第796页 / 共896页

"My husband. No! A moment!" He was tearing himself apart from

her. "We shall not be separated long. I feel that this will break

my heart by-and-bye; but I will do my duty while I can, and when

I leave her, God will raise up friends for her, as He did for

me."

Her father had followed her, and would have fallen on his knees

to both of them, but that Darnay put out a hand and seized him,

crying:

"No, no! What have you done, what have you done, that you should

kneel to us! We know now, what a struggle you made of old. We

know, now what you underwent when you suspected my descent, and

when you knew it. We know now, the natural antipathy you strove

against, and conquered, for her dear sake. We thank you with all

our hearts, and all our love and duty. Heaven be with you!"

Her father's only answer was to draw his hands through his white

hair, and wring them with a shriek of anguish.