Tale of Two Cities-By Charles Dickens

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Charles Dickens was born in 1812near Portsmouth, whee his fathe wored as a nava ce Livi ng inondon in 824 Dckens was sentby his famly to work in a blacing-

warehose while his father wasarrested and mprisoned fo debt.Fortnes improved and Dickensretued to school evenuallybecoming a parliamentary reporterIn December 832 his rst piece ofction was published by a magazine,and by 836 he had begun work onThe Pickwick Paper. He focsed hiscaree on writing producing fourteenhghly sccessl novels as well asjournalism shoter ction and travebooks He ded in 870

Collecto's Libay69 Glouceste CescentLodon NW1 7EGWebsite: www.collectos-libay.com

ISB 4334ISB3433

I I

A Tale of

Two Cities

CHARLES DICKENS

A Tle Two Cities is ne of CharlesDickens's most excitig novels Setagainst the bacdrop f the FrenchRevolution it tels the story of afamily theatened by the terribeevents of the past Dr Manette

wrongy imprsoned i the Bastllefor eighteen years is ally reeasedand is reunited with his daughteLcie who despite her Fenchancestry has been broght p nLondon ucie lls i love withChaes Darnay, who has abandoned wealth and tie in Face because ofhis political convictios Whenevolton breaks ot in ParisDaay retns to the cy to help anod famiy servant bt there he isarrested becase of the crmes

committed by hs relations ce wth ei daughter ad her fathefollows him across the Channelths putting all thei lves in dange

v Piere-Jacques Vol.ire (r r 802) ve landcape with fge feeng bng ciyPae coUecion



S 3 I 1 I J O M . d O 3 ' V . V



A TALE OFTWO CITIES

�

Charles Dickens

Wh I by

PHIZ

A by

SM GILPIN

coUaors {r�



A T f Tw was rst published in 1859

This edition rst published in 2003 by

CRW Publishing Limied

69 Gloucester Crescent, London 7Eunder he lr 'r, imprint

9781 904633 068

eord copyight ©

CRW Publishing Limited 2003

All rghts reserved.This publicaion or any part thereof may not

be reproduced, stored in a retrieva system or

transmitted in any form or by any means,

electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise, wihout pror

permission in wriing om the publishers.

681 0 9 7

Typeset in Great Briain by Anony Gray

Prined and bound in China by Imago



Contnts

eface

Charcters 13

BOOK THE FIRS

Recaed t Le

e Period 17

2 The Mail 20

3 The Night Shadows 28

4 The epaation 34

5 The Wine Shop 49

6 The Shoemaker 63

BOO TE SECOND

The Golden Thread

Five Years Later 81

2 A Sight 89

3 A Disappointment 97

4 Congratulato 6

5 The Jackal 125

6 Hundreds of People 132

7 Monseigneur in Town 148

8 Monseigneur in the Coun 161

5



9 TheGorgon s

Head 168

10 Two omises 182

A Companion Picture 192

12 The Feow of Delicacy 198

13 The Felow of no Delicacy 208

14 The Honest Tadesman 214

15 Knitting 228

16 Stil Knitting 244

17 One Night 25818 Nin Days 264

19 An Opinion 273

20 A Plea 282

21 Ecoing ootsteps 288

22 e Sea Stil Rises 30423 Fire Rises 3

24 Drawn to the Loadstone Rock 320

BOOK TE TIRD

e Track of a Sto

In Secret 339

2 The Grindstone 355

3 e Shadow 363

4 Calm in Storm 370

5 The Wood-Sawyer 377

6 iumph 385

7 A Knock at the Door 394

8 A Hand at Cards 401

9 The Game Made 419

10 The Substance of the Shadow 435

6





S 3 . I : O M . d O t V . V



Preface

\hn I was acting with y childrn and nds inM Wilk ollins's draa of The Frozen Deep, I rstconcivd th main ida of this stor strong dsirwas upon m thn to body it in my own prson

and I tracd out in my fancy th stat of mind ofwhich it would ncssitat th prsntation to anobsant spctator with particular car and intrst

s th ida bca failiar to m it graduallyshapd itslf into its prsnt for hroughout itsxcution it has had coplt possssion of m I

hav so far vrid what is don and surd in thspags as that I hav crtainly don and surd it allyslfhnvr any rfrnc (howvr slight) is mad hrto th condition of th Frnch popl bfor or duringth Rvolution it is truly ad on th faith oftrustworthy witnsss It has bn on of my hops toadd somthing to th popular and pictursqu mansof undrstanding that trribl ti though no on canhop to add anything to th philosophy of Mrarlyl's wondrl book





Chacters

SYNEY CARTON, a London barrister an able but idle

man andjackal to Mr Stver.

OGER CLY, an Old Bailey spy.

JERRY CRUNHER, an odd-job man at Telon's Bank

and ao a resuectionist.

OUNG JERRY CRUNHER, son of the preceding.

MONIEUR RNET DEFARGE, keeper of a wine shop inPar and ngleader of the Revolutionis in the

suburb of St Antoine.

MONIEUR HOPHILE AELLE, a postmaster.APAR, an assassi.

JAQUE NE

IRevolutionists and

JAQUE WO .assoIates of Defarge

JAQUE HREE

JAQUE OUR, a ame assumed by Defarge.

JAQUE IVE, an associate of Defarge; a mender of roads

aeards a woodsawyer.

JOE, a coachman.

MR JARVI ORRY, a condential clerk at Telon's Bank

and a iend of the Manettes.DR EXARE MANETTE, a physician of Par confined

for may years in the Bastie.

SOLOON RO, alas JOHN BARA, a spy and secret

infoer aeards a tukey in the Conciergerie inParis

13



MARQUI ST VRONE (I), a pu and oppressive

nobleman twin brther of the folowig joint inheritor

an next successor of the elder Marqis and uncle of

Charles St Evrmonde

MARQUI ST VRONE (2), twin brother of the preced

ing and father of Charles St Evrmone

HARLE ST VRONE, a French emie, caleCharles Daay son of the precedin

MR STRER, a London ba·sterO, coachman of the Dover mail

MRs RUNHER, we of ]e Crncer

AE HRE DEFARGE, w ofonsieur

Defargeand leader of the St Antoine be of women

UIE MANETTE, daughter of Dr ManetteMI RO, mai to Lucie Manette

MARQUIE ST VRONE, we of the Maruis St

Evrmonde 2)

UIE ST VRONE, dauhter of Charles StEvrmonde

HE ENGEANE, a leading Revolutionist among the St

Anoine women

14



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HAPTER

The Ped

It was h bst of tims, it was th worst of tis, it wash ag of wisdom, it was h ag of foolishnss, it was

h poch of blif, it was h poch of incrduliy, itwas th saso of Light, it was th sason of Darknss,it was th spring of hop, it was t witr of dspair,w had vrhing bfor us, w had nohing bforus, w wr all goig dirct to Havn, w wr allgoing dirct h othr way - in short, th priod was so

far lik th prst priod, that som of its noisistauthoritis insistd o its bing rcivd, for good orfor vil, in th suprlativ dgr of comparison only.

Thr wr a kig wih a larg jaw and a qun wiha plai fac, o th hron of Eglad; hr wr akig with a lar g aw ad a qu wih a fair fac, ont thro of Franc. I both coutris it was clarrta cstal to h lords of h Stat prsrvs of loavsad shs, that higs in gral wr sttld for vr.

It was h yar of Our Lord o housand svnhundrd and svtyv. Spiritual rvlations wrconcdd to Eglad at hat favourd piod, as athis. Mrs Southcott had rctly attaind hr v

adwntih blssd birhday, of whom a prophticprivat in th Lif Guards had hraldd h sublimapparanc by anouncing hat arrangmnts wrmad for th swallowig up of London and Wstminstr v th Cock Lan ghost had bn laid onlya round dozn o yars, ar rappig out its ssags,

17



A TALE OF TWO ITI

as spirits of his vry yar ast past (supraturaydcit i origiaiy) rappd out thirs rmssags i t arthy ordr of vts had aty com

to h Egish Crow ad Pop, om a cogrss ofBritish subjcts i rica: which, strag to rat,hav provd or importat to th huma rac thaany commuicatios yt rcivd hrough ay of hchicks of t Cock a brood.

Fac, ss favourd o th who as to attrs

spiritua tha hr sistr of shid ad tridt, rodwih xcdig soohss dow hi, makg paprmoy ad spdig it Udr h guidac of hrChistia pastors, sh trtaind hrsf, bsids,with such hua achivts as stcig a youhto hav his hads cut o, his togu to out with

pincrs, ad his body bud aiv, bcaus h had otknd dow i th rai to do hoour to a ditprocssio of oks which passd withi his viw, at adistac of so y or six yards. t is iky oughhat, ootd i th woods of Frac ad Noway, thrwr growig trs, wh hat surr was put todah, arady arkd by th Woodma, fat, to codow ad b saw ito boards, to ak a crtaimovab frawork wih a sack ad a kif i it,tib i histo t is iky ough that i th roughouhouss of so tirs of havy ads adjact toParis, hr wr shtrd from th wahr that vday, d carts, bspattrd wih rustic ir, sud

about by pigs, ad roostd in by pout, which thfarr, dah had arady st apat to b his tubrisof th Rvoutio But that wooda ad that farr,though hy work ucasigy, work sity, ad oo hard h as hy wt about with u trad:th rahr, forasuch as to ttain ay suspicio

18



RALL TO LIF

that thy wr awak, was to b athstcal andtrator os

In England, thr was scarcly an amount of ordr

and protcton to just much natonal boastngDarng burglars by armd mn, and hghwayrobbrs, took plac n th captal tslf vy ngt;famls wr publcly cautond not to go out of townwthout rmovng thr tur to upholstrrs'warhouss for scurty; h hghwayman n h dark

was a Cty tradsman n th lght, and, bng rcognsd and challngd by hs fllowtradsman whomh stoppd n hs charactr of th Captan', gallantlyshot hm through th had and rod away; th malwas waylad by svn robbrs, and t guard shott dad, and hn got shot dad mslf by thothr four, n consunc of h falur of hsammunton' ar whch t mal was robbd npac; tat magncnt potntat, th Lord Mayor ofLondon, was mad to stand and dlvr on TuamGrn, by on hghwayman, who dspold th llustrous cratur n sght of all hs rtnu; prsonrs nLondon gaols fought battls wth thr turnkys, andth majsty of t law rd blundrbusss n amongtm, loadd wth rounds of shot and ball; tvssnppd o damond crosss from t ncks of nobllords at court drawngrooms; musktrs wnt ntoSt Gls's, to sarch for contraband goods, and hmob rd on th musktrs, and t musktrs rd

on th mob, and nobody thought any of ts occurrncs much out of th common way In th mdst ofm, th hangman, vr busy and vr wors tanuslss, was n constant ruston; now, strngng uplong rows of mscllanous crnals; now, hangng ahousbrakr on Saturday who ad bn takn on

19



A TAL OF TWO ITI

Tusday; now, bung popl n h hand aNwga by h dozn, and now bung pamphls ah door of Wsmnsr Hall; oday, akng h lf of

an arocous murdrr, and omorrow of a wrchdplfrr who had robbd a farmrs boy of sxpnc

All hs hngs, and a housand lk hm, cam opass n and clos upon h dar old yar on housandsvn hundrd and svnv Envrond by hm,whl h woodman and h farmr workd unhdd,

hos wo of h larg jaws, and hos ohr wo of hplan and h far facs, rod wh sr nough, andcarrd hr dvn rghs wh a hgh hand Thus ddh yar on housand svn hundrd and svnyv conduc hr gransss, and myrads of smallcraurs - craurs of s chroncl among

rs - along roads a lay bfor m

HAPTR 2

The Mail

I was h Dovr road ha lay, on a Frday ngh la nNovmbr, bfor h rs of h prsons wh whomhs hsory has busnss Th Dovr road lay, as ohm, byond h Dovr mal, as lumbrd upShoor's Hll H walkd uphll n h mr by hsd of h mal, as h rs of h passngrs dd; nobcaus hy had h las rlsh for walkng xrcs,unr h crcumsancs, bu bcaus h hll, and hhass, and mud, and h mal, wr all so havy,a h horss had hr ms alrady com o a sop,bsds onc drawng coach across h road, whh munous nn of akng back o Blackhah

20



RECALLED TO LIFE

Rin and whip and coachman and guard, howv, incombination, had rad that articl of war whichforbad a purpo othrwi trongly in favour of th

argumnt, that om brut animal ar ndud withraon; and th tam had capitulatd and rtud tothir duty

With drooping had and trmulou tail, thymahd thir way through th thick mud, oundringand tumbling btwn whil, a if thy wr falling

to pic at th largr oint A on a th drivrrtd thm and brought thm to a tand, with a wayWo-ho! o-ho thn!' th nar ladr violntly hookhi had and vrything upon it lik an unuuallymphatic hor, dnying that th coach could b gotup th hill Whnvr th ladr mad thi rattl, th

pangr tartd, a a nrou pangr might, andwa dturbd in mindh wa a taming mit in all th hollow, and it

had roamd in it forlon up th hill, lik an vilpirit, king rt and ding non A clammy andintnly cold mit, it mad it low way through th

air in rippl that viibly folowd and ovrprad onanothr, a th wav of an unwholom a mightdo It wa dn nough to hut out vrthing fromth light of th coachlamp but th it own working,and a fw yard of road; and th rk of th abouringhor tamd into it, a if thy had mad it al

wo othr pangr, bid th on, wrplodding up th hill by th id of th mail All thrwr wrappd to th chkbon and ovr th ar,and wor ackboot Not on of th thr could havaid, from anything h aw, what ithr of th otrtwo wa lik; and ach wa hiddn undr almot amany wrappr om th y of th mind, a from t

21



A TA O TWO CTS

ys of th body of his two companions n thosdays travllrs wr vry shy of bing condntial ona short notic for anybody on th oad might b a

obbr or in lagu with obbrs. As to th lattr whnvr postinghous and al hous could producsombody in th Captains pay ranging from thlandlod to th lowst stabl nondscript it was thliklist thing upon th cads. So th guad of thDovr mail thought to himslf that Friday night in

ovmbr on thousand svn hundrd and svntyv lumbing up Shoots ill as h stood on hisown particula prch bhind th mail bating his ftand kping an y and a hand on th armchstbfor him wh a loadd blundrbuss lay at th topof six or ight loadd horspistols dpositd on a

substratum of cutlassTh Dovr mail was in its usual gnial position thatth guard suspctd th passngrs th passngrssuspctd on anothr and th guad thy all suspctd vrbody ls and th coachman was sur fnothing but th hoss; as to which cattl h couldwith a clar conscinc hav takn his oath on th twoTstamnts that thy wr not t fo th jouy.

oho! said th coachman. So thn! On morpull and your at th top and b damnd to you for hav had troubl nough to gt you to it! Jo!

alloa! th guard rplid.hat oclock do you mak it Jo?

Tn minuts good past lvn.y blood! jaculatd th vxd coachman and

not atop of Shoots yt! Tst! Yah! Gt on with you!Th mphatic hors cut short by th whip in a most

dcidd ngativ mad a dcidd scrambl for it andth thr othr horss followd suit. Onc mor th

22



RECALLED TO LIE

ovr ail stuggld o, with th jackboots of itspassg rs squashig alog by its sid Thy hadstoppd wh th coach stoppd, ad thy kpt clos

compay with it If ay o of th thr had hd thhardihood to propos to aothr to wlk o littlahad ito th mist d darkss, h would hv puthimslf i a fair way of gttig shot isttly as highwayma

Th last burst carrid th mail to th summit of th

hill Th horss stoppd to brath gai, ad thguard got dow to skid th whl for th dsct, adop th coachdoor to lt th passgrs i

Tst Jo crid th coachma i a waig voic,lookig dow from his box

hat do you say, Tom?

Thy both listdI say a hors at a catr comig up, JoI say a hors at a gallop, Tom, rtud th gurd,

lavig his hold of th door, ad moutig imbly tohis plac Gtlm! I th kg's m, all of you!'

With this hurrid adjuratio, h cockd his bludrbuss, ad stood o th osiv

Th passgr bookd by this histoy, as o thcoachstp, gttig i; th two othr ssgrs wrclos bhid him, ad about to follo rmaido th stp, half i th coach ad half out of it; thyrmaid i th road blow him Thy ll lookd fromth cochma to th guard, ad from th guard to thcoachma, ad listd Th coachma lookd backad th guard lookd back, ad v th mphaticladr prickd up his ars ad lookd back, withoutcotradictig

Th stillss cosqut o th cssatio of thrumblig ad labourig of th coach, addd to th

23



A TALE OF TWO CITIES

stillnss of t igt, mad it v qit indd Tpanting of t orss communicatd a trmlosmotion to t coac, as if it wr i a stat of agitatio

T ats of t passgrs bat lod ogpraps to b ard; bt at any rat, th qit paswas audibly xprssiv of popl ot of brat, andolding t brat, ad avig t plss qickndby xpctatio

T sond of a ors at a gallop cam fast ad

riously p t illSoo' t gard sang ot, as lod as cold

roar Yo tr Stad I sall r'T pac was sddly cckd, and, wit muc

splasing and ondring, a man's voic calld fromt mist, Is tat t Dovr mail?'

vr yo mind wat it is?' t guard rtortd,Wat ar yo?''Is that t ovr mail?'Wy do yo wat to know?'I want a passgr, if it is'What passgr?'

Mr Jais Lor'Our bookd passngr sowd in a momnt tat itwas is nam T gard, t coacman, and t twootr passngrs yd im distrstlly

Kp wr yo ar,' t gard calld to t voicin th mist, bcas, if I sold mak a mistak, itcould vr b st rigt i yor liftim Gntlma oft nam of Lorr aswr strait'

Wat is t attr?' askd t passngr, t, witmildly quavrig spc o wats m? Is it Jr?'

(I don't lik Jrry's voic, if it is Jrry,' growld tgard to imsl 's oarsr tan suits m, isJr')

24



RECALLE T LIE

Y, r Lorr.'Wha i th mattr?'A dspatch nt ar you om ovr yondr. T

and Co' know thi mngr, guard,' aid r or,

gtting down into th road aitd om hindmor wily than politly y th othr two pangr,who immdiatly cramld into th coach, hut thdoor, and pulld up th window may com clo

thr's nothing wrong.' hop thr ain't, ut can't mak o Nation urof that,' said th guard, in gru oliloquy. allo you!'

Wll! And hallo you!' aid Jrry, mor hoarlyhan for

Com on at a footpac! D'y mind m? And if

you'v got holtr to that addl 0

'

you, don't ltm s your hand go nigh 'm For 'm a dvil at aquick mitak, and whn mak on it tak th formof ad So now lt' look at you'

Th gurs of a hor and ridr cam lowlyrough h ddying mit, and cam to th id of h

mail, whr th pangr tood. Th ridr toopd,and, cating up hi y at h guard, handd passngr a mall foldd papr. Th ridr' hor waslown, and oh hor and ridr wr covrd wihmud, from th hoof of th hor to h hat of man

Guard!' aid th pangr, in a ton of quituin condnc

Th watchl guard, wih hi right hand at th tockof hi raid lundru, hi l at th arrl, and hiy on th horman, anwrd curtly, Sir.'

Thr i nothing to apprhnd long toTllon' Bank You mut know Tllon' Bank in

25







allo, o'

A TALE OF TWO CTES

Did you har th mssag?'I did, o'

What did you mak of it, om?'Noing at all, o'hat's a coindnc, too,' th guard musd, for I

mad th sam of it mysl'Jrr, l alo i th mist and darkss, disountd

manwhil, ot only to as his spnt hors, but to

wip th mud fro his fac, and shak th wt out ofhis hatbrim, which might b capabl of holding abouthalf a gallo r standing with th bridl ovr hishavilysplashd arm, until th whls of th mailwr no longr within haring and th night was quitstill again, h tud to walk down th hill

r that thr gallop om mpl Bar, old lady,I won't trust your forlgs till I gt you on th lvl,'said this hoars mssgr, glancing at his mar "Rcalld to lif. hat's a blazig strang ssaguch of that wouldn't do for you, Jrry! I say, Jrr!You'd b in a blazing bad way, if rcalling to lif was tocom ito fashion, rry!'

CHAPTER 3

The Niht Shadows

A wondrl fact to rct upon, that v humancratur is constitutd to b that profoud scrt andmystr to vr othr A solmn considration, wI ntr a grat city by night, at vr on of thosdarkly clustrd houss ncloss its own scrt thatvr room in vry on of thm ncloss its ow

28



RECALLED TO LIFE

scrt tat v bating art in t undrds oftousands of brasts tr, is, in som of itsimaginigs, a scrt to t art narst it Somting

of t awlnss, vn of dat itslf, is rfrabl totis No mor can I tu t lavs of this dar booktat I lovd, and vainly op in ti to rad it all. Nomor can I look into t dpts of this unfathomablwatr, wrin, as momntary ligts glancd into it, Iav ad glimpss of burid trasur and otr tings

submrgd It was appointd tat t book souldsut with a spring, for vr and for vr, wn I adrad but a pag It was appointd that th watrsould b lockd in an tal frost, wn th ligt wasplaying on its surfac, and I stood in ignoranc on tsor My frind is dad, y nighbour is dad, my

lov, t darling of my soul, is dad it is t inxorablconsolidation and prptuation of th scrt that wasalways in tat individualiy, and wic I sall carry inin to my lif's nd In any of t burialplacs of thiscity throug wic I pass, is tr a slpr morinscrutabl than its busy inabitants ar, in tir

innrmost prsonality, to m, or tan I am to thm?As to tis, is natural and not to b alinatdinritanc, th mssngr on orsback ad xactlyt sam possssions as t ing, th rst Ministr ofStat, or t ricst mrcant in ondon So wi ththr passngrs sut up in t narrow compass of onlumbring old mailcoac ty wr mystris to onanotr, as complt as if ac ad bn in is owncoac and six, or is own coac and sixty, wit tbradt of a county btwn i and t nxt

T mssngr rod back at an asy trot, stoppingprtty on at al ouss by way to drink, butvincing a tndncy to kp is own counsl, and to

29



A ALE OF WO CES

kp his ht cockd ovr his ys H hd ys thtssotd v w with tht dcortio, big of surfc bck, with o dpth i th coour or form, d

much too r togthr s if thy wr id of bigfoud out i somthig, sigy, if thy kpt too frprt hy d siistr xprssio, udr odcockdht li thrcorrd spittoo, d ovr grt mur or th chi d throt, which dscddrly to th wrr's ks Wh h stoppd for

drik, h mod this mur with his hd, olywhi h pourd his iquor i with his right; s soo stht ws do, h mud gi

No, Jrry, o!' sid th mssgr, hrpig o othm s h rod It woud't do for you, Jrry Jrr,you host trdsm, it woud't suit your i of

busiss! Rcld ! Bust m if I do't thik h'db drikig!'

His mssg prplxd is mid to tht dgr tth ws fi, srl tims, to tk o his ht to scrtchis hd Excpt o th crow, which ws rggdybd, h hd sti, bck hir, stdig jggdly l ovr

it, d growig dow hil lost to his brod, blutos It ws so lik smith's work, so much mor ik thtop of strogy spikd wl t hd of hir, tht tbst of plyrs t pfrog ight hv dcid i, sth� most dgrous m i t word to go ovr

Whi h trottd bck with th mssg h ws to

divr to th ight wtchm i his box t th door ofso's Bk, by mp Br, who ws to divr itto grtr utoritis withi, th shdows of th ighttook such shps to him s ros out of th mssg,d took such shps to t mr s ros out of her

privt topics of usiss hy smd to bumrous, for s shid t vr shdow o th rod

30



RECALLED O LIFE

What tme, the malcoach lumbered, jolted, rattled,and bumped upon ts tedous way, wth ts threefellownscrutables nsde To whom, lkewse, the

shadows of the nght revealed themselves, n the formsther dozng eyes and wandrng thoughts suggestedTellson's Bank had a run upon t n the mal As the

bank passenger wth an arm drawn through theleathe strap, whch dd what lay n t to keep hmfrom poundng aganst th next passenger, and drvnghm nto hs coer, whenever the coach got a specaljolt nodded n hs place, wth halfshut eyes, the lttlecoachwndows, and he coachlamp dmly gleamngthrough them, and the bulky bundle of opposte

passenger, became the bank, and dd a great stroke ofbusness The rattle of the haess was the chnk ofmoney, and more dras wr honoured n ve mnutes

than even Tellson's, wth all ts foregn and homeconnecton, ever pad n thrce the tme Then thestrongrooms underground, at Tellson's, wth such of

her valuable stores and secrets as were known to thepassenger (and t was not a lttle that he knew aboutthem), opened before hm, and he went n among

them wh the great keys and the feeblybungcandle, and found them safe, and strong, and sound,

and stll, just as he had last seen themBut, hough the bank was almost always wh hm,

and though the coach (n a consed way, lke thepresence of pan under an opate) was always wth

hm, there was another current of mpresson hatnever ceased to run, all through the nght. He was onhs way to dg some one out of a grave

Now, whch of he multtude of faces that showed

themselves before hm was the tre face of the bured

person, the shadows of the nght dd not ndcat but

31



A ALE OF WO CIIES

they were all the faces of a man of veandfory byyears, and they dered prncpally n the passons theyexpressed, and n the ghastlness of ther worn and

wasted state rde, contempt, deance, stubboness,submsson, lamentaton, succeeded one another sodd varetes of sunken cheek, cadaverous colour,emacated hands and gures But the face was n theman one face, and every head was prematurely whteA hundred tmes the dozng passenger enqured of ths

spectre: Bured how long?The answer was always the same Almost eghteen

yearsYou had abandoned all hope of beng dug out?Long agoYou know hat you are recalled to lfe?

They tell me soI hope you care to lve?I cant sayShall I show her to you? Wll you come and see her?

The answers to ths queston were varous andcontradctory Sometmes the broken reply was,

Wat! It would kll me f I saw her too soon Some

tmes, t was gven n a tender ran of tears, and then twas, Take me to her Sometmes t was starng and

bewldered, and then t was, I dont know her I dont

understand

er such magnary dscourse, the passenger n hsfancy would dg, and dg, dg - now, wth a spade, now

wth a great key, now wth hs hands - to dg thswretched creature out Got out at last, wth eahangng about hs face and har, he would suddenlyfall away to dust The passenger would then sta tohmself, and lower the wndow, to get the realy of

mst and ran on hs cheek

32



RECALLED O LIFE

Yet even when hs eyes were opened on the mst andran, on the movng patch of lght from the lamps, andthe hedge at the roadsde retreatng by jerks, the nghtshadows outsde the coach would fall nto the tran ofthe nght shadows wthn. he real banknghouse byemple Bar, the real busness of the past day, the realstrongrooms, the real express sent aer hm, and thereal message retued, would all be there. Out of themdst of them, the ghostly face would rse, and hewould accost t agan

Bured how long?'Almost egheen years'I hope you care to lve?'I can't say.'

Dg - dg - dg - untl an mpatent movement from

one of the two passengers would admonsh hm to pull

up the wndow, draw hs arm securely through theleathe strap, and speculate upon the two slumberng forms, untl hs mnd lost ts hold of them, andthey agan sld away nto the bank and the grave.

Bured how long?'Almost eghteen years.'

You had abandoned all hope of beng dug out?'Long ago.'he words were stll n hs hearng as just spoken -

dstnctly n hs hearng as ever spoken words had been

n hs lfe when the weary passenger started to the

conscousness of daylght, and found that the shadows

of the nght were gone.He lowered the wndow, and looked out at the

rsng sun. here was a rdge of ploughed land, wth aplough upon t where t had been le last nght when

the horses were unyoked beyond, a quet coppce

wood, n whch many leaves of bung red and

33



A ALE OF WO CIIES

golden yellow stll remaned upon the trees Thoughthe earth was cold and wet, the sky was clear, and thesun rose bght, placd, and beautl

Eghteen years!' sad the passenger, lookng at thesun Gracous creator of day! To be bured alve foreghteen years!'

CAER 4

The Prepation

When the mal got successlly to Dover, n the courseo e ren, te ea rawer a e al ereHotel opened the coachdoor as hs custom was Hedd t wth some oursh of ceremony, for a mal

jouey om London n wnter was an achevement tocongratulate an adventurous traveller upon

By that tme, there was only one adventurous

traveller le to be congratulated for the two othershad been set down at ther respectve roadsde destn

atons The mlde nsde of the coach, wth ts

damp and dy straw, ts dsagreeable smell, and tsobscurty, was rather lke a larger dogkennel MrLorry, the passenger, shakng hmself out of t nchans of straw, a tangle of shaggy wrapper, appng

hat, and muddy legs, was rather lke a larger sortof dog

There wll be a packet to Calas, tomorrow, drawer?'Yes, sr, f the weather holds and the wnd sets

tolerable far The tde wll serve pretty ncely at abouttwo n the aernoon, sr. Bed, sr?'

I shall not go to bed tll nght but I want abedroom, and a barber'

34



RECALLED TO LFE

And then breakfast, sr? Yes, sr That way, sr, fyou please Show Concord Gentleman's valse andhot water to Concord. ull o gentleman's boots n

Concord (You wll nd a ne seacoal re, sr Fetch barber to Concord Str about there, now, forConcord!'

The Concord bedchamber beng always assgned toa passenger by the mal, and passengers by the malbeng always heavly wrapped up from head to foot,the room had the odd nterest for the establshment ofthe oyal George, that although but one knd of manwas seen to go to t, a kds ad varetes of mencame out of t Consequently, another drawer, and

two porters, and several mads and the landlady, were

all loterng by accdent at varous ponts of the road

between the Concord and the coeeroom, when a

gentleman of sty, formally dressed n a brown sut ofclothes, pretty well wo, but very well kept, wth largesquare cus and large aps to the pockets, passedalong on hs way to hs breakfast

The coeeroom had no other occupant, that forenoon, than the gentleman n brown Hs breakfast

table was drawn before the re, and as he sat, wthts lght shnng on hm, watng for he meal, he satso stll, that he mght have been sttng for hs portrat

Very orderly and methodcal he looked, wth a

hand on each knee, and a loud watch tckng asonorous sermon under hs apped wastcoat, as

though t ptted ts gravty and longevy aganst thelevty and vanescence of the brsk re He had a goodleg, and was a lttle van of t, for hs brown stockngstted sleek and close, and were of a ne texture hs

shoes and buckles, too, though plan, were trm He

wore an odd lttle sleek crsp axen wg, settng very

35



A ALE OF WO CES

close to hs head: whch wg, t s to be presumed, wasmade of har, but whch looked far more as though twere spun from laments of slk or glass Hs lnen,

though not of a neness n accordance wth hsstockngs, was as whte as the tops of the waves thatbroke upon the neghbourng beach, or the specks ofsal that glnted n the sunlght far at sea A facehabtually suppressed and queted, was stll lghted upunder the quant wg by a par of most brght eyesthat t must have cost ther owner, n years gone by,

some pans to drll to the composed and reservedexpresson of Tellson's Bank He had a healthy colourn hs cheeks, and hs face, though lned, boreew traces o anxety ut, peraps the condentalbachelor clerks n Tellson's Bank were prncpally

occuped wth the cares of other peope and perhaps

secondhand cares, lke secondhand cothes, comeeasy o and on

Completng hs resemblance to a man who wassttng for hs portrat, Mr Lorry dropped off to sleepThe arrval of hs breakfast roused hm, and he sad tothe drawer, as he moved hs char to t I wsh

accommodaton prepared for a young lady who maycome here at any tme today She may ask for Mrarvs Lorry, or she may only ask for a gentleman

from Telson's Bank lease to let me ow'Yes, sr Tellson's Bank n London, sr?'

Yes'

Yes, sr We hve oentmes the honour to entertanyour gentlemen n ther travelng backwards andforwards betwxt London and ars, sr A vast deal oftravellng, sr, n Tellson and Company's House'

Yes We are qute a French house, as well as anEnglsh one'



RECALLED TO LIFE

Yes, sir Not much in the habit of such travellingyourself, I think, sir?'

Not of late years It is een years since we - since

I came last from France'Indeed, sir? That was before my time here, sir.Before our people's time here, sir. The George was inother hands at that time, sir'

I believe so.'But I would hold a pretty wager, sir, that a house

like T ellson and Company was ourishing, a matter ofy, not to speak of een years ago?'

You might treble that, and say a hundred and ,yet not be far from the truth.'

Indeed, sir

Rounding his mouth and both his eyes, as hestepped backward from the table, the waiter shied

his napkin from his right arm to his le, dropped intoa comfortable attitude, and stood sureying the guestwhile he ate and drank, as from an obserato orwatchtower. According to the immemorial usage ofwaiters in all ages

When Mr Lorry had nished his breakfast, he went

out for a stroll on the beach The little narrow,crooked town of Dover hid itself away om the beach,

and ran its head into the chalk clis, like a marine

ostrich. The beach was a desert of heaps of sea andstones tumbling wildly about, and the sea did what itliked, and what it liked was destruction It thundered

at the town, and thundered at the clis, and broughtthe coast down, madly The air among the houses wasof so strong a piscatory avour that one might have

suosed sick sh went up to be dpped n it, as sck

people went down to be dipped in the sea A little

shng was done in the port, and a uant of strollng

37




about by night, and looking seaward: particularly atthose times when the tide made, and was near ood.mall tradesmen, who did no business whatever,

sometimes unaccountably realised large fortunes, andit was remarkable that nobody in the neighbourhoodcould endure a lamplighter.

As the day declined into the aeoon, and the air,which had been at interals clear enough to allow theFrench coast to be seen, became again charged withmist and vapour, Mr Lor's thoughts seemed tocloud too When it was dark, and he sat before thecoeeroom re, awaiting his dinner as he hadawaited his breakfast, his mind was busily digging,digging, digging, in he live red coals.

A bottle of good claret aer dinner does a digger inthe red coals no harm, othese than as t has a

tendency to throw him out of work. Mr Lorry hadbeen idle a long time, and had just poured out his lastglassl of wine with as complete an appearance ofsatisfaction as is ever to be found in an elderly gentleman of a fresh complexion who has got to the end of abottle, when a rattling of wheels came up the narrow

street, and rumbled into the innyardHe set down his glass untouched. This is

Mam'selle' said he.In a ver few minutes the waiter came in to announce

that Miss Manette had arrved om London, and

would be happy to see the gentleman from Tellson's

o soon?'Miss Manette had taken some refreshment on the

road, and reuired none then, and was extremelyanxious to see the gentleman om Tellson's immediately, if it suited his pleasure and convenience.

The gentleman from Tellson's had nothng e for



RECALLED TO LIFE

it but to empty hi glass wth an air of stolid desperation, settle his odd little axen wig at the ears, andfollow the waiter to Miss 1nete's apartment. It was

a large, dark roomfumisb· :d

n a nereal mannerwith black horsehair dd with heavy darktables. hese had bee ld nd oiled, until the twotall candles on the tabl n iddle of the roomwere gloomily reected n ver leaf as if they wereburied, in deep graves of black mahogany, and nolight to speak of could be expected from them untilthey were dug out

he obscurity was so dicult t penetrate that MrLor, pickng his way over the wellworn urkeycarpet, supposed iss Manette to be, for the moment,

in some adjacent room, until having got past the two

tall candles, he saw standing to receive him by the table

between them and the re, a young lady of not morethan seventeen, in a ridingcloak, and still holding herstraw travellinghat by its rbbon in her hand. As hiseyes rested on a short, slight pretty gure a uantityof golden hair, a pair of blue eyes that met his own withan enuiring look, and a forehead with a sngular

capacity remembering how young and smooth it was)of liing and knitting itself into an expression that was

not uite one of perpleity, or wonder, or alarm, or

merely of a brght xed attention, though it included

all the four expressions - as his eyes rested on thesethings, a sudden vivid likeness pased before him, of a

child whom he had held in his arms on the passageacross that ver Channel, one cold time, when the haildried heavily and the sea ran high he likenesspassed away, like a breath along the surface of thegaunt pierglass behind her, on the ame of which, a

hospital procession of negro cupids, several headless

39




and all cripples, were oering black baskets of Deadea uit to black divinities of the feminine gender

and he made his formal bow to Miss Manette.

Pray take a seat, sir.' In a ver clear and pleasantyoung voice; a little foreign in its accent, but a ver

little indeed.I kiss your hand, miss,' said Mr Lorr, with the

manners of an earlier date, as he made his formal bowagain, and took his seat.

I received a letter from the bank, sir, yesterday,informing me that some intelligence - or discover - '

The word is not material, miss; either word willdo.

respecting he small roery of my poor father,whom I never saw so long dead -

Mr Lorr moved in his chair, and cast a troubled

look towards the hospital procession of negro cupids.As if they had any help for anybody in their absurdbaskets

rendered it necessar that I should go to Paris,there to communicate with a gentleman of the bank,so good as to be despatched to Paris for the purpose.

Myself.'As I was prepared to hear, sir.he curtseyed to him young ladies made curtseys

in those days), with a pretty desire to convey to himthat she felt how much older and wiser he was than

she. He made her another bow.

I replied to the bank, sir, that as it was considerednecessary, by those who know, and who are so kind asto advise me, that I should go to France, and that as Iam an orphan and have no friend who could go withme, I should esteem it highly if might be permitted tolace myself during the journey, under that worhy

40






Miss Manette, I am a man of business I have abusiness charge to acuit myself of. In your receptionof it, don't heed me any more than if was a speaking

machine trly, I am not much else I will, with yourleave, relate to you, miss, the stor of one of ourcustomers.'

tory'e seemed willly to mistake the word she had

repeated, when he added, in a hurr, es, customers;

in the banking business we usually call our connectionour customers e was a French gentleman; a scienticgentleman; a man of great acuirements a doctor'

Not of Beauvais?'hy, yes, of Beauvais. Like Monsieur Manette,

your father, the gentleman was of Beauvais Like

Monsieur Manette, your father, the gentleman was of

repute in Paris I had the honour of knowing him

ere Our relations were business relations, but con

dential. I was at that time in our French house, andhad been oh twenty years.'

At that time I may ask, at what time, sir?'I speak, miss, of twenty years ago e married an

English lady and I was one of the trustees. His aairs,like the aairs of many other French gentlemen andFrench families, were entirely in Tellson's hands. In a

similar way I am, or I have been, trustee of one kind or

other for scores of our customers These are mere

business relations, miss; there is no iendship in them,

no particular interest, nothing like sentiment. I havepassed om one to anoter, in the course of mybusiness life, just as I pass from one of our customers

to another in the course of my business day; in short,I have no feelings; I am a mere machine. To go on '

But this is my father's story, sir; and I egn to



RECALLED O LIFE

think - th curiously roughnd forhad was vryintnt upon him - that whn I was l an orphanthrough my mothrs suriving my fathr only twoyars, it was you who brought m to England. I amalmot sur it was you.

Mr Lorry took th hsitating littl hand that condingly advancd to tak his and h put it with somcrmony to his lips. H thn conductd th younglady straightway to hr chair again, and, holding thchairback with his l hand, and using his right by

tus to b his chin, pull his wig at th ars or pointwhat h said, stood looking down into hr fac whlsh sat looking up into his.

Miss Mantt, it ws . And you will s how trulyI spok of myslf just now, in saying I had no flings,and that all th rlations I hold with my fllow

craturs ar mr businss rlations, whn you rctthat I hav nvr sn you sinc. No; you hav bn

th ward of Tllsons hous sinc, and I hav bn

busy with th othr businss of Tllsons hous sinc.Flings! I hav no tim for thm, no chanc of thm.I pass my whol lif, miss in tuing an immns

pcuniar mangl.r this odd dscription of his daily routin of

mploymnt, Mr Lorry attnd his axn wig uponhis had with both hands which was most unncs

sary, for nothing could b attr than its shiningsurfac was bfor), and rsumd his formr attitud.

So far, miss as you hav rmarkd), this is th storyof your rgrttd fathr. Now coms th dirnc. Ifyour fathr had not did whn h did - Dont bfrightnd! How you sta!

Sh did, indd, start. And sh caught his wrist withboth hr hands




Pray, sad Mr Lorr, n a soothng tone, brngnghs le hand from the back of the char to lay t on thesupplcatory ngers that clasped hm n so volent a

tremble: pray control your agtaton a matter ofbusness As I was sayng - Her look so dscomposed hm that he stopped,

wandered, and began anew: As I was sayng; fMonseur Manette had not ded; f he had suddenlyand slently dsappeared; f he had been sprted away;f t had not been dcult to guess to what dreadlplace, though no art coud trace hm; f he had anenemy n some compatrot who could exercse aprvlege that I n my own tme have known theoldst peopl afrad to speak of n a whsper, acrossthe water there; for nstance, the prvlege of llng upblank forms for the consgnment of anyone to the

oblvon of a prson for any length of tme; f hs wfehad mplored the kng, the ueen, the court, theclergy, for any tdngs of hm, and all ute n van; -

then the hstory of your father would have been the

hstory of ths unfortunate gentleman, the Doctor of

Beauvas

I entreat you to tell me more, srI wll I am gong to You can bear t?I can bear anythng but the uncertanty you leave

me n at ths momentYou speak collectedly, and you re collected

Thats good Though hs manner was less satsed

than hs words) A matter of busness Regard t as amatter of busness busness that must be done Now

f ths doctors wfe, though a lady of great courage and

sprt, had suered so ntensely om ths cause beforeher lttle chld was bo

The lttle chld was a daughter, sr?



RECLLED TO LIFE

A daughter. A a matter of business � don't bedistressed. Miss, if the poor lady had suered sointensely before her little child was bo, that she

came to the determination of sparing the poor childthe inheritance of any part of the agony she had knownthe pains of, by rearing her in the belief that her faherwas dead No, don't kneel In Heaven's name whyshould you kneel to me?'

For the truth. dear, good, compassionate sir, forthe truth'

A� a matter of business. You conse me, and howcan I transact business if am consed? Let us beclearheaded. If you could kindly mention now, forinstance, what nine times ninepence are, or how many

shillings in twenty guineas, it would be so encouraging.I should be so much more at my ease about your state

of mind.'Without directly answering to this appeal, she sat

so still when he had very gently raised her, and thehands that had not ceased to clasp his wrists were so

much more steady than hey had bee, that shecommunicated some reassurance to Mr Jarvis Lorr.

That's right, that's right. Courage Business Youhave business before you; usel business. MissManette, your mother took this course with you. Andwhen she died I believe broken hearted � havingnever slackened her unavailing search for your father,she le you, at two years old, to grow to be blooming,

beautil, and happy, without the dark cloud uponyou of living in uncertainty whether your father soonwore his heart out in prison, or wasted there through

many lingering years.'

As he said the words he looked down, with anadmiring pity, on the owing golden hair; as if he



A TALE OF TWO ITIES

pictured to himself that it might have been alreadytinged with grey.

You know that your parents had no great posses

sion and that what they had was secured to yourmother and to you. There has been no new discoveryof money or of any other property; but

'

He felt his wrist held closer and he stopped. Theexpression in the forehead which had so particularlyattracted his notice and which was now immovablehad deepened into one of pain and horror.

But he has been - been found. He is alive. Greatlychanged it is too probable; almost a wreck it is

possible; though we will hope the best. till alive.Your father has been taken to the house of an oldseant in Paris and we are going there: I to identi

him if can: you to restore him to life love duty rest

comfort.'A shiver ran through her frame and from it throu

his. he said in a low distinct awestricken voice asif she were saying it in a dream

I am going to see his Ghost! It will be his Ghost -

not him!'

Mr Lorry uietly chafed the hands that held hisarm. There there there! ee now see now! The best

and the worst are known to you now. You are well onyour way to the poor wronged gentleman and with afair sea voyage and a fair land jouey you will besoon at his dear side.'

he repeated in the same tone sunk to a whisper Ihave been ee I have been happy yet his Ghost hasnever haunted me!'

Only one thing more' said Mr Lorry laying stressupon it as a wholesome means of enforcing her

attention: he has been found under another name



RECALLED TO LIFE

his own, long forgotten or long concealed. It woldbe worse than seless now to enire which; worsetan seless to seek to know whether he has been for

years overlooked, or always designedly held prisoner.It wold be worse than seless now to make anyeniries, becase it wold be dangeros. Better notto mention the sbject, anywhere or in any way, andto remove him - for a while at all events ot ofFrance. Even I, safe as an Englishman, and evenTellson's, important as they are to French credit,avoid all naming of te matter I carry abot me, nota scrap of writing openly referring to it. This is asecret seice altogether. My credentials, entries, and

memranda, are all comrehended in the ne line,

Recalled to Life"; which may mean anyhing. Btwhat is the matter? he doesn't notice a word! Miss

Manette!'Perfectly still and silent, and not even fallen back in

her chair, she sat nder his hand, tterly insensible;with her eyes open and xed pon him, and with thatlast expression looking as if it were cared or brandedinto her forehead o close was her hold pon his arm,

that he feared to detach himself lest he shold hrther; therefore he called ot lodly for assistancewitot moving.

A wildlooking woman, whom even in his agitation,Mr Lorry obsered to be all of a red color, and tohave red hair, and to be dressed in some extraordinary

tighttting fashion, and to have on her head a mostwonderl bonnet like a Grenadier wooden measre,and good measre too, or a great tilton cheese, came

rnning into the rom in advance of the inn serants,and soon settled the estion of his detachment from

the poor yong lady, by laying a brawny hand pon




his chest, and sending him ying back against thenearest wall

I really think this must be a man! was Mr Lorrys

breathless reection, simultaneously with his comingagainst the wall)Why, look at you all! bawled this gure, addressing

the inn servants Why dont you go and fetch things,instead of standing there staring at me? am not somuch to look at, am I? Why dont you go and fetchthings? Ill let you know, if you dont bring smellingsalts, cold water, and vinegar, quick, will

There was an immediate dispersal for these restoratives, and she soly laid the patient on a sofa, andtended her with great skll and gentleness callingher my precious! and my bird! and spreading her

golden hair aside over her shoulders with great prde

and careAnd you in brown! she said, indignantly tuing to

Mr Lorry; couldnt you tell her what you had to tellher, without frightening her to death? Look at her,with her prett pale face and her cold hands Do youcall that being a banker?

Mr Lorry was so exceedingly disconcerted by aquestion so hard to answer, that he could only lookon, at a distance, with much feebler sympathy and

humility, while the strong woman, havng banished

the inn servants under the mysterious penalty of letting

them know something not mentioned if they stayed

there, staring, recovered her charge by a regular seriesof gradations, and coaxed her to lay her drooping headupon her shoulder

I hope she will do well now, said Mr Lor

No thanks to you in brown, if she does My darlingpret!



RECALLE TO LIFE

I hope,' said Mr Lorr, aer another pause offeeble sympathy and humility, that you accompanyMiss Manette to France?'

A likely thing, too!' replied the strong woman If itwas ever intended that I should go across salt water,do you suppose Providence would have cast my lot inan island?'

This being another uestion hard to answer, MrJaris Lorr withdrew to consider it.

CHAPTER

The Wne Shop

A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in

the street. The accident had happened in getting it outof a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the

hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outsidethe door of the wine shop, shattered like a walnutshell

All the people within reach had suspended their

business, or their idleness, to run to the spot anddrink the wine The rough, irregular stones of thestreet, pointing every way, and designed, one mighthave thought, expressly to lame all living creatures

that approached them, had dammed it into littlepools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling

group or crowd, according to its size. Some menkneeled down, made scoops of their two handsjoined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bentover their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had allrun out between their ngers. Others, men andwomen, dipped in the puddles with little mugs of




mutilated earthenware, or even with handkerchiefsom women's heads, which were squeezed dry intoinfants' mouths; others made smal mud embank

ments, to stem the wine as it ran; others, directed bylookerson up at high windows, darted here and there,to cut o itte streams of wine that started away in newdirections; others devoted themselves to the soddenand leedyed pieces of the cask, icking, and evenchamping the moister winerotted agments witheager relish. There was no drainage to carr o thewine, and not only did it all get taken up, but so muchmud got taken up along with it, that there might havebeen a scavenger in the street, if anybody acquaintedwth t coud have eeved n such a miracuouspresence.

A shrill sound of laughter and of amused voices -

voices of men, women, and children - resounded inthe street while this wine game lasted. There was littleroughness in the sport, and much playlness. Therewas a special companionship in it, an observable

inclination on the part of ever one to join some otherone, which led, especially among the luckier or lighter

hearted, to froicsome embraces, drinking of healths,shaking of hands, and even joining of hands anddancing, a dozen together. When the wine was gone,and the places where it had been most abundantwere raked into a gridironpatte by ngers, thesedemonstrations ceased, as suddenly as they had

broken out. The man who had le his saw sticking inthe rewood he was cutting, set it in motion again; thewoman who had le on a doorstep the little pot of hot

ashes, at which she had been tring to soen the painin her own stared ngers and toes, or in those of herchild, retued to it; men with bare arms, matted



RECALLED TO LIFE

locks, and cadaverous faces, who had emerged into thewinter light om cellars, moved away, to descendagain; and a gloom gathered on the scene that appearedmore natural to it than sunshine.

The wine was red wine, and had stained the grondof the narrow street in the subrb of t Antoine, inParis, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands,too, and many faces, and many naked feet, and manywooden shoes. The hands o the man who sawed thewood, le red marks on the billets; and the forehead

of the woman who nursed her baby, was stained withthe stain of the old ra she wound aout her headagain Those who had been greedy with the staves ofhe cask, had acired a tigerish smear abot the

moth; and one tall joker so besmirched, his head

more ot of a log salid bag o a nightcap than in it,

scrawled pon a wall with his nger dipped in muddywinelees - BLOOD.

The time was to come, when that wine too would bespilled on the streetstones, and when the stain of itwould be red upon many there.

And now that the cloud settled on t Antoine,

which a momentary gleam had driven from his sacredcountenance, the darkness of it was heavy cold, di,

sicess, ignorance, and want, were the lords in

waiting on the saintly presence nobles of great power

all of them; but, most especially the last. amples ofa people that had undergone a terrible rinding

and regrinding in the mill, and certainly not in thefabulos mill which ground old people young, shiveredat every coer, passed in and out at every doorway,looked om every window, uttered in every vestigeof a garment that the wind shook. The mill which had

worked them down, was e mill that grinds yong



A TALE OF TWO ITIES

people old; the children had ancient faces and grave voices; and upon them, and upon the grown faces,and ploughed into every rrow of age and coming

up afresh, was the sign, hunger t was prevalenteveywhere. Hunger was pushed out of the tallhouses, in the wretched clothing that hung uponpoes and lines; hunger was patched into them withstraw and rag and wood and paper; hunger wasrepeated in every fragment of the small modicum ofrewood that the man sawed o; hunger stared downfrom the smokeless chimneys, and started up fromthe lthy street that had no oal, among its rese, ofanythig to eat Hunger was the inscrption on theaers shelve, wrten n ever small loaf of hisscany stock of bad bread; at the sausage shop, in

evey deaddog preparation that was oered for sale

Hunger ratted its dy bones among the roastingchestnuts in the tued cyinder; hunger was shred

into atomies in evey farthing porringer of huskychips of potato, fried with some reluctant drops of oi

Its abiding place was in all things tted to it Anarrow winding street, ll of oence and stench, with

other narrow winding streets diverging, all peopled byrags and nightcaps, and al smelling of rags andnightcaps, and al visible things with a brooding ookupon them that looked ill In the hunted air of the

people there was yet some wild beast thought of

the possibiliy of tuing at bay Depressed and

sinking hough they were, eyes of re were notwanting among them; nor compressed lips, whitewith what they suppressed; nor foreheads knitted intothe likeness of the gallowsrope they mused aboutenduring, or inicting The trade signs (and theywere amost as many as the shops) were, a, grm



RECALLED TO LIFE

illustrations of want. The utcher an the porkmanpainte up, only the leanest scrags of meat; the aker,the coarsest of meagre loaves. The people ruely

picture as rinking in the wine shops, croake overtheir scanty measures of thin wine an eer, anwere gloweringly conential together. Nothing wasrepresente in a ourishing conition, save tools anweapons; ut, the cutler's knives an axes were sharpan brght, the smith's hammers were heavy, an the

gunmaker's stock was murerous. The crippling stonesof the pavement, with their many little reservoirs ofmu an water, ha no ootways, ut roe oaruptly at the oors The kennel, to make amens,ran own the mile of the street when it ran at all:

which was only aer heavy rains, an then it ran, by

many eccentric ts, into the houses. Across the streets,

at wie interals, one clumsy lamp was slung by a ropean pulley; at night, when the lamplighter ha let these

own, an lighte, an hoiste them again, a feeblegrove of im wicks swung in a sickly manner overhea,

as if they were at sea. Inee they were at sea, an theship an crew were in peril of tempest.

For, the time was to come, when the gaunt scarecrows of that region shoul have watche thelamplighter, in their ileness an hunger, so long, asto conceive the iea of improving on his metho, an

hauling up men by those ropes an pulleys, to areupon the arkness of their conition. But, the time

was not come yet; an every win that lew overFrance shook the rags of the scarecrows in vain, for theirs, ne of song an feather, took no warning.

The wine shop was a corner shop, better than mostothers in its appearance an egree, an the master ofthe wine shop ha stoo outsie it, in a yellow waist



TLE OF TWO CITIES

coat and green breeches ooking on at the strggle forthe lost wine It's not my aair' said he with a nashrg f the sholders. The people from the market

did it. Let them bring anotherThere his eyes happening to catch the tall jokerwriting p hs joke he caled to him across the waySay then my Gaspard what do yo do there?'

The fellow pointed to his joke with immensesignicance as is often the way with his tribe Itmissed its mark and completey faied as is oenthe way with his tribe too

What now? e yo a sbject for the mad hospital?'said the wineshop keeper crossing the road andobteratng the jest wth a hand o md pcke pfor the prpose and smeared over it Why do yowrite in the pbic streets? Is there tell me tho � is

there no other pace to write sch words in?'In his expostlation he dropped his ceaner hand

(perhaps accidentay perhaps not) pon the joker'sheat The joker rapped it with his own took a nimbe

spring pward and came down in a fantastic dancing

attitde with one of his stained shoes jerked o his

foot into his hand and hed ot A joker of anextremey not to say wolshly practical character heooked nder those circmstances

Pt it on pt it on' said the other Cal winewine; and nish there' With that advice he wiped hissoied hand pon the joker's dress sch as it was

qite deiberatey as having dirtied the hand on hisaccont and then recrossed the road and entered the

wine shop

This wineshop keeper was a blnecked matialooking man of thirty and he shold have been of ahot temperament for althogh it was a bitter day he



RECALLED T LIFE

wore no coat, but carred one slung over hs shoulderHs shrtsleeves were roled up, too, and hs brownarms were bare to the elbows Nether dd he wear

anythng more on hs head than hs own crsplycurlng shot dark har He was a dark man altogether,wth good eyes and a good bold breadth betweenthem Goodhumoured lookng on the whole, butmplacablelookng, too; evdently a man of a strongresoluton and a set purpose a man not desrable to bemet, rushng down a narrow pass wth a gulf on ethersde, for nothng would tu the man

Madame Defarge, hs wfe, sat n the shop behndthe counter as he came n Madame Defarge was a

stout woman of about hs own age, wth a watchl eyethat seldom seemed to look at anythng, a large hand

heavly rnged, a steady face, strong features, andgreat composure of manner There was a characterabout Madame Defarge, om whch one mght havepredcated that she dd not often make mstakesaganst herself n any of the reckonngs over whch she

presded Madame Defarge beng senstve to cold,

was wrapped n r, and had a quantty of brght

shawl twned about her head, though not to theconcealment of her large earrngs Her knttng wasbefore her, but she had lad t down to pck her teethwth a toothpck Thus engaged, wth her rght elbowsuppoted by her le hand, Madame Defarge sadnothng when her lord came n, but coughed just one

gran of cough Ths, n combnaton wth the lng ofher darkl dened eyebrows over her toothpck by thebreadth of a lne, suggested to her husband that he

would do well to look round the shop among the

customers, for any new customer who had dropped n

whle he stepped over the way









RECALLED TO LFE

No direct answer could have een half so forcile.Mr Lorrys spirits grew heavir and heavier, as heand his two copanions ascended higher and higher

Such a staircase, with its accessories, in the olderand ore crowded parts of Paris, would e adenough now; ut, at that tie, it was vile indeed tounaccustoed and unhardened senses. Eve littlehaitation within the great foul nest of one highuilding that is to say, the roo or roos within

ever door that opened on the general staircase leits own heap of rese on its own landing esidesinging other rese o its own windows. heuncontrollale and hopeless ass of decopositionso engendered, would have polluted the air, even ifpovety and deprvation had not loaded it with their

intangle ipurities; the two ad sources coinedade it alost insupportale Through such an atosphere, y steep dark shaft of dirt and poison, theway lay Yielding to his own disturance of ind, andto his young copanions agitation, which ecaegreater every instant, Mr arvis Lor twice stopped torest. Each of these stoppages was ade at a dolefulgrating, y which any languishing good airs that werele uncorrupted, seeed to escape, and all spoilt and

sickly vapours seeed to crawl in. hrouh the usted

ars, tastes, rather than glipses, were caught of thejuled neighourhood and nothing within range,nearer or lower than the suits of the two great

towers of NotreDae, had any proise on it ofhealthy life or wholesoe aspirations

At last, the top of the staircase was gained, and they

stopped for the third tie here was yet an upperstaircase, of a steeper inclination and of contracteddiensions, to e ascended, efore the garret story





RECALLED TO LIFE

door, and he wors is over. Then, all he good youbring o him, all he relief, al he happiness you bringo him, begin. Le our good friend here, assis you on

ha side. Tha's wel, friend Defarge. Come, now.Business, business'

They wen up slowly and soly. The saircase wasshor, and hey were soon a he op. There, as i had anabrup u in i, hey came all a once in sigh of hree

men, whose heads were ben down close ogeher a e

side of a door, and who were inenly looking ino heroom o which he door belonged, hrough somechns or holes n he wall. n hearing fooseps closea hand, hese hree ued, and rose, and showedhemselves o be he hree of one name who had been

drinking in he wine shop.I forgo hem in he surprise of your visi,' explained

onsieur Defarge. Leave us, good boys we havebusiness here.'

The hree glided by, and wen silenly down.

There appearing o be no oher door on ha oor,and he keeper of he wine shop going sraigh o hisone when hey were le alone, r Lorr asked him in

a whisper, wih a lile anger Do you make a show ofonsieur anee?'

I show him, in he way you have seen, o a chosenfew.'

Is ha wel?'' hink i is wel.'

Who are he few? How do you choose hem?'I choose hem as real men, of my name Jacques is

my name - o whom he sigh is likely o do good.Enough you are English ha is anoher hing. Sayhere, if you pease, a lile momen.'

Wih an admoniory gesure o keep hem back, he

r



A TALE OF TWO ITIES

stooped, and ooked in through the crevice in the wal.Soon raising his head again, he struck twice or thriceupon the door evidenty with no other oject than to

make a noise there. With the same intention, he drewthe key across it, three or four times, efore he put itcumsiy into the ock, and tued it as heavily as hecoud.

The door slowy opened inward under his hand,and he ooked into the room and said something. A

faint voice answered something. Litte more than asinge syae coud have een spoken on either side.He ooked ack over his shouder, and eckoned

them to enter. Mr Lorry got his arm securely roundthe daughters waist, and hed her for he felt that shewas sinking

A a - a - usiness, usiness!' he urged, with amoisture that was not of usiness shining on hischeek. Come in, come in!'

I am aaid of it,' she answered, shuddering.Of it? hat?'I mean of him. Of my father.'

Rendered in a manner desperate, y her state and

y the eckoning of their conductor, he drew overhis neck the arm that shook upon his shoulder, iedher a itte, and hurried her into the room. He sether down just within the door, and hed her, cingingto him.

Defarge drew out the key, cosed the door, locked it

on the inside, took out the key again, and hed it in hishand. A this he did, methodicay, and with as oudand harsh an accompaniment of noise as he coud

make. Finay, he waked across the room with ameasured tread to where the window was. He stoppedthere, and faced round.



RECALLED TO LIFE

The garret, bit to be a deposito for rewood andthe ike, was dim and dark: for the window of dormershape was in trth a door in the roof, with a itte

crane oer it for the hoisting p of stores om thestreet: ngazed, and cosing p the midde in wopieces, ike any other door of French constrction Toexcde the cod, one haf of this door was fast dosed,and the other was opened bt a er itte way Sch ascanty portion of ight was admitted throgh these

means, that it was dict, on rst coming in, to seeanything and ong habit aone cod hae sowyformed in anyone, the abiity to do any work reqiringnicet in sch obscrity Yet, work of that kind wasbeing done in the garret; for, with his back towards thedoor, and his face towards the window where thekeeper of the wine shop stood ooking at him, a white

haired man sat on a ow bench, stooping forward andery bsy, making shoes

CATER

The Shoemaker

Goodday! said Monsier Defarge, ooking down atthe white head that bent ow oer the shoemaking

It was raised for a moent, and a er fat oiceresponded to the satation as if it were at a distance:

Goodday! Yo are sti hard at work, I see?er a ong sience, the head was ied for another

moment, and the oice repied, Yes I am working

This time, a pair of haggard eyes had ooked at the

qestioner, before the face had dropped again




The faintness of the voice was pitiable and dreadl.It was not the fainess of physical weakness, thoughconnement and hard fare no doubt had their part in

it. Its deplorable peculiarity was, that it was thefaintness of solitude and disuse. It was like the lastfeeble echo of a sound made long and long ago. Soentirely had it lost the life and resonance of thehuman voice, that it aected the senses like a oncebeautil colour faded away into a poor weak stain. So

sunken and suppressed it was, that it was like a voiceunderground. So expressive it was, of a hopeless andlost creature, that a famished traveller, wearied outby lonely wandering in a wildeess, would haveremembered home and friends in such a tone beforelying down to die.

Some mintes of silent work had passed: and thehaggard eyes had looked p again: not with any interestor curiosity but with a dull mechanical perception,beforehand, that the spot where the only visitor theywere aware of had stood, was not yet empty.

I want, said Defarge, who had not removed his

gaze from the shoemaker, to let in a ittle more light

here. You can bear a little more?The shoemaker stopped his work looked with a

vacant air of listening, at the oor on one side of himthen similarly, at the oor on the other side of himthen, upward at the speaker.

hat did you say?

You can bear a ittle more ight? must bear it, if you let it in. (Laying the palest

shadow of a stress upon the second word.)The opened halfdoor was opened a little rther,

and secured at that angle for the time. A broad ray of

light fell into the garret, and showed the workman






wit an unnised se upn is lap pausing in islabur His few cmmn tls and varius scraps fleater were at is feet and n is benc He ad awite beard raggedly cut but nt very lng a llwface and exceedingly brigt eyes Te llwness andtinness f is face wuld ave caused tem t lklarge under is yet dark eyebrws and is cnsedwite air tug tey ad been really erwise buttey were naturally large and lked unnaturally sHis yellw rags f sirt lay pen at te trat and

swed is bdy t be witered and wrn He andis ld canvas ck and is lse stckings and allis pr tatters f cltes ad in a lng seclusinm direct ligt and air faded dwn t suc a dullunifiy f parcmentyellw at it wuld avebeen ard t say wic was wic

He ad put up a and beween is eyes and telit and e vey bnes f it seemed transparent Se sat wit a steadfastly vacant gaze pausing in iswrk He never lked at te gure befre imwitut rst lking dwn n is side f imself enn hat as ie ad lst te abit f assciating place

wit sund e never spke witut rst wandering inis manner and frgetting t speak

Are yu ging t nis at pair f ses tday?'asked Defarge mtining t r Lrry t cme

frwardat did yu say?'

D yu mean t nis at pair f ses tday?' can't say tat mean t suppse s dn't

knw'But e questin reminded im f is wrk and e

bent ver it againr Lrry came silently frward leaving he

6 6



RECALLED TO LIFE

daughter by the door hen he had stood, or aminute or two, by the side o Dearge, the shoemakerlooked up He showed no surprise at seeing another

gure, but the unsteady ngers o one o his handsstrayed to his lips as he looked at it (his lips and hisnails were o the same pale leadcolour, and then thehand dropped to his work, and he once more bentover the shoe The look and the action had occupiedbut an instant

You have a visitor, you see,' said MonsieurDearge

\hat did you say'Here is a visitor'The shoemaker looked up as beore, but without

removing a hand om his workCome!' said Dearge Here is monsieur, who

kows a wellmade shoe when he sees one Show himthat shoe you are working at Take it, monsieur'

Mr Lorry took it in his handTell monsieur what kind o shoe it is, and the

maker's name'There was a longer pause than usual, beore the

shoemaker replied: I orget what it was you asked me\hat did you say?'

I said, couldn't you describe the kind o shoe, or

monsieur's inormation?'It is a lady's shoe It is a young lady's walkingshoe

It is in the present mode I never saw the mode I have

had a patte in my hand' He glanced at the shoe withsome little passing touch o pride

And the maker's name' said DeargeNow that he had no work to hold, he laid the

knuckes o the right hand in the hollow o the le, andthen the knuckles o the le hand in the hollow o the




right, and then passed a hand acrss his bearded chin,and s n in regular changes, ithut a mmentsintermissin The task f recalling him m the

vacancy int hich he alays sank hen he hadspken, as like recalling sme ver eak persnfrm a sn, r endeavuring, in the hpe f smedisclsure, t stay the spirit f a fastdying man

Did yu ask me fr my name?Assuredly I didOne Hundred and Five, Nrth TerIs that al?

One Hundred and Five, Nrth TerWith a ear sund that as nt a sigh, nr a gran,

e bent t rk again, until the silence as againbrken

Yu are nt a shemaker by trade? said Mr Lrry,

kng steadfasty at himHis haggard eyes tued t Defarge as if he uld

have transferred the questin t him: but as n hepcame frm that quarter, they tued back n thequestiner hen they had sught the grund

I am nt a shemaker by trade? N, I as nt a

shemaker by trade I - I leat it here I taughtmysef I asked eave t -

He apsed aay, even fr minutes, ringing thsemeasured changes n his hands the hle time His

eyes came slly back, at ast, t the face frm which

they had andered hen they rested n it, he started,

and resumed, in the manner f a seeper that mmentaake, reverting t a subect f last night

I asked leave t teach myself, and I gt it ith muchdiculy aer a lng hile, and I have made shesever since

As he held ut his hand fr the she that had been

6 8



RECALLED TO LIFE

taken from him, Mr orry said, still looking steadfastlyin his face Monsieur Manette, do you rememernothing of me

The shoe dropped to the ground, and he sat lookngxedly at the questioner.

onsieur Manette;' Mr orry laid his hand uponDefarge's arm; do you rememer nothing of thisman ook at him. ook at me. Is there no old anker,no old usiness, no old servant, no old time, rising inyour mind, Monsieur Manette

As the captive of many years sat looking xedly, ytus, at Mr orry and at efa, some on oteated marks of an actively intent intelligence in themiddle of the forehead, gradually forced themselvesthrough the lack mist that had fallen on him. Theywere overclouded again, they were fainter, they were

gone ut they had een there. And so exactly was theexpression repeated on the fair young face of her who

had crept along the wall to a point where she could see

him, and where she now stood looking at him, withhands which at rst had een only raised in frightenedcompassion, if not even to keep him o and shut out

the sight of him, ut which were now extendingtowards him, tremling with eageess to lay thespectral ace upon he warm young reast, and love it

ack to life and hope so exactly was the expressionrepeated (though in stronger characters) on her fair

young face, that it looked as though it had passed like

a moving light, om him to her.Darkness had fallen on him in its place. He looked

at the two, less and less attentively, and his eyes ingloomy astraction sought the ground and lookedaout him in the old way. Finally, with a deep long

sigh, he took the shoe up, and resumed his work



A AE OF WO CIIES

Have you recognsed hm monseur? askedDefarge n a whsper

Yes; for a moment At rst thought t qutehopeess but have unquestonaby seen for a sngemoment the face that once knew so we Hush! Letus draw rther back Hush!

She had moved om the wa of the garret very nearto the bench on whch he sat There was somethngaw n hs unconscousness of the gure that coudhave put out ts hand and touched hm as he stooped

over hs abourot a word was spoken not a sound was made She

stood ke a sprt besde hm and he bent over hswork

t happened at ength that he had occason tochange the nstrument n hs hand for hs shoe

makers knfe t ay on that sde of hm whch was notthe sde on whch she stood He had taken t up andwas stoopng to work agan when hs eyes caught h

skrt of her dress He rased hem and saw her face

The two spectators started forward but sh stayed

them wth a moton of her hand She had no fear of hs

strkng at her wth the knfe though they hadHe stared at her wth a fear ook and aer a whe

hs ps began to form some words though no soundproceeded om them By degrees n he pauses of hs

quck and aboured breathng he was heard to say:What s ths?

Wh he tears streamng down her face she put herwo hands to her ps and kssed them to hm; then

casped them on her breast as f she ad hs runed

head hereYou are not the gaoers daughter?She sghed o



RECALLED TO LIFE

Wo are ou?Not et trusting te tones o er voice, se sat down

on te enc eside im. He recoiled, ut se laid erand upon is arm A strange trill struck im wense did so, and visil passed over is ame e laidte knie down sol, as e sat staring at er.

Her golden air, wic se wore in long curls, adeen urriedl pused aside, and fell down over erneck Advancing is and little and little, e took it

up and looked at it. In te midst of te action e wentastra, and, wit anoter deep sig ell to work at issoemakng.

But not for long Releasing is arm, se laid erand upon is soulder. Aer looking doutll at it,two or tree times, as i to e sure tat it was realltere, e laid down is work, put is and to is neck,

and took o a lackened string wit a scrap of oldedrag attaced to it. He opened tis, carell, on isknee, and it contained a ver little quantit o air not

more tan one or two long golden airs, wic e ad

in some old da, wound o upon is nger.He took er air into is and again, and looked

closel at it. t is te same. How can it e Wen wasit How was it

As te concentrating expression returned to is ore

ead, e seemed to ecome conscious tat it was in ersto. He tued er ll to te ligt, and looked at er.

Se ad laid er ead upon m soulder, tat nigt

wen I was summoned out se ad a fear of m going,toug I ad none and wen I was rougt to teNort Tower te ound tese upon m sleeve. Youwill leave me tem? Te can never elp me to escapein te od, toug te ma in te spirit. " Tosewere te words I said. I rememer tem ver well.



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

He foed ts seec wt s ls many tmesbefore e could utter t But wen e dd nd sokenwords for t, tey came to m coerently, thoug

slowlyHow was ts? - Was it you?

Once more, te two sectators started, as e turneduon er wt a frgtl suddenness But se saterfectly stll n s gras, and only sad, n a low voce,I entreat you, good gentlemen, do not come near us,do not seak, do not move!

Hark! e exclamed Wose voce was tat?

Hs ands released er as e uttered ths c, andwent u to s wte ar, wc tey tore n a enzyt ded out, as everythg but s soemakng dd deout of m, and e refolded s lttle acket and tredto secure t n s br ast; but e stll looked at er, and

gloomly sook s eadNo, no, no you are too young, too bloomng It

cant be See wat te rsoner s Tese are not theands se knew, ts s not te face se knew, ths snot a voce se ever eard No, no Se was - and He

was before te slow years of the North Tower ages

ago Wat s your name, my gentle angel?Halng s soened tne and manner, s daugter

fell uon er knees before m, wt er aealngands uon s breast

, sr, at anoter tme you sall know my ame,and wo my moter was, and wo my fater, and ow

I never knew ter ard, ard sto But I cannot tellyou at ths tme, and I cannot tell you ere A that Imay tell you, ere and now, s, tat I ray to you totouc me and to bless me Kss me, kss me! ° mydear, my dear!

Hs cold wte ead mngled wth er radant har,



RECALLED TO LIFE

which waed and lighted it as though it were thelight of Freedom shining on him

If you hear in my voice - I don't know hat it is so,

ut I hope it is - if you hear in my voice anyresemlance to a voice that once was sweet music inyour ears, weep for it, weep for it If you touch, intouching my hair, anything that recalls a eloved headthat lay on your reast when you were young and free,weep for it, weep for it If, when I hint to you of a

Home that is efore us, where I will e true to you withall my duy and with all m faithl service, I ringack the rememrance of a home long desolate, whileyour poor heart pined away, weep for it, weep for it'

She held him closer round the neck, and rocked him

on her reast like a child

If, when I tell you, dearest dear, that your agony isover, and that I have come here to take you from it,and that we go to England to e at peace and at rest, Icause you to think of your usel life laid waste, and of

our native France so wicked to you, weep for it, weep

for it d if, when I shall tel you of my name, and of

my father who is living, and of my mother who is dead,you learn that I have to kneel to my honoured father,and implore his pardon for having never for his sakestriven all day and lain awake and wept all night,ecause the love of my poor mother hid his torturefrom me, weep for it, weep for it Weep for her, then,

and for me Good gentlemen, thank God I feel hissacred tears upon my face, and his sos strike against

my heat , see Thank God for us, thank God'

He had sunk in her as, and is face dropped on

her reast: a sight so touching, yet so terrile in thetremendous wrong and suering which had goneefore it, that the two eholders covered their faces





RECALLED TO LIFE

Both Mr orr and Defarge were rather disinclinedto this course, and in favour of one of them remainingBut, as there were not onl carriage and horses to be

seen to, but travelling papers; and as time pressed, forthe da was drawing to an end, it came at last to theirhastil dividing the business that was necessar to bedone, and hurring awa to do it

Then, as the darkness closed in, the daughter laidher head down on the hard ground close at the fathers

side, and watched him The darkness deepened anddeepened, and the both la quiet, until a lightgleamed through the chinks in the wall

r o and Monsieur Defarge had made all

read for the joue, and had brought with them,besides travelling cloaks and wrappers, bread and

meat, wine, and hot coee Monsieur Defarge put thisprovender, and the lamp he carried, on the shoemakers bench (there was nothing else in the garretbut a pallet bed, and he and Mr orr roused the

captive, and assisted him to his feetNo human intelligence could have read the mster

ies of his mind, in the scared blank wonder of his faceWhether he knew what had happened, whether herecollected what the had said to him, whether heknew that he was free, were questions which nosagacit could have solved The tried speaking tohim but, he was so consed, and so ve slow toanswer, that the took fright at his bewilderment, and

agreed for the time to tamper with him no more Hehad a wild, lost manner of occasionall clasping hishead in his hands, that had not been seen in him

before et, he had some pleasure in the mere sound ofhis dauhters voice, and invarabl tued to it when

she spoke



A TAE O TWO CITIES

n the sumssve a of one ong accustomed tooe under coercon, he ate and drank hat the gavehm to eat and drnk, and put on the coak and other

rappngs, that the gave hm to ear. He readresponded to hs daughters drang her arm throughhs, and took - and kept - her hand n oth hs own.

