ThePeriodItwasthebestoftimes，itwastheworstoftimes，itwastheageofwisdom，itwastheageoffoolishness，itwastheepochofbelief，itwastheepochofincredulity，itwastheseasonofLight，itwastheseasonofDarkness，itwasthespringofhope，itwasthewinterofdespair，wehadeverythingbeforeus，wehadnothingbeforeus，wewereallgoingdirecttoHeaven，wewereallgoingdirecttheotherway——inshort，theperiodwasso。farlikethepresentperiod，thatsomeofitsnoisiestauthoritiesinsistedonitsbeingreceived，forgoodorforevil，inthesuperlativedegreeofcomparisononly。
Therewereakingwithalargejawandaqueenwithaplainface，onthethroneofEngland；therewereakingwithalargejawandaqueenwithafairface，onthethroneofFrance。InbothcountriesitwasclearerthancrystaltothelordsoftheStatepreservesofloavesandfishes，thatthingsingeneralweresettledforever。
ItwastheyearofOurLordonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five。
SpiritualrevelationswereconcededtoEnglandatthatfavouredperiod，asatthis。Mrs。Southcotthadrecentlyattainedherfive-and-twentiethblessedbirthday，ofwhomapropheticprivateintheLifeGuardshadheraldedthesublimeappearancebyannouncingthatarrangementsweremadefortheswallowingupofLondonandWestminster。EventheCock-laneghosthadbeenlaidonlyarounddozenofyears，afterrappingoutitsmessages，asthespiritsofthisveryyearlastpast(supernaturallydeficientinoriginality)
rappedouttheirs。MeremessagesintheearthlyorderofeventshadlatelycometotheEnglishCrownandPeople，fromacongressofBritishsubjectsinAmerica:which，strangetorelate，haveprovedmoreimportanttothehumanracethananycommunicationsyetreceivedthroughanyofthechickensoftheCock-lanebrood。
France，lessfavouredonthewholeastomattersspiritualthanhersisteroftheshieldandtrident，rolledwithexceedingsmoothnessdownhill，makingpapermoneyandspendingit。UndertheguidanceofherChristianpastors，sheentertainedherselfbesides，withsuchhumaneachievementsassentencingayouthtohavehishandscutoff，histonguetornoutwithpincers，andhisbodyburnedalive，becausehehadnotkneeleddownintheraintodohonourtoadirtyprocessionofmonkswhichpassedwithinhisview，atadistanceofsomefiftyorsixtyyards。Itislikelyenoughthat，rootedinthewoodsofFranceandNorway，thereweregrowingtrees，whenthatsuffererwasputtodeath，alreadymarkedbytheWoodman，Fate，tocomedownandbesawnintoboards，tomakeacertainmovableframeworkwithasackandaknifeinit，terribleinhistory。ItislikelyenoughthatintheroughouthousesoldsometillersoftheheavylandsadjacenttoParis，therewereshelteredfromtheweatherthatveryday，rudecarts，bespatteredwithrusticmire，snuffedaboutbypigs，androostedinbypoultry，whichtheFarmer，Death，hadalreadysetaparttobehistumbrilsoftheRevolution。ButthatWoodmanandthatFarmer，thoughtheyworkunceasingly，worksilently，andnooneheardthemastheywentaboutwithmuffledtread:
therather，forasmuchastoentertainanysuspicionthattheywereawake，wastobeatheisticalandtraitorous。
InEngland，therewasscarcelyanamountoforderandprotectiontojustifymuchnationalboasting。Daringburglariesbyarmedmen，andhighwayrobberies，tookplaceinthecapitalitselfeverynight；familieswerepubliclycautionednottogooutoftownwithoutremovingtheirfurnituretoupholsterers\'warehousesforsecurity；thehighwaymaninthedarkwasaCitytradesmaninthelight，and，beingrecognisedandchallengedbyhisfellow-tradesmanwhomhestoppedinhischaracterof`theCaptain，\'gallantlyshothimthroughtheheadandrodeaway；themailwaswaylaidbysevenrobbers，andtheguardshotthreedead，andthengotshotdeadhimselfbytheotherfour，`inconsequenceofthefailureofhisammunition:\'
