第130章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(45)

第130章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(45)

'therese！'shecries，inhershrilltones.'whohasseenher？theresedefarge！'

'shenevermissedbefore，'saysaknitting-womanofthesisterhood.

'no；norwillshemissnow，'criesthevengeancepetulantly.'therese.'

'louder，'thewomanrecommends.

ay！louder，vengeance，muchlouder，andstillshewillscarcelyhearthee.louderyet，vengeance，withalittleoathorsoadded，andyetitwillhardlybringher.sendotherwomenupanddowntoseekher，lingeringsomewhere；andyet，althoughthemessengershavedonedreaddeeds，itisquestionablewhetheroftheirownwillstheywillgofarenoughtofindher！'badfortune！'criesthevengeance，stampingherfootinthechair，'andherearethetumbrils！andevremondewillbedispatchedinawink，andshenothere！seeherknittinginmyhand，andheremptychairreadyforher.icrywithvexationanddisappointment！'

asthevengeancedescendsfromherelevationtodoit，thetumbrilsbegintodischargetheirloads.theministersofsainteguillotinearerobedandready.crash！—aheadisheldup，andtheknitting-women，whoscarcelyliftedtheireyestolookatitamomentagowhenitcouldthinkandspeak，countone.

thesecondtumbrilemptiesandmoveson；thethirdcomesup.crash！—andtheknitting-women，neverfalteringorpausingintheirwork，counttwo.

thesupposedevremondedescends，andtheseamstressisliftedoutnextafterhim.hehasnotrelinquishedherpatienthandingettingout，butstillholdsitashepromised.hegentlyplacesherwithherbacktothecrashingenginethatconstantlywhirrsupandfalls，andshelooksintohisfaceandthankshim.

'butforyou，dearstranger，ishouldnotbesocomposed，foriamnaturallyapoorlittlething，faintofheart；norshouldihavebeenabletoraisemythoughtstohimwhowasputtodeath，thatwemighthavehopeandcomfortheretoday.ithinkyouweresenttomebyheaven.'

'oryoutome，'sayssydneycarton.'keepyoureyesuponme，dearchild，andmindnootherobject.'

'imindnothingwhileiholdyourhand.ishallmindnothingwheniletitgo，iftheyarerapid.'

'theywillberapid.fearnot！'

thetwostandinthefast-thinningthrongofvictims，buttheyspeakasiftheywerealone.eyetoeye，voicetovoice，handtohand，hearttoheart，thesetwochildrenoftheuniversalmother，elsesowideapartanddiffering，havecometogetheronthedarkhighway，torepairhometogether，andtorestinherbosom.

'braveandgenerousfriend，willyouletmeaskyouonelastquestion？iamveryignorant，andittroublesme—justalittle.'

'tellmewhatitis.'

'ihaveacousin，anonlyrelativeandanorphan，likemyself，whomiloveverydearly.sheisfiveyearsyoungerthani，andshelivesinafarmer'shouseinthesouthcountry.povertypartedus，andsheknowsnothingofmyfate—foricannotwrite—andificould，howshoulditellher！itisbetterasitis.'

'yes，yes，betterasitis.'

'whatihavebeenthinkingaswecamealong，andwhatiamstillthinkingnow，asilookintoyourkindstrongfacewhichgivesmesomuchsupport，isthis：—iftherepublicreallydoesgoodtothepoor，andtheycometobelesshungry，andinallwaystosufferless，shemaylivealongtime：shemayevenlivetobeold.'

'whatthen，mygentlesister？'