a tale of two cities(双城记)-第42节

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the　objectionable　decoration　was　gone　or　Saint　Antoine　was　on　the　watch　for　its　disappearance；　howbeit；　the　Saint　took　courage　to　lounge　in；　very　shortly　afterwards；　and　the　wine…shop　recovered　its　habitual　aspect。　
　In　the　evening；　at　which　season　of　all　others　Saint　Antoine　turned　himself　inside　out；　and　sat　on　doorsteps　and　window…ledges；　and　came　to　the　corners　of　vile　streets　and　courts；　for　a　breath　of　air；　Madame　Defarge　with　her　work　in　her　hand　was　accustomed　to　pass　from　place　to　place　and　from　group　to　group：　a　Missionarythere　were　many　like　hersuch　as　the　world　will　do　well　never　to　breed　again。　All　the　women　knitted。　They　knitted　worthless　things；　but；　the　mechanical　work　was　a　mechanical　substitute　for　eating　and　drinking；　the　hands　moved　for　the　jaws　and　the　digestive　apparatus：　if　the　bony　fingers　had　been　still；　the　stomachs　would　have　been　more　famine…pinched。　
　But；　as　the　fingers　went；　the　eyes　went；　and　the　thoughts。　And　as　Madame　Defarge　moved　on　from　group　to　group；　all　three　went　quicker　and　fiercer　among　every　little　knot　of　women　that　she　had　spoken　with；　and　left　behind。　
　Her　husband　smoked　at　his　door；　looking　after　her　with　admiration。　‘A　great　woman；'　said　he；　‘a　strong　woman；　a　grand　woman；　a　frightfully　grand　woman！'　
　Darkness　closed　around；　and　then　came　the　ringing　of　church　bells　and　the　distant　beating　of　the　military　drums　in　the　Palace　Court…Yard；　as　the　women　sat　knitting；　knitting。　Darkness　encompassed　them。　Another　darkness　was　closing　in　as　surely；　when　the　church　bells；　then　ringing　pleasantly　in　many　an　airy　steeple　over　France；　should　be　melted　into　thundering　cannon；　when　the　military　drums　should　be　beating　to　drown　a　wretched　voice；　that　night　all…potent　as　the　voice　of　Power　and　Plenty；　Freedom　and　Life。　So　much　was　closing　in　about　the　women　who　sat　knitting；　knitting；　that　they　their　very　selves　were　closing　in　around　a　structure　yet　unbuilt；　where　they　were　to　sit　knitting；　knitting；　counting　dropping　heads。　

CHAPTER　XVIII
Nine　Days
THE　marriage…day　was　shining　brightly；　and　they　were　ready　outside　the　closed　door　of　the　Doctor's　room；　where　he　was　speaking　with　Charles　Darnay。　They　were　ready　to　go　to　church；　the　beautiful　bride；　Mr。　Lorry；　and　Miss　Prossto　whom　the　event；　through　a　gradual　process　of　reconcilement　to　the　inevitable；　would　have　been　one　of　absolute　bliss；　but　for　the　yet　lingering　consideration　that　her　brother　Solomon　should　have　been　the　bridegroom。　
　‘And　so；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　who　could　not　sufficiently　admire　the　bride；　and　who　had　been　moving　round　her　to　take　in　every　point　of　her　quiet；　pretty　dress；　‘and　so　it　was　for　this；　my　sweet　Lucie；　that　I　brought　you　across　the　Channel；　such　a　baby！　Lord　bless　me！　How　little　I　thought　what　I　was　doing！　How　lightly　I　valued　the　obligation　I　was　conferring　on　my　friend　Mr。　Charles！'　
　‘You　didn't　mean　it；'　remarked　the　matter…of…fact　Miss　Pross；　‘and　therefore　how　could　you　know　it？　Nonsense！'　
　‘Really？　Well；　but　don't　cry；'　said　the　gentle　Mr。　Lorry。　
