Whenthisinterchangeofchristiannamewaseffected.MadameDefarge,pickingherteethwithhertoothpickcoughedanothergrainofcough,andraisedhereyebrowsbythebreadthofanotherline.
`Itisnotoften,\'saidthesecondofthethree,addressingMonsieurDefarge,`thatmanyofthesemiserablebeastsknowthetasteofwine,orofanythingbutblackbreadanddeath.Isitnotso,Jacques?\'
`Itisso,Jacques,\'MonsieurDefargereturned.
Atthissecondinterchangeofthechristianname,MadameDefarge,stillusinghertoothpickwithprofoundcomposure,coughedanothergrainofcough,andraisedhereyebrowsbythebreadthofanotherline.
Thelastofthethreenowsaidhissay,asheputdownhisemptydrinkingvesselandsmackedhislips.
`Ah!Somuchtheworse!Abittertasteitisthatsuchpoorcattlealwayshaveintheirmouths,andhardlivestheylive,Jacques.AmIright,Jacques?\'
`Youareright,Jacques,\'wastheresponseofMonsieurDefarge.
ThisthirdinterchangeofthechristiannamewascompletedatthemomentwhenMadameDefargeputhertoothpickby,kepthereyebrowsup,andslightlyrustledinherseat.
`Holdthen!True!\'mutteredherhusband.`Gentlemen——mywife!\'
ThethreecustomerspulledofftheirhatstoMadameDefarge,withthreeflourishes.Sheacknowledgedtheirhomagebybendingherhead,andgivingthemaquicklook.Thensheglancedinacasualmannerroundthewine-shop,tookupherknittingwithgreatapparentcalmnessandreposeofspirit,andbecameabsorbedinit.
`Gentlemen,\'saidherhusband,whohadkepthisbrighteyeobservantlyuponher,`goodday.Thechamber,furnishedbachelor-fashion,thatyouwishedtosee,and`wereinquiringforwhenIsteppedout,isonthefifthfloor.Thedoorwayofthestaircasegivesonthelittlecourt-yardclosetothelefthere,\'pointingwithhishand,`neartothewindowofmyestablishment.But,nowthatIremember,oneofyouhasalreadybeenthere,andcanshowtheway.Gentlemen,adieu!
Theypaidfortheirwine,andlefttheplace.TheeyesofMonsieurDefargewerestudyinghiswifeatherknittingwhentheelderlygentlemanadvancedfromhiscorner,andbeggedthefavourofaword.
`Willingly,sir,\'saidMonsieurDefarge,andquietlysteppedwithhimtothedoor.
Theirconferencewasveryshort,butverydecided.Almostatthefirstword,MonsieurDefargestartedandbecamedeeplyattentive.Ithadnotlastedaminute,whenhenoddedandwentout.Thegentlemanthenbeckonedtotheyounglady,andthey,too,wentout.MadameDefargeknittedwithnimblefingersandsteadyeyebrows,andsawnothing.
Mr.JarvisLorryandMissManette,emergingfromthewine-shopthus,joinedMonsieurDefargeinthedoorwaytowhichhehaddirectedhisothercompanyjustbefore.Itopenedfromastinkinglittleblackcourt-yard,andwasthegeneralpublicentrancetoagreatpileofhouses,inhabitedbyagreatnumberofpeople.Inthegloomytile-pavedentrytothegloomytile-pavedstaircase,MonsieurDefargebentdownononekneetothechildofhisoldmaster,andputherhandtohislips.Itwasagentleaction,butnotatallgentlydone;averyremarkabletransformationhadcomeoverhiminafewseconds.Hehadnogood-humourinhisface,noranyopennessofaspectleft,buthadbecomeasecret,angry,dangerousman.
`Itisveryhigh;itisalittledifficult.Bettertobeginslowly.\'Thus,MonsieurDefarge,inasternvoice,toMr.Lorry,astheybeganascendingthestairs.
`Ishealone?\'thelatterwhispered.
