English
ThequietlodgingsofDoctorManettewereinaquietstreet-cornernotfarfromSoho-square.
OntheafternoonofacertainfineSundaywhenthewavesoffourmonthshadroiledoverthetrialfortreason,andcarriedit,astothepublicinterestandmemory,farouttosea,Mr.JarvisLorrywalkedalongthesunnystreetsfromClerkenwellwherehelived,onhiswaytodinewiththeDoctor.
Afterseveralrelapsesintobusiness-absorption,Mr.LorryhadbecometheDoctor’sfriend,andthequietstreet-cornerwasthesunnypartofhislife.
OnthiscertainfineSunday,Mr.LorrywalkedtowardsSoho,earlyintheafternoon,forthreereasonsofhabit.
Firstly,because,onfineSundays,heoftenwalkedout,beforedinner,withtheDoctorandLucie;secondly,because,onunfavourableSundays,hewasaccustomedtobewiththemasthefamilyfriend,talking,reading,lookingoutofwindow,andgenerallygettingthroughtheday;thirdly,becausehehappenedtohavehisownlittleshrewddoubtstosolve,andknewhowthewaysoftheDoctor’shouseholdpointedtothattimeasalikelytimeforsolvingthem.
AquaintercornerthanthecornerwheretheDoctorlived,wasnottobefoundinLondon.
Therewasnowaythroughit,andthefrontwindowsoftheDoctor’slodgingscommandedapleasantlittlevistaofstreetthathadacongenialairofretirementonit.
Therewerefewbuildingsthen,northoftheOxford-road,andforest-treesflourished,andwildflowersgrew,andthehawthornblossomed,inthenowvanishedfields.
Asaconsequence,countryairscirculatedinSohowithvigorousfreedom,insteadoflanguishingintotheparishlikestraypauperswithoutasettlement;andtherewasmanyagoodsouthwall,notfaroff,onwhichthepeachesripenedintheirseason.
Thesummerlightstruckintothecornerbrilliantlyintheearlierpartoftheday;but,whenthestreetsgrewhot,thecornerwasinshadow,thoughnotinshadowsoremotebutthatyoucouldseebeyonditintoaglareofbrightness.
Itwasacoolspot,staidbutcheerful,awonderfulplaceforechoes,andaveryharbourfromtheragingstreets.
Thereoughttohavebeenatranquilbarkinsuchananchorage,andtherewas.
TheDoctoroccupiedtwofloorsofalargestiffhouse,whereseveralcallingspurportedtobepursuedbyday,butwhereoflittlewasaudibleanyday,andwhichwasshunnedbyallofthematnight.
Inabuildingattheback,attainablebyacourtyardwhereaplane-treerustleditsgreenleaves,church-organsclaimedtobemade,andsilvertobechased,andlikewisegoldtobebeatenbysomemysteriousgiantwhohadagoldenarmstartingoutofthewallofthefronthall—asifhehadbeatenhimselfprecious,andmenacedasimilarconversionofallvisitors.
Verylittleofthesetrades,orofalonelylodgerrumouredtoliveup-stairs,orofadimcoach-trimmingmakerassertedtohaveacounting-housebelow,waseverheardorseen.
Occasionally,astrayworkmanputtinghiscoaton,traversedthehall,orastrangerpeeredaboutthere,oradistantclinkwasheardacrossthecourtyard,orathumpfromthegoldengiant.
These,however,wereonlytheexceptionsrequiredtoprovetherulethatthesparrowsintheplane-treebehindthehouse,andtheechoesinthecornerbeforeit,hadtheirownwayfromSundaymorninguntoSaturdaynight.
DoctorManettereceivedsuchpatientshereashisoldreputation,anditsrevivalinthefloatingwhispersofhisstory,broughthim.
Hisscientificknowledge,andhisvigilanceandskillinconductingingeniousexperiments,broughthimotherwiseintomoderaterequest,andheearnedasmuchashewanted.
ThesethingswerewithinMr.JarvisLorry’sknowledge,thoughts,andnotice,whenherangthedoor-bellofthetranquilhouseinthecorner,onthefineSundayafternoon.
