MadameDefargelookedatherscornfully，butstillwithsomethingofMissPross\'sownperceptionthattheytwowereatbay。Shesawatight，hard，wirywomanbeforeher，asMr。Lorryhadseeninthesamefigureawomanwithastronghand，intheyearsgoneby。SheknewfullwellthatMissProsswasthefamily\'sdevotedfriend；MissProssknewfullwellthatMadameDefargewasthefamily\'smalevolentenemy。
`Onmywayyonder，\'saidMadameDefarge，withaslightmovementofherhandtowardsthefatalspot，`wheretheyreservemychairandmyknittingforme，Iamcome，tomakemycomplimentstoherinpassing。I
wishtoseeher。
`Iknowthatyourintentionsareevil，\'saidMissPross，`andyoumaydependuponit，I\'llholdmyownagainstthem。\'
Eachspokeinherownlanguage；neitherunderstoodtheother\'swords；bothwereverywatchful，andintenttodeducefromlookandmanner，whattheunintelligiblewordsmeant。
`Itwilldohernogoodtokeepherselfconcealedfrommeatthismoment，\'saidMadameDefarge。`Goodpatriotswillknowwhatthatmeans。
Letmeseeher。GotellherthatIwishtoseeher。Doyouhear?\'
`Ifthoseeyesofyourswerebed-winches，\'returnedMissPross，`andIwasanEnglishfour-poster，theyshouldn\'tlooseasplinterofme。
No，youwickedforeignwoman；Iamyourmatch。\'
MadameDefargewasnotlikelytofollowtheseidiomaticremarksindetail；but，shesofarunderstoodthemastoperceivethatshewassetatnaught。
`Womanimbecileandpig-like!\'saidMadameDefarge，frowning。
`Itakenoanswerfromyou。Idemandtoseeher。EithertellherthatI
demandtoseeher，orstandoutofthewayofthedoorandletmegotoher!\'This，withanangryexplanatorywaveofherrightarm。
`Ilittlethought，\'saidblissPross，`thatIshouldeverwanttounderstandyournonsensicallanguage；butIwouldgiveallIhave，excepttheclothesIwear，toknowwhetheryoususpectthetruth，oranypartofit。\'
Neitherofthemforasinglemomentreleasedtheother\'seyes。
MadameDefargehadnotmovedfromthespotwhereshestoodwhenMissProssfirstbecameawareofher；butshenowadvancedonestep。
`IamaBriton，\'saidMissPross，`Iamdesperate。Idon\'tcareanEnglishTwo-penceformyself。IknowthatthelongerIkeepyouhere，thegreaterhopethereisformyLadybird。I\'llnotleaveahandfulofthatdarkhairuponyourhead，ifyoulayafingeronme!\'
ThusMissPross，withashakeofherheadandaflashofhereyesbetweeneveryrapidsentence，andeveryrapidsentenceawholebreath。
ThusMissPross，whohadneverstruckablowinherlife。
But，hercouragewasofthatemotionalnaturethatitbroughttheirrepressibletearsintohereyes。ThiswasacouragethatMadameDefargesolittlecomprehendedastomistakeforweakness。`Ha，ha!\'shelaughed，`youpoorwretch!Whatareyouworth!IaddressmyselftothatDoctor。\'
Thensheraisedhervoiceandcalledout，`CitizenDoctor!WifeofEvré；monde!
