Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

Chapter XXIII

ONE NIGHT

N

ever did the sun go down with a brighter glory on the

quiet corner in Soho, than one memorable evening when

the Doctor and his daughter sat under the plane-tree

together. Never did the moon rise with a milder radiance over

great London, than on that night when it found them still seated

under the tree, and shone upon their faces through its leaves.

Lucie was to be married tomorrow. She had reserved this last

evening for her father, and they sat alone under the plane-tree.

“You are happy, my dear father?”

“Quite, my child.”

They had said little, though they had been there a long time.

When it was yet light enough to work and read, she had neither

engaged herself in her usual work, nor had she read to him. She

had employed herself in both ways, at his side under the tree,

many and many a time; but, this time was not quite like any other,

and nothing could make it so.

“And I am very happy tonight, dear father. I am deeply happy

in the love that Heaven has so blessedmy love for Charles, and

Charles’s love for me. But, if my life were not to be still

consecrated to you, or if my marriage were so arranged as that it

would part us, even by the length of a few of these streets, I should

be more unhappy and self-reproachful now than I can tell you.