afterwhichthemailwasrobbedinPeace；thatmagnificentpotentate，theLordMayorofLondon，wasmadetostandanddeliveronTurnhamGreen，byonehighwayman，whodespoiledtheillustriouscreatureinsightofallhisretinue；prisonersinLondongaolsfoughtbattleswiththeirturnkeys，andthemajestyofthelawfiredblunderbussesinamongthem，loadedwithroundsofshotandball；thievessnippedoffdiamondcrossesfromthenecksofnoblelordsatCourtdrawing-rooms；musketeerswentintoSt。Giles\'s，tosearchforcontrabandgoods，andthemobfiredonthemusketeers，andthemusketeersfiredonthemob，andnobodythoughtanyoftheseoccurrencesmuchoutofthecommonway。Inthemidstofthem，thehangman，everbusyandeverworsethanuseless，wasinconstantrequisition；now，stringinguplongrowsofmiscellaneouscriminals；now，hangingahouse-breakeronSaturdaywhohadbeentakenonTuesday；now，burningpeopleinthehandatNewgatebythedozen，andnowburningpamphletsatthedoorofWestminsterHall；to-day，takingthelifeofanatrociousmurderer，andto-morrowofawretchedpilfererwhohadrobbedafarmer\'sboyofsixpence。
Allthesethings，andathousandlikethem，cametopassinandcloseuponthedearoldyearonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five。
Environedbythem，whiletheWoodmanandtheFarmerworkedunheeded，thosetwoofthelargejaws，andthoseothertwooftheplainandthefairlaces，trodwithstirenough，andcarriedtheirdivinerightswithahighhand。
Thusdidtheyearonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-fiveconducttheirGreatnesses，andmyriadsofsmallcreatures——thecreaturesofthischronicleamongtherest——alongtheroadsthatlaybeforethem。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheFirst[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERIITheMailItwastheDoverroadthatlay，onaFridaynightlateinNovember，beforethefirstofthepersonswithwhomthishistoryhasbusiness。TheDoverroadlay，astohim，beyondtheDovermail，asitlumberedupShooter\'sHill。Hewalkeduphillinthemirebythesideofthemail，astherestofthepassengersdid；notbecausetheyhadtheleastrelishforwalkingexercise，underthecircumstances，butbecausethehill，andtheharness，andthemud，andthemail，wereallsoheavythatthehorseshadthreetimesalreadycometoastop，besideoncedrawingthecoachacrosstheroad，withthemutinousintentoftakingitbacktoBlackheath。Reinsandwhipandcoachmanandguard，however，incombination，hadreadthatarticleofwarwhichforbadapurposeotherwisestronglyinfavouroftheargument，thatsomebruteanimalsareenduedwithReason；andtheteamhadcapitulatedandreturnedtotheirduty。
Withdroopingheadsandtremuloustails，theymashedtheirwaythroughthethickmud，flounderingandstumblinghebetweenwhiles，asiftheywerefallingtopiecesatthelargejoints。Asoftenasthedriverrestedthemandbroughtthemtoastand，withawary`Wo-ho!so-hothen!\'
thenearleaderviolentlyshookhisheadandeverythinguponit——likeanunusuallyemphatichorse，denyingthatthecoachcouldbegotupthehill。
Whenevertheleadermadethisrattle，thepassengerstarted，asanervouspassengermight，andwasdisturbedinmind。
Therewasasteamingmistinallthehollows，andithatroamedinitsforlornnessupthehill，likeanevilspirit，seekingrestandfindingnone。Aclammyandintenselycoldmist，madeitsslowwaythroughtheairinripplesthatvisiblyfollowedandoverspreadoneanother，asthewavesofanunwholesomeseamightdo。Itwasdenseenoughtoshutouteverythingfromthelightofthecoach-lampsbuttheseitsownworkingsandafewyardsofroad；andthereekofthelabouringhorsesteamedintoit，asiftheyhadmadeitall。
