English
WhenthemailgotsuccessfullytoDover,inthecourseoftheforenoon,theheaddrawerattheRoyalGeorgeHotelopenedthecoach-doorashiscustomwas.
Hediditwithsomeflourishofceremony,foramailjourneyfromLondoninwinterwasanachievementtocongratulateanadventuroustravellerupon.
Bythattime,therewasonlyoneadventuroustravellerleftbecongratulated:forthetwoothershadbeensetdownattheirrespectiveroadsidedestinations.
Themildewyinsideofthecoach,withitsdampanddirtystraw,itsdisagreeablesmell,anditsobscurity,wasratherlikealargerdog-kennel.
Mr.Lorry,thepassenger,shakinghimselfoutofitinchainsofstraw,atangleofshaggywrapper,flappinghat,andmuddylegs,wasratherlikealargersortofdog.
“TherewillbeapackettoCalais,tomorrow,drawer?”
“Yes,sir,iftheweatherholdsandthewindsetstolerablefair.Thetidewillserveprettynicelyatabouttwointheafternoon,sir.Bed,sir?”
“Ishallnotgotobedtillnight;butIwantabedroom,andabarber.”
“Andthenbreakfast,sir?Yes,sir.Thatway,sir,ifyouplease.ShowConcord!
Gentleman’svaliseandhotwatertoConcord.Pulloffgentleman’sbootsinConcord.
(Youwillfindafinesea-coalfire,sir.)FetchbarbertoConcord.Stiraboutthere,now,forConcord!”
TheConcordbed-chamberbeingalwaysassignedtoapassengerbythemail,andpassengersbythemailbeingalwaysheavilywrappedupfrombeadtofoot,theroomhadtheoddinterestfortheestablishmentoftheRoyalGeorge,thatalthoughbutonekindofmanwasseentogointoit,allkindsandvarietiesofmencameoutofit.
Consequently,anotherdrawer,andtwoporters,andseveralmaidsandthelandlady,wereallloiteringbyaccidentatvariouspointsoftheroadbetweentheConcordandthecoffee-room,whenagentlemanofsixty,formallydressedinabrownsuitofclothes,prettywellworn,butverywellkept,withlargesquarecuffsandlargeflapstothepockets,passedalongonhiswaytohisbreakfast.
Thecoffee-roomhadnootheroccupant,thatforenoon,thanthegentlemaninbrown.
Hisbreakfast-tablewasdrawnbeforethefire,andashesat,withitslightshiningonhim,waitingforthemeal,hesatsostill,thathemighthavebeensittingforhisportrait.
Veryorderlyandmethodicalhelooked,withahandoneachknee,andaloudwatchtickingasonoroussermonunderhisflappedwaist-coat,asthoughitpitteditsgravityandlongevityagainstthelevityandevanescenceofthebriskfire.
Hehadagoodleg,andwasalittlevainofit,forhisbrownstockingsfittedsleekandclose,andwereofafinetexture;hisshoesandbuckles,too,thoughplain,weretrim.
Heworeanoddlittlesleekcrispflaxenwig,settingveryclosetohishead:whichwig,itistobepresumed,wasmadeofhair,butwhichlookedfarmoreasthoughitwerespunfromfilamentsofsilkorglass.
Hislinen,thoughnotofafinenessinaccordancewithhisstockings,wasaswhiteasthetopsofthewavesthatbrokeupontheneighbouringbeach,orthespecksofsailthatglintedinthesunlightfaratsea.
Afacehabituallysuppressedandquieted,wasstilllightedupunderthequaintwigbyapairofmoistbrighteyesthatitmusthavecosttheirowner,inyearsgoneby,somepainstodrilltothecomposedandreservedexpressionofTellson’sBank.
Hehadahealthycolourinhischeeks,andhisface,thoughlined,borefewtracesofanxiety.
But,perhapstheconfidentialbachelorclerksinTellson’sBankwereprincipallyoccupiedwiththecaresofotherpeople;andperhapssecond-handcares,likesecond-handclothes,comeeasilyoffandon.
Completinghisresemblancetoamanwhowassittingforhisportrait,Mr.Lorrydroppedofftosleep.Thearrivalofhisbreakfastrousedhim,andhesaidtothedrawer,ashemovedhischairtoit:
“Iwishaccommodationpreparedforayoungladywhomaycomehereatanytimeto-day.ShemayaskforMr.JarvisLorry,orshemayonlyaskforagentlemanfromTellson’sBank.Pleasetoletmeknow.”