‘I　am　not　crying；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘you　are。　
　‘I；　my　Pross？'　（By　this　time；　Mr。　Lorry　dared　to　be　pleasant　with　her；　on　occasion。）　
　‘You　were；　just　now；　I　saw　you　do　it；　and　I　don't　wonder　at　it。　Such　a　present　of　plate　as　you　have　made　‘em；　is　enough　to　bring　tears　into　anybody's　eyes。　There's　not　a　fork　or　a　spoon　in　the　collection；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘that　I　didn't　cry　over；　last　night　after　the　box　came；　till　I　couldn't　see　it。'　
　‘I　am　highly　gratified；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘though；　upon　my　honour；　I　had　no　intention　of　rendering　those　trifling　articles　of　remembrance　invisible　to　any　one。　Dear　me！　This　is　an　occasion　that　makes　a　man　speculate　on　all　he　has　lost。　Dear；　dear；　dear！　To　think　that　there　might　have　been　a　Mrs。　Lorry；　any　time　these　fifty　years　almost！'　
　‘Not　at　all！'　From　Miss　Pross。　
　‘You　think　there　never　might　have　been　a　Mrs。　Lorry？'　asked　the　gentleman　of　that　name。　
　‘Pooh！'　rejoined　Miss　Pross；　‘you　were　a　bachelor　in　your　cradle。'　
‘Well！'　observed　Mr。　Lorry；　beamingly　adjusting　his　little　wig；　‘that　seems　probable；　too。　
　‘And　you　were　cut　out　for　a　bachelor；'　pursued　Miss　Pross；　‘before　you　were　put　in　your　cradle。'　
　‘Then；　I　think；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘that　I　was　very　unhandsomely　dealt　with；　and　that　I　ought　to　have　had　a　voice　in　the　selection　of　my　pattern。　Enough！　Now；　my　dear　Lucie；'　drawing　his　arm　soothingly　round　her　waist；　‘I　hear　them　moving　in　the　next　room；　and　Miss　Pross　and　I；　as　two　formal　folks　of　business；　are　anxious　not　to　lose　the　final　opportunity　of　saying　something　to　you　that　you　wish　to　hear。　You　leave　your　good　father；　my　dear；　in　hands　as　earnest　and　as　loving　as　your　own；　he　shall　be　taken　every　conceivable　care　of；　during　the　next　fortnight；　while　you　are　in　Warwickshire　and　thereabouts；　even　Tellson's　shall　go　to　the　wall　（comparatively　speaking）　before　him。　And　when；　at　the　fortnight's　end；　he　comes　to　join　you　and　your　beloved　husband；　on　your　other　fortnight's　trip　in　Wales；　you　shall　say　that　we　have　sent　him　to　you　in　the　best　health　and　in　the　happiest　frame。　Now　I　hear　Somebody's　step　coming　to　the　door。　Let　me　kiss　my　dear　girl　with　an　old…fashioned　bachelor　blessing；　before　Somebody　comes　to　claim　his　own。'　
　For　a　moment；　he　held　the　fair　face　from　him　to　look　at　the　well…remembered　expression　on　the　forehead；　and　then　laid　the　bright　golden　hair　against　his　little　brown　wig；　with　a　genuine　tenderness　and　delicacy　which；　if　such　things　be　old…fashioned；　were　as　old　as　Adam。　
　The　door　of　the　Doctor's　room　opened；　and　he　came　out　with　Charles　Darnay。　He　was　so　deadly　palewhich　had　not　been　the　case　when　they　went　in　togetherthat　no　vestige　of　colour　was　to　be　seen　in　his　face。　But；　in　the　composure　of　his　manner　he　was　unaltered；　except　that　to　the　shrewd　glance　of　Mr。　Lorry　it　disclosed　some　shadowy　indication　that　the　old　air　of　avoidance　and　dread　had　lately　passed　over　him；　like　a　cold　wind。　
　He　gave　his　arm　to　his　daughter；　and　took　her　downstairs　to　the　chariot　which　Mr。　Lorry　had　hired　in　honour　of　the　day。　The　rest　followed　in　another　carriage；　and　soon；　in　a　neighbouring　church；　where　no　strange　eyes　looked　on；　Charles　Darnay　and　Lucie　Manette　were　happily　married。　
