Whenthisinterchangeofchristiannamewaseffected.MadameDefarge,pickingherteethwithhertoothpickcoughedanothergrainofcough,andraisedhereyebrowsbythebreadthofanotherline.
　　`Itisnotoften,'saidthesecondofthethree,addressingMonsieurDefarge,`thatmanyofthesemiserablebeastsknowthetasteofwine,orofanythingbutblackbreadanddeath.Isitnotso,Jacques?'
　　`Itisso,Jacques,'MonsieurDefargereturned.
　　Atthissecondinterchangeofthechristianname,MadameDefarge,stillusinghertoothpickwithprofoundcomposure,coughedanothergrainofcough,andraisedhereyebrowsbythebreadthofanotherline.
　　Thelastofthethreenowsaidhissay,asheputdownhisemptydrinkingvesselandsmackedhislips.
　　`Ah!Somuchtheworse!Abittertasteitisthatsuchpoorcattlealwayshaveintheirmouths,andhardlivestheylive,Jacques.AmIright,Jacques?'
　　`Youareright,Jacques,'wastheresponseofMonsieurDefarge.
　　ThisthirdinterchangeofthechristiannamewascompletedatthemomentwhenMadameDefargeputhertoothpickby,kepthereyebrowsup,andslightlyrustledinherseat.
　　`Holdthen!True!'mutteredherhusband.`Gentlemen——mywife!'
　　ThethreecustomerspulledofftheirhatstoMadameDefarge,withthreeflourishes.Sheacknowledgedtheirhomagebybendingherhead,andgivingthemaquicklook.Thensheglancedinacasualmannerroundthewine-shop,tookupherknittingwithgreatapparentcalmnessandreposeofspirit,andbecameabsorbedinit.
　　`Gentlemen,'saidherhusband,whohadkepthisbrighteyeobservantlyuponher,`goodday.Thechamber,furnishedbachelor-fashion,thatyouwishedtosee,and`wereinquiringforwhenIsteppedout,isonthefifthfloor.Thedoorwayofthestaircasegivesonthelittlecourt-yardclosetothelefthere,'pointingwithhishand,`neartothewindowofmyestablishment.But,nowthatIremember,oneofyouhasalreadybeenthere,andcanshowtheway.Gentlemen,adieu!
　　Theypaidfortheirwine,andlefttheplace.TheeyesofMonsieurDefargewerestudyinghiswifeatherknittingwhentheelderlygentlemanadvancedfromhiscorner,andbeggedthefavourofaword.
　　`Willingly,sir,'saidMonsieurDefarge,andquietlysteppedwithhimtothedoor.
　　Theirconferencewasveryshort,butverydecided.Almostatthefirstword,MonsieurDefargestartedandbecamedeeplyattentive.Ithadnotlastedaminute,whenhenoddedandwentout.Thegentlemanthenbeckonedtotheyounglady,andthey,too,wentout.MadameDefargeknittedwithnimblefingersandsteadyeyebrows,andsawnothing.
　　Mr.JarvisLorryandMissManette,emergingfromthewine-shopthus,joinedMonsieurDefargeinthedoorwaytowhichhehaddirectedhisothercompanyjustbefore.Itopenedfromastinkinglittleblackcourt-yard,andwasthegeneralpublicentrancetoagreatpileofhouses,inhabitedbyagreatnumberofpeople.Inthegloomytile-pavedentrytothegloomytile-pavedstaircase,MonsieurDefargebentdownononekneetothechildofhisoldmaster,andputherhandtohislips.Itwasagentleaction,butnotatallgentlydone;averyremarkabletransformationhadcomeoverhiminafewseconds.Hehadnogood-humourinhisface,noranyopennessofaspectleft,buthadbecomeasecret,angry,dangerousman.
　　`Itisveryhigh;itisalittledifficult.Bettertobeginslowly.'Thus,MonsieurDefarge,inasternvoice,toMr.Lorry,astheybeganascendingthestairs.
　　`Ishealone?'thelatterwhispered.