ChildofEvré；monde!Anypersonbutthismiserablefool，answertheCitizenessDefarge!\'
Perhapsthefollowingsilence，perhapssomelatentdisclosureintheexpressionofMissPross\'sface，perhapsasuddenmisgivingapartfromeithersuggestion，whisperedtoMadameDefargethattheyweregone。
Threeofthedoorssheopenedswiftly，andlookedin。
`Thoseroomsareallindisorder，therehasbeenhurriedpacking，thereareoddsandendsupontheground。Thereisnooneinthatroombehindyou!Letmelook。\'
`Never!\'saidMissPross，whounderstoodtherequestasperfectlyasMadameDefargeunderstoodtheanswer。
`Iftheyarenotinthatroom，theyaregone，andcanbepursuedandbroughtback，\'saidMadameDefargetoherself。
`Aslongasyoudon\'tknowwhethertheyareinthatroomornot，youareuncertainwhattodo，\'saidMissProsstoherself；`andyoushallnotknowthat，ifIcanpreventyourknowingit；andknowthat，ornotknowthat，youshallnotleaveherewhileIcanholdyou。\'
`Ihavebeeninthestreetsfromthefirst，nothinghasstoppedme，Iwilltearyoutopieces，butIwillhaveyoufromthatdoor，\'saidMadameDefarge。
`Wearealoneatthetopofahighhouseinasolitarycourtyard，wearenotlikelytobeheard，andIprayforbodilystrengthtokeepyouhere，whileeveryminuteyouarehereisworthahundredthousandguineastomydarling，\'saidMissPross。
MadameDefargemadeatthedoor。MissPross，ontheinstinctofthemoment，seizedherroundtilewaistinbothherarms，andheldhertight。ItwasinvainforMadameDefargetostruggleandtostrike；MissPross，withthevigoroustenacityoflove，alwayssomuchstrongerthanhate，claspedhertight，andevenliftedherfromthefloorinthestrugglethattheyhad。ThetwohandsofMadameDefargebuffetedandtoreherface；
but，MissPross，withherheaddown，heldherroundthewaist，andclungtoherwithmorethantheholdofadrowningwoman。
Soon，MadameDefarge\'shandsceasedtostrike，andfeltatherencircledwaist。`Itisundermyarm，\'saidMissPross，insmotheredtones，`youshallnotdrawit。Iamstrongerthanyou，IblessHeavenforit。I\'llholdyoutilloneorotherofusfaintsordies!\'
MadameDefarge\'shandswereatherbosom。MissProsslookedup，sawwhatitwas，struckatit，struckoutaflashandacrash，andstoodalone——blindedwithsmoke。
Allthiswasinasecond。Asthesmokecleared，leavinganawfulstillness，itpassedoutontheair，likethesoulofthefuriouswomanwhosebodylaylifelessontheground。
Inthefirstfrightandhorrorofhersituation，MissProsspassedthebodyasfarfromitasshecould，andrandownthestairstocallforfruitlesshelp。Happily，shebethoughtherselfoftheconsequencesofwhatshedid，intimetocheckherselfandgoback。Itwasdreadfultogoinatthedooragain；but，shedidgoin，andevenwentnearit，togetthebonnetandotherthingsthatshemustwear。Thesesheputon，outonthestaircase，firstshuttingandlockingthedoorandtakingawaythekey。
Shethensatdownonthestairsafewmomentstobreatheandtocry，andthengotupandhurriedaway。
Bygoodfortuneshehadaveilonherbonnet，orshecouldhardlyhavegonealongthestreetswithoutbeingstopped。Bygoodfortune，too，shewasnaturallysopeculiarinappearanceasnottoshowdisfigurementlikeanyotherwoman。Sheneededbothadvantages，forthemarksofgripingfingersweredeepinherface，andherhairwastorn，andherdress(hastilycomposedwithunsteadyhands)wasclutchedanddraggedahundredwaysIncrossingthebridge，shedroppedthedoorkeyintheriver。
Arrivingatthecathedralsomefewminutesbeforeherescort，andwaitingthere，shethought，whatifthekeywerealreadytakeninanet，whatifitwereidentified，whatifthedoorwereopenedandtheremainsdiscovered，whatifshewerestoppedatthegate，senttoprison，andchargedwithmurder!Inthemidstoftheseflutteringthoughts，theescortappeared，tookherin，andtookheraway。
`Isthereanynoiseinthestreets?\'sheaskedhim。
`Theusualnoises，\'Mr。Cruncherreplied；andlookedsurprisedbythequestionandbyheraspect。
`Idon\'thearyou，\'saidMissPross。`Whatdoyousay?\'
ItwasinvainforMr。Crunchertorepeatwhathesaid；MissProsscouldnothearhim。`SoI\'llnodmyhead，\'thoughtMr。Cruncher，amazed，`atalleventsshe\'llseethat。\'Andshedid。
`Isthereanynoiseinthestreetsnow?\'askedMissProssagain，presently。
AgainMr。Crunchernoddedhishead。
`Idon\'thearit。\'
`Gonedeafinahour?\'saidMr。Cruncher，ruminating，withhismindmuchdisturbed；`wot\'scometoher?\'
`Ifeel，\'saidMissPross，`asiftherehadbeenaflashandacrash，andthatcrashwasthelastthingIshouldeverhearinthislife。\'
`Blestifsheain\'tinaqueercondition!\'saidMr。Cruncher，moreandmoredisturbed。`Wotcanshehavebeenatakin\'，tokeephercourageup?Hark!There\'stherollofthemdreadfulcarts!Youcanhearthat，miss?\'