“Yes,sir.Tellson’sBankinLondon,sir?”
“Yes.”
“Yes,sir.WehaveoftentimesthehonourtoentertainyourgentlemenintheirtravellingbackwardsandforwardsbetwixtLondonandParis,sir.
Avastdealoftravelling,sir,inTellsonandCompany’sHouse.”
“Yes.WearequiteaFrenchHouse,aswellasanEnglishone.”
“Yes,sir.Notmuchinthehabitofsuchtravellingyourself,Ithink,sir?”
“Notoflateyears.Itisfifteenyearssincewe—sinceI—camelastfromFrance.”
“Indeed,sir?Thatwasbeforemytimehere,sir.Beforeourpeople’stimehere,sir.TheGeorgewasinotherhandsatthattime,sir.”
“Ibelieveso.”
“ButIwouldholdaprettywager,sir,thataHouselikeTellsonandCompanywasflourishing,amatteroffifty,nottospeakoffifteenyearsago?”
“Youmighttreblethat,andsayahundredandfifty,yetnotbefarfromthetruth.”
“Indeed,sir!”
Roundinghismouthandbothhiseyes,ashesteppedbackwardfromthetable,thewaitershiftedhisnapkinfromhisrightarmtohisleft,droppedintoacomfortableattitude,andstoodsurveyingtheguestwhileheateanddrank,asfromanobservatoryorwatchtower.
Accordingtotheimmemorialusageofwaitersinallages.
WhenMr.Lorryhadfinishedhisbreakfast,hewentoutforastrollonthebeach.
Thelittlenarrow,crookedtownofDoverhiditselfawayfromthebeach,andranitsheadintothechalkcliffs,likeamarineostrich.
Thebeachwasadesertofheapsofseaandstonestumblingwildlyabout,andtheseadidwhatitliked,andwhatitlikedwasdestruction.
Itthunderedatthetown,andthunderedatthecliffs,andbroughtthecoastdown,madly.
Theairamongthehouseswasofsostrongapiscatoryflavourthatonemighthavesupposedsickfishwentuptobedippedinit,assickpeoplewentdowntobedippedinthesea.
Alittlefishingwasdoneintheport,andaquantityofstrollingaboutbynight,andlookingseaward:particularlyatthosetimeswhenthetidemade,andwasnearflood.
Smalltradesmen,whodidnobusinesswhatever,sometimesunaccountablyrealisedlargefortunes,anditwasremarkablethatnobodyintheneighbourhoodcouldendurealamplighter.
Asthedaydeclinedintotheafternoon,andtheair,whichhadbeenatintervalsclearenoughtoallowtheFrenchcoasttobeseen,becameagainchargedwithmistandvapour,Mr.Lorry’sthoughtsseemedtocloudtoo.
Whenitwasdark,andhesatbeforethecoffee-roomfire,awaitinghisdinnerashehadawaitedhisbreakfast,hismindwasbusilydigging,digging,digging,intheliveredcoals.
Abottleofgoodclaretafterdinnerdoesadiggerintheredcoalsnoharm,otherwisethanasithasatendencytothrowhimoutofwork.
Mr.Lorryhadbeenidlealongtime,andhadjustpouredouthislastglassfulofwinewithascompleteanappearanceofsatisfactionasisevertobefoundinanelderlygentlemanofafreshcomplexionwhohasgottotheendofabottle,whenarattlingofwheelscameupthenarrowstreet,andrumbledintotheinn-yard.
Hesetdownhisglassuntouched.“ThisisMam’selle!”saidhe.
InaveryfewminutesthewaitercameintoannouncethatMissManettehadarrivedfromLondon,andwouldbehappytoseethegentlemanfromTellson’s.
“Sosoon?”
MissManettehadtakensomerefreshmentontheroad,andrequirednonethen,andwasextremelyanxioustoseethegentlemanfromTellson’simmediately,ifitsuitedhispleasureandconvenience.
ThegentlemanfromTellson’shadnothingleftforitbuttoemptyhisglasswithanairofstoliddesperation,settlehisoddlittleflaxenwigattheears,andfollowthewaitertoMissManette’sapartment.
Itwasalarge,darkroom,furnishedinafunerealmannerwithblackhorsehair,andloadedwithheavydarktables.
Thesehadbeenoiledandoiled,untilthetwotallcandlesonthetableinthemiddleoftheroomweregloomilyreflectedoneveryleaf;asifTHEYwereburied,indeepgravesofblackmahogany,andnolighttospeakofcouldbeexpectedfromthemuntiltheyweredugout.