　　`Alone!Godhelphim,whoshouldbewithhim?'saidtheother,inthesamelowvoice.
　　`Ishe,alwaysalone,then?'
　　`Yes.
　　`Ofhisowndesire?'
　　`Ofhisownnecessity.Ashewas,whenIfirstsawhimaftertheyfoundmeanddemandedtoknowifIwouldtakehim,and,atmyperilbediscreet——hashewasthen,soheisnow.
　　`Heisgreatlychanged?'
　　`Changed!'
　　Thekeeperofthewine-shopstoppedtostrikethewallwithhishand,andmutteratremendouscurse.Nodirectanswercouldhavebeenhalfsoforcible.Mr.Lorry'sspiritsgrewheavierandheavier,asheandhistwocompanionsascendedhigherandhigher.
　　Suchastaircase,withitsaccessories,intheolderandmorecrowdedpartsofParis,wouldbebadenoughnow;but,atthattime,itwasvileindeedtounaccustomedandunhardenedsenses.Everylittlehabitationwithinthegreatfoulnestofonehighbuilding——thatistosay,theroomorroomswithineverydoorthatopenedonthegeneralstaircase——leftitsownheapofrefuseonitsownlanding,besidesRingingotherrefusefromitsownwindows.Theuncontrollableandhopelessmassofdecompositionsoengendered,wouldhavepollutedtheair,evenifpovertyanddeprivationhadnotloadeditwit!'theirintangibleimpurities;theMobadsourcescombinedmadeitalmostinsupportable.Throughsuchanatmosphere,byasteepdarkshaftofdirtandpoison,thewaylay.Yieldingtohisowndisturbanceofmind,andtohisyoungcompanion'sagitation,whichbecamegreatereveryinstant,Mr.JarvisLorrytwicestoppedtorest.Eachofthesestoppageswasmadeatadolefulgrating,bywhichanylanguishinggoodairsthatwereleftuncorruptedseemedtoescape,andallspoiltandsicklyvapoursseemedtocrawlin.Throughtherustedbars,tastes,ratherthanglimpses,werecaughtofthejumbledneighbourhood;andnothingwithinrange,nearerorlowerthanthesummitsofthetwo-greattowersofNotre-Dame,hadanypromiseonitofhealthylifeorwholesomeaspirations.
　　Atlast,thetopofthestaircasewasgained,andtheystoppedforthethirdtime.Therewasyetanupperstaircase,ofasteeperinclinationandofcontracteddimensions,tobeascended,beforethegarretstorywasreached.Thekeeperofthewine-shop,alwaysgoingalittleinadvance,andalwaysgoingonthesidewhichMr.Lorrytook,asthoughhedreadedtobeaskedanyquestionbytheyounglady,turnedhimselfabouthere,and,carefullyfeelinginthepocketsofthecoathecarriedoverhisshoulder,tookoutakey.
　　`Thedoorislockedthen,myfriend?'saidMr.Lorry',surprised.
　　`Ay.Yes,'wasthegrimreplyofMonsieurDefarge.
　　`Youthinkitnecessarytokeeptheunfortunategentlemansoretired?'
　　`Ithinkitnecessarytoturnthekey.'MonsieurDefargewhispereditcloserinhisear,andfrownedheavily.
　　`Why?'
　　`Why!Becausehehaslivedsolong,lockedup,thathewouldbefrightened——rave——tearhimselftopieces——die——cometoIknownotwhatharm-ifhisdoorwasleftopen.'
　　`Isitpossible?'exclaimedMr.Lorry.
　　`Isitpossible?'repeatedDefarge,bitterly.`Yes.Andabeautifulworldwelivein,whenitispossible,andwhenmanyothersuchthingsarepossible,andnotonlypossible,butdone——done,seeyou!——underthatskythere,everyday.LonglivetheDevil.Letusgoon.'
　　Thisdialoguehadbeenheldinsoverylowawhisper,thatnotawordofithadreachedtheyounglady'sears.But,bythistimeshetrembledundersuchstrongemotion,andherfaceexpressedsuchdeepanxiety,and,aboveall,suchdreadandterror,thatMr.Lorryfeltitincumbentonhimtospeakawordortwoofreassurance.
