a tale of two cities(双城记)-第83章

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People。　Back　to　the　Conciergerie；　and　Death　within　four…and…twenty　hours！　


CHAPTER　XI
Dusk
　
THE　wretched　wife　of　the　innocent　man　thus　doomed　to　die；　under　the　sentence；　as　if　she　had　been　mortally　stricken。　But；　she　uttered　no　sound；　and　so　strong　was　the　voice　within　her；　representing　that　it　was　she　of　all　the　world　who　must　uphold　him　in　his　misery　and　not　augment　it；　that　it　quickly　raised　her；　even　from　that　shock。　
　The　judges　having　to　take　part　in　a　public　demonstration　out　of　doors；　the　tribunal　adjourned。　The　quick　noise　and　movement　of　the　court's　emptying　itself　by　many　passages　had　not　ceased；　when　Lucie　stood　stretching　out　her　arms　towards　her　husband；　with　nothing　in　her　face　but　love　and　consolation。　
　‘If　I　might　touch　him！　If　I　might　embrace　him　once！　O；　good　citizens；　if　you　would　have　so　much　compassion　for　us！'　
　There　was　but　a　gaoler　left；　along　with　two　of　the　four　men　who　had　taken　him　last　night；　and　Barsad。　The　people　had　all　poured　out　to　the　show　in　the　streets。　Barsad　proposed　to　the　rest；　‘Let　her　embrace　him　then；　it　is　but　a　moment。'　It　was　silently　acquiesced　in；　and　they　passed　her　over　the　seats　in　the　hall　to　a　raised　place；　where　he；　by　leaning　over　the　dock；　could　fold　her　in　his　arms。　
　‘Farewell；　dear　darling　of　my　soul。　My　parting　blessing　on　my　love。　We　shall　meet　again；　where　the　weary　are　at　rest！'　
　They　were　her　husband's　words；　as　he　held　her　to　his　bosom。　
　‘I　can　bear　it；　dear　Charles。　I　am　supported　from　above：　don't　suffer　for　me。　A　parting　blessing　for　our　child。'　
　‘I　send　it　to　her　by　you。　I　kiss　her　by　you。　I　say　farewell　to　her　by　you。'　
　‘My　husband。　No！　A　moment！'　He　was　tearing　himself　apart　from　her。　‘We　shall　not　be　separated　long。　I　feel　that　this　will　break　my　heart　by…and…by；　but　I　will　do　my　duty　while　I　can；　and　when　I　leave　her；　God　will　raise　up　friends　for　her；　as　He　did　for　me。'　
　Her　father　had　followed　her；　and　would　have　fallen　on　his　knees　to　both　of　them；　but　that　Darnay　put　out　a　hand　and　seized　him；　crying：　
　‘No；　no！　What　have　you　done；　what　have　you　done；　that　you　should　kneel　to　us！　We　know　now；　what　a　struggle　you　made　of　old。　We　know　now；　what　you　underwent　when　you　suspected　my　descent；　and　when　you　knew　it。　We　know　now；　the　natural　antipathy　you　strove　against；　and　conquered；　for　her　dear　sake。　We　thank　you　with　all　our　hearts；　and　all　our　love　and　duty。　Heaven　be　with　you！'　
　Her　father's　only　answer　was　to　draw　his　hands　through　his　white　hair；　and　wring　them　with　a　shriek　of　anguish。　
　‘It　could　not　be　otherwise；'　said　the　prisoner。　‘All　things　have　worked　together　as　they　have　fallen　out。　It　was　the　always…vain　endeavour　to　discharge　my　poor　mother's　trust　that　first　brought　my　fatal　presence　near　you。　Good　could　never　come　of　such　evil；　a　happier　end　was　not　in　nature　to　so　unhappy　a　beginning。　Be　comforted；　and　forgive　me。　Heaven　bless　you！'　
　As　he　was　drawn　away；　his　wife　released　him；　and　stood　looking　after　him　with　her　hands　touching　one　another　in　the　attitude　of　prayer；　and　with　a　radiant　look　upon　her　face；　in　which　there　was　even　a　comforting　smile。　As　he　went　out　at　the　prisoners'　door；　she　turned；　laid　her　head　lovingly　on　her　father's　breast；　tried　to　speak　to　him；　and　fell　at　his　feet。　
　Then；　issuing　from　the　obscure　corner　from　which　he　had　never　moved；　Sydney　Carton　came　and　took　her　up。　Only　her　father　and　Mr。　Lorry　were　with　her。　His　arm　trembled　as　it　raised　her；　and　supported　her　head。　Yet；　there　was　an　air　about　him　that　was　not　all　of　pitythat　had　a　flush　of　pride　in　it。　
　‘Shall　I　take　her　to　a　coach？　I　shall　never　feel　her　weight。'　
　He　carried　her　lightly　to　the　door；　and　laid　her　tenderly　down　in　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；　dear　Carton！'　cried　little　Lucie；　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　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；　ire　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　to…morrow　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　nowthough　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；　andBut　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　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。'　
　‘If　any　one　of　these　men；　or　all　of　these　men；　were　disposed　to　spare　himwhich　is　a　large　supposition；　for　what　is　his　life；　or　any　man's　to　them！I　doubt　if　they　durst　spare　him　after　the　demonstration　in　the　court。'　
　‘And　so　do　I。　I　heard　the　fall　of　the　axe　in　that　sound。'　
　Mr。　Lorry　leaned　his　arm　upon　the　door…post；　and　bowed　his　face　upon　it。　
　‘Don't　despond；'　said　Carton；　very　gently；　‘don't　grieve。　I　encouraged　Doctor　Manette　in　this　idea；　because　I　felt　that　it　might　one　day　be　consolatory　to　her。　Otherwise；　she　might　think　〃his　life　was　wantonly　thrown　away　or　wasted；〃　and　that　might　trouble　her。'　
　‘Yes；　yes；　yes；'　returned　Mr。　Lorry；　drying　his　eyes；　‘you　are　right。　But　he　will　perish；　there　is　no　real　hope。　
　‘Yes。　He　will　perish：　there　is　no　real　hope；'　echoed　Carton。　And　walked　with　a　settled　step；　down…stairs。　


CHAPTER　XII
Darkness
SYDNEY　CARTON　paused　in　the　street；　not　quite　decided　where　to　go。　‘At　Tellson's　banking…house　at　nine；'　he　said；　with　a　musing　face。　‘Shall　I　do　well；　in　the　mean　time；　to　show　myself？　I　think　so。　It　is　best　that　these　people　should　know　there　is　such　a　man　as　I　here；　it　is　a　sound　precaution；　and　may　be　a　necessary　preparation。　But　care；　care；　care！　Let　me　think　it　out！'　
　Checking　h