Pagina 530 de 896

Scanty and insufficient suppers those, and innocent of meat, as

of most other sauce to wretched bread. Yet, human fellowship

infused some nourishment into the flinty viands, and struck some

sparks of cheerfulness out of them. Fathers and mothers who had

had their full share in the worst of the day, played gently with

their meagre children; and lovers, with such a world around them

and before them, loved and hoped.

It was almost morning, when Defarge's wine-shop parted with its

last knot of customers, and Monsieur Defarge said to madame his

wife, in husky tones, while fastening the door:

"At last it is come, my dear!"

"Eh well!" returned madame. "Almost."