第3章

Whenthisinterchangeofchristiannamewaseffected.MadameDefarge,pickingherteethwithhertoothpickcoughedanothergrainofcough,andraisedhereyebrowsbythebreadthofanotherline.

`Itisnotoften,\'saidthesecondofthethree,addressingMonsieurDefarge,`thatmanyofthesemiserablebeastsknowthetasteofwine,orofanythingbutblackbreadanddeath.Isitnotso,Jacques?\'

`Itisso,Jacques,\'MonsieurDefargereturned.

Atthissecondinterchangeofthechristianname,MadameDefarge,stillusinghertoothpickwithprofoundcomposure,coughedanothergrainofcough,andraisedhereyebrowsbythebreadthofanotherline.

Thelastofthethreenowsaidhissay,asheputdownhisemptydrinkingvesselandsmackedhislips.

`Ah!Somuchtheworse!Abittertasteitisthatsuchpoorcattlealwayshaveintheirmouths,andhardlivestheylive,Jacques.AmIright,Jacques?\'

`Youareright,Jacques,\'wastheresponseofMonsieurDefarge.

ThisthirdinterchangeofthechristiannamewascompletedatthemomentwhenMadameDefargeputhertoothpickby,kepthereyebrowsup,andslightlyrustledinherseat.

`Holdthen!True!\'mutteredherhusband.`Gentlemen——mywife!\'

ThethreecustomerspulledofftheirhatstoMadameDefarge,withthreeflourishes.Sheacknowledgedtheirhomagebybendingherhead,andgivingthemaquicklook.Thensheglancedinacasualmannerroundthewine-shop,tookupherknittingwithgreatapparentcalmnessandreposeofspirit,andbecameabsorbedinit.

`Gentlemen,\'saidherhusband,whohadkepthisbrighteyeobservantlyuponher,`goodday.Thechamber,furnishedbachelor-fashion,thatyouwishedtosee,and`wereinquiringforwhenIsteppedout,isonthefifthfloor.Thedoorwayofthestaircasegivesonthelittlecourt-yardclosetothelefthere,\'pointingwithhishand,`neartothewindowofmyestablishment.But,nowthatIremember,oneofyouhasalreadybeenthere,andcanshowtheway.Gentlemen,adieu!

Theypaidfortheirwine,andlefttheplace.TheeyesofMonsieurDefargewerestudyinghiswifeatherknittingwhentheelderlygentlemanadvancedfromhiscorner,andbeggedthefavourofaword.

`Willingly,sir,\'saidMonsieurDefarge,andquietlysteppedwithhimtothedoor.

Theirconferencewasveryshort,butverydecided.Almostatthefirstword,MonsieurDefargestartedandbecamedeeplyattentive.Ithadnotlastedaminute,whenhenoddedandwentout.Thegentlemanthenbeckonedtotheyounglady,andthey,too,wentout.MadameDefargeknittedwithnimblefingersandsteadyeyebrows,andsawnothing.

Mr.JarvisLorryandMissManette,emergingfromthewine-shopthus,joinedMonsieurDefargeinthedoorwaytowhichhehaddirectedhisothercompanyjustbefore.Itopenedfromastinkinglittleblackcourt-yard,andwasthegeneralpublicentrancetoagreatpileofhouses,inhabitedbyagreatnumberofpeople.Inthegloomytile-pavedentrytothegloomytile-pavedstaircase,MonsieurDefargebentdownononekneetothechildofhisoldmaster,andputherhandtohislips.Itwasagentleaction,butnotatallgentlydone;averyremarkabletransformationhadcomeoverhiminafewseconds.Hehadnogood-humourinhisface,noranyopennessofaspectleft,buthadbecomeasecret,angry,dangerousman.

`Itisveryhigh;itisalittledifficult.Bettertobeginslowly.\'Thus,MonsieurDefarge,inasternvoice,toMr.Lorry,astheybeganascendingthestairs.

`Ishealone?\'thelatterwhispered.