Twootherpassengers，besidestheone，wereploddingupthehillbythesideofthemail。Allthreewerewrappedtothecheek-bonesandovertheears，andworejack-boots。Notoneofthethreecouldhavesaid，fromanythinghesaw，whateitheroftheothertwowaslike；andeachwashiddenunderalmostasmanywrappersfromtheeyesofthemind，asfromtheeyesofthebody，ofhistwocompanions。Inthosedays，travellerswereveryshyofbeingconfidentialonshortnotice，foranybodyontheroadmightbearobberorinleaguewithrobbers。Astothelatter，wheneveryposting-houseandale-housecouldproducesomebodyin`theCaptain\'s\'
pay，rangingfromthelandlordtotheloweststablenondescript，itwasthelikeliestthinguponthecards。SotheguardoftheDovermailthoughttohimself，thatFridaynightinNovember，onethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five，lumberingupShooter\'sHill，ashestoodonhisownparticularperchbehindthemail，beatinghisfeet，andkeepinganeyeandahandonthearm-chestbeforehim，wherealoadedblunderbusslayatthetopofsixoreightloadedhorse-pistols，depositedonasubstratumofcutlass。
TheDovermailwasinitsusualgenialpositionthattheguardsuspectedthepassengers，thepassengerssuspectedoneanotherandtheguard，theyallsuspectedeverybodyelse，andthecoachmanwassureofnothingbutthehorses；astowhichcattlehecouldwithaclearconsciencehavetakenhisoathonthetwoTestamentsthattheywerenotfitforthejourney。
`Wo-ho!\'saidthecoachman。`So，thenOnemorepullandyou\'reatthetopandbedamnedtoyou，forIhavehadtroubleenoughtogetyoutoit——Joe!\'
`Halloa\'theguardreplied。
`Whato\'clockdoyoumakeit，Joe?\'
`Tenminutes，good，pasteleven。\'
`Myblood\'ejaculatedthevexedcoachman，`andnotatopofShooter\'syet!Tst!Yah!Getonwithyou!\'
Theemphatichorse，cutshortbythewhipinamostdecidednegative，madeadecidedscrambleforit，andthethreeotherhorsesfollowedsuit。
Oncemore，theDovermailstruggledon，withthejack-bootsofitspassengerssquashingalongbyitsside。Theyhadstoppedwhenthecoachstopped，andtheykeptclosecompanywithit。Ifanyoneofthethreehadhadthehardihoodtoproposetoanothertowalkonalittleaheadintothemistanddarkness，hewouldhaveputhimselfinafairwayofgettingshotinstantlyasahighwayman。
Thelastburstcarriedthemailtothesummitofthehill。Thehorsesstoppedtobreatheagain，andtheguardgotdowntoskidthewheelforthedescent，andopenthecoach-doortoletthepassengersin。
`TstJoe!\'criedthecoachmaninawarningvoice，lookingdownfromhisbox。
Whatdoyousay，Tom?\'
Theybothlistened。
`Isayahorseatacantercomingup，Joe。\'
`Isayahorseatagallop，Tom，\'returnedtheguard，leavinghisholdofthedoor，andmountingnimblytohisplace。`Gentlemen!Intheking\'sname，allofyou!\'
Withthishurriedadjuration，hecockedhisblunderbuss，andstoodontheoffensive。
Thepassengerbookedbythishistory，wasonthecoach-step:gettingin；thetwootherpassengerswereclosebehindhim，andabouttofollow。
Heremainedonthestep，halfinthecoachandhalfoutofit；theyremainedintheroadbelowhim。Theyalllookedfromthecoachmantotheguard，andfromtheguardtothecoachman，andlistened。Thecoachmanlookedbackandtheguardlookedback，andeventheemphaticleaderprickeduphisearsandlookedback，withoutcontradicting。
Thestillnessconsequentonthecessationoftherumblingandlabouringofthecoach，addedtothestillnessofhenightmadeitveryquietindeed。Thepantingofthehorsescommunicatedatremulousmotiontothecoach，asifitwereinastateo]agitation。Theheartsofthepassengersbeatloudenoughperhapstobeheard；butatanyrate，thequietpausewasaudiblyexpressiveofpeopleoutofbreath，andholdingthebreath，an\'havingthepulsesquickenedbyexpectation。
Thesoundofahorseatagallopcamefastandfuriouslyupthehill。
`So-ho!\'theguardsangout，asloudashecouldroar。`Yothere!
