双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第66部分

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　confident　tread　of　such　a　character；　and　with　the　supple　freedom　of　a　woman　who　had　habitually　walked　in　her　girlhood；　bare…foot　and　bare…legged；　on　the　brown　sea…sand；　Madame　Defarge　took　her　way　along　the　streets。
Now；　when　the　journey　of　the　travelling　coach；　at　that　very　moment　waiting　for　the　pletion　of　its　load；　had　been　planned　out　last　night；　the　difficulty　of　taking　Miss　Pross　in　it　had　much　engaged　Mr。　Lorry's　attention。　It　was　not　merely　desirable　to　avoid　overloading　the　coach；　but　it　was　of　the　highest　importance　that　the　time　occupied　in　examining　it　and　its　passengers；　should　be　reduced　to　the　utmost；　since　their　escape　might　depend　on　the　saving　of　only　a　few　seconds　here　and　there。　Finally；　he　had　proposed；　after　anxious　consideration；　that　Miss　Pross　and　Jerry；　who　were　at　liberty　to　leave　the　city；　should　leave　it　at　three　o'clock　in　the　lightest…wheeled　conveyance　known　to　that　period。　Unencumbered　with　luggage；　they　would　soon　overtake　the　coach；　and；　passing　it　and　preceding　it　on　the　road；　would　order　its　horses　in　advance；　and　greatly　facilitate　its　progress　during　the　precious　hours　of　the　night；　when　delay　was　the　most　to　be　dreaded。
Seeing　in　this　arrangement　the　hope　of　rendering　real　service　in　that　pressing　emergency；　Miss　Pross　hailed　it　with　joy。　She　and　Jerry　had　beheld　the　coach　start；　had　known　who　it　was　that　Solomon　brought；　had　passed　some　ten　minutes　in　tortures　of　suspense；　and　were　now　concluding　their　arrangements　to　follow　the　coach；　even　as　Madame　Defarge；　taking　her　way　through　the　streets；　now　drew　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　else…deserted　lodging　in　which　they　held　their　consultation。
‘Now　what　do　you　think；　Mr。　Cruncher；'　said　Miss　Pross；　whose　agitation　was　so　great　that　she　could　hardly　speak；　or　stand；　or　move；　or　live：　‘what　do　you　think　of　our　not　starting　from　this　court…yard？　Another　carriage　having　already　gone　from　here　to…day；　it　might　awaken　suspicion。
‘My　opinion；　miss；'　returned　Mr。　Cruncher；　‘is　as；　you're　right。　Likewise　wot　I'll　stand　by　you；　right　or　wrong。
‘I　am　so　distracted　with　fear　and　hope　for　our　precious　creatures；'　said　Miss　Pross；　wildly　crying；　‘that　I　am　incapable　of　forming　any　plan。　Are　you　capable　of　forming　any　plan；　my　dear　good　Mr。　Cruncher？'
‘Respectin'　a　future　spear　o'　life；　miss；'　returned　Mr。　Cruncher；　‘I　hope　so。　Respectin'　any　present　use　o'　this　here　blessed　old　head　o'　mine；　I　think　not。　Would　you　do　me　the　favour；　miss；　to　take　notice　o'　two　promises　and　wows　wot　it　is　my　wishes　fur　to　record　in　this　here　crisis？'
‘Oh；　for　gracious　sake！'　cried　Miss　Pross；　still　wildly　crying；　‘record　them　at　once；　and　get　them　out　of　the　way；　like　an　excellent　man。
‘First；'　said　Mr。　Cruncher；　who　was　all　in　a　tremble；　and　who　spoke　with　an　ashy　and　solemn　visage；　‘them　poor　things　well　out　o'　this；　never　no　more　will　I　do　it；　never　no　more！'
‘I　am　quite　sure；　Mr。　Cruncher；'　returned　Miss　Pross；　‘that　you　never　will　do　it　again；　whatever　it　is；　and　I　beg　you　not　to　think　it　necessary　to　mention　more　particularly　what　it　is。'
‘No；　miss；'　returned　Jerry；　‘it　shall　not　be　named　to　you。　Second：　them　poor　things　well　out　o'　this；　and　never　no　more　will　I　interfere　with　Mrs。　Cruncher's　flopping；　never　no　more！'
‘Whatever　housekeeping　arrangement　that　may　be；'　said　Miss　Pross；　striving　to　dry　her　eyes　and　pose　herself；　‘I　have　no　doubt　it　is　best　that　Mrs。　Cruncher　should　have　it　entirely　under　her　own　superintendence。……O　my　poor　darlings！'
‘I　go　so　far　as　to　say；　miss；　morehover；'　proceeded　Mr。　Cruncher；　with　a　most　alarming　tendency　to　hold　forth　as　from　a　pulpit……‘and　let　my　words　be　took　down　and　took　to　Mrs。　Cruncher　through　yourself……that　wot　my　opinions　respectin'　flopping　has　undergone　a　change；　and　that　wot　I　only　hope　with　all　my　heart　as　Mrs。　Cruncher　may　be　a　flopping　at　the　present　time。'
