English
Themarriage-daywasshiningbrightly,andtheywerereadyoutsidethecloseddooroftheDoctor’sroom,wherehewasspeakingwithCharlesDarnay.
Theywerereadytogotochurch;thebeautifulbride,Mr.Lorry,andMissPross—towhomtheevent,throughagradualprocessofreconcilementtotheinevitable,wouldhavebeenoneofabsolutebliss,butfortheyetlingeringconsiderationthatherbrotherSolomonshouldhavebeenthebridegroom.
“Andso,”saidMr.Lorry,whocouldnotsufficientlyadmirethebride,andwhohadbeenmovingroundhertotakeineverypointofherquiet,prettydress;“andsoitwasforthis,mysweetLucie,thatIbroughtyouacrosstheChannel,suchababy’Lordblessme’HowlittleIthoughtwhatIwasdoing!
HowlightlyIvaluedtheobligationIwasconferringonmyfriendMr.Charles!”
“Youdidn’tmeanit,”remarkedthematter-of-factMissPross,“andthereforehowcouldyouknowit?Nonsense!”
“Really?Well;butdon’tcry,”saidthegentleMr.Lorry.
“Iamnotcrying,”saidMissPross;“YOUare.”
“I,myPross?”(Bythistime,Mr.Lorrydaredtobepleasantwithher,onoccasion.)
“Youwere,justnow;Isawyoudoit,andIdon’twonderatit.
Suchapresentofplateasyouhavemade‘em,isenoughtobringtearsintoanybody’seyes.
There’snotaforkoraspooninthecollection,”saidMissPross,“thatIdidn’tcryover,lastnightaftertheboxcame,tillIcouldn’tseeit.”
“Iamhighlygratified,”saidMr.Lorry,“though,uponmyhonour,Ihadnointentionofrenderingthosetriflingarticlesofremembranceinvisibletoanyone.Dearme!
Thisisanoccasionthatmakesamanspeculateonallhehaslost.Dear,dear,dear!
TothinkthattheremighthavebeenaMrs.Lorry,anytimethesefiftyyearsalmost!”
“Notatall!”FromMissPross.
“YouthinktherenevermighthavebeenaMrs.Lorry?”askedthegentlemanofthatname.
“Pooh!”rejoinedMissPross;“youwereabachelorinyourcradle.”
“Well!”observedMr.Lorry,beaminglyadjustinghislittlewig,“thatseemsprobable,too.”
“Andyouwerecutoutforabachelor,”pursuedMissPross,“beforeyouwereputinyourcradle.”
“Then,Ithink,”saidMr.Lorry,“thatIwasveryunhandsomelydealtwith,andthatIoughttohavehadavoiceintheselectionofmypattern.Enough!
Now,mydearLucie,”drawinghisarmsoothinglyroundherwaist,“Ihearthemmovinginthenextroom,andMissProssandI,astwoformalfolksofbusiness,areanxiousnottolosethefinalopportunityofsayingsomethingtoyouthatyouwishtohear.
Youleaveyourgoodfather,mydear,inhandsasearnestandaslovingasyourown;heshallbetakeneveryconceivablecareof;duringthenextfortnight,whileyouareinWarwickshireandthereabouts,evenTellson’sshallgotothewall(comparativelyspeaking)beforehim.
Andwhen,atthefortnight’send,hecomestojoinyouandyourbelovedhusband,onyourotherfortnight’stripinWales,youshallsaythatwehavesenthimtoyouinthebesthealthandinthehappiestframe.
Now,IhearSomebody’sstepcomingtothedoor.
Letmekissmydeargirlwithanold-fashionedbachelorblessing,beforeSomebodycomestoclaimhisown.”
Foramoment,heheldthefairfacefromhimtolookatthewell-rememberedexpressionontheforehead,andthenlaidthebrightgoldenhairagainsthislittlebrownwig,withagenuinetendernessanddelicacywhich,ifsuchthingsbeold-fashioned,wereasoldasAdam.
ThedooroftheDoctor’sroomopened,andhecameoutwithCharlesDarnay.
Hewassodeadlypale—whichhadnotbeenthecasewhentheywentintogether—thatnovestigeofcolourwastobeseeninhisface.
But,inthecomposureofhismannerhewasunaltered,exceptthattotheshrewdglanceofMr.Lorryitdisclosedsomeshadowyindicationthattheoldairofavoidanceanddreadhadlatelypassedoverhim,likeacoldwind.
Hegavehisarmtohisdaughter,andtookherdown-stairstothechariotwhichMr.Lorryhadhiredinhonouroftheday.
Therestfollowedinanothercarriage,andsoon,inaneighbouringchurch,wherenostrangeeyeslookedon,CharlesDarnayandLucieManettewerehappilymarried.
