Two Cities

Chapter 33
The sun was setting in all its splendor on that quiet street corner in Soho.It was a memorable evening, the doctor and his daughter were sitting together under the plane tree.The moonlight also shines on the great city of London with unique tenderness.She saw them sitting under the tree, the moonlight shining on their faces through the leaves.

Lucy is getting married tomorrow.She chose to be with her father on the last night before marriage.The two sat together under the plane tree.

"Are you happy, dear papa?" "I am, boy."

The two sat there for a long time without speaking much.When the sky was bright enough to work and study, she did not do female red needlework as usual, nor did she read to her father—she sat next to him under the tree many times, did needlework, and read to him , this time is different, she has no reason to do that.

"I'm happy tonight, Papa. I've been given love: love between me and Charles. I'm very happy. But if I can't be with you for the rest of my life, or my marriage arrangements To separate me from you, even if only a few streets away, I wouldn't be as happy as I told you just now. I'd blame myself. Even if it's like this—"

Even now, she couldn't help but cry.In the desolate moonlight she put her arms around Papa's neck and leaned her face against his chest.In the moonlight—the moonlight is always deserted, just like the sun itself, which is called human life—is as lonely as the light of life comes and goes.

"My dearest! This is the last time. Can you tell me if you really don't think my new affections and duties will affect our relationship? I'm pretty sure of that, but do you understand?" ? Are you sure yourself?"

Her father replied with uncharacteristic optimism and firmness, "I'm sure, my dear! And," he kissed her tenderly, "looking at your marriage now, Lucy, I'm sure I'll be better off than I was never. Better - yes, much better than before."

"I wish I could be as good as that, Daddy—" "Trust me, darling! It will. It's only natural when you think about it, darling. You're young, and you're only thinking of me, and you don't Understand what I worry about for you, I am afraid that you will wait until you are old—"

She stopped him, but he took her hand and said, "I'm old, boy, you shouldn't waste your youth on me. You don't fully understand that you only think of me and not of yourself." My heart. Think to yourself, if you can't be completely happy, how can I be completely happy?"

"If Charles and I hadn't met, Dad, I would be just as happy with you."

He smiled, because she had unconsciously revealed that she would not be happy without him.He said:
"Son, you've met Charles. If it wasn't Charles, there would have been someone else, or if there wasn't someone else, then that would be my problem, and it would be the terrible fate of my life that would be thrown upon you." .”

It was the first time she had heard him speak of his day of suffering, aside from that trial.This made her feel very deep, and it was unforgettable. "You see," said Bovey's doctor, pointing to the moon, "I look at the moon through the prison window, and its light makes me embarrassed at that time, always reminding me that it shines on all that I have lost at the same time. Even tortured I banged my head against the prison wall. I once looked at the moon in a trance and could think of nothing but the number of horizontal and vertical lines I could draw on it when it was full," He looked deeply at the moon and continued, "You can draw twenty lines horizontally and vertically. As I remember, it is difficult to draw No. 20 lines."

Listening to his words, she was brought back to the time he described by a strange stimulation.As his narrative progressed, so did her irritation, but the manner in which he did so did not frighten her.He just seemed to be comparing his joy and happiness today with his past pain.

"I have looked at the moon countless times and imagined the unborn child they snatched from me: Could he live? His mother was terrified, was he born alive, or died? He was a man who could avenge his father Is it possible that the boy never knew what happened to his father? Maybe he even thought his father disappeared of his own accord? Yes Could it be a girl? Will she ever grow up?"

She walked up to him and kissed his face and hands. "I often think that my daughter might not remember me at all - or even know that I exist. I keep imagining her at that time every year. I have imagined her being with someone who doesn't know me at all. I have been completely forgotten by the living. My place in the hearts of the next generation is a void."

"Father! You have imagined so much about a daughter who has not yet been born. I am really touched from the bottom of my heart, as if I am the child you imagined!"

"You, Lucy? It was you who comforted me and brought me back to health to remember these things, on this last night, between you and me and the moon--what did I just say?"

