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Affected, and impressed with terror as they both were, by this

spectacle of ruin, it was not a time to yield to such emotions.

His lonely daughter, bereft of her final hope and reliance,

appealed to them both too strongly. Again, as if by agreement,

they looked at one another with one meaning in their faces.

Carton was the first to speak:

"The last chance is gone: it was not much. Yes; he had better be

taken to her. But, before you go, will you, for a moment,

steadily attend to me? Don't ask me why I make the stipulations I

am going to make, and exact the promise I am going to exact; I

have a reason--a good one."

"I do not doubt it," answered Mr. Lorry. "Say on."

The figure in the chair between them, was all the time

monotonously rocking itself to and fro, and moaning. They spoke

in such a tone as they would have used if they had been watching

by a sick-bed in the night.