Stand!Ishallfire!\'
Thepacewassuddenlychecked，and，withmuchsplashingandfloundering，aman\'svoicecalledfromthemist，`IsthattheDovermail?\'
`Neveryoumindwhatitis?\'theguardretorted。`Whamareyou?\'
`IsthattheDovermail?\'
`Whydoyouwanttoknow?\'
`Iwantapassenger，ifitis。\'
`Whatpassenger?\'，`Mr。JarvisLorry。\'
Ourbookedpassengershowedinamomentthatitwashisname。
Theguard，thecoachman，andthetwootherpassengerseyedhimdistrustfully。
`Keepwhereyouare，\'theguardcalledtothevoiceinthemist，`because，ifIshouldmakeamistake，itcouldneverbesetrightinyourlifetime。GentlemanofthenameofLorryanswerstraight。\'
`Whatisthematter?\'askedthepassenger，then，withmildlyquaveringspeech。`Whowantsme?IsitJerry?\'
(`Idon\'tlikeJerry\'svoice，ifitisJerry，\'growledtheguardtohimself。`He\'shoarserthansuitsme，isJerry。\')
`Yes，Mr。Lorry。\'
`Whatisthematter?\'
`Adespatchsentafteryoufromoveryonder。T。andCo。\'
`Iknowthismessenger，guard，\'saidMr。Lorry，gettingdownintotheroad——assistedfrombehindmoreswiftlythanpolitelybytheothertwopassengers，whoimmediatelyscrambledintohecoach，shutthedoor，andpulled，upthewindow。`Hemaycomeclose；there\'snothingwrong。\'
`Ihopethereain\'t，butIcan\'tmakeso`Nationsureofthat，\'
saidtheguard，ingruffsoliloquy。`Halloyou!\'
`Well!Andhalloyou!\'saidJerry，morehoarselythanbefore。
`Comeonatafootpace!d\'yemindme?Andifyou\'vegotholsterstothatsaddleo\'yourn，don\'tletmeseeyourhandgonigh\'em。ForI\'madevilataquickmistake，andwhenImakeoneittakestheformofLead。
Sonowlet\'slookatyou。\'
Thefiguresofahorseandridercameslowlythroughtheeddyingmist，andcametothesideofthemail，wherethepassengerstood。Theriderstooped，and，castinguphiseyesattheguard，handedthepassengerasmallfoldedpaper。Therider\'shorsewasblown，andbothhorseandriderwerecoveredwithmud，fromthehoofsofthehorsetothehatoftheman。
`Guard!\'saidthepassenger，inatoneofquietbusinessconfidence。
Thewatchfulguard，withhisrighthandatthestockofhisraisedblunderbuss，hisleftatthebarrel，andhiseyeOnthehorseman，answeredcurtly，`Sir。\'
`Thereisnothingtoapprehend。IbelongtoTellson\'sBank。YoumustknowTellson\'sBankinLondon。IamgoingtoParisonbusiness。A
crowntodrink。Imayreadthis?\'
`Ifsobeasyou\'requick，sir。\'
Heopeneditinthelightofthecoach-lamponthatside，andread——firsttohimselfandthenaloud:`\"WaitatDoorforMam\'selle。\"It\'snotlong，yousee，guard。Jerry，saythatmyanswerwas，RECALLEDTOLIFE。\'
Jerrystartedinhissaddle。`That`saBlazingstrangeanswer，too，\'saidhe，athishoarsest。
`Takethatmessageback，andtheywillknowthatIreceivedthis，aswellasifIwrote。Makethebestofyourway。Goodnight。\'
Withthosewordsthepassengeropenedtilecoach-doorandgotin；notatallassistedbyhisfellow-passengers，whohadexpeditiouslysecretedtheirwatchesandpursesintheirboots，andwerenowmakingageneralpretenceofbeingasleep。Withnomoredefinitepurposethantoescapethehazardoforiginatinganyotherkindofaction。
Thecoachlumberedonagain，withheavierwreathsofmistclosingrounditasitbeganthedescent。Theguardsoonreplacedhisblunderbussinhisarm-chest，and，havinglookedtotherestofitscontents，andhavinglookedtothesupplementarypistolsthatheworeinhisbelt，lookedtoasmallerchestbeneathhisseat，inwhichtherewereafewsmith\'stools，acoupleoftorches，andatinder-box。Forhewasfurnishedwiththatcompletenessthatifthecoach-lampshadbeenblownandstormedout，whichdidoccasionallyhappen，hehadonlytoshuthimselfupinside，keeptheflintandsteelsparkswelloffthestraw，andgetalightwithtolerablesafetyandease(ifhewerelucky)infiveminutes。
`Tom!\'softlyoverthecoach-roof。
