a tale of two cities(双城记)-第80部分

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　than　usual；　to…day。'　
　‘I　willingly　obey　the　orders　of　my　Chief'　said　The　Vengeance　with　alacrity；　and　kissing　her　cheek。　‘You　will　not　be　late？'　
‘I　shall　be　there　before　the　commencement。'　
　‘And　before　the　tumbrils　arrive。　Be　sure　you　are　there；　my　soul；'　said　The　Vengeance；　calling　after　her；　for　she　had　already　turned　into　the　street；　‘before　the　tumbrils　arrive！'　
　Madame　Defarge　slightly　waved　her　hand；　to　imply　that　she　heard；　and　might　be　relied　upon　to　arrive　in　good　time；　and　so　went　through　tile　mud；　and　round　the　corner　of　the　prison　wall。　The　Vengeance　and　the　Juryman；　looking　alter　her　as　she　walked　away；　were　highly　appreciative　of　her　fine　figure；　and　her　superb　moral　endowments。　
　There　were　many　women　at　that　time；　upon　whom　the　time　laid　a　dreadfully　disfiguring　hand；　but；　there　was　not　one　among　them　more　to　be　dreaded　than　this　ruthless　woman；　now　taking　her　way　along　the　streets。　Of　a　strong　and　fearless　character；　of　shrewd　sense　and　readiness；　of　great　determination；　of　that　kind　of　beauty　which　not　only　seems　to　impart　to　its　possessor　firmness　and　animosity；　but　to　strike　into　others　an　instinctive　recognition　of　those　qualities；　the　troubled　time　would　have　heaved　her　up；　under　any　circumstances。　But；　imbued　from　her　childhood　with　a　brooding　sense　of；　wrong；　and　an　inveterate　hatred　of　a　class；　opportunity　had　developed　her　into　a　tigress。　She　was　absolutely　without　pity。　If　she　had　ever　had　the　virtue　in　her；　it　had　quite　gone　out　of　her。　
　It　was　nothing　to　her；　that　an　innocent　man　was　to　die　for　the　sins　of　his　forefathers；　she　saw；　not　him；　but　them。　It　was　nothing　to　her；　that　his　wife　was　to　be　made　a　widow　and　his　daughter　an　orphan；　that　was　insufficient　punishment；　because　they　were　her　natural　enemies　and　her　prey；　and　as　such　had　no　right　to　live。　To　appeal　to　her；　was　made　hopeless　by　her　having　no　sense　of　pity；　even　for　herself。　If　she　had　been　laid　low　in　the　streets；　in　any　of　the　many　encounters　in　which　she　had　been　engaged；　she　would　not　have　pitied　herself；　nor；　if　she　had　been　ordered　to　the　axe　to…morrow；　would　she　have　gone　to　it　with　any　softer　feeling　than　a　fierce　desire　to　change　places　with　the　man　who　sent　her　there。　
　Such　a　heart　Madame　Defarge　carried　under　her　rough　robe。　Carelessly　worn；　it　was　a　becoming　robe　enough；　in　a　certain　weird　way；　and　her　dark　hair　looked　rich　under　her　coarse　red　cap。　Lying　hidden　in　her　bosom；　was　a　loaded　pistol。　Lying　hidden　at　her　waist；　was　a　sharpened　dagger。　Thus　accoutred；　and　walking　with　the　confident　tread　of　such　a　character；　and　with　the　supple　freedom　of　a　woman　who　had　habitually　walked　in　her　girlhood；　bare…foot　and　bare…legged；　on　the　brown　sea…sand；　Madame　Defarge　took　her　way　along　the　streets。　
　Now；　when　the　journey　of　the　travelling　coach；　at　that　very　moment　waiting　for　the　completion　of　its　load；　had　been　planned　out　last　night；　the　difficulty　of　taking　Miss　Pross　in　it　had　much　engaged　Mr。　Lorry's　attention。　It　was　not　merely　desirable　to　avoid　overloading　the　coach；　but　it　was　of　the　highest　importance　that　the　time　occupied　in　examining　it　and　its　passengers；　should　be　reduced　to　the　utmost；　since　their　escape　might　depend　on　the　saving　of　only　a　few　seconds　here　and　there。　Finally；　he　had　proposed；　after　anxious　consideration；　that　Miss　Pross　and　Jerry；　who　were　at　liberty　to　leave　the　city；　should　leave　it　at　three　o'clock　in　the　lightest…wheeled　conveyance　known　to　that　period。　Unencumbered　with　luggage；　they　would　soon　overtake　the　coach；　and；　passing　it　and　preceding　it　on　the　road；　would　order　its　horses　in　advance；　and　greatly　facilitate　its　progress　during　the　precious　hours　of　the　night；　when　delay　was　the　most　to　be　dreaded。　
　Seeing　in　this　arrangement　the　hope　of　rendering　real　service　in　that　pressing　emergency；　Miss　Pross　hailed　it　with　joy。　She　and　Jerry　had　beheld　the　coach　start；　had　known　who　it　was　that　Solomon　brought；　had　passed　some　ten　minutes　in　tortures　of　suspense；　and　were　now　concluding　their　arrangements　to　follow　the　coach；　even　as　Madame　Defarge；　taking　her　way　through　the　streets；　now　drew　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　else…deserted　lodging　in　which　they　held　their　consultation。　
　‘Now　what　do　you　think；　Mr。　Cruncher；'　said　Miss　Pross；　whose　agitation　was　so　great　that　she　could　hardly　speak；　or　stand；　or　move；　or　live：　‘what　do　you　think　of　our　not　starting　from　this　court…yard？　Another　carriage　having　already　gone　from　here　to…day；　it　might　awaken　suspicion。　
　‘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　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　flopping；　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；　morehover；'　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'　flopping　has　undergone　a　change；　and　that　wot　I　only　hope　with　all　my　heart　as　Mrs。　Cruncher　may　be　a　flopping　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；　forBID　it！'　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　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。'　
　‘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