Страница 344 из 896

"If it had been possible, Miss Manette, that you could have

returned the love of the man you see before yourself--flung away,

wasted, drunken, poor creature of misuse as you know him to

be--he would have been conscious this day and hour, in spite of

his happiness, that he would bring you to misery, bring you to

sorrow and repentance, blight you, disgrace you, pull you down

with him. I know very well that you can have no tenderness for

me; I ask for none; I am even thankful that it cannot be."

"Without it, can I not save you, Mr. Carton? Can I not recall

you--forgive me again!--to a better course? Can I in no way repay

your confidence? I know this is a confidence," she modestly said,

after a little hesitation, and in earnest tears, "I know you

would say this to no one else. Can I turn it to no good account

for yourself, Mr. Carton?"

He shook his head.