`Hallo，Joe。\'
`Didyouhearthemessage?\'
`Idid，Joe。\'
`Whatdidyoumakeofit，Tom?\'
`Nothingatall，Joe。\'
`That\'sacoincidence，too，\'theguardmused，`forImadethesameofitmyselfJerry，leftaloneinthemistanddarkness，dismountedmeanwhile，notonlytoeasehisspenthorse，buttowipethemudfromhisface，andshakethewetoutofhishat-brim，whichmightbecapableofholdingabouthalfagallon。Afterstandingwiththebridleoverhisheavily-splashedarm，untilthewheelsofthemailwerenolongerwithinhearingandthenightwasquitestillagain，heturnedtowalkdownthehill。
`AfterthattheregallopfromTempleBar，oldlady，Iwon\'ttrustyourfore-legstillIgetyouonthelevel，\'saidthishoarsemessenger，glancingathismare。`\"Recalledtolife。\"That\'saBlazingstrangemessage。
Muchofthatwouldn\'tdoforyouJerry!Isay，Jerry!You\'dbeinaBlazingbadway，ifrecallingtolifewastocomeintofashion，Jerry!\'
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheFirst[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERIIITheNightShadowsWonderfulfacttoreflectupon，thateveryhumancreatureisconstitutedtobethatprofoundsecretandmysterytoeveryother。Asolemnconsideration，whenenteragreatcitybynight，thateveryoneofthosedarklyclusteredhousesenclosesitsownsecret；thateveryroomineveryoneofthemenclosesitsownsecret；thateverybeatingheartinthehundredsofthousandsofbreaststhere，is，ifsomeofitsimaginings，asecrettotheheartnearestit!Somethingoftheawfulness，evenofDeathitself，isreferabletothis。
NomorecanIturntheleavesofthisdearbookthatloved，andvainlyhopeintimetoreaditall。NomorecanIlookintothedepthsofthisunfathomablewater，whereinasmomentarylightsglancedintoit，Ihavehadglimpsesofburiedtreasureandotherthingssubmerged。Itwasappointedthatthebookshouldshutwithaspring，foreverandforever，whenI
hadreadbutapage。Itwasappointedthatthewatershouldbelockedinaneternalfrost，whenthelightwasplayingonitssurface，andIstoodinignoranceontheshore。Myfriendisdead，myneighbourisdead，mylovethedarlingofmysoul，isdead；itistheinexorableconsolidationandperpetuationofthesecretthatwasalwaysinthatindividuality，andwhichIshallcarryinminetomylife\'send。Inanyoftheburial-placesofthiscitythroughwhichIpass，isthereasleepermoreinscrutablethanitbusyinhabitantsare，intheirinnermostpersonality，tomeorthanIamtothem?
Astothis，hisnaturalandnottobealienatedinheritancethemessengeronhorsebackhadexactlythesamepossessionastheKing，thefirstMinisterofState，ortherichestmerchantinLondon。Sowiththethreepassengersshutupi\'thenarrowcompassofonelumberingoldmail-coach；
theweremysteriestooneanother，ascompleteasifeachhabeeninhisowncoachandsix，orhisowncoachandsixty，withthebreadthofacountybetweenhimandthenext。
Themessengerrodebackataneasytrot，stoppingprettyoftenatale-housesbythewaytodrink，butevincingtendencytokeephisowncounsel，andtokeephishatcockedoverhiseyes。Hehadeyesthatassortedverywellwiththatdecoration，beingofasurfaceblack，withnodepthinthecolourorform，andmuchtooneartogether——asiftheywereafraidofbeingfoundoutinsomething，singly，iftheykepttoofarapart。Theyhadasinisterexpression，underanoldcocked-hatlikeathree-corneredspittoon，andoveragreatmufflerforthechinandthroat，whichdescendednearlytothewearer\'sknees。Whenhestoppedfordrink，hemovedthismufflerwithhislefthand，onlywhilehepouredhisliquorinwithhisright；assoonasthatwasdone，hemuffledagain。
No，Jerry，no!\'saidthemessenger，harpingononethemeasherode。`Itwouldn\'tdoforyou，Jerry。Jerry，youhonesttradesman，itwouldn\'tsuityourlineofbusiness!Recalled——!BustmeifIdon\'tthinkhe\'dbeenadrinking!\'
