Charles Dickens
Little Dorrit
Book the First
Poverty
Preface
I was occupied with this story during many working hours of two years I must
have been very ill employed if I could not leave its merits and demerits as a
whole to express themselves on its being read as a whole
If I might offer any apology for so exaggerated a fiction as the Barnacles
and the Circumlocution Office I would seek it in the common experience of an
Englishman without presuming to mention the unimportant fact of my having done
that violence to good manners in the days of a Russian war and of a Court of
Enquiry at Chelsea If I might make so bold as to defend that extravagant
conception Mr Merdle I would hint that it originated after the Railroadshare
epoch in the times of a certain Irish bank and of one or two other equally
laudable enterprises If I were to plead anything in mitigation of the
preposterous fancy that a bad design will sometimes claim to be a good and an
expressly religious design it would be the curious coincidence that such fancy
was brought to its climax in these pages in the days of the public examination
of late Directors of a Royal British Bank But I submit myself to suffer
judgment to go by default on all these counts if need be and to accept the
assurance on good authority that nothing like them was ever known in this
land
Some of my readers may have an interest in being informed whether or no any
portions of the Marshalsea Prison are yet standing I myself did not know until
I was approaching the end of this story when I went to look I found the outer
front courtyard often mentioned here metamorphosed into a butter shop and I
then almost gave up every brick of the jail for lost Wandering however down a
certain adjacent »Angel Court leading to Bermondsey« I came to »Marshalsea
Place« the houses in which I recognised not only as the great block of the
former prison but as preserving the rooms that arose in my mindseye when I
became Little Dorrits Biographer The smallest boy I ever conversed with
carrying the largest baby I ever saw offered a supernaturally intelligent
explanation of the locality in its old uses and was very nearly correct How
this young Newton for such I judge him to be came by his information I dont
know he was a quarter of a century too young to know anything about it of
himself I pointed to the window of the room where Little Dorrit was born and
where her father lived so long and asked him what was the name of the lodger
who tenanted that apartment at present He said »Tom Pythick« I asked him who
was Tom Pythick and he said »Joe Pythicks uncle«
A little further on I found the older and smaller wall which used to
enclose the pentup inner prison where nobody was put except for ceremony
Whosoever goes into Marshalsea Place turning out of Angel Court leading to
Bermondsey will find his feet on the very pavingstones of the extinct
Marshalsea jail will see its narrow yard to the right and to the left very
little altered if at all except that the walls were lowered when the place got
free will look upon the rooms in which the debtors lived will stand among the
crowding ghosts of many miserable years
Chapter I
Sun and Shadow
Thirty years ago Marseilles lay burning in the sun one day
A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern
France then than at any other time before or since Everything in Marseilles
and about Marseilles had stared at the fervid sky and been stared at in
return until a staring habit had become universal there Strangers were stared
out of countenance by staring white houses staring white walls staring white
streets staring tracts of arid road staring hills from which verdure was burnt
away The only things to be seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines
drooping under their load of grapes These did occasionally wink a little as
the hot air barely moved their faint leaves
There was no wind to make a ripple on the foul water within the harbour or
on the beautiful sea without The line of demarcation between the two colours
black and blue showed the point which the pure sea would not pass but it lay
as quiet as the abominable pool with which it never mixed Boats without
awnings were too hot to touch ships blistered at their moorings the stones of
the quays had not cooled night or day for months Hindoos Russians Chinese
Spaniards Portuguese Englishmen Frenchmen Genoese Neapolitans Venetians
Greeks Turks descendants from all the builders of Babel come to trade at
Marseilles sought the shade alike taking refuge in any hidingplace from a
sea too intensely blue to be looked at and a sky of purple set with one great
flaming jewel of fire
The universal stare made the eyes ache Towards the distant line of Italian
coast indeed it was a little relieved by light clouds of mist slowly rising
from the evaporation of the sea but it softened nowhere else Far away the
staring roads deep in dust stared from the hillside stared from the hollow
stared from the interminable plain Far away the dusty vines overhanging wayside
cottages and the monotonous wayside avenues of parched trees without shade
drooped beneath the stare of earth and sky So did the horses with drowsy bells
in long files of carts creeping slowly towards the interior so did their
recumbent drivers when they were awake which rarely happened so did the
exhausted labourers in the fields Everything that lived or grew was oppressed
by the glare except the lizard passing swiftly over rough stone walls and the
cicala chirping his dry hot chirp like a rattle The very dust was scorched
brown and something quivered in the atmosphere as if the air itself were
panting
Blinds shutters curtains awnings were all closed and drawn to keep out
the stare Grant it but a chink or keyhole and it shot in like a whitehot
arrow The churches were the freest from it To come out of the twilight of
pillars and arches dreamily dotted with winking lamps dreamily peopled with
ugly old shadows piously dozing spitting and begging was to plunge into a
fiery river and swim for life to the nearest strip of shade So with people
lounging and lying wherever shade was with but little hum of tongues or barking
of dogs with occasional jangling of discordant church bells and rattling of
vicious drums Marseilles a fact to be strongly smelt and tasted lay broiling
in the sun one day
In Marseilles that day there was a villainous prison In one of its
chambers so repulsive a place that even the obtrusive stare blinked at it and
left it to such refuse of reflected light as it could find for itself, were two
men Besides the two men a notched and disfigured bench immovable from the
wall with a draughtboard rudely hacked upon it with a knife a set of
draughts made of old buttons and soup bones a set of dominoes two mats and
two or three wine bottles That was all the chamber held exclusive of rats and
other unseen vermin in addition to the seen vermin the two men
It received such light as it got through a grating of iron bars fashioned
like a pretty large window by means of which it could be always inspected from
the gloomy staircase on which the grating gave There was a broad strong ledge
of stone to this grating where the bottom of it was let into the masonry three
or four feet above the ground Upon it one of the two men lolled half sitting
and half lying with his knees drawn up and his feet and shoulders planted
against the opposite sides of the aperture The bars were wide enough apart to
admit of his thrusting his arm through to the elbow and so he held on
negligently for his greater ease
A prison taint was on everything there The imprisoned air the imprisoned
light the imprisoned damps the imprisoned men were all deteriorated by
confinement As the captive men were faded and haggard so the iron was rusty
the stone was slimy the wood was rotten the air was faint the light was dim
Like a well like a vault like a tomb the prison had no knowledge of the
brightness outside and would have kept its polluted atmosphere intact in one
of the spice islands of the Indian ocean
The man who lay on the ledge of the grating was even chilled He jerked his
great cloak more heavily upon him by an impatient movement of one shoulder and
growled »To the devil with this Brigand of a Sun that never shines in here«
He was waiting to be fed looking sideways through the bars that he might
see the further down the stairs with much of the expression of a wild beast in
similar expectation But his eyes too close together were not so nobly set in
his head as those of the king of beasts are in his and they were sharp rather
than bright pointed weapons with little surface to betray them They had no
depth or change they glittered and they opened and shut So far and waiving
their use to himself a clockmaker could have made a better pair He had a hook
nose handsome after its kind but too high between the eyes by probably just
as much as his eyes were too near to one another. For the rest he was large and
tall in frame had thin lips where his thick moustache showed them at all and
a quantity of dry hair of no definable colour in its shaggy state but shot
with red The hand with which he held the grating seamed all over the back with
ugly scratches newly healed was unusually small and plump would have been
unusually white but for the prison grime
The other man was lying on the stone floor covered with a coarse brown
coat
»Get up pig« growled the first »Dont sleep when I am hungry«
»Its all one master« said the pig in a submissive manner and not
without cheerfulness »I can wake when I will I can sleep when I will Its all
the same«
As he said it he rose shook himself scratched himself tied his brown
coat loosely round his neck by the sleeves he had previously used it as a
coverlet and sat down upon the pavement yawning with his back against the
wall opposite to the grating
»Say what the hour is« grumbled the first man
»The midday bells will ring in forty minutes« When he made the little
pause he had looked round the prisonroom as if for certain information
»You are a clock How is it that you always know«
»How can I say I always know what the hour is and where I am I was
brought in here at night and out of a boat but I know where I am See here
Marseilles harbour« on his knees on the pavement mapping it all out with a
swarthy forefinger »Toulon where the galleys are Spain over there Algiers
over there Creeping away to the left here Nice Round by the Cornice to Genoa
Genoa Mole and Harbour Quarantine Ground City there terrace gardens blushing
with the bella donna Here Porto Fino Stand out for Leghorn Out again for
Civita Vecchia So away to hey theres no room for Naples« he had got to
the wall by this time »but its all one its in there«
He remained on his knees looking up at his fellowprisoner with a lively
look for a prison A sunburnt quick lithe little man though rather
thickset Earrings in his brown ears white teeth lighting up his grotesque
brown face intensely black hair clustering about his brown throat a ragged red
shirt open at his brown breast Loose seamanlike trousers decent shoes a
long red cap a red sash round his waist and a knife in it
»Judge if I come back from Naples as I went See here my master Civita
Vecchia Leghorn Porto Fino Genoa Cornice Off Nice which is in there
Marseilles you and me The apartment of the jailer and his keys is where I put
this thumb and here at my wrist they keep the national razor in its case the
guillotine locked up«
The other man spat suddenly on the pavement and gurgled in his throat
Some lock below gurgled in its throat immediately afterwards and then a
door clashed Slow steps began ascending the stairs the prattle of a sweet
little voice mingled with the noise they made and the prisonkeeper appeared
carrying his daughter three or four years old and a basket
»How goes the world this forenoon gentlemen My little one you see going
round with me to have a peep at her fathers birds Fie then Look at the
birds my pretty look at the birds«
He looked sharply at the birds himself as he held the child up at the
grate especially at the little bird whose activity he seemed to mistrust »I
have brought your bread Signor John Baptist« said he they all spoke in
French but the little man was an Italian »and if I might recommend you not to
game «
»You dont recommend the master« said John Baptist showing his teeth as he
smiled
»Oh but the master wins« returned the jailer with a passing look of no
particular liking at the other man »and you lose Its quite another thing You
get husky bread and sour drink by it and he gets sausage of Lyons veal in
savoury jelly white bread strachino cheese and good wine by it Look at the
birds my pretty«
»Poor birds« said the child
The fair little face touched with divine compassion as it peeped
shrinkingly through the grate was like an angels in the prison John Baptist
rose and moved towards it as if it had a good attraction for him The other
bird remained as before except for an impatient glance at the basket
»Stay« said the jailer putting his little daughter on the outer ledge of
the grate »she shall feed the birds This big loaf is for Signor John Baptist
We must break it to get it through into the cage So theres a tame bird to
kiss the little hand This sausage in a vineleaf is for Monsieur Rigaud Again
this veal in savoury jelly is for Monsieur Rigaud Again these three white
little loaves are for Monsieur Rigaud Again this cheese again this wine
again this tobacco all for Monsieur Rigaud Lucky bird«
The child put all these things between the bars into the soft smooth
wellshaped hand with evident dread more than once drawing back her own and
looking at the man with her fair brow roughened into an expression half of
fright and half of anger Whereas she had put the lump of coarse bread into the
swart scaled knotted hands of John Baptist who had scarcely as much nail on
his eight fingers and two thumbs as would have made out one for Monsieur
Rigaud with ready confidence and when he kissed her hand had herself passed
it caressingly over his face Monsieur Rigaud indifferent to this distinction
propitiated the father by laughing and nodding at the daughter as often as she
gave him anything and so soon as he had all his viands about him in convenient
nooks of the ledge on which he rested began to eat with an appetite
When Monsieur Rigaud laughed a change took place in his face that was more
remarkable than prepossessing His moustache went up under his nose and his
nose came down over his moustache in a very sinister and cruel manner
»There« said the jailer turning his basket upside down to beat the crumbs
out »I have expended all the money I received here is the note of it and
thats a thing accomplished Monsieur Rigaud as I expected yesterday the
President will look for the pleasure of your society at an hour after midday
today«
»To try me eh« said Rigaud pausing knife in hand and morsel in mouth
»You have said it To try you«
»There is no news for me« asked John Baptist who had begun contentedly
to munch his bread
The jailer shrugged his shoulders
»Lady of mine Am I to lie here all my life my father«
»What do I know« cried the jailer turning upon him with southern
quickness and gesticulating with both his hands and all his fingers as if he
were threatening to tear him to pieces »My friend how is it possible for me to
tell how long you are to lie here What do I know John Baptist Cavalletto
Death of my life There are prisoners here sometimes who are not in such a
devil of a hurry to be tried«
He seemed to glance obliquely at Monsieur Rigaud in this remark but
Monsieur Rigaud had already resumed his meal though not with quite so quick an
appetite as before
»Adieu my birds« said the keeper of the prison taking his pretty child in
his arms and dictating the words with a kiss
»Adieu my birds« the pretty child repeated
Her innocent face looked back so brightly over his shoulder as he walked
away with her singing her the song of the childs game
»Who passes by this road so late
Compagnon de la Majolaine
Who passes by this road so late
Always gay«
that John Baptist felt it a point of honour to reply at the grate and in good
time and tune though a little hoarsely
»Of all the kings knights tis the flower
Compagnon de la Majolaine
Of all the kings knights tis the flower
Always gay«
Which accompanied them so far down the few steep stairs that the prisonkeeper
had to stop at last for his little daughter to hear the song out and repeat the
Refrain while they were yet in sight Then the childs head disappeared and the
prisonkeepers head disappeared but the little voice prolonged the strain
until the door clashed
Monsieur Rigaud finding the listening John Baptist in his way before the
echoes had ceased even the echoes were the weaker for imprisonment and seemed
to lag reminded him with a push of his foot that he had better resume his own
darker place The little man sat down again upon the pavement with the
negligent ease of one who was thoroughly accustomed to pavements and placing
three hunks of coarse bread before himself and falling to upon a fourth began
contentedly to work his way through them as if to clear them off were a sort of
game
Perhaps he glanced at the Lyons sausage and perhaps he glanced at the veal
in savoury jelly but they were not there long to make his mouth water
Monsieur Rigaud soon dispatched them in spite of the president and tribunal
and proceeded to suck his fingers as clean as he could and to wipe them on his
vineleaves Then as he paused in his drink to contemplate his fellowprisoner
his moustache went up and his nose came down
»How do you find the bread«
»A little dry but I have my old sauce here« returned John Baptist holding
up his knife
»How sauce«
»I can cut my bread so like a melon Or so like an omelette Or so
like a fried fish Or so like Lyons sausage« said John Baptist demonstrating
the various cuts on the bread he held and soberly chewing what he had in his
mouth
»Here« cried Monsieur Rigaud »You may drink You may finish this«
It was no great gift for there was mighty little wine left but Signor
Cavalletto jumping to his feet received the bottle gratefully turned it
upside down at his mouth and smacked his lips
»Put the bottle by with the rest« said Rigaud
The little man obeyed his orders and stood ready to give him a lighted
match for he was now rolling his tobacco into cigarettes by the aid of little
squares of paper which had been brought in with it
»Here You may have one«
»A thousand thanks my master« John Baptist said it in his own language
and with the quick conciliatory manner of his own countrymen
Monsieur Rigaud arose lighted a cigarette put the rest of his stock into a
breastpocket and stretched himself out at full length upon the bench
Cavalletto sat down on the pavement holding one of his ankles in each hand and
smoking peacefully There seemed to be some uncomfortable attraction of Monsieur
Rigauds eyes to the immediate neighbourhood of that part of the pavement where
the thumb had been in the plan They were so drawn in that direction that the
Italian more than once followed them to and back from the pavement in some
surprise
»What an infernal hole this is« said Monsieur Rigaud breaking a long
pause »Look at the light of day Day the light of yesterday week the light of
six months ago the light of six years ago So slack and dead«
It came languishing down a square funnel that blinded a window in the
staircase wall through which the sky was never seen nor anything else
»Cavalletto« said Monsieur Rigaud suddenly withdrawing his gaze from this
funnel to which they had both involuntarily turned their eyes »you know me for
a gentleman«
»Surely surely«
»How long have we been here«
»I eleven weeks tomorrow night at midnight You nine weeks and three
days at five this afternoon«
»Have I ever done anything here Ever touched the broom or spread the mats
or rolled them up or found the draughts or collected the dominoes or put my
hand to any kind of work«
»Never«
»Have you ever thought of looking to me to do any kind of work«
John Baptist answered with that peculiar backhanded shake of the right
forefinger which is the most expressive negative in the Italian language
»No You knew from the first moment when you saw me here that I was a
gentleman«
»ALTRO« returned John Baptist closing his eyes and giving his head a most
vehement toss The word being according to its Genoese emphasis a
confirmation a contradiction, an assertion a denial a taunt a compliment a
joke and fifty other things became in the present instance with a
significance beyond all power of written expression our familiar English »I
believe you«
»Haha You are right A gentleman I am a gentleman Ill live and a
gentleman Ill die Its my intent to be a gentleman Its my game Death of my
soul I play it out wherever I go«
He changed his posture to a sitting one crying with a triumphant air
»Here I am See me Shaken out of destinys dicebox into the company of a
mere smuggler shut up with a poor little contraband trader whose papers are
wrong and whom the police lay hold of besides for placing his boat as a means
of getting beyond the frontier at the disposition of other little people whose
papers are wrong and he instinctively recognises my position even by this
light and in this place Its well done By Heaven I win however the game
goes«
Again his moustache went up and his nose came down
»Whats the hour now« he asked with a dry hot pallor upon him rather
difficult of association with merriment
»A little halfhour after midday«
»Good The President will have a gentleman before him soon Come Shall I
tell you on what accusation It must be now or never for I shall not return
here Either I shall go free or I shall go to be made ready for shaving You
know where they keep the razor«
Signor Cavalletto took his cigarette from between his parted lips and
showed more momentary discomfiture than might have been expected
»I am a« Monsieur Rigaud stood up to say it »I am a cosmopolitan
gentleman I own no particular country My father was Swiss Canton de Vaud My
mother was French by blood English by birth I myself was born in Belgium I am
a citizen of the world«
His theatrical air as he stood with one arm on his hip within the folds of
his cloak together with his manner of disregarding his companion and addressing
the opposite wall instead seemed to intimate that he was rehearsing for the
President whose examination he was shortly to undergo rather than troubling
himself merely to enlighten so small a person as John Baptist Cavalletto
»Call me fiveandthirty years of age I have seen the world I have lived
here and lived there and lived like a gentleman everywhere I have been
treated and respected as a gentleman universally If you try to prejudice me by
making out that I have lived by my wits how do your lawyers live your
politicians your intriguers your men of the Exchange«
He kept his small smooth hand in constant requisition as if it were a
witness to his gentility that had often done him good service before
»Two years ago I came to Marseilles I admit that I was poor I had been
ill When your lawyers your politicians your intriguers your men of the
Exchange fall ill and have not scraped money together they become poor I put
up at the Cross of Gold kept then by Monsieur Henri Barronneau sixtyfive
at least and in a failing state of health I had lived in the house some four
months when Monsieur Henri Barronneau had the misfortune to die at any rate
not a rare misfortune that It happens without any aid of mine pretty often«
John Baptist having smoked his cigarette down to his fingers ends Monsieur
Rigaud had the magnanimity to throw him another He lighted the second at the
ashes of the first and smoked on looking sideways at his companion who
preoccupied with his own case hardly looked at him
»Monsieur Barronneau left a widow She was twoandtwenty She had gained a
reputation for beauty and which is often another thing was beautiful I
continued to live at the Cross of Gold I married Madame Barronneau It is not
for me to say whether there was any great disparity in such a match Here I
stand with the contamination of a jail upon me but it is possible that you may
think me better suited to her than her former husband was«
He had a certain air of being a handsome man which he was not and a
certain air of being a wellbred man which he was not It was mere swagger and
challenge but in this particular as in many others blustering assertion goes
for proof half over the world
»Be it as it may Madame Barronneau approved of me That is not to prejudice
me I hope«
His eye happening to light upon John Baptist with this inquiry that little
man briskly shook his head in the negative, and repeated in an argumentative
tone under his breath altro altro altro altro an infinite number of times
»Now came the difficulties of our position I am proud I say nothing in
defence of pride but I am proud It is also my character to govern I cant
submit I must govern Unfortunately the property of Madame Rigaud was settled
upon herself Such was the insane act of her late husband More unfortunately
still she had relations When a wifes relations interpose against a husband
who is a gentleman who is proud and who must govern the consequences are
inimical to peace There was yet another source of difference between us Madame
Rigaud was unfortunately a little vulgar I sought to improve her manners and
ameliorate her general tone she supported in this likewise by her relations
resented my endeavours Quarrels began to arise between us and propagated and
exaggerated by the slanders of the relations of Madame Rigaud to become
notorious to the neighbours It has been said that I treated Madame Rigaud with
cruelty I may have been seen to slap her face nothing more I have a light
hand and if I have been seen apparently to correct Madame Rigaud in that
manner I have done it almost playfully«
If the playfulness of Monsieur Rigaud were at all expressed by his smile at
this point the relations of Madame Rigaud might have said that they would have
much preferred his correcting that unfortunate woman seriously
»I am sensitive and brave I do not advance it as a merit to be sensitive
and brave but it is my character If the male relations of Madame Rigaud had
put themselves forward openly I should have known how to deal with them They
knew that and their machinations were conducted in secret consequently Madame
Rigaud and I were brought into frequent and unfortunate collision Even when I
wanted any little sum of money for my personal expenses I could not obtain it
without collision and I too a man whose character it is to govern One
night Madame Rigaud and myself were walking amicably I may say like lovers
on a height overhanging the sea An evil star occasioned Madame Rigaud to advert
to her relations I reasoned with her on that subject and remonstrated on the
want of duty and devotion manifested in her allowing herself to be influenced by
their jealous animosity towards her husband Madame Rigaud retorted I retorted
Madame Rigaud grew warm I grew warm and provoked her I admit it Frankness is
a part of my character At length Madame Rigaud in an access of fury that I
must ever deplore threw herself upon me with screams of passion no doubt those
that were overheard at some distance tore my clothes tore my hair lacerated
my hands trampled and trod the dust and finally leaped over dashing herself
to death upon the rocks below Such is the train of incidents which malice has
perverted into my endeavouring to force from Madame Rigaud a relinquishment of
her rights and on her persistence in a refusal to make the concession I
required struggling with her assassinating her«
He stepped aside to the ledge where the vineleaves yet lay strewn about
collected two or three and stood wiping his hands upon them with his back to
the light
»Well« he demanded after a silence »have you nothing to say to all that«
»Its ugly« returned the little man who had risen and was brightening his
knife upon his shoe as he leaned an arm against the wall
»What do you mean«
John Baptist polished his knife in silence
»Do you mean that I have not represented the case correctly«
»Altro« returned John Baptist The word was an apology now and stood for
»Oh by no means«
»What then«
»Presidents and tribunals are so prejudiced«
»Well« cried the other uneasily flinging the end of his cloak over his
shoulder with an oath »let them do their worst«
»Truly I think they will« murmured John Baptist to himself as he bent his
head to put his knife in his sash
Nothing more was said on either side though they both began walking to and
fro and necessarily crossed at every turn Monsieur Rigaud sometimes half
stopped as if he were going to put his case in a new light or make some irate
remonstrance but Signor Cavalletto continuing to go slowly to and fro at a
grotesque kind of jogtrot pace with his eyes turned downward nothing came of
these inclinings
Byandby the noise of the key in the lock arrested them both The sound of
voices succeeded and the tread of feet The door clashed the voices and the
feet came on and the prisonkeeper slowly ascended the stairs followed by a
guard of soldiers
»Now Monsieur Rigaud« said he pausing for a moment at the grate with his
keys in his hands »have the goodness to come out«
»I am to depart in state I see«
»Why unless you did« returned the jailer »you might depart in so many
pieces that it would be difficult to get you together again Theres a crowd
Monsieur Rigaud and it doesnt love you«
He passed on out of sight and unlocked and unbarred a low door in the
corner of the chamber »Now« said he as he opened it and appeared within
»come out«
There is no sort of whiteness in all the hues under the sun at all like the
whiteness of Monsieur Rigauds face as it was then Neither is there any
expression of the human countenance at all like that expression in every little
line of which the frightened heart is seen to beat Both are conventionally
compared with death but the difference is the whole deep gulf between the
struggle done and the fight at its most desperate extremity
He lighted another of his paper cigars at his companions put it tightly
between his teeth covered his head with a soft slouched hat threw the end of
his cloak over his shoulder again and walked out into the side gallery on which
the door opened without taking any further notice of Signor Cavalletto As to
that little man himself his whole attention had become absorbed in getting near
the door and looking out at it Precisely as a beast might approach the opened
gate of his den and eye the freedom beyond he passed those few moments in
watching and peering until the door was closed upon him
There was an officer in command of the soldiers a stout serviceable
profoundly calm man with his drawn sword in his hand smoking a cigar He very
briefly directed the placing of Monsieur Rigaud in the midst of the party put
himself with consummate indifference at their head gave the word »march« and
so they all went jingling down the staircase The door clashed the key turned
and a ray of unusual light and a breath of unusual air seemed to have passed
through the jail vanishing in a tiny wreath of smoke from the cigar
Still in his captivity like a lower animal like some impatient ape or
roused bear of the smaller species the prisoner now left solitary had jumped
upon the ledge to lose no glimpse of this departure As he yet stood clasping
the grate with both hands an uproar broke upon his hearing yells shrieks
oaths threats execrations all comprehended in it though as in a storm
nothing but a raging swell of sound distinctly heard
Excited into a still greater resemblance to a caged wild animal by his
anxiety to know more the prisoner leaped nimbly down ran round the chamber
leaped nimbly up again clasped the grate and tried to shake it leaped down and
ran leaped up and listened and never rested until the noise becoming more and
more distant had died away How many better prisoners have worn their noble
hearts out so no man thinking of it not even the beloved of their souls
realising it great kings and governors who had made them captive careering in
the sunlight jauntily and men cheering them on Even the said great personages
dying in bed making exemplary ends and sounding speeches and polite history
more servile than their instruments embalming them
At last John Baptist now able to choose his own spot within the compass of
those walls for the exercise of his faculty of going to sleep when he would
lay down upon the bench with his face turned over on his crossed arms and
slumbered In his submission in his lightness in his good humour in his
shortlived passion in his easy contentment with hard bread and hard stones in
his ready sleep in his fits and starts altogether a true son of the land that
gave him birth
The wide stare stared itself out for one while the sun went down in a red
green golden glory the stars came out in the heavens and the fireflies
mimicked them in the lower air as men may feebly imitate the goodness of a
better order of beings the long dusty roads and the interminable plains were in
repose and so deep a hush was on the sea that it scarcely whispered of the
time when it shall give up its dead
Chapter II
FellowTravellers
»No more of yesterdays howling over yonder today sir is there«
»I have heard none«
»Then you may be sure there is none When these people howl they howl to be
heard«
»Most people do I suppose«
»Ah but these people are always howling Never happy otherwise«
»Do you mean the Marseilles people«
»I mean the French people Theyre always at it As to Marseilles we know
what Marseilles is It sent the most insurrectionary tune into the world that
was ever composed It couldnt exist without allonging and marshonging to
something or other victory or death or blazes or something«
The speaker with a whimsical good humour on him all the time looked over
the parapetwall with the greatest disparagement of Marseilles and taking up a
determined position by putting his hands in his pockets and rattling his money
at it apostrophised it with a short laugh
»Allong and marshong indeed It would be more creditable to you I think
to let other people allong and marshong about their lawful business instead of
shutting em up in quarantine«
»Tiresome enough« said the other »But we shall be out today«
»Out today« repeated the first »Its almost an aggravation of the
enormity that we shall be out today Out What have we ever been in for«
»For no very strong reason I must say But as we come from the East and as
the East is the country of the plague «
»The plague« repeated the other »Thats my grievance I have had the
plague continually ever since I have been here I am like a sane man shut up in
a madhouse I cant stand the suspicion of the thing I came here as well as
ever I was in my life but to suspect me of the plague is to give me the plague
And I have had it and I have got it«
»You bear it very well Mr Meagles« said the second speaker smiling
»No If you knew the real state of the case thats the last observation you
would think of making I have been waking up night after night and saying now
I have got it now it has developed itself now I am in for it now these
fellows are making out their case for their precautions Why Id as soon have a
spit put through me and be stuck upon a card in a collection of beetles as
lead the life I have been leading here«
»Well Mr Meagles say no more about it now its over« urged a cheerful
feminine voice
»Over« repeated Mr Meagles who appeared though without any illnature
to be in that peculiar state of mind in which the last word spoken by anybody
else is a new injury »Over and why should I say no more about it because its
over«
It was Mrs Meagles who had spoken to Mr Meagles and Mrs Meagles was
like Mr Meagles comely and healthy with a pleasant English face which had
been looking at homely things for fiveandfifty years or more and shone with a
bright reflection of them
»There Never mind Father never mind« said Mrs Meagles »For goodness
sake content yourself with Pet«
»With Pet« repeated Mr Meagles in his injured vein Pet however being
close behind him touched him on the shoulder and Mr Meagles immediately
forgave Marseilles from the bottom of his heart
Pet was about twenty A fair girl with rich brown hair hanging free in
natural ringlets A lovely girl with a frank face and wonderful eyes so
large so soft so bright set to such perfection in her kind good head She was
round and fresh and dimpled and spoilt and there was in Pet an air of timidity
and dependence which was the best weakness in the world and gave her the only
crowning charm a girl so pretty and pleasant could have been without
»Now I ask you« said Mr Meagles in the blandest confidence falling back
a step himself and handing his daughter a step forward to illustrate his
question »I ask you simply as between man and man you know DID you ever hear
of such damned nonsense as putting Pet in quarantine«
»It has had the result of making even quarantine enjoyable«
»Come« said Mr Meagles »thats something to be sure I am obliged to you
for that remark Now Pet my darling you had better go along with Mother and
get ready for the boat The officer of health and a variety of humbugs in
cocked hats are coming off to let us out of this at last and all we jailbirds
are to breakfast together in something approaching to a Christian style again
before we take wing for our different destinations Tattycoram stick you close
to your young mistress«
He spoke to a handsome girl with lustrous dark hair and eyes and very
neatly dressed who replied with a half curtsey as she passed off in the train
of Mrs Meagles and Pet They crossed the bare scorched terrace all three
together and disappeared through a staring white archway Mr Meagless
companion a grave dark man of forty still stood looking towards this archway
after they were gone until Mr Meagles tapped him on the arm
»I beg your pardon« said he starting
»Not at all« said Mr Meagles
They took one silent turn backward and forward in the shade of the wall
getting at the height on which the quarantine barracks are placed what cool
refreshment of sea breeze there was at seven in the morning Mr Meagless
companion resumed the conversation
»May I ask you« he said »what is the name of «
»Tattycoram« Mr Meagles struck in »I have not the least idea«
»I thought« said the other »that «
»Tattycoram« suggested Mr Meagles again
»Thank you that Tattycoram was a name and I have several times wondered
at the oddity of it«
»Why the fact is« said Mr Meagles »Mrs Meagles and myself are you see
practical people«
»That you have frequently mentioned in the course of the agreeable and
interesting conversations we have had together walking up and down on these
stones« said the other with a half smile breaking through the gravity of his
dark face
»Practical people So one day five or six years ago now when we took Pet
to church at the Foundling you have heard of the Foundling Hospital in London
Similar to the Institution for the Found Children in Paris«
»I have seen it«
»Well One day when we took Pet to church there to hear the music because
as practical people it is the business of our lives to show her everything that
we think can please her Mother my usual name for Mrs Meagles began to cry
so that it was necessary to take her out Whats the matter Mother said I
when we had brought her a little round you are frightening Pet my dear Yes I
know that Father says Mother but I think its through my loving her so much
that it ever came into my head That ever what came into your head Mother O
dear dear cried Mother breaking out again when I saw all those children
ranged tier above tier and appealing from the father none of them has ever
known on earth to the great Father of us all in Heaven I thought does any
wretched mother ever come here and look among those young faces wondering
which is the poor child she brought into this forlorn world never through all
its life to know her love her kiss her face her voice even her name Now
that was practical in Mother and I told her so I said Mother thats what I
call practical in you my dear«
The other not unmoved assented
»So I said next day Now Mother I have a proposition to make that I think
youll approve of Let us take one of those same children to be a little maid to
Pet We are practical people So if we should find her temper a little
defective or any of her ways a little wide of ours we shall know what we have
to take into account We shall know what an immense deduction must be made from
all the influences and experiences that have formed us no parents no
childbrother or sister no individuality of home no Glass Slipper or Fairy
Godmother And thats the way we came by Tattycoram«
»And the name itself «
»By George« said Mr Meagles »I was forgetting the name itself Why she
was called in the Institution Harriet Beadle an arbitrary name of course
Now Harriet we changed into Hattey and then into Tatty because as practical
people we thought even a playful name might be a new thing to her and might
have a softening and affectionate kind of effect dont you see As to Beadle
that I neednt say was wholly out of the question If there is anything that is
not to be tolerated on any terms anything that is a type of Jackinoffice
insolence and absurdity anything that represents in coats waistcoats and big
sticks our English holdingon by nonsense after every one has found it out it
is a beadle You havent seen a beadle lately«
»As an Englishman who has been more than twenty years in China no«
»Then« said Mr Meagles laying his forefinger on his companions breast
with great animation »dont you see a beadle now if you can help it Whenever
I see a beadle in full fig coming down a street on a Sunday at the head of a
charity school I am obliged to turn and run away or I should hit him The name
of Beadle being out of the question and the originator of the Institution for
these poor foundlings having been a blessed creature of the name of Coram we
gave that name to Pets little maid At one time she was Tatty and at one time
she was Coram until we got into a way of mixing the two names together and now
she is always Tattycoram«
»Your daughter« said the other when they had taken another silent turn to
and fro and after standing for a moment at the wall glancing down at the sea
had resumed their walk »is your only child I know Mr Meagles May I ask you
in no impertinent curiosity but because I have had so much pleasure in your
society may never in this labyrinth of a world exchange a quiet word with you
again and wish to preserve an accurate remembrance of you and yours may I ask
you if I have not gathered from your good wife that you have had other
children«
»No No« said Mr Meagles »Not exactly other children One other child«
»I am afraid I have inadvertently touched upon a tender theme«
»Never mind« said Mr Meagles »If I am grave about it I am not at all
sorrowful It quiets me for a moment but does not make me unhappy Pet had a
twin sister who died when we could just see her eyes exactly like Pets
above the table as she stood on tiptoe holding by it«
»Ah indeed indeed«
»Yes and being practical people a result has gradually sprung up in the
minds of Mrs Meagles and myself which perhaps you may or perhaps you may not
understand Pet and her baby sister were so exactly alike and so completely
one that in our thoughts we have never been able to separate them since It
would be of no use to tell us that our dead child was a mere infant We have
changed that child according to the changes in the child spared to us and
always with us As Pet has grown that child has grown as Pet has become more
sensible and womanly her sister has become more sensible and womanly by just
the same degrees It would be as hard to convince me that if I was to pass into
the other world tomorrow I should not through the mercy of God be received
there by a daughter just like Pet as to persuade me that Pet herself is not a
reality at my side«
»I understand you« said the other gently
»As to her« pursued her father »the sudden loss of her little picture and
playfellow and her early association with that mystery in which we all have our
equal share but which is not often so forcibly presented to a child has
necessarily had some influence on her character Then her mother and I were not
young when we married and Pet has always had a sort of grownup life with us
though we have tried to adapt ourselves to her We have been advised more than
once when she has been a little ailing to change climate and air for her as
often as we could especially at about this time of her life and to keep her
amused So as I have no need to stick at a bankdesk now though I have been
poor enough in my time I assure you or I should have married Mrs Meagles long
before we go trotting about the world This is how you found us staring at the
Nile and the Pyramids and the Sphinxes and the Desert and all the rest of
it and this is how Tattycoram will be a greater traveller in course of time
than Captain Cook«
»I thank you« said the other »very heartily for your confidence«
»Dont mention it« returned Mr Meagles »I am sure you are quite welcome
And now Mr Clennam perhaps I may ask you whether you have yet come to a
decision where to go next«
»Indeed no I am such a waif and stray everywhere that I am liable to be
drifted where any current may set«
»Its extraordinary to me if youll excuse my freedom in saying so that
you dont go straight to London« said Mr Meagles in the tone of a
confidential adviser
»Perhaps I shall«
»Ay But I mean with a will«
»I have no will That is to say« he coloured a little »next to none that I
can put in action now Trained by main force broken not bent heavily ironed
with an object on which I was never consulted and which was never mine shipped
away to the other end of the world before I was of age and exiled there until
my fathers death there a year ago always grinding in a mill I always hated
what is to be expected from me in middle life Will purpose hope All those
lights were extinguished before I could sound the words«
»Light em up again« said Mr Meagles
»Ah Easily said I am the son Mr Meagles of a hard father and mother I
am the only child of parents who weighed measured and priced everything for
whom what could not be weighed measured and priced had no existence Strict
people as the phrase is professors of a stern religion their very religion was
a gloomy sacrifice of tastes and sympathies that were never their own offered
up as a part of a bargain for the security of their possessions Austere faces
inexorable discipline penance in this world and terror in the next nothing
graceful or gentle anywhere and the void in my cowed heart everywhere this
was my childhood if I may so misuse the word as to apply it to such a beginning
of life«
»Really though« said Mr Meagles made very uncomfortable by the picture
offered to his imagination »That was a tough commencement But come You must
now study and profit by all that lies beyond it like a practical man«
»If the people who are usually called practical were practical in your
direction «
»Why so they are« said Mr Meagles
»Are they indeed«
»Well I suppose so« returned Mr Meagles thinking about it »Eh One can
but be practical and Mrs Meagles and myself are nothing else«
»My unknown course is easier and more hopeful than I had expected to find it
then« said Clennam shaking his head with his grave smile »Enough of me Here
is the boat«
The boat was filled with the cocked hats to which Mr Meagles entertained a
national objection and the wearers of those cocked hats landed and came up the
steps and all the impounded travellers congregated together There was then a
mighty production of papers on the part of the cocked hats and a calling over
of names and great work of signing sealing stamping inking and sanding
with exceedingly blurred gritty and undecipherable results Finally
everything was done according to rule and the travellers were at liberty to
depart whithersoever they would
They made little account of stare and glare in the new pleasure of
recovering their freedom but flitted across the harbour in gay boats and
reassembled at a great hotel whence the sun was excluded by closed lattices
and where bare paved floors lofty ceilings and resounding corridors tempered
the intense heat There a great table in a great room was soon profusely
covered with a superb repast and the quarantine quarters became bare indeed
remembered among dainty dishes southern fruits cooled wines flowers from
Genoa snow from the mountain tops and all the colours of the rainbow flashing
in the mirrors
»But I bear those monotonous walls no illwill now« said Mr Meagles »One
always begins to forgive a place as soon as its left behind I dare say a
prisoner begins to relent towards his prison after he is let out«
They were about thirty in company and all talking but necessarily in
groups Father and Mother Meagles sat with their daughter between them the last
three on one side of the table on the opposite side sat Mr Clennam a tall
French gentleman with raven hair and beard of a swart and terrible not to say
genteely diabolical aspect but who had shown himself the mildest of men and a
handsome young Englishwoman travelling quite alone who had a proud observant
face and had either withdrawn herself from the rest or been avoided by the rest
nobody herself excepted perhaps could have quite decided which The rest of
the party were of the usual materials Travellers on business and travellers
for pleasure officers from India on leave merchants in the Greek and Turkey
trades a clerical English husband in a meek straitwaistcoat on a wedding trip
with his young wife a majestic English mama and papa of the patrician order
with a family of three growingup daughters who were keeping a journal for the
confusion of their fellowcreatures and a deaf old English mother tough in
travel with a very decidedly grownup daughter indeed which daughter went
sketching about the universe in the expectation of ultimately toning herself off
into the married state
The reserved Englishwoman took up Mr Meagles in his last remark
»Do you mean that a prisoner forgives his prison« said she slowly and with
emphasis
»That was my speculation Miss Wade I dont pretend to know positively how
a prisoner might feel I never was one before«
»Mademoiselle doubts« said the French gentleman in his own language »its
being so easy to forgive«
»I do«
Pet had to translate this passage to Mr Meagles who never by any accident
acquired any knowledge whatever of the language of any country into which he
travelled »Oh« said he »Dear me But thats a pity isnt it«
»That I am not credulous« said Miss Wade
»Not exactly that Put it another way That you cant believe it easy to
forgive«
»My experience« she quietly returned »has been correcting my belief in
many respects for some years It is our natural progress I have heard«
»Well well But its not natural to bear malice I hope« said Mr Meagles
cheerily
»If I had been shut up in any place to pine and suffer I should always hate
that place and wish to burn it down or raze it to the ground I know no more«
»Strong sir« said Mr Meagles to the Frenchman it being another of his
habits to address individuals of all nations in idiomatic English with a
perfect conviction that they were bound to understand it somehow »Rather
forcible in our fair friend youll agree with me I think«
The French gentleman courteously replied »Plaitil« To which Mr Meagles
returned with much satisfaction »You are right My opinion«
The breakfast beginning byandby to languish Mr Meagles made the company
a speech It was short enough and sensible enough considering that it was a
speech at all and hearty It merely went to the effect that as they had all
been thrown together by chance and had all preserved a good understanding
together and were now about to disperse and were not likely ever to find
themselves all together again what could they do better than bid farewell to
one another, and give one another goodspeed in a simultaneous glass of cool
champagne all round the table It was done and with a general shaking of hands
the assembly broke up for ever
The solitary young lady all this time had said no more She rose with the
rest and silently withdrew to a remote corner of the great room where she sat
herself on a couch in a window seeming to watch the reflection of the water as
it made a silver quivering on the bars of the lattice She sat turned away from
the whole length of the apartment as if she were lonely of her own haughty
choice And yet it would have been as difficult as ever to say positively
whether she avoided the rest or was avoided
The shadow in which she sat falling like a gloomy veil across her forehead
accorded very well with the character of her beauty One could hardly see the
face so still and scornful set off by the arched dark eyebrows and the folds
of dark hair without wondering what its expression would be if a change came
over it That it could soften or relent appeared next to impossible That it
could deepen into anger or any extreme of defiance and that it must change in
that direction when it changed at all would have been its peculiar impression
upon most observers It was dressed and trimmed into no ceremony of expression
Although not an open face there was no pretence in it I am selfcontained and
selfreliant your opinion is nothing to me I have no interest in you care
nothing for you and see and hear you with indifference this it said plainly
It said so in the proud eyes in the lifted nostril in the handsome but
compressed and even cruel mouth Cover either two of those channels of
expression and the third would have said so still Mask them all and the mere
turn of the head would have shown an unsubduable nature
Pet had moved up to her she had been the subject of remark among her family
and Mr Clennam who were now the only other occupants of the room and was
standing at her side
»Are you« she turned her eyes and Pet faltered »expecting any one to
meet you here Miss Wade«
»I No«
»Father is sending to the Poste Restante Shall he have the pleasure of
directing the messenger to ask if there are any letters for you«
»I thank him but I know there can be none«
»We are afraid« said Pet sitting down beside her shyly and half tenderly
»that you will feel quite deserted when we are all gone«
»Indeed«
»Not« said Pet apologetically and embarrassed by her eyes »not of
course that we are any company to you or that we have been able to be so or
that we thought you wished it«
»I have not intended to make it understood that I did wish it«
»No Of course But in short« said Pet timidly touching her hand as it
lay impassive on the sofa between them »will you not allow Father to render you
any slight assistance or service He will be very glad«
»Very glad« said Mr Meagles coming forward with his wife and Clennam
»Anything short of speaking the language I shall be delighted to undertake I
am sure«
»I am obliged to you« she returned »but my arrangements are made and I
prefer to go my own way in my own manner«
»Do you« said Mr Meagles to himself as he surveyed her with a puzzled
look »Well Theres character in that too«
»I am not much used to the society of young ladies and I am afraid I may
not show my appreciation of it as others might A pleasant journey to you
Goodbye«
She would not have put out her hand it seemed but that Mr Meagles put out
his so straight before her that she could not pass it She put hers in it and
it lay there just as it had lain upon the couch
»Goodbye« said Mr Meagles »This is the last goodbye upon the list for
Mother and I have just said it to Mr Clennam here and he only waits to say it
to Pet Goodbye We may never meet again«
»In our course through life we shall meet the people who are coming to meet
us from many strange places and by many strange roads« was the composed reply
»and what it is set to us to do to them and what it is set to them to do to us
will all be done«
There was something in the manner of these words that jarred upon Pets ear
It implied that what was to be done was necessarily evil and it caused her to
say in a whisper »O Father« and to shrink childishly in her spoilt way a
little closer to him This was not lost on the speaker
»Your pretty daughter« she said »starts to think of such things Yet«
looking full upon her »you may be sure that there are men and women already on
their road who have their business to do with you and who will do it Of a
certainty they will do it They may be coming hundreds thousands of miles over
the sea there they may be close at hand now they may be coming for anything
you know or anything you can do to prevent it from the vilest sweepings of
this very town«
With the coldest of farewells and with a certain worn expression on her
beauty that gave it though scarcely yet in its prime a wasted look she left
the room
Now there were many stairs and passages that she had to traverse in passing
from that part of the spacious house to the chamber she had secured for her own
occupation When she had almost completed the journey and was passing along the
gallery in which her room was she heard an angry sound of muttering and
sobbing A door stood open and within she saw the attendant upon the girl she
had just left the maid with the curious name
She stood still to look at this maid A sullen passionate girl Her rich
black hair was all about her face her face was flushed and hot and as she
sobbed and raged she plucked at her lips with an unsparing hand
»Selfish brutes« said the girl sobbing and heaving between whiles »Not
caring what becomes of me Leaving me here hungry and thirsty and tired to
starve for anything they care Beasts Devils Wretches«
»My poor girl what is the matter«
She looked up suddenly with reddened eyes and with her hands suspended in
the act of pinching her neck freshly disfigured with great scarlet blots »Its
nothing to you whats the matter It dont signify to any one«
»O yes it does I am sorry to see you so«
»You are not sorry« said the girl »You are glad You know you are glad I
never was like this but twice over in the quarantine yonder and both times you
found me I am afraid of you«
»Afraid of me«
»Yes You seem to come like my own anger my own malice my own whatever
it is I dont know what it is But I am illused I am illused I am
illused« Here the sobs and the tears and the tearing hand which had all been
suspended together since the first surprise went on together anew
The visitor stood looking at her with a strange attentive smile It was
wonderful to see the fury of the contest in the girl and the bodily struggle
she made as if she were rent by the Demons of old
»I am younger than she is by two or three years and yet its me that looks
after her as if I was old and its she thats always petted and called Baby I
detest the name I hate her They make a fool of her they spoil her She thinks
of nothing but herself she thinks no more of me than if I was a stock and a
stone« So the girl went on
»You must have patience«
»I wont have patience«
»If they take much care of themselves and little or none of you you must
not mind it«
»I will mind it«
»Hush Be more prudent You forget your dependent position«
»I dont care for that Ill run away Ill do some mischief I wont bear
it I cant bear it I shall die if I try to bear it«
The observer stood with her hand upon her own bosom looking at the girl as
one afflicted with a diseased part might curiously watch the dissection and
exposition of an analogous case
The girl raged and battled with all the force of her youth and fulness of
life until by little and little her passionate exclamations trailed off into
broken murmurs as if she were in pain By corresponding degrees she sank into a
chair then upon her knees then upon the ground beside the bed drawing the
coverlet with her half to hide her shamed head and wet hair in it and half as
it seemed to embrace it rather than have nothing to take to her repentant
breast
»Go away from me go away from me When my temper comes upon me I am mad I
know I might keep it off if I only tried hard enough and sometimes I do try
hard enough and at other times I dont and wont What have I said I knew when
I said it it was all lies They think I am being taken care of somewhere and
have all I want They are nothing but good to me I love them dearly no people
could ever be kinder to a thankless creature than they always are to me Do do
go away for I am afraid of you I am afraid of myself when I feel my temper
coming and I am as much afraid of you Go away from me and let me pray and cry
myself better«
The day passed on and again the wide stare stared itself out and the hot
night was on Marseilles and through it the caravan of the morning all
dispersed went their appointed ways And thus ever by day and night under the
sun and under the stars climbing the dusty hills and toiling along the weary
plains journeying by land and journeying by sea coming and going so strangely
to meet and to act and react on one another, move all we restless travellers
through the pilgrimage of life
Chapter III
Home
It was a Sunday evening in London gloomy close and stale Maddening church
bells of all degrees of dissonance sharp and flat cracked and clear fast and
slow made the brickandmortar echoes hideous Melancholy streets in a
penitential garb of soot steeped the souls of the people who were condemned to
look at them out of windows in dire despondency In every thoroughfare up
almost every alley and down almost every turning some doleful bell was
throbbing jerking tolling as if the Plague were in the city and the
deadcarts were going round Everything was bolted and barred that could by
possibility furnish relief to an overworked people No pictures no unfamiliar
animals no rare plants or flowers no natural or artificial wonders of the
ancient world all taboo with that enlightened strictness that the ugly South
Sea gods in the British Museum might have supposed themselves at home again
Nothing to see but streets streets streets Nothing to breathe but streets
streets streets Nothing to change the brooding mind or raise it up Nothing
for the spent toiler to do but to compare the monotony of his seventh day with
the monotony of his six days think what a weary life he led and make the best
of it or the worst according to the probabilities
At such a happy time so propitious to the interests of religion and
morality Mr Arthur Clennam newly arrived from Marseilles by way of Dover and
by Dover coach the Blueeyed Maid sat in the window of a coffeehouse on
Ludgate Hill Ten thousand responsible houses surrounded him frowning as
heavily on the streets they composed as if they were every one inhabited by the
ten young men of the Calenders story who blackened their faces and bemoaned
their miseries every night Fifty thousand lairs surrounded him where people
lived so unwholesomely that fair water put into their crowded rooms on Saturday
night would be corrupt on Sunday morning albeit my lord their county member
was amazed that they failed to sleep in company with their butchers meat Miles
of close wells and pits of houses where the inhabitants gasped for air
stretched far away towards every point of the compass Through the heart of the
town a deadly sewer ebbed and flowed in the place of a fine fresh river What
secular want could the million or so of human beings whose daily labour six
days in the week lay among these Arcadian objects from the sweet sameness of
which they had no escape between the cradle and the grave what secular want
could they possibly have upon their seventh day Clearly they could want nothing
but a stringent policeman
Mr Arthur Clennam sat in the window of the coffeehouse on Ludgate Hill
counting one of the neighbouring bells making sentences and burdens of songs
out of it in spite of himself and wondering how many sick people it might be
the death of in the course of the year As the hour approached its changes of
measure made it more and more exasperating At the quarter it went off into a
condition of deadlylively importunity urging the populace in a voluble manner
to Come to church Come to church Come to church At the ten minutes it became
aware that the congregation would be scanty and slowly hammered out in low
spirits They wont come they wont come they wont come At the five minutes
it abandoned hope and shook every house in the neighbourhood for three hundred
seconds with one dismal swing per second as a groan of despair
»Thank Heaven« said Clennam when the hour struck and the bell stopped
But its sound had revived a long train of miserable Sundays and the
procession would not stop with the bell but continued to march on »Heaven
forgive me« said he »and those who trained me How I have hated this day«
There was the dreary Sunday of his childhood when he sat with his hands
before him scared out of his senses by a horrible tract which commenced
business with the poor child by asking him in its title why he was going to
Perdition a piece o curiosity that he really in a frock and drawers was not
in a condition to satisfy and which for the further attraction of his infant
mind had a parenthesis in every other line with some such hiccupping reference
as 2 Ep Thess c iii v 6 amp 7 There was the sleepy Sunday of his
boyhood when like a military deserter he was marched to chapel by a picquet
of teachers three times a day morally handcuffed to another boy and when he
would willingly have bartered two meals of indigestible sermon for another ounce
or two of inferior mutton at his scanty dinner in the flesh There was the
interminable Sunday of his nonage when his mother stern of face and
unrelenting of heart would sit all day behind a Bible bound like her own
construction of it in the hardest barest and straitest boards with one dinted
ornament on the cover like the drag of a chain and a wrathful sprinkling of red
upon the edges of the leaves as if it of all books were a fortification
against sweetness of temper natural affection and gentle intercourse There
was the resentful Sunday of a little later when he sat glowering and glooming
through the tardy length of the day with a sullen sense of injury in his heart
and no more real knowledge of the beneficent history of the New Testament than
if he had been bred among idolaters There was a legion of Sundays all days of
unserviceable bitterness and mortification slowly passing before him
»Beg pardon sir« said a brisk waiter rubbing the table »Wish see
bedroom«
»Yes I have just made up my mind to do it«
»Chaymaid« cried the waiter »Gelen box num seven wish see room«
»Stay« said Clennam rousing himself »I was not thinking of what I said I
answered mechanically I am not going to sleep here I am going home«
»Deed sir Chaymaid Gelen box num seven not go sleep here gome«
He sat in the same place as the day died looking at the dull houses
opposite and thinking if the disembodied spirits of former inhabitants were
ever conscious of them how they must pity themselves for their old places of
imprisonment Sometimes a face would appear behind the dingy glass of a window
and would fade away into the gloom as if it had seen enough of life and had
vanished out of it Presently the rain began to fall in slanting lines between
him and those houses and people began to collect under cover of the public
passage opposite and to look out hopelessly at the sky as the rain dropped
thicker and faster Then wet umbrellas began to appear draggled skirts and
mud What the mud had been doing with itself, or where it came from who could
say But it seemed to collect in a moment as a crowd will and in five minutes
to have splashed all the sons and daughters of Adam The lamplighter was going
his rounds now and as the fiery jets sprang up under his touch one might have
fancied them astonished at being suffered to introduce any show of brightness
into such a dismal scene
Mr Arthur Clennam took up his hat and buttoned his coat and walked out In
the country the rain would have developed a thousand fresh scents and every
drop would have had its bright association with some beautiful form of growth or
life In the city it developed only foul stale smells and was a sickly
lukewarm dirtstained wretched addition to the gutters
He crossed by St Pauls and went down at a long angle almost to the
waters edge through some of the crooked and descending streets which lie and
lay more crookedly and closely then between the river and Cheapside Passing
now the mouldy hall of some obsolete Worshipful Company now the illuminated
windows of a Congregationless Church that seemed to be waiting for some
adventurous Belzoni to dig it out and discover its history passing silent
warehouses and wharves and here and there a narrow alley leading to the river
where a wretched little bill FOUND DROWNED was weeping on the wet wall he
came at last to the house he sought An old brick house so dingy as to be all
but black standing by itself within a gateway Before it a square courtyard
where a shrub or two and a patch of grass were as rank which is saying much as
the iron railings enclosing them were rusty behind it a jumble of roots It
was a double house with long narrow heavilyframed windows Many years ago
it had had it in its mind to slide down sideways it had been propped up
however and was leaning on some halfdozen gigantic crutches which gymnasium
for the neighbouring cats weatherstained smokeblackened and overgrown with
weeds appeared in these latter days to be no very sure reliance
»Nothing changed« said the traveller stopping to look round »Dark and
miserable as ever A light in my mothers window which seems never to have been
extinguished since I came home twice a year from school and dragged my box over
this pavement Well well well«
He went up to the door which had a projecting canopy in carved work of
festooned jacktowels and childrens heads with water on the brain designed
after a oncepopular monumental pattern and knocked A shuffling step was soon
heard on the stone floor of the hall and the door was opened by an old man
bent and dried but with keen eyes
He had a candle in his hand and he held it up for a moment to assist his
keen eyes »Ah Mr Arthur« he said without any emotion »you are come at
last Step in«
Mr Arthur stepped in and shut the door
»Your figure is filled out and set« said the old man turning to look at
him with the light raised again and shaking his head »but you dont come up to
your father in my opinion Nor yet your mother«
»How is my mother«
»She is as she always is now Keeps her room when not actually bedridden
and hasnt been out of it fifteen times in as many years Arthur« They had
walked into a spare meagre diningroom The old man had put the candlestick
upon the table and supporting his right elbow with his left hand was
smoothing his leathern jaws while he looked at the visitor The visitor offered
his hand The old man took it coldly enough and seemed to prefer his jaws to
which he returned as soon as he could
»I doubt if your mother will approve of your coming home on the Sabbath
Arthur« he said shaking his head warily
»You wouldnt have me go away again«
»Oh I I I am not the master Its not what I would have I have stood
between your father and mother for a number of years I dont pretend to stand
between your mother and you«
»Will you tell her that I have come home«
»Yes Arthur yes Oh to be sure Ill tell her that you have come home
Please to wait here You wont find the room changed« He took another candle
from a cupboard lighted it left the first on the table and went upon his
errand He was a short bald old man in a highshouldered black coat and
waistcoat drab breeches and long drab gaiters He might from his dress have
been either clerk or servant and in fact had long been both There was nothing
about him in the way of decoration but a watch which was lowered into the
depths of its proper pocket by an old black ribbon and had a tarnished copper
key moored above it to show where it was sunk His head was awry and he had a
onesided crablike way with him as if his foundations had yielded at about
the same time as those of the house and he ought to have been propped up in a
similar manner
»How weak am I« said Arthur Clennam when he was gone »that I could shed
tears at this reception I who have never experienced anything else who have
never expected anything else«
He not only could but did It was the momentary yielding of a nature that
had been disappointed from the dawn of its perceptions but had not quite given
up all its hopeful yearnings yet He subdued it took up the candle and examined
the room The old articles of furniture were in their old places the Plagues of
Egypt much the dimmer for the fly and smoke plagues of London were framed and
glazed upon the walls There was the old cellaret with nothing in it lined with
lead like a sort of coffin in compartments there was the old dark closet also
with nothing in it of which he had been many a time the sole contents in days
of punishment when he had regarded it as the veritable entrance to that bourne
to which the tract had found him galloping There was the large hardfeatured
clock on the sideboard which he used to see bending its figured brows upon him
with a savage joy when he was behindhand with his lessons and which when it
was wound up once a week with an iron handle used to sound as if it were
growling in ferocious anticipation of the miseries into which it would bring
him But here was the old man come back saying »Arthur Ill go before and
light you«
Arthur followed him up the staircase which was panelled off into spaces
like so many mourning tablets into a dim bedchamber the floor of which had
gradually so sunk and settled that the fireplace was in a dell On a black
bierlike sofa in this hollow propped up behind with one great angular black
bolster like the block at a state execution in the good old times sat his
mother in a widows dress
She and his father had been at variance from his earliest remembrance To
sit speechless himself in the midst of rigid silence glancing in dread from the
one averted face to the other had been the peacefullest occupation of his
childhood She gave him one glassy kiss and four stiff fingers muffled in
worsted This embrace concluded he sat down on the opposite side of her little
table There was a fire in the grate as there had been night and day for
fifteen years There was a kettle on the hob as there had been night and day
for fifteen years There was a little mound of damped ashes on the top of the
fire and another little mound swept together under the grate as there had been
night and day for fifteen years There was a smell of black dye in the airless
room which the fire had been drawing out of the crape and stuff of the widows
dress for fifteen months and out of the bierlike sofa for fifteen years
»Mother this is a change from your old active habits«
»The world has narrowed to these dimensions Arthur« she replied glancing
round the room »It is well for me that I never set my heart upon its hollow
vanities«
The old influence of her presence and her stern strong voice so gathered
about her son that he felt conscious of a renewal of the timid chill and
reserve of his childhood
»Do you never leave your room mother«
»What with my rheumatic affection and what with its attendant debility or
nervous weakness names are of no matter now I have lost the use of my limbs
I never leave my room I have not been outside this door for tell him for how
long« she said speaking over her shoulder
»A dozen year next Christmas« returned a cracked voice out of the dimness
behind
»Is that Affery« said Arthur looking towards it
The cracked voice replied that it was Affery and an old woman came forward
into what doubtful light there was and kissed her hand once then subsided
again into the dimness
»I am able« said Mrs Clennam with a slight motion of her worstedmuffled
right hand towards a chair on wheels standing before a tall writing cabinet
close shut up »I am able to attend to my business duties and I am thankful for
the privilege It is a great privilege But no more of business on this day It
is a bad night is it not«
»Yes mother«
»Does it snow«
»Snow mother And we only yet in September«
»All seasons are alike to me« she returned with a grim kind of
luxuriousness »I know nothing of summer and winter shut up here The Lord has
been pleased to put me beyond all that« With her cold grey eyes and her cold
grey hair and her immovable face as stiff as the folds of her stony
headdress her being beyond the reach of the seasons seemed but a fit
sequence to her being beyond the reach of all changing emotions
On her little table lay two or three books her handkerchief a pair of
steel spectacles newly taken off and an oldfashioned gold watch in a heavy
double case Upon this last object her sons eyes and her own now rested
together
»I see that you received the packet I sent you on my fathers death safely
mother«
»You see«
»I never knew my father to show so much anxiety on any subject as that his
watch should be sent straight to you«
»I keep it here as a remembrance of your father«
»It was not until the last that he expressed the wish When he could only
put his hand upon it and very indistinctly say to me your mother A moment
before I thought him wandering in his mind as he had been for many hours I
think he had no consciousness of pain in his short illness when I saw him turn
himself in his bed and try to open it«
»Was your father then not wandering in his mind when he tried to open it«
»No He was quite sensible at that time«
Mrs Clennam shook her head whether in dismissal of the deceased or
opposing herself to her sons opinion was not clearly expressed
»After my fathers death I opened it myself thinking there might be for
anything I knew some memorandum there However as I need not tell you mother
there was nothing but the old silk watchpaper worked in beads which you found
no doubt in its place between the cases, where I found and left it«
Mrs Clennam signified assent then added »No more of business on this
day« and then added »Affery it is nine oclock«
Upon this the old woman cleared the little table went out of the room and
quickly returned with a tray on which was a dish of little rusks and a small
precise pat of butter cool symmetrical white and plump The old man who had
been standing by the door in one attitude during the whole interview looking at
the mother upstairs as he had looked at the son downstairs went out at the
same time and after a longer absence returned with another tray on which was
the greater part of a bottle of port wine which to judge by his panting he
had brought from the cellar a lemon a sugarbasin and a spice box With
these materials and the aid of the kettle he filled a tumbler with a hot and
odorous mixture measured out and compounded with as much nicety as a
physicians prescription Into this mixture Mrs Clennam dipped certain of the
rusks and ate them while the old woman buttered certain other of the rusks
which were to be eaten alone When the invalid had eaten all the rusks and drunk
all the mixture the two trays were removed and the books and the candle
watch handkerchief and spectacles were replaced upon the table She then put
on the spectacles and read certain passages aloud from a book sternly
fiercely wrathfully praying that her enemies she made them by her tone and
manner expressly hers might be put to the edge of the word consumed by fire
smitten by plagues and leprosy that their bones might be ground to dust and
that they might be utterly exterminated As she read on years seemed to fall
away from her son like the imaginings of a dream and all the old dark horrors
of his usual preparation for the sleep of an innocent child to overshadow him
She shut the book and remained for a little time with her face shaded by her
hand So did the old man otherwise still unchanged in attitude so probably
did the old woman in her dimmer part of the room Then the sick woman was ready
for bed
»Good night Arthur Affery will see to your accommodation Only touch me
for my hand is tender« He touched the worsted muffling of her hand that was
nothing if his mother had been sheathed in brass there would have been no new
barrier between them and followed the old man and woman downstairs
The latter asked him when they were alone together among the heavy shadows
of the diningroom would he have some supper
»No Affery no supper«
»You shall if you like« said Affery »Theres her tomorrows partridge in
the larder her first this year say the word and Ill cook it«
No he had not long dined and could eat nothing
»Have something to drink then« said Affery »you shall have some of her
bottle of port if you like Ill tell Jeremiah that you ordered me to bring it
you«
No nor would he have that either
»Its no reason Arthur« said the old woman bending over him to whisper
»that because I am afeared of my life of em you should be Youve got half the
property havent you«
»Yes yes«
»Well then dont you be cowed Youre clever Arthur ant you«
He nodded as she seemed to expect an answer in the affirmative
»Then stand up against them Shes awful clever and none but a clever one
durst say a word to her Hes a clever one oh hes a clever one and he
gives it her when he has a mind to t he does«
»Your husband does«
»Does It makes me shake from head to foot to hear him give it her My
husband Jeremiah Flintwinch can conquer even your mother What can he be but a
clever one to do that«
His shuffling footstep coming towards them caused her to retreat to the
other end of the room Though a tall hardfavoured sinewy old woman who in her
youth might have enlisted in the Food Guards without much fear of discovery she
collapsed before the little keeneyed crablike old man
»Now Affery« said he »now woman what are you doing Cant you find Master
Arthur something or another to pick at«
Master Arthur repeated his recent refusal to pick at anything
»Very well then« said the old man »make his bed Stir yourself« His neck
was so twisted that the knotted ends of his white cravat usually dangled under
one ear his natural acerbity and energy always contending with a second nature
of habitual repression gave his features a swollen and suffused look and
altogether he had a weird appearance of having banged himself at one time or
other and of having gone about ever since halter and all exactly as some
timely hand had cut him down
»Youll have bitter words together tomorrow Arthur you and your mother«
said Jeremiah »Your having given up the business on your fathers death which
she suspects though we have left it to you to tell her wont go off
smoothly«
»I have given up everything in life for the business and the time came for
me to give up that«
»Good« cried Jeremiah evidently meaning Bad »Very good only dont expect
me to stand between your mother and you Arthur I stood between your mother and
your father fending off this and fending off that and getting crushed and
pounded betwixt em and Ive done with such work«
»You will never be asked to begin it again for me Jeremiah«
»Good Im glad to hear it because I should have had to decline it if I
had been Thats enough as your mother says and more than enough of such
matters on a Sabbath night Affery woman have you found what you want yet«
She had been collecting sheets and blankets from a press and hastened to
gather them up and to reply »Yes Jeremiah« Arthur Clennam helped her by
carrying the load himself wished the old man good night and went upstairs with
her to the top of the house
They mounted up and up through the musty smell of an old close house
little used to a large garret bedroom Meagre and spare like all the other
rooms it was even uglier and grimmer than the rest by being the place of
banishment for the wornout furniture Its movables were ugly old chairs with
wornout seats and ugly old chairs without any seats a threadbare patternless
carpet a maimed table a crippled wardrobe a lean set of fireirons like the
skeleton of a set deceased a washingstand that looked as if it had stood for
ages in a hail of dirty soapsuds and a bedstead with four bare atomies of
posts each terminating in a spike as if for the dismal accommodation of
lodgers who might prefer to impale themselves Arthur opened the long low
window and looked out upon the old blasted and blackened forest of chimneys
and the old red glare in the sky which had seemed to him once upon a time but a
nightly reflection of the fiery environment that was presented to his childish
fancy in all directions let it look where it would
He drew in his head again sat down at the bedside and looked on at Affery
Flintwinch making the bed
»Affery you were not married when I went away«
She screwed her mouth into the form of saying »No« shook her head and
proceeded to get a pillow into its case
»How did it happen«
»Why Jeremiah o course« said Affery with an end of the pillowcase
between her teeth
»Of course he proposed it but how did it all come about I should have
thought that neither of you would have married least of all should I have
thought of your marrying each other«
»No more should I« said Mrs Flintwinch tying the pillow tightly in its
case
»Thats what I mean When did you begin to think otherwise«
»Never begun to think otherwise at all« said Mrs Flintwinch
Seeing as she patted the pillow into its place on the bolster that he was
