Pagina 403 de 896

Therefore, when Sunday came, the mender of roads was not

enchanted (though he said he was) to find that madame was to

accompany monsieur and himself to Versailles. It was additionally

disconcerting to have madame knitting all the way there, in a

public conveyance; it was additionally disconcerting yet, to have

madame in the crowd in the afternoon, still with her knitting in

her hands as the crowd waited to see the carriage of the King and

Queen.

"You work hard, madame," said a man near her.

"Yes," answered Madame Defarge; "I have a good deal to do."

"What do you make, madame?"

"Many things."

"For instance--"

"For instance," returned Madame Defarge, composedly, "shrouds."