Two Cities

Chapter 36 A Request

Sidney Carlton was the first to congratulate the newlyweds on their return home.He showed up within hours of their arrival.There had been no improvement in his habits, appearance, or manner, but he had acquired an air of crude devotion which was new to Charles Darnay.

He seized the opportunity to pull Darney into a corner of the window, and said a few very personal words to him.

"Mr. Darnay," said Carton, "I hope we can be friends."

"Aren't we already friends?" "As a polite way of saying it, it's fine, but I don't mean a polite way of saying it. That is to say, we don't have to be friends in that sense. "

Charles Darnay, as a matter of course, wanted to ask him what that meant--quite cheerfully and kindly.

"I swear on my life," said Carlton, smiling, "that's a meaning you can't express. But I'm willing to try. Do you remember the time I lost my temper once?"

"I remember one time you made me admit that you were drunk." "I remember too. I was sober and regretful. I hope one day - at the end of my life - I can make a confession Take it easy, I'm not going to preach."

"I'm not nervous at all. I've never been nervous about your candor."

"Ah!" Carlton waved his hand casually, as if to drive away the tension. "During that drunken time I was talking about, that time (you know that was one of my many times) I was pretty bad at liking or disliking you. I hope you don't remember that. "

"I've forgotten all about it a long time ago." "You're being polite again! Mr. Darnay, it is very difficult for me to forget all about it. It's not as difficult as you said. Easy. I haven't forgotten, and simple answers don't help me forget."

"If my answer was too light," replied Darnay, "I beg your pardon. I have no choice but to forget a thing as small as a sesame seed, but you are so sorry for it, which is beyond my expectation. I honor you with integrity." I assure you with the conviction of a human being, I have indeed forgotten all about it. Such a thing is not worth worrying about! You helped me so much that day, and that is the last thing I can forget ?”

"As for the great favor," said Carton, "since you speak of it with such seriousness, I must swear to you that it was only a means to sensationalize. As to how it would help you, I was Didn't think about it. Pay attention! I'm talking about then, that is, in the past."

"You are belittling your kindness to me," replied Darnay, "but I do not want to argue with you about such belittlings."

"Absolute truth, Mr. Darnay, believe me! I am far from the subject of the day. I was talking about our friendship. You know what I am. You know I am not a ostentatious type." People. If you don't believe me, ask Stryver, and he'll tell you."

"I'd like to believe my own eyes." "Well! All in all, you know I'm a loose man, and I've never done anything good, and never will." "I never knew your 'never Will'." "But I know myself, and you've got to trust me. Come on! If you can put up with such a worthless, notorious person visiting once in a while, I'd like you to let me come now and then." Walking around. I wish to be treated as a worn-out (if I hadn't noticed our resemblance, I'd add a word: unglamorous to a hall) piece of furniture, tolerable because of years of use, but I'm not taken seriously. I'm afraid I might break your promise. I'm afraid I might use this privilege four times in a year (that's less than a [-] percent chance I reckon). But I dare say , as long as you promise me, I will be satisfied."

"Will you come?" "Your statement clearly grants the status I demand. Thank you, Darnay. Can I now enjoy this freedom in your name?" "I agree now, Karl Don." They shook hands, and Sidney turned away.In less than a minute, his expression returned to the same indifference as before.Not long after his departure, Charles Darnay passed the evening with Miss Rose, the doctor, and Mr. Lorry.He mentioned the conversation very little during this time, and took Sidney Carton's question as a muddled and reckless one, but on the whole his words were not harsh to him, nor were they serious. There is no taste of accusation, and he is no different from ordinary people in his current appearance.

He never expected that these words would arouse some opinions in his young and beautiful wife.When he saw her later in the inner room, he found her pretty face but frowning, looking at him with her beautiful eyes.

"Why are you on your mind tonight!" Darnay put his arms around her. "Yes, dearest Charles," she put her hand on his chest, and gazed at him earnestly, questioningly, "I have something on my mind to-night, and it weighs on me."

"Why, my Lucy?" "If I beg you not to ask, will you promise not to press me to answer?"

"I can promise, what else can I not promise to my heart?" Yes, what else can I not promise her?He brushed her blonde hair away from her face with one hand, and with the other he held the heart that beat for him. "I think poor Mr. Carlton deserves more attention and respect. He's better than what you're talking about tonight." "Really, my darling, why do you think that?" "You can't Asked me. But I feel—I know—that he must.” “If you know, that's enough. What do you want me to do, my life?”

"I want to beg you, my dearest, to be always generous and generous to him, and to be very tolerant of his faults even in his absence. I want you to believe that he has a heart which he rarely reveals to outsiders. and a deep wound in his heart. I have seen his heart bleed, my dear."

"You're reprimanding me, aren't you?" said Charles Darnay, in great astonishment, "that I've wronged him. It never occurred to me that he would have such a side." "My husband, he is so Yes. I’m worried that he can’t be changed anymore. It’s impossible to change his character or destiny. But I believe he can do good things, noble things, or extraordinary things.”

Her pure faith in this lost man made her so beautiful that her husband could keep looking at her for hours. "At the same time, oh my dearest," she exhorted, hugging him deeply, laying her head on his chest, and raising her eyes to meet his, "remember that our happiness makes us happy, and his His pain made him so weak."

The request worked hard for him. "I will always remember your words, dear darling! I shall never forget them as long as I live."

He bent over the blond head, kissed her rosy lips, and took her in his arms.If a forlorn wanderer wandering the dark streets at this moment heard her little utterance, and saw the tears kissed by her husband from her clear blue eyes, he might look into the night yelled, and it wasn't necessarily the first time the words burst out of his lips:
"For her sweet sympathy, God bless her!"

(End of this chapter)