There；　there；　there！　I　hope　she　is；　my　dear　man；'　cried　the　distracted　Miss　Pross；　‘and　I　hope　she　finds　it　answering　her　expectations。'
‘Forbid　it；'　proceeded　Mr。　Cruncher；　with　additional　solemnity；　additional　slowness；　and　additional　tendency　to　hold　forth　and　hold　out；　‘as　anything　wot　I　have　ever　said　or　done　should　be　wisited　on　my　earnest　wishes　for　them　poor　creeturs　now！　Forbid　it　as　we　shouldn't　all　flop　（if　it　was　anyways　conwenient）　to　get　‘em　out　o'　this　here　dismal　risk！　Forbid　it；　miss！　Wot　I　say；　for……BID　it！'　This　was　Mr。　Cruncher's　conclusion　after　a　protracted　but　vain　endeavour　to　find　a　better　one。
And　still　Madame　Defarge；　pursuing　her　way　along　the　streets；　came　nearer　and　nearer。　
‘If　we　ever　get　back　to　our　native　land；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘you　may　rely　upon　my　telling　Mrs。　Cruncher　as　much　as　I　may　be　able　to　remember　and　understand　of　what　you　have　so　impressively　said；　and　at　all　events　you　may　be　sure　that　I　shall　bear　witness　to　your　being　thoroughly　in　earnest　at　this　dreadful　time。　Now；　pray　let　us　think！　My　esteemed　Mr。　Cruncher；　let　us　think！'
Still；　Madame　Defarge；　pursuing　her　way　along　the　streets；　came　nearer　and　nearer。
‘If　you　were　to　go　before；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘and　stop　the　vehicle　and　horses　from　ing　here；　and　were　to　wait　somewhere　for　me；　wouldn't　that　be　best？'
Mr。　Cruncher　thought　it　might　be　best。
‘Where　could　you　wait　for　me？'　asked　Miss　Pross。
Mr。　Cruncher　was　so　bewildered　that　he　could　think　of　no　locality　but　Temple　Bar。　Alas！　Temple　Bar　was　hundreds　of　miles　away；　and　Madame　Defarge　was　drawing　very　near　indeed。
‘By　the　cathedral　door；'　said　Miss　Pross。　‘Would　it　be　much　out　of　the　way；　to　take　me　in；　near　the　great　cathedral　door　between　the　two　towers？'
‘No；　miss；'　answered　Mr。　Cruncher。
‘Then；　like　the　best　of　men；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘go　to　the　posting…house　straight；　and　make　that　change。'
‘I　am　doubtful；'　said　Mr。　Cruncher；　hesitating　and　shaking　his　head；　‘about　leaving　of　you；　you　see。　We　don't　know　what　may　happen。'
‘Heaven　knows　we　don't；'　returned　Miss　Pross；　‘but　have　no　fear　for　me。　Take　me　in　at　the　cathedral；　at　Three　o'clock；　or　as　near　it　as　you　can；　and　I　am　sure　it　will　be　better　than　our　going　from　here。　I　feel　certain　of　it。　There！　Bless　you；　Mr。　Cruncher！　Think……not　of　me；　but　of　the　lives　that　may　depend　on　both　of　us　！'
This　exordium；　and　Miss　Pross's　two　hands　in　quite　agonised　entreaty　clasping　his；　decided　Mr。　Cruncher。　With　an　encouraging　nod　or　two；　he　immediately　went　out　to　alter　the　arrangements；　and　left　her　by　herself　to　follow　as　she　had　proposed。
The　having　originated　a　precaution　which　was　already　in　course　of　execution；　was　a　great　relief　to　Miss　Pross。　The　necessity　of　posing　her　appearance　so　that　it　should　attract　no　special　notice　in　the　streets；　was　another　relief　She　looked　at　her　watch；　and　it　was　twenty　minutes　past　two。　She　had　no　time　to　lose；　but　must　get　ready　at　once。
Afraid；　in　her　extreme　perturbation；　of　the　loneliness　of　the　deserted　rooms；　and　of　half…imagined　faces　peeping　from　behind　every　open　door　in　them；　Miss　Pross　got　a　basin　of　cold　water　and　began　laving　her　eyes；　which　were　swollen　and　red。　Haunted　by　her　feverish　apprehensions；　she　could　not　bear　to　have　her　sight　obscured　for　a　minute　at　a　time　by　the　dripping　water；　but　constantly　paused　and　looked　round　to　see　that　there　was　no　one　watching　her。　In　one　of　those　pauses　she　recoiled　and　cried　out；　for　she　saw　a　figure　standing　in　the　room。
The　basin　fell　to　the　ground　broken；　and　the　water　flowed　to　the　feet　of　Madame　Defarge。　By　strange　stern　ways；　and　through　much　staining　blood；　those　feet　had　e　to　meet　that　water。