They egan to descend; onseur efarge gong rstth the amp, r orr cosng the tte processon.The had not traversed man steps of the ong man

starcase hen he stoppe, and stared at the roof andround at the as.

You rememer the pace, m father You rememercomng up here

What dd ou saBut, efore she coud repeat the queston, he mur

mured an anser as f she had repeated t.ememer? No, dont rememer. t as so veryong ago.

That he had no recoecton hatever of hs havngeen rought from hs prson to that house, asapparent to them. The heard hm mutter, OneHundred and Fve, North Toer; and hen heooked aout hm, t evdent as for the strongfortressas hch had ong encompassed hm. Onther reachng the courtard he nstnctve atered hstread, as eng n expectaton of a rawrdge; andwhen there as no drardge, and he saw thecarrage atng n the open street, he dropped hs

daughters hand and casped hs head agan.No crod as aout the door; no peope ere

dscerne at an of the man ndos; not even achance passer as n the street. unnaturasence and deserton regned there. On one sou

as to e seen, and that as adame Defarge wo



RECALLE TO LIFE

leaned against the doorpost, knitting, and sawnothing.

The prisoner had got into a coach, and his daughter

had followed him, when M Lorry's feet were arrestedon the step by his asking, miserably, for hisshoemaking tools and the unnished shoes MadameDefarge immediately called to her husband that shewould get them, and went, knitting, out of the lamplight, through the courtyard She quickly broughtthem down and handed them in; and immediatelyaerwards leaned against the doorpost, knitting, andsaw nothng

Defarge got upon the box, and gave the word Tothe Barrier!' The postilion cracked his whip, and they

clattered away under the feeble overswinging lamps.

Under the overswinging lamps - swinging ever

brighter in the better streets, and ever dimmer in theworse - and by lighted shops, gay crowds, illuminatedcoeehouses, and theatredoors, to one of the citygates. Soldiers with lantes, at the guardhouse there.Your papers, travellers!' See here then, Monsieur theOcer,' said Defarge, getting down, and taking him

gravely apart, these are the papers of monsieur inside,with the white head. They were consigned to me, withhim, at the - ' He dropped his voice, there was a utter

among the militar lantes, and one of them beinghanded into the coach by an arm in uniform, the eyesconnected with the arm looked, not an everyday or an

everynight look, at monsieur with the white head. It iswell. Forward!' from the uniform Adieu!' fromDefarge. d so, under a short grove of feebler andfeebler overswinging lamps, out under the great

grove of starsBeneath that arch of unmoved and eternal lights;





p V 9 . 1 u 9 P l o D 9 1

G N O : 3 S 3 H l ) O O



CHAPT R 1

Five Years Later

Tellsons Bank y Temple Bar was an oldfashonedplace, even n the year one thousand seven hundred

and eghy It was very small, very dark, very ugly, very ncommodous. It was an oldfashoned place,moreover, n the moral attrute that the partners nthe house were proud of ts smallness, proud of ts

darkness, proud of ts uglness, proud of ts ncommo

dousness They were even oastl of ts emnence

n those partculars, and were red y an expressconvcton hat, f t were less ojectonale, t woulde less respectale. Ths was no passve elef, ut anactve weapon whch they ashed at more convenentplaces of usness Tellsons (they sad) wanted noelowroom, Tellsons wanted no lght, Tellsonswanted no emellshment. Noakes and Co.s mght,or Snooks Brothers mght ut Tellsons, thankHeaven! -

Any one of these partners would have dsnherted

hs son on the queston of reuldng Tellsons n ths

respect the house was much on a par wth thecountry whch dd very oen dsnhert ts sons forsuggestng mprovements n laws and customs thathad long een hghly ojectonale, ut were only themore respectale

Thus t had come to pass, that Tellsons was thetrumphant perfecton of nconenence. er urstng

open a door of dotc ostnacy wth a weak rattle n

8 1




its throat, you fell into Tellson's down two steps, andcame to your senses in a miserable litte shop, with twolittle counters, where the oldest of men made your

cheque shake as if the wind rusted it, whi thyexamined th signature by the dingist of windows,

which wer always under a shower-bah of mud fromFeet Street, and which were mad the dingir byhir own iron bars proper, and the heavy shadow of

Tempe Bar. If your business necessitated your seing

the house, you were put into a species of condmndhold at the back, where you meditated on a misspent

ife, unti the hous cam with its hands in its pockets,

and you coud hardly bink at it in the disma twiight.Your money came out o, or went into, wormy odwoodn drawrs, partics of which ew up your nose

an own your roat wn hy wr ond and

shut our banknots had a musty odour, as if hey

wre fast decomposing into rags again. our pat was

stowd away among he neighbouring cssoos, an

vi communications corrupted its good poish in a

day or two. our deeds got into extemporised strong

rooms mad of ktchns and sculeries, and fretted al

h fat out of heir parchments into the banknghouseair. our ighter boxes of famiy paprs went upstairs

into a Barmecide room, hat aways had a great dining

tab in it and never had a dinner, and where, vn

in te year on thousand sevn hundrd and eighy,

h rst letters written to you by your od ov, or

by your little chidren, were but newly reased fromte horror of being ogled through the windows, by te

heads exposed on Tempe Bar wih an insensatbrutaiy and ferocity worthy of Abyssinia or Ashante.

But inded, at that time, putting to deah was a

rcip much in vogue with a trades and profssons,

82



H GLDEN THREAD

an nt leat f all with elln'. Death i natre'reme fr all thing, an wh nt leglatin'?

Aringl, the frger wa pt t eath; te tterer

f a ba nte wa pt t eath; the nlawl pener fa letter wa pt t eat; he prliner f frthilling an ixpene wa pt t eat; the ler f

a hre at elln' r, wh mae wi it, wapt t eah the iner f a ba hilling wa pt teah; the ner f three-frh f the nte in

he whle gamt f rime, were pt t eath. t hatit i te leat g in the wa f preventin it mightalmt have been wrth remarking that the fat waexatl the revere bt, it leare (a t thiwrl) the trble f eah partilar ae, an lenthing ele nnete with it t be lke aer.

h, elln', in it a, like greater plae fbine, it ntemprarie, ha taken man live,that, if the hea lai lw befre it ha been range nemple Bar intea f being privatel ipe f,the wl prbabl have exle what little lightthe grn r ha, in a rather igniant manner.

Crampe in all kn f im pbar anhte at elln', the let f men arrie n thebine gravel. hen te tk a ng man int

elln' nn he, e hi im meeretill e wa l. he kept him in a ark plae, like a

heee, ntil he ha the ll elln avr an leml pn him. hen nl wa e permitte t

be een, petalarl prng ver large bk, an

ating hi breehe an gaiter int e generalweight f te etablihment.

Otie elln' never b an mean in it, nlealle in wa an jbman, an ainal prter

an menger, wh erve a the live ign f e

83



A AL F W C

he. He a never abent ring bine hr,

nle pn an erran, an then he a repreenteb hi n a gril rchin f telve, h a hi

expre image. Peple nert that elln', in atatel wa, tlerate the jbman. he heha lwa tlerate me pern in that capaci, antime an tie ha rie thi pern t the pt. Hiame a Crncher, an n the thl ccainf hi renncing b prx the rk f arkne, in

the eaterl parh chrch f Hnitch, he hareceive the ae appellatin fJerr.

he cene a Mr Crncher' private lging inHa nging Sr Alle, Whiteiar: the time, half-pateven f the clck n a in March ming,Ann Dmini eventeen hnre an eight. Mr

Crncher himelf alwa pke f the ear f rr a Anna Dmine: apparentl ner theimprein that the Chritian era ate frm theinventin f a pplar game, b a la h habete her name pn it.)

Mr Crncher' aparment were nt in a avr

neighbrh, an ere bt tw in nmber, even if aclet ith a ingle pane f gla in it might be cntea ne. Bt the ere ver ecentl kept. Earl a ita, n the in March ming, the rm in whichhe la abe a alrea crbbe thrght; an

between the cp an acer arrange fr breakfat,an the lmbering eal table, a ver clean hite cltha prea.

Mr Crncher repe ner a patchrk cnterpane, like a Harleqin at hme. At rt, he leptheavil, bt, b egree, began t rll an rge inbe, ntil he re abve the rface, ith hi pik hairlking a if it t tear the heet t ribbn. At

84



HE GLDEN HREAD

whih ntre, he exlaime, in a vie f ireexasperatin Bst me, if she ain't at it again!'

A wman f rerl an instris appearane

rse frm her knees in a er, with sient hastean trepiatin t shw tat she was the persn

referre t

What!' sai Mr Crnher, lking t f be fr abt. Y're at it a gin, are ?'

Aer hailing the m wit this sen saltatin,

he threw a bt at the wman as a thir It was a verm bt, an ma intre the irmstanennete with Mr Crnher's omesti enm,that, whereas he en ame hme aer banking hrswith lean bts, he en gt p next ming t nthe same bts vere with la

What,' sai Mr Crnher, varing his apstrpheaer missing his mark what are p t, Aggerawater?'

I was nl saing m praers'Saing r praers! Y're a nie wman! Wat

mean b pping rself wn an praing

agin me?'I was nt praing against I was praing fr '

Y weren't An if were, I wn't be tk the

libert wit. Here! Yr mther's a nie wman,ng Jer, ging a praing agin r fater's

prsperit Y've gt a til mther, have,m sn Y've gt a religis mter, have, mb: ging an pping herself wn, an praing

that the breaanbtter ma be snathe t fthe mth f her nl hil '

Master Crnher (wh was in his shirt) tk tisver ill, an, ting t his mter, strngl epreate

an praig awa f his persnal boar



A AL F W C

A what ppe neite female'

ai Mr Crnher with nni innitenthat the wrth fur praer ma be? ame the prie

that pturpraer at!'he nl me m the heart Jerr he are

wrth n mre than that'rth n mre than that' repeate Mr Cnher

he ain't rth mh then hether r n I wn'tbe prae agin I tell I an't ar it I'm nt a

ging t be mae nlk b r neaking If mt g ping relf wn p in favr f rhban an hil an nt in ppitin t 'em If Iha ha an bt a nnat'ral wife an thi pr bha ha an bt a nnat'ral mther I might havemae me mne lat week intea f being nter

prae an ntermine an religil irmwente int the wrt flk Bu-uust me! ' ai MrCrnher wh all thi time ha been ptting n hilthe if I ain't what with piet an ne blething an anther been he thi lat week int aba lk a ever a pr evil f a hnet traeman met

wih! Yng Jerr re relf m b an while Ilean m bt keep a ee pn r mther n anthen an if ee an ign f mre pping give mea all r I tell ' here he aree hi wife nemre I wn't be gne agin in thi manner I am ariket a a hakne-ah I 'm a leep a laanm

m line i traine t that egree that I hln'tknw if it wan't fr the pain in 'em whih wa me

an whih meb ele et I'm nne the better fr itin pket an it' m piin that 've been at it

m ming t night t prevent me frm being thebetter fr it in pket an I wn't pt p with itAggerawater an what a nw! '

86



HE GLDEN HREAD

Grwling, in aitin, sh phrases as Ah! es!

Y're religis, t. Y wl't pt rself inppsitin t the interests f r hsban an hil,

wl ? t ! ' an thrwin ter sarastisparks frm the whirling grinstne f his inignatin,Mr Crnher betk himself t his bt -leaning an

his general preparatin fr bsiness . In the meantime,

his sn, whse hea was gaishe wit tenererspikes, an whse ng ees st lse b ne

anther, as his fathers i, kept the reqire wathpn his mther. He reatl istrbe that prwman at intervals, b arting t f his sleepinglset, where he mae his tilet, with a sppresse r

f Y are ging t p, mther Halla, father! 'an, aer raising this titis ala, arting in again

with an ntil grinMr Crnher's temper was nt at all imprve

when he ame t his breakfast He resente MrsCrnher's saing grae with partilar animsit

w, Aggerawater! \hat are p t? At itagin?'

His wife explaine that she ha merel aske ablessing.'Dn't it! ' sai Mr Crnher, lking abt, a s if

he rather expete t see the laf isappear ner the

ea f his wife's petitins I ain't a ging t beblest t f hse an hme. I wn't have m wiles

blest m table eep still ! 'Exeeingl re-ee an grim, a s i f he h a beenp all night at a part whih ha taken aning bt anvivial t, Jer Crnher wrrie his breakfast

rather than ate it, grwling ver it like an frfte inate f a menagerie wars nine 'lkhe smthe his re aspet, an, presenting as

87



A TALE F TW CTE

repel a ielike a exterir a he lverla hi atral elf wih, ie frh t he

pati f he a

I l arel e alle a trae, i pie f hifavrie eripi f himelf a a he rae

ma.' Hi tk ite f a we l, mae f a rke-ake hair w, whih l,g Jerr, walkig a hi father' ie, arrie ever

mig beeah he akig-he wiw ha

wa eare emple Bar: where, wih he aii fhe r hal f raw that l e gleae frma paig vehile keep he l a wet frm the-jb-man' fee, it frme he eampme frthe a O thi p f hi, Mr Crher wa a wellkw t leet Sreet a he emple, a the Bar

ielf a a almt a illlkig.Eampe at a qarter befre nine, i g time t

th hi threeere hat t the let f men ahe p ae in t ell', Jerr tk p hi tatin nthi wi Marh ming, with g Jer taningb him, when nt egage i makig fra thrgh

he Bar, t init bil an meal ijrie f aate eriptin paing b wh were mallegh fr hi amiable prpe. aher an ,extremel like eah her, lkig ilel at hemig ra i leet Street, wih their w hea aear t e anther a he tw ee f eah were, bre

a ierable reemlae t a pair f mke. hereemblae wa nt leee b he aieal irmae, that he mare Jerr it an pa ttraw, while the wiklig ee f the hl Jerr

were a relel wahl f him a f everhig elei lee Street

he hea f e f the reglar inr meenger

88





A TALE F TW CTE

A I t wait in the rt, sir?' he aske, as the

reslt f that nferene.I am ging t tell . he rkeeper will pass the

nte t Mr r, an make an gestre thatwill attrat Mr r's attentin, an shw him where

stan. hen what have t , is, t remainthere ntil he wants .'

Is that all, sir?'hat's all. He wishes t have a messenger at han.

his is t tell him are there. 'As the anient lerk eliberatel fle an sper

sribe the nte, Mr Crnher, aer seing him insilene ntil he ame t the blttingpaper stage,remarke I sppse the'll be ting frgeries thisming?'

reasn!'hat's qartering,' sai Jerr Barbars!'It is the law,' remarke the anient lerk, ting

his srprise spetales pn him. It is the law.'It' s har i n the la w t spile a man, I think. It 's har

engh t kill him, bt it's we har t spile him, sir . '

t at all,' rete the anient lerk. Speak wellf the law. ake are f r hest an vie, m g

ien, an leave the law t take are f itself. I give that avie.'

It's the amp, sir, what settles n m hest anvie,' sai Jer. I leave t jge what a ampa f eaing a living mine is . '

ell, well,' sai the l lerk we all have rvaris was f gaining a livelih. Sme f s have

amp was, an sme f s have r was. Here is theletter. G alng.'

Jer tk the letter, an, remarking t himself with

less inteal eferene than he mae an twar shw

9 0



HE GLDEN HREAD

f, Y are a lean l ne, t,' mae hi bw,

infrme hi n, in paing, f hi etinatin, an

went hi wa

he hange at b, in the a, the treettie ewgate ha nt btaine ne infamntriet that ha ine attahe t it Bt, the galwa a vile plae, in whih mt kin f ebahean villain were pratie, an where ire ieae

were bre, that ame int rt with the priner,

an metime rhe traight frm the k at mr Chief Jtie himelf, an plle him thebenh It ha mre than ne happene, that thejge in the blak ap prnne hi wn m aertainl a the priner', an even ie befre himr e ret, the Ol Baile wa fam a a kin f

eal inn-ar, m whih pale traveller et tntinall, in art an ahe, n a vilent paageint the ther wrl: travering me tw mile an ahalf f pbli treet an ra, an haming few gitizen, if an S pwerl i e, an eirable tbe g e in the beginning It wa fam, t, frthe pillr, a wie l intittin, that inite a

pnihment f whih n ne l freee the extent;al, fr the whippingpt, anther ear l intittin, ver hmaniing an ening t behl inatin; al, fr extenive tranatin in bl

mne, anther agment f anetral wim,tematiall leaing t the mt frightl merena

rime that l be mmitte ner heaven

Altgether, the Ol Baile, at that ate, wa a hie

illtratin f the preept, that atever i i right;'an aphrim that wl be a al a it i la, i

it nt inle the trbleme neqene, thatnthing that ever wa, wa wrng

9 1



A TAL F TW CT

Making his wa thrgh the tainte rw isperse

p an wn this hies sene f atin with theskill f a man astme t make his wa qietl the

messenger fn t the r he sght an hanein his letter thrgh a trap in it r peple then pait see the pla at the Ol Baile jst as the pai t seethe pla in Belam nl the frmer entertainment

was mh the earer herefre all the Ol Baile

rs were well gare exept inee the sial

rs b whih the riminals gt there an thse werealwas le wie pen

er sme ela an emr the r grginglte n its hinges a ver little wa an allwe MrJerr Crnher t sqeeze himself int rt

at's n?' he aske in a whisper f the man he

fn himself next tthing et 'hat' s ming n?'he treasn ase'he qartering ne eh?'!' rete the man with a relish; he'll be

rawn n a hrle t be hal fhange an then he' ll betaken wn an slie befre his wn fae an thenhis insie will be taken t an bt while he lksn an then his hea will be hppe an he'll bet int qarters hat's the sentene'

f he's fn gil mean t sa?' Jerr ae

b wa f prvis Oh! the'll n him gilt' sai the ther Dn't

be afrai f that'Mr Crnher's attentin was here iverte t the

rkeeper hm he saw making his wa t Mrrr with te nte in his han Mr rr sat at atable amng the gentlemen in wigs: nt far m a

92



HE GLDEN HREAD

wigge gentleman, the priner' nel, wh haa great bnle f paper befre him an nearlppite anther wigge gentleman with hi han in

hi pket, whe whle attentin, when rCrnher lke at him then r aerwar, eeme tbe nentrate n the eiling f the rt. er megr ghing an rbbing f hi hin an igningwith hi han, Jerr attrate the ntie f r rr,

wh ha t p t lk fr him, an wh qietl

ne an at wn again.hat' gt t with the ae?' ake the man

he ha pken with.Blet if knw,' ai Jerr.hat have u gt t with it, then, if a pern

ma enqire?'

Blet if knw that either,' ai Jerr.he entrane f the jge, an a neqent greattir an ettling wn in the rt, tppe theialge. Preentl, the k beame the entral pintf interet. w galer, wh ha been taning there,went t, an the priner wa brght in, an pt tthe bar.

Everb preent, exept the ne wigge gentleman wh lke at the eiling, tare at him. All thehman breath in the plae, rlle at him, like a ea, r

a win, r a re. Eager fae traine rn pillar an

er, t get a ight f him; petatr in bak rwt p, nt t mi a hair f him peple n the rf the rt, lai their han n the hler f the

peple befre them, t help themelve, at anb't, t a view f him t atipte, gt pnlege, t pn next t nthing, t ee eve inh

f him. Cnpi amng thee latter, like ananimate bit f the pike wall f ewgate, Jerr

93



A TALE F TW CTE

stood: aiming at the prisoner the beery breath of a

whet he had taken as he came along and dischargingit to mingle with the aves of other beer and gin and

tea and coee and what not that owed at him andalready broke upon the great windows behind him inan impure mist and rain

The object of all this staring and blaring was ayoung man of about ve-andtwenty wellgrown and

well-looking ith a sunbut cheek and a dark eye

is condition was that of a young gentleman e wasplainly dressed in black or very dark grey and his

hair which was long and dark was gathered in aribbon at the back of his neck more to be out of hisway than for oament As an emotion of the mindwill express itself through any covering of the body so

te paleness which his situation engenered camethrough the brown upon his cheek showing the soulto be stronger than the sun He as otherise quiteself-possessed bowed to the judge and stood quiet

The sort of interest ith which this man was staredand breathed at was not a sort that elevated humanityad he stood in peril of a less horrible sentence hadtere been a chance of any one of its savage detailsbeing spare by just so much ould he have lost inhis fascination The form that as to be doomed to be

so shamelly mangled as the sight; the immortalcreature that was to be so butchered an to asunderyielded the sensation atever gloss the various

spectators put upon the interest according to theirseveral arts and powers of self-deceit the interest was

at the root of it ogreishSilence in the cou! Charles Daay had yesterday

pleaded not guilty to an indictment denouncing him

(wit innite jingle and jangle) for that he was a false

94



HE GLDEN HREAD

traitor to or serene, illustrious, excellent, and soforth, prince, our Lord the ng, by reason of hishaving, on dvers occasions, and by dvers means and

ays, assisted Leis, the French ng, in his arsagainst our said serene, illustrios, excellent, and soforth; that as to say, by coming and going, beteenthe dominons of our said serene, illstrious, excellent,and so forth, and those of the sad French Leis, andickedly, falsely, traitorously, and otherise evil

adverbiously, revealing to the said French Leis hatforces or said serene illstrios, excellent, and so

forth, ha d in preparation to send to Canada and NorthAmerica. This mch, Jerry, th his head becomingmore and more spiky as the la tes bristled it, madeout ith huge satisfaction, and so arrved circitouslyat the understanding that the aforesaid, and over andover agan aforesaid, Charles Daay, stood therebefore him pon hs trial; that the ry ere searingin; and that AttoeyGeneral as making ready tospeak

The accused, ho was (and ho kne he was)being mentally hanged, beheaded, and quartered, byeverybody there, neither inched om the situation,

nor assumed any theatrical air in it. He as qiet andattentive; atched the opening proceedings ith a

grave interest; and stood ith his hands resting on theslab of ood before hm, so composedly, that they hadnot displaced a leaf of the herbs ith hch it was

stren. The court as all bestren ith herbs andsprinkled ith vinegar, as a precaution aganst gaol ar

and gaol fever.

Over the prisoner's head there as a mirror, tothro the light don upon him. Crods of the wickedand the retched had been reected in it, and had

95



A TAL F TW CT

passed from its surface and this earth's together.

aunted in a most ghastly manner that abominableplace woul have been if the glass could ever have

rendered back its reections as the ocean is one day togive up its ead Some passing thought of the infamyand disgrace for which it had been reserved may havestuck the prisoner's mind. Be that as it may a change

in his position making him conscious of a bar of lightacross his face he looked up; an when he saw the

glass his face ushed and his right hand pushed theherbs away.

t happene that the action tue his face to thatsie of the court which was on his le. About on a levelwith his eyes there sat in that coer of the udge'sb ench two ersons u po n whom hi s lo ok immediately

rested; so immediately and so much to the changingof his aspect that all the eyes that were tued uponhim tue to them.

The spectators saw in the two gures a young layof little more than twenty and a gentleman who wasevidently her father; a man of a very remarkableappearance in respect of the absolute whiteness of hishair an a certain indescribable intensity of fac e: notof an active kind but pondering an self-communing.

hen this expression was upon him he looked as ifhe were old; but when it was stirred and broken up asit was now in a moment on his speaking to hisdaughter he became a handsome man not past the

prime of life.is daughter had one of her hands drawn through

his a as she sat by him and the other pressed uponit She had rawn close to him in her dread of thescene an in her pi for the prisoner. er foreheadhad been strikingly expressive of an engrossing terror



H GLDN HRAD

an compassion that sa nothing but the peril of theaccuse This ha been so very noticeable so verypoerlly an naturally shon that starers ho ha

ha no pity for him ere toche by her; an thehisper ent about Who are they?'

Jerry the messenger ho ha mae his on obseations in his on manner an ho ha been sucking

the rust o his ngers in his absorption stretche his

neck to hear ho they ere The cro about him ha

presse an passe the enquiry on to the nearestattenant an om him it ha been more slolypresse an passe back at last it got to JerryWitnesses'

For hich sie?'Against'

Against what sie?'The prisoner's'The juge hose eyes ha gone in the general

irection recalle them leane back in his seat anlooke steaily at the man hose life as in his han

as Mr Attorney-General rose to spin the rope grinthe axe an hammer the nails into the scaol

CHAPR 3

A Disappointmet

Mr AttoeyGeneral ha to inform the jury that

the prisoner before them though young in years wasol in the treasonable practices hich claime the

forfeit of his life That this corresponence with thepublic enemy as not a corresponence of toay or ofyesteray or even of last year or of the year before

97



A ALE F W CE

That it was certain te prisoner ad for longer tan

tat been in te abit of passing and repassingbetween France and England on secret business of

whic e could give no onest account. Tat if itwere in the nature of traitorous ways to thrive (wic

happily it never was) te real wickedness and guilt ofis business might ave remained undiscovered. TatProvidence owever ad put it into te eart of aperson wo was beyond fear and beyond reproac to

ferret out te nature of te prisoner's scemes andstruck wit orror to disclose tem to is Majesty'sCief Secretary of State and most onourable PriConcil That this patriot wold be producedbefore them Tat his position and attitde were onthe whole sublime . at e had be en te prisoner's

ien but at once in an auspicios and an evil houretecting is infamy ad resolve to immolate tetraitor he coud no longer cheris in his bosom onthe sacred altar of his country Tat if statues weredecreed in Britain as in ancient Greece and Rometo public benefactors this shining citizen woldassuredly ave ad one. Tat as tey were not sodecreed e probably would not ave one Tatvirtue as ad been obsered by the poets (in many

passages wic he well knew te jury wold aveword for word at te tips of teir tongues wereat tejury's contenances displayed a guilty consciousnesstat they knew noting about te passages) was in a

manner contagious; more especially te brigt virtueknown as patriotism or love of country. Tat teloy example of tis immaculate and unimpeacablewiess for te Crown to refer to wom oweverunworthily as an onour ad communicated itselfto te prisoner's serant and ad engendered in im a



HE GLDEN HREAD

holy determination to examine his master's tabledrawers and pockets, and secrete his papers That, he(Mr AttoeyGeneral) was prepared to hear some

disparagement attempted of this admirable seant;but that, in a general way, he preferred him to his(Mr AttoeyGeneral's) brothers and sisters, andhonoured him more than his (Mr AttorneyGeneral ' s)father and mother That, he called with condence on

the jur to come and do likewise That, the evidence of

these two witnesses, coupled with the documents oftheir discovering that would be produced, would

show the prisoner to have been ished with lists ofhis Majestys forces, and of their disposition andpreparation, both by sea and land, and would le ave nodoubt that he had habitually conveyed such inform

ation to a hostile power That, these lists could not beproved to be in the prisoner's handwriting; but that itwas all the same; that, indeed, it was rather the betterfor the prosecution, as showing the prisoner to beartl in his precautions That, the proof would goback ve years, and would show the prisoner alreadyengaged in these peicious missions within a fewweeks before the date of the ver rst action foughtbetween the British troops and the Americans That,for these reasons, the jury, being a loyal jury (as he

knew they were), and being a responsible juy (as tyknew they were), must positively nd the prisoner

Guilty, and make an end of him, whether they liked it

or not That, they never could lay their heads upontheir pillows; that, they never could tolerate the idea oftheir wives laying their heads upon their pillows; tat,

they never could endure the notion of their childrenlaying their heads upon their pillows in short, that

there never more could be, for them or theirs, any

9 9



A TALE F TW CTE

laying of heads upon pillos at all, unless the prisoner'shead as taen o That head Mr AttorneyGeneralconcluded y demanding of them, in the name of

everhing he coul thin of ith a round tu in it, andon the faith of his solemn asseveration that he already

considered the prisoner as good as dead and gonehen the AttoeyGeneral cease, a uzz arose in

the court as if a clou of great lueies ere sarmingabout the prisoner, in anticipation of hat he as

soon to become hen tone on again, the unimpeachale patriot appeare in the itnessbox

Mr SolicitorGeneral then, folloing his leader'slead, examined the patriot John Barsad, gentleman,by name The story of his pure soul as exactly hatMr AttoeyGeneral ha descried it to e perhaps,

if it ha a fault, a little too exactly Having release hisnoble oso of its burden, he ould have moestlyithran himself, ut that the igged gentlemanith the papers efore him, sitting not far om MrLor, egged to ask him a fe questions The iggedgentleman sitting opposite, still looking at the ceilingof the court

Ha he ever been a spy himsel No, he scoethe base insinuation hat id he live upon? Hisproperty here as his property? He in't preciselyremember here it as hat as it? No business of

anyboy's Ha he inherite it? Yes, he ha romhom? Distant relation Very istant? Rather Ever

been in prison? Certainly not Never in a ebtors'prison? Din't see hat that ha to o ith it Neverin a etors' prison? Come, once again Never? Yeso many ties? To or three times Not ve or six?Perhaps Of hat profession? Gentlean Ever beenkicke? Might have been requently? No Ever

1 0 0





A TALE F TW CTE

Calais and similar lists to French gentlemen both at

Calais and Boulogne e loved his country andcoldn't bear it and had given information e had

never been suspected of stealing a silver teapot head been maligned respecting a mustardpot but itted out to be only a plated one e had known thelast witness seven or eight years that was merely acoincidence e didn't call it a particularly curioscoincidence most coincidences were curious Neither

di he call it a curious coincidence that true patriotismwas is only motive too He was a tue Briton andhoped there were many like im

Te blue-ies buzzed again and Mr Attoey-General called Javis Lory

' Javis Lorry are you a clerk in Tellson's bank?'

am'On a certain Friday nigt in November onetousand seven undred and seventyve didbusiness occasion you to travel between Londonand Dover by the mail?'

t did'

ere tere any oter passengers in te mail?'Two'id they alight on the road in the course of the

nigt?'

They did'Mr Lorry look upon the prisoner Was e one of

those two passengers?' cannot undertake to say that he was 'oes he resemble either of these two passengers?'

Both were so wrapped up and the night was sodark and e were all so reserved that cannotundertake to say even that'

Lorry look again upon the prsoner Supposing

I02



GLDN HRAD

him wrapped up as those two passengers were, is thereanything in his bulk and stature to render it unlikelythat he was one o them?'

No'You will not swear, Mr Lory, that he was not one

o them?'No. 'So a t least you say h e may have been one o them?'

Yes Except that remember tem both to have

been like mysel timorous o highwaymen, andthe prisoner has not a timorous air.'

Did you ever see a countereit o timidity, Mr Lor?' certainly have seen that'Mr Lor, look once more upon the prisoner ave

you seen him, to your certain knowledge, beore?'

have 'When?' was retuing om France a ew days aerwards,

and, at Calais, the prisoner came on board thepacketship in which retued, and made he voyagewith me'

At what our did he come on board?'At a little aer midnight'n the dead o the night Was he the only passenger

who came on board at that untimely hour?'

e happened to be the only one'Never mind about "happening, Mr Lory e was

the only passenger who came on board in the dead o

the night?'e was.'Were you travelling alone, Mr Lorry, or with any

companion?With two companions A gentlean and lady. They

are here'

I 03



A TALE F TW CTE

They are here ad you any conversation with the

prisoner?'ardly any The weather was stormy and the

passage long and rough and I lay on a sofa almostom shore to shore'

Miss Manette! '

The young lady to whom all eyes had been tuedbefore and were now ted again stood up whereshe had sat er father rose with her and kept her

hand drawn through his armMiss Manette look upon the prisoner'To be confronted with such pity and such eaest

youth and beauty was far more trying to the accusedthan to be confronted with all the crowd Standing asit were apart with her on the edge of his grave not all

the staring curiosity that looked on could for themoment nerve him to remain quite still is hurriedright hand parcelled out the herbs before him intoimaginary beds of owers in a garden and his eortsto control and steady his breathing shook the lips fromwhich the colour rushed to his heart The buzz of thegreat ies was loud again

Miss Manette have you seen the prisoner before?'Yes sir'here?'

On board of the packet-ship just now referred tosir and on the same occasion'

You are the young lady just now referred to?'

Oh! Most unhappily I am!'The plaintive tone o f her compassion merged into

the less musical voice of the judge as he said something ercely Answer the questions put to you andmake n o remark upon them '

Miss Manette had you any conversation with the

1 04



TH GLDN THRAD

prisoner on tat passage across te Cannel?'Yes sir'Recall it '

n te st of a profoun stillness se faintlybegan: Wen te gentlean cae on boar '

Do you ean te prisoner?' enquire te jugeitting is brows

Yes my Lor'

en say te prisoner '

Wen te prisoner cae on boar e notice taty fater ' tuing er eyes lovingly to i as e stoo

besie er was muc fatigue an in a ve weakstate of ealt My fater was so reuce tat wasaai to take out of te ar a n a ae a be for im on te e ck nea r te cabin steps an sat o n

te eck at is si e to take care of im ere we re n ooter passengers tat nigt bu t we four e prisonerwas so goo as to beg perission to avise e ow coul selter y fater from te win an weater

better tan a one a not known ow to o itwell not unerstaning ow te win woul set

wen we were out of te arbour He i it for eHe expresse great gentleness an kinness for y

fater's state an a sure e felt it at was temanner of our beginning to speak togeter'

Let e interrupt you for a oment a e coe

on boar alone?'

o 'How any were wit i?'

wo Frenc gentlemen'

Ha tey conferre togeter?'ey a conferre togeter until te last oent

wen it was necessa for te Frenc gentleen to b e

lane in teir boat '

lO



A TALE F TW CTE

ad any papers been handed about among them

similar to these lists?' S ome papers had been handed about among them

but do't now what papers'ike these in shape and size?'Possibly but indeed don't know although they

stood whispering very near to me because they stoodat the top of the cabin steps to have the light of the

lamp that was hanging there; it was a dull lamp andthey spoke very low and did not hear what they saidand saw only that they looked at ppers'

Now to te prisoner's conversation iss anette 'The prisoner was as open in his condence with

me which arose out of my helpless situation as hewas kind and good and usel to my father hope'

bursting into tears may not repay him by doing himharm today'

Buzzing from the blue-iesMiss Manette if the prisoner does not perfectly

understand that you give the evidence which it is yourdu to give which you must give and which you

cannot escape from giving with great unwillingnesshe is the only person present in that condition Please

to go on'e told me that he was travelling on business of a

delicate and dicult nature which might get people

into trouble and that he was therefore travelling

under an assumed name He said that this businesshad within a few days taken him to France andmight at intervals take him backwards and forwardsbetween France and England for a long time to come'

Di he say anything about America MissManette? Be particular'

e tried to explain to me how that quarrel had

ro6



H GLDN HRAD

arisen, and e said tat, so far as e could udge, it wasa wrong and foolis one on England's p art. e added,in a esting way, tat peraps George asington

migt gain amost as great a name in istory as Georgete Tird. But tere was no arm in is way of sayingtis: it was said laugingly, and to beguile te time.'

y strongly marked expression of face on te partof a cief actor in a scene of great interest to wom

many eyes are directed, will be unconsciously imitated

by te spectators . er foreead was painly anxiousand intent as se gave tis evidence, and, in te pauseswen se stopped for te udge to write it down,watced its eect upon te counsel for and against.

Among t e ookerson tere wa s te same expressionin all quaers of te court; insomuc, tat a great

maority of te foreeads tere, migt ave beenmirrors reecting te witness, wen te udge lookedup om is notes to glare at tat tremendous eresyabout George asington.

Mr Attoey-General now signied to my Lord,tat e deemed it necessary, as a matter of precaution

and form, to cal te young lady's fater, Dr Manette .o was called accordingy.Dr Manette, look upon te prisoner. ave you ever

seen im before?'Once. en e caled at my lodgings in London.

Some tree years, or tree years and a alf ago.'Can you identi im as your feowpassenger on

board te packet, or speak to is conversation wit

your daugter?'

Sir, can do neiter.'s tere any particular and special reason for your

being unable to do eiter?'

e answered, in a low voice, Tere is . '

1 07



A TALE F TW CTE

as it been your misfortune to undergo a long

imprisonment without trial or even accusation inyour native country Dr Manette?'

e answered in a tone that went to every heat Alon g imprisonment. '

ere you newly relased on the occasion inquestion?'

They tell me so.'

ave you no remembrance of the occasion?'

None. My mind is a blank om some time - cannot even say what time when I employed myselfin my captivity in making shoes to the time when found myself living in London with my dear daughterhere She had become familiar to me when a graciousGod restored my faculties but am quite unable even

to say how she had become familiar. I have noremembrance of the process . '

M r Attoey-General sat down and the father anddaughter sat down together.

A sinular circumstance then arose in the case. Theobect in hand being to show that the prisoner went

down with some fellowplotter untracked in theDover mail on that Friday night in November veyears ago and got out of the mail in the night as ablind at a place where he did not remain but omwhich he travelled back some dozen miles or more toa garrison and dockyad and there collected information a witness was called to identi him as havingbeen at the precise time required in the coeeroomof an hotel in that garrison-and-dockyard townwaiting for another person. The prisoner's counselwas cross-examining this witness with no resultexcept that he had never seen the prisoner on anyother occasion when the wigged gentleman who had

108





A TALE F TW CTE

of rust o his ngers in his following of he evidene

e had now to attend while Stryver tted theprisoner's ase on the jury like a ompat suit of

lothes showing them how e patriot Barsad was ahired spy and traitor an unblushing traker in

bl ood and one of the greatest soundrels upo earth

sine aursed Judas whih he ertainly did lookrather like How the virtuous servant Cly was hisfriend and partner and was worthy to be how the

wathl eyes of those forgers and false swearers hadrested on the prisoner as a vitim beause some

family aairs in Frane he being of Frenh extrationdid require his making those passages aross theChannel though what those aairs were a onsideration for others who were near and dear to him

forbad him even for his life to dislose How theevidene that had been warped and wrested from theyoung lady whose anguish in giving it they hadwitnessed ame to nohing involving the mere littleinnoent gallantries and politenesses likely to passbetween any young gentleman and young lady so

thrown together with th e exeption of that refereneto George Washington whih was altogether tooextravagant and impossible to be regarded in any

other light than as a monstrous joke. ow it would bea weakness in the govement to break down in this

attempt to pratise for popularity on the lowestnational antipathies and fears and therefore MrAttoey-General had made the most of it howneveeless it rested upon nothing save that vile andinfamous harater of evidene too oen disguringsuh ases and of whih the state trials of this ountywere ll. But there my Lord interposed (with asgrave a fae as if it had not been true) saying that

I I O



S S J U J ¥ H



A TALE F TW CITIE

he ould not sit upon that benh and suer those

allusionsMr Stryver then alled his few witnesses and Mr

Crunher had next to attend while AttoeyGeneral tued the whole suit of lothes Mr Stryver

had tted on the jury inside out; showing how Barsadand Cly were even a hundred times b etter than he had

thought them and the prisoner a hundred timesworse astly ame my ord himself tuing the suit

of lothes now inside out now outside in but on thewhole deidedly trimming and shaping them intogravelothes for the prisoner

And now the jury tued to onsider and the greaties swarmed again

Mr Carton who had so long sat looking at the eiling

of the ourt hanged neither his plae nor his attitudeeven in this exitement hile his leaed iend MrStryver massin his papers before him wispere witthose who sat near and om time to time glanedanxiously at the jury; ile all the spetators movedmore or less and grouped themselves anew; whileeven my ord himself arose from his seat and slowlypaed up and down his platform not unattended by asuspiion in te minds of the audiene that his statewas feverish; this one man sat leaning bak with histo gown half o him his untidy wig put on just as it

had happened to light on his head aer its removal hishands in his pokets and his eyes on the eiling as they

had been all day Something espeially rekless in hisdemeanour not only gave him a disreputable look butso diminished the strong resemblane he undoubtedlybore to the prisoner (hih his momentary eaestnesswen they ere ompared togeter ad strengthened)that many of the lookers-on taking note of him now

I I 2



H GLDN RAD

said to one another they ould hardly have thought the

to ere so alike. Mr Cruncher made the observationto his next neighbour and added 'd hold half a

guinea that he don't get no la-ork to do Don't looklike the sort of one to get any do he?'

Yet this Mr Carton took in more of the details ofthe scene than he appeared to take in; for now whenMiss Manette's head dropped upon her father'sbreast he as the rst to see it and to say audibly:

Ocer! look to that young lady. Help the gentlemanto take her out Don't you see she ill fall!'

There as much commiseration for her as she wasremoved and much sympathy ith her father. t hadevidently been a great distress to him to have the daysof his imprisonment recalled He had shown strong

inteal agitation when he as questioned and thatpondering or brooding look which made him old hadbeen upon him like a heavy cloud ever since As hepassed out the jury who had tued back and pauseda moment spoke through their foreman.

They ere not agreed and ished to retire. My

Lord (perhaps ith George Washington on his mind)shoed some surprise that they ere not agreed butsignied his pleasure that they should retire under

atch and ard and retired himself The trial hadlasted all day and the lamps in the court were now

being lighted. t began to be rumoured that the juryould be out a long while. The spectators dropped oto get reeshment and the prisoner withdrew to theback of the dock and sat don.

Lor ho had gone out hen the younglady and her father went out no reappeared andbeckoned to Jerry: who in the slackened interestcould easily get near him.

I I3



A TALE F TW CE

Jer, if you wish to take something to eat, you an

But, keep in the way You will be sure to hear wethe jury ome in Dont be a moment behind them, fo

want you to take the verdit ba to the bank Yoare the quikest messenger know, and will get t

Temple Bar long before anJery had just enough forehead to knukle, and he

knukled it in aknowledgment of this ommuniationand a shillin Caon ame up at the moment, and

touhed Mr Lorry on the armow is the young lady?

She is greatly distressed; but her father is omfortingher, and she feels the better for being out of ourt

ll tell the prisoner so t wont do for a respetablebank gentleman like you, to be seen speaking to him

publily, you knowMr orry reddened as if he were onsious of

having debated the point in his mind, and Mr Catonmade his way to the outside of the bar The way out ofou lay in that diretion, and Jery followed him, all

eyes, ears, and spikes

Mr Daay!The p risoner ame foward diretlyYou will naturally be anxious to hear of the wiess,

Miss Manette She will do very well You have seen

the worst of her agitation am deeply soy to have been the ause of it

ould you tell her so for me, with my fervent

anowledgments?

Yes, ould will, if you ask itMr Cartons manner was so areless as to be almost

insolent e stood, half tued om the prisoner,lounging with his elbow against the bar

do ask it Aept my ordial thanks

4



E GLDE HREAD

�at' said Carton still only half turned towards

him do you expect Mr Daay?'The worst.'

t's the wisest thing to expect and the likeliest. But think their withdrawing is in your favour. '

Loitering on the way out of court not being allowedJerry heard no more: but le them so like each other

in feature so unlike each other in manner standingside by side both reected in the glass above them.

hour and a half limped heavily away in the thiefand-rascal crowded passages below even thoughassisted o with mutton pies and ale. The hoarsemessenger uncomfortably seated on a fo aer takingthat refection had dropped into a doze when a loudmuur and a rapid tide of people setting up the stairs

that led to the court carried him along with them.Jerry! Jerry!' Mr Lorry was already calling at the

door when he got thereere sir! t's a ght to get back again. ere am

sir!'Mr Lor handed him a paper through the throng.

Quick! ave you got it?'Yes sir!'astily written on the paper was the word

'CQUTTED .f you had sent the message "Recalled to Life

again' muttered Jerry as he tued should haveknown what you meant this time.'

e had n o oppounity o f saying o r s o much as

thinking anything else until he was clear of the OldBailey for the crowd came pouring out with a

vehemence that nearly took him o his legs and aloud buzz swept into the street as if te baedblueies were dispersing in search of other carrion.

I I5



A ALE F CE

CHAPER 4

ongrtulato

rom the dimly-lighted passages of the court the lastsediment of the human stew that had been boilingthere all day was straining o when Dr Manette

Lucie Manette his daughter Mr Lorry the solicitorfor e defence and its counsel Mr Stryver stoodgathered round Mr Charles Daay just released congratulating him on his escape om death

t would have been dicult by a far brighter lightto recognise in Dr Manette intellectual of face and

uprit of bearing the shoemaker of the garret inParis. Yet no one could have looked at him twicewithout looking again: even though the oppotunityof observation had not extended to the moulcadence of his low grave voice and to the abstractionthat overclouded him tlly without any apparent

reason ile one exteal cause and that a referenceto his long lingering agony would always as on thetrial evoke this condition om the depths of his soulit was also in its nature to arise of itself and to draw agloom over him as incomprehensible to thoseunacquainted with his story as if they had seen theshadow of the actual Bastille thrown upon him by a

summer sun when the substance was three hundredmiles away

Only his daughter had the power of charming thisblack brooding from his mind. She was the goldenthread that united him to a Past beyond his miseryand to a Present beyond his misey: and the sound of

I I 6



O I 1 V Z n V A f u o a



A TALE F TW CTE

er voice te ligt of er face te touc of er and

ad a strong benecial inuence it im almostalays Not absolutely alays for se could recall

some occasions on ic er poer ad failed; buttey ere fe and sligt and se elieved tem over

Daay ad kissed er and fervently andgratelly and ad tued to Mr Stryver om e

warmly tanked Stryver a man of little moretan tirty but looking tenty years older tan e

was stout loud red blu and free from any draback of delicacy ad a pusing ay of souldering

imself (morally and pysically) into companies andco nversations tat argued ell for is souldering isay up in lie

e still ad is ig and gon on and e said

squaring iself at is late client to tat degree tat esqueezed te innocent Mr Lorry clean out of tegroup: am glad to ave brougt you o it onour Daay t as an infamous prosecution grosslyinfamous; but not te less likely to succeed on tataccount'

You ave laid me under an obligation to you orlife in to senses ' said is late client taking is and ave done my best for you Daay; and my

best is as good as anoter man's believe't clearly being incumbent on someone to say

Muc better' Mr Lorry said it; peraps not quitedisinterestedly but it te interested object ofsqueezing imself back again

You tink so?' said Mr Stryver Well! you avebeen present all day and you ougt to kno You area man of business too '

d as suc' quot Mr Lorry om te counsel

leaed in te la ad no souldered back into te

l I S



THE GLDEN THREAD

group, just as he had previously shouldered him out ofit as such will appeal to Dr Manette, to break upthis conference and order us all to our homes. Miss

Lucie looks il, Mr Daay has had a terrible day, weare wo out'

Speak for yourself, Mr Lor,' said Ster; havea night's work to do yet. Speak for yourself.'

I speak for myself,' answered Mr Lorry, and for

Mr Daay, and for Miss Lucie, and Miss Lucie, do

you not think may speak for us all?' e asked her thequestion pointedly, and with a glance at her faher

is face had become frozen, as it were, in a verycurious look at Daay an intent look, deepening into

a own of dislike and distrust, not even unmixed withfear With this strange expression on him his thoughts

had wandered awayMy father,' said Lucie, soly laying her hand on hise slowly shook the shado o, and tued to herShal we go home, my father?'With a long breath, he answered Yes 'The iends of the acquitted prisoner had dis

persed, under the impression which he himselfhad originated that he would not be released thatnight. The lights were nearly all extinguished in hepassages, the iron gates were being closed with a jar

and a rattle, and the dismal place was deserted untiltomorrow moing's interest of gallows, pillo,

whipping-post, and branding-iron, should re-peopleit. Walking beween her father and Mr D aay, Lucie

Manette passed into the open air A hackneycoachwas called, and the father and daughter depaed in it.

Mr Stryver had le them in the passages, to shoulderhis way back to the robingroom. other person,

who had not joined the group, or interchanged a word

I I 9



A TALE F TW CTE

wit any one of them, bt who ha been leaning

against the wall where its shaow was arkest, hasilently strolle ot aer the rest, n ha looke on

nti te coach rove away He now steppe p towhere ory an Mr Daay stoo pon thepavement.

So, or! Men of bsiness may speak to Daay now?'

oboy ha mae any acknowlegment of Mr

Caton's part in te ay's proceeings; noboy haknown of it. He was nrobe, an was none the betterfor it in appearance.

f yo kew what a conict goes on in the bsinessmin, when te bsiness min is ivie betweengoo-natre implse an bsiness appearances, yo

wol be amse, Mr Daay'M or reene, an sai, warmly, Yo have

mentione tat before, sir. We men of bsiness, whoserve a hose, are not or own masters. We have tothink of the hose more than orselves' 1 know, 1 know,' rejoine Mr Carton, carelessy

Don't be nette, Mr or Yo are as goo asanoter, have no obt: better, are say.' inee, sir,' prse ory, not mining

him, really on't know what yo have to o with thematter. f yo'll excse me, as ve mch yor eler,

for saying so, really on't know that it is yorbsiness. '

Bsiness! Bless yo, 1 have no bsiness,' sai Mr

Carton.

t is a pity yo have not, sir.' think so, too.' f yo ha,' prse r ory, perhaps yo wol

atten to it'

1 2 0



TH GLN THRA

or love ou, no souln't, ' sai Mr C arton.

Well, sir ' crie Mr or, toroul eate b isinierence, business is a ve oo tin, an a ve

respectable tin. , sir, if business imposes itsrestraints an its silences an impeiments, MrDaa as a oun entleman of enerosit kowsow to make allowance for tat circumstance. r

Daa oonit, Go bless ou, sir ope ou

ave been tis a preseve for a prosperous an

app life air tere 'Peraps a little an wit imself as well as wit

te barrister, Mr or bustle into te cair, an wascarrie o to ellson's. Carton, o smelt of potwine, an i not appear to be quite sober, laeten, an tue to Daa is is a strane cance

tat tros ou an me toeter. is must be astrane nit to ou, stanin alone ere wit ourcounterpart on tese street stones'

arl seem et,' retue Carles Daa, tobelon to ti worl aain. '

on't woner at it it's not s o lon since ou were

prett far avance on our wa to anoter. Youspeak faintl.' b ein t o tink m faint.'en w te evil on't ou ine ine, mself,

ile tose numskulls were eliberatin wic worl

ou soul belon to tis, or soe oter. et esow ou te nearest tave to ine well at. '

Drawin his arm trou is on, e took imown uate Hill to leet Street, an so, up a

covere wa, into a tavern. Here, te were sowninto a little room, were Carles Daa was soon

recruitin i strengt wit a oo plain inner anoo wine: wile Caton sat oppoite to im at te

1 2 1



A TAL F TW CT

sae tabe with his separate bott of port before hian his y hafinsoet anner upon hi

Do you fee yet that you beong to this terrestria

schee again Mr Daay?' a ghty conse regaring tie an pace;

but a so far ene as to fee tht't ust be an iense satisfaction!'

He sai it bittery an e p his gass again:which was a arge one

As to e the greatest esire hve is to forget that beong to it t has n o goo in it for e except wine

ike this nor for it So we are not uch aike in thatprticuar Inee begin to thik we re not chaike in any particar yo n .

Conse b y the eotion o fthe ay an feeing his

beig there with this oube of corse eportent tobe ike a rea Chares Daay was at a oss how toanswer; ny answere not at a

ow yor ier is one Carton presenty siwhy on't you ca a heath Mr Daay; why ont

you give yor tost?'

hat heth? hat toast?hy it 's on the tip of yor tongue t ought to beit ust be I' swear it's there

Miss Mnette then!'Miss Mnette then!'ooking his copnion i the fce whie he

rnk the tost Carton ng his gass over his shoeragainst the wa where it shivere to pieces; then rangthe b ll, an orere in another

hat's fir youg ay to hn to a coach in theark Mr Day!' he sai ing his new gobet

A sight frown an a aconic es' were the answerhts a fir yong ay to be pitie by an wept for

122



THE GOLDEN THREAD

by How do it fl? I it worth big trid for olif to b th objct of ch ypathy ad copaior Daay?

Agai Daay awrd ot a wordSh wa ightily plad to hav your ag

wh I gav it hr Not that h howd h wapad but ppo h wa

Th aluio d a a tily ridr to Daaythat thi diagrab copaio had of hi ow fr

wil aitd hi i th trait of th day H tud thdiaogu to that poit ad thakd hi for it

I ithr wat ay thak or rit ay wa thcarl rjoidr It wa othig to do i th rtplac ad I dot kow why I did it i th cod rDaay lt ak yo a qtio

illigly ad a al rt for your good ocDo yo ik I particlary ik you?Rally r Carto rtd th othr oddly

dicoctd I hav ot akd ylf th qtioBt ak yourlf th qtio owYo hav actd a if you do bt dot thik you

doJ dot thik I do aid Cato I bgi to hav av good opiio of your udrtadig

Nvthl prd Daay riig to rig thbll thr i othig i that I hop to prvt ycalig th rckoig ad or partig without illblood o ithr id

Carto rjoiig Nothig i if! Daay ragDo yo call th whol rckoig? aid Cato Ohi awrig i th arativ Th brig aothr pit of thi a wi drawr ad co adwak at t

Th bil big paid Charl Daay ro ad

I23



LE OF WO CIIES

wihed hi goodight ithot retig the wih,Cato roe too, with oethig of a threat of deacei hi aer, ad aid, A lat word, r Daay yo

thik a dk?I thik yo have bee drikig, r Catohik? Yo kow have bee dikigSice t ay o, kow it.he yo hall likewie kow why a a diap

poited ddge, ir care for o a o eath, ad

o a o eath care for e.ch to be regretted. Yo ight have ed yor

talet betteray be o, M Daay ay be ot Dot let yor

ober face elate yo, however yo dot kow what itay coe to Good-ight!

he he wa le aloe, thi trage beig took p acadle, wet to a gla that hg agait the wall, adveyed hielf itely i it

Do yo paticlarly like the a? he ttered, athi ow iage why hold yo particlarly like a awho reele yo? There i othig i yo to lik ;

yo kow that A, cofod yo! hat a chage yohave ade i yorel A good reao for takig to aa, that he how yo what yo have falle awayfro, ad what yo ight have bee! Chage placewith hi, ad wold yo have bee looked at y thoeble eye a he wa, ad coierated by that agitatedface a he wa? Coe o ad have it ot i plaiword! o hate the fellow

He reorted to hi pit of wie for coolatio,drak it all i a few ite, ad fell aleep o hia, with hi hair tragglig over the table, ad a logwidigheet i the cadle drippig dow po hi

24



THE GOLDEN THRED

CHPTER 5

The Jackal

Those were drinking days, and ost en drak hard.So very great is the iproveent tie has broughtabout in suh habits, that a oderate stateent of

the quantiy of wine and punh whih one an wouldswallow in the orse of a night, withot any detrientto his reputation as a perfet gentlean, woud see,in these days, a ridiulous exaggeration. The leaedprofession of the law was ertainly not behind anyother leaed profession in its Bahanalian propen

tes; neither was Mr Stryver, aready fastshouldering his way to a large and lrative pratie,behind his opeers in this partiular, any ore hanin the drier parts of the egal rae

A favorit at the ld Bailey, and eke at he sessions,M Strver had begun autiosly to hew away thelower staves of the ladder on whih he ountedSessions an ld Bailey had now to suonheir favorite, speially, to their longing ars; andshouldering itself towards the visage of the Lord ChiefJustie in the ourt of Kng's Benh, the orid ountenane of M Strver ight be daily seen, brsting outof the bed of wigs, like a great sunower pushig its

way at the sun o aong a rank garden ll of aringopanions

It had one been noted at the Bar, that whie MrStrer was a glib an, and an unsrpulous, and aready, and a bold, he had ot that falty of extratingthe essene o a heap of stateents, whih is aong

25



A AE F W CES

the ost striking and neessar of the advoate'saoplishents But a rearable iproveentae upon hi as to this The ore business he got,

the greater his power seeed to grow of getting at itspith and arrow; and however late at night he satarousing with Sydney Carton, he always had hispoints at his ngers' ends in the oing

Sydney Carton, idlest and ost unproising ofen, was Strver's great ally. hat the two drank

together, between Hilar ter and ihaelas,it have oated a king's ship Stver never had aase in had, anywhere, but Carton was there, withhis hands in his pokets, staring at the eiling of theourt; they went the sae Ciruit, and even there theyprolonged their usual orgies late into the night, and

Caton was oured to be seen at broad day, goinghoe stealthily and unsteadily to his lodgings, like adissipated at At last, it began to get about, aongsuh as were interested in the atter, that althougSydney Carton would never be a lion, he was anaazingly good jakal, and that he rendered suit andsevie to Strver in that huble apaity

Ten o'lok, sir,' said the an at the tave, whohe had harged to wake hi te o'lok, sir'

Wats the atter?'Ten o'lok, sir'What do you ean? Ten o'lok at night?'es, sir our honour told e to all you'

h! I reeber Ve well, ver well'Aer a few dull eots to get to sleep again, whih

the an dexterously obated by stirring the reontinuously for ve inutes, he got up, tossed his haton, and walked out He turned into the eple, and,having revived hiself by twie paing the paveents

26



THE GOLDEN THRED

of Kng's Benh alk and Paper Buildings, turnedinto the Stver habers

The Stver lerk, who never assisted at tese on

ferenes, had gone hoe, and the Stver prinipalopened the door. He had his slippers on, and a loosebed-gown, and his throat was bare for his greater ease.He had that rather wild, strained, seared arkingabout the eyes, whih ay be obseed in all free liversof his lass, o the porait ofeffries downward, and

whih an be traed, under various disguises of art,through the portraits of eve drinking age.ou are a little late eo,' said Stver.About the usual tie; it ay be a quarter of an

hour later.'They went into a ding roo lined with books and

littered with papers, where there was a blazing re. Akettle steaed upon the hob, and in the idst of thewrek of papers a table shone, with plent of wineupon it, and brandy, and ru, and sugar, and leons.

ou have had your bottle, pereive, Sydney.'Two tonight, think. I have been dining with the

day's lient; or seeing hi dine it's all one!'That was a rare point, Sydney, that you brought to

bear upon the identiation How did you oe by it?hen did it strike you?'

thought he was rather a handsoe fellow, and

thought should have been uh the sae sort offellow, if had had any luk'

r Stver laughed till he shook his preoiouspaunh

ou and your luk, Sydney! Get to work, get towork.'

Sullenly enough, the jakal loosened his dress, wentinto an adjoining roo, and ae bak wit a large

2 7



A TAE OF TWO CITIES

jug of old water, a basn, and a towel or two Steepngthe towels n the water, and partally wrngng theout, he folded the on hs head n a anner hdeous

to behold, sat down at the table, and sad, Now I aready!'

ot uh bolng down to be done tonght,eoy,' sad M Styver, galy, as he looked aonghs papers

How uh?'

Only tw sets of the'Gve e the worst rst.'There they are, Sydney Fre away!'The lon then oposed hself on hs bak on a

sofa on one sde of the drnking-table, whle the jakalsat at hs wn paperbestrewn table proper, on the

other sde of t, wth the bottles and glasses ready to hshand Both resorted to the drinkingtable wthutstnt, but eah n a derent way; the lon for the ostpat relnng wth hs hands n hs wastband, lokngat the re, r oasonally rtng wth soe lghterdouent; the jakal, wth kntted brows and ntentfae, s deep n hs task, that hs eyes dd nt evenfollow the hand he strethed out fr hs glas whhoen groped about, for a nute or ore, before tfound the lass for hs lps Two r three tes, theatter n hand beae so tty, that the jakalfound t peratve on h to get up, and seep hstowels anew Fro these plgrages to th jug andbasn, he retued wth suh eentrtes f dapheadgear as no words an desrbe; whh were adethe ore ludrous by hs anxous gravty.

t lengt the jakal had got together a opatrepast for the ln, and preeded to oer t t hThe lon tok t wth are and auton, ade hs

28



THE GOLDEN THREAD

seletions fro it, and his rearks upon it, and thejakal assisted both hen the repast was lly disussed, the lion put his hands in his waistband again,

and lay down to editate The jakal then invigoratedhiself with a buper for his throttle, and a freshappliation to his head, and applied hiself to theolletion of a seond eal; this was adinistered tothe lion in the sae anner, and was not disposed ofuntil the loks struk three in the oing

And now we have done, Sydney, ll a buper ofpunh,' said r Strver.The jakal reoved the towels fro his head, whih

had been steaing again, shook hiself, yawned,shivered, and oplied.

ou were very sound, Sydney, in the atter ofthose rown witnesses today Every question told.'

I always a sound; a I not?'I don't gainsay it hat has roughened your

teper? Put soe punh to it and sooth it again.'ith a depreator grunt, the jakal again oplied.The old Sydney aon of old Shrewsbur Shool,'

said Stryver, nodding his head over hi as he reviewedhi in the present and the past, the old seesawSydney Up one inute and down the next; now inspirits and now in despondeny!'

Ah!' retued the other, sighing yes! The saeSydney, with the sae luk Even then, I did exerisesfor other boys, and seldo did y own'

And why not?'God knows It was y way, I suppose'He sat, with his hands in his pokets and his legs

strethed out before hi, looking at the reaon,' said his friend, squaring hiself at hi

with a bully ing air, as if the re-gr ate had been the

29



TE O TWO CITIES

ace in which sustained endeavour was forged, andthe one delcate thing to be done for the old SydneyCaton of old Shrewsbur School was to shoulder h

into t, your way is, and always was, a lae way ousuon n energy and purpose Look at e'

h, botheration!' retued Sydney, wth a lighterand ore god-huoured laugh, don't yu be oral!'

How have I done what I have done?' said Stryverhow do do what do?'

Partly through paying e to help you, I supposeBut it's nt worth your while to apostrophise e,or the air, about it what you want to do, you do ouwere always in the front rank, and I was alwaysbehind'

I had to get nto the front rank I was not bothere, was I?'

I was not present at the cereony but y opinions you were,' said Carton At this, he laughed again,and they both laughed

Before Shrewsbur, and at Shrewsbury, and eversnce Shrewsbury,' pursued Caton, you have fallennto your rank, and I have fallen into ne Even when

we were fellow-students n the student quater ofParis, picking up French, and French law, and otherFrench crbs that we didn't get uch good of, youwere always soewhere, and I was always nowhere'

And whose fault was that?'Upon y soul, I a not sure that it was not yours

ou were always drivng and riving and shoulderingand pressing, to that restless degree that had nochance for y life but in rust and repose It's a glooything, however, to talk about one's own past, with theday breaking Tu e in soe other direction beforeI go'

130



THE GOLDEN THRED

ell then! Pledge e to the prety witness,' saidStryver, holding up his glass. Are you tued in apleasant direction?'

Apparently not, for he becae glooy again.Pretty witness,' he uttered, looking down into his

glass. I have had enough of witnesses today andtonight; who's your pretty witness?'

The picturesque doctor's daughter, iss Manette.'She pretty?'

Is she not?'No.'hy, an alive, she was the adiration of the

whole court!'Rot the adiration of the whole court! ho ade

the ld Bailey a judge of beauty? She was a golden

haired doll!'Do you kow, Sydney, said Mr Stryver, looking athi with sharp eyes, and slowly drawing a hand acrosshis orid face: do you know, I rather thought, at thetie, that you sypathised with the goldenhaireddoll, and were quick to see what happened to thegoldenhaired doll?'

Quick to see what happened! If a girl, doll or nodoll, swoons within a yard or two of a an's nose, hecan see it without a perspectiveglass. I pledge you,but I deny the beauy. And now I'll have no oredrnk; I'll get to bed.'

hen his host followed hi out on he staircase

with a candle, to light hi down the stairs, the daywas coldly looking in hrough its griy windows.hen he got out of the house, the air was cold andsad, the dull sky overcast, the river dark and di, thewhole scene like a lifeless desert. And wreahs of dustwere spinning round and round before the oing



TE F TW CITIES

blast, as if the desertsand had risen far away, and erst spray of it in its advance had begun to ovehelthe ity

Waste forces within hi, and a desert all around,this a stood still on his way across a silent terrace,and saw for a oent, lying in the wildeess beforehi, a irage of honourable abition, selfdenial,and perseverace In the fair city of this vision, therewere air galleries o which the loves and graces

looked upon hi, gardens in which the uits of lifehung ripening, waters of hope that sparkled in hissight A oent, and it was gone Clibing to a highchaber in a well of houses, he threw hiself down inhis clothes on a neglected bed, and its pillow was wetwith wasted tears

Sadly, sadly, the su rose; it rose upon o saddersight than the an of good abilities ad good eotions,incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of hisown help ad his own happiness, sensible of the blighton hi, ad resigning hiself to let it eat hi away

CHPTER 6

Hundreds of Peop

The quiet lodgings of Dr anette were in a quietstreet-coer not far o Soho Square the aer

noon of a certain ne Sunday whe the waves of fouronths had rolled over the trial for treason, adcarried it, as to the public interest and eor, far outto sea, r Jaris Lorry walked along the sunny streetso Clerkenwell where he lived, on his way to dinewith the doctor er several relapses into business-



HE GODEN HREAD

absorpton, Mr Lorr had beoe the dotor's end,and the quet street-oer was the sunny pat ofhs lfe.

n ths etan ne Sunday, M Lo walkedtowards Soho, early n the aeoon, for three reasonsof habt. Frstly, beause, on ne Sundays, he oenwalked out, before dnner, wth the dotor and Lue;seondly, beause, on unfavourable Sundays, he wasaustoed to be wth the as the faly end,

talkng, readng, lookng out of wndow, and generallygeng through the day; thrdly, beause he happenedto have hs own lttle shrewd doubts t solve, andknew how the ways of the dotor's household pontedto that te as a lkely te for solvng the.

A quanter oer than the oer whee the doto

lved, was not to be found n London. here was noway through t, and the ont wndows of the dotor'slodgngs oanded a pleasant lttle vsta of stretthat had a ongenal ar of retreent n t. Therewere few buldngs then, north of the xford road,and frest trees ourshed, and wld owers grew, andthe hawtho blossoed, n the now vanshed elds.As a onsequene, ount ars rulated n Sohowth vgoous eedo, nstead of langushng nto theparsh lke stray paupers wthout a settleent; andere was any a good south wall, not far o, onwhh the peahes rpened n ther season.

The suer lght struk nto the oer bllantlyn the earler part of the day; but, when the streetsgrew hot, the oer was n shadow, though not nshadow so reote but that you ould see beyond tnto a glare of brghtness. It was a ool sot, stad butheerl, a wonderl plae for ehoes, and a veharbour fro the ragng streets.

33



LE F W CIIES

There oght to have been a tranqul bark n suh ananhorage, and there was The dotor oped twooors of a large stll hose, where several allngs

pported to be prsed by day, but whereof ltle wasaudble any day, and whh was shnned by all ofthe at nght In a bldng at the bak, attanable bya ouryard where a plane tree rstled ts green leaves,hurh-organs laed to be ade, and slver to behased, and lkewse gold to be beaten by soe

ysteros gant who had a golden ar startng ot ofthe all of the ont hall as f he had beaten hselfpreos, and enaed a slar onverson of allvistors ery lttle of these trades, or of a lonely lodgerored to lve pstars, or of a d oahtringaker asserted to have a ontng hose below, was

ever heard or seen asonally, a stray workanputtn hs oat on, traversed the hall, or a strangerpeered abot there, or a dsant lnk was heard arossthe ortyard, or a thp o the golden gantThese, however, were only the exeptons reqred toprove the le that the sparrows n the plane treebehnd the house, and the ehoes n the oer beforet, had ther own way o Snday ong ntoSaturday nght

Dr anette reeve sh patents here as hs oldreputaon, and ts revval n the oatng whspers ofhs story, brought h Hs sent kowledge,and hs vglane and skll n ondtng ngenos

experents, broght h otherwse nto oderaterequest, and he eaed as h as he wanted

These thngs were wthin M arvs Lo's knowledge, hoghts, and note, when he rang the doorbellof the tranql hose n the oer, on the e Sndayaeoon

134



TE GOLDEN TRED

Dr anette at hoe?'Expected hoe.iss Lucie at hoe?'

Expected hoe.iss Pross at hoe?'Possibly at hoe, but of a certainy ipossible for

handaid to anticipate intentions of iss Pross, as toadission or denial of the fact

As I a at hoe yself,' said r Loy, I'll go

upstairs. 'Although the doctor's daughter had known nothingof the country of her birth, she appeared to haveinnately derived fro it that ability to ake uch oflittle eans, which is one of its ost usel and ostagreeable characteristics. Siple as the iture was,it was set o by so any little adoents, of no valuebut for their taste and fancy, that its eect wasdelightl. The disposition of everything in the roos,fro the largest object to the least; the arrangeent ofcolours, the elegant variety and contrast obtained bythi in tries, by delicate hands, clear eyes, and goodsense; were at once so pleasant in theselves, and so

expressive of their originator, that, as Mr Lory stoodlooking about hi, the ver chairs and tables seeedto ask hi, with soething of that peculiar expressionwhich he knew so well by this tie, wheer heapproved?

There were three roos on a oor, and, the doors

by which they counicated being put open that theair ight pass eely through the all, Mr Lo,silingly obseant of that fancil reseblancewhich he detected all around hi, walked fro one toanother. The rst was the best roo, and in it wereLucie's birds, and owers, and books, and desk, and

35



TLE F TW CITIES

worktable, and box of waterolours; the seond wasthe dotor's consulting-roo, used also as the diningroo; the third, hangingly spekled by the rustle of

the plane tree in the yard, was the dotor's bedroo,and there, in a oer, stood the disused shoeaker'sbenh and tray of tools, uh as it had stood on theh oor of the disal house by the wine shop, in thesuburb of St Antoine in Paris.

I wonder,' said Mr Lorry, pausing in his looking

about, that he keeps that reinder of his sueringsabout hi!'And why wonder at that?' was the abrupt enquiy

that ae hi start.It proceeded fro Miss Pross, the wild red woan,

strong of hand, whose aquaintane he had rst ade

at the Royal George Hotel at Dover, and had sineiprove.I should have thought ' Mr Lorry began.Pooh! ou'd have thought!' said Miss Pross; and

Mr Lorry le oHow do you do?' enquired that lady then sharply,

and yet as if to express that she bore hi no alie.'I a pretty well, I hank you,' answere Mr Lorry,

with eekness; how are you?'othing to boast of,' said Miss ProssIndeed?'! indeed!' said Miss Pross. I a very uh put

out about y Ladybird'

Indeed?'For graious sake say soething else besides

"indeed, or you'll dget e to death,' said MissPross: whose harater (dissoiated fro stature wasshotness.

Really, then?' said Mr Lorry, as an aendent



THE GOLDEN THRED

Really, is bad enogh,' retrned Miss Pross, btbetter. es, I am very mh pt ot'

May I ask the ase?'

I don't want dozens of people who are not at allworthy of Ladybird, to ome here looking aer her,'said Miss Pross.

Do dozens ome for that prpose?'Hndreds,' said Miss ProssIt was harateristi of this lady as of some

other people before her time and sine that whenever her original proposition was qestioned, sheexaggerated it

Dear me!' said Mr Lorry, as the safest reark heold think of

I have lived with the darling or the darling has

lived with me, and paid me for it whih she ertainlyshold never have done, yo may take yor adavit, ifI old have aorded to keep either myself or her fornothing sine she was ten years old d it's reallyvery hard,' said Miss Pross

Not seeing with preision what was ver hard, Mr

Lorry shook his head sing that important part ofhimself as a sort of fair loak that wold t anythingAll sorts of people who are not in the least degree

worthy of the pet, are always ting p,' said MissPross hen yo began it '

began it, Miss Pross?'

Didn't yo? ho broght her father to life?'h! If that was beginning it

' said Mr Lorry. It wasn't ending it, I sppose? I say, when yo

began it, it was hard enogh not that I have any faltto nd with Dr Manette, exept that he is not worthyof sh a daghter, whih is no imptation on him, forit was not to be expeted that anybody shold be,

137



TE OF TO CITIES

under any circumstances. But it really is dobly andtrebly hard to ave crowds and ultitudes of peopletuing up aer him (I cold have forgiven him), totake Ladybird's aections away from me'

Mr Lorr ew Miss Pross to be ve jealous, buthe also knew her by this time to be, beneah thesurface of her eccentrcit, one of hose unselshcreatures found only among women who will, forpure love and admiration, bind themselves willing

slaves, to yot wen tey have lost it, to beauy thatthey never had, to accomplishents that they werenever fortunate enough to gain, to bright hopes thatnever shone upon their own sombre lives. He knewenough of he world to know tat there is nothing in itbetter than he faithl serice of the heart; so rendered

and so ee om any mercena taint, he had such anexalted resect for it, that in he retrbutive arrangements ade by is own mind we all make sucharrangements, more or less he stationed Miss Prossmuch nearer to the lower angels han many ladiesimmeasurably better got p both by nature and art,

who ad balances at Tellson's.There never was, nor will be, bt one man wohy

of Ladybird,' said Miss Pross; and tat was mybrother Solomon, if he hadn't ade a mistake inlife.'

