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!"