Theywanderedtoandfrowhenitwasday，andonceBarnabywentoffalonetoaclusteroflittlecottagestwoorthreemilesaway，topurchasesomebreadandmilk。Butfindingnobettershelter，theyreturnedtothesameplace，andlaydownagaintowaitfornight。
Heavenalonecantell，withwhatvaguehopesofduty，andaffection;withwhatstrangepromptingsofnature，intelligibletohimastoamanofradiantmindandmostenlargedcapacity;withwhatdimmemoriesofchildrenhehadplayedwithwhenachildhimself，whohadprattledoftheirfathers，andoflovingthem，andbeingloved;withhowmanyhalf-remembered，dreamyassociationsofhismother’sgriefandtearsandwidowhood;hewatchedandtendedthisman。Butthatavagueandshadowycrowdofsuchideascameslowlyonhim;thattheytaughthimtobesorrywhenhelookeduponhishaggardface，thattheyoverflowedhiseyeswhenhestoopedtokisshim，thattheykepthimwakinginatearfulgladness，shadinghimfromthesun，fanninghimwithleaves，soothinghimwhenhestartedinhissleep——ah！whatatroubledsleepitwas——andwonderingwhenSHEwouldcometojointhemandbehappy，isthetruth。Hesatbesidehimallthatday;listeningforherfootstepsineverybreathofair，lookingforhershadowonthegently-wavinggrass，twiningthehedgeflowersforherpleasurewhenshecame，andhiswhenheawoke;andstoopingdownfromtimetotimetolistentohismutterings，andwonderwhyhewassorestlessinthatquietplace。Thesunwentdown，andnightcameon，andhewasstillquitetranquil;busiedwiththesethoughts，asiftherewerenootherpeopleintheworld，andthedullcloudofsmokehangingontheimmensecityinthedistance，hidnovices，nocrimes，nolifeordeath，orcauseofdisquiet——nothingbutclearair。
Butthehourhadnowcomewhenhemustgoalonetofindouttheblindmanataskthatfilledhimwithdelightandbringhimtothatplace;takingespecialcarethathewasnotwatchedorfollowedonhiswayback。Helistenedtothedirectionshemustobserve，repeatedthemagainandagain，andaftertwiceorthricereturningtosurprisehisfatherwithalight-heartedlaugh，wentforth，atlast，uponhiserrand:leavingGrip，whomhehadcarriedfromthejailinhisarms，tohiscare。
Fleetoffoot，andanxioustoreturn，hespedswiftlyontowardsthecity，butcouldnotreachitbeforethefiresbegan，andmadethenightangrywiththeirdismallustre。Whenheenteredthetown——itmightbethathewaschangedbygoingtherewithouthislatecompanions，andonnoviolenterrand;orbythebeautifulsolitudeinwhichhehadpassedtheday，orbythethoughtsthathadcomeuponhim，——butitseemedpeopledbyalegionofdevils。
Thisflightandpursuit，thiscruelburninganddestroying，thesedreadfulcriesandstunningnoises，wereTHEYthegoodlord’snoblecause！