Madame　Defarge　looked　coldly　at　her；　and　said；　‘The　wife　of　Evrémonde；　where　is　she？'
It　flashed　upon　Miss　Pross's　mind　that　the　doors　were　all　standing　open；　and　would　suggest　the　flight。　Her　first　act　was　to　shut　them。　There　were　four　in　the　room；　and　she　shut　them　all。　She　then　placed　herself　before　the　door　of　the　chamber　which　Lucie　had　occupied。
Madame　Defarge's　dark　eyes　followed　her　through　this　rapid　movement；　and　rested　on　her　when　it　was　finished。　Miss　Pross　had　nothing　beautiful　about　her；　years　had　not　tamed　the　wildness；　or　softened　the　grimness；　of　her　appearance；　but；　she　too　was　a　determined　woman　in　her　different　way；　and　she　measured　Madame　Defarge　with　her　eyes；　every　inch。
‘You　might；　from　your　appearance；　be　the　wife　of　Lucifer；'　said　Miss　Pross；　in　her　breathing。　‘Nevertheless；　you　shall　not　get　the　better　of　me。　I　am　an　Englishwoman。
Madame　Defarge　looked　at　her　scornfully；　but　still　with　something　of　Miss　Pross's　own　perception　that　they　two　were　at　bay。　She　saw　a　tight；　hard；　wiry　woman　before　her；　as　Mr。　Lorry　had　seen　in　the　same　figure　a　woman　with　a　strong　hand；　in　the　years　gone　by。　She　knew　full　well　that　Miss　Pross　was　the　family's　devoted　friend；　Miss　Pross　knew　full　well　that　Madame　Defarge　was　the　family's　malevolent　enemy。
‘On　my　way　yonder；'　said　Madame　Defarge；　with　a　slight　movement　of　her　hand　towards　the　fatal　spot；　‘where　they　reserve　my　chair　and　my　knitting　for　me；　I　am　e；　to　make　my　pliments　to　her　in　passing。　I　wish　to　see　her。
‘I　know　that　your　intentions　are　evil；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘and　you　may　depend　upon　it；　I'll　hold　my　own　against　them。'
Each　spoke　in　her　own　language；　neither　understood　the　other's　words；　both　were　very　watchful；　and　intent　to　deduce　from　look　and　manner；　what　the　unintelligible　words　meant。
‘It　will　do　her　no　good　to　keep　herself　concealed　from　me　at　this　moment；'　said　Madame　Defarge。　‘Good　patriots　will　know　what　that　means。　Let　me　see　her。　Go　tell　her　that　I　wish　to　see　her。　Do　you　hear？'
‘If　those　eyes　of　yours　were　bed…winches；'　returned　Miss　Pross；　‘and　I　was　an　English　four…poster；　they　shouldn't　loose　a　splinter　of　me。　No；　you　wicked　foreign　woman；　I　am　your　match。'
Madame　Defarge　was　not　likely　to　follow　these　idiomatic　remarks　in　detail；　but；　she　so　far　understood　them　as　to　perceive　that　she　was　set　at　naught。
‘Woman　imbecile　and　pig…like！'　said　Madame　Defarge；　frowning。　‘I　take　no　answer　from　you。　I　demand　to　see　her。　Either　tell　her　that　I　demand　to　see　her；　or　stand　out　of　the　way　of　the　door　and　let　me　go　to　her！'　This；　with　an　angry　explanatory　wave　of　her　right　arm。
‘I　little　thought；'　said　bliss　Pross；　‘that　I　should　ever　want　to　understand　your　nonsensical　language；　but　I　would　give　all　I　have；　except　the　clothes　I　wear；　to　know　whether　you　suspect　the　truth；　or　any　part　of　it。'
Neither　of　them　for　a　single　moment　released　the　other's　eyes。　Madame　Defarge　had　not　moved　from　the　spot　where　she　stood　when　Miss　Pross　first　became　aware　of　her；　but　she　now　advanced　one　step。
‘I　am　a　Briton；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘I　am　desperate。　I　don't　care　an　English　Two…pence　for　myself。　I　know　that　the　longer　I　keep　you　here；　the　greater　hope　there　is　for　my　Ladybird。　I'll　not　leave　a　handful　of　that　dark　hair　upon　your　head；　if　you　lay　a　finger　on　me！'
Thus　Miss　Pross；　with　a　shake　of　her　head　and　a　flash　of　her　eyes　between　every　rapid　sentence；　and　every　rapid　sentence　a　whole　breath。　Thus　Miss　Pross；　who　had　never　struck　a　blow　in　her　life。
But；　her　courage　was　of　that　emotional　nature　that　it　brought　the　irrepressible　tears　into　her　eyes。　This　was　a　courage　that　Madame　Defarge　so　little　prehended　as　to　mistake　for　weakness。　‘Ha；　ha！'　she　laughed；　‘you　poor　wretch！　What　are　you　worth！　I　address　myself　to　that　Doctor。'　Then　she　raised　her　voice　and　called　out；　‘Citizen　Doctor！　Wife　of