　　`Courage,dearmiss!Courage!Business!Theworstwillbeoverinamoment;itisbutpassingtheroom-door,andtheworstisover.Then,allthegoodyoubringtohim,alltherelief,allthehappinessyoubringtohim,begin.Letourgoodfriendhere,assistyouonthatside.That'swell,friendDefarge.Come,now.Business,business!'
　　Theywentupslowlyandsoftly.Thestaircasewasshort,andtheyweresoonatthetop.There,asithadanabruptturninit,theycameallatonceinsightofthreemen,whoseheadswerebentdownclosetogetheratthesideofadoor,andwhowereintentlylookingintotheroomtowhichthedoorbelonged,throughsomechinksorholesinthewall.Onhearingfootstepscloseathand,thesethreeturned,androse,andshowedthemselvestobethethreeofonenamewhohadbeendrinkinginthewine-shop.
　　`Iforgottheminthesurpriseofyourvisit,'explainedMonsieurDefarge.`Leaveus,goodboys;wehavebusiness'here.'
　　Thethreeglidedby,andwentsilentlydown.
　　Thereappearingtobenootherdooronthatfloor,andthekeeperofthewine-shopgoingstraighttothisonewhentheywereleftalone,Mr.Lorryaskedhiminawhisper,withlittleanger:
　　`DoyoumakeashowofMonsieurManette?'
　　`Ishowhim,inthewayyouhaveseen,toachosenfew.'
　　`Isthatwell?'
　　`Ithinkitiswell.'
　　`Whoarethefew?Howdoyouchoosethem?'
　　`Ichoosethemasrealmen,ofmyname——Jacquesismyname——towhomthesightislikelytodogood.EnoughyouareEnglish;thatisanotherthing.Staythere,ifyouplease,alittlemoment.'
　　Withanadmonitorygesturetokeepthemback,hestooped,andlookedinthroughthecreviceinthewall.Soonraisinghisheadagain,hestrucktwiceorthriceuponthedoor——evidentlywithnootherobjectthantomakeanoisethereWiththesameintention,hedrewthekeyacrossit,threeorfourtimes,beforeheputitclumsilyintothelock,andturneditasheavilyashecould.
　　Thedoorslowlyopenedinwardunderhishand,andhelookedintotheroomandsaidsomething.Afaintvoiceansweredsomething.Littlemorethanasinglesyllablecouldhavebeenspokenoneitherside.
　　Helookedbackoverhisshoulder,andbeckonedthemccenter.Mr.Lorrygothisarmsecurelyroundthedaughterwaist,andheldher;forhefeltthatshewassinking.
　　`A——a——a——business,business!'heurged,withamoisturethatwasnotofbusinessshiningonhischeek.`Comeincomein!'
　　`Iamafraidofit,'sheanswered,shuddering.
　　`Ofit?What?'
　　`Imeanofhim.Ofmyfather.'
　　Renderedinamannerdesperate,byherstateandbythebeckoningoftheirconductor,hedrewoverhisneckthearmthatshookuponhisshoulder,liftedheralittle,andhurriedherintotheroom.Hesetherdownjustwithinthedoorandheldher,clingingtohim.
　　Defargedrewoutthekey,closedthedoor,lockeditontheinside,tookoutthekeyagain,andhelditinhishand.Allthishedid,methodically,andwithasloudandharshanaccompanimentofnoiseashecouldmake.Finally,hewalkedacrosstheroomwithameasuredtreadtowherethewindowwas.Hestoppedthere,andfacedround.