TheobscuritywassodifficulttopenetratethatMr.Lorry,pickinghiswayoverthewell-wornTurkeycarpet,supposed
MissManettetobe,forthemoment,insomeadjacentroom,until,havinggotpastthetwotallcandles,hesawstandingtoreceivehimbythetablebetweenthemandthefire,ayoungladyofnotmorethanseventeen,inariding-cloak,andstillholdingherstrawtravelling-hatbyitsribboninherhand.
Ashiseyesrestedonashort,slight,prettyfigure,aquantityofgoldenhair,apairofblueeyesthatmethisownwithaninquiringlook,andaforeheadwithasingularcapacity(rememberinghowyoungandsmoothitwas),ofriftingandknittingitselfintoanexpressionthatwasnotquiteoneofperplexity,orwonder,oralarm,ormerelyofabrightfixedattention,thoughitincludedallthefourexpressions-ashiseyesrestedonthesethings,asuddenvividlikenesspassedbeforehim,ofachildwhomhehadheldinhisarmsonthepassageacrossthatveryChannel,onecoldtime,whenthehaildriftedheavilyandthesearanhigh.
Thelikenesspassedaway,likeabreathalongthesurfaceofthegauntpier-glassbehindher,ontheframeofwhich,ahospitalprocessionofnegrocupids,severalheadlessandallcripples,wereofferingblackbasketsofDeadSeafruittoblackdivinitiesofthefemininegender-andhemadehisformalbowtoMissManette.
“Praytakeaseat,sir.”Inaveryclearandpleasantyoungvoice;alittleforeigninitsaccent,butaverylittleindeed.
“Ikissyourhand,miss,”saidMr.Lorry,withthemannersofanearlierdate,ashemadehisformalbowagain,andtookhisseat.
“IreceivedaletterfromtheBank,sir,yesterday,informingmethatsomeintelligence—ordiscovery—”
“Thewordisnotmaterial,miss;eitherwordwilldo.”
”—respectingthesmallpropertyofmypoorfather,whomIneversaw—solongdead—”
Mr.Lorrymovedinhischair,andcastatroubledlooktowardsthehospitalprocessionofnegrocupids.AsifTHEYhadanyhelpforanybodyintheirabsurdbaskets!
”—rendereditnecessarythatIshouldgotoParis,theretocommunicatewithagentlemanoftheBank,sogoodastobedespatchedtoParisforthepurpose.”
“Myself.”
“AsIwaspreparedtohear,sir.”
Shecurtseyedtohim(youngladiesmadecurtseysinthosedays),withaprettydesiretoconveytohimthatshefelthowmucholderandwiserhewasthanshe.Hemadeheranotherbow.
“IrepliedtotheBank,sir,thatasitwasconsiderednecessary,bythosewhoknow,andwhoaresokindastoadviseme,thatIshouldgotoFrance,andthatasIamanorphanandhavenofriendwhocouldgowithme,IshouldesteemithighlyifImightbepermittedtoplacemyself,duringthejourney,underthatworthygentleman’sprotection.
ThegentlemanhadleftLondon,butIthinkamessengerwassentafterhimtobegthefavourofhiswaitingformehere.”
“Iwashappy,”saidMr.Lorry,“tobeentrustedwiththecharge.Ishallbemorehappytoexecuteit.”
“Sir,Ithankyouindeed.Ithankyouverygratefully.
ItwastoldmebytheBankthatthegentlemanwouldexplaintomethedetailsofthebusiness,andthatImustpreparemyselftofindthemofasurprisingnature.
Ihavedonemybesttopreparemyself,andInaturallyhaveastrongandeagerinteresttoknowwhattheyare.”
“Naturally,”saidMr.Lorry.“Yes—I—”
Afterapause,headded,againsettlingthecrispflaxenwigattheears,“Itisverydifficulttobegin.”
Hedidnotbegin,but,inhisindecision,metherglance.
Theyoungforeheadlifteditselfintothatsingularexpression—butitwasprettyandcharacteristic,besidesbeingsingular—andsheraisedherhand,asifwithaninvoluntaryactionshecaughtat,orstayedsomepassingshadow.
“Areyouquiteastrangertome,sir?”
“AmInot?”Mr.Lorryopenedhishands,andextendedthemoutwardswithanargumentativesmile.
Betweentheeyebrowsandjustoverthelittlefemininenose,thelineofwhichwasasdelicateandfineasitwaspossibletobe,theexpressiondeepeneditselfasshetookherseatthoughtfullyinthechairbywhichshehadhithertoremainedstanding.
