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She knew nothing of you。 She cared nothing for you。'
‘So！ But on other moonlight nights； when the sadness and the silence have touched me in a different wayhave affected me with something as like a sorrowful sense of peace； as any emotion that had pain for its foundations couldI have imagined her as coming to me in my cell； and leading me out into the freedom beyond the fortress。 I have seen her image in the moonlight often； as I now see you； except that I never held her in my arms； it stood between the little grated window and the door。 But； you understand that that was not the child I am speaking of？'
‘The figure was not； thetheimage； the fancy？'
‘No。 That was another thing。 It stood before my disturbed sense of sight； but it never moved。 The phantom that my mind pursued； was another and more real child。 Of her outward appearance I know no more than that she was like her mother。 The other had that likeness tooas you havebut was not the same。 Can you follow me； Lucie？ Hardly； I think I ‘doubt you must have beer； a solitary prisoner to understand these prisoner perplexed distinctions。
His collected and calm manner could not prevent her blood from running cold； as he thus tried to anatomise his old condition。
‘In that more peaceful state； I have imagined her； in the moonlight； coming to me and taking me out to show me that the home of her married life was lull of her loving remembrance of her lost father。 My picture was in her room； and I was in her prayers。 Her life was active； cheerful； useful； hut my poor history pervaded it all。'
‘I was that child；my father。 I was not half so good； but in my love that was I。'
‘And she showed me her children；' said the Doctor of Beauvais； ‘and they had heard of me； and had been taught to pity me。 When they passed a prison of the State； they kept far from its frowning walls； and looked up at its bars； and spoke in whispers。 She could never deliver me； I imagined that she always brought me back after showing me such things。 But then； blessed with the relief of tears； I fell upon my knees； and blessed her。'
‘I am that child； I hope； my father。 O my dear； my dear； will you bless me as fervently to…morrow？'
‘Lucie； I recall these old troubles in the reason that I have to…night for loving you better than words can tell； and thanking God for my great happiness。 My thoughts； when they were wildest； never rose near the happiness that I have known with you； and that we have before us。
He embraced her； solemnly commended her to Heaven； and humbly thanked Heaven for having bestowed her on him。 By…and…by； they went into the house。
There was no one hidden to the marriage but Mr。 Lorry； there was even to be no bridesmaid but the gaunt Miss Pross。 The marriage was to make no change in their place of residence； they had been able to extend it； by taking to themselves the upper rooms formerly belonging to the apocryphal invisible lodger； and they desired nothing more。
Doctor Manette was very cheerful at the little supper。 They were only three at table； and Miss Pross made the third。 He regretted that Charles was not there； was more than half disposed to object to the loving little plot that kept him away； and drank to him affectionately。
So； the time came for him to bid Lucie good night； and they separated。 But； in the stillness of the third hour of the morning； Lucie came down stairs again； and stole into his room； not free from unshaped fears； beforehand。
All things； however； were in their places； all was quiet； and he lay asleep； his white hair picturesque on the untroubled pillow； and his hands lying quiet on the coverlet。 She put her needless candle in the shadow at a distance； crept up to his bed； and put her lips to his； then； leaned over him； and looked at him。
Into his handsome face； the bitter waters of captivity had worn； but； he covered up their tracks with a determination so strong； that he held the mastery of them even in his sleep。 A more remarkable face in its quiet； resolute； and guarded struggle with an unseen assailant； was not to be beheld in all the wide dominions of sleep； that night。
She timidly laid her hand on his dear breast； and put up a prayer that she might ever be as true to him as her love aspired to be； and as his sorrows deserved。 Then； she withdrew her hand； and kissed his lips once more； and went away。 So； the sunrise came； and the shadows of the leaves of the plane…tree moved upon his face； as softly as her lips had moved in praying for him。
CHAPTER XV
Knitting
THERE had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine shop of Monsieur Defarge。 As early as six o'clock in the morning； sallow faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within； bending over measures of wine。 Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine at the best of times； but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that he sold at this time。 A sour wine； moreover； or a souring； for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy。 No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of monsieur Defarge： but； a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark； lay hidden in the dregs of it。
This had been the third morning in succession； on which there had been early drinking at the wine…shop of Monsieur Defarge。 It had begun on Monday； and here was Wednesday come。 There had been more of early brooding than drinking； for； many men had listened and whispered and slunk about there from the time of the opening of the door； who could not ave laid a Piece of money on the counter to save their souls。 These were to the full as interested in the place； however； as if they could have commanded whole barrels of wine； and they glided from seat to seat； and from corner to corner； swallowing talk in lieu of drink； with greedy looks。
Notwithstanding an unusual flow of company； the master of the wine…shop was not visible。 He was not missed； for； nobody who crossed the threshold looked for him； nobody asked for him； nobody wondered to see only Madame Defarge in her seat； presiding over the distribution of wine； with a bowl of battered small coins before her； as much defaced and beaten out of their original impress as the small coinage of humanity from whose ragged pockets they had come。
A suspended interest and a prevalent absence of mind； were perhaps observed by the spies who looked in at the wine…shop； as they looked in at every place； high and low； from the king's palace to the criminal's gaol。 Games at cards languished； players at dominoes musingly built towers with them； drinkers drew figures on the tables with spilt drops of wine； Madame Defarge herself picked out the pattern on her sleeve with her toothpick； and saw and heard something inaudible and invisible a long way off。
Thus； Saint Antoine in this vinous feature of his； until midday。 It was high noontide； when two dusty men passed through his streets and under his swinging lamps： of whom； one was Monsieur Defarge： the other a mender of roads in a blue cap。 All adust and athirst； the two entered the wine…shop。 Their arrival had lighted a kind of fire in the breast of Saint Antoine； fast spreading as they came along； which stirred and flickered in flames o