Theringingofthebellhadcausedtheadjoiningbedchambertobelighted.Itnowshonebrightly,throughthedoorofcommunication.TheMarquislookedthatway,andlistenedfortheretreatingstepofhisvalet.
`Englandisveryattractivetoyou,seeinghowindifferentlyyouhaveprosperedthere,'heobservedthen,turninghiscalmfacetohisnephewwithasmile.
`Ihavealreadysaid,thatformyprosperingthere,IamsensibleImaybeindebtedtoyou,sir.Fortherest,itismyRefuge.'
`Theysay,thoseboastfulEnglish,thatitistheRefugeofmany.YouknowacompatriotwhohasfoundaRefugethere?ADoctor?'
`Yes.'
`With,adaughter?'
`Yes,'saidtheMarquis.`Youarefatigued.Good-night!'
Ashebenthisheadinhismostcourtlymanner,therewasasecrecyinhissmilingface,andheconveyedanairofmysterytothosewords,whichstrucktheeyesandearsofhisnephewforcibly.Atthesametime,thethinstraightlinesofthesettingoftheeyes,andthethinstraightlips,andthemarkingsinthenose,curvedwithasarcasmthatlookedhandsomelydiabolic.
`Yes,'repeatedtheMarquis.`ADoctorwithadaughter.Yes.Socommencesthenewphilosophy!Youarefatigued.Good-night!'
Itwouldhavebeenofasmuchavailtointerrogateanystonefaceoutsidethechaateauastointerrogatethatfaceofhis.Thenephewlookedathiminvain,inpassingontothedoor.
`Good-night!'saidtheuncle.`Ilooktothepleasureofseeingyouagaininthemorning.Goodrepose!LightMonsieurmynephewtohischamberthere!——AndburnMonsieurmynephewinhisbed,ifyouwill,'headdedtohimself,beforeheranghislittlebellagain,andsummonedhisvalettohisownbedroom.
Thevaletcomeandgone,MonsieurtheMarquiswalkedtoandfroinhisloosechamber-robe,topreparehimselfgentlyforsleep,thathotstillnight.Rustlingabouttheroom,hissoftly-slipperedfeetmakingnonoiseonthefloor,hemovedlikearefinedtiger——lookedlikesomeenchantedmarquisoftheimpenitentlywickedsort,instory,whoseperiodicalchangeintotigerformwaseitherjustgoingoff,orjustcomingon.
Hemovedfromendtoendofhisvoluptuousbedroom,lookingagainatthescrapsoftheday'sjourneythatcameunbiddenintohismind;theslowtoilupthehillatsunset,thesettingsun,thedescent,themill,theprisononthecrag,thelittlevillageinthehollow,thepeasantsatthefountain,andthemenderofroadswithhisbluecappointingoutthechainunderthecarriage.ThatfountainsuggestedtheParisfountain,thelittlebundlelyingonthestep,thewomenbendingoverit,andthetallmanwithhisarmsup,crying,`Dead!'
`Iamcoolnow,'saidMonsieurtheMarquis,`andmaygotobed.'
So,leavingonlyonelightburningonthelargehearth,helethisthingauzecurtainsfallaroundhim,andheardthenightbreakitssilencewithalongsighashecomposedhimselftosleep.
Thestonefacesontheouterwallsstaredblindlyattheblacknightforthreeheavyhours;forthreeheavyhourstilehorsesinthestablesrattledattheirracks,thedogsbarked,andtheowlmadeanoisewithverylittleresemblanceinittothenoiseconventionallyassignedtotheowlbymen-poets.Butitistheobstinatecustomofsuchcreatureshardlyevertosaywhatissetdownforthem.
Forthreeheavyhours,thestonefacesofthechaateau,lionandhuman,staredblindlyatthenight.Deaddarknesslayonallthelandscape,deaddarknessaddeditsownhushtothehushingdustonalltheroads.Theburial-placehadgottothepassthatitslittleheapsofpoorgrasswereundistinguishablefromoneanother;thefigureontheCrossmighthavecomedown,foranythingthatcouldbeseenofit.Inthevillage,taxersandtaxedwerefastasleep.Dreaming,perhaps,ofbanquets,asthestarvedusuallydo,andofeaseandrest,asthedrivenslaveandtheyokedoxmay,itsleaninhabitantssleptsoundly,andwerefedandfreed.