Hewatchedherasshemused,andthemomentsheraisedhereyesagain,wenton:
“Inyouradoptedcountry,Ipresume,IcannotdobetterthanaddressyouasayoungEnglishlady,MissManette?”
“Ifyouplease,sir.”
“MissManette,Iamamanofbusiness.Ihaveabusinesschargetoacquitmyselfof.
Inyourreceptionofit,don’theedmeanymorethanifIwasaspeakingmachine-truly,Iamnotmuchelse.
Iwill,withyourleave,relatetoyou,miss,thestoryofoneofourcustomers.”
“Story!”
Heseemedwilfullytomistakethewordshehadrepeated,whenheadded,inahurry,“Yes,customers;inthebankingbusinessweusuallycallourconnectionourcustomers.
HewasaFrenchgentleman;ascientificgentleman;amanofgreatacquirements—aDoctor.”
“NotofBeauvais?”
“Why,yes,ofBeauvais.LikeMonsieurManette,yourfather,thegentlemanwasofBeauvais.
LikeMonsieurManette,yourfather,thegentlemanwasofreputeinParis.Ihadthehonourofknowinghimthere.
Ourrelationswerebusinessrelations,butconfidential.
IwasatthattimeinourFrenchHouse,andhadbeen—oh!twentyyears.”
“Atthattime—Imayask,atwhattime,sir?”
“Ispeak,miss,oftwentyyearsago.Hemarried—anEnglishlady—andIwasoneofthetrustees.
Hisaffairs,liketheaffairsofmanyotherFrenchgentlemenandFrenchfamilies,wereentirelyinTellson’shands.
InasimilarwayIam,orIhavebeen,trusteeofonekindorotherforscoresofourcustomers.
Thesearemerebusinessrelations,miss;thereisnofriendshipinthem,noparticularinterest,nothinglikesentiment.
Ihavepassedfromonetoanother,inthecourseofmybusinesslife,justasIpassfromoneofourcustomerstoanotherinthecourseofmybusinessday;inshort,Ihavenofeelings;Iamameremachine.Togoon—”
“Butthisismyfather’sstory,sir;andIbegintothink”—thecuriouslyroughenedforeheadwasveryintentuponhim—”thatwhenIwasleftanorphanthroughmymother’ssurvivingmyfatheronlytwoyears,itwasyouwhobroughtmetoEngland.Iamalmostsureitwasyou.”
Mr.Lorrytookthehesitatinglittlehandthatconfidinglyadvancedtotakehis,andheputitwithsomeceremonytohislips.
Hethenconductedtheyoungladystraightwaytoherchairagain,and,holdingthechair-backwithhislefthand,andusinghisrightbyturnstorubhischin,pullhiswigattheears,orpointwhathesaid,stoodlookingdownintoherfacewhileshesatlookingupintohis.
“MissManette,itWASI.AndyouwillseehowtrulyIspokeofmyselfjustnow,insayingIhadnofeelings,andthatalltherelationsIholdwithmyfellow-creaturesaremerebusinessrelations,whenyoureflectthatIhaveneverseenyousince.
No;youhavebeenthewardofTellson’sHousesince,andIhavebeenbusywiththeotherbusinessofTellson’sHousesince.Feelings!
Ihavenotimeforthem,nochanceofthem.
Ipassmywholelife,miss,inturninganimmensepecuniaryMangle.”
Afterthisodddescriptionofhisdailyroutineofemployment,Mr.Lorryflattenedhisflaxenwiguponhisheadwithbothhands(whichwasmostunnecessary,fornothingcouldbeflatterthanitsshiningsurfacewasbefore),andresumedhisformerattitude.
“Sofar,miss(asyouhaveremarked),thisisthestoryofyourgrettedfather.Nowcomesthedifference.Ifyourfatherhadnotdiedwhenhedid—Don’tbefrightened!Howyoustart!”
Shedid,indeed,start.Andshecaughthiswristwithbothherhands.
