Now,whenthejourneyofthetravellingcoach,atthatverymomentwaitingforthecompletionofitsload,hadbeenplannedoutlastnight,thedifficultyoftakingMissProssinithadmuchengagedMr.Lorry\'sattention.Itwasnotmerelydesirabletoavoidoverloadingthecoach,butitwasofthehighestimportancethatthetimeoccupiedinexaminingitanditspassengers,shouldbereducedtotheutmost;sincetheirescapemightdependonthesavingofonlyafewsecondshereandthere.Finally,hehadproposed,afteranxiousconsideration,thatMissProssandJerry,whowereatlibertytoleavethecity,shouldleaveitatthreeo\'clockinthelightest-wheeledconveyanceknowntothatperiod.Unencumberedwithluggage,theywouldsoonovertakethecoach,and,passingitandprecedingitontheroad,wouldorderitshorsesinadvance,andgreatlyfacilitateitsprogressduringtheprecioushoursofthenight,whendelaywasthemosttobedreaded.
Seeinginthisarrangementthehopeofrenderingrealserviceinthatpressingemergency,MissProsshaileditwithjoy.SheandJerryhadbeheldthecoachstart,hadknownwhoitwasthatSolomonbrought,hadpassedsometenminutesintorturesofsuspense,andwerenowconcludingtheirarrangementstofollowthecoach,evenasMadameDefarge,takingherwaythroughthestreets,nowdrewnearerandnearertotheelse-desertedlodginginwhichtheyheldtheirconsultation.
`Nowwhatdoyouthink,Mr.Cruncher,\'saidMissPross,whoseagitationwassogreatthatshecouldhardlyspeak,orstand,ormove,orlive:`whatdoyouthinkofournotstartingfromthiscourt-yard?Anothercarriagehavingalreadygonefromhereto-day,itmightawakensuspicion.
`Myopinion,miss,\'returnedMr.Cruncher,`isas,you\'reright.LikewisewotI\'llstandbyyou,rightorwrong.
`Iamsodistractedwithfearandhopeforourpreciouscreatures,\'saidMissPross,wildlycrying,`thatIamincapableofforminganyplan.Areyoucapableofforminganyplan,mydeargoodMr.Cruncher?\'