Thefountaininthevillageflowedunseenandunheard,andthefountainatthechaateaudroppedunseenandunheard——bothmeltingaway,liketheminutesthatwerefallingfromthespringofTime——throughthreedarkhours.Then,thegreywaterofbothbegantobeghostlyinthelight,andtheeyesofthestonefacesofthechaateauwereopened.
Lighterandlighter,untilatlastthesuntouchedthetopsofthestilltrees,andpoureditsradianceoverthehill.Intheglow,thewaterofthechaateaufountainseemedtoturntoblood,andthestonefacescrimsoned.Thecarolofthebirdswasloudandhigh,and,ontheweather-beatensillofthegreatwindowofthebedchamberofMonsieurtheMarquis,onelittlebirdsangitssweetestsongwithallitsmight.Atthis,theneareststonefaceseemedtostareamazed,and,withopenedmouthanddroppedunder-jaw,lookedawe-stricken.
Now,thesunwasfullup,andmovementbeganinthevillage.Casementwindowsopened,crazydoorswereunbarred,andpeoplecameforthshivering——chilled,asyet,bythenewsweetair.Thenbegantherarelylightenedtoilofthedayamongthevillagepopulation.Some,tothefountain;some,tothefields;menandwomenhere,todiganddelve;menandwomenthere,toseetothepoorlivestock,andleadthebonycowsout,tosuchpastureascouldbefoundbytheroadside.InthechurchandattheCross,akneelingfigureortwo;attendantonthelatterprayers,theledcow,tryingforabreakfastamongtheweedsatitsfoot.
Thechaateauawokelater,asbecameitsquality,butawokegraduallyandsurely.First,thelonelyboar-spearsandknivesofthechasehadbeenreddenedasofold;then,hadgleamedtrenchantinthemorningsunshine;now,doorsandwindowswerethrownopen,horsesintheirstableslookedroundovertheirshouldersatthelightandfreshnesspouringinatdoorways,leavessparkledandrustledatiron-gratedwindows,dogspulledhardattheirchains,andrearedimpatienttobeloosed.
Allthesetrivialincidentsbelongedtotheroutineoflife,andthereturnofmorning.Surely,notsotheringingofthegreathellofthechaateau,northerunningupanddownthestairs;northehurriedfiguresontheterrace;northebootingandtrampinghereandthereandeverywhere,northequicksaddlingofhorsesandridingaway?
Whatwindsconveyedthishurrytothegrizzledmenderofroads,alreadyatworkonthehill-topbeyondthevillage,withhisday'sdinnernotmuchtocarrylyinginabundlethatitwasworthnocrow'swhiletopeckat,onaheapofstones?Hadthebirds,carryingsomegrainsofittoadistance,droppedoneoverhimastheysowchanceseeds?Whetherorno,themenderofroadsran,onthesultrymorning,asifforhislife,downthehill,knee-highindust,andneverstoppedtillhegottothefountain.
Allthepeopleofthevillagewereatthefountain,standingaboutintheirdepressedmanner,andwhisperinglow,butshowingnootheremotionsthangrimcuriosityandsurprise.Theledcows,hastilybroughtinandtetheredtoanythingthatwouldholdthem,werelookingstupidlyon,orlyingdownchewingthecudofnothingparticularlyrepayingtheirtrouble,whichtheyhadpickedupintheirinterruptedsaunter.Someofthepeopleofthechaateau,andsomeofthoseoftheposting-house,andallthetaxingauthorities,werearmedmoreorless,andwerecrowdedontheothersideofthelittlestreetinapurposelessway,thatwashighlyfraughtwithnothing.Already,themenderofroadshadpenetratedintothemidstofagroupoffiftyparticularfriends,andwassmitinghimselfinthebreastwithhisbluecap.Whatdidallthisportend,andwhatportendedtheswifthoisting-upofMonsieurGabellebehindaservantonhorseback,andtheconveyingawayofthesaidGabelledouble-ladenthoughthehorsewas,atagallop,likeanewversionoftheGermanballadofLeonora?
