A shiver ran through her frame, and from it
through his. She said, in a low, distinct, awe-stricken voice, as if she were
saying it in a dream,
`I am going to see his Ghost! It will be
his Ghost--not him!'
Mr. Lorry quietly chafed the hands that
held his arm. `There, there, there! See now, see now! The best and the worst
are known to you, now. You are well on your way to the poor wronged gentleman,
and, with a fair sea voyage, and a fair land journey, you will be soon at his
dear side.'
She repeated in the same tone, sunk to a
whisper, `I have been free, I have been happy, yet his Ghost has never haunted
me!'
`Only one thing more,' said Mr. Lorry,
laying stress upon it as a wholesome means of enforcing her attention: `he has
been found under another name; his own, long forgotten or long concealed. It
would be worse than useless now to inquire which; worse than useless to seek to
know whether he has been for years overlooked, or always designedly held
prisoner. It would be worse than useless now to make any inquiries, because it
would be dangerous. Better not to mention the subject, anywhere or in any way,
and to remove him--for a while at all events--out of France . Even I, safe as an
Englishman, and even Tellson's, important as they are to French credit, avoid
all naming of the matter. I carry about me, not a scrap of writing openly
referring to it. This is a secret service altogether. My credentials, entries,
and memoranda, are all comprehended in the one line, "Recalled to
Life;" which may mean anything. But what is the matter? She doesn't notice
a word! Miss Manette!'
Perfectly still and silent, and not even
fallen back in her chair, she sat under his hand, utterly insensible; with her
eyes open and fixed upon him, and with that last expression looking as if it
were carved or branded into her forehead. So close was her hold upon his arm,
that he feared to detach himself lest he should hurt her; therefore he called
out loudly for assistance without moving.
A wild-looking woman, whom even in his
agitation, Mr. Lorry observed to be all of a red colour, and to have red hair,
and to be dressed in some extraordinary tight fitting fashion, and to have on
her head a most wonderful bonnet like a Grenadier wooden measure, and good
measure too, or a great Stilton cheese, came running into the room in advance
of the inn servants, and soon settled the question of his detachment from the
poor young lady, by laying a brawny hand upon his chest, and sending him flying
back against the nearest wall.
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