 all of them at night. In a building at the back,
attainable by a court-yard where a plane-tree rustled its green leaves,
church-organs claimed to be made, and silver to be chased, and likewise gold to
be beaten by some mysterious giant who had a golden arm starting out of the wall
of the front hall - as if he had beaten himself precious, and menaced a similar
conversion of all visitors. Very little of these trades, or of a lonely lodger
rumoured to live up-stairs, or of a dim coach-trimming maker asserted to have a
counting-house below, was ever heard or seen. Occasionally, a stray workman
putting his coat on, traversed the hall, or a stranger peered about there, or a
distant clink was heard across the court-yard, or a thumb from the golden giant.
These, however, were only the exceptions required to prove the rule that the
sparrows in the plane-tree behind the house, and the echoes in the corner before
it, had their own way from Sunday morning unto Saturday night.
    Doctor Manette received such patients here as his old reputation, and its
revival in the floating whispers of his story, brought him. His scientific
knowledge, and his vigilance and skill in conducting ingenious experiments,
brought him otherwise into moderate request, and he earned as much as he wanted.
    These things were within Mr. Jarvis Lorry's knowledge, thoughts, and notice,
when he rang the door-bell of the tranquil house in the corner, on the fine
Sunday afternoon.
    »Doctor Manette at home?«
    Expected home.
    »Miss Lucie at home?«
    Expected home.
    »Miss Pross at home?«
    Possibly at home, but of a certainty impossible for handmaid to anticipate
intentions of Miss Pross, as to admission or denial of the fact.
    »As I am at home myself,« said Mr. Lorry, »I'll go up-stairs.«
    Although the Doctor's daughter had known nothing of the country of her
birth, she appeared to have innately derived from it that ability to make much
of little means, which is one of its most useful and most agreeable
characteristics. Simple as the furniture was, it was set off by so many little
adornments, of no value but for their taste and fancy, that its effect was
delightful. The disposition of everything in the rooms, from the largest object
to the least; the arrangement of colours, the elegant variety and contrast
obtained by thrift in trifles, by delicate hands, clear eyes, and
