双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第38部分

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ome　day　avenge　his　father。　（There　was　a　time　in　my　imprisonment；　when　my　desire　for　vengeance　was　unbearable。）　Whether　it　was　a　son　who　would　never　know　his　father's　story；　who　might　even　live　to　weigh　the　possibility　of　his　father's　having　disappeared　of　his　own　will　and　act。　Whether　it　was　a　daughter　who　would　grow　to　be　a　woman。'
She　drew　closer　to　him；　and　kissed　his　cheek　and　his　hand。　‘I　have　pictured　my　daughter；　to　myself；　as　perfectly　forgetful　of　me……rather；　altogether　ignorant　of　me；　and　unconscious　of　me。　I　have　cast　up　the　years　of　her　age；　year　after　year。　I　have　seen　her　married　to　a　man　who　knew　nothing　of　my　fate。　I　have　altogether　perished　from　the　remembrance　of　the　living；　and　in　the　next　generation　my　place　was　a　blank。'
‘My　father！　Even　to　hear　that　you　had　such　thoughts　of　a　daughter　who　never　existed；　strikes　to　my　heart　as　if　I　had　been　that　child。'
‘You；　Lucie？　It　is　out　of　the　consolation　and　restoration　you　have　brought　to　me；　that　these　remembrances　arise；　and　pass　between　us　and　the　moon　on　this　last　night。……what　did　I　say　just　now？'
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　way……have　affected　me　with　something　as　like　a　sorrowful　sense　of　peace；　as　any　emotion　that　had　pain　for　its　foundations　could……I　have　imagined　her　as　ing　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；　the……the……image；　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　too……as　you　have……but　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；　ing　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　mended　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　XVIII
Nine　Days
THE　marriage…day　was　shining　brightly；　and　they　were　ready　outside　the　closed　door　of　the　Doctor's　room；　where　he　was　speaking　with　Charles　Darnay。　They　were　ready　to　go　to　church；　the　beautiful　bride；　Mr。　Lorry；　and　Miss　Pross……to　whom　the　event；　through　a　gradual　process　of　reconcilement　to　the　inevitable；　would　have　been　one　of　absolute　bliss；　but　for　the　yet　lingering　consideration　that　her　brother　Solomon　should　have　been　the　bridegroom。
‘And　so；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　who　could　not　sufficiently　admire　the　bride；　and　who　had　been　moving　round　her　to　take　in　every　point　of　her　quiet；　pretty　dress；　‘and　so　it　was　for　this；　my　sweet　Lucie；　that　I　brought　you　across　the　Channel；　such　a　baby！　Lord　bless　me！　How　little　I　thought　what　I　was　doing！　How　lightly　I　valued　the　obligation　I　was　conferring　on　my　friend　Mr。　Charles！'
‘You　didn't　mean　it；'　remarked　the　matter…of…fact　Miss　Pross；　‘and　therefore　how　could　you　know　it？　Nonsense！'
‘Really？　Well；　but　don't　cry；'　said　the　gentle　Mr。　Lorry。　
‘I　am　not　crying；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘you　are。
‘I；　my　Pross？'　（By　this　time；　Mr。　Lorry　dared　to　be　pleasant　with　her；　on　occasion。）
‘You　were；　just　now；　I　saw　you　do　it；　and　I　don't　wonder　at　it。　Such　a　present　of　plate　as　you　have　made　‘em；　is　enough　to　bring　tears　into　anybody's　eyes。　There's　not　a　fork　or　a　spoon　in　the　collection；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘that　I　didn't　cry　over；　last　night　after　the　box　came；　till　I　couldn't　see　it。'
