按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Mr。 Lorry knew Miss Pross to be very jealous； but he also knew her by this time to be； beneath the surface of her eccentricity； one of those unselfish creaturesfound only among womenwho will； for pure love and admiration； bind themselves willing slaves； to youth when they have lost it； to beauty that they never had； to accomplishments that they were never fortunate enough to gain； to bright hopes that never shone upon their own sombre lives。 He knew enough of the world to know that there is nothing in it better than the faithful service of the heart； so rendered and so free from any mercenary taint； he had such an exalted respect for it； that in the retributive arrangements made by his own mindwe all make such arrangements； more or lesshe stationed Miss Pross much nearer to the lower Angels than many ladies immeasurably better got up both by Nature and Art； who had balances at Tellson's。
‘There never was； nor will be； but one man worthy of Lady…bird；' said Miss Pross； ‘and that was my brother Solomon； if he hadn't made a mistake in life。'
Here again： Mr。 Lorry's inquiries into Miss Pross's personal history had established the fact that her brother Solomon was a heartless scoundrel who had stripped her of everything she possessed； as a stake to speculate with； and had abandoned her in her poverty for evermore； with no touch of compunction。 Miss Pross's fidelity of belief in Solomon （deducting a mere trifle for this slight mistake） was quite a serious matter with Mr。 Lorry； and had its weight in his good opinion of her。
‘As we happen to be alone for the moment； and are both people of business；' he said； when they had got back to the drawing…room and had sat down there in friendly relations； ‘let me ask youdoes the Doctor； in talking with Lucie； never refer to the shoemaking time； yet？'
‘Never。'
‘And yet keeps that bench and those tools beside him？'
‘Ah！' returned Miss Pross； shaking her head。 ‘But I don't say he don't refer to it within himself。'
‘Do you believe that he thinks of it much？'
‘I do；' said Miss Pross。
‘Do you imagine…' Mr。 Lorry had begun； when Miss Pross took him up short with：
‘Never imagine anything。 Have no imagination at all。'
‘I stand corrected；； do you supposeyou go so far as to Suppose； sometimes？
‘Now and then；' said Miss Pross。
‘Do you suppose；' Mr。 Lorry went on； with a laughing twinkle in his bright eye； as it looked kindly at her； ‘that Doctor Manette has any theory of his own； preserved through all those years； relative to the cause of his being so oppressed； perhaps； even to the name of his oppressor？'
‘I don't suppose anything about it but what Ladybird tells me。'
‘And that is…？'
‘That she thinks he has。'
‘Now don't be angry at my asking all these questions； because I am a mere dull man of business； and you are a woman of business。'
‘Dull？' Miss Pross inquired； with placidity。
Rather wishing his modest adjective away； Mr。 Lorry replied； ‘No； no； no。 Surely not。 To return to business：… Is it not remarkable that Doctor Manette； unquestionably innocent of any crime as we are all well assured he is； should never touch upon that question？ I will not say with me； though he had business relations with me many years ago； and we are now intimate； I will say with the fair daughter to whom he is so devotedly attached； and who is so devotedly attached to him？ Believe me； Miss Pross； I don't approach the topic with you； out of curiosity； but out of zealous interest。'
‘Well！ To the best of my understanding； and bad's the best； you'll tell me；' said Miss Pross； softened by the tone of the apology； ‘he is afraid of the whole subject。
‘Afraid？'
‘It's plain enough； I should think； why he may be。 It's a dreadful remembrance。 Besides that； his loss of himself grew out of it。 Not knowing how he lost himself； or how he re…covered himself； he may never feel certain of not losing himself again。 That alone wouldn't make the subject pleasant； I should think。'
It was a profounder remark than Mr。 Lorry had looked for。 ‘True；' said he； ‘and fearful to reflect upon。 Yet； a doubt lurks in my mind； Miss Pross； whether it is good for Doctor Manette to have that suppression always shut up within him。 Indeed； it is this doubt and the uneasiness it sometimes causes me that has led me to our present confidence。'
