"A- a matter of business. You confuse me, and how can I
transactbusiness if I am confused? Let us be clear-headed. If you could
kindlymention now, for instance, what nine times ninepence are, or
howmany shillings in twenty guineas I shouldbe so much more at my ease
about your state of mind.
Without directly answering to this
appeal, she sat so still whenhe had very gently raised her, and the
hands that had not ceased toclasp his wrists were so much more steady
than they had been, that shecommunicated some reassurance to Mr. Jarvis
Lorry.
"That's right, that's right. Courage! Business! You have
businessbefore you; useful business. Miss Manette, your mother took
thiscourse with you. And when she died- I believe broken-hearted-
havingnever slackened her unavailing search for your father, she left
you,at two years old, to grow to be blooming, beautiful, and
happy,without the dark cloud upon you of living in uncertainty
whetheryour father soon wore his heart out in prison, or wasted there
throughmany lingering years."
As he said the words he looked
down, with an admiring pity, on theflowing golden hair; as if he
pictured to himself that it might havebeen already tinged with grey.
"You
know that your parents had no great possession, and that whatthey had
was secured to your mother and to you. There has been nonew discovery,
of money, or of any other property; but--"
He felt his wrist held
closer, and he stopped. The expression in theforehead, which had so
particularly attracted his notice, and whichwas now immovable, had
deepened into one of pain and horror.
"But he has been- been
found. He is alive. Greatly changed, it istoo probable; almost a wreck,
it is possible; though we will hopethe best. Still, alive. Your father
has been taken to the house ofan old servant in Paris, and we are going
there: I, to identify him ifI can: you, to restore him to life, love,
duty, rest, comfort."
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 ina dream,"I am going to see his Ghost! It will be his
Ghost- not him!"
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