‘Upon my life；' said Carton； smiling； ‘I find that easier to comprehend in my own mind； than to convey to yours。 However； let me try。 You remember a certain famous occasion when I was more drunk thanthan usual？'
‘I remember a certain famous occasion when you forced me to confess that you had been drinking。'
‘I remember it too。 The curse of those occasions is heavy upon me； for I always remember them。 I hope it may be taken into account one day； when all days are at an end for me！ Don't be alarmed； I am not going to preach。'
‘I am not at all alarmed。 Earnestness in you is anything but alarming to me。'
‘Ah！' said Carton； with a careless wave of his hand； as if he waved that away。 ‘On the drunken occasion in question （one of a large number； as you know）； I was insufferable about liking you； and not liking you。 I wish you would forget it。'
‘I forgot it long ago。'
‘Fashion of speech again！ But； Mr。 Darnay； oblivion is not so easy to me； as you represent it to be to you。 I have by no means forgotten it； and a light answer does not help me to forget it。'
‘If it was a light answer；' returned Darnay； ‘I beg your forgiveness for it。 I had no other object than to turn a slight thing； which； to my surprise； seems to trouble you too much； aside。 I declare to you on the faith of a gentleman； that I have long dismissed it from my mind。 Good Heaven； what was there to dismiss！ Have I had nothing more important to remember； in the great service you rendered me that day？'
‘As to the great service；' said Carton； ‘I am bound to avow to you； when you speak of it in that way； that it was mere professional claptrap。 I don't know that I cared what became of you； when I rendered It。Mind！ I say when I rendered it； I am speaking of the past。'
‘You make light of the obligation；' returned Darnay； ‘but I will not quarrel with your light answer。'
‘Genuine truth； Mr。 Darnay； trust me！ I have gone aside from my purpose； I was speaking about our being friends。 Now； you know me； you know I am incapable of all the higher and better flights of men。 If you doubt it； ask Stryver； and he'll tell you so。'
‘I prefer to form my own opinion； without the aid of his。'
‘Well！ At any rate you know me as a dissolute dog who has never done any good； and never will。'
‘I don't know that you 〃never will。〃'
‘But I do； and you must take my word for it。 Well！ If you could endure to have such a worthless fellow； and a fellow of such indifferent reputation； coming and going at odd times； I should ask that I might be permitted to come and go as a privileged person here； that I might be regarded as an useless （and I would add； if it were not for the resemblance I detected between you and me）； an unornamental； piece of furniture； tolerated for its old service； and taken no notice of。 I doubt if I should abuse the permission。 It is a hundred to one if I should avail myself of it four times in a year。 It would satisfy me； I dare say； to know that I had it。'
‘Will you try？'
‘That is another way of saying that I am placed on the footing I have indicated。 I thank you； Darnay。 I may use that freedom with your name？'
‘I think so； Carton； by this time。'
They shook hands upon it； and Sydney turned away。 Within a minute afterwards； he was； to all outward appearance； as unsubstantial as ever。
When he has gone； and in the course of an evening passed with Miss Pross； the Doctor； and Mr。 Lorry； Charles Darnay made some mention of this conversation in general terms； and spoke of Sydney Carton as a problem of carelessness and recklessness。 He spoke of him； in short； not bitterly or meaning to bear hard upon him； but as anybody might who saw him as he showed himself。
He had no idea that this could dwell in the thoughts of his fair young wife； but； when he afterwards joined her in their own rooms； he found her waiting for him with the old pretty lifting of the forehead strongly marked。
‘We are thoughtful to…night！' said Darnay； drawing his arm about her。
‘Yes； dearest Charles；' with her hands on his breast； and the inquiring and attentive expression fixed upon him； ‘we are rather thoughtful to…night； for we have something on our mind to…night。'
‘What is it； my Lucie？'
‘Will you promise not to press one question on me； if I beg you not to ask it？'
〃Will I promise？ What will I not promise to my Love？'
What； indeed； with his hand putting aside the golden hair from the cheek； and his other hand against the heart that beat for him！
‘I think； Charles； poor Mr。 Carton deserves more consideration and respect than you expressed for him to…night。'
‘Indeed； my own？ Why so？'
‘That is what you are not to ask me？ But I thinkI knowhe does。'
‘If you know it； it is enough。 What would you have me do； my Life？'
‘I would ask you； dearest； to be very generous with him always； and very lenient on his faults when he is not by。 I would ask you to believe that he has a heart he very； very seldom reveals； and that there are deep wounds in it。 My dear； I have seen it bleeding。'
‘It is a painful reflection to me； said Charles Darnay； quite astounded； ‘that I should have done him any wrong。 I never thought this of him。'
