out of Tellson’s. He was detained two hours. When he came back,

he ascended the old staircase alone, having asked no question of

the servant; going thus into the Doctor’s rooms, he was stopped by

a low sound of knocking. “Good God!” he said, with a start.

“What’s that?”

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

Miss Pross, with a terrified face, was at his ear. “O me, O me!

All is lost!” cried she, wringing her hands. “What is to be told to

Ladybird? He doesn’t know me, and is making shoes!”

Mr. Lorry said what he could to calm her, and went himself into

the Doctor’s room. The bench was turned towards the light, as it

had been when he had seen the shoemaker at his work before, and

his head was bent down, and he was very busy.

“Doctor Manette. My dear friend, Doctor Manette!”

The Doctor looked at him for a momenthalf inquiringly, half

as if he were angry at being spoken toand bent over his work

again.

He had laid aside his coat and waistcoat; his shirt was open at

the throat, as it used to be when he did that work; and even the old

haggard, faded surface of face had come back to him. He worked

hardimpatientlyas if in some sense of having been

interrupted.

Mr. Lorry glanced at the work in his hand, and observed that it

was a shoe of the old size and shape. He took up another that was

lying by him, and asked what it w