hundred thousand guineas to my darling,” said Miss Pross.

Madame Defarge made at the door. Miss Pross, on the instinct

of the moment, seized her round the waist in both her arms, and

held her tight. It was in vain for Madame Defarge to struggle and

to strike; Miss Pross, with the vigorous tenacity of love, always so

much stronger than hate, clasped her tight, and even lifted her

from the floor in the struggle that they had. The two hands of

Madame Defarge buffeted and tore her face; but, Miss Pross, with

her head down, held her round the waist, and clung to her with

more than the hold of a drowning woman.

Soon, Madame Defarge’s hands ceased to strike, and felt at her

encircled waist. “It is under my arm,” said Miss Pross, in

smothered tones, “you shall not draw it. I am stronger than you, I

bless Heaven for it. I’ll hold you till one or other of us faints or

dies!”

Madame Defarge’s hands were at her bosom. Miss Pross looked

up, saw what it was, struck at it, struck out a flash and a crash, and

stood aloneblinded with smoke.

All this was in a second. As the smoke cleared. leaving an awful

stillness, it passed out on the air, like the soul of the furious

woman whose body lay lifeless on the ground. In the first fright

and horror of her situation, Miss Pross passed the body as far from

it as she could, and ran down the stai