"You say your daughter forgets you and doesn't care about you." "True! But on other moonlit nights, when sorrow and silence move me in other ways—in a sort of When I was agitated by the sense of melancholy peace that every emotion based on grief is capable of producing, I had imagined that she had entered my cell and had come to me, And led me out of the castle and towards freedom. I often found her shadow in the dim moonlight, just like I see you now. But I never hugged her. She seemed to be standing on a fence with iron bars Between the window and the door. But that's not the kid I'm talking about, you understand?"

"It doesn't look right. It's just an illusion of it, isn't it?"

"It's not like that. It's something different. I'm agitated and dizzy, and she's in front of me, but never moves. The phantom I'm chasing in the back of my mind is another, more real child. All I know is that she looks like her mother, and there are other people who look like her—like you—but you're not like her. Do you know what I mean, Lucy? Doesn't seem like much? Understand this It’s a difference that you have to go through a lot to feel, you have to be alone in a prison to feel it.”

He looked peaceful as he reminisced about the past, but Lucy seemed to feel a chill in her blood.

"When I was in a calmer mood, I often watched her walking towards me in the moonlight, taking me out, and telling me that her family after marriage was full of memories of me, and the memories were full of love. Her house hung There is my portrait, and she prays for me in her heart. Her life is full of vitality, she often helps others, but she has my unfortunate history everywhere."

"I am that child, Dad. Although I am not as good as her, I love you no less than she loves you."

"She let me see her children," said Povey's doctor. "The children had heard of me and had been taught to sympathize with me. They passed the state prison far away from the tall, gloomy walls, only looking up at the Its bars, and the voice was lowered. But she couldn't help me. I imagined she sent me back after showing me all. But the pain was relieved by tears, and I fell to my knees Come down and pray for her."

"I wish I was that boy, papa. Ah, my dear, dear, will you wish me the same warm blessing tomorrow?"

"Lucy, the reason why I recall all the troubles of the past is that it is necessary for me to say to you tonight the love I have never expressed before, and to thank God for the great happiness that has been given to me. Even when my thoughts are dancing When I was with you, I never imagined the happiness and the beauty of the future when I am with you now."

He embraced her, solemnly praised her in the presence of God, and sincerely thanked God for giving her to him.After a long time, the two entered the house.

Only Mr. Lorry was invited, not even a maid of honor, except the tall, lanky Miss Pross.After they got married, they still lived in the original residence, but they expanded their housing and even rented the upstairs house together. They didn't plan to add anything else—the legend of the former residents of the upstairs house is very mysterious.

Dr. Manette was very happy at the simple supper.There were only three of them, and the third was Miss Pross.The doctor was sorry that Charles was not there, and he did not appreciate the little ploy of refusing to invite Charles under the pretext of love.He made a heartfelt toast to Charles.

The three of them stayed like this until they said good night to Lucy before breaking up.But at three o'clock in the morning when the surroundings were quiet, Lucy went downstairs again and sneaked into her father's bedroom: she still had some worry that she didn't understand.

However, everything is still the same, very calm.Father fell asleep, his gray hair and the pillowcase against each other, like a picture.Those hands rested peacefully on the quilt.She put the obstructive candle in her hand in a far dark place, walked gently to his bed, kissed his lips, then squatted down and looked at him.

The bitter tears of prison life soaked his beautiful face, but he covered up the tears with a strong and brave determination, even after falling asleep, he did not shed them at all.Of all the faces that fought against the imaginary enemy that night in sleep, there is perhaps no more surprising face than his: it was so calm, so determined, and yet alert.

She timidly put her hand on his warm chest, and made a prayer: she would be faithful to him forever, because that came from her love for him, and it was also the reward he deserved for his bitterness.Then she withdrew her hand, kissed him on the lips again, and left.The next day, at dawn, Tong Ye's shadow swayed back and forth on his face, as soft as her gentle lips when she prayed for him.

(End of this chapter)