with a hope ever darkening, and with a heart always growing heavier and heavier, mr. lorry passed through this anxious time. the secret was well kept, and lucie was unconscious and happy; but he could not fail to observe that the shoemaker, whose hand had been a little out at first, was growing dreadfully skilful, and that he had never been so intent on his work, and that his hands had never been so nimble and expert, as in the dusk of the ninth evening.