Hismessageperplexedhismindtothatdegreethathewasfain，severaltimes，totakeoffhishattoscratchhishead。Exceptonthecrown，whichwasraggedlybald，hehadstiffblackhair，standingjaggedlyalloverit，andgrowingdownhillalmosttohisbroad，bluntnose。Itwassolikesmith\'swork，somuchmorelikethetopofastronglyspikedwallthanaheadofhair，thatthebestofplayersatleap-frogmighthavedeclinedhim，asthemostdangerousmanintheworldtogoover。
WhilehetrottedbackwiththemessagehewastodelivertothenightwatchmaninhisboxatthedoorofTellson\'sBank，byTempleBar，whowastodeliverittogreaterauthoritieswithin，theshadowsofthenighttooksuchshapestohimasaroseoutofthemessage，andtooksuchshapestothemareasaroseoutofherprivatetopicsofuneasiness。
Theyseemedtobenumerous，forsheshiedateveryshadowontheroad。
Whattime，themail-coachlumbered，jolted，rattled，andbumpeduponitstediousway，withitsthreefellow-inscrutablesinside。Towhom，likewise，theshadowsofthenightrevealedthemselves，intheformstheirdozingeyesandwanderingthoughtssuggested。
Tellson\'sBankhadarunuponitinthemail。Asthebankpassenger——withanarmdrawnthroughtheleathernstrap，whichdidwhatlayinittokeephimfrompoundingagainstthenextpassenger，anddrivinghimintohiscomer，wheneverthecoachgotaspecialjolt——noddedinhisplace，withhalf-shuteyes，thelittlecoach-windows，andthecoach-lampdimlygleamingthroughthem，andthebulkybundleofoppositepassenger，becamethebank，anddidagreatstrokeofbusiness。Therattleoftheharnesswasthechinkofmoney，andmoredraftswerehonouredinfiveminutesthanevenTellson\'s，withallitsforeignandhomeconnexion，everpaidinthricethetime。
Thenthestrong-roomsunderground，atTellson\'s，withsuchoftheirvaluablestoresandsecretsaswereknowntothepassenger(anditwasnotalittlethatheknewaboutthem)，openedbeforehim，andhewentinamongthemwiththegreatkeysandthefeebly-burningcandle，andfoundthemsafe，andstrong，andsound，andstill，justashehadlastseenthem。
But，thoughthebankwasalmostalwayswithhim，andthoughthecoach(inaconfusedway，likethepresenceofpainunderanopiate)wasalwayswithhim，therewasanothercurrentofimpressionthatneverceasedtorun，allthroughthenight。Hewasonhiswaytodigsomeoneoutofagrave。
Now，whichofthemultitudeoffacesthatshowedthemselvesbeforehimwasthetruefaceoftheburiedperson，theshadowsofthenightdidnotindicate；buttheywereallthefacesofamanoffive-and-fortybyyears，andtheydifferedprincipallyinthepassionstheyexpressed，andintheghastlinessoftheirwornandwastedstate。Pride，contempt，defiance，stubbornness，submission，lamentation，succeededoneanother；sodidvarietiesofsunkencheek，cadaverouscolour，emaciatedhandsandfigures。Butthefacewasinthemainoneface，andeveryheadwasprematurelywhite。A
hundredtimesthedozingpassengerinquiredofthisspectre:
`Buriedhowlong?\'
Theanswerwasalwaysthesame:`Almosteighteenyears。\'
`Youhadabandonedallhopeofbeingdugout?\'
`Longago。\'
`Youknowthatyouarerecalledtolife?\'
`Theytellmeso。
`Ihopeyoucaretolive?\'
`Ican\'tsay。\'
`ShallIshowhertoyou?Willyoucomeandseehe\'\'
Theanswerstothisquestionwerevariousandcontradictory。Sometimesthebrokenreplywas，`Wait!ItwouldkillmeifIsawhertoosoon。\'Sometimes，itwasgiveninatenderrainoftears，andthenitwas`Takemetoher。\'
Sometimesitwasstaringandbewildered，andthenitwas，`Idon\'tknowher。Idon\'tunderstand。\'
Aftersuchimaginarydiscourse，thepassengerinhisfancywoulddig，anddig，dig——now，withaspade，nowwithagreatkey，nowwithhishands——todigthiswretchedcreatureout。Gotoutatlast，withearthhangingabouthisfaceandhair，hewouldsuddenlyfallawaytodust。Thepassengerwouldthenstarttohimselfandlowerthewindow，togettherealityofmistandrainonhischeek。