　Besides　the　glancing　tears　that　shone　among　the　smiles　of　the　little　group　when　it　was　done；　some　diamonds；　very　bright　and　sparkling；　glanced　on　the　bride's　hand；　which　were　newly　released　from　the　dark　obscurity　of　one　of　Mr。　Lorry's　pockets。　They　returned　home　to　breakfast；　and　all　went　well；　and　in　due　course　the　golden　hair　that　had　mingled　with　the　poor　shoemaker's　white　locks　in　the　Paris　garret；　were　mingled　with　them　again　in　the　morning　sunlight；　on　the　threshold　of　the　door　at　parting。　
　It　was　a　hard　parting；　though　it　was　not　for　long。　But　her　father　cheered　her；　and　said　at　last；　gently　disengaging　himself　from　her　enfolding　arms；　‘Take　her；　Charles！　She　is　yours！'　
　And　her　agitated　hand　waved　to　them　from　a　chaise　window；　and　she　was　gone。　
　The　corner　being　out　of　the　way　of　the　idle　and　curious；　and　the　preparations　having　been　very　simple　and　few；　the　Doctor；　Mr。　Lorry；　and　Miss　Pross；　were　left　quite　alone。　It　was　when　they　turned　into　the　welcome　shade　of　the　cool　old　hall；　that　Mr。　Lorry　observed　a　great　change　to　have　come　over　the　Doctor；　as　if　the　golden　arm　uplifted　there；　had　struck　him　a　poisoned　blow。　
　He　had　naturally　repressed　much；　and　some　revulsion　might　have　been　expected　in　him　when　the　occasion　for　repression　was　gone。　But；　it　was　the　old　scared　lost　look　that　troubled　Mr。　Lorry；　and　through　his　absent　manner　of　clasping　his　head'　and　drearily　wandering　away　into　his　own　room　when　they　got　up…stairs；　Mr。　Lorry　was　reminded　of　Defarge　the　wine…shop　keeper；　and　the　starlight　ride。　
　‘I　think；'　he　whispered　to　Miss　Pross；　after　anxious　consideration；　‘I　think　we　had　best　not　speak　to　him　just　now；　or　at　all　disturb　him。　I　must　look　in　at　Tellson's；　so　I　will　go　there　at　once　and　come　back　presently。　Then；　we　will　take　him　a　ride　into　the　country；　and　dine　there；　and　all　will　be　well。'　
　It　was　easier　for　Mr。　Lorry　to　look　in　at　Tellson's；　than　to　look　out　of　Tellson's。　He　was　detained　two　hours。　When　he　came　back；　he　ascended　the　old　staircase　alone；　having　asked　no　question　of　the　servant；　going　thus　into　the　Doctors　rooms；　he　was　stopped　by　a　low　sound　of　knocking。　
　‘Good　God！'　he　said；　with　a　start。　‘What's　that？'　
　Miss　Pross；　with　a　terrified　face；　was　at　his　ear。　‘O　me；　O　me！　All　is　lost！'　cried　she；　wringing　her　hands。　‘What　is　to　be　told　to　Ladybird？　He　doesn't　know　me；　and　is　making　shoes！'　
　Mr。　Lorry　said　what　he　could　to　calm　her；　and　went　himself　into　the　Doctor's　room。　The　bench　was　turned　towards　the　light；　as　it　had　been　when　he　had　seen　the　shoemaker　at　his　work　before；　and　his　head　was　bent　down；　and　he　was　very　busy。　
　‘Doctor　Manette。　My　dear　friend；　Doctor　Manette！'　
　The　Doctor　looked　at　him　for　a　momenthalf　inquiringly；　half　as　if　he　were　angry　at　being　spoken　toand　bent　over　his　work　again。　
　He　had　laid　aside　his　coat　and　waistcoat；　his　shirt　was　open　at　the　throat；　as　it　used　to　be　when　he　did　that　work；　and　even　the　old　haggard；　faded　surface　of　face　had　come　back　to　him。　He　worked　hardimpatientlyas　if　in　some　sense　of　having　been　inte