`Alone!Godhelphim,whoshouldbewithhim?\'saidtheother,inthesamelowvoice.

`Ishe,alwaysalone,then?\'

`Yes.

`Ofhisowndesire?\'

`Ofhisownnecessity.Ashewas,whenIfirstsawhimaftertheyfoundmeanddemandedtoknowifIwouldtakehim,and,atmyperilbediscreet——hashewasthen,soheisnow.

`Heisgreatlychanged?\'

`Changed!\'

Thekeeperofthewine-shopstoppedtostrikethewallwithhishand,andmutteratremendouscurse.Nodirectanswercouldhavebeenhalfsoforcible.Mr.Lorry\'sspiritsgrewheavierandheavier,asheandhistwocompanionsascendedhigherandhigher.

Suchastaircase,withitsaccessories,intheolderandmorecrowdedpartsofParis,wouldbebadenoughnow;but,atthattime,itwasvileindeedtounaccustomedandunhardenedsenses.Everylittlehabitationwithinthegreatfoulnestofonehighbuilding——thatistosay,theroomorroomswithineverydoorthatopenedonthegeneralstaircase——leftitsownheapofrefuseonitsownlanding,besidesRingingotherrefusefromitsownwindows.Theuncontrollableandhopelessmassofdecompositionsoengendered,wouldhavepollutedtheair,evenifpovertyanddeprivationhadnotloadeditwit!\'theirintangibleimpurities;theMobadsourcescombinedmadeitalmostinsupportable.Throughsuchanatmosphere,byasteepdarkshaftofdirtandpoison,thewaylay.Yieldingtohisowndisturbanceofmind,andtohisyoungcompanion\'sagitation,whichbecamegreatereveryinstant,Mr.JarvisLorrytwicestoppedtorest.Eachofthesestoppageswasmadeatadolefulgrating,bywhichanylanguishinggoodairsthatwereleftuncorruptedseemedtoescape,andallspoiltandsicklyvapoursseemedtocrawlin.Throughtherustedbars,tastes,ratherthanglimpses,werecaughtofthejumbledneighbourhood;andnothingwithinrange,nearerorlowerthanthesummitsofthetwo-greattowersofNotre-Dame,hadanypromiseonitofhealthylifeorwholesomeaspirations.

Atlast,thetopofthestaircasewasgained,andtheystoppedforthethirdtime.Therewasyetanupperstaircase,ofasteeperinclinationandofcontracteddimensions,tobeascended,beforethegarretstorywasreached.Thekeeperofthewine-shop,alwaysgoingalittleinadvance,andalwaysgoingonthesidewhichMr.Lorrytook,asthoughhedreadedtobeaskedanyquestionbytheyounglady,turnedhimselfabouthere,and,carefullyfeelinginthepocketsofthecoathecarriedoverhisshoulder,tookoutakey.

`Thedoorislockedthen,myfriend?\'saidMr.Lorry\',surprised.

`Ay.Yes,\'wasthegrimreplyofMonsieurDefarge.

`Youthinkitnecessarytokeeptheunfortunategentlemansoretired?\'

`Ithinkitnecessarytoturnthekey.\'MonsieurDefargewhispereditcloserinhisear,andfrownedheavily.

`Why?\'

`Why!Becausehehaslivedsolong,lockedup,thathewouldbefrightened——rave——tearhimselftopieces——die——cometoIknownotwhatharm-ifhisdoorwasleftopen.\'

`Isitpossible?\'exclaimedMr.Lorry.

`Isitpossible?\'repeatedDefarge,bitterly.`Yes.Andabeautifulworldwelivein,whenitispossible,andwhenmanyothersuchthingsarepossible,andnotonlypossible,butdone——done,seeyou!——underthatskythere,everyday.LonglivetheDevil.Letusgoon.\'

Thisdialoguehadbeenheldinsoverylowawhisper,thatnotawordofithadreachedtheyounglady\'sears.But,bythistimeshetrembledundersuchstrongemotion,andherfaceexpressedsuchdeepanxiety,and,aboveall,suchdreadandterror,thatMr.Lorryfeltitincumbentonhimtospeakawordortwoofreassurance.