Yetevenwhenhiseyeswereopenedonthemistandrain，onthemovingpatchoflightfromthelamps，andthehedgeattheroadsideretreatingbyjerks，thenightshadow\'soutsidethecoachwouldfallintothetrainofthenightshadowswithin。TherealBanking-housebyTempleBar，therealbusinessofthepastday，therealstrong-rooms，therealexpresssentafterhim，andtherealmessagereturned，wouldallbethere。Outofthemidstofthem，theghostlyfacewouldrise，andhewouldaccostitagain。
`Buriedhowlong?\'
`Almosteighteenyears。
`Ihopeyoucaretolive?\'
`Ican\'tsay。\'
Dig——dig——dig——untilanimpatientmovementfromoneofthetwopassengerswouldadmonishhimtopullupthewindow，drawhisarmsecurelythroughtheleathernstrap，andspeculateuponthetwoslumberingforms，untilhismindlostitsholdofthem，andtheyagainslidawayintothebankandthegrave。
`Buriedhowlong?\'
`Almosteighteenyears。\'
`Youhadabandonedallhopeofbeingdugout?\'
`Longago。\'
Thewordswerestillinhishearingasjustspoken——distinctlyinhishearingaseverspokenwordshadbeeninhislife——whenthewearypassengerstartedtotheconsciousnessofdaylight，andfoundthattheshadowsofthenightweregone。
Heloweredthewindow，andlookedoutattherisingsun。Therewasaridgeofploughedland，withaploughuponitwhereithadbeenleftlastnightwhenthehorseswereunyoked；beyond，aquietcoppice-wood，inwhichmanyleavesofburningredandgoldenyellowstillremaineduponthetrees。Thoughtheearthwascoldandwet，theskywasclear，andthesunrosebright，placid，andbeautiful。
`Eighteenyears!\'saidthepassenger，lookingatthesun。`GraciousCreatorofday!Tobeburiedaliveforeighteenyears!\'
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheFirst[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERIVThePreparationWHENthemailgotsuccessfullytoDover，inthecourseoftheforenoon，theheaddrawerattheRoyalGeorgeHotelopenedthecoach-doorashiscustomwas。Hediditwithsomeflourishofceremony，foramailjourneyfromLondoninwinterwasanachievementtocongratulateanadventuroustravellerupon。
Bythattime，therewasonlyoneadventuroustravellerlefttobecongratulated；forthetwoothershadbeensetdownattheirrespectiveroadsidedestinations。Themildewyinsideofthecoach，withitsdampanddirtystraw，itsdisagreeablesmell，anditsobscurity，wasratherlikealargerdog-kennel。Mr。Lorry，thepassenger，shakinghimselfoutofitinchainsofstraw，atangleofshaggywrapper，flappinghat，andmuddylegs，wasratherlikealargersortofdog。
`TherewillbeapackettoCalais，to-morrow，drawer?\'
`Yes，sir，iftheweatherholdsandthewindsetstolerablefair。
Thetidewillserveprettynicelyatabouttwointheafternoon，sir。Bed，sir?\'
`Ishallnotgotobedtillnight；butIwantabedroomandabarber。\'
`Andthenbreakfast，sir?Yes，sir。Thatway，sir，ifyouplease。
ShowConcord!Gentleman\'svaliseandhotwatertoConcord。Pulloffgentleman\'sbootsinConcord。(Youwillfindafinesea-coalfire，sir。)FetchbarbertoConcord。Stiraboutthere，now，forConcord!\'
TheConcordbed-chamberbeingalwaysassignedtopassengerbythemail，andpassengersbythemailbeingalwaysheavilywrappedupfromheadtofoot，theroomha\'theoddinterestfortheestablishmentoftheRoyalGeorgethatalthoughbutonekindofmanwasseentogointoit，allkindsandvarietiesofmencameoutofit。Consequentlyanotherdrawer，andtwoporters，andseveralmaidsandthelandlady，wereallloiteringbyaccidentatvariouspointsoftheroadbetweentheConcordandthecoffee-room，whenagentle-manofsixty，formallydressedinabrownsuitofclothes，prettywellworn，butverywellkept，withlargesquarecuffsandlargeflapstothepockets，passedalongonhiswaytohisbreakfast。