“DoctorManetteathome?”
Expectedhome.
“MissLucieathome?”
Expectedhome.
“MissProssathome?”
Possiblyathome,butofacertaintyimpossibleforhandmaidtoanticipateintentionsofMissPross,astoadmissionordenialofthefact.
“AsIamathomemyself,”saidMr.Lorry,“I’llgoupstairs.”
AlthoughtheDoctor’sdaughterhadknownnothingofthecountryofherbirth,sheappearedtohaveinnatelyderivedfromitthatabilitytomakemuchoflittlemeans,whichisoneofitsmostusefulandmostagreeablecharacteristics.
Simpleasthefurniturewas,itwassetoffbysomanylittleadornments,ofnovaluebutfortheirtasteandfancy,thatitseffectwasdelightful.
Thedispositionofeverythingintherooms,fromthelargestobjecttotheleast;thearrangementofcolours,theelegantvarietyandcontrastobtainedbythriftintrifles,bydelicatehands,cleareyes,andgoodsense;wereatoncesopleasantinthemselves,andsoexpressiveoftheiroriginator,that,asMr.Lorrystoodlookingabouthim,theverychairsandtablesseemedtoaskhim,withsomethingofthatpeculiarexpressionwhichheknewsowellbythistime,whetherheapproved?
Therewerethreeroomsonafloor,and,thedoorsbywhichtheycommunicatedbeingputopenthattheairmightpassfreelythroughthemall,Mr.Lorry,smilinglyobservantofthatfancifulresemblancewhichhedetectedallaroundhim,walkedfromonetoanother.
Thefirstwasthebestroom,andinitwereLucie’sbirds,andflowers,andbooks,anddesk,andwork-table,andboxofwater-colours;thesecondwastheDoctor’sconsulting-room,usedalsoasthedining-room;thethird,changinglyspeckledbytherustleoftheplane-treeintheyard,wastheDoctor’sbedroom,andthere,inacorner,stoodthedisusedshoemaker’sbenchandtrayoftools,muchasithadstoodonthefifthfloorofthedismalhousebythewine-shop,inthesuburbofSaintAntoineinParis.
“Iwonder,”saidMr.Lorry,pausinginhislookingabout,“thathekeepsthatreminderofhissufferingsabouthim!”
“Andwhywonderatthat?”wastheabruptinquirythatmadehimstart.
ItproceededfromMissPross,thewildredwoman,strongofhand,whoseacquaintancehehadfirstmadeattheRoyalGeorgeHotelatDover,andhadsinceimproved.
“Ishouldhavethought—”Mr.Lorrybegan.
“Pooh!You’dhavethought!”saidMissPross;andMr.Lorryleftoff.
“Howdoyoudo?”inquiredthatladythen—sharply,andyetasiftoexpressthatsheborehimnomalice.
“Iamprettywell,Ithankyou,”answeredMr.Lorry,withmeekness;“howareyou?”
“Nothingtoboastof,”saidMissPross.
“Indeed?”
“Ah!indeed!”saidMissPross.“IamverymuchputoutaboutmyLadybird.”
“Indeed?”
“Forgracioussakesaysomethingelsebesides`indeed,’oryou’llfidgetmetodeath,”saidMissPross:whosecharacter(dissociatedfromstature)wasshortness.
“Really,then?”saidMr.Lorry,asanamendment.
“Really,isbadenough,”returnedMissPross,“butbetter.Yes,Iamverymuchputout.”
“MayIaskthecause?”
“Idon’twantdozensofpeoplewhoarenotatallworthyofLadybird,tocomeherelookingafterher,”saidMissPross.
“DOdozenscomeforthatpurpose?”
“Hundreds,”saidMissPross.
Itwascharacteristicofthislady(asofsomeotherpeoplebeforehertimeandsince)thatwheneverheroriginalpropositionwasquestioned,sheexaggeratedit.
“Dearme!”saidMr.Lorry,asthesafestremarkhecouldthinkof.