`Alone!Godhelphim,whoshouldbewithhim?\'saidtheother,inthesamelowvoice.
`Ishe,alwaysalone,then?\'
`Yes.
`Ofhisowndesire?\'
`Ofhisownnecessity.Ashewas,whenIfirstsawhimaftertheyfoundmeanddemandedtoknowifIwouldtakehim,and,atmyperilbediscreet——hashewasthen,soheisnow.
`Heisgreatlychanged?\'
`Changed!\'
Thekeeperofthewine-shopstoppedtostrikethewallwithhishand,andmutteratremendouscurse.Nodirectanswercouldhavebeenhalfsoforcible.Mr.Lorry\'sspiritsgrewheavierandheavier,asheandhistwocompanionsascendedhigherandhigher.
Suchastaircase,withitsaccessories,intheolderandmorecrowdedpartsofParis,wouldbebadenoughnow;but,atthattime,itwasvileindeedtounaccustomedandunhardenedsenses.Everylittlehabitationwithinthegreatfoulnestofonehighbuilding——thatistosay,theroomorroomswithineverydoorthatopenedonthegeneralstaircase——leftitsownheapofrefuseonitsownlanding,besidesRingingotherrefusefromitsownwindows.Theuncontrollableandhopelessmassofdecompositionsoengendered,wouldhavepollutedtheair,evenifpovertyanddeprivationhadnotloadeditwit!\'theirintangibleimpurities;theMobadsourcescombinedmadeitalmostinsupportable.Throughsuchanatmosphere,byasteepdarkshaftofdirtandpoison,thewaylay.Yieldingtohisowndisturbanceofmind,andtohisyoungcompanion\'sagitation,whichbecamegreatereveryinstant,Mr.JarvisLorrytwicestoppedtorest.Eachofthesestoppageswasmadeatadolefulgrating,bywhichanylanguishinggoodairsthatwereleftuncorruptedseemedtoescape,andallspoiltandsicklyvapoursseemedtocrawlin.Throughtherustedbars,tastes,ratherthanglimpses,werecaughtofthejumbledneighbourhood;andnothingwithinrange,nearerorlowerthanthesummitsofthetwo-greattowersofNotre-Dame,hadanypromiseonitofhealthylifeorwholesomeaspirations.
Atlast,thetopofthestaircasewasgained,andtheystoppedforthethirdtime.Therewasyetanupperstaircase,ofasteeperinclinationandofcontracteddimensions,tobeascended,beforethegarretstorywasreached.Thekeeperofthewine-shop,alwaysgoingalittleinadvance,andalwaysgoingonthesidewhichMr.Lorrytook,asthoughhedreadedtobeaskedanyquestionbytheyounglady,turnedhimselfabouthere,and,carefullyfeelinginthepocketsofthecoathecarriedoverhisshoulder,tookoutakey.
`Thedoorislockedthen,myfriend?\'saidMr.Lorry\',surprised.
`Ay.Yes,\'wasthegrimreplyofMonsieurDefarge.
`Youthinkitnecessarytokeeptheunfortunategentlemansoretired?\'
`Ithinkitnecessarytoturnthekey.\'MonsieurDefargewhispereditcloserinhisear,andfrownedheavily.
`Why?\'
`Why!Becausehehaslivedsolong,lockedup,thathewouldbefrightened——rave——tearhimselftopieces——die——cometoIknownotwhatharm-ifhisdoorwasleftopen.\'
`Isitpossible?\'exclaimedMr.Lorry.
`Isitpossible?\'repeatedDefarge,bitterly.`Yes.Andabeautifulworldwelivein,whenitispossible,andwhenmanyothersuchthingsarepossible,andnotonlypossible,butdone——done,seeyou!——underthatskythere,everyday.LonglivetheDevil.Letusgoon.\'
Thisdialoguehadbeenheldinsoverylowawhisper,thatnotawordofithadreachedtheyounglady\'sears.But,bythistimeshetrembledundersuchstrongemotion,andherfaceexpressedsuchdeepanxiety,and,aboveall,suchdreadandterror,thatMr.Lorryfeltitincumbentonhimtospeakawordortwoofreassurance.