`Icanhear，\'saidMissPross，seeingthathespoketoher，`nothing。
O，mygoodman，therewasfirstagreatcrash，andthenagreatstillness，andthatstillnessseemstobefixedandunchangeable，nevertobebrokenanymoreaslongasmylifelasts。\'
`Ifshedon\'theartherollofthosedreadfulcarts，nowverynightheirjourney\'send，\'saidMr。Cruncher，glancingoverhisshoulder，`it\'smyopinionthatindeedsheneverwillhearanythingelseinthisworld。\'
Andindeedsheneverdid。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheThird[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXVTheFootstepsDieoutforEverALONGtheParisstreets，thedeath-cartsrumble，hollowandharsh。Sixtumbrilscarrytheday\'swinetoLaGuillotine。AllthedevouringandinsatiateMonstersimaginedsinceimaginationcouldrecorditself，arefusedintheonerealisation，Guillotine。AndyetthereisnotinFrance，withitsrichvarietyofsoilandclimate，ablade，aleaf，aroot，asprig，apeppercorn，whichwillgrowtomaturityunderconditionsmorecertainthanthosethathaveproducedthishorror。Crushhumanityoutofshapeoncemore，undersimilarhammers，anditwilltwistitselfintothesametorturedforms。
Sowthesameseedofrapaciouslicenceandoppressionoveragain，anditwillsurelyyieldthesamefruitaccordingtoitskind。
Sixtumbrilsrollalongthestreets。Changethesebackagaintowhattheywere，thoupowerfulenchanter，Time，andtheyshallbeseentobethecarriagesofabsolutemonarchs，theequipagesoffeudalnobles，thetoilettesofflaringJezebels，thechurchesthatarenotmyfather\'shousebutdensofthieves，thehutsofmillionsofstarvingpeasants!No；
thegreatmagicianwhomajesticallyworksouttheappointedorderoftheCreator，neverreverseshistransformations。`IfthoubechangedintothisshapebythewillofGod，\'saytheseerstotheenchanted，inthewiseArabianstories，`thenremainso!But，ifthouwearthisformthroughmerepassingconjuration，thenresumethyformeraspect!\'Changelessandhopeless，thetumbrilsrollalong。
Asthesombrewheelsofthesixcartsgoround，theyseemtoploughupalongcrookedfurrowamongthepopulaceinthestreets。Ridgesoffacesarethrowntothissideandtothat，andtheploughsgosteadilyonward。
Sousedaretheregularinhabitantsofthehousestothespectacle，thatinmanywindowstherearenopeople，andinsometheoccupationofthehandsisnotsomuchassuspended，whiletheeyessurveythefacesinthetumbrils。Hereandthere，theinmatehasvisitorstoseethesight；thenhepointshisfinger，withsomethingofthecomplacencyofacuratororauthorisedexponent，tothiscartandtothis，andseemstotellwhosathereyesterday，andwhotherethedaybefore。
Oftheridersinthetumbrils，someobservethesethings，andallthingsontheirlastroadside，withanimpassivestare；others，withalingeringinterestinthewaysoflifeandmen。Some，seatedwithdroopingheads，aresunkinsilentdespair；again，therearesomesoheedfuloftheirlooksthattheycastuponthemultitudesuchglancesastheyhaveseenintheatres，andinpictures。Severalclosetheireyes，andthink，ortrytogettheirstrayingthoughtstogether。Onlyone，andheamiserablecreature，ofacrazedaspect，issoshatteredandmadedrunkbyhorror，thathesings，andtriestodance。Notoneofthewholenumberappealsbylookorgesture，tothepityofthepeople。
Thereisaguardofsundryhorsemenridingabreastofthetumbrils，andfacesareoftenturneduptosomeofthem，andtheyareaskedsomequestion。Itwouldseemtobealwaysthesamequestion，for，itisalwaysfollowedbyapressofpeopletowardsthethirdcart。Thehorsemenabreastofthatcart，frequentlypointoutonemaninitwiththeirswords。Theleadingcuriosityis，toknowwhichishe；hestandsatthebackofthetumbrilwithhisheadbentdown，toconversewithameregirlwhositsonthesideofthecart，andholdshishand。Hehasnocuriosityorcareforthesceneabouthim，andalwaysspeakstothegirl。HereandthereinthelongstreetofSt。Honoré；，criesareraisedagainsthim。
Iftheymovehimatall，itisonlytoaquietsmile，asheshakeshishairalittlemorelooselyabouthisface。Hecannoteasilytouchhisface，hisarmsbeingbound。
Onthestepsofachurch，awaitingthecoming-upofthetumbrils，standstheSpyandprison-sheep。Helooksintothefirstofthem:notthere。
Helooksintothesecond:notthere。Healreadyaskshimself，`Hashesacrificedme?\'whenhisfaceclears，ashelooksintothethird。
`WhichisEvré；monde?\'saysamanbehindhim。`That。Atthebackthere。\'`Withhishandinthegirl\'s?\'`Yes。\'
Themancries，`Down，Evré；mondeTotheGuillotineallaristocrats!