still looking at her as if waiting for the rest of her reply she gave it a
great poke in the middle and asked »How could I help myself«
»How could you help yourself from being married«
»O course« said Mrs Flintwinch »It was no doing o mine Id never
thought of it Id got something to do without thinking indeed She kept me to
it as well as he when she could go about and she could go about then«
»Well«
»Well« echoed Mrs Flintwinch »Thats what I said myself Well Whats the
use of considering If them two clever ones have made up their minds to it
whats left for me to do Nothing«
»Was it my mothers project then«
»The Lord bless you Arthur and forgive me the wish« cried Affery
speaking always in a low tone »If they hadnt been both of a mind in it how
could it ever have been Jeremiah never courted me tant likely that he would
after living in the house with me and ordering me about for as many years as
hed done He said to me one day he said Affery he said now I am going to
tell you something What do you think of the name of Flintwinch What do I think
of it I says Yes he said because youre going to take it he said Take it
I says Jeremiah Oh hes a clever one«
Mrs Flintwinch went on to spread the upper sheet over the bed and the
blanket over that and the counterpane over that as if she had quite concluded
her story
»Well« said Arthur again
»Well« echoed Mrs Flintwinch again »How could I help myself He said to
me Affery you and me must be married and Ill tell you why Shes failing in
health and shell want pretty constant attendance up in her room and we shall
have to be much with her and therell be nobody about now but ourselves when
were away from her and altogether it will be more convenient Shes of my
opinion he said so if youll put your bonnet on next Monday morning at eight
well get it over« Mrs Flintwinch tucked up the bed
»Well«
»Well« repeated Mrs Flintwinch »I think so I sits me down and says it
Well Jeremiah then says to me As to banns next Sunday being the third time
of asking for Ive put em up a fortnight is my reason for naming Monday
Shell speak to you about it herself and now shell find you prepared Affery
That same day she spoke to me and she said So Affery I understand that you
and Jeremiah are going to be married I am glad of it and so are you with
reason It is a very good thing for you and very welcome under the
circumstances to me He is a sensible man and a trustworthy man and a
persevering man and a pious man What could I say when it had come to that
Why if it had been a Smothering instead of a Wedding« Mrs Flintwinch cast
about in her mind with great pains for this form of expression »I couldnt have
said a word upon it against them two clever ones«
»In good faith I believe so«
»And so you may Arthur«
»Affery what girl was that in my mothers room just now«
»Girl« said Mrs Flintwinch in a rather sharp key
»It was a girl surely whom I saw near you almost hidden in the dark
corner«
»Oh She Little Dorrit Shes nothing shes a whim of hers« It was a
peculiarity of Affery Flintwinch that she never spoke of Mrs Clennam by name
»But theres another sort of girls than that about Have you forgot your old
sweetheart Long and long ago Ill be bound«
»I suffered enough from my mothers separating us to remember her I
recollect her very well«
»Have you got another«
»No«
»Heres news for you then Shes well to do now and a widow And if you
like to have her why you can«
»And how do you know that Affery«
»Them two clever ones have been speaking about it Theres Jeremiah on the
stairs« She was gone in a moment
Mrs Flintwinch had introduced into the web that his mind was busily
weaving in that old workshop where the loom of his youth had stood the last
thread wanting to the pattern The airy folly of a boys love had found its way
even into that house and he had been as wretched under its hopelessness as if
the house had been a castle of romance Little more than a week ago at
Marseilles the face of the pretty girl from whom he had parted with regret had
had an unusual interest for him and a tender hold upon him because of some
resemblance real or imagined to this first face that had soared out of his
gloomy life into the bright glories of fancy He leaned upon the sill of the
long low window and looking out upon the blackened forest of chimneys again
began to dream For it had been the uniform tendency of this mans life so
much was wanting in it to think about so much that might have been better
directed and happier to speculate upon to make him a dreamer after all
Chapter IV
Mrs Flintwinch Has a Dream
When Mrs Flintwinch dreamed she usually dreamed unlike the son of her old
mistress with her eyes shut She had a curiously vivid dream that night and
before she had left the son of her old mistress many hours In fact it was not
at all like a dream it was so very real in every respect It happened in this
wise
The bedchamber occupied by Mr and Mrs Flintwinch was within a few paces
of that to which Mrs Clennam had been so long confined It was not on the same
floor for it was a room at the side of the house which was approached by a
steep descent of a few odd steps diverging from the main staircase nearly
opposite to Mrs Clennams door It could scarcely be said to be within call
the walls doors and panelling of the old place were so cumbrous but it was
within easy reach in any undress at any hour of the night in any temperature
At the head of the bed and within a foot of Mrs Flintwinchs ear was a bell
the line of which hung ready to Mrs Clennams hand Whenever this bell rang up
started Affery and was in the sick room before she was awake
Having got her mistress into bed lighted her lamp and given her good
night Mrs Flintwinch went to roost as usual saving that her lord had not yet
appeared It was her lord himself who became unlike the last theme in the
mind, according to the observation of most philosophers the subject of Mrs
Flintwinchs dream
It seemed to her that she awoke after sleeping some hours and found
Jeremiah not yet abed That she looked at the candle she had left burning and
measuring the time like king Alfred the Great was confirmed by its wasted state
in her belief that she had been asleep for some considerable period That she
arose thereupon muffled herself up in a wrapper put on her shoes and went out
on the staircase much surprised to look for Jeremiah
The staircase was as wooden and solid as need be and Affery went straight
down it without any of those deviations peculiar to dreams She did not skim
over it but walked down it and guided herself by the banisters on account of
her candle having died out In one corner of the hall behind the housedoor
there was a little waitingroom like a wellshaft with a long narrow window in
it as if it had been ripped up In this room which was never used a light was
burning
Mrs Flintwinch crossed the hall feeling its pavement cold to her
stockingless feet and peeped in between the rusty hinges of the door which
stood a little open She expected to see Jeremiah fast asleep or in a fit but
he was calmly seated in a chair awake and in his usual health But what hey
Lord forgive us Mrs Flintwinch muttered some ejaculation to this effect
and turned giddy
For Mr Flintwinch awake was watching Mr Flintwinch asleep He sat on one
side of a small table looking keenly at himself on the other side with his chin
sunk on his breast snoring The waking Flintwinch had his full front face
presented to his wife the sleeping Flintwinch was in profile The waking
Flintwinch was the old original the sleeping Flintwinch was the double Just as
she might have distinguished between a tangible object and its reflection in a
glass Affery made out this difference with her head going round and round
If she had had any doubt which was her own Jeremiah it would have been
resolved by his impatience He looked about him for an offensive weapon caught
up the snuffers and before applying them to the cabbageheaded candle lunged
at the sleeper as though he would have run him through the body
»Whos that Whats the matter« cried the sleeper starting
Mr Flintwinch made a movement with the snuffers as if he would have
enforced silence on his companion by putting them down his throat the companion
coming to himself said rubbing his eyes »I forgot where I was«
»You have been asleep« snarled Jeremiah referring to his watch »two
hours You said you would be rested enough if you had a short nap«
»I have had a short nap« said Double
»Halfpast two oclock in the morning« muttered Jeremiah »Wheres your
hat Wheres your coat Wheres the box«
»All here« said Double tying up his throat with sleepy carefulness in a
shawl »Stop a minute Now give me the sleeve not that sleeve the other one
Ha Im not as young as I was« Mr Flintwinch had pulled him into his coat with
vehement energy »You promised me a second glass after I was rested«
»Drink it« returned Jeremiah »and choke yourself I was going to say
but go I mean« At the same time he produced the identical portwine bottle
and filled a wineglass
»Her portwine I believe« said Double tasting it as if he were in the
Docks with hours to spare »Her health«
He took a sip
»Your health«
He took another sip
»His health«
He took another sip
»And all friends round St Pauls« He emptied and put down the wineglass
halfway through this ancient civic toast and took up the box It was an iron
box some two feet square which he carried under his arms pretty easily
Jeremiah watched his manner of adjusting it with jealous eyes tried it with
his hands to be sure that he had a firm hold of it bade him for his life be
careful what he was about and then stole out on tiptoe to open the door for
him Affery anticipating the last movement was on the staircase The sequence
of things was so ordinary and natural that standing there she could hear the
door open feel the night air and see the stars outside
But now came the most remarkable part of the dream She felt so afraid of
her husband that being on the staircase she had not the power to retreat to
her room which she might easily have done before he had fastened the door but
stood there staring Consequently when he came up the staircase to bed candle
in hand he came full upon her He looked astonished but said not a word He
kept his eyes upon her and kept advancing and she completely under his
influence kept retiring before him Thus she walking backward and he walking
forward they came into their own room They were no sooner shut in there than
Mr Flintwinch took her by the throat and shook her until she was black in the
face
»Why Affery woman Affery« said Mr Flintwinch »What have you been
dreaming of Wake up wake up Whats the matter«
»The the matter Jeremiah« gasped Mrs Flintwinch rolling her eyes
»Why Affery woman Affery You have been getting out of bed in your
sleep my dear I come up after having fallen asleep myself below and find
you in your wrapper here with the nightmare Affery woman« said Mr
Flintwinch with a friendly grin on his expressive countenance »if you ever
have a dream of this sort again itll be a sign of your being in want of
physic And Ill give you such a dose old woman such a dose«
Mrs Flintwinch thanked him and crept into bed
Chapter V
Family Affairs
As the city clocks struck nine on Monday morning Mrs Clennam was wheeled by
Jeremiah Flintwinch of the cutdown aspect to her tall cabinet When she had
unlocked and opened it and had settled herself at its desk Jeremiah withdrew
as it might be to hang himself more effectually and her son appeared
»Are you any better this morning mother«
She shook her head with the same austere air of luxuriousness that she had
shown overnight when speaking of the weather »I shall never be better any
more It is well for me Arthur that I know it and can bear it«
Sitting with her hands laid separately upon the desk and the tall cabinet
towering before her she looked as if she were performing on a dumb church
organ Her son thought so it was an old thought with him while he took his
seat beside it
She opened a drawer or two looked over some business papers and put them
back again Her severe face had no thread of relaxation in it by which any
explorer could have been guided to the gloomy labyrinth of her thoughts
»Shall I speak of our affairs mother Are you inclined to enter upon
business«
»Am I inclined Arthur Rather are you Your father has been dead a year
and more I have been at your disposal and waiting your pleasure ever since«
»There was much to arrange before I could leave and when I did leave I
travelled a little for rest and relief«
She turned her face towards him as not having heard or understood his last
words
»For rest and relief«
She glanced round the sombre room and appeared from the motion of her lips
to repeat the words to herself as calling it to witness how little of either it
afforded her
»Besides mother you being sole executrix and having the direction and
management of the estate there remained little business or I might say none
that I could transact until you had had time to arrange matters to your
satisfaction«
»The accounts are made out« she returned »I have them here The vouchers
have all been examined and passed You can inspect them when you like Arthur
now if you please«
»It is quite enough mother to know that the business is completed Shall I
proceed then«
»Why not« she said in her frozen way
»Mother our House has done less and less for some years past and our
dealings have been progressively on the decline We have never shown much
confidence or invited much we have attached no people to us the track we have
kept is not the track of the time and we have been left far behind I need not
dwell on this to you mother You know it necessarily«
»I know what you mean« she answered in a qualified tone
»Even this old house in which we speak« pursued her son »is an instance of
what I say In my fathers earlier time and in his uncles time before him it
was a place of business really a place of business and business resort Now
it is a mere anomaly and incongruity here out of date and out of purpose All
our consignments have long been made to Rovinghams the commissionmerchants
and although as a check upon them and in the stewardship of my fathers
resources your judgment and watchfulness have been actively exerted still
those qualities would have influenced my fathers fortunes equally if you had
lived in any private dwelling would they not«
»Do you consider« she returned without answering his question »that a
house serves no purpose Arthur in sheltering your infirm and afflicted
justly infirm and righteously afflicted mother«
»I was speaking only of business purposes«
»With what object«
»I am coming to it«
»I foresee« she returned fixing her eyes upon him »what it is But the
Lord forbid that I should repine under any visitation In my sinfulness I merit
bitter disappointment and I accept it«
»Mother I grieve to hear you speak like this though I have had my
apprehensions that you would «
»You knew I would You knew me« she interrupted
Her son paused for a moment He had struck fire out of her and was
surprised
»Well« she said relapsing into stone »Go on Let me hear«
»You have anticipated mother that I decide for my part to abandon the
business I have done with it I will not take upon myself to advise you you
will continue it I see If I had any influence with you I would simply use it
to soften your judgment of me in causing you this disappointment to represent
to you that I have lived the half of a long term of life and have never before
set my own will against yours I cannot say that I have been able to conform
myself in heart and spirit to your rules I cannot say that I believe my forty
years have been profitable or pleasant to myself or any one but I have
habitually submitted and I only ask you to remember it«
Woe to the suppliant if such a one there were or ever had been who had any
concession to look for in the inexorable face at the cabinet Woe to the
defaulter whose appeal lay to the tribunal where those severe eyes presided
Great need had the rigid woman of her mystical religion veiled in gloom and
darkness with lightnings of cursing vengeance and destruction flashing
through the sable clouds Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors was a
prayer too poor in spirit for her Smite Thou my debtors Lord wither them
crush them do Thou as I would do and Thou shalt have my worship this was the
impious tower of stone she built up to scale Heaven
»Have you finished Arthur or have you anything more to say to me I think
there can be nothing else You have been short but full of matter!«
»Mother I have yet something more to say It has been upon my mind night
and day this long time It is far more difficult to say than what I have said
That concerned myself this concerns us all«
»Us all Who are us all«
»Yourself myself my dead father«
She took her hands from the desk folded them in her lap and sat looking
towards the fire with the impenetrability of an old Egyptian sculpture
»You knew my father infinitely better than I ever knew him and his reserve
with me yielded to you You were much the stronger mother and directed him As
a child I knew it as well as I know it now I knew that your ascendency over
him was the cause of his going to China to take care of the business there
while you took care of it here though I do not even now know whether these were
really terms of separation that you agreed upon and that it was your will that
I should remain with you until I was twenty and then go to him as I did You
will not be offended by my recalling this after twenty years«
»I am waiting to hear why you recall it«
He lowered his voice and said with manifest reluctance and against his
will
»I want to ask you mother whether it ever occurred to you to suspect «
At the word Suspect she turned her eyes momentarily upon her son with a
dark frown She then suffered them to seek the fire as before but with the
frown fixed above them as if the sculptor of old Egypt had indented it in the
hard granite face to frown for ages
» that he had any secret remembrance which caused him trouble of mind
remorse Whether you ever observed anything in his conduct suggesting that or
ever spoke to him upon it or ever heard him hint at such a thing«
»I do not understand what kind of secret remembrance you mean to infer that
your father was a prey to« she returned after a silence »You speak so
mysteriously«
»Is it possible mother« her son leaned forward to be the nearer to her
while he whispered it and laid his hand nervously upon her desk »is it
possible mother that he had unhappily wronged any one and made no
reparation«
Looking at him wrathfully she bent herself back in her chair to keep him
further off but gave him no reply
»I am deeply sensible mother that if this thought has never at any time
flashed upon you it must seem cruel and unnatural in me even in this
confidence to breathe it But I cannot shake it off Time and change I have
tried both before breaking silence do nothing to wear it out Remember I was
with my father Remember I saw his face when he gave the watch into my keeping
and struggled to express that he sent it as a token you would understand to
you Remember I saw him at the last with the pencil in his failing hand trying
to write some word for you to read but to which he could give no shape The
more remote and cruel this vague suspicion that I have the stronger the
circumstances that could give it any semblance of probability to me For
Heavens sake let us examine sacredly whether there is any wrong entrusted to
us to set right No one can help towards it mother but you«
Still so recoiling in her chair that her overpoised weight moved it from
time to time a little on its wheels and gave her the appearance of a phantom
of fierce aspect gliding away from him she interposed her left arm bent at the
elbow with the back of her hand towards her face between herself and him and
looked at him in a fixed silence
»In grasping at money and in driving hard bargains I have begun and I
must speak of such things now mother some one may have been grievously
deceived injured ruined You were the moving power of all this machinery
before my birth your stronger spirit has been infused into all my fathers
dealings for more than two score years You can set these doubts at rest I
think if you will really help me to discover the truth Will you mother«
He stopped in the hope that she would speak But her grey hair was not more
immovable in its two folds than were her firm lips
»If reparation can be made to any one if restitution can be made to any
one let us know it and make it Nay mother if within my means let me make
it I have seen so little happiness come of money it has brought within my
knowledge so little peace to this house or to any one belonging to it that it
is worth less to me than to another It can buy me nothing that will not be a
reproach and misery to me if I am haunted by a suspicion that it darkened my
fathers last hours with remorse and that it is not honestly and justly mine«
There was a bellrope hanging on the panelled wall some two or three yards
from the cabinet By a swift and sudden action of her foot she drove her
wheeled chair rapidly back to it and pulled it violently still holding her arm
up in its shieldlike posture as if he were striking at her and she warding
off the blow
A girl came hurrying in frightened
»Send Flintwinch here«
In a moment the girl had withdrawn and the old man stood within the door
»What Youre hammer and tongs already you two« he said coolly stroking his
face »I thought you would be I was pretty sure of it«
»Flintwinch« said the mother »look at my son Look at him«
»Well I am looking at him« said Flintwinch
She stretched out the arm with which she had shielded herself and as she
went on pointed at the object of her anger
»In the very hour of his return almost before the shoe upon his foot is
dry he asperses his fathers memory to his mother Asks his mother to become
with him a spy upon his fathers transactions through a lifetime Has
misgivings that the goods of this world which we have painfully got together
early and late with wear and tear and toil and selfdenial are so much
plunder and asks to whom they shall be given up as reparation and
restitution«
Although she said this raging she said it in a voice so far from being
beyond her control that it was even lower than her usual tone She also spoke
with great distinctness
»Reparation« said she »Yes truly It is easy for him to talk of
reparation fresh from journeying and junketing in foreign lands and living a
life of vanity and pleasure But let him look at me in prison and in bonds
here I endure without murmuring because it is appointed that I shall so make
reparation for my sins Reparation Is there none in this room Has there been
none here this fifteen years«
Thus was she always balancing her bargain with the Majesty of heaven
posting up the entries to her credit strictly keeping her setoff and claiming
her due She was only remarkable in this for the force and emphasis with which
she did it Thousands upon thousands do it according to their varying manner
every day
»Flintwinch give me that book«
The old man handed it to her from the table She put two fingers between the
leaves closed the book upon them and held it up to her son in a threatening
way
»In the days of old Arthur treated of in this commentary there were pious
men beloved of the Lord who would have cursed their sons for less than this
who would have sent them forth and sent whole nations forth if such had
supported them to be avoided of God and man and perish down to the baby at
the breast But I only tell you that if you ever renew that theme with me I
will renounce you I will so dismiss you through that doorway that you had
better have been motherless from your cradle I will never see or know you more
And if after all you were to come into this darkened room to look upon me
lying dead my body should bleed if I could make it when you came near me«
In part relieved by the intensity of this threat and in part monstrous as
the fact is by a general impression that it was in some sort a religious
proceeding she handed back the book to the old man and was silent
»Now« said Jeremiah »premising that Im not going to stand between you
two will you let me ask as I have been called in and made a third what is
all this about«
»Take your version of it« returned Arthur finding it left to him to speak
»from my mother Let it rest there What I have said was said to my mother
only«
»Oh« returned the old man »From your mother Take it from your mother
Well But your mother mentioned that you had been suspecting your father Thats
not dutiful Mr Arthur Who will you be suspecting next«
»Enough« said Mrs Clennam turning her face so that it was addressed for
the moment to the old man only »Let no more be said about this«
»Yes but stop a bit stop a bit« the old man persisted »Let us see how we
stand Have you told Mr Arthur that he mustnt lay offences at his fathers
door That he has no right to do it That he has no ground to go upon«
»I tell him so now«
»Ah Exactly« said the old man »You tell him so now You hadnt told him
so before and you tell him so now Ay ay Thats right You know I stood
between you and his father so long that it seems as if death had made no
difference and I was still standing between you So I will and so in fairness
I require to have that plainly put forward Arthur you please to hear that you
have no right to mistrust your father and have no ground to go upon«
He put his hands to the back of the wheeled chair and muttering to himself
slowly wheeled his mistress back to her cabinet »Now« he resumed standing
behind her »in case I should go away leaving things half done and so should be
wanted again when you come to the other half and get into one of your flights
has Arthur told you what he means to do about the business«
»He has relinquished it«
»In favour of nobody I suppose«
Mrs Clennam glanced at her son leaning against one of the windows He
observed the look and said »To my mother of course She does what she
pleases«
»And if any pleasure« she said after a short pause »could arise for me out
of the disappointment of my expectations that my son in the prime of his life
would infuse new youth and strength into it and make it of great profit and
power it would be in advancing an old and faithful servant Jeremiah the
captain deserts the ship but you and I will sink or float with it«
Jeremiah whose eyes glistened as if they saw money darted a sudden look at
the son which seemed to say »I owe you no thanks for this you have done
nothing towards it« and then told the mother that he thanked her and that
Affery thanked her and that he would never desert her and that Affery would
never desert her Finally he hauled up his watch from its depths said »Eleven
Time for your oysters« and with that change of subject which involved no
change of expression or manner rang the bell
But Mrs Clennam resolved to treat herself with the greater rigour for
having been supposed to be unacquainted with reparation refused to eat her
oysters when they were brought They looked tempting eight in number
circularly set out on a white plate on a tray covered with a white napkin
flanked by a slice of buttered French roll and a little compact glass of cool
wine and water but she resisted all persuasions and sent them down again
placing the act to her credit no doubt in her Eternal DayBook
This refection of oysters was not presided over by Affery but by the girl
who had appeared when the bell was rung the same who had been in the
dimlylighted room last night Now that he had an opportunity of observing her
Arthur found that her diminutive figure small features and slight spare dress
gave her the appearance of being much younger than she was A woman probably of
not less than twoandtwenty she might have been passed in the street for
little more than half that age Not that her face was very youthful for in
truth there was more consideration and care in it than naturally belonged to her
utmost years but she was so little and light so noiseless and shy and
appeared so conscious of being out of place among the three hard elders that
she had all the manner and much of the appearance of a subdued child
In a hard way and in an uncertain way that fluctuated between patronage and
putting down the sprinkling from a wateringpot and hydraulic pressure Mrs
Clennam showed an interest in this dependant Even in the moment of her entrance
upon the violent ringing of the bell when the mother shielded herself with that
singular action from the son Mrs Clennams eyes had had some individual
recognition in them which seemed reserved for her As there are degrees of
hardness in the hardest metal and shades of colour in black itself so even in
the asperity of Mrs Clennams demeanour towards all the rest of humanity and
towards Little Dorrit there was a fine gradation
Little Dorrit let herself out to do needlework At so much a day or at so
little from eight to eight Little Dorrit was to be hired Punctual to the
moment Little Dorrit appeared punctual to the moment Little Dorrit vanished
What became of Little Dorrit between the two eights was a mystery
Another of the moral phenomena of Little Dorrit Besides her consideration
money her daily contract included meals She had an extraordinary repugnance to
dining in company would never do so if it were possible to escape Would
always plead that she had this bit of work to begin first or that bit of work
to finish first and would of a certainty scheme and plan not very
cunningly it would seem for she deceived no one to dine alone Successful in
this happy in carrying off her plate anywhere to make a table of her lap or a
box or the ground or even as was supposed to stand on tiptoe dining
moderately at a mantelshelf the great anxiety of Little Dorrits day was set
at rest
It was not easy to make out Little Dorrits face she was so retiring plied
her needle in such removed corners and started away so scared if encountered on
the stairs But it seemed to be a pale transparent face quick in expression
though not beautiful in feature its soft hazel eyes excepted A delicately bent
head a tiny form a quick little pair of busy hands and a shabby dress it
must needs have been very shabby to look at all so being so neat were Little
Dorrit as she sat at work
For these particulars or generalities concerning Little Dorrit Mr Arthur
was indebted in the course of the day to his own eyes and to Mrs Afferys
tongue If Mrs Affery had had any will or way of her own it would probably
have been unfavourable to Little Dorrit But as them two clever ones Mrs
Afferys perpetual reference in whom her personality was swallowed up were
agreed to accept Little Dorrit as a matter of course she had nothing for it but
to follow suit Similarly if the two clever ones had agreed to murder Little
Dorrit by candlelight Mrs Affery being required to hold the candle would no
doubt have done it
In the intervals of roasting the partridge for the invalid chamber and
preparing a bakingdish of beef and pudding for the diningroom Mrs Affery
made the communications above set forth invariably putting her head in at the
door again after she had taken it out to enforce resistance to the two clever
ones It appeared to have become a perfect passion with Mrs Flintwinch that
the only son should be pitted against them
In the course of the day too Arthur looked through the whole house Dull
and dark he found it The gaunt rooms deserted for years upon years seemed to
have settled down into a gloomy lethargy from which nothing could rouse them
again The furniture at once spare and lumbering hid in the rooms rather than
furnished them and there was no colour in all the house such colour as had
ever been there had long ago started away on lost sunbeams got itself
absorbed perhaps into flowers butterflies plumage of birds precious stones
what not There was not one straight floor from the foundation to the roof the
ceilings were so fantastically clouded by smoke and dust that old women might
have told fortunes in them better than in grouts of tea the deadcold hearths
showed no traces of having ever been warmed but in heaps of soot that had
tumbled down the chimneys and eddied about in little dusky whirlwinds when the
doors were opened In what had once been a drawingroom there were a pair of
meagre mirrors with dismal processions of black figures carrying black
garlands walking round the frames but even these were short of heads and legs
and one undertakerlike Cupid had swung round on his own axis and got upside
down and another had fallen off altogether The room Arthur Clennams deceased
father had occupied for business purposes when he first remembered him was so
unaltered that he might have been imagined still to keep it invisibly as his
visible relict kept her room upstairs Jeremiah Flintwinch still going between
them negotiating His picture dark and gloomy earnestly speechless on the
wall with the eyes intently looking at his son as they had looked when life
departed from them seemed to urge him awfully to the task he had attempted but
as to any yielding on the part of his mother he had now no hope and as to any
other means of setting his distrust at rest he had abandoned hope a long time
Down in the cellars as up in the bedchambers old objects that he well
remembered were changed by age and decay but were still in their old places
even to empty beercasks hoary with cobwebs and empty winebottles with fur and
fungus choking up their throats There too among unused bottleracks and pale
slants of light from the yard above was the strong room stored with old
ledgers which had as musty and corrupt a smell as if they were regularly
balanced in the dead small hours by a nightly resurrection of old
bookkeepers
The bakingdish was served up in a penitential manner on a shrunken cloth
at an end of the diningtable at two oclock when he dined with Mr
Flintwinch the new partner Mr Flintwinch informed him that his mother had
recovered her equanimity now and that he need not fear her again alluding to
what had passed in the morning »And dont you lay offences at your fathers
door Mr Arthur« added Jeremiah »once for all dont do it Now we have done
with the subject«
Mr Flintwinch had been already rearranging and dusting his own particular
little office as if to do honour to his accession to new dignity He resumed
this occupation when he was replete with beef had sucked up all the gravy in
the bakingdish with the flat of his knife and had drawn liberally on a barrel
of small beer in the scullery Thus refreshed he tucked up his shirtsleeves
and went to work again and Mr Arthur watching him as he set about it plainly
saw that his fathers picture or his fathers grave would be as communicative
with him as this old man
»Now Affery woman« said Mr Flintwinch as she crossed the hall »You
hadnt made Mr Arthurs bed when I was up there last Stir yourself Bustle«
But Mr Arthur found the house so blank and dreary and was so unwilling to
assist at another implacable consignment of his mothers enemies perhaps
himself among them to mortal disfigurement and immortal ruin that he announced
his intention of lodging at the coffeehouse where he had left his luggage Mr
Flintwinch taking kindly to the idea of getting rid of him and his mother being
indifferent beyond considerations of saving to most domestic arrangements that
were not bounded by the walls of her own chamber he easily carried this point
without new offence Daily business hours were agreed upon which his mother
Mr Flintwinch and he were to devote together to a necessary checking of books
and papers and he left the home he had so lately found with a depressed heart
But Little Dorrit
The business hours allowing for intervals of invalid regimen of oysters and
partridges during which Clennam refreshed himself with a walk were from ten to
six for about a fortnight Sometimes Little Dorrit was employed at her needle
sometimes not sometimes appeared as a humble visitor which must have been her
character on the occasion of his arrival His original curiosity augmented every
day as he watched for her saw or did not see her and speculated about her
Influenced by his predominant idea he even fell into a habit of discussing with
himself the possibility of her being in some way associated with it At last he
resolved to watch Little Dorrit and know more of her story
Chapter VI
The Father of the Marshalsea
Thirty years ago there stood a few doors short of the church of Saint George
in the borough of Southwark on the lefthand side of the way going southward
the Marshalsea Prison It had stood there many years before and it remained
there some years afterwards but it is gone now and the world is none the worse
without it
It was an oblong pile of barrack building partitioned into squalid houses
standing back to back so that there were no back rooms environed by a narrow
paved yard hemmed in by high walls duly spiked at top Itself a close and
confined prison for debtors it contained within it a much closer and more
confined jail for smugglers Offenders against the revenue laws and defaulters
to excise or customs who had incurred fines which they were unable to pay were
supposed to be incarcerated behind an ironplated door closing up a second
prison consisting of a strong cell or two and a blind alley some yard and a
half wide which formed the mysterious termination of the very limited
skittleground in which the Marshalsea debtors bowled down their troubles
Supposed to be incarcerated there because the time had rather outgrown the
strong cells and the blind alley In practice they had come to be considered a
little too bad though in theory they were quite as good as ever which may be
observed to be the case at the present day with other cells that are not at all
strong and with other blind alleys that are stoneblind Hence the smugglers
habitually consorted with the debtors who received them with open arms except
at certain constitutional moments when somebody came from some Office to go
through some form of overlooking something which neither he nor anybody else
knew anything about On those truly British occasions the smugglers if any
made a feint of walking into the strong cells and the blind alley while this
somebody pretended to do his something and made a reality of walking out again
as soon as he hadnt done it neatly epitomising the administration of most of
the public affairs in our right little tight little island
There had been taken to the Marshalsea Prison long before the day when the
sun shone on Marseilles and on the opening of this narrative a debtor with whom
this narrative has some concern
He was at that time a very amiable and very helpless middleaged
gentleman who was going out again directly Necessarily he was going out again
directly because the Marshalsea lock never turned upon a debtor who was not He
brought in a portmanteau with him which he doubted its being worth while to
unpack he was so perfectly clear like all the rest of them the turnkey on
the lock said that he was going out again directly
He was a shy retiring man welllooking though in an effeminate style
with a mild voice curling hair and irresolute hands rings upon the fingers
in those days which nervously wandered to his trembling lip a hundred times
in the first halfhour of his acquaintance with the jail His principal anxiety
was about his wife
»Do you think sir« she asked the turnkey »that she will be very much
shocked if she should come to the gate tomorrow morning«
The turnkey gave it as the result of his experience that some of em was and
some of em wasnt In general more no than yes »What like is she you see«
he philosophically asked »thats what it hinges on«
»She is very delicate and inexperienced indeed«
»That« said the turnkey »is agen her«
»She is so little used to go out alone« said the debtor »that I am at a
loss to think how she will ever make her way here if she walks«
»Praps« quoth the turnkey »shell take a ackney coach«
»Perhaps« The irresolute fingers went to the trembling lip »I hope she
will She may not think of it«
»Or praps« said the turnkey offering his suggestions from the top of his
wellworn wooden stool as he might have offered them to a child for whose
weakness he felt a compassion »praps shell get her brother or her sister to
come alone with her«
»She has no brother or sister«
»Niece nevy cousin serwant young ooman greengrocer Dash it One or
another on em« said the turnkey repudiating beforehand the refusal of all his
suggestions
»I fear I hope it is not against the rules that she will bring the
children«
»The children« said the turnkey »And the rules Why lord set you up like
a corner pin weve a reglar playground o children here Children Why we
swarm with em How many a you got«
»Two« said the debtor lifting his irresolute hand to his lip again and
turning into the prison
The turnkey followed him with his eyes »And you another« he observed to
himself »which makes three on you And your wife another Ill lay a crown
Which makes four on you And another coming Ill lay halfacrowh Whichll
make five on you And Ill go another seven and sixpence to name which is the
helplessest the unborn baby or you«
He was right in all his particulars She came next day with a little boy of
three years old and a little girl of two and he stood entirely corroborated
»Got a room now havent you« the turnkey asked the debtor after a week or
two
»Yes I have got a very good room«
»Any little sticks a coming to furnish it« said the turnkey
»I expect a few necessary articles of furniture to be delivered by the
carrier this afternoon«
»Missis and little uns a coming to keep you company« asked the turnkey
»Why yes we think it better that we should not be scattered even for a
few weeks«
»Even for a few weeks of course« replied the turnkey And he followed him
again with his eyes and nodded his head seven times when he was gone
The affairs of this debtor were perplexed by a partnership of which he knew
no more than that he had invested money in it by legal matters of assignment
and settlement conveyance here and conveyance there suspicion of unlawful
preference of creditors in this direction and of mysterious spiriting away of
property in that and as nobody on the face of the earth could be more incapable
of explaining any single item in the heap of confusion than the debtor himself
nothing comprehensible could be made of his case To question him in detail and
endeavour to reconcile his answers to closet him with accountants and sharp
practitioners learned in the wiles of insolvency and bankruptcy was only to
put the case out at compound interest of incomprehensibility The irresolute
fingers fluttered more and more ineffectually about the trembling lip on every
such occasion and the sharpest practitioners gave him up as a hopeless job
»Out« said the turnkey »hell never get out Unless his creditors take him
by the shoulders and shove him out«
He had been there five or six months when he came running to this turnkey
one forenoon to tell him breathless and pale that his wife was ill
»As anybody might a known she would be« said the turnkey
»We intended« he returned »that she should go to a country lodging only
tomorrow What am I to do Oh good heaven what am I to do«
»Dont waste your time in clasping your hands and biting your fingers«
responded the practical turnkey taking him by the elbow »but come along with
me«
The turnkey conducted him trembling from head to foot and constantly
crying under his breath What was he to do while his irresolute fingers
bedabbled the tears upon his face up one of the common staircases in the
prison to a door on the garret story Upon which door the turnkey knocked with
the handle of his key
»Come in« cried a voice inside
The turnkey opening the door disclosed in a wretched illsmelling little
room two hoarse puffy redfaced personages seated at a rickety table playing
at allfours smoking pipes and drinking brandy
»Doctor« said the turnkey »heres a gentlemans wife in want of you
without a minutes loss of time«
The doctors friend was in the positive degree of hoarseness puffiness
redfacedness allfours tobacco dirt and brandy the doctor in the
comparative hoarser puffier more redfaced more allfourey tobaccoer
dirtier and brandier The doctor was amazingly shabby in a torn and darned
roughweather seajacket out at elbows and eminently short of buttons he had
been in his time the experienced surgeon carried by a passenger ship the
dirtiest white trousers conceivable by mortal man carpet slippers and no
visible linen »Childbed« said the doctor »Im the boy« With that the doctor
took a comb from the chimneypiece and stuck his hair upright which appeared
to be his way of washing himself produced a professional chest or case of
most abject appearance from the cupboard where his cup and saucer and coals
were settled his chin in the frowsy wrapper round his neck and became a
ghastly medical scarecrow
The doctor and the debtor ran downstairs leaving the turnkey to return to
the lock and made for the debtors room All the ladies in the prison had got
hold of the news and were in the yard Some of them had already taken
possession of the two children and were hospitably carrying them off others
were offering loans of little comforts from their own scanty store others were
sympathising with the greatest volubility The gentlemen prisoners feeling
themselves at a disadvantage had for the most part retired not to say sneaked
to their rooms from the open windows of which some of them now complimented
the doctor with whistles as he passed below while others with several stories
between them interchanged sarcastic references to the prevalent excitement
It was a hot summer day and the prison rooms were baking between the high
walls In the debtors confined chamber Mrs Bangham charwoman and messenger
who was not a prisoner though she had been once but was the popular medium of
communication with the outer world had volunteered her services as flycatcher
and general attendant The walls and ceiling were blackened with flies Mrs
Bangham expert in sudden device with one hand fanned the patient with a
cabbage leaf and with the other set traps of vinegar and sugar in gallipots at
the same time enunciating sentiments of an encouraging and congratulatory
nature adapted to the occasion
»The flies trouble you dont they my dear« said Mrs Bangham »But praps
theyll take your mind off it and do you good What between the buryin ground
the grocers the waggonstables and the paunch trade the Marshalsea flies
gets very large Praps theyre sent as a consolation if we only knowd it How
are you now my dear No better No my dear it aint to be expected youll be
worse before youre better and you know it dont you Yes Thats right And
to think of a sweet little cherub being born inside the lock Now aint it
pretty aint that something to carry you through it pleasant Why we aint had
such a thing happen here my dear not for I couldnt name the time when And
you a crying too« said Mrs Bangham to rally the patient more and more »You
Making yourself so famous With the flies a falling into the gallipots by
fifties And everything a going on so well And here if there aint« said Mrs
Bangham as the door opened »if there aint your dear gentleman along with Dr
Haggage And now indeed we are complete I think«
The doctor was scarcely the kind of apparition to inspire a patient with a
sense of absolute completeness but as he presently delivered the opinion »We
are as right as we can be Mrs Bangham and we shall come out of this like a
house a fire« and as he and Mrs Bangham took possession of the poor helpless
pair as everybody else and anybody else had always done the means at hand were
as good on the whole as better would have been The special feature in Dr
Haggages treatment of the case was his determination to keep Mrs Bangham up
to the mark As thus
»Mrs Bangham« said the doctor before he had been there twenty minutes
»go outside and fetch a little brandy or we shall have you giving in«
»Thank you sir But none on my accounts« said Mrs Bangham
»Mrs Bangham« returned the doctor »I am in professional attendance on
this lady and dont choose to allow any discussion on your part Go outside and
fetch a little brandy or I foresee that youll break down«
»Youre to be obeyed sir« said Mrs Bangham rising »If you was to put
your own lips to it I think you wouldnt be the worse for you look but poorly
sir«
»Mrs Bangham« returned the doctor »I am not your business thank you but
you are mine Never you mind me if you please What you have got to do is to
do as you are told and to go and get what I bid you«
Mrs Bangham submitted and the doctor having administered her potion took
his own He repeated the treatment every hour being very determined with Mrs
Bangham Three or four hours passed the flies fell into the traps by hundreds
and at length one little life hardly stronger than theirs appeared among the
multitude of lesser deaths
»A very nice little girl indeed« said the doctor »little but wellformed
Halloa Mrs Bangham Youre looking queer You be off maam this minute and
fetch a little more brandy or we shall have you in hysterics«
By this time the rings had begun to fall from the debtors irresolute
hands like leaves from a wintry tree Not one was left upon them that night
when he put something that chinked into the doctors greasy palm In the
meantime Mrs Bangham had been out on an errand to a neighbouring establishment
decorated with three golden balls where she was very well known
»Thank you« said the doctor »thank you Your good lady is quite composed
Doing charmingly«
»I am very happy and very thankful to know it« said the debtor »though I
little thought once that «
»That a child would be born to you in a place like this« said the doctor
»Bah bah sir what does it signify A little more elbowroom is all we want
here We are quiet here we dont get badgered here theres no knocker here
sir to be hammered at by creditors and bring a mans heart into his mouth
Nobody comes here to ask if a mans at home and to say hell stand on the door
mat till he is Nobody writes threatening letters about money to this place
Its freedom sir its freedom I have had todays practice at home and
abroad on a march and aboard ship and Ill tell you this I dont know that I
have ever pursued it under such quiet circumstances as here this day
Elsewhere people are restless worried hurried about anxious respecting one
thing anxious respecting another Nothing of the kind here sir We have done
all that we know the worst of it we have got to the bottom we cant fall
and what have we found Peace Thats the word for it Peace« With this
profession of faith the doctor who was an old jailbird and was more sodden
than usual and had the additional and unusual stimulus of money in his pocket
returned to his associate and chum in hoarseness puffiness redfacedness
allfours tobacco dirt and brandy
Now the debtor was a very different man from the doctor but he had already
begun to travel by his opposite segment of the circle to the same point
Crushed at first by his imprisonment he had soon found a dull relief in it He
was under lock and key but the lock and key that kept him in kept numbers of
his troubles out If he had been a man with strength of purpose to face those
troubles and fight them he might have broken the net that held him or broken
his heart but being what he was he languidly slipped into this smooth descent
and never more took one step upward
When he was relieved of the perplexed affairs that nothing would make plain
through having them returned upon his hands by a dozen agents in succession who
could make neither beginning middle nor end of them or him he found his
miserable place of refuge a quieter refuge than it had been before He had
unpacked the portmanteau long ago and his elder children now played regularly
about the yard and everybody knew the baby and claimed a kind of
proprietorship in her
»Why Im getting proud of you« said his friend the turnkey one day
»Youll be the oldest inhabitant soon The Marshalsea wouldnt be like the
Marshalsea now without you and your family«
The turnkey really was proud of him He would mention him in laudatory terms
to newcomers when his back was turned »You took notice of him« he would say
»that went out of the Lodge just now«
Newcomer would probably answer Yes
»Brought up as a gentleman he was if ever a man was Edcated at no end of
expense Went into the Marshals house once to try a new piano for him Played
it I understand like one oclock beautiful As to languages speaks
anything Weve had a Frenchman here in his time and its my opinion he knowed
more French than the Frenchman did Weve had an Italian here in his time and
he shut him up in about half a minute Youll find some characters behind other
locks I dont say you wont but if you want the top sawyer in such respects
as Ive mentioned you must come to the Marshalsea«
When his youngest child was eight years old his wife who had long been
languishing away of her own inherent weakness not that she retained any
greater sensitiveness as to her place of abode than he did went upon a visit
to a poor friend and old nurse in the country and died there He remained shut
up in his room for a fortnight afterwards and an attorneys clerk who was
going through the Insolvent Court engrossed an address of condolence to him
which looked like a Lease and which all the prisoners signed When he appeared
again he was greyer he had soon begun to turn grey and the turnkey noticed
that his hands went often to his trembling lips again as they had used to do
when he first came in But he got pretty well over it in a month or two and in
the meantime the children played about the yard as regularly as ever but in
black
Then Mrs Bangham long popular medium of communication with the outer
world began to be infirm and to be found oftener than usual comatose on
pavements with her basket of purchases spilt and the change of her clients
ninepence short His son began to supersede Mrs Bangham and to execute
commissions in a knowing manner and to be of the prison prisonous and of the
streets streety
Time went on and the turnkey began to fail His chest swelled and his legs
got weak and he was short of breath The wellworn wooden stool was beyond him
he complained He sat in an armchair with a cushion and sometimes wheezed so
for minutes together that he couldnt turn the key When he was overpowered by
these fits the debtor often turned it for him
»You and me« said the turnkey one snowy winters night when the lodge
with a bright fire in it was pretty full of company »is the oldest
inhabitants I wasnt here myself above seven year before you I shant last
long When Im off the lock for good and all youll be the Father of the
Marshalsea«
The turnkey went off the lock of this world next day His words were
remembered and repeated and tradition afterwards handed down from generation to
generation a Marshalsea generation might be calculated as about three months
that the shabby old debtor with the soft manner and the white hair was the
Father of the Marshalsea
And he grew to be proud of the title If any impostor had arisen to claim
it he would have shed tears in resentment of the attempt to deprive him of his
rights A disposition began to be perceived in him to exaggerate the number of
years he had been there it was generally understood that you must deduct a few
from his account he was vain the fleeting generations of debtors said
All newcomers were presented to him He was punctilious in the exaction of
this ceremony The wits would perform the office of introduction with
overcharged pomp and politeness but they could not easily overstep his sense of
its gravity He received them in his poor room he disliked an introduction in
the mere yard as informal a thing that might happen to anybody with a kind
of boweddown beneficence They were welcome to the Marshalsea he would tell
them Yes he was the Father of the place So the world was kind enough to call
him and so he was if more than twenty years of residence gave him a claim to
the title It looked small at first but there was very good company there
among a mixture necessarily a mixture and very good air
It became a not unusual circumstance for letters to be put under his door at
night enclosing halfacrown two halfcrowns now and then at long intervals
even halfasovereign for the Father of the Marshalsea »With the compliments
of a collegian taking leave« He received the gifts as tributes from admirers
to a public character Sometimes these correspondents assumed facetious names
as the Brick Bellows Old Gooseberry Wideawake Snooks Mops Cutaway the
Dogsmeat Man but he considered this in bad taste and was always a little hurt
by it
In the fulness of time this correspondence showing signs of wearing out
and seeming to require an effort on the part of the correspondents to which in
the hurried circumstances of departure many of them might not be equal he
established the custom of attending collegians of a certain standing to the
gate and taking leave of them there The collegian under treatment after
shaking hands would occasionally stop to wrap up something in a bit of paper
and would come back again calling »Hi«
He would look round surprised »Me« he would say with a smile
By this time the collegian would be up with him and he would paternally
add »What have you forgotten What can I do for you«
»I forgot to leave this« the collegian would usually return »for the
Father of the Marshalsea«
»My good sir« he would rejoin »he is infinitely obliged to you« But to
the last the irresolute hand of old would remain in the pocket into which he
had slipped the money during two or three turns about the yard lest the
transaction should be too conspicuous to the general body of collegians
One afternoon he had been doing the honours of the place to a rather large
party of collegians who happened to be going out when as he was coming back
he encountered one from the poor side who had been taken in execution for a
small sum a week before had settled in the course of that afternoon and was
going out too The man was a mere Plasterer in his working dress had his wife
with him and a bundle and was in high spirits
»God bless you sir« he said in passing
»And you« benignantly returned the Father of the Marshalsea
They were pretty far divided going their several ways when the Plasterer
called out »I say sir« and came back to him
»It ant much« said the Plasterer putting a little pile of halfpence in
his hand »but its well meant«
The Father of the Marshalsea had never been offered tribute in copper yet
His children often had and with his perfect acquiescence it had gone into the
common purse to buy meat that he had eaten and drink that he had drunk but
fustian splashed with white lime bestowing halfpence on him front to front
was new
»How dare you« he said to the man and feebly burst into tears
The Plasterer turned him towards the wall that his face might not be seen
and the action was so delicate and the man was so penetrated with repentance
and asked pardon so honestly that he could make him no less acknowledgment
than »I know you meant it kindly Say no more«
»Bless your soul sir« urged the Plasterer »I did indeed Id do more by
you than the rest of em do I fancy«
»What would you do« he asked
»Id come back to see you after I was let out«
»Give me the money again« said the other eagerly »and Ill keep it and
never spend it Thank you for it thank you I shall see you again«
»If I live a week you shall«
They shook hands and parted The collegians assembled in Symposium in the
Snuggery that night marvelled what had happened to their Father he walked so
late in the shadows of the yard and seemed so downcast
Chapter VII
The Child of the Marshalsea
The baby whose first draught of air had been tinctured with Doctor Haggages
brandy was handed down among the generations of collegians like the tradition
of their common parent In the earlier stages of her existence she was handed
down in a literal and prosaic sense it being almost a part of the entrance
footing of every new collegian to nurse the child who had been born in the
college
»By rights« remarked the turnkey when she was first shown to him »I ought
to be her godfather«
The debtor irresolutely thought of it for a minute and said »Perhaps you
wouldnt object to really being her godfather«
»Oh I dont object« replied the turnkey »if you dont«
Thus it came to pass that she was christened one Sunday afternoon when the
turnkey being relieved was off the lock and that the turnkey went up to the
font of Saint Georges Church and promised and vowed and renounced on her
behalf as he himself related when he came back »like a good un«
This invested the turnkey with a new proprietary share in the child over
and above his former official one When she began to walk and talk he became
fond of her bought a little armchair and stood it by the high fender of the
lodge fireplace liked to have her company when he was on the lock and used to
bribe her with cheap toys to come and talk to him The child for her part soon
grew so fond of the turnkey that she would come climbing up the lodgesteps of
her own accord at all hours of the day When she fell asleep in the little
armchair by the high fender the turnkey would cover her with his
pockethandkerchief and when she sat in it dressing and undressing a doll
which soon came to be unlike dolls on the other side of the lock and to bear a
horrible family resemblance to Mrs Bangham he would contemplate her from the
top of his stool with exceeding gentleness Witnessing these things the
collegians would express an opinion that the turnkey who was a bachelor had
been cut out by nature for a family man But the turnkey thanked them and said
»No on the whole it was enough to see other peoples children there«
At what period of her early life the little creature began to perceive that
it was not the habit of all the world to live locked up in narrow yards
surrounded by high walls with spikes at the top would be a difficult question
to settle But she was a very very little creature indeed when she had somehow
gained the knowledge that her clasp of her fathers hand was to be always
loosened at the door which the great key opened and that while her own light
steps were free to pass beyond it his feet must never cross that line A
pitiful and plaintive look with which she had begun to regard him when she was
still extremely young was perhaps a part of this discovery
With a pitiful and plaintive look for everything indeed but with something
in it for only him that was like protection this Child of the Marshalsea and
child of the Father of the Marshalsea sat by her friend the turnkey in the
lodge kept the family room or wandered about the prisonyard for the first
eight years of her life With a pitiful and plaintive look for her wayward
sister for her idle brother for the high blank walls for the faded crowd they
shut in for the games of the prison children as they whooped and ran and
played at hideandseek and made the iron bars of the inner gateway Home
Wistful and wondering she would sit in summer weather by the high fender in
the lodge looking up at the sky through the barred window until bars of light
would arise when she turned her eyes away between her and her friend and she
would see him through a grating too
»Thinking of the fields« the turnkey said once after watching her »aint
you«
»Where are they« she inquired
»Why theyre over there my dear« said the turnkey with a vague
flourish of his key »Just about there«
»Does anybody open them and shut them Are they locked«
The turnkey was discomfited »Well« he said »Not in general«
»Are they very pretty Bob« She called him Bob by his own particular
request and instruction
»Lovely Full of flowers Theres buttercups and theres daisies and
theres« the turnkey hesitated being short of floral nomenclature »theres
dandelions and all manner of games«
»Is it very pleasant to be there Bob«
»Prime« said the turnkey
»Was father ever there«
»Hem« coughed the turnkey »O yes he was there sometimes«
»Is he sorry not to be there now«
»N not particular« said the turnkey
»Nor any of the people« she asked glancing at the listless crowd within
»O are you quite sure and certain Bob«
At this difficult point of the conversation Bob gave in and changed the
subject to hardbake always his last resource when he found his little friend
getting him into a political social or theological corner But this was the
origin of a series of Sunday excursions that these two curious companions made
together They used to issue from the lodge on alternate Sunday afternoons with
great gravity bound for some meadows or green lanes that had been elaborately
appointed by the turnkey in the course of the week and there she picked grass
and flowers to bring home while he smoked his pipe Afterwards there were
teagardens shrimps ale and other delicacies and then they would come back
hand in hand unless she was more than usually tired and had fallen asleep on
his shoulder
In those early days the turnkey first began profoundly to consider a
question which cost him so much mental labour that it remained undetermined on
the day of his death He decided to will and bequeath his little property of
savings to his godchild and the point arose how could it be so tied up as that
only she should have the benefit of it His experience on the lock gave him such
an acute perception of the enormous difficulty of tying up money with any
approach to tightness and contrariwise of the remarkable ease with which it got
loose that through a series of years he regularly propounded this knotty point
to every new insolvent agent and other professional gentleman who passed in and
out
»Supposing« he would say stating the case with his key on the
professional gentlemans waistcoat »supposing a man wanted to leave his
property to a young female and wanted to tie it up so that nobody else should
ever be able to make a grab at it how would you tie up that property«
»Settle it strictly on herself« the professional gentleman would
complacently answer
»But look here« quoth the turnkey »Supposing she had say a brother say a
father say a husband who would be likely to make a grab at that property when
she came into it how about that«
»It would be settled on herself and they would have no more legal claim on
it than you« would be the professional answer
»Stop a bit« said the turnkey »Supposing she was tenderhearted and they
came over her Wheres your law for tying it up then«
The deepest character whom the turnkey sounded was unable to produce his
law for tying such a knot as that So the turnkey thought about it all his
life and died intestate after all
But that was long afterwards when his goddaughter was past sixteen The
first half of that space of her life was only just accomplished when her
pitiful and plaintive look saw her father a widower From that time the
protection that her wondering eyes had expressed towards him became embodied in
action and the Child of the Marshalsea took upon herself a new relation towards
the Father
At first such a baby could do little more than sit with him deserting her
livelier place by the high fender and quietly watching him But this made her
so far necessary to him that he became accustomed to her and began to be
sensible of missing her when she was not there Through this little gate she
passed out of childhood into the careladen world
What her pitiful look saw at that early time in her father in her sister
in her brother in the jail how much or how little of the wretched truth it
pleased God to make visible to her lies hidden with many mysteries It is
enough that she was inspired to be something which was not what the rest were
and to be that something different and laborious for the sake of the rest
Inspired Yes Shall we speak of the inspiration of a poet or a priest and not
of the heart impelled by love and selfdevotion to the lowliest work in the
lowliest way of life
With no earthly friend to help her or so much as to see her but the one so
strangely assorted with no knowledge even of the common daily tone and habits
of the common members of the free community who are not shut up in prisons born
and bred in a social condition false even with a reference to the falsest
condition outside the walls drinking from infancy of a well whose waters had
their own peculiar stain their own unwholesome and unnatural taste the Child
of the Marshalsea began her womanly life
No matter through what mistakes and discouragements what ridicule not
unkindly meant but deeply felt of her youth and little figure what humble
consciousness of her own babyhood and want of strength even in the matter of
lifting and carrying through how much weariness and hopelessness and how many
secret tears she trudged on until recognised as useful even indispensable
That time came She took the place of eldest of the three in all things but
precedence was the head of the fallen family and bore in her own heart its
anxieties and shames
At thirteen she could read and keep accounts that is could put down in
words and figures how much the bare necessaries that they wanted would cost and
how much less they had to buy them with She had been by snatches of a few
weeks at a time to an evening school outside and got her sister and brother
sent to dayschools by desultory starts during three or four years There was
no instruction for any of them at home but she knew well no one better that
a man so broken as to be the Father of the Marshalsea could be no father to his
own children
To these scanty means of improvement she added another of her own
contriving Once among the heterogeneous crowd of inmates there appeared a
dancingmaster Her sister had a great desire to learn the dancingmasters art
and seemed to have a taste that way At thirteen years old the Child of the
Marshalsea presented herself to the dancingmaster with a little bag in her
hand and preferred her humble petition
»If you please I was born here sir«
»Oh You are the young lady are you« said the dancingmaster surveying
the small figure and uplifted face
»Yes sir«
»And what can I do for you« said the dancingman
»Nothing for me sir thank you« anxiously undrawing the strings of the
little bag »but if while you stay here you could be so kind as to teach my
sister cheap «
»My child Ill teach her for nothing« said the dancingmaster shutting up
the bag He was as goodnatured a dancingmaster as ever danced to the Insolvent
Court and he kept his word The sister was so apt a pupil and the
dancingmaster had such abundant leisure to bestow upon her for it took him a
matter of ten weeks to set to his creditors lead off turn the Commissioners
and right and left back to his professional pursuits that wonderful progress
was made Indeed the dancingmaster was so proud of it and so wishful to
display it before he left to a few select friends among the collegians that at
six oclock on a certain fine morning a minuet de la cour came off in the yard
the collegerooms being of too confined proportions for the purpose in which
so much ground was covered and the steps were so conscientiously executed that
the dancingmaster having to play the kit besides was thoroughly blown
The success of this beginning which led to the dancingmasters continuing
his instruction after his release emboldened the poor child to try again She
watched and waited months for a seamstress In the fulness of time a milliner
came in and to her she repaired on her own behalf
»I beg your pardon maam« she said looking timidly round the door of the
milliner whom she found in tears and in bed »but I was born here«
Everybody seemed to hear of her as soon as they arrived for the milliner
sat up in bed drying her eyes and said just as the dancingmaster had said
»Oh You are the child are you«
»Yes maam«
»I am sorry I havent got anything for you« said the milliner shaking her
head
»Its not that maam If you please I want to learn needlework«
»Why should you do that« returned the milliner »with me before you It has
not done me much good«
»Nothing whatever it is seems to have done anybody much good who comes
here« she returned in all simplicity »but I want to learn just the same«
»I am afraid you are so weak you see« the milliner objected
»I dont think I am weak maam«
»And you are so very very little you see« the milliner objected
»Yes I am afraid I am very little indeed« returned the Child of the
Marshalsea and so began to sob over that unfortunate defect of hers which came
so often in her way The milliner who was not morose or hardhearted only
newly insolvent was touched took her in hand in goodwill found her the most
patient and earnest of pupils and made her a cunning workwoman in course of
time
In course of time and in the very selfsame course of time the Father of
the Marshalsea gradually developed a new flower of character The more Fatherly
he grew as to the Marshalsea and the more dependent he became on the
contributions of his changing family the greater stand he made by his forlorn
gentility With the same hand that he pocketed a collegians halfcrown half an
hour ago he would wipe away the tears that streamed over his cheeks if any
reference were made to his daughters earning their bread So over and above
her other daily cares the Child of the Marshalsea had always upon her the care
of preserving the genteel fiction that they were all idle beggars together
The sister became a dancer There was a ruined uncle in the family group
ruined by his brother the Father of the Marshalsea and knowing no more how
than his ruined did but accepting the fact as an inevitable certainty on whom
her protection devolved Naturally a retired and simple man he had shown no
particular sense of being ruined at the time when that calamity fell upon him
further than that he left off washing himself when the shock was announced and
never took to that luxury any more He had been a very indifferent musical
amateur in his better days and when he fell with his brother resorted for
support to playing a clarionet as dirty as himself in a small Theatre Orchestra
It was the theatre in which his niece became a dancer he had been a fixture
there a long time when she took her poor station in it and he accepted the task
of serving as her escort and guardian just as he would have accepted an
illness a legacy a feast starvation anything but soap
To enable this girl to earn her few weekly shillings it was necessary for
the Child of the Marshalsea to go through an elaborate form with the Father
»Fanny is not going to live with us just now father She will be here a
good deal in the day but she is going to live outside with uncle«
»You surprise me Why«
»I think uncle wants a companion father He should be attended to and
looked after«
»A companion He passes much of his time here And you attend to him and
look after him Amy a great deal more than ever your sister will You all go
out so much you all go out so much«
This was to keep up the ceremony and pretence of his having no idea that Amy
herself went out by the day to work
»But we are always very glad to come home father now are we not And as
to Fanny perhaps besides keeping uncle company and taking care of him it may
be as well for her not quite to live here always She was not born here as I
was you know father«
»Well Amy well I dont quite follow you but its natural I suppose that
Fanny should prefer to be outside and even that you often should too So you
and Fanny and your uncle my dear shall have your own way Good good Ill not
meddle dont mind me«
To get her brother out of the prison out of the succession to Mrs Bangham
in executing commissions and out of the slang interchange with very doubtful
companions consequent upon both was her hardest task At eighteen he would
have dragged on from hand to mouth from hour to hour from penny to penny
until eighty Nobody got into the prison from whom he derived anything useful or
good and she could find no patron for him but her old friend and godfather
»Dear Bob« said she »what is to become of poor Tip« His name was Edward
and Ted had been transformed into Tip within the walls
The turnkey had strong private opinions as to what would become of poor Tip
and had even gone so far with the view of averting their fulfilment as to sound
Tip in reference to the expediency of running away and going to serve his
country But Tip had thanked him and said he didnt seem to care for his
country
»Well my dear« said the turnkey »something ought to be done with him
Suppose I try and get him into the law«
»That would be so good of you Bob«
The turnkey had now two points to put to the professional gentlemen as they
passed in and out He put this second one so perseveringly that a stool and
twelve shillings a week were at last found for Tip in the office of an attorney
in a great National Palladium called the Palace Court at that time one of a
considerable list of everlasting bulwarks to the dignity and safety of Albion
whose places know them no more
Tip languished in Cliffords Inn for six months and at the expiration of
that term sauntered back one evening with his hands in his pockets and
incidentally observed to his sister that he was not going back again
»Not going back again« said the poor little anxious Child of the
Marshalsea always calculating and planning for Tip in the front rank of her
charges
»I am so tired of it« said Tip »that I have cut it«
Tip tired of everything With intervals of Marshalsea lounging and Mrs
Bangham succession his small second mother aided by her trusty friend got him
into a warehouse into a market garden into the hop trade into the law again
into an auctioneers into a brewery into a stockbrokers into the law again
into a coach office into a waggon office into the law again into a general
dealers into a distillery into the law again into a wool house into a dry
goods house into the Billingsgate trade into the foreign fruit trade and into
the docks But whatever Tip went into he came out of tired announcing that he
had cut it Wherever he went this foredoomed Tip appeared to take the prison
walls with him and to set them up in such trade or calling and to prowl about
within their narrow limits in the old slipshod purposeless downatheel way
until the real immovable Marshalsea walls asserted their fascination over him
and brought him back
Nevertheless the brave little creature did so fix her heart on her
brothers rescue that while he was ringing out these doleful changes she
pinched and scraped enough together to ship him for Canada When he was tired of
nothing to do and disposed in its turn to cut even that he graciously
consented to go to Canada And there was grief in her bosom over parting with
him and joy in the hope of his being put in a straight course at last
»God bless you dear Tip Dont be too proud to come and see us when you
have made your fortune«
»All right« said Tip and went
But not all the way to Canada in fact not further than Liverpool After
making the voyage to that port from London he found himself so strongly
impelled to cut the vessel that he resolved to walk back again Carrying out
which intention he presented himself before her at the expiration of a month
in rags without shoes and much more tired than ever
At length after another interval of successorship to Mrs Bangham he found
a pursuit for himself and announced it
»Amy I have got a situation«
»Have you really and truly Tip«
»All right I shall do now You neednt look anxious about me any more old
girl«
»What is it Tip«
»Why you know Slingo by sight«
»Not the man they call the dealer«
»Thats the chap Hell be out on Monday and hes going to give me a
berth«
»What is he a dealer in Tip«
»Horses All right I shall do now Amy«
She lost sight of him for months afterwards and only heard from him once A
whisper passed among the elder collegians that he had been seen at a mock
auction in Moorfields pretending to buy plated articles for massive silver and
paying for them with the greatest liberality in bank notes but it never reached
her ears One evening she was alone at work standing up at the window to save
the twilight lingering above the wall when he opened the door and walked in
She kissed and welcomed him but was afraid to ask him any question He saw
how anxious and timid she was and appeared sorry
»I am afraid Amy youll be vexed this time Upon my life I am«
»I am very sorry to hear you say so Tip Have you come back«
»Why yes«
»Not expecting this time that what you had found would answer very well I
am less surprised and sorry than I might have been Tip«
»Ah But thats not the worst of it«
»Not the worst of it«
»Dont look so startled No Amy not the worst of it I have come back you
see but dont look so startled I have come back in what I may call a new
way I am off the volunteer list altogether I am in now as one of the
regulars«
»Oh Dont say you are a prisoner Tip Dont dont«
»Well I dont want to say it« he returned in a reluctant tone »but if you
cant understand me without my saying it what am I to do I am in for forty
pound odd«
For the first time in all those years she sunk under her cares She cried
with her clasped hands lifted above her head that it would kill their father if
he ever knew it and fell down at Tips graceless feet
It was easier for Tip to bring her to her senses than for her to bring him
to understand that the Father of the Marshalsea would be beside himself if he
knew the truth The thing was incomprehensible to Tip and altogether a fanciful
notion He yielded to it in that light only when he submitted to her
entreaties backed by those of his uncle and sister There was no want of
precedent for his return it was accounted for to the father in the usual way
and the collegians with a better comprehension of the pious fraud than Tip
supported it loyally
This was the life and this the history of the Child of the Marshalsea at
twentytwo With a still surviving attachment to the one miserable yard and
block of houses as her birthplace and home she passed to and fro in it
shrinkingly now with a womanly consciousness that she was pointed out to every
one Since she had begun to work beyond the walls she had found it necessary to
conceal where she lived and to come and go as secretly as she could between
the free city and the iron gates outside of which she had never slept in her
life Her original timidity had grown with this concealment and her light step
and her little figure shunned the thronged streets while they passed along them
Worldly wise in hard and poor necessities she was innocent in all things
else Innocent in the mist through which she saw her father and the prison
and the turbid living river that flowed through it and flowed on
This was the life and this the history of Little Dorrit now going home
upon a dull September evening observed at a distance by Arthur Clennam This
was the life and this the history of Little Dorrit turning at the end of
London Bridge recrossing it going back again passing on to Saint Georges
Church turning back suddenly once more and flitting in at the open outer gate
and little courtyard of the Marshalsea
Chapter VIII
The Lock
Arthur Clennam stood in the street waiting to ask some passerby what place
that was He suffered a few people to pass him in whose faces there was no
encouragement to make the inquiry and still stood pausing in the street when
an old man came up and turned into the courtyard
He stooped a good deal and plodded along in a slow preoccupied manner
which made the bustling London thoroughfares no very safe resort for him He
was dirtily and meanly dressed in a threadbare coat once blue reaching to his
ankles and buttoned to his chin where it vanished in the pale ghost of a velvet
collar A piece of red cloth with which that phantom had been stiffened in its
lifetime was now laid bare and poked itself up at the back of the old mans
neck into a confusion of grey hair and rusty stock and buckle which altogether
nearly poked his hat off A greasy hat it was and a napless impending over his
eyes cracked and crumpled at the brim and with a wisp of pockethandkerchief
dangling out below it His trousers were so long and loose and his shoes so
clumsy and large that he shuffled like an elephant though how much of this was
gait and how much trailing cloth and leather no one could have told Under one
arm he carried a limp and wornout case containing some wind instrument in the
same hand he had a pennyworth of snuff in a little packet of whiteybrown paper
from which he slowly comforted his poor old blue nose with a lengthenedout
pinch as Arthur Clennam looked at him
To this old man crossing the courtyard he preferred his inquiry touching
him on the shoulder The old man stopped and looked round with the expression
in his weak grey eyes of one whose thoughts had been far off and who was a
little dull of hearing also
»Pray sir« said Arthur repeating his question »what is this place«
»Ay This place« returned the old man staying his pinch of snuff on its
road and pointing at the place without looking at it »This is the Marshalsea
sir«
»The debtors prison«
»Sir« said the old man with the air of deeming it not quite necessary to
insist upon that designation »the debtors prison«
He turned himself about and went on
»I beg your pardon« said Arthur stopping him once more »but will you