Here again M Lorr's enquiries into iss Pross's

personal history had established the fact that herbroter Solomon was a heartless scondrel who hadstripped her of everything she possessed, as a stake tospeculate wit, and had abandoned her in her povefor evermor e, with no toch of compunction. MissPross's delity of belief in Soloon (dedcting a mere

trie for his slight istake) was qite a serious matter

138



HE GOLDEN HRAD

with Mr Lor and had its weight in his good opinionof her.

As we happen to e alone for the moment and are

oth people of usiness he said when they had gotack to the drawingroom and had sat down ere iniendly relations let me ask you does the doctor intalking with Lucie never refer to the shoemakngtie yet?

Never.

And yet keeps that ench and those tools esidehi?

' retued Miss Pross shakng her head. ut Idont say he dont refer to it within himself

Do you elieve that he thinks of it much?I do said Miss Pross.

Do you imagine Mr Lor had egun whenMiss Pross took him up short with Never iagineanything Have no imagination at all.

I stand corrected; do you suppose you go so far asto suppose sometimes?

Now and then said Miss Pross.

Do you suppose Mr Lor went on with alauing twinkle in his right eye as it looked kndly ather that Dr Manette has any theory of his ownpreseed through all those years relative to the causeof his eing so oppressed; perhaps even to e naeof his oppressor

I dont suppose anything aout it ut what adyird tells me.

d that is ?That she thinks he has.Now dont e angr at m asking all these questions;

ecause I a a mere dull an of usiness and you area woman of usiness.

39



TLE OF TWO CIIES

ull?' ss Pross enqred, wth placdtyather wshn hs modest adjectve away, r

Lo repled, o, no, no Surely not o retu to

busness: Is t not remarkable that r anette,uquestonably nnocent of any crme as we are allwell assured he s, should never touch upon thatqueston? I wll not say wt me, houh he hadbusess relatons wth me many years ao, and weare now ntmate; I wll say wth the far dauhter to

whom he s so devotedly attached, and who s sodevotedly attached to hm? eleve me, ss Pross, Ido't approach the topc wth you, out of curosty,but out of zealous nterest'

Well! o the best of my understandn, and bad'sthe best, you'll tell me,' sad ss Pross, soened by

te tone of the apolo, he s aad of he wholesubject.'

rad?'It's plan enouh, I should thnk, why he may be

It's a dreadl remembrance esdes that, hs loss ofhmself rew out of t ot known how he lost

hmself, or how he recovered hmself, he may neverfeel cetan of not losn hmself aan hat alonewouldn't ake the subject pleasant, I should thnk'

It was a pro founder remark than r Lorr hadlooked for e,' sad he, and feal to reect uponYet, a doubt lurks n my mnd, ss Pross, whether ts ood for Dr anette to have that suppressonalways shut up wthn hm Indeed, t s ths doubt andthe uneasness t sometmes causes me hat has led meto our present condence.'

Can't be helped,' sad ss Pross, shakn herhead ouch that strn, and he nstantly chanes forthe worse Better leave t alone In short, must leave t

40



HE GOLDEN HRED

alone, lke or no ke Sometmes, he ets p n thedead of the nht, and wll be heard, by s overheadthere, walkn p and down, walkn p and down, n

hs room Ladybrd has leat to know then that hsmnd s wakn p and down, wakn p and don,n hs od prson She hrres to hm, and they o ontoether, walkn p and down, walkn p anddown, ntl he s composed Bt he never says a ordof the tre reason of hs restessness, to her, and she

nds t best not to hnt at t to hm. In slence they owakn p and down toeher, walkn p and downtoether, tll her ove and company have broht hmto hmself'

Notwthstandn ss Pross's denal of her ownmanaton, there was a percepton of the pan of

ben monotonosly hanted by one sad dea, n herrepetton of the phrase, wakn p and down, whchtested to her possessn sch a hn

The coer has een mentoned as a wonderlcoer for echoes; t had ben to echo so resondnlyto the tread of comn feet, that t seemed as thoh

the very menton of that weary pacn to and o hadset t onHere they are' sad ss Pross, rsn to break p

the conference; and now we shal have hndreds ofpeope pretty soon'

It was sch a cros coer n s acostcalpropertes, sch a peclar Ear of a pace, at as MrLorry stood at the open wndow, lookn for thefather and dahter whose steps he heard, he fancedthey wold never approach Not ony wod theechoes de away, as thoh the steps had one; bt,echoes of other steps that never came wold be heardn ther stead, and wod de away for ood when they



TL F TW CITIS

seemed close at hand However, father and daughterdid at last appear, and Miss Pross was ready at thestreet door to receive them

Miss Pross was a pleasant sight, albeit wild, andred, and grim, taking o her darling's bonnet whenshe came upstairs, and touching it up with the endsof her handkerchief, and blowing the dust o it, andfolding her antle ready for laying by, and smoothingher rich hair with as much pride as she could possibly

have taken in her own hair if she had been the vainestand handsoest of woen Her darling was a pleasantsight too, embracing her and thanking her, andprotesting against her taking so much trouble for herwhich last she only dared to do playlly, or MissPross, sorely hurt, would have retired to her own

chamber and cried The doctor was a pleasant sighttoo, looking on at them, and telling Miss Pross howshe spoilt Lcie, in accents and with eyes that had asmuch spoiling in them as Miss Pross had, and wouldhave had more if it were possible Mr Lorry was apleasant sight too, beaming at all this in his little wig,

and thanking his bachelor stars for having lightedhim in his declining years to a Home ut, noHundreds of people came to see the sights, and M

Lory looked in vain for the llment of Miss Pross'sprediction

innertie, and still no Hundreds of people Inthe arrangeents of the little household, Miss Prosstook charge of the lower regions, and always acquittedherself marvellously Her dinners, of a vey odestquality, were so well cooked and so well served, and soneat in their contrivances, half English and halfFrench, that nothing could be better Miss Pross'sfriendship being of the thoroghly practical kind, she



THE GODEN THREAD

ha avag Soho an th ajacnt provincs, insarch o ipovrish Frnch, who, tmpt byshillings an hal-crowns, wol ipart clinary

mystis to hr. From ts cay sons anaghtrs o Gal, sh ha acqir sch wonrlarts, that th woman an girl who om th sta oostics rga hr as qit a Sorcrss, orCinrlla's gomoth: who wol sn ot or aowl, a abbit, a vgtabl o two o th garn, an

chang thm into anyting sh plasOn Snays, Miss Pross in at th octor's

tabl, bt on othr ays prsist in taking hr malsat nknown prios, ithr in th lowr rgions, or inh own oom on th scon oor a bl chambr,to which no on bt hr Laybi vr gain

aittanc On this occasion, Miss Poss, sponingto Laybir's plasant ac an plasant orts toplas h, nbnt xcingly; so th innr wasvry plasant, too.

t was an oppssiv ay, an, a innr, Lcipropos that th win shol b cari ot n

th plan t, an ty shol sit thr in th air. Asvrthing t pon hr, an volv abot hr,thy wnt ot n th plan tr, an sh cari twin own o th spcial bnt o Mr Lorry. Shha install hsl, so tim bo, as Mr Lorry'scpbar; an whil thy sat n th plan tr,talking, sh kpt his glass rplnish Mystiosbacks an ns o hoss pp at thm as thytalk, an th plan tr whisp to thm in its ownway abov thir has

Still, th hns o popl i not prsnt tmslvs Daay psnt himsl whil thy wrsitting n th plan t, bt h was only on

43



A TAE OF TWO CITIES

r Manette receved hm ndly, and so dd Luceut, Mss Pross suddenly becae acted wth atwtchng n the head and body, and retred nto the

house She was not unequently the vctm of thsdsorder, and she called t, n famlar conversaton, at of the jers'

The doctor was n hs best condton, and looedspecally young The resemblance between hm andLuce was ver strong at such tmes, and as they sat

sde by sde, she leanng on hs shoulder, and herestng hs arm on the bac of her char, t was veryagreeable to trace the leness

He had been talng all day, on many subjects, andwth unusual vvacty Pray, r Manette,' sad Mraay, as they sat under the plane tree and he sad

t n the natural pursut of the topc n hand, whchhappened to be the old buldngs of London haveyou seen much of the Tower?

Luce and I have been there; but only casually Wehave seen enough of t, to know that t teems wthnterest; lttle more'

'/ have been there, as you remember,' sad aay,wth a smle, though reddenng a lttle angrly, nanother character, and not n a character that gvesfacltes for seeng much of t They told me a curousng when I was there'

What was that?' Luce asedIn mang some alteratons, the wormen came

upon an old dungeon, whch had been, for manyyears, bult up and forgotten Every stone of ts nnerwall was covered by nscrptons whch had beencaved by prsoners dates, names, complants, andprayers Upon a coer stone n an angle of the wall,one prsoner, who seemed to have gone to executon,

44



THE GOLDEN THRED

had ct as his last work, thr ltters Thy wr donwith som vry poor instrmnt, and hrridly, withan nstady hand At rst, thy wr rad as I C

bt, on bing mor carelly xamind, th last lettrwas fond to b G Thre was no rcord or lgnd ofany prisonr with thos initials, and many fitlsssss wr mad what th nam cold hav bnAt lngth, it was sggstd that th lttrs wr notinitials, bt th complt word, IG. Th oor was

xamind vry carlly ndr th inscription, and, inth earth bnath a ston, or til, or som amnt ofpaving, wr fond th ashs of a papr, mingld withth ashs of a small leath cas or bag What thnknown prisonr had writtn will nvr b rad, bth had writtn something, and hiddn it away to kp

it from th gaolr'My fathr, xclaimed ci, yo ar ill!'H had sddnly startd p, with his hand to his

had. His mannr and his look qit trrd thm allNo, my dar, not ill Thr ar larg drops of rain

falling, and thy mad m start. had bttr go in.'H rcovrd himslf almost instantly. ain was

rally falling in larg drops, and h showd th back ofhis hand wit raindrops on it. t, he said not a singlword in rfrnc to th discovry that had bn toldof, and, as thy wnt into th hos, th bsinss yof Mr orry ithr dtctd, or fancid it dtctd, onhis fac, as it td towards Charls aay, th

sam singlar look that had bn pon it whn ittd towards him in th passags of th court hos

H rcovrd himslf so qickly, howvr, that Mrorry had dobts of his bsinss y Th a of thegoldn giant in th hall was not mor stady than hwas, whn h stoppd ndr it to rmark to thm that

45





HE GOLDEN THREAD

I wi see oig o yo. S whis are oyipressie as we origiae he, I ik; ey are oo be oiae. I hae soeies sa aoe here

of a eeig, iseig, i I hae ae the ehoeso o be te ehoes of a he fooseps ha areoig by a by io or ies.'

Tere is a grea row oig oe ay io ories, if ha be so,' Syey Caro srk i, i hisooy way.

Te fooseps were iessa, a te rry of hebeae ore a ore rapi. Te orer ehoe are-eoe wih e rea of fee; soe, as i seee,er he wiows; soe, as i seee, i the roo;soe oig, soe goig, soe breakg o, soesoppig aogeher; a i te isa srees, a o

oe wii sigh.Are a tese fooseps esie o oe o a of s,iss aee, or are we o iie te aog s?'

I o' kow, r Daay; I o o i was a fooisfay, b yo aske for i. e I ae yiee ysefo i, I ae bee aoe, a e I ae iagie

te te fooseps of te peope wo are o oe ioy ife, a y faher's.'I ake he io ie' sai Caro. ask o

qesios a ake o sipaios. Tere is a rearow bearig ow po s, iss aee, a I seete by e ighig.' He ae e as ors,aer ere ha bee a ii as wih a shohi ogig i the wiow.

I ear he' e ae agai, aer a pea ofher. Here hey oe, fas, ere, a rios'

I was he rs a roar of rai ha e typie, ai soppe hi, for o oie o be ear i i. Aeorabe sor of er a igig broke ih

47





THE GOLDEN THRED

as, ad was by so w sull ids suosdo b rahr raidly swallowig Frac bu, hisoigs chocola could o so uch as ino h

hroa o Mosiur, wihou h aid o our srog bsids h cook.

Ys. I ook our , all our ablaz wih orgousdcoraio, ad h chi o h uabl o xis wihwr ha wo gold wachs i his ock, ulaivo h obl ad chas ashio s by osiur, o

coduc h hay chocola o osignurs lisO lacuy carrid h chocola-o io h sacrdrsc a scod, illd ad rohd h chocolawih h lil isru h bor or ha cio ahird, rsd h avourd aki a ouh (h oh wo gold wachs), ourd h chocola ou I

was iossibl or Mosigur o diss wih oo hs adas o h chocola ad hold his highlac udr h adirig havs D would havb h blo uo his scucho i his chocola hadb igobly waid o by oly hr h ushav did o wo.

Mosiur had b ou a a lil sur lasigh, whr h cody ad h grad ora wrcharigly rrsd. Mosigur was ou a alil sur os ighs, wih asciaig coayo oli ad so irssibl was Mosinur, ah cody ad h rad ora had ar oriuc wih hi i h irso aricls o saaairs ad sa scrs, ha h ds o all FracA hay circusac or Frac, as h lik alwaysis or all couris siilarly avourd!

-Always wasor Eglad (by way o xal), i h rgrddays o h rry uar who sold i.

Mosigur had o ruly obl ida o gral

149



T OF TWO CITIS

publc bsnss, wc was, t lt vrtng g n nts wn wa; f partcular publc busnss, Mnsgnr ad t tr trul nbl ida tat t mst all

g s wa tnd t s wn pwr and pckt Of isplasrs, gnral and partclar, Mnsignur adt tr trl nbl ida, tat t wrld was mad frtm T txt f s rdr altrd frm t rgnalb nl a prnun, wc s nt muc) ran: T artand t llnss trf ar min, sat Mnsgnur'

Yt, Mnsgnur ad slwl fund tat vulgarmbarrassmnts crpt nt s aars, bt prvat andpublic; and ad, as t bt classs f aars, allidimslf prfrc wt a farmr-gnral As t nancspublc, bcas Mnsgnur cld nt mak anting at all f tm, and mst cnsquntl lt tm

ut t smbd w culd; as t nancs prvat,bcas farrgnrals wr ric, and Mnsignur,ar gnratns f grat lxr and xpns, wasgrwing pr. Hnc Mnsignur ad takn issistr m a cnvnt, wil tr was t tim t ward t mpndng vl, t capst garmnt s

cld war, and ad bstwd r as a prz upn avr rc far-gnral, pr n faml. Wicfarmrgnral, carring an apprprat can wit agldn appl n t tp f it, was nw amng tcmpan in t utr rms, muc prstratd bfrb manknd alwas xcptng suprir mankndf t bld f Mnsignr, w, s wn wfncludd, lkd dwn pn m wit t lstcntmpt

A smptus man was t farmr-gnral Tirrss std in s stabls, twntfur maldmstcs sat in is alls, sx bdwmn watdn s wf As n w prtndd t d nting

50



THE GOLDEN THREAD

b pldr ad forag whr h cold, h farmrgral howsovr his arioial rlaioscodcd to social oraliy was a last h grats

raliy aog h prsoags who atdd at thhol of osigr tha day.

For, h roos, hogh a batil sc to look at,ad adod wih vry dvic of dcoraio that thtast ad skill of th i cold achiv, wr, i th,o a sod bsiss; cosidrd wih ay rfrc

o th scarcrows i th rags ad ightcaps lswhrad o so far o, ihr, bt hat wachig towrsof NorDa, alos qidisa fro h twors, cold s h boh), hy wold hav ba cdigly coforabl bsiss if tha coldhav b aybody's bsiss, a t hos of o

sigr. ilitay ocrs dstit of ilitary kowldg; aval ocrs wih o ida of a ship; civil ocrswiho a oio of aairs; braz cclsiasics, of hworst world worldly, with ssal ys, loos ogs,ad loosr livs; all toally for thir svralcalligs, all lyig horribly i prdig o blog to

th, b all arly or rotly of th ordr ofosigr, ad hrfor foisd o all pblicplos o which aythig was to b go;hs wr to b told o by th scor ad h scor.Popl o idiatly coctd wih osigror th Sa, y qally cocd wih aythig

that was ral, or wih livs passd i ravllig by aystraigh road to ay r arhly d, wr o lssabda Docors who ad grat fors ou ofdaiy rdis for iagiay disordrs that vrisd, sild po hir coly paits i thachabrs of osigr. Projcors who haddiscovrd v kid of rdy for th litl vils with



OF WO CIIS

wi e Sae was oued, excep e reedy oseing o ork in eaes o roo ou a single sin,poured eir disraing babble ino any ears ey

ould lay old o, a e reepion o onseigneurUnbelievin pilosopers wo were reodelling eworld wi ords, and aking ard-owers o Babel osale e skies wi, alked wi unbelieving eisswo ad a eye on e ransuaion o eals, a iswonderl aering auulaed by onseigneur

Exuisie genleen o e nes breeding, wi wasa ta rearkable ie and as been sine o beknown by is uis o indierence o ever nauralsubje o a ineres, were in e os exeplarysae o exausion, a e oel o onseigeurSu oes ad hese various noabiliies le beind

em in e ne world o Paris, a e spies aonghe assebled devoees o onseigneur oring agoodly al o e polie opany would ave oundi ard o discover aong e angels o a spere onesoliay wie, wo, in er aners and appearance,owned o being a oer Indeed, excep or e

mere a o bringing a roublesome reaure ino isworld wic does no go ar owards e realisaiono e name o moher tere was no su ingown o e asion Peasan woen kep eunasionable babies lose, and brog e up,and aring grandmammas o sixty dressed andsuped as a wenty.

Te leprosy o unreality disgured ever uanreaure in aendane upon onseigneur In eoueros roo were al a dozen exepional peoplewo ad ad, or a ew years, soe vague isgiving inem ta ings in general were going raer wrongs a proising way o seing e rig, al o e



THE GOLDEN THREAD

half-doze had becoe ebers of a faasc sec ofColsoss, ad were eve he cosdergwh heselves wheher hey shold foam, rage,

roar, ad caalepc o he spo hereby segp a hghly ellgble ger-pos o he re, foroseger's gdace esdes hese ervshes,were oher hree who had rshed o aoher sec,whch eded aers wh a jargo abo he cereof rh' holdg ha a had go o of he cere of

rh whch dd o eed ch deosrao bhad o go o of he crcmferece, ad ha he waso be k �p fro yg o of he crcmferece, adwas eve o be shoved back o he cere, by fasgad seeg of sprs Aog hese, accordgly, chdscorsg wh sprs we o ad dd a world of

good whch ever becae mafes, he cofor was, ha all he copay a hegrad hoel of oseger were perfecly dressed Ifhe day of jdgeme had oly bee asceraed o bea dress day, everbody here wold have bee eeallycorrec Sch frzzlg ad powderg ad sckg pof har, sch delcae coplexos arcally preservedad eded, sch galla swords o look a, ad schdelcae hoor o he sese of sell, wold srelykeep ayhg gog, for ever ad ever The exqsegelee of he es breedg wore lle pederkes ha chked as hey lagdly moved hesegolde feers rag lke precos lle bells; ad whawh ha rgg, ad wh he rsle of slk adbrocade ad e le, here was a er he arha faed S oe a hs devorg hger faraway.

ress was he oe falg alsa ad charsed for keepg all hgs her places Everybody

53



TE F TW CITIES

was dressed for a facy ball tha was ever o leave oFrom he Palace of he Tileries, hrogh oseiger a he whole cor, hrogh he chambers,

he rbals of jsice, ad all sociey exce hescarecrows), he facy ball desceed o he commoexecioer who, i rsace of he charm, wasreqired o ociae friled, owdered, i a goldlaced coa, ms, ad whie silk sockigs' A hegallows ad he wheel he axe was a rariy osier

Paris, as i as he eiscoal moe amog his brotherrofessors of he rovices, osier Orleas, adhe res, o call him, resided i his daity dress Adwho amog he comay a oseiger's receioi ha seveee hre a eighieh year of orLord, col ossibly ob, ha a sysem rooe i a

frile hagma, owdered, gold-lace, med,ad whie-sik sockge, wold see he very sars o!oseiger havig eased his for me of their

brdes ad ake his chocolae, cased he oors ofhe holies of holiess o be hrow ope, ad issedforh The, wha sbmissio, wha crigig adfawig, wha seriliy, wha abjec hmiliaio! As obowig ow i body ad sir, ohig i ha waywas le for heave which may have bee oe amogoher reasos why the worshiers of oseigerever robed i

Besowig a word of romise here ad a smile here,a whiser o oe hapy slave a a wave of he ha

o aoher, oseiger aably assed throgh hisrooms o he remoe regio of he circmferece ofrh There, oseiger ed, a came backagai, ad so i e corse of ime go himself sh i his sacary by he chocolae sries, ad was seeo more

54



TE GOLDEN TREAD

Te sow being over, te tter in te air beameqite a little storm, and te preios little bells wentringing downstairs. Tere was soon bt one person

le of all te rowd, and e, wit is at nder is armand is snbox in is and, slowl passed among temirrors on is wa ot.

I devote o,' said tis person, stopping at te lastdoor on is wa, and ting in te diretion of tesantar, to te Devil!'

it tat, e sook te sn fro is ngers as if ead saken te dst from is feet, and qietl walkeddownstairs

He was a man of abot sixt, andsomely dressed,agt in manner, and wit a fae like a ne mask. Afae of a transparent paleness; ever featre in itlearl dened; one set expression on it. Te nose,beatill formed oterwise, was very sligtlpined at te top of ea nostril. In ose twoompressions, or dints, te onl little ange tat tefae ever sowed, resided. Te persisted in angingolor someties, and te wold be oasionalldilated and ontrated b someting like a faint

plsation; ten, te gave a look of treae, andrelt, to te wole ontenane. Examined witattention, its apai of elping s a look was to befond in te line of te mot, and te lines of teorbits of te ees, being m too orizontal and tin;still, in te eet te fae made, it was a andsome

fae, and a remarkable one.Its owner went downstairs into te orard, got

into is arriage, and drove awa. Not man peoplead talked wi im at te reeption; e ad stood ina little spae apart, and Monseigneur migt avebeen warmer in is manner. It appeared, under e

55



LE F W CIES

irumstanes, rather agreeabe t him t see themn pepe dispersed befre his hrses, anden barey esaping frm being rn dwn His man

drve as if he were harging an enemy, and therus rekessness f the man brght n hek intthe fae, r t the ips, f the master. he mpainthad smetimes made itsef audibe, even in that deafiy and dumb age, that, in the narrw streets withutfways, the ere patriian ustm f hard driving

endangered and maimed the mere vugar in a barbarus manner Bt, few ared enugh fr that t thinkf it a send time, and, in this matter, as in a thers,he mmn wrethes were eft t get t f theirdiuties as they ud

With a wid ratte and atter, and an inhuan

abandnment f nsideratin nt easy t be understd in these days, the arriage dashed thrughstreets and swept rnd ers, wit wensreaming befre it, and men thing eah therand lthin hildren t f its way At ast, swpingat a street er by a funtain, ne f its whees amet a sikening itte jt, and there was a d ry frma number f vies, and the hrses reared andpunged

But fr the atter innveniene, the arriageprbaby wud nt have stpped arriages wereen knwn t drive n, and eave their wundedbehind, an why nt? Bt the frghtened vaet had gt

dwn in a hrry, and there were twen hands at thehrses' bridles

What has gne wrng?' said mnsier, amyking t

A ta man in a nightap had aught p a bundem amn the feet f the hrses, and had aid it n



THE GOLDEN THREAD

te basement of te fontain, and was don in temd and wet, owing over it ike a wid anima

Pardon, onsier te arqis' said a ragged and

sbmissive man, it is a cid'Wy does e make tat abominabe noise? s it iscid?'

Excse me, onsier te arqis it is a pi yes'

Te fontain was a itte removed; for te street

opened, were it was, into a space some ten or tweveyards sqare As te ta man sddeny got p om tegrond, and came rnning at te carriage, onsierte arqis capped is and for an instant on issword-it

Ked' srieked te man, in wid desperation,extending bot arms at teir engt above is ead,and staring at im Dead'

Te peope cosed rond, and ooked at onsierte arqis Tere was noting reveaed by temany eyes tat ooked at im bt watcness andeageess; tere was no visibe menacing or angereiter did te peope say anyting; aer te rst

c, tey ad been sient, and tey remained so Tevoice of te sbmissive man wo ad spoken, as atand tame in its extreme sbmission onsier tearqis ran is eyes over tem a, as if tey adbeen mere rats come ot of teir oes

He took ot is prse

t is extraordinar to me,' said e, tat yo peopecannot take care of yorseves and yor cidren Oneor te oter of yo is for ever in te way How do know wat injry yo ave done my orses? See Giveim tat'

He trew ot a god coin for te vaet to pick p,

57



TE OF TWO CITIES

and all the heads craned forward that all the eyesmght look down at t as t fell. The tall man called outagan with a most unearthly cr, Dead!'

e was arrested by the quick arrival of another man,for whom the rest made way. On seeng hm, themserable creature fell upon hs shoulder, sobbing andcryng, and ponting to the fountan, where somewomen were stoopng over the motonless bundle,and movng gently about t. They were as slent,

however, as the men.I know all, I know all,' said the last comer. Be abrave man, my Gaspard! It is better for the poor littleplaythng to die so, than to live. It has ded n amoment without pan. Could it have lived an hour ashapply?'

You are a phlosopher, yo there,' sad the arqus,smlng. How do they call you?'

They call me Defarge.'Of what trade?'onsieur the arqus, vendor of wne. Pick up hat, phlosopher and vendor of wne,' sad

the arqus, throwing hm another gold con, and

spend it as you will. The horses there are hey right?'Wthout degnng to look at the assemblage a second

tme, onseur the arqus leaned back n hs seat,and was jst beng drven away wth the air of agentleman who had accdentally broken some commonthng, and had pad for it, and could aord to pay for it;

when hs ease was suddenly dsturbed by a con yngnto hs caage, and rnging on its oor.

old!' sad onseur the arqus. old thehorses! Wo threw that?'

e looked to the spot where Defarge the vendor ofwne had stood, a moment before but the wretched

158



U V o j i l ] V " g v d d o l S " I .



E OF WO CIIES

father was grovellng on hs fae on the pavement nthat spot and the gure that stood besde hm was thegure of a dark stout woman knttng

ou dogs sad the Marus but smoothly andwth an unhanged ont exept as to the spots on hsnose: would rde over any of you ver wllngly andextermnate you om the earth f knew whhrasal threw at the arrage and f that brgand weresuently near t he should be rushed under the

wheelso owed was ther ondton and so long and

hard ther experene of what suh a man ould do tothem wthn the law and beyond t that not a voeor a hand or even an eye was rased Among themen not one ut the woman who stood knttng

looked up steadly and looked the Marus n thefae t was not for hs dgnty to note t hsontemptuous eyes passed over her and over all theother rats and he leaned bak n hs seat agan andgave the word Go on

He was drven on and other arrages ame whrlngby n uk suesson the mnster the stateprojetor the farmergeneral the dotor the lawyerthe elesast the grand opera the omedy thewhole fany ball n a brght ontnuous ow amewhrlng by The rats had rept out of ther holes tolook on and they remaned lookng on for hourssolders and pole oen passng between them andthe spetale and makng a barrer behnd whh theyslunk and through whh they peeped The father hadlong ago taken up hs bundle and hdden hmself awaywth t when the women who had tended the bundlewhle t lay on the base of the fountan sat therewathng the runnng of the water and the rollng of

160



THE GOLDEN THRED

the fancy ba when the one woan who ad stoodconspicuous, knitting, sti knitted on wit the steadfastness of fate The water of the fountain ran, the

swi river ran, the day ran into evening, so uc lifein the city ran into death according to rule, tie andtide waited for no an, the rats were seeping closetogeter in their dark holes again, the fancy ball wasighted up at supper, all tings ran their course.

CHPTER 8

onseigneur in the Count

A beauti landscape, with the co bright in it, but

not abundant. Patches of poor rye where co shouldave been, patches of poor peas and beans, patcesof ost coarse vegetable substitutes for wheat. Oninaniate nature, as on the en and woen whocultivated it, a prevalent tendency towards an appearance of vegetating unwillingly a dejected dispositionto give up, and wither away

onsieur te arquis in his traveing carriage(which ight ave been lighter), conducted by fourposthorses and two postilions, fagged up a steep illA blush on the countenance of onsieur the arquiswas no ipeachent of his igh breeding it was noto witin it was occasioned by an extea circu

stance beyond is contro the setting sunThe sunset stuck so brllianty into the travelling

carriage when it gained the hiltop, that its occupantwas steeped in crison. It wil die out,' said onsieurthe arquis, glancing at is hands, directly'

In eect, the sun was so low tat it dipped at the

161



TE OF TWO CIIES

oent en te eavy drag ad been adjsted tote weel, and te carriage slid down ill, wit acinderos sell, in a clod o dst, te red glow

departed qickly; te sn and e Marqis goingdown togeter, tere was no glow le wen te dragwas taken o

t, tere reained a broken contry, bold andopen, a little village at te botto o te ill, a broadsweep and rise beyond it, a crctower, a windill,

a orest or te case, and a crag wit a ortress on itsed as a prison Rond pon all tese darkeningobjects as te nigt drew on, te arqis looked, witte air o one wo was coing near oe

Te village ad its one poor street, wit its poorbrewery, poor tannery, poor tave, poor stable-yard

or relay o postorses, poor ontain, all sal poorappointents It ad its poor people too All its peoplewere poor, and any o the were sitting at teirdoors, shredding spare onions and te like or spper,wile any were at te ontain, wasing leaves, andgrasses, and any sc sall yieldings o te eart tatcold be eaten Expressive signs o wat ade tepoor, were not wanting; te tax or te state, te taxor te crc, te tax or te lord, tax local and taxgeneral, were to be paid ere and to be paid tere,according to solen inscription in te little village,ntil te wonder was, tat tere was any vllage lenswallowed

Few cildren were to be seen, and no dogs As tote en and woen, teir coice on eart was statedin te prospect lie on te lowest ters tat coldsstain it, down in te little village nder te ill; orcaptivity and deat in te doinant prison on tecrag

162



TH GOLD THRAD

eralded by a corier in adance, and by thecracking of his postilions' whips, which twined snakelike abot their heads in the eening air, as if he cae

attended by the ries, Monsier the Maruis drewp in his traelling carriage at the posting-house gateIt was hard by the fontain, and the peasants suspended their operations to look at hi. e looked atthe, and saw in the, withot knowing it, the slosre ling down of isery-worn face and re,

that was to ake the eagreness of Frenchen anEnglish sperstition which shold sie the tththrogh the best part of a hndred ears

onsier he Maris cast his eyes oer the sbissie faces that drooped before hi, as the like ofhiself had drooped before Monseigneur of the

cot�

only the dierence was, that these facesdrooped erely to ser and not to propitiate whena grizzled ender of the roads joined the grop

Bring e hither that fellow!' said the Maris tothe corier.

The fellow was broght, cap in hand, and the otherfellows closed rond to look and listen, in the annerof te people at the Paris fontain.

passed yo on the road?'Monseigner, it is tre. had the honor of being

passed on the road'Coing p the hill, and at the top of the hill, both?'Monseigner, it is true.'

at did yo look at, so edly?'Monseigner, looked at the an.'e stooped a little, and with his tattered ble cap

pointed nder the carriage. All his fellows stooped tolook nder te carriage.

at an, pig? And why look tere?'



E OF WO CIIES

Pardon onseigner; he swng by the chain ofte shoe the drag'

Who?' demanded the traveller

onseigner te man'ay the devil carr away tese idiots! How do yo

all the man? Yo know all the men of this part of thecontr ho was he?'

Yor clemency onseigner! He was not of thispart of the contr Of all the days of my life I never

saw him'winging by the chain? To be socated?'With yor gracios permission that was the wonder

of it onsigner His head hanging over like this!'He td himself sideways to the carriage and

leaned back with his face thrown p to the sk and his

head hanging down; ten recovered himself mbledwit his cap and made a bowWhat was he like?'onseigner he was whiter tan te miller All

covered wit dst white as a spectre tall as aspetre!'

The pictre prodced an immense sensation in thelittle crowd; bt all eyes withot comparing noteswit other eyes looked at onsier the arqisPerhaps to observe whether he had any spectre on hisconscience.

Trly yo did well' said te arqis felicitoslysensible that sch vermin were not to re him to

see a thief accompanying my carriage and not opentat great moth of yors Bah! Pt him asideonsier abelle!'

onsier Gabelle was te postmaster and someoter taxing nctionary nited; he had come ot withgreat obseqiosness to assist at this examination and



THE GOLDEN THREAD

had held the exained by the drapery his ar in ancial anner.

Bah! G aside!' said nsieur abele.

Lay hands n this stranger i he seeks t ldge inyur village tnight, and be sure that his business ishnest, Gabele.'

nseigneur, I a attered t devte ysel tyur rders.'

Did he run away, ew? Where is that accursed?'The accursed was already under the carriage with

se hal-dzen particular riends, pinting ut thechain with his blue cap. Se hal-dzen therparticular iends prptly hauled hi ut, andpresented hi breathless t Mnsieur the Maruis.

Did the an run away, Dt, when we stpped rthe drag?'

nseineur, he precipitated hise ver the hilside, head rst, as a persn punges int the river.'

See t it, abele. G n!'The ha-dzen wh were peering at the chain were

still amng the whees, ike sheep; the wheels tueds suddenly that they were ucky t save their skins

and bnes; they had very litte else t save, r theyight nt have been s rtunate.

The burst with which the carriage staed ut thevillage and up the rise beynd, was sn checked bythe steepness the hill. Gradually, it subsided t at pace, swinging and ubering upward ang the

any sweet scents a sumer night. The pstiins,with a thusand gssaer gnats circling abut the inlieu the ries, uietly ended the pints t theashes their whips; the vaet waked by the hrses;the curier was audible, trtting n ahead int the didistance.



TE OF TWO ITIES

t te steepest point of te i tere was a itteburia-ground, wit a cross and a new arge gure ofOur Saviour on it; it was a poor gure in wood, done

by some inexperienced rustic caer, but e adstudied the gure om te ife is own ife, maybe for it was dready spare and tin

o tis distress embem of a great distress tatad ong been growing worse, and was not at its worst,a woman was kneeing Se tued er ead as thecarriage cae up to er, rose quicky, and presentedersef at te carriage-door

It is you, Monseigneur Monseigneur, a petition.'Wit an excamation of impatience, but wit is

uncangeabe face, Monseigneur ooked outHow, ten Wat is it? ways petitions'Monseigneur. For te ove of the great God My

usband, te forester'What of your usband, the forester? ways the

same wit you peope He cannot pay someting?'He as paid a, Monseigneur He is dead'We He is quiet Can I restore im to you?'as, no, Monseigneur But e ies yonder, under a

itte eap of poor grass'We?' Monseigneur, tere are so many itte eaps of poor

grass?'gain, we?'Se ooked an od woman, but was young Her

manner was one of passionate grief; by tus secasped er veinous and knotted ands togeter witwid energ, and aid one of tem on te carriagedoor tendery, caressingy, as if it ad been a umanbreast, and coud be expected to fee the appeaingtouc

66



THE GOLEN THREA

onseigneur, hear me! onseigneur, hear mypetition y husban ie of want; so many ie ofwant; so may more will ie of want'

Again, well? Can I fee them?'onseigneur, the goo Go knows; but I on't ask

it y petition is, that a morsel of stone or woo, withmy husban's name, may be place over him to showwhere he lies Otherwise, the place will be quicklyforgotten, it will never be foun when I am ea of the

same malay, I shall be lai uner some other heap ofpoor grass onseigneur, they are so many, theyincrease so fast, there is so much want onseigneur!onseigneur '

he valet ha put her away from the oor, thecarriage ha broken into a brsk trot, the postlions

ha quickene the pace, she was le far behin, anMonseigneur, again escote by the Fures, wasrapily iminishing the eague or two of istance thatremaine between him an his chteau

he sweet scents of the summer night rose allaroun him, an rose, as the rain falls, impartially, onthe usty, ragge, an toilwo group at the fountainnot far away; to whom the mener of roas, ith teai of the blue cap without which he was noting,still enlarge upon his man like a spectre, as long asthey coul bear it y egees, as they coul be nomore, they roppe o one by one, an lightstwinkle in little casements; which lights, s the

casements arkene, an ore stars came out,seeme to have shot up into the sky instea of havingbeen extinguishe

he shaow of a large highroofe house, an ofmany overhanging trees, was upon onsieur thearquis by tht time; an the shaow was exchange



E OF WO CES

for th ligh of a amba, as his carrag soppd, and gra door of his cha was opnd o him

Monsir Charls, whom I pc; is h arrid

om England?'Monsignr, no y'

CHPER 9

The Gogon 's ead

I was a hay mass of bilding, ha cha ofMonsir h Marqis, wih a larg son coryardbfor i, and wo son swps of saircas ming ina son ac bfor th principal door. A sony

bsinss aloghr, with hay son balsrads, andson s, and son owrs, and son facs of mn,and son hads of lions, in all dircions. As if hGorgon's had had sryd i, whn i was nishd,two cnris ago.

Up h broad igh of shallow sps, Monsir thMarqis, amba prcdd, wn om his carrag,scinly disrbing h darknss o lici lod rmonsranc om an owl in h roof of h gra pil ofsabl bilding away among h rs. All ls was soqi, ha h amba carrid p h sps, and tothr amba hld a h gra door, b as if thywr in a clos room of sa, insad of bing in th

opn nigh-air Ohr sond than h owl's oic rwas non, sa falling of a fonain ino is sonbasin; for, i was on of hos dark nighs tha holdhir brah by h hor ogthr, and hn ha along low sigh, and hold hir brah again.

Th gra door clangd bhind him, and Monsir

168



THE GDEN THRED

the arqs rossed a hall grm wth ertan old boarspears, swords, and knves of the hase grer whertan heavy rdngrods and rdngwhps, of whh

many a peasant, gone to hs benefator deat, had feltthe weght when hs lord was angry

Avodng the larger rooms, whh were dark andmade fast for he nght, onser the arqs, wthhs ambeabearer gong on before, went p hestarase to a door n a orrdor hs thrown open,

adtted hm to hs own prvate apartment of threerooms hs bedhamber and two others Hgh valtedrooms wth ool narpeted oors, great dogs ponthe hearhs for the bng of wood n wnter tme,and all lres bettng he state of a marqus n alros age and ontry he fashon of the last

Los bt one, of he lne that was never to break theforteenth Los was onspos n ther rhtre bt, t was dversed by many objets hatwere llstratons of old pages n the hstory of Frane

A sppertable was lad for two, n he thrd of therooms a rond room, n one of te hea's for

etngshertopped towers A small loy roo, wthts wndow wde open, and the wooden jaloseblndslosed, so that he dark nght only showed n slghthorzontal lnes of blak, alteatng wth her broadlnes of stone olor

y nephew,' sad the arqs, glang at he

spper preparaton; they sad he was not arrved'Nor was he; bt, he had bee expeted whonsegner

A! It s not probable he wll arrve tongt; nevertheless, leave the table as t s I shall be ready n aqarter of an hor'

In a qarter of an hor onsegner was ready, and



A ALE OF WO CIIES

sat dow aloe to his smptos ad choice spperHis chair was opposite to the widow, ad he hadtake his sop, ad was raising his glass of Bordeaxto his lips, whe he pt it dow

What is that?' he calmly asked, lookig with attetion at the horiotal lies of black ad stoe color

Monseiger? That?'Otside the blids Ope the blids.'It was doe

Well?'Moseiger, it is othig The trees ad the ight

are all that are here'The seant who spoke, had throw the blids

wide, had looked ot ito the vacat darkess, andstood, with that blank behid him, lookg rod for

instrctiosGood,' said the imerbable master Close them

agai'That was doe too, ad the arqis wet o with

his spper He was halay throgh it, whe he agaistoed with his glass i his had, hearig the sod

of wheels It came o briskly, ad came to the otof te chtea

sk who is arrived'It was te ephew of oseiger He had bee

soe few leages behid Monseiger, early i theaeoo He had dimiished the distace rapidly,

bt ot so raidly as to come p with Moseiger othe road He had heard of oseiger, at thepostighoses, as beig before him

He was to be told (said Moseiger) that spperawaited hi the ad there, ad that he was prayed tocoe to it I a little while he came He had bee

ow i glad as Charles Daay



THE GOLDEN THRED

Monsignr rcivd him in a cortly mannr, btthy did not shak hands.

Yo l Paris ystrday, sir?' h said to Mon-signr, as h took his sat at tabl.

Ystrday. d yo?'I com dirct.'From London?'Ys.'Yo hav bn a long tim coming,' said th

arqis, with a smil.On th contrar; I com dirct.'Pardon m! I man, not a long tim on th orny;

a long tim itnding th oy.'I hav bn dtaind by' th nphw stoppd a

momnt in his answr varios bsinss.'

Withot dobt,' said th polishd ncl.So long as a sant was prsnt, no othr words

passd btwn thm. Whn co had bn srvdand thy wr alon togthr, th nphw, looking atth nc and mting th ys of th fac that was ika n mask, opnd a convrsation.

I hav com back, sir, as yo anticipat, prsingth obct that took m away. It carrd m into ratand nxpctd pril; bt it is a sacrd obct, and ifit had carrd m to dath I hop it wod havsstaind m.'

ot to dath,' said th ncl; it is not ncssa to

say, to dath.'I dobt, sir,' rtd th nphw, whthr, if it

had carrid m to th tmost brink of dath, yowod hav card to stop m thr.

Th dpnd marks in th nos, and th ngthning of th n straight ins in th crl fac, ookd

ominos as to that; th ncl mad a gracl gstr

1 7 1



A ALE OF WO CIIS

o protest, wic was so clearly a sligt m o goodreeding tat i was no reassring.

Indeed, sir,' prsed te nepew, or anyting Iknow, yo ay ave expressly worked to give a oresspicios appearance to te sspicios circmstancestat srronded me'

o, no, no,' said te ncle, pleasantly.t, owever tat may e,' resmed te nepew,

glancing at i wit deep distrst, I know tat yordiplomacy wold stop e y any means, and woldknow no scrple as to eans.'

My riend, I told yo so,' said te ncle, wit a neplsation in te two arks. Do e te avor to recalltat I told yo so, long ago.

I recall it.'

Tank y,' said te arqis ver sweetly indeedHis one lingered in te air, almst like te tone o a

msical instrment.In eect, sir,' prsed te nepew, I elieve it to

e at once yor ad ortne, and my good ortne,tat as kept me ot o a prison in France ere'

I do not qite ndersand,' retrned te ncle,sipping is coee. Dare I ask yo to explain?'

I elieve tat i yo were not in disgrace wit tecot, and ad not een oversadowed y tat clodor years past, a letter de cachet wold ave sent e tosome ortress indenitely.'

It is possile,' said te ncle, wit great calmnessFor te onor o te aily, I cold even resolve toincommode yo to tat extent. Pray excse me!'

I perceive tat, appily or e, te reception o teday eore yesterday was, as sal, a cold one,'oserved te nepew

I wold not say appily, my iend,' reted te

I72



THE GOLDEN THRAD

une it ened poiteness; I oud not be sueof tat A ood oppotunity fo onsideation suounded by te advantaes of soitude it in

uene you destiny to fa eate advantae tan youinuene it fo yousef But it is useess to disuss tequestion I am as you say at a disadvantae Teseitte instuments of oetion tese ente aids to tepoe and onou of famiies tese sit favous tatmit so inommode you ae ony to be obtained

now by inteest and ipotunity Tey ae sout byso many and tey ae anted (ompaativey) to sofe! It used not to be so but Fane in a su tinsis aned fo te ose Ou not eote anestosed te it of ife and deat ove te suoundinvua Fom tis oo any su dos ave been

taken out to be aned in te net oo (ybedoom) one feo to ou knoede asponiaded on te spot fo pofessin some insoentdeiay espetin is daute his daute? Weave ost many piviees; a ne piosopy asbeome te mode and te assetion of ou station in

tese days mit (I do not o so fa as to say oudbut mit) ause us ea inonveniene A vey badve bad!'

Te Maquis took a ente itte pin of snu andsook is ead; as eeanty despondent as e oudbeominy be of a ounty sti ontainin isef

tat eat means of eeneationWe ave so asseted ou station bot in te odtime and in te mode tie aso' said te nepeoomiy tat I beieve ou name to be moe detestedtan any name in Fane'

Let us ope so' said te une Detestation of tei is te invounta omae of te o'

173



A ALE OF WO CITIES

Tere is not, pursued the nephew, in his foertone, a face I can look at, in all this countr roundabout us, which looks at me with any deference on it

but the dark deference of fear ad slaver.A compliment,' said te arquis, to the grandeur

of te family, merited by the manner in which thefamily has sustained its grandeur. Hah!' And he tookanoter gentle little pinch of snu, and lightly crossedhis legs.

But, when his nephew, leaning an elbow on thetable, covered his eyes thoughtlly and dejectedlywit his hand, the ne mask looked at him sidewayswit a stronger concentration of keenness, closeness,and dislke, than was comportable wth its wearersassuption of ndierence.

Repression is the only lasting philosophy. The darkdeference of fear and slaver, my frend,' obsered thearquis, will keep the dogs obedient to the whip, aslong as tis roof, looking up to it, shuts out the s.

That might not be so long as the arquis supposedIf a picture of the chteau as it was to be a ver few years

hence, and of y like it as they too were to be a verfew years hence, could have been shown to him thatnight, he might have been at a loss to claim his ownom the ghastly, recharred, plunderwrecked ruinsAs for the roof he vaunted, he might have found thatshutting out the s in a new way - to wit, for ever, om

the eyes of the bodies into which its lead was red, outof the barrels of a hundred thousand musketseanwhile,' said the Marquis, I will presere

te honour and repose of te family, if you will not.But you must be fatigued. Shall we teinate ourconference for the night?'

A moment more.

174



THE GOLDE THREAD

An hour , if o please.Sir, said the nephew, we have done wrong, and

are reaping the uits of wrong.

'We have done wrong? repeated the Marquis, withan enquiring smile, and delicatel pointing, rst to hisnephew, then to himself.

Our famil; our honourable family, whose honouris of so much account to both of us, in such dierentwas Even in m fathers time, we did a world of

wrong, inuring ever human creature who camebetween us and our pleasure, whatever it was. Whneed I speak of m fathers time, when it is equallours? Can I separate m fathers twinbrother, ointinheritor, and next successor, om himsel

Death has done that! said the Marquis.

And has le me, answered the nephew, bound toa sstem that is frightl to me, responsible for it, butpowerless in it; seeking to execute the last request ofm dear mothers lips, and obe the last look of mdear mothers ees, which implored me to have mercand to redress; and tortured b seekng assistance and

power in vainSeekng them from me, m nephew, said theMarquis, touching him on the breast with his forenger the were now standing b the hearth youwill for ever seek them in vain, be assured.

Ever ne straight line in the clear whiteness of his

face, was cruell, craily, and closely compressed,while he stood looking quietl at his nephew, with hissnuox in his hand.

Once again he touched him on the breast, as thoughhis nger were the ne point of a small sword, withwhich, in delicate nesse, he ran him through thebody, and said,

75



TLE OF TWO CIIES

y iend, will die, perpetuating the system underwhich have lived.'

When he had said it, he took a culminating pinch of

snu, and put his box in his pocket.Better to be a rational creature,' he added then,

aer ringing a small bell on the table, and accept yournatural destiny. But you are lost, onsieur Charles, see.'

This propert and France are lost to me,' said the

nephew, sadly; I renounce them.'Are they both yours to renounce? France may be,

but is the propety? It is scarcely worth mentioning;but, is it yet?'

I had no intention, in the words I used, to claim ityet. If it passed to me om you, tomorrow - '

Which I have the vanity to hope is not probable.' - or twent years hence - 'You do me too much honour,' said the aruis;

still, prefer that supposition.' - I would abandon it, and live othewise and

elsewhere. It is little to relinuish. at is it but a

wildeess of mise and uin?'Hah!' said the aruis, glancing round theluxurious room

To the ee it is fair enough, here; but seen in itsintegrity, under the sky, and by the daylight, it is acrumbling tower of waste, mismanagement, extortion,debt, motgage,

oppression, hunger, nakedness, andsu ering. '

Hah!' said the aruis again, in a wellsatised

manner.If it ever becomes mine, it shall be put into some

hands better ualied to free it slowly (if such a thingis possible from the weight that drags it down, so that

176



THE GOLDEN THREAD

the miserable people who cannot leave it and whohave been long wng to the last point of endurance,may, in another generation, sur less; but it is not for

me There is a curse on it, and on all this land'And you?' said the uncle Forgive my curiosity; do

you, under your new philosophy, graciously intend tolive?'

I must do, to live, what others of my countymen,even with nobility at their backs, may have to do

someday � work'In ngland, for example?'Yes The family honour, sir, is safe from me in is

countr The family name can suer om e in noother, for I bear it in no other'

The ringing of the bell had caused the adjoining

bedchamber to be lighted It now shone brightly,through the door of comunication The arquislooked that way, and listened for the retreating step ofhis valet

ngland is vey attractive to you, seeing how indifferently you have prospered there,' he obseved then,

tuing his calm face to his nephew with a smileI have already said, that for my prospering there, Iam sensible I may be indebted to you, sir For the rest,it is my rege'

They say, those boastl nglish, that it is terege of many You know a compatrot who hasfound a rege there? A doctor?'

Yes'ith a daughter?'Yes'Yes,' said the arquis You are fatigued Good

night!'As he bent his head in his most courtly manner, there

77



A TALE OF TWO CIIES

was a secrec in his smiling face, an he convee an airof mster to those wors, which struck the ees anears of his nephew forcibl. At the same time, the thin

straight lines of the setting of the ees, an the thinstraigt lips, an the markings in the nose, curve witha sarcasm that looke hansomel iabolic.

Yes, repeate te arquis. A octor wit adaughter. Yes So commences the new philosophy!You are fatigue. Goodnigt!

It would have been of as much avail to interrogateany stone face outside te chteau as to interrogatetat face of his. The nephew looke at him in vain, inpassing on to te door.

Goonight!' sai te uncle. I look to te pleasureof seeing ou again in te moing. Goo repose!

Ligt onsieur my nephew to his chamber tere! Ad bu onsieur my nephew in his be, if youwill,' he aed to himself, before he rang his little bellagain, and summone his valet to his own bedroom.

Te valet come an gone, onsieur the arquiswalked to an f in his loose chamberrobe, to

prepare himself gentl for sleep, that hot still nigt.Rustling about te room, his solslippere feetmaking no noise on the oor, he moved like a renedtiger - looked like some enchanted marquis of theimpenitentl wicked sort, in stor, whose perioicalchange into tiger form was eiter just going o, or just

coming onHe move from en to en of his voluptuous

bedroom, looking again at te scraps of the ay'sjouey that came unbiden into his min; te slowtoil up te hill at sunset, the setting sun, the descent,te mill, the prison on te crag, te little village in tehollow, the peasants at te fountain, an te mender



THE GOLDEN THREAD

of roads with his blue cap pointing out the chainunder the carriage That fountain suggested e Parisfountain, te little bundle lying on the step, the

women bending over it, and the tall man with hisarms up, cying, Dead!'

I am cool now,' said onsieur the arquis, andmay go to bed'

So, leaving only one light buing on the largehea, he let his thin gauze curtains fall around him,

and heard the night break its silence with a long sigh ashe composed himself to sleep

The stone faces on the outer walls stared blindly atthe black night for three heavy hours; for three heavyhours the horses in the stables rattled at eir racks,the dogs barked, and the owl made a noise with ve

little resemblance in it to the noise conventionallyassigned to the owl by menpoets But it is theobstinate custom of such creatures hardly ever to saywhat is set down for them

For three heay hours, the stone faces of thechteau, lion and human, stared blindly at the night

Dead darkness lay on all the landscape, dead darknessadded its own hush to the hushing dust on all eroads The burialplac had got to the pass that itslittle heaps of poor grass were undistinguishable fromone another; the gure on the cross might have comedown, for anything that could be seen of it n the

village, taxers and taxed were fast asleep Dreaming,perhaps, of banquets, as e stared usually do, and ofease and rest, as the driven slave and the yoked oxmay, its lean inhabitants slept soundly, and were fedand freed

The fountain in the village owed unseen and

unheard, and the fountain at the chteau dropped7



A ALE OF WO CIIES

unseen and ueard both melting away ike theminutes that were faling om the spring of time through three dark hours Then the grey water of

both began to be ghostly in the ight and the eyes ofthe stone faces of the chteau were opened

Lighter and ighter unti at ast the sun touched thetops of the stil trees and poured its radiance over thehil In the glow the water of the chteau fountainseemed to tu to blood and the stone faces

crisoned The carol of the birds was loud and highand on the weatherbeaten sill of the great window ofthe bedchamber of onsieur the arquis one ittebird sang its sweetest song with a its might At thisthe nearest stone face seemed to stare amazed andwith opened mouth and dropped underjaw ooked

awe strickenNow the sun was up and movement began in

the village Casement windows opened crazy doorswere unbarred and people came forth shivering -chiled as yet by the new sweet air Then began therarely lightened toi of the day among the vilage

popuation Some to the fountain; some to the elds;men and women here to dig and delve; men andwomen there to see to the poor live stock and leadthe bony cows out to such pasture as coud be found

by the roadside In the church and at the cross akneeing gre or two; attendant on the atter prayers

the led cow tring for a breakfast aong the weeds atits footThe chteau awoke ater as became its quaity but

awoke graduay and surely First the lonely boar

spears and knives of the chase had been reddened as ofold; then had geamed trenchant in the moingsunshine; now doors and windows were thrown

180



TH OLDN THRAD

Charle Daay! I rejoce to ee you. We havebeen countng on your retu thee three or our daypat. r Strver and Sydney Carton were bot ere

yeterday, and both made you out to be more thandue'

I am obliged to them or ther nteret n thematter,' he anwered, a little coldly a to them, thoughver warmly a to the doctor. Mi anette '

I well,' aid the doctor, a he topped hort, and

your retu wll delight u all. She ha gone out onome houehold matter, but will oon be home'

Dr anette, I knew he wa om home I took theopportunity o her being rom home, to beg to peakto you'

There wa a blank ilence.

Ye?' ad the doctor, wth evident contraintBrng your char here, and peak on.'He complied a to the char, but appeared to nd

the peaking on le eayI have had the happne, Dr Manette, o beng o

ntmate here,' o he at length began, or ome yearand a hal, that I hope the topic on whch I am aboutto touch may not '

He wa tayed by the doctor' puttng out hi handto top him hen he had kept t o a lttle whle, head, drawing t back: I Luce the topc?'

She .'It hard or me to peak o her at any tme. It i

ver hard or me to hear her poken o n that tone oyour, Charle Daay'

It a tone o erent admraton, true homage, anddeep love, Dr anette!' he ad deferentially.

There wa another blank lence bere her atherrejoined: I believe it I do you jutice; I beleve t'



TLE OF TWO CITIES

His constraint was so manifest and it was so

manifest too that it originated in an unwillingness toapproach the subject that Charles Darnay hesitated.

Shall I go on sir?'Aother blank.Yes go on'You anticipate what I would say though you

cannot kno how eaestly I say it how eaestly Ifeel it without knowing my secret heart and the

hopes and fears and anxieties with which it has longbeen laden. Dear Dr anette I love your daughterfondly dearly disinterestedly devotedly. If ever therewere love in the world I love her. You have lovedyourself; let your old love speak for me!'

The doctor sat with his face ed away and his

eyes bent on the ground. At the last words hestretched out his hand again huriedly and criedNot that sr! Let that be! I adjure you do not recallthat!'

His cy was so like a c of acal pain that it rang inCharles Daay's ears long aer he had ceased. Hemotoned ith the hand he had extended and itseemed to be an appeal to Daay to pause. The latterso received it and remained silent.

I ask your pardon' said the doctor in a subduedtone aer some moments. I do not doubt your lovingLucie; you may be satised of it.'

He tued towards him in his chair but did not lookat him or raise his eyes His chin dropped upon hishand and his white hair overshadowed his face: Have

you spoken to Lucie?'No.'Nor written?'Never.'

86



THE GOLDEN THREAD

It would be ungenerous to aect not to know thatyour seldenial is to be reerred to your considerationor her ather. Her ather thanks you'

He oered his hand but his eyes did not go wit it.I know,' said Daay, respectlly, how can I ail toknow, Dr anette, I who have seen you together omday to day, that between you and iss anette thereis an aection so unusual, so touching, so belonging tothe circumstances in which it has been nurtured, that

it can have ew parallels, even in the tendeessbetween a ather and child. I know, Dr anette howcan I ail to know

-

that, mingled with the aectionand duty o a daughter who has become a woman,there is, in her heart, towards you, all the love andreliance o inancy itsel I know that, as in herchildhood she had no parent, so she is now devoted toyou with all the constancy and eour o her presentyears and character, united to the trustlness andattachment o the early days in which you were lost toher I know perectly well that i you had been restoredto her om the world beyond this lie, you couldhardly be invested in her sight, with a more sacred

character than that in which you are always with her Iknow that when she is clinging to you, the hands obaby, girl, and woman, all in one, are round yourneck. I know that in loving you she sees and loves hermother at her own age, sees and loves you at my age,loves her mother broken hearted, loves you through

your dreadl trial and in your blessed restoration. Ihave known this, night and day, since I have ownyou in your home.'

Her ather sat silent, with his ace bent down. Hisbreathing was a little quickened but he repressed allother signs o agitation.



TE OF TWO CIIES

Dear Dr anette, aways knowing this, awaysseeing her and you with this haowed ight about you,I have forboe, and forboe, as ong as it was in the

nature of man to do it I have fet, and do even nowfee, that to bring my ove even mine between you,is to touch your histo with somehing not quite sogood as itsef But I ove her Heaven is my witnessthat I ove her!'

I beieve it,' answered her father, mouy I

have hought so before now I beieve it'But, do not beieve,' said Daay, upon whose earthe mou voice struck with a reproach sound,that if my frtune were so cast as that, being one dayso happy as to make her my wife, I must at any timeput any separation between her and you, I coud orwoud breathe a word of what I now say Besides thatI shoud know it to be hopeess, I shoud know it to bea baseness f I had any such possibiliy, even at aremote distance of years, harboured in my thoughts,and hidden in my heart if it ever had been there ifit ever coud be there - I coud not now touch thishonoured hand'

He aid his own upon it as he spokeNo, dear Dr anette Like you, a vountay exie

om France; ike you, driven om it by its distractions, oppressions, and miseries; ike you, striving toive away om it by my own exertions, and trusting ina appier ture; I ook ony to sharing your fortunes,

sharing your ife and home, and being faith to youto he death Not to divde with Lucie her prviege as

your chid, companion, and iend; but to come in aid

of it, and bind her coser to you, if such a thing can be'is touch si ingered on her faher's hand

sweng the touch for a moment, but not cody,

88



THE GOLDEN THREAD

her father rested his hands upn the arms f his chair,and lked up fr the rst time since the beginningf the cnference. A struggle was evidently in his face;

a struggle with that ccasinal lok which had atendency in it t dark dubt and dread.

Yu speak s feelingly and s manlly, CharlesDaay, that I thank yu with all my heart, and willpen all my heart r nearly s. Have yu any reasont believe that Lucie lves yu?'

Nne. As yet, nne.'Is it the immediate bject f this cndence, thatyu may at nce asceain that, with my knwledge?'

Nt even s. I might nt have the hpelness t dit fr weeks; might (mistaken r nt mistaken havethat hpelness tmrrw.'

D yu seek any guidance m me?'I ask nne, sir. But I have thught it pssible that

yu might have it in your pwer, if you shuld deem itright, t give me sme.'

D yu seek any prmise m me?'I d seek that.'hat is it?'

I well understand that, withut you, I culd have nhope. I well understand that, even if iss anette heldme at this mment in her inncent heat d nt thinkI have the presumptin t assume so much I culdretain no place in it against her lve fr her father.'

If that be s, d yu see what, n the er hand, is

invlved in it?'I understand equally well, that a wrd m her

father in any suitr's favur, wuld utweigh herselfand all the wrld. Fr which reasn, Dr anette,' said

Daay, mdestly but rmly, I would nt ask thatwrd, t save my life.'



LE OF WO CIIES

am sure of it Charles Daay, mysteries arise outof close love, as well as out of wide division; in theformer case, they are subtle and delicate, and dicult

to penetrate y daughter Lucie is, in this onerespect, such a myste to me; can make no guess atthe state of her heart'

ay ask, sir, if you think she is ' As he hesitated,her father supplied the rest

s sought by any other suitor?'

t is what I meant to say'Her father considered a little before he answered

You have seen M Carton here, yoursel r Stryveris here too, occasionally If it be at all, it can only be byone of these'

Or both,' said Daay

had not thought of both; should not think either,likely You ant a promise om me Tell me what it is't is, that if iss anette should bring to you at

any time, on her own pa, such a condence as haveventured to lay before you, you will bear testimony towhat have said, and to your belief in it hope youmay be able to think so well of me, as to urge noiuence against me I say nothing more of my stakein this; this is what ask The condition on which I askit, and which you have an undoubted right to require, will obsee immediately'

give the promise, said the doctor, without anycondition I believe your object to be, purely and

truthlly, as you have stated it I believe your intentionis to perpetuate, and not to weaken, the ties betweenme and my other and far dearer self f she should evertell me that you are essential to her perfect happiness, Iwill give he to you f there were - Charles Daay, ifthere were

0



TH GOLE THRE

Te young man ad taken is and ratelly;teir ands were joined as te doctor soke: anyfancies, any reasons, any areensions, antin

watsoever, new or old, against te man se reallyloved te direct resonsibility tereof not lying onis ead - tey sould all be obliterated for er sakeSe is everyting to me; more to me tan suerin,more to me tan wrong, more to

Well! Tis isidle talk

So strange was te way in wic e faded intosilence, and so strange is ed look wen e adceased to seak, that Daay felt s own and tucold in te and tat slowly released and droed it

You said someting to me, said Dr anette,breang into a smle at was it you said to me?

He was at a loss how to answer, untl e rememberedaving soken of a condition Relieved as is mindreverted to that, e answered Your condence in meougt to be retued wit ll condence on my arty resent name, tough but sligtly caned ommy moters, is not, as you will remember, my own Iwis to tell you wat that is, and wy I am in England

Sto! said te Doctor of BeauvaisI wis t, tat I may te better deserve your

condence, and ave no secret om youSto!For an nstant, te doctor even ad s two ands at

is ears; for anoter instant, even ad is two ands

laid on Darnays lipsTell me wen I ask you, not now If your suit

sould prosper, if Lucie sould love you, you sall tellme on your arriage moing Do you romise?

Willingly

Give me our and Se will be ome drectly, and



TLE OF TWO CITIES

t s better she should not see us together tonght Go!

God bless you!'It was dark when Charles Daay le hm, and t

was an hour later and darker when Lue ame homeshe hurred nto the room alone for ss Pross hadgone straght upstars and was surprsed to nd hsreadnghar empty

y father!' she alled to hm Father dear!'Nothng was sad n answer, but she heard a low

hammerng sound n hs bedroom Passng lghtlyaross the ntermedate room, she looked n at hsdoor and ame nnng bak frghtened, ryng toherself, wth her blood al led, hat sa I doWhat shall I do!'

Her uneanty lasted but a moment she hurred

bak, and tapped at hs door, and soly alled to hmThe nose eased at te sound of her voe, and hepresently ame out to her, and tey walked up anddown together for a long tme

She ame down om her bed, to look at hm n hssleep that nght He slept heavly, and hs tray ofshoemakng tools, and hs old unnshed work wereall as usual

CHPTER

A C01zpanion Picture

Sy dney,' sad r Stryver, on that selfsame nght, ormong, to hs akal mx another bowl of punh I

have somethng to say to you'Sydney had been working double tdes that nght,

and te nght before, and the nght before that, and a



THE OLDEN THREAD

good many nighs in succession, makng a gandclearance among r Srver's papers before heseing in of he long vacaion e clearance was

eeced a las; he Srver arrears were handsomelyfeched up; evehing was go rid of unil Novembershould come wih is fogs amospheric and fogs legal,

and bring gris o he mill againSydney was none he livelier and none he soberer

for so much applicaion I had aken a deal of exra

weowelling o pull him hrough he nigh; a correspondingly exra uanity of wine had preceded heowelling; and he was in a very damaged condiion, ashe now pulled his urban o and hrew i ino the basinin which he had seeped i a inerals for the las sixhours

Are you mixing tha oher bowl of punch?' saidSver he porly, wih his hands in his waisband,glancing round from he sofa where he lay on his back

am'Now, look here! I am going o ell you something

ha will raer surprise you, and ha perhaps will

make you hink me no uie as shrewd as you usuallydo hink me I inend o mar'D you?'Yes And no for money Wa do you say now?'I don' feel disposed o say much o is she?'Guess'Do I know her?'Guess'I am no going o guess, a ve o'clock in the

moing, wih my brains ying and spuering in myhead If you wan me o uess, you mus ask me odinner'

Well then, I'll ell you,' said Sryver, coming slowly

3




int a sttg psture Sydney, I rather despair fmaking myself intelligible t yu, because yu aresuch an insensible dg'

d yu,' returned Sydney, busy cnccting thepunch, are such a sensitive and petical spirit'

Cme!' rejined Stver, laughing bastlly,thugh I dn't prefer any claim t being the sul fRmance (fr I hpe I knw better, still I am atenderer srt f fellw than you.

Yu are luckier, if yu mean that'I dn't mean that I mean I am a man f mre

mre - 'Say gallantr, while yu are abut it,' suggested

Catn.Well! I'll say gallant y meaning is that I am a

man,' said Stver, inating himself at his iend as hemade the punch, wh cares mre t be agreeable,wh takes mre pains t be agreeable, wh knwsbetter hw t be agreeable, in a wman's sciet, thanyu d'

G n,' said Sydney Cartn

N; but befre I g n,' said Stver, shaking hishead in his bullying way, I'll have this ut with yuYu've been at Dr anette's huse as much as I have,r mre than I have y, I have been ashamed f

yur mrseness there! Yur manners have been fthat silent and sullen and hangdg kind, that, upn mylife and sul, I have been ashamed f yu, Sydney!'

It shuld be ve benecial t a man in yur practiceat the bar, t be ashamed f anything,' retuedSydney; yu ught t be much bliged t me'

Yu shall nt get in that way,' rejined Stver,shuldering the rejinder at him; n, Sydney, it's mydut y t tell yu and I tell yu t yur face t d yu

4





LE OF WO CIIES

You mae metion of te young lay as a goldenaie oll. Te young lay is Miss Manette. f youd been a fellow of any sensitiveness o deliay of

feeling in that kind of way, Sydney, migt ave beena little esentl of you employing su a designation;but you ae not. You want tat sense altogete;teefoe am no moe annoyed wen tink of teepession, tan soul be annoye by a mansopinion of a pitue of mine, wo ad no eye fo

pitues: o of a piee of musi of mine, wo ad noea fo musi

Sydney aton dank te pun at a geat ate;dank it by bumpes, looking at is fiend.

Now you know all about it, Sy, said M Styve. ont ae about fotune: se is a aming eatue,

nd ave mae up my mind to please myself: on tewole, think n aod to please myself Se willave in me a man leay petty well o, and a apidlyising man, and mn of some distintion: it is a pieeof good fotune fo e, but se is woty of goodfotune Ae you astonised?

Caton, still dinking te pun, ejoined, ysould be astonised?

You ppove?Caton, still dinking te pun, ejoined, y

sould not appove?ell! sai is ien Stve, you take it moe

easily tan I fanied you would, an ae less meena

on my bealf tan tougt you woul be; toug, tobe sue, you know well enoug by tis time tat youanient um is a man of a petty stong will Yes,Sydney, ave ad enoug of tis style of life, wit noote as a ange fom it; I feel tat it is a pleasantting fo a man to ave a ome wen e feels inline



THE GOLDEN THREAD

to o to it (wen e oesnt, e an stay away), an Ieel tat Miss Manette will tell well in any station, anwill always o me eit. So I ave ae up my min.

An now, yney, ol boy, I want to say a wo to youabout your pospets. ou ae in a ba way, you know;you eally ae in a ba way. ou ont know te valueo money, you live a, youll knok up one o teseays, an be ill an poo; you eally out to tinkabout a nuse.

Te pospeous patonae wit wi e sai it,mae im look twie as bi as e was, an ou timesas oensive.

Now, let me eommen you, pusue Stve, tolook it in te ae. I ave looke it in te ae, in myieent way; look it in te ae, you, in you ieent

way. May. Povie someboy to take ae o you.Neve min you avin no enjoyment o womenssoiety, no unestanin o it, no tat o it. Finout someboy. Fin out some espetable womanwit a little popey someboy in te lanlay way,o loinlettin way an may e, aainst a ainyay. Tats te kin o tin o you Now ink o it,Syney.

Ill tink o it, sai Syney.




CHAPTER 2

The Felw of Delicacy

M Stve aving made up is mind to tat magnanimous bestowal of good fotune on te dotosdaugte, esolved to make e appiness known to

e befoe e le town fo te long vaation Aesome mental debating of te point, e ame to teonlusion tat it would be as well to get all tepeliminaies done wit, and te ould ten aangeat tei leisue wete e sould give e is and aweek o two befoe Miaelmas tem, o in te little

istmas vaation between it and ila.As to te stengt of is ase, e ad not a doubtabout it, but leal saw is wa to te vedit guedwit te u on substantial woldl gounds � teonl gounds eve wot taking into aount � it was aplain ase, and ad not a weak spot in it e alledimself fo te plainti, tee was no getting ove isevidene, te ounsel fo te defendant tew up isbief, and te u did not even tu to onside Aetig it, Stve, J., was satised tat no plainease ould be

Aodingl, M Stve inauguated te longvaation wit a fomal poposal to take Miss Manette

to Vauall Gadens at failing, to Ranelag tatunaountabl failing too, it beoved im to pesentimself in Soo, and tee delae is noble mind

Towads Soo, teefoe, M Stve souldeedis wa om te Temple, wile te bloom of te longvaations infan was still upon it Anbod wo ad










O de yes! Yes O yes yue eligible! sid My f yu sy eligible yu e eligible

' 1 nt pspeus? sked StyveO! if yu cme t pspeus yu e pspeus

sid M yAnd dvncing? f yu cme t dvncing yu kw sid M y

deligted t be ble t make ante dmissinnbdy cn dubt tt

Ten wt n et is yu mening M Ly?demnded Stve peceptibly cestfllen

ell! 1 ee yu ging tee nw? sked MLy

Stigt! sid Stve wit plump f is st nte desk.

Ten 1 tink 1 wuldnt if ws yuy? said Ste Nw ll put yu in ce

fensiclly sking fenge t im Yu e mn f business nd bund t ve esn Stteyu esn y wuldnt yu g?

Becuse sid M Ly wuldnt g n suc n

bect witut ving sme cause t believe tt 1suld succeed

Dn me! cied Styve but tis beats eveingM glnced t te distnt use nd glnced

t te ngy Styveees a mn f business man f yes mn

f epeience in bnk sid Styve nd vingsummed up tee leding esns f cmplete success e says tees n esn t ll! Sys it wit ised n! M Styve emaked upn te peculiity sif it wuld ve been innitely less emkble if ed sid it wit is ed

en 1 spek f success 1 spek f success wit te

202



THE GOLDEN THREAD

youn lady; and wen speak of auses and resons tomake suess probable, speak of auses and reasonstt wll tell as su wt te youn lady. e youn

lady, my ood sr, sad Mr Lorry, mldly t teStver r, te youn lady Te youn lady oesbefore all

Ten you me to tell me, M Lorry, sad Stryver,suarn s elbows, tat t s your delberate opnontat te youn lady at present n ueston s mnn

fool?Not eatly so mean to tell you, Mr Stryver, sad

Mr Lorr, reddenn, tat wll ear no dsrespetlword of tat youn lady om any lps and tat f Iknew ny man w ope do not wose tastewas so oarse, and wose temper was so overbern,

tat e ould not restran mself om spekndsrespetlly of tat youn lady at ts desk, not evenTellsons sould prevent my vn m a pee of mymnd

Te neessty of ben anry n a suppressed tonead put Mr Stryvers bloodvessels nto a dnerousstate wen t was s tu to be an Mr Loysvens, metodal as ter ourses ould usually be,were n no better state now t was s tu.

Tat s wat mean to tell you, sr, sad r LorrPray let tere be no mstke about t

Mr Styver suked te end of a ruler for a lttlewle, and ten stood ttn a tune out of s teetwt t, w probably ave m te toote. ebroke te awkward slene by sayn: Ts s sometn new to me, Mr Lor You delberately advseme ot to o up to Soo and oer myself myselStryver of te Kns Ben bar?

Do you sk me for my adve, Mr Styver?

203



LE OF WO CIIES

Ys, 1 o'Vy goo Thn 1 gv t, an you hav pat t

otly'

A all 1 an say of t s,' laugh Stv wth av laugh, that ths ha, ha bats vthngpast, psnt, an to o'

ow unstan ,' pusu M oy As a

an of busnss, 1 a not just n sayng anythngabout ths matt, fo, as a an of busnss, 1 kow

notng of t ut, as an ol fllow, who has aMss Mantt n hs as, who s th tust n ofMss Mantt an of h fat too, an who has agat aton fo th bot, 1 hav spokn Thonn s not of y sking, ollt Now, youthnk 1 ay not b ght?'

ot I!' sa Sv, whstlng I an't untak to th pats n oon sns 1 an only n tfo yslf I suppos sns n tan quats yousuppos nng baanbutt nonsns It's nwto , but you a ght, I a say'

What I suppos, M Stv, 1 la to haatsfo yslf unstan , s,' sa M Lo,qukly ushng agan, I wll not not vn atllson's hav t aats fo by anygntlan bathng'

h! 1 bg you paon!' sa StyvGant Thank you Wll, M Stv, I was

about to say t ght b panl to you to nyouslf stakn, t t b panl to D Manttto av th task of bng plt wth you, t ght bvy panl to Mss Mantt to av th task of bngplt w you You know th ts upon whh 1

hav th honou an happnss to stan wth thfaly If you plas, ottng you n no way,

204



THE GOLDEN THRAD

represetig you i o way, will udertake to correctmy advice by the exercise of a little ew obsevatioad judgemet expressly brought to bear upo it. f

you should the be dissatised with it, you ca but testits soudess for yourself if, o the other had, youshould be satised with it, ad it should be hat itow is, it may spare all sides hat is best spared Whatdo you say?

