a tale of two cities(双城记)-第35章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


body's　step　coming　to　the　door。　Let　me　kiss　my　dear　girl　with　an　old…fashioned　bachelor　blessing；　before　Somebody　comes　to　claim　his　own。'　
　For　a　moment；　he　held　the　fair　face　from　him　to　look　at　the　well…remembered　expression　on　the　forehead；　and　then　laid　the　bright　golden　hair　against　his　little　brown　wig；　with　a　genuine　tenderness　and　delicacy　which；　if　such　things　be　old…fashioned；　were　as　old　as　Adam。　
　The　door　of　the　Doctor's　room　opened；　and　he　came　out　with　Charles　Darnay。　He　was　so　deadly　palewhich　had　not　been　the　case　when　they　went　in　togetherthat　no　vestige　of　colour　was　to　be　seen　in　his　face。　But；　in　the　composure　of　his　manner　he　was　unaltered；　except　that　to　the　shrewd　glance　of　Mr。　Lorry　it　disclosed　some　shadowy　indication　that　the　old　air　of　avoidance　and　dread　had　lately　passed　over　him；　like　a　cold　wind。　
　He　gave　his　arm　to　his　daughter；　and　took　her　downstairs　to　the　chariot　which　Mr。　Lorry　had　hired　in　honour　of　the　day。　The　rest　followed　in　another　carriage；　and　soon；　in　a　neighbouring　church；　where　no　strange　eyes　looked　on；　Charles　Darnay　and　Lucie　Manette　were　happily　married。　
　Besides　the　glancing　tears　that　shone　among　the　smiles　of　the　little　group　when　it　was　done；　some　diamonds；　very　bright　and　sparkling；　glanced　on　the　bride's　hand；　which　were　newly　released　from　the　dark　obscurity　of　one　of　Mr。　Lorry's　pockets。　They　returned　home　to　breakfast；　and　all　went　well；　and　in　due　course　the　golden　hair　that　had　mingled　with　the　poor　shoemaker's　white　locks　in　the　Paris　garret；　were　mingled　with　them　again　in　the　morning　sunlight；　on　the　threshold　of　the　door　at　parting。　
　It　was　a　hard　parting；　though　it　was　not　for　long。　But　her　father　cheered　her；　and　said　at　last；　gently　disengaging　himself　from　her　enfolding　arms；　‘Take　her；　Charles！　She　is　yours！'　
　And　her　agitated　hand　waved　to　them　from　a　chaise　window；　and　she　was　gone。　
　The　corner　being　out　of　the　way　of　the　idle　and　curious；　and　the　preparations　having　been　very　simple　and　few；　the　Doctor；　Mr。　Lorry；　and　Miss　Pross；　were　left　quite　alone。　It　was　when　they　turned　into　the　welcome　shade　of　the　cool　old　hall；　that　Mr。　Lorry　observed　a　great　change　to　have　come　over　the　Doctor；　as　if　the　golden　arm　uplifted　there；　had　struck　him　a　poisoned　blow。　
　He　had　naturally　repressed　much；　and　some　revulsion　might　have　been　expected　in　him　when　the　occasion　for　repression　was　gone。　But；　it　was　the　old　scared　lost　look　that　troubled　Mr。　Lorry；　and　through　his　absent　manner　of　clasping　his　head'　and　drearily　wandering　away　into　his　own　room　when　they　got　up…stairs；　Mr。　Lorry　was　reminded　of　Defarge　the　wine…shop　keeper；　and　the　starlight　ride。　
　‘I　think；'　he　whispered　to　Miss　Pross；　after　anxious　consideration；　‘I　think　we　had　best　not　speak　to　him　just　now；　or　at　all　disturb　him。　I　must　look　in　at　Tellson's；　so　I　will　go　there　at　once　and　come　back　presently。　Then；　we　will　take　him　a　ride　into　the　country；　and　dine　there；　and　all　will　be　well。'　
　It　was　easier　for　Mr。　Lorry　to　look　in　at　Tellson's；　than　to　look　out　of　Tellson's。　He　was　detained　two　hours。　When　he　came　back；　he　ascended　the　old　staircase　alone；　having　asked　no　question　of　the　servant；　going　thus　into　the　Doctors　rooms；　he　was　stopped　by　a　low　sound　of　knocking。　
　‘Good　God！'　he　said；　with　a　start。　‘What's　that？'　
　Miss　Pross；　with　a　terrified　face；　was　at　his　ear。　‘O　me；　O　me！　All　is　lost！'　cried　she；　wringing　her　hands。　‘What　is　to　be　told　to　Ladybird？　He　doesn't　know　me；　and　is　making　shoes！'　
　Mr。　Lorry　said　what　he　could　to　calm　her；　and　went　himself　into　the　Doctor's　room。　The　bench　was　turned　towards　the　light；　as　it　had　been　when　he　had　seen　the　shoemaker　at　his　work　before；　and　his　head　was　bent　down；　and　he　was　very　busy。　
