Disclaimer: I don't own Tale Of Two Cities
She was not playing near the road or the carts but the cart was barreling down quickly. Sydney saw that the cart had about 6 seconds before it climbed the curb and ran over Little Lucie who had just noticed this herself. Charles and Lucie noticing this looked up in fear but Sydney, who was the nearest to her took action. Quickly he ran to her scooping her up and holding her to him. There wasn't time for escape since the cart was seconds away from him but with her safely in his arms the carriage simply rolled over his foot and continued on it's way. Sydney found the pain agonizing and nearly unbearable. There was blood everywhere. Charles and Lucie ran to them both fussing over their daughter first and then deeply thanking Sydney who was in shock. Charles went in to fetch Lucie's father hoping he would know what to do.
"You'll be alright Sydney," Lucie assured him. She didn't know that for sure and she was afraid to think this might cause him death or something close to it. Selfishly she was glad for it. Little Lucie wouldn't have stood a chance. A flood of thoughts seeped through her mind as she took deep breaths to control her aggregation. She finally managed to settle down. Several hours passed before Lucie's father came out. Little Lucie was the first one to ask how Sydney was.
"He's fine sweetheart," Dr. Manette said, "Ms. Pross go get the cookies you have baked for Little Lucie please. Sweetheart go with her"
Ms. Pross quickly complied.
"How is he really father," Lucie asked after they were out of an earshot."
"The carriage took off one of his toes," Dr. Mannete replied, "But that is the extent of the damage. Had he not been there Little Lucie would have been run over and crushed by the cart no doubt."
When one loses a toe you might expect that ones reaction would be anger. You might expect one's reaction would be sadness. You might expect one's reaction might be any number of negative things. His reaction instead was relief.
"If it is my toe for the life of that beautiful little girl," he said, "Take all of my toes"