'How log would you keep me i tow?

'Oh! t is oly a questio of a few hours. I could goto Soho i the eveig, ad come to your chambersaeards

'he say yes, sai Styver: wot go up thereow, am ot so hot upo it as that comes to sayyes, ad shall expect you to look i toight. Good

moig.The Mr Strver tued a burst out of the bak,

causig such a cocussio of air o his passagethrough, that to stad up agaist it bowig behid thetwo couters, required the utmost remaiig streghof the two aciet clerks.

Those veerable ad feeble persos were alwayssee by the public i the act of bowig, a werepopularly believed, whe they had bowed a customerout, still to keep o bowig i the empty oce utilthey bowed aother customer i.

The barrister was kee eough to divie that the

baker woul ot have goe so far i his expressio ofopiio o ay less solid groud tha moral certaity.prepare as he was for the large pill he ha tosallow, he got it dow. ' ow, sai r Styver,shakig his foresic foreger at he emple igeeral, whe it as o, 'my way out of his, is, toput you all i the wrog.



A TAL F TW CITIS

was a b of the ar of a Ol Baley acca, whch he fou grea relef. 'You shall o pu me he wrog, youg lay , sa Mr Syver 'll o tha

for you.Accorgly, whe Lorry calle ha gh as

lae as e oclock, Srver, amog a quaty ofbooks a papers lere ou for he purpose, seemeo have ohg less o hs m ha he subjec ofhe mog. He eve showe surprse whe he saw

Lor, a was alogeer a abse a preoccupe sae.

'Well! sa ha gooaure emssary, aer a llhalfhour of booless aemps o brig hm rou othe queso. ' have bee o Soho.

'To Soho? repeae Sryver, colly 'Oh, o be

sure! Wha am hkg of!'A have o oub, sa Mr Lorry, 'ha was

righ he coversao we ha. My opo scorme, a reerae my avce.

assure you, reue Mr Srver, he ielesway, 'ha am sor for o your accou, a sorry

for o he poor fathers accou. kow ths musalways be a sore subjec wh he famly le us say omore abou .

' o uersa you, sa Mr Lorry.' are say o, rejoe Styver, og hs hea

a smoohg a al way 'o maer, o maer.'Bu oes maer, Mr Lorry urge'No oes assure you oes Havg

suppose ha there as sese where here s o sese,a a lauable ambo where here s o a lauableambo, am well ou of my msake, a o harm soe. Youg wome have comme smlar follesoe before, a have repee hem povey a

6



T GOLDN TRAD

obscurity oe before. a uselsh aspect, amsory that he thig is dropped, because i would havebee a bad thig for me i a worldly poit of view i

a selsh aspect, am glad hat the hig has dropped,because it would have bee a bad hig for me i aworldly poit of view it is hardly ecessay to say could have gaied othig by it. There is o ham atall doe. have ot proposed to the youg lady, ad,betwee ourselves, am by o eas certai, o

reecio, tha ever should have committed myselfo ha exte. Mr Lorry, you caot cotrol themicig vaities ad giddiesses of emptyheadedgirls you must ot expect to do i, or you will alwaysbe disappoied. Now, pray say o ore abou i tellyou, regret i o accou of others, but am satised

o my ow accou. Ad am really vey muchobliged to you for allowig me o soud you, ad forgivig me your advice you kow the youg lady betterha do you were right, it ever would have doe.

Mr Lory was so ake aback, hat he looked quitestupidly at Mr Styver shoulderig him towards the

door, with a appearace of showerig geerosity,forbearace, ad goodwill, o his errig head 'Makethe best of i, my dear sir, said Sryver 'say o moreabou it thak you agai for allowig me to soudyou goodight!

Mr Lory was out i the ight, before he kewwhere he was. Stryver was lyig back o his sofa,wikig at his ceilig.

7



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

CHAPTR

The Feow of No Delicacy

If Se arto ever shoe aywhere, he certailever shoe i the house of Dr Maette. He ha beethere oe, durig a whole ear, a ha alwas bee

the same ooy a orose louger there. e hecare to talk, he talke well but, the clou of carigfor othig, which overshaowe hi with such afatal arkess, was very rarel pierce by the lightwithi him.

A yet he i care soethig for the streets that

eviroe that house, a for the seseless stoes thatmae their aveets Ma a ight he vaguely auappily wadere there, whe wie ha brought otrasitoy glaess to hi ay a reary aybreakreveale his solitary gure ligerig there, a stillligerig there whe the rs beas of he su brought

ito strog relief, removed beauties of architecture ispires of churches a loy builigs, as perhaps thequiet time brought soe sese of better thigs, elseforgotte ad uattaiable, ito his mi. Of late, theeglecte bed i the Teple our ha kow himmore scatily tha ever a oe whe he hathrow himself upo it o loger tha a few iutes,he ha got u agai, ad haute that eighbourhoo.

O a ay i August, whe Mr Sryver (aer otiigto his jackal that 'he had thought better of thatmaryig ater ) ha carried his elicacy ito Devoshire, a whe he sight a scet of owers i theCit streets ha some waifs of gooess i them for

8



THE GOLDEN THREAD

the worst, of health for the sickliest, ad of youth forthe oldest, Sdeys feet still trod those stoes Frombeig irresolute ad purposeess, his feet became

aimated b a itetio, ad, i the workig out ofthat itetio, they took him to the doctors door

He was sow upstairs, ad foud Lucie at herwork, aloe She had ever bee quite at her ease withhim, ad reived him with some little embarrassmetas he seated imself ear her table But, lookig up at

his face i the iterchage of the rst few commoplaces, she observed a chage i it

' fear you are ot well, Mr arto!'No But the life lead, Miss Maette, is ot

coducive to health What is to be expected of, or by,such proigates?

's it ot - forgive me have begu the questio omy lips - a pity to live o better life?

'God kows it is a shame!'The why ot chage it?Lookig getly at him agai, she was surprised ad

saddeed to see that there were tears i his eyes There

were tears i his voice too, as he aswered: 't is toolate for that shall ever be better tha am shallsik lower, ad be worse

He leaed a elbow o her table, ad covered hiseyes with his had The table trembled i the silecethat followed

She had ever see him soeed, ad was muchdistressed He kew her to be so, without lookig ather, ad said: 'Pray forgive me, Miss aette breakdow before the kowledge of what wat to say toyou Will you hear me?

'f it will do you ay good, Mr arto, if it wouldmake you happier, it would make m very glad!

9



A TA F TW CITIS

God bless you for your swee compassio!He ushaded his face aer a lile while, ad spoke

seadily.

'Do be aaid o hear me. Do shrik omaythig say. am like oe who died youg. All mylife migh have bee.

'No, Mr aro. am sure ha he bes par of imigh sill be am sure ha you migh be much,much worhier of yourself.

Say of you, Miss Maee, ad although kowbeer - alhough i he myser f my ow wrechedhea kow beer - shall ever forge i!

She was pale ad tremblig. He came o her reliefi a xed despair of himself which made heierview ulike ay other ha could have bee

holde.f i had bee possible, Miss Maee, ha you

could have reued the love of the ma you see beforeyou - selfug away, wased, druke, poor creaureof misuse as you kow him o be - he would have beecoscious his day ad hour, i spie of his happiess,

ha he would brig you o miser, brig you o sorrowad repeace, bligh you, disgrace you, pull youdo wih him kow ver well tha you ca have oedeess for me ask for oe am eve hakltha i cao be.

'Wihou i, ca o save you, Mr aro? a o recall you forgive me agai - o a beer course?a i o way repay your codece? kow his is acodece, she modesly said, aer a lile hesiaio,ad i eaes ears, ' kow you would say his o ooe else. a u i o o good accou for yourself,Mr aro?

He shoo his head.

2O



THE GOLDEN THREAD

'To oe. No, Miss aette, to oe. If you illhear me through a vey little more, all you ca ever ofor me is oe. I ish you to ko that you have bee

the last ream of my soul. I my degraatio I haveot bee so degrae but that the sight of you ithyour father, a of this home mae such a home byyou, has stirre ol shaows that I thought ha ieout of me. Sice I ke you, I have bee trouble bya remorse that I thought oul ever reproach me

agai, a have hear whispers fro ol voices impellig me upar, that I thought ere silet for ever. Ihave had ume ieas of strivig afresh, beiigaew, shakg o sloth a sesuality, a htigout the abadoe ght. A ream, all a ream, thateds i othig, a leaves the sleeper here he lay

o, but I wish you to ko that you ispire it.'Will othig of it remai? 0 M arto, thikagai! Tr agai!

No, Miss Maette all through it, I have omyself to be quite uesevig. d yet I have ha theweakess, a have still the weakess, to ish you to

kow ith what a sue master you kile me,heap of ashes that I am, ito re a re, hoever, iseparable i its ature from myself, quickeig othig,litig othig, oig o service, idly buig aay.

'Sice it is my misfortue, Mr ato, to havemae you more uhappy tha you ere before youke me

Dot say that, Miss Maette, for you oul havereclaime me, if ahig coul. You will ot be thecause of my becomig orse.

'Sice the state of your mi that you descrbe, is, atall evets, attributable to some iuece of mie thisis hat I ea, if I ca make it plai ca I use o

2



A TAE OF TO CITIES

iece to see yo? Have I o power for good, withyo, at all?

'T he tost good that I a capable of ow, Miss

Maette, I have coe here to realise. Let e carythrogh the rest of y isdirected life, the reebrace that I opeed y heat to yo, last of allthe world ad that there was soethig le i e atthis tie which yo cold deplore ad pity.

'hich I etreated yo to believe, agai ad agai,

ost feetly, with all y heat, was capable of betterthigs, Mr ato!

'Etreat e to believe it o ore, Miss Maette. Ihave proved yself, ad I kow better. I distress yoI draw fast to a ed. Will yo let e believe, whe Irecall this day, that the last codece of y life was

reposed i yor pre ad iocet breast, ad that itlies there aloe, ad will be shared by o oe?

'If that will be a cosolatio to yo, yes.'Not eve by the dearest oe ever to be kow to

yo?'r Caro, she aswered, aer a agitated

pase, 'the secret is yors, ot ie ad I proiseto respect it.'Thak yo. d agai, God bless yo.He pt her had to his lips, ad oved towards the

door.'Be der o apprehesio, Miss Maette, of y

ever resig this coversatio by so ch as apassig word. I will ever refer to it agai. If I weredead, that cold ot be srer tha it is hecefoh. Ithe hor of y death, I shall hold sacred the oe goodreebrace - ad shall thak ad bless yo for it -that y lst avowal of yself was ade to yo, adthat y ae, ad falts, ad isries were getly

22



THE GOLDE THREAD

carried i your heart. May it otherwise be light adhappy!

He was so ulike what he had ever show himself to

be, ad it was so sad to thik how much he hadthrow away, ad how much he every day kept dowad perverted, that Lucie Maette wept moullyfor him as he stood lookig back at her.

'Be comforted! he said, ' am ot worth such feelig,Miss Maette. hour or two hece, ad the low

compaios ad low habits that scor but yield to,will reder me less worh such tears as those, tha aywretch who creeps alog the streets. Be comforted!But, withi myself, shall always be, towards you,what am ow, though outwardly shall be what youhave heretofore see me. The last supplicatio but oe

make to you, is, that you will believe this of me.' will, Mr arto.'My last supplicatio of all, is this ad with it, will

relieve you of a visitor with whom well kow you haveothig i uiso, ad betwee whom ad you there isa impassable space. t is useless to say it, kow, butit rises out of my soul. or you, ad for ay dear to you, would do aythig. f my career were of that betterkd that there was ay opportuity or capacity ofsacrice i it, would embrace ay sacrice for youad for those dear to you. Try to hold me i yourmid, at some quiet times, as ardet ad sicere ithis oe thig. The time will come, the time ill ot belog i comig, whe ew ties will be formed aboutyou ties hat will bid you yet more tederly adstrogly to the home you so ado he dearest tiesthat will ever grace ad gladde you. 0 Miss Maette,whe the little picture of a happy fathers face looks upi yours, whe you see your ow bright beauty

3



TL OF TWO CITIS

sprgg up aew at your feet, thk ow ad thethat there s a ma who would gve hs lfe, to keep a lfeyou love besde you!

He sad, Farewell! sad a last 'God bless you! adle her

CHPTR 4

The Honest Trdesman

To the eyes of r Jeremah rucher, sttg o hsstool Fleet Street wth hs grsly urch besde hm,a vast umber ad varety of objects movemetwere every day preseted. \ho could st upo ay

thg Fleet Street durg the busy hours of the day,ad ot be dazed ad deafeed by two mmeseprocessos, oe ever tedg wesard wth the su,the other ever tedg eastward from the su, bothever tedg to the plas beyod the rage of red adpurple where the su goes dow!

Wth hs straw hs mouth, r rucher satwatchg the o streams, lke the heathe rustcwho has for several cetures bee o duty watchgoe stream savg that Jerry had o expectato ofther ever rug dry Nor would t have bee aexpectato of a hopel kd, sce a small part of hscome was derived om the potage of tmdwome (mostly of a ll habt ad past the mddleterm of lfe) from Tellsos sde of the tdes to theopposte shore Brief as such compaoshp was eve separate stace, r rucher ever faled tobecome so terested the lady as to express astrog desre to have the hoour of drikg her very

24



HE GOLDEN HREAD

good health. Ad it was from the gis bestowed upohim towards the executio of this beevolet purpose,that he recruited his aces, as just ow observed.

Time was, whe a poet sat upo a stool i a publicplace, ad mused i the sight of me. Mr Crucher,sittig o a stool i a public place, but ot beig apoet, mused as little as possible, ad looked abouthim.

t fell out that he was thus egaged i a seaso whe

crowds were few, ad belated woe few, ad whehis aairs i geeral were so uprosperous as toawake a strog suspicio i his breast that MrsCrucher must have bee 'oppig i some poitedmaer, whe a uusual cocourse pourig dowFleet Street westward, attracted his attetio. Lookig

that way, Mr Crcher made out that some kid oferal was comig alog, ad that there was popularobjectio to this eral, which egedered uproar.

Youg Jerry, said Mr Crucher, tuig to hisosprig, its a buryi

'Hooroar, father! cried Youg Jerry.The youg getlema uttered this exultat soud

with mysterious sigicace. he elder getlematook the c so ill, that he watched his opportuity,ad smote the youg getlema o the ear.

What dye mea? What are you hooroarig at?What do you wat to cowe to your ow father, youyoug p? This boy is a gettig too may for me! saidMr Crucher, surveyig him. Him ad his hooroars!Dot let me hear o more of you, or you shall feelsome more of me. Dye hear?

' wat doig o harm, Youg Jerry protested,rubbig his cheek.

'Drop it the, said Mr Crcher; 'I wot have

25





HE GOLDEN HREAD

'Why, to be sure! exclaimed Jey, recallig the trialat which he had assisted. 've see him. Dead, is he?

Dead as mutto, retured the other, 'ad cat be

too dead. Have em out, there! Spies! Pull em out,there! Spies!

The idea was so acceptable i the prevalet abseceo ay idea that the crowd caught it up with eageess,ad loudly repeatig the suggestio to have em out,ad to pull em out, mobbed the two vehicles so

closely that they came to a stop. O the crowdsopeig the coach doors, the oe mourer scued outo himsel ad was i their hads or a momet but hewas so alert, ad made such good use o his time, thati aother momet he was scourig away up a bystreet, aer sheddig his cloak, hat log hatbad,

white pockethadkerchie ad other symbolicaltearsThese the people tore to pieces ad scattered ar

ad wide with great ejoymet, while the tradesmehurriedly shut up their shops or a crowd i thosetimes stopped at othig, ad was a moster muchdreaded. They had already got the legth o opeigthe hearse to take the co out, whe some brightergeius proposed istead, its beig escorted to its destiatio amidst geeral rejoicig. Practical suggestiosbeig much eeded, this suggestio too, was receivedwith acclamatio, ad the coach was immediatelylled with eight iside ad a doze out while as may

people got o the roo o the hearse as could by ayexercise o igeuiy stick upo it. Amog the rst othese voluteers was Jerry rucher himsel, whomodestly cocealed his spiky head rom the observatio o Tellsos i the rther coer o he mouig coach.




The ociatig dertakers made some protestagaist these chages i the ceremoies bt, the riverbeig alarmigly ear, ad several voices remarkig o

the ecacy of cold immersio i brgig refractorymembers of the professio to reaso, the protest wasfait ad brief. The remodelled processio started,with a chimeysweep drvig the hearse advised bythe relar driver, who was perched beside him, derclose ispectio, for the ppose ad with a piema,

also atteded by his cabiet miister, drivig themoig coach. A bearleader, a poplar streetcharacter of the time, was impressed as a additioaloamet, before the cavalcade had goe far dow theStrad ad his bear, who was black ad very mag,gave qite a dertakg air to that pa of the

processio i which he walked.Ths, with beerdrikg, pipesmokg, sog

roarig, ad iite caricatrig of woe, the disorderly processio wet its way, recritig at everstep, ad all the shops shttig p before it. tsdestiatio was the old chrch of St Pacras, far off i

the elds. t got there i corse of time isisted opoig ito the brialgrod ally, accomplishedthe itermet of the deceased Roger ly i its oway, ad highly to its ow satisfactio.

The dead ma disposed of, ad the crowd beigder the ecessiy of providig some other etertaimet for itself, aother brighter geis (or perhaps thesae) coceived the hmor of impeachig casalpassersby, as Old Bailey spies, ad wreakig vegeace o them. hase was give to some scores ofioesive persos who had ever bee ear the OldBailey i their lives, i the realisatio of this facy,ad they were rog hly hstled ad maltreated The

28





A TAE OF TWO CITIES

tasto to the spot of widowbeakig, adthece to the pludeig of publichouses, was easya atual At last, ae seveal hous, whe sudy

summehouses had bee pulled dow, a someaeaailigs had bee to up, to a the moebelligeet spiits, a umou got about that the Guaswee comig Befoe this umou, he cowd gaduallymelted away, ad pehaps the Guads came, adpehaps hey eve came, ad this was the usual

pogess of a mob uche i ot assist at the closig spots,

but had emaied behid i the chuchyad, to cofea coole with the udetakes. The place had asoothig iuece o him He pocued a pipe fom aeighbouig publichouse, ad smoked it, lookig i

at the ailigs a matuely cosideig the spot'Jey, said uche, apostophisig himself ihis usual way, 'you see that hee ly that ay, ad yousee with you ow eyes that he was a youg u a astaight mae u

Havig smoked his pipe out, ad rumiated a little

loge, he tued himself about, hat he might appea,befoe the hou of closig, o his statio at Tellsos.Whethe his meditatios o moality had touchedhis live, o whehe his geeal health had beepeviously at all amiss, o whethe he desied to showa lit tle attetio to a emiet ma, is ot so much tothe pupose, as that he made a shot call upo hismedical advise - a distiguished sugeo o his wayback

oug Jey elieved his fathe with dutil iteest,a epoed No job i his absece The bak closed,the aciet cleks came out, the usual watch was set,ad uche a his so wet home to tea

22



THE GOLDEN THREAD

'Now, I tell you where it is! said r Cuncer tohis wife, on eterng. 'If, as a hoest traesman, mywenturs goes wrong tonight, I sall make sure tt

youve been praying again me, and I sall ork youfor it just the same as if seen you do it.

The dejected rs Cuncher shook her he.'Wy, youre at it afore my face! said r Cuncer,

wit signs of angy apprehensio.'I am saying oting.

'Well, the; dont editate othig. You might aswell op as eitate. You ay as well go gain meoe way as noter. Drop it altogether.

'Yes, Jerr.'Yes, Jerr, repeate r Cruncher, sitting own to

te. 'A! t is yes, Jery. Thats about it. You may sy

ye, Jerry. Cuncher ha no paticular eaning in tesesulky corroboration, but ade use of them, as peoplenot unequently o to express geerl ironical issatisfaction.

'You and your yes Jery, said r Cruncher, takinga bite out of his breadanbutter and seeming to helpit down with a large invisble oyster out of his saucer.'! I think o. I believe you.

'Y ou are going out tonight? asked his ecent ife,when he took anoter bite.

'Yes, I am.'ay I go with you, fater? asked his son, brskly.'o, you aynt. I a going - as yor mother

knows a shig. Thats here I going to. Going ashing.

'our shigrod gets rayther rusty dont it, father?'Never you in.'Shall you brng ay sh home, fther?

22



A TA O TWO CITIS

'If I on youll have shor commons tomorrowretue tha gentleman shaing his hea; 'thatsquesions enough for you; I aint a going out ill

youve been long abe.He evote himself uring the remainer of the

evening to eeping a most vigilant watch on MrsCruncher and sullenly holing her in conversationthat she migh be prevente om meitating anypeitions o his disavantage. With his view he urged

his son to hold her in conversaion also and le theunforunae woman a har life by welling on anycauses of complaint he coul bring against her raherthan he would leave her for a moment to her ownreections. he evoues person could have reneredno greaer homage o he ecacy of an honest prayer

than he id in his istrus of his wife. It was as if aprofesse unbeliever in ghosts shoul be frightened bya ghos sor.

'And mind you! said Mr Cruncher 'No gamesomorrow! If I as a hones raesman succeed inproviing a jine of mea or two none of your noouching of it an sticking to brea. If I as a honesttraesman am able to provde a little beer none ofyour eclaring on water. When you go to Rome o asRome oes. Rome will be a ugly cusomer o you ifyou on. m your Rome you know.

hen he began grumbling again: 'With your yinginto he face of your own wiles an rin! I ontknow how scarce you mayn mae the witles anrin here by your opping trics an your unfeelingconuc oo at your boy: he is yourn aint he? Hesas thin as a lath. Do you call yourself a moher an notknow tha a others rst duty is o blow her boy ou?

his ouche Young Jerry on a tener place; who

222



HE OLDEN HREAD

ajure his oher o per her rs uy, an,whaever else she i or neglece, above all hings olay especial sress on he ischarge of ha maernal

ncion so aecingly an elicaely inicae by hisoher paren

Thus he evening wore away wih he Cuncherfamily, unil Young Jey was orere o be, an hismoher, lai uner similar injuncions, obeye hemr Cuncher beuile he earlier waches of he

nigh wih soliay pipes, an i no sa upon hisexcursion unil nearly one oclock Towars ha smallan ghosly hour, he rose up fro his chair, ook a keyou of his pocke, opene a locke cupboar, anbrough forh a sack, a crowbar of convenien size, arope an chain, an oher shing ackle of ha naure

Disposing hese aricles abou hi in skill manner,he besowe a paring eance on rs Cruncher,xinguishe he ligh, an wen ou

Young Jerr, who ha only ae a ein of unressingwhen he wen o be, was no long aer his faherUner cover of he arkness he followe ou of he

roo, followe own he sairs, followe own hecour, followe ou ino he srees He was in nouneasiness conceing his geing ino he houseagain, for i was ll of logers, an he oor soo ajarall nigh

Impelle by a lauable abiion o suy he aran ysey of his fahers hones calling, YoungJery, keeping as close o housefrons, walls, anoorways, as his eyes were close o one anoher, helhis honoure paren in view The honoure parenseering nowar, ha no gone far, when he wasjoine by anoher isciple of Izaak Walon, an hewo uge on ogeher

223



A TAL F TW CITIS

Witin haf an hou o the st stating, they weebeyond the winkng amps, and the moe than winkngwatchmen, and wee out upon a oney oad. Anothe

sheman was picked up hee and that so sienty,tat if Young Jey had been supestitious, he mighthae supposed the second foowe of the gente cato hae, a of a sudden, spit hisef in two.

he tee went on, and Young Jey went on, untithe thee stopped unde a bank oehanging the oad.

Upon the top of te bank was a ow bick wa,sumounted by an ion aiing. In the shadow of bankand wa the thee tued out of te oad, and up abind ane, of which the wa - tee, risen to someeigt o ten feet high - foed one side. Couchingdown in a coe, peeping up the ane, the next object

tat Young Jey saw, was the fom of is honouedpaent, petty we dened against a watery andcouded oon, nimby scaing an ion gate. He wassoon ove, and then te second sherman got ove,and then the id. hey a dopped soy on thegound within the gate, and ay thee a itte -ist ning

pehaps. Then, they oved away on tei hands andkneesIt was now Young Jeys tu to appoach the gate:

which he did, hoding his beat Couching downagain in a coe thee, and ooing in, he made outte thee shemen ceeping thoug some ank gass,and a the gaestones in te chuchyad - it was aage chuchyad that they wee in ookng on ikeghosts in white, whie the chuch towe itsef ookedon ike te ghost of a monstous giant hey did notceep fa, befoe they stopped and stood upight. Andthen they egan to sh

Tey shed with a spade, at st. Pesenty te

224



THE GOLDEN THREAD

hooured paret appeared to be adustg somestumet lke a great corkscrew Whatever toolsthey worked wth they worked hard utl te al

strkg of the church clock so terred Yog Jerrythat he made o wth hs har as st as hs fathers

But hs logchershed desre to kow more aboutthese matters ot oly stopped hm hs ugaway but lured hm back aga They were stll shgpersevergly whe he peeped at the gate for the

secod tme; but ow they seemed to have got a bteThere was a screwg ad complag soud dowbelow ad ther bet gures were straed as f by aweght By slow degrees the weght broke away theearth upo t ad came to the surace Youg Jerryvery well kew what t would be; but whe he saw t

ad saw hs hooured paret about to wrech t opehe was so ghteed beg ew to he sght that hemade o aga ad ever stopped utl he had u amle or more

e would ot have stopped the or aythg lessecessary tha breath t beg a spectral sot of racethat he ra ad oe hghly desrable to get to the edof e had a strog dea that the co he had seewas rug aer hm; ad pctured as hoppg obehd hm bolt uprght upo ts arrow ed alayso the pot of ovetakg hm ad hoppg o at hssde - perhaps takg hs arm - t was a pursuer toshu It was a cosstet ad ubutous ed toofor whle t was makg the whole ght behd hmdreadl he darted out to the roadway to avod darkalleys earl of ts comg hoppg out of them lke adropscal boyskte wthout tal ad wgs It hd doorways too rubbg ts horrble shoulders agastdoors ad drawg them up to ts ears as f t were

225



TLE OF TWO ITIES

lghig It got ito shdows o the rod, d lycigly o its bck to trip hi p All this tie itws icessatly hoppig o behid d giig o

him, so that whe the boy got to his ow door he hdreso for beig hlf ded Ad eve the it wold otleve hi, bt followed hi pstirs with bp oevery stir, scrbled ito bed with hi, d bpeddow, dead d hevy, o his brest whe he fellsleep

Fro his oppressed slber, Yog Jerry i hiscloset ws awakeed er daybreak d before srise,by the presece of his fther i the fily roooethig hd goe wrog with hi; t lest, soYog Jerry iferred, o the circstce of hisholdig rs Crucher by the ers, d kockig the

bck of her hed gist the hedbord of the bedI told you I wold, sid r Crucher, d I didJerry, Jerry, Jerry! his wife iploredYou opose yorself to the prot of the bsiess,

sid Jerry, ad e d y parters suer Yo ws tohoor d obey; why the devil dot you?

I try to be a good wife, Jerry, te poor woprotested, with tersIs it beig a good wife to oppose yor hsbds

bsiess? Is it hoorig yor hsbd to dishoorhis bsiess? Is it obeyig your hsbd to disobeyhi o the witl sbject of his bsiess?

Yo hadt tke to the dredl busiess the,Jer

Its eough for yo, retorted r Crucher, to bethe wife of hoest trdes, ad ot to occpyyor fele id with calcltios whe he took tohis trde or whe he didt A hoorig d obeyigwife wold let his trde loe ltogether Call yorself

226



THE GOLDEN THREAD

a relgous oma? If youre a relgous oma, gveme a rrelgous oe! You have o ore atral seseof duty tha the bed of ths here Thames rver has of a

ple, ad smlarly t must be kocked to youThe altercato as coducted a lo toe of

voce, ad termated the hoest tradesmas kckg o hs claysoled boots, ad lyg do at hslegth o the oor er takg a tmd peep at hmlyg o hs back, th hs rusty hads uder hs head

for a pllo, hs so lay do too, ad fell asleep agaThere as o sh for breakfast, ad ot much of

aythg else Mr Crucher as out of sprts, ad outof temper, ad kept a ro potld by hm as aprojectle for the correcto of rs Crucher, casehe should observe ay symptoms of her sayg grace

He as brushed ad ashed at the usual hour, ad seto th hs so to pursue hs ostesble callgYoug Jerry, alkg th the stool uder hs arm at

hs fathers sde alog suy ad croded FleetStreet as a ver deret Youg Jerry om hm ofthe prevous ght, rug home through darkessad soltude from hs grm pursuer Hs cug asfresh th the day, ad hs qualms ere goe th theght - hch partculars t s ot mprobable thathe had compeers Fleet Street ad the Cty ofLodo, that e mog

Father, sad Youg Jerry, as they alked alog:takg care to keep at arms leg ad to have thestool ell betee them: hats a resurrectoma?

Mr Crucher came to a stop o the pavemetbefore he asered, Ho should I ko?

I thought you koed everythg, father, sad theartless boy

Hem! Well, retued r Crucher, gog o

227



TL OF TWO CITIS

agai, a liig o his ha to give his spikes ee play,'hes a taesa.

Whats is goos, fahe? aske he bisk Youg

Jey.'His goos, sai Cuche, ae tuig i ove

i his i, 'is a bach of scietic goos'Pesos boies, ait it, fathe? aske the lively boy.'I believe it is soethig of that sot, sai

Cuche.

'Oh, fahe, I shoul so like o be a esuectioa whe quie gowe up!

Cuche was soothe, but shook his hea i aubious a oal way. 'I epes upo how youewelop you ales e cael o ewelop youtales, a eve o sa o oe ha you ca help o

oboy, a thees o tellig at he pese ie whatyou ay o coe to be fo. As Youg Je, thusecouaged, we o a few yads i avace, o plathe sool i he shadow of he ba Cuche adeo hiself: 'Je, you oest taesa, thees hopeswot ha boy will e be a blessig to you, a a

ecopese o ou fo his ohe!

CHPTR S

Knitting

Thee ha bee ealie ikig ha usual i e wieshop of osieu Defage. As ealy as six oclock ihe oig, sallow faces peepig hough is baewiows ad escie ohe faces wihi, beigove easues of wie osieu Defage sol a veythi wie at he bes of ties, but i woul see o

228



THE GOLEN THREA

have been an unusually thin wine that he sol at thistie A sour wine, oreover, or a souring, for itsinuence on the oo of those who rank it was to

ake the glooy. No vivacious Bacchanalian aeleape out of the presse grape of onsieur Defargebut, a soulering re that but in the ark, layhien in the regs of it.

This ha been the thir oing in succession, onwhich there ha been early rinking at the wine shop

of onsieur Defarge. It ha begun on onay, anhere was Wenesay coe. There ha been ore ofearly broin than rinking; for, any en halistene and hispere an slun about there othe tie of the opening of the oor, who coul nothave lai a piece of oney on the counter to save their

souls. These were to the ll as intereste in the place,however, as if they coul have coane wholebarrels of wine; an they glie fro seat to seat, ano coer to coer swallowing talk in lieu of rink,with greey looks.

Notwithsaning an unusual ow of copany theaster of the wine shop was not visible He was notisse; for, noboy who crosse the threshol lookefor hi, nobody aske for hi, noboy wonere tosee only aae Defarge in her seat, presiing overthe istribution of wine, with a bowl of battere sallcoins before her, as uch efaced an beaten out oftheir original ipress as the sall coinage of huanity

fro whose ragge pockets they had coeA suspened interest an a prevalent absence of

in, were perhaps observe by the spies who lookein at the wine shop, as they looe in at every place,high an low fro the ings palace to the criminalsgaol. Gaes at cars lanuishe, plyers at oinoes

9







A TA F TW CITIS

rank In the breast of his blouse he carrie somecoarse ark brea; he ate of this between whiles, ansat munching an rinking near aame Defarges

counter A thir man got up an went outDefarge reeshe himself with a raught of wine

but, he too less than was given to the stranger, asbeing himself a man to whom it was no rarty anstoo waitig until the countrman ha mae hisbreakfast e looke at no one present, an no one

now looke at him; not even aame Defarge, whoha taken up her knitting, an was at workHave you nishe your repast, frien he aske, in

ue seasonYes, thak youCome, the You shall see the apartment that I tol

you you coul occupy It will suit you to a marvelOut of the wine shop into the street, out of the streetinto a courtyar, out of the courtyar up a steepstaircase, ot of the staircase into a garret formerlythe garret where a whitehaire ma sat o a lowbench, stooping forwar an ver busy, making shoes

No whitehaire ma was there now; but, the threeme were there who ha gone out of the wine shopsingly An between them a the whitehaire manafar o, was the one small link, that they ha ocelooke in at him through the chinks in the wall

Defarge close the door carelly, a spoke in asubue voice: Jacques One, Jacques wo, Jacques

Three his is the witness encountere by appointmet, by me, Jacques Four He will tell you allSpeak, Jacques Five

he meer of roas, blue cap in han, wiped hisswarth forehea with it, an sai, Where shall Icommence, onsieur



THE GOLDEN THREAD

oece, was osieur Defarges ot ureasoable reply, at the coeceet.

'I saw hi the, essieurs, bega the eer of

roas, a year ago this unning suer, ueeaththe carriage of the arquis, hagig by the chain.Behol the aer of it. I leavig y work o the roa,the su goig to be, the cariage of the arquis slowlyasceig the hill, he hagig by the chai - like this

gai the eer of roas wet through the whole

pefoace i which he ought to have bee perfectby that tie, seeig that it ha ee the ifallibleresource a iispesable etertaiet of his villageurig a whole year.

Jacques Oe stuck i, an aske if he ha ever seethe a before?

Never, aswere the eer of roas, recoveighis perpeicular.

Jacques Three eae how he aerwars recogise hi the?

By his tall ure, sai the ener of roas, soly,a with his ger at his ose. Whe onsieur the

arquis eas that eveing, Say, what is helike?" I ake respose, Tall as a spectre." You shoul have sai, shot as a warf, retue

Jacques Two.But what i I kow? The ee was ot then

accoplishe, neither i he cone i e. ObseveUer those circustaces eve, I o ot oer ytestiony osieur the arquis iicates e withhis ger, staig ear our little foutai, an says,To e Brig that rascal" y faith, essieurs, Ioer nothig

He is right there, Jacques, urure Defarge, tohi who ha iterrupte. Go o

23 3



A TAE OF TWO CITIES

'Good! aid the mender of road, with an air ofmytery 'The tall man i lot, and he i ought howmany month? Nine, ten, eleven?

'No matter, the number, aid Defarge 'He i wellhidden, but at lat he i unluckily found Go on!

'I am again at work upon the hillide, and the un iagain about to go to bed I am collecting my tool todecend to y cottage down in the village below,where it i already dark, when I raie my eye, and ee

coming over the hill ix oldier In the midt of themi a tall man with hi arm bound - tied to hi ide like thi!

With the aid of hi indipenable cap, he repreenteda man with hi elbow bound fat at hi hip, withcord that were knotted behind him

'I tand aide, meieur, by my heap of tone, toee the oldier and their prioner pa (for it i aolita road, that, where any pectacle i well worthlooking at), and at rt, a they approach, I ee nomore man that they are ix oldier with a tall manbound, and that they are almot black to my ight -

except on the ide of the un going to bed, where theyhave a red edge, meieur Alo, I ee that their longhadow are on te hollow ridge on the oppoite ideof the road, and are on the hill above it, and are like thehadow of giant Alo, I ee that they are coveredwith dut, and that the dut move with them a theycome, trap, tramp! But when they advance quitenear to me, I recognie the tall man, and he recognieme but he would be well content to precipitatehimelf over the hillide once again, a on the evenigwhen he and I rt encountered, cloe to the amepot!

He decribed it a if he were there, and it wa

234



THE GOLDEN THREAD

evident that he saw it vividly; perhaps he had not seenmuch in his life.

'I do not show the soldiers that I recognise the tall

man; he does not show the soldiers that he recognisesme; we do it, and we know it, with our eyes Comeon!" says the chief of that company, pointing to thevillage, bring him fast to his tomb!" and tey bringhim faster. I follow His arms are swelled because ofbeing bound so tight, his wooden shoes are large and

clumsy, and he is lame Because he is lame, andconsequently slow, they drive him with their guns -like this!

He imitated te action of a mans being impelledforward by the buttends of muskets

'As they descend the hill like madmen unning a

race, he falls They laugh and pick him up again. Hisface is bleeding and covered with dust, but he cannottouch it; tereupon they laugh again They bring himinto the village; all te village uns to look; they takehim past the mill, and up to the prison; all te villagesees the prison gate open in the darkness of te night,and swallow him like this!

He opened his mouth as wide as he could, and shutit wit a sounding snap of his teeth. bseant of hisunwillingness to mar the eect by opening it again,Defarge said, 'Go on, Jacques

the village, pursued the mener of roads, ontiptoe and in a low voice, 'withdraws; all the villagewhispers by te fountain; all the village sleeps; all thevillage dreams of that unhappy one, within te locksand bars of the prison on the crag, and never to comeout of it, except to perish. In the moing, with mytools upon my shoulder, eating my morsel of blackbread as I go, I make a circuit by the prison, on my way

23



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

to my work. here I see him, high p, behind the barsof a loy iron cage, bloody and dsty as last night,looking throg h e has no hand ee, to wave to me;

I dare not call to him; he regards me like a dead man.Defarge and the three glanced darkly at one another.

The looks of all of them were dark, repressed, andrevengel, as they listened to the contmans story;the manner of all of them, while it was secret, wasathoritative too. They had the air of a rogh tribnal;

Jacqes One and Two sitting on the old palletbed,each with his chin resting on his hand, and his eyesintent on the roadmender; Jacqes Three, eqallyintent, on one knee behind them, with his agitatedhand always gliding over the network of ne nervesabot his oth and nose; Defarge standing between

them and the narrator, whom he had stationed in thelight of the window, by ts looking om him tothem, and om them to him.

'Go on, Jacqes, said Defarge.e remains p there in his iron cage some dys.

The village looks at him by stealth, for it is afraid. Btit always looks p, from a distance, at the prison on thecrag; and in the evening, when the work of the day isachieved and it assembles to gossip at the fontain, allfaces are ted towards the prison. ormerly, theywere ted towards the postinghose; now, theyare ted towards the prison. They whisper at thefontain, that althogh condemned to death he will

not be eected; they say that petitions have beenpresented in Paris, showing that he was enraged andmade mad by the death of his child; they say that apetition has been presented to the king himself Whatdo I know? It is possible. Perhaps yes, perhaps no.

'Listen then, Jacqes, Nmber One of that name



THE GOLDEN THEAD

tely intepoed 'ow that a petition wa peentedto the kng and queen l hee, youelf excepted, awthe ng take it, in hi caiage in the teet, itting

beide the queen t i Defage whom you ee hee,who, at the hazad of hi life, dated out befoe thehoe, with the petition in hi hand

'd once again liten, Jacque! aid the kneelingNumbe Thee hi nge eve wandeing ove andove thoe ne nee, with a tikingly geedy ai, a if

he hungeed fo omething that wa neithe food nodink; 'the guad, hoe and foot, uounded thepetitione, and tuck him blow ou hea?

' hea, meieu'Go on ten aid Defage'gain on the othe hand, they whipe at the

fountain, eumed the counman, 'that he ibought down into ou county to be executed on thepot, and that he will vey cetainly be executed Theyeven whipe that becaue he ha lain oneineuand becaue oneigneu wa the fathe of hitenant - ef - what you will· he will be executed aa paicide One old man ay at the fountain, that hiight hand, amed with the knife, will be but obefoe hi face that, into wound which will be madein hi am, hi beat, and hi leg, thee ill bepoued boiling oil, melted lead, hot ein, ax, andulphu; nally, that he will be to limb om limb byfou tong hoe That old man ay, all thi a

actually done to a pione who made an attempt onthe life of the late ng, oui Fieen But how do kno if he lie? am not a chola

'iten once again then, Jacque! aid the man ihthe etle hand and the caving ai 'The name ofthat pone wa Damien, and it a all done in open

237




day, in the pen streets f this city f Paris; andnthing as re nticed in the vast cncurse thatsa it dne, than the crd f ladies f quality and

fashin, h were ll f eager attentin t the last tthe last, Jacques, prlnged until nightfall, hen hehad lst t legs and an arm, and still breathed! And itas dne why, h ld are yu?

hirtyve, said the ender f rads, h lkedsixty

It as dne hen yu ere re than ten yearsld; yu might have seen it

Enugh! said Defarge, with gri impatienceLng live the Devil! G n

ell! Se hisper this, sme hisper that; theyspeak f nthing else; even the funtain appears t fall

t that tune At length, n Sunday night hen all thevillage is asleep, ce sldiers, inding dn the prisn, and teir guns ring n the stnes f thelittle street Wrkmen dig, wrkmen hammer, sldierslaugh and sing; in the ing, by the funtain, thereis raised a galls frty feet high, pisning the ater

he mender f rads lked thugh rather than atthe l ceiling, and pinted as if he sa the gallssmehere in the sky

rk is stpped, all asseble there, nbdyleads the cws ut, the cs are there ith the rest Atmidday, the rll f drus Sldiers have arched intthe prisn in the night, and he is in the midst f any

sldiers He is bund as befre, and in his muth thereis a gag tied s, ith a tight string, aking him lkalmst as if he laughed He suggested it, by creasinghis face ith his t thumbs, the cers f hismuth t his ears On the tp f the galls is xedthe knife, blade upards, ith its pint in the air He is



THE GODE THREAD

haged there forty feet high ad is le hagig,poisoig the water

They looked at oe aother, as he used his blue cap

to wipe his face, o which the perspiratio had statedaesh while he recalled the spectacle

'It is ightl, messieurs How ca the wome adthe childre draw water Who ca gossip of aeveig, uder that shadow Uder it, have I said?Whe I le the village, oday eveig as the su

was goig to bed, ad looked bac om the hill, theshadow struck across the church, across the mill,across the priso - seemed to strie across the earth,messieurs, to where the sky rests upo it

The hugry ma gawed oe of his gers as helooked at the other three, ad his ger quivered with

the cravig that was o him'Thats all, messieurs I le at suset (as I had beewaed to do), ad I walked o, that ight ad halfext day, util met (as I was waed should) thiscomrade With him, I came o, ow ridig ad owwalkig, through the rest of yesterday ad through lastht d here you see me

er a gloomy silece, the rst Jacques said, GoodYou have acted ad recouted faithlly Will youwait for us a little, outside the door?

'Very willigly, said the meder of roads WhomDefarge escoted to the top of the stairs, ad, leavigseed there, retued

The three had rise, ad their heads were togetherwhe he came back to the garret

'How say you, Jacques? demaded Number Oeo be registered?

'To be registered, as doomed to destuctio,retued Defarge

239



A TALE F TO CITIS

'gnicen coked he mn ih he cving'he cheau and all he ce? enquied he s'he cheau nd ll he ce, eued Defge

'ExemininThe hungy mn epeed, in a puous cok,

'gnicen nd begn gning nohe nge'e you sue, asked Jcques To, of Defge, 'h

no embassmen cn ise om ou mnne ofkeeping he egise? Wihou doub i is sfe, fo no

one beyond ouselves can deciphe i; bu shll elys be ble o deciphe i

o, I ough o sy, illshe?

'Jcques, eued Defge, ding himself up, 'ifmdme my ife undeook o keep he egise in hememoy lone, she ould no lose od of i no

syllble of i Knied, in he on siches nd he onsymbols, i will alys be as plin o he s he sunConde in Mdme Defge ould be esie fohe ekes poloon a lives, o ese himself fomexisence, hn o ese one lee of his nme ocimes fom he knied egise of Mdame Defge

hee as mumu of condence nd ppovl,nd en he mn ho hungeed, asked: 'Is his usico be sen back soon? I hope so He is vey simple; is heno lile dangeous?

'He knos nohing, sid Defage; ' les nohingmoe hn would esily eleve himself o gllos ofhe sme heigh chge myself ih him; le him

emin ih me; I ill ke ce of him, nd se him onhis od He ishes o see he ne old - he king, hequeen, nd cou; le him see hem on Sundy

'h? exclimed he hun man, sing 'Is i good sign, h he ishes o see oyly nd nobiliy?

'Jcques, sid Defge; 'udiciously show a ca milk,






's answrd ada Dfarg; 'I hav a gooddal to do

'hat do you ak ada?

'any things.'For instanc

'For instanc rtud ada Dfarg coposdly 'shrouds.

h an ovd a littl rthr away as soon as hcould and th ndr of roads fannd hislf with

his blu cap: fling it ightily clos and opprssiv Ifh ndd a king and qun to rstor hi h wasfortnat in aving his rdy at hand; for soon thlargfacd king and th fairfacd qun ca in thirgoldn coach attndd by th shining bulls y ofthir cou a glittring ultitd of lauing ladis

and n lords; and in jwls and silks and powdr andsplndour ad lgantly spuing gurs and handsoly disdainl facs of both sxs th ndr ofroads bathd hislf so uch to his tporaryintoation that h crd long liv th king long livt qun long liv vrybody and vrthing As if

h had nvr hard of ubiquitous Jacqus in histi Thn thr wr gardns courtyards trracsfountains grn banks or king and qun orbulls y or lords and ladis or ong liv thyall Until h absolutly wpt with sntint. Duringth whol of this scn which lastd so thr hoursh had plty of shouting and wping and sntintal copany and throughout Dfarg hld hi byth collar as if to rstrai hi o yng at th objctsof his brif dvotion and taring th to pics.

'Br avo said Dfarg clapping hi on th backwhn it was ovr lik a patron; 'ou ar a good boy

h ndr of roads was now cong to hislf

242



THE GOLDEN THREAD

an was misrusl of having mae a misake in hislae emonsraions; bu no.

'You are he fellow we wan, sai Defarge, in his

ear; 'you make hese fools believe ha i will las forever. Then, hey are he more insolen, an i is henearer ene

'Hey! crie he mener of roas, reecively; 'hasrue

'These fools know nohing While hey espise your

breah, an woul sop i for ever an ever, in you or ina hunre like you raher han in one of heir ownhorses or ogs, hey only know wha your breah ellshem Le i eceive hem, hen, a lile longer; icanno eceive hem oo much

aame Defarge looke superciliously a he clien,

an noe in conrmaion.'As o you, sai she, 'you woul shou an sheears for anyhing, if i mae a show an a noise. SayWoul you no?

'Truly, maame, I hink so. For he momen.'If you were shown a grea heap of olls, an were

se upon hem o pluck hem o pieces an espoilhem for your own avanage, you woul pick ou heriches an gayes Say! Woul you no?

'Truly yes, maame'Yes An if you were shown a ock of birs, unable

o y, an were se upon hem o srip hem of heirfeahers for your own avanage, you woul se uponhe birs of he nes feahers; woul you no?

'I is rue, maame'You have seen boh olls an birs oay, sai

aame Defarge, wih a wave of her han owarshe place where hey ha las been apparen; 'now, gohome!

243





THE GOLDEN THREAD

poine o i fo a inue, befoe hey all sae aayaong he oss an leaves, like he oe fotunatehaes ho coul n a lving thee

Chteau an hu, sone face an anglng gue,he e stain on the stone oo, an the pue ae nhe village ell housans of aces of lan a holepovince of ance all ance self lay une tenigh sky, concentae no a fain haibeat lneSo oes a hole ol, ih all its geatnesses an

litlenesses, lie n a tinkling sa An as ee huanknolege can spli a ay of ligh an analyse theanne of is coposiion, so, sublie inelligencesay ea in he feeble shning of his ea of ous,evey hough an ac, evey vice an vue, of eveyesponsible ceaue on i

The Defages, husban an ife, cae lubeingune he saligh, in hei publc vehicle, o that gaeof Pais heeunto thei jouey naually eneThee as he usual stoppage a he baie guahouse, an he usual lanens cae glancing foth fothe usual exainaion an enquy onsieuDefage alighe knoing one o wo of he solieythee, an one of the polce The lae he as iniaeth, an aectionaely ebace

When S Anoine ha agan enfole the Defagesin his usky ings, an hey, having nally alienea the Saints bounaies, ee pickng hei ay onfoot hough he black u an oal of his sees,aae Defage spoke o he husban 'Say then,y fien; ha Jacques of he polce ell tee?

'Vey ltle tonight, bu all he knos Thee isanohe spy coissione fo ou quae Thee aybe any oe, fo all tha he can say, but he knosof one

245



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

'Eh well said Madae Defarge raising her eyebrows with a cool business air 'It is necessary toregister hi ow do they call that an?

'He is English'So uch the better is nae?'Barsad said Defarge aking it rench by pronun

ciation But e had been so carel to get it accuratelythat he then spelt it with perfect correctness

'Barsad reeated adae 'ood hristian nae?

'JohnJohn Barsad repeated adae aer ururing

it once to erself 'ood is appearance; is itknown?

'Age abot forty years; height about ve feet nine;black hair; coplexion dark; generally rather and

soe visage; eyes dark face thin long and sallow; noseaquiline but not straight having a peculiar inclinationtowards he le cheek; expression therefore sinister

'Eh y fait It is a portrait said adae laghing'e shall be registered toorrow

They tued into the wine shop which was closed

(for it was idnight) and where Madae Defargeimediately took her post at her desk counted thesall oneys that had been taken during her absenceexained the stock went through the entries in thebook made other entries of her own checked theserving an in every possible way and nally disissedhi to bed hen she tued out te contents of thebowl of oney for the second tie and began knottingthe up in her handkerchief in a chain of separateknots for safe keeping through the night All hiswhile Defarge with his pipe in his outh walkedup and down complacently adiring but neverinterfering; in which condition indeed as to the



THE GOLDEN THREAD

business and his doestic aairs, he walked up anddown through life

The night was hot, and the shop, close shut and

surrounded by so foul a neighbourhood, was illselling onsieur Defarges olfactoy sense was byno eans delicate, but the stock of wine selt uchstronger than it ever tasted, and so did the stock of ruand brandy and aniseed He whied the copound ofscents away, as he put down his sokedout pipe

You are fatigued, said adae, raising her glanceas she knotted the oney There are only te usualodours

I a a little tired, her husband acknowledgedYou are a little depressed, too, said adae, whose

quick eyes had never been so intent on the accounts,

but they had had a ray or two for hi h, the en,the en!But y dear! began DefargeBut y dear! repeated adae, nodding rly;

but y dear! You are faint of heart tonight, y dear!Well, then, said Defarge, as if a tought were

wrung out of his breast, it is a long tieIt is a long tie, repeated his ife; and when is itnot a long tie? Vengeance and retribution require along tie; it is the rule

It does not take a long tie to strke a an withLightning, said Defarge

How long, deanded adae, coposedly,does it take to ake and store the lightning? Tell e

Defarge raised his head thoughtlly, as if therewere soething in that too

It does not take a long tie, said adae, for anearthquake to swallow a town Eh well! Tell e howlong it takes to prepare the earthquake?

247




'A long tie, I suppose, said Defarge.'But when it is ready, it takes plae, and grinds to

piees everyting before it. In the eantie, it is

always preparing, though it is not seen or heard. Thatis your onsolation. Keep it.

She tied a knot with ashing eyes, as if it throttled afoe.

'I tell thee, said adae, extending her right hand,for ephasis, 'that although it is a long tie on the

road, it is on the road and oing. tell thee it neverretreats, and never stops tell thee it is alwaysadvaning. ook around and onsider the lives of allthe world that we know, onsider the faes of all theworld that we know, onsider the rage and disontentto whih the Jaquerie adresses itself with ore an

ore of ertainty every hour. Can suh things last?Bah! 1 ok you.'y brave wife, retue Defarge, standing before

her with his ead a little bent, an his hands lasped athis bak, like a doile and attentive pupil before hisatehist, I o not question all this. But it has lasted a

long tie, ad it is possible - you know well, y wife,it is possible that it ay not oe, during our lives'Eh well! How then? deaned adae, tyig

another knot, as if there were aother eney strangled.'Well! said Defarge, with a halfoplaining and

halfapologeti shrug. 'We shall not see the triuph.'We shall have helped it, retued adae, with

her extended hand in strong ation. 'Nothing that wedo, is done in vain. believe, with all y soul, that weshall see the triuph But even if not, even if knewertainly not, show e the nek of an aristorat andtyr ant, and still would -

Then adae, with her teeth set, tied a very



THE GOLDEN THREAD

terribe kot ideed'Hod! cried Defarge, reddeig a itte as if he fet

charged with cowardice; ' too, y dear, wi stop at

othig'Yes! But it is your weakess that you sometimes

eed to see your victim ad your opportuity, tosustai you Sustai yoursef without that he thetime comes, et oose a tiger ad a devi; but wait forthe time with the tiger ad the devi chaied ot

show yet aways ready adame eforced the cocusio of this piece ofadvice by strikig her itte couter with her chai ofmoey as if she knocked its brais out, ad thegatherig the heavy hadkerchief uder her am ia seree maer, ad observig that it was time to go

to bedNext otide saw the adirabe woa i hersa pace i the wie shop, kittig away assidousyA rose ay beside her, ad if she ow ad the gancedat the ower, it was with o iactio of her usuapreoccupied air There were a few customers, drikigor ot drikig, stadig or seated, spriked aboutThe day was very hot, and heaps of ies, who wereextedig their iquisitive ad adveturous perquisitios ito a the gutios itte gasses nearadae, fe dead at the botto Their decease madeo ipressio o the other ies ot promeadig,who ooked at them i the cooest maer (as if

they theseves were eephats, or somethig as farreoved), ti they met the sae fate Curious tocosider how heedess ies are! - perhaps they thoughtas uch at cout that suy sumer day

A gure eterig at the door threw a shadow onadae Defarge which she fet to be a ew oe She

29



A TALE OF TO ITIES

lad don her knttng, and began to pn her rose nher headdress, before she looked at the gure.

It as curous. The moment Madame Defarge took

up the rose, the customers ceased talkng, and begangradually to drop out of the ne shop.

'Goodday, madame, sad the ne comer.'Goodday, monseur.She sad t aloud, but added to herself, as she

resumed her knttng: Hah! Goodday, age about

foy, heght about ve feet nne, black har, generallyrather handsome vsage, complexon dark, eyes dark,thn long and sallo face, aqulne nose but notstraght, havng a pecular nclnaton toards the lecheek hch mparts a snster expresson! Goodday,one and all!

'Have the goodness to gve me a lttle glass of oldcognac, and a mouthl of cool esh ater, madame.Madame compled th a polte ar.'Maellous cognac ths, madame!It as the rst tme t had ever bee so com

plmented, and Madame Defarge kne enough of tsantecedents to kno better. She sad, hoever, thatthe cognac as attered, and took up her knttng. Thevstor atched her ngers for a fe moments, andtook the opportunty of obseng the place n general.

You knt th great skll, madame.'I am accustomed to t.'A pretty patte too!

You think so? sad madame, lookng at hm th asmle.

'Decdedly. May one ask hat t s for?'Pastme, sad madame, stll lookng at hm th a

smle, hle her ngers moved nmbly.Not for use?

25



HE GOLDEN HREAD

Th dpds I y d us for i o dy If Ido - wll, sid d, drwig brh d oddighr hd wih s kid of oqury, 'Ill us i!

I ws rrkbl: bu h s of S Anosd o b diddly opposd o ros o hddrss of d Dfrg Two hd rdsprly, d hd b bou o ordr drk, wh,hig sigh of h ovly, hy flrd, d pr of lookg bou s if for so id who

ws o hr, d w wy Nor, of os who hdb hr wh his visior rd, ws hr o

� l Thy hd ll droppd o Th spy hd kp hisys op, bu hd b bl o d o sign Thyhd lougd wy i povrysrik, purposlssidl r, qui url d uiphbl

J OHN, ' hough d, hkig o hr work shr grs kid, d hr ys lookd hsrgr 'Sy log ough, d I shll ki "BARAD

bfor you go'You hv husbd, d?'I hvChildr?'No hildr'Busiss ss bd?Busiss is vry bd; h popl r so poorA, uforu, isrbl popl! So op

prssd, oo s you syAs y sy, d rord, orrig hi, d

dly kiig xr sohig io his hbodd hi o good

'Prdo ; rily i ws I who sid so, bu youurlly ik so f ours

'/ ik? rud d, i high voi I dy husbd hv ough o do o kp is w shop

25



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

opn, itout tinking All tink, r, is o toli Tt is t subjct we tink of, n it gis us,from moing to nigt, noug to tink bout, it

out mbrrssing our s concing otrs. I tinkfor otrs? o, no.

T spy, o s tr to pick up ny crumbs coul n or mk, i not llo is b stt toxprss itslf in is sinistr fc; but, stoo i n irof gossiping gllntry, lning is lbo on m

Dfrgs littl countr, occsionlly sipping iscognc.'A b businss tis, m, of Gsprs xcu

tion. A! t poor Gspr! Wit sig of grtcompssion.

'y fit! rtu m, coolly n ligtly, 'if

popl us knis for suc purposs, ty to pyfor it. H k bforn t t prc of is luxurys; s pid t prc.

' bli, si t spy, roppig is so oic to ton tt iit connc, n xprssing injur rolutiory suscptiility i ry uscl ofis ick fc: ' bli thr is uc compssionn ngr i tis igbouroo, toucing th poorfllo? Btwn oursls.

's r? sk m, cntly.'s tr not?, � Hr is my usbn! si m Dfrg.As t kpr of t in sop ntr t t oor,

t spy slut im by toucing is t, n sying,it n gging smil, 'Gooy, Jcqus! Dfrgstopp sort, n str t im.

'Gooy, Jcqus! h spy rpt; it notquit so uc conc, or quit so sy smilur t str.



THE GOLDEN THREAD

'ou deceive youself, monsieu, etued thekeepe of the wine shop 'ou mistake me fo anotheThat is not my name I am Eest Defage

'It is all the same, said the spy, aily, but discomted too 'goodday!'Goodday! answeed Defage, dily'I was saying to madame, with whom I had the

pleasue of chatting when you enteed, that tey tellme thee is - and no wonde - much sympathy and

ange in St Antoine, touching the unhappy fate ofpoo Gaspad'No one has told me so, said Defage, shakng his

head 'I know nothing of itHaving said it he passed behind the little counte,

and stood with his hand on the back of his wifes chai,looking ove that bae at the peson to whom theywee both opposed, and whom eithe of them wouldhave shot with the geatest satisfaction

The spy, well used to his business, did not changehis unconscious attitude, but dained his little glass ofcognac, took a sip of fesh wate, and asked foanothe glass of cognac adame Defage poued it

out fo him, took to he knitting again, and hummed alittle song ove it

'ou seem to know this quate well; that is to say,bette than I do? obseved Defage

'Not at all, but I hope to know it bette I am sopofoundly inteested in its miseable inabitants

'Hah! mutteed Defage'T he pleasue of convesing with you, onsieu

Defage, ecalls to me, pusued the spy, 'that I havethe honou of cheishing some inteesting associationswith you name

'Indeed! said Defage, with much indieence

53




'Yes, iee We Dr Maee was release, you,is ol oesic, a te carge of i, I kow Heas elivere o you You see I a ifore of e

circustaces?'Suc is he fac, certaily, sai Defarge He a

a it coveye to im, i a accietal ouc of isifes elbow as se kitte a warble, at e woulo best to aswer, bu always wi brevi

'I was o you, sai e spy, 'at is auger came;

a it was o your care a is auger took i,accopaie by a ea brow osieur; how is ecalle? - i a litle wig Lorry - of e bak of Tellsoa Copay - over o Egla

'Suc is he fact, repeae Defarge'Very ieresig reebraces! sai e spy 'I have

kow Dr aee a is auger, i Egla'Yes? sai Defarge'You o ear uc abou he ow? sai e

spy'No, sai Defarge'I eec, aame strck i, lookig up fro er

ork a her litle sog, 'we ever ear about te

We receive he es of eir safe arrival, a perapsaoer leer, or peraps wo; bu, sice he, eyave graually take eir roa i life we, ours awe have hel o correspoece

'erfecly so, aae, replie he spy 'Se isgoig to be arrie

'Goig? echoe aae 'She was prety eoughto ave bee arrie log ago You Eglis are col,i sees o e

'O! You kow I a Eglis'I perceive your ogue is, reue aae; 'a

wha e ogue is, suppose e a is

254



THE GOLDEN THREAD

He did not take the identication as a compliment; but he made the best of it, and tued it o with a

laugh. e sipping his cognac to the end, he added:

Yes, Miss Manette is going to be aied But not toan Englishman; to one who, like heself, is rench by

birth. nd speaking of Gaspad ah, poo Gaspard! t

was cruel, cuel!), it is a cuious thing that she is going to ar te nephew of Monsieu te Maruis, fo who Gaspad was exalted to that height of so many

feet; in othe words, the pesent Mauis But e lives unknown in England, he is no Mauis tere; he isM Chales Daay Dulnais is te name of his mothes faily.

Madame Defage knitted steadily, but the intelligence had a palpable eect upon her husband Do

what he would, behind the little counte, as to thestiking of a light and the lighting of his pipe, he was toubled, and his hand was not tustworthy. e spy would have been no spy if he had failed to see it, o to ecod it in his mind

Having ade, at least, this one hit, whatever itight pove to be worth, and no customes coming in to help him to any othe, M Barsad paid for wat he had drunk, and took his leave: taking occasion to say,

in a genteel manne, before he depated, tat he

looked fowad to the pleasue of seeing Monsieuand Madame Defarge again. o soe minutes aee had eeged into the oute pesence of St toine,

the husband and wife eained exactly as e had le te, lest he should coe back.

Can it be tue, said Defarge, in a low voice, looking

down at his wife as he stood smoking with his hand on the back of her chair: what he has said of MlleManette?

255



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

As he has said it,' etued madame, liing he

eyebows a little, it is pobably false But it may be tue '

f it is ' Defage began, and stoppedf it is?' epeated his wife And if it does come, while we live to see it

tiumph hope, fo he sake, Destiny will keep he husband ou of Fance '

He husband's destiny,' said Madame Defage,

with he usual composue, will take him whee he is to go, and will lead him to the end that is to end himhat is all know'

But it is ve stange

now, at least, is it not vestange' said Defage, athe pleading with his wife

to induce he o admit it, hat, ae all ou sympathy

fo Monsieu he fathe, and heself, he husband's name should be poscibed unde you hand at this moment, by the side of that infeal dog's who has usle us?'

Stange things han that will happen when it doescome,' answeed madame have them both hee, ofa cetainty; and they ae boh hee fo thei meits; thatis enough'

She olled up he knitting when she had said those wods, and pesently took the ose out of the handkechief that was wound about he head Eithe StAntoine had an instinctive sense that the obectionable

decoation was gone, o St ntoine was on the watch

fo its disappeaance; howbeit, the Saint took couage to lounge in, ve sholy aewads, and the wine

shop ecoveed its habitual aspectn the evening, at which season of all othes S

n toine tu ned hi mself inside out, and sa on doosteps and windowledges, and came o the coes of



THE GLDEN THREAD

vile steets and couts fo a beath of ai MadameDefage with he wok in he hand was accustomed to pass fom place to plce and om goup to goup:

a missionay thee wee many like he such as the wold will do well neve to beed again All he women knitted hey knitted wothless things; but

the mechanical wok was a mechanical substitute foeating and dinking; the hands moved fo the jaws

and the digestive appaatus: if the bony nges had

been still the stomachs would have been moe faminepinched.

But as the nges went the eyes went and the thoughts. nd as Madame Defage moved on fomgoup to goup all thee went quicke and eceamong evey little knot of women that she had spoken

with and le behind.He husband smoked at his doo looking ae he with admiation. geat woman' said he a stong woman a gand woman a fightlly gand woman!'

Dakness closed aound and then came the ingingof chuch bells and the distant beating of the militaydums in the palace coutyad as the women satknitting knitting Dakness encompassed themnothe dakness was closing in as suely when the

chuch bells then inging pleasantly in many an aiy

steeple ove ance should be melted into thundeing

cannon; when the militay dums should be beating todown a wetched voice that night allpotent as the

voice of powe and plenty feedom and life So much was closing in about the women who sat knittingknitting that they thei vey selves wee closing in

aound a stuctue yet unbuilt whee they wee to sit

knitting knitting counting dopping heads

257




CHAPTER 17

One Ngt

Neve did te sun go down wit a bigte gloy on teuiet coe in Soo tan one eoable evening

wen te docto and is daugte sat unde te plane

tee togete Neve did the oon ise wit a ilde adiance ove geat London tan on tat nigt wenit found te still seated unde te tee and sone upon tei faces toug its leaves

Lucie was to be aied tooow. Se ad eseed tis last evening fo e fathe and tey sat alone unde

te plane tee.You ae appy y dea fate?Quite y cildey ad said little toug tey ad been tee a

long time. en it was yet ligt enoug to wok and ead se ad neite engaged eself in e usual wok no ad se ead to i Se ad eployedeself in bot ways at is side unde te tee any

and any a tie; but tis tie was not uite like anyote and noting could ake it so

And a vey appy tonigt dea fate. a

deeply appy in te love tat Heaven as so blessed y love fo Cales and Caless love fo e But ify life wee not to be still consecated to you o if y

aiage wee so aanged as tat it would pat us

even by te lengt of a few of tese steets sould beoe unappy and selfepoacl now tan can

tell you Even as it is

Even as it was se could not coand e voice



THE GOLDEN THREAD

n the sad moonlight she clasped him by the neckand laid he face upon his beast. n the moonlight

which is always sad as the light of the sun itself is - as

the light called human life is at its coming and itsgoing.

Deaest dea! Can you tell me this last time that you feel uite uite sue no new aections of mineand no new duties of mine will eve intepose between

us? know it well but do you know it? n you own

heart do you feel uite certain?He fathe answeed with a cheel mness of

conviction he could scacely have assumed Quitesue my daling! Moe than that he added as he

tendely kissed he: my tue is fa bighte Lucieseen though you mariage than it could have been -

nay than it eve was - without it. f could hope that, my fathe! - '

Believe it love! ndeed it is so. Conside how natual and how plain it is my dea that it should beso. You devoted and young cannot lly appeciate the anxiety have felt that you life should not be wasted -

She moved he hand towads his lips but he took itin his and epeated the wod.

wasted my child - should not be wasted struckaside om the natual ode of things fo my sake.

You unselshness cannot entiely compehend ow

much my mind has gone on this; but only ask

youself how could my happiness be perfect while yous was incomplete?

f had neve seen Chales my fathe should have been uite happy with you.

He smiled at he unconscious admission that she

would hav been unhappy withou t Chales haing

259



A TAL OF TWO CTS

seen him; and replied: My child you did see him and

it is Charles f it had not been Charles it would have been another Or if it had been no other should

have been the cause and then the dark part of my life would have cast its shadow beyond myself and would have falen on you'

t was the rst time except at the trial of her ever

hearing him refer to the period of his suering t gave her a strange and new sensation while his words were

in her ears; and she remembered it long aerwardsSee!' said the Doctor of Beauvais raising his hand

towards the moon have looked at her om my prisonwindow when could not bear her light havelooked at her when it has been such torture to me to think of her shining upon what had lost that have

beaten my head against my prisonwalls have lookedat her in a state so dull and lethargic that have thought of nothing but the number of horizontal lines could draw across her at the ll and the number of perpendicular lines with which could intersect tem ' He added in his inward and pondering man ner as he looked at the moon t was twenty either way remember and the twentieth was dicult to

sueeze in 'he strange thrill with which she heard him go

back to that time deepened as he dwelt upon it; but there was nothing to shock her in the manner of his reference He only seemed to contrast his present

cheerlness and felicity with the dire endurance that was over

have looked at her speculating thousands of

times upon the unbo child from whom had been rent Whether it was alive Whether it had been boalive or the poor mother's shock had killed it

260



THE GOLDEN THREAD

Whehe it was a son who would soeday avenge his

fathe (hee was a ie in y ipisonmen, wheny desie fo vengeance was unbeaable) Whete it

was a son who would neve know his fate's stoy; who ight even live to weigh the possibility of his

fahe's having disappeaed of his own will and act Whethe it was a daughte who would gow to be a

woan'She dew close to hi, and kissed his cheek and his

hand have picued y daughte, to yself, as pefectly fogetl of e athe, altogethe ignoant of e,and unconscious of e have cas up the yeas of heage, yea ae yea have seen he aied to a an who knew nothing of y fate have altogethe peished fo the eebance of the living, and in the next geneaion y place was a blank.'

My fathe! Even to hea that you ad such toughtsof a daughte who neve exised, stikes to y heat asif had been tha child.

You, Lucie? t is out of the consolaion and estoa tion you have bought to e, that these eembances

aise, and pass between us and the oon on this last night. What did say jus now?'

She knew nothing of you She caed nothing fo you'

So! But on ote oonlight nights, when the

sadness and the silence have touched e in a dieent

way - have aected e with soething as like asoowl sense of peace, as any eoion that had pain

fo its foundations could have iagined he as

coing to e in y cell, and leading e out into te

eedo beyond the fotess have seen he image in the oonlight oen, as now see you; excep tat

26r




neve held he in my ams; it stood between the littlegated window and the doo But, you undestand

that that was not the child am speaking o

he gue was not; the the image; the fancy?No hat was anothe thing t stood befoe my

distubed sense of sight, but it neve moved he phantom that my mind pusued, was anothe and

moe eal child Of he outwad appeaance know no moe than that she was like he mothe he othe

had that likeness to - as you have but was not thesame Can you follow me, Lucie? Hadly, think? doubt you must have been a solitay pisone to

undestand these peplexed distinctions His collected and calm manne could not pevent

he blood fom unning cold, as he thus tied to

anatomise his old conditionn that oe peacel state, have imagined he, in the moonlight, coming to me and taking me out tosho me that the home of he maied life was ll of he loving emembance of he lost fathe My pictue was in he oom, and was in he payes He life wasactive, cheel, usel; but my poo histo pevaded

it all was that child, my fathe was not half so good,

but in my love that was .

And she showed me he childen, said the Doctoof Beauvais, and they had head of me, and had been taught to pity me When they passed a pison of the

State, they kept fa fom its fowning walls, and looked up at its bas, and spoke in whispes She could nevedelive me; imagined that she always bought me

back ae showing me such things But then, blessed with the elief of teas, fell upon my knees, and

blessed he.

262



THE GDEN THREAD

a that child, hope, y fathe y dea, mydea, will you bless e as fevently tooow?'

Lucie, ecall these old toubles in the eason that

have tonight fo loving you bette than wods can tell, and thanking God fo my geat happiness My thoughts, when they wee wildest, neve ose nea the happiness that have known with you, and that we

have befoe us 'He ebaced he, solenly coended he to

Heaven, and hubly thanked Heaven fo having bestowed he on hi By and by, they went into the

househee was no one bidden to the aiage but M

Loy; thee was even to be no bidesaid but thegaunt Miss Poss he aiage was to ake no

change in thei place of esidence; they had been able to extend it, by taking to theselves the uppe ooms foely belonging to the apocyphal invisible lodge,and they desied nothing oe

D Manette was very cheel at the little suppehey wee only thee at table, and Miss Poss made

the thid He egetted tat Chales was not thee; was moe than half disposed to object to the loving

little plot that kept hi away; and dank to himaectionately

So, he tie cae fo hi to bid Lucie goodnight,

and hey sepaated But, in the stillness of the thid hou of the oing, Lucie cae downstais again,

and stole into his oo; not ee fo unshaped feas, befoehand

l things, howeve, wee in thei places; all wasuiet; and he lay asleep, his white hai pictuesue on the untoubled pillow, and his hands lying uiet on

the covelt She put he needless candle in the




shadow at a distance, cept up to his bed, and put he lips to his; then, leaned ove him, and lookedat him.

nto his handsome face, the bitte waters of captivit had wo but, he coveed up their tracks with a

detemination so strong, that he held te master of them even in his sleep. moe emarkable face in itsuiet, esolute, and guaded struggle with an unseenassailant, was not to be beheld in all the wide

dominions of sleep, that night.She timidl laid he hand on his dear beast, and put

up a pae that she might eve be as tue to him as helove aspied to be, and as his soows deseved. hen,she withdew he hand, and kissed his lips once moe,

and went awa. So, the sunise came, and the shadows

of the leave of the plane tee moved upon his face, assol as he lips had moved in paing fo him.

CHAPTER 18

Nine Das

he maiageda was shining bightl, and the wee ead outside the closed doo of the doctos oom, whee he was speaking with Chales Daa. he

were ead to go to chuch the beautil bide, MLo, and Miss Poss � to whom the event, through a

gadual pocess of econcilement to the inevitable, wold have been one of absolute bliss, but for the et

lingeing consideation that he brothe Solomon

sho uld have been the bridegoom.

nd so, said M Lorr, who could not sucientladmie the bide, and who had been moving ound



THE GOLDEN THREAD

her to take in ever point of her quiet, pretty dress;and so it was for this, my sweet Lucie, that brought

you across the Channel, such a baby! Lord bless me!

How little thought what was doing! How lightly valued the obligation was conferring on my friendMr Charles!'