　‘Doctor　Manette。　My　dear　friend；　Doctor　Manette！'　
　The　Doctor　looked　at　him　for　a　momenthalf　inquiringly；　half　as　if　he　were　angry　at　being　spoken　toand　bent　over　his　work　again。　
　He　had　laid　aside　his　coat　and　waistcoat；　his　shirt　was　open　at　the　throat；　as　it　used　to　be　when　he　did　that　work；　and　even　the　old　haggard；　faded　surface　of　face　had　come　back　to　him。　He　worked　hardimpatientlyas　if　in　some　sense　of　having　been　interrupted。　
　Mr。　Lorry　glanced　at　the　work　in　his　hand；　and　observed　that　it　was　a　shoe　of　the　old　size　and　shape。　He　took　up　another　that　was　lying　by　him；　and　asked　what　it　was？　
　‘A　young　lady's　walking　shoe；'　he　muttered；　without　looking　up'　‘It　ought　to　have　been　finished　long　ago。　Let　it　be。'　
　‘But；　Doctor　Manette。　Look　at　me'　
　He　obeyed；　in　the　old　mechanically　submissive　manner；　without　pausing　in　his　work。　
　‘You　know　me；　my　dear　friend？　Think　again。　This　is　not　your　proper　occupation。　Think；　dear　friend！'　
　Nothing　would　induce　him　to　speak　more。　He　looked　up；　for　an　instant　at　a　time；　when　he　was　requested　to　do　so；　but；　no　persuasion　would　extract　a　word　from　him。　He　worked；　and　worked；　and　worked；　in　silence；　and　words　fell　on　him　as　they　would　have　fallen　on　an　echoless　wall；　or　on　the　air。　The　only　ray　of　hope　that　Mr。　Lorry　could　discover；　was；　that　he　sometimes　furtively　looked　up　without　being　asked。　In　that；　there　seemed　a　faint　expression　of　curiosity　or　perplexityas　though　he　were　trying　to　reconcile　some　doubts　in　his　mind。　
　Two　things　at　once　impressed　themselves　on　Mr。　Lorry；　as　important　above　all　others；　the　first；　that　this　must　be　kept　secret　from　Lucie；　the　second　that　it　must　be　kept　secret　from　all　who　knew　him。　In　conjunction　with　Miss　Pross；　he　took　immediate　steps　towards　the　latter　precaution；　by　giving　out　that　the　Doctor　was　not　well；　and　required　a　few　days　of　complete　rest。　In　aid　of　the　kind　deception　to　be　practised　on　his　daughter；　Miss　Pross　was　to　write；　describing　his　having　been　called　away　professionally；　and　referring　to　an　imaginary　letter　of　two　or　three　hurried　lines　in　his　own　hand；　represented　to　have　been　addressed　to　her　by　the　same　post。　
These　measures；　advisable　to　be　taken　in　any　case；　Mr。　Lorry　took　in　the　hope　of　his　coming　to　himself。　If　that　should　happen　soon；　he　kept　another　course　in　reserve；　which　was；　to　have　a　certain　opinion　that　he　thought　the　best；　on　the　Doctor's　case。　
　In　the　hope　of　his　recovery；　and　of　resort　to　this　third　course　being　thereby　rendered　practicable；　Mr。　Lorry　resolved　to　watch　him　attentively；　with　as　little　appearance　as　possible　of　doing　so。　He　therefore　made　arrangements　to　absent　himself　from　Tellson's　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　and　took　his　post　by　the　window　in　the　same　room。　
　He　was　not　long　in　discovering　that　it　was　worse　than　useless　to　speak　to　him；　since；　on　being　pressed；　he　became　worried。　He　abandoned　that　attempt　on　the　first　day；　and　resolved　merely　to　keep　himself　always　before　him；　as　a　silent　protest　against　the　delusion　into　which　he　had　fallen；　or　was　falling。　He　remained；　therefore；　in　his　seat　near　the　window；　reading　and　writing；　and　expressing　in　as　many　pleasant　and　natural　ways　as　he　could　think　of　that　it　was　a　free　place。　
　Doctor　Manette　took　what　was　given　him　to　eat　and　drink；　and　worked　on；　that　first　day；　until　it　was　too　dark　to　seeworked　on；　half　an　hour　after　Mr。　Lorry　could　not　have　seen；　for　his　life；　to　read　or　write。　When　he　put　his　tools　aside　as　useless；　until　morning；　Mr。　Lorry　rose　and　said　to　him：　
　‘Will　you　go　out？'　〃　
　He　looked　down　at　the　floor　on　either　side　of　him　in　the　old　manner；　looked　up　in　the　old　manner；　and　repeated　in　the　old　low　voice：　
　‘Out？'　
　‘Yes；　for　a　walk　with　me。　Why　not？'　
