l nightmare； they had helped the healer； and tended the wounded man with the gentlest solicitudehad made a litter for him and escorted him carefully from the spothad then caught up their weapons and plunged anew into a butchery so dreadful； that the Doctor had covered his eyes with his hands； and swooned away in the midst of it。
As Mr。 Lorry received these confidences； and as he watched the face of his friend now sixty…two years of age； a misgiving arose within him that such dread experiences would revise the old danger。 But； he had never seen his friend in hi； present aspect： he had never at all known him in his present character。 For the first time the Doctor felt； now； that his suffering was strength and power。 For the first time he left that in that sharp fire； lie had slowly forged the iron which could break the prison door of his daughter's husband； and deliver him。 ‘It all tended to a good end； my friend； it was not mere waste and ruin。 As my beloved child was helpful in restoring me to myself； I will be helpful now in restoring the dearest part of herself to her； by the aid of Heaven I will do it！' Thus； Doctor Manette。 And when Jarvis Lorry saw the kindled eyes； the resolute face； the calm strong look and bearing of the man whose life always seemed to him to have been stopped； like a clock； for so many years； and then set going again with an energy which had lain dormant during the cessation of its usefulness； he believed。
Greater things than the Doctor had at that time to contend with； would have yielded before his persevering purpose。 While he kept himself in his place； as a physician； whose business was with all degrees of mankind； bond and free； rich and poor； bad and good； he used his personal influence so wisely； that he was soon the inspecting physician of three prisons； and among them of La Force。 He could now assure Lucie that her husband was no longer confined alone； but was mixed with the general body of prisoners； he saw her husband weekly； and brought sweet messages to her； straight from his lips； sometimes her husband himself sent a letter to her （though never by the Doctor's hand）； but she was not permitted to write to him： for； among the many wild suspicions of plots in the prisons； the wildest of all pointed at emigrants who were known to have made friends or permanent connections abroad。
This new life of the Doctor's was an anxious life； no doubt； still； the sagacious Mr。 Lorry saw that there was a new sustaining pride in it。 Nothing unbecoming tinged the pride； it was a natural and worthy one； but he observed it as a curiosity。 The Doctor knew； that up to that time； his imprisonment had been associated in the minds of his daughter and his friend； with his personal affliction； deprivation； and weakness。 Now that this was changed； and he knew himself to be invested through that old trial with forces to which they both looked for Charles's ultimate safety and deliverance； he became so far exalted by the change； that he took the lead and direction； and required them as the weak； to trust to him as the strong。 The preceding relative positions of himself and Lucie were reversed； yet only as the liveliest gratitude and affection could reverse them； for he could have had no pride but in rendering some service to her who had rendered so much to him。 ‘All curious to see；' thought Mr。 Lorry； in his amiably shrewd way； ‘but all natural and right； so； take the lead； my dear friend； and keep it； it couldn't be in better hands。'
But； though the Doctor tried hard； and never ceased trying； to get Charles Darnay set at liberty； or at least to get him brought to trial； the public current of the time set too strong and fast for him。 The new era began； the king was tried； doomed； and beheaded； the Republic of Liberty； Equality； Fraternity； or Death； declared for victory or death against the world in arms； the black flag waved night and day from the great towers of Notre Dame； three hundred thousand men； summoned to rise against the tyrants of the earth； rose from all the varying soils of France； as if the dragon's teeth had been sown broadcast； and had yielded fruit equally on hill and plain； on rock； in gravel； and alluvial mud； under the bright sky of the South and under the clouds of the North； in fell and forest； in the vineyards and the olive…grounds and among the cropped grass and the stubble of the corn； along the fruitful banks of the broad rivers； and in the sand of the sea…shore。 What private solicitude could rear itself against the deluge of the Year One of Libertythe deluge rising from below； not falling from above； and with the windows of Heaven shut； not opened！
There was no pause； no pity； no peace； no interval of relenting rest； no measurement of time。 Though days and nights circled as regularly as when time was young； and the evening and morning were the first day； other count of time there was none。 Hold of it was lost in the raging fever of a nation； as it is in the fever of one patient。 Now； breaking the unnatural silence of a whole city； the executioner showed the people the head of the king…and now； it seemed almost in the same breath； the head of his fair wife which had had eight weary months of imprisoned widowhood and misery； to turn it grey。