Besidestheglancingtearsthatshoneamongthesmilesofthelittlegroupwhenitwasdone,somediamonds,verybrightandsparkling,glancedonthebride’shand,whichwerenewlyreleasedfromthedarkobscurityofoneofMr.Lorry’spockets.
Theyreturnedhometobreakfast,andallwentwell,andinduecoursethegoldenhairthathadmingledwiththepoorshoemaker’swhitelocksintheParisgarret,weremingledwiththemagaininthemorningsunlight,onthethresholdofthedooratparting.
Itwasahardparting,thoughitwasnotforlong.Butherfathercheeredher,andsaidatlast,gentlydisengaginghimselffromherenfoldingarms,“Takeher,Charles!Sheisyours!”
Andheragitatedhandwavedtothemfromachaisewindow,andshewasgone.
Thecornerbeingoutofthewayoftheidleandcurious,andthepreparationshavingbeenverysimpleandfew,theDoctor,Mr.Lorry,andMissPross,wereleftquitealone.
Itwaswhentheyturnedintothewelcomeshadeofthecoololdhall,thatMr.LorryobservedagreatchangetohavecomeovertheDoctor;asifthegoldenarmupliftedthere,hadstruckhimapoisonedblow.
Hehadnaturallyrepressedmuch,andsomerevulsionmighthavebeenexpectedinhimwhentheoccasionforrepressionwasgone.
But,itwastheoldscaredlostlookthattroubledMr.Lorry;andthroughhisabsentmannerofclaspinghisheadanddrearilywanderingawayintohisownroomwhentheygotup-stairs,Mr.LorrywasremindedofDefargethewine-shopkeeper,andthestarlightride.
“Ithink,”hewhisperedtoMissPross,afteranxiousconsideration,“Ithinkwehadbestnotspeaktohimjustnow,oratalldisturbhim.
ImustlookinatTellson’s;soIwillgothereatonceandcomebackpresently.
Then,wewilltakehimarideintothecountry,anddinethere,andallwillbewell.”
ItwaseasierforMr.LorrytolookinatTellson’s,thantolookoutofTellson’s.Hewasdetainedtwohours.
Whenhecameback,heascendedtheoldstaircasealone,havingaskednoquestionoftheservant;goingthusintotheDoctor’srooms,hewasstoppedbyalowsoundofknocking.
“GoodGod!”hesaid,withastart.“What’sthat?”
MissPross,withaterrifiedface,wasathisear.“Ome,Ome!Allislost!”criedshe,wringingherhands.“WhatistobetoldtoLadybird?Hedoesn’tknowme,andismakingshoes!”
Mr.Lorrysaidwhathecouldtocalmher,andwenthimselfintotheDoctor’sroom.
Thebenchwasturnedtowardsthelight,asithadbeenwhenhehadseentheshoemakerathisworkbefore,andhisheadwasbentdown,andhewasverybusy.
“DoctorManette.Mydearfriend,DoctorManette!”
TheDoctorlookedathimforamoment—halfinquiringly,halfasifhewereangryatbeingspokento—andbentoverhisworkagain.
Hehadlaidasidehiscoatandwaistcoat;hisshirtwasopenatthethroat,asitusedtobewhenhedidthatwork;andeventheoldhaggard,fadedsurfaceoffacehadcomebacktohim.
Heworkedhard—impatiently—asifinsomesenseofhavingbeeninterrupted.
Mr.Lorryglancedattheworkinhishand,andobservedthatitwasashoeoftheoldsizeandshape.Hetookupanotherthatwaslyingbyhim,andaskedwhatitwas.
“Ayounglady’swalkingshoe,”hemuttered,withoutlookingup.“Itoughttohavebeenfinishedlongago.Letitbe.”
“But,DoctorManette.Lookatme!”
Heobeyed,intheoldmechanicallysubmissivemanner,withoutpausinginhiswork.
“Youknowme,mydearfriend?Thinkagain.Thisisnotyourproperoccupation.Think,dearfriend!”
Nothingwouldinducehimtospeakmore.Helookedup,foraninstantatatime,whenhewasrequestedtodoso;but,nopersuasionwouldextractawordfromhim.
Heworked,andworked,andworked,insilence,andwordsfellonhimastheywouldhavefallenonanecholesswall,orontheair.
TheonlyrayofhopethatMr.Lorrycoulddiscover,was,thathesometimesfurtivelylookedupwithoutbeingasked.
Inthat,thereseemedafaintexpressionofcuriosityorperplexity—asthoughheweretryingtoreconcilesomedoubtsinhismind.
TwothingsatonceimpressedthemselvesonMr.Lorry,asimportantaboveallothers;thefirst,thatthismustbekeptsecretfromLucie;thesecond,thatitmustbekeptsecretfromallwhoknewhim.
InconjunctionwithMissPross,hetookimmediatestepstowardsthelatterprecaution,bygivingoutthattheDoctorwasnotwell,andrequiredafewdaysofcompleterest.