allow me to ask you another question Can any one go in here«
»Any one can go in« replied the old man plainly adding by the significance
of his emphasis »but it is not every one who can go out«
»Pardon me once more Are you familiar with the place«
»Sir« returned the old man squeezing his little packet of snuff in his
hand and turning upon his interrogator as if such questions hurt him »I am«
»I beg you to excuse me I am not impertinently curious but have a good
object Do you know the name of Dorrit here«
»My name sir« replied the old man most unexpectedly »is Dorrit«
Arthur pulled off his hat to him »Grant me the favour of halfadozen
words I was wholly unprepared for your announcement and hope that assurance is
my sufficient apology for having taken the liberty of addressing you I have
recently come home to England after a long absence I have seen at my mothers
Mrs Clennam in the city a young woman working at her needle whom I have only
heard addressed or spoken of as Little Dorrit I have felt sincerely interested
in her and have had a great desire to know something more about her I saw her
not a minute before you came up pass in at that door«
The old man looked at him attentively »Are you a sailor sir« he asked He
seemed a little disappointed by the shake of the head that replied to him »Not
a sailor I judged from your sunburnt face that you might be Are you in
earnest sir«
»I do assure you that I am and do entreat you to believe that I am in
plain earnest«
»I know very little of the world sir« returned the other who had a weak
and quavering voice »I am merely passing on like the shadow over the sundial
It would be worth no mans while to mislead me it would really be too easy
too poor a success to yield any satisfaction The young woman whom you saw go
in here is my brothers child My brother is William Dorrit I am Frederick You
say you have seen her at your mothers I know your mother befriends her you
have felt an interest in her and you wish to know what she does here Come and
see«
He went on again and Arthur accompanied him
»My brother« said the old man pausing on the step and slowly facing round
again »has been here many years and much that happens even among ourselves
out of doors is kept from him for reasons that I neednt enter upon now Be so
good as to say nothing of my nieces working at her needle Be so good as to say
nothing that goes beyond what is said among us If you keep within our bounds
you cannot well be wrong Now Come and see«
Arthur followed him down a narrow entry at the end of which a key was
turned and a strong door was opened from within It admitted them into a lodge
or lobby across which they passed and so through another door and a grating
into the prison The old man always plodding on before turned round in his
slow stiff stooping manner when they came to the turnkey on duty as if to
present his companion The turnkey nodded and the companion passed in without
being asked whom he wanted
The night was dark and the prison lamps in the yard and the candles in the
prison windows faintly shining behind many sorts of wry old curtain and blind
had not the air of making it lighter A few people loitered about but the
greater part of the population was within doors The old man taking the
righthand side of the yard turned in at the third or fourth doorway and began
to ascend the stairs »They are rather dark sir but you will not find anything
in the way«
He paused for a moment before opening a door on the second story He had no
sooner turned the handle than the visitor saw Dorrit and saw the reason of her
setting so much store by dining alone
She had brought the meat home that she should have eaten herself and was
already warming it on a gridiron over the fire for her father clad in an old
grey gown and a black cap awaiting his supper at the table A clean cloth was
spread before him with knife fork and spoon saltcellar pepperbox glass
and pewter alepot Such zests as his particular little phial of cayenne pepper
and his pennyworth of pickles in a saucer were not wanting
She started coloured deeply and turned white The visitor more with his
eyes than by the slight impulsive motion of his hand entreated her to be
reassured and to trust him
»I found this gentleman« said the uncle »Mr Clennam William son of
Amys friend at the outer gate wishful as he was going by of paying his
respects but hesitating whether to come in or not This is my brother William
sir«
»I hope« said Arthur very doubtful what to say »that my respect for your
daughter may explain and justify my desire to be presented to you sir«
»Mr Clennam« returned the other rising taking his cap off in the flat of
his hand and so holding it ready to put on again »you do me honour You are
welcome sir« With a low bow »Frederick a chair Pray sit down Mr Clennam«
He put his black cap on again as he had taken it off and resumed his own
seat There was a wonderful air of benignity and patronage in his manner These
were the ceremonies with which he received the collegians
»You are welcome to the Marshalsea sir I have welcomed many gentlemen to
these walls Perhaps you are aware my daughter Amy may have mentioned that I
am the Father of this place«
»I so I have understood« said Arthur dashing at the assertion
»You know I dare say that my daughter Amy was born here A good girl sir
a dear girl and long a comfort and support to me Amy my dear put this dish
on Mr Clennam will excuse the primitive customs to which we are reduced here
Is it a compliment to ask you if you would do me the honour sir to «
»Thank you« returned Arthur »Not a morsel«
He felt himself quite lost in wonder at the manner of the man and that the
probability of his daughters having had a reserve as to her family history
should be so far out of his mind
She filled his glass put all the little matters on the table ready to his
hand and then sat beside him while he ate his supper Evidently in observance
of their nightly custom she put some bread before herself and touched his
glass with her lips but Arthur saw she was troubled and took nothing Her look
at her father half admiring him and proud of him half ashamed for him all
devoted and loving went to his inmost heart
The Father of the Marshalsea condescended towards his brother as an amiable
wellmeaning man a private character who had not arrived at distinction
»Frederick« said he »you and Fanny sup at your lodgings tonight I know What
have you done with Fanny Frederick«
»She is walking with Tip«
»Tip as you may know is my son Mr Clennam He has been a little wild
and difficult to settle but his introduction to the world was rather« he
shrugged his shoulders with a faint sigh and looked round the room »a little
adverse Your first visit here sir«
»My first«
»You could hardly have been here since your boyhood without my knowledge It
very seldom happens that anybody of any pretensions any pretensions comes
here without being presented to me«
»As many as forty or fifty in a day have been introduced to my brother«
said Frederick faintly lighting up with a ray of pride
»Yes« the Father of the Marshalsea assented »We have even exceeded that
number On a fine Sunday in term time it is quite a Levee quite a Levee Amy
my dear I have been trying half the day to remember the name of the gentleman
from Camberwell who was introduced to me last Christmas week by that agreeable
coalmerchant who was remanded for six months«
»I dont remember his name father«
»Frederick do you remember his name«
Frederick doubted if he had ever heard it No one could doubt that Frederick
was the last person upon earth to put such a question to with any hope of
information
»I mean« said his brother »the gentleman who did that handsome action with
so much delicacy Ha Tush The name has quite escaped me Mr Clennam as I
have happened to mention handsome and delicate action you may like perhaps to
know what it was«
»Very much« said Arthur withdrawing his eyes from the delicate head
beginning to droop and the pale face with a new solicitude stealing over it
»It is so generous and shows so much fine feeling that it is almost a duty
to mention it I said at the time that I always would mention it on every
suitable occasion without regard to personal sensitiveness A well a its
of no use to disguise the fact you must know Mr Clennam that it does
sometimes occur that people who come here desire to offer some little
Testimonial to the Father of the place«
To see her hand upon his arm in mute entreaty half and her timid little
shrinking figure turning away was to see a sad sad sight
»Sometimes« he went on in a low soft voice agitated and clearing his
throat every now and then »sometimes hem it takes one shape and sometimes
another but it is generally ha Money And it is I cannot but confess it
it is too often hem acceptable This gentleman that I refer to was
presented to me Mr Clennam in a manner highly gratifying to my feelings and
conversed not only with great politeness but with great ahem information«
All this time though he had finished his supper he was nervously going about
his plate with his knife and fork as if some of it were still before him »It
appeared from his conversation that he had a garden though he was delicate of
mentioning it at first as gardens are hem are not accessible to me But it
came out through my admiring a very fine cluster of geranium beautiful
cluster of geranium to be sure which he had brought from his conservatory On
my taking notice of its rich colour he showed me a piece of paper round it on
which was written For the Father of the Marshalsea and presented it to me But
this was hem not all He made a particular request on taking leave that I
would remove the paper in half an hour I ha I did so and I found that it
contained ahem two guineas I assure you Mr Clennam I have received hem
Testimonials in many ways and of many degrees of value and they have always
been ha unfortunately acceptable but I never was more pleased than with
this ahem this particular Testimonial«
Arthur was in the act of saying the little he could say on such a theme
when a bell began to ring and footsteps approached the door A pretty girl of a
far better figure and much more developed than Little Dorrit though looking
much younger in the face when the two were observed together stopped in the
doorway on seeing a stranger and a young man who was with her stopped too
»Mr Clennam Fanny My eldest daughter and my son Mr Clennam The bell is
a signal for visitors to retire and so they have come to say good night but
there is plenty of time plenty of time Girls Mr Clennam will excuse any
household business you may have together He knows I dare say that I have but
one room here«
»I only want my clean dress from Amy father« said the second girl
»And I my clothes« said Tip
Amy opened a drawer in an old piece of furniture that was a chest of drawers
above and a bedstead below and produced two little bundles which she handed
to her brother and sister »Mended and made up« Clennam heard the sister ask in
a whisper To which Amy answered »Yes« He had risen now and took the
opportunity of glancing round the room The bare walls had been coloured green
evidently by an unskilled hand and were poorly decorated with a few prints The
window was curtained and the floor carpeted and there were shelves and pegs
and other such conveniences that had accumulated in the course of years It was
a close confined room poorly furnished and the chimney smoked to boot or the
tin screen at the top of the fireplace was superfluous but constant pains and
care had made it neat and even after its kind comfortable
All the while the bell was ringing and the uncle was anxious to go »Come
Fanny come Fanny« he said with his ragged clarionet case under his arm »the
lock child the lock«
Fanny bade her father good night and whisked off airily Tip had already
clattered downstairs »Now Mr Clennam« said the uncle looking back as he
shuffled out after them »the lock sir the lock«
Mr Clennam had two things to do before he followed one to offer his
testimonial to the Father of the Marshalsea without giving pain to his child
the other to say something to that child though it were but a word in
explanation of his having come there
»Allow me« said the Father »to see you downstairs«
She had slipped out after the rest and they were alone »Not on any
account« said the visitor hurriedly »Pray allow me to « chink chink chink
»Mr Clennam« said the Father »I am deeply deeply « But his visitor had
shut up his hand to stop the chinking and had gone downstairs with great
speed
He saw no Little Dorrit on his way down or in the yard The last two or
three stragglers were hurrying to the lodge and he was following when he
caught sight of her in the doorway of the first house from the entrance He
turned back hastily
»Pray forgive me« he said »for speaking to you here pray forgive me for
coming here at all I followed you tonight I did so that I might endeavour to
render you and your family some service You know the terms on which I and my
mother are and may not be surprised that I have preserved our distant relations
at her house lest I should unintentionally make her jealous or resentful or
do you any injury in her estimation What I have seen here in this short time
has greatly increased my heartfelt wish to be a friend to you It would
recompense me for much disappointment if I could hope to gain your confidence«
She was scared at first but seemed to take courage while he spoke to her
»You are very good sir You speak very earnestly to me But I but I wish
you had not watched me«
He understood the emotion with which she said it to arise in her fathers
behalf and he respected it and was silent
»Mrs Clennam has been of great service to me I dont know what we should
have done without the employment she has given me I am afraid it may not be a
good return to become secret with her I can say no more tonight sir I am
sure you mean to be kind to us Thank you thank you«
»Let me ask you one question before I leave Have you known my mother long«
»I think two years sir The bell has stopped«
»How did you know her first Did she send here for you«
»No She does not even know that I live here We have a friend father and I
a poor labouring man but the best of friends and I wrote out that I wished
to do needlework and gave his address And he got what I wrote out displayed at
a few places where it cost nothing and Mrs Clennam found me that way and sent
for me The gate will be locked sir«
She was so tremulous and agitated and he was so moved by compassion for
her and by deep interest in her story as it dawned upon him that he could
scarcely tear himself away But the stoppage of the bell and the quiet in the
prison were a warning to depart and with a few hurried words of kindness he
left her gliding back to her father
But he had remained too late The inner gate was locked and the lodge
closed After a little fruitless knocking with his hand he was standing there
with the disagreeable conviction upon him that he had to get through the night
when a voice accosted him from behind
»Caught eh« said the voice »You wont go home till morning Oh Its
you is it Mr Clennam«
The voice was Tips and they stood looking at one another in the
prisonyard as it began to rain
»Youve done it« observed Tip »you must be sharper than that next time«
»But you are locked in too« said Arthur
»I believe I am« said Tip sarcastically »About But not in your way I
belong to the shop only my sister has a theory that our governor must never
know it I dont see why myself«
»Can I get any shelter« asked Arthur »What had I better do«
»We had better get hold of Amy first of all« said Tip referring any
difficulty to her as a matter of course
»I would rather walk about all night its not much to do than give that
trouble«
»You neednt do that if you dont mind paying for a bed If you dont mind
paying theyll make you up one on the Snuggery table under the circumstances
If youll come along Ill introduce you there«
As they passed down the yard Arthur looked up at the window of the room he
had lately left where the light was still burning »Yes sir« said Tip
following his glance »Thats the governors Shell sit with him for another
hour reading yesterdays paper to him or something of that sort and then
shell come out like a little ghost and vanish away without a sound«
»I dont understand you«
»The governor sleeps up in the room and she has a lodging at the turnkeys
First house there« said Tip pointing out the doorway into which she had
retired »First house sky parlour She pays twice as much for it as she would
for one twice as good outside But she stands by the governor poor dear girl
day and night«
This brought them to the tavernestablishment at the upper end of the prison
where the collegians had just vacated their social evening club The apartment
on the groundfloor in which it was held was the Snuggery in question the
presidential tribune of the chairman the pewterpots glasses pipes
tobaccoashes and general flavour of members were still as that convivial
institution had left them on its adjournment The Snuggery had two of the
qualities popularly held to be essential to grog for ladies in respect that it
was hot and strong but in the third point of analogy requiring plenty of it
the Snuggery was defective being but a coopedup apartment
The unaccustomed visitor from outside naturally assumed everybody here to
be prisoners landlord waiter barmaid potboy and all Whether they were or
not did not appear but they all had a weedy look The keeper of a chandlers
shop in a front parlour who took in gentlemen boarders lent his assistance in
making the bed He had been a tailor in his time and had kept a phaëton he
said He boasted that he stood up litigiously for the interests of the college
and he had undefined and undefinable ideas that the marshal intercepted a Fund
which ought to come to the collegians He liked to believe this and always
impressed the shadowy grievance on newcomers and strangers though he could
not for his life have explained what Fund he meant or how the notion had got
rooted in his soul He had fully convinced himself notwithstanding that his
own proper share of the Fund was three and ninepence a week and that in this
amount he as an individual collegian was swindled by the marshal regularly
every Monday Apparently he helped to make the bed that he might not lose an
opportunity of stating this case after which unloading of his mind and after
announcing as it seemed he always did without anything coming of it that he
was going to write a letter to the papers and show the marshal up he fell into
miscellaneous conversation with the rest It was evident from the general tone
of the whole party that they had come to regard insolvency as the normal state
of mankind and the payment of debts as a disease that occasionally broke out
In this strange scene and with these strange spectres flitting about him
Arthur Clennam looked on at the preparations as if they were part of a dream
Pending which the longinitiated Tip with an awful enjoyment of the Snuggerys
resources pointed out the common kitchen fire maintained by subscription of
collegians the boiler for hot water supported in like manner and other
premises generally tending to the deduction that the way to be healthy wealthy
and wise was to come to the Marshalsea
The two tables put together in a corner were at length converted into a
very fair bed and the stranger was left to the Windsor chairs the presidential
tribune the beery atmosphere sawdust pipelights spittoons and repose But
the last item was long long long in linking itself to the rest The novelty
of the place the coming upon it without preparation the sense of being locked
up the remembrance of that room upstairs of the two brothers and above all
of the retiring childish form and the face in which he now saw years of
insufficient food if not of want kept him waking and unhappy
Speculations too bearing the strangest relations towards the prison but
always concerning the prison ran like nightmares through his mind while he lay
awake Whether coffins were kept ready for people who might die there where
they were kept how they were kept where people who died in the prison were
buried how they were taken out what forms were observed whether an implacable
creditor could arrest the dead As to escaping what chances there were of
escape Whether a prisoner could scale the walls with a cord and grapple how he
would descend upon the other side whether he could alight on a housetop steal
down a staircase let himself out at a door and get lost in the crowd As to
Fire in the prison if one were to break out while he lay there
And these involuntary starts of fancy were after all but the setting of a
picture in which three people kept before him His father with the steadfast
look with which he had died prophetically darkened forth in the portrait his
mother with her arm up warding off his suspicion Little Dorrit with her hand
on the degraded arm and her drooping head turned away
What if his mother had an old reason she well knew for softening to this
poor girl What if the prisoner now sleeping quietly Heaven grant it by the
light of the great Day of Judgment should trace back his fall to her What if
any act of hers and of his fathers should have even remotely brought the grey
heads of those two brothers so low
A swift thought shot into his mind In that long imprisonment here and in
her own long confinement to her room did his mother find a balance to be
struck I admit that I was accessory to that mans captivity I have suffered
for it in kind He has decayed in his prison I in mine I have paid the
penalty
When all the other thoughts had faded out this one held possession of him
When he fell asleep she came before him in her wheeled chair warding him off
with this justification When he awoke and sprang up causelessly frightened
the words were in his ears as if her voice had slowly spoken them at his
pillow to break his rest »He withers away in his prison I wither away in
mine inexorable justice is done what do I owe on this score«
Chapter IX
Little Mother
The morning light was in no hurry to climb the prison wall and look in at the
Snuggery windows and when it did come it would have been more welcome if it
had come alone instead of bringing a rush of rain with it But the equinoctial
gales were blowing out at sea and the impartial southwest wind in its flight
would not neglect even the narrow Marshalsea While it roared through the
steeple of St Georges Church and twirled all the cowls in the neighbourhood
it made a swoop to beat the Southwark smoke into the jail and plunging down
the chimneys of the few early collegians who were yet lighting their fires half
suffocated them
Arthur Clennam would have been little disposed to linger in bed though his
bed had been in a more private situation and less affected by the raking out of
yesterdays fire the kindling of todays under the collegiate boiler the
filling of that Spartan vessel at the pump the sweeping and sawdusting of the
common room and other such preparations Heartily glad to see the morning
though little rested by the night he turned out as soon as he could distinguish
objects about him and paced the yard for two heavy hours before the gate was
opened
The walls were so near to one another, and the wild clouds hurried over them
so fast that it gave him a sensation like the beginning of seasickness to look
up at the gusty sky The rain carried aslant by flaws of wind blackened that
side of the central building which he had visited last night but left a narrow
dry trough under the lee of the wall where he walked up and down among waifs of
straw and dust and paper the waste droppings of the pump and the stray leaves
of yesterdays greens It was as haggard a view of life as a man need look upon
Nor was it relieved by any glimpse of the little creature who had brought
him there Perhaps she glided out of her doorway and in at that where her father
lived while his face was turned from both but he saw nothing of her It was
too early for her brother to have seen him once was to have seen enough of him
to know that he would be sluggish to leave whatever frowsy bed he occupied at
night so as Arthur Clennam walked up and down waiting for the gate to open
he cast about in his mind for future rather than for present means of pursuing
his discoveries
At last the lodgegate turned and the turnkey standing on the step taking
an early comb at his hair was ready to let him out With a joyful sense of
release he passed through the lodge and found himself again in the little
outer courtyard where he had spoken to the brother last night
There was a string of people already straggling in whom it was not
difficult to identify as the nondescript messengers gobetweens and
errandbearers of the place Some of them had been lounging in the rain until
the gate should open others who had timed their arrival with greater nicety
were coming up now and passing in with damp whiteybrown paper bags from the
grocers loaves of bread lumps of butter eggs milk and the like The
shabbiness of these attendants upon shabbiness the poverty of these insolvent
waiters upon insolvency was a sight to see Such threadbare coats and trousers
such fusty gowns and shawls such squashed hats and bonnets such boots and
shoes such umbrellas and walkingsticks never were seen in Rag Fair All of
them wore the castoff clothes of other men and women were made up of patches
and pieces of other peoples individuality and had no sartorial existence of
their own proper Their walk was the walk of a race apart They had a peculiar
way of doggedly slinking round the corner as if they were eternally going to
the pawnbrokers When they coughed they coughed like people accustomed to be
forgotten on doorsteps and in draughty passages waiting for answers to letters
in faded ink which gave the recipients of those manuscripts great mental
disturbance and no satisfaction As they eyed the stranger in passing they eyed
him with borrowing eyes hungry sharp speculative as to his softness if they
were accredited to him and the likelihood of his standing something handsome
Mendicity on commission stooped in their high shoulders shambled in their
unsteady legs buttoned and pinned and darned and dragged their clothes frayed
their buttonholes leaked out of their figures in dirty little ends of tape
and issued from their mouths in alcoholic breathings
As these people passed him standing still in the courtyard and one of them
turned back to inquire if he could assist him with his services it came into
Arthur Clennams mind that he would speak to Dorrit again before he went away
She would have recovered her first surprise and might feel easier with him He
asked this member of the fraternity who had two red herrings in his hand and a
loaf and a blacking brush under his arm where was the nearest place to get a
cup of coffee at The nondescript replied in encouraging terms and brought him
to a coffeeshop in the street within a stones throw
»Do you know Miss Dorrit« asked the new client
The nondescript knew two Miss Dorrits one who was born inside That was
the one That was the one The nondescript had known her many years In regard
of the other Miss Dorrit the nondescript lodged in the same house with herself
and uncle
This changed the clients halfformed design of remaining at the coffeeshop
until the nondescript should bring him word that Dorrit had issued forth into
the street He entrusted the nondescript with a confidential message to her
importing that the visitor who had waited on her father last night begged the
favour of a few words with her at her uncles lodging he obtained from the same
source full directions to the house which was very near dismissed the
nondescript gratified with halfacrown and having hastily refreshed himself at
the coffeeshop repaired with all speed to the clarionetplayers dwelling
There were so many lodgers in this house that the doorpost seemed to be as
full of bellhandles as a cathedral organ is of stops Doubtful which might be
the clarionetstop he was considering the point when a shuttlecock flew out of
the parlour window and alighted on his hat He then observed that in the
parlourwindow was a blind with the inscription MR CRIPPLESS ACADEMY also in
another line EVENING TUITION and behind the blind was a little whitefaced
boy with a slice of breadandbutter and a battledore The window being
accessible from the footway he looked in over the blind returned the
shuttlecock and put his question
»Dorrit« said the little whitefaced boy Master Cripples in fact »Mr
Dorrit Third bell and one knock«
The pupils of Mr Cripples appeared to have been making a copybook of the
streetdoor it was so extensively scribbled over in pencil The frequency of
the inscriptions Old Dorrit and Dirty Dick in combination suggested
intentions of personality on the part of Mr Crippless pupils There was ample
time to make these observations before the door was opened by the poor old man
himself
»Ha« said he very slowly remembering Arthur »you were shut in last
night«
»Yes Mr Dorrit I hope to meet your niece here presently«
»Oh« said he pondering »Out of my brothers way True Would you come
upstairs and wait for her«
»Thank you«
Turning himself as slowly as he turned in his mind whatever he heard or
said he led the way up the narrow stairs The house was very close and had an
unwholesome smell The little staircase windows looked in at the back windows of
other houses as unwholesome as itself with poles and lines thrust out of them
on which unsightly linen hung as if the inhabitants were angling for clothes
and had had some wretched bites not worth attending to In the back garret a
sickly room with a turnup bedstead in it so hastily and recently turned up
that the blankets were boiling over as it were and keeping the lid open a
halffinished breakfast of coffee and toast for two persons was jumbled down
anyhow on a rickety table
There was no one there The old man mumbling to himself after some
consideration that Fanny had run away went to the next room to fetch her back
The visitor observing that she held the door on the inside and that when the
uncle tried to open it there was a sharp adjuration of »Dont stupid« and an
appearance of loose stocking and flannel concluded that the young lady was in
an undress The uncle without appearing to come to any conclusion shuffled in
again sat down in his chair and began warming his hands at the fire Not that
it was cold or that he had any waking idea whether it was or not
»What did you think of my brother sir« he asked when he byandby
discovered what he was doing left off reached over to the chimneypiece and
took his clarionet case down
»I was glad« said Arthur very much at a loss for his thoughts were on the
brother before him »to find him so well and cheerful«
»Ha« muttered the old man »Yes yes yes yes yes«
Arthur wondered what he could possibly want with the clarionet case He did
not want it at all He discovered in due time that it was not the little paper
of snuff which was also on the chimneypiece put it back again took down the
snuff instead and solaced himself with a pinch He was as feeble spare and
slow in his pinches as in everything else but a certain little trickling of
enjoyment of them played in the poor worn nerves about the corners of his eyes
and mouth
»Amy Mr Clennam What do you think of her«
»I am much impressed Mr Dorrit by all that I have seen of her and thought
of her«
»My brother would have been quite lost without Amy« he returned »We should
all have been lost without Amy She is a very good girl Amy She does her
duty«
Arthur fancied that he heard in these praises a certain tone of custom
which he had heard from the father last night with an inward protest and
feeling of antagonism It was not that they stinted her praises or were
insensible to what she did for them but that they were lazily habituated to
her as they were to all the rest of their condition He fancied that although
they had before them every day the means of comparison between her and one
another and themselves they regarded her as being in her necessary place as
holding a position towards them all which belonged to her like her name or her
age He fancied that they viewed her not as having risen away from the prison
atmosphere but as appertaining to it as being vaguely what they had a right to
expect and nothing more
Her uncle resumed his breakfast and was munching toast sopped in coffee
oblivious of his guest when the third bell rang That was Amy he said and
went down to let her in leaving the visitor with as vivid a picture on his mind
of his begrimed hands dirtworn face and decayed figure as if he were still
drooping in his chair
She came up after him in the usual plain dress and with the usual timid
manner Her lips were a little parted as if her heart beat faster than usual
»Mr Clennam Amy« said her uncle »has been expecting you some time«
»I took the liberty of sending you a message«
»I received the message sir«
»Are you going to my mothers this morning I think not for it is past your
usual hour«
»Not today sir I am not wanted today«
»Will you allow me to walk a little way in whatever direction you may be
going I can then speak to you as we walk both without detaining you here and
without intruding longer here myself«
She looked embarrassed but said if he pleased He made a pretence of
having mislaid his walkingstick to give her time to set the bedstead right to
answer her sisters impatient knock at the wall and to say a word softly to her
uncle Then he found it and they went downstairs she first he following the
uncle standing at the stairhead and probably forgetting them before they had
reached the ground floor
Mr Crippless pupils who were by this time coming to school desisted from
their morning recreation of cuffing one another with bags and books to stare
with all the eyes they had at a stranger who had been to see Dirty Dick They
bore the trying spectacle in silence until the mysterious visitor was at a safe
distance when they burst into pebbles and yells and likewise into reviling
dances and in all respects buried the pipe of peace with so many savage
ceremonies that if Mr Cripples had been the chief of the Cripplewayboo tribe
with his warpaint on they could scarcely have done greater justice to their
education
In the midst of this homage Mr Arthur Clennam offered his arm to Little
Dorrit and Little Dorrit took it »Will you go by the Iron Bridge« said he
»where there is an escape from the noise of the street« Little Dorrit answered
if he pleased and presently ventured to hope that he would »not mind« Mr
Crippless boys for she had herself received her education such as it was in
Mr Crippless evening academy He returned with the best will in the world
that Mr Crippless boys were forgiven out of the bottom of his soul Thus did
Cripples unconsciously become a master of the ceremonies between them and bring
them more naturally together than Beau Nash might have done if they had lived in
his golden days and he had alighted from his coach and six for the purpose
The morning remained squally and the streets were miserably muddy but no
rain fell as they walked towards the Iron Bridge The little creature seemed so
young in his eyes that there were moments when he found himself thinking of
her if not speaking to her as if she were a child Perhaps he seemed as old in
her eyes as she seemed young in his
»I am sorry to hear you were so inconvenienced last night sir as to be
locked in It was very unfortunate«
It was nothing he returned He had had a very good bed
»Oh yes« she said quickly »she believed there were excellent beds at the
coffeehouse« He noticed that the coffeehouse was quite a majestic hotel to
her and that she treasured its reputation
»I believe it is very expensive« said Little Dorrit »but my father has
told me that quite beautiful dinners may be got there And wine« she added
timidly
»Were you ever there«
»Oh no Only into the kitchen to fetch hot water«
To think of growing up with a kind of awe upon one as to the luxuries of
that superb establishment the Marshalsea Hotel
»I asked you last night« said Clennam »how you had become acquainted with
my mother Did you ever hear her name before she sent for you«
»No sir«
»Do you think your father ever did«
»No sir«
He met her eyes raised to his with so much wonder in them she was scared
when that encounter took place and shrunk away again that he felt it
necessary to say
»I have a reason for asking which I cannot very well explain but you must
on no account suppose it to be of a nature to cause you the least alarm or
anxiety Quite the reverse And you think that at no time of your fathers life
was my name of Clennam ever familiar to him«
»No sir«
He felt from the tone in which she spoke that she was glancing up at him
with those parted lips therefore he looked before him rather than make her
heart beat quicker still by embarrassing her afresh
Thus they emerged upon the Iron Bridge which was as quiet after the roaring
streets as though it had been open country The wind blew roughly the wet
squalls came rattling past them skimming the pools on the road and pavement
and raining them down into the river The clouds raced on furiously in the
leadcoloured sky the smoke and mist raced after them the dark tide ran fierce
and strong in the same direction Little Dorrit seemed the least the quietest
and weakest of Heavens creatures
»Let me put you in a coach« said Clennam very nearly adding »my poor
child«
She hurriedly declined saying that wet or dry made little difference to
her she was used to go about in all weathers He knew it to be so and was
touched with more pity thinking of the slight figure at his side making its
nightly way through the damp dark boisterous streets to such a place of rest
»You spoke so feelingly to me last night sir and I found afterwards that
you had been so generous to my father that I could not resist your message if
it was only to thank you especially as I wished very much to say to you « she
hesitated and trembled and tears rose in her eyes but did not fall
»To say to me «
»That I hope you will not misunderstand my father Dont judge him sir as
you would judge others outside the gates
He has been there so long I never saw him outside but I can understand
that he must have grown different in some things since«
»My thoughts will never be unjust or harsh towards him believe me«
»Not« she said with a prouder air as the misgiving evidently crept upon
her that she might seem to be abandoning him »Not that he has anything to be
ashamed of for himself or that I have anything to be ashamed of for him He
only requires to be understood I only ask for him that his life may be fairly
remembered All that he said was quite true It all happened just as he related
it He is very much respected Everybody who comes in is glad to know him He
is more courted than any one else He is far more thought of than the Marshal
is«
If ever pride were innocent it was innocent in Little Dorrit when she grew
boastful of her father
»It is often said that his manners are a true gentlemans and quite a
study I see none like them in that place but he is admitted to be superior to
all the rest This is quite as much why they make him presents as because they
know him to be needy He is not to be blamed for being in need poor love Who
could be in prison a quarter of a century and be prosperous«
What affection in her words what compassion in her repressed tears what a
great soul of fidelity within her how true the light that shed false brightness
round him
»If I have found it best to conceal where my home is it is not because I am
ashamed of him GOD forbid Nor am I so much ashamed of the place itself as
might be supposed People are not bad because they come there I have known
numbers of good persevering honest people come there through misfortune They
are almost all kindhearted to one another. And it would be ungrateful indeed in
me to forget that I have had many quiet comfortable hours there that I had an
excellent friend there when I was quite a baby who was very fond of me that I
have been taught there and have worked there and have slept soundly there I
think it would be almost cowardly and cruel not to have some little attachment
for it after all this«
She had relieved the faithful fulness of her heart and modestly said
raising her eyes appealingly to her new friends »I did not mean to say so
much nor have I ever but once spoken about this before But it seems to set it
more right than it was last night I said I wished you had not followed me sir
I dont wish it so much now unless you should think indeed I dont wish it at
all unless I should have spoken so confusedly that that you can scarcely
understand me which I am afraid may be the case«
He told her with perfect truth that it was not the case and putting himself
between her and the sharp wind and rain sheltered her as well as he could
»I feel permitted now« he said »to ask you a little more concerning your
father Has he many creditors«
»Oh a great number«
»I mean detaining creditors who keep him where he is«
»Oh yes a great number«
»Can you tell me I can get the information no doubt elsewhere if you
cannot who is the most influential of them«
Dorrit said after considering a little that she used to hear long ago of
Mr Tite Barnacle as a man of great power He was a commissioner or a board or
a trustee or something He lived in Grosvenor Square she thought or very near
it He was under Government high in the Circumlocution Office She appeared to
have acquired in her infancy some awful impression of the might of this
formidable Mr Tite Barnacle of Grosvenor Square or very near it and the
Circumlocution Office which quite crushed her when she mentioned him
»It can do no harm« thought Arthur »if I see this Mr Tite Barnacle«
The thought did not present itself so quietly but that her quickness
intercepted it »Ah« said Little Dorrit shaking her head with the mild despair
of a lifetime »Many people used to think once of getting my poor father out
but you dont know how hopeless it is«
She forgot to be shy at the moment in honestly warning him away from the
sunken wreck he had a dream of raising and looked at him with eyes which
assuredly in association with her patient face her fragile figure her spare
dress and the wind and rain did not turn him from his purpose of helping her
»Even if it could be done« said she »and it never can be done now where
could father live or how could he live I have often thought that if such a
change could come it might be anything but a service to him now People might
not think so well of him outside as they do there He might not be so gently
dealt with outside as he is there He might not be so fit himself for the life
outside as he is for that«
Here for the first time she could not restrain her tears from falling and
the little thin hands he had watched when they were so busy trembled as they
clasped each other
»It would be a new distress to him even to know that I earn a little money
and that Fanny earns a little money He is so anxious about us you see feeling
helplessly shut up there Such a good good father«
He let the little burst of feeling go by before he spoke It was soon gone
She was not accustomed to think of herself or to trouble any one with her
emotions He had but glanced away at the piles of city roofs and chimneys among
which the smoke was rolling heavily and at the wilderness of masts on the
river and the wilderness of steeples on the shore indistinctly mixed together
in the stormy haze when she was again as quiet as if she had been plying her
needle in his mothers room
»You would be glad to have your brother set at liberty«
»Oh very very glad sir«
»Well we will hope for him at least You told me last night of a friend you
had«
His name was Plornish Little Dorrit said
And where did Plornish live Plornish lived in Bleeding Heart Yard He was
only a plasterer Little Dorrit said as a caution to him not to form high
social expectations of Plornish He lived at the last house in Bleeding Heart
Yard and his name was over a little gateway
Arthur took down the address and gave her his He had now done all he sought
to do for the present except that he wished to leave her with a reliance upon
him and to have something like a promise from her that she would cherish it
»There is one friend« he said putting up his pocketbook »As I take you
back you are going back«
»Oh yes going straight home«
»As I take you back« the word home jarred upon him »let me ask you to
persuade yourself that you have another friend I make no professions and say
no more«
»You are truly kind to me sir I am sure I need no more«
They walked back through the miserable muddy streets and among the poor
mean shops and were jostled by the crowds of dirty hucksters usual to a poor
neighbourhood There was nothing by the short way that was pleasant to any of
the five senses Yet it was not a common passage through common rain and mire
and noise to Clennam having this little slender careful creature on his arm
How young she seemed to him or how old he to her or what a secret either to
the other in that beginning of the destined interweaving of their stories
matters not here He thought of her having been born and bred among these
scenes and shrinking through them now familiar yet misplaced he thought of
her long acquaintance with the squalid needs of life and of her innocence of
her old solicitude for others and her few years and her childish aspect
They were come into the High Street where the prison stood when a voice
cried »Little mother little mother« Dorrit stopping and looking back an
excited figure of a strange kind bounced against them still crying »little
mother« fell down and scattered the contents of a large basket filled with
potatoes in the mud
»Oh Maggy« said Dorrit »what a clumsy child you are«
Maggy was not hurt but picked herself up immediately and then began to
pick up the potatoes in which both Dorrit and Arthur Clennam helped Maggy
picked up very few potatoes and a great quantity of mud but they were all
recovered and deposited in the basket Maggy then smeared her muddy face with
her shawl and presenting it to Mr Clennam as a type of purity enabled him to
see what she was like
She was about eightandtwenty with large bones large features large feet
and hands large eyes and no hair Her large eyes were limpid and almost
colourless they seemed to be very little affected by light and to stand
unnaturally still There was also that attentive listening expression in her
face which is seen in the faces of the blind but she was not blind having one
tolerably serviceable eye Her face was not exceedingly ugly though it was only
redeemed from being so by a smile a goodhumoured smile and pleasant in
itself, but rendered pitiable by being constantly there A great white cap with
a quantity of opaque frilling that was always flapping about apologised for
Maggys baldness and made it so very difficult for her old black bonnet to
retain its place upon her head that it held on round her neck like a gipsys
baby A commission of haberdashers could alone have reported what the rest of
her poor dress was made of but it had a strong general resemblance to seaweed
with here and there a gigantic tealeaf Her shawl looked particularly like a
tealeaf after long infusion
Arthur Clennam looked at Dorrit with the expression of one saying »May I
ask who this is« Dorrit whose hand this Maggy still calling her little
mother had begun to fondle answered in words they were under a gateway into
which the majority of the potatoes had rolled
»This is Maggy sir«
»Maggy sir« echoed the personage presented »Little mother«
»She is the granddaughter « said Dorrit
»Granddaughter« echoed Maggy
»Of my old nurse who has been dead a long time Maggy how old are you«
»Ten mother« said Maggy
»You cant think how good she is sir« said Dorrit with infinite
tenderness
»Good she is« echoed Maggy transferring the pronoun in a most expressive
way from herself to her little mother
»Oh how clever« said Dorrit »She goes on errands as well as any one«
Maggy laughed »And is as trustworthy as the Bank of England« Maggy laughed
»She earns her own living entirely Entirely sir« said Dorrit in a lower and
triumphant tone »Really does«
»What is her history« asked Clennam
»Think of that Maggy« said Dorrit taking her two large hands and clapping
them together »A gentleman from thousands of miles away wanting to know your
history«
»My history« cried Maggy »Little mother«
»She means me« said Dorrit rather confused »she is very much attached to
me Her old grandmother was not so kind to her as she should have been was she
Maggy«
Maggy shook her head made a drinking vessel of her clenched left hand
drank out of it and said »Gin« Then beat an imaginary child and said
»Broomhandles and pokers«
»When Maggy was ten years old« said Dorrit watching her face while she
spoke »she had a bad fever sir and she has never grown any older ever since«
»Ten years old« said Maggy nodding her head »But what a nice hospital So
comfortable wasnt it Oh so nice it was Such a Evnly place«
»She had never been at peace before sir« said Dorrit turning towards
Arthur for an instant and speaking low »and she always runs off upon that«
»Such beds there is there« cried Maggy »Such lemonades Such oranges Such
dlicious broth and wine Such Chicking Oh AINT it a delightful place to go
and stop at«
»So Maggy stopped there as long as she could« said Dorrit in her former
tone of telling a childs story the tone designed for Maggys ear »and at
last when she could stop there no longer she came out Then because she was
never to be more than ten years old however long she lived «
»However long she lived« echoed Maggy
»And because she was very weak indeed was so weak that when she began to
laugh she couldnt stop herself which was a great pity «
Maggy mighty grave of a sudden
»Her grandmother did not know what to do with her and for some years was
very unkind to her indeed At length in course of time Maggy began to take
pains to improve herself and to be very attentive and very industrious and by
degrees was allowed to come in and out as often as she liked and got enough to
do to support herself and does support herself And that« said Little Dorrit
clapping the two great hands together again »is Maggys history as Maggy
knows«
Ah But Arthur would have known what was wanting to its completeness though
he had never heard the words Little mother though he had never seen the
fondling of the small spare hand though he had had no sight for the tears now
standing in the colourless eyes though he had had no hearing for the sob that
checked the clumsy laugh The dirty gateway with the wind and rain whistling
through it and the basket of muddy potatoes waiting to be spilt again or taken
up never seemed the common hole it really was when he looked back to it by
these lights Never never
They were very near the end of their walk and they now came out of the
gateway to finish it Nothing would serve Maggy but that they must stop at a
grocers window short of their destination for her to show her learning She
could read after a sort and picked out the fat figures in the tickets of
prices for the most part correctly She also stumbled with a large balance of
success against her failures through various philanthropic recommendations to
Try our Mixture Try our Family Black Try our Orangeflavoured Pekoe
challenging competition at the head of Flowery Teas and various cautions to the
public against spurious establishments and adulterated articles When he saw how
pleasure brought a rosy tint into Dorrits face when Maggy made a hit he felt
that he could have stood there making a library of the grocers window until the
rain and wind were tired
The courtyard received them at last and there he said goodbye to Little
Dorrit Little as she had always looked she looked less than ever when he saw
her going into the Marshalsea lodge passage the little mother attended by her
big child
The cage door opened and when the small bird reared in captivity had
tamely fluttered in he saw it shut again and then he came away
Chapter X
Containing the Whole Science of Government
The Circumlocution Office was as everybody knows without being told the most
important Department under Government No public business of any kind could
possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution
Office Its finger was in the largest public pie and in the smallest public
tart It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the
plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office If
another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of
the match nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there
had been half a score of boards half a bushel of minutes several sacks of
official memoranda and a familyvault full of ungrammatical correspondence on
the part of the Circumlocution Office
This glorious establishment had been early in the field when the one
sublime principle involving the difficult art of governing a country was first
distinctly revealed to statesmen It had been foremost to study that bright
revelation and to carry its shining influence through the whole of the official
proceedings Whatever was required to be done the Circumlocution Office was
beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving HOW NOT TO
DO IT
Through this delicate perception through the tact with which it invariably
seized it and through the genius with which it always acted on it the
Circumlocution Office had risen to overtop all the public departments and the
public condition had risen to be what it was
It is true that How not to do it was the great study and object of all
public departments and professional politicians all round the Circumlocution
Office It is true that every new premier and every new government coming in
because they had upheld a certain thing as necessary to be done were no sooner
come in than they applied their utmost faculties to discovering How not to do
it It is true that from the moment when a general election was over every
returned man who had been raving on hustings because it hadnt been done and
who had been asking the friends of the honourable gentleman in the opposite
interest on pain of impeachment to tell him why it hadnt been done and who had
been asserting that it must be done and who had been pledging himself that it
should be done began to devise How it was not to be done It is true that the
debates of both Houses of Parliament the whole session through uniformly tended
to the protracted deliberation How not to do it It is true that the royal
speech at the opening of such session virtually said My lords and gentlemen
you have a considerable stroke of work to do and you will please to retire to
your respective chambers and discuss How not to do it It is true that the
royal speech at the close of such session virtually said My lords and
gentlemen you have through several laborious months been considering with great
loyalty and patriotism How not to do it and you have found out and with the
blessing of Providence upon the harvest natural not political I now dismiss
you All this is true but the Circumlocution Office went beyond it
Because the Circumlocution Office went on mechanically every day keeping
this wonderful allsufficient wheel of statesmanship How not to do it in
motion Because the Circumlocution Office was down upon any illadvised public
servant who was going to do it or who appeared to be by any surprising accident
in remote danger of doing it with a minute and a memorandum and a letter of
instructions that extinguished him It was this spirit of national efficiency
in the Circumlocution Office that had gradually led to its having something to
do with everything Mechanicians natural philosophers soldiers sailors
petitioners memorialists people with grievances people who wanted to prevent
grievances people who wanted to redress grievances jobbing people jobbed
people people who couldnt get rewarded for merit and people who couldnt get
punished for demerit were all indiscriminately turned up under the foolscap
paper of the Circumlocution Office
Numbers of people were lost in the Circumlocution Office Unfortunates with
wrongs or with projects for the general welfare and they had better have had
wrongs at first than have taken that bitter English recipe for certainly
getting them who in slow lapse of time and agony had passed safely through
other public departments who according to rule had been bullied in this
overreached by that and evaded by the other got referred at last to the
Circumlocution Office and never reappeared in the light of day Boards sat upon
them secretaries minuted upon them commissioners gabbled about them clerks
registered entered checked and ticked them off and they melted away In
short all the business of the country went through the Circumlocution Office
except the business that never came out of it and its name was Legion
Sometimes angry spirits attacked the Circumlocution Office Sometimes
parliamentary questions were asked about it and even parliamentary motions made
or threatened about it by demagogues so low and ignorant as to hold that the
real recipe of government was How to do it Then would the noble lord or right
honourable gentleman in whose department it was to defend the Circumlocution
Office put an orange in his pocket and make a regular fieldday of the
occasion Then would he come down to that house with a slap upon the table and
meet the honourable gentleman foot to foot Then would he be there to tell that
honourable gentleman that the Circumlocution Office not only was blameless in
this matter but was commendable in this matter was extollable to the skies in
this matter Then would he be there to tell that honourable gentleman that
although the Circumlocution Office was invariably right and wholly right it
never was so right as in this matter Then would he be there to tell that
honourable gentleman that it would have been more to his honour more to his
credit more to his good taste more to his good sense more to half the
dictionary of commonplaces if he had left the Circumlocution Office alone and
never approached this matter Then would he keep one eye upon a coach or crammer
from the Circumlocution Office sitting below the bar and smash the honourable
gentleman with the Circumlocution Office account of this matter And although
one of two things always happened namely either that the Circumlocution Office
had nothing to say and said it or that it had something to say of which the
noble lord or right honourable gentleman blundered one half and forgot the
other the Circumlocution Office was always voted immaculate by an
accommodating majority
Such a nursery of statesmen had the Department become in virtue of a long
career of this nature that several solemn lords had attained the reputation of
being quite unearthly prodigies of business solely from having practised How
not to do it at the head of the Circumlocution Office As to the minor priests
and acolytes of that temple the result of all this was that they stood divided
into two classes and down to the junior messenger either believed in the
Circumlocution Office as a heavenborn institution that had an absolute right
to do whatever it liked or took refuge in total infidelity and considered it a
flagrant nuisance
The Barnacle family had for some time helped to administer the
Circumlocution Office The Tite Barnacle Branch indeed considered themselves
in a general way as having vested rights in that direction and took it ill if
any other family had much to say to it The Barnacles were a very high family
and a very large family They were dispersed all over the public offices and
held all sorts of public places Either the nation was under a load of
obligation to the Barnacles or the Barnacles were under a load of obligation to
the nation It was not quite unanimously settled which the Barnacles having
their opinion the nation theirs
The Mr Tite Barnacle who at the period now in question usually coached or
crammed the statesman at the head of the Circumlocution Office when that noble
or right honourable individual sat a little uneasily in his saddle by reason of
some vagabond making a tilt at him in a newspaper was more flush of blood than
money As a Barnacle he had his place which was a snug thing enough and as a
Barnacle he had of course put in his son Barnacle Junior in the office But he
had intermarried with a branch of the Stiltstalkings who were also better
endowed in a sanguineous point of view than with real or personal property and
of this marriage there had been issue Barnacle Junior and three young ladies
What with the patrician requirements of Barnacle Junior the three young ladies
Mrs Tite Barnacle née Stiltstalking and himself Mr Tite Barnacle found the
intervals between quarter day and quarter day rather longer than he could have
desired a circumstance which he always attributed to the countrys parsimony
For Mr Tite Barnacle Mr Arthur Clennam made his fifth inquiry one day at
the Circumlocution Office having on previous occasions awaited that gentleman
successively in a hall a glass case a waiting room and a fireproof passage
where the department seemed to keep its wind On this occasion Mr Barnacle was
not engaged as he had been before with the noble prodigy at the head of the
Department but was absent Barnacle Junior however was announced as a lesser
star yet visible above the office horizon
With Barnacle Junior he signified his desire to confer and found that
young gentleman singeing the calves of his legs at the parental fire and
supporting his spine against the mantelshelf It was a comfortable room
handsomely furnished in the higher official manner and presenting stately
suggestions of the absent Barnacle in the thick carpet the leathercovered
desk to sit at the leathercovered desk to stand at the formidable easychair
and hearthrug the interposed screen the tornup papers the dispatchboxes
with little labels sticking out of them like medicine bottles or dead game the
pervading smell of leather and mahogany and a general bamboozling air of How
not to do it
The present Barnacle holding Mr Clennams card in his hand had a youthful
aspect and the fluffiest little whisker perhaps that ever was seen Such a
downy tip was on his callow chin that he seemed half fledged like a young bird
and a compassionate observer might have urged that if he had not singed the
calves of his legs he would have died of cold He had a superior eyeglass
dangling round his neck but unfortunately had such flat orbits to his eyes and
such limp little eyelids that it wouldnt stick in when he put it up but kept
tumbling out against his waistcoat buttons with a click that discomposed him
very much
»Oh I say Look here My fathers not in the way and wont be in the way
today« said Barnacle Junior »Is this anything that I can do«
Click Eyeglass down Barnacle Junior quite frightened and feeling all
round himself but not able to find it
»You are very good« said Arthur Clennam »I wish however to see Mr
Barnacle«
»But I say Look here You havent got any appointment you know« said
Barnacle Junior
By this time he had found the eyeglass and put it up again
»No« said Arthur Clennam »That is what I wish to have«
»But I say Look here Is this public business« asked Barnacle Junior
Click Eyeglass down again Barnacle Junior in that state of search after
it that Mr Clennam felt it useless to reply at present
»Is it« said Barnacle Junior taking heed of his visitors brown face
»anything about Tonnage or that sort of thing«
Pausing for a reply he opened his right eye with his hand and stuck his
glass in it in that inflammatory manner that his eye began watering
dreadfully
»No« said Arthur »it is nothing about tonnage«
»Then look here Is it private business«
»I really am not sure It relates to a Mr Dorrit«
»Look here I tell you what You had better call at our house if you are
going that way Twentyfour Mews Street Grosvenor Square My fathers got a
slight touch of the gout and is kept at home by it«
The misguided young Barnacle evidently going blind on his eyeglass side
but ashamed to make any further alteration in his painful arrangements
»Thank you I will call there now Good morning« Young Barnacle seemed
discomfited at this as not having at all expected him to go
»You are quite sure« said Barnacle Junior calling after him when he got to
the door unwilling wholly to relinquish the bright business idea he had
conceived »that its nothing about Tonnage«
»Quite sure«
With which assurance and rather wondering what might have taken place if it
had been anything about tonnage Mr Clennam withdrew to pursue his inquiries
Mews Street Grosvenor Square was not absolutely Grosvenor Square itself,
but it was very near it It was a hideous little street of dead wall stables
and dunghills with lofts over coachhouses inhabited by coachmens families
who had a passion for drying clothes and decorating their windowsills with
miniature turnpikegates The principal chimneysweep of that fashionable
quarter lived at the blind end of Mews Street and the same corner contained an
establishment much frequented about early morning and twilight for the purchase
of winebottles and kitchenstuff Punchs shows used to lean against the dead
wall in Mews Street while their proprietors were dining elsewhere and the dogs
of the neighbourhood made appointments to meet in the same locality Yet there
were two or three small airless houses at the entrance end of Mews Street which
went at enormous rents on account of their being abject hangerson to a
fashionable situation and whenever one of these fearful little coops was to be
let which seldom happened for they were in great request the house agent
advertised it as a gentlemanly residence in the most aristocratic part of town
inhabited solely by the élite of the beau monde
If a gentlemanly residence coming strictly within this narrow margin had
not been essential to the blood of the Barnacles this particular branch would
have had a pretty wide selection among let us say ten thousand houses offering
fifty times the accommodation for a third of the money As it was Mr Barnacle
finding his gentlemanly residence extremely inconvenient and extremely dear
always laid it as a public servant at the door of the country and adduced it
as another instance of the countrys parsimony
Arthur Clennam came to a squeezed house with a ramshackle bowed front
little dingy windows and a little dark area like a damp waistcoatpocket which
he found to be number twentyfour Mews Street Grosvenor Square To the sense
of smell the house was like a sort of bottle filled with a strong distillation
of mews and when the footman opened the door he seemed to take the stopper
out
The footman was to the Grosvenor Square footmen what the house was to the
Grosvenor Square houses Admirable in his way his way was a back and a bye way
His gorgeousness was not unmixed with dirt and both in complexion and
consistency he had suffered from the closeness of his pantry A sallow
flabbiness was upon him when he took the stopper out and presented the bottle
to Mr Clennams nose
»Be so good as to give that card to Mr Tite Barnacle and to say that I
have just now seen the younger Mr Barnacle who recommended me to call here«
The footman who had as many large buttons with the Barnacle crest upon
them on the flaps of his pockets as if he were the family strong box and
carried the plate and jewels about with him buttoned up pondered over the card
a little then said »Walk in« It required some judgment to do it without
butting the inner halldoor open and in the consequent mental confusion and
physical darkness slipping down the kitchen stairs The visitor however
brought himself up safely on the doormat
Still the footman said »Walk in« so the visitor followed him At the inner
halldoor another bottle seemed to be presented and another stopper taken out
This second vial appeared to be filled with concentrated provisions and extract
of Sink from the pantry After a skirmish in the narrow passage occasioned by
the footmans opening the door of the dismal diningroom with confidence
finding some one there with consternation and backing on the visitor with
disorder the visitor was shut up pending his announcement in a close back
parlour There he had an opportunity of refreshing himself with both the bottles
at once looking out at a low blinding back wall three feet off and speculating
on the number of Barnacle families within the bills of mortality who lived in
such hutches of their own free flunkey choice
Mr Barnacle would see him Would he walk upstairs He would and he did
and in the drawingroom with his leg on a rest he found Mr Barnacle himself
the express image and presentment of How not to do it
Mr Barnacle dated from a better time when the country was not so
parsimonious and the Circumlocution Office was not so badgered He wound and
wound folds of white cravat round his neck as he wound and wound folds of tape
and paper round the neck of the country His wristbands and collar were
oppressive his voice and manner were oppressive He had a large watchchain and
bunch of seals a coat buttoned up to inconvenience a waistcoat buttoned up to
inconvenience an unwrinkled pair of trousers a stiff pair of boots He was
altogether splendid massive overpowering and impracticable He seemed to have
been sitting for his portrait to Sir Thomas Lawrence all the days of his life
»Mr Clennam« said Mr Barnacle »Be seated«
Mr Clennam became seated
»You have called on me I believe« said Mr Barnacle »at the
Circumlocution « giving it the air of a word of about fiveandtwenty
syllables »Office«
»I have taken that liberty«
Mr Barnacle solemnly bent his head as who should say »I do not deny that
it is a liberty proceed to take another liberty and let me know your
business«
»Allow me to observe that I have been for some years in China am quite a
stranger at home and have no personal motive or interest in the inquiry I am
about to make«
Mr Barnacle tapped his fingers on the table and as if he were now sitting
for his portrait to a new and strange artist appeared to say to his visitor
»If you will be good enough to take me with my present lofty expression I shall
feel obliged«
»I have found a debtor in the Marshalsea prison of the name of Dorrit who
has been there many years I wish to investigate his confused affairs so far as
to ascertain whether it may not be possible after this lapse of time to
ameliorate his unhappy condition The name of Mr Tite Barnacle has been
mentioned to me as representing some highly influential interest among his
creditors Am I correctly informed«
It being one of the principles of the Circumlocution Office never on any
account whatever to give a straightforward answer Mr Barnacle said
»Possibly«
»On behalf of the Crown may I ask or as a private individual«
»The Circumlocution Department sir« Mr Barnacle replied »may have
possibly recommended possibly I cannot say that some public claim against
the insolvent estate of a firm or copartnership to which this person may have
belonged should be enforced The question may have been in the course of
official business referred to the Circumlocution Department for its
consideration The Department may have either originated or confirmed a Minute
making that recommendation«
»I assume this to be the case then«
»The Circumlocution Department« said Mr Barnacle »is not responsible for
any gentlemans assumptions«
»May I inquire how I can obtain official information as to the real state of
the case«
»It is competent« said Mr Barnacle »to any member of the Public«
mentioning that obscure body with reluctance as his natural enemy »to
memorialise the Circumlocution Department Such formalities as are required to
be observed in so doing may be known on application to the proper branch of
that Department«
»Which is the proper branch«
»I must refer you« returned Mr Barnacle ringing the bell »to the
Department itself for a formal answer to that inquiry«
»Excuse my mentioning «
»The Department is accessible to the Public« Mr Barnacle was always
checked a little by that word of impertinent signification »if the Public
approaches it according to the official forms if the Public does not approach
it according to the official forms the Public has itself to blame«
Mr Barnacle made him a severe bow as a wounded man of family a wounded
man of place and a wounded man of a gentlemanly residence all rolled into one
and he made Mr Barnacle a bow and was shut out into Mews Street by the flabby
footman
Having got to this pass he resolved as an exercise in perseverance to
betake himself again to the Circumlocution Office and try what satisfaction he
could get there So he went back to the Circumlocution Office and once more
sent up his card to Barnacle Junior by a messenger who took it very ill indeed
that he should come back again and who was eating mashed potatoes and gravy
behind a partition by the hall fire
He was readmitted to the presence of Barnacle Junior and found that young
gentleman singeing his knees now and gaping his weary way on to four oclock
»I say Look here You stick to us in a devil of a manner« said Barnacle
Junior looking over his shoulder
»I want to know «
»Look here Upon my soul you mustnt come into the place saying you want to
know you know« remonstrated Barnacle Junior turning about and putting up the
eyeglass
»I want to know« said Arthur Clennam who had made up his mind to
persistence in one short form of words »the precise nature of the claim of the
Crown against a prisoner for debt named Dorrit«
»I say Look here You really are going it at a great pace you know Egad
you havent got an appointment« said Barnacle Junior as if the thing were
growing serious
»I want to know« said Arthur And repeated his case
Barnacle Junior stared at him until his eyeglass fell out and then put it
in again and stared at him until it fell out again »You have no right to come
this sort of move« he then observed with the greatest weakness »Look here
What do you mean You told me you didnt know whether it was public business or
not«
»I have now ascertained that it is public business« returned the suitor
»and I want to know« and again repeated his monotonous inquiry
Its effect upon young Barnacle was to make him repeat in a defenceless way
»Look here Upon my SOUL you mustnt come into the place saying you want to
know you know« The effect of that upon Arthur Clennam was to make him repeat
his inquiry in exactly the same words and tone as before The effect of that
upon young Barnacle was to make him a wonderful spectacle of failure and
helplessness
»Well I tell you what Look here You had better try the Secretarial
Department« he said at last sidling to the bell and ringing it »Jenkinson«
to the mashed potatoes messenger »Mr Wobbler«
Arthur Clennam who now felt that he had devoted himself to the storming of
the Circumlocution Office and must go through with it accompanied the
messenger to another floor of the building where that functionary pointed out
Mr Wobblers room He entered that apartment and found two gentlemen sitting
face to face at a large and easy desk one of whom was polishing a gunbarrel on
his pockethandkerchief while the other was spreading marmalade on bread with a
paperknife
»Mr Wobbler« inquired the suitor
Both gentlemen glanced at him and seemed surprised at his assurance
»So he went« said the gentleman with the gunbarrel who was an extremely
deliberate speaker »down to his cousins place and took the Dog with him by
rail Inestimable Dog Flew at the porter fellow when he was put into the
dogbox and flew at the guard when he was taken out He got halfadozen
fellows into a Barn and a good supply of Rats and timed the Dog Finding the
Dog able to do it immensely made the match and heavily backed the Dog When
the match came off some devil of a fellow was bought over Sir Dog was made
drunk Dogs master was cleaned out«
»Mr Wobbler« inquired the suitor
The gentleman who was spreading the marmalade returned without looking up
from that occupation »What did he call the Dog«
»Called him Lovely« said the other gentleman »Said the Dog was the perfect
picture of the old aunt from whom he had expectations Found him particularly
like her when hocussed«
»Mr Wobbler« said the suitor
Both gentlemen laughed for some time The gentleman with the gunbarrel
considering it on inspection in a satisfactory state referred it to the other
receiving confirmation of his views he fitted it into its place in the case
before him and took out the stock and polished that softly whistling
»Mr Wobbler« said the suitor
»Whats the matter« then said Mr Wobbler with his mouth full
»I want to know « and Arthur Clennam again mechanically set forth what he
wanted to know
»Cant inform you« observed Mr Wobbler apparently to his lunch »Never
heard of it Nothing at all to do with it Better try Mr Clive second door on
the left in the next passage«
»Perhaps he will give me the same answer«
»Very likely Dont know anything about it« said Mr Wobbler
The suitor turned away and had left the room when the gentleman with the
gun called out »Mister Hallo«
He looked in again
»Shut the door after you Youre letting in a devil of a draught here«
A few steps brought him to the second door on the left in the next passage
In that room he found three gentlemen number one doing nothing particular
number two doing nothing particular number three doing nothing particular They
seemed however to be more directly concerned than the others had been in the
effective execution of the great principle of the office as there was an awful
inner apartment with a double door in which the Circumlocution Sages appeared
to be assembled in council and out of which there was an imposing coming of
papers and into which there was an imposing going of papers almost constantly
wherein another gentleman number four was the active instrument
»I want to know« said Arthur Clennam and again stated his case in the
same barrelorgan way As number one referred him to number two and as number
two referred him to number three he had occasion to state it three times before
they all referred him to number four To whom he stated it again
Number four was a vivacious welllooking welldressed agreeable young
fellow he was a Barnacle but on the more sprightly side of the family and
he said in an easy way »Oh you had better not bother yourself about it I
think«
»Not bother myself about it«
»No I recommend you not to bother yourself about it«
This was such a new point of view that Arthur Clennam found himself at a
loss how to receive it
»You can if you like I can give you plenty of forms to fill up Lots of em
here You can have a dozen if you like But youll never go on with it« said
number four
»Would it be such hopeless work Excuse me I am a stranger in England«
»I dont say it would be hopeless« returned number four with a frank
smile »I dont express an opinion about that I only express an opinion about
you I dont think youd go on with it However of course you can do as you
like I suppose there was a failure in the performance of a contract or
something of that kind was there«
»I really dont know«
»Well That you can find out Then youll find out what Department the
contract was in and then youll find out all about it there«
»I beg your pardon How shall I find out«
»Why youll youll ask till they tell you Then youll memorialise that
Department according to regular forms which youll find out for leave to
memorialise this Department If you get it which you may after a time that
memorial must be entered in that Department sent to be registered in this
Department sent back to be signed by that Department sent back to be
countersigned by this Department and then it will begin to be regularly before
that Department Youll find out when the business passes through each of these
stages by asking at both Departments till they tell you«
»But surely this is not the way to do the business« Arthur Clennam could
not help saying
This airy young Barnacle was quite entertained by his simplicity in
supposing for a moment that it was This light in hand young Barnacle knew
perfectly that it was not This touch and go young Barnacle had got up the
Department in a private secretaryship that he might be ready for any little bit
of fat that came to hand and he fully understood the Department to be a
politicodiplomatic hocus pocus piece of machinery for the assistance of the
nobs in keeping off the snobs This dashing young Barnacle in a word was
likely to become a statesman and to make a figure
»When the business is regularly before that Department whatever it is«
pursued this bright young Barnacle »then you can watch it from time to time
through that Department When it comes regularly before this Department then
you must watch it from time to time through this Department We shall have to
refer it right and left and when we refer it anywhere then youll have to look
it up When it comes back to us at any time then you had better look us up
When it sticks anywhere youll have to try to give it a jog When you write to
another Department about it and then to this Department about it and dont
hear anything satisfactory about it why then you had better keep on writing«
Arthur Clennam looked very doubtful indeed »But I am obliged to you at any
rate« said he »for your politeness«
»Not at all« replied this engaging young Barnacle »Try the thing and see
how you like it It will be in your power to give it up at any time if you
dont like it You had better take a lot of forms away with you Give him a lot
of forms« With which instruction to number two this sparkling young Barnacle
took a fresh handful of papers from numbers one and three and carried them into
the sanctuary to offer to the presiding Idol of the Circumlocution Office
Arthur Clennam put his forms in his pocket gloomily enough and went his way
down the long stone passage and the long stone staircase He had come to the
swing doors leading into the street and was waiting not over patiently for
two people who were between him and them to pass out and let him follow when
the voice of one of them struck familiarly on his ear He looked at the speaker
and recognised Mr Meagles Mr Meagles was very red in the face redder than
travel could have made him and collaring a short man who was with him said
»Come out you rascal come out«
It was such an unexpected hearing and it was also such an unexpected sight
to see Mr Meagles burst the swing doors open and emerge into the street with
the short man who was of an unoffending appearance that Clennam stood still
for the moment exchanging looks of surprise with the porter He followed
however quickly and saw Mr Meagles going down the street with his enemy at
his side He soon came up with his old travelling companion and touched him on
the back The choleric face which Mr Meagles turned upon him smoothed when he
saw who it was and he put out his friendly hand
»How are you« said Mr Meagles »How dye do I have only just come over
from abroad I am glad to see you«
»And I am rejoiced to see you«
»Thankee Thankee«
»Mrs Meagles and your daughter «
»Are as well as possible« said Mr Meagles »I only wish you had come upon
me in a more prepossessing condition as to coolness«
Though it was anything but a hot day Mr Meagles was in a heated state that
attracted the attention of the passersby more particularly as he leaned his
back against a railing took off his hat and cravat and heartily rubbed his
steaming head and face and his reddened ears and neck without the least regard
for public opinion
»Whew« said Mr Meagles dressing again »Thats comfortable Now I am
cooler«
»You have been ruffled Mr Meagles What is the matter«
»Wait a bit and Ill tell you Have you leisure for a turn in the Park«
»As much as you please«
»Come along then Ah you may well look at him« He happened to have turned
his eyes towards the offender whom Mr Meagles had so angrily collared »Hes
something to look at that fellow is«
He was not much to look at either in point of size or in point of dress
being merely a short square practicallooking man whose hair had turned grey
and in whose face and forehead there were deep lines of cogitation which looked
as though they were carved in hard wood He was dressed in decent black a
little rusty and had the appearance of a sagacious master in some handicraft
He had a spectaclecase in his hand which he turned over and over while he was
thus in question with a certain free use of the thumb that is never seen but in
a hand accustomed to tools
»You keep with us« said Mr Meagles in a threatening kind of way »and
Ill introduce you presently Now then«
Clennam wondered within himself as they took the nearest way to the Park
what this unknown who complied in the gentlest manner could have been doing
His appearance did not at all justify the suspicion that he had been detected
in designs on Mr Meagles pockethandkerchief nor had he any appearance of
being quarrelsome or violent He was a quiet plain steady man made no attempt
to escape and seemed a little depressed but neither ashamed nor repentant If
he were a criminal offender he must surely be an incorrigible hypocrite and if
he were no offender why should Mr Meagles have collared him in the
