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a tale of two cities(双城记)-第81节

小说: a tale of two cities(双城记) 字数: 每页4000字

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ract no special notice in the streets; was another relief She looked at her watch; and it was twenty minutes past two。 She had no time to lose; but must get ready at once。 
 Afraid; in her extreme perturbation; of the loneliness of the deserted rooms; and of half…imagined faces peeping from behind every open door in them; Miss Pross got a basin of cold water and began laving her eyes; which were swollen and red。 Haunted by her feverish apprehensions; she could not bear to have her sight obscured for a minute at a time by the dripping water; but constantly paused and looked round to see that there was no one watching her。 In one of those pauses she recoiled and cried out; for she saw a figure standing in the room。 
 The basin fell to the ground broken; and the water flowed to the feet of Madame Defarge。 By strange stern ways; and through much staining blood; those feet had come to meet that water。 
 Madame Defarge looked coldly at her; and said; ‘The wife of Evrémonde; where is she?' 
 It flashed upon Miss Pross's mind that the doors were all standing open; and would suggest the flight。 Her first act was to shut them。 There were four in the room; and she shut them all。 She then placed herself before the door of the chamber which Lucie had occupied。 
 Madame Defarge's dark eyes followed her through this rapid movement; and rested on her when it was finished。 Miss Pross had nothing beautiful about her; years had not tamed the wildness; or softened the grimness; of her appearance; but; she too was a determined woman in her different way; and she measured Madame Defarge with her eyes; every inch。 
 ‘You might; from your appearance; be the wife of Lucifer;' said Miss Pross; in her breathing。 ‘Nevertheless; you shall not get the better of me。 I am an Englishwoman。 
 Madame Defarge looked at her scornfully; but still with something of Miss Pross's own perception that they two were at bay。 She saw a tight; hard; wiry woman before her; as Mr。 Lorry had seen in the same figure a woman with a strong hand; in the years gone by。 She knew full well that Miss Pross was the family's devoted friend; Miss Pross knew full well that Madame Defarge was the family's malevolent enemy。 
 ‘On my way yonder;' said Madame Defarge; with a slight movement of her hand towards the fatal spot; ‘where they reserve my chair and my knitting for me; I am come; to make my compliments to her in passing。 I wish to see her。 
 ‘I know that your intentions are evil;' said Miss Pross; ‘and you may depend upon it; I'll hold my own against them。' 
 Each spoke in her own language; neither understood the other's words; both were very watchful; and intent to deduce from look and manner; what the unintelligible words meant。 
 ‘It will do her no good to keep herself concealed from me at this moment;' said Madame Defarge。 ‘Good patriots will know what that means。 Let me see her。 Go tell her that I wish to see her。 Do you hear?' 
 ‘If those eyes of yours were bed…winches;' returned Miss Pross; ‘and I was an English four…poster; they shouldn't loose a splinter of me。 No; you wicked foreign woman; I am your match。' 
 Madame Defarge was not likely to follow these idiomatic remarks in detail; but; she so far understood them as to perceive that she was set at naught。 
 ‘Woman imbecile and pig…like!' said Madame Defarge; frowning。 ‘I take no answer from you。 I demand to see her。 Either tell her that I demand to see her; or stand out of the way of the door and let me go to her!' This; with an angry explanatory wave of her right arm。 
 ‘I little thought;' said bliss Pross; ‘that I should ever want to understand your nonsensical language; but I would give all I have; except the clothes I wear; to know whether you suspect the truth; or any part of it。' 
 Neither of them for a single moment released the other's eyes。 Madame Defarge had not moved from the spot where she stood when Miss Pross first became aware of her; but she now advanced one step。 
 ‘I am a Briton;' said Miss Pross; ‘I am desperate。 I don't care an English Two…pence for myself。 I know that the longer I keep you here; the greater hope there is for my Ladybird。 I'll not leave a handful of that dark hair upon your head; if you lay a finger on me!' 
 Thus Miss Pross; with a shake of her head and a flash of her eyes between every rapid sentence; and every rapid sentence a whole breath。 Thus Miss Pross; who had never struck a blow in her life。 