Down，Evré；monde!\'
`Hush，hush!\'theSpyentreatshim，timidly。
`Andwhynot，citizen?\'
`Heisgoingtopaytheforfeit:itwillbepaidinfiveminutesmore。Lethimbeatpeace。\'
Butthemancontinuingtoexclaim，`Down，Evré；monde!\'thefaceofEvré；mondeisforamomentturnedtowardshim。Evré；mondethenseestheSpy，andlooksattentivelyathim，andgoeshisway。
Theclocksareonthestrokeofthree，andthefurrowploughedamongthepopulaceisturninground，tocomeonintotheplaceofexecution，andend。Theridgesthrowntothissideandtothat，nowcrumbleinandclosebehindthelastploughasitpasseson，forallarefollowingtotheGuillotine。Infrontofit，seatedinchairs，asinagardenofpublicdiversion，areanumberofwomen，busilyknitting。Ononeoftheforemostchairs，standsTheVengeance，lookingaboutforherfriend。
`Thé；rè；se!\'shecries，inhershrilltones。`Whohasseenher?Thé；rè；seDefarge!\'
`Shenevermissedbefore，\'saysaknitting-womanofthesisterhood。
`No；norwillsitemissnow，\'criesTheVengeance，petulantly。
`Thé；rè；se!\'
`Louder，\'thewomanrecommends。
Ay!Louder，Vengeance，muchlouder，andstillsitewillscarcelyhearthee。Louderyet，Vengeance，withalittleoathorsoadded，andyetitwillhardlybringher。Sendotherwomenupanddowntoseekher，lingeringsomewhere；andyet，althoughthemessengershavedonedreaddeeds，itisquestionablewhetheroftheirownwillstheywillgofarenoughtofindher!
`BadFortune!\'criesTheVengeance，stampingherfootinthechair，`andherearethetumbrils!AndEvré；mondewillbedespatchedinawink，andshenothere!Seeherknittinginmyhand，andheremptychairreadyforher。Icrywith`vexationanddisappointment!\'
AsTheVengeancedescendsfromherelevationtodoit，thetumbrilsbegintodischargetheirloads。TheministersofSainteGuillotinearerobedandready。Crash!——Aheadisheldup，andtheknitting-womenwhoscarcelyliftedtheireyestolookatitamomentagowhenitcouldthinkandspeak，countOne。
Thesecondtumbrilemptiesandmoveson；thethirdcomesup。Crash——Andtheknitting-women，neverfalteringorpausingintheirwork，countTwo。
ThesupposedEvré；mondedescends，andtheseamstressisliftedoutnextafterhim。Hehasnotrelinquishedherpatienthandingettingout，butstillholdsitashepromised。Hegentlyplacesherwithherbacktothecrashingenginethatconstantlywhirrsupandfalls，andshelooksintohisfaceandthankshim。
`Butforyou，dearstranger，Ishouldnotbesocomposed，forIamnaturallyapoorlittlething，faintofheart；norshouldIhavebeenabletoraisemythoughtstoHimwhowasputtodeath，thatwemighthavehopeandcomforthereto-day。IthinkyouweresenttomebyHeaven。
`Oryoutome，\'saysSydneyCarton。`Keepyoureyesuponme，dearchild，andmindnootherobject。\'
`ImindnothingwhileIholdyourhand。IshallmindnothingwhenIletitgo，iftheyarerapid。\'
`Theywillberapid。Fearnot!\'
Thetwostandinthefast-thinningthrongofvictims，buttheyspeakasiftheywerealone。Eyetoeye，voicetovoice，handtohand，hearttoheart，thesetwochildrenoftheUniversalMother，elsesowideapartanddiffering，havecometogetheronthedarkhighway，torepairhometogether，andtorestinherbosom。
`Braveandgenerousfriend，willyouletmeaskyouonelastquestion?