‘My husband； it is so。 I fear he is not to be reclaimed； there is scarcely a hope that anything in his character or fortunes is reparable now。 But； I am sure that he is capable of good things； gentle things； even magnanimous things。'
She looked so beautiful in the purity of her faith in this lost man； that her husband could have looked at her as she was for hours。
‘And； O my dearest Love！' she urged； clinging nearer to him； laying her head upon his breast； and raising her eyes to his； ‘remember how strong we are in our happiness； and how weak he is in his misery！'
The supplication touched him home。 ‘I will always remember it； dear Heart！ I will remember it as long as I live。'
He bent over the golden head； and put the rosy lips to his； and folded her in his arms。 If one forlorn wanderer then pacing the dark streets； could have heard her innocent disclosure； and could have seen the drops of pity kissed away by her husband from the soft blue eyes so loving of that husband； he might have cried to the nightand the words would not have parted from his lips for the first time
‘God bless her for her sweet compassion！'
CHAPTER XXI
Echoing Footsteps
A WONDERFUL corner for echoes； it has been remarked； that corner where the Doctor lived。 Ever busily winding the golden thread which bound her husband； and her father； and herself； and her old directress and companion； in a life of quiet bliss； Lucie sat in the still house in the tranquilly resounding corner； listening to the echoing footsteps of years。
At first； there were times； though she was a perfectly happy young wife； when her work would slowly fall from her hands； and her eyes would be dimmed。 For； there was something coming in the echoes； something light； afar off； and scarcely audible yet； that stirred her heart too much。 Fluttering hopes and doubtshope； of a love as yet unknown to her： doubts； of her remaining upon earth； to enjoy that new delightdivided her breast。 Among the echoes then； there would arise the sound of footsteps at her own early grave； and thoughts of the husband who would be left so desolate； and who would mourn for her so much； swelled to her eyes； and broke like waves。
That time passed； and her little Lucie lay on her bosom。 Then； among the advancing echoes； there was the tread of her tiny feet and the sound of her prattling words。 Let greater echoes resound as they would； the young mother at the cradle side could always hear those coming。 They came； and the shady house was sunny with a child's laugh； and the Divine friend of children； to whom in her trouble she had confided hers； seemed to take her child in His arms； as He took the child of old； and made it a sacred joy to her。
Ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together； weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all their lives； and making it predominate nowhere； Lucie heard in the echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds。 Her husband's step was strong and prosperous among them； her father's firm and equal。 Lo； Miss Pross； in harness of string； awakening the echoes； as an unruly charger； whip…corrected； snorting and pawing the earth under the plane…tree in the garden！
Even when there were sounds of sorrow among the rest； they were not harsh nor cruel。 Even when golden hair； like her own； lay in a halo on a pillow round the worn face of a little boy； and he said； with a radiant smile； ‘Dear papa and mamma； I am very sorry to leave you both； and to leave my pretty sister； but I am called； and I must go！' those were not tears all of agony that wetted his young mother's cheek； as the spirit departed from her embrace that had been entrusted to it。 Suffer them and forbid them not。 They see my Father's face。 O Father； blessed words！
Thus； the rustling of an Angel's wings got blended with the other echoes； and they were not wholly of earth； but had in them that breath of Heaven。 Sighs of the winds that blew over a little garden…tomb were mingled with them also； and both were audible to Lucie； in a hushed murmurlike the breathing of a summer sea asleep upon a sandy shoreas the little Lucie； comically studious at the task of the morning； or dressing a doll at her mother's footstool； chattered in the tongues of the Two Cities that were blended in her life。
The echoes rarely answered to the actual tread of Sydney Carton。 Some half…dozen times a year； at most； he claimed his privilege of coming in uninvited； and would sit among them through the evening； as he had once done often。 He never came there heated with wine。 And one other thing regarding him was whispered in the echoes； which has been whispered by all true echoes for ages and ages。
No man ever really loved a woman； lost her； and knew her with a blameless though an unchanged mind； when she was a wife and a mother； but her children had a strange sympathy with himan instinctive delicacy of pity for him。 What fine hidden sensibilities are touched in such a case； no echoes tell； but it is so； and it was so here。 Carton was the first stranger to whom little Lucie held out her c