第101章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(16)

第101章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(16)

xxxvii.aknockatthedoor

ihavesavedhim.'itwasnotanotherofthedreamsinwhichhehadoftencomeback；hewasreallyhere.andyethiswifetrembled，andavaguebutheavyfearwasuponher.

alltheairroundwassothickanddark，thepeopleweresopassionatelyrevengefulandfitful，theinnocentweresoconstantlyputtodeathonvaguesuspicionandblackmalice，itwassoimpossibletoforgetthatmanyasblamelessasherhusbandandasdeartoothersashewastoher，everydaysharedthefatefromwhichhehadbeenclutched，thatherheartcouldnotbeaslightenedofitsloadasshefeltitoughttobe.theshadowsofthewintryafternoonwerebeginningtofall，andevennowthedreadfulcartswererollingthroughthestreets.hermindpursuedthem，lookingforhimamongthecondemned；andthensheclungclosertohisrealpresenceandtrembledmore.

herfather，cheeringher，showedacompassionatesuperioritytothiswoman'sweakness，whichwaswonderfultosee.nogarret，noshoemaking，noonehundredandfive，northtower，now！hehadaccomplishedthetaskhehadsethimself，hispromisewasredeemed，hehadsavedcharles.letthemallleanuponhim.

theirhousekeepingwasofaveryfrugalkind：notonlybecausethatwasthesafestwayoflife，involvingtheleastoffencetothepeople，butbecausetheywerenotrich，andcharles，throughouthisimprisonment，hadhadtopayheavilyforhisbadfood，andforhisguard，andtowardsthelivingofthepoorerprisoners.partlyonthisaccount，andpartlytoavoidadomesticspy，theykeptnoservant；thecitizenandcitizenesswhoactedasportersatthecourt-yardgate，renderedthemoccasionalservice；andjerry（almostwhollytransferredtothembymr.lorry）hadbecometheirdailyretainer，andhadhisbedthereeverynight.

itwasanordinanceoftherepubliconeandindivisible，ofliberty，equality，fraternity，ordeath，thatonthedoorordoor-postofeveryhouse，thenameofeveryinmatemustbelegiblyinscribedinlettersofacertainsize，atacertainconvenientheightfromtheground.mr.jerrycruncher'sname，therefore，dulyembellishedthedoor-postdownbelow；and，astheafternoonshadowsdeepened，theownerofthatnamehimselfappeared，fromoverlookingapainterwhomdoctormanettehademployedtoaddtothelistthenameofcharlesevremonde，calleddarnay.

intheuniversalfearanddistrustthatdarkenedthetime，alltheusualharmlesswaysoflifewerechanged.inthedoctor'slittlehousehold，asinverymanyothers，thearticlesofdailyconsumptionthatwerewantedwerepurchasedeveryevening，insmallquantitiesandatvarioussmallshops.toavoidattractingnotice，andtogiveaslittleoccasionaspossiblefortalkandenvy，wasthegeneraldesire.

forsomemonthspast，missprossandmr.cruncherhaddischargedtheofficeofpurveyors；theformercarryingthemoney；thelatter，thebasket.everyafternoonataboutthetimewhenthepubliclampswerelighted，theyfaredforthonthisduty，andmadeandbroughthomesuchpurchasesaswereneedful.althoughmisspross，throughherlongassociationswithafrenchfamily，mighthaveknownasmuchoftheirlanguageasofherown，ifshehadhadamind，shehadnomindinthatdirection；consequentlysheknewnomoreofthat'nonsense'（asshewaspleasedtocallit）thanmr.cruncherdid.sohermannerofmarketingwastoplumpanoun-substantiveattheheadofashop-keeperwithoutanyintroductioninthenatureofanarticle，and，ifithappenednottobethenameofthethingshewanted，tolookroundforthatthing，layholdofit，andholdonbyituntilthebargainwasconcluded.shealwaysmadeabargainforit，byholdingup，asastatementofitsjustprice，onefingerlessthanthemerchantheldup，whateverhisnumbermightbe.

'now，mr.cruncher，'saidmisspross，whoseeyeswereredwithfelicity；'ifyouareready，iam.'

jerryhoarselyprofessedhimselfatmisspross'sservice.hehadwornallhisrustofflongago，butnothingwouldfilehisspikyheaddown.

'there'sallmannerofthingswanted，'saidmisspross，'andweshallhaveaprecioustimeofit.wewantwine，amongtherest.nicetoaststheseredheadswillbedrinking，whereverwebuyit.'

'itwillbemuchthesametoyourknowledge，miss，ishouldthink，'retortedjerry，'whethertheydrinkyourhealthortheoldun's.'

'who'she？'saidmisspross.

mr.cruncher，withsomediffidence，explainedhimselfasmeaning'oldnick's.'

'ha！'saidmisspross，'itdoesn'tneedaninterpretertoexplainthemeaningofthesecreatures.theyhavebutone，andit'smidnightmurder，andmischief.''hush，dear！pray，pray，becautious！'criedlucie.

'yes，yes，yes，i'llbecautious，'saidmisspross；'butimaysayamongourselves，thatidohopetherewillbenoonionyoysmotheringsintheformofembracingsallround，goingoninthestreets.now，ladybird，neveryoustirfromthatfiretillicomeback！takecareofthedearhusbandyouhaverecovered，anddon'tmoveyourprettyheadfromhisshoulderasyouhaveitnow，tillyouseemeagain！mayiaskaquestion，doctormanette，beforeigo？'

'ithinkyoumaytakethatliberty，'thedoctoranswered，smiling.

'forgracioussake，don'ttalkaboutliberty；wehavequiteenoughofthat，'saidmisspross.

'hush，dear！again？'lucieremonstrated.

'well，mysweet，'saidmisspross，noddingherheademphatically，'theshortandthelongofitis，thatiamasubjectofhismostgraciousmajestykinggeorgethethird'；missprosscurtseyedatthename；'andassuch，mymaximis，confoundtheirpolitics，frustratetheirknavishtricks，onhimourhopeswefix，godsavetheking！'

mr.cruncherinanaccessofloyalty，growlinglyrepeatedthewordsaftermisspross，likesomebodyatchurch.