`Courage,dearmiss!Courage!Business!Theworstwillbeoverinamoment;itisbutpassingtheroom-door,andtheworstisover.Then,allthegoodyoubringtohim,alltherelief,allthehappinessyoubringtohim,begin.Letourgoodfriendhere,assistyouonthatside.That\'swell,friendDefarge.Come,now.Business,business!\'

Theywentupslowlyandsoftly.Thestaircasewasshort,andtheyweresoonatthetop.There,asithadanabruptturninit,theycameallatonceinsightofthreemen,whoseheadswerebentdownclosetogetheratthesideofadoor,andwhowereintentlylookingintotheroomtowhichthedoorbelonged,throughsomechinksorholesinthewall.Onhearingfootstepscloseathand,thesethreeturned,androse,andshowedthemselvestobethethreeofonenamewhohadbeendrinkinginthewine-shop.

`Iforgottheminthesurpriseofyourvisit,\'explainedMonsieurDefarge.`Leaveus,goodboys;wehavebusiness\'here.\'

Thethreeglidedby,andwentsilentlydown.

Thereappearingtobenootherdooronthatfloor,andthekeeperofthewine-shopgoingstraighttothisonewhentheywereleftalone,Mr.Lorryaskedhiminawhisper,withlittleanger:

`DoyoumakeashowofMonsieurManette?\'

`Ishowhim,inthewayyouhaveseen,toachosenfew.\'

`Isthatwell?\'

`Ithinkitiswell.\'

`Whoarethefew?Howdoyouchoosethem?\'

`Ichoosethemasrealmen,ofmyname——Jacquesismyname——towhomthesightislikelytodogood.EnoughyouareEnglish;thatisanotherthing.Staythere,ifyouplease,alittlemoment.\'

Withanadmonitorygesturetokeepthemback,hestooped,andlookedinthroughthecreviceinthewall.Soonraisinghisheadagain,hestrucktwiceorthriceuponthedoor——evidentlywithnootherobjectthantomakeanoisethereWiththesameintention,hedrewthekeyacrossit,threeorfourtimes,beforeheputitclumsilyintothelock,andturneditasheavilyashecould.

Thedoorslowlyopenedinwardunderhishand,andhelookedintotheroomandsaidsomething.Afaintvoiceansweredsomething.Littlemorethanasinglesyllablecouldhavebeenspokenoneitherside.

Helookedbackoverhisshoulder,andbeckonedthemccenter.Mr.Lorrygothisarmsecurelyroundthedaughterwaist,andheldher;forhefeltthatshewassinking.

`A——a——a——business,business!\'heurged,withamoisturethatwasnotofbusinessshiningonhischeek.`Comeincomein!\'

`Iamafraidofit,\'sheanswered,shuddering.

`Ofit?What?\'

`Imeanofhim.Ofmyfather.\'

Renderedinamannerdesperate,byherstateandbythebeckoningoftheirconductor,hedrewoverhisneckthearmthatshookuponhisshoulder,liftedheralittle,andhurriedherintotheroom.Hesetherdownjustwithinthedoorandheldher,clingingtohim.

Defargedrewoutthekey,closedthedoor,lockeditontheinside,tookoutthekeyagain,andhelditinhishand.Allthishedid,methodically,andwithasloudandharshanaccompanimentofnoiseashecouldmake.Finally,hewalkedacrosstheroomwithameasuredtreadtowherethewindowwas.Hestoppedthere,andfacedround.