You didn't mean it,' remarked the matteroffactMiss Pross, and therefore how could you know it?

Nonsense!'

Really? Well but don't cr' said the gentle MrLorr

am not crying,' said Miss Pross; ' you are', my Pross?' (By this time, Mr Lorry dared to be

pleasant with her, on occasion )You were, ust now; saw you do it, and don't

wonder at it Such a present of plate as you have made'em, is enough to bring tears into anybody's eyeshere's not a fork or a spoon in the collection,' saidMiss Pross, that didn't cry over, last night aer the box cae, till couldn't see it '

am highly gratied,' said Mr Lorr, though,

upon y honour, had no intention of rendering those triing articles of remembrance invisible to

anyone Dear me! his is an occasion that makes a

man speculate on all he has lost. Dear, dear, dear! o

think that there might have been a Mrs Lorry, any

time these y years almost!'Not at all!' From Miss Pross.You think there never might have been a Mrs

Lorr?' asked the gentleman of that namePooh!' reoined Miss Pross you were a bachelor in

your cradle '

Well!' observed Mr Lorr, beamingly adusting his

little wig, that seems probable, too.'




nd you ee cut out fo a bachelo,' pusued MissPoss, befoe you wee put in you cadle.'

hen, think,' said Loy, that was vey

unhandsomely dealt wit, and that ought to havead a voice in the selection of my patte. Enough!

Now, my dea Lucie,' dawing his am sootingly ound e aist. hea them moving in the next oom, and iss Poss and , as to fomal folks of business, ae anxious not to lose the nal oppotunity

of saying soething to you that you ish to hea. Youleave you good fathe, my dea, in hands as eaest

and as loving as you on; he shall be taken eveyconceivable cae of; duing the next fotnight, while

you ae in Wawickshie and theeabouts, evenellson's shall go to te all (compaatively speaking)

befoe him. nd hen, at the fotnight's end, ecomes to oin you and you beloved husband, on youothe fonight's tip in Wales, you shall say that we have sent him to you in the best health and in the happiest fame. Now hea Somebody's step coming to the doo. Let me kiss my dea gil ith an old fashioned bachelo blessing, befoe Somebody comes

to claim his on.'o a moment, e eld the fai face fom him to

look at the ellemembeed expession on te foeead, and then laid the bigt golden hai against hislittle bon ig, wit a genuine tendeess and

delicacy which, if such things be oldfashioned, weeas old as dam.

he doo of the docto's oom opened, and hecame out ith Chales Daay. He as so deadly pale - which had not been the case hen they ent in togethe that no vestige of colou as to be seen in his face. But, in the composue of his manne he as

266



THE GOLDEN THREAD

unalteed, except that to the shewd glance of MLoy it disclosed soe shadowy indication tat theold ai of avoidance and dead had lately passed ove

hi, like a cold windHe gave his a to his daughte, and took he

downstais to the chaiot, which M Lor had hied

in honou of the day he est followed in anotecaiage, and soon, in a neighbouing chuch, whee

no stange eyes looked on, Chales Daay and Lucie

Manette wee happily aied.Besides the glancing teas that shone among the

siles of the little goup when it was done soediaonds, vey bight and spakling, glanced on te

bide's hand, which wee newly eleased fo the dakobscuity of one of M Lo's pockets hey etued

hoe to beakfast, and all went well, and in duecouse te golden hai that had ingled wit the pooshoeake's white locks in the Pais garet, weeingled with te again in the oing sunlight, on the theshold of the doo at paing

t was a had pating, though it was not fo long.

But he fathe cheeed he, and said at last, gentlydisengaging hiself o he enfolding as, ake he, Chales! She is yous!'

nd he agitated hand waved to the om a chaise

window, and she was gonehe coe being out of the way of the idl and

cuious, and the pepaations having been very siple

and few, te docto, M Lo, and Miss Poss, weele quite alone. t was when they tued into the

welcoe shade of the cool old hall, tat M Lorry

obseed a geat change to have coe ove the docto;as if the golden a uplied thee, had struck hi a

poisoned blow.



A TA O TWO CITIS

He ad ntually epessed uch, and soe evul

sion igt have been expected in i when theoccasion fo epession was gone But, it was te old

scaed lost look tat toubled M Loy; and tougis absent manne of clasping is ead and deaily

wandeing away into his own oo wen tey got

upstais, Loy was einded of Defage te winesop keepe, and te stalight ide

tink,' he whispeed to Miss Poss, ae anxious

consideation, tink we had best not speak to hijust now, or at all distub i ust look in atellson's; so will go tee at once and coe back pesently en, we will take i a ide into thecountry, and dine tee, and all will be well'

t was easie fo M Lory t o look i n at ellson's,

tan to look out of ellsons He was detained two hous en e cae back, e ascended te oldstaicase alone, having asked no question of teservant; going tus into the docto's oos, he wasstopped by a low sound of nocking

Good God' he said, wit a stat at's tht?'

Miss Poss, wit a teied face, was at is ea e, e ll is lost' cied se, winging e hands

at is to e told to Ladybid? He doesn't know e,and is aking soes'

M Lo said wat e could to cal he, and wentiself into e docto's oo he benc was tued towads te light, as it ad been when e ad seen tesoeake a his wok befoe, nd is ed ws bent

do wn, and he was vey busyD Manette My dea fiend, D Manette!'e docto looked at i fo a oent alf

enquiingly, alf as if e wee angy at being spoken

to - and bent ove is wok again

268



THE GOLDEN THREAD

He ad laid aside is coat and waistcoat; is sit was open at te toat, as it used to be wen e did

tat wok; and even te old aggad, faded suface of

face ad come back to im He woked h rd

impatiently - as if in some sense of aving beeninteupted

M Lo glanced at te wok in is and, andobseved tat it was a soe of te old size and sape

He took up anote tat was lying by im, and asked

wat it was young ladys walking soe, e mutteed, witoutlooking up t ougt to ave been nised long ago

Let it be'But, D Manette Look at me!He obeyed, in te old mecanically submissive

manne, witout pausing in is wokY ou know me, my dea iend? ink again is is not you pope occupation ink, dea fiend!'

Noting would induce im to speak moe Helooked up, fo an instant at a time, wen e was

euested to do so; but, no pesuasion would extact a wod fom im He woked, and woked, and woked,

in silence, and wods fell on im as tey would ave fallen on an eco less wall, o on te ai e only ay

of ope tat M Loy could discove, was, tat e

sometimes tively looked up witout being asked n

tat, tee seemed a faint expession of cuiosit o peplexity as toug e wee ting to econcile

some doubts in is mindwo tings at once impessed temselves on M

Lorry, as impotant above all otes; te st, tat tis

must be kept secet fom Lucie; te second tat it must be kept secet fom all wo knew im n

conjunction wit Miss Poss, e took immediate steps



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

towads the latte pecaution, by giving out that the

docto was not well, and euied a few days ofcomplete est. n aid of the kind deception to be

pactised on his daughte, Miss Poss was to wite,descibing his having been called away pofessionally,

and efeing to an imagina lette of two o thee

huied lies in his own hand, epesented to have been addessed to he by the same post.

hese measues, advisable to be taken in any case,

M Lo took in the hope of his coming to himself f that should happen soon, he kept anothe couse in eseve; which was, to have a cetain opinion that he tought the best, on te docto's case.

n the hope of his ecove, and of esot to tis1id couse being teeby endeed pacticable, M

L esolved to watch him attentively, with as littleappeaance as possible of doing so. He theefoe made aangements to absent himself fom ellson's fo te st time in his life, and took his post by the window in the same oom.

He was not long in discoveing that it was wose than useless to speak to him, since, on being pessed,

he became woied. He abandoned that attempt on the st day, and esolved meely to keep himselfalways befoe him, as a silent potest against thedelusion into which he had fallen, o was falling. He

emained, theefoe, in his seat nea te window, eading and witing, and expessing in as many

pleasant and natual ways as he could think of, that it was a ee place.

Manette took what was given him to eat and

dink, and woked on, at st day, until it was toodak to see woked on, half an hou ae L

could not have seen, fo his life, to ead o wite.



THE GOLDEN THREAD

When he put his tools aside as useless, until moing,Mr Lorr rose and said to him Will you go out?'

He looked down at the oor on either side of him in

the old manner, looked up in the old manner, and repeated in the old low voice: Out?'

Yes; for a walk wi me Why not?'He made no eort to say why not, and said not a

word more But, Mr Lorry thought he saw, as heleaned forward on his bench in the dusk, wit his

elbows on his kees and his head in his hands, that he was in some mis way asking himself, y not?'

he sagaciy of the man of business perceived anadvantage here, and determined to hold it.

Miss Pross and he divided the night into two watches, and obseed him at intervals om theadoining room. He paced up and down for a long time before he lay down; but, when he did nally lay himself down, he fell asleep. n the moing, he was up betimes, and went straight to his bench and to work

On this second day, Mr Lorr saluted him cheerlly by his name, and spoke to him on topics tat had

been of late familiar to them He etued no reply, but it was evident that he heard what was said, and that he thought about it, however consedly his

encouraged Mr Lorry to have Miss Pross in with her

work, several times during the day; at those times, they quietly spoke of Lucie, and of her fater then

present, precisely in the usual manner, and as if there were nothing amiss. his was done without anydemonstrative accompaniment, not long enough, oroen enough to harass him; and it lightened MrLorr's friendly heart to believe that he looked up

oener, and that he appeared to be stirred by some



A TAL OF TWO ITIS

peception of inconsistencies sounding himhen it fll dk gin M Lo sked him s

befoe: De docto will you go ot?

As befoe h epeted Ot? Yes; fo wlk with me. Why not?

This time Lo feigned to go out when he cold

extct no nswe om him nd mining

bsent fo n ho eted n the menwhile hedocto hd moved to te set in the window nd

hd st t looking down t the plne tee; bt onM Loys t h slipped wy to his bench.

he tim went ve slowly on nd M Loys hopedkened nd his he gew hevie gin nd gew yet hevie nd hevie evey dy h thid dy cmend went th foh the Fiv dys six dysseven dys ight dys nine dys

Wit hop ev dkening nd with he lwysgowing hvie nd hevie M Lo pssed �0h this nxious time. he secet ws well keptnd Lcie ws nconscios nd hppy bt he cold not fil to obseve tht th shoemke whos hnd hd been little out t st ws gowing dedlly

skill nd tt he hd neve ben so inten on his wok nd tht his hnds hd neve been so nimble

nd expe s in the dusk of te nint evening



THE GOLDEN THREAD

CHAPTER 19

An Oinin

Wo out by anious watching, M Lo fell asleep at

his post On the tenth oning of is suspense, he wasstatled by the shining of the sun into the oo whee

a heavy slube had ovetaken hi when it was dak night

He rubbed his eyes and oused hiself but hedoubted, when he had done so, whethe he was notstill asleep Fo, going to the doo of the docto's oo

and looking in, he peceived that the shoemake's

bench and tools wee put aside again, and that thedocto himself sat eading at the window He was in his usual oing dess, and his face (which M Locould distinctly see), though still ver pale, was callystudious and attentive

Even when he had satised hiself that he wasawake, M Lo felt giddily uncetain fo soe fewoents whethe the late shoeaking might not be adistubed dea of his own fo, did not his eyes show

hi his fiend befoe hi in his accustoed clothing

and aspect, and eployed as usual and was thee anysign within thei ange, that the change of which he

had so stong an ipession had actually happened?

It was but the enui of his st consion andastonishent, the answe being obvious If the ipes

sion wee not poduced by a eal coesponding and

sucient cause, how cae he, ais Lory, thee?How cae he to have fallen asleep, in his clothes, on the sofa in D Manettes consultingoo, and to be

273



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

debating thee point outide the docto bedoomdoo in the ey moing?

Within a few minute, Mi Po tood whipeing

at hi ide f e had had any patice of doubt e, he tak woud of neceiy have eoved it; but he wa by

that time ceaheaded, and had none He advied that

they houd et the time go by unti the egua

beakfathou, and houd then meet the docto a if ning unuua had occued f he appeaed to be in

hi toma tate of mind, M Loy woud thencautiouy poceed to eek diection and guidance fom the opinion he had been, in hi anxiety, oanxiou to obtain

Mi Po ubmitting heef to hi udgement, thecheme wa woked out wit cae Having abundance

of time fo i uua metodica toiette, M Loy peented hief at the beakfathou in hi uua white inen, and with hi uua neat eg he docto waummoned in the uua way, and came to beakfat

So fa a it wa poible to compehend him withoutovetepping thoe deicate and gadua appoache

which M Loy fet to be te ony afe advance, e at

t uppoed that hi daughte maiage had taken pace yetedy n incidental aluion, pupoey thown out, to the day of the week, and the dy of the

month, et him thinking and counting, and evidently made him uneay n a othe epect, howeve, he wa o compoedly himef, that M Loy detemined

to have the aid he out nd that aid wa hi ownheefoe, when the beakfat wa done and ceaed

away, and he and the docto wee e togethe, MLory aid, feeingy My dea Manette, am anxiou

to have you opinion, in condence, on a ve cuioucae in whic am deeply inteeted; that i to ay, it

274



TH GOLDN THRAD

is ve cuious to me; pehaps, to ou bette infomation it ma be less so

Glancing at his hands, which wee discoloued b

his late wok, the docto looked toubled, and listenedattentivel He had alead glanced at his hands moe

than once

D Manette, said M Lo, touching him aec tionatel on the am, the case is the case of a

paticulal dea end of mine Pa give ou mind

to it, and advise me well fo his sake - and above all, fo his daughtes his daughtes, m dea Manette f undestand said the docto, in a subdued tone,

some mental shock - ?Yes!Be explicit, said the docto Spae no detail

M Lo saw that the undestood one anotheand poceededM dea Manette, it is the case of an old and a

polonged shock, of geat acuteness and seveit to theaections, the feelings, the

the as ou expess it -

the mind he mind t is the case of a shock unde

which the suee was boe down, one cannot say fo how long, because believe he cannot calculate the time himself, and thee ae no othe means of getting

at it t is the case of a shock om which the suee

ecoveed, b a pocess that he cannot tace himself -as once head him publicl elate in a stiking

manne t is the case of a shock fom which he has

ecoveed, so completel, as to be a highl intelligent man, capable of close application of mind, and geat

exetion of bod, and of constantl making esh

additions to his stock of knowledge, which was alead ve lage But, unfotunately, thee has been

_

he

paused and took a deep beath a slight elapse

275




h docto in a low voic askd Of how longduation?

Nin days and nights

How did it show itsl I inf glancing at his hands again in th sumption of som old pusuitconnctd with th shock?

hat is th factNow did you v s him askd th docto

distinctly and collctdly though in th sam low

voic ngagd in that pusuit oiginally?OncAnd whn th laps fll on him was h in most

spcts - o in all spcts as h was thn?I think in all spctsYou spok of his daught Dos his daught

know of th laps?No It has bn kpt om h and I hop willalways b kpt fom h It is known only to myslfand to on oth who may b tustd

h docto gaspd his hand and mumudhat was vy kind hat was vy thoughtl! MLoy gaspd his hand in tu and nith of th two spok fo a littl whil

Now my da Mantt said M Loy at lngthin his most considat and most actionat way Iam a m man of businss and unt to cop withsuch inticat and dicult matts I do not possss th kind of infomation ncssay; I do not possss th

kind of intllignc; I want guiding h is no manin this wold on whom I could so ly fo ightguidanc as on you ll m how dos this laps

co about? Is th dang of anoth? Could a ptition of it b pvntd? How should a ptitionof it b tatd? How dos it com about at all? hat



THE GOLDEN TREAD

can I do fo y fiend? No an eve can ave been

oe desious in is eat to sere a iend, tan I a to seve ine, if knew ow But dont know ow to

oiginate, in suc a case If you sagacity, kowledge,and expeience, could put e on te igt tack, Iigt be able to do so uch; unenligtened and undiected, I can do so little Pay discuss it with e; pay enable e to see it a little oe clealy, and teac

e how to be a little oe usel

D Manette sat editating ae tese eanest wods wee spoken, and M Loy did not pess im think it pobable, said the docto, beaking

silence with an eot, tat te elapse you avedescibed, y dea iend, was not quite unfoeseen by its subect

Was it deaded by hi? M Lo ventued to askVer uch He said it with an involuntay suddeYou ave no idea ow such an appehension

weigs on the suees ind, and how dicult- ow

alost ipossible it is, fo hi to foce imself to utte a wod upon te topic tat oppesses im

Would he, asked M Lo, be sensibly elieved if he could pevail upon iself to ipart tat secet

booding to anyone, wen it is on hi?I tink so But it is, as have told you, next to

ipossible I even believe it in soe cases - to bequite ipossible

Now, said M Loy, gently laying is and o n te

doctos a again, ae a sort silence on bot sides,to wat would you efe tis attack?

believe, etued D Manette, tat tee ad

been a stong and extaodinar evival of te tain of thought and emebance tat was te st cause of

the alady Soe intense associations of a ost

277



A TAL OF TWO CTS

distressing naue were vividly recalled, think. t is

probable tha thee had long been a dead luking in his mind, tha those associations would be recalled

say, under ceain cicustances say, on a particulaoccasion. He tried to prepae hiself in vain; perhaps the eort to pepare hiself ade him less able to bear it.

Would he emebe what took place in the elapse?asked Mr Lo, with natual hesiaion.

he docto looked desolately ound the roo,shook his hea, and answered, in a low voice, No aall

Now, as to the ture, hinted Mr Lorry.As to the tue, sai the docto, ecovering

rmness, should have great hope. s it pleased

Heaven in its mecy to estoe hi so soon, shoul have geat hope. He, yielding unde the pessure of acomplicated something, long eade and long vaguely foreseen an contended against, and ecoveing ae the cloud ha bust an passe, should hope hat he worst was ove.

Well, well! hats good comfot. a thankl!said Lorr.

am hankl! epeated the docor, bending his head with eveence.

here ae two othe points, said Mr Lor, on wich a anxious to be instructed. ay go on?

You canno do your friend a beter seice. he

doctor gave hi his hand.o the st, then. He is of a studious habit, and

unusually enegetic; he applies hiself with greatardour to the acuisiion of professional knowledge,

o the conducing of expeiens, to any things.No, does he do too uch?



THE GOLDEN THREAD

I thnk not. It may be the character of hs mnd, to be aways n sngular need of occupaton That may be, n part, natura to t n part, the resut of acton

The ess t was occuped wth heathy thngs, the moret woud be n danger of tung n the unheathydrecton. He may have observed hmself, and made

the dscovery.'ou are sure that he s not under too great a stran?'I thnk I am qute sure of t.'

My dear Manette, f he were overworked now - 'My dear Lorr, I doubt f that coud easy be.here has been a volent stress n one drecton, and t needs a counterweght.'

Excuse me, as a persstent man of busnessAssumng for a moment, that he ws overworked t

woud show tsef n some renewa of ths dsorder?'I do not thnk so I do not thnk,' sad Dr Manette wth the rmness of sefconvcton, that anytng but te one tran of assocaton woud renew t. I thnk that, henceforth, nothng but some extraordnar jarrng of that chord coud renew t. Aer at has happened,and aer s recover, I nd t dcut to magne anysuch voent soundng of that strng agan I trust, and Iamost beeve, that te crcumstances lkely to renew tare exhausted.'

He spoke t te ddence of a man wo knew how

sght a thng would overset the decate organsatonof the mnd, and yet wth the condence of a man

who had sowly won hs assurance out of personaendurance and dstress. It was not for hs end to

abate that condence. He professed hmsef more

releved and encouraged than he realy was, andapproached hs second and ast pont He felt t to be

the most dcut of a but, rememberng hs od

279



A TAE O TWO TES

Sunday moing conversaion with Miss Pross, and

remembering what he had seen in he ast nine days, he knew that he must face it

The occupaion resumed under the inuence of this passing aiction so happiy recovered om, said

Mr Lorry, cearing his throat, we wi cal back

smith's work, blacksmith's work We wi say, o put acase and for te sake of iusration, hat he had been

used, in his bad time, to work at a litte forge We wil

say that he was unexpecedy found at his forge againIs it not a pity that he shoud keep i by him?

The doctor shaded his forehead wih his hand, and beat his foot nevousy on he ground

He has aways kept it by him, said Mr Lorry, withan anxious look at his iend Now, woud i not be

better tha he should et it go?'Stil, the doctor, with shaded forehead, beat his foot nevously on te ground

ou do not nd it easy o advise me? said MrLor quie understand it to be a nice questionAnd ye I hink - ' And here he shook his head, and

stoppedou see,' said Dr Manete, tuing to im aer an

uneasy pause, i is vey hard o explain, consisently,

the innermos workings of his poor man' s mind Heonce yeaed so frightlly for hat occupation, and it

was so wecome when i came; no doubt it relieved his pain so much, by subsiuting he perpexity of

the ngers for the perpexity of he brain, and bysubstiuing, as he became more pracised, the ingenuityof te hands, for the ingenuity of he mena orture; that he has never been abe to bear the thought of

putting it quie out of his reach Even now, when I beieve e is more hope of himsef han he has ever

280



THE GOLDEN THRED

been, and even speaks of hmsef wth a knd ofcondence, the dea that he mght need that odempoyment, and not nd t, gves hm a sudden sense

of terror, ke that whch one may fancy strkes to he heart of a ost chd'

He ooked ke hs ustraton, as he rased hs eyes

to Mr Lory's faceBut may not mnd! ask for nformaton, as a

poddng man of busness who ony deas wth such

atera objects as guneas, shngs, and banknotes may not the retenton of the thng vove the retentonof the dea? f the thng were gone, my dear Manette, mght not e fear go wth t? n shot, s t not aconcesson to the msgvng, to keep the forge?'

There was another sence

ou see, too,' sad the doctor, tremuousy, t ssuch an od companon' woud not keep t, sad Mr Loy, shakng hs

head for he ganed n rmness as he saw he doctordsqueted woud recommend hm to sacrce t Iony want your authorty am sure t does no goodCome! Gve me your authorty, ke a dear good manFor hs daughter's sake, my dear Manette!'

Very strange to see what a strugge there was wthn hm!

n her name, then, et t be done I sancton t But,

woud not take t away whe he was present Let t be removed when he s not there et hm mss hs od

companon aer an absenceMr Lorry ready engaged for that, and the confer

ence was ended. They passed the day n the count,and the doctor was qute restored On the thee

foowng days he remaned perfecty we, and on he

fourteenth day he went away to jon Luce and her

281




husband. e precauton that had been taken toaccount for s sence, Mr Lorr had prevousy

expaned to hm, and he had wrtten to Luce n

accordance wth t, and she had no suspcons.On the nght of the day on whch he e the house,

M Lorry went nto hs room wth a copper, saw,chse, and ammer, attended by Miss Pross carrynga ight. There, wth cosed doors, and n a mysterousand guty manner, Mr Lorry hacked the soemaker's

bench to peces, whe Mss Pross hed the cande as fshe were assstng at a murder for whch, ndeed, n her grmness, she was no unsutabe gure. The bung of the body (prevousy reduced to pecesconvenent for the purpose) was commenced wthoutdeay n the ktchen re and the toos, shoes, and

eather, were bured in the garden. So wcked dodestructon and secrecy appear to honest mnds, that orry and Mss Pross, whe engaged n thecommssion of ther deed and n the remova of ts traces, amost fet, and amost ooked, ke accompces

n a horribe crme.

CHAPTER 20

A Plea

When the newymarried par came home, te rst

person who appeared, to oer hs congratuatons, was Sydney Carton. They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himsef. He was notmproved n habits, or n ooks, or n manner but

there was a certan rugged air of dety about him, which was new to the observation of Chares Daay.

282



· S i : , o V i l .




He watched hs oppounty of takng Darnay asdento a wndow, and of speakng to hm when no oneoverheard.

Mr Daay,' sad Caton, I wsh we mght be frends. '

We are aready frends, I hope.'

ou are good enough to say so, as a fashon ofspeech but, I don't mean any fashon of speech.Indeed, when I say I wsh we mght be frends I

scarcey mean qute that, ether.'Chares Daay as was natura asked hm, n a

goodhumour and goodfeowshp, what he dd mean?Upon my fe,' sad Carton, smng, I nd that

easer to comprehend n my own mnd, than to convey to yours However, et me ty. ou remember a

cetan famous occason when I was more drunk than- than usua?'I remember a certan famous occason when you

forced me to confess that you had been drnkng.'I remember t too The curse of those occasons s

heavy upon me, for I aways remember them. I hope t may be taken nto account one day, when a days areat an end for me! Don't be aarmed am not gong to preach.'

I am not at a aarmed. Eaestness n you sanytng but aarmng to me.'

' sad Carton, wth a careess wave of hs hand,as f he waved that away. On the drunken occason n

queston (one of a arge number, as you know), I wasnsuerabe about kng you, and not kng you. I

wsh you woud forget t. '

I forgot t ong ago. '

Fashon of speech agan! But, Mr Daay, obvons not so easy to me, as you represent t to be to you. I



THE GLDEN THREAD

have by no means forgotten it, and a ight answer does not hep me to forget it'

If it was a ight answer,' retued Daay, I beg

your forgiveness for it I had no other object than to tu a sight thing, which, to my surprise, seems to troube you too much, aside I decare to you on the

faith of a genteman, that I have ong dismissed it om my mind Good Heaven, what was there to dismiss!Have I had nothing more important to remember, in

the great service you rendered me that day?'As to the great service,' said Carton, I am bound toavow to you, when you speak of it in that way, that it was mere professiona captrap I don't know that Icared what became of you, when I rendered it Mind!

I say when I rendered it; I am speakng of the past'ou make ight of the obigation,' retued

Daay, but I wi not quare withyour ight answer'Genuine truth, Mr Daay, trust me! have gone

aside om my purpose; I was speaking about our being iends Now, you know me; you know I amincapabe of a the higher and better ights of men If

you doubt it, ask Styver, and he' te you so'

I prefer to form my own opinion, without the aid of his'

We! At any rate you know me as a dissoute dog who has never done any good, and never wi'

I don't know that you "never wi'But I do, and you must take my word for it We! If

you coud endure to have such a worthess feow, anda feow of such indierent reputation, coming andgoing at odd times, I shoud ask that I might be

pemitted to come and go as a privieged person here; that I might be regarded as an useess (and I woud

add, if it were not for the resembance I detected



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

between you and me), an unoamental, piece of iture, tolerated for its old serice, and taken no notice of I doubt if should abuse the permission It is

a hundred to one if I should avail myself of it four times in a year It would satis me, I dare say, to

know that I had it'Will you tr?'That is another way of saying that I am placed on

the footing I have indicated I thank you, Daay. I

may use that freedom with your name?'I think so, Carton, by this time'

They shoo hands upon it, and Sydney tuedaway Within a minute aerwards, he was, to alloutward appearance, as unsubstantial as ever

When he was gone, and in the course of an evening passed with Miss Pross, the doctor, and M Lorr,Charles Daay made some mention of this conversation in general terms, and spoe of Sydney Carton asa problem of carelessness and recklessness He spokeof him, in short, not bitterly or meaning to bear hard

upon him, but as anybody might who saw him as heshowed himsel.

He had no idea that this could dwell in the thoughtsof his fair young wife but, when he aerwards joined her in their own rooms, he found her waiting for him

with the old pretty liing of the forehead strongly

marked

We are thoughtl tonight' said Daay, drawing

his arm about her Yes, dearest Charles,' with her hands on his breast,

and the enquiring and attentive expression xed upon

hi; we are rather thoughtl tonight, for we have

soething on our mind tonight'

What is it, my Lucie?'

286



THE GOLDEN THREAD

Will you promise no o press one quesion on me,

if I beg you no o ask i?'Will I promise? Wha will I no promise o my love?'

Wha, indeed, wih his hand puing aside thegolden hair om he cheek, and his other hand agains

he hear ha bea for him!I hink, Charles, poor Mr Caron deserves more

consideraion and respec han you expressed for him

onigh'

Indeed, my own? Why so?'Tha is wha you are no o ask me! Bu I hink - Iknow

�

he does. 'If you know i, i is enough. Wha would you have

me do, my Life?'I would ask you, deares, o be very generous wih

him always, and very lenien on his fauls when he is no by. I would ask you o believe ha he has a hear he ver, ver seldom reveals, and ha here are deep wounds in i My dear, I have seen i bleeding. '

I is a painl reecion o me,' aid Charles Daay,quie asounded, ha I should have done him any

wrong I never hou hi of him.'My husband, i is so I fear he is no o be

reclaimed here is scarcely a hope ha anything in

his characer or forunes is reparable now Bu, I amsure ha he is capable of good hings, genle things,even magnanimous things'

She looked so beauil in he purity of her faih in

his los man, ha her husband could have looked a her as she was for hours

d, my deare Love!' she urged, clinging

nearer o him, laying her head upon his breas, and raising her eyes o his, remember how srong we arein our happiness, and how weak he is in his misey!'



A ALE OF WO CIIES

The sppication toched him home. I wi aways remember it, dear Heart! I wi remember it as ong asI ive

He bent ovr the goden head, and pt he rosy ips to his, and foded her in his arms If one foro

wanderer hen pacing the dark streets, cod have heard her innocent discosre, and cod have seen the drops of pity kissed away by her hsband om theso be eyes so oving of hat hsband, he might have

cried to the night - and the words wod not have parted from his ips for the rst time "

God bess her for her sweet compassion!'

CHAPER

1

Eching Ftsteps

A wonder coer for echoes, it has been remarked,hat coer here te doctor ived ver bsiy winding the goden thread which bond her hsband, and her father, and hersef, and her od directress andcompanion, in a ife of qiet biss, Lcie sat in the sti

hose in he tranqiy resonding coer, istening to the echoing footsteps of years

At rst, there were times, hogh she was a perfecty happy yong wife, when her work wod sowy fa

fro her hands, and her eyes wod be dimmed. For, there was something coming in the echoes, something

igh t, afar o, and scarcey adibe yet, that stirred her heart too mch. Fttering hopes and dobts hope,

of a ove as yet nknown to her: dobts, of her reaining pon earth, to enjoy tat new deight

88



THE GOLDEN THREAD

divided her breast Among he echoes hen, here wod arise the sond of footsteps at her own earygrave and thoghts of the hsband who wod be e

so desoate, and who wold mo for her so mch,sweled to her eyes, and broke ike waves That time passed, and her itte Lcie ay on her

bosom Then, among he advancing echoes, here was he tread of her tiny feet and the sond of her pratting words Let greater echoes resond as they wod, the

yong moher at the crade side cod aways hear those coming. They came and the shady hose wassnny with a child's agh, and the divine iend ofchildren, to whom in her troble she had conded hers, seemed to take her chid in his arms, as he took he child of od, and made it a sacred joy to her.

Ever bsiy winding the golden hread hat bond hem al together, weaving the seice of her happyinence throgh the tisse of al their lives, and makng it predominate nowhere, Lcie heard in theechoes of years none bt friendly and soohing sonds.Her hsband's step was strong and prosperos among them her father's rm and eqa. o, Miss Pross, in

haess of string, awakening he echoes, as an nrycharger, whipcorrected, snoting and pawing heeath nder the plane ree in he garden

Even when there were sonds of sorrow among he

rest, hey were not harsh nor cre. Even when goden

hair, ike her own, ay in a hao on a pilow rond the

wo face of a itte boy, and he said, wih a radiantsmile, Dear papa and mamma, I am very sorry toeave yo both, and to eave my pretty sister bt I am

caled, and I mst go' those were not tears al of agony that wetted his yong moher's cheek, as he spirit

departed om her embrace hat had been entsted to



A TA OF TWO CITIS

it Suer them and forbid them not They see my father's face father, blessed words

Thus, the rustling of an angel's wings got blended

with the other echoes, and they were not wholly ofearth, but had in them that breath of heaven Sighs of

the winds that blew over a little gardentomb were

mingled with them also, and both were audible toLucie, in a hushed murmur like the breathing of asummer sea asleep upon a sandy shore as the little

Lucie, comically studious at the task of the moing,or dressing a doll at her mother's footstool, chatteredin the tongues of the two cities that were blended in her life.

The echoes rarely answered to the actual tread ofSydney Carton Some halfdozen times a year, at

most, he claimed his prvilege of coming in uninvited,and would sit among them through the evening, as he had once done oen He never came there heated with wine nd one other thing regarding him was whispered in the echoes, which has been whispered byall true echoes for ages and ages

No man ever really loved a woman, lost her, and

knew her with a blameless though an unchanged mind, when she was a wife and a mother, but herchildren had a strange sympathy with him - aninstinctive delicacy of pity for him What ne hiddensensibilities are touched in such a case, no echoes tell

but it is so, and it was so here. Carton was the rst

stranger to whom little Lucie held out her chubbyars, and e kept his place with her as she grew. The

little boy had spoken of him, almost at the last PoorCarton ss him for me'

r Stryver shouldered his way through the law, likesome great engine forcing itself through turbid water,

290



THE GOLDEN THREAD

and dragged his use iend in his wake, ike a boa owed ase As he boa so favoured is usua in a

rough pigh, and mos under waer, so, dne had

a swamped life of i u, eas and srong cusom, unhappil so much easier and sronger in him hanan simuaing sense of deser or disgrace, made i he

ife he was o ead; and he no more hough ofemerging om his sae of lions ackal, han an reaacka ma be supposed o hink of rising o be a ion.

rver was rich; had married a orid widow wih propey· and hree bos, who had nohing paricuarshining abou hem bu he sraigh hair of heirdumping heads.

These hree oung genemen, Mr ver, exuding paronage of he mos oensive uai omevey pore, had waked before him ike hree sheep o he uie coer in oho, and had oered as pupis oLucies husband deicae saing, Haloa hereare hree umps of breadandcheese owards our marimonia picnic, Daa The poie re ecion of he hree umps of breadandcheese had uie boaed Mr rer wih indignaion, which he aer

wards ued o accoun in he raining of he ounggenemen, b direcing hem o beware of he prideof eggars, ike ha uorfeow. He was aso in the

habi of decaiming o Mrs er, over his bodied wine, on he ars Mrs Daa had once pu

in pracice o cach him, and on he diamond

cudiamond ars in himsef, madam, which had rendered him no o be caugh. ome of his ngs

ench famiiars, who were occasiona paies o he bodied wine and he ie, excused him for he

aer b saying ha he had od i so oen, ha

he beieved i himsef which is sure such an

29 1




incorigibe aggravation of an originay bad oence, as to justi any such oenders being carried o to somesuitably retired spot, and here hanged out of the way

These were among the echoes to which ucie,sometimes pensive, sometimes amused and laughing,

listened in the echoing coer, unti her litte daughter was sx years old How near to her heart the echoes of her chids tread came, and those of her own dear fathers, aways active and selfpossessed, and those of

her dear husands, need not be tod or, how heightest echo of their united home, directed by hersef with such a wise and elegant thr that it was moreabundant than any waste, was music to her or, how

there were echoes all about her, sweet in her ears, of the

many times her father had told her that he found her more devoted to him married (if that coud be) thansinge, and of the many times her husband has said to

her hat no cares and dties seemed to divide her love for him or her hep to him, and ased her hat is the magic secret y daring, of your eing everhing to allof us, as if there were only one of us, yet never seeming to be hurried or to have too much to do?

But, there were other echoes, om a distance, that rumbed menacingly in the coer al through thisspace of time d it was now, about itte ucies sixth bithday, that they began to have an awl sound, as ofa great storm in France with a dread sea rising

On a night in midJuy, one thousand seven hundred

and eightynine, Mr Lor came in late, from Telsons, and sat himself down by ucie and her husband in the dar window It was a hot, wild night,and they were al three reminded of the old Sunday

night when hey had ooed at he ighning from he

same place

29 2



TH GODN THRAD

I began to think' said Mr Lorr, pushing his brown wig back, that I should have to pass the night at Tellson's We have been so ll of business all day,

that we have not known what to do rst, or which way to tu There is such an uneasiness in Paris, that we have actually a run of condence upon us! Ourcustomers over there, seem not to be able to conde

their property to us fast enough There is positively a

mania among some of them for sending it to England.'

That has a bad look' said DaayA bad look, you say, my dear Daay? Yes, but wedon't know what reason there is in it People are so unreasonabe ome of us at Telson's are getting oldand we really can' be troubled out of the ordinarycourse without due occasion.'

Stil,' said Daay you know how gloomy and threatening the sky is. '

I know that to be sure' assented Mr Lorr tring to persuade himself that his swee temper was soured and that he grumbled but I am determined to be peevishaer my long day's botheration. Where is Manette?'

Here he is' said the doctor, entering the dark room

at the moment.I am quite glad you are at home; for these hurries

and forebodings by which I have been surrounded allday long, have made me nervous without reason You

are not going out, I hope?'No; I am going to play backgammon with you, if

you like,' said the docorI don' think I do ike, if may speak my mind I am

not t to be pitted agains you tonight. Is the teaboardstill there, Lucie? I can't see'

Of course it has been kept for you.'Thank ye my dear he precious cid is sfe in bed?'

293




d sleepng soundly.'

Tht's rght ll sfe nd well I don't know whynyhng should be othese thn sfe nd well here,

thnk God but I hve been so put out ll dy, nd Im not s young s I ws My te, my der Thnk ye

Now, come nd tke your plce n the crcle, nd let usst quet, nd her the echoes bout whch you hve

your theory. 'Not theory t ws fncy'

A fncy, then, my wse pet,' sd Mr Lorry, pttng her hnd. They re very numerous nd very loud, though, re they not? Only her them'

Hedlong, md, nd dngerous footsteps to force ther wy nto nybody's lfe, footsteps not esly mdeclen g f once stned red, the footsteps rgng nSt tone fr o, s the lttle crcle st n the drkLondon w�ow.

St to hd been, tht mong, vst dusky mss of scr \ rows hevng to nd fro, wth equentglems of lg \ bove the bllowy heds, where steel bldes nd byonets shone n the sun A tremendous

ror rose om the throt of St Antone, nd forestof nked s struggled n the r lke shrvelled brnches of trees n wnter wnd ll the ngersconvulsvely clutchng t every wepon or semblnceof wepon tht ws thrown up om the depths

below, no mtter how fr o.

ho gve them out, whence they lst cme, where the y begn, through wht gency they crookedly

qu vered nd jerked, scores t a tme, over the hedsof the crowd, lke knd of lghtnng, no eye n the

throng could hve told; but, muskets were beng

dstrbuted so were crtrdges, powder, nd bll,

294



THE GOLDEN THREAD

bars of iron and wood knives axes pikes evey

weapon that distracted ingenuity coud discover ordevise Peope who coud ay hod of nothig ese set

temseves with beeding hands to force stoes ad bricks out of their paces i was Every puse ad

heart in St toine was on highfever strain an at highfever heat Evey iving creature there hed ife asof no account and was demented with a passioate

readiness to sacrice it

s a whirlpoo of boiing waters has a centre pointso a this raging circed round efarges wine shopand ever huan drop in the cadron had a tendency to be sucked toards the vortex where efarge himsefaready begried with gunpowder and sweat issuedorders issued ars thrst this an back dragged this

an forard disarmed one to ar another abouredand strove in the thickest of the uproarKeep near to me Jacques Three cried Defarge

and do you Jacques One and Two separate and put yourselves at the head of as any of these patriots as you can Where is my wife?

Eh we Here you see me said madame com posed as ever but not knitting today Madame s

resoute right hand was occupied with an axe i paceof the usua soer impements and in her girde werea pisto and a crue knife

Where do you go my wife?I go said madame with you at present You sha

see me at the head of women by and by Come then cried Defarge in a resounding voice

Patriots and iends we are ready The Bastie

With a roar that sounded as if a the breath inFrance has been shaped into the detested word the

iving sea rose wave on wave depth on depth ad

29 5



A AL OF WO CIIS

oveowed the city to that point. Alarbells ringing

dms beating, the sea raging and thundering on its new beach, the attack beun.

Deep ditches, double drawbridge, massive stone wall eight great towers cannon muskets re andsmoke. Through the re and through the smoke in

the re and in the smoke, for the sea cast him upagainst a cannon and on the instant he became acannonier Defarge of the wine shop worked like a

manl soldier two erce hours.Deep ditc single drawbridge assive stone walls,

eit great towers, cannon muskets re and smoke.One drawbridge down Work, comrades all, work

Work, Jacques One Jacques wo, Jacques One housand Jacques wo housand, Jacques Fiveand

wenty housand in the name of all the angels or thedevils - which you prefer work hus Defarge of the wine shop sill at his gun which had long grown hot

o me woen' cried adame his wife. What Wecan kill as well as he men when he place is taken'And to her wih a shrill thirst cr trooping women variously aed but all armed alie in hunger and revenge.

Cannon uskets, re and smoke but, still the deepditch, the single drawbridge, the massive stone wallsand the eigt great towers Slight displacements of the

ragi ng sea made by the falling wounded. Flashing weapons blazing torches, smoking waggonloads of

wet straw ard work at neighbouring barricades in alldirections shrieks volleys execrations, braver without stint boom smash and rattle, and the rious

sounding of the living sea but, still the deep ditch and the single drawbridge, and the massive sone walls,and the eight great towers, and still Defarge of the



s a s u v a s a l .




wine shop a his gun, grown doubly ho by the serviceof four erce hours.

A white ag om wihin he fotress, and a parley

this dimly percepible through the raging storm, nothing audible in i suddenly the sea rose immeas urably wider and higher, and swept Defarge of he wine shop over the lowered drawbridge, pas he massive stone ouer walls, in among he eigh grea owers surrendered

So resistless was he force of the ocean bearing himon, ha even o draw his breah or u his head was asimpracticable as if he had been sruggling in the surf a the Souh Sea, unil he was landed in he ouercouryard of the Basille. here, agains an angle of a wall, he made a suggle o look abou him. Jacques

hree was nearly a his side Madame Defarge, sill heading soe of her women, was visible in he innerdisance, and her knife was in her hand verwhere

was umul, exulaion, deafening and maniacal bewildermen, asounding noise, ye rious dumbshow

The prsoners'

The records'The secre cells'The insrumens of orure'he prisoners'Of all these cres, and en housand incoherencies,

he prisoners' was the cry mos aken up by the sea

tha rushed in, as if here were an eeiy of people, as well as of ime and space en the foremos billows

rolled pas , bea ring he prison ocers wih hem, and

threa te ning them all with insta nt death i f any secre t

nook remained undisclosed, Defa rge laid his st rong

ha nd on t he beas of one o f hese men - a man with a

gre y head, who had a ligh ted to rc h in his hand



THE GOLDEN THRAD

seprte hm from the rest, n got hm between himsef n the w.

Show me the North Tower' s Defrge. Quick'

wl fthly,' repie the mn, f you wil come wth me. But there is no one there.'

ht s the menng of one hunre n ve,

North Tower?' ske Defrge. Quik'The mening, monseur?'

Does t men cptve, or pce of cptvty? Or

o you men tht shl strke you e?'Kil hm' croke Jcques Three, who h come

cose upMonseur, t s cel.'Show t me'Pss ths wy, then.'

Jcques Three, with his usu crving on him, nevienty spponte by the iogue tking tuht i not seem to promse blooshe, he byDefrge's rm s he he by the tukey's. Ther three hes h been cose togeher uring ths bref iscourse, n t h been s much s they cou o to

her one noher, even hen: so tremenous ws the nose of the ving ocen, n ts rruption into the

fortress, n ts nuntion of the outs n pssgesn stircses. ll roun outse, too, t bet the wls

wth eep, horse ror, from which, occsonly,

some prti shouts of tumult broke n lepe into

he r ke spry. Through goomy vuts where the ight of y h

never shone, pst hieous oors of rk ens n

cges, own veous ghts of steps, n gn upsteep rgge scents of stone n brck, more ke ry

wterfs thn strcses, Defrge, he tukey, n

Jcques Three, nke hn n rm, went wih the

299



A TAL OF TWO CITIS

speed they could make. Here and there especially at

rst the inundation stated on them and swept by but when they had done descending and were winding

and climbing up a tower they were alone Hemmed in

here by the massive thickness of walls and arches thestor within the fortress and without was only audible to them in a dull subdued way as if the noise out of

which they had come had almost destroyed their senseof hearing

The tukey stopped at a low door put a key in aclashing lock swug the door slowly open and said

as they all ben heir heads and passed in: ne hundred and ve No Tower!'

Tere was a small heavilygrated unglazed windw high in the wall wih a stone screen before it so

that the sky could be only seen by stooping low andlookng up here was a small chimney heavily baredacross a few feet wihin here was a heap of old feahery woodashes on the hearth here was a stooland table and a straw bed There were the four

blackened walls and a rusted iron ring in one of them

Pass hat orch slowly along these walls that I maysee them' said Defarge to the tukey

The man obeyed and Defarge followed the lightclosely wih his eyes

Stop! - Look here acques!'A M!' croaked acques Three as he read greedily

Alexandre Manette' said Defarge in his ear following the letters with his swart forenger deeplyengained with gunpowder And here he wrote "a poor physician And it was he without doubt whoscratched a calendar on his stone at is that in your

hand? A crowbar? Give it me!'

He had still the linstock of his gun in his own hand

300



TH GOLDN THREAD

He made a sudden exhange of the two instentsand tuing on the worm-eaten sool and ale eatthem to piees in a few lows

Hold the light higher!' he said wrathll to thetuke ook among those agments ith areJaques And see! Here is m knife' hrowing it tohim; rip open tha ed and searh the sraw Holdthe light higher ou! '

With a menaing look a the tuke he rawled

upon the hearh and peering up the himne strkand prised a is sides wih he rowar and worked atthe iron graing aross i In a few minutes somemorar and dus ame dropping down whi heavered his fae to avoid; and in it and in the oldwood-ashes and in a revie in the hine into

whih his weapon had slipped or wrough itself hegroped with a autious ouh

Nothing in the wood and nothing in the strawJaques?'

Nothing'et u s ollet them togeher i e middle o f the

ell So! ight hem ou!'The tkey red the litle pile whih lazed highand hot Stooping again to ome ou at the low-arheddoor the le it uing and retraed their wa o theourtard; seeing to reover their sense of hearing asthe ame down until the were in the raging ood

one moreTe found it surging and tossing in ques ofDefarge himself St toine was lamorous to ave itswine-shop keeper foremos in the guard pon tegoveor who had defended the Bastille and sot thepeople Otherwise the goveor wold not emarhed to the Htel de Ville for judment Other-

30r





TE GOLDEN TREAD

unknown The remorseless sea of urulenly swayingshapes voies of vengeane and faes hardened in theaes of suering unil he ouh of piy ould make

no mark on hem.Bu in he oean of faes where evey ere and

rious expression was in vivid life here were twogroups of faes eah seven in numer so xedlyonrasing with he res ha never did sea roll whihore more memorale wreks wih i Seven faes of

prisoners suddenly released y he sorm tha hadurs heir om were arried high overhead: allsared all los all wondering and amazed as if he lasday were ome and hose who rejoied around hemwere los spiris Oher seven faes there were aiedhigher seven dead faes whose drooping eyelids and

halfseen eyes awaied the las day Impassive faesye wih a suspended no an aolished expressionon hem; faes rather in a fearl pause as having yeo raise he dropped lids of the eyes and ear winesswith the loodless lips 'OU DDT !

Seven prisoners released seven goy heads on pikes

he keys of he aursed forress of he eigh srongowers some disovered leers and other memorialsof prisoners of old ime long dead of roken heas suh and suhlike he loudly ehoing fooseps of SAnoine eso through he Paris srees in midJulyone housand seven hundred and eighty-nine Now

Heaven defea he fany of uie Daay and keephese fee far ou of her life! For hey are headlongmad and dangerous; and in he years long aer hereaking of he ask a Defarge s wineshop door theyare no easily puried when one sained red



A TALE OF TWO CTES

CAPTER

T S Sil Riss

Haggard St Antoine had had onl one exutant weekin whih to soen his modium of hard and itterread to suh an extent as he oud with the reish

of frateal emraes and ongratulations whenMadame Defarge sat at her ounter as usual presidingover te ustomers Madame Defarge wore no rose inher head for the eat rotherhood of spies hadeome even in one short week extremel har oftrusting themseves to the saint's meries The lamps

aross is streets had a portentousl elasti swingwith tem.

Madame Defarge with her arms folded sat in themoing light and heat ontemplating the wine shopand the street. In oth there were several knots ofloungers squaid and miserale ut now with a

manifest sense of power enthroned on their distress.The raggedest nightap awr on the wrethedest headhad this rooked signiane in it: I know how hard ithas grown for me the wearer of this to support ife inmself; ut do ou know how eas it has grown for methe wearer of this to destro life in ou?' Ever lean

are arm that had een without work efore had thiswork alwas read for it now that it ould strike. Thengers of the knitting women were viious with theexperiene that the oud tear There was a hange inthe appearane of St Antoine; the image had eenhammering into this for hundreds of ears and the last

nishingows

had tod mightil on the expression.

304



TE GOLDEN TREAD

Madae Defarge sat oserving it with sh sppressed approval as was to e desired in the leader ofthe St Antoine woen One of her sisterhood knittedeside her The short rather plp wife of a staedgroer and the other of two hildren withal thislietenant had alread eaed the oplientarnae of the Vengeane

Hark!' said the Vengeane. isten then! Whooes?'

As if a train of powder laid o the oterostond of the St Antoine qarter to the wine shop doorhad een sddenl red a fast-spreading rrae shing along.

It is Defarge' said adae. Siene patriots!'Defarge ae in reathless pled oa red ap he

wore and ooked arond hi! isten everhere!'said adae again isten to hi!' Defarge stoodpanting against a akgrond of eager ees and openoths fored otside the door all those ithin thewine shop had sprng to their feet.

Sa then hsand What is it?'

News o the other world! 'How then?' ried adae onteptosl. The

other world?'Does everod here reall od Folon who told

the faished people that the ight eat grass andwho died and went to Hel?'

Everod ! ' o all throatsThe news is of hi He is aong s! 'Aong s!' o the niversa throat again And

dead?'Not dead! He feared s so h and with reason

that he ased hiself to e represented as dead and

had a grand oknera Bt the have fond hi



A TALE OF TWO CTES

alive hiding in the ountry and have rought him in Ihave seen him ut now on his way to the Htel deVile a prisoner I have said that he had reason to fearus Say a! Had he reason?'

rethed old sinner of more than threesore yearsand ten if he had never known it yet he would haveknown it in his heart of hearts if he ould have heardte answering ry

A moment of profound silene followed Defargeand his wife ooked steadfastly at one another TheVengeane stooped and the jar of a drum was heardas se moved it at her feet ehind the ounter

Patriots ! ' said Defarge in a deterined voie arewe ready?'

Instanty Madame Defarge's knife was in her girdle;

te drum was eating in the streets as if it and adrumer had own togeter y magi; and teVengeane uttering terri shrieks and inging herarms aout her head like al te forty ries at onewas tearing om house to house rousing the women

The men were terrie in te loody-minded anger

wi whih hey looked from windows aught upwhat ars they had and ae pouring down into thestreets; ut the woen were a sight to hil theoldest. From suh household upations as teirare poverty yielded om teir hildren om theiraged and their sik rouhing on the are ground

faished and naked tey ran out with streaming hairurging one another and themselves to madness withthe wildest ries and ations Vilain Foulon taken mysister! Old Fouon taken my moter! Misreant

Foulon taken my daughter! Then a sore of othersran into te midst of these eating their reasts

tearing their hair and sreaming Foulon aive!



TE GOLDEN TREAD

Foulon ho told the staing people the ight eatgrass ! Folon who told od father that he ight eatgrass whn I had no read to give hi! Foulon who

told a it ight su grass when these reastswere dr with want! 0 other of God this Foulon! 0Heaven our sering! Hear e dead a and withered father: I swear on m nees on thesestones to avenge ou on Fouon! Husands androthers and oung en give us he lood of Fou on

give us the head of Foulon give us the heart ofFouon give us the od and soul of Foulon rendFoulon to piees and dig hi into the ground thatgrass ma grow fro hi! With these ries nuersof the woen lashed into lind frenz whirled aoutstriing and tearing at their own friends until the

dropped into a passionate swoon and were onl saved the en elonging to the o eing trapledunder foo .

Nevertheless not a moment was lost not a oent!This Foulon was at the Htel de Ville and ight eloosed. Never if St Antoine new his own sueringsinsults and wrongs! Aed en and woen oedout of the quarter so fast and drew even these astdregs aer the with suh a fore of stion thatwithin a quarter of an hour there was not a huanreature in St Antoine's oso ut a few old ronesand the wailing hidren .

No The were all than tie hoing the hall of

exaination where this old an ugl and wiedwas and overowing into the adjaent open spaeand streets. The Defarges husand and wife theVengeane and Jaqes Three were in he rstpress and at no great distane o hi in the hall .

See!' ried adae pointing with her nife . See



A TALE OF TWO CTES

the old villain bond with ropes. That was well doneto tie a nh of grass pon his bak Ha ha That waswell done et im eat it now! ' Madame p her knife

nder her arm and lapped er hands as at a pla.The people immediatel ehind Madame Defarge

explaining the ase of her satisfation o those behindthem and those again explaining to others and thoseto others the neighoring streets resonded with thelapping of ands Similarl dring two or three

hors of raw and the winnowing of man bshels ofwords Madame Defarge's eqent expressions ofimpatiene were taken p with marvellos qiknessat a distane he more readil bease ertain menwho had some wonderl exerise of agilitlimed p the exeal arhitetre to look in om

the windows knew Madame Defarge well and aedas a telegraph beween her and the rowd otside heilding.

At length the sn rose so high that it strk a kindlra as of hope or proteion diretl down pon theold prisoner's head. The favor was too muh to bear;in an instan the arrier of dst and ha that hadstood srprisingl long went o the winds and StAntoine had got him!

It was known direl to the hest onnes of herowd. Defarge had t sprng over a railing and atale and folded the miserale wreth in a deadlemrae Madame Defarge had t followed and

ted her hand in one of the ropes with whih he wastied the Vengeane and Jaqes Three were not etp with them and the men at the windows had not eswooped ino the hall like irds of pre from theirhigh peres when the ry seemed to go p all overthe it Bring him o! Bring him o the lamp!'

308



TE GOLDEN TREAD

Down and up and head foremost on the steps ofthe uilding; now on his knees; now on his feet; nowon his ak; dragged and struk at and stied theunhes of grass and straw that were thrust into hisfae hundreds of hands; to ruised pantingleeding et always entreating and eseehing former; now ll of vehement agon of ation with asmall lear spae aout him as the people drew oneanoer ak that the might see; now a log of dead

wood drawn through a forest of legs; he was hauled tothe nearest street oer where one of the fatal lampsswng and there Madame Defarge let him go as aat might have done to a mouse and silentl andomposedl looked at him while the made read andwhile he esought her the women passionatel

sreehing at him all he time and he men stelalling out to have him killed with grass in his mouthOne he went alo and the rope roke and theaught him shrieking; twie he went alo and therope roke and the aught him shrieking; then therope was meril and held him and his head was

soon upon a pike with grass enough in the mouth forall St Antoine to dane at the sight of

Nor was this the end of the da's had work for Sttoine so shouted and daned his angry lood upthat it oiled again on hearing when the da losed inthat the son-in-law of the despathed another of the

people' s enemies and insulters was oming into Parisunder a guard ve hundred strong in avalry alone Sttoine wrote his rimes on aring sheets of paperseized him would have to him out of the reast ofan arm to ear Foulon ompan set his head and

heart on pikes and arried the three spoils of the da

in Wolf-proession through the streets



A TALE OF TWO CTES

ot efore dark night did the en and woenoe ak to the hidren waiing and readlessThen the iserae akers' shops were eset y longes of the patienty waiting to uy ad read; andwhile they waited ith stoahs faint and epty theyegied the tie y eraing one another on thetriphs of the day and ahieving the again ingossip Gradually these strings of ragged peopeshortened and ayed away; and ten poor ights

egan to shine in high windows and sender res wereade in the streets at whih neighours ooked inoon aerwards supping at their doors

Sany and insuient suppers those and innoentof eat as of most other saue to wrethed read Yethuan felowship insed some nourishent into the

int viands and struk soe sparks of heernessout of them Fathers and mothers who had had theirll share in the worst of the day paed genty withtheir meagre hidren; and overs with suh a worldaround them and efore the loved and hoped

It was almost oing when Defarge's wine shop

parted with its last knot of ustoers and MonsieurDefarge said to adae his wife in husky toneswhile fastening the door At ast it is oe y dear! '

Eh well! ' reted adame Alost 'St Antoine slept the Defarges slept even the

Vengeane sept with her staed groer and the

dru was at rest The dru's was the ony voie in StAntoine that lood and hur had not hanged TheVengeane as ustodian of the dru ould havewakened him up and had the sae speeh out of hias efo the Bastile fel or od Fouon was seized;not so ith the hoarse tones of the en and woen in

St ntoine's oso

3I



TE GOLDEN TREAD

CAPTER 3

Fir Riss

There was a hange on the vllage where the fontanfell and where the mender of roads went foth dal tohammer out of the stones on the hghwa sh

morsels of bread as mght serve for pathes to hold hspoor gnorant soul and hs poor redued bod togetherThe prson on the rag was not so domnant as ofore;there were solders to guard t but not man; therewere oers to gard the solders but not one of themknew what hs men would do beond ts : that t

would probal not be what he was ordered Far and wde la a runed ountr eldng nothng

but desolaton Eve green leaf ever lade of grassand blade of gran was as shrivelled and poor asthe mserable people Everhng was bowed downdejeted oppressed and broken abtatons fenes

domestated anmals men women hldren andthe sol that ore them all wo out

Monsegner (oen a most worth ndvdalgentleman) was a natonal blessng gave a hvalrostone to thngs was a polte example of lxos andshnng lfe and a great deal more to eqal ppose;

neveheless Monsegneur as a lass had soehow orother brought thngs to ths Strange that reatondesgned expressl for Monsegner shold e sosoon wrng dr and squeezed out! There mst esomethng sho-sghted n the eteal arrangeentssurel! Thus t was however; and the last drop of

blood havng een extrated om the nts and the



A TALE OF TWO CTES

last srew of the rak having een ted so oen hat

its prhase rumled and it now ted and tedwit nohing to ite Monseigner egan to n awao a phenomenon so low and naontale.

Bt this was not the hange on he village and onan a village like it. For sores of ears gone onseigner had sqeezed it and wrng it and hadseldm graed it with his presene exept for hepleasres of the hase

now fond in hnting the

people; now fond in hnting he easts for whosepresevation Monseigner made ediing spaes ofararos and arren wildeess. No. The hangeonsisted in he appearane of strange faes of lowaste rather han in the disappearane of the highaste hiselled and otherwise eatied and eatiing

featres of Monseigner.Fr in hese times as the mender of roads worked

solitar in he dst not oen troling himself toreet that dst he was and to dst he mst reteing for he most part too mh opied in hinkinghow little he had for spper and how mh more he

wold eat if he had it in hese times as he raised hisees from his lonel laor and viewed the prospethe wold see some rogh gre approahing on footthe like of whih was one a rarity in those pas twas now a freqent presene. As it advaned themender of roads wold dise withot srprise that

it was a shagg-haired man of almost ararianaspet tall in wooden shoes that were lms even tothe ees of a mender of roads grim rogh swarsteeped in the md and dst of man highwas dankwith the marsh moistre of man low grondssprinkled with the thos and leaves and moss of

man was throgh woods .

312





A TALE OF TWO CTES

aonets ntil the sky egan to lear over the villageShow me!' said the traveller then moving to the

ro of the hill

See ! ' reted the mender of roads with extendednger Yo go down here and straight throgh thesteet and past the fontain '

To the Devil with all that!' interrpted the otherrolling his ee over the landsape J go throgh nosteets and past no fontains Well?'

ell! Aot two leages eond the smmit ofthat hill aove the village'

Good When do o ease t o work?'At snset'ill o wake me efore deparing? I have walked

two nights withot resting et me nish m pipe and

I shall sleep like a hild Will o wake me?'Srel'The wafarer smoked his pipe ot pt it in his

reast slipped o his great wooden shoes and ladon on his ak on the heap of stones He was fastasleep dietl

As the road-mender plied his dst laour and thehail-lods rolling awa revealed right ars andstreaks of sky whih were responded to silver gleamspon the landsape the little man (who wore a red apnow in plae of his le one) seemed fasinated thegre on the heap of stones His ees were so oented towards it that he used his tools mehanialland one would have said to very poor aont Therone fae e shaggy blak hair and eard the oarsewoollen red ap the rough medle dress of homespunst and hairy skins of beasts the powerl frameattenuated spare living and the sllen and desperateompression of the lips in sleep inspired he mender of



TE GOLDEN TEAD

roa with awe The traveller ha travelled far, and hisfeet were footsore, and his ankles hafed and leedinghis great shoes, stued with leaves an grass, had een

heavy to rag over the many long leagues, and islothes were hafed into holes, as he himself was intosores Stooping down esie him, the road-mendertried to get a peep at seret weapons in his reast orwhere not ut, in vain, for he slept with his armsrossed upon him, and set as resolutely as his lips

Forie towns with their stokaes, guarhouses,gates, trenhes, and drawriges, seeme to themender of roads, to e so muh air as against tisgre d when he lied his eyes om it to thehorizon and looked around, he saw in his small fanysimilar gures, stopped y no ostale, tening to

entres all over FraneThe man slept on, indierent to showers of hail and

intervals of rightness, to sunshine on his fae andshadow, to e pattering lumps of dull ie on his odyand he diamonds into whih the sun hanged tem,until the sun was low in the west, an the sy was

glowing Then, the mender of roads having got histools togeer and all things ready to go own into thevillage, roused him

Good! ' said the sleeper, rising on his elow Twoleagues eyond the summit of the hill?'

Aout'

Aout Good!'The mender of roas went home, with he dust goingon efore him aoring to the set of the wind, and wassoon at the fountain, squeezing hiself in among thelean kine rought there to rink, an appearing even towhisper to them in his whispering to all the village

en the village had taken its poor supper, it did not

315



A TALE OF TWO CTES

reep to bed, as it usuall did, but ame out of doorsagain, and remained there. urious ontagion ofwhispering was upon it, and also, when it gatheredtogether at the fountain in the dark, another uriousontagion of looking expetantl at the sky in onediretion onl. Monsieur Gabelle, hief ntionary ofthe plae, beame uneas; went out on his house-topalone, and looked in that diretion too; glaned downfrom behind his himnes at the darkening faes b the

fountain below, and sent word to the saristan whokept the kes of the hurh, that there might be need toring the tosin b and b.

The nigh deepened. The trees environing the oldhteau, keeping its solitary state apart, moved in arising wind, as though the threatened the pile of

building massive and dark in he gloom. p the woterrae ighs of steps the rain ran wildl, and beat atthe great door, like a swi messenger rousing thosewithin uneas rushes of wind went through the hall,among the od spears and knives, and passed lamentingup the stairs, and shook the urtains of the bed where

the last Marquis had slept East, West, North, andSouth, through the woods, four heav-reading,unkempt gures rushed the high grass and rakedthe branhes, striding on autiousl to ome togetherin the ourtard. Four lights broke out there, andoved awa in dieren diretions, and all was blak

again.But, not for long. Presentl, the hteau began toake itself srangel visibe b some light of its own, astough it were growing luminous. Then, a ikering

streak paed behind the arhiteture of the ont,

piking out ransparent plaes, and showing where

balustrades, arhes, and windows were. en it



TE GOLDEN TREAD

of taxes, ad no rent at all , that Gaele had got inthose atte das eame impatient for an inteiewwith him, and, surrounding his house, summonedhim to ome foth for personal onferene hereupon, Monsieur Gaele did heavi ar his door, andretire to hold ounsel with himself The reslt of thatonferene was, that Gaelle again withdrew himselfto his housetop ehind his sta of himnes; tistime resolved, ifhis door was roen in (he was a smallSouthe man of retaliative temperament), to pithhimself head foremost over he parapet, and ush aman or two eow

Proal, Monsieur Gaele passed a ong night upthere, with the distant hteau for re and andle, andthe eating at his door, omined with the jo-ringing,for musi; not to mention his having an ill-omened

amp sung aross the road efore his posting-housegate whih the viage showed a ive inination todisplae in his favour ting suspense, to e assina whoe summer night on the rin of the a oean,read to tae that punge into it upon whih MonsieurGaelle had resolved! But, he friendl dawn appearing

at ast, and the rush-andles of the viage gutteringout, the people happi dispersed, and MonsieurGaele ame down ringing his life wih hi for thatwhile

Within a hundred miles, and in the light of otherres, there were other ntionaries less fortnate,

that night and oher nights, whom the rising sunfound hanging aross one-peae streets, wherethe had een o and red; also, there were otherviagers and townspeope less fortunate than themender of roads and his felows, upon whom tentionaries and sodie tued with suess, and



A TAE OF TWO CTS

whom the strng p in their t Bt the eregres were steadil wending East West North and

So e that as it wold; and whosoever hng re

ed he altitde of the gallows that wold t towater and qenh it no ntionary an streth ofathematis was ale to allate sessll

CAPTER 2 4

Dw Ls Rck

In sh risings of re and risings of sea the r eathshaken the shes of an angr oean whih hadnow no e t was alwas on the ow higher andhigher to the terror and wonder of the eholders on

the shore three ears of tempest were onsmedhree more ihdas of little ie had een woven the golden thread into the peael tisse of the lifeof her home

Man a night and man a da had its inmateslistened to the ehoes in the oer with hearts that

failed em when the heard the thronging feet Forthe footsteps had eome to their minds as the footsteps of a people tmltos nder a red ag andwith their ont delared in danger hanged intowild easts b terrile enhantment long persisted in.

Monseigner as a lass had dissoiated himself

om the phenoenon of his not eing appreiated : ofhis eing so little wanted in Frane as to inr

onsiderale danger of reeiving his dismissal om itand this life together ike the faled rsti who raised

the Devil with innite pains and was so terried at thesight of im that he old ask the Enem no qestion

320



TE GOLDEN TREAD

bu immdiay d; so, Monsignur, ar bodyrading Lord's prayr backwards or a granumbr o yars, and prorming many or pon

sps or compling vil on, no soonr bdim in his rrors an ook o his nob s .T sining bul' s y o cour was gon, or i

woud hav bn h mark or a urrican o naionabuls . I ad nvr bn a good y o s w h adong had mo in i o Lucir's prid, Sardan

apaus's uxur, and a mo's blindnss bu i addroppd ou and was gon. Th cour, rom axcusiv innr circl o is ourmos ron ring oinrigu, corrupion, and dissimuaion, was al gonogr Royay was gon; ad bn bsigd in ispaac and suspndd', wn as idings camovr.

Th ugus o yar on ousand svn undrdand niny-wo was com, and Monsignur was byhis im scard ar and wid.

s was naural, h hadqarrs and gra gahringpac o Monsignur, in London, was Tllson'sBank. Spiris ar supposd o han placs wr

hir bodis mos rsord, and Monsignur wioua guina aund spo wr his guinas usd ob. Morovr, i was spo o which suc Frncinllignc as was mos o b rid upon, camqicks. gain: Tlson's was a municn ous,and xndd gra libraiy o od cusomrs wo ad

an rom ir igh sa. gain os nobs woad sn h coming sorm in im, and anicipaingpundr or conscaion, had mad providn rmiancs o Tson's, wr aways o b hard o r byhir ndy brrn. To whic i mus b addd tavr nw comr rom Franc rpord hims and is

321



A TALE OF TWO CES

idings a lson's, amos as a mar o cours. Forsuc variy o rasons, Tson's was a a im, aso rnc inignc, a kind o ig Excang and

is was so wl known o pubic, and nquirismad tr wr in consqunc so numrous, aTlson's somims wro las nws ou in a inor so and posd i in bank windows, or a wo ranroug mpl Bar o rad.

On a saming, misy aoon, Mr Lorry sa a is

dsk, and ars Daay sood laning on i, akingwi im in a ow voic. T pninia dn onc sapar or inrviws wi ous, was now nwsxcang, and was d o ovrowing. I was wiinal an our or so o im o closing.

Bu, aoug you ar youngs man a vr

ivd, ' said arls Daay, rar siaing, I mussi suggs o you 'I undrsand. a I am oo od?' said Mr Lorry.Unsd war, a ong jouy, uncrain

mans o ravling, a disorganisd counry, a ciy amay no b vn sa or you. '

My dar arls,' said Mr Lory, wi crlcondnc, you ouc som o rasons or mygoing no or m saying away. I is sa noug orm nobody wil car o inrr wi an old ow oard upon ourscor wn r ar so many popr muc br wor inrring wit. s o isbing a disorganisd ciy, i i wr no a disorganisd

ciy r woud b no occasion o snd sombodyom our ous r o our ous r, wo knows ciy and businss, o old, and is in llson'scondnc. s o uncrtain ravling, ong

jouy, and winr watr, i I wr no pr

pard o submi mysl o a w inconvnincs or

32 2



TE GOLDEN TREAD

sak oTsons ar a s yars wo oug

o b?'I wis I wr going mys' said Cars Darnay

somwa rsssy and ik on inking aoud.Indd You ar a pry ow o objc andadvis' xcaimd Mr Lorry. You wis you wrgoing yours nd you a Frncman bo? You ar awis counsor. '

My dar M r Lorry i i s bcaus I a m a Frncman

bo a oug (wic I did no man o urr owvr) as passd roug my mind on.On canno p inking aving ad som sympayor misrab pop and aving abandondsoming o m' spok r in is ormroug mannr a on mig b isnd o andmig av powr o prsuad o som rsrain.Ony as nig ar you ad us wn I wasaking o Luci

Wn you wr aking o Luci' Mr Loryrpad. Ys. I wondr you ar no asamd omnion nam o Luci Wising you wr goingo Franc a is im o day '

owvr I am no going' said Cars Daaywi a smi. I is mor o purpos a you sayyou ar.'

nd I am i n pain raity. T u is my darCars Mr Lory gancd a disan ous andowrd is voic you can av no concpion ot

dicuty wi wic our businss is ransacd ando pri in wic our books and paprs ovryondr ar invovd. T Lord abov nows wa compromising consquncs woud b o numbrso pop i som o our documns wr sizd ordsroyd and y mig b a any im you ow



A TALE OF TWO CTES

or wo can sa tat Paris is not st ar toda, orsackd tomorrow Now, a judicious sction omts wit t ast possib da, and t buring o

tm, or otrwis gtting o tm out o arm'swa, is witin t powr (witout oss o prcioustim) o scarc anon but ms, i anon . ndsa ang back, wn Tson's knows tis and sastis son's , wos brad av atn ts sixtars bcaus am a itt sti about t joints?

,

am a bo, sir, to a a dozn od codgrsr 'ow admir t gaantr o our out spirit,

Mr Lorr. 'Tut Nonsns, sir nd, m dar ars, ' said

Mr Lorr, gancing at t ous again, ou ar tormmbr, at gtting things out o Paris at tisprsnt tim, no mattr wat tings, is nxt to animpossibiiy Paprs and prcious mattrs wr thisvr da brout to us r (I spak in strict condncit is not businssik to wispr it, vn to ou) , b thstrangst barrs ou can imagin, v on o womad is ad anging on b a sing air as passd

Barrirs . t anotr tim, our parcs woud comand go, as asi as in businssik Od Engand butnow, vrting is stoppd. '

nd d o ou ra go tonigt?'I ra go tonigt, or t cas as bcom too

prssing to admit o da. '

nd do ou tak no on wit ou?' sors o pop av bn proposd to m, but 1

wi av nothing to sa to an o tm. 1 intnd to tak

Jr. Jrr as bn m bodgard on Sunda nitsor a ong tim past, and 1 am usd to im. Nobodwi suspct Jrr o bing anting but an Engis

324



TE GOLDEN TREAD

budog, o o having any dsign in his had bu o ya anybod who ouchs his masr'

I mus say again ha I hariy admir your gaanry

and youhnss . 'I mus say again, nonsns, nonsns Whn I hav

xcud his i commission, I sha, prhaps, accpTson's proposa o rir and iv a my as. Timnough, hn, o hink abou growing od . '

This diaogu had akn pac a Mr Lorr's usua

dsk, wih onsignur swarming wihin a yard or woo i, boas o wha h woud do o avng hims onh rasca-pop bor ong. I was oo much h wayo Monsignur undr his rvrss as a rg, and iwas much oo much h way o naiv Briish orhodoxy, o ak o his rrib Rvouion as i i wr hon ony harvs vr known undr h skis ha hadno bn sown as i nohing had vr bn don, oromid o don, ha had d o i as i obsrvrs oh wrchd miions in Franc, and o h misusdand prrd rsourcs ha shoud hav mad hmprosprous, had no sn i inviaby coming, yarsbor, and had no in pain words rcordd wha hy

saw. Such vapouring, combind wih h xravaganpos o Monsignur or h rsoraion o a sa ohings ha had ury xhausd is, and wo ouavn and ah as w as is, was hard o bndurd wihou som rmonsranc by any san manwho knw h rh. nd i was such vapouring a

abou his ars, ik a roubsom consion o bood inhis own had, addd o a an unasinss in his mind,which had arady mad hars Daay rsss, andwhich si kp him so.

mong h akrs, was Syvr, o h Kng's Bnch

Bar, ar on his way o sa promoion, and, ror,

32 5



A TALE OF TWO CTS

ud n m bracing nsignur isdvics fr bwing pp up and xrminaingm m h fac f ar and ding witu

tm and fr accmpising many simiar bjcs akinin ir naur abiin f agls by sprinklingsa n ais f rac. im Daay ard wi apaicuar fing f bjcin and Daay sddividd bwn ging away a h mig ar nmr and rmaining inrps is wrd wn

ing a was b wn n sap isf u.T us appracd Mr Lrry and aying a

sid and unpnd r bfr im askd if ady discvrd any racs f prsn wm i wasaddrssd? T us aid r dwn s cs Daay a saw dircin mr quicky

bcaus i was is wn rig nam. T addrssud in Englis ran Vr prssing. T Mnsiurrfr Marquis S Evrmnd f Franc.ndd cars f Mssrs Tsn and .Bankrs Lndn England.

