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He was shown upstairs； and found Lucie at her work； alone。 She had never been quite at her ease with him； and received him with some little embarrassment as he seated himself near her table。 But； looking up at his face in the interchange of the first few commonplaces； she observed a change in it。
‘I fear you are not well； Mr。 Carton！'
‘No。 But the life I lead； Miss Manette； is not conducive to health。 What is to be expected of or by； such profligates？'
‘Is it notforgive me； I have begun the question on my lipsa pity to live no better life？'
‘God knows it is a shame！'
‘Then why not change it？'
Looking gently at him again； she was surprised and saddened to see that there were tears in his eyes。 There were tears in his voice too； as he answered：
‘It is too late for that。 I shall never be better than I am。 I shall sink lower； and be worse。'
He leaned an elbow on her table； and covered his eyes with his hand。 The table trembled in the silence that followed。
She had never seen hint softened； and was much distressed。 He knew her to be so； without looking at her； and said：
‘Pray forgive me； Miss Manette。 I break down before the knowledge of what I want to say to you。 Will you hear me？'
‘If it will do you any good； Mr。 Carton； if it would make you happier； it would make me very glad！'
‘God bless you for your sweet compassion！'
He unshaded his face after a little while； and spoke steadily。 ‘Don't be afraid to hear me。 Don't shrink from anything
I say。 I am like one who died young。 All my life might have been。'
‘No； Mr。 Carton。 I am sure that the best part of it might still be； I am sure that you might be much； much worthier of yourself。'
‘Say of you； Miss Manette； and although I know betteralthough in the mystery of my own wretched heart I know betterI shall never forget it I'
She was pale and trembling。 He came to her relief with a fixed despair of himself which made the interview unlike any other that could have been holden。
‘If it had been possible； Miss Manette； that you could have returned the love of the man you see before youself…flung away； wasted； drunken； poor creature of misuse as you know him to behe would have been conscious this day and hour； in spite of his happiness； that he would bring you to misery； bring you to sorrow and repentance； blight you； disgrace you； pull you down with him。 I know very well that you can have no tenderness for me； I ask for none； I am even thankful that it cannot he。'
‘Without it； can I not save you； Mr。 Carton？ Can I not recall youforgive me again！to a better course？ Can I in no way repay your confidence？ I knob this is a confidence；' she modestly said； after a little hesitation； and in earnest tears； ‘I know you would say this to no one else。 Can I turn it to no good account for yourself； Mr。 Carton？'
He shook his head。
‘To none。 No； Miss Manette； to none。 If you will hear me through a very little more； all you can ever do for me is done。 I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul。 In my degradation I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father； and of this home made such a home by you； has stirred old shadows that I thought had died out of me。 Since I knew you； I have been troubled by a remorse that I thought would never reproach me again； and have heard whispers from old voices impelling me upward； that I thought were silent for ever。 I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh； beginning anew； shaking off sloth and sensuality； and fighting out the abandoned fight。 A dream； all a dream； that ends in nothing； and leaves the sleeper where he lay down； but I wish you to know that you inspired it。'
‘Will nothing of it remain？ O Mr。 Carton； think again！ Try again！'
‘No； Miss Manette； all through it； I have known myself to be quite undeserving。 And yet I have had the weakness； and have still the weakness； to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me； heap of ashes that I am； into firea fire； however； inseparable in its nature from myself； quickening nothing； lighting nothing； doing no service； idly burning away。'
‘Since it is my misfortune； Mr。 Carton； to have more unhappy than you were before you knew me
‘Don't say that； Miss Manette； for you would have reclaimed me； if anything could。 You will not be the cause of my becoming worse。'
‘Since the state of your mind that you describe； is； at all events； attributable to some influence of minethis is what I mean； if I can make it plaincan I use no influence to serve you？ Have I no power for good； with you； at all？'
‘The utmost good that I am capable of now； Miss Manette； I have come here to realise。 Let me carry through the rest of my misdirected life； the remembrance that I opened my heart to you； last of all the world； and that there was something left in me at this time which you could deplore and pity。'
‘Which I entreated you to believe； again and again； most fervently； with all my heart； was capable of better things； Mr。 Carton！'
‘Entreat me to believe it no more； Miss Manette。 I have proved myself； and I know better。 I distress you； I draw fast to an end。 Will you let me believe； when I recall this day； that the last confidence of my life was reposed in your pure and innocent breast； and that it lies there alone； and will be shared by no one？'
‘If that will be a consolation to you； yes。'
‘Not even by the dearest one ever to be known to you？'
‘Mr。 Carton；' she answered； after an agitated pause； ‘the secret is yours； not mine； and I promise to respect it。'
‘Thank you。 And again； God bless you。'
He put her hand to his lips； and moved towards the door。 ‘Be under no apprehension； Miss Manette； of my ever resuming this conversation by so much as a passing word。 I will never refer to it again。 If I were dead； that could not be surer than it is henceforth。 In the hour of my death； I shall hold sacred the one good remembranceand shall thank and bless you for itthat my last avowal of myself was made to you； and that my name； and faults； and miseries were gently carried in your heart。 May it otherwise be light and happy！'
He was so unlike what he had ever shown himself to be； and it was so sad to think how much he had thrown away； and how much he every day kept down and perverted； that Lucie Manette wept mournfully for him as he stood looking back at her。
‘Be comforted！' he said； ‘I am not worth such feeling； Miss Manette。 An hour or two hence； and the low companions and low habits that I scorn but yield to； will render me less worth such tears as those； than any wretch who creeps along the streets。 Be comforted But； within myself； I shall always be； towards you； what I am now； though outwardly I shall be what you have heretofore seen me。 The last supplication but one I make to you； is； that you will believe this of me。'
‘I will； Mr。 Carton。'
‘My last supplication of all； is this； and with it； I will relieve you of a visitor with whom I well know you have nothing in unison； and between whom and you there is an impassable space。 It is useless to say it； I know； but it rises out of my soul。 For you； and for any dear to you； I would do anything。 If my career were of that better kind that