“It does not take a long time,” said madame. “for an earthquake

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

to swallow a town. Eh well! Tell me how long it takes to prepare

the earthquake?”

“A long time, I suppose,” said Defarge.

“But when it is ready, it takes place, and grinds to pieces

everything before it. In the meantime, it is always preparing,

though it is not seen or heard. That is your consolation. Keep it.”

She tied a knot with flashing eyes, as if it throttled a foe.

“I tell thee,” said madame, extending her right hand, for

emphasis, “that although it is a long time on the road, it is on the

road and coming. I tell thee it never retreats, and never stops. I tell

thee it is always advancing. Look around and consider the lives of

all the world that we know, consider the rage and discontent to

which the Jacquerie addresses itself with more and more of

certainty every hour. Can such things last? Bah! I mock you.”

“My brave wife,” returned Defarge, standing before her with

his head a little bent, and his hands clasped at his back, like a

docile and attentive pupil before his catechist, “I do not question

all this. But it has lasted a long time, and it is possibleyou know

well, my wife, it is possiblethat it may not come, during our

lives.”

“Eh well! How then?” demanded madame, tying another knot,

as if there were anot