“Ihavelivedwiththedarling—orthedarlinghaslivedwithme,andpaidmeforit;whichshecertainlyshouldneverhavedone,youmaytakeyouraffidavit,ifIcouldhaveaffordedtokeepeithermyselforherfornothing—sinceshewastenyearsold.
Andit’sreallyveryhard,”saidMissPross.
Notseeingwithprecisionwhatwasveryhard,Mr.Lorryshookhishead;usingthatimportantpartofhimselfasasortoffairycloakthatwouldfitanything.
“Allsortsofpeoplewhoarenotintheleastdegreeworthyofthepet,arealwaysturningup,”saidMissPross.“Whenyoubeganit—”
“Ibeganit,MissPross?”
“Didn’tyou?Whobroughtherfathertolife?”
“Oh!IfTHATwasbeginningit—”saidMr.Lorry.
“Itwasn’tendingit,Isuppose?Isay,whenyoubeganit,itwashardenough;notthatIhaveanyfaulttofindwithDoctorManette,exceptthatheisnotworthyofsuchadaughter,whichisnoimputationonhim,foritwasnottobeexpectedthatanybodyshouldbe,underanycircumstances.
Butitreadyisdoublyandtreblyhardtohavecrowdsandmultitudesofpeopleturningupafterhim(Icouldhaveforgivenhim),totakeLadybird’saffectionsawayfromme.”
Mr.LorryknewMissProsstobeveryjealous,buthealsoknewherbythistimetobe,beneaththeserviceofhereccentricity,oneofthoseunselfishcreatures—foundonlyamongwomen—whowill,forpureloveandadmiration,bindthemselveswillingslaves,toyouthwhentheyhavelostit,tobeautythattheyneverhad,toaccomplishmentsthattheywereneverfortunateenoughtogain,tobrighthopesthatnevershoneupontheirownsombrelives.
Heknewenoughoftheworldtoknowthatthereisnothinginitbetterthanthefaithfulserviceoftheheart;sorenderedandsofreefromanymercenarytaint,hehadsuchanexaltedrespectforit,thatintheretributivearrangementsmadebyhisownmind—weallmakesucharrangements,moreorless—hestationedMissProssmuchnearertothelowerAngelsthanmanyladiesimmeasurablybettergotupbothbyNatureandArt,whohadbalancesatTellson’s.
“Thereneverwas,norwillbe,butonemanworthyofLadybird,”saidMissPross;“andthatwasmybrotherSolomon,ifhehadn’tmadeamistakeinlife.”
HereagainMr.Lorry’sinquiriesintoMissPross’spersonalhistoryhadestablishedthefactthatherbrotherSolomonwasaheartlessscoundrelwhohadstrippedherofeverythingshepossessed,asastaketospeculatewith,andhadabandonedherinherpovertyforevermore,withnotouchofcompunction.
MissPross’sfidelityofbeliefinSolomon(deductingameretrifleforthisslightmistake)wasquiteaseriousmatterwithMr.Lorry,andhaditsweightinhisgoodopinionofher.
“Aswehappentobealoneforthemoment,andarebothpeopleofbusiness,”hesaid,whentheyhadgotbacktothedrawing-roomandhadsatdownthereinfriendlyrelations,“letmeaskyou—doestheDoctor,intalkingwithLucie,neverrefertotheshoemakingtime,yet?”
“Never.”
“Andyetkeepsthatbenchandthosetoolsbesidehim?”
“Ah!”returnedMissPross,shakingherhead.“ButIdon’tsayhedon’trefertoitwithinhimself.”
“Doyoubelievethathethinksofitmuch?”
“Ido,”saidMissPross.
“Doyouimagine—”Mr.Lorryhadbegun,whenMissProsstookhimupshortwith:
“Neverimagineanything.Havenoimaginationatall.”
“Istandcorrected;doyousuppose—yougosofarastosuppose,sometimes?”
“Nowandthen,”saidMissPross.