O n t marriag ming Dr Man ad mad iis n urgn and xprss rqus arsDaay ta t scr f is nam suld b unss t dcr dissvd t bigain kpinvia bwn tm. Nbdy s knw i b isnam; is wn wif ad n suspicin f t fac; Mrry cud av nn

N said r Lry in rpy th us; I av

rfrrd i I hink vbdy nw r and n ncan m whr is gnman is b fund. '

T ands f cck vrging upn h ur f

clsing t bank r was a gnra s f currnf alkrs pas Mr Lrys dsk. hd t r unquiringy; and Mnsignur kd a i in t



TE GOLDEN TEAD

prson o is poing and indignan rg andMonsignur ookd a i, in prson o apoing and indignan rg and Tis, Ta, and

T Or, a ad soming disparaging o say, inFrnc or in Engis, concing Marquis wowas no o b ound.

pw, I biv bu in any cas dgnrasuccssor o poisd Marquis wo wasmurdrd, ' said on . appy o sa, I nvr knw im. '

cravn wo abandond is pos, ' said anoris Monsignur ad bn go ou o Paris, gsupprmos and a suocad, in a oad o ay som yars ago . '

Incd wi nw docrins,' said a ird,ying dircion roug is gass in passing sims in opposiion o as Marquis, abandond sas wn inrid m, and m o ruan rd. Ty wi rcompns im now, Iop, as dsrvs. '

y?' crid baan Srvr. Did oug? Isa sor o ow? L us ook a is inamousnam. Dn ow '

Daay, unab o rsrain ims any ongr,oucd Mr Sr on soudr, and said: I know ow. '

Do you, by Jupir?' said Svr. I am sory or i. 'Wy?'Wy, Mr Darnay? D'y ar wa did? Don'

ask, wy, in s ims . 'Bu I do ask wy. 'Tn I you again, Mr Darnay, I am sory or i.

I am sory o ar you puing any suc xraordinayqusions . r is a ow, wo, incd by mos

psin and baspmous cod o dviry a vr



A TALE OF TWO CTES

was known, abandond his propry h vis scumo ath ha vr did murdr by whosa, andyou ask m why I am sorry ha a man who insrucs

youh knows him? W, bu I ' answr you I am sorrybcaus biv hr is conaminaion in such ascoundr Tha's why '

ind o scr, Daay wi gra dicutychckd hims, and said: You may no undrsandh gnman'

I undrsand how o pu you in a cor, rDaay, ' said Buy Sryvr, and I ' do i I hisow is a gnman, I don't undrsand him Youmay him so, wih my compimns You may aso him, om m, ha ar abandoning his wordygoods and posiion o his buchry mob, I wondr his no a had o hm Bu, no, gnmn,' saidSyvr, ooking a round, and snapping his ngrs, Iknow somhing o human naur, a nd I you hayou' nvr nd a ow ik is ow, rusinghims o th mrcis o such prcious progs o,gnmn; h' aways show m a can pair o hsvry ary in h scu, and snak away '

Wi os words, and a na snap o his ngrs, MrSyvr shoudrd hims ino F Sr, amidsth gnra approbaion o his harrs Mr Lorry andChars Daay wr aon a th dsk, in hgnra dparur rom bank

Wi you ak charg o h r? said Mr Lorry

You know whr o divr i?'I do '

Wi you undrak o xpain, ha w suppos i ohav bn addrssd hr, on h chanc o ourknowing whr o orward i, and ha i has bn hrso i?'



THE GOLDEN THREAD

I wi do so. Do ou sar or Paris rom r?'From r, a ig. ' I wi com back, o s ou o. '

Vr i a as wi ims, and wi Srvr andmos or mn Daay mad bs o is wa ino qui o Tmp, opnd r, and rad i.Ts wr is conns:

P'SOI of the Abbaye, Pa

June 2I 1792MONSEUR HEETOFOE THE MAQS - raving ong bn in dangr o m i a ands o viag, I av bn sizd, wi gra vioncand indigni, and broug a ong journ on oo oParis. On road I av surd a gra da. Noris a a m ous as bn dsrod razd o ground.

T crm or wic I am imprisond, Monsiurroor Marquis and or wic I sa bsummond bor ribuna, and sa os mi (wiou our so gnrous p) , is , y m,rason agains majs o h pop in a Iav acd agains m or an migran. I is in vainI rprsn a I av acd or m, and noagains, according o your commands . I is in vain Irprsn a, bor squsraion o migranpropr, I ad rmid imposs y adcasd o pa a I ad cocd no rn a I ad

ad rcours o no procss. T on rspons is,a I av acd or an migran, and wr is amigran?

mos gracious Monsiur roor Marquis, wr is a migran? I cr in my sp wris ? I dmand o avn, wi no com o





THE GOLDEN THREAD

ou and suprvsd , and ha h had man o do ,and ha had nvr bn don.

Th happnss o hs own chosn Engsh om, ncss o bng aways acvy mpoyd, swchangs and roubs o h m whch had oowdon on anohr so as, ha h vns o hs wkannhad h mmaur pans o as wk, and vns o h wk oowng mad a nw agan hknw vry w , ha o orc o hs crcumsancsh had ydd no wou dsqu, bu s whouconnuous and accumuang rssanc. Ta h hadwachd h ms or a m o acon, and a hyhad shd and sruggd un h m had gon by,and h noby wr roopng rom Franc by vhghway and byway, and hr propry was n courso conscaon and dsrucon, and hr vr nams

wr bong ou, was as w own o hms as coud b o any nw auhory n ranc ha mgmpach hm or .

Bu, h ad opprssd no man, h ad mprisondno man h was so ar rom havng harsy xacdpaymn o hs dus, a ad rnqusd m

o hs own w, rown hms on a word noavour n , won s own priva pac r, andad hs own brad. onsur ab ad d mpovrishd and nvovd sa on rinnsrucons, o spar pop , o giv m wa hr was o giv such as avy

crdors woud m av n h wnr, and sucproduc as coud b savd rom h sam grip n summr and no doub h had pu h ac n paand proo, or s own say, so a coud no buappar now.

Ths avourd h dspra rsouon Chars

331



A AL OF WO CS

Daa a bgun o mak, a wou go oParis.

Ys Lik h marinr in ol sor, wins an

srams a rivn im wiin inunc o oason rock, an i was rawing im o is, an mus go . Evring a aros bor is min riim on, asr an asr, mor an mor sai, o rribl aracion. is an unasinss a bn,a ba ais wr bing work ou in is ownunapp an b ba insrumns, an a wocoul no ai o know a was br han , wasno r, ring o o soming o sa boos,an assr h caims o mrc an umani Wiis unasinss a si, an a rproacing im, a bn broug o poin comparison oims wih brav o gnman in wom u

was so srong upon a comparison (injurious oims a insanly oow snrs o Monsinur, wic a sung im biry, an os oSryvr, whic abov a wr coars an ga�g,or o rasons. Upon os, a oow abl'sr: appa o an innocn prisonr, in angr o

da, o is jusic, onour, an goo namis rsouion was ma. mus go o Paris.Ys. T oason rock was rawing im, an

mus sai on, uni sruck. knw o no rock saw ar an angr. T innion wi wic ad on wa a on, vn aoug a l

i incomp, prsnd i bor im in an aspc awou b gra acknowlg in Franc on is

prsning ims o assr i. Thn, a goriousvision o oing good, wic is so on sanguinmirag o so many goo mins, aros bor im, an vn saw ims in ilusion wi som inunc

332



THE GOLDEN THREAD

o guid his raging Rvouion ha was running soarly wid .

s h walkd o and ro wih his rsouion mad, h

considrd ha nihr Luci nor hr ar musknow o i uni h was gon. Luci should b spardh pain o sparaion; and hr ahr, aways rluano u his houghs owards h dangrous groundo old, shoud com o h knowldg o sp, asa sp akn, and no in h baanc o suspnsand doub. ow much o h incomplnss o hissiuaion was rrab o hr ahr, hrough hpainl anxiy o avoid rviving od assoiaions oFran in his mind, h did no discuss wi hims.Bu, ha circumsanc oo, had had is inunc in hiscours.

wakd o and ro, wih houghs vry busy, uni

i was im o ru o Tlson's and ak lav o MrLorry. s soon as h arrivd in Paris h would prsnhimsl o his od ind bu h mus say nohing ohis innion now.

carriag wih poshorss was rady a h bankdoor, and Jrry was bood and quippd.

I hav divrd ha lr, ' said harls aay oMr Lorry. I woud no consn o your bing chargdwih any wrin answr bu prhaps you ill ak avrba on?'

Tha I wi and radily' said Mr Lorry i i i s nodangrous.'

o a a. Though i i s o a prisonr i n h bbay . 'Wha is his nam?' said Mr Lorry, wih his opn

pockbook in his hand.abl. 'abl. nd wha is h mssag o h unoruna

abll in prison?'

333



A A OF WO CS

Simply "a as rcivd ltr and willcom.

Any im mniond?'

wil l sa upon is jouy omorrow nig. 'Any prson mniond?'No. ' lpd Mr Lory o wrap imsl in a numbr o

coats and cloaks and wn ou wi im om wam atmospr o old bank into misy air oFl Sr. My lov o Luci and o litl Luci'said M Lorry a paring and ak prcious car om ill I com back . ' arls Darnay sook is adand doublly smild as carriag rolld away.

a nig i was t ourn oAugus saup la and wro wo rvn ltrs on was oLuci xplaining strong obligaion was undro go o Paris and sowing r a lngt rasonstat ad or ling condnt a couldbcom involvd in no prsonal dangr r tor was to doctor conding Luci and tirdar cild to is car and dwlling on t sam opicswi srongst assurancs . To bot wro a

would dspatc ltrs in proo o is satyimmdialy ar is arrival

It was a hard day a day o bing among mwit rs rsvaion o ir join livs on is mind.I was a ard matr o prsv t innocn dci owic y wr prooundly unsuspicious. Bu an

aciona glanc at is wi so appy and busymad im rsolut no o tll r wa impndd (ad bn al movd o do i so strang i was o imo ac in aning wiout r quit aid) and day

passd quickly away. Early in t vning mbracd

r and r scarcly lss dar amsak prnding

334



T GOLDN TRAD

ha he woud reu by and by (an imaginay engagemen ook him ou, and he had secreed a vaise ocohes ready), and so he emerged ino he heavy miso he heavy srees, wih a heavier hear.

The unseen orce was drawing him as o ise,now, and a e ides and winds were seing sraighand srong owards i. e e his wo leers wih arusy poer, o be deivered ha an hour beoremidnigh, and no sooner ook horse or over andbegan his jouey. For he love o eaven, o jusice,o generosiy, o he honour o your noble name wase poor prisoner's cy wi which he srenghened hissinking hear, as he e all ha was dear on eahbehind him, and oaed away or e oadsoneRock.

T ND OF T SCOND BOOK

335



0

B

V

5

(

I

��:

'

h

'

�



CHPT I

I Scr

T ravr ard sowy on is way, wo ardowards Paris rom Engand in auumn o yaron housand svn undrd and niny-wo. Mor

an noug o bad roads, bad quipags, and badorss, woud av ncounrd o day imoug an and unoruna king o Franc adbn upon is ron in a is gor bu, cangdims wr raug wi or obsacs an s.Evr own-ga and viag axinghous ad i s band

o ciiznparios, wih ir naiona musks in amos xposiv sa o radinss, wo soppd acomrs and gors, crossqusiond m, inspcdir paprs, ookd or ir nams in iss o irown, ud m back, or sn m on, or soppdm and aid m in hod, as ir capricious judg

mn or ancy dmd bs or dawning Rpubicon and indivisib, o ibry, quaiy, aiy, orda.

vr w Frnc agus o his jouy wr

accompishd, wn hars Daay bgan o prciva or im aong hs counr roads r was no

op o ru uni soud av bn dcard agood ciizn a Paris. avr migh ba now, mus on o is jouys nd. o a an viag cosdupon him no a common barrir droppd across road bind him, bu knw i o b anor irondoor in sris a was bard bwn im and

339



A TAL OF TWO CTS

England. The universal wachness so encompassedhim, ha if he had been aken in a ne, or were beingfowarded o his desinaio in a cage, he coud no

have fe his eedom more compeely gone.Tis universa wachlness no only soppe himon e highway wenty imes in a sage, bu reardehis progress wenty imes in a day, by riding aer himand aking him bac, rding before him and soppinghim by anicipaion, riding wih him and eeping himin charge. e had bee days upon his jouey inFrance alone, when he wen o bed ired ou, in a ileown, on the high road, sil a ong way from Paris.

Nohing bu he producion of he aicedGabee ' s eer from his prison of the Abbaye woudhave go him on so far. is dicuy a the guardhose in this sma pace had been such, tha he fel his

jouey o have come o a crsis. And he was, therefore, as ie surprsed as a man coud be, o ndhimsef awakened a e sma inn o which he hadbeen remied uni moing, in he mide of henigh.

Awakened by a imid oca ncionay and hree

ared parios in rogh red caps and with pipes intheir mouhs, who sa dow on the bed.

migran,' said the ncionar, am going osend you on o Pars, under an escor. '

Ciizen, 1 esire nothing more than o ge o Paris,thogh could dispense wih e escor . '

Sience ! growed a red-cap, sriking a the coverewi he buend of his muske. Peace, arsocra ! '

i s a s he good pario says, ' observed he imidncionar. You are an arisocra, and mus have anesco and mus pay for i. '

have no choice,' said Charles Daay.

340



THE TRACK OF A STOR

hoice! isen o him!' cried he same scolingred-cap As if i was no a favour o e proeced fromhe lamp-iron!'

I is alays as he goo paro says,' obsrved thencionary. Rise and ress yourself, emigran'Daay complied, and as aken ack o te gar

house, where oher parios in rough red caps eresmoking, drinking, and sleeping, by a ach-re Herehe paid a heavy price for his escor, and ence hesared i i on he we, e roads a hree o ' clock inhe moing

The escor were wo mouned paros in red capsand ricoloure cockades, armed ih naionalmuskes and sares, ho rode one on eiher side ofhim The escored governed his on horse, b a looseline as aached o his brdle, he end of hich one of

he parios kep girded round his wris In is saehey se forh ih he sharp rain riving in eir acesclaerng a a heav dragoon ro over e unevnown pavemen, and ou upon he mire-deep roads Inhis sae hey raversed ihou change, excep ofhorse and pace, all e miredeep leagues ha la

beeen hem an he capial .They ravelled in he nigh, haling an hor or o

aer daybreak, and lying by unil he ilig fell Theescor ere so rechel clohed, ha they isesra round their bare legs, and hached heir raggeshoulders o keep he e o Apar from the p ersonal

discomfor of being so aended, and apar from scconsideraions of presen danger as arose from one ofhe parios being chronically drunk, and carrying hismuske very recklessly, harles Daay did no allohe resrain ha was lai upon him o aaken anserious fears in his breas for, he reasoned ith

341



A TALE OF TWO CES

hisl ha i could hav no rrnc o h mris oan individa cas ha was no y sad, and orprsnaons, conrab by h prisonr in th

Aay, h wr no y mad.B whn hy ca o h own o Bauvais whih hy did a vnid, whn h srs wr ldi pop h could no conca ro himsl hath aspc o aairs was vry alarming ominouscrowd gahrd o s him dismoun a h posingyard, and many voics cald ou oudy, Down wihth igran'

soppd i n h a c o swinging hims ou o hissadd, and, rsuing i as his sas pac, saidEigran, my rinds Do you no s m hr, inFranc, o my own wil l?'

You ar a cursd igran, ' cid a arrir, making

a him in a rious annr hrough h prss, hamrin hand ad you ar a cursd arsocra'

h posasr inposd hims btwn hisan and h ridr's bid (a which h was vidnlyaking), and soohingly said, L him b him b wi b jdgd a Paris '

Judgd ' rpad h arrir, swnging his hammr.Ay and condmnd as a raior.' A his h crowdroard approva.

Chcking h posasr, who was or uing hishors's had o h yard (h dunkn pario sacoposdly in hs sadd ooking on, wih h in

round his wris), Daay said, as soon as h coudak his voic hard: Frinds, you dciv yoursvs, or you ar dcivd. I am no a raior.'

lis' crd h sth H is a raior sinc thdcr s i is oi o h popl. His cursd i

is no hs ow'

342



T TACK OF A STO

A he nsan hen Daay sa a rush n he eyes fhe crd, hch anher nsan ud have brughupn hm, he psmaser ued hs hrse n he

yard, he escr rde n cse upn hs hrses ans,and he psmaser shu and barred he crazy dubegaes The farier sruc a b upn hem h hshammer, and he crd graned bu, n mre asdne

Wha s hs decree ha he smh spe f?Daay ased he psmaser, hen he had hanedhm, and sd besde hm n he yard

Truy, a decree fr seng he prpery f emgrans When, pssed?On he fureenh The day I e Engand! Eveybdy says s bu ne f severa, and ha

here be hers f here are n aready banshng a emgrans, and cndenng a deahh reu Tha s ha he mean hen he sad yurfe as n yur n

Bu here are n such decrees ye?Wha d I n! sad he psmaser, shggng

hs shuders here may be, r here be I s ahe same ha ud yu have?

They resed n sme sra n a un e mddef he ngh, and hen rde fard agan hen a hen as aseep Amng he many d changesbseabe n famar hngs hch made hs d

rde unrea, n he eas as he seemng raiy fseep er ng and ney spurrng ver dreayrads, hey ud cme a cuser f pr cages,n seeped n darness, bu a gering h ghs,and ud nd he pepe, n a ghsy manner n hedead f he ngh, crcng hand n hand rund a

343



A TA OF TWO CTS

shriveed ree o ibey or a drawn up ogeher

singing a bery song. appiy however here wasseep in Beauvais ha nigh o hep hem ou o i and

they passed on once more ino soiude and oneiness jinging through he unimey cod and we amongimpoverished eds ha had yieded no uis o heeath tha year diversied by the backened remainso bu houses and by he sudden emergence romambuscade and sharp reining up across heir way o

pario paros on he wach on a he roads.ayigh a as ound them beore he wa o Paris.The barrier was cosed and srngy guarded whenhey rode up o i

\here are he papers o this prisoner?' demanded aresoue-ooking man in auhoriy who was summonedou by the gard.

Nauray sruck by the disagreeabe word Charesaay requesed he speaker o ake noice ta hewas a ree raveer and French ciizen in charge o anescor which he disurbed sae o the couny hadimposed upon him and which he had paid or

here' repeaed he same personage wihou

aking any heed o him whaever are he papers ohis prisoner

he dunken pario had them in his cap andproduced hem. Casing his eyes over Gabeeseer the same personage in auhoriy showed somedisorder and surprise and ooked a aay with a

cose aenion.e e escor and escored withou saying a word

however and wen ino he guardroom meanwhie

they sa upon heir horses ouside he gae. ookingabou him whie in this sae o suspense Chares

aay obseved ha he gae was hed by a mixed

344



THE TACK OF A STO

guad o sodies and patiots te atte a outnumbeing te me and tat wie ingess into tecity o peasants' cats binging in suppies and o

simia tac and tackes was easy enoug eesseven o te omeiest peope was vey dicult Anumeous medey o men and women not to mentionbeasts and veices o vaious sots was waiting toissue ot but te pevious identication was sostict tat tey teed toug te baie vey

slowly Some o tese peope knew tei tu oexamination to be so a o tat they ay down onte gound to seep o smoke wile otes takedtogete o oiteed about Te ed cap and ticooucockade wee univesa bot among men andwomen

When e ad sat in is sadde some a-outaking note o tese tings Daay ound imselcononted by the same man in authoity wo diectedte guad to open te baie Ten e deiveed to teescot dunk and sobe a eceipt o te escoted andequested im to dismount e did so and te twopatiots leading is tied ose tued and ode awaywitout enteing te ciy

e accompanied is conducto into a guadoomsmeling o common wine and tobacco wee cetainsoldies and patiots aseep and awake dunk andsobe and in vaious neutal states between sleepingand waking dunkenness and sobiety wee standingand ying about Te igt in te guadouse aldeived om te waning oi-lamps o te nigt anda om te ovecast day was in a coespondinglyuncetain condition Some egistes wee lying openon a desk and an oce o a coase dak aspectpesided ove tese

34



A TALE F TW CTES

Ciin Darg, ' said h o Daay' s conducor, ash ook a sip o papr o wri on. Is his h migranEvrmond'

his is h man. 'our ag, Evrmond'hirysvn. 'arrid, Evrmond's . 'hr marrid'

In Engand 'ihou doub. hr is your wi, Evrmond'In Engand. 'ithou doub. You ar consignd, Evrmond, o

h prison o Forc.'Jus Havn! ' xcaimd Daay. Undr wha aw,

and or wha onc'Th ocr ookd up rom his sip o papr or a

momn. hav nw aws, Evrmond, and nw oncs,

sinc you wr hr . ' H said i with a hard smi, andwn on wriing.

I nra you o obsrv ha I hav com hrvounariy, in rspons o ha wrin appa o aow-counryman which is bor you. I dmandno mor han h oppouniy o do so wihou day.Is no ha my righ'

Emigrans hav no righs, Evrmond,' was hsoid rpy Th ocr wro uni h had nishd,rad ovr o hims wha h had wrin, sandd i,and handd i o Darg, wih h words, In scr . '

Darg moiond wih h papr o h prisonrha h mus accompany him. Th prisonr obyd,and a guard o wo armd parios andd hm.

Is i ou, ' said Darg, in a ow voic, as hy wn



/ v u n q ! l U O S I 3 f l 3 .



A TAL OF TWO CTES

dn he guardhuse seps ad ued in Paris,h married he daugher f Dr Manee, nce aprisner in he Basile ha is n re?'

Yes , ' repied Daay, king a hi ih surprise.My nae is Defarge, and I keep a ine shp in he

Quarer S Anine. Pssiby yu have heard f me . 'My ife cae yur huse recai her faher?

Yes 'he rd ife' seeed serve as a gy

reminder Defarge, say ih sudden ipaience,In he nae f ha sharp feae neyb, andcaled La uiine, why did yu ce France?'

Yu heard e say hy, a inue ag. D yu nbeieve i is he ruh?'

A bad uh fr yu,' said Defarge, speaking ih

knied brws, and king sraigh befre him. Indeed I a s here. Al here is s unprecedened,s changed, s sudden and unfair, ha I a absueyls. Wil yu render e a lie hep?'

Nne.' Defarge spke, aays ling sraighbefre hi.

Wi yu anser e a single quesin?'Perhaps. Accrding is naure. Yu can say ha

i is . 'In his prisn ha I a ging s unjusly, shall I

have se free cunicain wih he wrd uside?'Yu i see. ' I a n be buried here, prejudged, and ihu

any eans f presening y case?'Yu i see. Bu, ha hen? Oher pepe have

been simiary buried in rse prisns, befre n. 'Bu never by e, Ciien Defarge . 'Defarge glanced darky a hi fr anser, and

aked n in a seady and se sience. The deeper he



THE TACK OF A STO

sank no hs snc h fan hop h was - o soDaay hough of hs sonng n any sgh dg H hfo mad has o say : I s of h umos

mpoanc o m you know czn vn b han of how much mpoanc ha shoud b ab ocommunca o M Loy of Tson's Bank anEngsh gnman who s now n Pas h smpfac wou commn ha hav bn hown noh pson of La Foc W you caus ha o b don

fo m?' wl do Dfag doggdy jond nothng fo

you My duy s o my couny and h pop amh swo san of boh agans you w donohng fo you '

Chals Danay f hopss o na hm

h and hs pd was ouchd bsds As hywakd on n snc h coud no bu s how usdh pop w o h spcac of psons passngaong h ss Th vy chldn scacy nocdhm A fw passs und h hads and a fwshook h ngs a hm as an asoca ohws

ha a man n good cohs should b gong o psonwas no mo makab han ha a abou nwokng cohs shoud b gong o wok n onnaow dak and dy s hough whch hypassd an xcd oao mound on a soo wasaddssng an xcd audnc on h cms agansth pop of h kng and h oya famy Th fw

wods ha h caugh fom hs man's lps s mad known o Chas Daay ha h kng was n psonand ha h fogn ambassados had on and all lPas On h oad xcp a Bauvas h had hadabsoluy nohng Th sco and h unvsalwachnss had complly soad hm

349



A TAL OF TWO CTS

Tha he had faln aong far graer dangers hanose hich had devloped heselves hen he leEngland he of course kne no ha perils had

ickeed abou him fas and igh hicken faserad faser ye he of course ke no e could nobu admi o himself ha he igh no have ade hisouey if he coud have foreseen e evens of a fedays d ye his isgivings ere no so dark asimaged by he ligh of his aer ime hey would

appear Troubled as he ure was i was he unknownure and in is obscury here as ignoran hopeThe horribe assacre days and nighs long hichihi a few rounds of he cock as o se a greaark of bood upon h blessed gaerng ie ofhaves as as far ou of his knoledge as if i had

bn a hundred housand years aay The sharpfmae neybo and called La Guiloine' ashardly kown o hi or o he generaiy of people bynae he frighl deeds ha ere o be soon doneere probaby unimagined a ha ie in he brains ofhe doers o could hey have a pace in he shadoy

cocpions of a genle mind?Of uus reame in deenion ad hardship and

i crue sparaion o his ife and child he foreshadod he ikelihood or he ceraiy bu beyondhis he dreaded nohing disincy Wih his on hismid hich as enough o carry ino a dreary prison

couyard he arrived a he prson of La ForceAman ih a boaed face opened he srong wicke oho Defarge presened The Eigran Evronde'

Wha he Devil! o many more of hem! 'excaid he an ih he bloaed face

farge ook his receip wihou noicing he excamaio ad ihdre wih his o feo-parios

350



THE TACK OF A STO

Wha h Dvl, say agan' xclaid galr,l wih his wf. w any r '

Th galr's wf, bng prvdd wh n answr

h qusin, rly rpld, On us hav painc,y dar' Thr ukys wh nrd rspnsv abl sh rang, cd th snn and n addd,Fr h lv f ibry ' whch sundd n tha placlk an napprpra conclusin.

Th prsn f Frc was a gly prisn, dark

and lhy, and wh a hrribl sll f ful slp in. Exrardnar hw sn nis avur fprsnd slp, bcs anfs in all such placsha ar ll card fr

In scr, , ' grubld th gaolr, ling a hwrin papr. As f was n alrady ll bursing '

suck h papr n a l, n an ll-huur, andCharls Daay awad his hr plasur fr halfan hur: ss, pacing and o in th srngarchd r: ss rsng n a sn sa: ithr cas dand b prind n h fth chif and hs subrdinas.

C' sad h chf, a lnh akng up hs kys,c wh , gran.'

Thrugh h disal prisn wilgh, hs nw chargaccpanid h by crrdor and sarcas, anydrs clangng and lckng bhind h, unil yca no a larg, lw, vaud chabr, crwddwi prisnrs f bh sxs h wn wr sad

a a lng abl, rading and wring, kning, swing,and bridrng h n wr fr h s asanding bhnd hr chairs, r lngring up and dwnh r.

In th insinciv associain f prsnrs wishal cri and disgrac, nw cr rcild

351



A TAL OF TWO CTS

fr his company B h crwning nraliy of hisln nral rid, was, hir all a nc rising rcivhi, wih vry rnmn f mannr knwn h

i, and with all th ngaging gracs and crsisf lif

S strangly cldd wr hs rnmnts y thprsn mannrs and glm, s spctral did hycm in th inapprpriat sqalr and isrythrgh which thy wr sn, hat Charls Daay

sd o sand in a cmpany f th dad Ghss all !h s f aty, th ghs f statlinss, th ghstf lganc, h ghst f prid, h ghst f frvliy,th ghs f wit, th ghst of yoh, th ghost f ag,all waiting thir dismissal frm h dsla shr, alling n hi ys a wr changd y th dath

thy had did in cming thr.It sck him inlss . h galr sanding at hissid , and h hr galrs mving a, wh wldhav n wll ngh as apparanc in hrdinary xrcis f thir nctins, lkd s xravaganly cars cntrastd with srrwing mthrsand lming daghrs wh wr thr with thappartins f cqt, h yng ay, and ar wman dlicaly rd tha h invrsin all xprinc and liklihd which th scn fshadws prsntd, was hightnd t is tmstSrly, ghsts all Srly, h lng nral rd sprrss f disas ha had rgh him hs

glmy shads !In h nam f assmld cmpanions in

isfrn, said a gnlman f crly apparancand addrss, cing frward, I hav h hnor fgiving y wlcm L Frc, and f cndling

with yo n h calamity ha has rt y amng

352



HE TAK OF A SO

us ay soon rmna happy! I ou anmpnn shr, u s no so h, o askyour nam and onon?

Chars aay rous hmsf, an ga thrqurd nformaon, n os as sua as hou n

Bu I hop, ' sa h gnman, foong hfgaor th hs ys, ho mod aross th roo, thayou ar no n sr?

I do no undrsan th manng of th r, u Ihav har thm say so', ha a py! W so muh rgr ! Bu ak

ourag sra mmbrs of our soy ha n nsr, a rs, an has as u a shor ' hnh addd, asng hs o, I grv o nfor thsoy n sr

hr a s a uu of omsraon as harsDaay rossd th room o a grad oor hr tgaor aa hm, an any vos aonghh, th sof an ompassona os of onr onspuous ga h goo shs annouragn H ud a th ga oor, o

rnr th thanks of hs ha os r gaos han an appaons ansh o hssgh fo

h k opnd on a son saras, angupard Whn hy had asnd fory sps (tprsonr of haf an hour aray ound m) ,

gaor opn a o ak doo, and hy pass noa soary I sruk o an damp, bu as nodak

Yours , ' sa h gaorWhy am I onnd aon?Ho o I kno!

353



A TALE OF TWO CTES

I can buy pen, nk, and paper?'Such are no my orders. Yo ll be vsed, and

can ask hen. A presen, yo may by your food, and

nohng more. 'here were n he cell, a char, a able, and a sra

maress. As he gaoler made a general nspecon ofhese objecs, and o he our alls, before gong o,a anderng fancy andered hrogh he mnd of hesoner leanng agans he all oose o hm, ha

hs gaoler as so nwholesomely bloaed, boh nface and person, as o look lke a man who had beendroned and lled h waer. When he gaoler asgone, he hogh n he same anderng way, Noam le, as f ere dead'. Sopng hen, o lookdon a he maress, he ed om h a sck

eelng, and hogh, And here n hese cralngcreares s he rs condon of he body aerdeah.

ve paces by four and a hal, ve paces by four anda half, ve paces by four and a hal. The prsoneralked o and o n hs cell, counng s measuremen, and he roar of he cy arose lke mued drumsh a ld sell of voces added o hem. e madeshoes, he made shoes, he made shoes'. The prsonerconed he measremen agan, and paced faser, odra hs mnd h hm from ha laer repeon.he ghoss ha vanshed when he cke closedhere as one among hem, he appearance of a lady

dressed n black, ho was leanng n he embrasure ofa ndo, and she had a lgh shnng upon her goldenhar, and she looked lke . . . Le us rde on agan, forGod's sake, hrough he llumnaed vllages h hepeole all awake . . . e made shoes, he made shoes,he mae shoes . . . ve paces by four and a half ' . Wh

354



THE RACK OF A SORM

such scraps tossing and rolling upard from thedepths of his mind the prisoner alked faster andfaster obstinately counting and counting; ad the

roar of the city changed to his extent hat it sti llrolled in like mued drums but ith he wail ofvoices hat he knew in the swell that rose above them

CHAPER 2

The Gdsoe

ellson's Bank established in the St ermain quarterof Paris as in a ing of a large house approached bya couryard and shut o om the street by a high wall

and a strong gate. he house belonged o a greatnobleman ho had lved in it until he made a ightfrom he troubles n his own cook's dress and gotacross the borders. A mere beast of the chase yingfrom hunters he as still in hs metempsychosis noother than the same Monsegneur the preparation ofhose chocolate for hose lips had once occupiedthree strong men besdes the cook in question.

Monseigeur gone and the three strong menabsolving themselves om he sin of having drawn hishigh ages by being more han ready d illing tocut his throat on the altar of the daning Republic oneand indivisible oflibey equality ateity or deat

Monseigneur's house had been rst sequestrated adthen conscated. For all things moved so fast anddecree folloed decree ith that erce precipitationthat no upon the third night of the autum month ofSeptember patriot emssaries of the law were inpossession of Monseineur's house and had marked

355



A ALE OF WO CIIES

it ith the tricolour, ad ere drikig brady i itsstate apartets

A place of busiess i Lodo like ellso's place

of busiess i Paris, ould soo have drive the houseout of its id ad ito the azette For, hat ouldstaid British resposibiliy ad respectability have saidto orage trees i boxes i a bak coutyard, ad eveto a Cupid over the couter? Yet such thigs ereTel lso's had hiteashed he Cupid, but he as still

to be see o the ceilig, i the coolest lie, aimig(as he very oe does) at oey fro oig toight Bakruptcy must ievitably have come of thisyoug Paga, i Lombard street, Lodo, ad also ofa curtaied alcove i the rear of the immortal boy, adalso of a lookig-glass let ito the all, ad also of

clerks ot at all old, ho daced i public o theslightest provocatio Yet, a Frech ellso's couldget o ith these thigs exceedigly ell, ad, as logas the ties held together, o a had take fright atthem, ad dra out his oey

hat oney ould be dra out of elso's heceforth, ad hat ould lie there, ost ad forgotte;hat plate ad jeels ould taish i ellso'shidigplaces, hile the depositors rusted i prisos,ad he they should have violetly perished; homay accouts ith ellso' s ever to be balaced ithis orld, ust be carried over ito the ext; o macould have said, that ight, ay ore tha Mr Jais

Lory could, though he thought heavily of thesequestios He sat by a ely-lighted ood re (theblighted ad ufruitl year as preaturely cold) , ado his honest ad courageous face there as a deepershade thn the pedet lap could thro, or any objecti the roo distortedly reect a shade of horror



HE RACK OF A SOM

to get next at the sharpeningstone ere men strippedto the aist ith the stain all over their limbs andbodies men in all sorts of rags ith the stain upon

those rags men devilishly set oith spoils of omen'slace and silk and ribbon ith the stain dyeingthose tries through and through. Hatchets knivesbayonets sords all brought to be sharpened ere allred ith it. Some of the hacked sords ere tied to therists of those ho carried them ith strips of linen

and agments of dress: ligatures various in kind but alldeep of the one colour. d as the frantic ielders ofthese eapons snatched them from the stream ofsparks and tore aay into the streets the same red hueas red in their frenzied eyes eyes hich anyunbrutalised beholder ould have given tenty yearsof life to petri ith a elldirected gun.

A this as seen in a moment as the vision of adroning man or of any human creature at any veryreat pass could see a orld if it ere there. heydre back from the indo and the doctor lookedfor explanation in his friend's ashy face.

hey are ' M r Lorr hispered the ords glancing

fearlly round at the locked room murdering theprisoners . If you are sure o f hat you say; if you reallyhave the poer you think you have as I bel ieve youhave make yourself knon to these devils and gettaken to La Force. It may be too late I don't knobut let it not be a minute later!'

D r Manette pressed his hand hastened bareheadedout of the room and as in the courtyard hen MrLorry regained the blind.

His streaming hite hair his remarkable face anthe impetuous condence of his manner as he put eeapons aside like ater carried him in an instant to





H RACK OF A ORM

dawn, and he soly detached hmself om the claspnghand, and cautously looked out agan A man, sobesmeared that he mght have been a sorely woundedsolder creepng back to conscousness on a eld ofslan, was rsng from the pavement by the sde ofthe gndstone, and lookng about hm wth a vacantar Shotly, ths wo-out murderer desced n themperfect lght one of the carrages of Monsegneur,and, staggerng to that gorgeous vehcle, clmbed n atthe door, and shut hmself up to take hs rest on ts

danty cushons.The great grndstone, Earth, had tued when Mr

Lorry looked out agan, and the sun was red on thecouard But, the lesser grndstone stood alone theren the calm mong ar, wth a red upon t that the sunhad never gven, and would never take away

CHAPR 3

The hdow

One of the rst consderatons whch arose n thebusness mnd of Mr Lory when busness hours cameround, was ths: that he had no rght to mperlTellson's by shelterng the wfe of an emgrant prsoner under the bank roof Hs own possessons, sa fety,lfe, he would have hazarded for Luce and her chld,

wthout a moment's demur; but the great tust he heldwas not hs own, and as to that busness charge he wasa strct man of busness

At rst, hs mnd reveted to Defarge, and hethought of ndng out the wne shop agan and ta kngcounsel wth ts master n reference to the safest



LE OF WO CIIES

dweingpace in the distracted state of the cityBt, the same consideration that sggested him,repdiated him; he ived in the most vioet qarter,

and dobtess was inentia there, and deep in itsdangeros workingsNoon coming, and the doctor not reting, and

every minute's deay tending to compromiseeson's, r Lorry advised with Lucie She said thather father had spoken of hiring a odging for a shortterm, in that qater, near e banking-house Asthere was no business objection to this, and as heforesaw that even if it were a we with Charles, andhe were to be reeased, he cold not hpe to eave thecity, M Lorr went ot in quest of sch a odging, andfond a suitabe one, high up in a removed bystreetwhere e closed binds in a the other windows of a

high meancholy s qare of bidings marked desertedhomes

o this lodging he at once removed Lucie and herchid, and iss Pross giving them what comfot hecod, and much more than he had himsef He leJery with them, as a gure to l a doorway that wod

bear considerabe knocking on the head, and retuedto his own occpations A distrbed and doel mindhe brought to bear pon them, and sowly and heaviyte day agged on wi him

It wore itself out, and wore him ot with it, nti thebank closed He was again aone in his room of the

previous night, considering what to do next, when heheard a foot upon the stair In a few moments, a manstood in his presence, who, with a keeny observanto ok at him, addressed him by his name

Your seant,' said r Lorr Do you know me?'H e a s a strongy made man with dark cring hair,



HE RACK OF A SOR

om fory-ve to y years of age For answer herepeated, wthot any change of emphass, the words:Do yo know me?'

I have seen yo somewhere. '

Perhaps a t my wne shop? 'Mch nterested and agtated, Mr Lorry sa d : Yo

come from Dr Manette?'Yes, I come from Dr Manette.'And what says he? What does he send me?'Defarge gave nto hs anxos hand, an open scrap

of paper It bore the words n the doctor's wrtn:

Charles s safe, bt I cannot safely leave ths placeyet I have obtaned the favor that the bearer has ashort note om Charles to hs wfe. Let the bearersee hs wfe.

I t was dated om La Force, wthn an horWll yo accompany me,' sad Mr Lorry, joylly

releved aer readng ths note alod, to where hswfe resdes?'

Yes,' reted Defarge.Scarcely notcng as yet, n what a crosly reserved

and mechancal way Defarge spoke, M Lorry pt onhs hat and they went down nto the coryard There,they fond two women; one, knttng

Madame Defarge, srely!' sad Mr Lorry, who hadle her n exactly the same atttde some seventeenyears ago.

It s she,' observed her hsbandDoes madame go wth s?' enqred Mr Lorry,seeng that she moved as they moved

Yes. That she may be able to reconse the facesand know the persons. It s for ther safety'

Begnnng to be strck by Defarge's manner, Mr





THE TRACK OF A STOR

stony manner of all the three impressed itself uponhim more and more, I state the case, CitizenDefarge?'

Defarge looked gloomily at his wife, and gave no

other answer than a gru sound o f acquiescence .Y ou ha d better, Lucie, ' sa id Mr Loy, doing a ll

he could to propitiate, by tone and manner, ave tedear child here, and our good Pross. Our gd Pros s,Defarge, is an Englis lady, and knows no Frenc.'

The lady in question, whose rooted conviction that

she was more than a match for any foreigner, was not tobe shaken by distress and danger, appeared with foldedars, and observed in English to the engeance,whom her eyes rst encountered, Well, I am sure,Boldface! I hopey are pretty well! ' She also bestoweda British cough on Madame Defarge; but, neither of

the wo took much heed of her.Is that his child?' said Madame Defarge, stopping

in her work for the rst time, and pointing herknitting-needle at little Lucie as if it were the nger ofFate.

Yes, madame,' answered Mr Lorr; tis is our

poor prisoner's darling daughter, and only child.'The shadow attendant on Madame Defarge andher paty seemed to fall so threatening and dark o n techild, that her mother instinctively kneeled on teground beside her, and held her to her breast. Theshadow attendant on Madame Defarge and er paty

seemed then to fall, threatening and dark, on bot themother and the child.It is enoug, my husband,' said Madame Defarge.

I have seen tem. We may go.'But, the suppressed manner had enough o f menace

in it not visible and presented, but indistinct and





THE TRACK OF A STOR

less, ave not been reatly consdered? We aveknown thr usbands and faters lad n prison andkept from tem, oen enou? l our lves, we aveseen our ssterwomen suer, n temselves and nter cldren, poverty, nakedness, uner, thrst,sckness, msery, oppresson and nelect of all kinds?'

We ave seen notn else,' retued the Veneance

We ave boe ts a lon tme,' sad MadameDefare, tun er eyes aan upon Luce Jude

you! Is t lkely tat te trouble of one wfe and moter ould be muc to us now?'

Se resumed er knttn and went out Te Veneance followed Defare went last, and closed e door.

Courae, my dear Luce, sad Mr Loy, as erased er Courae, courae! So far all oes well wt

us muc, muc better tan t as of late one wthmany poor souls Ceer up, and ave a tankleart'

I am not tankless, I ope, but tat dreadlwoman seems to trow a sadow on me and on all myopes'

ut, tut! ' sad M r Lorr; wat s ts despondencyn te brave lttle breast? A sadow ndeed! Nosubstance n t, Luce'

But te sadow of te manner of tese Defareswas dark upon mself, for all tat, and n s secretmnd t troubled m reatly



A ALE OF WO CIIES

CHAPER 4

Clm i Stan

Dr anette dd not retu untl the mong of thefouh day of hs absence So much of what hadhappened n that dreadl tme as coud be kept omthe knowledge of Luce was so well concealed from

her that not untl long aerwards when France andshe were far apart dd she know that eleven hundreddefenceless prsoners of both sexes and all ages hadbeen kled by the populace; that four days and nghtshad been darkened by ths deed of horror; and that thear around her had been tanted by the slan. She only

knew that there had been an attack upon the prsonsthat all poltca prsoners had been n danger andthat some had been dragged out by the crowd andmurdered

To Mr Lorr the doctor communcated under annjuncton of secrecy on whch he had no need to

dwell that the crowd had taken hm through a sceneof caage to the prson of La Force. That n theprson he had found a self-apponted trbunal sttngbefore whch the prsoners were brought sngly andby whch they were rapdy ordered to be put foth tobe massacred or to be released or (n a few cases) to

be sent back to ther cells. That presented by hsconductors to ths trbunal he had announced hmselfby name and professon as havng been for eghteenyears a secret and unaccused prsoner n the Bastlle;that one of the body so sttng n judgment had rsenand dented hm and that ths man was Defarge.

30





A ALE F W CII S

and dress the wound, the doctor had passed out at thesame gate, and had found him in the arms of acompany of Samaritans, who were seated on the

odies of their victims With an inconsistency asmostrous as anything in this awl nightmare, theyhad helped the healer, and tended the woundedma with the gentlest solicitude had made a litterfor him and escorted him carelly from the spot had then caught up their weapons and plunged anewinto a utchery so dreadl, that the doctor hadcovered his eyes with his hands, and swooned awayi the midst of it

As Mr orr received these condences, and as hewatched the face of his frend now sixtytwo years ofage, a misgiving arose within him that such dreadexperiences would revive the old danger But, he had

never seen his friend in his present aspect: he hadnever at all known him in his present character Forthe rst tie the doctor felt, now, that his suering wasstrength and power For te rst time he felt that inthat sharp re, he had slowly forged the iron whichcould reak the prison door of his daughter's husand,

and deliver him It all tended to a good end, yfriend; it was not mere waste and ruin As my elovedchild was helpl in restoring e to myself, I will ehelpl now in restoring the dearest part of herself toher; y the aid of Heaven I will do it!' Thus, DrManette And when Jaris orry saw the kindled eyes,

the resolute face, the cal strong look and earing ofthe man whose life always seeed to him to have eenstopped, like a clock, for so any years, and then setgoing again with an energy which had lain dorantduring the cessation of its uselness, he elieved.

reater things than the doctor had at that time to

372



HE RACK F A SR

contend wth, would have yielded before hs perseverng purpose Whle he kept hmself n hs place, as aphyscan, whose busness was wth all degrees of

manknd, bond and ee, rch and poor, bad and good,he used hs personal nuence so wsely, that he wassoon the nspectng physcan of three prsons, andamong them of L Force He could now assure Lucethat her husband was no longer conned alone, butwas mxed wth the general body of prsoners; he sawher husband weekly, and brought sweet messages toher, straght om hs lps; sometmes her husbandhmself sent a letter to her (though never by thedoctor's hand), but she was not permtted to wrte tohm : for, among the many wld suspcons of plots nthe prsons, the wldest of all ponted at emgrants whowere known to have made ends or permanentconnectons abroad.

hs ne w lfe of th e doctor's was an anxous lfe, nodoubt; stll, the sagacous Mr Lorr saw that there wasa new sustanng prde n t Nothng unbecomngtnged the prde; t was a natural and worthy one; buthe obseed t as a curosty he doctor knew, that up

to that tme, hs mprsonment had been assocated nthe mnds of hs daughter and hs end, wth hspersonal acton, deprvaton, and weakness Nowthat ths was changed, and he knew hmself to benvested through that old tral wth forces to whchthey both looked for Charles's ultmate safey and

delverance, he became so far exalted by the change,that he took the lead and drecton, and requred themas the weak, to trust to hm as the strong heprecedng relatve postons of hmself and Lucewere reversed, yet only as the lvelest grattude andaecton could reverse them, for he could have had no

373



A ALE OF WO CIIS

pride ut in rendering some seice to her who hadrendered so much to him. All curious to see,' thoughtMr Lorr, in his amialy shrewd way, ut all natural

and right; so, take the lead, my dear friend, and keepit; it couldn't e in etter hands.'But, though the doctor tried hard, and never ceased

tyig, to get Charles Daay set at lierty, or at leastto get him rought to trial, the pulic current of thetime set too strong and fast for him The new eraegan; the king was tried, doomed, and eheaded; theRepulic of lierty, equality, frateity, or death,declared for victoy or death against the world in arms;the lack ag waved night and day om the greattowers of Notre-Dame; three hundred thousand men,summoned to rise against the tyrants of the earth, roseom all the varing soils of rance, as if the dragon'steeth had e en sown roadcast, an d ha d yielded fruitequally on hill and plain, on rock, in gravel, andalluvial mud, under the right sky of the South andunder the clouds of the North, in fell and forest, in thevineyards and the olivegrounds and among thecropped grass and the stule of the co, along the

fuitl anks of the road rivers, and in the sand ofthe seashore hat private solicitude could rear itselfagainst the deluge of the year one of lierty thedeluge rising from elow, not falling om aove, andwi the windows of heaven shut, not opened!

There was no pause, no pity, no peace, no interval

of relenting rest, no measurement of time Thoughdays and nights circled as regularly as when time wasyoung, and the evening and moing were the rstday, other count of time there was none Hold of itwas lost in the raging fever of a nation, as it is in thefever of one patient Now, reaking the unnatural

374



HE RACK OF A SORM

slence of a whole cty, the executoner showed thepeople th head of the kng and now, t seemedalmost n the same breath, the head of hs far wfewhch ha had eght weary months of mprsonedwdowhod and mser, to tu t grey

d ye, observng the strange law of contradctonwhch obtans n all such cases, the tme was long,whle t amed by so fast A revolutonary trbunal nthe captal, and forty or thousand revolutonarycommttees all over the land; a law of the suspected,whch struck away all security for lberty or lfe, anddelvered over any good and nnocent person to anybad and gulty one; prsons gorged wth people whohad commtted no oence, and could obtan nohearng; these thngs became the establshed orderand nature of apponted thngs, and seemed to be

ancent usage before they were many weeks oldAbove all, one hdeous gure grew as famlar as f thad been before the general gaze from the foundatonsof the world the ure of the sharp female called LGullotne

It was the popular theme for jests; t was the best

cure for headache, t nfallbly prevented th e ha r o mtung grey, t mparted a pecular delcacy to thecomplexon, t was the natonal razor whch shavedclose: who kissed L Gullotne, looked through thelttle wndow and sneezed nto the sack It was the sgnof the regeneraton of the human race It superseded

the cross Models of t were wo on breasts fromwhch the cross was dscarded, and t was boweddown to and beleved n where the cross was dened

It sheared o heads so many, that t, an d th e groundt most polluted, were a rotten red It was taken topeces, lke a toy-puzzle for a young devl, and was put

375





HE RACK OF A SOR

CHAPER 5

The Wood-wyer

One year and three months During a that timeLucie was never sure, from hour to hour, but that theguiotine woud strike o her husband's head nextday Every day, through the stony streets, the tumbrisnow joted heaviy, ed with condemned Loveygirs; bright women, brownhaired, backhaired, andgrey; youths; stawart men and od; gente bo andpeasant bo; a red wine for L Guiotine, a daiybrought into ight from the dark cears of the oathsome prisons, and carried to her through the street to

sake her devouring thirst. Liberty, equaity, ateity,or death the ast, much the easiest to bestow, Guiotine!

If the suddenness of her caamity, and the whiringwhees of the time, had stunned the doctor's daughterinto awaiting the resut in ide despair, it woud but

have been with her as it was with many But, from thehour when she had taken the white head to her eshyoung bosom in the garret of St Antoine, she hadbeen true to her duties She was truest to them in theseason of tria, as a the quiety oya and good wiaways be.

As soon as they were estabished in their newresidence, and her father had entered on the routineof his avocations, she arranged the itte househod asexacty as if her husband had been there Everythinghad its appointed pace and its appointed time LitteLucie she taught, as reguary, as if they had a been

377



A ALE O WO CIIS

unted n ther Enls ome Te slt devces wtwc se ceated erself nto te sow of a eleftat tey would soon e reunted te lttle prepara

tons for s speedy retu, te settn asde of scar and hs ooks tese, and te solemn prayer atnt for one dear prsoner especally, amon temany unappy souls n prson and te sadow ofdeat were almost te only outspoken relefs of ereavy mnd

Se dd not reatly alter n appearance Te plandark dresses, akn to moun dresses, whch se ander chld wore, were as neat and as well attended to aste rter clothes ofhappy days Se lost her colour,and the old and ntent expresson was a constant, notan occasonal, thn; otherwse, she remaned verypretty and comely. Sometmes, at nt on kssn herfather, se would urst nto the ref she had repressedall day, and would say tat her sole relance, underHeaven, was on hm. He always resolutely answeredNothn can happen to hm wthout my knowlede,and I know that I can save hm, Luce

They had not made the round of ther chaned lfe

many weeks, when her father sad to her, on comnhome one evenn: My dear, there s an upperwndow n the prson, to whc Carles can sometmes an access at tree n te aeoon When hecan et to t whc depends on many uncertantesand ncdents e mht see you n the street, he

tnks, f you stood n a certan place that I can showyou But you wll not e ale to see hm, my poorchld, and even f you could, t would e unsafe for youto make a sn of rconton'

show me the place, my father, and I wll o thereever day'



HE RACK OF A SORM

From m tme, n all weathers, she wated theretwo hours s the clock struck two, she was there, andat four sh tued resgnedly away. en t was not

too wet or nclement for her chld to be wth her, eywent togeer; at other tmes she was alone; but shenever mssd a sngle day

It was the dark and dty coer of a small wndngstreet The hovel of a cutter of wood nto lengths forbung, was the only house at that end; all else waswall On the thrd day of her beng there, he notcedher

ood-day, ctzeness'ood-day, ctzen'Ths mode of address was now prescrbed by decree.

It had been establshed voluntarl some tme ago,among the more thorough patrots; but, was now lawfor everbod.

Walkng here agan, ctzeness?'You see me, ctzen! 'The wood-sawyer, who was a lttle man wth a

redundancy of gesture (he had once been a mender ofroads), cast a glance at the prson, ponted at the

prson, and puttng hs ten ngers before hs face torepresent bars, peeped through them jocosely

But t's not my busness,' sad he. And went onsawng hs wood

Next day he was lookng out for her, and accostedher the moment she appeared.

What? Walking here agan, ctzeness?'Yes, ctzen.'! A chld too! Your mother, s t not, my lttle

ctzeness?'Do I say es, mamma?' whspered lttle Luce,

drawng close to her

379



A ALE OF O CI

Yes, dearest'Yes, ctzen'Ah! But t's not my busness My work s my

busness See my saw! I ca t my Ltte Guotne La, a; L a, a! Ad o hs head comes! 'The bet fe as he spoke, and he threw t nto a

basketI ca mysef the Samson of the rewood guotne

See here agan! Loo, 00 00; Loo, 00 oo! And ohr

head comes! Now, a chd Tcke, tcke; Pcke,pckle! And o its head comes A the famy!'Luce shuddered as he threw two more bets nto

hs basket, but t was mpossble to be there whe thewoodsawyer was at work, and not be n hs sghtThenceforth, to secure hs good w, she aways spoketo hm rst, and oen gave hm drnkmoney, whchhe ready receved

He was an nqustve feow, and sometmes whenshe had qute forgotten hm n gazng at the prsonroof and grates, and n lng her heart up to herhusband, she woud come to hersef to nd hmooking at her, wth hs knee on hs bench and hs saw

stopped n ts work But t's not my busness!' hewoud generay say at those tmes, and woud brskyfa to hs sawng agan

In a weathers, n the snow and frost of wnter, nthe btter wnds of sprng, n the hot sunshne ofsummer, n the rans of autumn, and agan n the snow

and frost of wnter, Luce passed two hours of everyday at ths pace; and every day on eavng t, shekssed the prson wa Her husband saw her (so sheeaed from her father) t mght be once n ve or sxtmes: t mght be twce or thrce runnng: t mght be,not for a week or a fortnght together It was enough



THE TRACK OF A STORM

that he cd and dd see her when the chancesseved, an on that possblty she would have watedout the da seven days a week

These ccupatons brought her round to heDecember month, wheren her father walked amongthe terrors wth a steady head On a lghtlysnowngaeoon she arrved at the usual coer It was a dayof some wld rejocng, and a festval She had seen hehouses, as she came along, decorated wth lttle pkes,

and wth lttle red caps stuck upon them; also, wthtcoloured rbbons; also, wth the standard nscpton (tcoloured letters were the favourte), Republcone and ndvsble Lbety, equalty, fratety, ordeath!

The mserable shop of the woodsawyer was so

small, that ts whole suface shed very nderentspace for ths legend He had got somebody to scrawlt up for hm, however, who had squeezed deat nwth most napproprate dculty. On hs housetop,he dsplayed pke and cap, as a good ctzen must, andn a wndow he had statoned hs saw nscbed as hsLttle Ste ullotne' for the great sharp fema le wasby that tme popularly canonsed Hs shop was shutand he was not there, whch was a relef to Luce, andle her qute alone

But, he was not far o, for presently she heard atroubled movement and a shoutng comng along,whch lled her wth fear A moment aewards, and athrong of people came pourng round the coer bythe prsonwall, n the mdst of whom was the woodsawyer hand n hand wth the engeance Therecould not be fewer than ve hundred people, and theywere dancng lke ve thousand demons There wasno other musc than ther own sngng They danced



A ALE OF WO CIIES

to the popuar revouton song, keepng a ferocoustme that as ke a gnashng of teeh n unson. Menand women danced together, women danced together,

men danced together, as hazard had brought themtogether. At rst, they were a mere storm of coarse redcaps and coarse wooen rags; but, as they ed thepace, and stopped to dance about Luce, some ghastyapparton of a dance-ure gone ravng mad aroseamong the They advanced, retreated, struck at one

another's hands, cutched at one another's heads,spun round aone, caught one another and spun roundn pars, unt many of them dropped. e thosewere down, the rest nked hand n hand, and a spunround together then the rng broke, and n separaterngs of two and four they ted and tued untl they

a stopped at once, began agan, stuck, clunched, andtore, and then reversed the spn, and all spun roundanother way. Suddenly they stopped agan, paused,struck out the tme afresh, formed nto lnes the dthof the pubc way, and, wth ther heads ow don andther hands hgh up, sooped screang o. No ght

could have een half so terrble as ths dance It asso emphatcaly a faen sport a somethng, oncennocent, devered over to al devry a healthypastme changed nto a means of angerng the blood,bewderng the senses, and steelng the heart. Suchgrace as was vsble n t, made t the gler, shonghow warped and perverted al thngs good by naturewere become The madeny bosom bared to ths, thepretty almost-chld's head thus dstracted, the decatefoot mncng n ths slough of blood and drt, eretypes of the dsjonted tme.

Ths was the Caragnole As t passed, eavngLce frghtened and bewldered n the dooway of the



HE RACK OF A SORM

woodsawyr's ouse, te feater snow fell as quetlyand lay as te and so, as f t ad nevr been.

my f ater' for e stood before er wen seled up e eyes se ad momentarly darkened wter and; uc a cruel, bad sgt'

I know, y dear, I know I ave seen t many tmes.Don't be figtened! Not one of tem ould arm you. '

I am ot gtened for myself, my fater. Butwen I tnk of my usband, and te merces of tese

people 'We wll set m above ter merces vey soon I le

m clmbng to te wndow, and I came to tell youTere s no one ere to see You may kiss your andtowards tat gest selvng roof'

I do so, fater, and I send m my Soul wt t'

You cannot see m, my poor dear?'No, fater,' sad Luce, yeang and weepng as

se ssed er and, no 'A footstep n te snow Madame Defarge I salute

you, ctzeness, ' om te doctor I salute you, ctzen 'Ts n passng Notng more Madame Defarge

gone, lke a sadow over te wte roadve me your arm, my love Pass from ere wt anar of ceerlness and courage, for s sake Tat waswell done;' tey ad le te spot; t sall not be nvan Carles s summoned for tomorrow'

For tomorrow'

Tere s no tme to lose I am well prepared, buttere are precautons to be taken, tat could not betaken untl e was actually summoned before tetrbunal He as not receved te notce yet, but I owtat e wll presently be summoned for tomorrow, andremoved to te Concergere; I ave tmely nform

aton You are not afrad?'



A ALE OF WO CIIES

She could scarcely answer, I tut n you'Do so, mplctly Your suspense s nearly ended,

my darlng; he shall be restored to you wthn a fewhos; 1 have encompassed hm wth evey protecton1 ust see Lorry'

e stopped There was a heavy lumberng of wheelswthn hearng They both knew too well what tmeant One Two Three Three tumbrls farng awaywth ther dread loads over the hushng snow

I must see Lorry,' the doctor repeated, tung heranother way

The staunch old gentleman was stll n hs trust;had never le t He and hs books were n equentrequston as to property conscated and madenatonal at he could save for the owners, he saved

No better man lvng to hold fast by what Tellson'shad n keepng, and to hold hs peace

A murky red and yellow sky, and a risng mst fromthe Sene, denoted the approach of darkness It wasalmost dark when they arrved at the bank

The stately resdence of onsegneur was altogether

blghted and deserted Above a heap of dust and ashesn the cout, ran the letters: natonal property Republcone and ndvsble Lberty, equalty, fratety, ordeath!

ho could that be wth Mr Lorry the owner of therdng-coat upon the char who must not be seen?

From whom newly arrved, dd he come out, agtatedand surprsed, to take hs favourte n hs arms? Towhom dd he appear to repeat her falterng words,when, rasng hs voce and tung hs head towardsthe door of the room from whch he had ssued, hesad: Removed to the Concergere, and summoned

for tomorrow?'




CHAPTER 6

uh

Te dread tribunal of ve judge public proecutorand determined jury at every day Teir lit wentfort every evening and were read out by te gaoler

of te variou prion to teir prioner. Te tandardgaoler-joke wa Come out and liten to the eveningpaper you inide tere!'

Carle Evrmonde called Daay!'So at lat began te evening paper at L Force.en a name wa called it oner tepped apart

into a pot reered for toe who ere announced abeing thu fatally recorded. Carle Evrmonde calledDaay ad reaon to kno the uage; e ad eenundred pa away o.

Hi bloated gaoler wo wore pectacle to readwit glanced over tem to aure himelf tat e ad

taken i place and went trough te lit making aimilar ort paue at eac name. Tere were twentytree name but only twenty were reponded to; forone of te prioner o ummoned ad died in gaoland been forgotten and two ad already been guillotined and forgotten. Te lit wa read in te vaultedcamber were Daay ad een te aociatedprioner on te nigt of i arrival. Every one oftoe ad peried in te maacre; every umancreature e ad ince cared for and parted wit addied on te caold.

Te re were urried word of farewell and kndnebut te parting wa oon over. It wa te incident of



A ALE O WO CIIES

evey day, and te ociety of a Force were engagedin te preparation of ome game of forfeit and aittle concert, for tat evening Tey crowded to te

grate and ed tear tere; but, tweny place in teprojected entertainment ad to be reed, and tetie wa, at bet, ort to te ockup our, wen tecommon room and corridor woud be deiveredover to te great dog wo kept watc tere trougte nigt. Te prioner were far from inenibe or

unfeeing; teir way aroe out of te condition ofte time Simiary, toug wit a ubtle dierence, apecie of fervour or intoxication, known, witoutdoubt, to ave led ome peron to brave te guillotineunnecearily, and to die by it, wa not mere boatlne, but a wild infection of te widy aken public

mind. In eaon of petience, ome of u wil ave aecret attraction to te dieae a terribe painginclination to die of it. And all of u ave ike wonderidden in our breat, only needing circumtance toevoke tem.

Te paage to te Conciergerie wa ort and

dark; te nigt in it verminaunted ce wa ongand cod. Next day, een prioner were put to tebar before Carle Daay' name wa caed. A teeen were condemned, and te tria of te woleoccupie an our and a af

Care Evrmonde, caed Daay,' wa at engt

arraigned.

Hi judge at upon te benc in featered at; butte roug red cap and tricooured cockade wa teeaddre otherie prevailing ooking at te juy andte turbuent audience, e migt ave tougt tat teuua order of ting wa revered, and tat te feonwere trying the onet men Te lowet, cruelet, and



THE TRACK OF A STOR

wort popace of a city never witout it quantity oflow cruel and bad were te directing pirit of tecene noiily commenting applauding diapproving

anticipati and precipitating te reult witout aceck Of e men te greater pa were armed invariou w; of te women ome wore knive omedagger e ate and drank a tey looked on manyknitted Aong tee lat wa one wit a pare pieceof knitting nder er arm a e worked Se wa in a

front row by te ide of a man wom e ad nevereen ince i arrival at te barrier but wom edirectly remembered a Defarge He noticed tat eonce or twice wipered in i ear and tat eeemed to be i wife; but wat e mot noticed in tetwo gure wa tat altoug tey were poted a

cloe to imelf a tey could be tey never lookedtoward im ey eemed to be waiting for ometing wit a dogged determination and tey looked atte jury but at noting ele Under te preident atDr Manette in i uual quiet dre A well a teprioner could ee e and Mr orry were te onlymen tere unconnected wit te tribunal wo woreteir uual clote and ad not aumed te coaregarb of te Carmagnole

Carle Evrmonde called Daay wa accedby te public proecutor a an emigrant woe lifewa forfeit to te Republic under te decree wicbanied all emigrant on pain of deat. It wanoting tat te decree bore date ince i retu toFrance ere e wa and ·tere wa te decree; ead been taken in France and i ead wa demanded

ake o i ead ! ' cried te audience enemyto te Republic!'

e preident rang i bell to ilence toe crie



A ALE OF WO CIS

and aked te prioner weter it w not tre tat ead lived many year in England?

ndobtedly it wa

a e not an emigrant ten? Wat did e callielot an emigrant e oped witin te ene and

pirit of te law.Wy not? te preident deired to knowBecae e ad volntarily relinqied a title tat

wa ditatel to im and a tation tat wa ditatel to im and ad le i contry e bmittedbefore te word emigrant in te preent acceptationby te tribnal wa in e to live by i own indtryin England rater tan on te indtry of teoverladen people of France .

Wat proof ad e of ti?He anded in te name of two witneeTopile abelle and Alexandre Manette.

Bt e ad married in England? te preidentreminded im

Tre bt not an Engli womanA citizene of France?Ye. By birt.Her name and family?cie Manette onl dagter of Dr Manette te

good pyician wo it tere.Ti anwer ad a appy eect pon te adience

Crie in exaltation of te well-known good pyician

rent te all So capricioly were te people movedtat tear immediately rlled down everal ferociocontenance wic ad been glaring at te prioner amoment before a if wit impatience to plck im otinto te treet and kill im

On tee few tep of i dangero way Carle



THE TRACK OF A SOR

Dy hd et hi foot ccording to Dr Mnette'reiterted ntruction The me cutiou counedirected ery tep tht y before him nd hdprepred eery inch of hi rod.

The peident ked why hd he retued toFrnce when he did nd not ooner?

He hd not retued ooner he repied impybecue he hd no men of iving in Frnce vetoe he d reigned; where in Engnd he ivedby giving intruction in the French nguge nditerture He hd retued when he did on tepreing nd written entrety of French citizenwho repreented tt hi ife w endngered by hibence. He hd come bck to ve citizen' ifend to ber hi tetimony t whtever peronhzrd to te trut. W tht crimin in e eye of

the Repubic?The popuce cried enthuiticy No' nd te

preident rng hi be to quiet them Which it did notfor they continued to cry No!' unti tey e o oftheir own wi

The preident required the nme of tt citizen?

The ccued expined tht the citizen w hi rtwitne. He o referred with condence to thecitizen' etter which hd been tken om him t tebrrier but which he did not doubt woud be foundmong the pper then before the preident

The doctor hd tken cre tht it houd be tere

hd red him tht it woud be there nd t titge of te proceeding it w produced nd redCitizen Gbee w ced to conrm it nd did o.Citizen Gbee hinted wit innite deiccy ndpoitene tht in te preure of buine impoedon te tribun by the mutitude of enemie of the



A ALE OF WO CIIES

Republic with which it had to deal, he had beenlightly overlooked in hi prion of te Abbaye infact had rather paed out of the tribunal' patriotic

remembrance until three day ago; when he had beenummoned before it, and had been et at liberty on theju declaring themelve atied that the accuationagaint him wa anwered a to himelf by the urrender of te Citizen Evrmonde called Daay.

Dr Manette wa next quetioned Hi high peronalpopularity and te cleae of hi anwer, made agreat impreion; but, a he proceeded, a he howedtat te Accued wa hi rt friend on hi releaefrom hi long imprionment; tat te accued hadremained in England alway faithl and devoted tohi daugter and himelf in teir exile; tat o farom being in favour with the aritocrat govement

tere he had actually been tried for hi life by it, ate foe of England and frend of te United State ahe brout tee circumtance into view with thereatet dicretion and wit te traitforward forceof trut and eaetne, te ju and te populacebecame one At lat, when he appealed by name to

Monieur Lor, an Engli gentleman ten and terepreent, who like himelf had been a witne on tatEnglih trial and could corroborate hi account of it,te jury declared tat tey had heard enoug and thattey were ready wit teir vote if te preident werecontent to receive them.

At eve vote (te jumen voted aloud andindividually), te populace et up a hout of applaueAll te voice were in the prioner' favour, and tepreident declared him free

Then, began one of toe extraordinary cene witwhich te populace ometime gratied their ckle

39 0



HE RACK OF A SRM

ne or tir better pule toward generoty andmercy or c tey regarded a oe et-o againtter woln account of crel rage. o man can decide

now to ic of tee motive uc extraordinarycene we referable; it i probable to a blending of allte tree it te econd predoinatng. No oonerwa te auittal pronounced tan tear were ed afreely a blood at anoter tie and uc fratealembrace were betowed upon te prioner by a

any of bot exe a could ru at i tat aer ilong and unwoleoe conneent e wa in dangerof fainting fro exauton; none te le becaue eknew very well tat te very ame people carried byanoter current would ave red at im wit tevery ae intenty to rend i to piece and trew

im over te treet.Hi reoval to ake way for oter accued peronwo were to be tried recued i fro tee careefor te oent. Five were to be tried togeter nexta eneie of te Republic forauc a tey ad notaited it by word or deed. So quick wa te tribunalto copenate itelf and te nation for a cance lottat tee ve cae down to im before e le teplace condened to die witin twentyfour our.Te rt of tem told im o wit te cutomaprion ign of deat a raied nger and tey alladded in word ong live te Republic!'

Te ve ad ad i t i tre n o audience t o l engtenteir proceeding for wen e and Dr Manetteeerged om te gate tere wa a great crowd aboutit in wic tere eeed to be every face e ad eenin court except two for wic e looked n vain. Oni coing out te concoure made at m anewweepng ebracing and outing all by tu and all

39 1



A TALE OF TWO ITIS

togeter until te very tide of te rivr on te bank ofwic te ad cene wa acted eeed to rn madlike te people on te ore

Tey put im into a great cair tey ad amongte and whic tey ad taken eiter out of te courtitelf or one of it room or paage. Over te cairtey ad trown a red ag and to the back of it teyad bound a pike wit a red cap on it top In ti carof triump not even te doctor' entreatie could

prevent i being carried to i ome on men'oulder wit a coned ea of red cap eavingabout im and cating up to ight om te tormydeep uch wreck of face tat he more tan oncemidoubted hi mind being in conion and tat hewa in te tumbril on i way to the guillotine.

In wild dreamlike proceion embracing womtey met and pointing im out they carried im onReddening the nowy treet wit e prevailingRepublican colour in winding and tramping trougtem a tey had reddened tem below te now wita deeper dye tey carried im tu into te courtyardof te building were e lived Her fater ad gone on

before to prepare er and wen her huband toodupon i feet e dropped inenible in i arm

A e eld er to i eart and tued er beautilead between i face and te brawling crowd o tati tear and er lip migt come togeter uneen afew of te people fell to dancing Intantly all te ret

fell to dancing and e couryard overowed wit teCarmagnole. Ten tey elevated into te vacantcair a young woman from te crowd to be carried ate Godde of ibey and ten welling and overowing out into te adjacent treet and along teriver' bank and over te bridge te Carmagnole

39 2





A ALE OF WO CIIS

CHAPER 7

A Kock he Door

I ave aved im . ' It wa not anoter of te dream inwic e ad oen come back; e wa really ereAnd yet i wife trembled and a vague but eavy far

wa upon erAll te air around wa o tick and dark te peoplewere o paionately revengel and tl te innocentwere o contantly put to deat on vague upicionand black malice it wa o impoible to forget tatmany a blamele a er uband and a dear tooter a e wa to er every day ared e fate omwic e ad been clutced tat er eart could notbe a ligtend of it load a e felt it ougt to be Teadow of te wintry aeoon were beginning tofall and even now te dreadl cart were rollingtroug te treet Her mind purued tem lookingfor im among te condemned; and ten e clung

cloer to i real preence and trembled moreHer fater ceering er owed a compaionate

uperiority to ti woman' weakne wic wawonderl to ee No garret no oemaking no oneundred and ve Nort Tower now He ad accomplied e tak e ad et imelf i promie wa

redeemed e ad aved Carle et tem all leanup on im

Teir ouekeeping wa of a very frugal kind notonly becaue tat wa te afet way of life involvingte leat oence to te people but becaue tey werenot ric and Carle trougout i imprionment

39 4



THE TRACK OF A STOR

ad ad t pay eavily for is bad food, and for isguard, an towards e living of te poorer prisoners .Partly on tis account, and partly to avoid a domestic

spy, tey ept no servant; te citizen and citizenesswo acte as porters at te courtard gate, renderedtem occasional service; and Jerr (almost wollytransferred to tem by Mr or) ad become teirdaily retainer, and ad is bed tere evey nigt.

It was an ordinance of te Republic one and indivis

ible of libety, equalit, frateity, or deat, tat on tedoor or doorpost of evey ouse, te name of eveyinmate must be legibly inscribed in letters of a certainsize, at a certain convenient eigt from te ground.Mr Jerry Cruncer's name, terefore, duly embellised te doorpost down below; and, as te aeoon

sadows deepened, te owner of tat name imselfappeared, from overlookng a painter wom DrManete ad employed to add to e list te name ofCarles Evrmonde, called Daay.

In te universal fear and distrust tat darkened tetime, all te usual armless ways of life were canged.

In te doctor's little ouseold, as in ver many oters,te articles of daily consumption tat were wantedwere purcased every evening, in small quantities andat various small sops. To avoid attracting notice, andto gve as little occasion as possible for talk and envy,was te general desire.

For some monts past, Miss Pross and rC runcer ad discarged te oce of purveyors; teformer carying te money; te latter, te basket.Eve aeoon at about te time wen te publiclamps were ligted, tey fared fort on tis duty,and made and brougt om e suc purcase s as wereneedl. ltoug Miss Pross, troug er log

95



A AE OF WO CII S

aociation wit a Frenc family migt ave knowna uc of teir language a of er own if e adad a mind e ad no mind in tat direction;

conequently e knew no ore of tat nonene'(a e wa pleaed to call it ) tan Mr C runcer didSo er manner of marketing wa to plump a nounubtantive at te ead of a opkeeper witout anyintroduction in te nature of an aticle and if itappened not to be te name of te ting e

wanted to look round for tat ting lay old of itand old on by it until te bargain wa concludedSe alway made a bargain for it by olding up a atatement of it jut price one nger le tan temercant eld up watever i number migt be

Now Mr Cuncer' ad Mi Pro woe eye

were red with felicity; if you are ready I am'Jery oarely profeed imelf at Mi Pro'ervice He had wo all rut o long ago utnoting would le i piky head down.