“Pray,”saidMr.Lorry,inasoothingtone,bringinghislefthandfromthebackofthechairtolayitonthesupplicatoryfingersthatclaspedhiminsoviolentatremble:“praycontrolyouragitation—amatterofbusiness.AsIwassaying—”
Herlooksodiscomposedhimthathestopped,wandered,andbegananew:
“AsIwassaying;ifMonsieurManettehadnotdied;ifhehadsuddenlyandsilentlydisappeared;ifhehadbeenspiritedaway;ifithadnotbeendifficulttoguesstowhatdreadfulplace,thoughnoartcouldtracehim;ifhehadanenemyinsomecompatriotwhocouldexerciseaprivilegethatIinmyowntimehaveknowntheboldestpeopleafraidtospeakofinawhisper,acrossthewaterthere;forinstance,theprivilegeoffillingupblankformsfortheconsignmentofanyonetotheoblivionofaprisonforanylengthoftime;ifhiswifehadimploredtheking,thequeen,thecourt,theclergy,foranytidingsofhim,andallquiteinvain;—thenthehistoryofyourfatherwouldhavebeenthehistoryofthisunfortunategentleman,theDoctorofBeauvais.”
“Ientreatyoutotellmemore,sir.”
“Iwill.Iamgoingto.Youcanbearit?”
“Icanbearanythingbuttheuncertaintyyouleavemeinatthismoment.”
“Youspeakcollectedly,andyou—AREcollected.That’sgood!”
(Thoughhismannerwaslesssatisfiedthanhiswords.)“Amatterofbusiness.
Regarditasamatterofbusiness-businessthatmustbedone.
Nowifthisdoctor’swife,thoughaladyofgreatcourageandspirit,hadsufferedsointenselyfromthiscausebeforeherlittlechildwasborn—”
“Thelittlechildwasadaughter,sir.”
“Adaughter.A-a-matterofbusiness—don’tbedistressed.
Miss,ifthepoorladyhadsufferedsointenselybeforeherlittlechildwasborn,thatshecametothedeterminationofsparingthepoorchildtheinheritanceofanypartoftheagonyshehadknownthepainsof,byrearingherinthebeliefthatherfatherwasdead—No,don’tkneel!
InHeaven’snamewhyshouldyoukneeltome!”
“Forthetruth.Odear,good,compassionatesir,forthetruth!”
“A-amatterofbusiness.Youconfuseme,andhowcanItransactbusinessifIamconfused?Letusbeclear-headed.
Ifyoucouldkindlymentionnow,forinstance,whatninetimesninepenceare,orhowmanyshillingsintwentyguineas,itwouldbesoencouraging.
Ishouldbesomuchmoreatmyeaseaboutyourstateofmind.”
Withoutdirectlyansweringtothisappeal,shesatsostillwhenhehadverygentlyraisedher,andthehandsthathadnotceasedtoclasphiswristsweresomuchmoresteadythantheyhadbeen,thatshecommunicatedsomereassurancetoMr.JarvisLorry.
“That’sright,that’sright.Courage!Business!
Youhavebusinessbeforeyou;usefulbusiness.
MissManette,yourmothertookthiscoursewithyou.
Andwhenshedied—Ibelievebroken-hearted—havingneverslackenedherunavailingsearchforyourfather,sheleftyou,attwoyearsold,togrowtobeblooming,beautiful,andhappy,withoutthedarkclouduponyouoflivinginuncertaintywhetheryourfathersoonworehisheartoutinprison,orwastedtherethroughmanylingeringyears.”
Ashesaidthewordshelookeddown,withanadmiringpity,ontheflowinggoldenhair;asifhepicturedtohimselfthatitmighthavebeenalreadytingedwithgrey.
“Youknowthatyourparentshadnogreatpossession,andthatwhattheyhadwassecuredtoyourmotherandtoyou.Therehasbeennonewdiscovery,ofmoney,orofanyotherproperty;but—”
Hefelthiswristheldcloser,andhestopped.Theexpressionintheforehead,whichhadsoparticularlyattractedhisnotice,andwhichwasnowimmovable,haddeepenedintooneofpainandhorror.
“Buthehasbeen-beenfound.Heisalive.
Greatlychanged,itistooprobable;almostawreck,itispossible;thoughwewillhopethebest.Still,alive.
YourfatherhasbeentakentothehouseofanoldservantinParis,andwearegoingthere:I,toidentifyhimifIcan:you,torestorehimtolife,love,duty,rest,comfort.”
Ashiverranthroughherframe,andfromitthroughhis.Shesaid,inalow,distinct,awe-strickenvoice,asifsheweresayingitinadream,
“IamgoingtoseehisGhost!ItwillbehisGhost—nothim!”
Mr.Lorryquietlychafedthehandsthatheldhisarm.“There,there,there!Seenow,seenow!
Thebestandtheworstareknowntoyou,now.