　He　made　no　effort　to　say　why　not；　and　said　not　a　word　more。　But；　Mr。　Lorry　thought　he　saw；　as　he　leaned　forward　on　his　bench　in　the　dusk；　with　his　elbows　on　his　knees　and　his　head　in　his　hands；　that　he　was　in　some　misty　way　asking　himself　‘Why　not？'　The　sagacity　of　the　man　of　business　perceived　an　advantage　here；　and　determined　to　hold　it。　
　Miss　Pross　and　he　divided　the　night　into　two　watches；　and　observed　him　at　intervals　from　the　adjoining　room。　He　paced　up　and　down　for　a　long　time　before　he　lay　down；　but；　when　he　did　finally　lay　himself　down；　he　fell　asleep。　In　the　morning；　he　was　up　betimes；　and　went　straight　to　his　bench　and　to　work。　
　On　this　second　day；　Mr。　Lorry　saluted　him　cheerfully　by　his　name；　and　spoke　to　him　on　topics　that　had　been　of　late　familiar　to　them。　He　returned　no　reply；　but　it　was　evident　that　he　heard　what　was　said；　and　that　he　thought　about　it；　however　confusedly。　This　encouraged　Mr。　Lorry　to　have　Miss　Pross　in　with　her　work；　several　times　during　the　day；　at　those　times；　they　quietly　spoke　of　Lucie；　and　of　her　father　then　present；　precisely　in　the　usual　manner；　and　as　if　there　were　nothing　amiss。　This　was　done　without　any　demonstrative　accompaniment；　not　long　enough；　or　often　enough　to　harass　him；　and　it　lightened　Mr。　Lorry's　friendly　heart　to　believe　that　he　looked　up　oftener；　and　that　he　appeared　to　be　stirred　by　some　perception　of　inconsistencies　surrounding　him。　
　When　it　fell　dark　again；　Mr。　Lorry　asked　him　as　before：　
　‘Dear　Doctor；　will　you　go　out？'　
　As　before；　he　repeated；　‘Out？'　
　‘Yes；　for　a　walk　with　me。　Why　not？'　
　This　time；　Mr。　Lorry　feigned　to　go　out　when　he　could　extract　no　answer　from　him；　and；　after　remaining　absent　for　an　hour；　returned。　In　the　meanwhile；　the　Doctor　had　removed　to　the　seat　in　the　window；　and　had　sat　there　looking　down　at　the　plane…tree；　but；　on　Mr。　Lorry's　return；　he　slipped　away　to　his　bench。　
　The　time　went　very　slowly　on；　and　Mr。　Lorry's　hope　darkened；　and　his　heart　grew　heavier　again；　and　grew　yet　heavier　and　heavier　every　day。　The　third　day　came　and　went；　the　fourth；　the　fifth。　Five　days；　six　days；　seven　days；　eight　days；　nine　days。　
　With　a　hope　ever　darkening；　and　with　a　heart　always　growing　heavier　and　heavier；　Mr。　Lorry　passed　through　this　anxious　time。　The　secret　was　well　kept；　and　Lucie　was　unconscious　and　happy；　but　he　could　not　fail　to　observe　that　the　shoemaker；　whose　hand　had　been　a　little　out　at　first；　was　growing　dreadfully　skilful；　and　that　he　had　never　been　so　intent　on　his　work；　and　that　his　hands　had　never　been　so　nimble　and　expert；　as　in　the　dusk　of　the　ninth　evening。　


CHAPTER　XIX
An　Opinion
　
WORN　out　by　anxious　watching；　Mr。　Lorry　fell　asleep　at　his　post。　On　the　tenth　morning　of　his　suspense；　he　was　startled　by　the　shining　of　the　sun　into　the　room　where　a　heavy　slumber　had　overtaken　him　when　it　was　dark　night。　
　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　roused　himself；　but　he　doubted；　when　he　had　done　so；　whether　he　was　not　still　asleep。　For；　going　to　the　door　of　the　Doctor's　room　and　looking　in；　he　perceived　that　the　shoemaker's　bench　and　tools　were　put　aside　again；　and　that　the　Doctor　himself　sat　reading　at　the　window。　He　was　in　his　usual　morning　dress；　and　his　face　（which　Mr。　Lorry　could　distinctly　see）；　though　still　very　pale；　was　calmly　studious　and　attentive。　
　Even　when　he　had　satisfied　himself　that　he　was　awake；　Mr。　Lorry　felt　giddily　uncertain　for　some　few　moments　whether　the　late　shoemaking　might　not　be　a　disturbed　dream　of　his　own；　for；　did　not　his　eyes　show　him　his　friend　before　him　in　his　accustomed　clothing　and　aspect；　and　employed　as　usual；　and　was　there　any　sign　within　their　range；　that　the　change　of　which　he　had　so　strong　an　impression　had　actually　happened？　
　It　was　but　the　inquiry　of　his　first　confusion　and　astonishment；　the　answer　being　obvious。　If　the　impression　were　no