Tere' all manner of thng wanted' ad MiPro and we all ave a preciou te of t We

Iwant wne among te ret Nice toat tee redead will e drinkng werever we uy it'

It will be muc te ame to your knowledge mI ould tink' retorted Jerry wheter tey drnkyour ealt or te old un''

\o' e?' aid M ProMr Cruncher wit ome didence explained im

elf a meanng Old Nick'' Ha!' aid i Pro it doen't need an interpreter

to explain the meaning of tee creature Tey avebut one and it' midigt murder and micie'

Hu dear! Pray pray e cautiou!' cried ucieYe ye ye I 'l l be cautiou' aid Pro; but



H RACK OF A SORM

I may ay among ourelve tat I do hope tere wll beno onony and tobaccoey motherng n te form ofembracng all round gong on n the treet Now

Ladybrd never you tr from tat re tll I come back!Take care of the dear huband you have recoveredand don't move your prety ead from oulder ayou have t now tll you ee me agan! May I ak aqueton Dr Manette before I go?'

I tnk you may take that lberty' te doctor

anwered mlng.For gracou ake don't talk about lberty; we avequte enoug of tat' ad M Pro.

Huh dear! Agan?' Luce remontrated.Well my weet ' ad M Pro noddng er ead

emphatcally the hort and te long of t tat I ama ubject of H Mot racou Majety Kng eorgete Thrd; ' M Pro curteyed at te name; and auch my maxm confound ter poltc frutratether knavh trck on hm our hope we x od avethe Kng!'

Mr Cruncher n an acce of loyalty growlnglyrepeated the word aer M Pro lke omebody atchurch.

I am glad you have o muc of the Englman nyou toug I wh you had never taken tat cold nyour voce' ad M Pro approvngly. But thequeton Dr Manette. I tere' � t wa te goodcreature' way to aect to make lght of anyng tat

wa a great anxety wth them all and to come at t nth chance manner � ere any propect yet of ourgettng out of t place?'

I fear not yet. It would be angerou for Charle yet.'Hegh�hohum! a Pro ceerlly

repreng a gh a he gnced at hr darlng' golden

97



A AL O WO IIES

air in the ligt of te re ten we mut avepatience and wait tat' all We mut old up ouread and gt low a my broter Solomon ued

to ay Now Mr Cruner! Don't you moveLadybird!'Tey went out leaving ucie and er uband er

fater and the cild by a brigt re Mr orr waexpected bak preently from te banking houe MiPro ad lited te lamp but ad put it aide in a

coer tat they migt enjoy te religt unditurbed.ittle ucie at by her grandfater wit er andclaped troug i arm and e in a tone not riingmuc above a wiper began to tell er a tor of agreat and poerl fair wo ad opened a prionwalland let out a captive wo ad once done te Fairy aervice All a ubdued and quiet and ucie wamore at eae tan e ad been

What i tat?' e cried all at onceMy dear!' aid er fater pping in i tory and

laying i and on er ommand yourelf Wat adiordered tate you are in! Te leat ting notingtartle you! Yu, your fater' daugter! '

tougt my fater' aid ucie excuing erelfwit a pale fae and in a faltering voice tat eardtrange feet upon te tair'

My love te taircae i a till a Deat'A e aid te word a blow wa truck upon te

door

O fater fater What can ti be! Hide CarleSave im!'

y cild' ai te doctor riing and laying iand upon er oulder hav aved im Watweakne i thi my ar! et me go to te door.'

He took te lamp n i and croed te to



0 0 p 9 l 1 0 t O U 9 .



A AL OF WO CES

inteening outer room, and opened it A ude clattering of feet over te oor, and four roug men in redcap, armed it abre and pitol, entered te room

e Citizen Evrmonde, called Daay,' aid tert

o eek im?' anered Daay' 1 eek im We eek im 1 kno you, Evrmonde;

1 a you before te tribuna today You are again teprioner of te Republic '

Te four urrounded im, ere e tood it iife and cild clinging to imTel me o and y am 1 again a prioner?'It i enoug tat you return traigt to te

Conciergerie, and il kno tomorro You areummoned for tomorro '

Dr Manette, om ti viitation ad o tued intotone, tat e tood it te amp in i and, a ifeere a tatue made to old it, moved aer tee ordere poken, put te amp don, and confronting tepeaker, and takng im, not ungently, by te ooefront of i red oolen irt, aid You kno im,you ave aid Do you kno me?'

Ye, I kno you, Citizen Doctor'We al kno you, Citizen Doctor,' aid te oter

treeHe looked abtractedy from one to anoter, and

aid, in a oer voice, aer a paue Wi you aneri quetion to me ten? Ho doe ti appen?'

Citizen Doctor,' aid te rt, reuctanty, e abeen denounced to te ection of St Antoine Ticitizen,' pointing out te econd o ad entered, ifrom St Antoine'

Te citizen ere indicated nodded i ead, andadded He i accued by St Antoine'

400



HE ACK OF A SO

O f wht?' aked e docorCiize Doctor' aid e rt wit i former

reluctanc ak no more If he Republic demand

acrice om you wiou doub you a a goodpario wil be happy o make them The Republicgoe before all The people i upreme Evmondewe are preed'

One word' e docor enreaed. Will yo ell mewho denonced im?

I i againt rule' anwered he r; bu you canak him of S oine here . '

The doctor ued i eye upon at man. Womoved uneaily on hi feet rubbed i beard a litleand at lengh aid Well! Truly i i again rule. Buthe i denounced and gravely by e C iizen andCiizene Defarge. And by one oher.'

What oher?'Do y ak Ciizen Docor?'YeThen' aid he of St Aoine wit a range look

you will be anwered tomorrow. Now I am dumb ! '

CHAPE 8

A Hd Crds

Happily unconciou of he new calamiy a home

Mi Pro readed her way along e narrow reeand croed e river by he bridge of e Pon-N eufreckoning in her mind he number of indipenablepurcae he had o make Mr Cruncer wi ebaket walked at er ide. Tey bot looked o erigh and o he le ino mo of the hop ey p aed

40 1



A ALE OF WO CII

ad a wary eye for all gregariou emblage ofpeople and tued out of teir road to avoid any veryexcited group of talker. It wa a raw ening and te

mity river blurred to te eye wit blzing ligt andto e ear wit ar noie owed ere te bargewere tationed in wic te mit worked makinggun for te army of te Republic Woe to te manwo played trick wit that Army or got undeervedprotion in it Better for im tat i beard adnev" grown for te national razor aved im cloe.

Having purcaed a few mall article of groceryand a meaure of oil for te lamp Mi Pro betougt erelf of te wine tey wanted . er peepinginto everal wine op e topped at te ign of teGood Republican Brutu of Antiquiy not far fromte National Palace once (and twice) te uilerie

were te apect of ting rater took er fancy. It ada quieter look tan an oter place of te amedecription they ad paed and toug red witpatriotic cap wa not o red a te ret. Sounding Mruncer and nding im of er opinion Mi Proreorted to e Good Republican Brutu of Antiq

uiy attended b er cavalier.Sligtly obervant of e moy ligt; of te peo

ple pipe in mout playing wit limp card andyellow dominoe; of te one bare-breated bareamed oot-begimed workman reading a joualaloud and of te oter litening to im; of te

weapon wo or laid aide to be reumed; of te twoor tree cutomer fallen forward aleep wo in tepopular ig-ouldered aggy black pencerl ooked in tat attitude like lumbering bear or dog;e two outlandi cutomer approaced te counter and owed wat tey wanted

4 0 2



HE RACK O A OR

tei ine wa meauring out, a man parted omanoter n in a orner, and roe to depart. In going,e ad to e Mi Pro. No ooner did e fae er,

tan Mi Pro uttered a ream, and lapped erand.In a moment, te wole ompany were on teir

feet. Ta omebody wa aainated by omebodyvindiating a dierene of opinion wa te likelietourrene. Everbody looked to ee omebody fall,

but only aw a man and a woman tanding taring atea oter; te man wit all te outward apet of aFrenman and a toroug Republian; te woman,evidently Engli.

Wat wa aid in ti diappointing antilimax,by te diiple of te ood Republian Brutu ofntiquity, exept that it wa ometing very volubleand loud, would ave been a o mu Hebrew orCaldean to Mi Pro and er protetor, tougtey ad been all ear. But, tey ad no ear foranyting in teir urprie. For, it mut be reorded,tat not only wa Mi Pro lot in amazement andagitation, but, Mr

Crunch r -· toug it eemed on i

own eparate and individual aount wa in a tate ofte greatet wonder.

Wat i te matter?' aid te man wo ad auedMi Pro to ream; peaking in a vexed, abruptvoie (toug in a low tone), and in Engli.

O, Solomon, dear Solomon!' ried Mi Pro,

lapping er and again. er not etting eye uponyou or earing of you for o long a time, do I nd youere!'

Don't ll m e Solomon. D o you ant t o be te deathof me?' akd the man, in a tive, frigtened way.

Broter broter!' ried Mi Pro, burting into



A ALE O WO CIIS

tear Have 1 ever been o ard wit you tat you akme uc a cruel quetion?'

en old your meddleome tongue, aid Solomon,

and come out, if you want to peak to me Pay foryour wine, and come out Wo' ti man?'

i Pro, aking er loving and dejected ead ater by no mean aectionate broter, aid troug ertear, Mr Cruncer'

et im come out too,' aid Solomon Doe e

tink me a got?'Apparently, Mr Cruncer did, to judge from ilook He aid not a word, owever, and Mi Pro,exploring te dept of er reticule troug er tearwit great diculy, paid for er wine A e dido, Solomon tued to te follower of te Good

Republican Brutu of Antiquiy, and oered a fewword of explanation in te Frenc language, wiccaued tem all to relape into teir former place andpuruit

Now,' aid Solomon, topping at te dark treetcoer, wat do you want?'

How dreadlly ukind in a broter noting aever tued my love away from ' cried Mi Pro, togive me uc a greeting, and ow me no aection'

ere Confound i t here, ' aid Solomon, makinga dab at Mi Pro' lip wit i own Now are youcontent?'

Mi Pro only ook er ead and wept in ilence

If you expect me to be urpried,' aid e r broterSolomon, I am not urpried; 1 knew you were ere; 1know of mot people wo are ere. I you really don'twant to endanger my exitence wic I alf believeyou do go your way a oon a poible, and let mego mine I am buy. 1 am an ocial





A AL O WO CIIS

y Englsh brother Solomon,' moued MssPross, castng up her tearfraught eyes, that had themangs n hm of one of te best and greatest of men

n hs natve county, an ocal among foregners, andsuc foregners! I woud almost sooner have seen thedear boy lyng n hs '

I sad so ! ' cried her broter, nterruptng. I knew t .You want to be the deat of me. I sha be renderedSuspected, by my own sster Just as I am gettng on!'

The gracous and mercl Heavens forbd!' criedMss Pross. Far rather woud I never see you agan,dear Soomon, though I have ever loved you ty, andever sha. Say but one aectonate word to me, andtel me tere s nothng angry or estranged between us,and I wl detan you no longer.'

Good Mss Pross! As f the estrangement betweentem had come of any cupablty of hers. As f MrLory had not known t for a fact, years ago, n tequet coer n Soho, that ths precous brother hadspent her money and e her!

He was sayng the aectonate word, however, wtha far more grudgng condescenson and patronagetan he could have shown f ter relatve merts andpostons had been reversed (whch s nvarably tecase, a the ord over), when Mr Cruncher, touchnghm on the shoulder, hoarsely and unexpectedy nterposed wth the folowng snuar queston: I say!Mght I ask the favour? As to whether your name s

John Solomon, or Solomon John?'The oca tued towards hm wth sudden

dstust . He had not prevousy uttered a word.Come!' sad Mr Cncher Speak out, you know.'

(Whch, by the way, was more thn he could dohmse.) John Soomon, or Solomo John? She cals

406



HE RACK OF A SORM

you Solo and she ust now ben your ssternd no you're John you now Whch of the twooes rs? nd reardn that nae of Pross lewse

That wa' your nae over the water'What d o you mean?'Wel I don't now all I mean for I can't cal to

nd wht your nae was over the water'No?'No Bt I'll swear t was a nae of two syllables '

Indeed?'Yes T'other one's was one syllable I now youYou was a spywtness at the Baley What n tenae of the Father of es own father to yourself wasyou called at that te?'

Barsad ' sad another voce strkn n

That's the name for a thousand pound! ' cre d JerryThe speaer who struc n was Sydney Carton Hehad hs hands behnd h under te srts of hsrdncoat and he stood at Mr Cruncer's elbow asnelently as he ght have stood at the Od Baeytself

Don't be alarmed y dear Mss Pros s I arrved atMr orry's to s surprse yesterday evenn; weareed that I would not present yself esewere untlal was well or unless I could be use; I presentyself here to be a lttle tal wth your brother Iwsh you had a better epoyed brother an MrBarsad I wsh for your sae Mr Barsad was not asheep of te prsons '

Sheep was a cant word o f the te for a spy underthe aoers The spy who was pae tued paer andased hm how he dared

I'l tel you' sad Sydney I lted on you MBarsad comn out of the prson of te Concerere



A AL O WO CI i S

whle was contemplatng the walls n hour o r moreago You have a face to be remmbered, and Ireember faces well Made curous y seeng you n

that connecton, and havng a reason, o whch you areno stranger, for assocatng you wth the msfortunesof a frend now ve unfortunate, I walked n yourdrecton alked nto the wne shop here, close aeryou, and sat near you had no dculty n deducngfrom your unreserved conversaton, and the rumour

openly gong about among your admrers, the natureof your callng And gradually, what I had done atrandom, seemed to shape tself nto a purpose, MrBarsad '

What purpose?' the spy askedt would be troublesome, and mght be dangerous,

to explan n the street Could you favour me, ncondence, th some mnutes of your company atthe oce of ellson's Bank, for nstance?'

Under a threat?'Oh! Dd I say at?'Then, why should I go there?'

Really, M r Barsad, I ca't say, f you can't 'Do you ean that you won't say, sr?' the spyrresolutely asked

You apprehend me ver clearly, Mr Barsad Iwon't'

Caton's neglgent recklessness of manner camepowelly n ad of hs quckness and skll, n such abusness as he had n hs secret mnd and wth such aman as he had to do wth Hs practsed eye saw t, andmade the most of t

ow, told you so,' sad the spy, castng areproachl look at hs sster f any trouble comesof ths, t's your dong '



TH TRA OF A STRM

non o rown ou of s onourable eloyen n nan, rou oo uc unsuccess

ar swear n ere no because e was no wane

ere our nlis reasons for aunn our suerioriyo secrecy n sies are of er oe ae e kewa e a crosse e Cannel, an accee sericein Franc rs, as a eper an an eaesroeraon is own counryen ere rauay, as aeer an an eaesroper aon e naes He

knew a uner e oerrown oeen e abeen a spy uon S Anone an Defare's wine so; a recee fro e wac polce suc eas ofnforaon concen Dr Manee's rsonen,release, an sor, as sou sere for an inroucon o faar conersaon w e Defares;an re e on Maae Defare, an a brokenown w e sinally He aways reebere wifear an rebln, a a errble woan akne wen e alke w er, an a ookeonously a i as er ners oe He a snceseen er, in e secion of S Anoine, oer an oeraan prouce er kne reisers, an enounce

eople wose les e uilone en surely swalowe u He knew, as eerone eploye as e wasi, a e was neer safe; a was ossible;a e was e fas uner e saow of e axe ana in se of is uos eriersaion an reacern rerance of e renn error, a wor i

brn own uon i Once enounce, an onsuc rae rouns as a jus now been suese o s in, e foresaw a e real woan ofwose unreenn caracer e a see any proofs,woul rouce aans a faal reser, anwou qas s as cance of lfe Besies a al



A TALE OF TWO CITS

secre men are men soon erre, ere were surelycars enou of one black su, o jus e oler nrown raer l as e ue em oer.

You scarcely seem o lke your an,' sa Syney,w e reaes comosure. Do you lay?'

I nk, sr,' sa e sy, n e meanes manner, as e ue o Mr Lorr, I may aeal o a enlemanof your years an beneolence, o u o s oerenleman, so muc your junor, weer e can

uner any crcumsances reconcle o s saon olay a ace of wc e as soken. am a ama sy, an a s consere a screable saon ou mus be lle by someboy; bu s enleman s no sy, an wy soul e so emean mselfas o make mself one?'

I lay my ace, Mr Barsa,' sa Caron, akn eanswer on mself, an lookn a s wac, wouany scrule n a e few mnues.'

I soul ae oe, enlemen bo,' sa e sy,always srn o ook Mr Lor no e scusson,a your resec for my sser '

I coul no beer es my resec for your sseran by nally relen er of er broer,' saSyney Caron.

You nk no, sr?'I ae orouly mae u my mn abou .'e smoo manner of e sy, curously n sso

nance w s osenaously rou ress, an

robably w s usual emeanour, recee suc aceck om e nscruably of Caron wo was amyser o wser an oneser men an e a falere ere an fale m. Wle e was a a loss,Caon a, resumn s forer ar of conemlancar s nee, now nk aan ae a sron




impressio that I have another good card here, not yetenumeratd That friend and fellowsheep, ho spokeof himsel as pasturing in he countr prisons; ho

as he?'Frenc You don't know him,' said e spy quicklyFrenc, eh!' repeated Carton, musing, and not

appearin to notice him at all, hough he echoed isord Well; he may be'

Is, I assure you,' said the spy; houg it's not

important 'Though it's not important,' repeated Carton in hesame mechanical way though it's not important No, it's not imporant No Yet I kno he face'

I hink not I am sure not It can't be,' said te spyIt can't be,' muttered Sydney Carton, retro

spectively, and lling his glass (which fortunately asa small one) again Can't be Spoke good FrenchYet like a foreigner, I hought?'

Provincial,' said the spyNo Foreign!' cried Carton, striking his open hand

on he table, as a light broke clearly on his mind Cly!Disguised, but the same man We had that manbefore us at the Old Bailey'

No, ere you are hasty, sir,' said Barsad, ih asmile that gave his aquiline nose an extra inclination toone side; there you really give me an advantage over

you Cly (who I will unreservedly admit, at isdistance of time, was a partner of mine) has been deadseveral yeas I attended him in his last illness He asbured in ondon, at he church of St PancrasineFields s unpopulariy wih the blackguardmultitude t the moment prevented my folloing hisremains, bt I helped to lay him in his con'

Here, Mr Lorr became aware, om here he sat,



A TALE OF TWO CITI'S

of a most remarkable goblin shad on he allTracing it to its source, he discovere it to be causedby a sudden extraordina rising an stiening of all

he isen and sti hair on Mr Cruncer's headet us be reasonable,' said the sp y, and let us befair To show you ho mistaken you are, and what anunfunded assumption yours is, I will lay before you acerticate of Cly's burial, which I happen to havecarried in my pocketbook,' wih a hurried hand he

produced and opened it, ever since There it is Oh,look at it, look at it! You may take it in your hand; it'sno forge'

Here, Mr Lor perceived he reection on the wallto elongate, and Mr Cruncher rose and steppedfoard His hair could not have been more violentlyon end, if it had been at moment dressed by heCo ih the crumpled ho in the house that Jackbuilt

Unseen by the spy, Mr Cruncher stood at his side,and touched him on he shoulder like a ghostly baili

That there Roger Cly, master,' said Mr Cruncher,ith a tacitu and iron-bound visage Soyou put him

in his con?'I did'Who took him out of it?'Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered,

What do you mean?'I mean,' said Mr Cruncher, hat he wa't never in

it o! ot he! I'll have my head took o, if he wasever in it'

he spy looked round at the two gentlemen; theyboh looked in unspeakable astonishment at Jerry

I tell you,' said Jer, that you bured pavingstones and earth in that here con Don't go and tell



THE TRAK OF A STORM

me tha O buried Cly I was a ake in Me and twomore knos i'

How do you know i?'

Wha's ha o you? Ecod!' growled Mr Cruncher,i's you I ave go a old rudge again, is i, with yourshamel iposiions upon radesmen! I'd cach holdof your roa and choke you for half a guinea'

Sydney Caron, who, with Mr orry, had beenlos in amazemen a his urn of he business, here

requesed Mr Cruncher o moderae and explainhimselfA anoher ime, sir,' he reued, evasively, he

presen ime is ill-conwenien for explainin' Wha Isand o, is, ha he knows well wo ha here Cly wasnever in ha here con e him say he was, in somuch as a word of one syllable, and I'll eiher cachhold of his hroa and choke him for half a guinea;' MrCruncher dwel upon his as quie a liberal oer; orI'll ou and announce him'

Humph! I see one ing,' said Carton I holdanother card, Mr Barsad Impossible, here in ragngParis, wih suspicion lling the air, for you o oulivedenunciaion, when you are in communicaion ianoher arisocraic spy of e same anecedens as

yourself, who, moreover, has the mysery abou hiof having feigned death and come o life agan! A ploin the prisons, of he foreiner agains he epblcA srong card a certain guilloine card! Do you

play?'No!' reued he spy I hrow up I confess ha we

were so npopular wih he ourageous mob, ha Ionly go away om England a he risk of beingducked deah, and ha Cly was so ferreed up anddown, ha he never would have go away a all bu for



A TALE OF TWO CITS

that sham Though how this man knows it was asham, is a wonder of wonders to me'

ever ou trouble our head about this man,'

retorted the contentious Cruncher; ou'll havetrouble enough with giving our attention to thatgetleman And look here! Once more!' MrCruncher could not be restrained from makng ratheran ostentatious parade of his liberalit I'd catchhold of our throat and choke ou for half a guinea'

The Sheep of the prisons tued from him to SdneCarton, and said, with more decision, It has come to apoint I go on dut soon, and can't oversta m timeYou told me ou had a proposal; what is it? Now, it is ofno use askng too much of me Ask me to do anthingin m oce, putting m head in great extra danger, and

I had better trst m life to the chances of a resal thanthe chances of consent In short, I should make thatchoice You talk of desperation We are all desperatehere Rememer I ma denounce ou if think proper,and I can swear m wa through stone walls, and so canothers Now, what do ou want with me?'

Not ver much You are a tuke at theConciergerie?'

I tell ou once for all, there is no such thing as anescape possible,' said the sp, rml

need ou tell me what I have not asked? Youare a tuke at the Conciergerie?'

I am sometimes'

You can be when ou choose'I can pass in and out when I choose'Sdne Carton lled another glass with brand,

pored it slowl out upon the hearth, and watched itas it dropped It being all spent, he said, rising: So far,we have spoken before these two, because it was as



THE TRCK OF SORM

well a th meis of he cads should no es solelybeween y and me Come ino he dak oom hee,and le us have one nal wod alone.'

CHPTER 9

The Game Made

While Sydney Caon and he sheep of e pisonswee in e adjoining dak oom, speaking so low hano a sound was head, M o looked a Jey inconsideable doub and misus Tha hones adesman's manne of eceiving e look, did no inspiecondence; he changed he leg on which he esed, asoen as if he had y of hose limbs, and wee inghem all; he examined his ngeails wi a veyquesionable closeness of aenion; and wheneve Mo's eye caugh his, he was aken wi ha peculiakind of sho cough equiing he hollow of a handbefoe , which is seldom, if eve, known o be aninmiy aendan on pefec openness of chaace.

Je,' said M o Come hee.'M Cunche came fowad sideways, wi one of

his shouldes in advance of himWha have you been, besides a messenge?'Ae some cogaion, accompanied i an inen

look a his paon, M Cunche conceived e

luminous idea of eplying, Agiculooal chaace'My mind misgives me much,' said M Loy,

angily shaking a foenge a him, ha you have usede especable and gea house of Tellson's as a blind,and a you have had an unlawl occupaion of aninfamous descipion If you have, don' expec me o



A TAE OF TWO CITIS

befriend you when you get back to England If you ave, don't expect me to keep your secret Tellson'sshall not be imposed upon'

I hope, sir,' pleaded the abashed Mr Cruncher,tat a gentleman like yourself wot I've had the honourof odd jobbing till I'm grey at it, would think twiceabout harming of me, even if it wos so I don't say itis, but even if it wos And wich it is to be took intoaccount that if it wos, it wouldn't, even then, be all 0'

one side There'd be two sides to it There might bemedical doctors at the present hour, a picking up theiruineas where a honest tradesman don't pick up hisfardens fardens! no, nor yet his half fardens halffardens! no, nor yet his quarter a banking away likesmoke at Tellson's, and a cocking their medical eyes

at that tradesman on the sly, a going in and going outto teir own carriages ah! equally like smoke, if notmore so Well, that 'ud e imposing, too, on Tellson'sFor you cannot sarse the goose and not the ganderAnd here's rs Cruncher, or leasways wos in the OldEngland times, and would be tomoow, if causegiven, a oppin' again the usiness to that degree as isruinating stark ruinating! Whereas them medicaldoctors' wives don't op catch 'em at it! Or, if theyop, teir oppings goes in favour of more patients,and ho can you rightly have one ithout he t'other?Tn, wot with undertakers, and wot wih parishclerks, and wot wit sextons, and ot with private

atchmen (all awaricious and all in it), a manouldn't get much by it, even if it wos so And wotlittle a man did get, would never prosper with him, rory He'd never have no good of

t; he'd want allalong to b out of the line, if he could see his way out,being onc in even if it wos so'

420





A TALE OF TWO CTES

Tha a leas is rue,' said Mr Lor. Say no moreno. I may be ha I shall ye sand your friend, if youdeserve i, and repen in acion no in ords. I an

no more ords.'r Cruncher knuckled his forehead, as Sydney

Caon and he spy reued om he dark room.Adieu, Barsad,' said he former; our arrangemenhus made, you have nohing o fear om me.'

He sa don in a chair on he heah, over agains

Mr Lor. en hey ere alone, Mr Lorr asked himha he had done?o much. If i should go ill ih he prisoner, I

have ensured access o him, once.'Mr Lorr's counenance fell.I is all I could do,' said Caon. To propose oo

much, ould be o pu his man's head under he axe,and, as he himself said, nohing orse could happeno him if he ere denounced. I as obviously heeakness of he posiion. There is no help for i.'

Bu access o him,' said Mr Lorr, if i should go illbefore he ribunal, ill no save him.'

I never said i ould.'r Lorry's eyes gradually sough e re; his

sympay ih his darling, and e heavy disappoinmen of is second arres, gradually eakened hem;he as an old man no, overboe ih anxiey oflae, and his ears fell

You are a good man and a rue friend,' said Caon,

in an alered voice Forgive me if I noice ha you areaeced I could no see my faher eep, and si by,careless. And I could no respec your sorro more, if

you ere my faher. You are ee from a misfoune,hoever.'

Thoug he said he las ords, i a slip ino his

422



H RAK OF A SORM

usual manne, there was a true feeing and respectboth in his toe and in his touch, that Mr Loy, wohad never seen the better side of him, was wholly

unprepared or. He gave him his hand, and Cartongenty presse it.To ret to poor Daay,' said Carton. Don't tell

Her of this interview, or his arrangement. It wouldnot enab er to go to see him. She might think it ascontrived in case of the worst, to convey to him he

means of anticipating the sentence.'Mr Lorr had not thought of hat, and he lookedquickly at Carton to see if it were in his mind. Itseemed to be; he retued he look, and evidentyunderstood it.

She might think a thousand things,' Carton said,and any of them woud only ad to her trouble. Don'tspeak of me to her. As I said to you when I rst came,I had better not see her. I can put my hand out, to doany litte hep work for her that my hand can nd todo, without that. You are going to her I hope? Shemust be ver desolate tonight.'

I am going no, directly.'I am glad of that. She has such a strong attachment

to you and reliance on you. How does she look?'Anxious and unhappy, but ver beautil.'!'It was a long, grieving sound, like a sigh almost like

a sob. It tracted Mr orry's eyes to Carton's face,

hich was tued to the re. A light, or a shade (heold gentlean could not have said which), passedfrom it as ily as a change wil sweep over a hillsideon a wild right day, and he lied his foot to put backone of h ittle aming ogs, which was tumbingforward. e wore the white riding-coat and topboots,



A TALE OF TWO CTES

hen in vogue, and he ligh of h re ouching heirligh surfaces made him look ver pale, wih his longbrown hair, all unrimmed, hangig loose abou him

His indierence o re was sucienly remarkable oelici a word of remonsrance om r Lorry his boowas sill upon he ho embers of he aming log, wheni had broken under he weigh of his foo

I forgo i,' he saidr Lor's eyes were again araced o his face

Taing noe of he wased air which clouded henarally handsome feaures, and having he expressionof prisoners' faces fresh in his mind, he was sronglyreminded of ha expression

And your duies here have drawn o an end, sir?'said Caon, uing o him

Yes As I was elling you las nigh when Luciecame in so unexpecedly, I have a lengh done all haI can do here I hoped o have le hem in perfecsafey, and hen o have quied Paris I have my leaveo pass I was ready o go'

They were oh silenYours is a long life o look back upon, sir?' said

Caon, wisllyI am in my seveny-eighh year'You have been usel all your life; seadily and

consanly occupied; rused, respeced, and lookedup o?'

I have been a man of business, ever since I have

been a man Indeed, I may say ha I was a man ofbusiness when a boy'

See wha a place you ll a sevenyeigh Howmany people will miss you when leave i empy!'

A soliar old bachelor ,' answered r Lorry, shakinghis head There is nobod y o weep fr me'

424



H RAK OF A STORM

Ho ca you say that? Wouldn't she eep for you?Wo't her child?'

Yes, yes, thank God I didn't quite mean hat I

said'It is a ting to thank God for; is it not?'Surely, surely.'If you could say, i truh, to your on solitary

heart, tonight, "I have secured to myself te love andattachment, te gratitude or respect, of no human

creature; I have on myself a tender place in noregard; I have done nothing good or seiceable to beremembered by your seventy-eight years ould beseventy-eight heavy curses; ould they not?'

You say truly, Mr Carton; I think tey ould be'Sydney tued his eyes again upon the re, and,

aer a silence of a fe moments, said I shoul like toask you Does your childhood seem far o Do hedays hen you sat at your mother's knee, seem days of

very long ago?'Responding to his soened manner, Mr orry

ansered: Tenty years back, yes; at this time of my

life, no For, as I dra closer and closer to te end, Itravel in the circle, nearer and nearer to e beginningIt seems to be one of the kind smoothings andpreparings of the ay My heart is touched no, bymany remembrances that had long fallen asleep, ofmy prety young mother (and I so old!), and by manyassociatios of the days hen hat e call the orldas not s real ith me, and my faults ere notconrmed i me'

I underand te feeling' exclaimed Carton, ih abright us Ad you are he better for it?'

I hope s.'arton tminated he conversation here, by rising




to help him on with his oute coat; but you,' said MLoy, eveing to the theme, you ae youn. '

Yes,' said Caton. I am not old, but my young way

was neve the way to age. Enough of me'd of me, I am sue,' said M Loy. Ae you

oing out?'I'll walk wi you to he gate You ow my vaga

bond and estless habits. f I should powl about thesteets a long time, don't be uneasy; I shall eappea in

the moing. You go to the cout tomoow?'Yes, unhappily'I shall be thee, but only as one of the cowd. My

spy will nd a place fo me Take my am, si' Loy did so, and they went downstais and out

in e steets. A few minutes bought them to M

Loy's destination Caton le him thee; but lingeedat a little distance, and tued back to the gate againwhen it was shut, and touched it He had head of hegoing to the pison evey day She came out hee,' hesaid, looking about him, tued this way, must havetod on these stones oen Let me follow in he steps.'

It was ten o'clock at night when he stood befoe thepison of L oce, whee she had stood hundeds oftimes A little wood-sawye, having closed his shop,as smoking his pipe at his shop-doo.

Good-night, citizen,' said Sydney Caton, pausingin going by; fo, the man eyed him inquisitively

Good-night, citizen'How goes the Republic?'You mean the guillotine. Not ill Sixty-thee today

We shall mount to a hunded soo Samson and hismen complain sometimes, of bei exhausted Ha,ha, ha He is so doll, that Samson Such a abe!'

Do you oen go to see him '



H RACK OF A SORM

ae ways Eey day What a barber! Youae seen im at work?'

Neer'

Go and see him when he has a good bach Figurethis to yourself, citizen; he shaed he six-hreetoday, in less than two pipes! Less han wo pipesWord of honour!'

As the grinning litte man held out he pipe he wassmoking, to explain how he imed the execuioner,

Carton was so sensible of a rising desire to strike heife out of him, that he turned awayBut you are no English,' said he wood-sawyer,

though you wear Englis dress?'Yes,' said Carton, pausing again, and answering

oer his shoulder

You speak like a Frenchman'I am an old student here'ha, a perfec Frenchman! Goodnight, English

man'Good-nigh, citizen'But go and see tha droll dog,' he litte man

persisted, calling aer him And ake a pipe wih you!'Sydney had not gone far ou of sight, when he

sopped in the middle of the sreet under a gimmeringlamp, and wroe wih his pencil on a scrap of paperThen, traersing wih he decided step of one whoremembered the way well, seeral dark and dirystrees � much dirier han usual, for he best publicthoroughfares remained uncleansed in those imes ofterror � he stopped a a chemist's shop, which heoner as closing with his own hands A small, dim,crooked sop, kept in a tortuous, uphill thoroughfare,by a small, dim, crooked man

Giing is citizen, too, good-night, as he cononted

427



A TAL OF TWO CTS

him at his counter, he laid the scrap of paper beforehim ew' the chemist whistled soly, as he read itHi hi hi'

Sdney arton took no heed, and the chemist said:For you, citizen?'

For me'You ill be carel to keep them separate, citizen?

You know the consequences of mixing hem?'Perfectly '

ertain small packets were made and given to himHe put them, one by one, in the breast of his inner coat,counted out the money for them, and deliberately lethe shop There is nothing more to do,' said he,glancing upward at the moon, until tomorrow I can'tsleep'

It was not a reckless manner, he manner in whichhe said these words aloud under the fast-sailingclouds, nor was it more expressive of negligence thandeance It as the settled manner of a tired man,who had wandered and struggled and got lost, butwho at length struck into his road and saw its end

ong ago, when he had been famous among hisearliest competitors as a youth of great promise, he hadfollowed his father to the grave His mother had died,

years before These solemn words, which had beenread at his father's grave, arose in his mind as he wentdown the dark streets, among the heavy shadows, iththe moon and he clouds sailing on high above him I

am the resurrection and the life, saith he ord: he thatbelieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall neverdie'

In a city dominated by the axe, alone at night, withnatural sorrow rising in him for the sixy-three who




ha been that ay put to eath, an for tomorro's vitims then awaiting heir oom in he prisons, anstill of tomorro's an tomorro's, the chain of

association that brought he ors home, like a rustyol ship's anchor from the eep, might ave beeneasily foun He i not seek it, but repete heman ent on

Wih a solemn interest in the lighte inoshere the people ere going to rest, forgetl hrough

a fe calm hours of he horrors surrounin hem; inthe toers of the churches, here no prayers eresai, for the popular revulsion ha even travellethat lengh of self-estruction from years of priestlyimpostors, plunerers, an proigates; in te istantburialplaces, resee, as hey wrote upon the gates,

for eteal sleep; in the abouning gaols; an inthe streets along hich te sixties rolle to a eathwhich ha become so common an material, tt nosorrowl story of a haunting spirit ever arose amonghe people out of all the orking of he guillotie; itha solemn interest in the hole life an eath of te city

settling on to its short nightly pause in y;Syney Carton crosse he Seine again for te ligterstreets

e coaches ere abroa, for riers in coacheswere liable to be suspecte, an gentility hi its heain re nightcaps, an put on heavy shoes, antge But, the heatres were all well lle, an thepeople poure cheerlly out as he passe, an entchatting home At one of he theatre oors, tere asa little girl it a mother, looking for a ay across hestreet through the mu He carrie the chil over, anbefore he timi arm was loose from is neck askeher for a kiss

429



A TALE OF TWO CTES

I am the resurrection an the life, saith the Lr:he that believeth in me, though he ere ea, yet shallhe live: an whosoever liveth an believeh in m,

shall never ie'o, that the streets were quiet, an the night wore

on, he ors were in the echoes of his feet, an werein he air Perfectly calm an steay, he sometimesrepeate them to himself as he walke; but, he hearhem alays

he night ore out, an, as he stoo upon hebrige listening to the water as it splashe the riverwalls of the Islan of Paris, where the picturesqueconsion of houses an catheral shone bright in thelight of he moon, the ay came colly, looking like aea face out of the sky hen, the night, ith the

moon an the stars, tue pale an ie, an for alittle hile it seeme as if creation were elivere overto eath's ominion

But, the glorious sun, rising, seeme to strike thosewors, that uren of the night, straight an war tohis heart in its long bright rays looking along

them, ith reverently shae eyes, a brige of lightappeare to span the air between him an the sun,hile he river sparkle uner it

he strong tie, so si, so eep, an certain, waslike a congenial ien, in the moing stillness Hewalke by the stream, far from the houses, an in thelight an warmth of the sun fell asleep on the bankWhen he awoke an as afoot again, he lingere there

yet a little longer, watching an ey that tue antue purposeless, until the stream absorbe it, ancarrie it on to te sea Like me!'

A traingoat, with a sail of the soene colour ofa ea leaf, then glie into his vie, oate by him,

430



HE RACK OF A SORM

and died away As its silent track in the water disappeared, te prayer that had broken up out of his heator a meril consideration of all his poor blindnesses

and error s, ended in the words, I am the resrrectionand the life'

Mr ory was already out when he got back, and itwas easy to surmise where he good old man was goneSydney Carton drank nothing but a little coee, atesome bread, and, having washed and changed to

refresh himself, went out to the place of trialhe court was all astir and abuzz, when he black

sheep whom many fell away from in dread - pressedhim into an obscure coer among he crowd Mrorry was there, and Dr Manette was here She wasthere, sitting beside her faher

When her husband was brought in, she turned alook upon him, so sustaining, so encouraging, so llof admiring love and pitying tenderness, yet so courageous for his sake, that it called the healhy blood intohis face, brightened his glance, and animated hisheart If here had been any eyes to notice he inu

ence of her look, on Sydney Carton, it would havebeen seen to be the same inuence exactlyBefore that unjust tribunal, there was little or no

order of procedure, ensuring to any accused personany reasonable hearng here could have been nosuch revolution, if all laws, forms, and ceremonies,had not rst been so monstrously abuse, that hesuicidal ngeance of he revolution was to scatterhem all t the winds

Evey e was tued to the ju he same deterined pariots and good Republicans as yesterdayand the d;lY before, and tomorrow and he day aerEager a prominent among them, one man wih a

431



A TALE OF TWO CITIE

crving fce, nd his ngers perpetully hoverigbout his lips, whose ppernce g v gret stisftion to the specttors A life-thirsting, cnnibl�

looking, bloody-mided jurmn, the cques Threeof St Atoine The whole jur, s jury of dogsempnelled to try the deer

Every eye then tued to the ve judges nd thepublic prosecutor No fvourble lening in thtqurter tody A fell, uncompromising, murderous

business-mening there Ever eye then sought someoher eye in the crowd, nd glemed t it pprovingly;nd heds nodded t one nother, before bendingforrd wih strined ttention

Chrles Evrmonde, clled Dy Relesed yesterdy Re-ccused nd retken yesterdy Indictment

,delivered to him lst night Suspected nd denouncedenemy of he Republic, ristocrt, one of fmily ofyrnts, one of rce proscribed, for tht they

•

hd used their bolished privileges to the infmousoppression of the people Chrles Evrmonde, clledDy, in right of such proscription, bsolutely ded

in lwTo this eect, in s few or fewer words, the publicprosecutor

The president sked, ws the ccused openlydenounced or secretly?

Openly, president'By whom?'Three voices Eest Defrge, wie vendor of St

Antoine'Good'Thrse Defrge, his wife'Good'Alexndre ette, physicin'

432



THE TRCK OF TORM

A great uproar took place in the cou, ad in themdst of it, Dr Manette as seen, pale and trembling,sanding here he had been seated.

President, I indignantly protest to you that his is aforger and a fraud. You kno he accused to be tehusband of my daughter. My daughter, and hosedear to her, are far dearer to me than my life hoand here is the false conspirator ho says hat Idenounce the husband of my child'

Citizen anette, be tranquil. To fail in submissionto the authoriy of the tribunal ould be to put

yourself out of la. As to hat is dearer to you hanlife, nothing can be so dear to a good citizen as heRepublic.'

Loud acclamations hailed this reuke. The president

rang his bell, and ith armth resumed.If he Republic should demand of you he sacrice

of your child herself, you ould hae no duy but tosacrice her. Listen to hat is to follo. In themeanhile, be silent'

Frantic acclamations ere again raised. Dr Manette

sat don, ith his eyes looking around, and his lipstrembling; his daughter dre closer to him. Thecraing man on the ju rubbed his hands together,and restored the usual hand to his mouh.

Defarge as produced, hen the court as quietenough to admit of his being heard, and rapidly

expounded the sto of he imprisonment, and of hishaing been a mere boy in the doctor's serice and ofthe release, and of the state of the prisoner henreleased and deliered to him. This short examinationfolloed, for the court as quick ih its ork

You did good serice at he taking of the Bastille,citien?'

433




I beieve so'Here, an excited oman screeched from the crod

You ere one of the best patriots there Why not s y

so? You ere a cannonier that day there, and you ereamong the rst to enter the accursed fortress hen itfe Patriots, I speak the truth!'

It as the Vengeance ho, amidst the arm commendations of the audience, thus assisted thep ceedings The president rang his be; but, the

Veeance, warming ith encouragement, shrieked,I de that be!' herein she as ikeise muchcommended

Inform the tribuna of hat you did that day ithinthe Bastie, citizen'

I kne,' said Defarge, ooking don at his ife,

ho stood at the bottom of the steps on which he asraised, ooking steadiy up at him; I kne that thisprsoner, of whom I speak, had been conned in a ceknon as one hundred and ve, North Toer I kneit from himsef He kne himsef by no other namethan one hundred and ve, Noth Toer, hen he

made shoes under my care As I serve my gun thatday, I resove, hen the pace sha fa, to examinethat ce It fas I mount to the ce, ith a feocitizen ho is one of the juy, directed by a gaoer Iexamine it, very cosey In a hoe in the chimney,here a stone has been worked out and repaced, I

nd a ritten paper This is that ritten paper I havemade it my business to examine some specimens ofthe riting of Dr Manette This is the rting of DrManette I conde this paper, in the riting of DrManette, to the hands of the president'

et it be read'In a dead sience and stiness the prisoner under

434



I

THE TRACK OF A ORM

il lookin loinl a his wife, his wife onl lookinfm hi o look wih soliciude a he fahe, Danee keepin his ees xed o he eade, Madame

Defae nee akin hes fom he pisone, Defaenee akin his fom his feasin wife, and all he oheees ee inen upon he doco, who sa none ofhem e pape was ead, as follows.

CHAPER 1 0

Te Slbstance of te Saow

I, Alexande Manee, unfounae phsician, naieof Beauais, and aewads esiden in Pais, ie

is melanchol pape in m dolel cell in heBasille, duin he las monh of he ea 1767 I iei a solen ineals, unde ee dicul I desin osecee i in he wall of he chimne, whee I haeslowl and laboiousl made a place o concealmenfo i Some piin had ma nd i hee, hen I and

m soows ae dus.ese wods ae fomed b he us ion poin wihwhich I wie wih dicul in scapins of soo andchacoal om e chime, mixed wih blood, in helas mon of he enh ea of m capii Hope hasquie depaed fom m beas I kow om eiblewains I hae noed in mself ha m eason will nolon emai unimpaied, bu I solemnl declae ha Iam a his me in he possession o m ih mind ham mem is exac ad cicumsaial and ha Iwie he uh as I shall answe fo hese m lasecoded ods, whehe he be ee ead b men ono, a h eeal judemensea.

435




One coud moonih nih, in he hid wee ofDecembe (I hink e wen-second of he mon)in e ea 1757, I was wakin on a eied pa of he

quay b he Seine fo he eeshmen of he os ai,a an hou's disance om m pace of esidence in heSee of e Schoo of Medicine, when a caiaecae aon behind me, dien e fas. As I soodaside o e ha caiae pass, appehensie ha imi ohewise un me down, a head was pu ou a

e indow, and a oice caed o he die o sop.he caiae sopped as soon as he die coud

ein in his hoses, and he same oice caed o me bmy name. I answeed. he caiae was hen so fa inadance of me ha wo eneen had ime o openhe doo and ai befoe I came up wih i. I

obseed ha he wee boh wapped in coaks, andappeaed o concea hemsees. As he sood side bside nea he caiae doo, I aso obseed ha heboh ooked of abou m own ae, o ahe oune,and a he wee ea aike, in saue, manne,oice, and (as fa as I coud see) face oo.

"You ae D Manee? said one. "a. "D Manee, fome of Beauais, said he ohe;

"he oun phsician, oiina an expe sueon,who wihin he as ea o wo has made a isinepuaion in ais?

"Genemen, I eued, "I am a D Maneeof hom ou speak so acious.

"We hae been o ou esidence, said he s,"and no bein so founae as o n ou hee, andbein infomed ha ou wee pobab wakin in hisdiecion, we foowed, in he hope o oeakin ou.Wi ou pease o ene he caiae?





A TALE OF TWO CITIE

'The manner of boh was imperious, and they ot h moved, as these words were spoken, so as to place e bet ween heselves and he carriage door.They wee

ar ed.I was not.' ''Gentlemen, said I, "pardon me; but I usually

enquire who does me the honour to seek my assistance,and what is the nature of the case to which I amsumoned.

'The reply to this was made by him who had spoken

second."Doctor, your clients are peope of conditionAs to te nature of he case, our condence in yourskil assures us hat you wi ascertain it for yourself

better han we can describe it. Enoug. Will you please to enter te carriage?

'I could do nohing but comply, and I entered it in

silence.They bot entered aer me - e ast springing in, aer putting up the steps. The carriage tuedabout, and drove on at its former speed.

'I repeat tis conversation exacty as it occurred.I have no doubt tat it is, word for word, the same.I describe everyting exactly as it took pace,

constrainig my mid not to wander from the tas.here I make e broen mars hat foow here,I eave o for he time, and put my paper in its idingpace ...

'The carriage le the streets behind, passed teNoh Barrier, and emerged upon the country road.

At twothirds of a league from the barrier I did notestimate the distance at that time, but aerwards when I traversed it it struck out of te main avenue,and presenty stopped at a solitary house.We al threeaighted, and walked, by a damp s footpath in a

garden where a negected fountain h overowed, to te door of the house.It was not oped immediately,



HE RCK F SRM

in nswe o he ingin g o he ell, an one o my wocnucos suck he man who ope e i, wih hiseavy iin gglove, acoss he ace

'hee was nohing in his acion o aac my paicula aenion, o I ha seen common peoplesuck moe commonly han ogs Bu, he ohe o he wo, eing ang likewise, sruck he man in like manne wih his am; he look an eaing o he ohes wee hen so exacly alike, ha I hen s

peceive hem o e win ohes'Fom he ime o ou alighing a the oue gae

(which we oun locke, an which one o he ohes ha opene o ami us, an ha elocke),I ha hea cies poceeing om an uppe chambeI was conuce o his chame saigh, he cies

gowing loue as we ascene he sais,an I ouna paien in a high eve o he ain, lying on a e.'The paien was a woman o gea eauy, an

young; assuely no much pas weny He hai was on an agge,an he as wee boun o he sies with sashes an hankechies I noice ha hese ons wee all poions o a genlemans ess Onone o hem, which was a inge sca o a ess oceemony,I saw he amoial eaings o a Nole,an he lee E

I saw his, wihin he s minue o my conemplaion o he paien; o, in he esless sivings she ha ue ove on he ace on he ege o he e, ha awn he en o the sca ino he mouth, an was in ange o suocaion My s ac was o puou my han o elieve he eahing; an in moving he scar asie, he emboie in he coe caugh my sigh

'I ue he genly ove, place y hans pon he

439



A TALE O TWO CTES

breast to calm her an keep her own,an looke ito her face Her eyes were ilate an wil, an seconstantl y uttee piercing srieks, an repeate th

wors, "My husban, my father, an my brother!an then counte up to twelve,an sai, "Hush! Foran instant, an no more, she woul pause to listen,an ten the piercing shrieks woul begin again, anshe woul repeat the cry, "My husban, my father,an my broter! an woul count up to twelve, an

say "Hush! Thee was no variation in the orer, or te manner There was no cessation, but the regular moments pause, in the utterance of these souns

"How long, I aske, "has tis laste?To istinguish te brothers, I will call tem the

eler an the younger; by te eler, I mean him who

exercise te ost autority It was the eler who replie, "Since about this hour last night "She has a husban, a father, an a brother? "A broter "I o not aress her broter?'He answere with great contempt, "No

"She has se recent association with the number twelve?The younger brother impatiently rejoine, "With

twelve oclock "See, gentlemen, sai I, still keeping my hans

upon her breast, "how useless I am, as you have brought me!If I ha known what I was coming to see,I coul have coe provie As it is, time must be lostThere are no eicines to be obtaine in this lonely place

'The eler brother looke to the younger, who sai haughtily, "There is a case of meicines here; an brought it fro a closet, an put it on the table

440



TH TRAK OF A TORM

' oe ned some of he boles, smel hem, and ue so ers o my lis If I had waned o use

ythin g save narcoic medicines ha were oisons

n hemselves, I would no have adminisered any of those "Do you doub them? asked he younger broher "You see, monsieur, I am going o use hem, I

relied, and said no more'I made he aien swallow, wih grea diculy,

and aer many eos, he dose tha I desired o giveAs I inended o reea i aer a while, and as i was necessary o wach is inuence I hen sa down byhe side of he bed There was a imid and suressed woman in aendance (wife of the man downsairs), who had rereaed ino a coer The house wasdam and decayed, indierenly ished evidenly

recenly occuied and emorarily used Some hickold hangings had been nailed up before the windowso deaden he sound of he shrieksThey coninued o e uered in their regular succession wih he cr "My husband, my faher, and my brother! the couningu o twelve, and "Hush! The enzy was so violen,

tha I had no unfasened the bandages restraining hearms, bu,I had looked o hem, o see ha hey were no painl The only sark of encouragemen in hecase, was,ha my hand upon he suerers breas had

this much soohing inuence, ha for minues a aime i ranuillised he gure I had no eec uon

the cries: no endulum could be more regular'For the reason tha my hand had his eec (I

assume), I had sa by the side of he bed for half an hour, wit the two brothers looking on, before heelder said ' "There is another aien

'I was srtled and asked, "Is i a ressing case?

44



A TALE OF TWO CITIE

, "You had be tte r see he ca reless l y a ns wered; nd

took up a lght 'The other patent lay n a back room across a

second starcase whch was a speces of lo over astable There was a low plastered celng to a part of t the rest was open to the rdge of the tled roof and there were beas across Hay and straw were storedn that porton of the place faggots for rng and a heap of apples n sand I had to pass through that part

to get at the other My memory s crcumstantal andunshaken I try t w these detalsand I see them alln ths my cell n the Bastlle near the close of the

tenth year of my captvtyas I saw them all that nght'On some hay on the ground wth a cushon thrown

under hs head lay a handsome peasantboy a boy of not more than seventeen at the most He lay on hs back wth hs teet set hs rght hand clenched on hs breast and hs glarng eyes lookng straght upward Icould not see here hs wound was as I kneeled onone kee over hm but I could see that he was dyngof a wound from a sharp pont

I am a doctor my poor fellow sad . "Let me

examne t "I do not ant t exaned he answered "let t

be It was under hs handand I soothed hm to let me

move hs hand away The wound was a swordthrst receved from twenty to twentyfour hours before but

no skll could have saved hm f t had been looked to wtout delay He was ten dyng fast As I turned myeyes to the elder brother I saw hm lookng down at

ths handsome boy whose lfe was ebng out as f he were a wouned brdor hareor rabt not at all as f he were a fellowcreatu re

442



TH TRACK OF A STORM

How has s been one, onseur? sa I. A craze young common og!A serf!Force my

br0ther to raw upon hm, an has falen by my

brothers swor - lke a gentleman.here was no touch of pty, sorrow, or knre humanty, n ths answer. he speaker seeme toacknowlege that t was nconvenent to have taterent orer of creature yng there, an that t woul have been better f he ha e n the usualobscure routne of hs vermn kn. He was utencapabe of any compassonate feelng about the boy,or about hs fate.

he boys eyes ha sowly move to hm as he haspoken, an they now slowly move to me.

"Doctor, they are very prou, these nobles; but wecommon ogs are prou too, soetmes.hey pluner us,outrage us, beat us, kl us; but we have a lttle

pre le, sometmes. She have you seen her,octor?

he shreks an te cres were auble tere, though subue by te stanc.He referre to them,as f she were lyng n our presence.

I sa, "I have seen her. "She s my sster, octor. hey have ha ter

shamel rghts, these nobles, n the moesty an vrtue of our ssters, many years, but we have ha goo grls among us. I know t, an have hear my fathersay so. She was a goo gr. She was betrohe to a

goo young man, too: a tenant of hs. We were al tenants of hs that mans who stans there. eother s hs brother, the worst of a ba race.

It was th the greatest culty that the boy gatere bly force to speak but, s sprt spoke wth a rel ephass.

443



A AE O TWO CITIES

'We were so robbed by that ma who stds the re, as all we commo dogs are by those supeior beigs taxed by him w ithout mercy,obliged to w rk

for him without pay, obliged to grid our co at hs mil, obliged to feed scores of his tame birds o our wretched crops, ad forbidde for our ives to keep asige tame bird of our ow, pillaged ad pludered to that degree that whe we chaced to have a bit of meat, we ate it i fear, with the door barred ad the

shutters closed, that his people should ot see it ad take it om us I say, we were so robbed,ad huted,ad were made o poor, that our father told us it was adreadl thig to brig a child ito the world,ad that what we should most pray for, was, that our wome might be barre ad our miserable race die out!

I had ever before see the sese of beig oppressed, burstig forth like a re.I had supposed that it must be latet i the people somewhere but, I had ever see it break out, util I saw it i the dyig boy.

"Nevertheless, doctor, my sister married. He wasaiig at that time, poor fellow, ad she married her lover, that she might ted ad comfort him i our

cottage our doghut, as that ma would call it. She had ot bee married may weeks, whe that mas brother saw her ad admired her, ad asked that ma to led her to him for what are husbads amog us!He was willig eough, but my sister was good ad

virtuous,ad hated his brother with a hatred as strog

as mie. What did the two the, to persuade her husbad to use his iuece with her, to make her willig?

'The boys eyes, which had bee xed o mie,slo wly tued to the lookero, a I saw i the two faces that all he said was tre.The to opposig kids

444

1

,




of pide confonting one anothe, can see, even inthis Bastill; the gentleman's all negligent indieence; the asant's, all toddendown sentiment, and

assionate revenge. Yo ow, docto, that it is aong the ights ofthese nobls to haess s common dogs to cats, anddive s. ey so haessed him and dove him. Yoknow that it is among thei ights to keep s in theigonds all night, qieting the fogs, in ode that theinoble sleep ay not be distbed. hey kept him ot inthe nwholesome ists at night, an odeed him backinto his haess in the day. Bt he was not pesaded.No! aken ot of haness one day at noon, to feed - ifhe cold nd food he sobbed twelve times, once foeve stoke of the bell, and died on he bosom. "

Nothing hman cold have held life in the boy bt

his detemination to tell all his wong. He foced backthe gatheng shadows of death, as he foced hisclenched ight hand to emain clenched, and to covehis wond.

hen, with that man's pemission and even withhis aid, his bothe took he away in site of what

know she mst have told his bothe and what thatis, will not be long nknown to yo, docto, if it isnow his bothe took he away fo his please anddivesion, fo a little while. saw he pass me on theoad. When took the tidings home, o fathe's heatbst; he neve soke one of the wods that lled it

took my yong siste fo have anothe) to a placebeyond the each of this man, and whee, at least, shewill neve be s vassal. hen, tacked the bothehee, and last night climbed in - a common dog, btswod in hand Whee is the lo window? t wassomewhee hee?"

44



A TALE OF TWO CITIS

The oo was dakening to his sight; the wold wasnaowing aond hi glanced abot e, and sawthat the hay and staw wee tampled ove the oo, as

if thee had been a stggle She head e, and an in told he not to coenea s till he was dead He came in and st tossedme some pieces of oney; then stck at e with awhip Bt , thogh a comon dog, so stck at himas to make hi daw Let him beak into as any

pieces as he will, the swod that he stained with ycommon blood; he dew to defend hiself thst atme with all his skill fo his life "

My glance had fallen, bt a few moments befoe,o the fagents of a boken swod, lying aong thehay That weapon was a gentlean's n anotheplace, lay an old swod that seemed to have been asldie's

Now, li e p, docto; li me p Whee is he?" He is not hee, " said, sppoting the boy, and

thinking that he efeed to the bothe He! Pod as these nobles ae, he is afaid to see

me Whee is the man who was hee? T my face to

him " did so, aising the boy's head against my knee

Bt, invested fo the oent with extaodinaypwe, he aised himself copletely: obliging e toise too, o cold not have still sppoted hi

Maqis, " said the boy, tned to hi with his

eyes opened wide, and his ight had aised, in thedays when all these things ae to be answeed fo, smmon yo and yos, to the last o yo bad ace, toanswe fo them mak this coss o blood pon yo,as a sign that do it n the days whn all these thingsae to be answeed f o, smon o bothe, the




wot of th bad ace, to answe fo them sepaately. mak ths oss of blood pon hm, as a sgn that do t"

wce, h� pt hs hand to the wond n hs beast,and wth h foenge dew a coss n the a. Hestood fo a nstant wth the nge yet ased, and, ast dopped, e dopped wth t, and lad hm downdead . . .

When eted to the bedsde of the yong

woman, fond he avng n pecsely the same odeand contnty. knew that ths mght last fo manyhos, and that t wold pobably end n the slence ofthe gave.

epeated the medcnes had gven he, and satat the sde of the bed ntl the nght was fa advanced.She neve abated the pecng qalty of he sheks,neve stmbled n the dstnctness o the ode of hewods. hey wee always My hsband, my fathe,and my bothe! One, two, thee, fo, ve, sx, seven,eght, nne, ten, eleven, twelve. Hsh!"

hs lasted twentysx hos fom the tme when st saw he. had come and gone twce, and was

agan sttng by he, when she began to falte. ddwhat lttle cold be done to assst that oppotnty,and by and by she sank nto a lethagy, and lay lke thedead.

t was as f the wnd and an had llled at last, aea long and feal stom. eleased he ams, and

called the woman to assst me to compose he geand the des she had to. t was then that knewhe condtn to be that of one n whom the stexpectaton of beng a mothe have asen; and t wasthen that st the lttle hope had had of he.

s she ad? " asked the Maqs, whom wll stll

447



A TALE OF TO IIE S

descibe as the elde bohe, coig bootd into theoo fo his hose

Not dead, " said ; bt like to die"

What stength thee is in these coon bodies!"he said, looking down at he with soe ciosity hee is podigios stength, answeed hi,

in soow and despai"He st laghed at y wods, and then owned at

the He oved a chai with his foot nea to ine,

odeed the woan away, and said in a sbded voice Docto, nding y bothe in this diclty withthese hinds, ecoended that yo aid shold beinvited Yo eptation is high, and, as a yong anwith yo fotne to ake, yo ae pobably indlof yo inteest he things that yo see hee, aethings to be seen, and not spoken of"

listened to the patient's beathing, and avoidedansweing

Do yo hono e with yo attention, docto?" Monsie, " said , in y pofession, the co

nications of patients ae always eceived incondence" was gaded in y answe, fo was

tobled in y ind with what had head and seenHe beathing was so diclt to tace, that

caelly tied the plse and the heat hee was life,and no oe Looking ond as esed y seat, fond both the bothes intent pon e

wite with so ch diclty, the cold is so sevee,

I a so feal of being detected and consigned to anndegond cell and total dakness, that stabidge this naativehee is no consion o failein y eoy; it can ecall, and cold detail, eveywod that was eve spoken betwen e and thosebothes




She linred for a wee. Towards the last, I couldunderstan some few syllables that she said to me, byplacing m ear close to her lips. She asked me where

she was, ad I told her; who I was, and I told her. Itwas in vai that I asked her for her family name. Shefaintly shoo her head upon the pillow, and kept hersecret, as the boy had done.

I had no oppounity of asking her any question,until had old the brothers she was sinking fast, and

could not live another day. Until then, though no onewas ever presented to her consciousness save thewoman and myself, one or other of hem had alwaysjealously sat behind the cuain at the head of the bedwhen I was there. But when it came to that, theyseemed careless what communication I might hold

with her; as if - the hought passed through my mind

were dying too. always obseed that their pride bitterly resented

the younger brother's as I call him) having crossedswords with a peasant, and that peasant a boy. Theonly consideration that appeared to aect the mind ofeither of them was the consideration that this washighly degading to the family, and was ridiculous. Asoen as I caught the younger brother's eyes, theirexpression reminded me that he disliked me deeply,for knowing what I knew om the boy. He wassmoother and more polite to me than the elder; but saw this. I lso saw that I was an encumbrance in themind of th elder, too.

My pati\nt died, two hours before midnight at atime, by watch, answering almost to the minutewhen I ha rst seen her. I was alone with her, whenher forlo young head drooped gently on one side,and all he eathly wrongs and sorrows ended.

449



A TAL OF TWO CITS

he brothers were waiting in a om downstairs,impatient to ride away. I had heard them, aone at thebedside, strikng their boots with their rdingwhips,

and oitering up and down. At ast she is dead?" said the eder, when I went in. She is dead, " said I congratuate you, my brother, " were his words

as he tued round.He had before oered me money, which I had

postponed taking. He now gave me a roueau of gold.I took it om his hand, but aid it on the tabe. I hadconsidered the question, and had resoved to acceptnothing.

Pray excuse me, " said Under the circumstances, no. "

They exchanged ooks, but bent their heads to meas I bent mine to them, and we parted without anotherword on either side . . .

am wear, wear, wear wo down by misery. Icannot read what I have written with this gaunt hand.

Early in the moing, the roueau of god was e

at my door in a itte box, with my name on theoutside. From the rst, I had anxiousy consideredwhat I ought to do. I decided, that day, to writeprivatey to the minister, stating the nature of the twocases to which I had been summoned, and the paceto which I had gone: in eect, stating al the circumstances. I knew what court inuence was, and whatthe immunities of the nobes were, and I expectedthat the matter woud never be heard of; but, I wishedto reieve my own mind. I had kpt the matter aprofound secret, even from my wif and this, too, Iresoved to state in my etter. I had 10 apprehensionwhatever of my rea danger; but I W[S conscious that

4




ther e mig be danger or others, i others werecomromisd by ossessing the knowledge hat Iossessed.

I was ch engaged that day, and could notcomlete y letter that night. I rose long beore myusual time next moing to nish it. t was the last dayo the year. The letter was lyin beore me justcomleted, when was told that a lady waited, whowished to see me . . .

I am growing more and more nequal to the task have set mysel. It is so cold, so dar, my senses are sobenumbed, and the gloom on me is so dreadl.

The lady was young, engaging, and handsoe,but not marked or long lie. She was in geatagitation. She resented hersel to me as the wie o

the Marquis St Evrmonde. connected the title ywhich the boy had addressed th e elder brother, wihthe initial letter embroidered on the sca, and had nodiclty in arriving at the conclsion that had seenthat nobleman vey lately.

My memor is still accurate, bt 1 cannot write the

ords o or conversation. I ssect that am watchedmore closely than was, and kno not at what times may be watched. She had in art ssected, and inart discovered, the main acts o the cruel sto, o herhsband's share in it, and my being resorted to. Shedid not know that the girl was dead. Her hoe had

been, she said in great distress, to show her, in secret, awoman's symathy. Her hoe ha been to avert thewrath o Heaven rom a hose that had long beenhatel to the suering many.

She had reasons or elieving that there was a yong sister living, and her greatest desire was, to helthat sister. I cold tell her nothin bt that there was

45



A ALE OF WO CIE S

such a sister; beyond that I knw nothing. Herindcement to come to me reying on my condencehad been the hope that I could tel er the name and

pace of abode Whereas to this wretched hour amignorant of both . .

hese scraps of paper fai me. One was taken fromme with a waing yesterday. must nish my recordtoday.

She was a good compassionate lady and not

happy in her mariage. How coud she be! hebrother distrusted and disliked her and his inuence;was a opposed to her; she stood in dread of him andin dread of her husband tooWhen handed her downto the door there was a child a pretty boy from two tothree years old in her carriage

For his sake doctor" she said pointing to him intears I woud do a I can to make what poor amendsI can. He will never prosper in his inheritance otherwise. have a presentiment that if no other innocentatonement is made for this it wil one day be requiredof him What have le to cal my own - it is litte

beyond e woth of a few jewes

wi make it therst charge of his life to bestow with the compassionand amenting of his dead mother on this injuredfamiy if the sister can be discovered"

She kissed the boy and said caressing him It isfor thine own dear sake. hou wilt be faith ittleChares?" he chid answered her bravely Yes!" kissed her hand and she took him in her arms andwent away caressing him. never saw her more.

s she had mentioned her husbands name in thefaith that knew it added no mention of it to myletter. seaed y etter and not trusting it out of myown hands delivered it mysef that d y

452



TH TRACK OF A STRM

That niht the last night f the ea twads nineclck a man in a black dess ang at y gatedeande t see e and sly fllwed y sevant

Eest Dege a yth pstais. When y sevantcame int he whee I sat with y wife - ywife beled f y heat! My fai yng Englishwife! we aw the man wh was sppsed t be athe gate standing silent behind him.

gent case in the Re St on he said. It

wld not detain me he had a coach in waiting.It bght me hee it bght me t my gave

When I was clea of the hse a black me wasdawn tightl ve m moth fom behind and mas wee pinined. The tw bothes cssed head om a dak ce and identied e with a

single geste The Maqis tok fom his pcket thelette had witten shwed it me bt it in the lightof a lante hat was held and extingished the asheswith his ft. Nt a wd was spoen I was bghthee I was bght to my living grave

f it had pleased GOD to pt it in the had heat f

eithe of the bothes in all these fightl yeas tgant me any tidings f m deaest wife s mch asto let me knw b a wd whethe alive d d-

Iight have thght that He had not qite abandnedthem Bt nw I believe that the mak f the ed cssis fatal to he and that they have n pat in His

mecies. d them and thei descendants t the lastof thei ac Aexande Manette nhappy pisnedo this las night f the ea 767 in my nbeaableagon deonce t he ties when all these thingsshall be anweed fo denonce he t Heaven andto eath

453



A TALE F TW CITE S

A errie sound arose when h reading of hisdocumen as doneA sond of crang and eageesstha had nohing aricae in i u ood Thenaraive caled up he mos revenge passions of heime, and here was no a head in he naion u mushae dropped efore i

ie need, in presence of tha triuna and haaudioy, o show how he efarges had no madehe paper pubic wih he oher capured Basie

memorias boe in procession, and had kep it, bidingheir ime ie need o show ha this deesed famiyname had og been anahemaised by S Anoine andwas wrough ino he faa regiser The man neverod ground whose virues and services wod havesusained him in ha place ha day agains such

denunciaioAd a he worse for the doomed man tha he

denouncer as a welknown ciizen his own aachediend, e fater of his wife ne of he enziedaspiraions of e popuace was for imiaions of equesionabe pubic virues of aniquiy, and for

sacices and sefimmoaions on the peope's aarTerefore when he presiden said ese had his ownead quivered on his shouders), ha he goodphysician of he Repuic wod deseve beer siof he Repubic by rooing ou an onoxious famiyof Arisocras, and woud doubtess fee a sacred

go and joy in making his daugher a widow andher chid an orphan, here was id exciemenpaioic fervour no a ouch of huan sympahy

Much inuence around him has ha docor?'mrmured adame efarge smiing o he Vengeance Save him now my docor sae him!'

A evey jrman's voe, here wa a roar Anoher

454




and anothr. Roar and roarnanisly voted. At heat and by descent an

Aristocrat an enemy of the Repblic a notorios

oppressor of the People Back to the Conciergerieand death ithin forandtwenty hors!

CHAPTER I I

Dusk

The wretched wife of the innocent man ths doomedto die fell nder the sentence as if she had beenmotally stricken. Bt she ttered no sond; and so

strong was the voice within her representing that itwas she of all the world who mst phold him in hismisery and not agment it that it qickly raised hereven from that shock.

The jdges having to take part in a pblic demonstration ot of doors the tribnal adjorned. The

qick noise and movement of the cort's emptyingitself by many passages had not ceased when Lciestood stretching ot her arms towards her hsbandwith nothing in her face bt love and consolation

If might toch him! If might embrace him once!0, good citzens if yo wold have so mch compassion for s!

There was bt a gaoler le along with two of thefor men ho had taken him last night and Barsad.The people had all pored ot to the show in thestreets Brsad proposed to the rest Let her embracehim then; it is bt a moment' It was silently acqiesced in nd they passed her over the seats in the hall

455



A ALE OF WO CI S

to a raised place where he by leaning over the dockcould fold her in his ams.

Farewell dear darling of my soul. My parting

blessing on my love. We shall meet again where theweary are at rest!'

hey were her husband's words as he held her tohis bosom.

I can bear it dear Charles. I am supported omabove don't suer for me. A parting blessing for our

child.'I send it to her by you. I kiss her by you. I say

farewell to her by you.'My husband. No! A moment!' He was teaing

himself apa om her.We shall not be separated long. I feel that this will

break my hea by and by; but I will do my duty whileI can and when I leave her God will raise up iendsfor her as he did for me.'

Her father had followed her and would have fallenon his knees to both of them but that aay put outa hand and seized him cying: No no! What have

you done what have you done hat you should kneelto us! We know now what a struggle you made ofold. We know now what you underwent when yoususpected my descent and when you knew it. Weknow now the natural antipathy you strove againstand conquered for her dear sake. We thank you withall our heats and all our love and du. Heaven bewith you!'

Her father's only answer was to draw his handstrough his white hair and wring tem with a shriekof anguish.

It could not be other wise' said te prisoner. 'Athings have worked together as they ave fallen out. It

456



J U i l U i S i 1 . n J v



TL OF TWO CIT S

was the alwaysvain endeavour to discharge my poormoher's trst that rst brought y fatal presencenear you. ood could never come of such evil, a

happier end was not in nature to so unhappy abeginning. Be comforted, and forgive me. Heavenbess you!'

s he was drawn away, his wife released him, andstood looking aer him wih her hands touching oneanohe in the attitude of prayer, and wih a radiant

ook upon her face, in which there was even acomfoing smile As he went out at the prisoners'door, she tued, aid her head ovingly on herfaher's breast, tied to speak to him, and fel at hisfeet.

Then, issing om the obscure coer from which

he had never moved, Sydney Caon came and tookher up. Onl her father and Mr Lory were with her.His arm trebled as it raised her, and supported herhead. Yet, tere was an air about him that was not alof pity - that had a ush of pride in it.

Shal I tae her to a coach? I shall never feel her

weight'He carried her lightly to the door, and aid hertenderly down in a coach. Her father and their oldiend got into it, and he took his seat beside thedriver

When they arrived at the gateway where he hadpaused in the dark not many ours before, to pictureto himsef on which of the rough stones of the streether feet had trodden, he lied her again, and carriedher up the staircase to their rooms. here, he laid herdown on a couch, where her child and Miss Prosswept over her.

on't recall her to herself,' he sd, soly, to the

458




latter, sh s better so on't revive her to consciousness, whil she only faints'

Oh, Cton, Carton, dear Carton' cied lile

Lucie, sp iging up and trowing her ars passionately roud him, in a burst of grief Now ha you have come, I think you will do somehing ohelp maa, someing to save papa 0, look at her,dear Carton Can you, of all the people who love her,bear to see her so?'

He bent over the child, and laid her blooming cheekagainst his face He put her getly from him, andlooked at her unconscious mother

Before I go,' he said, and paused - I may kiss her?'It was remembered aerwards that when he bent

down and touched her face with his lips, he murmured

some words. The child, who was earest to him, toldthem aerwards, and told her gradchildren when shewas a handsome old lady, that se heard him say, Alife you love.'

Wen he had gone out into the next room, hetued suddenly o Mr Lorr and her father, who

were following, and said to the latter You had greatinuence but yesterday, r Manette let it at least betriedThese judges, and all the men in power, are veyendly to you, and vey recognisant of your seicesare they not?'

Nothing connected with Charles was concealed

from me I had the strongest assurances tat I shouldsave him and I did' He retued the answer in greattrouble, and vey slowly

T tem again The hours between this andtomoro aeoon are few and short, but try'

I inted to ty I will not rest a moment.'That' well I have known such energy as yours do

459



A TAL F TW IS

great things before now though ever,' he added,with a smil and a sigh together, suh great things asthis But tr Of litte woth as ife when we misuse

it, t is wort that ort It would cost nothng to laydon if it wre not'

wi go,' said Dr Mantte, to the prosecutor andthe presdent straight, and I w go to others whom itis better not to name I wl write too, and - but stayThere is a clebration in the streets, and no one wil be

accessible unti dark'That's tre We It s a foro hope at the best,

and not much the foroer for being delayed tl darkI should lke to know how you sped though, mnd Iexpect nothng When ar you kely to have seen thesedread powrs, Dr Manette?'

