Page 16 - A Tale of Two Cities

Chapter 2
A Tale of Two Cities
‘Mr Lorry,’ said Lucie, looking up at him. ‘Can everything be
arranged so that we can leave Paris and take my father to England at
once?’
‘But is he well enough for the journey?’ asked Mr Lorry.
‘I think it is better for him to make the journey than to remain in
this city which has been so cruel to him,’ Lucie replied.
‘It is true,’ said Defarge. ‘And for many reasons, Doctor Manette
is best out of France.’

Mr Lorry hesitated for a moment, worried about leaving the
young lady with a man who had so clearly lost his mind. But she
sensed his thoughts at once.

‘Please leave us here together,’ Lucie said quietly. ‘You see how
calm he has become – you cannot be afraid to leave him with me
now.’

For the next hour or two, Mr Lorry and Defarge made the
necessary arrangements for the journey back to England, while
Doctor Manette slept, with his daughter by his side. When
everything was ready, Mr Lorry and Defarge woke the poor old
doctor and led him down the stairs and outside, where a coach was
waiting.
However, as the doctor sat down inside the coach, he suddenly
cried out, ‘My tools! The shoes! The lady’s shoes – I must fi nish them
today!’ Madame Defarge had been standing knitting by the door of
the shop, and she called out to Defarge that she would get them. She
went upstairs and returned, bringing the shoes. She handed them in
through the door of the coach, and stood knitting again as the coach
drove away.

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