Thegarret,builttobeadepositoryforfirewoodandthelike,wasdimanddark:forthewindowofdormershape,wasintruthadoorintheroof,withalittlecraneoveritforthehoistingupofstoresfromthestreet:unglazed,analclosingupthemiddleintwopieces,likeanyotherdoorofFrenchconstruction.Toexcludethecold,onehalfofthindoorwasfastclosed,andtheotherwasopenedbutaverylittleway.Suchascantyportionoflightwasadmittedthroughthesemeans,thatitwasdifficult,onfirstcomingin,toseeanything;andlonghabitalonecouldhaveslowlyformedinanyone,theabilitytodoanyworkrequiringnicetyinsuchobscurity.Yet,workofthatkindwasbeingdoneinthegarret;for,withhisbacktowardsthedoor,andhisfacetowardsthewindowwherethekeeperofthewine-shopstoodlookingathim,awhite-hairedmansatonalowbench,stoopingforwardandverybusy,makingshoes.

CHAPTERVI

TheShoemaker

`GOODDAY!\'saidMonsieurDefarge,lookingdownathewhiteheadthatbentlowovertheshoemaking.

Itwasraisedforamoment,andaveryfaintvoicerespondedtothesalutation,asifitwereatadistance:

`Goodday!\'

`Youarestillhardatwork,Isee?\'

Afteralongsilence,theheadwasliftedforanothermoment,andthevoicereplied,`Yes——Iamworking.\'Thistime,apairofhaggardeyeshadlookedatthequestioner,beforethefacehaddroppedagain.

Thefaintnessofthevoicewaspitiableanddreadful.Itwasnotthefaintnessofphysicalweakness,thoughconfinementandhardfarenodoubthadtheirpartinit.Itsdeplorablepeculiaritywas,thatitwasthefaintnessofsolitudeanddisuse.Itwaslikethelastfeebleechoofasoundmadelongandlongago.Soentirelyhaditlostthelifeandresonanceofthehumanvoice,thatitaffectedthesenseslikeaoncebeautifulcolourfadedawayintoapoorweakstain.Sosunkenandsuppresseditwas,thatitwaslikeavoiceunder-ground.Soexpressiveitwas,ofahopelessandlostcreature,thatafamishedtraveller,weariedOutbylonelywanderinginawilderness,wouldhaverememberedhomeandfriendsinsuchatonebeforelyingdowntodie.

Someminutesofsilentworkhadpassed:andthehaggardeyeshadlookedupagain:notwithanyinterestorcuriosity,butwithadullmechanicalperception,beforehand,thatthespotwheretheonlyvisitortheywereawareofhadstood,wasnotyetempty.

`Iwant,\'saidDefarge,whohadnotremovedhisgazefromtheshoemaker,`toletinalittlemorelighthere.Youcanbearalittlemore?\'

Theshoemakerstoppedhiswork;lookedwithavacantairoflistening,atthefloorononesideofhim;thensimilarly,atthefloorontheothersideofhim;then,upwardatthespeaker.

`Whatdidyousay?\'

`Youcanbearalittlemorelight?\'

`Imustbearit,ifyouletitin.\'(Layingthepalestshadowofastressuponthesecondword.)

Theopenedhalf-doorwasopenedalittlefurther,andsecuredatthatangleforthetime.Abroadrayoflightfellintothegarret,andshowedtheworkmanwithanun-finishedshoeuponhislap,pausinginhislabour.Hisfewcommontoolsandvariousscrapsofleatherwereathisfeetandonhisbench.Hehadawhitebeard,raggedlycut,butnotverylong,ahollowface,andexceedinglybrighteyes.Thehollownessandthinnessofhisfacewouldhavecausedthemtolooklarge,underhisyetdarkeyebrowsandhisconfusedwhitehair,thoughtheyhadbeenreallyotherwise;but,theywerenaturallylarge,andlookedun-naturallyso.Hisyellowragsofshirtlayopenatthethroat,andshowedhisbodytobewitheredandworn.He,andhisoldcanvasfrock,andhisloosestockings,andallhispoortattersofclothes,had,inalongseclusionfromdirectlightandair,fadeddowntosuchadulluniformityofparchment-yellow,thatitwouldhavebeenhardtosaywhichwaswhich.