Itportendedthattherewasonestonefacetoomany,upatthechaateau.
TheGorgonhadsurveyedthebuildingagaininthenight,andhadaddedtheonestonefacewanting;thestonefaceforwhichithadwaitedthroughabouttwohundredyears.
ItlaybackonthepillowofMonsieurtheMarquis.Itwaslikeafinemask,suddenlystartled,madeangry,andpetrified.Drivenhomeintotheheartofthestonefigureattachedtoit,wasaknife.Rounditshiltwasafrillofpaper,onwhichwasscrawled:
`Drivehimfasttohistomb.This,fromJACQUES.'
CHAPTERX
TwoPromises
MOREmonths,tothenumberoftwelve,hadcomeandgone,andMr.CharlesDarnaywasestablishedinEnglandasahigherteacheroftheFrenchlanguagewhowasconversantwithFrenchliterature.Inthisage,hewouldhavebeenaProfessor;inthatage,hewasaTutor.Hereadwithyoungmenwhocouldfindanyleisureandinterestforthestudyofalivingtonguespokenallovertheworld,andhecultivatedatasteforitsstoresofknowledgeandfancy.Hecouldwriteofthem,besides,insoundEnglish,andrenderthemintosoundEnglish.Suchmasterswerenotatthattimeeasilyfound;Princesthathadbeen,andKingsthatweretobe,werenotyetoftheTeacherclass,andnoruinednobilityhaddroppedoutofTellson'sledgers,toturncooksandcarpenters.Asatutor,whoseattainmentsmadethestudent'swayunusuallypleasantandprofitable,andasaneleganttranslatorwhobroughtsomethingtohisworkbesidesmeredictionaryknowledge,youngMr.Darnaysoonbecameknownandencouraged.Hewaswellacquainted,moreover,withthecircumstancesofhiscountry,andthosewereofever-growinginterest.So,withgreatperseveranceanduntiringindustry,heprospered.
InLondon,hehadexpectedneithertowalkonpavementsofgold,nortolieonbedsofroses:ifhehadhadanysuchexaltedexpectation,hewouldnothaveprospered.Hehadexpectedlabour,andhefoundit,anddidit,andmadethebestofit.Inthis,hisprosperityconsisted.
AcertainportionofhistimewaspassedatCambridge,wherehereadwithundergraduatesasasortoftoleratedsmugglerwhodroveacontrabandtradeinEuropeanlanguages,insteadofconveyingGreekandLatinthroughtheCustom-house.TherestofhistimehepassedinLondon.
Now,fromthedayswhenitwasalwayssummerinEden,tothesedayswhenitismostlywinterinfallenlatitudes,theworldofamanhasinvariablygoneoneway——CharlesDarnay'sway——thewayoftheloveofawoman.
HehadlovedLucieManettefromthehourofhisdanger.Hehadneverheardasoundsosweetanddearasthesoundofhercompassionatevoice;hehadneverseenafacesotenderlybeautiful,asherswhenitwasconfrontedwithhisownontheedgeofthegravethathadbeendugforhim.But,hehadnotyetspokentoheronthesubject;theassassinationatthedesertedchaateaufarawaybeyondtheheavingwaterandthelong,long,dustyroads——thesolidstonechaateauwhichhaditselfbecomethemeremistofadream——hadbeendoneayear,andhehadneveryet,bysomuchasasinglespokenword,disclosedtoherthestateofhisheart.
Thathehadhisreasonsforthis,heknewfullwell.Itwasagainasummerdaywhen,latelyarrivedinLondonfromhiscollegeoccupation,heturnedintothequietcornerinSoho,bentonseekinganopportunityofopeninghismindtoDoctorManette.Itwasthecloseofthesummerday,andheknewLucietobeoutwithMissPross.
