Elijah has been indefatigable. He has not left Magwich’s side. And has been rewarded, as our friend is freed from his delirium and is alert and talking to us.
In his confusion he had lost sight of us and with everything falling out of the sky to the front of us it seemed a bit safer to head in the opposite direction.
He has no excuse for continuing on when the situation became more clear. He feels silly actually. And apologizes for his curiosity that propelled him onwards to take in what had happened in the affluent quarter.
Most striking, perhaps, was his description of the attitudes of the people there. Extreme hostility towards Elijah, whom they consider evil incarnate.