点击下载App，搜索"A Tale Of Two Citie",免费读到尾

　　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!WifeofEvr&eacute；monde!

　　ChildofEvr&eacute；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，andherdresshastilycomposedwithunsteadyhandswasclutchedanddraggedahundredwaysIncrossingthebridge，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。Honor&eacute；，criesareraisedagainsthim。

　　Iftheymovehimatall，itisonlytoaquietsmile，asheshakeshishairalittlemorelooselyabouthisface。Hecannoteasilytouchhisface，hisarmsbeingbound。

　　Onthestepsofachurch，awaitingthecoming-upofthetumbrils，standstheSpyandprison-sheep。Helooksintothefirstofthem:notthere。

　　Helooksintothesecond:notthere。Healreadyaskshimself，`Hashesacrificedme?\'whenhisfaceclears，ashelooksintothethird。

　　`WhichisEvr&eacute；monde?\'saysamanbehindhim。`That。Atthebackthere。\'`Withhishandinthegirl\'s?\'`Yes。\'

　　Themancries，`Down，Evr&eacute；mondeTotheGuillotineallaristocrats!

　　Down，Evr&eacute；monde!\'

　　`Hush，hush!\'theSpyentreatshim，timidly。

　　`Andwhynot，citizen?\'

　　`Heisgoingtopaytheforfeit:itwillbepaidinfiveminutesmore。Lethimbeatpeace。\'

　　Butthemancontinuingtoexclaim，`Down，Evr&eacute；monde!\'thefaceofEvr&eacute；mondeisforamomentturnedtowardshim。Evr&eacute；mondethenseestheSpy，andlooksattentivelyathim，andgoeshisway。

　　Theclocksareonthestrokeofthree，andthefurrowploughedamongthepopulaceisturninground，tocomeonintotheplaceofexecution，andend。Theridgesthrowntothissideandtothat，nowcrumbleinandclosebehindthelastploughasitpasseson，forallarefollowingtotheGuillotine。Infrontofit，seatedinchairs，asinagardenofpublicdiversion，areanumberofwomen，busilyknitting。Ononeoftheforemostchairs，standsTheVengeance，lookingaboutforherfriend。

　　`Th&eacute；r&egrave；se!\'shecries，inhershrilltones。`Whohasseenher?Th&eacute；r&egrave；seDefarge!\'

　　`Shenevermissedbefore，\'saysaknitting-womanofthesisterhood。

　　`No；norwillsitemissnow，\'criesTheVengeance，petulantly。

　　`Th&eacute；r&egrave；se!\'

　　`Louder，\'thewomanrecommends。

　　Ay!Louder，Vengeance，muchlouder，andstillsitewillscarcelyhearthee。Louderyet，Vengeance，withalittleoathorsoadded，andyetitwillhardlybringher。Sendotherwomenupanddowntoseekher，lingeringsomewhere；andyet，althoughthemessengershavedonedreaddeeds，itisquestionablewhetheroftheirownwillstheywillgofarenoughtofindher!

　　`BadFortune!\'criesTheVengeance，stampingherfootinthechair，`andherearethetumbrils!AndEvr&eacute；mondewillbedespatchedinawink，andshenothere!Seeherknittinginmyhand，andheremptychairreadyforher。Icrywith`vexationanddisappointment!\'

　　AsTheVengeancedescendsfromherelevationtodoit，thetumbrilsbegintodischargetheirloads。TheministersofSainteGuillotinearerobedandready。Crash!——Aheadisheldup，andtheknitting-womenwhoscarcelyliftedtheireyestolookatitamomentagowhenitcouldthinkandspeak，countOne。

　　Thesecondtumbrilemptiesandmoveson；thethirdcomesup。Crash——Andtheknitting-women，neverfalteringorpausingintheirwork，countTwo。

　　ThesupposedEvr&eacute；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。