Hehadputupahandbetweenhiseyesandthelight,andtheverybonesofitseemedtransparent.Sohesat,withasteadfastlyvacantgaze,pausinginhiswork.Heneverlookedatthefigurebeforehim,withoutfirstlookingdownonthissideofhimself,thenonthat,asifhehadlostthehabitofassociatingplacewithsound;heneverspoke,withoutfirstpanderinginthismanner,andforgettingtospeak.

`Areyougoingtofinishthatpairofshoesto-day?\'askedDefarge,motioningtoMr.Lorrytocomeforward.

`Whatdidyousay?\'

`Doyoumeantofinishthatpairofshoesto-day?\'`Ican\'tsaythatImeanto.Isupposeso.Idon\'tknow.\'

But,thequestionremindedhimofhiswork,andhebentoveritagain.

Mr.Lorrycamesilentlyforward,leavingthedaughterbythedoor.Whenhehadstood,foraminuteortwo,bythesideofDefarge,theshoemakerlookedup.Heshowednosurpriseatseeinganotherfigure,buttheunsteadyfingersofoneofhishandsstrayedtohislipsashelookedatit(hislipsandhisnailswereofthesamepalelead-colour),andthenthehanddroppedtohiswork,andheoncemorebentovertheshoe.Thelookandtheactionhadoccupiedbutaninstant.

`Youhaveavisitor,yousee,\'saidMonsieurDefarge.

`Whatdidyousay?\'

`Hereisavisitor.\'

Theshoemakerlookedupasbefore,butwithoutremovingahandfromhiswork.

`Come!\'saidDefarge.`Hereismonsieur,whoknowsawell-madeshoewhenheseesone.Showhimthatshoeyouareworkingat.Takeit,monsieur.\'

Mr.Lorrytookitinhishand.

`Tellmonsieurwhatkindofshoeitis,andthemaker\'sname.\'

Therewasalongerpausethanusual,beforetheshoe-makerreplied:

`Iforgetwhatitwasyouaskedme.Whatdidyousay?\'

`Isaid,couldn\'tyoudescribethekindofshoe,formonsieur\'sinformation?\'

`Itisalady\'sshoe.Itisayounglady\'swalking-shoe.Itisinthepresentmode.Ineversawthemode.Ihavehadapatterninmyhand.\'Heglancedattheshoewithsomelittlepassingtouchofpride.

`Andthemaker\'sname?\'saidDefarge.

Nowthathehadnoworktohold,helaidtheknucklesoftherighthandinthehollowoftheleft,andthentheknucklesofthelefthandinthehollowoftheright,andthenpassedahandacrosshisbeardedchin,andsooninregularchanges,withoutamoment\'sintermission.Thetaskofrecallinghimfromthevacancyintowhichhealwayssankwhenhehadspoken,waslikerecallingsomeveryweakpersonfromaswoon,orendeavouring,inthehopeofsomedisclosure,tostaythespiritofafast-dyingman.

`Didyouaskmeformyname?\'

`AssuredlyIdid.\'

`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower.\'

`Isthatall?\'

`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower.\'

Withawearysoundthatwasnotasigh,noragroan,hebenttoworkagain,untilthesilencewasagainbroken.

`Youarenotashoemakerbytrade?\'saidMr.Lorry,lookingsteadfastlyathim.

HishaggardeyesturnedtoDefargeasifhewouldhavetransferredthequestiontohim:butasnohelpcamefromthatquarter,theyturnedbackonthequestionerwhentheyhadsoughttheground.

`Iamnotashoemakerbytrade?No,Iwasnotashoe-makerbytrade.I——Ilearn\'tithere.Itaughtmyself.Iaskedleaveto——\'

Helapsedaway,evenforminutes,ringingthosemeasuredchangesonhishandsthewholetime.Hiseyescameslowlyback,atlast,tothefacefromwhichtheyhadwandered;whentheyrestedonit,hestarted,andresumed,inthemannerofasleeperthatmomentawake,revertingtoasubjectoflastnight.