‘I　am　highly　gratified；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘though；　upon　my　honour；　I　had　no　intention　of　rendering　those　trifling　articles　of　remembrance　invisible　to　any　one。　Dear　me！　This　is　an　occasion　that　makes　a　man　speculate　on　all　he　has　lost。　Dear；　dear；　dear！　To　think　that　there　might　have　been　a　Mrs。　Lorry；　any　time　these　fifty　years　almost！'
‘Not　at　all！'　From　Miss　Pross。
‘You　think　there　never　might　have　been　a　Mrs。　Lorry？'　asked　the　gentleman　of　that　name。
‘Pooh！'　rejoined　Miss　Pross；　‘you　were　a　bachelor　in　your　cradle。'　
‘Well！'　observed　Mr。　Lorry；　beamingly　adjusting　his　little　wig；　‘that　seems　probable；　too。
‘And　you　were　cut　out　for　a　bachelor；'　pursued　Miss　Pross；　‘before　you　were　put　in　your　cradle。'
‘Then；　I　think；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘that　I　was　very　unhandsomely　dealt　with；　and　that　I　ought　to　have　had　a　voice　in　the　selection　of　my　pattern。　Enough！　Now；　my　dear　Lucie；'　drawing　his　arm　soothingly　round　her　waist；　‘I　hear　them　moving　in　the　next　room；　and　Miss　Pross　and　I；　as　two　formal　folks　of　business；　are　anxious　not　to　lose　the　final　opportunity　of　saying　something　to　you　that　you　wish　to　hear。　You　leave　your　good　father；　my　dear；　in　hands　as　earnest　and　as　loving　as　your　own；　he　shall　be　taken　every　conceivable　care　of；　during　the　next　fortnight；　while　you　are　in　Warwickshire　and　thereabouts；　even　Tellson's　shall　go　to　the　wall　（paratively　speaking）　before　him。　And　when；　at　the　fortnight's　end；　he　es　to　join　you　and　your　beloved　husband；　on　your　other　fortnight's　trip　in　Wales；　you　shall　say　that　we　have　sent　him　to　you　in　the　best　health　and　in　the　happiest　frame。　Now　I　hear　Somebody's　step　ing　to　the　door。　Let　me　kiss　my　dear　girl　with　an　old…fashioned　bachelor　blessing；　before　Somebody　es　to　claim　his　own。'
For　a　moment；　he　held　the　fair　face　from　him　to　look　at　the　well…remembered　expression　on　the　forehead；　and　then　laid　the　bright　golden　hair　against　his　little　brown　wig；　with　a　genuine　tenderness　and　delicacy　which；　if　such　things　be　old…fashioned；　were　as　old　as　Adam。
The　door　of　the　Doctor's　room　opened；　and　he　came　out　with　Charles　Darnay。　He　was　so　deadly　pale……which　had　not　been　the　case　when　they　went　in　together……that　no　vestige　of　colour　was　to　be　seen　in　his　face。　But；　in　the　posure　of　his　manner　he　was　unaltered；　except　that　to　the　shrewd　glance　of　Mr。　Lorry　it　disclosed　some　shadowy　indication　that　the　old　air　of　avoidance　and　dread　had　lately　passed　over　him；　like　a　cold　wind。
He　gave　his　arm　to　his　daughter；　and　took　her　downstairs　to　the　chariot　which　Mr。　Lorry　had　hired　in　honour　of　the　day。　The　rest　followed　in　another　carriage；　and　soon；　in　a　neighbouring　church；　where　no　strange　eyes　looked　on；　Charles　Darnay　and　Lucie　Manette　were　happily　married。
Besides　the　glancing　tears　that　shone　among　the　smiles　of　the　little　group　when　it　was　done；　some　diamonds；　very　bright　and　sparkling；　glanced　on　the　bride's　hand；　which　were　newly　released　from　the　dark　obscurity　of　one　of　Mr。　Lorry's　pockets。　They　returned　home　to　breakfast；　and　all　went　well；　and　in　due　course　the　golden　hair　that　had　mingled　with　the　poor　shoemaker's　white　locks　in　the　Paris　garret；　were　mingled　with　them　again　in　the　morning　sunlight；　on　the　threshold　of　the　door　at　parting。
It　was　a　hard　parting；　though　it　was　not　for