Immediatly aer dark, I shoud hope Wthn anhour or two om ths'

It wll be dark soon aer four Let us stretch thehour or two f go to Mr Lorry's at nin, sha I hearwhat you hav done eithr om our iend or from

yourse'

Ys'May you prosper'r Lorry foowed Sydney to the outer door, and,

touching him on the shoulder as he was gong away,caused him to tu

I have no hope,' said Mr Lorry, in a low and

sorrowl whsperor have 1.

If any one of these men, or all of these men, weredisposed to sare him - which s a large suppostion;for what is hs fe, or any man's to them I doubt ifthey durst spare him aer the dmostration in thecourt'




And so o I I eard the fall of te axe in tatsound'

M leaned is arm upon the doorpost, and

bowed is ace upon iton't spond,' said Caton, ve gently; don't

grieve I eouraged r Manette i tis idea, becauseI fet that it migt one day be consoato to erOterwise se migt tink is life was wantonytrown awa y or wasted, and tat migt trouble er'

Yes, yes, yes,' retued Mr Lor, ding is eyes,you are rigt But e will peis; tere is no rea ope.'Yes. He will peis: tere is no real ope,' ecoed

Carton And walked wit a settled step, downstairs.

CHAPTER 2

Darknss

Sydney Caton paused in te steet, not quite decidedwere to go. At Telson's bankingouse at nine,' esaid, with a musing face Sall I do we, in te meantime, to sow mysel I tink so It is best that tesepeope sould know tere is suc a man as I ere; it isa sound precaution, and may be a necessa preparation But care, care, care! Let me think it out!'

Cecking is steps, wic ad begun to tend towardsan object, e took a tu or two in te areadydarkening treet, and traced te tought in is mind toits possib consequences. His rst impression wasconmed It is best,' e said, nally resoved, tattese peole soud know tere is suc a man as Iere' An e tued is face towards St Antoine

efarg ad descibed imsef, tat day, as te



A TALE OF TWO CITIE S

keeper f a wine shp in he S Anine suburb. Iwas n dicul fr ne wh knew he ciy well nd his huse wihu asking any uesin. Having

ascerained is siuain an came u f hseclser srees again and dined a a place f reeshme and fell sund asleep aer dinner. Fr he rsime in many years he had n srng drink. Since lasnigh he had aken nhing bu a lile ligh hin wineand las nigh he had drpped he brandy slwly dwn

n Mr Lry's heah like a man wh had dne wih i.I was as lae as seven clck when he awke

reeshed and wen u in he srees again. As hepassed alng wards S Anine he spped a ashpwindw where here was a mirrr and slighlyalered he disrdered arrangemen f his lse crava

and his cacllar and his wild hair. This dne hewen n direc Defarges and wen in.There happened be n cusmer in he shp bu

Jacues Three f he resless ngers and he craking vice. This an whm he had seen upn he jusd drinking a he lile cuner in cnversain

wih he Defarges man and wife. The Vengeanceassised in he cnversain like a regular member fhe esablishmen.

As arn walked in k his sea and asked (in vey indieren French) fr a small measure f wineadame Defarge cas a careless glance a him andhen a keener and hen a keener and hen advanced him herself and asked him wha i was he hadrdered

He repeaed wa he had already sid.nglish asked adame Defare inuisiively

raising her dark eyebrws.er lking a her as if he sun f even a single




Frech wor were slow to express itself to him, heaswered, in his former strog foreig accet, Yes,madame, yes. I am Eglish!

Madam efarge retued to her couter to get twie, ad, as he took up a Jacobi joual ad feigedto pore ov it puzzlig out its meaig, he heard hersay, I swe to you, like Evrmode!

efarge brought him the wie, ad gave him goodeveig.

How?Goodeveig. Oh! Goodeveig, citize, llig his glass. A!

ad good wie. I drik to the Republic.efarge wet back to the couter, ad said,

Certaily, a little like. Madame stely retorted, I

tell you a good deal like. Jacques Three pacicallyremarked, He is so much i your mid, see you,madame. The amiable Vegeace added, with alau, Yes, my faith! Ad you are lookig forwardwith so much pleasure to seeig him oce moretomorrow!

Carto followed the lies ad words of his paper,with a slow foreger, ad with a studious adabsorbed face. They were all leaig their arms o thecouter close together, speakig low. Aer a silece ofa few momets, durig which they all looked towardshim without disturbig his outward attetio from the

Jacobi edior, they resumed their coversatio.It is tru what madame says, observed JacquesThree. W y stop? There is great force i that. hystop?

Well, wll, reasoed Defarge, but oe must stopsomewher Aer all, the questio is still where?

At exteiatio, said madame.



A TAL O TWO CIT S

Magient oaked Jaques Thee. The Vengeane, aso, highy appoved.

xteination is good dotine, my ife, said

Defage, athe toubed; in genea, I say nothingagainst it But this doto has sueed muh; you haveseen him today; you have obseved his fae hen thepape as ead.

I have obseed his fae epeated madame, ontemptuously and angiy. Yes. I have obseved his

fae. I have obseed his fae to be not the fae of atue fiend of the Repubi. Let him take ae of hisfae

And you have obseved, my ife, said Defage, ina depeato manne, the anguish of his daughte,hih must be a deadl anguish to him!

I have obseed his daughte, epeated madame;yes, I have obseed his daughte, moe times thanone. I have obseved he today, and I have obsevedhe othe days. I have obseved he in the out, and Ihave obseved he in the steet by the pison. Let mebut i my nge She seemed to aise it (the

listenes eyes ee aays on his pape), and to let itfa ith a attle on the edge befoe he, as if the axehad dopped.

The itieness is supeb! oaked the juman.She is an ange said the Vengeane, and embaed

heAs to thee, pusued madame, impaably, addess

ing he husband, if it depended on thee hih,happily, it does not thou oudst esue this maneven no.

No potested Defage. Not if to i this glassoud do it But I oud leave the matte thee. I say,stop the e.



THE TRAC OF A STRM

See o then Jacques' said adae Defagewathll and see ou too m little Vegeance; see ou both isten Fo othe cimes as ants and

oppesso I have this ace a long time on m egistedoomed to destuction and extermination Ask mhusband is that so'

It is so' assented Defage without being askedIn the beginning of the geat das when the

Bastille falls he nds this paper of toda and he

bings it home and in the middle of the night whenthis place is clea and shut we read it hee on thisspot b the light of this lamp As him is that so'

It is so' assented DefargeThat night I tell him when the pape is ead

through and the lamp is but out and the da is

gleaming in above those shuttes and between thoseiron bas that I have now a secet to communicatesk him is that so'

It is so' assented Defage againI communicate to him that secet smite this

bosom with these two hands as I smite it now and I

tell him Defage I was bought up among theshemen of the seashore and that peasant famil soinued b the two Evmonde broes as thatBastille pape descibes is m famil Defage thatsiste of the motall wounded bo upon the oundwas m siste that husband was m siste's husbandthat unbo child was thei child that bothe was mbothe that fathe was m fathe those dead ae mdead and that summons to answe fo those thingsdescends o me" Ask him is that so'

It is so assented Defage once moeThen tll wind and e whee to stop' etued

madame; but don't tell me'



A AL OF WO CI S

Bot er earers derived a orible enjoyentfro the deadly nature of er wrt - te listenercould feel ow wite se was, witout seeing er -

and ot igly coended it. efarge, a weakiority, interposed a few words for te eor ofthe copassionate wife of te Marquis; but onlyelicited from is own wife a repetition of er lastreply. Tell te wind and te re were to stop;not e'

Custoers entered and te group was broken upTe Englis custoer paid for wat e ad adperplexedly counted is cange, and asked, as astranger to e directed towards te National PalaceMadae Defarge took im to te door and put era on is in pointing out te road. Te Engls

custoer was not without is reections ten that tight be a good deed to seize tat ar, li it andstrike under t sarp and deep

But e went is way and was soon swallowed upin te sadow of te prison wall. At te appointedour e eerged fro it to present iself in Mr

Lorr's room again were e found te old gentlean walking to and fro in restless anxiet. e saide ad been wit Lucie until just now and ad onlyle er for a few inutes, to coe and keep isappointent. er fater ad not been seen since equitted te 9ankingouse towards four o'clock. Sead soe f int opes tat is ediation igt saveCarles, but tey were ver sligt. e ad been oretan ve ours gone: were could e be?

Mr Lor waited until ten; but, Dr Manette notretuing, an e being unwilling to leave Lucie anylonger it was arranged tat e sould go back to erand coe to te bankingouse agai at idnigt n



HE RACK OF A ORM

the meanle arton would wat alone by the refor the door.

e wated and wated and the clock struck

twelve; but r anette dd not come back. r Loyretued and found no tdngs of hm and broughtnone. Where could he be?

They we dscussng ths queston and were amostbuldng up some weak structure of hope on hsproonged bsence when they heard hm on te stars

The nstant he entered the room t was plan that alwas lost.

Whether he had really been to anyone or whetherhe had been al that tme traversng the streets wasnever known. As he stood starng at them they askedhm no queston for hs face told them everyng.

cannot nd t sad he and must have t. Wheres t?s head and throat were bare and as he spoke

wth a hepless look strayng a around he took hscoat o and let t drop on the oor.

Where s my bench? have been lookng evey

where for my bench and cant nd t. What havethey done wth my work? Tme presses must nshthose shoes.

They looked at one another and ther hearts dedwthn them.

ome come! sad he n a whmperng mserableway; let e get to work. ve me my work.

Recevg no answer he tore hs har and beat hsfeet upon he ground lke a dstracted chd.

ont orture a poor forlo wretch he mploredthem a dread cy; but gve me my work!What s t become of us f those shoes are not donetonght?



A TALE OF TWO CITIE S

ost, utrly lostIt was so clarly byond hop to rason with him, or

ty to rstor him that as if by armnt thy

ach put a hand upon his shouldr, and soothd himto sit down bfor h r, with a promis that hshould hav his work prsntly H sank into hchair, and broodd ovr th mbrs, and shd tarsAs if all that had happnd sinc th art tim wra momntar fancy, or a dram, Mr Lory saw him

shink into th xact ur that far had had inkpin

Actd, and imprssd with trror as thy bothwr, by this spctacl of ruin, it was not a tim to yild to such motions His lonly dauhtr, br ofhr nal hop and rlianc, appald to thm both too

stronly Aain, as if by armnt, thy lookd at onanothr with on manin in thir facs Caon wasth rst to spak: Th last chanc is on: it was notmuch Ys h had bttr b takn to hr But, bfor

you o, will yo, for a momnt, stadily attnd to m?on't ask m why I mak th stipulations I am oin

to mak, and xact th promis I am oin to xact Ihav a rason a ood on'I do not doubt it,' answrd Mr Lory Say on'Th ur in th chair btwn thm, was all th

tim monotonously rockin itslf to and fro, andmoanin Thy spok in such a ton as thy wouldhav usd if thy had bn watchin by a sickbd inth niht

Caton stoopd to pick up h coat, which layalmost ntanlin his ft s h did so, a small cas inwhich th doctor was accustomd to carry th list ofhis day's dutis, fll lihtly on th loo Carton took itup, and tr as a foldd papr in it should look




at this! h said Mr Lorry nodded his consent Heopened it d exclaimed Thank G!

What i� it? asked Mr Lorry eaerly

mont! Let me speak of it in its place First heput his had in his coat and took another paper fromit that is e certicate which enales me to pass outof this cit Look at it You see - ydney Caton anEnlishm? I

Mr Lr held it open in his hand azing in his

eaest faceKeep it for me until tomorrow shall see himtomorrow you rememer and had etter not take itinto he prison

Why not?I dont know; prefer not to do so Now take this

paper that r Manette has carried aout him It is asimilar ceticate enalin him and his daughter andher child at any time to pass the arrier and thefrontier? You see?

Yes!Perhaps he otained it as his last and utmost

precaution aainst evil yesterday When is it dated?But no matter; dont stay to look; put it up carellywith mine and your own Now osee! I neverdouted until within this hour or two that he had orcould have such a paper It is good until recalled Butit may e soon recalled and I have reason to thinkwill e

They ar e not in danger?They e in reat daner They are in danger of

denunciaion y Madame efare I know it from herown lips 1 have overheard words of that womanstoniht ich have presented their danger to me instron cours I have lost no tie and since then I



A TAL OF TWO CITS

hae see e spy. He onrms me. e knows that awoodsawyer, liing by the prisonall, is under theontrol of te Defarges, and has bn rehearsed by

adame Defarge as to his haing se her' - he neeretioned uie's name - makng signs and signalsto prisoners. It is easy to foresee that te pretene willbe the omon one, a prison plot, and that it willinole her life - and perhaps her hild's - and perhapsher father's for both hae been seen with her at that

plae. Don't look so horried. You will sae them all.'Heaen grant I may, Carton! But how?'I am going to tell you how. It will depend on you,

and it ould depend on no better man. his newdenuniation will eainly not take plae until aertomorrow; probably not until two or three days aer

wards; more robably a week aerwards. You know itis a apital rime, to mou for, or sympathise with, a itim of the guillotine. She and her father wouldunquestionably be guilty of this rime, and thiswoman (the ineteray of whose pursuit annot bedesribed) would wait to add that strength to her ase,and make herself doubly sure. You follow me?'

So attentiely, and with so muh ondene in what you say, that for the moment I lose sight,' touhing thebak of the dotor's hair, een of this distress.'

You hae money, and an buy the means oftraelling to te seaoast as quikly as the jouey anbe ade. Your preparations hae been ompleted forsome days, to retu to England. Early tomorrow hae

your horses ready, so that tey may be in starting timat two o'lok in the aeoon.'

It shall be done!'His manner was so feent and ispiing, that M

Loy aght the ame, and was as ik as youth.

47



H RAK O F A O R M

a t this! ' he said. M Loy noddd his consent. Heopnd it d exclaid Than G!

hat i it?' ased M Lo agl.

A ont! Let e spa of it in its place. Fist' heput his had in his coat and too anoth pape oit that is te ceticat which enables e to pass outof his cit. Loo at it. You see Sdne Caon anEnglish?'

M Lo held it open in his hand gazing in his

aest fac.Keep it fo until tooow. shall see hitooow ou eeb and had bett not tae itinto he pison.

h not?' don't now; pfe not to do so. ow ta this

pape that D Mantt has caid about hi. t is asiila cticate nabling hi and his daughte andhe child at an tie to pass the baie and thefonti? You se?'

Y�s ! Pehaps he obtained it as his last and utost

pecaution against evil esteda. When is it dated?But no atte; don't sta to loo; put it up callwith ine and ou own. ow obseve! nevedoubted until within this hou o two that he had ocould hav such a pape. t is good until ecalled. Butit a be soon called and hav eason to thinwill be. '

Th a not i n dange?'The a in gat dange. Th ae in dang of

denunciaton b Mada Defag. now it fo heown lips. I hav ovhad wods of that woan'stonit hich hav pesentd thi dange to instong colus. have lost no ti and since then



A AL OF WO

hav sn h spy H cons nos that awood-sa living by th pisonall is und thcontol of th Dfags and has bn hasd by

Mada Dfag as to his having sn h' h nvntiond Luci' s na aing signs and signalsto pisons t is asy to fos that th ptnc willb th coon on a pison plot and that it willinvolv h lif and phaps h child's and phapsh fath's fo both hav bn sn with h at that

plac Don't loo so hoid You will sav th all 'Havn gant ay Caton! But how?' a going to tll you how t will dpnd on you

and it could dpnd on no btt an This nwdnunciation will ctainly not ta plac until atooow; pobably not until two o th days awads; o pobably a w awads You now itis a capital ci to ou fo o sypathis with avicti of th guillotin Sh and h fath wouldunqustionably b guilty of this ci and thiswoan th invtacy of whos pusuit cannot bdscibd) would wait to add that stngth to h casand a hslf doubly su You follow ? '

So attntily and with so uch condnc in whatyou say that fo th ont los sight' touching thbac of th docto's chai vn of this distss '

You hav ony and can buy th ans oftavlling to th sacoast as quicly as th jouy canb ad You ppaations hav bn copltd fo

so days to tu to England Ealy tooow havyou hoss ady so that thy ay b in stating tiat two o 'cloc in th aoon '

t shall b don! 'His ann was so fnt and inpiing that M

Loy caught th a and was as qic as youth

470



H RAK O F A OR M

You a a noble heat Did sa we could dependupon no ette an? Tell he tonight what onow of h dange as involving he child and he

fathe Dell upon that fo she wold la he ownfai head bside he husband's cheell ' He falteedfo an instt; then went on as befoe Fo the sae ofhe child d he fathe pess upo he the necessiof leaving ais with the and ou at that ho Tellhe that it was he husband's last aangeent Tell

he that oe depends upon it than she dae believeo hope You thin that he fathe even in this sadstate will subit hiself to he; do ou not?'

a sue of it ' thought so Quietl and steadil have all these

aangeents ade in the coutad hee even to the

taing of ou own seat in the caiage The oent coe to ou tae e in and dive awa' undestand that wait fo ou unde all cicu

stances?'You have ceticate in ou hand with the

est ou now and will eseve place Wait fonothing but to have place occupied and then foEngland!'

then' said M Lo gasping his eage butso and stead hand it does not all depend on oneold an but shall have a oung and adent an at side '

B the help o f Heaven o shall ! Poise e

solenl that nothing will inuence ou to alte thecouse o which we now stand pledged to oneanohe'

othig Cato'Ree be these wods tooow: change he

couse o dela in it fo an eason and no life can

47



A A L O F WO

possibl b savd and an livs ust invitably bsacicd. '

will b th. hop to do pat

faithll. 'nd hop to do in. ow goodb!'hough h said i t wih a gav si o fastnss

and though h vn put th od an's hand to his ipsh did not pat fo hi thn. H hlpd hi so fato aous th ocing gu bfo th ding bs

as to gt a coa and hat put upon it and to tpt itfoh to nd wh th bnch and wo w hiddnthat it stil oaning bsought to hav . H wad onth oh sid of it and potctd it to th couad ofth hous wh th aictd hat so happ in hoab ti whn h had vald his own

dsolat ha to it outwatchd th aw night. Hntd th coutad and aind th fo a fwonts aon oong up at th light in th windowof h oo. Bfo h wnt awa h bathd abssing towads it and a fawl.

HAPR 3

n th blac pison of th Concigi th dood ofth da awaitd thi fat. Th w in nub as th

ws of th a. Fitwo w to ol that anoonon th liftid of th cit to th boundlss vastingsa. Bfo thi cls w quit of th nw occupantsw appointd; bfo thi blood a into th bloodspild stda th bood that was o ing withthis tooow was aad st apat

72



H RAK O F A RM

Two sce and twelve wee told o Fo thefaege al ofsevent, whose iches could not buhis life, t the seastess of twent, whose povet

and obscit could not save he. Phsical diseases,engende in the vices and neglects ofen, will seizeon victis of all degees; and the ightl oaldisode, bo of unspeaable sueing, intoleableoppession, and heatless indieence, sote equallwithout distinction

Chales Daa, alone in a cell, had sustaiedhiselfwith no atteing delusion since he cae to ito the tbunal n eve line of the naative hehad head, he had head his condenation e hadll copehended that no pesonal inuece couldpossibl save hi, that he was vituall senteced b

the illions, and that units could avail hi nothigevetheless, it was not eas, with the face of hisbeloved wfe esh befoe hi, to copose his ind towhat it ust bea His hold on life was stong, and twas ve, ve had to loosen; b gadual eots anddegees unclosed a little hee, it clenched the tighte

thee; and when he bought his stength to bea onthat hand and it ielded, this was closed again. Theewas a hu, too, in all his thoughts, a tubulent andheated woing of his hea, that contended againstesignation f, fo a oent, he did feel esigned,then his ife and child who had to live ae hi,seeed t potest and to ae t a selsh thing

But, all his was at st Befo long, the consideation that tee was no disgace in e fate he ust eet,and that bes went the sa oad wongll, andtod it l eve da, spang up to stulate hiext follwed the thought that uch of the tueeace of ind enjoable b th dea ones, depended

73



A AL OF WO I I

on his qui fortitud So, b dgs h cald intoth btt stt, whn h could ais is thoughts uchhigh, and aw cofot down

Bfo it ad st in da on th night of his condnation, h had tavlld thus fa on his last wa B ingallowd to puchas th ans of witing, and a light,h sat down to wit until such ti as th pisonlaps should b xtinguishd

H wot a long ltt to Luci, showing h that h

had own nothing of h fath's iprisonnt,until h had had of it o hslf, and that h hadbn as ignoant as sh of his fath's and uncl'ssponsibilit fo that is, until th pap had bnad H had alad xplaind to h that his concalnt fo hslf of th na h had linquishd,

was th on condition ll intlligibl now that hfath had attachd to thi btothal, and was th onpois h had still xactd on th oing of thiarriag H ntatd h, fo h fath's sa,nv to s to now whh h fath had bcooblivious of th xistnc of th pap, o had had it

calld to hi fo th ont, o fo good) , b sto of th Tow, on that old Sunda und th daold plan t in th gadn f h had psvd andnit banc of it, th could b no doubtthat h had supposd it dstod with th Bastill,whn h had found no ntion of it aong th licsof pisons which th populac had discovd th,and which had bn dscibd to all th wold Hbsought h though h addd that h nw it wasndlss to consol h fath, b ipssing hithough v tnd ans sh coud thin of, withth tuth that h had don nothing fo which h couldjustl poach hislf, but had uni ol fogottn

474



T H T R A K O F A T O R M

hiself fo their joint saes Net to her preseationof his ow last gratel love and blessing, and herovercoig of her sorrow, to devote herself to their

dear child he adjured her, as they would eet inHeaven, to cofort her faher

To her father hiself, he wrote in the sae strain;but, he told her father that he epressly conded hiswife and child to his care And he told hi this, vestrongly, wih the hope of rousing hi o any

despondency or dangerous retrospect towards whichhe foresaw he ight be tending

To r orry coendd te all and eplainedhis worldly irs That done, with any addedsentences of gratel iendship and wa attachent,all was done He never thought of arton His ind

was so ll of th others, that he never once thoughtof hiHe had tie to nish these letters before he lights

were pt out When he lay down on his straw bed, hethought he had done with his world

But, it beconed hi bac in his sleep, and showed

itself in shining fors ree and happy, bac in the oldhouse in Soho (though it had nohing in it lie th realhouse) , unaccountably released and light of heart, hewas with ucie again, and she told hi it was all adrea, and he had never gon away A pause offorgetlness, and then he had even suered, and hadcoe bac to her, dead and at pace, and yet therewas no dierence in hi Anoter pause of oblivion,and he awoe in the sobre oing, unconsciouswhere he was or what had happened, until it ashedupon his ind, this is the day of y death! '

Thus, he had coe through the hours, to the daywhen the y-two heads were to fall And now, while

75



A ALE O F WO E

h e was coposed, and hoped that h e could eet theend with quiet herois, a new action began in hiswaing thoughts, which was very dicult to aster.

He had never seen the instruent that was toterinate his life How high it was o the ground,how any steps it had, where he would be stood, howhe would be touched, whether the touching handswould be dyed red, which way his face would beted, whether he would be the rst, or ight be

the last: these and any siilar questions, in no wisedirected by his wil l, obtruded theselves over and overagain, countless ties Neither were they connectedwih fear: he was conscious of no fear Rather, theyoriginated in a strange besetting desire to now whatto do when the tie cae; a desire gigantically dis

proportionate to the few swi oents to which itreferred; a wondering that was ore lie the wonderingof soe other spirit within his, than his own

The hours went on as he waled to and fro, and theclocs stuc the nubers he would never hear againNine gone for ever, ten gone for ever, eleven gone forever, twelve coing on to pass away er a hardcontest with that eccentric action of thought whichhad last perpleed hi, he had got the better of it. Hewaled up and down, soly repeating their naes tohiself. The worst of the strife was over He couldwal up and down, ee fro distracting fancies,praying for hiself and for the

welve gone for everHe had been apprised that the nal hour was three,

and he new he would be suoned soe tieearlier, inasuch as the tubrils jolted heavily andslowly through the streets Therefore, he resolved toeep two before his in, as the hour, and so to





A AL O F WO

I bring yu a request o her'What is 'A ost aest, pressing, and ephatic entreaty,

addressed to you in the ost pathetic tones of thevoice so dear to you, that you well reber

he prisoner tued his face patly aside.ou have no tie to as e why I bring it, or what

it eans; I have no tie to tell you. You ust coplywith it tae o those boots you wear, and draw on

these of ine 'There was a chair against the wall of the cell, behind

the prisoner arton, pressing forward, had already,with the speed of lightening, got hi down into it, andstood over hi, barefoot.

Draw on hese boots of ine Put your hands to

the; put your will to the Quic! 'arton, there is no escaping o this place; itnever can be done You will only die with e It isadness'

I would be adness if I ased you o escape; budo I When I as you to pass out at that door, ell e

it is adness and reain here hange that cravat forthis of ine, hat coat for this of ine While you do t,let e tae this ribbon fro your hair, and shae outyour hair lie this of ine!'

With wonderl quicness, and with a strength bothof will and action, that appeared quite supeatural,he forced all these changes upon hi The prisonerwas lie a young child in his hands

arton! Dear arton! It is adness It cannot beaccoplished, it never can be done, it has beenattepted, and has always failed I iplore you not toadd your death to the bitteess of ie '

Do I a s you, y dear Darnay, t o pass the door



H RAK O F A O R M

When I a that, rese There are en and in andaer on [his table. Is your hand steady enough towrite?'

It was hen you came in. 'Stead it again, and write what I shall dictate.

Quic, frnd, quic!'Pressing his hand to his bewildered head, Daay

sat down t the table. Carton, with his right hand inhis breast, stood close beside him.

Write exactly as I sea 'To whom do I address it?'To no one' Carton still had his hand in his breastDo I date it?'No 'The risoner looed u, a t each question Caton,

standing over him with his hand in his breast, looeddown If you remember," said Carton, dictating, the

words that assed between us, long ago, you willreadily corehend this when you see it ou doremember them, I now. It is not in your nature toforget them."

He was drawing his hand from his breast; therisoner chancing to loo u in his hurried wonder ashe wrote, the hand stoed, closing uon something

Have you written forget the!" Carton asedI hav Is that a weaon in your hand?'No; I m not ared'

What is i t in your hand?'ou sall now directly Write on; there are but a

few wor more' He dictated again. I am thanlthat the e has come, when I can rove them. ThatI do so i no subject for regret or grief." As he saidthese wods with his eyes ed o the writer, his hand

79



A TAL OF TWO T

slowly and soly moved down clos to the writer'sface

The en droed om Daay' ngers on the

table, and he looed about him vacatlyWhat vaour is that?' he asedaour?' Something that crossed me?'I am conscious of nothing; there can be nothing

here Tae u the en and nish Hurry, hurry!'

As if his emory were imaired, or his facultiesdisordered, the risoner made an eort to rally hisattention As he looed at Carton with clouded eyesand with an altered manner of breathing, Carton hishand again in his breast looed steadily at him

Hurry, hu!'

The risoner bent over the aer, once more If it had been otherwise;" Carton's hand wasagain watchlly and soly stealing down; I nevershould have sed the longer oortunity If it hadbeen otherwise;" the hand was at the risoner' s face; I should bt have had so much the more to answerfor If it had been otherwise " Carton looed at theen and saw t was traling o nto nintellgble signs

Carton's hand moved bac to his breast no moreThe risoner srang u with a reroachl loo, butCarton's hand was close and rm at his nostrils, andCaon's le arm caught him rond the waist For afew seconds he faintly struggled with the man who had

come to lay down his life for him; but, within a minuteor so, he was tretched insensible on the ground

Quicly, but with hands as true to the urose as hisheart was, Carton dressed himself in the clothes therisoner had laid aside, combed bac s hair, and tiedit with the ribbon the risoner had o Then, he



H RAK O F A O R M

soly calld, Enter there! Come in!' and the syresented imself.

ou se?' said Carton, loong u, as he neeled on

one nee beside the insensible ure, utting theaer in te breast: is your hazard very great? 'M Carton,' the sy answered, with a timid sna of

his ngers, my hazard is not that, in the thic ofbusiness here, if you are true to the whole of yourbargain'

Don't fear me1 will b e true to the death . 'ou must be, Mr Carton, ifthe tale of y-two i s tobe right Being made right by you in that dress,1 shallhave no fear '

Have no fear! 1 shall soon be out of the way ofharming you, and the rest will soon be far from here,

lease God! Now, get assistance and tae me to thecoach'ou?' said the sy nervouslyHim, man, with whom I have exchanged. ou go

out at the gate by which you brought me in?'Of course .'I was wea and faint when you brought me in, and1

am fainter now you tae me out. he arting interviewhas overowered me Such a thing has haened here,oen, and too oen. our life is in your hands Quic!Call assistance! '

ou swear not to betray me?' said the tremblingsy, as he aused for a last moment.

Man, an!' retued Carton, staming his foot;have1 so by no solemn vow already, to go throughwith this, hat you waste the recious moments now?Tae hi ourselfto the courtyard you now of, lacehim yourf in the carriage, show him yourself to MrLorry, tel him yourself to give him no restortive but



A TAL OF TWO T S

air, and to remember my words of lst night, and hisromise of last night, and drive awa! '

The sy withdrew, and Carton seated himself at the

table, resting his forehead on his hands The syretued immediately, with two men

How, then? said one of them, contemlating thefallen gure So aicted to nd that his friend hasdrawn a rize in the lottery of Ste Guillotine?'

A good atriot, ' said the other, could hardly have

been more aicted if the aristocrat had drawn ablan'They raised the unconscious gure, laced it on a

litter they had brought to the door, and bent to carry itaway

The time is short, Evrmonde,' said the sy, in a

waing voice I now it well, ' answered Carton Be carel of myfriend, I entreat you, and leave me '

Come, then, my children,' said Barsad Li him,and come away!'

The do or closed, a nd Carton was le alone Straining his owers of listening to the utmost, he listenedfor any sound that might denote susicion or alarmThere was none Keys tued, doors clashed, footstes assed along distant assages: no cry was raised,or hurry made, that seemed unusual Breathing moreeely in a little while, he sat down at the table, andlistened again until the cloc struc two

Sounds that he was not afraid of, for he divined theirmeaning, then began to be audible Several doorswere oened in succession, and nally his own Agaoler, with a list in his hand, looed i, merely saying,Follow me, Evrmonde ! ' and he follwed into a largedar room, at a distance It was a dar winter day, and



T H T R A K O F A T O R M

wat with the shadows wihin, and what wih theshadows ithout, he could but dimly disce eoters w were brought here to have their arms

bound. Se were standing; some seated. Some werelamenting and in restless motion; but, these were few.The great ajority were silent and still, looing xedlyat he grod.

As he sood by the wall in a dim coer, while someof the two were brought in aer him, one man

stoed in assing, to embrace him, as having anowledge of him. It thril led him with a great dread ofdiscovery; but the man went on. A very few momentsaer that, a young woman, wih a slight girlish form, asweet sare face in which there was no vestige ofcolour, and large widely oened atient eyes, rose

om the seat where he had observed her sitting, andcame to sea to him.Citizen Evrmonde,' she said, touching him with

her cold hand. I am a oor little seamstress, who waswih you in Force.'

H e murmured for answer: Tre. I forget what youwere accused o'

Plots. Though the just heaven nows I am innocentof any. Is it liely? Who would hin of lotting with aoor little wea creature lie me?'

The forlo smile wih which she said it, so touchedhim, hat tears started om his eyes

I am nt afraid to die, Citizen Evrmonde, but Ihave done nohing. I am not unwilling to die, if heReublic hich is to do so much good to us oor, wirot by y deah; but I do not now how hat cabe, Citiz Evrmonde. Such a oor wea littecreature!

As he st hing on earh hat his heart was to warm



A AL O F WO

and soen to, it warmed and soend to this itiablegirl

I heard you were released, Citiz Evrmonde I

hoed it was true?'It was But, I was again taen and condemned'If may ride with you, Citizen Evrmonde, will you

let me hold your hand? I am not afraid, but I am littleand wea, and it will give me more courage '

A s the atient eyes were lied t o his face, h e saw a

sudden doubt in them, and then astonishment Heressed the worwo, hunger-wo young ngers,and touched his lis

Are you dying for him?' she whiseredAnd his wife and child Hush! es'0 you will let m e hold your brave hand, stranger?'

Hush! es, my oor sister; to the last'

The same shadows that are falling on the rison, arefalling, in that same hour of the early aeoon, on theBarrier with the crowd about it, when a coach goingout of Paris drives u to be examined

Who goes here? Whom have we within? Paers ! 'The aers are handed out, and readAlexandre Manette Physician French Which is

he?'This is he; this helless, inarticulately murmuring,

wandering old man ointed outAarently the Citizen Doctor is not in his right

mind? The Revolutionfever will have been too muchfor him?'

Greatly too much for himHah! Many suer with it Lucie His daughter

French Which is she? 'This is she



TH TRAK OF A TORM

arely it must be Lucie, the wif of Evmonde; is i not?

It is

Hah! Ermonde has an assigation elsewhereLucie, her hild English This is she?'

She and o otherKiss me, child of Evrmonde Now, thou hast

issed a good Reublican; something new in thyfamily; reember it! Sydney arton Advocate

English Which is he?'He lies here, in this coer of the carriage He , too,

is ointed outAarently the English advocate is in a swoon? 'It is hoed he will recover in the fresher air It is

reresented that he is not in strong health, and

has searated sadly from a friend who is under thedisleasure of the ReublicIs that all? It is not a great deal, hat! Many are

under the disleasure of the Reblic, and must looout at the little window Jaris Lorry Baner English Which is he?'

I am he Necessarily, being the lastIt is Jais Lorry who has relied to all the reviousquestions It is Jaris Lorry who has alighted andstands wi his hand on the coach door, relying to agrou of ocials They leisurely wal round thecarriage d leisurely mount the box, to loo at whatlittle luggge it carries on the roof; the county-eolehanging out, ress nearer to the coach doors andgreedily are in; a little child, carried by its m other,has its srt arm held out for it, that it may touch thewife of a aristocrat who has gone to the guillotine

Beho your aers, Jarvis Lorry, countersigned 'One (-m deart, citizen?'



A AL O F WO II

One an deart Forward, my ostilions! A goodorney! salte y, citizens and the rst danger assed!

hese are again the words of Jarvis Lorry, as heclas his hands, and loos ward There is terror inthe carriage, there is weeing, there is the heavybreathing of the insensible traveller

Are we not going too slowly? Can they not beindced to go faster? ass Lcie, clinging to the old

manIt wold seem lie ight, my darling I mst not

rge them too mch; it wold rose ssicionLoo bac, loo bac, and see if we are rsed! 'The road is clear, my dearest So far, we are not

rsed'

Hoses in twos and threes ass by s, solitaryfarms, ruinos bildings, dye-wors, tanneries, andthe lie, oen contry, avenes of leaess trees Tehard neven avement is nder s, te soft deemd is on either side Sometimes, we strie into thesirting md, to avoid the stones that clatter s and

shae s; sometimes we stic in rts and sloghstere The agony of or imatience is then so great,that in or wild alarm and hrry we are for gettingot and rnning hiding

-

doing anything btstoing

Ot of the oen contry, in again among rinosbildings, solitary farms, dye-wors, tanneries, andthe lie, cottages in twos and thrs, avenes ofleaess trees ave these men deceiv s, and taens bac by another road? Is not this he same lacetwice over? Than heaven, no A ville Loo bac,loo bac, and see if we are rsd! sh! theosting-hose



H RAK O F A OR M

isrel or for horses are taen ot; leisrely,the coach nds in the little street, bere of horses, andwith no lielihood on it of eer moing again;

leisrely, e new horses come into isible existence,one by on; leisrely, the new ostilions follow, scingand laiti the lashes of their whis; leisrely, the oldostilions ont their money, mae wrong additions,and arri t dissatised reslts All the time, or oerfraght harts are beang at a rate that wold far

otstri the fastest gallo of the fastest horses eerfoaled

At lenh the new ostilions are in their saddles,and the old are le behind We are throgh the illage, the hill, and down the hill, and on the low waterygronds Sddenly, the ostilions exchange seech

with animated gesticlation, and the horses are lled, almost on their hanches We are rsed?Ho! Within the carriage there Sea then! 'What i s it? ' ass Mr orry, loong ot at windowHow many did they say?I do not nderstand yo ' At the

last ost How many to the gillotinetoday?'Fiy-two'I said so! A brae nmber! My fellow-citizen here

wold hae it fortytwo; ten more heads are worthhavng The gillotine goes handsomely1 loe it Hiforward Whoo! '

The night comes on dar He moes more; he isbeginning to reie, and to sea intelligibly; he thinsthey are still together; he ass him, by his name, whathe has in his hand 0 ity s, ind heaen, and hel s !Loo ot, loo ot, and see ifwe are rsed

The wind is rshing aer s, and the clods are



A TAL OF TWO T

ying aer s, and the moon is ling aer s, andthe whole wild night is in rsit of s bt, so far weare rsed by nothing else.

HAPTR 4

The Knitting Done

In that same jnctre of time when the ytwoawaited their fate, Madame Defarge held darly ominos concil with the Vengeance and Jacqes Threeof the Revoltionary jry Not in the wine sho didMadame Defarge confer with these ministers, bt inthe shed of the wood-sawyer, erst a mender of roads .

The sawyer himself did not articiate in the conference, bt abided at a little distance, lie an otersatellite who was not to sea ntil reqired, or tooer an oinion ntil invited.

Bt or Defarge, said Jacqes Three, is ndobtedly a good Reblican? Eh?

There is no better, the volble Vengeancerotested in her shrill notes, in France.

Peace, little Vengeance, said Madame Defarge,laying her hand with a slight frown on her lietenantslis, hear me sea. My hsband, fellow-citizen, is agood Reblican and a bold man he has deservedwell of the Reblic, and ossesses its condence. Btmy hsband has his weanesses, and he is so wea asto relent towards this doctor.

I t is a great ity, croaed Jacqes Three, dbioslyshaing his head, with his crel ngers at his hngrymoth it is not qite lie a good citizen it is a thing toregret.

I



H RAK OF A ORM

ee u said madame, I care nohing for isdoctor, 1. e may wear his head or lose it, for anyinterest I ve in him it is all one to me But, he

Evrmond eole are to be exterminated, and hewife and cld must follow he husband and faher '

he has ne head for it, ' croaed Jacques Three I have seen blue eyes and golden hair here, and heylooed chrming when amson held them u' Ogrehat he was, he soe lie an eicure

Madame Defarge cast down her eyes, and reecteda littleThe child also,' observed Jacques Three, with a

meditative enjoyment of his words, has golden hairand blue eyes And we seldom have a child there It isa rety sight ! '

In a word,' said Madame Defarge, coming out ofher short absraction, I cannot trst my husband inthis matter Not only do I feel, since last night, hat Idare not conde to him he details of my rojects butalso I feel that if I delay, here is danger of his givingwaing, and then hey might escae'

That must never be,' croaed Jacques Three noone must escae We have not half enough as it i s Weought to have six score a day '

In a word,' Madame Defarge went on, my husbandhas not my reason for ursuing this family to annihilation, and I have not his reason for regarding hisdoctor ith any sensibility I must act for myself,

herefore ome hiher, little citizen'The wdsawyer, who held her i n he resect, and

himself i the submission, of mortal fear, advancedwith his nd to his red ca

Toucg hose signals, little citizen, ' said MadameDefarge, tely, hat she made to he risoners



A A L E O F WO I I E

you are ready to bear wiess to them this very day?'Ay, ay, why ot ! ' cried the sawyr. Every day, i all

weathers, om two to four, alway sigallig, some

ties with the little oe, sometims without. I owwat I ow. I have see with my eyes . '

He made all maer of gestures while h e soe, asif i icidetal imitatio of some few of the greatdiversity of sigals that he had ever see.

Clearly lots,' said Jacques Three. Trasaretly! '

There i s o doubt of the ju?' equired MadameDefarge, lettig her eyes tu to him with a gloomysmile.

Rely uo the atriotic jury, dear citizeess. Iaswer for my fellowjuryme.'

Now, let e see, ' said Madame efarge oderig

agai. et oce more! Ca I sare this doctor to yhusbad?1 hae o feelig either way. Ca1 sare him?'He would cout as oe head,' obseed Jacques

Three, i a low voice. We really have ot headseough; it wold be a ity,1 thi.'

He was sigallig with her whe1 saw her,' argued

Madame Defarge; I caot sea of oe withot theother; ad 1 ust ot be silet, ad trst the casewholly to him, this little citize here. For,1 am ot abad wiess. '

he Vegeace ad Jacques Three vied with eachother i their feet rotestatios that she was themost admirable ad marvellous of witesses. Thelittle citize, ot to be outdoe, declared her to be acelestial witess.

He must tae his chace,' said adame efarge.No, 1 caot sare him! ou are gaged at threeo'cloc; you are goig to see the atch of todayexecuted ou?'

490



H RAK O F A O R M

The qstion was addressed to the wood-sawyer,who hudly relied in the arative seizing theoccasion (0 add that he was the ost ardent of

Reublics, and that he would be in eect the ostdesolate Reublicans, if anything revented hio enjing the leasure of soing his aeoonie in contelation of the droll national barber He was Sl ve deonstrative herein, that he ighthave bee susected (erhas was, by the dar eyes

that lood contetuously at hi out of MadaeDefarge head) ofhaving his sall individual fears forhis own rsonal safety, every hour in the day

I, sai adae, a equally engaged at the saelace er it is over say at eight tonight coe youto e, i St Atoine, and we will give inforation

against these eole at y section The wood-sawyer said he would be roud andattered to attend the citizeness The citizeness looingat hi he becae ebarrassed, eaded her glance as asall dog would hae done, retreated aong his wood,and hid his consion over the handle of his saw

Madae Defarge beconed the juryan and theengeane a little nearer to the door, and thereexounded her rther views to the thus: She willnow be a hoe, awaiting the oent of his deathShe will e ouing and grieving She will be in astate of ind to ieach the justice of the ReublicShe will e ll of syathy with its eneies I will go

to herWhat an adirable woan; what an adorable

woan! exclaied Jacques Three, raturously ,y cherhed! cried the engeance; and ebracedher

ae ou y niing, said Madae Defarge,

49



A AL E O F WO l':s

lacing it in her lieutenant's hands, <d have it readyfor me in my usual seat Kee me m usual chair Goyou there, straight, for there will robbly be a greater

concourse than usual, today' I willingly obey the orders of my hief,' said theengeance wih alacrity, and issing er chee ouwill not be late?'

I shall be there before the commecement 'And before he tumbrils arrive e sure you are

there, my soul,' said the engeance, alling aer her,for she had already tued into the sreet, before thetumbrils arrive! '

Madame Defarge slightly waved her hand, t o imlythat she heard, and might be relied uon to arrive ingood time, and so went through the mud, and roundthe coer of the rison wall The engeance and thejuryman, looing aer her as she waled away, werehighly areciative of her ne gure, and her suerbmoral endowments

There were many women at that time, uon whomthe time laid a dreadlly disguring hand but, therewas not one among them more to be dreaded than this

ruthless woman, now taing her way along the streets Of a strong and fearless character, of shrewd sense andreadiness, of great determination, of ha ind ofbeauty which not only seems to ima to its ossessorrmness and animosity, bu o stri into others aninstinctive recognition of hose qualities; the troubled

time would have heaved her u, under any circumstances But, imbued om her childhood with abrooding sense ofwrong, and an invetrate hatred of aclass, oounity had develoed he into a tigressShe was absoluely withou ity If se had ever hadthe viue in her, it had quite gone ou of her

9



H RAK O F A O RM

It was hig to her, that a iocet m was todie for th is of his forefathers; she saw, ot him,but them It was othig to her, that his wife was to

be made idow ad his daughter a orha; thatwas isuiet uishmet, because they were heratural emies ad her rey, ad as such had oright to li To aeal to her, was made hoeless byher havig o sese of ity, eve for herself If shehad bee laid low i the streets, i ay of the may

ecouters i which she had bee egaged, shewould ot have itied herself; or, if she had beeordered to the axe tomorrow, would she have goe toit with ay soer feelig tha a erce des ire to chagelaces with the ma who set her there .

Such a heart Madame Defarge carried uder herrough robe. Carelessly wo, it was a becomig robeeough, i a certai weird way, ad her dar hairlooed rich uder her coarse red ca. Lyig hidde iher bosom, was a loaded istol. Lyig hidde at herwaist, was a shareed dagger. hus accoutred, adwalig with the codet tread of such a character,ad with the sule freedom of a woma who had

habitually waled i her girlhood, barefoot ad barelegged, o the brow seasad, Madame Defarge tooher way alog the streets

Now, whe the jouey of the travellig coach, atthat very momet waitig for the comletio of itsload, had bee laed out last ight, the diculty of

taig Miss Pross i it had much egaged Mr Lorry'sattetio It was ot merely desirable to avoid overloadig the coach, but it was of the highestimortace that the time occied i examiig itad its assegers, should be reduced to the utmost;sice their escae might deed o the savig of oly

493



A ALE OF WO B

a few seconds hee and thee. inally, he hadpposed, ae anxious consideaion, that MissPss and Jery, who wee at libe o leave the ciy,

shuld leave it at hee o 'clock in the lightestwheeledconveyance known to that peiod. nencumbeedwih luggage, they would soon ovetake the coach,and, passing it and peceding it on the oad, wouldode its hoses in advance, and geatly facilitate itspogess duing the pecious hous of the night, when

delay was the most to be deaded.Seeing in this arangeent the hope of endeing

eal seice n that pessing eegency, Miss Posshailed it with oy She and Jey had beheld the coachstat, had known who it was that Solomon bout,had passed soe ten minutes in tortues of suspense,

and wee now concluding thei aangements to followhe coach, even as Madame efage, takng he waythough the steets, now dew neae and neae tothe else-desered lodging in which they held theiconsultation.

Now what do you think, M unche,' said Miss

Poss, whose agtation was so geat that she couldhadly speak, o stand, o ove, o live: what do youthink of ou not stating fom this couyad Anothecariage having aleady gone om hee today, it mightawaken suspicion'

My opinion, miss,' etued M unche, is asyou'e ght. Lkewise wot I'll stand by you, right owong. '

I am so distacted with fea and hope fo oupecious ceatues,' said Miss Poss, wildly cying,that 1 am incapable of forming any plan Are ucapable of foing any plan, my dea good Munche'

49





A ALE OF WO Ji

hee, thee, thee! I hope she is my dea man,'cied the distacted Miss Poss, and I ope she nds itansweing he expectations'

Fobid it,' poceeded M Cune, with additional solemnity, additional slowness and additionaltendency to hold foth and hold out, as anything wotI have eve said o done should be wi sited on myeaest wishes fo them poo ceetus now! Fobid itas we shouldn't all op (if it was anyways conwenient)

to get 'em out 0

this hee dismal isk! Fobid it, miss !Wot I say, fo bid it! ' his was M Cunche'sconclusion ae a potacted but vain endeavou tond a bette one

And still Madame efage, pusuing he way alongthe steets, came neae and neae.

If we eve get back to ou native land,' said MissPoss, you may ely upon my telling Ms Cunche asmuch as I may be able to emembe and undestandof what you hae so impessively said; and at all eventsyou may be sue that I shall bea witness to you beingthooughly in eaest at this deadl time. Now, paylet us think! My esteemed M Cunche, let us think! '

Still, Madame efage, pusuing he way along thesteets, came neae and neae.

If you wee to go befoe, ' said Miss Poss, and stopthe vehicle and hoses fom coming hee, and wee towait somewhee fo me; wouldn't that be best'

M Cunche thought it might be best .

Whee could you wait fo me' asked Miss Poss.M C unche was so bewildeed that he could think

of no locality but emple Ba. Alas! emple Ba washundeds of miles away, and Madae efage wasdawing vey nea indeed

By the cthedal doo,' said Miss oss Would it



H RAK O F A O RM

be much t of the way t o take me in near the greatcathedral door between the two towers'

No ms' answered Mr runcherhen lie the best of men ' said Miss Pross go to

the postihouse strait and make that change' I am doubtl' said Mr uncher hesitating and

shang is head about leaving of you you see Wedon't kno what may happen '

eaven knows we don't ' retued Miss Pross but

have no ear or me ake me in at the cathedral athree o'clock or as near it as you can and I am sureit will be better than our going from here I feel certainof it here! Bless you Mr runcher! hink not ofme but of the lives that may depend on both of us ! '

his exordium and Miss Pross's two hands i n quite

agonised entreaty clasping his decided Mr uncherWith an encouraging nod or two he immediatelywent out to alter the arrangements and le her byherself to follow as she had proposed

he having originated a precaution which wasalready in course of execution was a great reliefto Miss

Pross he necessity of composing her appearance sothat it should attract no special notice in the streetswas another relief She looked at her watch and it wastwenty minutes ast two She had no time to losebut must get ready at once

aid in her extreme perturbation of the loneli

ness of the deseted rooms and of halfimagined facespeeping rm behind every open door in them MissPross go H basin of cold water and began laving hereyes wh were swollen and red aunted by herfeverish rehensions she could not bear to have hersight obsred for a minute at a time by the dripping

water b constantly paused and looked round to see

497



A AL OF WO

that thee was o oe watchig he I oe of thosepauses she ecoiled ad ced out, fo she saw a guestadig i the oom.

he basi fell to the goud bok, ad the wateoed to the feet of Madame efage. By stageste ways, ad though much staiig blood, thosefeet had come to meet that wate.

Madame efage looked coldly at he, ad said,he wife of vmode; whee is she'

It ashed upo Miss Poss's mid that the dooswee all stadg ope, ad would suggest the ighte st act was to shut them. hee wee fou i theoom, ad she shut them all. She the placed heselfbefoe the doo of the chambe which Lucie hadoccupied.

Madame efage's dak eyes followed he thoughthis apid moemet, ad ested o he whe it wasished. Miss Poss had othig beautil about he;yeas had ot tamed the wildess, o soeed thegimess, of he appeaace; but, she too was adetemied woma i he dieet way, ad she

measued Madame efage with he eyes, evey ich.You might, fom you appeaace, be the wife ofLucife, ' said Miss Poss, i he beathig Nevetheless, you shall ot get the bette of me. I am aEglishwoma '

Madame efage looked at he scolly, but still

with somethig of Miss Poss's ow peceptio thatthey two wee at bay. She saw a tght, had, wiywoma befoe he, as M Lo had ee i the samegue a woma with a stog had, i the yeas goeby She kew ll well that Miss Poss as the family'sdeoted ied; Miss Poss kew ll wl that Madameefage as the family's maleolet emy



H RA K O F A ORM

O m ay yode, ' said Madae efage, wi asli moe of he had owads the faal spo,whee h esee my chai ad y kiig fo me, I

am come make my complimes o he i passig Iwish o s he.'

I ko ha you ieios ae evil,' said MissPoss, a you may deped upo i, I 'll hold my owagais he. '

Each spoke i he ow laguage; eihe ude

sood he othe's wods; boh wee vey wachl, adie o deduce om look ad mae, wha heuielligible wods mea .

I will do he o good o kee heself cocealedfom me a his mome,' said Madame efage.Good paios will kow wha ha meas. Le me see

he Go el l he ha I wish o see he. o you hea'If hose eyes of yous wee bedwiches, ' euedMiss Poss, ad I was a Eglish fou-pose, heyshould' loose a splie of me No, you wickedfoeig woma; I am you mach'

Madame efage was o likely o follow hese

idiomaic emaks i deail; bu, se so fa udesoodthem as o peceive ha she was se a augh .Woma imbecile ad pig-like!' said Madame

efage, owig. I ake o aswe fom you. 1demad o see he. Eihe ell he ha1 demad o seehe, o sad ou of the way of the doo ad le me goo he!' is, wih a agy explaaoy wave of hei am.

I lile ough, ' said Miss Poss, tha1 should evewa o udesad you osesical lauage; bu1would gve all 1 have, excep he clothes1 wea, okow whe you suspec he uh, o ay pa of i. '

Neithe o f hem fo a sigle mome eleased

499



A AL OF WO

he ohe's eyes Madame efage ad not movedfom the spot whee she stood whe Miss Poss stbecame awae of he; but she now advanced one step

I am a Biton,' said Miss Poss, '1 am despeate Idon't cae an nglish wopence fo myself I know thathe longe I keep you hee the geate hope thee is fomy Ladybid I 'l l not leave a handl of that dak haiupon you head, if you lay a nge on me ! '

hus Miss Poss, with a shake o f he head and a

ash of he eyes between evey apid sentence, andevey apid sentence a whole beath hus Miss Poss,who had neve stuck a blow in he life

But, he couage was of that emotional natue that itbought he iepessible teas into he eyes his wasa couage that Madame efage so little compe

hended as to mistake fo weaess a, ha' shelaughed, you poo wetch! What ae you woth! Iaddess myself to that docto' hen she aised hevoice and called out, itien octo! Wife ofEvmonde! hild of vmonde! Any peson butthis miseable fool, answe the itieness efage! '

Pehaps the following silence, pehaps some latentdisclosue in the expession of Miss Poss's face,pehaps a sudden misgiving apat fom eithe suggestion, whispeed to Madame efage that they weegone hee of the doos she opened swily, andlooked in

hose ooms ae all in disode, thee has beenhuied packing, thee ae odds and ends upon thegound hee is no one in that oom behind you! Letme look '

Neve!' said Miss Poss, who ndestood theequest as pefectly as Madame ege undestoodthe answe

00



H RAK O F A O R M

If the e ot i that oom they ae goe a cabe pusud ad bought back ' said Madame Defageto hesel

As lo as you do't kow whethe hey ae i thatoom o ot you ae ucetai what to do' said MissPoss to elf; ad you shall ot kow that if I capevet you kowig it; ad kow hat o ot kowthat yo shall ot leave hee while I ca hold you '

I have bee i the steets fom the st othig has

stopped e I will tea you to pieces but I will haveyou om that doo ' said Madame Defage

We ae aloe at the top of a high house i a sol itaycoutyad we ae ot likely to be head ad I pay fobodily stegth to keep you hee while evey miuteyou ae hee is woth a huded thousad guieas to

my dalig' said Miss Poss Madame efage made at the doo Miss Poss o

the istict of the momet seied he oud the waisti both he ams ad held he tight It was i vai foMadame Defage to stuggle ad to stike; Miss Posswith the vigoous teacity of love always so much

stoge tha hate clasped he tight ad eve liedhe fom the oo i the stuggle that they had hetwo hads of Madame Defage bueted ad toe heface; but Miss Poss with he head dow held heoud the waist ad clug to he with moe tha hehold of a dowig woma

Soo adame Defage's hads ceased to stikead felt t he ecicled waist It is ude my am'said Mi Poss i smotheed toes you shall otdaw it I am stoge tha you I bless eave fo itI'l l hold YOU til l oe o othe of us faits o dies ! '

Made Defage' s hads wee at he bosom Miss

Poss lked up saw what it was stuck at it stuck50



A AL E O F WO

out a ash and a cash, and stood aloe blinded withsmoke. this was in a second. As the smoke cleaed,

leaving an awl stillness, it passed out on the ai, likethe soul of the ious woman whose body lay lifelesson the gound.

In the st it and hoo of he situation, MissPoss passed the body as fa om it as she could, andan down the stais to call fo fuitless help. appily,

she bethought heself of the consequences of what shedid, in time to check heself and go back. It wasdeadl to go in at the doo again but, she did go in,and even went nea it, to get the bonnet and othethings that she must wea hese she put on, out onthe staicase, st shutting and locking the doo and

taking away the key. She then sat down on the stais afew moments to beathe and to cy, and then got upand hued away.

By good fotune she had a veil on he bonnet, o shecould hadly have gone along the steets without beingstopped. By good fotune, too, she was natually so

peculia in appeaance as not to show disguementlike any othe woman. She needed both advantages,fo the maks of giping nges wee deep in he face,and he hai was to, and he dess (hastily composedwith unsteady hands) was clutched and dagged ahunded ways.

In cossing the bidge, she dopped the doo key inthe ive. Aiving at the cathedal soe few minutesbefoe he escot, and waiting thee, she thought, whatif the key wee aleady taken in a net, hat if it weeidentied, hat if the doo wee oned and theemains discoveed, what if she wee stopped at thegate, sent to pison, and chaged with ude! In the

02



H RAK OF A O R M

midst oftse utteing thoughts, the escot appeaed,took he i and took he away

Is the any noise in the steets' she asked him

he sal noises,' M unche eplied andlooked sised by the question and by he aspect

I don' hea you,' said Miss Poss What do yousay'

It was i vain fo M unche to epeat what hesaid Miss Poss could not hea him So I'l l nod my

head, ' thought M unche, amaed, at all eventsshe'll see that ' And she did

Is thee any noise in the steets now' asked MissPoss again, pesently

AgainM unche nodded his headI don't hea it '

Gone deaf in a hou' said M unche, uminating, with his mind much distubed wot' s come tohe'

I feel,' said Miss Poss, as if thee had been a ashand a cash, and that cash was the last thing I shouldeve hea in this life '

Blest if she ain't i n a quee condition! ' said Munche, moe and moe distubed Wot can shehave been a takin', to keep he couage up ak!hee's the oll of them deadl cats ! You can heathat, miss'

I can hea, ' said Miss Poss, seeing that he spoke tohe, noting 0 my good man, thee was st a geatcash, and then a geat stillness, and that stillnessseems to be xed and unchangeable, neve to beboken an moe as long as my life lasts '

If she don't hea the oll o f those deadl cats,now vey nigh thei jouey's end,' saidM unche,glancing ove his shoulde, it's my opinion that



A ALE O F WO E

indeed she neve will hea anything ese in this wold And indeed she neve did

HAPER

e Footsteps Die Out or Ever

ong the Pais steets, the deathcas umble,

hollow and hash Six tumbls cay the day's wine toL Guillotine All the devouing and insatiate monstesimagined since imagination could ecod itself, aesed in the one ealisation, guillotine And yet thee isnot in Fance, with its ch vaety of soil and climate,a blade, a leaf, a oot, a spig, a peppeco, which will

gow to maturity unde conditions moe cetain thanthose that have poduced this hoo rush humanityout of shape once moe, unde simila hammes, andit will twist itself into the same totued foms Sow thesame seed of apacious licence and oppession oveagain, and it will suely yield the same fuit accoding

to its kindSix tumbls oll along the steets hange these backagain to what they wee, thou powel enchante,time, and they shall be seen to be the caages ofabsolute monachs, the equipages offeudal nobles, thetoilettes of aing Jeebels, the chuches that ae not

my fathe's house but dens of thieves, the huts ofmillions of staing peasants! No; the geat magcianwho majestically woks out the appointed ode of theceato, neve eveses his tansfomations If thou bechanged into this shape by the will of God,' say thesees to the enchanted, in the wise Aabian stoies,then emain so! But, if thou wea this fo though



H RAK OF A O R M

mere paig couatio, the resume thy formeraspect!' hageless ad hopeless, the tumbrils rollalog

As th sombe wheels of he six cats go oud,they see to plough up a log cooed ow amogthe poplace i the steets. dges of faces aethrow to his side ad to that, ad the ploughs gosteadily owad. So used are he regua ihabitatsof the huses to the spectacle, that i m ay widows

thee ae o people, ad i some the occupatio ofthe hads is ot so much as suspeded, while theeyes suey the faces i the tumbrils ere ad thee,he imate has visitors to see the sight; the he poitshis ger, with somethig of the complacecy of acurator or authoised expoet, to this cat ad to

this, ad seems to tell who sat here yesterday, adwho here the day befoeOf e riders i the tumbrils, some observe these

thigs, ad all thigs o their last roadside, with aimpassive stare; others, with a ligerig iterest i theways of life ad me Some, seated with doopig

heads, are su i silet despai; agai, there are someso heedl of their loos that they cast upo themultitude such glaces as they have see i theatres ,ad i pictures Several close their eyes, ad thi, ort to get their stayig thoughts together Oly oe,ad he a miseable creature, of a caed aspect, is soshatteed ad made du by horro, that he sigs,ad tis to dace Not oe of the whole umberappeals by loo or gesture, to the pity of the people .

Ther is a guard of sud horseme ridig abreastof the tbrils, ad faces ae oe tued up to someof the ad they are ased some questio It wouldseem t be always the same questio, fo, it is always

0



A ALE OF WO E

fooed by a ress of people toard te third cartThe horseme abreast of tat cart, fequently pointout one ma in it ith teir sords The leading

curiosity is, to kno hich is he he stands at te backof the tumbril ith his head bent don, to converseith a mere girl ho sits on the side f the cart, andhods his hand He has no curiosiy or care for thescene about hi, and aays speaks to the girl Hereand there in te long street of St Honor, cries are

raised against im If they move him at al, it is only toa quiet smile, as he shakes his hair a itte more ooselyabout his face He cannot easily touch his face, isarms being bond

On the steps of a church, aaiting te coming-up ofthe tumbrils, stands the spy and prisonseep He

looks into the rst of em: not there He looks intothe second: not there He already asks himself, Hase sacriced me?' en is face clears, as e looks intothe third

Which is Evrmonde? says a man beind imThat At the back there With his hand in the girls?Yes The man cries, Don, Evrmonde! To the guilo

tine al aristocrats! Don, Evrmonde ! 'Hush, hush!' the spy entreats him, timidyAnd hy not, citizen? 'He is going to pay the forfeit: it il be paid in ve

minutes more Let him be at peace But the man continuing to excaim Don,

Evrmonde!' the face of vrmonde is for a momenttued toards im Evrmonde then sees the spy,and looks attentively at him, and goes s ay

The cocks are on the stoke of three, d the rro

06





A AL O F TWO �

The secon tumbril empties an moves on thethir comes p Crash! an the ittingwomen,never fatering or pausing in their wo, count two

The suppose Evrmone escen an the seamstress is ie out next aer hi He has notrelinquishe her patient han in getting out, but stilhos it as he promise He genty places her with herback to the crashing engine that constanty whirrs upan fas, an she looks into his face an thanks him

But for you, ear stranger, I shoul not be socompose, for I am naturay a poor little ting, faintof heat nor shou I have been able to raise mythoughts to Him who was put to eath, that we mighthave hope an comfort here toay I think you weresent to me by eaven

Or you to me, says Syney Caron Keep youreyes upon me, ear chi, an min no other object 'I min noting wie I hol your han I shal min

nothing when I et it go, if hey are rapi 'hey wil b e rapi Fear not ! he two stan in the fast-hinning trong ofvictims,

but they speak as if they were aone ye to eye, voiceto voice, han to han, eart to hear, these twochilren of the universal mother, else so wie apartan iering, ave come together on the ark highway, to repair ome together, an to rest in her bosom

Brave an generous frien, will you et me ask youone last question? I am very ignorant an it troublesme just a little

el me what it is ' I have a cousin, a n only reative an an orphan, like

myself, whom I love vey eary She is ve yearsyounger tan I an she lives in a farme's house in thesout conty Poverty pare us, a she knows

508



f H RAK O F A O R M

nothin m y fate for I cannot rite and if I coud,o shod I te er! It is better as it is '

Yes, yeS; better a s i t is '

Wha have been tinking a s e came aong, andhat I m sti thinking no, as I ook into your kindstrong fe hich gives me so mch suppot, is this : Ifthe Repbic realy does good to the poor, and theycome t e ess ungr, and in al ays to suer ess,se ma ive a ong time: se may even ive to be od '

Wat ten, my gente sister?'Do ou tink:' te uncomplaining eyes in hich

there is so muc endurance, it tears, and te ipspart a ittle more and trembe: tat it i seem long tome, ie I ait for her in the better land here I trustbo you and I il be mercily sheltered?'

It cannot be, my cid; tere is no Time there, andno trouble there'

You comfot m e s o much! I am s o ignorant Ito kiss you no? Is the moment come?'

Yes 'Se kisses his ips; e kisses hers; they soemnly

bess eac other Te spare and does not trembe ase reeases it; nothing orse than a seet, brightconstancy is in the patient face Se goes next beforehim is gone; the knittingomen count tenyto

I am the resurrection and te ife, saith the Lord: ethat beivet in me, toug e ere dead, yet sha he

live: an hosoever liveth an beieveth in me shanever i 'Te urmuring of many voices, the uptuing of

many aes, the pressing on of many footsteps in theoutskit of te crod, so tat it sels forard in amass, e one great eave of ater, a ashes aayTenttree

509





T H E T R A C K O F A T O R M

and held sacred in the other's soul, than I as in thesouls of oth

I see at chid ho lay upon her bosom and ho

bore my name, a man inning his ay up in that pathof life hich once a mine I see him inning it soel, that my name is made illustrious there by theight of his I see the bots I thre upon it, faded aayI see him, foremost of just judges and honoured men,bringing a boy of my name, ith a forehead that I

kno and golden hair, to this plac · then fair to ookupon, ith not a trace of this day's disgurement and I hear him tell the child my story, ith a tenderand a fatering voice

I t is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have everdone; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have

ever knon

5



Afteord

Tale of Two Cities shos Chares Dickens at theheights of his poers as a noveist There is anassuredss that positivey breezes through the book

from rs page to ast We soud not nd thissurprising hen e reaise that e as aready theauthor of eeven outstanding noves, many of hichare sti immensey popuar today This is hardy theork of an author eaing his trade, but the condent dispay of a master of iterature, controing his

cast of characters, marshaing the various scenes, andcombining them into a coherent and eective hoeThe historica subject matter aso represented something of an artistic depature for Dickens, hichindicates that even at the age of forty-seven, heanted to experiment and test is on abiities

His only other istorica nove had been BaabyRudge rtten neary tenty years earier, hich hadas its bakground the antipapist Gordon Riots of 780. Hever important tese riots ere, they hadnothing f the idespread signicance and inuenceof e Frch Revoution, hic canged the course of

Europea isto In Baaby Rudge even though theidiot Baby becomes one of te eaders of the riots,e is not major gure in their deveopment hereasin Talc of Two Cities Monsieur and MadameDefarge e dominant gures in the key Parisiandistrict o St Antoine and are eaviy invoved in a

aspects o

the revoution e ater nove as thus a5 3



A T AL E O F TW O C I T I E

much more aitious project an this increaseamition aso extens to its settings. ickens's use ofoth Paris an Lonon gives a roaer sense of theseep of history shoing ho it aec iniviuas indierent countries

A signicant siiariy eteen the noves thoughies in their choice of historica sujects Both of themare concee with riots with revoutions ith whathappens when the mo seizes contro of a ciy. Thisseems to have particuary re ickens's imagination.Some of the ost emorae scenes in Tale of TwoCities are those where the cro surges as one entiyhether in the storming of the Bastie in the ancingthat precees a frenzy or in the reaction to evience incourt In Bamaby Rudge the assault on Negate prson

is equaly powe and captures the adness an theanarchy of suc an event

In his researches for the ater novel ickens rewheaviy on The Frenh Revolution an extraorinaryork of history y his frien Thomas Carye WhenDickens aske Carlye for some recoenations of

ooks to rea for ackgroun information Carlyesent him two cartoas of volumes o the LononLirary. The inuence of Carye's opus is etectaethroughout the scenes set in France an ickensmade reference to that oner ook' in his prefatoy note to the nove. Thomas Carlyle was one of the

key thinkers of the Victorian period a historian whoaso rote a severa ooks which can roay e estdescrie as prophetic phiosophy.

Athough it ras on history and akes historicajudements Tale of Two Cities is t an foremosta ork of ction One of its recurring temes is that of

incarceration an in this it ears miarities ith



A F T E R W O R D

Dickens previous nove Little Do·t. This tes thestory of young oman Amy Dorrit ho has iveda of he ife in a debtor's prison in London hereher fath has been jaied for oing money ForDickens n this ork the prison acts as a symbo ofho pee are metaphoricay imprisoned by theirimited onceptions of the ord In le of wo

Ctie te prison becomes more of a symbo fohuman rpression It is indeed because the poor of

France ave been so subjugate because they havebeen iving an unee existece that they nayexpode into boodthirsty vioence and the rst targetof their rage is ttingy the Bastie

At the start of te nove Dr anette has beenrecaed to ife' aer being jaied without tria for

eighteen years We discover ater that he as incarcerated because he had attempted to te the truthabout the crimina behaviour of a pair of amoraaristocratic brothers Just as he has been unfairyimprisoned so ater is his son-in-a CharesDaay ho is ironicay the son of one of these o

aristocrats Daay is arrested by the revoutionaryauthorities because of e misdeeds of his reativeseven though he has himsef ed a bameess ifeDaay's experiences are thus paraeed by those ofhis fatheina

This paaeing aerts us to te ominant narrative

technique in the nove: doubing It is present even inthe tite le of wo Citie - Paris and London therespectiv capitas of France an Engand and thebook's o most important ocations By juxtaposingDr a tte's misfortunes i those of DaayDickens ggests hat one form of yranny has merey

been rep

\ce by anoter: the crue aristocratic ue



A T A E O F TW O C I T I E

having given way t o the cel reign o opulst terrorDckens may have sympathies with e poor of Parisand why they acted as they did, but he s equally under

no llusions about the fact that their deds were just aswrong as those of their predecessors

Probably the ost important instance of doubling,for the plot at least, occurs in the lieness betweenCharles Daay and the debauched barrister, SyndeyCaton Ths sared similarity is rst seen in the novel

during the court case in London, where Daay isacquitted, parly because the evidence of a witness isunderined by heir strong utual reseblance Theey to this scene is identication � when two thingsappear the sae it becomes dicult to tell the apartLoos, however, are not all, and we soon discover that

far o being perfect copies of each other, Cartonand Daay are n fact oosites Daay s a hardworng, princpled an who has given up hsaristocratc wealth n France and becoe a Frenchteacher in London Carton s a dssolute degenerate,who blaes s isfounes on the world, even

though they are largely hs own faultDoubles help us to see smilarites but they alsohighlight dierences The cour cases in England andrevolutionary France are also doubles' for each other,and invite coparisons of te two legal systemsDicens is not exactly entusiastic about the Englishjudcial process � the witnesses are corupt, the publicin the galley is bloodthirsty, the attorneys are duplicitous but at least Daay is found inocent by a fairinded juy In revolutionary Frane, even thougDay is at rst freed, the system is nsiderably lesseven handed � the mob as a uc greater say nverdicts, he jury is made up of crinals, and legal

5 6



A F T E R W O R

procss� ar not propry foowd Dicns thushighigt how incrasd pubic ibrty can sti baccopaid by a ac of indiidua ibty if th

judicia sst is not ipartiaEn tough Daay is th good' rsion of th

bad' Caon, it is Carton who bcos th no'stru hro and this rrsa cos about through hissubstitutin of hisf for Daay By iprsonatingDaay at th guiotin, Carton sssy sas th if

of a a wit a bod wif and faiy, and thusrds hisf by his sacric aay woud nrnowingy aow Carton to ha rpacd hi, and soCarton diss th aborat pan to gain accss to hisdoppgngr Bfor h dgs hi, Carton forcs abwidrd Daay to swap coths with hi, and thn

oosns his hair so that th rsbanc wi b cosrH is thus ab to chat th ng routionaauthoritis, n if it is at th cost of his own if Bytaing on th apparanc of Daay, Carton dosindd bo a bttr an, and or i th anwhos aparanc h shars and whos idntity h

tas onNot ron is food by Carton's disguis A youngwoan, nothr of th prisonrs accopanyingCarton th guiotin, nw Daay in th Forcjai, and aiss that it is not hi What sh dos s,hough, i th goodnss of Carton's act of sacric,

and this s hi a nob an in hr ys Throughbing pid as a virtuous prson, Darnay nowbhas wi grat indnss towards hr, as h has notdon to ayon in t cours of th no Indd hacts with gntnss and brar that a an iDaay oud adopt, shiding th unfortunatwoan f{ th sight of what awaits hr Caton's



A T A LE O F T W O C I T I

corage aso eas to the procreao of aotherobe the so of Chares a Lci ho is ameaer him his momet of caioyace beforehis exectio Carto imagies his amesake as asccessl alt versio of himsef te lig the stoy ofCarto's bravery to his so ho aso hares his ame

Dobleess recrs i a variety of other ays givigthe ovel richess a strctral complexity Foristace Dr Maette beig recale to life' is echoei the resrrectio of Roger Cly hose fake eath isreveae by the grave robber Jer Crcher hetheme of brie thigs comig to light is also echoi Daay's seco Frech trial here the eyocmet i his prosectio as ritte by Draette he he as i the Bastile bt hich he

ha forgotte existe he shoc of reivig evetsprompts the octor to have aother mtal relapse st as he i aer iscoverig Daay's ietitybefore the eig revertig him to the state heas he he as fo i the priso origmethoicaly o a pair of shoes

higs retig to life ca a lso be see thereforeas a metaphor for the ays that the past extes itsiece ito the preset i maiol foreseeays Dr aette eve he he i recovere stillhols ithi him the ma ho as boke by years ofsolitay coemet Daay eve thogh he has

reoce his famiy ame a ta his mother'smaie ame (aother istace of ublig) caotescape om the crel actios of h father a hiscle Passios that are sppresse ill break ot;ees om the past i have fosee eects ithe tre Brial or imprisome oly postpoes

reveatio a liberatio5 8



A F T E R W O R D

Tr i s an additional istorical lmnt to a l l tisdoubling. n Tomas Carlyl wrot The FenhRevoluto was partly intrstd in t subctbcaus of t similaritis prcivd btwn tatpriod and turbulnt situation in Britain at ttim T nintnt cntu saw continud tnsionbtwn ts wo wantd to rform t politicalsystm in Britain and os wo dfndd t status

quo As a rsult tr wr sporadic outbras ofviolnc: in 89, for instanc, lvn protstrs wrid in Ptrloo Massacr wn cavalry troopscargd on dmonstrators in 83 , nationwid riotingculminatd in t buing of Bristol btwn 830and 83 , 400 riotrs wr brougt bfor Britiscous) In 860s Dicns obsvd tat t

Documents

Tale of Two Cities-By Charles Dickens