Inaidofthekinddeceptiontobepractisedonhisdaughter,MissProsswastowrite,describinghishavingbeencalledawayprofessionally,andreferringtoanimaginaryletteroftwoorthreehurriedlinesinhisownhand,representedtohavebeenaddressedtoherbythesamepost.
Thesemeasures,advisabletobetakeninanycase,Mr.Lorrytookinthehopeofhiscomingtohimself.
Ifthatshouldhappensoon,hekeptanothercourseinreserve;whichwas,tohaveacertainopinionthathethoughtthebest,ontheDoctor’scase.
Inthehopeofhisrecovery,andofresorttothisthirdcoursebeingtherebyrenderedpracticable,Mr.Lorryresolvedtowatchhimattentively,withaslittleappearanceaspossibleofdoingso.
HethereforemadearrangementstoabsenthimselffromTellson’sforthefirsttimeinhislife,andtookhispostbythewindowinthesameroom.
Hewasnotlongindiscoveringthatitwasworsethanuselesstospeaktohim,since,onbeingpressed,hebecameworried.
Heabandonedthatattemptonthefirstday,andresolvedmerelytokeephimselfalwaysbeforehim,asasilentprotestagainstthedelusionintowhichhehadfallen,orwasfailing.
Heremained,therefore,inhisseatnearthewindow,readingandwriting,andexpressinginasmanypleasantandnaturalwaysashecouldthinkof,thatitwasafreeplace.
DoctorManettetookwhatwasgivenhimtoeatanddrink,andworkedon,thatfirstday,untilitwastoodarktosee—workedon,halfanhourafterMr.Lorrycouldnothaveseen,forhislife,toreadorwrite.
Whenheputhistoolsasideasuseless,untilmorning,Mr.Lorryroseandsaidtohim:
“Willyougoout?”
Helookeddownattheflooroneithersideofhimintheoldmanner,lookedupintheoldmanner,andrepeatedintheoldlowvoice:
“Out?”
“Yes;forawalkwithme.Whynot?”
Hemadenoefforttosaywhynot,andsaidnotawordmore.
But,Mr.Lorrythoughthesaw,asheleanedforwardonhisbenchinthedusk,withhiselbowsonhiskneesandhisheadinhishands,thathewasinsomemistywayaskinghimself,“Whynot?”
Thesagacityofthemanofbusinessperceivedanadvantagehere,anddeterminedtoholdit.
MissProssandhedividedthenightintotwowatches,andobservedhimatintervalsfromtheadjoiningroom.
Hepacedupanddownforalongtimebeforehelaydown;but,whenhedidfinallylayhimselfdown,hefellasleep.
Inthemorning,hewasupbetimes,andwentstraighttohisbenchandtowork.
Onthissecondday,Mr.Lorrysalutedhimcheerfullybyhisname,andspoketohimontopicsthathadbeenoflatefamiliartothem.
Hereturnednoreply,butitwasevidentthatheheardwhatwassaid,andthathethoughtaboutit,howeverconfusedly.
ThisencouragedMr.LorrytohaveMissProssinwithherwork,severaltimesduringtheday;atthosetimes,theyquietlyspokeofLucie,andofherfatherthenpresent,preciselyintheusualmanner,andasiftherewerenothingamiss.
Thiswasdonewithoutanydemonstrativeaccompaniment,notlongenough,oroftenenoughtoharasshim;anditlightenedMr.Lorry’sfriendlyhearttobelievethathelookedupoftener,andthatheappearedtobestirredbysomeperceptionofinconsistenciessurroundinghim.
Whenitfelldarkagain,Mr.Lorryaskedhimasbefore:
“DearDoctor,willyougoout?”
Asbefore,herepeated,“Out?”
“Yes;forawalkwithme.Whynot?”
Thistime,Mr.Lorryfeignedtogooutwhenhecouldextractnoanswerfromhim,and,afterremainingabsentforanhour,returned.
Inthemeanwhile,theDoctorhadremovedtotheseatinthewindow,andhadsattherelookingdownattheplane-tree;but,onMr.Lorry’sreturn,beslippedawaytohisbench.
Thetimewentveryslowlyon,andMr.Lorry’shopedarkened,andhisheartgrewheavieragain,andgrewyetheavierandheaviereveryday.
Thethirddaycameandwent,thefourth,thefifth.
Fivedays,sixdays,sevendays,eightdays,ninedays.
Withahopeeverdarkening,andwithaheartalwaysgrowingheavierandheavier,Mr.Lorrypassedthroughthisanxioustime.
Thesecretwaswellkept,andLuciewasunconsciousandhappy;buthecouldnotfailtoobservethattheshoemaker,whosehandhadbeenalittleoutatfirst,wasgrowingdreadfullyskilful,andthathehadneverbeensointentonhiswork,andthathishandshadneverbeensonimbleandexpert,asintheduskoftheninthevening.
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