HefoundtheDoctorreadinginhisarm-chairatawindow.Theenergywhichhadatoncesupportedhimunderhisoldsufferingsandaggravatedtheirsharpness,hadbeengraduallyrestoredtohim.Hewasnowaveryenergeticmanindeedwithgreatfirmnessofpurpose,strengthofresolution,andvigourofaction.Inhisrecoveredenergyhewassometimesalittlefitfulandsudden,ashehadatfirstbeenintheexerciseofhisotherrecoveredfaculties;but,thishadneverbeenfrequentlyobservable,andhadgrownmoreandmorerare.
Hestudiedmuch,sleptlittle,sustainedagreatdealoffatiguewithease,andwasequablycheerful.Tohim,nowenteredCharlesDarnay,atsightofwhomhelaidasidehisbookandheldouthishand.
`CharlesDarnay!Irejoicetoseeyou.Wehavebeencountingonyourreturnthesethreeorfourdayspast.Mr.StryverandSydneyCartonwerebothhereyesterday,andbothmadeyououttobemorethandue.
`Iamobligedtothemfortheirinterestinthematter,'heanswered,alittlecoldlyastochem,thoughverywarmlyastotheDoctor.`MissManette——'
`Iswell,'saidtheDoctor,ashestoppedshort,`andyourreturnwilldelightusall.Shehasgoneoutonsomehouseholdmatters,butwillsoonbehome.'
`DoctorManette,Iknewshewasfromhome.Itooktheopportunityofherbeingfromhome,tobegtospeaktoyou.'
Therewasablanksilence.
`Yes?'saidtheDoctor,withevidentconstraint.`Bringyourchairhere,andspeakon.'
Hecompliedastothechair,butappearedtofindthespeakingonlesseasy.
`Ihavehadthehappiness,DoctorManette,ofbeingsointimatehere,'soheatlengthbegan,`forsomeyearandahalf,thatIhopethetopiconwhichIamabouttotouchmaynot——'
HewasstayedbytheDoctor'sputtingouthishandtostophim.Whenhehadkeptitsoalittlewhile,hesaid,drawingitback:
`IsLuciethetopic?'
`Sheis.'
`Itishardformetospeakofheratanytime.Itisveryhardformetohearherspokenofinthattoneofyours,CharlesDarnay.'
`Itisatoneofferventadmiration,truehomage,anddeeplove,DoctorManette!'hesaiddeferentially.
Therewasanotherblanksilencebeforeherfatherrejoined:`Ibelieveit.Idoyoujustice;Ibelieveit.'
Hisconstraintwassomanifest,anditwassomanifest,too,thatitoriginatedinanunwillingnesstoapproachthesubject,thatCharlesDarnayhesitated.
`ShallIgoon,sir?'
Anotherblank.
`Yes,goon.'
`YouanticipatewhatIwouldsay,thoughyoucannotknowhowearnestlyIsayit,howearnestlyIfeelit,withoutknowingmysecretheart,andthehopesandfearsandanxietieswithwhichithaslongbeenladen.DearDoctorManette,Iloveyourdaughterfondly,dearly,disinterestedly,devotedly.Ifevertherewereloveintheworld,Iloveher.Youhavelovedyourself;letyouroldlovespeakforme!'
TheDoctorsatwithhisfaceturnedaway,andhiseyesbentontheground.Atthelastwords,hestretchedouthishandagain,hurriedly,andcried:
`Notthat,sir!Letthatbe!Iadjureyou,donotrecallthat!'
Hiscrywassolikeacryofactualpain,thatitranginCharlesDarnay'searslongafterhehadceased.Hemotionedwiththehandhehadextended,anditseemedtobeanappealtoDarnaytopause.Thelattersoreceivedit,andremainedsilent.
`Iaskyourpardon,'saidtheDoctor,inasubduedtone,aftersomemoments.`IdonotdoubtyourlovingLucie;youmaybesatisfiedofit.'
Heturnedtowardshiminhischair,butdidnotlookathim,orraisehiseyes.Hischindroppeduponhishand,andhiswhitehairovershadowedhisface:
`HaveyouspokentoLucie?'
`No.'
`Norwritten?'
`Never.'