　　Thegarret,builttobeadepositoryforfirewoodandthelike,wasdimanddark:forthewindowofdormershape,wasintruthadoorintheroof,withalittlecraneoveritforthehoistingupofstoresfromthestreet:unglazed,analclosingupthemiddleintwopieces,likeanyotherdoorofFrenchconstruction.Toexcludethecold,onehalfofthindoorwasfastclosed,andtheotherwasopenedbutaverylittleway.Suchascantyportionoflightwasadmittedthroughthesemeans,thatitwasdifficult,onfirstcomingin,toseeanything;andlonghabitalonecouldhaveslowlyformedinanyone,theabilitytodoanyworkrequiringnicetyinsuchobscurity.Yet,workofthatkindwasbeingdoneinthegarret;for,withhisbacktowardsthedoor,andhisfacetowardsthewindowwherethekeeperofthewine-shopstoodlookingathim,awhite-hairedmansatonalowbench,stoopingforwardandverybusy,makingshoes.
　　CHAPTERVI
　　TheShoemaker
　　`GOODDAY!'saidMonsieurDefarge,lookingdownathewhiteheadthatbentlowovertheshoemaking.
　　Itwasraisedforamoment,andaveryfaintvoicerespondedtothesalutation,asifitwereatadistance:
　　`Goodday!'
　　`Youarestillhardatwork,Isee?'
　　Afteralongsilence,theheadwasliftedforanothermoment,andthevoicereplied,`Yes——Iamworking.'Thistime,apairofhaggardeyeshadlookedatthequestioner,beforethefacehaddroppedagain.
　　Thefaintnessofthevoicewaspitiableanddreadful.Itwasnotthefaintnessofphysicalweakness,thoughconfinementandhardfarenodoubthadtheirpartinit.Itsdeplorablepeculiaritywas,thatitwasthefaintnessofsolitudeanddisuse.Itwaslikethelastfeebleechoofasoundmadelongandlongago.Soentirelyhaditlostthelifeandresonanceofthehumanvoice,thatitaffectedthesenseslikeaoncebeautifulcolourfadedawayintoapoorweakstain.Sosunkenandsuppresseditwas,thatitwaslikeavoiceunder-ground.Soexpressiveitwas,ofahopelessandlostcreature,thatafamishedtraveller,weariedOutbylonelywanderinginawilderness,wouldhaverememberedhomeandfriendsinsuchatonebeforelyingdowntodie.
　　Someminutesofsilentworkhadpassed:andthehaggardeyeshadlookedupagain:notwithanyinterestorcuriosity,butwithadullmechanicalperception,beforehand,thatthespotwheretheonlyvisitortheywereawareofhadstood,wasnotyetempty.
　　`Iwant,'saidDefarge,whohadnotremovedhisgazefromtheshoemaker,`toletinalittlemorelighthere.Youcanbearalittlemore?'
　　Theshoemakerstoppedhiswork;lookedwithavacantairoflistening,atthefloorononesideofhim;thensimilarly,atthefloorontheothersideofhim;then,upwardatthespeaker.
　　`Whatdidyousay?'
　　`Youcanbearalittlemorelight?'
　　`Imustbearit,ifyouletitin.'Layingthepalestshadowofastressuponthesecondword.
　　Theopenedhalf-doorwasopenedalittlefurther,andsecuredatthatangleforthetime.Abroadrayoflightfellintothegarret,andshowedtheworkmanwithanun-finishedshoeuponhislap,pausinginhislabour.Hisfewcommontoolsandvariousscrapsofleatherwereathisfeetandonhisbench.Hehadawhitebeard,raggedlycut,butnotverylong,ahollowface,andexceedinglybrighteyes.Thehollownessandthinnessofhisfacewouldhavecausedthemtolooklarge,underhisyetdarkeyebrowsandhisconfusedwhitehair,thoughtheyhadbeenreallyotherwise;but,theywerenaturallylarge,andlookedun-naturallyso.Hisyellowragsofshirtlayopenatthethroat,andshowedhisbodytobewitheredandworn.He,andhisoldcanvasfrock,andhisloosestockings,andallhispoortattersofclothes,had,inalongseclusionfromdirectlightandair,fadeddowntosuchadulluniformityofparchment-yellow,thatitwouldhavebeenhardtosaywhichwaswhich.