`Iaskedleavetoteachmyself,andIgotitwithmuchdifficultyafteralongwhile,andIhavemadeshoeseversince.\'

Asheheldouthishandfortheshoethathadbeentakenfromhim,Mr.Lorrysaid,stilllookingsteadfastlyinhisface:

`MonsieurManette,doyouremembernothingofme?\'

Theshoedroppedtotheground,andhesatlookingfixedlyatthequestioner.

`MonsieurManette;\'Mr.LorrylaidhishanduponDefarge\'sarm;`doyouremembernothingofthisman?Lookathim.Lookatme.Istherenooldbanker,nooldbusiness,nooldservant,nooldtime,risinginyourmind,MonsieurManette?\'

Asthecaptiveofmanyyearssatlookingfixedly,byturns,atMr.LorryandatDefarge,somelongobliteratedmarksofanactivelyintentintelligenceinthemiddleofthefore-head,graduallyforcedthemselvesthroughtheblackmistthathadfallenonhim.Theywereovercloudedagain,theywerefainter,theyweregone;buttheyhadbeenthere.Andsoexactlywastheexpressionrepeatedonthefairyoungfaceofherwhohadcreptalongthewalltoapointwhereshecouldseehim,andwhereshenowstoodlookingathim,withhandswhichatfirsthadbeenonlyraisedinfrightenedcompassion,ifnoteventokeephimoffandshutoutthesightofhim,butwhichwerenowextendingtowardshim,tremblingwitheagernesstolaythespectralfaceuponherwarmyoungbreast,andloveitbacktolifeandhope——soexactlywastheexpressionrepeated(thoughinstrongercharacters)onherfairyoungface,thatitlookedasthoughithadpassedlikeamovinglight,fromhimtoher.

Darknesshadfallenonhiminitsplace.Helookedatthetwo,lessandlessattentively,andhiseyesingloomyabstractionsoughtthegroundandlookedabouthimintheoldway.Finally,withadeeplongsigh,hetooktheshoeup,andresumedhiswork.

`Haveyourecognisedhim,monsieur?\'askedDefargeinawhisper.

`Yes;foramoment.AtfirstIthoughtitquitehope-less,butIhaveunquestionablyseen,forasinglemoment,thefacethatIonceknewsowell.Hush!Letusdrawfurtherback.Hush!\'

Shehadmovedfromthewallofthegarret,veryneartothebenchonwhichhesat.Therewassomethingawfulinhisunconsciousnessofthefigurethatcouldhaveputoutitshandandtouchedhimasliestoopedoverhislabour.

Notawordwasspoken,notasoundwasmade.Shestood,likeaspirit,besidehim,andhebentoverhiswork.

Ithappened,atlength,thathehadoccasiontochangetheinstrumentinhishand,forhisshoemaker\'sknife.Itlayonthatsideofhimwhichwasnotthesideonwhichshestood.Hehadtakenitup,andwasstoopingtoworkagain,whenhiseyescaughttheskirtofherdress.Heraisedthem,andsawherface.Thetwospectatorsstartedforward,hutshestayedthemwithamotionofherhand.Shehadnofearofhisstrikingatherwiththeknife,thoughtheyhad.

Hestaredatherwithafearfullook,andafterawhilehislipsbegantoformsomewords,thoughnosoundproceededfromthem.Bydegrees,inthepausesofhisquickandlabouredbreathing,hewasheardtosay:

`Whatisthis?\'

Withthetearsstreamingdownherface,sheputhertwohandstoherlips,andkissedthemtohim;thenclaspedthemonherbreast,asifshelaidhisruinedheadthere.

`Youarenotthegaoler\'sdaughter?\'

Shesighed`No.\'

`Whoareyou?\'

Notyettrustingthetonesofhervoice,shesatdownonthebenchbesidehim.Herecoiled,butshelaidherhanduponhisarm.Astrangethrillstruckhimwhenshedidso,andvisiblypassedoverhisframe;helaidtheknifedownsoftly,ashesatstaringather.