‘Can't be helped；' said Miss Pross； shaking her head。 ‘Touch that string； and he instantly changes for the worse。 Better leave it alone。 In short； must leave it alone； like or no like。 Sometimes； lie gets up in the dead of the night； and will be heard； by us overhead there； walking up and down； walking up and down； in his room。 Ladybird has learnt to know then that his mind is walking up and down； walking up and down； in his old prison。 She hurries to him； and they go on together； walking up and down； walking up and down； until he is composed。 But he never says a word of the true reason of his restlessness； to her； and she finds it best not to hint at it to him。 In silence they go walking up and down together； walking up and down together； till her love and company have brought him to himself。'
Notwithstanding Miss Pross's denial of her own imagination； there was a perception of the pain of being monotonously haunted by one sad idea； in her repetition of the phrase； walking up and down； which testified to her possessing such a thing。
The corner has been mentioned as a wonderful corner for echoes； it had begun to echo so resoundingly to the tread of coming feet； that it seemed as though the very mention of that weary pacing to and fro had set it going。
‘Here they are！' said Miss Pross； rising to break up the conference； ‘and now we shall have hundreds of people pretty soon！'
It was such a curious comer in its acoustical properties； such a peculiar Ear of a place； that as Mr。 Lorry stood at the open window； looking for the father and daughter whose steps he heard； he fancied they would never approach。 Not only would the echoes die away； as though the steps had gone； but； echoes of other steps that never came would be heard in their stead； and would die away for good when they seemed close at hand。 However； father and daughter did at last appear； and Miss Pross was ready at the street door to receive them。
Miss Pross was a pleasant sight； albeit wild； and red； and grim； taking off her darling's bonnet when she came up…stairs； and touching it up with the ends of her handkerchief； and blowing the dust off it； and folding her mantle ready for laying by； and smoothing her rich hair with as much pride as she could possibly have taken in her own hair if she had been the vainest and handsomest of women。 Her darling was a pleasant sight too； embracing her and thanking her； and protesting against her taking so much trouble for herwhich last she only dared to do playfully； or Miss Pross； sorely hurt； would have retired to her own chamber and cried。 The Doctor was a pleasant sight too； looking on at them； and telling Miss Pross how she spoilt Lucie； in accents and with eyes that had as much spoiling in them as Miss Pross had； and would have had more if it were possible。 Mr。 Lorry was a pleasant sight too； beaming at all this in his little wig； and thanking his bachelor stars for having lighted him in his declining years to a Home。 But； no Hundreds of people came to see the sights； and Mr。 Lorry looked in vain for the fulfilment of Miss Pross's prediction。
Dinner…time； and still no Hundreds of people。 In the arrangements of the little household； Miss Pross took charge of the lower regions； and always acquitted herself marvellously。 Her dinners； of a very modest quality； were so well cooked and so well served； and so neat in their contrivances； half English and half French； that nothing could be better。 Miss Pross's friendship being of the thoroughly practical kind； she had ravaged Soho and the adjacent provinces； in search of impoverished French； who； tempted by shillings and half…crowns； would impart culinary mysteries to her。 From these decayed sons and daughters of Gaul； she had acquired such wonderful arts； that the woman and girl who formed the staff of domestics regarded her as quite a Sorceress； or Cinderella's Godmother： who would send out for a fowl； a rabbit； a vegetable or two from the garden； and change them into any…thing she pleased。
On Sundays； Miss Pross dined at the Doctor's table； but on other days persisted in taking her meals at unknown periods； either in the lower regions； or in her own room on the second floora blue chamber； to which no one but her Ladybird ever gained admittance。 On this occasion； Miss Pross； responding to Ladybird's pleasant face and pleasant efforts to please her； unbent exceedingly； so the dinner was very pleasant； too。
It was an oppressive day； and； after dinner； Lucie proposed that the wine should be carried out under the plane…tree； and they should sit there in the air。 As everything turned upon her； and revolved about her； they went out under the plane…tree； and she carried the wine down for the special benefit of Mr。 Lorry。 She had installed herself； some time before； as Mr。 Lorry's cup…bearer； and while they sat under the plane…tree； talking； she kept his glass replenished。 Mysterious backs and ends of houses pe