　　Hehadputupahandbetweenhiseyesandthelight,andtheverybonesofitseemedtransparent.Sohesat,withasteadfastlyvacantgaze,pausinginhiswork.Heneverlookedatthefigurebeforehim,withoutfirstlookingdownonthissideofhimself,thenonthat,asifhehadlostthehabitofassociatingplacewithsound;heneverspoke,withoutfirstpanderinginthismanner,andforgettingtospeak.
　　`Areyougoingtofinishthatpairofshoesto-day?'askedDefarge,motioningtoMr.Lorrytocomeforward.
　　`Whatdidyousay?'
　　`Doyoumeantofinishthatpairofshoesto-day?'`Ican'tsaythatImeanto.Isupposeso.Idon'tknow.'
　　But,thequestionremindedhimofhiswork,andhebentoveritagain.
　　Mr.Lorrycamesilentlyforward,leavingthedaughterbythedoor.Whenhehadstood,foraminuteortwo,bythesideofDefarge,theshoemakerlookedup.Heshowednosurpriseatseeinganotherfigure,buttheunsteadyfingersofoneofhishandsstrayedtohislipsashelookedatithislipsandhisnailswereofthesamepalelead-colour,andthenthehanddroppedtohiswork,andheoncemorebentovertheshoe.Thelookandtheactionhadoccupiedbutaninstant.
　　`Youhaveavisitor,yousee,'saidMonsieurDefarge.
　　`Whatdidyousay?'
　　`Hereisavisitor.'
　　Theshoemakerlookedupasbefore,butwithoutremovingahandfromhiswork.
　　`Come!'saidDefarge.`Hereismonsieur,whoknowsawell-madeshoewhenheseesone.Showhimthatshoeyouareworkingat.Takeit,monsieur.'
　　Mr.Lorrytookitinhishand.
　　`Tellmonsieurwhatkindofshoeitis,andthemaker'sname.'
　　Therewasalongerpausethanusual,beforetheshoe-makerreplied:
　　`Iforgetwhatitwasyouaskedme.Whatdidyousay?'
　　`Isaid,couldn'tyoudescribethekindofshoe,formonsieur'sinformation?'
　　`Itisalady'sshoe.Itisayounglady'swalking-shoe.Itisinthepresentmode.Ineversawthemode.Ihavehadapatterninmyhand.'Heglancedattheshoewithsomelittlepassingtouchofpride.
　　`Andthemaker'sname?'saidDefarge.
　　Nowthathehadnoworktohold,helaidtheknucklesoftherighthandinthehollowoftheleft,andthentheknucklesofthelefthandinthehollowoftheright,andthenpassedahandacrosshisbeardedchin,andsooninregularchanges,withoutamoment'sintermission.Thetaskofrecallinghimfromthevacancyintowhichhealwayssankwhenhehadspoken,waslikerecallingsomeveryweakpersonfromaswoon,orendeavouring,inthehopeofsomedisclosure,tostaythespiritofafast-dyingman.
　　`Didyouaskmeformyname?'
　　`AssuredlyIdid.'
　　`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower.'
　　`Isthatall?'
　　`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower.'
　　Withawearysoundthatwasnotasigh,noragroan,hebenttoworkagain,untilthesilencewasagainbroken.
　　`Youarenotashoemakerbytrade?'saidMr.Lorry,lookingsteadfastlyathim.
　　HishaggardeyesturnedtoDefargeasifhewouldhavetransferredthequestiontohim:butasnohelpcamefromthatquarter,theyturnedbackonthequestionerwhentheyhadsoughttheground.
　　`Iamnotashoemakerbytrade?No,Iwasnotashoe-makerbytrade.I——Ilearn'tithere.Itaughtmyself.Iaskedleaveto——'
　　Helapsedaway,evenforminutes,ringingthosemeasuredchangesonhishandsthewholetime.Hiseyescameslowlyback,atlast,tothefacefromwhichtheyhadwandered;whentheyrestedonit,hestarted,andresumed,inthemannerofasleeperthatmomentawake,revertingtoasubjectoflastnight.
　　`Iaskedleavetoteachmyself,andIgotitwithmuchdifficultyafteralongwhile,andIhavemadeshoeseversince.'
