The Nut Gatherers

He was shown up-stairs, and found Lucie at her work, alone. She had never been quite at her ease with him, and received him with some little embarrassment as he seated himself near her table. But, looking up at his face in the interchange of the first few common-places, she observed a change in it. ¡¡¡¡"I fear you are not well, Mr. Carton!" ¡¡¡¡"No. But the life I lead, Miss Manette, is not conducive to health. What is to be expected of, or by, such profligates?" ¡¡¡¡"Is it not- forgive me; I have begun the question on my lips- a pity to live no better life?" ¡

¡¡¡"God knows it is a shame!" ¡¡¡¡"Then why not change it?" ¡¡¡¡Looking gently at him again, she was surprised and saddened to see that there were tears in his eyes. There were tears in his voice too, as he answered: ¡¡¡¡"It is too late for that. I shall never be better than I am. I shall sink lower, and be worse." ¡¡¡¡He leaned an elbow on her table, and covered his eyes with his hand. The table trembled in the silence that followed.