Circumlocution Office He perceived that the man was not a difficulty in his own
mind alone but in Mr Meagless too for such conversation as they had together
on the short way to the Park was by no means well sustained and Mr Meagless
eye always wandered back to the man even when he spoke of something very
different
At length they being among the trees Mr Meagles stopped short and said
»Mr Clennam will you do me the favour to look at this man His name is
Doyce Daniel Doyce You wouldnt suppose this man to be a notorious rascal
would you«
»I certainly should not« It was really a disconcerting question with the
man there
»No You would not I know you would not You wouldnt suppose him to be a
public offender would you«
»No«
»No But he is He is a public offender What has he been guilty of Murder
manslaughter arson forgery swindling housebreaking highway robbery
larceny conspiracy fraud Which should you say now«
»I should say« returned Arthur Clennam observing a faint smile in Daniel
Doyces face »not one of them«
»You are right« said Mr Meagles »But he has been ingenious and he has
been trying to turn his ingenuity to his countrys service That makes him a
public offender directly sir«
Arthur looked at the man himself who only shook his head
»This Doyce« said Mr Meagles »is a smith and engineer He is not in a
large way but he is well known as a very ingenious man A dozen years ago he
perfects an invention involving a very curious secret process) of great
importance to his country and his fellowcreatures I wont say how much money
it cost him or how many years of his life he had been about it but he brought
it to perfection a dozen years ago Wasnt it a dozen« said Mr Meagles
addressing Doyce »He is the most exasperating man in the world he never
complains«
»Yes Rather better than twelve years ago«
»Rather better« said Mr Meagles »you mean rather worse Well Mr
Clennam He addresses himself to the Government The moment he addresses himself
to the Government he becomes a public offender Sir« said Mr Meagles in
danger of making himself excessively hot again »he ceases to be an innocent
citizen and becomes a culprit He is treated from that instant as a man who has
done some infernal action He is a man to be shirked put off browbeaten
sneered at handed over by this highlyconnected young or old gentleman to that
highlyconnected young or old gentleman and dodged back again he is a man with
no rights in his own time or his own property a mere outlaw whom it is
justifiable to get rid of anyhow a man to be worn out by all possible means«
It was not so difficult to believe after the mornings experience as Mr
Meagles supposed
»Dont stand there Doyce turning your spectaclecase over and over« cried
Mr Meagles »but tell Mr Clennam what you confessed to me«
»I undoubtedly was made to feel« said the inventor »as if I had committed
an offence In dancing attendance at the various offices I was always treated
more or less as if it was a very bad offence I have frequently found it
necessary to reflect for my own selfsupport that I really had not done
anything to bring myself into the Newgate Calendar but only wanted to effect a
great saving and a great improvement«
»There« said Mr Meagles »Judge whether I exaggerate Now youll be able
to believe me when I tell you the rest of the case«
With this prelude Mr Meagles went through the narrative the established
narrative which has become tiresome the matterofcourse narrative which we
all know by heart How after interminable attendance and correspondence after
infinite impertinences ignorances and insults my lords made a Minute number
three thousand four hundred and seventytwo allowing the culprit to make
certain trials of his invention at his own expense How the trials were made in
the presence of a board of six of whom two ancient members were too blind to
see it two other ancient members were too deaf to hear it one other ancient
member was too lame to get near it and the final ancient member was too
pigheaded to look at it How there were more years more impertinences
ignorances and insults How my lords then made a Minute number five thousand
one hundred and three whereby they resigned the business to the Circumlocution
Office How the Circumlocution Office in course of time took up the business
as if it were a brannew thing of yesterday which had never been heard of
before muddled the business addled the business tossed the business in a wet
blanket How the impertinences ignorances and insults went through the
multiplication table How there was a reference of the invention to three
Barnacles and a Stiltstalking who knew nothing about it into whose heads
nothing could be hammered about it who got bored about it and reported
physical impossibilities about it How the Circumlocution Office in a Minute
number eight thousand seven hundred and forty »saw no reason to reverse the
decision at which my lords had arrived« How the Circumlocution Office being
reminded that my lords had arrived at no decision shelved the business How
there had been a final interview with the head of the Circumlocution Office that
very morning and how the Brazen Head had spoken and had been upon the whole
and under all the circumstances and looking at it from the various points of
view of opinion that one of two courses was to be pursued in respect of the
business that was to say either to leave it alone for evermore or to begin it
all over again
»Upon which« said Mr Meagles »as a practical man I then and there in
that presence took Doyce by the collar and told him it was plain to me that he
was an infamous rascal and treasonable disturber of the government peace and
took him away I brought him out of the office door by the collar that the very
porter might know I was a practical man who appreciated the official estimate of
such characters and here we are«
If that airy young Barnacle had been there he would have frankly told them
perhaps that the Circumlocution Office had achieved its functions That what the
Barnacles had to do was to stick on to the national ship as long as they could
That to trim the ship lighten the ship clean the ship would be to knock them
off that they could but be knocked off once and that if the ship went down
with them yet sticking to it that was the ships look out and not theirs
»There« said Mr Meagles »now you know all about Doyce Except which I
own does not improve my state of mind that even now you dont hear him
complain«
»You must have great patience« said Arthur Clennam looking at him with
some wonder »great forbearance«
»No« he returned »I dont know that I have more than another man«
»By the Lord you have more than I have though« cried Mr Meagles
Doyce smiled as he said to Clennam »You see my experience of these things
does not begin with myself It has been in my way to know a little about them
from time to time Mine is not a particular case I am not worse used than a
hundred others who have put themselves in the same position than all the
others I was going to say«
»I dont know that I should find that a consolation if it were my case but
I am very glad that you do«
»Understand me I dont say« he replied in his steady planning way and
looking into the distance before him as if his grey eye were measuring it »that
its recompense for a mans toil and hope but its a certain sort of relief to
know that I might have counted on this«
He spoke in that quiet deliberate manner and in that undertone which is
often observable in mechanics who consider and adjust with great nicety It
belonged to him like his suppleness of thumb or his peculiar way of tilting up
his hat at the back every now and then as if he were contemplating some
halffinished work of his hand and thinking about it
»Disappointed« he went on as he walked between them under the trees »Yes
No doubt I am disappointed Hurt Yes No doubt I am hurt Thats only natural
But what I mean when I say that people who put themselves in the same position
are mostly used in the same way «
»In England« said Mr Meagles
»Oh of course I mean in England When they take their inventions into
foreign countries thats quite different And thats the reason why so many go
there«
Mr Meagles very hot indeed again
»What I mean is that however this comes to be the regular way of our
government it is its regular way Have you ever heard of any projector or
inventor who failed to find it all but inaccessible and whom it did not
discourage and illtreat«
»I cannot say that I ever have«
»Have you ever known it to be beforehand in the adoption of any useful
thing Ever known it to set an example of any useful kind«
»I am a good deal older than my friend here« said Mr Meagles »and Ill
answer that Never«
»But we all three have known I expect« said the inventor »a pretty many
cases of its fixed determination to be miles upon miles and years upon years
behind the rest of us and of its being found out persisting in the use of
things long superseded even after the better things were well known and
generally taken up«
They all agreed upon that
»Well then« said Doyce with a sigh »as I know what such a metal will do at
such a temperature and such a body under such a pressure so I may know if I
will only consider how these great lords and gentlemen will certainly deal
with such a matter as mine I have no right to be surprised with a head upon my
shoulders and memory in it that I fall into the ranks with all who came before
me I ought to have let it alone I have had warning enough I am sure«
With that he put up his spectaclecase and said to Arthur »If I dont
complain Mr Clennam I can feel gratitude and I assure you that I feel it
towards our mutual friend Manys the day and manys the way in which he has
backed me«
»Stuff and nonsense« said Mr Meagles
Arthur could not but glance at Daniel Doyce in the ensuing silence Though
it was evidently in the grain of his character and of his respect for his own
case that he should abstain from idle murmuring it was evident that he had
grown the older the sterner and the poorer for his long endeavour He could
not but think what a blessed thing it would have been for this man if he had
taken a lesson from the gentlemen who were so kind as to take the nations
affairs in charge and had learnt How not to do it
Mr Meagles was hot and despondent for about five minutes and then began to
cool and clear up
»Come come« said he »We shall not make this the better by being grim
Where do you think of going Dan«
»I shall go back to the factory« said Dan
»Why then well all go back to the factory or walk in that direction«
returned Meagles cheerfully »Mr Clennam wont be deterred by its being in
Bleeding Heart Yard«
»Bleeding Heart Yard« said Clennam »I want to go there«
»So much the better« cried Mr Meagles »Come along«
As they went along certainly one of the party and probably more than one
thought that Bleeding Heart Yard was no inappropriate destination for a man who
had been in official correspondence with my lords and the Barnacles and
perhaps had a misgiving also that Britannia herself might come to look for
lodgings in Bleeding Heart Yard some ugly day or other if she overdid the
Circumlocution Office
Chapter XI
Let Loose
A late dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone The stream like
a sullied lookingglass in a gloomy place reflected the clouds heavily and the
low banks leaned over here and there as if they were half curious and half
afraid to see their darkening pictures in the water The flat expanse of
country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak occasionally made a little ragged
by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset On the banks of the river
Saone it was wet depressing solitary and the night deepened fast
One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in
the landscape Cain might have looked as lonely and avoided With an old
sheepskin knapsack at his back and a rough unbarked stick cut out of some wood
in his hand miry footsore his shoes and gaiters trodden out his hair and
beard untrimmed the cloak he carried over his shoulder and the clothes he
wore soddened with wet limping along in pain and difficulty he looked as if
the clouds were hurrying from him as if the wail of the wind and the shuddering
of the grass were directed against him as if the low mysterious plashing of the
water murmured at him as if the fitful autumn night were disturbed by him
He glanced here and he glanced there sullenly but shrinkingly and
sometimes stopped and turned about and looked all round him Then he limped on
again toiling and muttering
»To the devil with this plain that has no end To the devil with these
stones that cut like knives To the devil with this dismal darkness wrapping
itself about one with a chill I hate you«
And he would have visited his hatred upon it all with the scowl he threw
about him if he could He trudged a little further and looking into the
distance before him stopped again
»I hungry thirsty weary You imbeciles where the lights are yonder
eating and drinking and warming yourselves at fires I wish I had the sacking
of your town I would repay you my children«
But the teeth he set at the town and the hand he shook at the town brought
the town no nearer and the man was yet hungrier and thirstier and wearier
when his feet were on its jagged pavement and he stood looking about him
There was the hotel with its gateway and its savoury smell of cooking
there was the café with its bright windows and its rattling of dominoes there
was the dyers with its strips of red cloth on the doorposts there was the
silversmiths with its earrings and its offerings for altars there was the
tobaccodealers with its lively group of soldier customers coming out pipe in
mouth there were the bad odours of the town and the rain and the refuse in the
kennels and the faint lamps slung across the road and the huge Diligence and
its mountain of luggage and its six grey horses with their tails tied up
getting under weigh at the coach office But no small cabaret for a straitened
traveller being within sight he had to seek one round the dark corner where
the cabbage leaves lay thickest trodden about the public cistern at which women
had not yet left off drawing water There in the back street he found one the
Break of Day The curtained windows clouded the Break of Day but it seemed
light and warmed and it announced in legible inscriptions with appropriate
pictorial embellishment of billiard cue and ball that at the Break of Day one
could play billiards that there one could find meat drink and lodging
whether one came on horseback or came on foot and that it kept good wines
liqueurs and brandy The man turned the handle of the Break of Day door and
limped in
He touched his discoloured slouched hat as he came in at the door to a few
men who occupied the room Two were playing dominoes at one of the little
tables three or four were seated round the stove conversing as they smoked
the billiardtable in the centre was left alone for the time the landlady of
the Daybreak sat behind her little counter among her cloudy bottles of syrups
baskets of cakes and leaden drainage for glasses working at her needle
Making his way to an empty little table in a corner of the room behind the
stove he put down his knapsack and his cloak upon the ground As he raised his
head from stooping to do so he found the landlady beside him
»One can lodge here tonight madame«
»Perfectly« said the landlady in a high singsong cheery voice
»Good One can dine sup what you please to call it«
»Ah perfectly« cried the landlady as before
»Dispatch then madame if you please Something to eat as quickly as you
can and some wine at once I am exhausted«
»It is very bad weather monsieur« said the landlady
»Cursed weather«
»And a very long road«
»A cursed road«
His hoarse voice failed him and he rested his head upon his hands until a
bottle of wine was brought from the counter Having filled and emptied his
little tumbler twice and having broken off an end from the great loaf that was
set before him with his cloth and napkin soupplate salt pepper and oil he
rested his back against the corner of the wall made a couch of the bench on
which he sat and began to chew crust until such time as his repast should be
ready
There had been that momentary interruption of the talk about the stove and
that temporary inattention to and distraction from one another, which is usually
inseparable in such a company from the arrival of a stranger It had passed over
by this time and the men had done glancing at him and were talking again
»Thats the true reason« said one of them bringing a story he had been
telling to a close »thats the true reason why they said that the devil was
let loose« The speaker was the tall Swiss belonging to the church and he
brought something of the authority of the church into the discussion
especially as the devil was in question
The landlady having given her directions for the new guests entertainment
to her husband who acted as cook to the Break of Day had resumed her
needlework behind her counter She was a smart neat bright little woman with
a good deal of cap and a good deal of stocking and she struck into the
conversation with several laughing nods of her head but without looking up from
her work
»Ah Heaven then« said she »When the boat came up from Lyons and brought
the news that the devil was actually let loose at Marseilles some flycatchers
swallowed it But I No not I«
»Madame you are always right« returned the tall Swiss »Doubtless you were
enraged against that man madame«
»Ay yes then« cried the landlady raising her eyes from her work opening
them very wide and tossing her head on one side »Naturally yes«
»He was a bad subject«
»He was a wicked wretch« said the landlady »and well merited what he had
the good fortune to escape So much the worse«
»Stay madame Let us see« returned the Swiss argumentatively turning his
cigar between his lips »It may have been his unfortunate destiny He may have
been the child of circumstances It is always possible that he had and has
good in him if one did but know how to find it out Philosophical philanthropy
teaches «
The rest of the little knot about the stove murmured an objection to the
introduction of that threatening expression Even the two players at dominoes
glanced up from their game as if to protest against philosophical philanthropy
being brought by name into the Break of Day
»Hold there you and your philanthropy« cried the smiling landlady nodding
her head more than ever »Listen then I am a woman I I know nothing of
philosophical philanthropy But I know what I have seen and what I have looked
in the face in this world here where I find myself And I tell you this my
friend that there are people men and women both unfortunately who have no
good in them none That there are people whom it is necessary to detest
without compromise That there are people who must be dealt with as enemies of
the human race That there are people who have no human heart and who must be
crushed like savage beasts and cleared out of the way They are but few I hope
but I have seen in this world here where I find myself and even at the little
Break of Day that there are such people And I do not doubt that this man
whatever they call him I forget his name is one of them«
The landladys lively speech was received with greater favour at the Break
of Day than it would have elicited from certain amiable whitewashers of the
class she so unreasonably objected to nearer Great Britain
»My faith If your philosophical philanthropy« said the landlady putting
down her work and rising to take the strangers soup from her husband who
appeared with it at a side door »puts anybody at the mercy of such people by
holding terms with them at all in words or deeds or both take it away from
the Break of Day for it isnt worth a sou«
As she placed the soup before the guest who changed his attitude to a
sitting one he looked her full in the face and his moustache went up under his
nose and his nose came down over his moustache
»Well« said the previous speaker »let us come back to our subject Leaving
all that aside gentlemen it was because the man was acquitted on his trial
that people said at Marseilles that the devil was let loose That was how the
phrase began to circulate and what it meant nothing more«
»How do they call him« said the landlady »Biraud is it not«
»Rigaud madame« returned the tall Swiss
»Rigaud To be sure«
The travellers soup was succeeded by a dish of meat and that by a dish of
vegetables He ate all that was placed before him emptied his bottle of wine
called for a glass of rum and smoked his cigarette with his cup of coffee As
he became refreshed he became overbearing and patronised the company at the
Daybreak in certain small talk at which he assisted as if his condition were
far above his appearance
The company might have had other engagements or they might have felt their
inferiority but in any case they dispersed by degrees and not being replaced
by other company left their new patron in possession of the Break of Day The
landlord was clinking about in his kitchen the landlady was quiet at her work
and the refreshed traveller sat smoking by the stove warming his ragged feet
»Pardon me madame that Biraud«
»Rigaud monsieur«
»Rigaud Pardon me again has contracted your displeasure how«
The landlady who had been at one moment thinking within herself that this
was a handsome man at another moment that this was an illlooking man observed
the nose coming down and the moustache going up and strongly inclined to the
latter decision Rigaud was a criminal she said who had killed his wife
»Ay ay Death of my life thats a criminal indeed But how do you know
it«
»All the world knows it«
»Hah And yet he escaped justice«
»Monsieur the law could not prove it against him to its satisfaction So
the law says Nevertheless all the world knows he did it The people knew it so
well that they tried to tear him to pieces«
»Being all in perfect accord with their own wives« said the guest »Haha«
The landlady of the Break of Day looked at him again and felt almost
confirmed in her last decision He had a fine hand though and he turned it with
a great show She began once more to think that he was not illlooking after
all
»Did you mention madame or was it mentioned among the gentlemen what
became of him«
The landlady shook her head it being the first conversational stage at
which her vivacious earnestness had ceased to nod it keeping time to what she
said It had been mentioned at the Daybreak she remarked on the authority of
the journals that he had been kept in prison for his own safety However that
might be he had escaped his deserts so much the worse
The guest sat looking at her as he smoked out his final cigarette and as
she sat with her head bent over her work with an expression that might have
resolved her doubts and brought her to a lasting conclusion on the subject of
his good or bad looks if she had seen it When she did look up the expression
was not there The hand was smoothing his shaggy moustache
»May one ask to be shown to bed madame«
Very willingly monsieur Hola my husband My husband would conduct him
upstairs There was one traveller there asleep who had gone to bed very early
indeed being overpowered by fatigue but it was a large chamber with two beds
in it and space enough for twenty This the landlady of the Break of Day
chirpingly explained calling between whiles Hola my husband out at the side
door
My husband answered at length »It is I my wife« and presenting himself in
his cooks cap lighted the traveller up a steep and narrow staircase the
traveller carrying his own cloak and knapsack and bidding the landlady good
night with a complimentary reference to the pleasure of seeing her again
tomorrow It was a large room with a rough splintery floor unplastered
rafters overhead and two bedsteads on opposite sides Here my husband put down
the candle he carried and with a sidelong look at his guest stooping over his
knapsack gruffly gave him the instruction »The bed to the right« and left him
to his repose The landlord whether he was a good or a bad physiognomist had
fully made up his mind that the guest was an illlooking fellow
The guest looked contemptuously at the clean coarse bedding prepared for
him and sitting down on the rush chair at the bedside drew his money out of
his pocket and told it over in his hand »One must eat« he muttered to
himself »but by Heaven I must eat at the cost of some other man tomorrow«
As he sat pondering and mechanically weighing his money in his palm the
deep breathing of the traveller in the other bed fell so regularly upon his
hearing that it attracted his eyes in that direction The man was covered up
warm an had drawn the white curtain at his head so that he could be only
heard not seen But the deep regular breathing still going on while the other
was taking off his worn shoes and gaiters and still continuing when he had laid
aside his coat and cravat became at length a strong provocative to curiosity
and incentive to get a glimpse of the sleepers face
The waking traveller therefore stole a little nearer and yet a little
nearer and a little nearer to the sleeping travellers bed until he stood
close beside it Even then he could not see his face for he had drawn the sheet
over it The regular breathing still continuing he put his smooth white hand
such a treacherous hand it looked as it went creeping from him to the sheet
and gently lifted it away
»Death of my soul« he whispered falling back »heres Cavalletto«
The little Italian previously influenced in his sleep perhaps by the
stealthy presence at his bedside stopped in his regular breathing and with a
long deep respiration opened his eyes At first they were not awake though
open He lay for some seconds looking placidly at his old prison companion and
then all at once with a cry of surprise and alarm sprang out of bed
»Hush Whats the matter Keep quiet Its I You know me« cried the other
in a suppressed voice
But John Baptist widely staring muttering a number of invocations and
ejaculations tremblingly backing into a corner slipping on his trousers and
tying his coat by the two sleeves round his neck manifested an unmistakable
desire to escape by the door rather than renew the acquaintance Seeing this
his old prison comrade fell back upon the door and set his shoulders against
it
»Cavalletto Wake boy Rub your eyes and look at me Not the name you used
to call me dont use that Lagnier say Lagnier«
John Baptist staring at him with eyes opened to their utmost width made a
number of those national backhanded shakes of the right forefinger in the air
as if he were resolved on negativing beforehand everything that the other could
possibly advance during the whole term of his life
»Cavalletto Give me your hand You know Lagnier the gentleman Touch the
hand of a gentleman«
Submitting himself to the old tone of condescending authority John Baptist
not at all steady on his legs as yet advanced and put his hand in his patrons
Monsieur Lagnier laughed and having given it a squeeze tossed it up and let it
go
»Then you were « faltered John Baptist
»Not shaved No See here« cried Lagnier giving his head a twirl »as
tight on as your own«
John Baptist with a slight shiver looked all round the room as if to
recall where he was His patron took that opportunity of turning the key in the
door and then sat down upon his bed
»Look« he said holding up his shoes and gaiters »Thats a poor trim for a
gentleman youll say No matter you shall see how soon Ill mend it Come and
sit down Take your old place«
John Baptist looking anything but reassured sat down on the floor at the
bedside keeping his eyes upon his patron all the time
»Thats well« cried Lagnier »Now we might be in the old infernal hole
again hey How long have you been out«
»Two days after you my master«
»How do you come here«
»I was cautioned not to stay there and so I left the town at once and
since then I have changed about I have been doing odds and ends at Avignon at
Pont Esprit at Lyons upon the Rhone upon the Saone« As he spoke he rapidly
mapped the places out with his sunburnt hand on the floor
»And where are you going«
»Going my master«
»Ay«
John Baptist seemed to desire to evade the question without knowing how »By
Bacchus« he said at last as if he were forced to the admission »I have
sometimes had a thought of going to Paris and perhaps to England«
»Cavalletto This is in confidence I also am going to Paris and perhaps to
England Well go together«
The little man nodded his head and showed his teeth and yet seemed not
quite convinced that it was a surpassingly desirable arrangement
»Well go together« repeated Lagnier »You shall see how soon I will force
myself to be recognised as a gentleman and you shall profit by it Is it
agreed Are we one«
»Oh surely surely« said the little man
»Then you shall hear before I sleep and in six words for I want sleep
how I appear before you I Lagnier Remember that Not the other«
»Altro altro Not Ri« Before John Baptist could finish the name his
comrade had got his hand under his chin and fiercely shut up his mouth
»Death what are you doing Do you want me to be trampled upon and stoned
Do you want to be trampled upon and stoned You would be You dont imagine that
they would set upon me and let my prison chum go Dont think it«
There was an expression in his face as he released his grip of his friends
jaw from which his friend inferred that if the course of events really came to
any stoning and trampling Monsieur Lagnier would so distinguish him with his
notice as to ensure his having his full share of it He remembered what a
cosmopolitan gentleman Monsieur Lagnier was and how few weak distinctions he
made
»I am a man« said Monsieur Lagnier »whom society has deeply wronged since
you last saw me You know that I am sensitive and brave and that it is my
character to govern How has society respected those qualities in me I have
been shrieked at through the streets I have been guarded through the streets
against men and especially women running at me armed with any weapons they
could lay their hands on I have lain in prison for security with the place of
my confinement kept a secret lest I should be torn out of it and felled by a
hundred blows I have been carted out of Marseilles in the dead of night and
carried leagues away from it packed in straw It has not been safe for me to go
near my house and with a beggars pittance in my pocket I have walked through
vile mud and weather ever since until my feet are crippled look at them Such
are the humiliations that society has inflicted upon me possessing the
qualities I have mentioned and which you know me to possess But society shall
pay for it«
All this he said in his companions ear and with his hand before his lips
»Even here« he went on in the same way »even in this mean drinkingshop
society pursues me Madame defames me and her guests defame me I too a
gentleman with manners and accomplishments to strike them dead But the wrongs
society has heaped upon me are treasured in this breast«
To all of which John Baptist listening attentively to the suppressed hoarse
voice said from time to time »Surely surely« tossing his head and shutting
his eyes as if there were the clearest case against society that perfect
candour could make out
»Put my shoes there« continued Lagnier »Hang my cloak to dry there by the
door Take my hat« He obeyed each instruction as it was given »And this is
the bed to which society consigns me is it Hah Very well«
As he stretched out his length upon it with a ragged handkerchief bound
round his wicked head and only his wicked head showing above the bedclothes
John Baptist was rather strongly reminded of what had so very nearly happened to
prevent the moustache from any more going up as it did and the nose from any
more coming down as it did
»Shaken out of destinys dicebox again into your company eh By Heaven So
much the better for you Youll profit by it I shall need a long rest Let me
sleep in the morning«
John Baptist replied that he should sleep as long as he would and wishing
him a happy night put out the candle One might have supposed that the next
proceeding of the Italian would have been to undress but he did exactly the
reverse and dressed himself from head to foot saving his shoes When he had so
done he lay down upon his bed with some of its coverings over him and his coat
still tied round his neck to get through the night
When he started up the Godfather Break of Day was peeping at its namesake
He rose took his shoes in his hand turned the key in the door with great
caution and crept downstairs Nothing was astir there but the smell of coffee
wine tobacco and syrups and madames little counter looked ghastly enough
But he had paid madame his little note at it overnight and wanted to see
nobody wanted nothing but to get on his shoes and his knapsack open the door
and run away
He prospered in his object No movement or voice was heard when he opened
the door no wicked head tied up in a ragged handkerchief looked out of the
upper window When the sun had raised his full disc above the flat line of the
horizon and was striking fire out of the long muddy vista of paved road with
its weary avenue of little trees a black speck moved along the road and
splashed among the flaming pools of rainwater which black speck was John
Baptist Cavalletto running away from his patron
Chapter XII
Bleeding Heart Yard
In London itself though in the old rustic road towards a suburb of note where
in the days of William Shakespeare author and stageplayer there were Royal
huntingseats howbeit no sport is left there now but for hunters of men
Bleeding Heart Yard was to be found A place much changed in feature and in
fortune yet with some relish of ancient greatness about it Two or three mighty
stacks of chimneys and a few large dark rooms which had escaped being walled
and subdivided out of the recognition of their old proportions gave the Yard a
character It was inhabited by poor people who set up their rest among its
faded glories as Arabs of the desert pitch their tents among the fallen stones
of the Pyramids but there was a family sentimental feeling prevalent in the
Yard that it had a character
As if the aspiring city had become puffed up in the very ground on which it
stood the ground had so risen about Bleeding Heart Yard that you got into it
down a flight of steps which formed no part of the original approach and got
out of it by a low gateway into a maze of shabby streets which went about and
about tortuously ascending to the level again At this end of the Yard and over
the gateway was the factory of Daniel Doyce often heavily beating like a
bleeding heart of iron with the clink of metal upon metal
The opinion of the Yard was divided respecting the derivation of its name
The more practical of its inmates abided by the tradition of a murder the
gentler and more imaginative inhabitants including the whole of the tender sex
were loyal to the legend of a young lady of former times closely imprisoned in
her chamber by a cruel father for remaining true to her own true love and
refusing to marry the suitor he chose for her The legend related how that the
young lady used to be seen up at her window behind the bars murmuring a
lovelorn song of which the burden was »Bleeding Heart Bleeding Heart
bleeding away« until she died It was objected by the murderous party that this
Refrain was notoriously the invention of a tambourworker a spinster and
romantic still lodging in the Yard But forasmuch as all favourite legends
must be associated with the affections and as many more people fall in love
than commit murder which it may be hoped howsoever bad we are will continue
until the end of the world to be the dispensation under which we shall live
the Bleeding Heart Bleeding Heart bleeding away story carried the day by a
great majority Neither party would listen to the antiquaries who delivered
learned lectures in the neighbourhood showing the Bleeding Heart to have been
the heraldic cognizance of the old family to whom the property had once
belonged And considering that the hourglass they turned from year to year was
filled with the earthiest and coarsest sand the Bleeding Heart Yarders had
reason enough for objecting to be despoiled of the one little golden grain of
poetry that sparkled in it
Down into the Yard by way of the steps came Daniel Doyce Mr Meagles and
Clennam Passing along the Yard and between the open doors on either hand all
abundantly garnished with light children nursing heavy ones they arrived at its
opposite boundary the gateway Here Arthur Clennam stopped to look about him
for the domicile of Plornish plasterer whose name according to the custom of
Londoners Daniel Doyce had never seen or heard of to that hour
It was plain enough nevertheless as Little Dorrit had said over a
limesplashed gateway in the corner within which Plornish kept a ladder and a
barrel or two The last house in Bleeding Heart Yard which she had described as
his place of habitation was a large house let off to various tenants but
Plornish ingeniously hinted that he lived in the parlour by means of a painted
hand under his name the forefinger of which hand on which the artist had
depicted a ring and a most elaborate nail of the genteelest form referred all
inquirers to that apartment
Parting from his companions after arranging another meeting with Mr
Meagles Clennam went alone into the entry and knocked with his knuckles at the
parlourdoor It was opened presently by a woman with a child in her arms whose
unoccupied hand was hastily rearranging the upper part of her dress This was
Mrs Plornish and this maternal action was the action of Mrs Plornish during a
large part of her waking existence
Was Mr Plornish at home »Well sir« said Mrs Plornish a civil woman
»not to deceive you hes gone to look for a job«
Not to deceive you was a method of speech with Mrs Plornish She would
deceive you under any circumstances as little as might be but she had a trick
of answering in this provisional form
»Do you think he will be back soon if I wait for him«
»I have been expecting him« said Mrs Plornish »this halfanhour at any
minute of time Walk in sir«
Arthur entered the rather dark and close parlour though it was lofty too
and sat down in the chair she placed for him
»Not to deceive you sir I notice it« said Mrs Plornish »and I take it
kind of you«
He was at a loss to understand what she meant and by expressing as much in
his looks elicited her explanation
»It aint many that comes into a poor place that deems it worth their while
to move their hats« said Mrs Plornish »But people think more of it than
people think«
Clennam returned with an uncomfortable feeling in so very slight a courtesy
being unusual Was that all And stooping down to pinch the cheek of another
young child who was sitting on the floor staring at him asked Mrs Plornish
how old that fine boy was
»Four year just turned sir« said Mrs Plornish »He is a fine little
fellow aint he sir But this one is rather sickly« She tenderly hushed the
baby in her arms as she said it »You wouldnt mind my asking if it happened to
be a job as you was come about sir would you« added Mrs Plornish wistfully
She asked it so anxiously that if he had been in possession of any kind of
tenement he would have had it plastered a foot deep rather than answer No But
he was obliged to answer No and he saw a shade of disappointment on her face
as she checked a sigh and looked at the low fire Then he saw also that Mrs
Plornish was a young woman made somewhat slatternly in herself and her
belongings by poverty and so dragged at by poverty and the children together
that their united forces had already dragged her face into wrinkles
»All such things as jobs« said Mrs Plornish »seems to me to have gone
underground they do indeed« Herein Mrs Plornish limited her remark to the
plastering trade and spoke without reference to the Circumlocution Office and
the Barnacle Family
»Is it so difficult to get work« asked Arthur Clennam
»Plornish finds it so« she returned »He is quite unfortunate Really he
is«
Really he was He was one of those many wayfarers on the road of life who
seem to be afflicted with supernatural corns rendering it impossible for them
to keep up even with their lame competitors A willing working softhearted
not hardheaded fellow Plornish took his fortune as smoothly as could be
expected but it was a rough one It so rarely happened that anybody seemed to
want him it was such an exceptional case when his powers were in any request
that his misty mind could not make out how it happened He took it as it came
therefore he tumbled into all kinds of difficulties and tumbled out of them
and by tumbling through life got himself considerably bruised
»Its not for want of looking after jobs I am sure« said Mrs Plornish
lifting up her eyebrows and searching for a solution of the problem between the
bars of the grate »nor yet for want of working at them when they are to be
got No one ever heard my husband complain of work«
Somehow or other this was the general misfortune of Bleeding Heart Yard
From time to time there were public complaints pathetically going about of
labour being scarce which certain people seemed to take extraordinarily ill
as though they had an absolute right to it on their own terms but Bleeding
Heart Yard though as willing a Yard as any in Britain was never the better for
the demand That high old family the Barnacles had long been too busy with
their great principle to look into the matter and indeed the matter had nothing
to do with their watchfulness in outgeneralling all other high old families
except the Stiltstalkings
While Mrs Plornish spoke in these words of her absent lord her lord
returned A smoothcheeked freshcoloured sandywhiskered man of thirty Long
in the legs yielding at the knees foolish in the face flanneljacketed
limewhitened
»This is Plornish sir«
»I came« said Clennam rising »to beg the favour of a little conversation
with you on the subject of the Dorrit family«
Plornish became suspicious Seemed to scent a creditor Said »Ah Yes
Well He didnt know what satisfaction he could give any gentleman respecting
that family What might it be about now«
»I know you better« said Clennam smiling »than you suppose«
Plornish observed not smiling in return And yet he hadnt the pleasure of
being acquainted with the gentleman neither
»No« said Arthur »I know your kind offices at second hand but on the best
authority Through Little Dorrit I mean« he explained »Miss Dorrit«
»Mr Clennam is it Oh Ive heard of you sir«
»And I of you« said Arthur
»Please to sit down again sir and consider yourself welcome Why yes«
said Plornish taking a chair and lifting the elder child upon his knee that
he might have the moral support of speaking to a stranger over his head »I have
been on the wrong side of the Lock myself and in that way we come to know Miss
Dorrit Me and my wife we are well acquainted with Miss Dorrit«
»Intimate« cried Mrs Plornish Indeed she was so proud of the
acquaintance that she had awakened some bitterness of spirit in the Yard by
magnifying to an enormous amount the sum for which Miss Dorrits father had
become insolvent The Bleeding Hearts resented her claiming to know people of
such distinction
»It was her father that I got acquainted with first And through getting
acquainted with him you see why I got acquainted with her« said Plornish
tautologically
»I see«
»Ah And theres manners Theres polish Theres a gentleman to have run to
seed in the Marshalsea Jail Why perhaps you are not aware« said Plornish
lowering his voice and speaking with a perverse admiration of what he ought to
have pitied or despised »not aware that Miss Dorrit and her sister dursnt let
him know that they work for a living No« said Plornish looking with a
ridiculous triumph first at his wife and then all round the room »Dursnt let
him know it they dursnt«
»Without admiring him for that« Clennam quietly observed »I am very sorry
for him« The remark appeared to suggest to Plornish for the first time that
it might not be a very fine trait of character after all He pondered about it
for a moment and gave it up
»As to me« he resumed »certainly Mr Dorrit is as affable with me I am
sure as I can possibly expect Considering the differences and distances
betwixt us more so But its Miss Dorrit that we were speaking of«
»True Pray how did you introduce her at my mothers«
Mr Plornish picked a bit of lime out of his whisker put it between his
lips turned it with his tongue like a sugarplum considered found himself
unequal to the task of lucid explanation and appealing to his wife said
»Sally you may as well mention how it was old woman«
»Miss Dorrit« said Sally hushing the baby from side to side and laying
her chin upon the little hand as it tried to disarrange the gown again »came
here one afternoon with a bit of writing telling that how she wished for
needlework and asked if it would be considered any illconwenience in case she
was to give her address here« Plornish repeated her address here in a low
voice as if he were making responses at church »Me and Plornish says No
Miss Dorrit no illconwenience« Plornish repeated no illconwenience »and
she wrote it in according Which then me and Plornish says Ho Miss Dorrit«
Plornish repeated Ho Miss Dorrit »Have you thought of copying it three or
four times as the way to make it known in more places than one No says Miss
Dorrit I have not but I will She copied it out according on this table in a
sweet writing and Plornish he took it where he worked having a job just
then« Plornish repeated job just then »and likewise to the landlord of the
Yard through which it was that Mrs Clennam first happened to employ Miss
Dorrit« Plornish repeated employ Miss Dorrit and Mrs Plornish having come to
an end feigned to bite the fingers of the little hand as she kissed it
»The landlord of the Yard« said Arthur Clennam »is «
»He is Mr Casby by name he is« said Plornish »and Pancks he collects
the rents That« added Mr Plornish dwelling on the subject with a slow
thoughtfulness that appeared to have no connexion with any specific object and
to lead him nowhere »that is about what they are you may believe me or not as
you think proper«
»Ay« returned Clennam thoughtful in his turn »Mr Casby too An old
acquaintance of mine long ago«
Mr Plornish did not see his road to any comment on this fact and made
none As there truly was no reason why he should have the least interest in it
Arthur Clennam went on to the present purport of his visit namely to make
Plornish the instrument of effecting Tips release with as little detriment as
possible to the self-reliance and selfhelpfulness of the young man supposing
him to possess any remnant of those qualities without doubt a very wide stretch
of supposition Plornish having been made acquainted with the cause of action
from the Defendants own mouth gave Arthur to understand that the Plaintiff was
a Chaunter meaning not a singer of anthems but a seller of horses and that
he Plornish considered that ten shillings in the pound would settle handsome
and that more would be a waste of money The Principal and instrument soon drove
off together to a stableyard in High Holborn where a remarkably fine grey
gelding worth at the lowest figure seventyfive guineas not taking into
account the value of the shot he had been made to swallow for the improvement
of his form was to be parted with for a twentypound note in consequence of
his having run away last week with Mrs Captain Barbary of Cheltenham who
wasnt up to a horse of his courage and who in mere spite insisted on selling
him for that ridiculous sum or in other words, on giving him away Plornish
going up this yard alone and leaving his Principal outside found a gentleman
with tight drab legs a rather old hat a little hooked stick and a blue
neckerchief Captain Maroon of Gloucestershire a private friend of Captain
Barbary who happened to be there in a friendly way to mention these little
circumstances concerning the remarkably fine grey gelding to any real judge of
a horse and quick snapperup of a good thing who might look in at that address
as per advertisement This gentleman happening also to be the Plaintiff in the
Tip case referred Mr Plornish to his solicitor and declined to treat with Mr
Plornish or even to endure his presence in the yard unless he appeared there
with a twentypound note in which case only the gentleman would augur from
appearances that he meant business and might be induced to talk to him On this
hint Mr Plornish retired to communicate with his Principal and presently came
back with the required credentials Then said Captain Maroon »Now how much
time do you want to make up the other twenty in Now Ill give you a month«
Then said Captain Maroon when that wouldnt suit »Now Ill tell what Ill do
with you You shall get me a good bill at four months made payable at a
bankinghouse for the other twenty« Then said Captain Maroon when that
wouldnt suit »Now come Heres the last Ive got to say to you You shall
give me another ten down and Ill run my pen clean through it« Then said
Captain Maroon when that wouldnt suit »Now Ill tell you what it is and
this shuts it up he has used me bad but Ill let him off for another five down
and a bottle of wine and if you mean done say done and if you dont like it
leave it« Finally said Captain Maroon when that wouldnt suit either »Hand
over then« And in consideration of the first offer gave a receipt in full
and discharged the prisoner
»Mr Plornish« said Arthur »I trust to you if you please to keep my
secret If you will undertake to let the young man know that he is free and to
tell him that you were employed to compound for the debt by some one whom you
are not at liberty to name you will not only do me a service but may do him
one and his sister also«
»The last reason sir« said Plornish »would be quite sufficient Your
wishes shall be attended to«
»A Friend has obtained his discharge you can say if you please A Friend
who hopes that for his sisters sake if for no one elses he will make good
use of his liberty«
»Your wishes sir shall be attended to«
»And if you will be so good in your better knowledge of the family as to
communicate freely with me and to point out to me any means by which you think
I may be delicately and really useful to Little Dorrit I shall feel under an
obligation to you«
»Dont name it sir« returned Plornish »itll be ekally a pleasure and a
itll be ekally a pleasure and a « Finding himself unable to balance his
sentence after two efforts Mr Plornish wisely dropped it He took Clennams
card and appropriate pecuniary compliment
He was earnest to finish his commission at once and his Principal was in
the same mind So his Principal offered to set him down at the Marshalsea Gate
and they drove in that direction over Blackfriars Bridge On the way Arthur
elicited from his new friend a confused summary of the interior life of Bleeding
Heart Yard They was all hard up there Mr Plornish said uncommon hard up to
be sure Well he couldnt say how it was he didnt know as anybody could say
how it was all he knowd was that so it was When a man felt on his own back
and in his own belly that poor he was that man Mr Plornish gave it as his
decided belief knowd well that he was poor somehow or another and you
couldnt talk it out of him no more than you could talk Beef into him Then you
see some people as was better off said and a good many such people lived
pretty close up to the mark themselves if not beyond it so hed heerd that they
was improvident that was the favourite word down the Yard For instance if
they see a man with his wife and children going to Hampton Court in a Wan
perhaps once in a year they says »Hallo I thought you was poor my
improvident friend« Why Lord how hard it was upon a man What was a man to
do He couldnt go mollancholly mad and even if he did you wouldnt be the
better for it In Mr Plornishs judgment you would be the worse for it Yet you
seemed to want to make a man mollancholly mad You was always at it if not
with your right hand with your left What was they a doing in the Yard Why
take a look at em and see There was the girls and their mothers a working at
their sewing or their shoebinding or their trimming or their
waistcoatmaking day and night and night and day and not more than able to
keep body and soul together after all often not so much There was people of
pretty well all sorts of trades you could name all wanting to work and yet not
able to get it There was old people after working all their lives going and
being shut up in the workhouse much worse fed and lodged and treated
altogether than Mr Plornish said manufacturers but appeared to mean
malefactors Why a man didnt know where to turn himself for a crumb of
comfort As to who was to blame for it Mr Plornish didnt know who was to
blame for it He could tell you who suffered but he couldnt tell you whose
fault it was It wasnt his place to find out and whod mind what he said if
he did find out He only knowd that it wasnt put right by them what undertook
that line of business and that it didnt come right of itself. And in brief his
illogical opinion was that if you couldnt do nothing for him you had better
take nothing from him for doing of it so far as he could make out that was
about what it come to Thus in a prolix gentlygrowling foolish way did
Plornish turn the tangled skein of his estate about and about like a blind man
who was trying to find some beginning or end to it until they reached the
prison gate There he left his Principal alone to wonder as he rode away how
many thousand Plornishes there might be within a day or twos journey of the
Circumlocution Office playing sundry curious variations on the same tune which
were not known by ear in that glorious institution
Chapter XIII
Patriarchal
The mention of Mr Casby again revived in Clennams memory the smouldering
embers of curiosity and interest which Mrs Flintwinch had fanned on the night
of his arrival Flora Casby had been the beloved of his boyhood and Flora was
the daughter and only child of woodenheaded old Christopher so he was still
occasionally spoken of by some irreverent spirits who had had dealings with him
and in whom familiarity had bred its proverbial result perhaps who was reputed
to be rich in weekly tenants and to get a good quantity of blood out of the
stones of several unpromising courts and alleys
After some days of inquiry and research Arthur Clennam became convinced
that the case of the Father of the Marshalsea was indeed a hopeless one and
sorrowfully resigned the idea of helping him to freedom again He had no hopeful
inquiry to make at present concerning Little Dorrit either but he argued with
himself that it might for anything he knew it might be serviceable to the poor
child if he renewed this acquaintance It is hardly necessary to add that
beyond all doubt he would have presented himself at Mr Casbys door if there
had been no Little Dorrit in existence for we all know how we all deceive
ourselves that is to say how people in general our profounder selves
excepted deceive themselves as to motives of action
With a comfortable impression upon him and quite an honest one in its way
that he was still patronising Little Dorrit in doing what had no reference to
her he found himself one afternoon at the corner of Mr Casbys street Mr
Casby lived in a street in Grays Inn Road which had set off from that
thoroughfare with the intention of running at one heat down into the valley and
up again to the top of Pentonville Hill but which had run itself out of breath
in twenty yards and had stood still ever since There is no such place in that
part now but it remained there for many years looking with a baulked
countenance at the wilderness patched with unfruitful gardens and pimpled with
eruptive summerhouses that it had meant to run over in no time
»The house« thought Clennam as he crossed to the door »is as little
changed as my mothers and looks almost as gloomy But the likeness ends
outside I know its staid repose within The smell of its jars of old
roseleaves and lavender seems to come upon me even here«
When his knock at the bright brass knocker of obsolete shape brought a
womanservant to the door those faded scents in truth saluted him like wintry
breath that had a faint remembrance in it of the bygone spring He stepped into
the sober silent airtight house one might have fancied it to have been
stifled by Mutes in the Eastern manner and the door closing again seemed to
shut out sound and motion The furniture was formal grave and quakerlike but
wellkept and had as prepossessing an aspect as anything from a human creature
to a wooden stool that is meant for much use and is preserved for little can
ever wear There was a grave clock ticking somewhere up the staircase and
there was a songless bird in the same direction pecking at his cage as if he
were ticking too The parlourfire ticked in the grate There was only one
person on the parlourhearth and the loud watch in his pocket ticked audibly
The servantmaid had ticked the two words Mr Clennam so softly that she had
not been heard and he consequently stood within the door she had closed
unnoticed The figure of a man advanced in life whose smooth grey eyebrows
seemed to move to the ticking as the firelight flickered on them sat in an
armchair with his list shoes on the rug and his thumbs slowly revolving over
one another. This was old Christopher Casby recognisable at a glance as
unchanged in twenty years and upward as his own solid furniture as little
touched by the influence of the varying seasons as the old roseleaves and old
lavender in his porcelain jars
Perhaps there never was a man in this troublesome world so troublesome for
the imagination to picture as a boy And yet he had changed very little in his
progress through life Confronting him in the room in which he sat was a boys
portrait which anybody seeing him would have identified as Master Christopher
Casby aged ten though disguised with a haymaking rake for which he had had
at any time as much taste or use as for a divingbell and sitting on one of
his own legs upon a bank of violets moved to precocious contemplation by the
spire of a village church There was the same smooth face and forehead the same
calm blue eye the same placid air The shining bald head which looked so very
large because it shone so much and the long grey hair at its sides and back
like floss silk or spun glass which looked so very benevolent because it was
never cut were not of course to be seen in the boy as in the old man
Nevertheless in the Seraphic creature with the haymaking rake were clearly to
be discerned the rudiments of the Patriarch with the list shoes
Patriarch was the name which many people delighted to give him Various old
ladies in the neighbourhood spoke of him as The Last of the Patriarchs So grey
so slow so quiet so impassionate so very bumpy in the head Patriarch was the
word for him He had been accosted in the streets and respectfully solicited to
become a Patriarch for painters and for sculptors with so much importunity in
sooth that it would appear to be beyond the Fine Arts to remember the points of
a Patriarch or to invent one Philanthropists of both sexes had asked who he
was and on being informed »Old Christopher Casby formerly Townagent to Lord
Decimus Tite Barnacle« had cried in a rapture of disappointment »Oh why with
that head is he not a benefactor to his species Oh why with that head is he
not a father to the orphan and a friend to the friendless« With that head
however he remained old Christopher Casby proclaimed by common report rich in
house property and with that head he now sat in his silent parlour Indeed it
would be the height of unreason to expect him to be sitting there without that
head
Arthur Clennam moved to attract his attention and the grey eyebrows turned
towards him
»I beg your pardon« said Clennam »I fear you did not hear me announced«
»No sir I did not Did you wish to see me sir«
»I wished to pay my respects«
Mr Casby seemed a feathers weight disappointed by the last words having
perhaps prepared himself for the visitors wishing to pay something else »Have
I the pleasure sir« he proceeded »take a chair if you please have I the
pleasure of knowing Ah truly yes I think I have I believe I am not
mistaken in supposing that I am acquainted with those features I think I
address a gentleman of whose return to this country I was informed by Mr
Flintwinch«
»That is your present visitor«
»Really Mr Clennam«
»No other Mr Casby«
»Mr Clennam I am glad to see you How have you been since we met«
Without thinking it worth while to explain that in the course of some
quarter of a century he had experienced occasional slight fluctuations in his
health and spirits Clennam answered generally that he had never been better or
something equally to the purpose and shook hands with the possessor of that
head as it shed its patriarchal light upon him
»We are older Mr Clennam« said Christopher Casby
»We are not younger« said Clennam After this wise remark he felt that he
was scarcely shining with brilliancy and became aware that he was nervous
»And your respected father« said Mr Casby »is no more I was grieved to
hear it Mr Clennam I was grieved«
Arthur replied in the usual way that he felt infinitely obliged to him
»There was a time« said Mr Casby »when your parents and myself were not
on friendly terms There was a little family misunderstanding among us Your
respected mother was rather jealous of her son maybe when I say her son I
mean your worthy self your worthy self«
His smooth face had a bloom upon it like ripe wallfruit What with his
blooming face and that head and his blue eyes he seemed to be delivering
sentiments of rare wisdom and virtue In like manner his physiognomical
expression seemed to teem with benignity Nobody could have said where the
wisdom was or where the virtue was or where the benignity was but they all
seemed to be somewhere about him
»Those times however« pursued Mr Casby »are past and gone past and
gone I do myself the pleasure of making a visit to your respected mother
occasionally and of admiring the fortitude and strength of mind with which she
bears her trials bears her trials«
When he made one of these little repetitions sitting with his hands crossed
before him he did it with his head on one side and a gentle smile as if he
had something in his thoughts too sweetly profound to be put into words As if
he denied himself the pleasure of uttering it lest he should soar too high and
his meekness therefore preferred to be unmeaning
»I have heard that you were kind enough on one of those occasions« said
Arthur catching at the opportunity as it drifted past him »to mention Little
Dorrit to my mother«
»Little Dorrit Thats the seamstress who was mentioned to me by a small
tenant of mine Yes yes Dorrit Thats the name Ah yes yes You call her
Little Dorrit«
No road in that direction Nothing came of the crosscut It led no further
»My daughter Flora« said Mr Casby »as you may have heard probably Mr
Clennam was married and established in life several years ago She had the
misfortune to lose her husband when she had been married a few months She
resides with me again She will be glad to see you if you will permit me to let
her know that you are here«
»By all means« returned Clennam »I should have preferred the request if
your kindness had not anticipated me«
Upon this Mr Casby rose up in his list shoes and with a slow heavy step
he was of an elephantine build made for the door He had a long wideskirted
bottlegreen coat on and a bottlegreen pair of trousers and a bottlegreen
waistcoat The Patriarchs were not dressed in bottlegreen broadcloth and yet
his clothes looked patriarchal
He had scarcely left the room and allowed the ticking to become audible
again when a quick hand turned a latchkey in the housedoor opened it and
shut it Immediately afterwards a quick and eager short dark man came into the
room with so much way upon him that he was within a foot of Clennam before he
could stop
»Halloa« he said
Clennam saw no reason why he should not say »Halloa« too
»Whats the matter« said the short dark man
»I have not heard that anything is the matter« returned Clennam
»Wheres Mr Casby« asked the short dark man looking about
»He will be here directly if you want him«
»I want him« said the short dark man »Dont you«
This elicited a word or two of explanation from Clennam during the delivery
of which the short dark man held his breath and looked at him He was dressed in
black and rusty iron grey had jet black beads of eyes a scrubby little black
chin wiry black hair striking out from his head in prongs like forks or
hairpins and a complexion that was very dingy by nature or very dirty by art
or a compound of nature and art He had dirty hands and dirty broken nails and
looked as if he had been in the coals he was in a perspiration and snorted and
sniffed and puffed and blew like a little labouring steamengine
»Oh« said he when Arthur had told him how he came to be there »Very well
Thats right If he should ask for Pancks will you be so good as to say that
Pancks is come in« And so with a snort and a puff he worked out by another
door
Now in the old days at home certain audacious doubts respecting the last
of the Patriarchs which were afloat in the air had by some forgotten means
come in contact with Arthurs sensorium He was aware of motes and specks of
suspicion in the atmosphere of that time seen through which medium
Christopher Casby was a mere Inn signpost without any Inn an invitation to
rest and be thankful when there was no place to put up at and nothing whatever
to be thankful for He knew that some of these specks even represented
Christopher as capable of harbouring designs in that head and as being a crafty
impostor Other motes there were which showed him as a heavy selfish drifting
Booby who having stumbled in the course of his unwieldy jostlings against
other men on the discovery that to get through life with ease and credit he
had but to hold his tongue keep the bald part of his head well polished and
leave his hair alone had had just cunning enough to seize the idea and stick to
it It was said that his being townagent to Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle was
referable not to his having the least business capacity but to his looking so
supremely benignant that nobody could suppose the property screwed or jobbed
under such a man also that for similar reasons he now got more money out of
his own wretched lettings unquestioned than anybody with a less knobby and
less shining crown could possibly have done In a word it was represented
Clennam called to mind alone in the ticking parlour that many people select
their models much as the painters just now mentioned select theirs and that
whereas in the Royal Academy some evil old ruffian of a Dogstealer will
annually be found embodying all the cardinal virtues on account of his
eyelashes or his chin or his legs thereby planting thorns of confusion in the
breasts of the more observant students of nature), so in the great social
Exhibition accessories are often accepted in lieu of the internal character
Calling these things to mind and ranging Mr Pancks in a row with them
Arthur Clennam leaned this day to the opinion without quite deciding on it
that the last of the Patriarchs was the drifting Booby aforesaid with the one
idea of keeping the bald part of his head highly polished and that much as an
unwieldy ship in the Thames river may sometimes be seen heavily driving with the
tide broadside on stern first in its own way and in the way of everything
else though making a great show of navigation when all of a sudden a little
coaly steamtug will bear down upon it take it in tow and bustle off with it
similarly the cumbrous Patriarch had been taken in tow by the snorting Pancks
and was now following in the wake of that dingy little craft
The return of Mr Casby with his daughter Flora put an end to these
meditations Clennams eyes no sooner fell upon the subject of his old passion
than it shivered and broke to pieces
Most men will be found sufficiently true to themselves to be true to an old
idea It is no proof of an inconstant mind but exactly the opposite when the
idea will not bear close comparison with the reality, and the contrast is a
fatal shock to it Such was Clennams case In his youth he had ardently loved
this woman and had heaped upon her all the lockedup wealth of his affection
and imagination That wealth had been in his desert home like Robinson
Crusoes money exchangeable with no one lying idle in the dark to rust until
he poured it out for her Ever since that memorable time though he had until
the night of his arrival as completely dismissed her from any association with
his Present or Future as if she had been dead which she might easily have been
for anything he knew he had kept the old fancy of the Past unchanged in its
old sacred place And now after all the last of the Patriarchs coolly walked
into the parlour saying in effect »Be good enough to throw it down and dance
upon it This is Flora«
Flora always tall had grown to be very broad too and short of breath but
that was not much Flora whom he had left a lily had become a peony but that
was not much Flora who had seemed enchanting in all she said and thought was
diffuse and silly That was much Flora who had been spoiled and artless long
ago was determined to be spoiled and artless now That was a fatal blow
This is Flora
»I am sure« giggled Flora tossing her head with a caricature of her
girlish manner such as a mummy might have presented at her own funeral if she
had lived and died in classical antiquity »I am ashamed to see Mr Clennam I
am a mere fright I know hell find me fearfully changed I am actually an old
woman its shocking to be so found out its really shocking«
He assured her that she was just what he had expected and that time had not
stood still with himself
»Oh But with a gentleman its so different and really you look so amazingly
well that you have no right to say anything of the kind while as to me you
know oh« cried Flora with a little scream »I am dreadful«
The Patriarch apparently not yet understanding his own part in the drama
under representation glowed with vacant serenity
»But if we talk of not having changed« said Flora who whatever she said
never once came to a full stop »look at Papa is not Papa precisely what he was
when you went away isnt it cruel and unnatural of Papa to be such a reproach
to his own child if we go on in this way much longer people who dont know us
will begin to suppose that I am Papas Mama«
That must be a long time hence Arthur considered
»Oh Mr Clennam you insincerest of creatures« said Flora »I perceive
already you have not lost your old way of paying compliments your old way when
you used to pretend to be so sentimentally struck you know at least I dont
mean that I oh I dont know what I mean« Here Flora tittered confusedly and
gave him one of her old glances
The Patriarch as if he now began to perceive that his part in the piece was
to get off the stage as soon as might be rose and went to the door by which
Pancks had worked out hailing that Tug by name He received an answer from some
little Dock beyond and was towed out of sight directly
»You mustnt think of going yet« said Flora Arthur had looked at his hat
being in a ludicrous dismay and not knowing what to do »you could never be so
unkind as to think of going Arthur I mean Mr Arthur or I suppose Mr
Clennam would be far more proper but I am sure I dont know what Im saying
without a word about the dear old days gone for ever however when I come to
think of it I dare say it would be much better not to speak of them and its
highly probable that you have some much more agreeable engagment and pray let Me
be the last person in the world to interfere with it though there was a time
but I am running into nonsense again«
Was it possible that Flora could have been such a chatterer in the days she
referred to Could there have been anything like her present disjointed
volubility in the fascinations that had captivated him
»Indeed I have little doubt« said Flora running on with astonishing speed
and pointing her conversation with nothing but commas and very few of them
»that you are married to some Chinese lady being in China so long and being in
business and naturally desirous to settle and extend your connection nothing was
more likely than that you should propose to a Chinese lady and nothing was more
natural I am sure than that the Chinese lady should accept you and think herself
very well off too I only hope shes not a Pagodian dissenter«
»I am not« returned Arthur smiling in spite of himself »married to any
lady Flora«
»Oh good gracious me I hope you never kept yourself a bachelor so long on my
account« tittered Flora »but of course you never did why should you pray
dont answer I dont know where Im running to oh do tell me something about
the Chinese ladies whether their eyes are really so long and narrow always
putting me in mind of motherofpearl fish at cards and do they really wear
tails down their back and plaited too or is it only the men and when they pull
their hair so very tight off their foreheads dont they hurt themselves and why
do they stick little bells all over their bridges and temples and hats and
things or dont they really do it« Flora gave him another of her old glances
Instantly she went on again as if he had spoken in reply for some time
»Then its all true and they really do good gracious Arthur pray excuse
me old habit Mr Clennam far more proper what a country to live in for so
long a time and with so many lanterns and umbrellas too how very dark and wet
the climate ought to be and no doubt actually is and the sums of money that
must be made by those two trades where everybody carries them and hangs them
everywhere the little shoes too and the feet screwed back in infancy is quite
surprising what a traveller you are«
In his ridiculous distress Clennam received another of the old glances
without in the least knowing what to do with it
»Dear dear« said Flora »only to think of the changes at home Arthur
cannot overcome it seems so natural Mr Clennam far more proper since you
became familiar with the Chinese customs and language which I am persuaded you
speak like a Native if not better for you were always quick and clever though
immensely difficult no doubt I am sure the tea chests alone would kill me if I
tried such changes Arthur I am doing it again seems so natural most
improper as no one could have believed who could have ever imagined Mrs
Finching when I cant imagine it myself«
»Is that your married name« asked Arthur struck in the midst of all this
by a certain warmth of heart that expressed itself in her tone when she
referred however oddly to the youthful relation in which they had stood to one
another. »Finching«
»Finching oh yes isnt it a dreadful name but as Mr F said when he
proposed to me which he did seven times and handsomely consented I must say to
be what he used to call on liking twelve months after all he wasnt answerable
for it and couldnt help it could he Excellent man not at all like you but
excellent man«
Flora had at last talked herself out of breath for one moment One moment
for she recovered breath in the act of raising a minute corner of her
pockethandkerchief to her eye as a tribute to the ghost of the departed Mr F
and began again
»No one could dispute Arthur Mr Clennam that its quite right you
should be formally friendly to me under the altered circumstances and indeed you
couldnt be anything else at least I suppose not you ought to know but I cant
help recalling that there was a time when things were very different«
»My dear Mrs Finching« Arthur began struck by the good tone again
»Oh not that nasty ugly name say Flora«
»Flora I assure you Flora I am happy in seeing you once more and in
finding that like me you have not forgotten the old foolish dreams when we
saw all before us in the light of our youth and hope«
»You dont seem so« pouted Flora »you take it very coolly but however I
know you are disappointed in me I suppose the Chinese ladies Mandarinesses if
you call them so are the cause or perhaps I am the cause myself its just as
likely«
»No no« Clennam entreated »dont say that«
»Oh I must you know« said Flora in a positive tone »what nonsense not to
I know I am not what you expected I know that very well«
In the midst of her rapidity she had found that out with the quick
perception of a cleverer woman The inconsistent and profoundly unreasonable way
in which she instantly went on nevertheless to interweave their longabandoned
boy and girl relations with their present interview made Clennam feel as if he
were lightheaded
»One remark« said Flora giving their conversation without the slightest
notice and to the great terror of Clennam the tone of a lovequarrel »I wish
to make one explanation I wish to offer when your Mama came and made a scene
of it with my Papa and when I was called down into the little breakfastroom
where they were looking at one another with your Mamas parasol between them
seated on two chairs like mad bulls what was I to do«
»My dear Mrs Finching« urged Clennam »all so long ago and so long
concluded is it worth while seriously to «
»I cant Arthur« returned Flora »be denounced as heartless by the whole
society of China without setting myself right when I have the opportunity of
doing so and you must be very well aware that there was Paul and Virginia which
had to be returned and which was returned without note or comment not that I
mean to say you could have written to me watched as I was but if it had only
come back with a red wafer on the cover I should have known that it meant Come
to Pekin Nankeen and Whats the third place barefoot«
»My dear Mrs Finching you were not to blame and I never blamed you We
were both too young too dependent and helpless to do anything but accept our
separation Pray think how long ago« gently remonstrated Arthur
»One more remark« proceeded Flora with unslackened volubility »I wish to
make one more explanation I wish to offer for five days I had a cold in the
head from crying which I passed entirely in the back drawingroom there is the
back drawingroom still on the first floor and still at the back of the house to
confirm my words when that dreary period had passed a lull succeeded years
rolled on and Mr F became acquainted with us at a mutual friends he was all
attention he called next day he soon began to call three evenings a week and to
send in little things for supper it was not love on Mr Fs part it was
adoration Mr F proposed with the full approval of Papa and what could I do«
»Nothing whatever« said Arthur with the cheerfulest readiness »but what
you did Let an old friend assure you of his full conviction that you did quite
right«
»One last remark« proceeded Flora rejecting commonplace life with a wave
of her hand »I wish to make one last explanation I wish to offer there was a
time ere Mr F first paid attentions incapable of being mistaken but that is
past and was not to be dear Mr Clennam you no longer wear a golden chain you
are free I trust you may be happy here is Papa who is always tiresome and
putting in his nose everywhere where he is not wanted«
With these words and with a hasty gesture fraught with timid caution such
a gesture had Clennams eyes been familiar with in the old time poor Flora
left herself at eighteen years of age a long long way behind again and came
to a full stop at last
Or rather she left about half of herself at eighteen years of age behind
and grafted the rest on to the relict of the late Mr F thus making a moral
mermaid of herself which her once boylover contemplated with feelings wherein
his sense of the sorrowful and his sense of the comical were curiously blended
For example. As if there were a secret understanding between herself and
Clennam of the most thrilling nature as if the first of a train of postchaises
and four extending all the way to Scotland were at that moment round the
corner and as if she couldnt and wouldnt have walked into the Parish Church
with him under the shade of the family umbrella with the Patriarchal blessing
on her head and the perfect concurrence of all mankind Flora comforted her
soul with agonies of mysterious signalling expressing dread of discovery With
the sensation of becoming more and more lightheaded every minute Clennam saw
the relict of the late Mr F enjoying herself in the most wonderful manner by
putting herself and him in their old places and going through all the old
performances now when the stage was dusty when the scenery was faded when
the youthful actors were dead when the orchestra was empty when the lights
were out And still through all this grotesque revival of what he remembered as
having once been prettily natural to her he could not but feel that it revived
at sight of him and that there was a tender memory in it
The Patriarch insisted on his staying to dinner and Flora signalled »Yes«
Clennam so wished he could have done more than stay to dinner so heartily
wished he could have found the Flora that had been or that never had been
that he thought the least atonement he could make for the disappointment he
almost felt ashamed of was to give himself up to the family desire Therefore
he stayed to dinner
Pancks dined with them Pancks steamed out of his little dock at a quarter
before six and bore straight down for the Patriarch who happened to be then
driving in an inane manner through a stagnant account of Bleeding Heart Yard
Pancks instantly made fast to him and hauled him out
»Bleeding Heart Yard« said Pancks with a puff and a snort »Its a
troublesome property Dont pay you badly but rents are very hard to get there
You have more trouble with that one place than with all the places belonging to
you«
Just as the big ship in tow gets the credit with most spectators of being
the powerful object so the Patriarch usually seemed to have said himself
whatever Pancks said for him
»Indeed« returned Clennam upon whom this impression was so efficiently
made by a mere gleam of the polished head that he spoke the ship instead of the
Tug »The people are so poor there«
»You cant say you know« snorted Pancks taking one of his dirty hands out
of his rusty irongrey pockets to bite his nails if he could find any and
turning his beads of eyes upon his employer »whether theyre poor or not They
say they are but they all say that When a man says hes rich youre generally
sure he isnt Besides if they are poor you cant help it Youd be poor
yourself if you didnt get your rents«
»True enough« said Arthur
»Youre not going to keep open house for all the poor of London« pursued
Pancks »Youre not going to lodge em for nothing Youre not going to open
your gates wide and let em come free Not if you know it you aint«
Mr Casby shook his head in placid and benignant generality
»If a man takes a room of you at halfacrown a week and when the week
comes round hasnt got the halfcrown you say to that man Why have you got the
room then If you havent got the one thing why have you got the other What
have you been and done with your money What do you mean by it What are you up
to Thats what you say to a man of that sort and if you didnt say it more
shame for you« Mr Pancks here made a singular and startling noise produced by
a strong blowing effort in the region of the nose unattended by any result but
that acoustic one
»You have some extent of such property about the east and northeast here I
believe« said Clennam doubtful which of the two to address
»Oh pretty well« said Pancks »Youre not particular to east or
northeast any point of the compass will do for you What you want is a good
investment and a quick return You take it where you can find it You aint nice
as to situation not you«
There was a fourth and most original figure in the Patriarchal tent who
also appeared before dinner This was an amazing little old woman with a face
like a staring wooden doll too cheap for expression and a stiff yellow wig
perched unevenly on the top of her head as if the child who owned the doll had
driven a tack through it anywhere so that it only got fastened on Another
remarkable thing in this little old woman was that the same child seemed to
have damaged her face in two or three places with some blunt instrument in the
nature of a spoon her countenance and particularly the tip of her nose
presenting the phenomena of several dints generally answering to the bowl of
that article A further remarkable thing in this little old woman was that she
had no name but Mr Fs Aunt
She broke upon the visitors view under the following circumstances Flora
said when the first dish was being put on the table perhaps Mr Clennam might
not have heard that Mr F had left her a legacy Clennam in return implied his
hope that Mr F had endowed the wife whom he adored with the greater part of
his worldly substance if not with all Flora said oh yes she didnt mean
that Mr F had made a beautiful will but he had left her as a separate legacy
his Aunt She then went out of the room to fetch the legacy and on her return
rather triumphantly presented Mr Fs Aunt
The major characteristics discoverable by the stranger in Mr Fs Aunt were
extreme severity and grim taciturnity sometimes interrupted by a propensity to