“Doyousuppose,”Mr.Lorrywenton,withalaughingtwinkleinhisbrighteye,asitlookedkindlyather,“thatDoctorManettehasanytheoryofhisown,preservedthroughallthoseyears,relativetothecauseofhisbeingsooppressed;perhaps,eventothenameofhisoppressor?”
“Idon’tsupposeanythingaboutitbutwhatLadybirdtellsme.”
“Andthatis—?”
“Thatshethinkshehas.”
“Nowdon’tbeangryatmyaskingallthesequestions;becauseIamameredullmanofbusiness,andyouareawomanofbusiness.”
“Dull?”MissProssinquired,withplacidity.
Ratherwishinghismodestadjectiveaway,Mr.Lorryreplied,“No,no,no.Surelynot.
Toreturntobusiness:—IsitnotremarkablethatDoctorManette,unquestionablyinnocentofanycraneasweareallwellassuredheis,shouldnevertouchuponthatquestion?
Iwillnotsaywithme,thoughhehadbusinessrelationswithmemanyyearsago,andwearenowintimate;Iwillsaywiththefairdaughtertowhomheissodevotedlyattached,andwhoissodevotedlyattachedtohim?
Believeme,MissPross,Idon’tapproachthetopicwithyou,outofcuriosity,butoutofzealousinterest.”
“Well!Tothebestofmyunderstanding,andbad’sthebest,you’lltellme,”saidMissPross,softenedbythetoneoftheapology,“heisafraidofthewholesubject.”
“Afraid?”
“It’splainenough,Ishouldthink,whyhemaybe.It’sadreadfulremembrance.
Besidesthat,hislossofhimselfgrewoutofit.
Notknowinghowhelosthimself,orhowherecoveredhimself,hemayneverfeelcertainofnotlosinghimselfagain.
Thatalonewouldn’tmakethesubjectpleasant,Ishouldthink.”
ItwasaprofounderremarkthanMr.Lorryhadlookedfor.
“True,”saidhe,“andfearfultoreflectupon.
Yet,adoubtlurksinmymind,MissPross,whetheritisgoodforDoctorManettetohavethatsuppressionalwaysshutupwithinhim.
Indeed,itisthisdoubtandtheuneasinessitsometimescausesmethathasledmetoourpresentconfidence.”
“Can’tbehelped,”saidMissPross,shakingherhead.
“Touchthatstring,andheinstantlychangesfortheworse.Betterleaveitalone.
Inshort,mustleaveitalone,likeornolike.
Sometimes,hegetsupinthedeadofthenight,andwillbeheard,byusoverheadthere,walkingupanddown,walkingupanddown,inhisroom.
Ladybirdhaslearnttoknowthenthathismindiswalkingupanddown,walkingupanddown,inhisoldprison.
Shehurriestohim,andtheygoontogether,walkingupanddown,walkingupanddown,untilheiscomposed.
Butheneversaysawordofthetruereasonofhisrestlessness,toher,andshefindsitbestnottohintatittohim.
Insilencetheygowalkingupanddowntogether,walkingupanddowntogether,tillherloveandcompanyhavebroughthimtohimself.”
NotwithstandingMissPross’sdenialofherownimagination,therewasaperceptionofthepainofbeingmonotonouslyhauntedbyonesadidea,inherrepetitionofthephrase,walkingupanddown,whichtestifiedtoherpossessingsuchathing.
Thecornerhasbeenmentionedasawonderfulcornerforechoes;ithadbeguntoechosoresoundinglytothetreadofcomingfeet,thatitseemedasthoughtheverymentionofthatwearypacingtoandfrohadsetitgoing.
“Heretheyare!”saidMissPross,risingtobreakuptheconference;“andnowweshallhavehundredsofpeopleprettysoon!”
Itwassuchacuriouscornerinitsacousticalproperties,suchapeculiarEarofaplace,thatasMr.Lorrystoodattheopenwindow,lookingforthefatheranddaughterwhosestepsheheard,hefanciedtheywouldneverapproach.
Notonlywouldtheechoesdieaway,asthoughthestepshadgone;but,echoesofotherstepsthatnevercamewouldbeheardintheirstead,andwoulddieawayforgoodwhentheyseemedcloseathand.