`Itwouldbeungeneroustoaffectnottoknowthatyourself-denialistobereferredtoyourconsiderationforherfather.Herfatherthanksyou.
Heofferedhishand;buthiseyesdidnotgowithit.
`Iknow,'saidDarnay,respectfully,`howcanIfailtoknow,DoctorManette,Iwhohaveseenyoutogetherfromdaytoday,thatbetweenyouandMissManettethereisanaffectionsounusual,sotouching,sobelongingtothecircumstancesinwhichithasbeennurtured,thatitcanhavefewparallels,eveninthetendernessbetweenafatherandchild.Iknow,Dr.Manette——howcanIfailtoknow——that,mingledwiththeaffectionanddutyofadaughterwhohasbecomeawoman,thereis,inherheart,towardsyou,alltheloveandrelianceofinfancyitself.Iknowthat,asinherchildhoodshehadnoparent,sosheisnowdevotedtoyouwithalltheconstancyandfervourofherpresentyearsandcharacter,unitedtothetrustfulnessandattachmentoftheearlydaysinwhichyouwerelosttoher.Iknowperfectlywellthatifyouhadbeenrestoredtoherfromtheworldbeyondthislife,youcouldhardlybeinvested,inhersight,withamoresacredcharacterthanthatinwhichyouarealwayswithher.Iknowthatwhensheisclingingtoyou,thehandsofbaby,girl,andwoman,allinone,areroundyourneck.Iknowthatinlovingyousheseesandloveshermotheratherownage,seesandlovesyouatmyage,loveshermotherbrokenhearted,lovesyouthroughyourdreadfultrialandinyourblessedrestoration.Ihaveknownthis,nightandday,sinceIhaveknownyouinyourhome.'
Herfathersatsilent,withhisfacebentdown.Hisbreathingwasalittlequickened;butherepressedallothersignsofagitation.
`DearDoctormanettealwaysknowingthis,alwaysseeingherandyouwiththishallowedlightaboutyou,Ihaveforborne,andforborne,aslongasitwasinthenatureofmantodoit.Ihavefelt,anddoevennowfeel,thattobringmylove——evenmine——betweenyou,istotouchyourhistorywithsomethingnotquitesogoodasitself.ButIloveher.HeavenismywitnessthatIloveher!'
`Ibelieveit,'answeredherfather,mournfully.`Ihavethoughtsobeforenow.Ibelieveit.'
`But,donotbelieve,'saidDarnay,uponwhoseearthemournfulvoicestruckwithareproachfulsound,`thatifmyfortuneweresocastasthat,beingonedaysohappyastomakehermywife,Imustatanytimeputanyseparationbetweenherandyou,IcouldorwouldbreatheawordofwhatInowsay.BesidesthatIshouldknowittobehopeless,Ishouldknowittobeabaseness.IfIhadanysuchpossibility,evenataremotedistanceofyears,harbouredinmythoughts,and`hiddeninmyheart——ifiteverhadbeenthere——ifitevercouldbethere——Icouldnotnowtouchthishonouredhand.'
Helaidhisownuponitashespoke.
`No,dearDoctorManette.Likeyou,avoluntaryexilefromFrance;likeyou,drivenfromitbyitsdistractions,oppressions,andmiseries;likeyou,strivingtoliveawayfromitbymyownexertions,andtrustinginahappierfuture;Ilookonlytosharingyourfortunes,sharingyourlifeandhome,andbeingfaithfultoyoutothedeath.NottodividewithLucieherprivilegeasyourchild,companion,andfriend;buttocomeinaidofit,andbindherclosertoyou,ifsuchathingcanbe.'
Histouchstilllingeredonherfather'shand.Answeringthetouchforamoment,butnotcoldly,herfatherrestedhishandsuponthearmsofhischair,andlookedupforthefirsttimesincethebeginningoftheconference.Astrugglewasevidentlyinhisface;astrugglewiththatoccasionallookwhichhadatendencyinittodarkdoubtanddread.
`Youspeaksofeelinglyandsomanfully,CharlesDarnay,thatIthankyouwithallmyheart,andwillopenallmyheart——ornearlyso.HaveyouanyreasontobelievethatLucielovesyou?'