`Courage,dearmiss!Courage!Business!Theworstwillbeoverinamoment;itisbutpassingtheroom-door,andtheworstisover.Then,allthegoodyoubringtohim,alltherelief,allthehappinessyoubringtohim,begin.Letourgoodfriendhere,assistyouonthatside.That\'swell,friendDefarge.Come,now.Business,business!\'
Theywentupslowlyandsoftly.Thestaircasewasshort,andtheyweresoonatthetop.There,asithadanabruptturninit,theycameallatonceinsightofthreemen,whoseheadswerebentdownclosetogetheratthesideofadoor,andwhowereintentlylookingintotheroomtowhichthedoorbelonged,throughsomechinksorholesinthewall.Onhearingfootstepscloseathand,thesethreeturned,androse,andshowedthemselvestobethethreeofonenamewhohadbeendrinkinginthewine-shop.
`Iforgottheminthesurpriseofyourvisit,\'explainedMonsieurDefarge.`Leaveus,goodboys;wehavebusiness\'here.\'
Thethreeglidedby,andwentsilentlydown.
Thereappearingtobenootherdooronthatfloor,andthekeeperofthewine-shopgoingstraighttothisonewhentheywereleftalone,Mr.Lorryaskedhiminawhisper,withlittleanger:
`DoyoumakeashowofMonsieurManette?\'
`Ishowhim,inthewayyouhaveseen,toachosenfew.\'
`Isthatwell?\'
`Ithinkitiswell.\'
`Whoarethefew?Howdoyouchoosethem?\'
`Ichoosethemasrealmen,ofmyname——Jacquesismyname——towhomthesightislikelytodogood.EnoughyouareEnglish;thatisanotherthing.Staythere,ifyouplease,alittlemoment.\'
Withanadmonitorygesturetokeepthemback,hestooped,andlookedinthroughthecreviceinthewall.Soonraisinghisheadagain,hestrucktwiceorthriceuponthedoor——evidentlywithnootherobjectthantomakeanoisethereWiththesameintention,hedrewthekeyacrossit,threeorfourtimes,beforeheputitclumsilyintothelock,andturneditasheavilyashecould.
Thedoorslowlyopenedinwardunderhishand,andhelookedintotheroomandsaidsomething.Afaintvoiceansweredsomething.Littlemorethanasinglesyllablecouldhavebeenspokenoneitherside.
Helookedbackoverhisshoulder,andbeckonedthemccenter.Mr.Lorrygothisarmsecurelyroundthedaughterwaist,andheldher;forhefeltthatshewassinking.
`A——a——a——business,business!\'heurged,withamoisturethatwasnotofbusinessshiningonhischeek.`Comeincomein!\'
`Iamafraidofit,\'sheanswered,shuddering.
`Ofit?What?\'
`Imeanofhim.Ofmyfather.\'
Renderedinamannerdesperate,byherstateandbythebeckoningoftheirconductor,hedrewoverhisneckthearmthatshookuponhisshoulder,liftedheralittle,andhurriedherintotheroom.Hesetherdownjustwithinthedoorandheldher,clingingtohim.
Defargedrewoutthekey,closedthedoor,lockeditontheinside,tookoutthekeyagain,andhelditinhishand.Allthishedid,methodically,andwithasloudandharshanaccompanimentofnoiseashecouldmake.Finally,hewalkedacrosstheroomwithameasuredtreadtowherethewindowwas.Hestoppedthere,andfacedround.