offer remarks in a deep warning voice which being totally uncalled for by
anything said by anybody and traceable to no association of ideas, confounded
and terrified the mind. Mr Fs Aunt may have thrown in these observations on
some system of her own and it may have been ingenious or even subtle but the
key to it was wanted
The neatlyserved and wellcooked dinner for everything about the
Patriarchal household promoted quiet digestion began with some soup some fried
soles a butterboat of shrimp sauce and a dish of potatoes The conversation
still turned on the receipt of rents Mr Fs Aunt after regarding the company
for ten minutes with a malevolent gaze delivered the following fearful remark
»When we lived at Henley Barness gander was stole by tinkers«
Mr Pancks courageously nodded his head and said »All right maam« But
the effect of this mysterious communication upon Clennam was absolutely to
frighten him And another circumstance invested this old lady with peculiar
terrors Though she was always staring she never acknowledged that she saw any
individual The polite and attentive stranger would desire say to consult her
inclinations on the subject of potatoes His expressive action would be
hopelessly lost upon her and what could he do No man could say »Mr Fs Aunt
will you permit me« Every man retired from the spoon as Clennam did cowed and
baffled
There was mutton a steak and an applepie nothing in the remotest way
connected with ganders and the dinner went on like a disenchanted feast as it
truly was Once upon a time Clennam had sat at that table taking no heed of
anything but Flora now the principal heed he took of Flora was to observe
against his will that she was very fond of porter that she combined a great
deal of sherry with sentiment and that if she were a little overgrown it was
upon substantial grounds The last of the Patriarchs had always been a mighty
eater and he disposed of an immense quantity of solid food with the benignity
of a good soul who was feeding some one else Mr Pancks who was always in a
hurry and who referred at intervals to a little dirty notebook which he kept
beside him perhaps containing the names of the defaulters he meant to look up
by way of dessert took in his victuals much as if he were coaling with a good
deal of noise a good deal of dropping about and a puff and a snort
occasionally as if he were nearly ready to steam away
All through dinner Flora combined her present appetite for eating and
drinking with her past appetite for romantic love in a way that made Clennam
afraid to lift his eyes from his plate since he could not look towards her
without receiving some glance of mysterious meaning or warning as if they were
engaged in a plot Mr Fs Aunt sat silently defying him with an aspect of the
greatest bitterness until the removal of the cloth and the appearance of the
decanters when she originated another observation struck into the
conversation like a clock without consulting anybody
Flora had just said »Mr Clennam will you give me a glass of port for Mr
Fs Aunt«
»The Monument near London Bridge« that lady instantly proclaimed »was put
up arter the Great Fire of London and the Great Fire of London was not the fire
in which your uncle Georges workshops was burned down«
Mr Pancks with his former courage said »Indeed maam All right« But
appearing to be incensed by imaginary contradiction or other illusage Mr Fs
Aunt instead of relapsing into silence made the following additional
proclamation
»I hate a fool«
She imparted to this sentiment in itself almost Solomonic so extremely
injurious and personal a character by levelling it straight at the visitors
head that it became necessary to lead Mr Fs Aunt from the room This was
quietly done by Flora Mr Fs Aunt offering no resistance but inquiring on her
way out »What he come there for then« with implacable animosity
When Flora returned she explained that her legacy was a clever old lady
but was sometimes a little singular and took dislikes peculiarities of which
Flora seemed to be proud rather than otherwise As Floras good nature shone in
the case Clennam had no fault to find with the old lady for eliciting it now
that he was relieved from the terrors of her presence and they took a glass or
two of wine in peace Foreseeing then that the Pancks would shortly get under
weigh and that the Patriarch would go to sleep he pleaded the necessity of
visiting his mother and asked Mr Pancks in which direction he was going
»Citywards sir« said Pancks
»Shall we walk together« said Arthur
»Quite agreeable« said Pancks
Meanwhile Flora was murmuring in rapid snatches for his ear that there was
a time and that the past was a yawning gulf however and that a golden chain no
longer bound him and that she revered the memory of the late Mr F and that she
should be at home to at halfpast one and that the decrees of Fate were beyond
recall and that she considered nothing so improbable as that he ever walked on
the northwest side of GraysInn Gardens at exactly four oclock in the
afternoon He tried at parting to give his hand in frankness to the existing
Flora not the vanished Flora or the Mermaid but Flora wouldnt have it
couldnt have it was wholly destitute of the power of separating herself and
him from their bygone characters He left the house miserably enough and so
much more lightheaded than ever that if it had not been his good fortune to be
towed away he might for the first quarter of an hour have drifted anywhere
When he began to come to himself in the cooler air and the absence of
Flora he found Pancks at full speed cropping such scanty pasturage of nails as
he could find and snorting at intervals These in conjunction with one hand in
his pocket and his roughened hat hind side before were evidently the conditions
under which he reflected
»A fresh night« said Arthur
»Yes its pretty fresh« assented Pancks »As a stranger you feel the
climate more than I do I dare say Indeed I havent got time to feel it«
»You lead such a busy life«
»Yes I have always some of em to look up or something to look after But
I like business« said Pancks getting on a little faster »Whats a man made
for«
»For nothing else« said Clennam
Pancks put the counter question »What else« It packed up in the smallest
compass a weight that had rested on Clennams life and he made no answer
»Thats what I ask our weekly tenants« said Pancks »Some of em will pull
long faces to me and say Poor as you see us master were always grinding
drudging toiling every minute were awake I say to them What else are you
made for It shuts them up They havent a word to answer What else are you
made for That clinches it«
»Ah dear dear dear« sighed Clennam
»Here am I« said Pancks pursuing his argument with the weekly tenant
»What else do you suppose I think I am made for Nothing Rattle me out of bed
early set me going give me as short a time as you like to bolt my meals in
and keep me at it Keep me always at it and Ill keep you always at it you
keep somebody else always at it There you are with the Whole Duty of Man in a
commercial country«
When they had walked a little further in silence Clennam said »Have you no
taste for anything Mr Pancks«
»Whats taste« drily retorted Pancks
»Let us say inclination«
»I have an inclination to get money sir« said Pancks »if you will show me
how« He blew off that sound again and it occurred to his companion for the
first time that it was his way of laughing He was a singular man in all
respects he might not have been quite in earnest but that the short hard
rapid manner in which he shot out these cinders of principles as if it were
done by mechanical revolvency seemed irreconcilable with banter
»You are no great reader I suppose« said Clennam
»Never read anything but letters and accounts Never collect anything but
advertisements relative to next of kin If thats a taste I have got that
Youre not of the Clennams of Cornwall Mr Clennam«
»Not that I ever heard of«
»I know youre not I asked your mother sir She has too much character to
let a chance escape her«
»Supposing I had been of the Clennams of Cornwall«
»Youd have heard of something to your advantage«
»Indeed I have heard of little enough to my advantage for some time«
»Theres a Cornish property going a begging sir and not a Cornish Clennam
to have it for the asking« said Pancks taking his notebook from his breast
pocket and putting it in again »I turn off here I wish you good night«
»Good night« said Clennam But the Tug suddenly lightened and
untrammelled by having any weight in tow was already puffing away into the
distance
They had crossed Smithfield together and Clennam was left alone at the
corner of Barbican He had no intention of presenting himself in his mothers
dismal room that night and could not have felt more depressed and cast away if
he had been in a wilderness He turned slowly down Aldersgate Street and was
pondering his way along towards Saint Pauls purposing to come into one of the
great thoroughfares for the sake of their light and life when a crowd of people
flocked towards him on the same pavement and he stood aside against a shop to
let them pass As they came up he made out that they were gathered around a
something that was carried on mens shoulders He soon saw that it was a litter
hastily made of a shutter or some such thing and a recumbent figure upon it
and the scraps of conversation in the crowd and a muddy bundle carried by one
man and a muddy hat carried by another informed him that an accident had
occurred The litter stopped under a lamp before it had passed him halfadozen
paces for some readjustment of the burden and the crowd stopping too he
found himself in the midst of the array
»An accident going to the Hospital« he asked an old man beside him who
stood shaking his head inviting conversation
»Yes« said the man »along of them Mails They ought to be prosecuted and
fined them Mails They come a racing out of Lad Lane and Wood Street at twelve
or fourteen mile a hour them Mails do The only wonder is that people aint
killed oftener by them Mails«
»This person is not killed I hope«
»I dont know« said the man »it ant for the want of a will in them Mails
if he ant« The speaker having folded his arms and set in comfortably to
address his depreciation of them Mails to any of the bystanders who would
listen several voices out of pure sympathy with the sufferer confirmed him
one voice saying to Clennam »Theyre a public nuisance them Mails sir«
another »I see one on em pull up within half a inch of a boy last night«
another »I see one on em go over a cat sir and it might have been your own
mother« and all representing by implication that if he happened to possess
any public influence he could not use it better than against them Mails
»Why a native Englishman is put to it every night of his life to save his
life from them Mails« argued the first old man »and he knows when theyre a
coming round the corner to tear him limb from limb What can you expect from a
poor foreigner who dont know nothing about em«
»Is this a foreigner« said Clennam leaning forward to look
In the midst of such replies as »Frenchman sir« »Porteghee sir«
»Dutchman sir« »Prooshan sir« and other conflicting testimony he now heard
a feeble voice asking both in Italian and in French for water A general
remark going round in reply of »Ah poor fellow he says hell never get over
it and no wonder« Clennam begged to be allowed to pass as he understood the
poor creature He was immediately handed to the front to speak to him
»First he wants some water« he said looking round A dozen good fellows
dispersed to get it »Are you badly hurt my friend« he asked the man on the
litter in Italian
»Yes sir yes yes yes Its my leg its my leg But it pleases me to
hear the old music though I am very bad«
»You are a traveller Stay See the water Let me give you some«
They had rested the litter on a pile of paving stones It was at a
convenient height from the ground and by stooping he could lightly raise the
head with one hand and hold the glass to the lips with the other A little
muscular brown man with black hair and white teeth A lively face apparently
Earrings in his ears
»Thats well You are a traveller«
»Surely sir«
»A stranger in this city«
»Surely surely altogether I am arrived this unhappy evening«
»From what country«
»Marseilles«
»Why see there I also Almost as much a stranger here as you though born
here I came from Marseilles a little while ago Dont be cast down« The face
looked up at him imploringly as he rose from wiping it and gently replaced the
coat that covered the writhing figure »I wont leave you till you shall be
well taken care of Courage You will be very much better halfanhour hence«
»Ah Altro Altro« cried the poor little man in a faintly incredulous
tone and as they took him up hung out his right hand to give the forefinger a
backhanded shake in the air
Arthur Clennam turned and walking beside the litter and saying an
encouraging word now and then accompanied it to the neighbouring hospital of
Saint Bartholomew None of the crowd but the bearers and he being admitted the
disabled man was soon laid on a table in a cool methodical way and carefully
examined by a surgeon who was as near at hand and as ready to appear as
Calamity herself »He hardly knows an English word« said Clennam »is he badly
hurt« »Let us know all about it first« said the surgeon continuing his
examination with a businesslike delight in it »before we pronounce«
After trying the leg with a finger and two fingers and one hand and two
hands and over and under and up and down and in this direction and in that
and approvingly remarking on the points of interest to another gentleman who
joined him the surgeon at last clapped the patient on the shoulder and said
»He wont hurt Hell do very well Its difficult enough but we shall not want
him to part with his leg this time« Which Clennam interpreted to the patient
who was full of gratitude and in his demonstrative way kissed both the
interpreters hand and the surgeons several times
»Its a serious injury I suppose« said Clennam
»Yees« replied the surgeon with the thoughtful pleasure of an artist
contemplating the work upon his easel »Yes its enough Theres a compound
fracture above the knee and a dislocation below They are both of a beautiful
kind« He gave the patient a friendly clap on the shoulder again as if he
really felt that he was a very good fellow indeed and worthy of all
commendation for having broken his leg in a manner interesting to science
»He speaks French« said the surgeon
»Oh yes he speaks French«
»Hell be at no loss here then You have only to bear a little pain like
a brave fellow my friend and to be thankful that all goes as well as it does«
he added in that tongue »and youll walk again to a marvel Now let us see
whether theres anything else the matter and how our ribs are«
There was nothing else the matter and our ribs were sound Clennam remained
until everything possible to be done had been skilfully and promptly done the
poor belated wanderer in a strange land movingly besought that favour of him
and lingered by the bed to which he was in due time removed until he had fallen
into a doze Even then he wrote a few words for him on his card with a promise
to return tomorrow and left it to be given to him when he should awake
All these proceedings occupied so long that it struck eleven oclock at
night as he came out at the Hospital Gate He had hired a lodging for the
present in Covent Garden and he took the nearest way to that quarter by Snow
Hill and Holborn
Left to himself again after the solicitude and compassion of his last
adventure he was naturally in a thoughtful mood As naturally he could not
walk on thinking for ten minutes without recalling Flora She necessarily
recalled to him his life with all its misdirection and little happiness
When he got to his lodging he sat down before the dying fire as he had
stood at the window of his old room looking out upon the blackened forest of
chimneys and turned his gaze back upon the gloomy vista by which he had come to
that stage in his existence So long so bare so blank No childhood no youth
except for one remembrance that one remembrance proved only that day to be a
piece of folly
It was a misfortune to him trifle as it might have been to another For
while all that was hard and stern in his recollection remained Reality on being
proved was obdurate to the sight and touch and relaxed nothing of its old
indomitable grimness the one tender recollection of his experience would not
bear the same test and melted away He had foreseen this on the former night
when he had dreamed with waking eyes but he had not felt it then and he had
now
He was a dreamer in such wise because he was a man who had deeprooted in
his nature a belief in all the gentle and good things his life had been
without Bred in meanness and hard dealing this had rescued him to be a man of
honourable mind and open hand Bred in coldness and severity this had rescued
him to have a warm and sympathetic heart Bred in a creed too darkly audacious
to pursue through its process of reversing the making of man in the image of
his Creator to the making of his Creator in the image of an erring man this had
rescued him to judge not and in humility to be merciful and have hope and
charity
And this saved him still from the whimpering weakness and cruel selfishness
of holding that because such a happiness or such a virtue had not come into his
little path or worked well for him therefore it was not in the great scheme
but was reducible when found in appearance to the basest elements A
disappointed mind he had but a mind too firm and healthy for such unwholesome
air Leaving himself in the dark it could rise into the light seeing it shine
on others and hailing it
Therefore he sat before his dying fire sorrowful to think upon the way by
which he had come to that night yet not strewing poison on the way by which
other men had come to it That he should have missed so much and at his time of
life should look so far about him for any staff to bear him company upon his
downward journey and cheer it was a just regret He looked at the fire from
which the blaze departed from which the afterglow subsided in which the ashes
turned grey from which they dropped to dust and thought »How soon I too shall
pass through such changes and be gone«
To review his life was like descending a green tree in fruit and flower and
seeing all the branches wither and drop off one by one as he came down towards
them
»From the unhappy suppression of my youngest days through the rigid and
unloving home that followed them through my departure my long exile my
return my mothers welcome my intercourse with her since down to the
afternoon of this day with poor Flora« said Arthur Clennam »what have I
found«
His door was softly opened and these spoken words startled him and came as
if they were an answer
»Little Dorrit«
Chapter XIV
Little Dorrits Party
Arthur Clennam rose hastily and saw her standing at the door This history must
sometimes see with Little Dorrits eyes and shall begin that course by seeing
him
Little Dorrit looked into a dim room which seemed a spacious one to her
and grandly furnished Courtly ideas of Covent Garden as a place with famous
coffeehouses where gentlemen wearing goldlaced coats and swords had
quarrelled and fought duels costly ideas of Covent Garden as a place where
there were flowers in winter at guineas apiece pineapples at guineas a pound
and peas at guineas a pint picturesque ideas of Covent Garden as a place where
there was a mighty theatre showing wonderful and beautiful sights to
richlydressed ladies and gentlemen and which was for ever far beyond the reach
of poor Fanny or poor uncle desolate ideas of Covent Garden as having all
those arches in it where the miserable children in rags among whom she had just
now passed like young rats slunk and hid fed on offal huddled together for
warmth and were hunted about look to the rats young and old all ye Barnacles
for before God they are eating away our foundations and will bring the roofs on
our heads teeming ideas of Covent Garden as a place of past and present
mystery romance abundance want beauty ugliness fair country gardens and
foul streetgutters all confused together made the room dimmer than it was
in Little Dorrits eyes as they timidly saw it from the door
At first in the chair before the goneout fire and then turned round
wondering to see her was the gentleman whom she sought The brown grave
gentleman who smiled so pleasantly who was so frank and considerate in his
manner and yet in whose earnestness there was something that reminded her of
his mother with the great difference that she was earnest in asperity and he in
gentleness Now he regarded her with that attentive and inquiring look before
which Little Dorrits eyes had always fallen and before which they fell still
»My poor child Here at midnight«
»I said Little Dorrit sir on purpose to prepare you I knew you must be
very much surprised«
»Are you alone«
»No sir I have got Maggy with me«
Considering her entrance sufficiently prepared for by this mention of her
name Maggy appeared from the landing outside on the broad grin She instantly
suppressed that manifestation however and became fixedly solemn
»And I have no fire« said Clennam »And you are « He was going to say so
lightly clad but stopped himself in what would have been a reference to her
poverty saying instead »And it is so cold«
Putting the chair from which he had risen nearer to the grate he made her
sit down in it and hurriedly bringing wood and coal heaped them together and
got a blaze
»Your foot is like marble my child« he had happened to touch it while
stooping on one knee at his work of kindling the fire »put it nearer the
warmth« Little Dorrit thanked him hastily It was quite warm it was very warm
It smote upon his heart to feel that she hid her thin worn shoe
Little Dorrit was not ashamed of her poor shoes He knew her story and it
was not that Little Dorrit had a misgiving that he might blame her father if
he saw them that he might think »why did he dine today and leave this little
creature to the mercy of the cold stones« She had no belief that it would have
been a just reflection she simply knew by experience that such delusions did
sometimes present themselves to people It was a part of her fathers
misfortunes that they did
»Before I say anything else« Little Dorrit began sitting before the pale
fire and raising her eyes again to the face which in its harmonious look of
interest and pity and protection she felt to be a mystery far above her in
degree and almost removed beyond her guessing at »may I tell you something
sir«
»Yes my child«
A slight shade of distress fell upon her at his so often calling her a
child She was surprised that he should see it or think of such a slight thing
but he said directly
»I wanted a tender word and could think of no other As you just now gave
yourself the name they give you at my mothers and as that is the name by which
I always think of you let me call you Little Dorrit«
»Thank you sir I should like it better than any name«
»Little Dorrit«
»Little mother« Maggy who had been falling asleep put in as a
correction
»Its all the same Maggy« returned Dorrit »all the same«
»Is it all the same mother«
»Just the same«
Maggy laughed and immediately snored In Little Dorrits eyes and ears the
uncouth figure and the uncouth sound were as pleasant as could be There was a
glow of pride in her big child overspreading her face when it again met the
eyes of the grave brown gentleman She wondered what he was thinking of as he
looked at Maggy and her She thought what a good father he would be How with
some such look he would counsel and cherish his daughter
»What I was going to tell you sir« said Little Dorrit »is that my
brother is at large«
Arthur was rejoiced to hear it and hoped he would do well
»And what I was going to tell you sir« said Little Dorrit trembling in
all her little figure and in her voice »is that I am not to know whose
generosity released him am never to ask and am never to be told and am never
to thank that gentleman with all my grateful heart«
He would probably need no thanks Clennam said Very likely he would be
thankful himself and with reason that he had had the means and chance of
doing a little service to her who well deserved a great one
»And what I was going to say sir is« said Little Dorrit trembling more
and more »that if I knew him and I might I would tell him that he can never
never know how I feel his goodness and how my good father would feel it And
what I was going to say sir is that if I knew him and I might but I dont
know him and I must not I know that I would tell him that I shall never any
more lie down to sleep without having prayed to Heaven to bless him and reward
him And if I knew him and I might I would go down on my knees to him and
take his hand and kiss it and ask him not to draw it away but to leave it O
to leave it for a moment and let my thankful tears fall on it for I have no
other thanks to give him«
Little Dorrit had put his hand to her lips and would have kneeled to him
but he gently prevented her and replaced her in her chair Her eyes and the
tones of her voice had thanked him far better than she thought He was not able
to say quite as composedly as usual »There Little Dorrit there there
there We will suppose that you did know this person and that you might do all
this and that it was all done And now tell me who am quite another person
who am nothing more than the friend who begged you to trust him why you are
out at midnight and what it is that brings you so far through the streets at
this late hour my slight delicate« child was on his lips again »Little
Dorrit«
»Maggy and I have been tonight« she answered subduing herself with the
quiet effort that had long been natural to her »to the theatre where my sister
is engaged«
»And oh aint it a Evnly place« suddenly interrupted Maggy who seemed to
have the power of going to sleep and waking up whenever she chose »Almost as
good as a hospital Only there aint no Chicking in it«
Here she shook herself and fell asleep again
»We went there« said Little Dorrit glancing at her charge »because I like
sometimes to know of my own knowledge that my sister is doing well and like
to see her there with my own eyes when neither she nor Uncle is aware It is
very seldom indeed that I can do that because when I am not out at work I am
with my father and even when I am out at work I hurry home to him But I
pretend tonight that I am at a party«
As she made the confession timidly hesitating she raised her eyes to the
face and read its expression so plainly that she answered it
»Oh no certainly I never was at a party in my life«
She paused a little under his attentive look and then said »I hope there
is no harm in it I could never have been of any use if I had not pretended a
little«
She feared that he was blaming her in his mind for so devising to contrive
for them think for them and watch over them without their knowledge or
gratitude perhaps even with their reproaches for supposed neglect But what was
really in his mind was the weak figure with its strong purpose the thin worn
shoes the insufficient dress and the pretence of recreation and enjoyment He
asked where the supposititious party was At a place where she worked answered
Little Dorrit blushing She had said very little about it only a few words to
make her father easy Her father did not believe it to be a grand party indeed
he might suppose that And she glanced for an instant at the shawl she wore
»It is the first night« said Little Dorrit »that I have ever been away
from home And London looks so large so barren and so wild« In Little
Dorrits eyes its vastness under the black sky was awful a tremor passed over
her as she said the words
»But this is not« she added with the quiet effort again »what I have come
to trouble you with sir My sisters having found a friend a lady she has told
me of and made me rather anxious about was the first cause of my coming away
from home And being away and coming on purpose round by where you lived and
seeing a light in the window «
Not for the first time No not for the first time In Little Dorrits eyes
the outside of that window had been a distant star on other nights than this
She had toiled out of her way tired and troubled to look up at it and wonder
about the grave brown gentleman from so far off who had spoken to her as a
friend and protector
»There were three things« said Little Dorrit »that I thought I would like
to say if you were alone and I might come upstairs First what I have tried
to say but never can never shall «
»Hush hush That is done with and disposed of Let us pass to the second«
said Clennam smiling her agitation away making the blaze shine upon her and
putting wine and cake and fruit towards her on the table
»I think« said Little Dorrit »this is the second thing sir I think
Mrs Clennam must have found out my secret and must know where I come from and
where I go to Where I live I mean«
»Indeed« returned Clennam quickly He asked her after a short
consideration why she supposed so
»I think« replied Little Dorrit »that Mr Flintwinch must have watched
me«
And why Clennam asked as he turned his eyes upon the fire bent his brows
and considered again why did she suppose that
»I have met him twice Both times near home Both times at night when I was
going back Both times I thought though that may easily be my mistake that he
hardly looked as if he had met me by accident«
»Did he say anything«
»No he only nodded and put his head on one side«
»The devil take his head« mused Clennam still looking at the fire »its
always on one side«
He roused himself to persuade her to put some wine to her lips and to touch
something to eat it was very difficult she was so timid and shy and then
said musing again
»Is my mother at all changed to you«
»Oh not at all She is just the same I wondered whether I had better tell
her my history I wondered whether I might I mean whether you would like me
to tell her I wondered« said Little Dorrit looking at him in a suppliant way
and gradually withdrawing her eyes as he looked at her »whether you would
advise me what I ought to do«
»Little Dorrit« said Clennam and the phrase had already begun between
those two to stand for a hundred gentle phrases according to the varying tone
and connexion in which it was used »do nothing I will have some talk with my
old friend Mrs Affery Do nothing Little Dorrit except refresh yourself
with such means as there are here I entreat you to do that«
»Thank you I am not hungry Nor« said Little Dorrit as he softly put her
glass towards her »nor thirsty I think Maggy might like something perhaps«
»We will make her find pockets presently for all there is here« said
Clennam »but before we awake her there was a third thing to say«
»Yes You will not be offended sir«
»I promise that unreservedly«
»It will sound strange I hardly know how to say it Dont think it
unreasonable or ungrateful in me« said Little Dorrit with returning and
increasing agitation
»No no no I am sure it will be natural and right I am not afraid that I
shall put a wrong construction on it whatever it is«
»Thank you You are coming back to see my father again«
»Yes«
»You have been so good and thoughtful as to write him a note saying that
you are coming tomorrow«
»Oh that was nothing Yes«
»Can you guess« said Little Dorrit folding her small hands tight in one
another, and looking at him with all the earnestness of her soul looking
steadily out of her eyes »what I am going to ask you not to do«
»I think I can But I may be wrong«
»No you are not wrong« said Little Dorrit shaking her head »If we should
want it so very very badly that we cannot do without it let me ask you for
it«
»I will I will«
»Dont encourage him to ask Dont understand him if he does ask Dont give
it to him Save him and spare him that and you will be able to think better of
him«
Clennam said not very plainly seeing those tears glistening in her
anxious eyes that her wish should be sacred with him
»You dont know what he is« she said »you dont know what he really is
How can you seeing him there all at once dear love and not gradually as I
have done You have been so good to us so delicately and truly good that I
want him to be better in your eyes than in anybodys And I cannot bear to
think« cried Little Dorrit covering her tears with her hands »I cannot bear
to think that you of all the world should see him in his only moments of
degradation«
»Pray« said Clennam »do not be so distressed Pray pray Little Dorrit
This is quite understood now«
»Thank you sir Thank you I have tried very much to keep myself from
saying this I have thought about it days and nights but when I knew for
certain you were coming again I made up my mind to speak to you Not because I
am ashamed of him« she dried her tears quickly »but because I know him better
than any one does and love him and am proud of him«
Relieved of this weight Little Dorrit was nervously anxious to be gone
Maggy being broad awake and in the act of distantly gloating over the fruit and
cakes with chuckles of anticipation Clennam made the best diversion in his
power by pouring her out a glass of wine which she drank in a series of loud
smacks putting her hand upon her windpipe after every one and saying
breathless with her eyes in a prominent state »Oh aint it dlicious Aint it
hospitally« When she had finished the wine and these encomiums he charged her
to load her basket she was never without her basket with every eatable thing
upon the table and to take especial care to leave no scrap behind Maggys
pleasure in doing this and her little mothers pleasure in seeing Maggy
pleased was as good a turn as circumstances could have given to the late
conversation
»But the gates will have been locked long ago« said Clennam suddenly
remembering it »Where are you going«
»I am going to Maggys lodging« answered Little Dorrit »I shall be quite
safe quite well taken care of«
»I must accompany you there« said Clennam »I cannot let you go alone«
»Yes pray leave us to go there by ourselves Pray do« begged Little
Dorrit
She was so earnest in the petition that Clennam felt a delicacy in
obtruding himself upon her the rather because he could well understand that
Maggys lodging was of the obscurest sort »Come Maggy« said Little Dorrit
cheerily »we shall do very well we know the way by this time Maggy«
»Yes yes little mother we know the way« chuckled Maggy And away they
went Little Dorrit turned at the door to say »God bless you« She said it very
softly but perhaps she may have been as audible above who knows as a whole
cathedral choir
Arthur Clennam suffered them to pass the corner of the street before he
followed at a distance not with any idea of encroaching a second time on Little
Dorrits privacy but to satisfy his mind by seeing her secure in the
neighbourhood to which she was accustomed So diminutive she looked so fragile
and defenceless against the bleak damp weather flitting along in the shuffling
shadow of her charge that he felt in his compassion and in his habit of
considering her a child apart from the rest of the rough world as if he would
have been glad to take her up in his arms and carry her to her journeys end
In course of time she came into the leading thoroughfare where the
Marshalsea was and then he saw them slacken their pace and soon turn down a
bystreet He stopped felt that he had no right to go further and slowly left
them He had no suspicion that they ran any risk of being houseless until
morning had no idea of the truth until long long afterwards
But said Little Dorrit when they stopped at a poor dwelling all in
darkness and heard no sound on listening at the door »Now this is a good
lodging for you Maggy and we must not give offence Consequently we will only
knock twice and not very loud and if we cannot wake them so we must walk
about till day«
Once Little Dorrit knocked with a careful hand and listened Twice Little
Dorrit knocked with a careful hand and listened All was close and still
»Maggy we must do the best we can my dear We must be patient and wait for
day«
It was a chill dark night with a damp wind blowing when they came out into
the leading street again and heard the clocks strike halfpast one »In only
five hours and a half« said Little Dorrit »we shall be able to go home« To
speak of home and to go and look at it it being so near was a natural
sequence They went to the closed gate and peeped through into the courtyard
»I hope he is sound asleep« said Little Dorrit kissing one of the bars »and
does not miss me«
The gate was so familiar and so like a companion that they put down
Maggys basket in a corner to serve for a seat and keeping close together
rested there for some time While the street was empty and silent Little Dorrit
was not afraid but when she heard a footstep at a distance or saw a moving
shadow among the street lamps she was startled and whispered »Maggy I see
some one Come away« Maggy would then wake up more or less fretfully and they
would wander about a little and come back again
As long as eating was a novelty and an amusement Maggy kept up pretty well
But that period going by she became querulous about the cold and shivered and
whimpered »It will soon be over dear« said Little Dorrit patiently »Oh its
all very fine for you little mother« returned Maggy »but Im a poor thing
only ten years old« At last in the dead of the night when the street was very
still indeed Little Dorrit laid the heavy head upon her bosom and soothed her
to sleep And thus she sat at the gate as it were alone looking up at the
stars and seeing the clouds pass over them in their wild flight which was the
dance at Little Dorrits party
»If it really was a party« she thought once as she sat there »If it was
light and warm and beautiful and it was our house and my poor dear was its
master and had never been inside these walls And if Mr Clennam was one of our
visitors and we were dancing to delightful music and were all as gay and
lighthearted as ever we could be I wonder « Such a vista of wonder opened out
before her that she sat looking up at the stars quite lost until Maggy was
querulous again and wanted to get up and walk
Three oclock and halfpast three and they had passed over London Bridge
They had heard the rush of the tide against obstacles and looked down awed
through the dark vapour on the river had seen little spots of lighted water
where the bridge lamps were reflected shining like demon eyes with a terrible
fascination in them for guilt and misery They had shrunk past homeless people
lying coiled up in nooks They had run from drunkards They had started from
slinking men whistling and signing to one another at bye corners or running
away at full speed Though everywhere the leader and the guide Little Dorrit
happy for once in her youthful appearance feigned to cling to and rely upon
Maggy And more than once some voice from among a knot of brawling or prowling
figures in their path had called out to the rest to »let the woman and the
child go by«
So the woman and the child had gone by and gone on and five had sounded
from the steeples They were walking slowly towards the east already looking
for the first pale streak of day when a woman came after them
»What are you doing with the child« she said to Maggy
She was young far too young to be there Heaven knows and neither ugly
nor wickedlooking She spoke coarsely but with no naturally coarse voice
there was even something musical in its sound
»What are you doing with yourself« retorted Maggy for want of a better
answer
»Cant you see without my telling you«
»I dont know as I can« said Maggy
»Killing myself Now I have answered you answer me What are you doing with
the child«
The supposed child kept her head drooped down and kept her form close at
Maggys side
»Poor thing« said the woman »Have you no feeling that you keep her out in
the cruel streets at such a time as this Have you no eyes that you dont see
how delicate and slender she is Have you no sense you dont look as if you had
much that you dont take more pity on this cold and trembling little hand«
She had stepped across to that side and held the hand between her own two
chafing it »Kiss a poor lost creature dear« she said bending her face »and
tell me where shes taking you«
Little Dorrit turned towards her
»Why my God« she said recoiling »youre a woman«
»Dont mind that« said Little Dorrit clasping one of her hands that had
suddenly released hers »I am not afraid of you«
»Then you had better be« she answered »Have you no mother«
»No«
»No father«
»Yes a very dear one«
»Go home to him and be afraid of me Let me go Good night«
»I must thank you first let me speak to you as if I really were a child«
»You cant do it« said the woman »You are kind and innocent but you cant
look at me out of a childs eyes I never should have touched you but I thought
that you were a child« And with a strange wild cry she went away
No day yet in the sky but there was day in the resounding stones of the
streets in the waggons carts and coaches in the workers going to various
occupations in the opening of early shops in the traffic at markets in the
stir of the riverside There was coming day in the flaring lights with a
feebler colour in them than they would have had at another time coming day in
the increased sharpness of the air and the ghastly dying of the night
They went back again to the gate intending to wait there now until it
should be opened but the air was so raw and cold that Little Dorrit leading
Maggy about in her sleep kept in motion Going round by the church she saw
lights there and the door open and went up the steps and looked in
»Whos that« cried a stout old man who was putting on a nightcap as if he
were going to bed in a vault
»Its no one particular sir« said Little Dorrit
»Stop« cried the man »Lets have a look at you«
This caused her to turn back again in the act of going out and to present
herself and her charge before him
»I thought so« said he »I know you«
»We have often seen each other« said Little Dorrit recognising the sexton
or the beadle or the verger or whatever he was »when I have been at church
here«
»More than that weve got your birth in our Register you know youre one
of our curiosities«
»Indeed« said Little Dorrit
»To be sure As the child of the bythebye how did you get out so
early«
»We were shut out last night and are waiting to get in«
»You dont mean it And theres another hour good yet Come into the vestry
Youll find a fire in the vestry on account of the painters Im waiting for
the painters or I shouldnt be here you may depend upon it One of our
curiosities mustnt be cold when we have it in our power to warm her up
comfortable Come along«
He was a very good old fellow in his familiar way and having stirred the
vestry fire he looked round the shelves of registers for a particular volume
»Here you are you see« he said taking it down and turning the leaves »Here
youll find yourself as large as life Amy daughter of William and Fanny
Dorrit Born Marshalsea Prison Parish of St George And we tell people that
you have lived there without so much as a days or a nights absence ever
since Is it true«
»Quite true till last night«
»Lord« But his surveying her with an admiring gaze suggested something else
to him to wit »I am sorry to see though that you are faint and tired Stay a
bit Ill get some cushions out of the church and you and your friend shall lie
down before the fire Dont be afraid of not going in to join your father when
the gate opens Ill call you«
He soon brought in the cushions and strewed them on the ground
»There you are you see Again as large as life Oh never mind thanking
Ive daughters of my own And though they werent born in the Marshalsea Prison
they might have been if I had been in my ways of carrying on of your fathers
breed Stop a bit I must put something under the cushion for your head Heres
a burial volume Just the thing We have got Mrs Bangham in this book But what
makes these books interesting to most people is not whos in em but who
isnt whos coming you know and when Thats the interesting question«
Commendingly looking back at the pillow he had improvised he left them to
their hours repose Maggy was snoring already and Little Dorrit was soon fast
asleep with her head resting on that sealed book of Fate untroubled by its
mysterious blank leaves
This was Little Dorrits party The shame desertion wretchedness and
exposure of the great capital the wet the cold the slow hours and the swift
clouds of the dismal night This was the party from which Little Dorrit went
home jaded in the first grey mist of a rainy morning
Chapter XV
Mrs Flintwinch Has Another Dream
The debilitated old house in the city wrapped in its mantle of soot and
leaning heavily on the crutches that had partaken of its decay and worn out with
it never knew a healthy or a cheerful interval let what would betide If the
sun ever touched it it was but with a ray and that was gone in half an hour
if the moonlight ever fell upon it it was only to put a few patches on its
doleful cloak and make it look more wretched The stars to be sure coldly
watched it when the nights and the smoke were clear enough and all bad weather
stood by it with a rare fidelity You should alike find rain hail frost and
thaw lingering in that dismal enclosure when they had vanished from other
places and as to snow you should see it there for weeks long after it had
changed from yellow to black slowly weeping away its grimy life The place had
no other adherents As to street noises the rumbling of wheels in the lane
merely rushed in at the gateway in going past and rushed out again making the
listening Mistress Affery feel as if she were deaf and recovered the sense of
hearing by instantaneous flashes So with whistling singing talking laughing
and all pleasant human sounds They leaped the gap in a moment and went upon
their way
The varying light of fire and candle in Mrs Clennams room made the
greatest change that ever broke the dead monotony of the spot In her two long
narrow windows the fire shone sullenly all day and sullenly all night On rare
occasions it flashed up passionately as she did but for the most part it was
suppressed like her and preyed upon itself evenly and slowly During many
hours of the short winter days however when it was dusk there early in the
afternoon changing distortions of herself in her wheeled chair of Mr
Flintwinch with his wry neck of Mistress Affery coming and going would be
thrown upon the house wall that was over the gateway and would hover there like
shadows from a great magic lantern As the roomridden invalid settled for the
night these would gradually disappear Mistress Afferys magnified shadow
always flitting about last until it finally glided away into the air as
though she were off upon a witch excursion Then the solitary light would burn
unchangingly until it burned pale before the dawn and at last died under the
breath of Mistress Affery as her shadow descended on it from the witchregion
of sleep
Strange if the little sickroom fire were in effect a beacon fire
summoning some one and that the most unlikely some one in the world to the
spot that must be come to Strange if the little sickroom light were in effect
a watchlight burning in that place every night until an appointed event should
be watched out Which of the vast multitude of travellers under the sun and the
stars climbing the dusty hills and toiling along the weary plains journeying
by land and journeying by sea coming and going so strangely to meet and to act
and react on one another, which of the host may with no suspicion of the
journeys end be travelling surely hither
Time shall show us The post of honour and the post of shame the generals
station and the drummers a peers statue in Westminster Abbey and a seamans
hammock in the bosom of the deep the mitre and the workhouse the woolsack and
the gallows the throne and the guillotine the travellers to all are on the
great high road but it has wonderful divergences and only Time shall show us
whither each traveller is bound
On a wintry afternoon at twilight Mrs Flintwinch having been heavy all
day dreamed this dream
She thought she was in the kitchen getting the kettle ready for tea and was
warming herself with her feet upon the fender and the skirt of her gown tucked
up before the collapsed fire in the middle of the grate bordered on either
hand by a deep cold black ravine She thought that as she sat thus musing upon
the question whether life was not for some people a rather dull invention she
was frightened by a sudden noise behind her She thought that she had been
similarly frightened once last week and that the noise was of a mysterious kind
a sound of rustling and of three or four quick beats like a rapid step while
a shock or tremble was communicated to her heart as if the step had shaken the
floor or even as if she had been touched by some awful hand She thought that
this revived within her certain old fears of hers that the house was haunted
and that she flew up the kitchen stairs without knowing how she got up to be
nearer company
Mistress Affery thought that on reaching the hall she saw the door of her
liege lords office standing open and the room empty That she went to the
rippedup window in the little room by the street door to connect her
palpitating heart through the glass with living things beyond and outside the
haunted house That she then saw on the wall over the gateway the shadows of
the two clever ones in conversation above That she then went up stairs with her
shoes in her hand partly to be near the clever ones as a match for most ghosts
and partly to hear what they were talking about
»None of your nonsense with me« said Mr Flintwinch »I wont take it from
you«
Mrs Flintwinch dreamed that she stood behind the door which was just ajar
and most distinctly heard her husband say these bold words
»Flintwinch« returned Mrs Clennam in her usual strong low voice »there
is a demon of anger in you Guard against it«
»I dont care whether theres one or a dozen« said Mr Flintwinch forcibly
suggesting in his tone that the higher number was nearer the mark »If there was
fifty they should all say None of your nonsense with me I wont take it from
you Id make em say it whether they liked it or not«
»What have I done you wrathful man« her strong voice asked
»Done« said Mr Flintwinch »Dropped down upon me«
»If you mean remonstrated with you «
»Dont put words in my mouth that I dont mean« said Jeremiah sticking to
his figurative expression with tenacious and impenetrable obstinacy »I mean
dropped down upon me«
»I remonstrated with you« she began again »because «
»I wont have it« cried Jeremiah »You dropped down upon me«
»I dropped down upon you then you illconditioned man« Jeremiah chuckled
at having forced her to adopt his phrase »for having been needlessly
significant to Arthur that morning I have a right to complain of it as almost a
breach of confidence You did not mean it «
»I wont have it« interposed the contradictory Jeremiah flinging back the
concession »I did mean it«
»I suppose I must leave you to speak in soliloquy if you choose« she
replied after a pause that seemed an angry one »It is useless my addressing
myself to a rash and headstrong old man who has a set purpose not to hear me«
»Now I wont take that from you either« said Jeremiah »I have no such
purpose I have told you I did mean it Do you wish to know why I meant it you
rash and headstrong old woman«
»After all you only restore me my own words« she said struggling with her
indignation »Yes«
»This is why then Because you hadnt cleared his father to him and you
ought to have done it Because before you went into any tantrum about yourself
who are «
»Hold there Flintwinch« she cried out in a changed voice »you may go a
word too far«
The old man seemed to think so There was another pause and he had altered
his position in the room when he spoke again more mildly
»I was going to tell you why it was Because before you took your own part
I thought you ought to have taken the part of Arthurs father Arthurs father
I had no particular love for Arthurs father I served Arthurs fathers uncle
in this house when Arthurs father was not much above me was poorer as far as
his pocket went and when his uncle might as soon have left me his heir as have
left him He starved in the parlour and I starved in the kitchen that was the
principal difference in our positions there was not much more than a flight of
breakneck stairs between us I never took to him in those times I dont know
that I ever took to him greatly at any time He was an undecided irresolute
chap who had had everything but his orphan life scared out of him when he was
young And when he brought you home here the wife his uncle had named for him
I didnt need to look at you twice you were a goodlooking woman at that time
to know whod be master You have stood of your own strength ever since Stand
of your own strength now Dont lean against the dead«
»I do not as you call it lean against the dead«
»But you had a mind to do it if I had submitted« growled Jeremiah »and
thats why you drop down upon me You cant forget that I didnt submit I
suppose you are astonished that I should consider it worth my while to have
justice done to Arthurs father Hey It doesnt matter whether you answer or
not because I know you are and you know you are Come then Ill tell you how
it is I may be a bit of an oddity in point of temper but this is my temper I
cant let anybody have entirely their own way You are a determined woman and a
clever woman and when you see your purpose before you nothing will turn you
from it Who knows that better than I do«
»Nothing will turn me from it Flintwinch when I have justified it to
myself Add that«
»Justified it to yourself I said you were the most determined woman on the
face of the earth or I meant to say so and if you are determined to justify
any object you entertain of course youll do it«
»Man I justify myself by the authority of these Books« she cried with
stern emphasis and appearing from the sound that followed to strike the
deadweight of her arm upon the table
»Never mind that« returned Jeremiah calmly »we wont enter into that
question at present However that may be you carry out your purposes and you
make everything go down before them Now I wont go down before them I have
been faithful to you and useful to you and I am attached to you But I cant
consent and I wont consent and I never did consent and I never will consent
to be lost in you Swallow up everybody else and welcome The peculiarity of my
temper is maam that I wont be swallowed up alive«
Perhaps this had originally been the mainspring of the understanding between
them Descrying thus much of force of character in Mr Flintwinch perhaps Mrs
Clennam had deemed alliance with him worth her while
»Enough and more than enough of the subject« said she gloomily
»Unless you drop down upon me again« returned the persistent Flintwinch
»and then you must expect to hear of it again«
Mistress Affery dreamed that the figure of her lord here began walking up
and down the room as if to cool his spleen and that she ran away but that as
he did not issue forth when she had stood listening and trembling in the shadowy
hall a little time she crept upstairs again impelled as before by ghosts and
curiosity and once more cowered outside the door
»Please to light the candle Flintwinch« Mrs Clennam was saying
apparently wishing to draw him back into their usual tone »It is nearly time
for tea Little Dorrit is coming and will find me in the dark«
Mr Flintwinch lighted the candle briskly and said as he put it down upon
the table
»What are you going to do with Little Dorrit Is she to come to work here
for ever To come to tea here for ever To come backwards and forwards here in
the same way for ever«
»How can you talk about for ever to a maimed creature like me Are we not
all cut down like the grass of the field and was not I shorn by the scythe many
years ago since when I have been lying here waiting to be gathered into the
barn«
»Ay ay But since you have been lying here not near dead nothing like
it numbers of children and young people blooming women strong men and what
not have been cut down and carried and still here are you you see not much
changed after all Your time and mine may be a long one yet When I say for
ever I mean though I am not poetical through all our time« Mr Flintwinch
gave this explanation with great calmness and calmly waited for an answer
»So long as Little Dorrit is quiet and industrious and stands in need of
the slight help I can give her and deserves it so long I suppose unless she
withdraws of her own act she will continue to come here I being spared«
»Nothing more than that« said Flintwinch stroking his mouth and chin
»What should there be more than that What could there be more than that«
she ejaculated in her sternly wondering way
Mrs Flintwinch dreamed that for the space of a minute or two they
remained looking at each other with the candle between them and that she
somehow derived an impression that they looked at each other fixedly
»Do you happen to know Mrs Clennam« Afferys liege lord then demanded in
a much lower voice and with an amount of expression that seemed quite out of
proportion to the simple purpose of his words »where she lives«
»No«
»Would you now would you like to know« said Jeremiah with a pounce as
if he had sprung upon her
»If I cared to know I should know already Could I not have asked her any
day«
»Then you dont care to know«
»I do not«
Mr Flintwinch having expelled a long significant breath said with his
former emphasis »For I have accidentally mind found out«
»Wherever she lives« said Mrs Clennam speaking in one unmodulated hard
voice and separating her words as distinctly as if she were reading them off
from separate bits of metal that she took up one by one »she has made a secret
of it and she shall always keep her secret from me«
»After all perhaps you would rather not have known the fact anyhow« said
Jeremiah and he said it with a twist as if his words had come out of him in
his own wry shape
»Flintwinch« said his mistress and partner flashing into a sudden energy
that made Affery start »why do you goad me Look round this room If it is any
compensation for my long confinement within these narrow limits not that I
complain of being afflicted you know I never complain of that if it is any
compensation to me for my long confinement to this room that while I am shut up
from all pleasant change I am also shut up from the knowledge of some things
that I may prefer to avoid knowing why should you of all men grudge me that
relief«
»I dont grudge it to you« returned Jeremiah
»Then say no more Say no more Let Little Dorrit keep her secret from me
and do you keep it from me also Let her come and go unobserved and
unquestioned Let me suffer and let me have what alleviation belongs to my
condition Is it so much that you torment me like an evil spirit«
»I asked you a question Thats all«
»I have answered it So say no more Say no more« Here the sound of the
wheeled chair was heard upon the floor and Afferys bell rang with a hasty
jerk
More afraid of her husband at the moment than of the mysterious sound in the
kitchen Affery crept away as lightly and as quickly as she could descended the
kitchen stairs almost as rapidly as she had ascended them resumed her seat
before the fire tucked up her skirt again and finally threw her apron over her
head Then the bell rang once more and then once more and then kept on
ringing in despite of which importunate summons Affery still sat behind her
apron recovering her breath
At last Mr Flintwinch came shuffling down the staircase into the hall
muttering and calling »Affery woman« all the way Affery still remaining behind
her apron he came stumbling down the kitchen stairs candle in hand sidled up
to her twitched her apron off and roused her
»O Jeremiah« cried Affery waking »What a start you gave me«
»What have you been doing woman« inquired Jeremiah »Youve been rung for
fifty times«
»O Jeremiah« said Mistress Affery »I have been adreaming«
Reminded of her former achievement in that way Mr Flintwinch held the
candle to her head as if he had some idea of lighting her up for the
illumination of the kitchen
»Dont you know its her teatime« he demanded with a vicious grin and
giving one of the legs of Mistress Afferys chair a kick
»Jeremiah Teatime I dont know whats come to me But I got such a
dreadful turn Jeremiah before I went off adreaming that I think it must be
that«
»Yoogh SleepyHead« said Mr Flintwinch »what are you talking about«
»Such a strange noise Jeremiah and such a curious movement In the kitchen
here just here«
Jeremiah held up his light and looked at the blackened ceiling held down
his light and looked at the damp stone floor turned round with his light and
looked about at the spotted and blotched walls
»Rats cats water drains« said Jeremiah
Mistress Affery negatived each with a shake of her head »No Jeremiah I
have felt it before I have felt it upstairs and once on the staircase as I
was going from her room to ours in the night a rustle and a sort of trembling
touch behind me«
»Affery my woman« said Mr Flintwinch grimly after advancing his nose to
that ladys lips as a test for the detection of spirituous liquors »if you
dont get tea pretty quick old woman youll become sensible of a rustle and a
touch thatll send you flying to the other end of the kitchen«
This prediction stimulated Mrs Flintwinch to bestir herself and to hasten
upstairs to Mrs Clennams chamber But for all that she now began to
entertain a settled conviction that there was something wrong in the gloomy
house Henceforth she was never at peace in it after daylight departed and
never went up or down stairs in the dark without having her apron over her head
lest she should see something
What with these ghostly apprehensions and her singular dreams Mrs
Flintwinch fell that evening into a haunted state of mind from which it may be
long before this present narrative descries any trace of her recovery In the
vagueness and indistinctness of all her new experiences and perceptions as
everything about her was mysterious to herself she began to be mysterious to
others and became as difficult to be made out to anybodys satisfaction as she
found the house and everything in it difficult to make out to her own
She had not yet finished preparing Mrs Clennams tea when the soft knock
came to the door which always announced Little Dorrit Mistress Affery looked on
at Little Dorrit taking off her homely bonnet in the hall and at Mr Flintwinch
scraping his jaws and contemplating her in silence as expecting some wonderful
consequence to ensue which would frighten her out of her five wits or blow them
all three to pieces
After tea there came another knock at the door announcing Arthur Mistress
Affery went down to let him in and he said on entering »Affery I am glad its
you I want to ask you a question« Affery immediately replied »For goodness
sake dont ask me nothing Arthur I am frightened out of one half of my life
and dreamed out of the other Dont ask me nothing I dont know which is which
or what is what« and immediately started away from him and came near him no
more
Mistress Affery having no taste for reading and no sufficient light for
needlework in the subdued room supposing her to have the inclination now sat
every night in the dimness from which she had momentarily emerged on the evening
of Arthur Clennams return occupied with crowds of wild speculations and
suspicions respecting her mistress and her husband and the noises in the house
When the ferocious devotional exercises were engaged in these speculations
would distract Mistress Afferys eyes towards the door as if she expected some
dark form to appear at those propitious moments and make the party one too
many
Otherwise Affery never said or did anything to attract the attention of the
two clever ones towards her in any marked degree except on certain occasions
generally at about the quiet hour towards bedtime when she would suddenly dart
out of her dim corner and whisper with a face of terror to Mr Flintwinch
reading the paper near Mrs Clennams little table
»There Jeremiah Now Whats that noise«
Then the noise if there were any would have ceased and Mr Flintwinch
would snarl turning upon her as if she had cut him down that moment against his
will »Affery old woman you shall have a dose old woman such a dose You
have been dreaming again«
Chapter XVI
Nobodys Weakness
The time being come for the renewal of his acquaintance with the Meagles family
Clennam pursuant to contract made between himself and Mr Meagles within the
precincts of Bleeding Heart Yard turned his face on a certain Saturday towards
Twickenham where Mr Meagles had a cottageresidence of his own The weather
being fine and dry and any English road abounding in interest for him who had
been so long away he sent his valise on by the coach and set out to walk A
walk was in itself a new enjoyment to him and one that had rarely diversified
his life afar off
He went by Fulham and Putney for the pleasure of strolling over the heath
It was bright and shining there and when he found himself so far on his road to
Twickenham he found himself a long way on his road to a number of airier and
less substantial destinations They had risen before him fast in the healthful
exercise and the pleasant road It is not easy to walk alone in the country
without musing upon something And he had plenty of unsettled subjects to
meditate upon though he had been walking to the Lands End
First there was the subject seldom absent from his mind the question what
he was to do henceforth in life to what occupation he should devote himself
and in what direction he had best seek it He was far from rich and every day
of indecision and inaction made his inheritance a source of greater anxiety to
him As often as he began to consider how to increase this inheritance or to
lay it by so often his misgiving that there was some one with an unsatisfied
claim upon his justice returned and that alone was a subject to outlast the
longest walk Again there was the subject of his relations with his mother
which were now upon an equable and peaceful but never confidential footing and
whom he saw several times aweek Little Dorrit was a leading and a constant
subject for the circumstances of his life united to those of her own story
presented the little creature to him as the only person between whom and himself
there were ties of innocent reliance on one hand and affectionate protection on
the other ties of compassion respect unselfish interest gratitude and pity
Thinking of her and of the possibility of her fathers release from prison by
the unbarring hand of death the only change of circumstance he could foresee
that might enable him to be such a friend to her as he wished to be by altering
her whole manner of life smoothing her rough road and giving her a home he
regarded her in that perspective as his adopted daughter his poor child of
the Marshalsea hushed to rest If there were a last subject in his thoughts and
it lay towards Twickenham its form was so indefinite that it was little more
than the pervading atmosphere in which these other subjects floated before him
He had crossed the heath and was leaving it behind when he gained upon a
figure which had been in advance of him for some time and which as he gained
upon it he thought he knew He derived this impression from something in the
turn of the head and in the figures action of consideration as it went on at
a sufficiently sturdy walk But when the man for it was a mans figure
pushed his hat up at the back of his head and stopped to consider some object
before him he knew it to be Daniel Doyce
»How do you do Mr Doyce« said Clennam overtaking him »I am glad to see
you again and in a healthier place than the Circumlocution office«
»Ha Mr Meagless friend« exclaimed that public criminal coming out of
some mental combinations he had been making and offering his hand »I am glad
to see you sir Will you excuse me if I forget your name«
»Readily Its not a celebrated name Its not Barnacle«
»No no« said Daniel laughing »And now I know what it is Its Clennam
How do you do Mr Clennam«
»I have some hope« said Arthur as they walked on together »that we may be
going to the same place Mr Doyce«
»Meaning Twickenham« returned Daniel »I am glad to hear it«
They were soon quite intimate and lightened the way with a variety of
conversation The ingenious culprit was a man of great modesty and good sense
and though a plain man had been too much accustomed to combine what was
original and daring in conception with what was patient and minute in execution
to be by any means an ordinary man It was at first difficult to lead him to
speak about himself and he put off Arthurs advances in that direction by
admitting slightly oh yes he had done this and he had done that and such a
thing was of his making and such another thing was his discovery but it was
his trade you see his trade until as he gradually became assured that his
companion had a real interest in his account of himself he frankly yielded to
it Then it appeared that he was the son of a northcountry blacksmith and had
originally been apprenticed by his widowed mother to a lockmaker that he had
struck out a few little things at the lockmakers which had led to his being
released from his indentures with a present which present had enabled him to
gratify his ardent wish to bind himself to a working engineer under whom he had
laboured hard learned hard and lived hard seven years His time being out he
had worked in the shop at weekly wages seven or eight years more and had then
betaken himself to the banks of the Clyde where he had studied and filed and
hammered and improved his knowledge theoretical and practical for six or
seven years more There he had had an offer to go to Lyons which he had
accepted and from Lyons had been engaged to go to Germany and in Germany had
had an offer to go to St Petersburg and there had done very well indeed
never better However he had naturally felt a preference for his own country
and a wish to gain distinction there and to do whatever service he could do
there rather than elsewhere And so he had come home And so at home he had
established himself in business and had invented and executed and worked his
way on until after a dozen years of constant suit and service he had been
enrolled in the Great British Legion of Honour the Legion of the Rebuffed of
the Circumlocution Office and had been decorated with the Great British Order
of Merit the Order of the Disorder of the Barnacles and Stiltstalkings
»It is much to be regretted« said Clennam »that you ever turned your
thoughts that way Mr Doyce«
»True sir true to a certain extent But what is a man to do If he has the
misfortune to strike out something serviceable to the nation he must follow
where it leads him«
»Hadnt he better let it go« asked Clennam
»He cant do it« said Doyce shaking his head with a thoughtful smile
»Its not put into his head to be buried Its put into his head to be made
useful You hold your life on the condition that to the last you shall struggle
hard for it Every man holds a discovery on the same terms«
»This is to say« said Arthur with a growing admiration of his quiet
companion »you are not finally discouraged even now«
»I have no right to be if I am« returned the other »The thing is as true
as it ever was«
When they had walked a little way in silence Clennam at once to change the
direct point of their conversation and not to change it too abruptly asked Mr
Doyce if he had any partner in his business to relieve him of a portion of its
anxieties
»No« he returned »not at present I had when I first entered on it and a
good man he was But he has been dead some years and as I could not easily take
to the notion of another when I lost him I bought his share for myself and have
gone on by myself ever since And heres another thing« he said stopping for a
moment with a goodhumoured laugh in his eyes and laying his closed right hand
with its peculiar suppleness of thumb on Clennams arm »no inventor can be a
man of business you know«
»No« said Clennam
»Why so the men of business say« he answered resuming the walk and
laughing outright »I dont know why we unfortunate creatures should be supposed
to want common sense but it is generally taken for granted that we do Even the
best friend I have in the world our excellent friend over yonder« said Doyce
nodding towards Twickenham »extends a sort of protection to me dont you know
as a man not quite able to take care of himself«
Arthur Clennam could not help joining in the goodhumoured laugh for he
recognised the truth of the description
»So I find that I must have a partner who is a man of business and not
guilty of any inventions« said Daniel Doyce taking off his hat to pass his
hand over his forehead »if its only in deference to the current opinion and
to uphold the credit of the Works I dont think hell find that I have been
very remiss or confused in my way of conducting them but thats for him to say
whoever he is not for me«
»You have not chosen him yet then«
»No sir no I have only just come to a decision to take one The fact is
theres more to do than there used to be and the Works are enough for me as I
grow older What with the books and correspondence and foreign journeys for
which a Principal is necessary I cant do all I am going to talk over the best
way of negotiating the matter if I find a spare halfhour between this and
Monday morning with my my Nurse and protector« said Doyce with laughing
eyes again »He is a sagacious man in business and has had a good
apprenticeship to it«
After this they conversed on different subjects until they arrived at their
journeys end A composed and unobtrusive selfsustainment was noticeable in
Daniel Doyce a calm knowledge that what was true must remain true in spite of
all the Barnacles in the family ocean and would be just the truth and neither
more nor less when even that sea had run dry which had a kind of greatness in
it though not of the official quality
As he knew the house well he conducted Arthur to it by the way that showed
it to the best advantage It was a charming place none the worse for being a
little eccentric on the road by the river and just what the residence of the
Meagles family ought to be It stood in a garden no doubt as fresh and
beautiful in the May of the Year as Pet now was in the May of her life and it
was defended by a goodly show of handsome trees and spreading evergreens as Pet
was by Mr and Mrs Meagles It was made out of an old brick house of which a
part had been altogether pulled down and another part had been changed into the
present cottage so there was a hale elderly portion to represent Mr and Mrs
Meagles and a young picturesque very pretty portion to represent Pet There
was even the later addition of a conservatory sheltering itself against it
uncertain of hue in its deepstained glass and in its more transparent portions
flashing to the suns rays now like fire and now like harmless water drops
which might have stood for Tattycoram Within view was the peaceful river and
the ferryboat to moralise to all the inmates saying Young or old passionate
or tranquil chafing or content you thus runs the current always Let the
heart swell into what discord it will thus plays the rippling water on the prow
of the ferryboat ever the same tune Year after year so much allowance for the
drifting of the boat so many miles an hour the flowing of the stream here the
rushes there the lilies nothing uncertain or unquiet upon this road that
steadily runs away while you upon your flowing road of time are so capricious
and distracted
The bell at the gate had scarcely sounded when Mr Meagles came out to
receive them Mr Meagles had scarcely come out when Mrs Meagles came out
Mrs Meagles had scarcely come out when Pet came out Pet had scarcely come
out when Tattycoram came out Never had visitors a more hospitable reception
»Here we are you see« said Mr Meagles »boxed up Mr Clennam within our
own homelimits as if we were never going to expand that is travel again
Not like Marseilles eh No allonging and marshonging here«
»A different kind of beauty indeed« said Clennam looking about him
»But Lord bless me« cried Mr Meagles rubbing his hands with a relish
»it was an uncommonly pleasant thing being in quarantine wasnt it Do you
know I have often wished myself back again We were a capital party«
This was Mr Meagless invariable habit Always to object to everything
while he was travelling and always to want to get back to it when he was not
travelling
»If it was summertime« said Mr Meagles »which I wish it was on your
account and in order that you might see the place at its best you would hardly
be able to hear yourself speak for birds Being practical people we never allow
anybody to scare the birds and the birds being practical people too come
about us in myriads We are delighted to see you Clennam if youll allow me I
shall drop the Mister I heartily assure you we are delighted«
»I have not had so pleasant a greeting« said Clennam then he recalled
what Little Dorrit had said to him in his own room and faithfully added »except
once since we last walked to and fro looking down at the Mediterranean«
»Ah« returned Mr Meagles »Something like a look out that was wasnt it
I dont want a military government but I shouldnt mind a little allonging and
marshonging just a dash of it in this neighbourhood sometimes Its Devilish
still«
Bestowing this eulogium on the retired character of his retreat with a
dubious shake of the head Mr Meagles led the way into the house It was just
large enough and no more was as pretty within as it was without and was
perfectly wellarranged and comfortable Some traces of the migratory habits of
the family were to be observed in the covered frames and furniture and
wrappedup hangings but it was easy to see that it was one of Mr Meagless
whims to have the cottage always kept in their absence as if they were always
coming back the day after tomorrow Of articles collected on his various
expeditions there was such a vast miscellany that it was like the dwelling of
an amiable Corsair There were antiquities from Central Italy made by the best
modern houses in that department of industry bits of mummy from Egypt and
perhaps Birmingham model gondolas from Venice model villages from
Switzerland morsels of tesselated pavement from Herculaneum and Pompeii like
petrified minced veal ashes out of tombs and lava out of Vesuvius Spanish
fans Spezzian straw hats Moorish slippers Tuscan hairpins Carrara
sculpture Trastaverini scarves Genoese velvets and filigree Neapolitan coral
Roman cameos Geneva jewellery Arab lanterns rosaries blest all round by the
Pope himself and an infinite variety of lumber There were views like and
unlike of a multitude of places and there was one little pictureroom devoted
to a few of the regular sticky old Saints with sinews like whipcord hair like
Neptunes wrinkles like tattooing and such coats of varnish that every holy
personage served for a flytrap and became what is now called in the vulgar
tongue a Catchemalive O Of these pictorial acquisitions Mr Meagles spoke in
the usual manner He was no judge he said except of what pleased himself he
had picked them up dirtcheap and people had considered them rather fine One
man who at any rate ought to know something of the subject had declared that
Sage Reading a specially oily old gentleman in a blanket with a swansdown
tippet for a beard and a web of cracks all over him like rich piecrust to be
a fine Guercino As for Sebastian del Piombo there you would judge for
yourself if it were not his later manner the question was Who was it Titian
that might or might not be perhaps he had only touched it Daniel Doyce said
perhaps he hadnt touched it but Mr Meagles rather declined to overhear the
remark
When he had shown all his spoils Mr Meagles took them into his own snug
room overlooking the lawn which was fitted up in part like a dressingroom and
in part like an office and in which upon a kind of counterdesk were a pair
of brass scales for weighing gold and a scoop for shovelling out money
»Here they are you see« said Mr Meagles »I stood behind these two
articles fiveandthirty years running when I no more thought of gadding about
than I now think of staying at home When I left the Bank for good I asked
for them and brought them away with me I mention it at once or you might
suppose that I sit in my countinghouse as Pet says I do like the king in the
poem of the fourandtwenty blackbirds counting out my money«
Clennams eyes had strayed to a natural picture on the wall of two pretty
little girls with their arms entwined »Yes Clennam« said Mr Meagles in a
lower voice »There they both are It was taken some seventeen years ago As I
often say to Mother they were babies then«
»Their names« said Arthur
»Ah to be sure You have never heard any name but Pet Pets name is
Minnie her sisters Lillie«
»Should you have known Mr Clennam that one was meant for me« asked Pet
herself now standing in the doorway
»I might have thought that both of them were meant for you both are still
so like you Indeed« said Clennam glancing from the fair original to the
picture and back »I cannot even now say which is not your portrait«
»Dye hear that Mother« cried Mr Meagles to his wife who had followed
her daughter »Its always the same Clennam nobody can decide The child to
your left is Pet«
The picture happened to be near a lookingglass As Arthur looked at it
again he saw by the reflection of the mirror Tattycoram stop in passing
outside the door listen to what was going on and pass away with an angry and
contemptuous frown upon her face that changed its beauty into ugliness
»But come« said Mr Meagles »You have had a long walk and will be glad to
get your boots off As to Daniel here I suppose hed never think of taking his
boots off unless we showed him a bootjack«
»Why not« asked Daniel with a significant smile at Clennam
»Oh You have so many things to think about« returned Mr Meagles clapping
him on the shoulder as if his weakness must not be left to itself on any
account »Figures and wheels and cogs and levers and screws and cylinders
and a thousand things«
»In my calling« said Daniel amused »the greater usually includes the
less But never mind never mind Whatever pleases you pleases me«
Clennam could not help speculating as he seated himself in his room by the
fire whether there might be in the breast of this honest affectionate and
cordial Mr Meagles any microscopic portion of the mustardseed that had sprung
up into the great tree of the Circumlocution Office His curious sense of a
general superiority to Daniel Doyce which seemed to be founded not so much on
anything in Doyces personal character as on the mere fact of his being an
originator and a man out of the beaten track of other men suggested the idea
It might have occupied him until he went down to dinner an hour afterwards if
he had not had another question to consider which had been in his mind so long
ago as before he was in quarantine at Marseilles and which had now returned to
it and was very urgent with it No less a question than this Whether he should
allow himself to fall in love with Pet
He was twice her age He changed the leg he had crossed over the other and
tried the calculation again but could not bring out the total at less He was
twice her age Well He was young in appearance young in health and strength
young in heart A man was certainly not old at forty and many men were not in
circumstances to marry or did not marry until they had attained that time of
life On the other hand the question was not what he thought of the point but
what she thought of it
He believed that Mr Meagles was disposed to entertain a ripe regard for
him and he knew that he had a sincere regard for Mr Meagles and his good wife
He could foresee that to relinquish this beautiful only child of whom they were
so fond to any husband would be a trial of their love which perhaps they never
yet had had the fortitude to contemplate But the more beautiful and winning and
charming she the nearer they must always be to the necessity of approaching it
And why not in his favour as well as in anothers
When he had got so far it came again into his head that the question was
not what they thought of it but what she thought of it
Arthur Clennam was a retiring man with a sense of many deficiencies and he
so exalted the merits of the beautiful Minnie in his mind and depressed his
own that when he pinned himself to this point his hopes began to fail him He
came to the final resolution as he made himself ready for dinner that he would
not allow himself to fall in love with Pet
They were only five at a round table and it was very pleasant indeed They
had so many places and people to recall and they were all so easy and cheerful
together Daniel Doyce either sitting out like an amused spectator at cards or
coming in with some shrewd little experiences of his own when it happened to be
to the purpose that they might have been together twenty times and not have
known so much of one another.
