Book the Second - the Golden Thread
16. XVI. Still Knitting
(continued)
It was remarkable; but, the taste of Saint Antoine seemed to be
decidedly opposed to a rose on the head-dress of Madame Defarge.
Two men had entered separately, and had been about to order drink, when,
catching sight of that novelty, they faltered, made a pretence of
looking about as if for some friend who was not there, and went away.
Nor, of those who had been there when this visitor entered, was there one
left. They had all dropped off. The spy had kept his eyes open, but had
been able to detect no sign. They had lounged away in a poverty-stricken,
purposeless, accidental manner, quite natural and unimpeachable.
"JOHN," thought madame, checking off her work as her fingers knitted,
and her eyes looked at the stranger. "Stay long enough, and I shall
knit `BARSAD' before you go."
"You have a husband, madame?"
"I have."
"Children?"
"No children."
"Business seems bad?"
"Business is very bad; the people are so poor."
"Ah, the unfortunate, miserable people! So oppressed, too--as you say."
"As YOU say," madame retorted, correcting him, and deftly knitting
an extra something into his name that boded him no good.
"Pardon me; certainly it was I who said so, but you naturally think so.
Of course."
"I think?" returned madame, in a high voice. "I and my husband
have enough to do to keep this wine-shop open, without thinking. All
we think, here, is how to live. That is the subject WE think of,
and it gives us, from morning to night, enough to think about, without
embarrassing our heads concerning others. I think for others? No, no."
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