Thegarret,builttobeadepositoryforfirewoodandthelike,wasdimanddark:forthewindowofdormershape,wasintruthadoorintheroof,withalittlecraneoveritforthehoistingupofstoresfromthestreet:unglazed,analclosingupthemiddleintwopieces,likeanyotherdoorofFrenchconstruction.Toexcludethecold,onehalfofthindoorwasfastclosed,andtheotherwasopenedbutaverylittleway.Suchascantyportionoflightwasadmittedthroughthesemeans,thatitwasdifficult,onfirstcomingin,toseeanything;andlonghabitalonecouldhaveslowlyformedinanyone,theabilitytodoanyworkrequiringnicetyinsuchobscurity.Yet,workofthatkindwasbeingdoneinthegarret;for,withhisbacktowardsthedoor,andhisfacetowardsthewindowwherethekeeperofthewine-shopstoodlookingathim,awhite-hairedmansatonalowbench,stoopingforwardandverybusy,makingshoes.
CHAPTERVI
TheShoemaker
`GOODDAY!\'saidMonsieurDefarge,lookingdownathewhiteheadthatbentlowovertheshoemaking.
Itwasraisedforamoment,andaveryfaintvoicerespondedtothesalutation,asifitwereatadistance:
`Goodday!\'
`Youarestillhardatwork,Isee?\'
Afteralongsilence,theheadwasliftedforanothermoment,andthevoicereplied,`Yes——Iamworking.\'Thistime,apairofhaggardeyeshadlookedatthequestioner,beforethefacehaddroppedagain.
Thefaintnessofthevoicewaspitiableanddreadful.Itwasnotthefaintnessofphysicalweakness,thoughconfinementandhardfarenodoubthadtheirpartinit.Itsdeplorablepeculiaritywas,thatitwasthefaintnessofsolitudeanddisuse.Itwaslikethelastfeebleechoofasoundmadelongandlongago.Soentirelyhaditlostthelifeandresonanceofthehumanvoice,thatitaffectedthesenseslikeaoncebeautifulcolourfadedawayintoapoorweakstain.Sosunkenandsuppresseditwas,thatitwaslikeavoiceunder-ground.Soexpressiveitwas,ofahopelessandlostcreature,thatafamishedtraveller,weariedOutbylonelywanderinginawilderness,wouldhaverememberedhomeandfriendsinsuchatonebeforelyingdowntodie.
Someminutesofsilentworkhadpassed:andthehaggardeyeshadlookedupagain:notwithanyinterestorcuriosity,butwithadullmechanicalperception,beforehand,thatthespotwheretheonlyvisitortheywereawareofhadstood,wasnotyetempty.
`Iwant,\'saidDefarge,whohadnotremovedhisgazefromtheshoemaker,`toletinalittlemorelighthere.Youcanbearalittlemore?\'
Theshoemakerstoppedhiswork;lookedwithavacantairoflistening,atthefloorononesideofhim;thensimilarly,atthefloorontheothersideofhim;then,upwardatthespeaker.
`Whatdidyousay?\'
`Youcanbearalittlemorelight?\'
`Imustbearit,ifyouletitin.\'Layingthepalestshadowofastressuponthesecondword.
Theopenedhalf-doorwasopenedalittlefurther,andsecuredatthatangleforthetime.Abroadrayoflightfellintothegarret,andshowedtheworkmanwithanun-finishedshoeuponhislap,pausinginhislabour.Hisfewcommontoolsandvariousscrapsofleatherwereathisfeetandonhisbench.Hehadawhitebeard,raggedlycut,butnotverylong,ahollowface,andexceedinglybrighteyes.Thehollownessandthinnessofhisfacewouldhavecausedthemtolooklarge,underhisyetdarkeyebrowsandhisconfusedwhitehair,thoughtheyhadbeenreallyotherwise;but,theywerenaturallylarge,andlookedun-naturallyso.Hisyellowragsofshirtlayopenatthethroat,andshowedhisbodytobewitheredandworn.He,andhisoldcanvasfrock,andhisloosestockings,andallhispoortattersofclothes,had,inalongseclusionfromdirectlightandair,fadeddowntosuchadulluniformityofparchment-yellow,thatitwouldhavebeenhardtosaywhichwaswhich.
