ARESTTake courage. I am well, and your father has

influence around me. You cannot answer this. Kiss our child for

me.

That was all the writing. It was so much, however, to her who

received it, that she turned from Defarge to his wife, and kissed

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

one of the hands that knitted. It was a passionate, loving, thankful,

womanly action, but the hand made no responsedropped cold

and heavy, and took to its knitting again.

There was something in its touch that gave Lucie a check. She

stopped in the act of putting the note in her bosom, and, with her

hands yet at her neck, looked terrified at Madame Defarge.

Madame Defarge met the lifted eyebrows and forehead with a

cold, impassive stare.

“My dear,” said Mr. Lorry, striking in to explain; “there are

frequent risings in the streets; and, although it is not likely they

will ever trouble you, Madame Defarge wishes to see those whom

she has the power to protect at such times, to the end that she may

know themthat she may identify them. I believe,” said Mr.

Lorry, rather halting in his reassuring words, as the stony manner

of all the three impressed itself upon him more and more, “I state

the case, Citizen Defarge?”

Defarge looked gloomily at his wife, and gave no other answer

than a gruff sound of acquiescence.