To be confronted with such pity, and such earnest youth and

beauty, was far more trying to the accused than to be confronted

with all the crowd. Standing, as it were, apart with her on the edge

of his grave, not all the staring curiosity that looked on, could, for

the moment, nerve him to remain quite still. His hurried right

hand parcelled out the herbs before him into imaginary beds of

flowers in a garden; and his efforts to control and steady his

breathing shook the lips from which the colour rushed to his

heart. The buzz of the great flies was loud again.

“Miss Manette, have you seen the prisoner before?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where?”

“On board of the packet-ship just now referred to, sir, and on

the same occasion.”

“You are the young lady just now referred to?”

“O! most unhappily, I am!”

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The plaintive tone of her compassion merged into the less

musical voice of the Judge, as he said something fiercely: “Answer

the questions put to you, and make no remark upon them.”

“Miss Manette, had you any conversation with the prisoner on

that passage across the Channel?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Recall it.”

In the midst of a profound stillness, she faintly began: “When

the gentleman came on board”

“Do you mean the prisoner?” inquired the Judge, knitting his

brows.

“Yes, my