visible in it, made it the uglier, showing how warped and
perverted all things good by nature were become. The maidenly
bosom bared to this, the pretty almost-child’s head thus distracted,
the delicate foot mincing in this slough of blood and dirt, were
types of the disjointed time.
This was the Carmagnole. As it passed, leaving Lucie
frightened and bewildered in the doorway of the wood-sawyer’s
house, the feathery snow fell as quietly and lay as white and soft,
as if it had never been.
“O my father!” for he stood before her when he lifted up the
eyes she had momentarily darkened with her hand; “such a cruel,
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bad sight.”
“I know, my dear, I know. I have seen it many times. Don’t be
frightened. Not one of them would harm you.”
“I am not frightened for myself, my father. But when I think of
my husband, and the mercies of these people” “We will set him
above their mercies very soon. I left him climbing to the window,
and I came to tell you. There is no one here to see you. You may
kiss your hand towards the highest shelving roof.”
“I do so, father, and I send him my Soul with it!”
“You cannot see him, my poor dear?”
“No, father,” said Lucie, yearning and weeping as she kissed
her hand, “no.”
A footstep in the snow. Madame Defarge. “I salute you,
citizeness,” from the Doctor. “I salute you, citizen.” This in
passing. Nothing more. Madame Defarge gone, like a shadow over
the white road.
“Give me your arm, my love. Pass from here with an air of
cheerfulness and courage, for his sake. That was well done”; they
had left the spot; “it shall not be in vain. Charles is summoned for
tomorrow.”
“For tomorrow!”
“There is no time to lose. I am well prepared, but there are
precautions to be taken, that could not be taken until he was
actually summoned before the Tribunal. He has not received the
notice yet, but I know that he will presently be summoned for
tomorrow, and removed to the Conciergerie; I have timely
information. You are not afraid?”
She could scarcely answer, “I trust in you.”
“Do so implicitly. Your suspense is nearly ended, my darling; he
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shall be restored to you within a few hours; I have encompassed
him with every protection. I must see Lorry.”
He stopped. There was a heavy lumbering of wheels within
hearing. They both knew too well what it meant. One. Two. Three.
Three tumbrils faring away with their dread loads over the
hushing snow.
“I must see Lorry,” the Doctor repeated, turning her another
way.