Iamveryignorant，andittroublesme——justalittle。\'
`Tellmewhatitis。\'
`Ihaveacousin，anonlyrelativeandanorphan，likemyself，whomIloveverydearly。SheisfiveyearsyoungerthanI，andshelivesinafarmer\'shouseinthesouthcountry。Povertypartedus，andsheknowsnothingofmyfate——forIcannotwrit——andifIcould，howshouldItellher!Itisbetterasitis。\'
`Yes，yes；betterasitis。\'
`WhatIhavebeenthinkingaswecamealong，andwhatIamstillthinkingnow，asIlookintoyourkindstrongfacewhichgivesmesomuchsupport，isthis:——iftheRepublicreallydoesgoodtothepoor，andtheycometobelesshungry，andinallwaystosufferless，shemaylivealongtime:shemayevenlivetobeold。\'
`Whatthen，mygentlesister?\'
`Doyouthink:\'theuncomplainingeyesinwhichthereissomuchendurance，fillwithtears，andthelipspartalittlemoreandtremble:
`thatitwillseemlongtome，whileIwaitforherinthebetterlandwhereItrustbothyouandIwillbemercifullysheltered?\'
`Itcannotbe，mychild；thereisnoTimethere，andnotroublethere。\'
`Youcomfortmesomuch!Iamsoignorant。AmItokissyounow?
Isthemomentcome?\'
`Yes。\'
Shekisseshislips；hekisseshers；theysolemnlyblesseachother。Thesparehanddoesnottrembleashereleasesit；nothingworsethanasweet，brightconstancyisinthepatientface。Shegoesnextbeforehim-isgone；theknitting-womencountTwenty-Two。
`IamtheResurrectionandtheLife，saiththeLord:hethatbelievethinme，thoughheweredead，yetshallhelive:andwhosoeverlivethandbelievethinmeshallneverdie。\'
Themurmuringofmanyvoices，theupturningofmanyfaces，thepressingonofmanyfootstepsintheoutskirtsofthecrowd，sothatitswellsforwardinamass，likeonegreatheaveofwater，allflashesaway。
Twenty-Three。
Theysaidofhim，aboutthecitythatnight，thatitwasthepeacefullestman\'sfaceeverbeheldthere。Manyaddedthathelookedsublimeandprophetic。
Oneofthemostremarkablesufferersbythesameaxe——awoman——Hadaskedatthefootofthesamescaffold，notlongbefore，tobeallowedtowritedownthethoughtsthatwereinspiringher。Ifhehadgivenanutterancetohis，andtheywereprophetic，theywouldhavebeenthese:
`IseeBarsad，andCly，Defarge，TheVengeance，theJuryman，theJudge，longranksofthenewoppressorswhohaverisenonthedestructionoftheold，perishingbythisretributiveinstrument，beforeitshallceaseoutofitspresentuse。Iseeabeautifulcityandabrilliantpeople\'
risingfromthisabyss，and，intheirstrugglestobetrulyfree，intheirtriumphsanddefeats，throughlonglongyearstocome，Iseetheevilofthistimeandoftheprevioustimeofwhichthisisthenaturalbirth，graduallymakingexpiationforitselfandwearingout。
`IseethelivesforwhichIlaydownmylife，peaceful，useful，prosperousandhappy，inthatEnglandwhichIshallseenomore。IseeHerwithachilduponherbosom，whobearsmyname。Iseeherfather，agedandbent，butotherwiserestored，andfaithfultoallmeninhishealingoffice，andatpeace。Iseethegoodoldman，solongtheirfriend，intenyears\'timeenrichingthemwithallhehas，andpassingtranquillytohisreward。
`IseethatIholdasanctuaryintheirhearts，andintheheartsoftheirdescendants，generationshence。Iseeher，anoldwoman，weepingformeontheanniversaryofthisday。Iseeherandherhusband，theircoursedone，lyingsidebysideintheirlastearthlybed，andIknowthateachwasnotmorehonouredandheldsacredintheother\'ssoul，thanI
wasinthesoulsofboth。
`Iseethatchildwholayuponherbosomandwhoboremyname，amanwinninghiswayupinthatpathoflifewhichoncewasmine。Iseehimwinningitsowell，thatmynameismadeillustrioustherebythelightofhis。IseetheblotsIthrewuponit，fadedaway。Iseehim，foremostofjustjudgesandhonouredmen，bringingaboyofmyname，withaforeheadthatIknowandgoldenhair，tothisplace——thenfairtolookupon，withnotatraceofthisday\'sdisfigurement——andIhearhimtellthechildmystory，withatenderandafalteringvoice。