Hehadputupahandbetweenhiseyesandthelight,andtheverybonesofitseemedtransparent.Sohesat,withasteadfastlyvacantgaze,pausinginhiswork.Heneverlookedatthefigurebeforehim,withoutfirstlookingdownonthissideofhimself,thenonthat,asifhehadlostthehabitofassociatingplacewithsound;heneverspoke,withoutfirstpanderinginthismanner,andforgettingtospeak.
`Areyougoingtofinishthatpairofshoesto-day?\'askedDefarge,motioningtoMr.Lorrytocomeforward.
`Whatdidyousay?\'
`Doyoumeantofinishthatpairofshoesto-day?\'`Ican\'tsaythatImeanto.Isupposeso.Idon\'tknow.\'
But,thequestionremindedhimofhiswork,andhebentoveritagain.
Mr.Lorrycamesilentlyforward,leavingthedaughterbythedoor.Whenhehadstood,foraminuteortwo,bythesideofDefarge,theshoemakerlookedup.Heshowednosurpriseatseeinganotherfigure,buttheunsteadyfingersofoneofhishandsstrayedtohislipsashelookedatithislipsandhisnailswereofthesamepalelead-colour,andthenthehanddroppedtohiswork,andheoncemorebentovertheshoe.Thelookandtheactionhadoccupiedbutaninstant.
`Youhaveavisitor,yousee,\'saidMonsieurDefarge.
`Whatdidyousay?\'
`Hereisavisitor.\'
Theshoemakerlookedupasbefore,butwithoutremovingahandfromhiswork.
`Come!\'saidDefarge.`Hereismonsieur,whoknowsawell-madeshoewhenheseesone.Showhimthatshoeyouareworkingat.Takeit,monsieur.\'
Mr.Lorrytookitinhishand.
`Tellmonsieurwhatkindofshoeitis,andthemaker\'sname.\'
Therewasalongerpausethanusual,beforetheshoe-makerreplied:
`Iforgetwhatitwasyouaskedme.Whatdidyousay?\'
`Isaid,couldn\'tyoudescribethekindofshoe,formonsieur\'sinformation?\'
`Itisalady\'sshoe.Itisayounglady\'swalking-shoe.Itisinthepresentmode.Ineversawthemode.Ihavehadapatterninmyhand.\'Heglancedattheshoewithsomelittlepassingtouchofpride.
`Andthemaker\'sname?\'saidDefarge.
Nowthathehadnoworktohold,helaidtheknucklesoftherighthandinthehollowoftheleft,andthentheknucklesofthelefthandinthehollowoftheright,andthenpassedahandacrosshisbeardedchin,andsooninregularchanges,withoutamoment\'sintermission.Thetaskofrecallinghimfromthevacancyintowhichhealwayssankwhenhehadspoken,waslikerecallingsomeveryweakpersonfromaswoon,orendeavouring,inthehopeofsomedisclosure,tostaythespiritofafast-dyingman.
`Didyouaskmeformyname?\'
`AssuredlyIdid.\'
`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower.\'
`Isthatall?\'
`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower.\'
Withawearysoundthatwasnotasigh,noragroan,hebenttoworkagain,untilthesilencewasagainbroken.
`Youarenotashoemakerbytrade?\'saidMr.Lorry,lookingsteadfastlyathim.
HishaggardeyesturnedtoDefargeasifhewouldhavetransferredthequestiontohim:butasnohelpcamefromthatquarter,theyturnedbackonthequestionerwhentheyhadsoughttheground.
`Iamnotashoemakerbytrade?No,Iwasnotashoe-makerbytrade.I——Ilearn\'tithere.Itaughtmyself.Iaskedleaveto——\'
Helapsedaway,evenforminutes,ringingthosemeasuredchangesonhishandsthewholetime.Hiseyescameslowlyback,atlast,tothefacefromwhichtheyhadwandered;whentheyrestedonit,hestarted,andresumed,inthemannerofasleeperthatmomentawake,revertingtoasubjectoflastnight.
