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No, don’t kneel! In Heaven’s name why should you kneel to me!”

“For the truth. O dear, good, compassionate sir, for the truth!”

“Aa matter of business. You confuse me, and how can I

transact business if I am confused? Let us be clear-headed. If you

could kindly mention now, for instance, what nine times

ninepence are, or how many shillings in twenty guineas, it would

be so encouraging. I should be so much more at my ease about

your state of mind.”

Without directly answering to this appeal, she sat so still when

he had very gently raised her, and the hands that had not ceased

to clasp his wrists were so much more steady than they had been,

that she communicated some reassurance to Mr. Jarvis Lorry.

“That’s right, that’s right. Courage! Business! You have

business before you; useful business. Miss Manette, your mother

took this course with you. And when she diedI believe broken-

heartedhaving never 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 whether your father soon wore his heart out in prison,

or wasted there through many lingering years.”

As he said the words he looked down, with an admiring pity, on

the flowing golden hair; as if he pictured to himself that it might

have