Print
Word
PDF
|
A Tale of Two Cities Book 2, Chapter 6
Mr. Lorry drops in for a visit with Dr. Manette and Lucie in the doctor's quaint lodgings on a quiet corner in Soho. He chats with Miss Pross, the red-haired woman who rushed to Lucie's aid in the hotel five years ago. Miss Pross tells him she constantly has to attend to the "hundreds" of visitors dropping by to ask about or visit with Lucie (she calls Lucie her "Ladybird"), which she claims only began to happen after Dr. Manette reentered her life. Dr. Manette and Lucie arrive, and they all sit down to dinner. After the meal, they retire to the back yard to sit under the plane tree, and Darnay and Carton drop by to visit. Mr. Lorry notes to himself with amusement that the "hundreds of people" Miss Pross promised were nowhere to be found. After a time, they return to the house, and rain begins to fall. They notice the sound of footsteps as people outside begin to rush toward shelter. The sounds spark a philosophical discussion. Lucie notes ominously:
"'I have sometimes sat alone here of an evening, listening, until I have made the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming by and by into our lives.'" Book 2, Chapter 6, pg. 99
Carton replies gruffly:
"'There is a great crowd coming one day into our lives, if that be so.'" Book 2, Chapter 6, pg. 99
They sit, listening to the rain and thunderstorm, and contemplate Lucie's thought. After a time, Mr. Lorry leaves, escorted by Jerry. He remarks to Jerry, "'What a night it has been! Almost a night, Jerry, to bring the dead out of their graves.'" Book 2, Chapter 6, pg. 100. Darnay wonders if such a night will ever occur again.