`Iaskedleavetoteachmyself,andIgotitwithmuchdifficultyafteralongwhile,andIhavemadeshoeseversince.\'
Asheheldouthishandfortheshoethathadbeentakenfromhim,Mr.Lorrysaid,stilllookingsteadfastlyinhisface:
`MonsieurManette,doyouremembernothingofme?\'
Theshoedroppedtotheground,andhesatlookingfixedlyatthequestioner.
`MonsieurManette;\'Mr.LorrylaidhishanduponDefarge\'sarm;`doyouremembernothingofthisman?Lookathim.Lookatme.Istherenooldbanker,nooldbusiness,nooldservant,nooldtime,risinginyourmind,MonsieurManette?\'
Asthecaptiveofmanyyearssatlookingfixedly,byturns,atMr.LorryandatDefarge,somelongobliteratedmarksofanactivelyintentintelligenceinthemiddleofthefore-head,graduallyforcedthemselvesthroughtheblackmistthathadfallenonhim.Theywereovercloudedagain,theywerefainter,theyweregone;buttheyhadbeenthere.Andsoexactlywastheexpressionrepeatedonthefairyoungfaceofherwhohadcreptalongthewalltoapointwhereshecouldseehim,andwhereshenowstoodlookingathim,withhandswhichatfirsthadbeenonlyraisedinfrightenedcompassion,ifnoteventokeephimoffandshutoutthesightofhim,butwhichwerenowextendingtowardshim,tremblingwitheagernesstolaythespectralfaceuponherwarmyoungbreast,andloveitbacktolifeandhope——soexactlywastheexpressionrepeatedthoughinstrongercharactersonherfairyoungface,thatitlookedasthoughithadpassedlikeamovinglight,fromhimtoher.
Darknesshadfallenonhiminitsplace.Helookedatthetwo,lessandlessattentively,andhiseyesingloomyabstractionsoughtthegroundandlookedabouthimintheoldway.Finally,withadeeplongsigh,hetooktheshoeup,andresumedhiswork.
`Haveyourecognisedhim,monsieur?\'askedDefargeinawhisper.
`Yes;foramoment.AtfirstIthoughtitquitehope-less,butIhaveunquestionablyseen,forasinglemoment,thefacethatIonceknewsowell.Hush!Letusdrawfurtherback.Hush!\'
Shehadmovedfromthewallofthegarret,veryneartothebenchonwhichhesat.Therewassomethingawfulinhisunconsciousnessofthefigurethatcouldhaveputoutitshandandtouchedhimasliestoopedoverhislabour.
Notawordwasspoken,notasoundwasmade.Shestood,likeaspirit,besidehim,andhebentoverhiswork.
Ithappened,atlength,thathehadoccasiontochangetheinstrumentinhishand,forhisshoemaker\'sknife.Itlayonthatsideofhimwhichwasnotthesideonwhichshestood.Hehadtakenitup,andwasstoopingtoworkagain,whenhiseyescaughttheskirtofherdress.Heraisedthem,andsawherface.Thetwospectatorsstartedforward,hutshestayedthemwithamotionofherhand.Shehadnofearofhisstrikingatherwiththeknife,thoughtheyhad.
Hestaredatherwithafearfullook,andafterawhilehislipsbegantoformsomewords,thoughnosoundproceededfromthem.Bydegrees,inthepausesofhisquickandlabouredbreathing,hewasheardtosay:
`Whatisthis?\'
Withthetearsstreamingdownherface,sheputhertwohandstoherlips,andkissedthemtohim;thenclaspedthemonherbreast,asifshelaidhisruinedheadthere.
`Youarenotthegaoler\'sdaughter?\'
Shesighed`No.\'
`Whoareyou?\'
Notyettrustingthetonesofhervoice,shesatdownonthebenchbesidehim.Herecoiled,butshelaidherhanduponhisarm.Astrangethrillstruckhimwhenshedidso,andvisiblypassedoverhisframe;helaidtheknifedownsoftly,ashesatstaringather.
