第72章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(55)

第72章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(55)

hehadnoideathatthiscoulddwellinthethoughtsofhisfairyoungwife；but，whenheafterwardsjoinedherintheirownrooms，hefoundherwaitingforhimwiththeoldprettyliftingoftheforeheadstronglymarked.

'wearethoughtfultonight！'saiddarnay，drawinghisarmabouther.

'yes，dearestcharles，'withherhandsonhisbreast，andtheinquiringandattentiveexpressionfixeduponhim；'weareratherthoughtfultonight，forwehavesomethingonourmindtonight.'

'whatisit，mylucie？'

'willyoupromisenottopressonequestiononme，ifibegyounottoaskit？'

'willipromise？whatwillinotpromisetomylove？'

what，indeed，withhishandputtingasidethegoldenhairfromthecheek，andhisotherhandagainsttheheartthatbeatforhim！'ithink，charles，poormr.cartondeservesmoreconsiderationandrespectthanyouexpressedforhimtonight.'

'indeed，myown？whyso？'

'thatiswhatyouarenottoaskme！butithink—iknow—hedoes.'

'ifyouknowit，itisenough.whatwouldyouhavemedo，mylife？'

'iwouldaskyou，dearest，tobeverygenerouswithhimalways，andverylenientonhisfaultswhenheisnotby.iwouldaskyoutobelievethathehasahearthevery，veryseldomreveals，andthattherearedeepwoundsinit.mydear，ihaveseenitbleeding.'

'itisapainfulreflectiontome，'saidcharlesdarnay，quiteastounded，'thatishouldhavedonehimanywrong.ineverthoughtthisofhim.'

'myhusband，itisso.ifearheisnottobereclaimed；thereisscarcelyahopethatanythinginhischaracterorfortunesisreparablenow.but，iamsurethatheiscapableofgoodthings，gentlethings，evenmagnanimousthings.'

shelookedsobeautifulinthepurityofherfaithinthislostman，thatherhusbandcouldhavelookedatherasshewasforhours.

'and，omydearestlove！'sheurged，clingingnearertohim，layingherheaduponhisbreast，andraisinghereyestohis，'rememberhowstrongweareinourhappiness，andhowweakheisinhismisery！'

thesupplicationtouchedhimhome.'iwillalwaysrememberit，dearheart.iwillrememberitaslongasilive.'

hebentoverthegoldenhead，andputtherosylipstohis，andfoldedherinhisarms.ifoneforlornwandererthenpacingthedarkstreets，couldhaveheardherinnocentdisclosure，andcouldhaveseenthedropsofpitykissedawaybyherhusbandfromthesoftblueeyessolovingofthathusband，hemighthavecriedtothenight—andthewordswouldnothavepartedfromhislipsforthefirsttime—'godblessherforhersweetcompassion！'

xxvii.echoingfootsteps

awonderfulcornerforechoes，ithasbeenremarked，thatcornerwherethedoctorlived.everbusilywindingthegoldenthreadwhichboundherhusband，andherfather，andherself，andherolddirectressandcompanion，inalifeofquietbliss，luciesatinthestillhouseonthetranquillyresoundingcorner，listeningtotheechoingfootstepsofyears.

atfirst，thereweretimes，thoughshewasaperfectlyhappyyoungwife，whenherworkwouldslowlyfallfromherhands，andhereyeswouldbedimmed.for，therewassomethingcomingintheechoes，somethinglight，afaroff，andscarcelyaudibleyet，thatstirredherhearttoomuch.flutteringhopesanddoubts—hopes，ofaloveasyetunknowntoher：doubts，ofherremaininguponearth，toenjoythatnewdelight—dividedherbreast.amongtheechoesthen，therewouldarisethesoundoffootstepsatherownearlygrave；andthoughtsofthehusbandwhowouldbeleftsodesolate，andwhowouldmournforhersomuch，swelledtohereyes，andbrokelikewaves.

thattimepassed，andherlittlelucielayonherbosom.then，amongtheadvancingechoes，therewasthetreadofhertinyfeetandthesoundofherprattlingwords.letgreaterechoesresoundastheywould，theyoungmotheratthecradlesidecouldalwayshearthosecoming.theycame，andtheshadyhousewassunnywithachild'slaugh，andthedivinefriendofchildren，towhominhertroubleshehadconfidedhers，seemedtotakeherchildinhisarms，ashetookthechildofold，andmadeitasacredjoytoher.

everbusilywindingthegoldenthreadthatboundthemalltogether，weavingtheserviceofherhappyinfluencethroughthetissueofalltheirlives，andmakingitpredominatenowhere，lucieheardintheechoesofyearsnonebutfriendlyandsoothingsounds.herhusband'sstepwasstrongandprosperousamongthem；herfather'sfirmandequal.lo，misspross，inharnessofstring，awakeningtheechoes，asanunrulycharger，whip-corrected，snortingandpawingtheearthundertheplane-treeinthegarden！

evenwhenthereweresoundsofsorrowamongtherest，theywerenotharshnorcruel.evenwhengoldenhair，likeherown，layinahaloonapillowroundthewornfaceofalittleboy，andhesaid，witharadiantsmile，'dearpapaandmamma，iamverysorrytoleaveyouboth，andtoleavemyprettysister；butiamcalled，andimustgo！'thosewerenottearsallofagonythatwettedhisyoungmother'scheekasthespiritdepartedfromherembracethathadbeenentrustedtoit.sufferthemandforbidthemnot.theyseemyfather'sface.ofather，blessedwords！

thus，therustlingofanangel'swingsgotblendedwiththeotherechoes，andtheywerenotwhollyofearth，buthadinthemthatbreathofheaven.sighsofthewindsthatblewoveralittlegarden-tombweremingledwiththemalso，andbothwereaudibletolucie，inahushedmurmur—likethebreathingofasummerseaasleepuponasandyshore—asthelittlelucie，comicallystudiousatthetaskofthemorning，ordressingadollathermother'sfootstool，chatteredinthetonguesofthetwocitiesthatwereblendedinherlife.