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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 of faces at most doors and windows。 Yet； no one had followed them； and no man spoke when they entered the wine…shop； though the eyes of every man there were turned upon them。
‘Good…day； gentlemen！' said Monsieur Defarge。
It may have been a signal for loosening the general tongue。 It elicited an answering chorus of ‘Good…day！'
‘It is bad weather； gentlemen；' said Defarge； shaking his head。 Upon which； every man looked at his neighbour； and then all cast down their eyes and sat silent。 Except one man； who got up and went out。
‘My wife；' said Defarge aloud； addressing Madame Defarge： ‘I have travelled certain leagues with this good mender of roads； called Jacques。 I met himby accidenta day an half's journey Out of Paris。 He is a good child； this mender of roads； called Jacques。 Give him to drink； my wife！'
A second man got up and went out。 Madame Defarge set wine before the mender of roads called Jacques； who doffed his blue cap to the company； and drank。 In the breast of his blouse he carried some coarse dark bread； he ate of this between whiles； and sat munching and drinking near Madame Defarge's counter。 A third man got up and went out。
Defarge refreshed himself with a draught of winebut； he took less than was given to the stranger； as being himself a man to whom it was no rarityand stood waiting until the countryman had made his breakfast。 He looked at no one present； and no one now looked at him； not even Madame Defarge； who had taken up her knitting； and was at work。
‘Have you finished your repast； friend？' he asked； in due season。
‘Yes； thank you。'
‘Come； then！ You shall see the apartment that I told you you could occupy。 It will suit you to a marvel。'
Out of the wine…shop into the street； out of the street into a courtyard； out of the courtyard up a steep staircase； out of the staircase into a garretformerly the garret where a white…haired man sat on a low bench； stooping forward and very busy； making shoes。
No white…haired man was there now； but； the three men were there who had gone out of the wine…shop singly。 And between them and the white…haired man afar off； was the one small link； that they had once looked in at him through the chinks in the wail。
Defarge closed the door carefully； and spoke in a subdued voice：
‘Jacques One； Jacques Two； Jacques Three！ This is the witness encountered by appointment； by me； Jacques Four。
He will tell you all。 Speak； Jacques Five！
The mender of roads； blue cap in hand； wiped his swarthy forehead with it； and said； ‘Where shall I commence； monsieur？'
‘Commence；' was Monsieur Defarge's not unreasonable reply； ‘at the commencement。'
‘I saw him then； messieurs；' began the mender of roads； a year ago this running summer； underneath the carriage of the Marquis； hanging by the chain。 Behold the manner of it。 I leaving my work on the road； the sun going to bed； the carriage of the Marquis slowly ascending the hill； he hanging by the chainlike this。'
Again the mender of roads went through the whole performance； in which he ought to have been perfect by that time； seeing that it had been the infallible resource and indispensable entertainment of his village during a whole year。
Jacques One struck in； and asked if he had ever seen the man before？
‘Never；' answered the mender of roads； recovering his perpendicular。
Jacques Three demanded how he afterwards recognised him then？
‘By his tall figure；' said the mender of roads； softly； and with his finger at his nose。 ‘When Monsieur the Marquis demands that evening；； ‘‘Say； what is he like？'' I make response； ‘‘Tall as a spectre。'''
‘You should have said； short as a dwarf；' returned Jacques Two。
‘But what did I know？ The deed was not then accomplished； neither did he confide in me。 Observe！ Under those circumstances even； I do not offer my testimony。 Monsieur the Marquis indicates me with his finger； standing near our little fountain； and says； ‘‘To me！ Bring that rascal！'' My faith； messieurs； I offer nothing。'
‘He is right there； Jacques；' murmured Defarge； to him who had interrupted。 ‘Go on