»And Miss Wade« said Mr Meagles after they had recalled a number of
fellowtravellers »Has anybody seen Miss Wade«
»I have« said Tattycoram
She had brought a little mantle which her young mistress had sent for and
was bending over her putting it on when she lifted up her dark eyes and made
this unexpected answer
»Tatty« her young mistress exclaimed »You seen Miss Wade where«
»Here miss« said Tattycoram
»How«
An impatient glance from Tattycoram seemed as Clennam saw it to answer
»With my eyes« But her only answer in words was »I met her near the church«
»What was she doing there I wonder« said Mr Meagles »Not going to it I
should think«
»She had written to me first« said Tattycoram
»Oh Tatty« murmured her mistress »take your hands away I feel as if some
one else was touching me«
She said it in a quick involuntary way but half playfully and not more
petulantly or disagreeably than a favourite child might have done who laughed
next moment Tattycoram set her full red lips together and crossed her arms
upon her bosom
»Did you wish to know sir« she said looking at Mr Meagles »what Miss
Wade wrote to me about«
»Well Tattycoram« returned Mr Meagles »since you ask the question and
we are all friends here perhaps you may as well mention it if you are so
inclined«
»She knew when we were travelling where you lived« said Tattycoram »and
she had seen me not quite not quite «
»Not quite in a good temper Tattycoram« suggested Mr Meagles shaking his
head at the dark eyes with a quiet caution »Take a little time count fiveand
twenty Tattycoram«
She pressed her lips together again and took a long deep breath
»So she wrote to me to say that if I ever felt myself hurt« she looked down
at her young mistress »or found myself worried« she looked down at her again
»I might go to her and be considerately treated I was to think of it and
could speak to her by the church So I went there to thank her«
»Tatty« said her young mistress putting her hand up over her shoulder that
the other might take it »Miss Wade almost frightened me when we parted and I
scarcely liked to think of her just now as having been so near me without my
knowing it Tatty dear«
Tatty stood for a moment immovable
»Hey« cried Mr Meagles »Count another fiveandtwenty Tattycoram«
She might have counted a dozen when she bent and put her lips to the
caressing hand It patted her cheek as it touched the owners beautiful curls
and Tattycoram went away
»Now there« said Mr Meagles softly as he gave a turn to the dumbwaiter
on his right hand to twirl the sugar towards himself »Theres a girl who might
be lost and ruined if she wasnt among practical people Mother and I know
solely from being practical that there are times when that girls whole nature
seems to roughen itself against seeing us so bound up in Pet No father and
mother were bound up in her poor soul I dont like to think of the way in
which that unfortunate child with all that passion and protest in her feels
when she hears the Fifth Commandment on a Sunday I am always inclined to call
out Church Count fiveandtwenty Tattycoram«
Besides his dumbwaiter Mr Meagles had two other not dumb waiters in the
persons of two parlourmaids with rosy faces and bright eyes who were a highly
ornamental part of the table decoration »And why not you see« said Mr
Meagles on this head »As I always say to Mother why not have something pretty
to look at if you have anything at all«
A certain Mrs Tickit who was Cook and Housekeeper when the family were at
home and Housekeeper only when the family were away completed the
establishment Mr Meagles regretted that the nature of the duties in which she
was engaged rendered Mrs Tickit unpresentable at present but hoped to
introduce her to the new visitor tomorrow She was an important part of the
cottage he said and all his friends knew her That was her picture up in the
corner When they went away she always put on the silkgown and the jetblack
row of curls represented in that portrait her hair was reddishgrey in the
kitchen established herself in the breakfastroom put her spectacles between
two particular leaves of Doctor Buchans Domestic Medicine and sat looking over
the blind all day until they came back again It was supposed that no persuasion
could be invented which would induce Mrs Tickit to abandon her post at the
blind however long their absence or to dispense with the attendance of Dr
Buchan the lucubrations of which learned practitioner Mr Meagles implicitly
believed she had never yet consulted to the extent of one word in her life
In the evening they played an oldfashioned rubber and Pet sat looking
over her fathers hand or singing to herself by fits and starts at the piano
She was a spoilt child but how could she be otherwise Who could be much with
so pliable and beautiful a creature and not yield to her endearing influence
Who could pass an evening in the house and not love her for the grace and charm
of her very presence in the room This was Clennams reflection notwithstanding
the final conclusion at which he had arrived upstairs
In making it he revoked »Why what are you thinking of my good sir«
asked the astonished Mr Meagles who was his partner »I beg your pardon
Nothing« returned Clennam »Think of something next time thats a dear
fellow« said Mr Meagles Pet laughingly believed he had been thinking of Miss
Wade »Why of Miss Wade Pet« asked her father »Why indeed« said Arthur
Clennam Pet coloured a little and went to the piano again
As they broke up for the night Arthur overheard Doyce ask his host if he
could give him halfanhours conversation before breakfast in the morning The
host replying willingly Arthur lingered behind a moment having his own word to
add on that topic
»Mr Meagles« he said on their being left alone »do you remember when you
advised me to go straight to London«
»Perfectly well«
»And when you gave me some other good advice which I needed at that time«
»I wont say what it was worth« answered Mr Meagles »but of course I
remember our being very pleasant and confidential together«
»I have acted on your advice and having disembarrassed myself of an
occupation that was painful to me for many reasons wish to devote myself and
what means I have to another pursuit«
»Right You cant do it too soon« said Mr Meagles
»Now as I came down today I found that your friend Mr Doyce is looking
for a partner in his business not a partner in his mechanical knowledge but
in the ways an means of turning the business arising from it to the best
account«
»Just so« said Mr Meagles with his hands in his pockets and with the old
business expression of face that had belonged to the scales and scoop
»Mr Doyce mentioned incidentally in the course of our conversation that
he was going to take your valuable advice on the subject of finding such a
partner If you should think our views and opportunities at all likely to
coincide perhaps you will let him know my available position I speak of
course in ignorance of the details and they may be unsuitable on both sides«
»No doubt no doubt« said Mr Meagles with the caution belonging to the
scales and scoop
»But they will be a question of figures and accounts «
»Just so just so« said Mr Meagles with the arithmetical solidity
belonging to the scales and scoop
» And I shall be glad to enter into the subject provided Mr Doyce
responds and you think well of it If you will at present therefore allow me
to place it in your hands you will much oblige me«
»Clennam I accept the trust with readiness« said Mr Meagles »And without
anticipating any of the points which you as a man of business have of course
reserved I am free to say to you that I think something may come of this Of
one thing you may be perfectly certain Daniel is an honest man«
»I am so sure of it that I have promptly made up my mind to speak to you«
»You must guide him you know you must steer him you must direct him he
is one of a crotchety sort« said Mr Meagles evidently meaning nothing more
than that he did new things and went new ways »but he is as honest as the sun
and so good night«
Clennam went back to his room sat down again before his fire and made up
his mind that he was glad he had resolved not to fall in love with Pet She was
so beautiful so amiable so apt to receive any true impression given to her
gentle nature and her innocent heart and make the man who should be so happy as
to communicate it the most fortunate and enviable of all men that he was very
glad indeed he had come to that conclusion
But as this might have been a reason for coming to the opposite conclusion
he followed out the theme again a little way in his mind To justify himself
perhaps
»Suppose that a man« so his thoughts ran »who had been of age some twenty
years or so who was a diffident man from the circumstances of his youth who
was rather a grave man from the tenor of his life who knew himself to be
deficient in many little engaging qualities which he admired in others from
having been long in a distant region with nothing softening near him who had
no kind sisters to present to her who had no congenial home to make her known
in who was a stranger in the land who had not a fortune to compensate in any
measure for these defects who had nothing in his favour but his honest love
and his general wish to do right suppose such a man were to come to this
house and were to yield to the captivation of this charming girl and were to
persuade himself that he could hope to win her what a weakness it would be«
He softly opened his window and looked out upon the serene river Year
after year so much allowance for the drifting of the ferryboat so many miles
an hour the flowing of the stream here the rushes there the lilies nothing
uncertain or unquiet
Why should he be vexed or sore at heart It was not his weakness that he had
imagined It was nobodys nobodys within his knowledge why should it trouble
him And yet it did trouble him And he thought who has not thought for a
moment sometimes that it might be better to flow away monotonously like the
river and to compound for its insensibility to happiness with its insensibility
to pain
Chapter XVII
Nobodys Rival
Before breakfast in the morning Arthur walked out to look about him As the
morning was fine and he had an hour on his hands he crossed the river by the
ferry and strolled along a footpath through some meadows When he came back to
the towingpath he found the ferryboat on the opposite side and a gentleman
hailing it and waiting to be taken over
This gentleman looked barely thirty He was well dressed of a sprightly and
gay appearance a wellknit figure and a rich dark complexion As Arthur came
over the stile and down to the waters edge the lounger glanced at him for a
moment and then resumed his occupation of idly tossing stones into the water
with his foot There was something in his way of spurning them out of their
places with his heel and getting them into the required position that Clennam
thought had an air of cruelty in it Most of us have more or less frequently
derived a similar impression from a mans manner of doing some very little
thing plucking a flower clearing away an obstacle or even destroying an
insentient object
The gentlemans thoughts were preoccupied as his face showed and he took
no notice of a fine Newfoundland dog who watched him attentively and watched
every stone too in its turn eager to spring into the river on receiving his
masters sign The ferryboat came over however without his receiving any
sign and when it grounded his master took him by the collar and walked him into
it
»Not this morning« he said to the dog »You wont do for ladies company
dripping wet Lie down«
Clennam followed the man and the dog into the boat and took his seat The
dog did as he was ordered The man remained standing with his hands in his
pockets and towered between Clennam and the prospect Man and dog both jumped
lightly out as soon as they touched the other side and went away Clennam was
glad to be rid of them
The church clock struck the breakfast hour as he walked up the little lane
by which the gardengate was approached The moment he pulled the bell a deep
loud barking assailed him from within the wall
»I heard no dog last night« thought Clennam The gate was opened by one of
the rosy maids and on the lawn were the Newfoundland dog and the man
»Miss Minnie is not down yet gentlemen« said the blushing portress as
they all came together in the garden Then she said to the master of the dog
»Mr Clennam sir« and tripped away
»Odd enough Mr Clennam that we should have met just now« said the man
Upon which the dog became mute »Allow me to introduce myself Henry Gowan A
pretty place this and looks wonderfully well this morning«
The manner was easy and the voice agreeable but still Clennam thought
that if he had not made that decided resolution to avoid falling in love with
Pet he would have taken a dislike to this Henry Gowan
»Its new to you I believe« said this Gowan when Arthur had extolled the
place
»Quite new I made acquaintance with it only yesterday afternoon«
»Ah Of course this is not its best aspect It used to look charming in the
spring before they went away last time I should like you to have seen it
then«
But for that resolution so often recalled Clennam might have wished him in
the crater of Mount Etna in return for this civility
»I have had the pleasure of seeing it under many circumstances during the
last three years and its a Paradise«
It was at least it might have been always excepting for that wise
resolution like his dexterous impudence to call it a Paradise He only called
it a Paradise because he first saw her coming and so made her out within her
hearing to be an angel Confusion to him
And ah how beaming she looked and how glad How she caressed the dog and
how the dog knew her How expressive that heightened colour in her face that
fluttered manner her downcast eyes her irresolute happiness When had Clennam
seen her look like this Not that there was any reason why he might could
would or should have ever seen her look like this or that he had ever hoped
for himself to see her look like this but still when had he ever known her do
it
He stood at a little distance from them This Gowan when he had talked
about a Paradise had gone up to her and taken her hand The dog had put his
great paws on her arm and laid his head against her dear bosom She had laughed
and welcomed them and made far too much of the dog far far too much that
is to say supposing there had been any third person looking on who loved her
She disengaged herself now and came to Clennam and put her hand in his and
wished him good morning and gracefully made as if she would take his arm and be
escorted into the house This Gowan had no objection No he knew he was too
safe
There was a passing cloud on Mr Meagless goodhumoured face when they all
three four counting the dog and he was the most objectionable but one of the
party came in to breakfast Neither it nor the touch of uneasiness on Mrs
Meagles as she directed her eyes towards it was unobserved by Clennam
»Well Gowan« said Mr Meagles even suppressing a sigh »how goes the
world with you this morning«
»Much as usual sir Lion and I being determined not to waste anything of
our weekly visit turned out early and came over from Kingston my present
headquarters where I am making a sketch or two« Then he told how he had met
Mr Clennam at the ferry and they had come over together
»Mrs Gowan is well Henry« said Mrs Meagles Clennam became attentive
»My mother is quite well thank you« Clennam became inattentive »I have
taken the liberty of making an addition to your family dinnerparty today
which I hope will not be inconvenient to you or to Mr Meagles I couldnt very
well get out of it« he explained turning to the latter »The young fellow
wrote to propose himself to me and as he is well connected I thought you would
not object to my transferring him here«
»Who is the young fellow« asked Mr Meagles with peculiar complacency
»He is one of the Barnacles Tite Barnacles son Clarence Barnacle who is
in his fathers Department I can at least guarantee that the river shall not
suffer from his visit He wont set it on fire«
»Aye aye« said Meagles »A Barnacle is he We know something of that
family eh Dan By George they are at the top of the tree though Let me see
What relation will this young fellow be to Lord Decimus now His Lordship
married in seventeen ninetyseven Lady Jemima Bilberry who was the second
daughter by the third marriage no There I am wrong That was Lady Seraphina
Lady Jemima was the first daughter by the second marriage of the fifteenth Earl
of Stiltstalking with the Honourable Clementina Toozellem Very well Now this
young fellows father married a Stiltstalking and his father married his cousin
who was a Barnacle The father of that father who married a Barnacle married a
Joddleby I am getting a little to far back Gowan I want to make out what
relation this young fellow is to Lord Decimus«
»Thats easily stated His father is nephew to Lord Decimus«
»Nephew to Lord Decimus« Mr Meagles luxuriously repeated with his
eyes shut that he might have nothing to distract him from the full flavour of
the genealogical tree »By George you are right Gowan So he is«
»Consequently Lord Decimus is his great uncle«
»But stop a bit« said Mr Meagles opening his eyes with a fresh discovery
»Then on the mothers side Lady Stiltstalking is his great aunt«
»Of course she is«
»Aye aye aye« said Mr Meagles with much interest »Indeed indeed We
shall be glad to see him Well entertain him as well as we can in our humble
way and we shall not starve him I hope at all events«
In the beginning of this dialogue Clennam had expected some great harmless
outburst from Mr Meagles like that which had made him burst out of the
Circumlocution Office holding Doyce by the collar But his good friend had a
weakness which none of us need go into the next street to find and which no
amount of Circumlocution experience could long subdue in him Clennam looked at
Doyce but Doyce knew all about it beforehand and looked at his plate and made
no sign and said no word
»I am much obliged to you« said Gowan to conclude the subject »Clarence
is a great ass but he is one of the dearest and best fellows that ever lived«
It appeared before the breakfast was over that everybody whom this Gowan
knew was either more or less of an ass or more or less of a knave but was
notwithstanding the most lovable the most engaging the simplest truest
kindest dearest best fellow that ever lived The process by which this
unvarying result was attained whatever the premises might have been stated by
Mr Henry Gowan thus »I claim to be always bookkeeping with a peculiar
nicety in every mans case and posting up a careful little account of Good and
Evil with him I do this so conscientiously that I am happy to tell you I find
the most worthless of men to be the dearest old fellow too and am in a
condition to make the gratifying report that there is much less difference than
you are inclined to suppose between an honest man and a scoundrel« The effect
of this cheering discovery happened to be that while he seemed to be
scrupulously finding good in most men he did in reality lower it where it was
and set it up where it was not but that was its only disagreeable or dangerous
feature
It scarcely seemed however to afford Mr Meagles as much satisfaction as
the Barnacle genealogy had done The cloud that Clennam had never seen upon his
face before that morning frequently overcast it again and there was the same
shadow of uneasy observation of him on the comely face of his wife More than
once or twice when Pet caressed the dog it appeared to Clennam that her father
was unhappy in seeing her do it and in one particular instance when Gowan
stood on the other side of the dog and bent his head at the same time Arthur
fancied that he saw tears rise to Mr Meagless eyes as he hurried out of the
room It was either the fact too or he fancied further that Pet herself was
not insensible to these little incidents that she tried with a more delicate
affection than usual to express to her good father how much she loved him that
it was on this account that she fell behind the rest both as they went to
church and as they returned from it and took his arm He could not have sworn
but that as he walked alone in the garden afterwards he had an instantaneous
glimpse of her in her fathers room clinging to both her parents with the
greatest tenderness and weeping on her fathers shoulder
The latter part of the day turning out wet they were fain to keep the
house look over Mr Meagless collection and beguile the time with
conversation This Gowan had plenty to say for himself and said it in an
offhand and amusing manner He appeared to be an artist by profession and to
have been at Rome some time yet he had a slight careless amateur way with him
a perceptible limp both in his devotion to art and his attainments which
Clennam could scarcely understand
He applied to Daniel Doyce for help as they stood together looking out of
window
»You know Mr Gowan« he said in a low voice
»I have seen him here Comes here every Sunday when they are at home«
»An artist I infer from what he says«
»A sort of a one« said Daniel Doyce in a surly tone
»What sort of a one« asked Clennam with a smile
»Why he has sauntered into the Arts at a leisurely PallMall pace« said
Doyce »and I doubt if they care to be taken quite so coolly«
Pursuing his inquiries Clennam found that the Gowan family were a very
distant ramification of the Barnacles and that the paternal Gowan originally
attached to a legation abroad had been pensioned off as a Commissioner of
nothing particular somewhere or other and had died at his post with his drawn
salary in his hand nobly defending it to the last extremity In consideration
of this eminent public service the Barnacle then in power had recommended the
Crown to bestow a pension of two or three hundred ayear on his widow to which
the next Barnacle in power had added certain shady and sedate apartments in the
Palace at Hampton Court where the old lady still lived deploring the
degeneracy of the times in company with several other old ladies of both sexes
Her son Mr Henry Gowan inheriting from his father the Commissioner that
very questionable help in life a very small independence had been difficult to
settle the rather as public appointments chanced to be scarce and his genius
during his earlier manhood was of that exclusively agricultural character which
applies itself to the cultivation of wild oats At last he had declared that he
would become a Painter partly because he had always had an idle knack that way
and partly to grieve the souls of the Barnaclesinchief who had not provided
for him So it had come to pass successively first that several distinguished
ladies had been frightfully shocked then that portfolios of his performances
had been handed about o nights and declared with ecstasy to be perfect
Claudes perfect Cuyps perfect phænomena then that Lord Decimus had bought
his picture and had asked the President and Council to dinner at a blow and
had said with his own magnificent gravity »Do you know there appears to me to
be really immense merit in that work« and in short that people of condition
had absolutely taken pains to bring him into fashion But somehow it had all
failed The prejudiced public had stood out against it obstinately They had
determined not to admire Lord Decimuss picture They had determined to believe
that in every service except their own a man must qualify himself by
striving early and late and by working heart and soul might and main So now
Mr Gowan like that wornout old coffin which never was Mahomets nor anybody
elses hung midway between two points jaundiced and jealous as to the one he
had left jaundiced and jealous as to the other that he couldnt reach
Such was the substance of Clennams discoveries concerning him made that
rainy Sunday afternoon and afterwards
About an hour or so after dinner time Young Barnacle appeared attended by
his eyeglass in honour of whose family connections Mr Meagles had cashiered
the pretty parlourmaids for the day and had placed on duty in their stead two
dingy men Young Barnacle was in the last degree amazed and disconcerted at
sight of Arthur and had murmured involuntarily »Look here upon my soul you
know« before his presence of mind returned
Even then he was obliged to embrace the earliest opportunity of taking his
friend into a window and saying in a nasal way that was a part of his general
debility
»I want to speak to you Gowan I say Look here Who is that fellow«
»A friend of our hosts None of mine«
»Hes a most ferocious Radical you know« said Young Barnacle
»Is he How do you know«
»Egod sir he was Pitching into our people the other day in the most
tremendous manner Went up to our place and Pitched into my father to that
extent that it was necessary to order him out Came back to our department and
Pitched into me Look here You never saw such a fellow«
»What did he want«
»Egod sir« returned Young Barnacle »He said he wanted to know you know
Pervaded our department without an appointment and said he wanted to know«
The stare of indignant wonder with which Young Barnacle accompanied this
disclosure would have strained his eyes injuriously but for the opportune
relief of dinner Mr Meagles who had been extremely solicitous to know how his
uncle and aunt were begged him to conduct Mrs Meagles to the diningroom And
when he sat on Mrs Meagless right hand Mr Meagles looked as gratified as if
his whole family were there
All the natural charm of the previous day was gone The eaters of the
dinner like the dinner itself were lukewarm insipid overdone and all
owing to this poor little dull Young Barnacle Conversationless at any time he
was now the victim of a weakness special to the occasion and solely referable
to Clennam He was under a pressing and continual necessity of looking at that
gentleman which occasioned his eyeglass to get into his soup into his
wineglass into Mrs Meagless plate to hang down his back like a bellrope
and be several times disgracefully restored to his bosom by one of the dingy
men Weakened in mind by his frequent losses of this instrument and its
determination not to stick in his eye and more and more enfeebled in intellect
every time he looked at the mysterious Clennam he applied spoons to his eye
forks and other foreign matters connected with the furniture of the
dinnertable His discovery of these mistakes greatly increased his
difficulties but never released him from the necessity of looking at Clennam
And whenever Clennam spoke this illstarred young man was clearly seized with a
dread that he was coming by some artful device round to that point of wanting
to know you know
It may be questioned therefore whether any one but Mr Meagles had much
enjoyment of the time Mr Meagles however thoroughly enjoyed Young Barnacle
As a mere flask of the golden water in the tale became a full fountain when it
was poured out so Mr Meagles seemed to feel that this small spice of Barnacle
imparted to his table the flavour of the whole familytree In its presence his
frank fine genuine qualities paled he was not so easy he was not so natural
he was striving after something that did not belong to him he was not himself
What a strange peculiarity on the part of Mr Meagles and where should we find
such another case
At last the wet Sunday wore itself out in a wet night and Young Barnacle
went home in a cab feebly smoking and the objectionable Gowan went away on
foot accompanied by the objectionable dog Pet had taken the most amiable pains
all day to be friendly with Clennam but Clennam had been a little reserved
since breakfast that is to say would have been if he had loved her
When he had gone to his own room and had again thrown himself into the
chair by the fire Mr Doyce knocked at the door candle in hand to ask him how
and at what hour he purposed returning on the morrow After settling this
question he said a word to Mr Doyce about this Gowan who would have run in
his head a good deal if he had been his rival
»Those are not good prospects for a painter« said Clennam
»No« returned Doyce
Mr Doyce stood chambercandlestick in hand the other hand in his pocket
looking hard at the flame of his candle with a certain quiet perception in his
face that they were going to say something more
»I thought our good friend a little changed and out of spirits after he
came this morning« said Clennam
»Yes« returned Doyce
»But not his daughter« said Clennam
»No« said Doyce
There was a pause on both sides Mr Doyce still looking at the flame of
his candle slowly resumed
»The truth is he has twice taken his daughter abroad in the hope of
separating her from Mr Gowan He rather thinks she is disposed to like him and
he has painful doubts I quite agree with him as I dare say you do of the
hopefulness of such a marriage«
»There « Clennam choked and coughed and stopped
»Yes you have taken cold« said Daniel Doyce But without looking at him
» There is an engagement between them of course« said Clennam airily
»No as I am told certainly not It has been solicited on the gentlemans
part but none has been made Since their recent return our friend has yielded
to a weekly visit but that is the utmost Minnie would not deceive her father
and mother You have travelled with them and I believe you know what a bond
there is among them extending even beyond this present life All that there is
between Miss Minnie and Mr Gowan I have no doubt we see«
»Ah We see enough« cried Arthur
Mr Doyce wished him Good Night in the tone of a man who had heard a
mournful not to say despairing exclamation and who sought to infuse some
encouragement and hope into the mind of the person by whom it had been uttered
Such tone was probably a part of his oddity as one of a crotchety band for how
could he have heard anything of that kind without Clennams hearing it too
The rain fell heavily on the roof and pattered on the ground and dripped
among the evergreens and the leafless branches of the trees The rain fell
heavily drearily It was a night of tears
If Clennam had not decided against falling in love with Pet if he had had
the weakness to do it if he had little by little persuaded himself to set all
the earnestness of his nature all the might of his hope and all the wealth of
his matured character on that cast if he had done this and found that all was
lost he would have been that night unutterably miserable As it was
As it was the rain fell heavily drearily
Chapter XVIII
Little Dorrits Lover
Little Dorrit had not attained her twentysecond birthday without finding a
lover Even in the shallow Marshalsea the ever young Archer shot off a few
featherless arrows now and then from a mouldy bow and winged a Collegian or
two
Little Dorrits lover however was not a Collegian He was the sentimental
son of a turnkey His father hoped in the fulness of time to leave him the
inheritance of an unstained key and had from his early youth familiarised him
with the duties of his office and with an ambition to retain the prisonlock in
the family While the succession was yet in abeyance he assisted his mother in
the conduct of a snug tobacco business round the corner of Horsemonger Lane his
father being a nonresident turnkey which could usually command a neat
connection within the College walls
Years agone when the object of his affections was wont to sit in her little
armchair by the high Lodgefender Young John family name Chivery a year
older than herself had eyed her with admiring wonder When he had played with
her in the yard his favourite game had been to counterfeit locking her up in
corners and to counterfeit letting her out for real kisses When he grew tall
enough to peep through the keyhole of the great lock of the main door he had
divers times set down his fathers dinner or supper to get on as it might on
the outer side thereof while he stood taking cold in one eye by dint of peeping
at her through that airy perspective
If Young John had ever slackened in his truth in the less penetrable days of
his boyhood when youth is prone to wear its boots unlaced and is happily
unconscious of digestive organs he had soon strung it up again and screwed it
tight At nineteen his hand had inscribed in chalk on that part of the wall
which fronted her lodging on the occasion of her birthday »Welcome sweet
nursling of the Fairies« At twentythree the same hand falteringly presented
cigars on Sundays to the Father of the Marshalsea and Father of the queen of
his soul
Young John was small of stature with rather weak legs and very weak light
hair One of his eyes perhaps the eye that used to peep through the keyhole
was also weak and looked larger than the other as if it couldnt collect
itself Young John was gentle likewise But he was great of soul Poetical
expansive faithful
Though too humble before the ruler of his heart to be sanguine Young John
had considered the object of his attachment in all its lights and shades
Following it out to blissful results he had descried without
selfcommendation a fitness in it Say things prospered and they were united
She the child of the Marshalsea he the lockkeeper There was a fitness in
that Say he became a resident turnkey She would officially succeed to the
chamber she had rented so long There was a beautiful propriety in that It
looked over the wall if you stood on tiptoe and with a trelliswork of
scarlet beans and a canary or so would become a very Arbour There was a
charming idea in that Then being all in all to one another, there was even an
appropriate grace in the lock With the world shut out except that part of it
which would be shut in with its troubles and disturbances only known to them
by hearsay as they would be described by the pilgrims tarrying with them on
their way to the Insolvent Shrine with the Arbour above and the Lodge below
they would glide down the stream of time in pastoral domestic happiness Young
John drew tears from his eyes by finishing the picture with a tombstone in the
adjoining churchyard close against the prison wall bearing the following
touching inscription »Sacred to the Memory of JOHN CHIVERY Sixty years
Turnkey and fifty years Head Turnkey Of the neighbouring Marshalsea Who
departed this life universally respected on the thirty of December One
thousand eight hundred and eightysix Aged eightythree years Also of his
truly beloved and truly loving wife AMY whose maiden name was DORRIT Who
survived his loss not quite fortyeight hours And who breathed her last in the
Marshalsea aforesaid There she was born There she lived There she died«
The Chivery parents were not ignorant of their sons attachment indeed it
had on some exceptional occasions thrown him into a state of mind that had
impelled him to conduct himself with irascibility towards the customers and
damage the business but they in their turns had worked it out to desirable
conclusions Mrs Chivery a prudent woman had desired her husband to take
notice that their Johns prospects of the Lock would certainly be strengthened
by an alliance with Miss Dorrit who had herself a kind of claim upon the
College and was much respected there Mrs Chivery had desired her husband to
take notice that if on the one hand their John had means and a post of trust
on the other hand Miss Dorrit had family and that her Mrs Chiverys
sentiment was that two halves made a whole Mrs Chivery speaking as a mother
and not as a diplomatist had then from a different point of view desired her
husband to recollect that their John had never been strong and that his love
had fretted and worrited him enough as it was without his being driven to do
himself a mischief as nobody couldnt say he wouldnt be if he was crossed
These arguments had so powerfully influenced the mind of Mr Chivery who was a
man of few words that he had on sundry Sunday mornings given his boy what he
termed a lucky touch signifying that he considered such commendation of him to
Good Fortune preparatory to his that day declaring his passion and becoming
triumphant But Young John had never taken courage to make the declaration and
it was principally on these occasions that he had returned excited to the
tobacco shop and flown at the customers
In this affair as in every other Little Dorrit herself was the last person
considered Her brother and sister were aware of it and attained a sort of
station by making a peg of it on which to air the miserably ragged old fiction
of the family gentility Her sister asserted the family gentility by flouting
the poor swain as he loitered about the prison for glimpses of his dear Tip
asserted the family gentility and his own by coming out in the character of
the aristocratic brother and loftily swaggering in the little skittleground
respecting seizures by the scruff of the neck which there were looming
probabilities of some gentleman unknown executing on some little puppy not
mentioned These were not the only members of the Dorrit family who turned it to
account No no The Father of the Marshalsea was supposed to know nothing about
the matter of course his poor dignity could not see so low But he took the
cigars on Sundays and was glad to get them and sometimes even condescended to
walk up and down the yard with the donor who was proud and hopeful then and
benignantly to smoke one in his society With no less readiness and
condescension did he receive attentions from Chivery Senior who always
relinquished his armchair and newspaper to him when he came into the Lodge
during one of his spells of duty and who had even mentioned to him that if he
would like at any time after dusk quietly to step out into the forecourt and
take a look at the street there was not much to prevent him If he did not
avail himself of this latter civility it was only because he had lost the
relish for it inasmuch as he took everything else he could get and would say
at times »Extremely civil person Chivery very attentive man and very
respectful Young Chivery too really almost with a delicate perception of
ones position here A very well conducted family indeed the Chiveries Their
behaviour gratifies me«
The devoted Young John all this time regarded the family with reverence He
never dreamed of disputing their pretensions but did homage to the miserable
Mumbo Jumbo they paraded As to resenting any affront from her brother he would
have felt even if he had not naturally been of a most pacific disposition that
to wag his tongue or lift his hand against that sacred gentleman would be an
unhallowed act He was sorry that his noble mind should take offence still he
felt the fact to be not incompatible with its nobility and sought to propitiate
and conciliate that gallant soul Her father a gentleman in misfortune a
gentleman of a fine spirit and courtly manners who always bore with him he
deeply honoured Her sister he considered somewhat vain and proud but a young
lady of infinite accomplishments who could not forget the past It was an
instinctive testimony to Little Dorrits worth and difference from all the
rest that the poor young fellow honoured and loved her for being simply what
she was
The tobacco business round the corner of Horsemonger Lane was carried on in
a rural establishment one story high which had the benefit of the air from the
yards of Horsemonger Lane Jail and the advantage of a retired walk under the
wall of that pleasant establishment The business was of too modest a character
to support a lifesize Highlander but it maintained a little one on a bracket
on the door who looked like a fallen Cherub that had found it necessary to take
to a kilt
From the portal thus decorated one Sunday after an early dinner of baked
viands Young John issued forth on his usual Sunday errand not emptyhanded
but with his offering of cigars He was neatly attired in a plumcoloured coat
with as large a collar of black velvet as his figure could carry a silken
waistcoat bedecked with golden sprigs a chaste neckerchief much in vogue at
that day representing a preserve of lilac pheasants on a buff ground
pantaloons so highly decorated with sidestripes that each leg was a
threestringed lute and a hat of state very high and hard When the prudent
Mrs Chivery perceived that in addition to these adornments her John carried a
pair of white kid gloves and a cane like a little fingerpost surmounted by an
ivory hand marshalling him the way that he should go and when she saw him in
this heavy marching order turn the corner to the right she remarked to Mr
Chivery who was at home at the time that she thought she knew which way the
wind blew
The Collegians were entertaining a considerable number of visitors that
Sunday afternoon and their Father kept his room for the purpose of receiving
presentations After making the tour of the yard Little Dorrits lover with a
hurried heart went upstairs and knocked with his knuckles at the Fathers
door
»Come in come in« said a gracious voice The Fathers voice her fathers
the Marshalseas fathers He was seated in his black velvet cap with his
newspaper threeandsixpence accidentally left on the table and two chairs
arranged Everything prepared for holding his Court
»Ah Young John How do you do how do you do«
»Pretty well I thank you sir I hope you are the same«
»Yes John Chivery yes Nothing to complain of«
»I have taken the liberty sir of «
»Eh« The Father of the Marshalsea always lifted up his eyebrows at this
point and became amiably distraught and smilingly absent in mind
» A few cigars sir«
»Oh« For the moment excessively surprised »Thank you Young John thank
you But really I am afraid I am too No Well then I will say no more about
it Put them on the mantelshelf if you please Young John And sit down sit
down You are not a stranger John«
»Thank you sir I am sure Miss« here Young John turned the great hat
round and round upon his left hand like a slowly twirling mousecage »Miss Amy
quite well sir«
»Yes John yes very well She is out«
»Indeed sir«
»Yes John Miss Amy is gone for an airing My young people all go out a
good deal But at their time of life its natural John«
»Very much so I am sure sir«
»An airing An airing Yes« He was blandly tapping his fingers on the
table and casting his eyes up at the window »Amy has gone for an airing on the
Iron Bridge She has become quite partial to the Iron Bridge of late and seems
to like to walk there better than anywhere« He returned to conversation »Your
father is not on duty at present I think John«
»No sir he comes on later in the afternoon« Another twirl of the great
hat and then Young John said rising »I am afraid I must wish you good day
sir«
»So soon Good day Young John Nay nay« with the utmost condescension
»never mind your glove John Shake hands with it on You are no stranger here
you know«
Highly gratified by the kindness of his reception Young John descended the
staircase On his way down he met some Collegians bringing up visitors to be
presented and at that moment Mr Dorrit happened to call over the banisters
with particular distinctness »Much obliged to you for your little testimonial
John«
Little Dorrits lover very soon laid down his penny on the tollplate of the
Iron Bridge and came upon it looking about him for the wellknown and
wellbeloved figure At first he feared she was not there but as he walked on
towards the Middlesex side he saw her standing still looking at the water She
was absorbed in thought and he wondered what she might be thinking about There
were the piles of city roofs and chimneys more free from smoke than on
weekdays and there were the distant masts and steeples Perhaps she was
thinking about them
Little Dorrit mused so long and was so entirely preoccupied that although
her lover stood quiet for what he thought was a long time and twice or thrice
retired and came back again to the former spot still she did not move So in
the end he made up his mind to go on and seem to come upon her casually in
passing and speak to her The place was quiet and now or never was the time to
speak to her
He walked on and she did not appear to hear his steps until he was close
upon her When he said »Miss Dorrit« she started and fell back from him with
an expression in her face of fright and something like dislike that caused him
unutterable dismay She had often avoided him before always indeed for a
long long while She had turned away and glided off so often when she had
seen him coming towards her that the unfortunate Young John could not think it
accidental But he had hoped that it might be shyness her retiring character
her foreknowledge of the state of his heart anything short of aversion Now
that momentary look had said »You of all people I would rather have seen any
one on earth than you«
It was but a momentary look inasmuch as she checked it and said in her
soft little voice »Oh Mr John Is it you« But she felt what it had been as
he felt what it had been and they stood looking at one another equally
confused
»Miss Amy I am afraid I disturbed you by speaking to you«
»Yes rather I I came here to be alone and I thought I was«
»Miss Amy I took the liberty of walking this way because Mr Dorrit
chanced to mention when I called upon him just now that you «
She caused him more dismay than before by suddenly murmuring »O father
father« in a heartrending tone and turning her face away
»Miss Amy I hope I dont give you any uneasiness by naming Mr Dorrit I
assure you I found him very well and in the best of spirits and he showed me
even more than his usual kindness being so very kind as to say that I was not a
stranger there and in all ways gratifying me very much«
To the inexpressible consternation of her lover Little Dorrit with her
hands to her averted face and rocking herself where she stood as if she were
in pain murmured »O father how can you O dear dear father how can you
can you do it«
The poor fellow stood gazing at her overflowing with sympathy but not
knowing what to make of this until having taken out her handkerchief and put
it to her still averted face she hurried away At first he remained stock
still then hurried after her
»Miss Amy pray Will you have the goodness to stop a moment Miss Amy if
it comes to that let me go I shall go out of my senses if I have to think
that I have driven you away like this«
His trembling voice and unfeigned earnestness brought Little Dorrit to a
stop »O I dont know what to do« she cried »I dont know what to do«
To Young John who had never seen her bereft of her quiet selfcommand who
had seen her from her infancy ever so reliable and selfsuppressed there was a
shock in her distress and in having to associate himself with it as its cause
that shook him from his great hat to the pavement He felt it necessary to
explain himself He might be misunderstood supposed to mean something or to
have done something that had never entered into his imagination He begged her
to hear him explain himself as the greatest favour she could show him
»Miss Amy I know very well that your family is far above mine It were vain
to conceal it There never was a Chivery a gentleman that ever I heard of and I
will not commit the meanness of making a false representation on a subject so
momentous Miss Amy I know very well that your highsouled brother and
likewise your spirited sister spurn me from a height What I have to do is to
respect them to wish to be admitted to their friendship to look up at the
eminence on which they are placed from my lowlier station for whether viewed
as tobacco or viewed as the lock I well know it is lowly and ever wish them
well and happy«
There really was a genuineness in the poor fellow and a contrast between
the hardness of his hat and the softness of his heart albeit perhaps of his
head too that was moving Little Dorrit entreated him to disparage neither
himself nor his station and above all things to divest himself of any idea
that she supposed hers to be superior This gave him a little comfort
»Miss Amy« he then stammered »I have had for a long time ages they seem
to me Revolving ages a heartcherished wish to say something to you May I
say it«
Little Dorrit involuntarily started from his side again with the faintest
shadow of her former look conquering that she went on at great speed half
across the Bridge without replying
»May I Miss Amy I but ask the question humbly may I say it I have been
so unlucky already in giving you pain without having any such intentions
before the holy Heavens that there is no fear of my saying it unless I have
your leave I can be miserable alone I can be cut up by myself why should I
also make miserable and cut up one that I would fling myself off that parapet
to give half a moments joy to Not that thats much to do for Id do it for
twopence«
The mournfulness of his spirits and the gorgeousness of his appearance
might have made him ridiculous but that his delicacy made him respectable
Little Dorrit learnt from it what to do
»If you please John Chivery« she returned trembling but in a quiet way
»since you are so considerate as to ask me whether you shall say any more if
you please no«
»Never Miss Amy«
»No if you please Never«
»Oh Lord« gasped Young John
»But perhaps you will let me instead say something to you I want to say
it earnestly and with as plain a meaning as it is possible to express When you
think of us John I mean my brother and sister and me dont think of us as
being any different from the rest for whatever we once were which I hardly
know we ceased to be long ago and never can be any more It will be much
better for you and much better for others if you will do that instead of what
you are doing now«
Young John dolefully protested that he would try to bear it in mind and
would be heartily glad to do anything she wished
»As to me« said Little Dorrit »think as little of me as you can the less
the better When you think of me at all John let it only be as the child you
have seen grow up in the prison with one set of duties always occupying her as
a weak retired contented unprotected girl I particularly want you to
remember that when I come outside the gate I am unprotected and solitary«
He would try to do anything she wished But why did Miss Amy so much want
him to remember that
»Because« returned Little Dorrit »I know I can then quite trust you not to
forget today and not to say any more to me You are so generous that I know I
can trust to you for that and I do and I always will I am going to show you
at once that I fully trust you I like this place where we are speaking better
than any place I know« her slight colour had faded but her lover thought he
saw it coming back just then »and I may be often here I know it is only
necessary for me to tell you so to be quite sure that you will never come here
again in search of me And I am quite sure«
She might rely upon it said Young John He was a miserable wretch but her
word was more than a law for him
»And goodbye John« said Little Dorrit »And I hope you will have a good
wife one day and be a happy man I am sure you will deserve to be happy and
you will be John«
As she held out her hand to him with these words the heart that was under
the waistcoat of sprigs mere slopwork if the truth must be known swelled
to the size of the heart of a gentleman and the poor common little fellow
having no room to hold it burst into tears
»O dont cry« said Little Dorrit piteously »Dont dont Goodbye John
God bless you«
»Goodbye Miss Amy Goodbye«
And so he left her first observing that she sat down on the corner of a
seat and not only rested her little hand upon the rough wall but laid her face
against it too as if her head were heavy and her mind were sad
It was an affecting illustration of the fallacy of human projects to behold
her lover with the great hat pulled over his eyes the velvet collar turned up
as if it rained the plumcoloured coat buttoned to conceal the silken waistcoat
of golden sprigs and the little directionpost pointing inexorably home
creeping along by the worst back streets and composing as he went the
following new inscription for a tombstone in St Georges Churchyard
»Here lie the mortal remains of JOHN CHIVERY Never anything worth
mentioning Who died about the end of the year one thousand eight hundred and
twentysix Of a broken heart Requesting with his last breath that the word AMY
might be inscribed over his ashes Which was accordingly directed to be done By
his afflicted Parents«
Chapter XIX
The Father of the Marshalsea in Two or Three Relations
The brothers William and Frederick Dorrit walking up and down the Collegeyard
of course on the aristocratic or Pump side for the Father made it a point of
his state to be chary of going among his children on the Poor side except on
Sunday mornings Christmas Days and other occasions of ceremony in the
observance whereof he was very punctual and at which times he laid his hand
upon the heads of their infants and blessed those young Insolvents with a
benignity that was highly edifying the brothers walking up and down the
Collegeyard together were a memorable sight Frederick the free was so
humbled bowed withered and faded William the bond was so courtly
condescending and benevolently conscious of a position that in this regard
only if in no other the brothers were a spectacle to wonder at
They walked up and down the yard on the evening of Little Dorrits Sunday
interview with her lover on the Iron Bridge The cares of state were over for
that day the Drawing Room had been well attended several new presentations had
taken place the threeandsixpence accidentally left on the table had
accidentally increased to twelve shillings and the Father of the Marshalsea
refreshed himself with a whiff of cigar As he walked up and down affably
accommodating his step to the shuffle of his brother not proud in his
superiority but considerate of that poor creature bearing with him and
breathing toleration of his infirmities in every little puff of smoke that
issued from his lips and aspired to get over the spiked wall he was a sight to
wonder at
His brother Frederick of the dim eye palsied hand bent form and groping
mind submissively shuffled at his side accepting his patronage as he accepted
every incident of the labyrinthian world in which he had got lost He held the
usual screwed bit of whitybrown paper in his hand from which he ever and again
unscrewed a spare pinch of snuff That falteringly taken he would glance at his
brother not unadmiringly put his hands behind him and shuffle on so at his
side until he took another pinch or stood still to look about him perchance
suddenly missing his clarionet
The College visitors were melting away as the shades of night drew on but
the yard was still pretty full the Collegians being mostly out seeing their
friends to the Lodge As the brothers paced the yard William the bond looked
about him to receive salutes returned them by graciously lifting off his hat
and with an engaging air prevented Frederick the free from running against the
company or being jostled against the wall The Collegians as a body were not
easily impressible but even they according to their various ways of wondering
appeared to find in the two brothers a sight to wonder at
»You are a little low this evening Frederick« said the Father of the
Marshalsea »Anything the matter«
»The matter« He stared for a moment and then dropped his head and eyes
again »No William no Nothing is the matter«
»If you could be persuaded to smarten yourself up a little Frederick «
»Aye aye« said the old man hurriedly »But I cant be I cant be Dont
talk so Thats all over«
The Father of the Marshalsea glanced at a passing Collegian with whom he was
on friendly terms as who should say »An enfeebled old man this but he is my
brother sir my brother and the voice of Nature is potent« and steered his
brother clear of the handle of the pump by the threadbare sleeve Nothing would
have been wanting to the perfection of his character as a fraternal guide
philosopher and friend if he had only steered his brother clear of ruin
instead of bringing it upon him
»I think William« said the object of his affectionate consideration »that
I am tired and will go home to bed«
»My dear Frederick« returned the other »Dont let me detain you dont
sacrifice your inclinations to me«
»Late hours and a heated atmosphere and years I suppose« said Frederick
»weaken me«
»My dear Frederick« returned the Father of the Marshalsea »do you think
you are sufficiently careful of yourself Do you think your habits are as
precise and methodical as shall I say as mine are Not to revert again to that
little eccentricity which I mentioned just now I doubt if you take air and
exercise enough Frederick Here is the parade always at your service Why not
use it more regularly than you do«
»Hah« sighed the other »Yes yes yes yes«
»But it is of no use saying yes yes my dear Frederick« the Father of the
Marshalsea in his mild wisdom persisted »unless you act on that assent
Consider my case Frederick I am a kind of example Necessity and time have
taught me what to do At certain stated hours of the day you will find me on
the parade in my room in the Lodge reading the paper receiving company
eating and drinking I have impressed upon Amy during many years that I must
have my meals for instance punctually Amy has grown up in a sense of the
importance of these arrangements and you know what a good girl she is«
The brother only sighed again as he plodded dreamily along »Hah Yes yes
yes yes«
»My dear fellow« said the Father of the Marshalsea laying his hand upon
his shoulder and mildly rallying him mildly because of his weakness poor
dear soul »you said that before and it does not express much Frederick even
if it means much I wish I could rouse you my good Frederick you want to be
roused«
»Yes William yes No doubt« returned the other lifting his dim eyes to
his face »But I am not like you«
The Father of the Marshalsea said with a shrug of modest selfdepreciation
»Oh You might be like me my dear Frederick you might be if you chose« and
forbore in the magnanimity of his strength to press his fallen brother
further
There was a deal of leavetaking going on in corners as was usual on Sunday
nights and here and there in the dark some poor woman wife or mother was
weeping with a new Collegian The time had been when the Father himself had
wept in the shades of that yard as his own poor wife had wept But it was many
years ago and now he was like a passenger aboard ship in a long voyage who has
recovered from seasickness and is impatient of that weakness in the fresher
passengers taken aboard at the last port He was inclined to remonstrate and to
express his opinion that people who couldnt get on without crying had no
business there In manner if not in words he always testified his displeasure
at these interruptions of the general harmony and it was so well understood
that delinquents usually withdrew if they were aware of him
On this Sunday evening he accompanied his brother to the gate with an air
of endurance and clemency being in a bland temper and graciously disposed to
overlook the tears In the flaring gaslight of the Lodge several Collegians
were basking some taking leave of visitors and some who had no visitors
watching the frequent turning of the key and conversing with one another and
with Mr Chivery The paternal entrance made a sensation of course and Mr
Chivery touching his hat in a short manner though with his key hoped he
found himself tolerable
»Thank you Chivery quite well And you«
Mr Chivery said in a low growl »Oh he was all right« Which was his
general way of acknowledging inquiries after his health when a little sullen
»I had a visit from Young John today Chivery And very smart he looked I
assure you«
So Mr Chivery had heard Mr Chivery must confess however that his wish
was that the boy didnt lay out so much money upon it For what did it bring him
in It only brought him in Wexation And he could get that anywhere for
nothing
»How vexation Chivery« asked the benignant father
»No odds« returned Mr Chivery »Never mind Mr Frederick going out«
»Yes Chivery my brother is going home to bed He is tired and not quite
well Take care Frederick take care Good night my dear Frederick«
Shaking hands with his brother and touching his greasy hat to the company
in the Lodge Frederick slowly shuffled out of the door which Mr Chivery
unlocked for him The Father of the Marshalsea showed the amiable solicitude of
a superior being that he should come to no harm
»Be so kind as to keep the door open a moment Chivery that I may see him
go along the passage and down the steps Take care Frederick He is very
infirm Mind the steps He is so very absent Be careful how you cross
Frederick I really dont like the notion of his going wandering at large he
is so extremely liable to be run over«
With these words and with a face expressive of many uneasy doubts and much
anxious guardianship he turned his regards upon the assembled company in the
Lodge so plainly indicating that his brother was to be pitied for not being
under lock and key that an opinion to that effect went round among the
Collegians assembled
But he did not receive it with unqualified assent on the contrary he said
No gentlemen no let them not misunderstand him His brother Frederick was
much broken no doubt and it might be more comfortable to himself the Father
of the Marshalsea to know that he was safe within the walls Still it must be
remembered that to support an existence there during many years required a
certain combination of qualities he did not say high qualities but qualities
moral qualities Now had his brother Frederick that peculiar union of
qualities Gentlemen he was a most excellent man a most gentle tender and
estimable man with the simplicity of a child but would he though unsuited for
most other places do for that place No he said confidently no And he said
Heaven forbid that Frederick should be there in any other character than in his
present voluntary character Gentlemen whoever came to that College to remain
there a length of time must have strength of character to go through a good
deal and to come out of a good deal Was his beloved brother Frederick that man
No They saw him even as it was crushed Misfortune crushed him He had not
power of recoil enough not elasticity enough to be a long time in such a
place and yet preserve his selfrespect and feel conscious that he was a
gentleman Frederick had not if he might use the expression Power enough to
see in any delicate little attentions and and Testimonials that he might
under such circumstances receive the goodness of human nature the fine spirit
animating the Collegians as a community and at the same time no degradation to
himself and no depreciation of his claims as a gentleman Gentlemen God bless
you
Such was the homily with which he improved and pointed the occasion to the
company in the Lodge before turning into the sallow yard again and going with
his own poor shabby dignity past the Collegian in the dressinggown who had no
coat and past the Collegian in the seaside slippers who had no shoes and past
the stout greengrocer Collegian in the corduroy kneebreeches who had no cares
and past the lean clerk Collegian in buttonless black who had no hopes up his
own poor shabby staircase to his own poor shabby room
There the table was laid for his supper and his old grey gown was ready
for him on his chairback at the fire His daughter put her little prayerbook
in her pocket had she been praying for pity on all prisoners and captives
and rose to welcome him
Uncle had gone home then she asked him as she changed his coat and gave
him his black velvet cap Yes uncle had gone home Had her father enjoyed his
walk Why not much Amy not much No Did he not feel quite well
As she stood behind him leaning over his chair so lovingly he looked with
downcast eyes at the fire An uneasiness stole over him that was like a touch of
shame and when he spoke as he presently did it was in an unconnected and
embarrassed manner
»Something I hem I dont know what has gone wrong with Chivery He is
not ha not nearly so obliging and attentive as usual tonight It hem
its a little thing but it puts me out my love Its impossible to forget«
turning his hands over and over and looking closely at them »that hem
that in such a life as mine I am unfortunately dependent on these men for
something every hour in the day«
Her arm was on his shoulder but she did not look in his face while he
spoke Bending her head she looked another way
»I hem I cant think Amy what has given Chivery offence He is
generally so so very attentive and respectful And tonight he was quite
quite short with me Other people there too Why good Heaven if I was to lose
the support and recognition of Chivery and his brother officers I might starve
to death here« While he spoke he was opening and shutting his hands like
valves so conscious all the time of that touch of shame that he shrunk before
his own knowledge of his meaning
»I ha I cant think what its owing to I am sure I cannot imagine what
the cause of it is There was a certain Jackson here once a turnkey of the name
of Jackson I dont think you can remember him my dear you were very young
and hem and he had a brother and this young brother paid his addresses
to at least did not go so far as to pay his addresses to but admired
respectfully admired the not the daughter the sister of one of us a
rather distinguished Collegian I may say very much so His name was Captain
Martin and he consulted me on the question whether it was necessary that his
daughter sister should hazard offending the turnkey brother by being too
ha too plain with the other brother Captain Martin was a gentleman and a man
of honour and I put it to him first to give me his his own opinion Captain
Martin highly respected in the army then unhesitatingly said that it appeared
to him that his hem sister was not called upon to understand the young man
too distinctly and that she might lead him on I am doubtful whether lead him
on was Captain Martins exact expression indeed I think he said tolerate him
on her fathers I should say brothers account I hardly know how I have
strayed into this story I suppose it has been through being unable to account
for Chivery but as to the connection between the two I dont see «
His voice died away as if she could not bear the pain of hearing him and
her hand had gradually crept to his lips For a little while there was a dead
silence and stillness and he remained shrunk in his chair and she remained
with her arm round his neck and her head bowed down upon his shoulder
His supper was cooking in a saucepan on the fire and when she moved it
was to make it ready for him on the table He took his usual seat she took
hers and he began his meal They did not as yet look at one another. By
little and little he began laying down his knife and fork with a noise taking
things up sharply biting at his bread as if he were offended with it and in
other similar ways showing that he was out of sorts At length he pushed his
plate from him and spoke aloud With the strangest inconsistency
»What does it matter whether I eat or starve What does it matter whether
such a blighted life as mine comes to an end now next week or next year What
am I worth to any one A poor prisoner fed on alms and broken victuals a
squalid disgraced wretch«
»Father father« As he rose she went on her knees to him and held up her
hands to him
»Amy« he went on in a suppressed voice trembling violently and looking at
her as wildly as if he had gone mad »I tell you if you could see me as your
mother saw me you wouldnt believe it to be the creature you have only looked
at through the bars of this cage I was young I was accomplished I was
goodlooking I was independent by God I was child and people sought me
out and envied me Envied me«
»Dear father« She tried to take down the shaking arm that he flourished in
the air but he resisted and put her hand away
»If I had but a picture of myself in those days though it was ever so ill
done you would be proud of it you would be proud of it But I have no such
thing Now let me be a warning Let no man« he cried looking haggardly about
»fail to preserve at least that little of the times of his prosperity and
respect Let his children have that clue to what was Unless my face when I am
dead subsides into the long departed look they say such things happen I
dont know my children will have never seen me«
»Father father«
»O despise me despise me Look away from me dont listen to me stop me
blush for me cry for me Even you Amy Do it do it I do it to myself I am
hardened now I have sunk too low to care long even for that«
»Dear father loved father darling of my heart« She was clinging to him
with her arms and she got him to drop into his chair again and caught at the
raised arm and tried to put it round her neck
»Let it lie there father Look at me father kiss me father Only think
of me father for one little moment«
Still he went on in the same wild way though it was gradually breaking down
into a miserable whining
»And yet I have some respect here I have made some stand against it I am
not quite trodden down Go out and ask who is the chief person in the place
Theyll tell you its your father Go out and ask who is never trifled with and
who is always treated with some delicacy Theyll say your father Go out and
ask what funeral here it must be here I know it can be nowhere else will make
more talk and perhaps more grief than any that has ever gone out at the gate
Theyll say your fathers Well then Amy Amy Is your father so universally
despised Is there nothing to redeem him Will you have nothing to remember him
by but his ruin and decay Will you be able to have no affection for him when
he is gone poor castaway gone«
He burst into tears of maudlin pity for himself and at length suffering her
to embrace him and take charge of him let his grey head rest against her
cheek and bewail his wretchedness Presently he changed the subject of his
lamentations and clasping his hands about her as she embraced him cried O
Amy his motherless forlorn child O the days that he had seen her careful and
laborious for him Then he reverted to himself and weakly told her how much
better she would have loved him if she had known him in his vanished character
and how he would have married her to a gentleman who should have been proud of
her as his daughter and how at which he cried again she should first have
ridden at his fatherly side on her own horse and how the crowd by which he
meant in effect the people who had given him the twelve shillings he then had in
his pocket should have trudged the dusty roads respectfully
Thus now boasting now despairing in either fit a captive with the
jailrot upon him and the impurity of his prison worn into the grain of his
soul he revealed his degenerate state to his affectionate child No one else
ever beheld him in the details of his humiliation Little recked the Collegians
who were laughing in their rooms over his late address in the Lodge what a
serious picture they had in their obscure gallery of the Marshalsea that Sunday
night
There was a classical daughter once perhaps who ministered to her father
in his prison as her mother had ministered to her Little Dorrit though of the
unheroic modern stock and mere English did much more in comforting her
fathers wasted heart upon her innocent breast and turning to it a fountain of
love and fidelity that never ran dry or waned through all his years of famine
She soothed him asked him for his forgiveness if she had been or seemed to
have been undutiful told him Heaven knows truly that she could not honour
him more if he were the favourite of Fortune and the whole world acknowledged
him When his tears were dried and he sobbed in his weakness no longer and was
free from that touch of shame and had recovered his usual bearing she prepared
the remains of his supper afresh and sitting by his side rejoiced to see him
eat and drink For now he sat in his black velvet cap and old grey gown
magnanimous again and would have comported himself towards any Collegian who
might have looked in to ask his advice like a great moral Lord Chesterfield or
Master of the ethical ceremonies of the Marshalsea
To keep his attention engaged she talked with him about his wardrobe when
he was pleased to say that Yes indeed those shirts she proposed would be
exceedingly acceptable for those he had were worn out and being readymade
had never fitted him Being conversational and in a reasonable flow of spirits
he then invited her attention to his coat as it hung behind the door remarking
that the Father of the place would set an indifferent example to his children
already disposed to be slovenly if he went among them out at elbows He was
jocular too as to the heeling of his shoes but became grave on the subject of
his cravat and promised her that when she could afford it she should buy him a
new one
While he smoked out his cigar in peace she made his bed and put the small
room in order for his repose Being weary then owing to the advanced hour and
his emotions he came out of his chair to bless her and wish her Good night All
this time he had never once thought of her dress her shoes her need of
anything No other person upon earth save herself could have been so unmindful
of her wants
He kissed her many times with »Bless you my love Good night my dear«
But her gentle breast had been so deeply wounded by what she had seen of
him that she was unwilling to leave him alone lest he should lament and
despair again »Father dear I am not tired let me come back presently when
you are in bed and sit by you«
He asked her with an air of protection if she felt solitary
»Yes father«
»Then come back by all means my love«
»I shall be very quiet father«
»Dont think of me my dear« he said giving her his kind permission fully
»Come back by all means«
He seemed to be dozing when she returned and she put the low fire together
very softly lest she should awake him But he overheard her and called out who
was that
»Only Amy father«
»Amy my child come here I want to say a word to you«
He raised himself a little in his low bed as she kneeled beside it to bring
her face near him and put his hand between hers O Both the private father and
the Father of the Marshalsea were strong within him then
»My love you have had a life of hardship here No companions no
recreations many cares I am afraid«
»Dont think of that dear I never do«
»You know my position Amy I have not been able to do much for you but all
I have been able to do I have done«
»Yes my dear father« she rejoined kissing him »I know I know«
»I am in the twentythird year of my life here« he said with a catch in
his breath that was not so much a sob as an irrepressible sound of
self-approval the momentary outburst of a noble consciousness »It is all I
could do for my children I have done it Amy my love you are by far the best
loved of the three I have had you principally in my mind whatever I have done
for your sake my dear child I have done freely and without murmuring«
Only the wisdom that holds the clue to all hearts and all mysteries can