　　Asheheldouthishandfortheshoethathadbeentakenfromhim,Mr.Lorrysaid,stilllookingsteadfastlyinhisface:
　　`MonsieurManette,doyouremembernothingofme?'
　　Theshoedroppedtotheground,andhesatlookingfixedlyatthequestioner.
　　`MonsieurManette;'Mr.LorrylaidhishanduponDefarge'sarm;`doyouremembernothingofthisman?Lookathim.Lookatme.Istherenooldbanker,nooldbusiness,nooldservant,nooldtime,risinginyourmind,MonsieurManette?'
　　Asthecaptiveofmanyyearssatlookingfixedly,byturns,atMr.LorryandatDefarge,somelongobliteratedmarksofanactivelyintentintelligenceinthemiddleofthefore-head,graduallyforcedthemselvesthroughtheblackmistthathadfallenonhim.Theywereovercloudedagain,theywerefainter,theyweregone;buttheyhadbeenthere.Andsoexactlywastheexpressionrepeatedonthefairyoungfaceofherwhohadcreptalongthewalltoapointwhereshecouldseehim,andwhereshenowstoodlookingathim,withhandswhichatfirsthadbeenonlyraisedinfrightenedcompassion,ifnoteventokeephimoffandshutoutthesightofhim,butwhichwerenowextendingtowardshim,tremblingwitheagernesstolaythespectralfaceuponherwarmyoungbreast,andloveitbacktolifeandhope——soexactlywastheexpressionrepeatedthoughinstrongercharactersonherfairyoungface,thatitlookedasthoughithadpassedlikeamovinglight,fromhimtoher.
　　Darknesshadfallenonhiminitsplace.Helookedatthetwo,lessandlessattentively,andhiseyesingloomyabstractionsoughtthegroundandlookedabouthimintheoldway.Finally,withadeeplongsigh,hetooktheshoeup,andresumedhiswork.
　　`Haveyourecognisedhim,monsieur?'askedDefargeinawhisper.
　　`Yes;foramoment.AtfirstIthoughtitquitehope-less,butIhaveunquestionablyseen,forasinglemoment,thefacethatIonceknewsowell.Hush!Letusdrawfurtherback.Hush!'
　　Shehadmovedfromthewallofthegarret,veryneartothebenchonwhichhesat.Therewassomethingawfulinhisunconsciousnessofthefigurethatcouldhaveputoutitshandandtouchedhimasliestoopedoverhislabour.
　　Notawordwasspoken,notasoundwasmade.Shestood,likeaspirit,besidehim,andhebentoverhiswork.
　　Ithappened,atlength,thathehadoccasiontochangetheinstrumentinhishand,forhisshoemaker'sknife.Itlayonthatsideofhimwhichwasnotthesideonwhichshestood.Hehadtakenitup,andwasstoopingtoworkagain,whenhiseyescaughttheskirtofherdress.Heraisedthem,andsawherface.Thetwospectatorsstartedforward,hutshestayedthemwithamotionofherhand.Shehadnofearofhisstrikingatherwiththeknife,thoughtheyhad.
　　Hestaredatherwithafearfullook,andafterawhilehislipsbegantoformsomewords,thoughnosoundproceededfromthem.Bydegrees,inthepausesofhisquickandlabouredbreathing,hewasheardtosay:
　　`Whatisthis?'
　　Withthetearsstreamingdownherface,sheputhertwohandstoherlips,andkissedthemtohim;thenclaspedthemonherbreast,asifshelaidhisruinedheadthere.
　　`Youarenotthegaoler'sdaughter?'
　　Shesighed`No.'
　　`Whoareyou?'
　　Notyettrustingthetonesofhervoice,shesatdownonthebenchbesidehim.Herecoiled,butshelaidherhanduponhisarm.Astrangethrillstruckhimwhenshedidso,andvisiblypassedoverhisframe;helaidtheknifedownsoftly,ashesatstaringather.