`None.Asyet,none.
`Isittheimmediateobjectofthisconfidence,thatyoumayatonceascertainthat,withmyknowledge?'
`Notevenso.Imightnothavethehopefulnesstodoitforweeks;Imightmistakenornotmistakenhavethathopefulnessto-morrow.
`Doyouseekanyguidancefromme?'
`Iasknone,sir.ButIhavethoughtitpossiblethatyoumighthaveitinyourpower,ifyoushoulddeemitright,togivemesome.'
`Doyouseekanypromisefromme?'
`Idoseekthat.
`Whatisit?'
`Iwellunderstandthat,withoutyou,Icouldhavenohope.Iwellunderstandthat,evenifMissManetteheldmeatthismomentinherinnocentheart——donotthinkIhavethepresumptiontoassumesomuch——Icouldretainnoplaceinitagainstherloveforherfather.'
Ifthatbeso,doyousecwhat,ontheotherhand,isinvolvedinit?'
`Iunderstandequallywell,thatawordfromherfatherinanysuitor'sfavour,wouldoutweighherselfandalltheworld.Forwhichreason,DoctorManette,'saidDarnay,modestlybutfirmly,`Iwouldnotaskthatword,tosavemylife.'
`Iamsureofit.CharlesDarnay,mysteriesariseoutofcloselove,aswellasoutofwidedivision;intheformercase,theyaresubtleanddelicate,anddifficulttopenetrate.MydaughterLucieis,inthisonerespect,suchamysterytome;Icanmakenoguessatthestateofherheart.'
`MayIask,sir,ifyouthinksheis——'Ashehesitated,herfathersuppliedtherest.
`Issoughtbyanyothersuitor?'
`ItiswhatImeanttosay.'
Herfatherconsideredalittlebeforeheanswered:
`YouhaveseenMr.Cartonhere,yourself.Mr.Stryverisheretoo,occasionally.Ifitbeatall,itcanonlybebyoneofthese.'
`Orboth,'saidDarnay.
`Ihadnotthoughtofboth;Ishouldnotthinkeither,likely.Youwantapromisefromme.Tellmewhatitis.
`Itis,thatifMissManetteshouldbringtoyouatanytime,onherownpart,suchaconfidenceasIhaveventuredtolaybeforeyou,youwillbeartestimonytowhatIhavesaid,andtoyourbeliefinit.Ihopeyoumaybeabletothinksowellofme,astourgenoinfluenceagainstme.Isaynothingmoreofmystakeinthis;thisiswhatIask.TheconditiononwhichIaskit,andwhichyouhaveanundoubtedrighttorequire,Iwillobserveimmediately.'
`Igivethepromise,'saidtheDoctor,`withoutanycondition.Ibelieveyourobjecttobe,purelyandtruthfully,asyouhavestatedit.Ibelieveyourintentionistoperpetuate,andnottoweaken,thetiesbetweenmeandmyotherandfardearerself.Ifsheshouldevertellmethatyouareessentialtoherperfecthappiness,Iwillgivehertoyou.Iftherewere——CharlesDarnay,iftherewere——'
Theyoungmanhadtakenhishandgratefully;theirhandswerejoinedastheDoctorspoke:
`——anyfancies,anyreasons,anyapprehensions,anythingwhatsoever,neworold,againstthemanshereallyloved——thedirectresponsibilitythereofnotlyingonhishead——theyshouldallbeobliteratedforhersake.Sheiseverythingtome;moretomethansuffering,moretomethanwrong,moretome——Well!Thisisidletalk.'
Sostrangewasthewayinwhichhefadedintosilence,andsostrangehisfixedlookwhenhehadceasedtospeak,thatDarnayfelthisownhandturncoldinthehandthatslowlyreleasedanddroppedit.
`Yousaidsomethingtome,'saidDoctorManette,breakingintoasmile.`Whatwasityousaidtome?'
