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Why does the brawny, red-haired woman get so angry at Mr. Lorry in A Tale of Two Cities?

Miss Pross is upset at Jarvis Lorry for telling Lucie Manette about her father, because it upset her. 


Dr. Manette has been locked in prison for political reasons for most of Lucie Manette’s life.  When she hears he has been “recalled to life,” she is upset.  She doesn’t really even remember him, and she has been told that he is much changed.  She says that she is going to be seeing his ghost, and not him. 


Jarvis Lorry is a little out of his element with Lucie.  Lucie does seem to faint at the drop of the hat.  She is a delicate creature. So Mr. Lorry upsets her, and she faints, and he does not know what to do. 



Perfectly still and silent, and not even fallen back in her chair, she sat under his hand, utterly insensible; with her eyes open and fixed upon him, and with that last expression looking as if it were carved or branded into her forehead. (Ch. 4) 



Lucie always has Miss Pross clucking after her like a mother hen.  Miss Pross is very protective.  She scolds Jarvis Lorry for springing the news on her little bird.  Miss Pross is rather imposing, so Lorry is even more frazzled. 



"And you in brown!" she said, indignantly turning to Mr. Lorry; "couldn't you tell her what you had to tell her, without frightening her to death? Look at her, with her pretty pale face and her cold hands. Do you call that being a Banker?" (Ch. 4) 



Jarvis Lorry asks Miss Pross if she will accompany Lucie to France.  Clearly, she is too much for him.  She would never consider Lucie going without her though.  Her mission in life is to protect Lucie.  If just hearing the news about her father upset her this much, imagine how she will react to actually seeing him!

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