Pagina 871 di 896

It flashed upon Miss Pross's mind that the doors were all

standing open, and would suggest the flight. Her first act was to

shut them. There were four in the room, and she shut them all.

She then placed herself before the door of the chamber which

Lucie had occupied.

Madame Defarge's dark eyes followed her through this rapid

movement, and rested on her when it was finished. Miss Pross had

nothing beautiful about her; years had not tamed the wildness, or

softened the grimness, of her appearance; but, she too was a

determined woman in her different way, and she measured Madame

Defarge with her eyes, every inch.

"You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer," said

Miss Pross, in her breathing. "Nevertheless, you shall not get

the better of me. I am an Englishwoman."