Book II - Chapter XVIII. Nine Days Practice Quiz — A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Book II - Chapter XVIII. Nine Days
What event takes place at the beginning of Chapter 18, "Nine Days"?
The wedding of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay. They are married quietly in a nearby church.
What does Dr. Manette do privately with Darnay before the wedding?
He speaks with Darnay behind a closed door, during which Darnay presumably reveals his true identity as an Evrémonde.
How does Dr. Manette look when he emerges from his private conversation with Darnay?
"So deadly pale" that "no vestige of colour was to be seen in his face," though his manner remains outwardly composed.
What wedding gift does Mr. Lorry give to Lucie and Darnay?
A set of silverware (plate) that made Miss Pross cry, and diamonds that he produces from his pocket after the ceremony.
Where are Lucie and Darnay going on their honeymoon?
A fortnight in Warwickshire, followed by another fortnight in Wales where Dr. Manette is to join them.
What happens to Dr. Manette after the newlyweds depart?
He suffers a complete psychological relapse, reverting to shoemaking and losing the ability to recognize Mr. Lorry or Miss Pross.
How does Miss Pross describe the Doctor's condition to Mr. Lorry?
"He doesn't know me, and is making shoes!"
What does the Doctor mutter when Mr. Lorry asks about the shoe he is making?
"A young lady's walking shoe. It ought to have been finished long ago. Let it be."
What unprecedented step does Mr. Lorry take to watch over Dr. Manette?
He takes a leave of absence from Tellson's Bank for the first time in his career, stationing himself by the window in the Doctor's room.
How do Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross keep the relapse secret from Lucie?
They tell visitors the Doctor is unwell, and Miss Pross writes letters claiming he has been called away professionally, with a forged note in his hand.
How long does Dr. Manette's relapse last in this chapter?
Nine days, giving the chapter its title.
What does Mr. Lorry's "silent protest" consist of?
He sits by the window reading and writing, projecting normalcy as a quiet reminder that the Doctor's shoemaking is not his proper occupation.
What troubling sign does Mr. Lorry observe by the ninth evening?
The Doctor's shoemaking has grown "dreadfully skilful," and his hands have "never been so nimble and expert"—suggesting the relapse is deepening.
What earlier scene does Mr. Lorry recall when he sees the Doctor's relapse?
He is reminded of Defarge the wine-shop keeper and the starlight ride—his first encounter with the broken Doctor in the Paris garret.
What does Miss Pross think about Lucie's marriage?
She would have found it "absolute bliss" except that she still believes her brother Solomon should have been the bridegroom.
What teasing remark does Miss Pross make about Mr. Lorry's bachelor status?
"You were a bachelor in your cradle" and "you were cut out for a bachelor before you were put in your cradle."
What is the "golden arm" that Dickens describes as striking the Doctor?
A symbolic image—likely a shop sign or architectural detail in the hall—that Dickens uses metaphorically to suggest Lucie's departure dealt the Doctor "a poisoned blow."
What psychological theme does Chapter 18 explore?
Post-traumatic relapse. The Doctor's recovery is undone when he is confronted with the identity of his daughter's husband as an Evrémonde.
How does the motif of secrecy operate in this chapter?
It operates on two levels: Darnay's hidden identity as an Evrémonde triggers the crisis, and Lorry and Pross create a counter-secret to hide the relapse from Lucie.
What literary device does Dickens use in the line "Five days, six days, seven days, eight days, nine days"?
Repetition (specifically polysyndeton-like enumeration), creating a metronomic rhythm that mirrors the monotonous passage of time and the tapping of the shoemaker's hammer.