Hewasatalosshowtoanswer,untilherememberedhavingspokenofacondition.Relievedashismindrevertedtothat,heanswered:
`Yourconfidenceinmeoughttobereturnedwithfullconfidenceonmypart.Mypresentname,thoughbutslightlychangedfrommymother's,isnot,asyouwillremember,myOwn.Iwishtotellyouwhatthatis,andwhyIaminEngland.'
`Stop!'saidtheDoctorofBeauvais.
`Iwishit,thatImaythebetterdeserveyourconfidence,andhavenosecretfromyou.
`Stop!'
Foraninstant,theDoctorevenhadhistwohandsathisears;foranotherinstant,evenhadhistwohandslaidonDarnay'slips.
`TellmewhenIaskyou,notnow.Ifyoursuitshouldprosper,ifLucieshouldloveyou,youshalltellmeonyourmarriagemorning.Doyoupromise?'
`Willingly.'
`Givemeyourhand.Shewillbehomedirectly,anditisbettersheshouldnotseeustogetherto-night.Go!Godblessyou!'
ItwasdarkwhenCharlesDarnaylefthim,anditwasanhourlateranddarkerwhenLuciecamehome;shehurriedintotheroomalone——forMissProsshadgonestraightupstairs——andwassurprisedtofindhisreading-chairempty.
`Myfather!'shecalledtohim.`Fatherdear!'
Nothingwassaidinanswer,butsheheardalowhammeringsoundinhisbedroom.Passinglightlyacrosstheintermediateroom,shelookedinathisdoorandcamerunningbackfrightened,cryingtoherself,withherbloodallchilled,`WhatshallIdo!WhatshallIdo!'
Heruncertaintylastedbutamoment;shehurriedback,andtappedathisdoor,andsoftlycalledtohim.Thenoiseceasedatthesoundofhervoice,andhepresentlycameouttoher,andtheywalkedupanddowntogetherforalongtime.
Shecamedownfromherbed,tolookathiminhissleepthatnight.Hesleptheavily,andhistrayofshoemakingtools,andhisoldunfinishedwork,wereallasusual.
CHAPTERXI
ACompanionPicture
`SYDNEY,'saidMr.Stryver,onthatself-samenight,ormorning,tohisjackal;`mixanotherbowlofpunch;Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou.'
Sydneyhadbeenworkingdoubletidesthatnight,andthenightbefore,andthenightbeforethat,andagoodmanynightsinsuccession,makingagrandclearanceamongMr.Stryver'spapersbeforethesettinginofthelongvacation.Theclearancewaseffectedatlast;theStryverarrearswerehandsomelyfetchedup;everythingwasgotridofuntilNovembershouldcomewithitsfogsatmosphericandfogslegal,andbringgristtothemillagain.
Sydneywasnonethelivelierandnonethesobererforsomuchapplication.Ithadtakenadealofextrawet-towellingtopullhimthroughthenight;acorrespondinglyextraquantityofwinehadprecededthetowelling;andhewasinaverydamagedcondition,ashenowpulledhisturbanoffandthrewitintothebasininwhichhehadsteepeditatintervalsforthelastsixhours.
`Areyoumixingthatotherbowlofpunch?'saidStryvertheportly,withhishandsinhiswaistband,glancingroundfromthesofawherehelayonhisback,
`Iam.'
`Now,lookhere!Iamgoingtotellyousomethingthatwillrathersurpriseyou,andthatperhapswillmakeyouthinkmenotquiteasshrewdasyouusuallydothinkme.Iintendtomarry.
`Doyou?'
`Yes.Andnotformoney.Whatdoyousaynow?'
`Idon'tfeeldisposedtosaymuch.Whoisshe?'
`Guess.'
`DoIknowher?'
`Guess.'
`Iamnotgoingtoguess,atfiveo'clockinthemorning,withmybrainsfryingandsputteringinmy,head.Ifyouwantmetoguess,youmustaskmetodinner.
`Wellthen,I'lltellyou,'saidStryver,comingslowlyintoasittingposture.`Sydney,Iratherdespairofmakingmyselfintelligibletoyou,becauseyouaresuchaninsensibledog.'
`Andyou,'returnedSydney,busyconcoctingthepunch,`aresuchasensitiveandpoeticalspirit.'