　　Hergoldenhair,whichsheworeinlongcurls,hadbeenhurriedlypushedaside,andfelldownoverherneck.Advancinghishandbylittleandlittle,hetookitupandlookedatit.Inthemidstoftheactionhewentastray,and,withanotherdeepsigh,felltoworkathisshoemaking.
　　Butnotforlong.Releasinghisarm,shelaidherhanduponhisshoulder.Afterlookingdoubtfullyatit,twoorthreetimes,asiftobesurethatitwasreallythere,helaiddownhiswork,puthishandtohisneck,andtookoffablackenedstringwithascrapoffoldedragattachedtoit.Heopenedthis,carefully,onhisknee,anditcontainedaverylittlequantityofhair:notmorethanoneortwolonggoldenhairs,whichhehad,insomeoldday,woundonuponhisfinger.
　　Hetookherhairintohishandagain,andlookedcloselyatit.`Itisthesame.Howcanitbe!Whenwasit!Howwasit!'
　　Astheconcentratingexpressionreturnedtohisforehead,heseemedtobecomeconsciousthatitwasinherstoo.Heturnedherfulltothelight,andlookedather.
　　`Shehadlaidherheaduponmyshoulder,thatnightwhenIwassummonedout——shehadafearofmygoing,thoughIhadnone——andwhenIwasbroughttotheNorthTowertheyfoundtheseuponmysleeve."Youwillleavemethem?Theycanneverhelpmetoescapeinthebody,thoughtheymayinthespirit."ThosewerethewordsIsaid.Irememberthemverywell.'
　　Heformedthisspeechwithhislipsmanytimesbeforehecouldutterit.Butwhenhedidfindspokenwordsforit,theycametohimcoherently,thoughslowly.
　　`Howwasthis?——Wasityou?'
　　Oncemore,thetwospectatorsstarted,asheturneduponherwithafrightfulsuddenness.Butshesatperfectlystillinhisgrasp,andonlysaid,inalowvoice,`Ientreatyou,goodgentlemen,donotcomenearus,donotspeak,donotmove!'
　　`Hark!'heexclaimed.`Whosevoicewasthat?'
　　Hishandsreleasedherasheutteredthiscry,andwentuptohiswhitehair,whichtheytoreinafrenzy.Itdiedout,aseverythingbuthisshoemakingdiddieoutofhim,andherefoldedhislittlepacketandtriedtosecureitinhisbreast;buthestilllookedather,andgloomilyshookhishead.
　　`No,no,no;youaretooyoung,tooblooming.Itcan'tbe.Seewhattheprisoneris.Thesearenotthehandssheknew,thisisnotthefacesheknew,thisisnotavoicesheeverheard.No,no.Shewas——andHewas——beforetheslowyearsoftheNorthTower——agesago.Whatisyourname,mygentleangel?'
　　Hailinghissoftenedtoneandmanner,hisdaughterfelluponherkneesbeforehim,withherappealinghandsuponhisbreast.
　　`O,sir,atanothertimeyoushallknowmyname,andwhomymotherwas,andwhomyfather,andhowIneverknewtheirhard,hardhistory.ButIcannottellyouatthistime,andIcannottellyouhere.AllthatImaytellyou,hereandnow,is,thatIpraytoyoutotouchmeandtoblessme.Kissme,kissme!Omydear,mydear!'
　　Hiscoldwhiteheadmingledwithherradianthair,whichwarmedandlighteditasthoughitwerethelightofFreedomshiningonhim.
　　`Ifyouhearinmyvoice——Idon'tknowthatitisso,butIhopeitis——ifyouhearinmyvoiceanyresemblancetoavoicethatoncewassweetmusicinyourears,weepforit,weepforit!Ifyoutouch,intouchingmyhair,anythingthatrecallsabelovedheadthatlayonyourbreastwhenyouwereyoungandfree,weepforit,weepforit!If,whenIhinttoyouofaHomethatisbeforeus,whereIwillbetruetoyouwithallmydutyandwithallmyfaithfulservice,IbringbacktheremembranceofaHomelongdesolate,whileyourpoorheartpinedaway,weepforit,weepforit!'