However,fatheranddaughterdidatlastappear,andMissProsswasreadyatthestreetdoortoreceivethem.
MissProsswasapleasantsight,albeitwild,andred,andgrim,takingoffherdarling’sbonnetwhenshecameup-stairs,andtouchingitupwiththeendsofherhandkerchief,andblowingthedustoffit,andfoldinghermantlereadyforlayingby,andsmoothingherrichhairwithasmuchprideasshecouldpossiblyhavetakeninherownhairifshehadbeenthevainestandhandsomestofwomen.
Herdarlingwasapleasantsighttoo,embracingherandthankingher,andprotestingagainsthertakingsomuchtroubleforher—whichlastsheonlydaredtodoplayfully,orMissPross,sorelyhurt,wouldhaveretiredtoherownchamberandcried.
TheDoctorwasapleasantsighttoo,lookingonatthem,andtellingMissProsshowshespoiltLucie,inaccentsandwitheyesthathadasmuchspoilinginthemasMissProsshad,andwouldhavehadmoreifitwerepossible.
Mr.Lorrywasapleasantsighttoo,beamingatallthisinhislittlewig,andthankinghisbachelorstarsforhavinglightedhiminhisdecliningyearstoaHome.
But,noHundredsofpeoplecametoseethesights,andMr.LorrylookedinvainforthefulfillmentofMissPross’sprediction.
Dinner-time,andstillnoHundredsofpeople.
Inthearrangementsofthelittlehousehold,MissProsstookchargeofthelowerregions,andalwaysacquittedherselfmarvellously.
Herdinners,ofaverymodestquality,weresowellcookedandsowellserved,andsoneatintheircontrivances,halfEnglishandhalfFrench,thatnothingcouldbebetter.
MissPross’sfriendshipbeingofthethoroughlypracticalkind,shehadravagedSohoandtheadjacentprovinces,insearchofimpoverishedFrench,who,temptedbyshillingsandhalf-crowns,wouldimpartculinarymysteriestoher.
FromthesedecayedsonsanddaughtersofGaul,shehadacquiredsuchwonderfularts,thatthewomanandgirlwhoformedthestaffofdomesticsregardedherasquiteaSorceress,orCinderella’sGodmother:whowouldsendoutforafowl,arabbit,avegetableortwofromthegarden,andchangethemintoanythingshepleased.
OnSundays,MissProssdinedattheDoctor’stable,butonotherdayspersistedintakinghermealsatunknownperiods,eitherinthelowerregions,orinherownroomonthesecondfloor—abluechamber,towhichnoonebutherLadybirdevergainedadmittance.
Onthisoccasion,MissPross,respondingtoLadybird’spleasantfaceandpleasanteffortstopleaseher,unbentexceedingly;sothedinnerwasverypleasant,too.
Itwasanoppressiveday,and,afterdinner,Lucieproposedthatthewineshouldbecarriedoutundertheplane-tree,andtheyshouldsitthereintheair.
Aseverythingturneduponher,andrevolvedabouther,theywentoutundertheplane-tree,andshecarriedthewinedownforthespecialbenefitofMr.Lorry.
Shehadinstalledherself,sometimebefore,asMr.Lorry’scup-bearer;andwhiletheysatundertheplane-tree,talking,shekepthisglassreplenished.
Mysteriousbacksandendsofhousespeepedatthemastheytalked,andtheplane-treewhisperedtotheminitsownwayabovetheirheads.
Still,theHundredsofpeopledidnotpresentthemselves.Mr.Darnaypresentedhimselfwhiletheyweresittingundertheplane-tree,buthewasonlyOne.
DoctorManettereceivedhimkindly,andsodidLucie.
But,MissProsssuddenlybecameafflictedwithatwitchingintheheadandbody,andretiredintothehouse.
Shewasnotunfrequentlythevictimofthisdisorder,andshecalledit,infamiliarconversation,“afitofthejerks.”
