdeceit，andwithhisfox\'shidestrippedoff，hesneakedaway，abashed，degraded，andafraid。
Someotherterrorcameuponhimquiteremovedfromthisofbeingpursued，suddenly，likeanelectricshock，ashewascreepingthroughthestreets。Somevisionaryterror，unintelligibleandinexplicable，associatedwithatremblingoftheground，——arushandsweepofsomethingthroughtheair，likeDeathuponthewing。Heshrunk，asiftoletthethinggoby。Itwasnotgone，itneverhadbeenthere，yetwhatastartlinghorrorithadleftbehind。
Heraisedhiswickedface，sofulloftrouble，tothenightsky，wherethestars，sofullofpeace，wereshiningonhimastheyhadbeenwhenhefirststoleoutintotheair；andstoppedtothinkwhatheshoulddo。Thedreadofbeinghuntedinastrangeremoteplace，wherethelawsmightnotprotecthim——thenoveltyofthefeelingthatitwasstrangeandremote，originatinginhisbeingleftalonesosuddenlyamidtheruinsofhisplans——hisgreaterdreadofseekingrefugenow，inItalyorinSicily，wheremenmightbehiredtoassassinatehim，hethought，atanydarkstreetcorner——thewaywardnessofguiltandfear——perhapssomesympathyofactionwiththeturningbackofallhisschemes——impelledhimtoturnbacktoo，andgotoEngland。