Book II - Chapter VI. Hundreds of People Practice Quiz — A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Book II - Chapter VI. Hundreds of People
Where do the Manettes live in Book II, Chapter 6?
In quiet lodgings near Soho Square, in a secluded corner described as "a wonderful place for echoes."
How much time has passed since Darnay's treason trial at the start of Chapter 6?
Four months have passed since the trial.
Why does Mr. Lorry visit the Manettes on this Sunday afternoon?
He has become the Doctor's friend and regularly walks with them before dinner on fine Sundays. He also has private doubts he wants to resolve.
What object from Dr. Manette's imprisonment is kept in his bedroom?
His disused shoemaker's bench and tray of tools from the Bastille, standing much as they did on the fifth floor of the wine-shop building.
What nickname does Miss Pross use for Lucie Manette?
"Ladybird."
How does Miss Pross explain the title of the chapter—"Hundreds of People"?
She exaggerates that "hundreds" of unworthy people are always coming to pursue Lucie, when in fact very few visitors appear.
Who does Miss Pross believe is the only man worthy of Lucie?
Her brother Solomon, despite the fact that he robbed her of everything she possessed and abandoned her.
What does Miss Pross reveal about Dr. Manette's behavior at night?
He sometimes gets up in the dead of night and paces his room—"walking up and down, walking up and down"—reliving his imprisonment. Lucie joins him silently until he is composed.
How does Mr. Lorry view Miss Pross's character?
He regards her as one of those rare unselfish creatures who devote themselves to youth, beauty, and hope they never possessed, stationing her "much nearer to the lower Angels" than many finer ladies.
What story does Charles Darnay tell under the plane-tree?
He describes how workmen at the Tower of London found an old dungeon with prisoners' inscriptions, including the word "DIG" carved by a condemned man. Beneath the floor, they found the ashes of a hidden letter.
How does Dr. Manette react to Darnay's Tower of London story?
He suddenly starts up with his hand to his head, visibly terrified. He quickly claims raindrops startled him, but Lorry detects a disturbing look on his face.
Which two men visit the Manettes on this Sunday, making "only One" and "only Two"?
Charles Darnay arrives first ("only One"), and Sydney Carton arrives later during tea ("only Two").
What does Lucie imagine when she hears the echoing footsteps?
She imagines them as "the footsteps of the people who are to come into my life, and my father's"—a premonition of the revolutionary crowds to come.
What does Sydney Carton say about the footsteps and the approaching storm?
"There is a great crowd bearing down upon us, Miss Manette, and I see them—by the Lightning." He then adds, "Here they come, fast, fierce, and furious!"
What happens at the end of the chapter after the storm breaks?
A tremendous storm of thunder, lightning, and rain lasts until after midnight. Mr. Lorry departs with Jerry Cruncher, remarking it has been "Almost a night to bring the dead out of their graves."
What is the symbolic significance of the shoemaker's bench in Dr. Manette's bedroom?
It represents his unresolved psychological trauma from eighteen years of imprisonment. Its presence foreshadows his future relapses into shoemaking under emotional stress.
What does Lorry's closing remark to Jerry—about a night "to bring the dead out of their graves"—foreshadow?
It references the novel's resurrection theme, alluding both to Jerry's secret work as a body-snatcher ("resurrection man") and to the broader upheavals that will resurrect buried secrets.
What disorder does Miss Pross suffer when Darnay arrives?
She develops a "twitching in the head and body" that she calls "a fit of the jerks," which causes her to retreat into the house.
How does Dickens describe the resemblance between Dr. Manette and Lucie?
The resemblance is "very strong" when the Doctor is in his best condition, especially as they sit side by side with Lucie leaning on his shoulder.
What dual meaning does the title "Hundreds of People" carry?
On the surface, it refers to Miss Pross's exaggerated claim about Lucie's suitors. On a deeper level, it foreshadows the revolutionary crowds who will engulf the characters' lives during the French Revolution.