TheDoctorwasinhisbestcondition,andlookedspeciallyyoung.
TheresemblancebetweenhimandLuciewasverystrongatsuchtimes,andastheysatsidebyside,sheleaningonhisshoulder,andherestinghisarmonthebackofherchair,itwasveryagreeabletotracethelikeness.
Hehadbeentalkingallday,onmanysubjects,andwithunusualvivacity.
“Pray,DoctorManette,”saidMr.Darnay,astheysatundertheplane-tree—andhesaiditinthenaturalpursuitofthetopicinhand,whichhappenedtobetheoldbuildingsofLondon—”haveyouseenmuchoftheTower?”
“LucieandIhavebeenthere;butonlycasually.Wehaveseenenoughofit,toknowthatitteemswithinterest;littlemore.”
“Ihavebeenthere,asyouremember,”saidDarnay,withasmile,thoughreddeningalittleangrily,“inanothercharacter,andnotinacharacterthatgivesfacilitiesforseeingmuchofit.
TheytoldmeacuriousthingwhenIwasthere.”
“Whatwasthat?”Lucieasked.
“Inmakingsomealterations,theworkmencameuponanolddungeon,whichhadbeen,formanyyears,builtupandforgotten.
Everystoneofitsinnerwallwascoveredbyinscriptionswhichhadbeencarvedbyprisoners—dates,names,complaints,andprayers.
Uponacornerstoneinanangleofthewall,oneprisoner,whoseemedtohavegonetoexecution,hadcutashislastwork,threeletters.
Theyweredonewithsomeverypoorinstrument,andhurriedly,withanunsteadyhand.
Atfirst,theywerereadasD.I.C.;but,onbeingmorecarefullyexamined,thelastletterwasfoundtobeG.
Therewasnorecordorlegendofanyprisonerwiththoseinitials,andmanyfruitlessguessesweremadewhatthenamecouldhavebeen.
Atlength,itwassuggestedthattheletterswerenotinitials,butthecompleteword,DiG.
Thefloorwasexaminedverycarefullyundertheinscription,and,intheearthbeneathastone,ortile,orsomefragmentofpaving,werefoundtheashesofapaper,mingledwiththeashesofasmallleatherncaseorbag.
Whattheunknownprisonerhadwrittenwillneverberead,buthehadwrittensomething,andhiddenitawaytokeepitfromthegaoler.”
“Myfather,”exclaimedLucie,“youareill!”
Hehadsuddenlystartedup,withhishandtohishead.Hismannerandhislookquiteterrifiedthemall.
“No,mydear,notill.Therearelargedropsofrainfalling,andtheymademestart.Wehadbettergoin.”
Herecoveredhimselfalmostinstantly.Rainwasreallyfallinginlargedrops,andheshowedthebackofhishandwithrain-dropsonit.
But,hesaidnotasinglewordinreferencetothediscoverythathadbeentoldof,and,astheywentintothehouse,thebusinesseyeofMr.Lorryeitherdetected,orfancieditdetected,onhisface,asitturnedtowardsCharlesDarnay,thesamesingularlookthathadbeenuponitwhenitturnedtowardshiminthepassagesoftheCourtHouse.
Herecoveredhimselfsoquickly,however,thatMr.Lorryhaddoubtsofhisbusinesseye.
Thearmofthegoldengiantinthehallwasnotmoresteadythanhewas,whenhestoppedunderittoremarktothemthathewasnotyetproofagainstslightsurprises(ifheeverwouldbe),andthattherainhadstartledhim.
Tea-time,andMissProssmakingtea,withanotherfitofthejerksuponher,andyetnoHundredsofpeople.Mr.Cartonhadloungedin,buthemadeonlyTwo.
Thenightwassoverysultry,thatalthoughtheysatwithdoorsandwindowsopen,theywereoverpoweredbyheat.
Whenthetea-tablewasdonewith,theyallmovedtooneofthewindows,andlookedoutintotheheavytwilight.
Luciesatbyherfather;Darnaysatbesideher;Cartonleanedagainstawindow.
