A Shameful Household

(About a room in the Marquis’s house in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)

            A cold wind sweeps across the darkened fields of France, no warmth from season, sun or person to warm it. It encounters a broad stone manor atop a hill, and through an open high window, enters a living room. The wind is further chilled by this place that is rich but shadowed.

            Moonlight streams past the window, icy white light barely glowing in this room. A high mirror, just as silver and weak, captures one of its beams, the only pretty thing to have met its sight. Only fat and adorned nobles have peered into it, seeing a human face, which masks malice and hate. Beneath the mirror is a marbled fireplace that houses wood logs. These were cut by the sore broken people of the land, who must answer and obey these aristocrats.

            Couches and chairs sit around the fireplace, lined with seats and cushions of deep red, reminiscent of the senseless spilling of peasant blood. A fine wooden table sits beside it, balancing a delicate porcelain tea set and silver spoons. Paid for by the gold wrung from the thin torn hands of poor people when they barely can afford it.