up and throwing her arms passionately round him, in a burst of
grief. “Now that you have come, I think you will do something to
help mamma, something to save papa! O, look at her, dear Carton!
Can you, of all the people who love her, bear to see her so?”
He bent over the child, and laid her blooming cheek against his
face. He put her gently from him, and looked at her unconscious
mother.
“Before I go,” he said, and paused“I may kiss her?”
It was remembered afterwards that when he bent down and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
touched her face with his lips, he murmured some words. The
child, who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her
grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard
him say, “A life you love.”
When he had gone out into the next room, he turned suddenly
on Mr. Lorry and her father, who were following, and said to the
latter:
“You had great influence but yesterday, Doctor Manette; let it
at least be tried. These judges, and all the men in power are very
friendly to you, and very recognisant of your services; are they
not?”
“Nothing connected with Charles was concealed from me. I had
the strongest assurances that I should save him; and I did.” He
returned the answer in great trouble, and very slowly.
“Try them again. The hours between this and tomorrow
afternoon are few and short, but try.”
“I intend to try. I will not rest a moment.”
“That’s well. I have known such energy as yours do great things
before nowthough never,” he added. with a smile and a sigh
together, “such great things as this. But try! Of little worth as lif