Thecurtainswerelongandwhite,andsomeofthethunder-guststhatwhirledintothecorner,caughtthemuptotheceiling,andwavedthemlikespectralwings.
“Therain-dropsarestillfalling,large,heavy,andfew,”saidDoctorManette.“Itcomesslowly.”
“Itcomessurely,”saidCarton.
Theyspokelow,aspeoplewatchingandwaitingmostlydo;aspeopleinadarkroom,watchingandwaitingforLightning,alwaysdo.
Therewasagreathurryinthestreetsofpeoplespeedingawaytogetshelterbeforethestormbroke;thewonderfulcornerforechoesresoundedwiththeechoesoffootstepscomingandgoing,yetnotafootstepwasthere.
“Amultitudeofpeople,andyetasolitude!”saidDarnay,whentheyhadlistenedforawhile.
“Isitnotimpressive,Mr.Darnay?”askedLucie.
“Sometimes,Ihavesathereofanevening,untilIhavefancied—buteventheshadeofafoolishfancymakesmeshudderto-night,whenallissoblackandsolemn—”
“Letusshuddertoo.Wemayknowwhatitis.”
“Itwillseemnothingtoyou.Suchwhimsareonlyimpressiveasweoriginatethem,Ithink;theyarenottobecommunicated.
Ihavesometimessatalonehereofanevening,listening,untilIhavemadetheechoesouttobetheechoesofallthefootstepsthatarecomingby-and-byeintoourlives.”
“Thereisagreatcrowdcomingonedayintoourlives,ifthatbeso,”SydneyCartonstruckin,inhismoodyway.
Thefootstepswereincessant,andthehurryofthembecamemoreandmorerapid.
Thecornerechoedandre-echoedwiththetreadoffeet;some,asitseemed,underthewindows;some,asitseemed,intheroom;somecoming,somegoing,somebreakingoff,somestoppingaltogether;allinthedistantstreets,andnotonewithinsight.
“Areallthesefootstepsdestinedtocometoallofus,MissManette,orarewetodividethemamongus?”
“Idon’tknow,Mr.Darnay;Itoldyouitwasafoolishfancy,butyouaskedforit.
WhenIhaveyieldedmyselftoit,Ihavebeenalone,andthenIhaveimaginedthemthefootstepsofthepeoplewhoaretocomeintomylife,andmyfather’s.”
“Itakethemintomine!”saidCarton.
“Iasknoquestionsandmakenostipulations.
Thereisagreatcrowdbearingdownuponus,MissManette,andIseethem—bytheLightning.”
Headdedthelastwords,aftertherehadbeenavividflashwhichhadshownhimlounginginthewindow.
“AndIhearthem!”headdedagain,afterapealofthunder.“Heretheycome,fast,fierce,andfurious!”
Itwastherushandroarofrainthathetypified,anditstoppedhim,fornovoicecouldbeheardinit.
Amemorablestormofthunderandlightningbrokewiththatsweepofwater,andtherewasnotamoment’sintervalincrash,andfire,andrain,untilafterthemoonroseatmidnight.
ThegreatbellofSaintPaul’swasstrikingoneintheclearedair,whenMr.Lorry,escortedbyJerry,high-bootedandbearingalantern,setforthonhisreturn-passagetoClerkenwell.
ThereweresolitarypatchesofroadonthewaybetweenSohoandClerkenwell,andMr.Lorry,mindfuloffoot-pads,alwaysretainedJerryforthisservice:thoughitwasusuallyperformedagoodtwohoursearlier.
“Whatanightithasbeen!Almostanight,Jerry,”saidMr.Lorry,“tobringthedeadoutoftheirgraves.”
“Ineverseethenightmyself,master—noryetIdon’texpectto—whatwoulddothat,”answeredJerry.
“Goodnight,Mr.Carton,”saidthemanofbusiness.“Goodnight,Mr.Darnay.Shallweeverseesuchanightagain,together!”
Perhaps.Perhaps,seethegreatcrowdofpeoplewithitsrushandroar,bearingdownuponthem,too.
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