 But; her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought the irrepressible tears into her eyes。 This was a courage that Madame Defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for weakness。 ‘Ha; ha!' she laughed; ‘you poor wretch! What are you worth! I address myself to that Doctor。' Then she raised her voice and called out; ‘Citizen Doctor! Wife of Evrémonde! Child of Evrémonde! Any person but this miserable fool; answer the Citizeness Defarge!' 
 Perhaps the following silence; perhaps some latent disclosure in the expression of Miss Pross's face; perhaps a sudden misgiving apart from either suggestion; whispered to Madame Defarge that they were gone。 Three of the doors she opened swiftly; and looked in。 
 ‘Those rooms are all in disorder; there has been hurried packing; there are odds and ends upon the ground。 There is no one in that room behind you! Let me look。' 
 ‘Never!' said Miss Pross; who understood the request as perfectly as Madame Defarge understood the answer。 
 ‘If they are not in that room; they are gone; and can be pursued and brought back;' said Madame Defarge to herself。 
 ‘As long as you don't know whether they are in that room or not; you are uncertain what to do;' said Miss Pross to herself; ‘and you shall not know that; if I can prevent your knowing it; and know that; or not know that; you shall not leave here while I can hold you。' 
 ‘I have been in the streets from the first; nothing has stopped me; I will tear you to pieces; but I will have you from that door;' said Madame Defarge。 
 ‘We are alone at the top of a high house in a solitary courtyard; we are not likely to be heard; and I pray for bodily strength to keep you here; while every minute you are here is worth a hundred thousand guineas to my darling;' said Miss Pross。 
 Madame Defarge made at the door。 Miss Pross; on the instinct of the moment; seized her round tile waist in both her arms; and held her tight。 It was in vain for Madame Defarge to struggle and to strike; Miss Pross; with the vigorous tenacity of love; always so much stronger than hate; clasped her tight; and even lifted her from the floor in the struggle that they had。 The two hands of Madame Defarge buffeted and tore her face; but; Miss Pross; with her head down; held her round the waist; and clung to her with more than the hold of a drowning woman。 
Soon; Madame Defarge's hands ceased to strike; and felt at her encircled waist。 ‘It is under my arm;' said Miss Pross; in smothered tones; ‘you shall not draw it。 I am stronger than you; I bless Heaven for it。 I'll hold you till one or other of us faints or dies!' 
 Madame Defarge's hands were at her bosom。 Miss Pross looked up; saw what it was; struck at it; struck out a flash and a crash; and stood aloneblinded with smoke。 
 All this was in a second。 As the smoke cleared; leaving an awful stillness; it passed out on the air; like the soul of the furious woman whose body lay lifeless on the ground。 
 In the first fright and horror of her situation; Miss Pross passed the body as far from it as she could; and ran down the stairs to call for fruitless help。 Happily; she bethought herself of the consequences of what she did; in time to check herself and go back。 It was dreadful to go in at the door again; but; she did go in; and even went near it; to get the bonnet and other things that she must wear。 These she put on; out on the staircase; first shutting and locking the door and taking away the key。 She then sat down on the stairs a few moments to breathe and to cry; and then got up and hurried away。 
 By good fortune she had a veil on her bonnet; or she could hardly have gone along the streets without being stopped。 By good fortune; too; she was naturally so peculiar in appearance as not to show disfigurement like any other woman。 She needed both advantages; for the marks of griping fingers were deep in her face; and her hair was torn; and her dress (hastily composed with unsteady hands) was clutched and dragged a hundred ways 
 In crossing the bridge; she dropped the door key in the river。 Arriving at the cathedral some few minutes before her escort; and waiting there; she thought; what if the key were already taken in a net; what if it were identified; what if the door were opened and the remains discovered; what if she were stopped at the gate; sent to prison; and charged with murder! In the midst of these fluttering thoughts; the escort appeared; took her in; and took her away。 
 ‘Is there any noise in the streets?' she asked him。 
 ‘The usual noises;' Mr。 Cruncher replied; and looked surprised by the question and by her aspect。 
 ‘I don't hear you;' said Miss Pross。 ‘What do you say?' 
 It was in vain for Mr。 Cruncher to repeat what he said; Miss Pross could not hear him。 ‘So I'll nod my head;' thought Mr。 Cruncher; amazed; ‘at all events she'll see that。' And 

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