“I little thought,” said Miss Pross, “that I should ever want to

understand your nonsensical language; but I would give all I have,

except the clothes I wear, to know whether you suspect the truth,

or any part of it.”

Neither of them for a single moment released the other’s eyes.

Madame Defarge had not moved from the spot where she stood

when Miss Pross first became aware of her; but, she now advanced

one step.

“I am a Briton,” said Miss Pross. “I am desperate. I don’t care

an English Twopence for myself. I know that the longer I keep you

here, the greater hope there is for my Ladybird. I’ll not leave a

handful of that dark hair upon your head, if you lay a finger on

me!”

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Thus Miss Pross, with a shake of her head and a flash of her

eyes between every rapid sentence, and every rapid sentence a

whole breath. Thus Miss Pross, who had never struck a blow in

her life.

But, her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought

the irrepressible tears into her eyes. This was a courage that

Madame Defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for

weakness. “Ha, ha!” she laughed, “you poor wretch! What are you

worth! I address myself to that Doctor.” Then she raised her voice

and called out, “Citizen Doctor! Wife of Evremonde! Child of

Evremonde! Any person but this miserable fool, answer the

Citizeness Defarge?”

Perhaps the following silence, perhaps some latent disclosure

in the expression on Miss Pross’s face, perhaps a sudden

misgiving apart from either suggestion, whispered to Madame

Defarge that they were gone. Three of the doors she opened

swiftly, and looked in.

“Those rooms are all in disorder, there has been hurried

packing, there are odds and ends upon the ground. There is no

one in that room behind you! Let me look.”

“Never!” said Miss Pross, who understood the request as

perfectly as Madame Defarge understood the answer.

“If they are not in that room, they are gone, and can be pursued

and brought back,” said Madame Defarge to herself.

“As long as you don’t know whether they are in that room or

not, you are uncertain what to do,” said Miss Pross to herself; “and

you shall not know that, if I can prevent your knowing it; and

know that, or not know that, you shall not leave here while I can

hold you.”

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“I have been in the streets from the first, nothing has stopped

me, I will tear you to pieces, but I will have you from that door,”

said Madame Defarge.

“We are alone at the top of a high house in a solitary court-yard,

we are not likely to be heard, and I pray for bodily strength to

keep you here, while every minute you are here is worth a