And yet； observing the strange law of contradiction which obtains in all such cases； the time was long； while it flamed by so fast。 A revolutionary tribunal in the capital； and forty or fifty thousand revolutionary committees all over the land； a law of the Suspected； which struck away all security for liberty or life； and delivered over any good and innocent person to any bad and guilty one； prisons gorged with people who had committed no offence； and could obtain no hearing； these things became the established order and nature of appointed things； and seemed to be ancient usage before they were many weeks old。 Above all； one hideous figure grew as familiar as if it had been before the general gaze horn the foundations of the worldthe figure of the sharp female called La Guillotine。
It was the popular theme for jests； it was the best cure for headache； it infallibly prevented the hair from turning grey； it imparted a peculiar delicacy to the complexion； it was the National Razor which shaved close： who kissed La Guillotine； looked through the little window and sneezed into the sack。 It was the sign of the regeneration of the human race。 It superseded the Gross。 Models of it were worn on breasts from which the Gross was discarded； and it was bowed down to and believed in where the Gross was denied。
It sheared off heads so many； that it； and the ground it most polluted； were a rotten red。 It was taken to pieces； like a toy…puzzle for a young Devil； and was put together again when the occasion wanted it。 It hushed the eloquent； struck down the powerful； abolished the beautiful and good。 Twenty…two friends of high public mark； twenty…one living and one dead； it had lopped the heads off； in one morning； in as many minutes。 The name of the strong man of Old Scripture had descended to the chief functionary who worked it； but； so armed； he was stronger than his namesake； and blinder； and tore away the gates of God's own Temple every day。
Among these terrors； and the brood belonging to them； the Doctor walked with a steady head： confident in his power； cautiously persistent in his end； never doubting that he would save Lucie's husband at last。 Yet the current of the time swept by； so strong and deep； and carried the time away so fiercely； that Charles had lain in prison one year and three months when the Doctor was thus steady and confident。 So much more wicked and distracted had the Revolution grown in that December month； that the rivers of the South were encumbered with the bodies of the violently drowned by night； and prisoners were shot in lines and squares under the southern wintry sun。 Still； the Doctor walked among the terrors with a steady head。 No man better known than he； in Paris at that day； no man in a stranger situation。 Silent； humane； indispensable in hospital and prison； using his art equally among assassins and victims； he was a man apart。 In the exercise of his skill； the appearance and the story of the Bastille Captive removed him from all other men。 He was not suspected or brought in question； any more than if he had indeed been recalled to life some eighteen years before； or were a Spirit moving among mortals。
CHAPTER V
The Wood…sawyer
ONE a year and three months。 During all that time Lucie was never sure； from hour to hour； but that the Guillotine would strike off her husband's head next day。 Every day； through the stony streets； the tumbrils now jolted heavily； filled with Condemned。 Lovely girls； bright women； brown…haired； black…haired； and grey； youths； stalwart men and old； gentle born and peasant born； all red wine for La Guillotine； all daily brought into light from the dark cellars of the loathsome prisons； and carried to her through the street to slake her devouring thirst。 Liberty； equality； fraternity； or death；the last； much the easiest to bestow； O Guillotine！
If the suddenness of her calamity； and the whirling wheels of the time； had stunned the Doctor's daughter into awaiting the result in idle despair； it would but have been with her as it was with many。 But； from the hour when she had taken the white head to her fresh young bosom in the garret of she had been true to her duties。 She was truest to them in the season of trial； as all the quietly loyal and good will always be。
As soon as they were established in their new residence； and her father had entered on the routine of his avocations； she arranged the little household as exactly as if her husband had been there。 Everything had its appointed place and its appointed time。 Little Lucie she taught； as regularly； as if they had all been united in their English home。 The slight devices with which she cheated herself into the show of a belief that they would soon be reunited…the little preparations for his speedy return； the setting aside of his chair and his booksthese； and the solemn prayer at night for one dear prisoner especially； among the many unhappy souls in prison and the shadow of deathwere almost the only outspoken reliefs of her heavy mind。