Hergoldenhair,whichsheworeinlongcurls,hadbeenhurriedlypushedaside,andfelldownoverherneck.Advancinghishandbylittleandlittle,hetookitupandlookedatit.Inthemidstoftheactionhewentastray,and,withanotherdeepsigh,felltoworkathisshoemaking.
Butnotforlong.Releasinghisarm,shelaidherhanduponhisshoulder.Afterlookingdoubtfullyatit,twoorthreetimes,asiftobesurethatitwasreallythere,helaiddownhiswork,puthishandtohisneck,andtookoffablackenedstringwithascrapoffoldedragattachedtoit.Heopenedthis,carefully,onhisknee,anditcontainedaverylittlequantityofhair:notmorethanoneortwolonggoldenhairs,whichhehad,insomeoldday,woundonuponhisfinger.
Hetookherhairintohishandagain,andlookedcloselyatit.`Itisthesame.Howcanitbe!Whenwasit!Howwasit!\'
Astheconcentratingexpressionreturnedtohisforehead,heseemedtobecomeconsciousthatitwasinherstoo.Heturnedherfulltothelight,andlookedather.
`Shehadlaidherheaduponmyshoulder,thatnightwhenIwassummonedout——shehadafearofmygoing,thoughIhadnone——andwhenIwasbroughttotheNorthTowertheyfoundtheseuponmysleeve.\"Youwillleavemethem?Theycanneverhelpmetoescapeinthebody,thoughtheymayinthespirit.\"ThosewerethewordsIsaid.Irememberthemverywell.\'
Heformedthisspeechwithhislipsmanytimesbeforehecouldutterit.Butwhenhedidfindspokenwordsforit,theycametohimcoherently,thoughslowly.
`Howwasthis?——Wasityou?\'
Oncemore,thetwospectatorsstarted,asheturneduponherwithafrightfulsuddenness.Butshesatperfectlystillinhisgrasp,andonlysaid,inalowvoice,`Ientreatyou,goodgentlemen,donotcomenearus,donotspeak,donotmove!\'
`Hark!\'heexclaimed.`Whosevoicewasthat?\'
Hishandsreleasedherasheutteredthiscry,andwentuptohiswhitehair,whichtheytoreinafrenzy.Itdiedout,aseverythingbuthisshoemakingdiddieoutofhim,andherefoldedhislittlepacketandtriedtosecureitinhisbreast;buthestilllookedather,andgloomilyshookhishead.
`No,no,no;youaretooyoung,tooblooming.Itcan\'tbe.Seewhattheprisoneris.Thesearenotthehandssheknew,thisisnotthefacesheknew,thisisnotavoicesheeverheard.No,no.Shewas——andHewas——beforetheslowyearsoftheNorthTower——agesago.Whatisyourname,mygentleangel?\'
Hailinghissoftenedtoneandmanner,hisdaughterfelluponherkneesbeforehim,withherappealinghandsuponhisbreast.
`O,sir,atanothertimeyoushallknowmyname,andwhomymotherwas,andwhomyfather,andhowIneverknewtheirhard,hardhistory.ButIcannottellyouatthistime,andIcannottellyouhere.AllthatImaytellyou,hereandnow,is,thatIpraytoyoutotouchmeandtoblessme.Kissme,kissme!Omydear,mydear!\'
Hiscoldwhiteheadmingledwithherradianthair,whichwarmedandlighteditasthoughitwerethelightofFreedomshiningonhim.
`Ifyouhearinmyvoice——Idon\'tknowthatitisso,butIhopeitis——ifyouhearinmyvoiceanyresemblancetoavoicethatoncewassweetmusicinyourears,weepforit,weepforit!Ifyoutouch,intouchingmyhair,anythingthatrecallsabelovedheadthatlayonyourbreastwhenyouwereyoungandfree,weepforit,weepforit!If,whenIhinttoyouofaHomethatisbeforeus,whereIwillbetruetoyouwithallmydutyandwithallmyfaithfulservice,IbringbacktheremembranceofaHomelongdesolate,whileyourpoorheartpinedaway,weepforit,weepforit!\'