a coach. Her father and their old friend got into it, and he took his
seat beside the driver.
When they arrived at the gateway where he had paused in the
dark not many hours before, to picture to himself on which of the
rough stones of the street her feet had trodden, he lifted her again,
and carried her up the staircase to their rooms. There, he laid her
down on a couch, where her child and Miss Pross wept over her.
“Don’t recall her to herself,” he said, softly, to the latter, “she is
better so. Don’t revive her to consciousness, while she only faints.”
“Oh, Carton, Carton, dearCarton!” criedlittleLucie. springing
up and throwing her arms passionately round him, in a burst of
grief. “Now that you have come, I think you will do something to
help mamma, something to save papa! O, look at her, dear Carton!
Can you, of all the people who love her, bear to see her so?”
He bent over the child, and laid her blooming cheek against his
face. He put her gently from him, and looked at her unconscious
mother.
“Before I go,” he said, and paused—“I may kiss her?”
It was remembered afterwards that when he bent down and
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A Tale of Two Cities
touched her face with his lips, he murmured some words. The
child, who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her
grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard
him say, “A life you love.”
When he had gone out into the next room, he turned suddenly
on Mr. Lorry and her father, who were following, and said to the
latter:
“You had great influence but yesterday, Doctor Manette; let it
at least be tried. These judges, and all the men in power are very
friendly to you, and very recognisant of your services; are they
not?”
“Nothing connected with Charles was concealed from me. I had
the strongest assurances that I should save him; and I did.” He
returned the answer in great trouble, and very slowly.
“Try them again. The hours between this and tomorrow
afternoon are few and short, but try.”
“I intend to try. I will not rest a moment.”
“That’s well. I have known such energy as yours do great things
before now—though never,” he added. with a smile and a sigh
together, “such great things as this. But try! Of little worth as life
is when we misuse it, it is worth that effort. It would cost nothing
to lay down if it were not.”
“I will go,” said Doctor Manette, “to the Prosecutor and the
President straight, and I will go to others whom it is better not to
name. I will write too, and—But stay! There is a celebration in the
streets, and no one will be accessible until dark.”
“That’s true. Well! It is a forlorn hope at the best, and not much
the forlorner for being delayed till dark. I should like to know how
you speed; though mind! I expect nothing! When are you likely to
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A Tale of Two Cities
have seen these dread powers, Doctor Manette?”
“Immediately after dark, I should hope. Within an hour or two
from this?”
“It will be dark soon after four. Let us stretch the hour or two. If
I go to Mr. Lorry’s at nine, shall I hear what you have done, either
from our friend or from yourself?”
“Yes.”
“May you prosper!”
Mr. Lorry followed Sydney to the outer door, and, touching him
on the shoulder as he was going away, caused him to turn.
“I have no hope,” said Mr. Lorry, in a low and sorrowful
whisper.
“Nor have I.”
“I"};
