Incident at the window

The Incident at the Window is a brief but pivotal scene in which Mr. Utterson and Mr. Richard Enfield, during their Sunday walk, see Dr. Jekyll at a window of his laboratory, only to witness his expression transform into one of abject terror before the window is violently shut, confirming that Jekyll is in a state of extreme and inexplicable distress.

Setting and Circumstances

It chanced on a Sunday that Mr. Utterson was on his usual walk with Mr. Enfield, and their way lay once again through the by-street. When they came in front of the door, both stopped to gaze on it. Enfield remarked that the story of Mr. Hyde was at an end, and Utterson, who had once seen Hyde and shared Enfield's feeling of repulsion, agreed. Enfield then revealed that he had discovered the door was a back way to Dr. Jekyll's house. Utterson, uneasy about poor Jekyll, suggested they step into the court and take a look at the windows, feeling that even outside, the presence of a friend might do him good.

The Encounter at the Window

The court was very cool and a little damp, and full of premature twilight, although the sky, high up overhead, was still bright with sunset. The middle one of the three windows was half-way open, and sitting close beside it, taking the air with an infinite sadness of mien, like some disconsolate prisoner, Utterson saw Dr. Jekyll. Utterson cried out, trusting he was better. Jekyll replied drearily that he was very low, and that it would not last long, thank God. Utterson urged him to come out and walk with them, but Jekyll said he would like to very much but dared not, and that the place was not fit to invite them up. Utterson then proposed they stay down and speak with him from where they were.

The Sudden Terror

Jekyll said that was just what he was about to venture to propose, with a smile. But the words were hardly uttered before the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair as froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below. They saw it but for a glimpse, for the window was instantly thrust down. That glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the court without a word. In silence, they traversed the by-street, and it was not until they had come into a neighbouring thoroughfare, where even upon a Sunday there were still some stirrings of life, that Mr. Utterson at last turned and looked at his companion. They were both pale, and there was an answering horror in their eyes. Mr. Utterson said, "God forgive us, God forgive us," but Mr. Enfield only nodded his head very seriously and walked on once more in silence.