|
 | I believe, He recalled some strong, intense memories. It’s likely that, for a long time, there had been a dread in the back of his mind that those memories might come back to him, under certain circumstances, for instance, or on a particular occasion. He tried to prepare himself for it, but it was no use. It’s possible that trying to prepare himself for it made it worse. | |
|
| The occupation the patient took up during this temporary relapse, we will call it ‘blacksmith’s work.’ Let’s say that during the dark times in his past, the patient used to work at a little forge. Let’s say that we unexpectedly found him at his forge again. Isn’t it bad for him to keep it close to him? | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| It’s hard to explain the way this poor man’s mind works. He once longed for that activity so desperately, and it was so welcome when it came. It relieved him of his suffering by allowing him to substitute physical work of the fingers for mental work of the mind. As a result, he has never been able to consider putting it entirely out of reach. Even now, when he talks about himself with more confidence than ever, the idea that he might need to go back to his blacksmith work and not find it terrifies him as if he were a lost child. | |
|
| Might not the fact that he keeps the object near him mean that he keeps those memories near him? If the man got rid of the forge, my dear Dr. Manette, wouldn’t he get rid of the fears with it? In short, isn’t the man giving in to his fear of relapsing by keeping the forge near him? | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For her sake, then, let it be done. I allow it. But I would not take it away while he is there. Take it away when is not there. Let him miss his old friend after he is gone. | |
|
| Once he leaves with Lucie, I will destroy all of his tools and the workbench, which hopefully means he will never relapse again. | |
|
|
|
|
|
