to leave the city, should leave it at three o'clock
in the lightest-wheeled conveyance known to
that period. Unencumbered with luggage
they would soon overtake the coach, and,
passing it and preceding it on the road, would
order horses in advance, and greatly
facilitate its progress during the precious hours
of the night, when delay was the most to be
dreaded.

Seeing in this arrangement the hope of
rendering real service in that pressing emergency,
Miss Pross hailed it with joy. She and
Jerry had beheld the coach start, had known who
it was that Solomon brought, had passed some
ten minutes in tortures of suspense, and were
now concluding their arrangements to follow the
coach, even as Madame Defarge, taking her way
through the streets, now drew nearer and
nearer to the else-deserted lodging in which they
held their consultation.

"Now what do you think, Mr. Cruncher,"
said Miss Pross, whose agitation was so great
that she could hardly speak, or stand, or move,
or live; "what do you think of our not starting
from this court-yard? Another carriage having
already gone from here to-day, it might awaken
suspicion."

"My opinion, miss," returned Mr. Cruncher,
"is as you're right. Likewise wot I'll stand
by you, right or wrong."

"I am so distracted with fear and hope for
our precious creatures," said Miss Pross, wildly
crying, "that I am incapable of forming any
plan. Are you capable of forming any plan, my
dear good Mr. Cruncher?"

"Respectin' a future spear o' life, miss,"
returned Mr. Cruncher, "I hope so. Respectin'
any present use o' this here blessed old head o'
mine, I think not. Would you do me the
favour, miss, to take notice o' two promises and
wows wot it is my wishes fur to record in this
here crisis?"

"Oh, for gracious sake!" cried Miss Pross,
still wildly crying, "record them at once,
and get them out of the way, like an excellent
man."

"First," said Mr. Cruncher, who was all
in a tremble, and who spoke with an ashy
and solemn visage, "them poor things well
out o' this, never no more will I do it, never no
more!"

"I am quite sure, Mr. Cruncher," returned
Miss Pross, "that you never will do it again,
whatever it is, and I beg you not to think it
necessary to mention more particularly what
it is."

"No, miss," returned Jerry, "it shall not be
named to you. Second: them poor things well
out o' this, and never no more will I interfere
with Mrs. Cruncher's flopping, never no
more!"

"Whatever housekeeping arrangement that
may be," said Miss Pross, striving to dry her
eyes and compose herself, "I have no doubt it
is best that Mrs. Cruncher should have it
entirely under her own superintendence—O my
poor darlings!"

"I go so far as to say, miss, morehover,"
proceeded Mr. Cruncher, with a most alarming
tendency to hold forth as from a pulpit—"and
let my words be took down and took to Mrs.
Cruncher through yourself that wot my
opinions respectin' flopping has undergone a
change, and that wot I only hope with all my
heart as Mrs. Cruncher may be a flopping at the
present time."

"There, there, there! I hope she is, my dear
man," cried the distracted Miss Pross, "and
I hope she finds it answering her expectations."

"Forbid it," proceeded Mr. Cruncher, with
additional solemnity, additional slowness, and
additional tendency to hold forth and hold out,
"as anything wot I have ever said or done should
be wisited on my earnest wishes for them poor
creeturs now! Forbid it as we shouldn't all flop
(if it was anyways conwenient) to get 'em out
o' this here dismal risk! Forbid it, miss! Wot
I say, for—BID it!" This was Mr. Cruncher's
conclusion after a protracted but vain endeavour
to find a better one.

And still Madame Defarge, pursuing her way
along the streets, came nearer and nearer.

"'If we ever get back to our native land,"
said Miss Pross, "you may rely upon my
telling Mrs. Cruncher as much as I may be
able to remember and understand of what you
have so impressively said; and at all events you
may be sure that shall bear witness to your
being thoroughly in earnest at this dreadful
time. Now, pray let us think! My esteemed
Mr. Cruncher, let us think!"

Still, Madame Defarge, pursuing her way along
the streets, came nearer and nearer.

"If you were to go before," said Miss Pross,
and stop the vehicle and horses from corning
here, and were to wait somewhere for me;
wouldn't that be best?"

Mr. Cruncher thought it might be best.

"Where could you wait for me?" asked Miss
Pross.

Mr. Cruncher was so bewildered that he
could think of no locality but Temple Bar.
Alas, Temple Bar was hundreds of miles away,
and Madame Defarge was drawing very near
indeed.

"By the cathedral door," said Miss Pross.
"Would it be much out of the way, to take me
in, near the great cathedral door between the
two towers?"

"No, miss," answered Mr. Cruncher.

"Then, like the best of men," said Miss
Pross, "go to the post-house straight, and make
that change."

"I am doubtful," said Mr. Cruncher,
hesitating and shaking his head, "about leaving of
you, you see. We don't know what may
happen."

"Heaven knows we don't," returned Miss
Pross, "but have no fear for me. Take me in
at the cathedral, at Three o'Clock or as near it
as you can, and I am sure it will be better than
our going from here. I feel certain of it.
There! Bless you, Mr. Cruncher! Think—