第117章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(32)

第117章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(32)

hecarriedherlightlytothedoor，andlaidhertenderlydowninacoach.herfatherandtheiroldfriendgotintoit，andhetookhisseatbesidethedriver.

whentheyarrivedatthegatewaywherehehadpausedinthedarknotmanyhoursbefore，topicturetohimselfonwhichoftheroughstonesofthestreetherfeethadtrodden，heliftedheragain，andcarriedherupthestaircasetotheirrooms.there，helaidherdownonacouch，whereherchildandmissprossweptoverher.

'don'trecallhertoherself，'hesaid，softly，tothelatter，'sheisbetterso.don'trevivehertoconsciousness，whilesheonlyfaints.'

'oh，carton，carton，dearcarton！'criedlittlelucie.springingupandthrowingherarmspassionatelyroundhim，inaburstofgrief.'nowthatyouhavecome，ithinkyouwilldosomethingtohelpmamma，somethingtosavepapa！o，lookather，dearcarton！canyou，ofallthepeoplewholoveher，beartoseeherso？'

hebentoverthechild，andlaidherbloomingcheekagainsthisface.heputhergentlyfromhim，andlookedatherunconsciousmother.

'beforeigo，'hesaid，andpaused—'imaykissher？'

itwasrememberedafterwardsthatwhenhebentdownandtouchedherfacewithhislips，hemurmuredsomewords.thechild，whowasnearesttohim，toldthemafterwards，andtoldhergrandchildrenwhenshewasahandsomeoldlady，thatsheheardhimsay，'alifeyoulove.'

whenhehadgoneoutintothenextroom，heturnedsuddenlyonmr.lorryandherfather，whowerefollowing，andsaidtothelatter：'youhadgreatinfluencebutyesterday，doctormanette；letitatleastbetried.thesejudges，andallthemeninpowerareveryfriendlytoyou，andveryrecognisantofyourservices；aretheynot？'

'nothingconnectedwithcharleswasconcealedfromme.ihadthestrongestassurancesthatishouldsavehim；andidid.'hereturnedtheansweringreattrouble，andveryslowly.

'trythemagain.thehoursbetweenthisandtomorrowafternoonarefewandshort，buttry.'

'iintendtotry.iwillnotrestamoment.'

'that'swell.ihaveknownsuchenergyasyoursdogreatthingsbeforenow—thoughnever，'headded.withasmileandasightogether，'suchgreatthingsasthis.buttry！oflittleworthaslifeiswhenwemisuseit，itisworththateffort.itwouldcostnothingtolaydownifitwerenot.'

'iwillgo，'saiddoctormanette，'totheprosecutorandthepresidentstraight，andiwillgotootherswhomitisbetternottoname.iwillwritetoo，and—butstay！thereisacelebrationinthestreets，andnoonewillbeaccessibleuntildark.'

'that'strue.well！itisaforlornhopeatthebest，andnotmuchtheforlornerforbeingdelayedtilldark.ishouldliketoknowhowyouspeed；thoughmind！iexpectnothing！whenareyoulikelytohaveseenthesedreadpowers，doctormanette？'

'immediatelyafterdark，ishouldhope.withinanhourortwofromthis？'

'itwillbedarksoonafterfour.letusstretchthehourortwo.ifigotomr.lorry'satnine，shallihearwhatyouhavedone，eitherfromourfriendorfromyourself？'

'yes.'

'mayyouprosper！'

mr.lorryfollowedsydneytotheouterdoor，and，touchinghimontheshoulderashewasgoingaway，causedhimtoturn.

'ihavenohope，'saidmr.lorry，inalowandsorrowfulwhisper.

'norhavei.'

'ifanyoneofthesemen，orallofthesemen，weredisposedtosparehim—whichisalargesupposition；forwhatishislife，oranyman'stothem！—idoubtiftheydurstsparehimafterthedemonstrationinthecourt.'

'andsodoi.iheardthefalloftheaxeinthatsound.'

mr.lorryleanedhisarmuponthedoor-postandbowedhisfaceuponit.

'don'tdespond，'saidcarton，verygently；'don'tgrieve.iencourageddoctormanetteinthisidea，becauseifeltthatitmightonedaybeconsolatorytoher.otherwise，shemightthink'hislifewaswantonlythrownawayorwasted，'andthatmighttroubleher.'

'yes，yes，yes，'returnedmr.lorry，dryinghiseyes，'youareright.buthewillperish；thereisnorealhope.'

'yes.hewillperish：thereisnorealhope，'echoedcarton.andhewalkedwithasettledstep，down-stairs.

xlii.darkness

sydneycartonpausedinthestreet，notquitedecidedwheretogo.'attellson'sbanking-houseatnine，'hesaid，withamusingface.'shallidowell，inthemeantime，toshowmyself？ithinkso.itisbestthatthesepeopleshouldknowthereissuchamanasihere；itisasoundprecaution，andmaybeanecessarypreparation.butcare，care，care！letmethinkitout！'

checkinghisstepswhichhadbeguntotendtowardsanobject，hetookaturnortwointhealreadydarkeningstreet，andtracedthethoughtinhismindtoitspossibleconsequences.hisfirstimpressionwasconfirmed.'itisbest，'hesaid，finallyresolved，'thatthesepeopleshouldknowthereissuchamanasihere.'andheturnedhisfacetowardssaintantoine.

defargehaddescribedhimself，thatday，asthekeeperofawine-shopinthesaintantoinesuburb.itwasnotdifficultforonewhoknewthecitywell，tofindhishousewithoutaskinganyquestion.havingascertaineditssituation，cartoncameoutofthosecloserstreetsagain，anddinedataplaceofrefreshmentandfellsoundasleepafterdinner.forthefirsttimeinmanyyears，hehadnostrongdrink.sincelastnighthehadtakennothingbutalittlelightthinwine，andlastnighthehaddroppedthebrandyslowlydownonmr.lorry'shearthlikeamanwhohaddonewithit.

itwasaslateasseveno'clockwhenheawokerefreshed，andwentoutintothestreetsagain.ashepassedalongtowardssaintantoine，hestoppedatashop-windowwheretherewasamirror，andslightlyalteredthedisorderedarrangementofhisloosecravat，andhiscoat-collar，andhiswildhair.thisdone，hewentondirecttodefarge's，andwentin.