“I little thought,” said Miss Pross, “that I should ever want to
understand your nonsensical language; but I would give all I have,
except the clothes I wear, to know whether you suspect the truth,
or any part of it.”
Neither of them for a single moment released the other’s eyes.
Madame Defarge had not moved from the spot where she stood
when Miss Pross first became aware of her; but, she now advanced
one step.
“I am a Briton,” said Miss Pross. “I am desperate. I don’t care
an English Twopence for myself. I know that the longer I keep you
here, the greater hope there is for my Ladybird. I’ll not leave a
handful of that dark hair upon your head, if you lay a finger on
me!”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Thus Miss Pross, with a shake of her head and a flash of her
eyes between every rapid sentence, and every rapid sentence a
whole breath. Thus Miss Pross, who had never struck a blow in
her life.
But, her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought
the irrepressible tears into her eyes. This was a courage that
Madame Defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for
weakness. “Ha, ha!” she laughed, “you poor wretch! What are you
worth! I address myself to that Doctor.” Then she raised her voice
and called out, “Citizen Doctor! Wife of Evremonde! Child of
Evremonde! Any person but this miserable fool