surely know to what extent a man especially a man brought down as this man had
been can impose upon himself Enough for the present place that he lay down
with wet eyelashes serene in a manner majestic after bestowing his life of
degradation as a sort of portion on the devoted child upon whom its miseries had
fallen so heavily and whose love alone had saved him to be even what he was
That child had no doubts asked herself no questions for she was but too
content to see him with a lustre round his head Poor dear good dear truest
kindest dearest were the only words she had for him as she hushed him to
rest
She never left him all that night As if she had done him a wrong which her
tenderness could hardly repair she sat by him in his sleep at times softly
kissing him with suspended breath and calling him in a whisper by some
endearing name At times she stood aside so as not to intercept the low
firelight and watching him when it fell upon his sleeping face wondered did
he look now at all as he had looked when he was prosperous and happy as he had
so touched her by imagining that he might look once more in that awful time At
the thought of that time she kneeled beside his bed again and prayed »O spare
his life O save him to me O look down upon my dear longsuffering
unfortunate muchchanged dear dear father«
Not until the morning came to protect him and encourage him did she give
him a last kiss and leave the small room When she had stolen downstairs and
along the empty yard and had crept up to her own high garret the smokeless
housetops and the distant country hills were discernible over the wall in the
clear morning As she gently opened the window and looked eastward down the
prison yard the spikes upon the wall were tipped with red then made a sullen
purple pattern on the sun as it came flaming up into the heavens The spikes had
never looked so sharp and cruel nor the bars so heavy nor the prison space so
gloomy and contracted She thought of the sunrise on rolling rivers of the
sunrise on wide seas of the sunrise on rich landscapes of the sunrise on great
forests where the birds were waking and the trees were rustling and she looked
down into the living grave on which the sun had risen with her father in it
threeandtwenty years and said in a burst of sorrow and compassion »No no
I have never seen him in my life«
Chapter XX
Moving in Society
If Young John Chivery had had the inclination and the power to write a satire
on family pride he would have had no need to go for an avenging illustration
out of the family of his beloved He would have found it amply in that gallant
brother and that dainty sister so steeped in mean experiences and so loftily
conscious of the family name so ready to beg or borrow from the poorest to eat
of anybodys bread spend anybodys money drink from anybodys cup and break it
afterwards To have painted the sordid facts of their lives and they throughout
invoking the deaths head apparition of the family gentility to come and scare
their benefactors would have made Young John a satirist of the first water
Tip had turned his liberty to hopeful account by becoming a billiardmarker
He had troubled himself so little as to the means of his release that Clennam
scarcely needed to have been at the pains of impressing the mind of Mr Plornish
on that subject Whoever had paid him the compliment he very readily accepted
the compliment with his compliments and there was an end of it Issuing forth
from the gate on these easy terms he became a billiardmarker and now
occasionally looked in at the little skittleground in a green Newmarket coat
secondhand with a shining collar and bright buttons new and drank the
beer of the Collegians
One solid stationary point in the looseness of this gentlemans character
was that he respected and admired his sister Amy The feeling had never induced
him to spare her a moments uneasiness or to put himself to any restraint or
inconvenience on her account but with that Marshalsea taint upon his love he
loved her The same rank Marshalsea flavour was to be recognised in his
distinctly perceiving that she sacrificed her life to her father and in his
having no idea that she had done anything for himself
When this spirited young man and his sister had begun systematically to
produce the family skeleton for the overawing of the College this narrative
cannot precisely state Probably at about the period when they began to dine on
the College charity It is certain that the more reduced and necessitous they
were the more pompously the skeleton emerged from its tomb and that when there
was anything particularly shabby in the wind the skeleton always came out with
the ghastliest flourish
Little Dorrit was late on the Monday morning for her father slept late and
afterwards there was his breakfast to prepare and his room to arrange She had
no engagement to go out to work however and therefore stayed with him until
with Maggys help she had put everything right about him and had seen him off
upon his morning walk of twenty yards or so to the coffeehouse to read the
paper She then got on her bonnet and went out having been anxious to get out
much sooner There was as usual a cessation of the smalltalk in the Lodge as
she passed through it and a Collegian who had come in on Saturday night
received the intimation from the elbow of a more seasoned Collegian »Look out
Here she is«
She wanted to see her sister but when she got round to Mr Crippless she
found that both her sister and her uncle had gone to the theatre where they were
engaged Having taken thought of this probability by the way and having settled
that in such case she would follow them she set off afresh for the theatre
which was on that side of the river and not very far away
Little Dorrit was almost as ignorant of the ways of theatres as of the ways
of gold mines and when she was directed to a furtive sort of door with a
curious upallnight air about it that appeared to be ashamed of itself and to
be hiding in an alley she hesitated to approach it being further deterred by
the sight of some halfdozen closeshaved gentlemen with their hats very
strangely on who were lounging about the door looking not at all unlike
Collegians On her applying to them reassured by this resemblance for a
direction to Miss Dorrit they made way for her to enter a dark hall it was
more like a great grim lamp gone out than anything else where she could hear
the distant playing of music and the sound of dancing feet A man so much in
want of airing that he had a blue mould upon him sat watching this dark place
from a hole in a corner like a spider and he told her that he would send a
message up to Miss Dorrit by the first lady or gentleman who went through The
first lady who went through had a roll of music half in her muff and half out
of it and was in such a tumbled condition altogether that it seemed as if it
would be an act of kindness to iron her But as she was very goodnatured and
said »Come with me Ill soon find Miss Dorrit for you« Miss Dorrits sister
went with her drawing nearer and nearer at every step she took in the darkness
to the sound of music and the sound of dancing feet
At last they came into a maze of dust where a quantity of people were
tumbling over one another, and where there was such a confusion of unaccountable
shapes of beams bulkheads brick walls ropes and rollers and such a mixing
of gaslight and daylight that they seemed to have got on the wrong side of the
pattern of the universe Little Dorrit left to herself and knocked against by
somebody every moment was quite bewildered when she heard her sisters voice
»Why good gracious Amy what ever brought you here«
»I wanted to see you Fanny dear and as I am going out all day tomorrow
and knew you might be engaged all day today I thought «
»But the idea Amy of you coming behind I never did« As her sister said
this in no very cordial tone of welcome she conducted her to a more open part
of the maze where various golden chairs and tables were heaped together and
where a number of young ladies were sitting on anything they could find
chattering All these young ladies wanted ironing and all had a curious way of
looking everywhere while they chattered
Just as the sisters arrived here a monotonous boy in a Scotch cap put his
head round a beam on the left and said »Less noise there ladies« and
disappeared Immediately after which a sprightly gentleman with a quantity of
long black hair looked round a beam on the right and said »Less noise there
darlings« and also disappeared
»The notion of you among professionals Amy is really the last thing I
could have conceived« said her sister »Why how did you ever get here«
»I dont know The lady who told you I was here was so good as to bring me
in«
»Like you quiet little things You can make your way anywhere I believe I
couldnt have managed it Amy though I know so much more of the world«
It was the family custom to lay it down as family law that she was a plain
domestic little creature without the great and sage experience of the rest
This family fiction was the family assertion of itself against her services Not
to make too much of them
»Well And what have you got on your mind Amy Of course you have got
something on your mind about me« said Fanny She spoke as if her sister
between two and three years her junior were her prejudiced grandmother
»It is not much but since you told me of the lady who gave you the
bracelet Fanny «
The monotonous boy put his head round the beam on the left and said »Look
out there ladies« and disappeared The sprightly gentleman with the black hair
as suddenly put his head round the beam on the right and said »Look out there
darlings« and also disappeared Thereupon all the young ladies rose and began
shaking their skirts out behind
»Well Amy« said Fanny doing as the rest did »what were you going to
say«
»Since you told me a lady had given you the bracelet you showed me Fanny I
have not been quite easy on your account and indeed want to know a little more
if you will confide more to me«
»Now ladies« said the boy in the Scotch cap »Now darlings« said the
gentleman with the black hair They were every one gone in a moment and the
music and the dancing feet were heard again
Little Dorrit sat down in a golden chair made quite giddy by these rapid
interruptions Her sister and the rest were a long time gone and during their
absence a voice it appeared to be that of the gentleman with the black hair
was continually calling out through the music »One two three four five six
go One two three four five six go Steady darlings One two three
four five six go« Ultimately the voice stopped and they all came back
again more or less out of breath folding themselves in their shawls and
making ready for the streets »Stop a moment Amy and let them get away before
us« whispered Fanny They were soon left alone nothing more important
happening in the meantime than the boy looking round his old beam and saying
»Everybody at eleven tomorrow ladies« and the gentleman with the black hair
looking round his old beam and saying »Everybody at eleven tomorrow
darlings« each in his own accustomed manner
When they were alone something was rolled up or by other means got out of
the way and there was a great empty well before them looking down into the
depths of which Fanny said »Now uncle« Little Dorrit as her eyes became used
to the darkness faintly made him out at the bottom of the well in an obscure
corner by himself with his instrument in its ragged case under his arm
The old man looked as if the remote high gallery windows with their little
strip of sky might have been the point of his better fortunes from which he
had descended until he had gradually sunk down below there to the bottom He
had been in that place six nights a week for many years but had never been
observed to raise his eyes above his musicbook and was confidently believed to
have never seen a play There were legends in the place that he did not so much
as know the popular heroes and heroines by sight and that the low comedian had
mugged at him in his richest manner fifty nights for a wager and he had shown
no trace of consciousness. The carpenters had a joke to the effect that he was
dead without being aware of it and the frequenters of the pit supposed him to
pass his whole life night and day and Sunday and all in the orchestra They
had tried him a few times with pinches of snuff offered over the rails and he
had always responded to this attention with a momentary waking up of manner that
had the pale phantom of a gentleman in it beyond this he never on any
occasion had any other part in what was going on than the part written out for
the clarionet in private life where there was no part for the clarionet he
had no part at all Some said he was poor some said he was a wealthy miser but
he said nothing never lifted up his bowed head never varied his shuffling gait
by getting his springless foot from the ground Though expecting now to be
summoned by his niece he did not hear her until she had spoken to him three or
four times nor was he at all surprised by the presence of two nieces instead of
one but merely said in his tremulous voice »I am coming I am coming« and
crept forth by some underground way which emitted a cellarous smell
»And so Amy« said her sister when the three together passed out at the
door that had such a shamefaced consciousness of being different from other
doors the uncle instinctively taking Amys arm as the arm to be relied on »so
Amy you are curious about me«
She was pretty and conscious and rather flaunting and the condescension
with which she put aside the superiority of her charms and of her worldly
experience, and addressed her sister on almost equal terms had a vast deal of
the family in it
»I am interested Fanny and concerned in anything that concerns you«
»So you are so you are and you are the best of Amys If I am ever a little
provoking I am sure youll consider what a thing it is to occupy my position
and feel a consciousness of being superior to it I shouldnt care« said the
Daughter of the Father of the Marshalsea »if the others were not so common
None of them have come down in the world as we have They are all on their own
level Common«
Little Dorrit mildly looked at the speaker but did not interrupt her Fanny
took out her handkerchief and rather angrily wiped her eyes »I was not born
where you were you know Amy and perhaps that makes a difference My dear
child when we get rid of Uncle you shall know all about it Well drop him at
the cooks shop where he is going to dine«
They walked on with him until they came to a dirty shopwindow in a dirty
street which was made almost opaque by the steam of hot meats vegetables and
puddings But glimpses were to be caught of a roast leg of pork bursting into
tears of sage and onion in a metal reservoir full of gravy of an unctuous piece
of roast beef and blisterous Yorkshire pudding bubbling hot in a similar
receptacle of a stuffed fillet of veal in rapid cut of a ham in a perspiration
with the pace it was going at of a shallow tank of baked potatoes glued
together by their own richness of a truss or two of boiled greens and other
substantial delicacies Within were a few wooden partitions behind which such
customers as found it more convenient to take away their dinners in stomachs
than in their hands packed their purchases in solitude Fanny opening her
reticule as they surveyed these things produced from that repository a
shilling and handed it to Uncle Uncle after not looking at it a little while
divined its object, and muttering »Dinner Ha Yes yes yes« slowly vanished
from them into the mist
»Now Amy« said her sister »come with me if you are not too tired to walk
to Harley Street Cavendish Square«
The air with which she threw off this distinguished address and the toss
she gave her new bonnet which was more gaudy than serviceable made her sister
wonder however she expressed her readiness to go to Harley Street and thither
they directed their steps Arrived at that grand destination Fanny singled out
the handsomest house and knocking at the door inquired for Mrs Merdle The
footman who opened the door although he had powder on his head and was backed
up by two other footmen likewise powdered not only admitted Mrs Merdle to be
at home but asked Fanny to walk in Fanny walked in taking her sister with
her and they went upstairs with powder going before and powder stopping
behind and were left in a spacious semicircular drawingroom one of several
drawingrooms where there was a parrot on the outside of a golden cage holding
on by its beak with its scaly legs in the air and putting itself into many
strange upsidedown postures This peculiarity has been observed in birds of
quite another feather climbing upon golden wires
The room was far more splendid than anything Little Dorrit had ever
imagined and would have been splendid and costly in any eyes She looked in
amazement at her sister and would have asked a question but that Fanny with a
warning frown pointed to a curtained doorway of communication with another room
The curtain shook next moment and a lady raising it with a heavily ringed
hand dropped it behind her again as she entered
The lady was not young and fresh from the hand of Nature, but was young and
fresh from the hand of her maid She had large unfeeling handsome eyes and dark
unfeeling handsome hair and a broad unfeeling handsome bosom and was made the
most of in every particular Either because she had a cold or because it suited
her face she wore a rich white fillet tied over her head and under her chin
And if ever there were an unfeeling handsome chin that looked as if for
certain it had never been in familiar parlance chucked by the hand of man it
was the chin curbed up so tight and close by that laced bridle
»Mrs Merdle« said Fanny »My sister maam«
»I am glad to see your sister Miss Dorrit I did not remember that you had
a sister«
»I did not mention that I had« said Fanny
»Ah« Mrs Merdle curled the little finger of her left hand as who should
say »I have caught you I know you didnt« All her action was usually with her
left hand because her hands were not a pair the left being much the whiter and
plumper of the two Then she added »Sit down« and composed herself
voluptuously in a nest of crimson and gold cushions on an ottoman near the
parrot
»Also professional« said Mrs Merdle looking at Little Dorrit through an
eyeglass
Fanny answered No »No« said Mrs Merdle dropping her glass »Has not a
professional air Very pleasant but not professional«
»My sister maam« said Fanny in whom there was a singular mixture of
deference and hardihood »has been asking me to tell her as between sisters
how I came to have the honour of knowing you And as I had engaged to call upon
you once more I thought I might take the liberty of bringing her with me when
perhaps you would tell her I wish her to know and perhaps you will tell her«
»Do you think at your sisters age « hinted Mrs Merdle
»She is much older than she looks« said Fanny »almost as old as I am«
»Society« said Mrs Merdle with another curve of her little finger »is so
difficult to explain to young persons indeed is so difficult to explain to most
persons that I am glad to hear that I wish Society was not so arbitrary I
wish it was not so exacting Bird be quiet«
The parrot had given a most piercing shriek as if its name were Society and
it asserted its right to its exactions
»But« resumed Mrs Merdle »we must take it as we find it We know it is
hollow and conventional and worldly and very shocking but unless we are Savages
in the Tropical seas I should have been charmed to be one myself most
delightful life and perfect climate I am told we must consult it It is the
common lot Mr Merdle is a most extensive merchant his transactions are on the
vastest scale his wealth and influence are very great but even he Bird be
quiet«
The parrot had shrieked another shriek and it filled up the sentence so
expressively that Mrs Merdle was under no necessity to end it
»Since your sister begs that I would terminate our personal acquaintance«
she began again addressing Little Dorrit »by relating the circumstances that
are much to her credit I cannot object to comply with her request I am sure I
have a son I was first married extremely young of two or threeandtwenty«
Fanny set her lips and her eyes looked half triumphantly at her sister
»A son of two or threeandtwenty He is a little gay a thing Society is
accustomed to in young men and he is very impressible Perhaps he inherits that
misfortune I am very impressible myself by nature The weakest of creatures
My feelings are touched in a moment«
She said all this and everything else as coldly as a woman of snow quite
forgetting the sisters except at odd times and apparently addressing some
abstraction of Society For whose behoof too she occasionally arranged her
dress or the composition of her figure upon the ottoman
»So he is very impressible Not a misfortune in our natural state I dare
say but we are not in a natural state Much to be lamented no doubt
particularly by myself who am a child of nature if I could but show it but so
it is Society suppresses us and dominates us Bird be quiet«
The parrot had broken into a violent fit of laughter after twisting divers
bars of his cage with his crooked bill and licking them with his black tongue
»It is quite unnecessary to say to a person of your good sense wide range
of experience, and cultivated feelings« said Mrs Merdle from her nest of
crimson and gold and there put up her glass to refresh her memory as to whom
she was addressing »that the stage sometimes has a fascination for young men
of that class of character In saying the stage I mean the people on it of the
female sex Therefore when I heard that my son was supposed to be fascinated by
a dancer I knew what that usually meant in Society and confided in her being a
dancer at the Opera where young men moving in Society are usually fascinated«
She passed her white hands over one another, observant of the sisters now
and the rings upon her fingers grated against each other with a hard sound
»As your sister will tell you when I found what the theatre was I was much
surprised and much distressed But when I found that your sister by rejecting
my sons advances I must add in an unexpected manner had brought him to the
point of proposing marriage my feelings were of the profoundest anguish
acute«
She traced the outline of her left eyebrow and put it right
»In a distracted condition which only a mother moving in Society can be
susceptible of I determined to go myself to the theatre and represent my state
of mind to the dancer I made myself known to your sister I found her to my
surprise in many respects different from my expectations and certainly in none
more so than in meeting me with what shall I say a sort of family
assertion on her own part« Mrs Merdle smiled
»I told you maam« said Fanny with a heightening colour »that although
you found me in that situation I was so far above the rest that I considered
my family as good as your sons and that I had a brother who knowing the
circumstances would be of the same opinion and would not consider such a
connection any honour«
»Miss Dorrit« said Mrs Merdle after frostily looking at her through her
glass »precisely what I was on the point of telling your sister in pursuance
of your request Much obliged to you for recalling it so accurately and
anticipating me I immediately« addressing Little Dorrit »for I am the
creature of impulse took a bracelet from my arm and begged your sister to let
me clasp it on hers in token of the delight I had in our being able to approach
the subject so far on a common footing« This was perfectly true the lady
having bought a cheap and showy article on her way to the interview with a
general eye to bribery
»And I told you Mrs Merdle« said Fanny »that we might be unfortunate
but were not common«
»I think the very words Miss Dorrit« assented Mrs Merdle
»And I told you Mrs Merdle« said Fanny »that if you spoke to me of the
superiority of your sons standing in Society it was barely possible that you
rather deceived yourself in your suppositions about my origin and that my
fathers standing even in the Society in which he now moved what that was was
best known to myself was eminently superior and was acknowledged by every
one«
»Quite accurate« rejoined Mrs Merdle »A most admirable memory«
»Thank you maam Perhaps you will be so kind as to tell my sister the
rest«
»There is very little to tell« said Mrs Merdle reviewing the breadth of
bosom which seemed essential to her having room enough to be unfeeling in »but
it is to your sisters credit I pointed out to your sister the plain state of
the case the impossibility of the Society in which we moved recognising the
Society in which she moved though charming I have no doubt the immense
disadvantage at which she would consequently place the family she had so high an
opinion of upon which we should find ourselves compelled to look down with
contempt and from which socially speaking we should feel obliged to recoil
with abhorrence In short I made an appeal to that laudable pride in your
sister«
»Let my sister know if you please Mrs Merdle« Fanny pouted with a toss
of her gauzy bonnet »that I had already had the honour of telling your son that
I wished to have nothing whatever to say to him«
»Well Miss Dorrit« assented Mrs Merdle »perhaps I might have mentioned
that before If I did not think of it perhaps it was because my mind reverted
to the apprehensions I had at the time that he might persevere and you might
have something to say to him I also mentioned to your sister I again address
the nonprofessional Miss Dorrit that my son would have nothing in the event
of such a marriage and would be an absolute beggar I mention that merely as
a fact which is part of the narrative and not as supposing it to have
influenced your sister except in the prudent and legitimate way in which
constituted as our artificial system is we must all be influenced by such
considerations Finally after some high words and high spirit on the part of
your sister we came to the complete understanding that there was no danger and
your sister was so obliging as to allow me to present her with a mark or two of
my appreciation at my dressmakers«
Little Dorrit looked sorry and glanced at Fanny with a troubled face
»Also« said Mrs Merdle »as to promise to give me the present pleasure of
a closing interview and of parting with her on the best of terms On which
occasion« added Mrs Merdle quitting her nest and putting something in
Fannys hand »Miss Dorrit will permit me to say Farewell with best wishes in
my own dull manner«
The sisters rose at the same time and they all stood near the cage of the
parrot as he tore at a clawfull of biscuit and spat it out seemed to mock
them with a pompous dance of his body without moving his feet and suddenly
turned himself upside down and trailed himself all over the outside of his
golden cage with the aid of his cruel beak and his black tongue
»Adieu Miss Dorrit with best wishes« said Mrs Merdle »If we could only
come to a Millennium or something of that sort I for one might have the
pleasure of knowing a number of charming and talented persons from whom I am at
present excluded A more primitive state of society would be delicious to me
There used to be a poem when I learnt lessons something about Lo the poor
Indian whose something mind If a few thousand persons moving in Society could
only go and be Indians I would put my name down directly but as moving in
Society we cant be Indians unfortunately Good morning«
They came downstairs with powder before them and powder behind the elder
sister haughty and the younger sister humbled and were shut out into unpowdered
Harley Street Cavendish Square
»Well« said Fanny when they had gone a little way without speaking »Have
you nothing to say Amy«
»Oh I dont know what to say« she answered distressed »You didnt like
this young man Fanny«
»Like him He is almost an idiot«
»I am so sorry dont be hurt but since you ask me what I have to say I
am so very sorry Fanny that you suffered this lady to give you anything«
»You little Fool« returned her sister shaking her with the sharp pull she
gave her arm »Have you no spirit at all But thats just the way You have no
selfrespect you have no becoming pride Just as you allow yourself to be
followed about by a contemptible little Chivery of a thing« with the
scornfullest emphasis »you would let your family be trodden on and never
turn«
»Dont say that dear Fanny I do what I can for them«
»You do what you can for them« repeated Fanny walking her on very fast
»Would you let a woman like this whom you could see if you had any experience
of anything to be as false and insolent as a woman can be would you let her
put her foot upon your family and thank her for it«
»No Fanny I am sure«
»Then make her pay for it you mean little thing What else can you make her
do Make her pay for it you stupid child and do your family some credit with
the money«
They spoke no more all the way back to the lodging where Fanny and her
uncle lived When they arrived there they found the old man practising his
clarionet in the dolefullest manner in a corner of the room Fanny had a
composite meal to make of chops and porter and tea and indignantly pretended
to prepare it for herself though her sister did all that in quiet reality
When at last Fanny sat down to eat and drink she threw the table implements
about and was angry with her bread much as her father had been last night
»If you despise me« she said bursting into vehement tears »because I am a
dancer why did you put me in the way of being one It was your doing You would
have me stoop as low as the ground before this Mrs Merdle and let her say what
she liked and do what she liked and hold us all in contempt and tell me so to
my face Because I am a dancer«
»O Fanny«
»And Tip too poor fellow She is to disparage him just as much as she
likes without any check I suppose because he has been in the law and the
docks and different things Why it was your doing Amy You might at least
approve of his being defended«
All this time the uncle was dolefully blowing his clarionet in the corner
sometimes taking it an inch or so from his mouth for a moment while he stopped
to gaze at them with a vague impression that somebody had said something
»And your father your poor father Amy Because he is not free to show
himself and to speak for himself you would let such people insult him with
impunity If you dont feel for yourself because you go out to work you might
at least feel for him I should think knowing what he has undergone so long«
Poor Little Dorrit felt the injustice of this taunt rather sharply The
remembrance of last night added a barbed point to it She said nothing in reply
but turned her chair from the table towards the fire Uncle after making one
more pause blew a dismal wail and went on again
Fanny was passionate with the teacups and the bread as long as her passion
lasted and then protested that she was the wretchedest girl in the world and
she wished she was dead After that her crying became remorseful and she got
up and put her arms round her sister Little Dorrit tried to stop her from
saying anything but she answered that she would she must Thereupon she said
again and again »I beg your pardon Amy« and »Forgive me Amy« almost as
passionately as she had said what she regretted
»But indeed indeed Amy« she resumed when they were seated in sisterly
accord side by side »I hope and I think you would have seen this differently
if you had known a little more of Society«
»Perhaps I might Fanny« said the mild Little Dorrit
»You see while you have been domestic and resignedly shut up there Amy«
pursued her sister gradually beginning to patronise »I have been out moving
more in Society and may have been getting proud and spirited more than I
ought to be perhaps«
Little Dorrit answered »Yes O yes«
»And while you have been thinking of the dinner or the clothes I may have
been thinking you know of the family Now may it not be so Amy«
Little Dorrit again nodded »Yes« with a more cheerful face than heart
»Especially as we know« said Fanny »that there certainly is a tone in the
place to which you have been so true which does belong to it and which does
make it different from other aspects of Society So kiss me once again Amy
dear and we will agree that we may both be right and that you are a tranquil
domestic homeloving good girl«
The clarionet had been lamenting most pathetically during this dialogue but
was cut short now by Fannys announcement that it was time to go which she
conveyed to her uncle by shutting up his scrap of music and taking the
clarionet out of his mouth
Little Dorrit parted from them at the door and hastened back to the
Marshalsea It fell dark there sooner than elsewhere and going into it that
evening was like going into a deep trench The shadow of the wall was on every
object Not least upon the figure in the old grey gown and the black velvet cap
as it turned towards her when she opened the door of the dim room
»Why not upon me too« thought Little Dorrit with the door yet in her hand
»It was not unreasonable in Fanny«
Chapter XXI
Mr Merdles Complaint
Upon that establishment of state the Merdle establishment in Harley Street
Cavendish Square there was the shadow of no more common wall than the fronts of
other establishments of state on the opposite side of the street Like
unexceptionable Society the opposing rows of houses in Harley Street were very
grim with one another. Indeed the mansions and their inhabitants were so much
alike in that respect that the people were often to be found drawn up on
opposite sides of dinnertables in the shade of their own loftiness staring at
the other side of the way with the dulness of the houses
Everybody knows how like the street the two dinnerrows of people who take
their stand by the street will be The expressionless uniform twenty houses all
to be knocked at and rung at in the same form all approachable by the same dull
steps all fended off by the same pattern of railing all with the same
impracticable fireescapes the same inconvenient fixtures in their heads and
everything without exception to be taken at a high valuation who has not dined
with these The house so drearily out of repair the occasional bowwindow the
stuccoed house the newlyfronted house the corner house with nothing but
angular rooms the house with the blinds always down the house with the
hatchment always up the house where the collector has called for one quarter of
an Idea and found nobody at home who has not dined with these The house that
nobody will take and is to be had a bargain who does not know her The showy
house that was taken for life by the disappointed gentleman and which does not
suit him at all who is unacquainted with that haunted habitation
Harley Street Cavendish Square was more than aware of Mr and Mrs Merdle
Intruders there were in Harley Street of whom it was not aware but Mr and
Mrs Merdle it delighted to honour Society was aware of Mr and Mrs Merdle
Society had said »Let us license them let us know them«
Mr Merdle was immensely rich a man of prodigious enterprise a Midas
without the ears who turned all he touched to gold He was in everything good
from banking to building He was in Parliament of course He was in the City
necessarily He was Chairman of this Trustee of that President of the other
The weightiest of men had said to projectors »Now what name have you got Have
you got Merdle« And the reply being in the negative, had said »Then I wont
look at you«
This great and fortunate man had provided that extensive bosom which
required so much room to be unfeeling enough in with a nest of crimson and gold
some fifteen years before It was not a bosom to repose upon but it was a
capital bosom to hang jewels upon Mr Merdle wanted something to hang jewels
upon and he bought it for the purpose Storr and Mortimer might have married on
the same speculation
Like all his other speculations it was sound and successful The jewels
showed to the richest advantage The bosom moving in Society with the jewels
displayed upon it attracted general admiration Society approving Mr Merdle
was satisfied He was the most disinterested of men did everything for
Society and got as little for himself out of all his gain and care as a man
might
That is to say it may be supposed that he got all he wanted otherwise with
unlimited wealth he would have got it But his desire was to the utmost to
satisfy Society whatever that was and take up all its drafts upon him for
tribute He did not shine in company he had not very much to say for himself
he was a reserved man with a broad overhanging watchful head that particular
kind of dull red colour in his cheeks which is rather stale than fresh and a
somewhat uneasy expression about his coatcuffs as if they were in his
confidence and had reasons for being anxious to hide his hands In the little
he said he was a pleasant man enough plain emphatic about public and private
confidence and tenacious of the utmost deference being shown by every one in
all things to Society In this same Society if that were it which came to his
dinners and to Mrs Merdles receptions and concerts he hardly seemed to
enjoy himself much and was mostly to be found against walls and behind doors
Also when he went out to it instead of its coming home to him he seemed a
little fatigued and upon the whole rather more disposed for bed but he was
always cultivating it nevertheless and always moving in it and always laying
out money on it with the greatest liberality
Mrs Merdles first husband had been a colonel under whose auspices the
bosom had entered into competition with the snows of North America and had come
off at little disadvantage in point of whiteness and at none in point of
coldness The colonels son was Mrs Merdles only child He was of a
chuckleheaded highshouldered make with a general appearance of being not so
much a young man as a swelled boy He had given so few signs of reason, that a
byword went among his companions that his brain had been frozen up in a mighty
frost which prevailed at St Johns New Brunswick at the period of his birth
there and had never thawed from that hour Another byword represented him as
having in his infancy through the negligence of a nurse fallen out of a high
window on his head which had been heard by responsible witnesses to crack It
is probable that both these representations were of ex post facto origin the
young gentleman whose expressive name was Sparkler being monomaniacal in
offering marriage to all manner of undesirable young ladies and in remarking of
every successive young lady to whom he tendered a matrimonial proposal that she
was »a doosed fine gal well educated too with no biggodd nonsense about
her«
A soninlaw with these limited talents might have been a clog upon
another man but Mr Merdle did not want a soninlaw for himself he wanted a
soninlaw for Society Mr Sparkler having been in the Guards and being in the
habit of frequenting all the races and all the lounges and all the parties
and being well known Society was satisfied with its soninlaw This happy
result Mr Merdle would have considered well attained though Mr Sparkler had
been a more expensive article And he did not get Mr Sparkler by any means
cheap for Society even as it was
There was a dinner given in the Harley Street establishment while Little
Dorrit was stitching at her fathers new shirts by his side that night and
there were magnates from the Court and magnates from the City magnates from the
Commons and magnates from the Lords magnates from the bench and magnates from
the bar Bishop magnates Treasury magnates Horse Guards magnates Admiralty
magnates all the magnates that keep us going and sometimes trip us up
»I am told« said Bishop magnate to Horse Guards »that Mr Merdle has made
another enormous hit They say a hundred thousand pounds«
Horse Guards had heard two
Treasury had heard three
Bar handling his persuasive double eyeglass was by no means clear but
that it might be four It was one of those happy strokes of calculation and
combination the result of which it was difficult to estimate It was one of
those instances of a comprehensive grasp associated with habitual luck and
characteristic boldness of which an age presented us but few But here was
Brother Bellows who had been in the great Bank case and who could probably
tell us more What did Brother Bellows put this new success at
Brother Bellows was on his way to make his bow to the bosom and could only
tell them in passing that he had heard it stated with great appearance of
truth as being worth from first to last halfamillion of money
Admiralty said Mr Merdle was a wonderful man Treasury said he was a new
power in the country and would be able to buy up the whole House of Commons
Bishop said he was glad to think that this wealth flowed into the coffers of a
gentleman who was always disposed to maintain the best interests of Society
Mr Merdle himself was usually late on these occasions as a man still
detained in the clutch of giant enterprises when other men had shaken off their
dwarfs for the day On this occasion he was the last arrival Treasury said
Merdles work punished him a little Bishop said he was glad to think that this
wealth flowed into the coffers of a gentleman who accepted it with meekness
Powder There was so much Powder in waiting that it flavoured the dinner
Pulverous particles got into the dishes and Societys meats had a seasoning of
firstrate footmen Mr Merdle took down a countess who was secluded somewhere
in the core of an immense dress to which she was in the proportion of the heart
to the overgrown cabbage If so low a simile may be admitted the dress went
down the staircase like a richly brocaded Jack in the Green and nobody knew
what sort of small person carried it
Society had everything it could want and could not want for dinner It had
everything to look at and everything to eat and everything to drink It is to
be hoped it enjoyed itself for Mr Merdles own share of the repast might have
been paid for with eighteenpence Mrs Merdle was magnificent The chief butler
was the next magnificent institution of the day He was the stateliest man in
company He did nothing but he looked on as few other men could have done He
was Mr Merdles last gift to Society Mr Merdle didnt want him and was put
out of countenance when the great creature looked at him but inappeasable
Society would have him and had got him
The invisible countess carried out the Green at the usual stage of the
entertainment and the file of beauty was closed up by the bosom Treasury said
Juno Bishop said Judith
Bar fell into discussion with Horse Guards concerning courtsmartial
Brother Bellows and Bench struck in Other magnates paired off Mr Merdle sat
silent and looked at the tablecloth Sometimes a magnate addressed him to
turn the stream of his own particular discussion towards him but Mr Merdle
seldom gave much attention to it or did more than rouse himself from his
calculations and pass the wine
When they rose so many of the magnates had something to say to Mr Merdle
individually that he held little levees by the sideboard and checked them off
as they went out at the door
Treasury hoped he might venture to congratulate one of Englands worldfamed
capitalists and merchantprinces he had turned that original sentiment in the
house a few times and it came easy to him on a new achievement To extend the
triumphs of such men was to extend the triumphs and resources of the nation
and Treasury felt he gave Mr Merdle to understand patriotic on the subject
»Thank you my lord« said Mr Merdle »thank you I accept your
congratulations with pride and I am glad you approve«
»Why I dont unreservedly approve my dear Mr Merdle Because« smiling
Treasury turned him by the arm towards the sideboard and spoke banteringly »it
never can be worth your while to come among us and help us«
Mr Merdle felt honoured by the
»No no« said Treasury »that is not the light in which one so
distinguished for practical knowledge and great foresight can be expected to
regard it If we should ever be happily enabled by accidentally possessing the
control over circumstances to propose to one so eminent to to come among us
and give us the weight of his influence knowledge and character we could only
propose it to him as a duty In fact as a duty that he owed to Society«
Mr Merdle intimated that Society was the apple of his eye and that its
claims were paramount to every other consideration Treasury moved on and Bar
came up
Bar with his little insinuating Jury droop and fingering his persuasive
double eyeglass hoped he might be excused if he mentioned to one of the
greatest converters of the root of all evil into the root of all good who had
for a long time reflected a shining lustre on the annals even of our commercial
country if he mentioned disinterestedly and as what we lawyers called in
our pedantic way amicus curiæ a fact that had come by accident within his
knowledge He had been required to look over the title of a very considerable
estate in one of the eastern counties lying in fact for Mr Merdle knew we
lawyers loved to be particular on the borders of two of the eastern counties
Now the title was perfectly sound and the estate was to be purchased by one
who had the command of Money Jury droop and persuasive eyeglass on
remarkably advantageous terms This had come to Bars knowledge only that day
and it had occurred to him »I shall have the honour of dining with my esteemed
friend Mr Merdle this evening and strictly between ourselves I will mention
the opportunity« Such a purchase would involve not only great legitimate
political influence but some halfdozen church presentations of considerable
annual value Now that Mr Merdle was already at no loss to discover means of
occupying even his capital and of fully employing even his active and vigorous
intellect Bar well knew but he would venture to suggest that the question
arose in his mind whether one who had deservedly gained so high a position and
so European a reputation did not owe it we would not say to himself but we
would say to Society to possess himself of such influences as these and to
exercise them we would not say for his own or for his partys but we would
say for Societys benefit
Mr Merdle again expressed himself as wholly devoted to that object of his
constant consideration and Bar took his persuasive eyeglass up the grand
staircase Bishop then came undesignedly sliding in the direction of the
sideboard
Surely the goods of this world it occurred in an accidental way to Bishop
to remark could scarcely be directed into happier channels than when they
accumulated under the magic touch of the wise and sagacious who while they
knew the just value of riches Bishop tried here to look as if he were rather
poor himself were aware of their importance judiciously governed and rightly
distributed to the welfare of our brethren at large
Mr Merdle with humility expressed his conviction that Bishop couldnt mean
him and with inconsistency expressed his high gratification in Bishops good
opinion
Bishop then jauntily stepping out a little with his wellshaped right leg
as though he said to Mr Merdle »dont mind the apron a mere form« put this
case to his good friend
Whether it had occurred to his good friend that Society might not
unreasonably hope that one so blest in his undertakings and whose example on
his pedestal was so influential with it would shed a little money in the
direction of a mission or so to Africa
Mr Merdle signifying that the idea should have his best attention Bishop
put another case
Whether his good friend had at all interested himself in the proceedings of
our Combined Additional Endowed Dignitaries Committee and whether it had
occurred to him that to shed a little money in that direction might be a great
conception finely executed
Mr Merdle made a similar reply and Bishop explained his reason for
inquiring
Society looked to such men as his good friend to do such things It was not
that he looked to them but that Society looked to them Just as it was not Our
Committee who wanted the Additional Endowed Dignitaries but it was Society that
was in a state of the most agonising uneasiness of mind until it got them He
begged to assure his good friend that he was extremely sensible of his good
friends regard on all occasions for the best interests of Society and he
considered that he was at once consulting those interests and expressing the
feeling of Society when he wished him continued prosperity continued increase
of riches and continued things in general
Bishop then betook himself upstairs and the other magnates gradually
floated up after him until there was no one left below but Mr Merdle That
gentleman after looking at the tablecloth until the soul of the chief butler
glowed with a noble resentment went slowly up after the rest and became of no
account in the stream of people on the grand staircase Mrs Merdle was at home
the best of the jewels were hung out to be seen Society got what it came for
Mr Merdle drank twopennyworth of tea in a corner and got more than he wanted
Among the evening magnates was a famous physician who knew everybody and
whom everybody knew On entering at the door he came upon Mr Merdle drinking
his tea in a corner and touched him on the arm
Mr Merdle started »Oh Its you«
»Any better today«
»No« said Mr Merdle »I am no better«
»A pity I didnt see you this morning Pray come to me tomorrow or let me
come to you«
»Well« he replied »I will come tomorrow as I drive by«
Bar and Bishop had both been bystanders during this short dialogue and as
Mr Merdle was swept away by the crowd they made their remarks upon it to the
Physician Bar said there was a certain point of mental strain beyond which no
man could go that the point varied with various textures of brain and
peculiarities of constitution as he had had occasion to notice in several of
his learned brothers but the point of endurance passed by a lines breadth
depression and dyspepsia ensued Not to intrude on the sacred mysteries of
medicine he took it now with the Jury droop and persuasive eyeglass that
this was Merdles case Bishop said that when he was a young man and had fallen
for a brief space into the habit of writing sermons on Saturdays a habit which
all young sons of the church should sedulously avoid he had frequently been
sensible of a depression arising as he supposed from an overtaxed intellect
upon which the yolk of a newlaid egg beaten up by the good woman in whose
house he at that time lodged with a glass of sound sherry nutmeg and powdered
sugar acted like a charm Without presuming to offer so simple a remedy to the
consideration of so profound a professor of the great healing art he would
venture to inquire whether the strain being by way of intricate calculations
the spirits might not humanly speaking be restored to their tone by a gentle
and yet generous stimulant
»Yes« said the physician »yes you are both right But I may as well tell
you that I can find nothing the matter with Mr Merdle He has the constitution
of a rhinoceros the digestion of an ostrich and the concentration of an
oyster As to nerves Mr Merdle is of a cool temperament and not a sensitive
man is about as invulnerable I should say as Achilles How such a man should
suppose himself unwell without reason you may think strange But I have found
nothing the matter with him He may have some deepseated recondite complaint I
cant say I only say that at present I have not found it out«
There was no shadow of Mr Merdles complaint on the bosom now displaying
precious stones in rivalry with many similar superb jewelstands there was no
shadow of Mr Merdles complaint on young Sparkler hovering about the rooms
monomaniacally seeking any sufficiently ineligible young lady with no nonsense
about her there was no shadow of Mr Merdles complaint on the Barnacles and
Stiltstalkings of whom whole colonies were present or on any of the company
Even on himself its shadow was faint enough as he moved about among the throng
receiving homage
Mr Merdles complaint Society and he had so much to do with one another in
all things else that it is hard to imagine his complaint if he had one being
solely his own affair Had he that deepseated recondite complaint and did any
doctor find it out Patience In the meantime the shadow of the Marshalsea wall
was a real darkening influence and could be seen on the Dorrit Family at any
stage of the suns course
Chapter XXII
A Puzzle
Mr Clennam did not increase in favour with the Father of the Marshalsea in the
ratio of his increasing visits His obtuseness on the great Testimonial question
was not calculated to awaken admiration in the paternal breast but had rather a
tendency to give offence in that sensitive quarter and to be regarded as a
positive shortcoming in point of gentlemanly feeling An impression of
disappointment occasioned by the discovery that Mr Clennam scarcely possessed
that delicacy for which in the confidence of his nature he had been inclined
to give him credit began to darken the fatherly mind in connection with that
gentleman The father went so far as to say in his private family circle that
he feared Mr Clennam was not a man of high instincts He was happy he
observed in his public capacity as leader and representative of the College to
receive Mr Clennam when he called to pay his respects but he didnt find that
he got on with him personally There appeared to be something he didnt know
what it was wanting in him Howbeit the father did not fail in any outward
show of politeness but on the contrary honoured him with much attention
perhaps cherishing the hope that although not a man of a sufficiently brilliant
and spontaneous turn of mind to repeat his former testimonial unsolicited it
might still be within the compass of his nature to bear the part of a responsive
gentleman in any correspondence that way tending
In the threefold capacity of the gentleman from outside who had been
accidentally locked in on the night of his first appearance of the gentleman
from outside who had inquired into the affairs of the Father of the Marshalsea
with the stupendous idea of getting him out and of the gentleman from outside
who took an interest in the child of the Marshalsea Clennam soon became a
visitor of mark He was not surprised by the attentions he received from Mr
Chivery when that officer was on the lock for he made little distinction
between Mr Chiverys politeness and that of the other turnkeys It was on one
particular afternoon that Mr Chivery surprised him all at once and stood forth
from his companions in bold relief
Mr Chivery by some artful exercise of his power of clearing the Lodge had
contrived to rid it of all sauntering Collegians so that Clennam coming out of
the prison should find him on duty alone
»Private I ask your pardon sir« said Mr Chivery in a secret manner
»but which way might you be going«
»I am going over the Bridge« He saw in Mr Chivery with some astonishment
quite an Allegory of Silence as he stood with his key on his lips
»Private I ask your pardon again« said Mr Chivery »but could you go
round by Horsemonger Lane Could you by any means find time to look in at that
address« handing him a little card printed for circulation among the
connection of Chivery and Co Tobacconists Importers of pure Havannah Cigars
Bengal Cheroots and fineflavoured Cubas Dealers in Fancy Snuffs etc etc
»Private It ant tobacco business« said Mr Chivery »The truth is its
my wife Shes wishful to say a word to you sir upon a point respecting
yes« said Mr Chivery answering Clennams look of apprehension with a nod
»respecting her«
»I will make a point of seeing your wife directly«
»Thank you sir Much obliged It ant above ten minutes out of your way
Please to ask for Mrs Chivery« These instructions Mr Chivery who had
already let him out cautiously called through a little slide in the outer door
which he could draw back from within for the inspection of visitors when it
pleased him
Arthur Clennam with the card in his hand betook himself to the address set
forth upon it and speedily arrived there It was a very small establishment
wherein a decent woman sat behind the counter working at her needle Little jars
of tobacco little boxes of cigars a little assortment of pipes a little jar
or two of snuff and a little instrument like a shoeing horn for serving it out
composed the retail stock in trade
Arthur mentioned his name and his having promised to call on the
solicitation of Mr Chivery About something relating to Miss Dorrit he
believed Mrs Chivery at once laid aside her work rose up from her seat behind
the counter and deploringly shook her head
»You may see him now« said she »if youll condescend to take a peep«
With these mysterious words she preceded the visitor into a little parlour
behind the shop with a little window in it commanding a very little dull
backyard In this yard a wash of sheets and tablecloths tried in vain for
want of air to get itself dried on a line or two and among those flapping
articles was sitting in a chair like the last mariner left alive on the deck of
a damp ship without the power of furling the sails a little woebegone young
man
»Our John« said Mrs Chivery
Not to be deficient in interest Clennam asked what he might be doing there
»Its the only change he takes« said Mrs Chivery shaking her head afresh
»He wont go out even in the backyard when theres no linen but when theres
linen to keep the neighbours eyes off hell sit there hours Hours he will
Says he feels as if it was groves« Mrs Chivery shook her head again put her
apron in a motherly way to her eyes and reconducted her visitor into the
regions of the business
»Please to take a seat sir« said Mrs Chivery »Miss Dorrit is the matter
with Our John sir hes a breaking his heart for her and I would wish to take
the liberty to ask how its to be made good to his parents when bust«
Mrs Chivery who was a comfortablelooking woman much respected about
Horsemonger Lane for her feelings and her conversation uttered this speech with
fell composure and immediately afterwards began again to shake her head and dry
her eyes
»Sir« said she in continuation »you are acquainted with the family and
have interested yourself with the family and are influential with the family
If you can promote views calculated to make two young people happy let me for
Our Johns sake and for both their sakes implore you so to do«
»I have been so habituated« returned Arthur at a loss »during the short
time I have known her to consider Little I have been so habituated to
consider Miss Dorrit in a light altogether removed from that in which you
present her to me that you quite take me by surprise Does she know your son«
»Brought up together sir« said Mrs Chivery »Played together«
»Does she know your son as her admirer«
»Oh bless you sir« said Mrs Chivery with a sort of triumphant shiver
»she never could have seen him on a Sunday without knowing he was that His cane
alone would have told it long ago if nothing else had Young men like John
dont take to ivory hands a pinting for nothing How did I first know it
myself Similarly«
»Perhaps Miss Dorrit may not be so ready as you you see«
»Then she knows it sir« said Mrs Chivery »by word of mouth«
»Are you sure«
»Sir« said Mrs Chivery »sure and certain as in this house I am I see my
son go out with my own eyes when in this house I was and I see my son come in
with my own eyes when in this house I was and I know he done it« Mrs Chivery
derived a surprising force of emphasis from the foregoing circumstantiality and
repetition
»May I ask you how he came to fall into the desponding state which causes
you so much uneasiness«
»That« said Mrs Chivery »took place on that same day when to this house I
see that John with these eyes return Never been himself in this house since
Never was like what he has been since not from the hour when to this house
seven year ago me and his father as tenants by the quarter came« An effect in
the nature of an affidavit was gained for this speech by Mrs Chiverys
peculiar power of construction
»May I venture to inquire what is your version of the matter«
»You may« said Mrs Chivery »and I will give it to you in honour and in
word as true as in this shop I stand Our John has every ones good word and
every ones good wish He played with her as a child when in that yard a child
she played He has known her ever since He went out upon the Sunday afternoon
when in this very parlour he had dined and met her with appointment or without
appointment which I do not pretend to say He made his offer to her Her brother
and sister is high in their views and against Our John Her father is all for
himself in his views and against sharing her with any one Under which
circumstances she has answered Our John No John I cannot have you I cannot
have any husband it is not my intentions ever to become a wife it is my
intentions to be always a sacrifice farewell find another worthy of you and
forget me This is the way in which she is doomed to be a constant slave to
them that are not worthy that a constant slave she unto them should be This is
the way in which Our John has come to find no pleasure but in taking cold among
the linen and in showing in that yard as in that yard I have myself shown you
a brokendown ruin that goes home to his mothers heart« Here the good woman
pointed to the little window whence her son might be seen sitting disconsolate
in the tuneless groves and again shook her head and wiped her eyes and
besought him for the united sakes of both the young people to exercise his
influence towards the bright reversal of these dismal events
She was so confident in her exposition of the case and it was so undeniably
founded on correct premises in so far as the relative positions of Little Dorrit
and her family were concerned that Clennam could not feel positive on the other
side He had come to attach to Little Dorrit an interest so peculiar an
interest that removed her from while it grew out of the common and coarse
things surrounding her that he found it disappointing disagreeable almost
painful to suppose her in love with young Mr Chivery in the backyard or any
such person On the other hand he reasoned with himself that she was just as
good and just as true in love with him as not in love with him and that to
make a kind of domesticated fairy of her on the penalty of isolation at heart
from the only people she knew would be but a weakness of his own fancy and not
a kind one Still her youthful and ethereal appearance her timid manner the
charm of her sensitive voice and eyes the very many respects in which she had
interested him out of her own individuality and the strong difference between
herself and those about her were not in unison and were determined not to be
in unison with this newly presented idea
He told the worthy Mrs Chivery after turning these things over in his mind
he did that indeed while she was yet speaking that he might be relied upon
to do his utmost at all times to promote the happiness of Miss Dorrit and to
further the wishes of her heart if it were in his power to do so and if he
could discover what they were At the same time he cautioned her against
assumptions and appearances enjoined strict silence and secrecy lest Miss
Dorrit should be made unhappy and particularly advised her to endeavour to win
her sons confidence and so to make quite sure of the state of the case Mrs
Chivery considered the latter precaution superfluous but said she would try
She shook her head as if she had not derived all the comfort she had fondly
expected from this interview but thanked him nevertheless for the trouble he
had kindly taken They then parted good friends and Arthur walked away
The crowd in the street jostling the crowd in his mind and the two crowds
making a confusion he avoided London Bridge and turned off in the quieter
direction of the Iron Bridge He had scarcely set foot upon it when he saw
Little Dorrit walking on before him It was a pleasant day with a light breeze
blowing and she seemed to have that minute come there for air He had left her
in her fathers room within an hour
It was a timely chance favourable to his wish of observing her face and
manner when no one else was by He quickened his pace but before he reached
her she turned her head
»Have I startled you« he asked
»I thought I knew the step« she answered hesitating
»And did you know it Little Dorrit You could hardly have expected mine«
»I did not expect any But when I heard a step I thought it sounded like
yours«
»Are you going further«
»No sir I am only walking here for a little change«
They walked together and she recovered her confiding manner with him and
looked up in his face as she said after glancing around
»It is so strange Perhaps you can hardly understand it I sometimes have a
sensation as if it was almost unfeeling to walk here«
»Unfeeling«
»To see the river and so much sky and so many objects and such change and
motion Then to go back you know and find him in the same cramped place«
»Ah yes But going back you must remember that you take with you the spirit
and influence of such things to cheer him«
»Do I I hope I may I am afraid you fancy too much sir and make me out
too powerful If you were in prison could I bring such comfort to you«
»Yes Little Dorrit I am sure of it«
He gathered from a tremor on her lip and a passing shadow of great
agitation on her face that her mind was with her father He remained silent for
a few moments that she might regain her composure The Little Dorrit trembling
on his arm was less in unison than ever with Mrs Chiverys theory and yet was
not irreconcilable with a new fancy which sprung up within him that there might
be some one else in the hopeless newer fancy still in the hopeless
unattainable distance
They turned and Clennam said Here was Maggy coming Little Dorrit looked
up surprised and they confronted Maggy who brought herself at sight of them
to a dead stop She had been trotting along so preoccupied and busy that she
had not recognised them until they turned upon her She was now in a moment so
consciencestricken that her very basket partook of the change
»Maggy you promised me to stop near father«
»So I would Little Mother only he wouldnt let me If he takes and sends
me out I must go If he takes and says Maggy you hurry away and back with that
letter and you shall have a sixpence if the answers a good un I must take
it Lor Little Mother whats a poor thing of ten year old to do And if Mr
Tip if he happens to be a coming in as I come out and if he says Where are
you going Maggy and if I says Im a going So and So and if he says Ill have
a Try too and if he goes into the George and writes a letter and if he gives
it me and says Take that one to the same place and if the answers a good un
Ill give you a shilling it aint my fault mother«
Arthur read in Little Dorrits downcast eyes to whom she foresaw that the
letters were addressed
»Im a going So and So There Thats where I am a going to« said Maggy
»Im a going So and So It ant you Little Mother thats got anything to do
with it its you you know« said Maggy addressing Arthur »Youd better
come So and So and let me take and give em to you«
»We will not be so particular as that Maggy Give them me here« said
Clennam in a low voice
»Well then come across the road« answered Maggy in a very loud whisper
»Little Mother wasnt to know nothing of it and she would never have known
nothing of it if you had only gone So and So instead of bothering and
loitering about It aint my fault I must do what I am told They ought to be
ashamed of themselves for telling me«
Clennam crossed to the other side and hurriedly opened the letters That
from the father mentioned that most unexpectedly finding himself in the novel
position of having been disappointed of a remittance from the City on which he
had confidently counted he took up his pen being restrained by the unhappy
circumstance of his incarceration during threeandtwenty years doubly
underlined from coming himself as he would otherwise certainly have done
took up his pen to entreat Mr Clennam to advance him the sum of Three Pounds
Ten Shillings upon his IOU which he begged to enclose That from the son set
forth that Mr Clennam would he knew be gratified to hear that he had at
length obtained permanent employment of a highly satisfactory nature
accompanied with every prospect of complete success in life but that the
temporary inability of his employer to pay him his arrears of salary to that
date in which condition said employer had appealed to that generous forbearance
in which he trusted he should never be wanting towards a fellowcreature
combined with the fraudulent conduct of a false friend and the present high
price of provisions had reduced him to the verge of ruin unless he could by a
quarter before six that evening raise the sum of eight pounds This sum Mr
Clennam would be happy to learn he had through the promptitude of several
friends who had a lively confidence in his probity already raised with the
exception of a trifling balance of one pound seventeen and fourpence the loan
of which balance for the period of one month would be fraught with the usual
beneficent consequences
These letters Clennam answered with the aid of his pencil and pocketbook
on the spot sending the father what he asked for and excusing himself from
compliance with the demand of the son He then commissioned Maggy to return with
his replies and gave her the shilling of which the failure of her supplemental
enterprise would have disappointed her otherwise
When he rejoined Little Dorrit and they had begun walking as before she
said all at once
»I think I had better go I had better go home«
»Dont be distressed« said Clennam »I have answered the letters They were
nothing You know what they were They were nothing«
»But I am afraid« she returned »to leave him I am afraid to leave any of
them When I am gone they pervert but they dont mean it even Maggy«
»It was a very innocent commission that she undertook poor thing And in
keeping it secret from you she supposed no doubt that she was only saving you
uneasiness«
»Yes I hope so I hope so But I had better go home It was but the other
day that my sister told me I had become so used to the prison that I had its
tone and character It must be so I am sure it must be when I see these things
My place is there I am better there It is unfeeling in me to be here when I
can do the least thing there Goodbye I had far better stay at home«
The agonised way in which she poured this out as if it burst of itself from
her suppressed heart made it difficult for Clennam to keep the tears from his
eyes as he saw and heard her
»Dont call it home my child« he entreated »It is always painful to me to
hear you call it home«
»But it is home What else can I call home Why should I ever forget it for
a single moment«
»You never do dear Little Dorrit in any good and true service«
»I hope not O I hope not But it is better for me to stay there much
better much more dutiful much happier Please dont go with me let me go by
myself Goodbye God bless you Thank you thank you«
He felt that it was better to respect her entreaty and did not move while
her slight form went quickly away from him When it had fluttered out of sight
he turned his face towards the water and stood thinking
She would have been distressed at any time by this discovery of the letters
but so much so and in that unrestrainable way
No
When she had seen her father begging with his threadbare disguise on when
she had entreated him not to give her father money she had been distressed but
not like this Something had made her keenly and additionally sensitive just
now Now was there some one in the hopeless unattainable distance Or had the
suspicion been brought into his mind by his own associations of the troubled
river running beneath the bridge with the same river higher up its changeless
tune upon the prow of the ferryboat so many miles an hour the peaceful flowing
of the stream here the rushes there the lilies nothing uncertain or unquiet
He thought of his poor child Little Dorrit for a long time there he
thought of her going home he thought of her in the night he thought of her
when the day came round again And the poor child Little Dorrit thought of him
too faithfully ah too faithfully in the shadow of the Marshalsea wall
Chapter XXIII
Machinery in Motion
Mr Meagles bestirred himself with such prompt activity in the matter of the
negotiation with Daniel Doyce which Clennam had entrusted to him that he soon
brought it into business train and called on Clennam at nine oclock one
morning to make his report
»Doyce is highly gratified by your good opinion« he opened the business by
saying »and desires nothing so much as that you should examine the affairs of
the Works for yourself and entirely understand them He has handed me the keys
of all his books and papers here they are jingling in this pocket and the
only charge he has given me is Let Mr Clennam have the means of putting
himself on a perfect equality with me as to knowing whatever I know If it
should come to nothing after all he will respect my confidence Unless I was
sure of that to begin with I should have nothing to do with him And there you
see« said Mr Meagles »you have Daniel Doyce all over«
»A very honourable character«
»Oh yes to be sure Not a doubt of it Odd but very honourable Very odd
though Now would you believe Clennam« said Mr Meagles with a hearty
enjoyment of his friends eccentricity »that I had a whole morning in
Whatshisname Yard «
»Bleeding Heart«
»A whole morning in Bleeding Heart Yard before I could induce him to pursue
the subject at all«
»How was that«
»How was that my friend I no sooner mentioned your name in connection with
it than he declared off«
»Declared off on my account«
»I no sooner mentioned your name Clennam than he said That will never do
What did he mean by that I asked him No matter Meagles that would never do
Why would it never do Youll hardly believe it Clennam« said Mr Meagles
laughing within himself »but it came out that it would never do because you
and he walking down to Twickenham together had glided into a friendly
conversation in the course of which he had referred to his intention of taking
a partner supposing at the time that you were as firmly and finally settled as
St Pauls Cathedral Whereas says he Mr Clennam might now believe if I
entertained his proposition, that I had a sinister and designing motive in what
was open free speech Which I cant bear says he which I really am too proud
to bear«
»I should as soon suspect «
»Of course you would« interrupted Mr Meagles »and so I told him But it
took a morning to scale that wall and I doubt if any other man than myself he
likes me of old could have got his leg over it Well Clennam This
businesslike obstacle surmounted he then stipulated that before resuming with
