“My opinion, miss,” returned Mr. Cruncher, “is as you’re right.

Likewise wot I’ll stand by you, right or wrong.”

“I am so distracted with fear and hope for our precious

creatures,” said Miss Pross, wildly crying, “that I am incapable of

forming any plan. Are you capable of forming any plan, my dear

good Mr. Cruncher?”

“Respectin’ a future spear o’ life, miss,” returned Mr. Cruncher,

“I hope so. Respectin’ any present use o’ this here blessed old

head o’ mine, I think not. Would you do me the favour, miss, to

take notice o’ two promises and wows wot it is my wishes fur to

record in this here crisis?”

“Oh, for gracious sake!” cried Miss Pross, still wildly crying,

“record them at once, and get them out of the way, like an

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

excellent man.”

“First,” said Mr. Cruncher, who was all in a tremble, and who

spoke with an ashy and solemn visage, “them poor things well out

o’ this, never no more will I do it, never no more!”

“I am quite sure, Mr. Cruncher,” returned Miss Pross, “that you

never will do it again, whatever it is, and I beg you not to think it

necessary to mention more particularly what it is.”

“No, miss,” returned Jerry, “it shall not be named to you.

Second: them poor things well out o’ this, and never no more will I

interfere with Mrs. Cruncher’s floppin’, never no more!”

“Whatever housekeeping arrangement that may be,” said Miss

Pross, striving to dry her eyes and compose herself, “I have no

doubt it is best that Mrs. Cruncher should have it entirely under

her own superintendence. O my poor darlings!”

“I go so far as to say, miss, moreover,” proceeded Mr. Cruncher,

with a most alarming tendency to hold forth as from a pulpit

“and let my words be took down and took to Mrs. Cruncher

through yourselfthat wot my opinions respectin’ floppin’ has

undergone a change, and that wot I only hope with all my heart as

Mrs. Cruncher may be a-floppin’ at the present time.”

“There, there, there! I hope she is, my dear man,” cried the

distracted Miss Pross, “and I hope she finds it answering her

expectations.”

“Forbid it,” proceeded Mr. Cruncher, with additional solemnity,

additional slowness, and additional tendency to hold forth and

hold out, “as anything wot I have ever said or done should be

wisited on my earnest wishes for them poor creeturs now! Forbid

it as we shouldn’t all flop (if it was anyways conwenient) to get ’em

out o’ this here dismal risk! Forbid it, miss! Wot I say, for-BID it!”

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

This was Mr. Cruncher’s conclusion after a protracted but vain

endeavour to find a better one.

And still Madame Defarge, pursuing her way along the streets,

came nearer and nearer.

“If we ever get back to our native land,” said Miss Pross, “you

may rely upon my telling Mrs. Cruncher as much as I may be able