had struck him a poisoned blow

Besides the glancing tears that shone among the smiles of the littlegroup when it was done, some diamonds, very bright and sparkling,glanced on the bride's hand, which were newly released from the darkobscurity of one of Mr. Lorry's pockets. They returned home tobreakfast, and all went well, and in due course the golden hair thathad mingled with the poor shoemaker's white locks in the Paris garret,were mingled with them again in the morning sunlight, on the thresholdof the door at parting.

It was a hard parting, though it was not for long. But her fathercheered her, and said at last, gently disengaging himself from herenfolding arms, "Take her, Charles! She is yours!"

And her agitated hand waved to them from a chaise window, and shewas gone.

The corner being out of the way of the idle and curious, and thepreparations having been very simple and few, the Doctor, Mr. Lorry,and Miss Pross, were left quite alone. It was when they turned intothe welcome shade of the cool old hall, that Mr. Lorry observed agreat change to have come over the Doctor; as if the golden armuplifted there.

He had naturally repressed much, and some revulsion might havebeen expected in him when the occasion for repression was gone. But,it was the old scared lost look that troubled Mr. Lorry; and throughhis absent manner of clasping his head and drearily wandering awayinto his own room when they got up-stairs, Mr. Lorry was reminded ofDefarge the wine-shop keeper, and the starlight ride.

"I think," he whispered to Miss Pross, after anxiousconsideration, "I think we had best not speak to him just now, or atall disturb him. I must look in at Tellson's; so I will go there atonce and come back presently. Then, we will take him a ride into thecountry, and dine there, and all will be well."

It was easier for Mr. Lorry to look in at Tellson's, than to lookout of Tellson's. He was detained two hours. When he came back, heascended the old staircase alone, having asked no question of theservant; going thus into the Doctor's rooms, he was stopped by a lowsound of knocking.