to remember and understand of what you have so impressively

said; and at all events you may be sure that I shall bear witness to

your being thoroughly in earnest at this dreadful time. Now, pray

let us think! My esteemed Mr. Cruncher, let us think!”

Still, Madame Defarge, pursuing her way along the streets,

came nearer and nearer.

“If you were to go before,” said Miss Pross, “and stop the

vehicle and horses from coming here, and were to wait somewhere

for me; wouldn’t that be best?”

Mr. Cruncher thought it might be best.

“Where could you wait for me?” asked Miss Pross.

Mr. Cruncher was so bewildered that he could think of no

locality but Temple Bar. Alas Temple Bar was hundreds of miles

away, and Madame Defarge was drawing very near indeed.

“By the cathedral door,” said Miss Pross. “Would it be much

out of the way, to take me in near the great cathedral door

between the two towers?”

“No, miss,” answered Mr. Cruncher.

“Then, like the best of men,” said Miss Pross, “go to the

posting-house straight, and make that change.”

“I am doubtful,” said Mr. Cruncher, hesitating and shaking his

head, “about leaving of you, you see. We don’t know what may

happen.”

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“Heaven knows we don’t,” returned Miss Pross, “but have no

fear for me. Take me in at the cathedral, at three o’clock, or as

near it as you can, and I am sure it will be better than our going

from here. I feel certain of it. There! Bless you, Mr. Cruncher!

Thinknot of me, but of the lives that may depend on both of us!”

This exordium, and Miss Pross’s two hands in quite agonised

entreaty clasping his, decided Mr. Cruncher. With an encouraging

nod or two, he immediately went out to alter the arrangements,

and left her by herself to follow as she had proposed.

The having originated a precaution which was already in

course of execution, was a great relief to Miss Pross. The necessity

of composing her appearance so that it should attract no special

notice in the streets, was another relief. She looked at her watch,

and it was twenty minutes past two. She had no time to lose, but

must get ready at once.

Afraid, in her extreme perturbation, of the loneliness of the

deserted rooms, and of half-imagined faces peeping from behind

every open door in them, Miss Pross got a basin of cold water and

began laving her eyes, which were swollen and red. Haunted by

her feverish apprehensions, she could not bear to have her sight

obscured for a minute at a time by the dripping water, but

constantly paused and looked round to see that there was no one

watching her. In one of those pauses she recoiled and cried out,

for she saw a figure standing i n the room.

The basin fell to the ground broken, and the water flowed to the

feet of Madame Defarge. By strange stern ways, and through