Youarewellonyourwaytothepoorwrongedgentleman,and,withafairseavoyage,andafairlandjourney,youwillbesoonathisdearside.”
Sherepeatedinthesametone,sunktoawhisper,“Ihavebeenfree,Ihavebeenhappy,yethisGhosthasneverhauntedme!”
“Onlyonethingmore,”saidMr.Lorry,layingstressuponitasawholesomemeansofenforcingherattention:“hehasbeenfoundunderanothername;hisown,longforgottenorlongconcealed.
Itwouldbeworsethanuselessnowtoinquirewhich;worsethanuselesstoseektoknowwhetherhehasbeenforyearsoverlooked,oralwaysdesignedlyheldprisoner.
Itwouldbeworsethanuselessnowtomakeanyinquiries,becauseitwouldbedangerous.
Betternottomentionthesubject,anywhereorinanyway,andtoremovehim—forawhileatallevents—outofFrance.
EvenI,safeasanEnglishman,andevenTellson’s,importantastheyaretoFrenchcredit,avoidallnamingofthematter.
Icarryaboutme,notascrapofwritingopenlyreferringtoit.Thisisasecretservicealtogether.
Mycredentials,entries,andmemoranda,areallcomprehendedintheoneline,`RecalledtoLife;’whichmaymeananything.Butwhatisthematter!Shedoesn’tnoticeaword!MissManette!”
Perfectlystillandsilent,andnotevenfallenbackinherchair,shesatunderhishand,utterlyinsensible;withhereyesopenandfixeduponhim,andwiththatlastexpressionlookingasifitwerecarvedorbrandedintoherforehead.
Soclosewasherholduponhisarm,thathefearedtodetachhimselflestheshouldhurther;thereforehecalledoutloudlyforassistancewithoutmoving.
Awild-lookingwoman,whomeveninhisagitation,Mr.Lorryobservedtobeallofaredcolour,andtohaveredhair,andtobedressedinsomeextraordinarytight-fittingfashion,andtohaveonherheadamostwonderfulbonnetlikeaGrenadierwoodenmeasure,andgoodmeasuretoo,oragreatStiltoncheese,camerunningintotheroominadvanceoftheinnservants,andsoonsettledthequestionofhisdetachmentfromthepooryounglady,bylayingabrawnyhanduponhischest,andsendinghimflyingbackagainstthenearestwall.
(“Ireallythinkthismustbeaman!”wasMr.Lorry’sbreathlessreflection,simultaneouslywithhiscomingagainstthewall.)
“Why,lookatyouall!”bawledthisfigure,addressingtheinnservants.
“Whydon’tyougoandfetchthings,insteadofstandingtherestaringatme?Iamnotsomuchtolookat,amI?Whydon’tyougoandfetchthings?
I’llletyouknow,ifyoudon’tbringsmelling-salts,coldwater,andvinegar,quick,Iwill.”
Therewasanimmediatedispersalfortheserestoratives,andshesoftlylaidthepatientonasofa,andtendedherwithgreatskillandgentleness:callingher“myprecious!”and“mybird!”
andspreadinghergoldenhairasideoverhershoulderswithgreatprideandcare.
“Andyouinbrown!”shesaid,indignantlyturningtoMr.Lorry;couldn’tyoutellherwhatyouhadtotellher,withoutfrighteninghertodeath?
Lookather,withherprettypalefaceandhercoldhands.DoyoucallTHATbeingaBanker?”
Mr.Lorrywassoexceedinglydisconcertedbyaquestionsohardtoanswer,thathecouldonlylookon,atadistance,withmuchfeeblersympathyandhumility,whilethestrongwoman,havingbanishedtheinnservantsunderthemysteriouspenaltyof“lettingthemknow”somethingnotmentionediftheystayedthere,staring,recoveredherchargebyaregularseriesofgradations,andcoaxedhertolayherdroopingheaduponhershoulder.
“Ihopeshewilldowellnow,”saidMr.Lorry.
“Nothankstoyouinbrown,ifshedoes.Mydarlingpretty!”
“Ihope,”saidMr.Lorry,afteranotherpauseoffeeblesympathyandhumility,“thatyouaccompanyMissManettetoFrance?”
“Alikelything,too!”repliedthestrongwoman.“IfitwaseverintendedthatIshouldgoacrosssaltwater,doyousupposeProvidencewouldhavecastmylotinanisland?”
Thisbeinganotherquestionhardtoanswer,Mr.JarvisLorrywithdrewtoconsiderit.
Share this article to
FINISH