Hergoldenhair,whichsheworeinlongcurls,hadbeenhurriedlypushedaside,andfelldownoverherneck.Advancinghishandbylittleandlittle,hetookitupandlookedatit.Inthemidstoftheactionhewentastray,and,withanotherdeepsigh,felltoworkathisshoemaking.

Butnotforlong.Releasinghisarm,shelaidherhanduponhisshoulder.Afterlookingdoubtfullyatit,twoorthreetimes,asiftobesurethatitwasreallythere,helaiddownhiswork,puthishandtohisneck,andtookoffablackenedstringwithascrapoffoldedragattachedtoit.Heopenedthis,carefully,onhisknee,anditcontainedaverylittlequantityofhair:notmorethanoneortwolonggoldenhairs,whichhehad,insomeoldday,woundonuponhisfinger.

Hetookherhairintohishandagain,andlookedcloselyatit.`Itisthesame.Howcanitbe!Whenwasit!Howwasit!\'

Astheconcentratingexpressionreturnedtohisforehead,heseemedtobecomeconsciousthatitwasinherstoo.Heturnedherfulltothelight,andlookedather.

`Shehadlaidherheaduponmyshoulder,thatnightwhenIwassummonedout——shehadafearofmygoing,thoughIhadnone——andwhenIwasbroughttotheNorthTowertheyfoundtheseuponmysleeve."Youwillleavemethem?Theycanneverhelpmetoescapeinthebody,thoughtheymayinthespirit."ThosewerethewordsIsaid.Irememberthemverywell.\'

Heformedthisspeechwithhislipsmanytimesbeforehecouldutterit.Butwhenhedidfindspokenwordsforit,theycametohimcoherently,thoughslowly.

`Howwasthis?——Wasityou?\'

Oncemore,thetwospectatorsstarted,asheturneduponherwithafrightfulsuddenness.Butshesatperfectlystillinhisgrasp,andonlysaid,inalowvoice,`Ientreatyou,goodgentlemen,donotcomenearus,donotspeak,donotmove!\'

`Hark!\'heexclaimed.`Whosevoicewasthat?\'

Hishandsreleasedherasheutteredthiscry,andwentuptohiswhitehair,whichtheytoreinafrenzy.Itdiedout,aseverythingbuthisshoemakingdiddieoutofhim,andherefoldedhislittlepacketandtriedtosecureitinhisbreast;buthestilllookedather,andgloomilyshookhishead.

`No,no,no;youaretooyoung,tooblooming.Itcan\'tbe.Seewhattheprisoneris.Thesearenotthehandssheknew,thisisnotthefacesheknew,thisisnotavoicesheeverheard.No,no.Shewas——andHewas——beforetheslowyearsoftheNorthTower——agesago.Whatisyourname,mygentleangel?\'

Hailinghissoftenedtoneandmanner,hisdaughterfelluponherkneesbeforehim,withherappealinghandsuponhisbreast.

`O,sir,atanothertimeyoushallknowmyname,andwhomymotherwas,andwhomyfather,andhowIneverknewtheirhard,hardhistory.ButIcannottellyouatthistime,andIcannottellyouhere.AllthatImaytellyou,hereandnow,is,thatIpraytoyoutotouchmeandtoblessme.Kissme,kissme!Omydear,mydear!\'

Hiscoldwhiteheadmingledwithherradianthair,whichwarmedandlighteditasthoughitwerethelightofFreedomshiningonhim.

`Ifyouhearinmyvoice——Idon\'tknowthatitisso,butIhopeitis——ifyouhearinmyvoiceanyresemblancetoavoicethatoncewassweetmusicinyourears,weepforit,weepforit!Ifyoutouch,intouchingmyhair,anythingthatrecallsabelovedheadthatlayonyourbreastwhenyouwereyoungandfree,weepforit,weepforit!If,whenIhinttoyouofaHomethatisbeforeus,whereIwillbetruetoyouwithallmydutyandwithallmyfaithfulservice,IbringbacktheremembranceofaHomelongdesolate,whileyourpoorheartpinedaway,weepforit,weepforit!\'