A Tale of Two Cities

Jerry Cruncher and his son are sitting outside Tellson’s when a “dingy” funeral procession passes by, accompanied by shouts of “Spies!” (161). The sight excites both of them, and Jerry learns from one of the onlookers that the dead man is Roger Cly. Meanwhile, the crowd grows more agitated, eventually forcing the sole mourner out of the coach and climbing aboard it themselves: “Thus, with beer-drinking, pipe-smoking, song-roaring, and infinite caricaturing of woe, the disorderly procession went its way, recruiting at every step, and all the shops shutting up before it” (162). After they have buried Cly “to their own satisfaction,” the crowd begins to harass passers-by before “transition[ing] to the sport of window-breaking, and thence to the plundering of public-houses” (164).

Cruncher, who had joined the funeral procession, remains in the cemetery after the rest of the crowd disperses. Musing that Cly was “a young ‘un and a straight made ‘un,” he stops at a doctor on his way back to Tellson’s (164).

Over tea that evening, Jerry tells his wife that he is going out “fishing” that night and that he will know she has been praying if his “wenturs goes wrong” (165).