第96章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(11)

第96章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(11)

amongtheseterrors，andthebroodbelongingtothem，thedoctorwalkedwithasteadyhead；confidentinhispower，cautiouslypersistentinhisend，neverdoubtingthathewouldhavelucie'shusbandatlast.yetthecurrentofthetimesweptby，sostronganddeep，andcarriedthetimeawaysofiercely，thatcharleshadlaininprisononeyearandthreemonthswhenthedoctorwasthussteadyandconfident.somuchmorewickedanddistractedhadtherevolutiongrowninthatdecembermonth，thattheriversofthesouthwereencumberedwiththebodiesoftheviolentlydrownedbynight，andprisonerswereshotinlinesandsquaresunderthesouthernwintrysun.still，thedoctorwalkedamongtheterrorswithasteadyhead.nomanbetterknownthanhe，inparisatthatday；nomaninastrangersituation.silent，humane，indispensableinhospitalandprison，usinghisartequallyamongassassinsandvictim，hewasamanapart.intheexerciseofhisskill，theappearanceandthestoryofthebastillecaptiveremovedhimfromallothermen.hewasnotsuspectedorbroughtinquestion，anymorethanifhehadindeedbeenrecalledtolifesomeeighteenyearsbefore，orwereaspiritmovingamongmortals.

xxxv.thewood-sawyer

oneyearandthreemonths.duringallthattimeluciewasneversure，fromhourtohour，butthattheguillotinewouldstrikeoffherhusband'sheadnextday.everyday，throughthestonystreets，thetumbrilsnowjoltedheavily，filledwithcondemned.lovelygirls；brightwomen，brown-haired，black-haired，andgrey；youths；stalwartmenandold；gentlebornandpeasantborn；allredwineforlaguillotine，alldailybroughtintolightfromthedarkcellarsoftheloathsomeprisons，andcarriedtoherthroughthestreetstoslakeherdevouringthirst.liberty，equality，fraternity，ordeath；—thelast，muchtheeasiesttobestow，oguillotine！ifthesuddennessofhercalamity，andthewhirlingwheelsofthetime，hadstunnedthedoctor'sdaughterintoawaitingtheresultinidledespair，itwouldbuthavebeenwithherasitwaswithmany.but，fromthehourwhenshehadtakenthewhiteheadtoherfreshyoungbosominthegarretofsaintantoine，shehadbeentruetoherduties.shewastruesttothemintheseasonoftrial，asallthequietlyloyalandgoodwillalwaysbe.

assoonastheywereestablishedintheirnewresidence，andherfatherhadenteredontheroutineofhisavocations，shearrangedthelittlehouseholdasexactlyasifherhusbandhadbeenthere.everythinghaditsappointedplaceanditsappointedtime.littlelucieshetaught，asregularly，asiftheyhadallbeenunitedintheirenglishhome.theslightdeviceswithwhichshecheatedherselfintotheshowofabeliefthattheywouldsoonbereunited—thelittlepreparationsforhisspeedyreturn，thesettingasideofhischairandhisbooks—these，andthesolemnprayeratnightforonedearprisonerespecially，amongthemanyunhappysoulsinprisonandtheshadowofdeath—werealmosttheonlyoutspokenreliefsofherheavymind.

shedidnotgreatlyalterinappearance.theplaindarkdresses，akintomourningdresses，whichsheandherchildwore，wereasneatandaswellattendedtoasthebrighterclothesofhappydays.shelosthercolour，andtheoldandintentexpressionwasaconstant，notanoccasional，thing；otherwise，sheremainedveryprettyandcomely.sometimes，atnightonkissingherfather，shewouldburstintothegriefshehadrepressedallday，andwouldsaythathersolereliance，underheaven，wasonhim.healwaysresolutelyanswered：'nothingcanhappentohimwithoutmyknowledge，andiknowthaticansavehim，lucie.'

theyhadnotmadetheroundoftheirchangedlifemanyweeks，whenherfathersaidtoher，oncominghomeoneevening：

'mydear，thereisanupperwindowintheprison，towhichcharlescansometimesgainaccessatthreeintheafternoon.whenhecangettoit—whichdependsonmanyuncertaintiesandincidents—hemightseeyouinthestreet，hethinks，ifyoustoodinacertainplacethaticanshowyou.butyouwillnotbeabletoseehim，mypoorchild，andevenifyoucould，itwouldbeunsafeforyoutomakeasignofrecognition.'

'ohshowmetheplace，myfather，andiwillgothereeveryday.'

fromthattime，inallweathers，shewaitedtheretwohours.astheclockstrucktwo，shewasthere，andatfoursheturnedresignedlyaway.whenitwasnottoowetorinclementforherchildtobewithher，theywenttogether；atothertimesshewasalone；but，shenevermissedasingleday.

itwasthedarkanddirtycornerofasmallwindingstreet.thehovelofacutterofwoodintolengthsforburningwastheonlyhouseatthatend；allelsewaswall.onthethirddayofherbeingthere，henoticedher.

'goodday，citizeness.'

'goodday，citizen.'

thismodeofaddresswasnowprescribedbydecree.ithadbeenestablishedvoluntarilysometimeago，amongthemorethoroughpatriots；but，wasnowlawforeverybody.

'walkinghereagain，citizeness？'

'youseeme，citizen！'

thewood-sawyer，whowasalittlemanwitharedundancyofgesture（hehadoncebeenamenderofroads），castaglanceattheprison，pointedattheprison，andputtinghistenfingersbeforehisfacetorepresentbars，peepedthroughthemjocosely.

'butit'snotmybusiness，'saidhe.andwentonsawinghiswood.

nextdayhewaslookingoutforher，andaccostedherthemomentsheappeared.

'what！walkinghereagain，citizeness？'

'yes，citizen.'

'ah！achildtoo！yourmother，isitnot，mylittlecitizeness？'

'doisayyes，mamma？'whisperedlittlelucie，drawingclosetoher.

'yes，dearest.'

'yes，citizen.'

'ah，butit'snotmybusiness.myworkismybusiness.seemysaw！icallitmylittleguillotine.la，la，la；la，la，la！andoffhisheadcomes！'

thebilletfellashespoke，andhethrewitintoabasket.