Act VIII: In Memorium
With time, his obsession died down, and he was able to fuel his energy towards success in his profession, through creative ways. All of his desire turned to greed, all his compassion evaporated, leaving him bitter. And it paid off, he was eventually promoted to a judge. Granted, his life felt empty every now and then, but he had his books. He had become respected, and feared. He appointed one of his old alliances, a short, beady, podgy man from his school days, Bamford, to do most of his dirty work, so he had a great deal of free time.
So when he received an invitation to Tabitha's funeral, he thought he felt something stir inside of him, but brushed it aside. He considered throwing the paper in the fire, but stopped. Turpin sighed. Seeing as he had nothing better to do, he might as well go.
It was a chilly autumn day. The the spindly trees turned black from the soot of the factories clung to their blood red leaves falling in the wind. For a moment, Turpin thought he was the only person at the ceremony, until he noticed her.
She was like a rosebud, her pink face drooped elegantly towards the soil that buried her roots, the tears streaming down her face like diamonds. She looked just like Tabitha, in every way, almost as if she hadn't aged or died at all. Turpin wondered if this was a sign, that with her rebirth there would be a chance to begin anew for the both of them.
He gave up on the pretence of mourning and went to the young maiden.
"I see you look quite distressed."
"Well, she was my mother, and she died recently."
"Yes, it was terrible. Dysentery, was it?"
"Typhus."
"Ah. I'm Eustace Turpin, your mother may have mentioned me." Her face lit up.
"So, I finally have the pleasure of meeting the great and honourable Judge? Mother talked so well of you. She said you were the main reason I had a roof over my head, and nice dresses in the Spring."
"That's true," he nodded. "Now, Miss. I know you are in a very vulnerable position, as an orphan, and I thought I could be of assistance by offering you my hand in marriage."
She laughed. "That's very kind of you, but you should not feel under such an obligation, I am a married woman."
"Then where is your husband?" Blast! He cursed the heavens above for his fate.
"At work. He had a busy day and could not get off," Well, he was poor. Perhaps there was some hope.
"Very well then, perhaps I shall see you again."
"Perhaps not." She tied up her bonnet. "I won't be leaving the house very much, I'm with child." He let her walk away, but this was not the end.