you I should look over the books and form my own opinion I looked over the
books and formed my own opinion Is it on the whole for or against says he
For says I Then says he you may now my good friend give Mr Clennam the
means of forming his opinion To enable him to do which without bias and with
perfect freedom I shall go out of town for a week And hes gone« said Mr
Meagles »thats the rich conclusion of the thing«
»Leaving me« said Clennam »with a high sense I must say of his candour
and his «
»Oddity« Mr Meagles struck in »I should think so«
It was not exactly the word on Clennams lips but he forbore to interrupt
his goodhumoured friend
»And now« added Mr Meagles »you can begin to look into matters as soon as
you think proper I have undertaken to explain where you may want explanation
but to be strictly impartial and to do nothing more«
They began their perquisitions in Bleeding Heart Yard that same forenoon
Little peculiarities were easily to be detected by experienced eyes in Mr
Doyces way of managing his affairs but they almost always involved some
ingenious simplification of a difficulty and some plain road to the desired
end That his papers were in arrear and that he stood in need of assistance to
develop the capacity of his business was clear enough but all the results of
his undertakings during many years were distinctly set forth and were
ascertainable with ease Nothing had been done for the purposes of the pending
investigation everything was in its genuine working dress and in a certain
honest rugged order The calculations and entries in his own hand of which
there were many were bluntly written and with no very neat precision but were
always plain and directed straight to the purpose It occurred to Arthur that a
far more elaborate and taking show of business such as the records of the
Circumlocution Office made perhaps might be far less serviceable as being
meant to be far less intelligible
Three or four days of steady application rendered him master of all the
facts it was essential to become acquainted with Mr Meagles was at hand the
whole time always ready to illuminate any dim place with the bright little
safetylamp belonging to the scales and scoop Between them they agreed upon the
sum it would be fair to offer for the purchase of a halfshare in the business
and then Mr Meagles unsealed a paper in which Daniel Doyce had noted the amount
at which he valued it which was even something less Thus when Daniel came
back he found the affair as good as concluded
»And I may now avow Mr Clennam« said he with a cordial shake of the
hand »that if I had looked high and low for a partner I believe I could not
have found one more to my mind«
»I say the same« said Clennam
»And I say of both of you« added Mr Meagles »that you are well matched
You keep him in check Clennam with your common sense and you stick to the
Works Dan with your «
»Uncommon sense« suggested Daniel with his quiet smile
»You may call it so if you like and each of you will be a right hand to
the other Heres my own right hand upon it as a practical man to both of
you«
The purchase was completed within a month It left Arthur in possession of
private personal means not exceeding a few hundred pounds but it opened to him
an active and promising career The three friends dined together on the
auspicious occasion the factory and the factory wives and children made holiday
and dined too even Bleeding Heart Yard dined and was full of meat Two months
had barely gone by in all when Bleeding Heart Yard had become so familiar with
shortcommons again that the treat was forgotten there when nothing seemed new
in the partnership but the paint of the inscription on the doorposts DOYCE AND
CLENNAM when it appeared even to Clennam himself that he had had the affairs
of the firm in his mind for years
The little countinghouse reserved for his own occupation was a room of
wood and glass at the end of a long low workshop filled with benches and
vices and tools and straps and wheels which when they were in gear with the
steamengine went tearing round as though they had a suicidal mission to grind
the business to dust and tear the factory to pieces A communication of great
trapdoors in the floor and roof with the workshop above and the workshop below
made a shaft of light in this perspective which brought to Clennams mind the
childs old picturebook where similar rays were the witnesses of Abels
murder The noises were sufficiently removed and shut out from the
countinghouse to blend into a busy hum interspersed with periodical clinks and
thumps The patient figures at work were swarthy with the filings of iron and
steel that danced on every bench and bubbled up through every chink in the
planking The workshop was arrived at by a stepladder from the outer yard
below where it served as a shelter for the large grindstone where tools were
sharpened The whole had at once a fanciful and practical air in Clennams eyes
which was a welcome change and as often as he raised them from his first work
of getting the array of business documents into perfect order he glanced at
these things with a feeling of pleasure in his pursuit that was new to him
Raising his eyes thus one day he was surprised to see a bonnet labouring up
the stepladder The unusual apparition was followed by another bonnet He then
perceived that the first bonnet was on the head of Mr Fs Aunt and that the
second bonnet was on the head of Flora who seemed to have propelled her legacy
up the steep ascent with considerable difficulty
Though not altogether enraptured at the sight of these visitors Clennam
lost no time in opening the countinghouse door and extricating them from the
workshop a rescue which was rendered the more necessary by Mr Fs Aunt already
stumbling over some impediment and menacing steam power as an Institution with
a stony reticule she carried
»Good gracious Arthur I should say Mr Clennam far more proper the
climb we have had to get up here and how ever to get down again without a
fireescape and Mr Fs Aunt slipping through the steps and bruised all over and
you in the machinery and foundry way too only think and never told us«
Thus Flora out of breath Meanwhile Mr Fs Aunt rubbed her esteemed
insteps with her umbrella and vindictively glared
»Most unkind never to have come back to see us since that day though
naturally if was not to be expected that there should be any attraction at our
house and you were much more pleasantly engaged thats pretty certain and is
she fair or dark blue eyes or black I wonder not that I expect that she should
be anything but a perfect contrast to me in all particulars for I am a
disappointment as I very well know and you are quite right to be devoted no
doubt though what I am saying Arthur never mind I hardly know myself Good
gracious«
By this time he had placed chairs for them in the countinghouse As Flora
dropped into hers she bestowed the old look upon him
»And to think of Doyce and Clennam and who Doyce can be« said Flora
»delightful man no doubt and married perhaps or perhaps a daughter now has he
really then one understands the partnership and sees it all dont tell me
anything about it for I know I have no claim to ask the question the golden
chain that once was forged being snapped and very proper«
Flora put her hand tenderly on his and gave him another of the youthful
glances
»Dear Arthur force of habit Mr Clennam every way more delicate and
adapted to existing circumstances I must beg to be excused for taking the
liberty of this intrusion but I thought I might so far presume upon old times
for ever faded never more to bloom as to call with Mr Fs Aunt to congratulate
and offer best wishes A great deal superior to China not to be denied and much
nearer though higher up«
»I am very happy to see you« said Clennam »and I thank you Flora very
much for your kind remembrance«
»More than I can say myself at any rate« returned Flora »for I might have
been dead and buried twenty distinct times over and no doubt whatever should
have been before you had genuinely remembered Me or anything like it in spite of
which one last remark I wish to make one last explanation I wish to offer «
»My dear Mrs Finching« Arthur remonstrated in alarm
»Oh not that disagreeable name say Flora«
»Flora is it worth troubling yourself afresh to enter into explanations I
assure you none are needed I am satisfied I am perfectly satisfied«
A diversion was occasioned here by Mr Fs Aunt making the following
inexorable and awful statement
»Theres milestones on the Dover road«
With such mortal hostility towards the human race did she discharge this
missile that Clennam was quite at a loss how to defend himself the rather as
he had been already perplexed in his mind by the honour of a visit from this
venerable lady when it was plain she held him in the utmost abhorrence He
could not but look at her with disconcertment as she sat breathing bitterness
and scorn and staring leagues away Flora however received the remark as if
it had been of a most apposite and agreeable nature approvingly observing aloud
that Mr Fs Aunt had a great deal of spirit Stimulated either by this
compliment or by her burning indignation that illustrious woman then added
»Let him meet it if he can« And with a rigid movement of her stony reticule
an appendage of great size and of a fossil appearance indicated that Clennam
was the unfortunate person at whom the challenge was hurled
»One last remark« resumed Flora »I was going to say I wish to make one
last explanation I wish to offer Mr Fs Aunt and myself would not have
intruded on business hours Mr F having been in business and though the wine
trade still business is equally business call it what you will and business
habits are just the same as witness Mr F himself who had his slippers always on
the mat at ten minutes before six in the afternoon and his boots inside the
fender at ten minutes before eight in the morning to the moment in all weathers
light or dark would not therefore have intruded without a motive which being
kindly meant it may be hoped will be kindly taken Arthur Mr Clennam far more
proper even Doyce and Clennam probably more businesslike«
»Pray say nothing in the way of apology« Arthur entreated »You are always
welcome«
»Very polite of you to say so Arthur cannot remember Mr Clennam until the
word is out such is the habit of times for ever fled and so true it is that
oft in the stilly night ere slumbers chain has bound people fond memory brings
the light of other days around people very polite but more polite than true I
am afraid for to go into the machinery business without so much as sending a
line or a card to papa I dont say me though there was a time but that is past
and stern reality has now my gracious never mind does not look like it you
must confess«
Even Floras commas seemed to have fled on this occasion she was so much
more disjointed and voluble than in the preceding interview
»Though indeed« she hurried on »nothing else is to be expected and why
should it be expected and if its not to be expected why should it be and I am
far from blaming you or any one When your mama and my papa worried us to death
and severed the golden bowl I mean bond but I dare say you know what I mean
and if you dont you dont lose much and care just as little I will venture to
add when they severed the golden bond that bound us and threw us into fits of
crying on the sofa nearly choked at least myself everything was changed and in
giving my hand to Mr F I know I did so with my eyes open but he was so very
unsettled and in such low spirits that he had distractedly alluded to the river
if not oil of something from the chemists and I did it for the best«
»My good Flora we settled that before It was all quite right«
»Its perfectly clear you think so« returned Flora »for you take it very
coolly if I hadnt known it to be China I should have guessed myself the Polar
regions dear Mr Clennam you are right however and I cannot blame you but as to
Doyce and Clennam papas property being about here we heard it from Pancks and
but for him we never should have heard one word about it I am satisfied«
»No no dont say that«
»What nonsense not to say it Arthur Doyce and Clennam easier and less
trying to me than Mr Clennam when I know it and you know it too and cant
deny it«
»But I do deny it Flora I should soon have made you a friendly visit«
»Ah« said Flora tossing her head »I dare say« and she gave him another
of the old looks »However when Pancks told us I made up my mind that Mr Fs
Aunt and I would come and call because when papa which was before that
happened to mention her name to me and to say that you were interested in her I
said at the moment Good gracious why not have her here then when theres
anything to do instead of putting it out«
»When you say Her« observed Clennam by this time pretty well bewildered
»do you mean Mr Fs «
»My goodness Arthur Doyce and Clennam really easier to me with old
remembrances who ever heard of Mr Fs Aunt doing needlework and going out by
the day«
»Going out by the day Do you speak of Little Dorrit«
»Why yes of course« returned Flora »and of all the strangest names I ever
heard the strangest like a place down in the country with a turnpike or a
favourite pony or a puppy or a bird or something from a seedshop to be put in a
garden or a flowerpot and come up speckled«
»Then Flora« said Arthur with a sudden interest in the conversation »Mr
Casby was so kind as to mention Little Dorrit to you was he What did he say«
»Oh you know what papa is« rejoined Flora »and how aggravatingly he sits
looking beautiful and turning his thumbs over and over one another till he makes
one giddy if one keeps ones eyes upon him he said when we were talking of you
I dont know who began the subject Arthur Doyce and Clennam but I am sure it
wasnt me at least I hope not but you really must excuse my confessing more on
that point«
»Certainly« said Arthur »By all means«
»You are very ready« pouted Flora coming to a sudden stop in a captivating
bashfulness »that I must admit Papa said you had spoken of her in an earnest
way and I said what I have told you and thats all«
»Thats all« said Arthur a little disappointed
»Except that when Pancks told us of your having embarked in this business
and with difficulty persuaded us that it was really you I said to Mr Fs Aunt
then we would come and ask you if it would be agreeable to all parties that she
should be engaged at our house when required for I know she often goes to your
mamas and I know that your mama has a very touchy temper Arthur Doyce and
Clennam or I never might have married Mr F and might have been at this hour
but I am running into nonsense«
»It was very kind of you Flora to think of this«
Poor Flora rejoined with a plain sincerity which became her better than her
youngest glances that she was glad he thought so She said it with so much
heart that Clennam would have given a great deal to buy his old character of
her on the spot and throw it and the mermaid away for ever
»I think Flora« he said »that the employment you can give Little Dorrit
and the kindness you can show her «
»Yes and I will« said Flora quickly
»I am sure of it will be a great assistance and support to her I do not
feel that I have the right to tell you what I know of her for I acquired the
knowledge confidentially and under circumstances that bind me to silence But I
have an interest in the little creature and a respect for her that I cannot
express to you Her life has been one of such trial and devotion and such quiet
goodness as you can scarcely imagine I can hardly think of her far less speak
of her without feeling moved Let that feeling represent what I could tell you
and commit her to your friendliness with my thanks«
Once more he put out his hand frankly to poor Flora once more poor Flora
couldnt accept it frankly found it worth nothing openly must make the old
intrigue and mystery of it As much to her own enjoyment as to his dismay she
covered it with a corner of her shawl as she took it Then looking towards the
glass front of the countinghouse and seeing two figures approaching she cried
with infinite relish »Papa Hush Arthur for Mercys sake« and tottered back
to her chair with an amazing imitation of being in danger of swooning in the
dread surprise and maidenly flutter of her spirits
The Patriarch meanwhile came inanely beaming towards the countinghouse
in the wake of Pancks Pancks opened the door for him towed him in and retired
to his own moorings in a corner
»I heard from Flora« said the Patriarch with his benevolent smile »that
she was coming to call coming to call And being out I thought Id come also
thought Id come also«
The benign wisdom he infused into this declaration not of itself profound
by means of his blue eyes his shining head and his long white hair was most
impressive It seemed worth putting down among the noblest sentiments enunciated
by the best of men Also when he said to Clennam seating himself in the
proffered chair »And you are in a new business Mr Clennam I wish you well
sir I wish you well« he seemed to have done benevolent wonders
»Mrs Finching has been telling me sir« said Arthur after making his
acknowledgments the relict of the late Mr F meanwhile protesting with a
gesture against his use of that respectable name »that she hopes occasionally
to employ the young needlewoman you recommended to my mother For which I have
been thanking her«
The Patriarch turning his head in a lumbering way towards Pancks that
assistant put up the notebook in which he had been absorbed and took him in
tow
»You didnt recommend her you know« said Pancks »how could you You knew
nothing about her you didnt The name was mentioned to you and you passed it
on Thats what you did«
»Well« said Clennam »As she justifies any recommendation it is much the
same thing«
»You are glad she turns out well« said Pancks »but it wouldnt have been
your fault if she had turned out ill The credits not yours as it is and the
blame wouldnt have been yours as it might have been You gave no guarantee You
knew nothing about her«
»You are not acquainted then« said Arthur hazarding a random question
»with any of her family«
»Acquainted with any of her family« returned Pancks »How should you be
acquainted with any of her family You never heard of em You cant be
acquainted with people you never heard of can you You should think not«
All this time the Patriarch sat serenely smiling nodding or shaking his
head benevolently as the case required
»As to being a reference« said Pancks »you know in a general way what
being a reference means Its all your eye that is Look at your tenants down
the Yard here Theyd all be references for one another, if youd let em What
would be the good of letting em Its no satisfaction to be done by two men
instead of one Ones enough A person who cant pay gets another person who
cant pay to guarantee that he can pay Like a person with two wooden legs
getting another person with two wooden legs to guarantee that he has got two
natural legs It dont make either of them able to do a walkingmatch And four
wooden legs are more troublesome to you than two when you dont want any« Mr
Pancks concluded by blowing off that steam of his
A momentary silence that ensued was broken by Mr Fs Aunt who had been
sitting upright in a cataleptic state since her last public remark She now
underwent a violent twitch calculated to produce a startling effect on the
nerves of the uninitiated and with the deadliest animosity observed
»You cant make a head and brains out of a brass knob with nothing in it
You couldnt do it when your Uncle George was living much less when hes dead«
Mr Pancks was not slow to reply with his usual calmness »Indeed maam
Bless my soul Im surprised to hear it« Despite his presence of mind however
the speech of Mr Fs Aunt produced a depressing effect on the little assembly
firstly because it was impossible to disguise that Clennams unoffending head
was the particular temple of reason depreciated and secondly because nobody
ever knew on these occasions whose Uncle George was referred to or what
spectral presence might be invoked under that appellation
Therefore Flora said though still not without a certain boastfulness and
triumph in her legacy that Mr Fs Aunt was »very lively today and she
thought they had better go« But Mr Fs Aunt proved so lively as to take the
suggestion in unexpected dudgeon and declare that she would not go adding with
several injurious expressions that if »He« too evidently meaning Clennam
wanted to get rid of her »let him chuck her out of winder« and urgently
expressing her desire to see Him perform that ceremony
In this dilemma Mr Pancks whose resources appeared equal to any emergency
in the Patriarchal waters slipped on his hat slipped out at the countinghouse
door and slipped in again a moment afterwards with an artificial freshness upon
him as if he had been in the country for some weeks »Why bless my heart
maam« said Mr Pancks rubbing up his hair in great astonishment »is that
you How do you do maam You are looking charming today I am delighted to
see you Favour me with your arm maam well have a little walk together you
and me if youll honour me with your company« And so escorted Mr Fs aunt
down the private staircase of the countinghouse with great gallantry and
success The patriarchal Mr Casby then rose with the air of having done it
himself and blandly followed leaving his daughter as she followed in her
turn to remark to her former lover in a distracted whisper which she very much
enjoyed that they had drained the cup of life to the dregs and further to
hint mysteriously that the late Mr F was at the bottom of it
Alone again Clennam became a prey to his old doubts in reference to his
mother and Little Dorrit and revolved the old thoughts and suspicions They
were all in his mind blending themselves with the duties he was mechanically
discharging when a shadow on his papers caused him to look up for the cause
The cause was Mr Pancks With his hat thrown back upon his ears as if his wiry
prongs of hair had darted up like springs and cast it off with his jetblack
beads of eyes inquisitively sharp with the fingers of his right hand in his
mouth that he might bite the nails and with the fingers of his left hand in
reserve in his pocket for another course Mr Pancks cast his shadow through the
glass upon the books and papers
Mr Pancks asked with a little inquiring twist of his head if he might
come in again Clennam replied with a nod of his head in the affirmative Mr
Pancks worked his way in came alongside the desk made himself fast by leaning
his arms upon it and started conversation with a puff and a snort
»Mr Fs Aunt is appeased I hope« said Clennam
»All right sir« said Pancks
»I am so unfortunate as to have awakened a strong animosity in the breast of
that lady« said Clennam »Do you know why«
»Does she know why« said Pancks
»I suppose not«
»I suppose not« said Pancks
He took out his notebook opened it shut it dropped it into his hat
which was beside him on the desk and looked in at it as it lay at the bottom of
the hat all with a great appearance of consideration
»Mr Clennam« he then began »I am in want of information sir«
»Connected with this firm« asked Clennam
»No« said Pancks
»With what then Mr Pancks That is to say assuming that you want it of
me«
»Yes sir yes I want it of you« said Pancks »if I can persuade you to
furnish it A, B, C, D DA DE DI DO Dictionary order Dorrit Thats the
name sir«
Mr Pancks blew off his peculiar noise again and fell to at his righthand
nails Arthur looked searchingly at him he returned the look
»I dont understand you Mr Pancks«
»Thats the name that I want to know about«
»And what do you want to know«
»Whatever you can and will tell me« This comprehensive summary of his
desires was not discharged without some heavy labouring on the part of Mr
Panckss machinery
»This is a singular visit Mr Pancks It strikes me as rather extraordinary
that you should come with such an object, to me«
»It may be all extraordinary together« returned Pancks »It may be out of
the ordinary course and yet be business In short it is business I am a man
of business What business have I in this present world except to stick to
business No business«
With his former doubt whether this dry hard personage were quite in earnest
Clennam again turned his eyes attentively upon his face It was as scrubby and
dingy as ever and as eager and quick as ever and he could see nothing lurking
in it that was at all expressive of a latent mockery that had seemed to strike
upon his ear in the voice
»Now« said Pancks »to put this business on its own footing its not my
proprietors«
»Do you refer to Mr Casby as your proprietor«
Pancks nodded »My proprietor Put a case Say at my proprietors I hear
name name of young person Mr Clennam wants to serve Say name first
mentioned to my proprietor by Plornish in the Yard Say I go to Plornish Say
I ask Plornish as a matter of business for information Say Plornish though
six weeks in arrear to my proprietor declines Say Mrs Plornish declines
Say both refer to Mr Clennam Put the case«
»Well«
»Well sir« returned Pancks »say I come to him Say here I am«
With those prongs of hair sticking up all over his head and his breath
coming and going very hard and short the busy Pancks fell back a step in Tug
metaphor took half a turn astern as if to show his dingy hull complete then
forged ahead again and directed his quick glance by turns into his hat where
his notebook was and into Clennams face
»Mr Pancks not to trespass on your ground of mystery I will be as plain
with you as I can Let me ask two questions First «
»All right« said Pancks holding up his dirty forefinger with his broken
nail »I see Whats your motive«
»Exactly«
»Motive« said Pancks »good Nothing to do with my proprietor not
stateable at present ridiculous to state at present but good Desiring to
serve young person name of Dorrit« said Pancks with his forefinger still up
as a caution »Better admit motive to be good«
»Secondly and lastly what do you want to know«
Mr Pancks finished up his notebook before the question was put and
buttoning it with care in an inner breastpocket and looking straight at
Clennam all the time replied with a pause and a puff »I want supplementary
information of any sort«
Clennam could not withhold a smile as the panting little steamtug so
useful to that unwieldy ship the Casby waited on and watched him as if it were
seeking an opportunity of running in and rifling him of all it wanted before he
could resist its manoeuvres though there was that in Mr Panckss eagerness
too which awakened many wondering speculations in his mind After a little
consideration he resolved to supply Mr Pancks with such leading information as
it was in his power to impart to him well knowing that Mr Pancks if he failed
in his present research was pretty sure to find other means of getting it
He therefore first requesting Mr Pancks to remember his voluntary
declaration that his proprietor had no part in the disclosure and that his own
intentions were good two declarations which that coaly little gentleman with
the greatest ardour repeated openly told him that as to the Dorrit lineage or
former place of habitation he had no information to communicate and that his
knowledge of the family did not extend beyond the fact that it appeared to be
now reduced to five members namely to two brothers of whom one was single
and one a widower with three children The ages of the whole family he made
known to Mr Pancks as nearly as he could guess at them and finally he
described to him the position of the Father of the Marshalsea and the course of
time and events through which he had become invested with that character To all
this Mr Pancks snorting and blowing in a more and more portentous manner as
he became more interested listened with great attention appearing to derive
the most agreeable sensations from the painfullest parts of the narrative and
particularly to be quite charmed by the account of William Dorrits long
imprisonment
»In conclusion Mr Pancks« said Arthur »I have but to say this I have
reasons beyond a personal regard for speaking as little as I can of the Dorrit
family particularly at my mothers house« Mr Pancks nodded »and for knowing
as much as I can So devoted a man of business as you are eh«
For Mr Pancks had suddenly made that blowing effort with unusual force
»Its nothing« said Pancks
»So devoted a man of business as yourself has a perfect understanding of a
fair bargain I wish to make a fair bargain with you that you shall enlighten
me concerning the Dorrit family when you have it in your power as I have
enlightened you It may not give you a very flattering idea of my business
habits that I failed to make my terms beforehand« continued Clennam »but I
prefer to make them a point of honour I have seen so much business done on
sharp principles that to tell you the truth Mr Pancks I am tired of them«
Mr Pancks laughed »Its a bargain sir« said he »You shall find me stick
to it«
After that he stood a little while looking at Clennam and biting his ten
nails all round evidently while he fixed in his mind what he had been told and
went over it carefully before the means of supplying a gap in his memory should
be no longer at hand »Its all right« he said at last »and now Ill wish you
good day as its collecting day in the Yard Bythebye though A lame
foreigner with a stick«
»Ay ay You do take a reference sometimes I see« said Clennam
»When he can pay sir« replied Pancks »Take all you can get and keep back
all you cant be forced to give up Thats business The lame foreigner with the
stick wants a top room down the Yard Is he good for it«
»I am« said Clennam »and I will answer for him«
»Thats enough What I must have of Bleeding Heart Yard« said Pancks
making a note of the case in his book »is my bond I want my bond you see Pay
up or produce your property Thats the watchword down the Yard The lame
foreigner with the stick represented that you sent him but he could represent
as far as that goes that the Great Mogul sent him He has been in the
hospital I believe«
»Yes Through having met with an accident He is only just now discharged«
»Its pauperising a man sir I have been shown to let him into a
hospital« said Pancks And again blew off that remarkable sound
»I have been shown so too« said Clennam coldly
Mr Pancks being by that time quite ready for a start got under steam in a
moment and without any other signal or ceremony was snorting down the
stepladder and working into Bleeding Heart Yard before he seemed to be well
out of the countinghouse
Throughout the remainder of the day Bleeding Heart Yard was in
consternation as the grim Pancks cruised in it haranguing the inhabitants on
their backslidings in respect of payment demanding his bond breathing notices
to quit and executions running down defaulters sending a swell of terror on
before him and leaving it in his wake Knots of people impelled by a fatal
attraction lurked outside any house in which he was known to be listening for
fragments of his discourses to the inmates and when he was rumoured to be
coming down the stairs often could not disperse so quickly but that he would be
prematurely in among them demanding their own arrears and rooting them to the
spot Throughout the remainder of the day Mr Panckss What were they up to
and What did they mean by it sounded all over the Yard Mr Pancks wouldnt
hear of excuses wouldnt hear of complaints wouldnt hear of repairs wouldnt
hear of anything but unconditional money down Perspiring and puffing and
darting about in eccentric directions and becoming hotter and dingier every
moment he lashed the tide of the Yard into a most agitated and turbid state It
had not settled down into calm water again full two hours after he had been
seen fuming away on the horizon at the top of the steps
There were several small assemblages of the Bleeding Hearts at the popular
points of meeting in the Yard that night among whom it was universally agreed
that Mr Pancks was a hard man to have to do with and that it was much to be
regretted so it was that a gentleman like Mr Casby should put his rents in
his hands and never know him in his true light For said the Bleeding Hearts
if a gentleman with that head of hair and them eyes took his rents into his own
hands maam there would be none of this worriting and wearing and things
would be very different
At which identical evening hour and minute the Patriarch who had floated
serenely through the Yard in the forenoon before the harrying began with the
express design of getting up this trustfulness in his shining bumps and silken
locks at which identical hour and minute that firstrate humbug of a thousand
guns was heavily floundering in the little Dock of his exhausted Tug at home
and was saying as he turned his thumbs
»A very bad days work Pancks very bad days work It seems to me sir
and I must insist on making the observation forcibly in justice to myself that
you ought to have got much more money much more money«
Chapter XXIV
FortuneTelling
Little Dorrit received a call that same evening from Mr Plornish who having
intimated that he wished to speak to her privately in a series of coughs so
very noticeable as to favour the idea that her father as regarded her
seamstress occupation was an illustration of the axiom that there are no such
stoneblind men as those who will not see obtained an audience with her on the
common staircase outside the door
»Theres been a lady at our place today Miss Dorrit« Plornish growled
»and another one along with her as is a old wixen if ever I met with such The
way she snapped a persons head off dear me«
The mild Plornish was at first quite unable to get his mind away from Mr
Fs Aunt »For« said he to excuse himself »she is I do assure you the
winegariest party«
At length by a great effort he detached himself from the subject
sufficiently to observe
»But shes neither here nor there just at present The other lady shes Mr
Casbys daughter and if Mr Casby ant well off none better it ant through
any fault of Pancks For as to Pancks he does he really does he does
indeed«
Mr Plornish after his usual manner was a little obscure but
conscientiously emphatic
»And what she come to our place for« he pursued »was to leave word that if
Miss Dorrit would step up to that card which its Mr Casbys house that is
and Pancks he has a office at the back where he really does beyond belief
she would be glad for to engage her She was a old and a dear friend she said
particular of Mr Clennam and hoped for to prove herself a useful friend to
his friend Them was her words Wishing to know whether Miss Dorrit could come
tomorrow morning I said I would see you Miss and inquire and look round
there tonight to say yes or if you was engaged tomorrow when«
»I can go tomorrow thank you« said Little Dorrit »This is very kind of
you but you are always kind«
Mr Plornish with a modest disavowal of his merits opened the room door
for her readmission and followed her in with such an exceedingly bald pretence
of not having been out at all that her father might have observed it without
being very suspicious In his affable unconsciousness however he took no heed
Plornish after a little conversation in which he blended his former duty as a
Collegian with his present privilege as a humble outside friend qualified again
by his low estate as a plasterer took his leave making the tour of the prison
before he left and looking on at a game of skittles with the mixed feelings of
an old inhabitant who had his private reasons for believing that it might be his
destiny to come back again
Early in the morning Little Dorrit leaving Maggy in high domestic trust
set off for the Patriarchal tent She went by the Iron Bridge though it cost
her a penny and walked more slowly in that part of her journey than in any
other At five minutes before eight her hand was on the Patriarchal knocker
which was quite as high as she could reach
She gave Mrs Finchings card to the young woman who opened the door and
the young woman told her that Miss Flora Flora having on her return to the
parental roof reinvested herself with the title under which she had lived there
was not yet out of her bedroom but she was to please to walk up into Miss
Floras sittingroom She walked up into Miss Floras sittingroom as in duty
bound and there found a breakfasttable comfortably laid for two with a
supplementary tray upon it laid for one The young woman disappearing for a few
moments returned to say that she was to please to take a chair by the fire and
to take off her bonnet and make herself at home But Little Dorrit being
bashful and not used to make herself at home on such occasions felt at a loss
how to do it so she was still sitting near the door with her bonnet on when
Flora came in in a hurry halfanhour afterwards
Flora was so sorry to have kept her waiting and good gracious why did she
sit out there in the cold when she had expected to find her by the fire reading
the paper and hadnt that heedless girl given her the message then and had she
really been in her bonnet all this time and pray for goodness sake let Flora
take it off Flora taking it off in the bestnatured manner in the world was so
struck with the face disclosed that she said »Why what a good little thing
you are my dear« and pressed the face between her hands like the gentlest of
women
It was the word and the action of a moment Little Dorrit had hardly time to
think how kind it was when Flora dashed at the breakfasttable full of
business and plunged over head and ears into loquacity
»Really so sorry that I should happen to be late on this morning of all
mornings because my intention and my wish was to be ready to meet you when you
came in and to say that any one that interested Arthur Clennam half so much must
interest me and that I gave you the heartiest welcome and was so glad instead
of which they never called me and there I still am snoring I dare say if the
truth was known and if you dont like either cold fowl or hot boiled ham which
many people dont I dare say besides Jews and theirs are scruples of conscience
which we must all respect though I must say I wish they had them equally strong
when they sell us false articles for real that certainly aint worth the money I
shall be quite vexed« said Flora
Little Dorrit thanked her and said shyly breadandbutter and tea was all
she usually
»Oh nonsense my dear child I can never hear of that« said Flora turning on
the urn in the most reckless manner and making herself wink by splashing hot
water into her eyes as she bent down to look into the teapot »You are come
here on the footing of a friend and companion you know if you will let me take
that liberty and I should be ashamed of myself indeed if you could come here
upon any other besides which Arthur Clennam spoke in such terms you are tired
my dear«
»No maam«
»You turn so pale you have walked too far before breakfast and I dare say
live a great way off and ought to have had a ride« said Flora »dear dear is
there anything that would do you good«
»Indeed I am quite well maam I thank you again and again but I am quite
well«
»Then take your tea at once I beg« said Flora »and this wing of fowl and
bit of ham dont mind me or wait for me because I always carry in this tray
myself to Mr Fs Aunt who breakfasts in bed and a charming old lady too and
very clever Portrait of Mr F behind the door and very like though too much
forehead and as to a pillar with a marble pavement and balustrades and a
mountain I never saw him near it nor not likely in the wine trade excellent man
but not at all in that way«
Little Dorrit glanced at the portrait very imperfectly following the
references to that work of art
»Mr F was so devoted to me that he never could bear me out of his sight«
said Flora »though of course I am unable to say how long that might have lasted
if he hadnt been cut short while I was a new broom worthy man but not poetical
manly prose but not romance«
Little Dorrit glanced at the portrait again The artist had given it a head
that would have been in an intellectual point of view topheavy for
Shakespeare
»Romance however« Flora went on busily arranging Mr Fs Aunts toast
»as I openly said to Mr F when he proposed to me and you will be surprised to
hear that he proposed seven times once in a hackneycoach once in a boat once in
a pew once on a donkey at Tunbridge Wells and the rest on his knees Romance was
fled with the early days of Arthur Clennam our parents tore us asunder we
became marble and stern reality usurped the throne Mr F said very much to his
credit that he was perfectly aware of it and even preferred that state of things
accordingly the word was spoken the fiat went forth and such is life you see my
dear and yet we do not break but bend pray make a good breakfast while I go in
with the tray«
She disappeared leaving Little Dorrit to ponder over the meaning of her
scattered words She soon came back again and at last began to take her own
breakfast talking all the while
»You see my dear« said Flora measuring out a spoonful or two of some brown
liquid that smelt like brandy and putting it into her tea »I am obliged to be
careful to follow the directions of my medical man though the flavour is
anything but agreeable being a poor creature and it may be have never recovered
the shock received in youth from too much giving way to crying in the next room
when separated from Arthur have you known him long«
As soon as Little Dorrit comprehended that she had been asked this question
for which time was necessary the galloping pace of her new patroness having
left her far behind she answered that she had known Mr Clennam ever since his
return
»To be sure you couldnt have known him before unless you had been in China
or had corresponded neither of which is likely« returned Flora »for
travellingpeople usually get more or less mahogany and you are not at all so
and as to corresponding what about thats very true unless tea so it was at
his mothers was it really that you knew him first highly sensible and firm but
dreadfully severe ought to be the mother of the man in the iron mask«
»Mrs Clennam has been kind to me« said Little Dorrit
»Really I am sure I am glad to hear it because as Arthurs mother its
naturally pleasant to my feelings to have a better opinion of her than I had
before though what she thinks of me when I run on as I am certain to do and she
sits glowering at me like Fate in a gocart shocking comparison really
invalid and not her fault I never know or can imagine«
»Shall I find my work anywhere maam« asked Little Dorrit looking timidly
about »can I get it«
»You industrious little fairy« returned Flora taking in another cup of
tea another of the doses prescribed by her medical man »theres not the
slightest hurry and its better that we should begin by being confidential about
our mutual friend too cold a word for me at least I dont mean that very
proper expression mutual friend than become through mere formalities not you
but me like the Spartan boy with the fox biting him which I hope youll excuse
my bringing up for of all the tiresome boys that will go tumbling into every
sort of company that boys the tiresomest«
Little Dorrit her face very pale sat down again to listen »Hadnt I
better work the while« she asked »I can work and attend too I would rather
if I may«
Her earnestness was so expressive of her being uneasy without her work that
Flora answered »Well my dear whatever you like best« and produced a basket of
white handkerchiefs Little Dorrit gladly put it by her side took out her
little pockethousewife threaded her needle and began to hem
»What nimble fingers you have« said Flora »but are you sure you are well«
»Oh yes indeed«
Flora put her feet upon the fender and settled herself for a thorough good
romantic disclosure She started off at score tossing her head sighing in the
most demonstrative manner making a great deal of use of her eyebrows and
occasionally but not often glancing at the quiet face that bent over the work
»You must know my dear« said Flora »but that I have no doubt you know
already not only because I have already thrown it out in a general way but
because I feel I carry it stamped in burning whats his names upon my brow that
before I was introduced to the late Mr F I had been engaged to Arthur Clennam
Mr Clennam in public where reserve is necessary Arthur here we were all in
all to one another it was the morning of life it was bliss it was frenzy it was
everything else of that sort in the highest degree when rent asunder we turned
to stone in which capacity Arthur went to China and I became the statue bride of
the late Mr F«
Flora uttering these words in a deep voice enjoyed herself immensely
»To paint« said she »the emotions of that morning when all was marble
within and Mr Fs Aunt followed in a glasscoach which it stands to reason must
have been in shameful repair or it never could have broken down two streets from
the house and Mr Fs Aunt brought home like the fifth of November in a
rushbottomed chair I will not attempt suffice it to say that the hollow form
of breakfast took place in the diningroom downstairs that papa partaking too
freely of pickled salmon was ill for weeks and that Mr F and myself went upon a
continental tour to Calais where the people fought for us on the pier until they
separated us though not for ever that was not yet to be«
The statue bride hardly pausing for breath went on with the greatest
complacency in a rambling manner sometimes incidental to flesh and blood
»I will draw a veil over that dreamy life Mr F was in good spirits his
appetite was good he liked the cookery he considered the wine weak but palatable
and all was well we returned to the immediate neighbourhood of Number Thirty
Little Gosling Street London Docks and settled down ere we had yet fully
detected the housemaid in selling the feathers out of the spare bed Gout flying
upwards soared with Mr F to another sphere«
His relict with a glance at his portrait shook her head and wiped her
eyes
»I revere the memory of Mr F as an estimable man and most indulgent
husband only necessary to mention Asparagus and it appeared or to hint at any
little delicate thing to drink and it came like magic in a pint bottle it was
not ecstasy but it was comfort I returned to papas roof and lived secluded if
not happy during some years until one day papa came smoothly blundering in and
said that Arthur Clennam awaited me below I went below and found him ask me not
what I found him except that he was still unmarried still unchanged«
The dark mystery with which Flora now enshrouded herself might have stopped
other fingers than the nimble fingers that worked near her They worked on
without pause and the busy head bent over them watching the stitches
»Ask me not« said Flora »if I love him still or if he still loves me or
what the end is to be or when we are surrounded by watchful eyes and it may be
that we are destined to pine asunder it may be never more to be reunited not a
word not a breath not a look to betray us all must be secret as the tomb wonder
not therefore that even if I should seem comparatively cold to Arthur or Arthur
should seem comparatively cold to me we have fatal reasons it is enough if we
understand them hush«
All of which Flora said with so much headlong vehemence as if she really
believed it There is not much doubt that when she worked herself into full
mermaid condition she did actually believe whatever she said in it
»Hush« repeated Flora »I have now told you all confidence is established
between us hush for Arthurs sake I will always be a friend to you my dear girl
and in Arthurs name you may always rely upon me«
The nimble fingers laid aside the work and the little figure rose and
kissed her hand »You are very cold« said Flora changing to her own natural
kindhearted manner and gaining greatly by the change »Dont work today I am
sure you are not well I am sure you are not strong«
»It is only that I feel a little overcome by your kindness and by Mr
Clennams kindness in confiding me to one he has known and loved so long«
»Well really my dear« said Flora who had a decided tendency to be always
honest when she gave herself time to think about it »Its as well to leave that
alone now for I couldnt undertake to say after all but it doesnt signify lie
down a little«
»I have always been strong enough to do what I want to do and I shall be
quite well directly« returned Little Dorrit with a faint smile »You have
overpowered me with gratitude thats all If I keep near the window for a
moment I shall be quite myself«
Flora opened a window sat her in a chair by it and considerately retired
to her former place It was a windy day and the air stirring on Little Dorrits
face soon brightened it In a very few minutes she returned to her basket of
work and her nimble fingers were as nimble as ever
Quietly pursuing her task she asked Flora if Mr Clennam had told her where
she lived When Flora replied in the negative, Little Dorrit said that she
understood why he had been so delicate but that she felt sure he would approve
of her confiding her secret to Flora and that she would therefore do so now
with Floras permission Receiving an encouraging answer she condensed the
narrative of her life into a few scanty words about herself and a glowing
eulogy upon her father and Flora took it all in with a natural tenderness that
quite understood it and in which there was no incoherence
When dinnertime came Flora drew the arm of her new charge through hers
and led her downstairs and presented her to the Patriarch and Mr Pancks who
were already in the diningroom waiting to begin Mr Fs Aunt was for the
time laid up in ordinary in her chamber By those gentlemen she was received
according to their characters the Patriarch appearing to do her some
inestimable service in saying that he was glad to see her glad to see her and
Mr Pancks blowing off his favourite sound as a salute
In that new presence she would have been bashful enough under any
circumstances and particularly under Floras insisting on her drinking a glass
of wine and eating of the best that was there but her constraint was greatly
increased by Mr Pancks The demeanour of that gentleman at first suggested to
her mind that he might be a taker of likenesses so intently did he look at her
and so frequently did he glance at the little notebook by his side Observing
that he made no sketch however and that he talked about business only she
began to have suspicions that he represented some creditor of her fathers the
balance due to whom was noted in that pocket volume Regarded from this point of
view Mr Panckss puffings expressed injury and impatience and each of his
louder snorts became a demand for payment
But here again she was undeceived by anomalous and incongruous conduct on
the part of Mr Pancks himself She had left the table halfanhour and was at
work alone Flora had gone to lie down in the next room concurrently with which
retirement a smell of something to drink had broken out in the house The
Patriarch was fast asleep with his philanthropic mouth open under a yellow
pockethandkerchief in the diningroom At this quiet time Mr Pancks softly
appeared before her urbanely nodding
»Find it a little dull Miss Dorrit« inquired Pancks in a low voice
»No thank you sir« said Little Dorrit
»Busy I see« observed Mr Pancks stealing into the room by inches »What
are those now Miss Dorrit«
»Handkerchiefs«
»Are they though« said Pancks »I shouldnt have thought it« Not in the
least looking at them but looking at Little Dorrit »Perhaps you wonder who I
am Shall I tell you I am a fortuneteller«
Little Dorrit now began to think he was mad
»I belong body and soul to my proprietor« said Pancks »you saw my
proprietor having his dinner below But I do a little in the other way
sometimes privately very privately Miss Dorrit«
Little Dorrit looked at him doubtfully and not without alarm »I wish youd
show me the palm of your hand« said Pancks »I should like to have a look at
it Dont let me be troublesome«
He was so far troublesome that he was not at all wanted there but she laid
her work in her lap for a moment and held out her right hand with her thimble
on it
»Years of toil eh« said Pancks softly touching it with his blunt
forefinger »But what else are we made for Nothing Hallo« looking into the
lines »Whats this with bars Its a College And whats this with a grey gown
and a black velvet cap Its a father And whats this with a clarionet Its an
uncle And whats this in dancingshoes Its a sister And whats this
straggling about in an idle sort of a way Its a brother And whats this
thinking for em all Why this is you Miss Dorrit«
Her eyes met his as she looked up wonderingly into his face and she thought
that although his were sharp eyes he was a brighter and gentlerlooking man
than she had supposed at dinner His eyes were on her hand again directly and
her opportunity of confirming or correcting the impression was gone
»Now the deuce is in it« muttered Pancks tracing out a line in her hand
with his clumsy finger »if this isnt me in the corner here What do I want
here Whats behind me«
He carried his finger slowly down to the wrist and round the wrist and
affected to look at the back of the hand for what was behind him
»Is it any harm« asked Little Dorrit smiling
»Deuce a bit« said Pancks »What do you think its worth«
»I ought to ask you that I am not the fortuneteller«
»True« said Pancks »Whats it worth You shall live to see Miss Dorrit«
Releasing the hand by slow degrees he drew all his fingers through his
prongs of hair so that they stood up in their most portentous manner and
repeated slowly »Remember what I say Miss Dorrit You shall live to see«
She could not help showing that she was much surprised if it were only by
his knowing so much about her
»Ah Thats it« said Pancks pointing at her »Miss Dorrit not that
ever«
More surprised than before and a little more frightened she looked to him
for an explanation of his last words
»Not that« said Pancks making with great seriousness an imitation of a
surprised look and manner that appeared to be unintentionally grotesque »Dont
do that Never on seeing me no matter when no matter where I am nobody Dont
take on to mind me Dont mention me Take no notice Will you agree Miss
Dorrit«
»I hardly know what to say« returned Little Dorrit quite astounded »Why«
»Because I am a fortuneteller Pancks the gipsy I havent told you so much
of your fortune yet Miss Dorrit as to tell you whats behind me on that
little hand I have told you you shall live to see Is it agreed Miss Dorrit«
»Agreed that I am to «
»To take no notice of me away from here unless I take on first Not to mind
me when I come and go Its very easy I am no loss I am not handsome I am not
good company I am only my proprietors grubber You need do no more than think
Ah Pancks the gipsy at his fortunetelling hell tell the rest of my fortune
one day I shall live to know it Is it agreed Miss Dorrit«
»Yees« faltered Little Dorrit whom he greatly confused »I suppose so
while you do no harm«
»Good« Mr Pancks glanced at the wall of the adjoining room and stooped
forward »Honest creature woman of capital points but heedless and a loose
talker Miss Dorrit« With that he rubbed his hands as if the interview had been
very satisfactory to him panted away to the door and urbanely nodded himself
out again
If Little Dorrit were beyond measure perplexed by this curious conduct on
the part of her new acquaintance and by finding herself involved in this
singular treaty her perplexity was not diminished by ensuing circumstances
Besides that Mr Pancks took every opportunity afforded him in Mr Casbys house
of significantly glancing at her and snorting at her which was not much after
what he had done already he began to pervade her daily life She saw him in
the street constantly When she went to Mr Casbys he was always there When
she went to Mrs Clennams he came there on any pretence as if to keep her in
his sight A week had not gone by when she found him to her astonishment in
the Lodge one night conversing with the turnkey on duty and to all appearance
one of his familiar companions Her next surprise was to find him equally at his
ease within the prison to hear of his presenting himself among the visitors at
her fathers Sunday levee to see him arm in arm with a Collegiate friend about
the yard to learn from Fame that he had greatly distinguished himself one
evening at the social club that held its meetings in the Snuggery by addressing
a speech to the members of that institution singing a song and treating the
company to five gallons of ale report madly added a bushel of shrimps The
effect on Mr Plornish of such of these phenomena as he became an eyewitness of
in his faithful visits made an impression on Little Dorrit only second to that
produced by the phenomena themselves They seemed to gag and bind him He could
only stare and sometimes weakly mutter that it wouldnt be believed down
Bleeding Heart Yard that this was Pancks but he never said a word more or made
a sign more even to Little Dorrit Mr Pancks crowned his mysteries by making
himself acquainted with Tip in some unknown manner and taking a Sunday saunter
into the College on that gentlemans arm Throughout he never took any notice of
Little Dorrit save once or twice when he happened to come close to her and
there was no one very near on which occasions he said in passing with a
friendly look and a puff of encouragement »Pancks the gipsy fortunetelling«
Little Dorrit worked and strove as usual wondering at all this but keeping
her wonder as she had from her earliest years kept many heavier loads in her
own breast A change had stolen and was stealing yet over the patient heart
Every day found her something more retiring than the day before To pass in and
out of the prison unnoticed and elsewhere to be overlooked and forgotten were
for herself her chief desires
To her own room too strangely assorted room for her delicate youth and
character she was glad to retreat as often as she could without desertion of
any duty There were afternoon times when she was unemployed when visitors
dropped in to play a hand at cards with her father when she could be spared and
was better away Then she would flit along the yard climb the scores of stairs
that led to her room and take her seat at the window Many combinations did
those spikes upon the wall assume many light shapes did the strong iron weave
itself into many golden touches fell upon the rust while Little Dorrit sat
there musing New zigzags sprung into the cruel pattern sometimes when she saw
it through a burst of tears but beautiful or hardened still always over it and
under it and through it she was fain to look in her solitude seeing everything
with that ineffaceable brand
A garret and a Marshalsea garret without compromise was Little Dorrits
room Beautifully kept it was ugly in itself, and had little but cleanliness
and air to set it off for what embellishment she had ever been able to buy had
gone to her fathers room Howbeit for this poor place she showed an increasing
love and to sit in it alone became her favourite rest
Insomuch that on a certain afternoon during the Pancks mysteries when she
was seated at her window and heard Maggys wellknown step coming up the
stairs she was very much disturbed by the apprehension of being summoned away
As Maggys step came higher up and nearer she trembled and faltered and it was
as much as she could do to speak when Maggy at length appeared
»Please Little Mother« said Maggy panting for breath »you must come down
and see him Hes here«
»Who Maggy«
»Who o course Mr Clennam Hes in your fathers room and he says to me
Maggy will you be so kind and go and say its only me«
»I am not very well Maggy I had better not go I am going to lie down
See I lie down now to ease my head Say with my grateful regard that you
left me so or I would have come«
»Well it ant very polite though Little Mother« said the staring Maggy
»to turn your face away neither«
Maggy was very susceptible to personal slights and very ingenious in
inventing them »Putting both your hands afore your face too« she went on »If
you cant bear the looks of a poor thing it would be better to tell her so at
once and not go and shut her out like that hurting her feelings and breaking
her heart at ten year old poor thing«
»Its to ease my head Maggy«
»Well and if you cry to ease your head Little Mother let me cry too
Dont go and have all the crying to yourself« expostulated Maggy »that ant
not being greedy« And immediately began to blubber
It was with some difficulty that she could be induced to go back with the
excuse but the promise of being told a story of old her great delight on
condition that she concentrated her faculties upon the errand and left her
little mistress to herself for an hour longer combined with a misgiving on
Maggys part that she had left her good temper at the bottom of the staircase
prevailed So away she went muttering her message all the way to keep it in her
mind and at the appointed time came back
»He was very sorry I can tell you« she announced »and wanted to send a
doctor And hes coming again tomorrow he is and I dont think hell have a
good sleep tonight along o hearing about your head Little Mother Oh my
Aint you been acrying«
»I think I have a little Maggy«
»A little Oh«
»But its all over now all over for good Maggy And my head is much
better and cooler and I am quite comfortable I am very glad I did not go
down«
Her great staring child tenderly embraced her and having smoothed her hair
and bathed her forehead and eyes with cold water offices in which her awkward
hands became skilful hugged her again exulted in her brighter looks and
stationed her in her chair by the window Over against this chair Maggy with
apoplectic exertions that were not at all required dragged the box which was
her seat on storytelling occasions sat down upon it hugged her own knees and
said with a voracious appetite for stories and with widelyopened eyes
»Now Little Mother lets have a good un«
»What shall it be about Maggy«
»Oh lets have a Princess« said Maggy »and let her be a reglar one
Beyond all belief you know«
Little Dorrit considered for a moment and with a rather sad smile upon her
face which was flushed by the sunset began
»Maggy there was once upon a time a fine King and he had everything he
could wish for and a great deal more He had gold and silver diamonds and
rubies riches of every kind He had palaces and he had «
»Hospitals« interposed Maggy still nursing her knees »Let him have
hospitals because theyre so comfortable Hospitals with lots of Chicking«
»Yes he had plenty of them and he had plenty of everything«
»Plenty of baked potatoes for instance« said Maggy
»Plenty of everything«
»Lor« chuckled Maggy giving her knees a hug »Wasnt it prime«
»This King had a daughter who was the wisest and most beautiful Princess
that ever was seen When she was a child she understood all her lessons before
her masters taught them to her and when she was grown up she was the wonder of
the world Now near the Palace where this Princess lived there was a cottage
in which there was a poor little tiny woman who lived all alone by herself«
»A old woman« said Maggy with an unctuous smack of her lips
»No not an old woman Quite a young one«
»I wonder she warnt afraid« said Maggy »Go on please«
»The Princess passed the cottage nearly every day and whenever she went by
in her beautiful carriage she saw the poor tiny woman spinning at her wheel
and she looked at the tiny woman and the tiny woman looked at her So one day
she stopped the coachman a little way from the cottage and got out and walked
on and peeped in at the door and there as usual was the tiny woman spinning
at her wheel and she looked at the Princess and the Princess looked at her«
»Like trying to stare one another out« said Maggy »Please go on Little
Mother«
»The Princess was such a wonderful Princess that she had the power of
knowing secrets and she said to the tiny woman Why do you keep it there This
showed her directly that the Princess knew why she lived all alone by herself
spinning at her wheel and she kneeled down at the Princesss feet and asked
her never to betray her So the Princess said I never will betray you Let me
see it So the tiny woman closed the shutter of the cottage window and fastened
the door and trembling from head to foot for fear that any one should suspect
her opened a very secret place and showed the Princess a shadow«
»Lor« said Maggy
»It was the shadow of Some one who had gone by long before of Some one who
had gone on far away quite out of reach never never to come back It was
bright to look at and when the tiny woman showed it to the Princess she was
proud of it with all her heart as a great great treasure When the Princess
had considered it a little while she said to the tiny woman And you keep watch
over this every day And she cast down her eyes and whispered Yes Then the
Princess said Remind me why To which the other replied that no one so good
and kind had ever passed that way and that was why in the beginning She said
too that nobody missed it that nobody was the worse for it that Some one had
gone on to those who were expecting him «
»Some one was a man then« interposed Maggy
Little Dorrit timidly said Yes she believed so and resumed
» Had gone on to those who were expecting him and that this remembrance
was stolen or kept back from nobody The Princess made answer Ah But when the
cottager died it would be discovered there The tiny woman told her No when
that time came it would sink quietly into her own grave and would never be
found«
»Well to be sure« said Maggy »Go on please«
»The Princess was very much astonished to hear this as you may suppose
Maggy«
»And well she might be« said Maggy
»So she resolved to watch the tiny woman and see what came of it Every
day she drove in her beautiful carriage by the cottagedoor and there she saw
the tiny woman always alone by herself spinning at her wheel and she looked at
the tiny woman and the tiny woman looked at her At last one day the wheel was
still and the tiny woman was not to be seen When the Princess made inquiries
why the wheel had stopped and where the tiny woman was she was informed that
the wheel had stopped because there was nobody to turn it the tiny woman being
dead«
»They ought to have took her to the Hospital« said Maggy »and then shed
have got over it«
»The Princess after crying a very little for the loss of the tiny woman
dried her eyes and got out of her carriage at the place where she had stopped it
before and went to the cottage and peeped in at the door There was nobody to
look at her now and nobody for her to look at so she went in at once to search
for the treasured shadow But there was no sign of it to be found anywhere and
then she knew that the tiny woman had told her the truth and that it would
never give anybody any trouble and that it had sunk quietly into her own grave
and that she and it were at rest together
Thats all Maggy«
The sunset flush was so bright on Little Dorrits face when she came thus to
the end of her story that she interposed her hand to shade it
»Had she got to be old« Maggy asked
»The tiny woman«
»Ah«
»I dont know« said Little Dorrit »But it would have been just the same
if she had been ever and ever so old«
»Would it raly« said Maggy »Well I suppose it would though« And sat
staring and ruminating
She sat so long with her eyes wide open that at length Little Dorrit to
entice her from her box rose and looked out of window As she glanced down into
the yard she saw Pancks come in and leer up with the corner of his eye as he
went by
»Whos he Little Mother« said Maggy She had joined her at the window and
was leaning on her shoulder »I see him come in and out often«
»I have heard him called a fortuneteller« said Little Dorrit »But I doubt
if he could tell many people even their past or present fortunes«
»Couldnt have told the Princess hers« said Maggy
Little Dorrit looking musingly down into the dark valley of the prison
shook her head
»Nor the tiny woman hers« said Maggy
»No« said Little Dorrit with the sunset very bright upon her »But let us
come away from the window«
Chapter XXV
Conspirators and Others
The private residence of Mr Pancks was in Pentonville where he lodged on the
secondfloor of a professional gentleman in an extremely small way who had an
innerdoor within the street door poised on a spring and starting open with a
click like a trap and who wrote up in the fanlight RUGG GENERAL AGENT
ACCOUNTANT DEBTS RECOVERED
This scroll majestic in its severe simplicity illuminated a little slip of
front garden abutting on the thirsty highroad where a few of the dustiest of
leaves hung their dismal heads and led a life of choking A professor of writing
occupied the firstfloor and enlivened the garden railings with glasscases
containing choice examples of what his pupils had been before six lessons and
while the whole of his young family shook the table and what they had become
after six lessons when the young family was under restraint The tenancy of Mr
Pancks was limited to one airy bedroom he covenanting and agreeing with Mr
Rugg his landlord that in consideration of a certain scale of payments
accurately defined and on certain verbal notice duly given he should be at
liberty to elect to share the Sunday breakfast dinner tea or supper or each
or any or all of those repasts or meals of Mr and Miss Rugg his daughter in
the backparlour
Miss Rugg was a lady of a little property which she had acquired together
with much distinction in the neighbourhood by having her heart severely
lacerated and her feelings mangled by a middleaged baker resident in the
vicinity against whom she had by the agency of Mr Rugg found it necessary to
proceed at law to recover damages for a breach of promise of marriage The baker
having been by the counsel for Miss Rugg witheringly denounced on that
occasion up to the full amount of twenty guineas at the rate of about
eighteenpence an epithet and having been cast in corresponding damages still
suffered occasional persecution from the youth of Pentonville But Miss Rugg
environed by the majesty of the law and having her damages invested in the
public securities was regarded with consideration
In the society of Mr Rugg who had a round white visage as if all his
blushes had been drawn out of him long ago and who had a ragged yellow head
like a wornout hearthbroom and in the society of Miss Rugg who had little
nankeen spots like shirt buttons all over her face and whose own yellow
tresses were rather scrubby than luxuriant Mr Pancks had usually dined on
Sundays for some few years and had twice a week or so enjoyed an evening
collation of bread Dutch cheese and porter Mr Pancks was one of the very few
marriageable men for whom Miss Rugg had no terrors the argument with which he
reassured himself being twofold that is to say firstly »that it wouldnt do
twice« and secondly »that he wasnt worth it« Fortified within this double
armour Mr Pancks snorted at Miss Rugg on easy terms
Up to this time Mr Pancks had transacted little or no business at his
quarters in Pentonville except in the sleeping line but now that he had become
a fortuneteller he was often closeted after midnight with Mr Rugg in his
little frontparlour office and even after those untimely hours burnt tallow
in his bedroom Though his duties as his proprietors grubber were in no wise
lessened and though that service bore no greater resemblance to a bed of roses
than was to be discovered in its many thorns some new branch of industry made a
constant demand upon him When he cast off the Patriarch at night it was only
to take an anonymous craft in tow and labour away afresh in other waters
The advance from a personal acquaintance with the elder Mr Chivery to an
introduction to his amiable wife and disconsolate son may have been easy but
easy or not Mr Pancks soon made it He nestled in the bosom of the tobacco
business within a week or two after his first appearance in the College and
particularly addressed himself to the cultivation of a good understanding with
Young John In this endeavour he so prospered as to lure that pining shepherd
forth from the groves and tempt him to undertake mysterious missions on which
he began to disappear at uncertain intervals for as long a space as two or three
days together The prudent Mrs Chivery who wondered greatly at this change
would have protested against it as detrimental to the Highland typification on
the doorpost but for two forcible reasons one that her John was roused to
take strong interest in the business which these starts were supposed to advance
and this she held to be good for his drooping spirits the other that Mr
Pancks confidentially agreed to pay her for the occupation of her sons time
at the handsome rate of seven and sixpence per day The proposal originated with
himself and was couched in the pithy terms »If your John is weak enough
maam not to take it that is no reason why you should be dont you see So
quite between ourselves maam business being business here it is«
What Mr Chivery thought of these things or how much or how little he knew
about them was never gathered from himself It has been already remarked that
he was a man of few words and it may be here observed that he had imbibed a
professional habit of locking everything up He locked himself up as carefully
as he locked up the Marshalsea debtors Even his custom of bolting his meals may
have been a part of an uniform whole but there is no question that as to all
other purposes he kept his mouth as he kept the Marshalsea door He never
opened it without occasion When it was necessary to let anything out he opened
it a little way held it open just as long as sufficed for the purpose and
locked it again Even as he would be sparing of his trouble at the Marshalsea
door and would keep a visitor who wanted to go out waiting for a few moments
if he saw another visitor coming down the yard so that one turn of the key
should suffice for both similarly he would often reserve a remark if he
perceived another on its way to his lips and would deliver himself of the two
together As to any key to his inner knowledge being to be found in his face
the Marshalsea key was as legible an index to the individual characters and
histories upon which it was turned
That Mr Pancks should be moved to invite any one to dinner at Pentonville
was an unprecedented fact in his calendar But he invited Young John to dinner
and even brought him within range of the dangerous because expensive
fascinations of Miss Rugg The banquet was appointed for a Sunday and Miss Rugg
with her own hands stuffed a leg of mutton with oysters on the occasion and
sent it to the bakers not the bakers but an opposition establishment
Provision of oranges apples and nuts was also made And rum was brought home
by Mr Pancks on Saturday night to gladden the visitors heart
The store of creature comforts was not the chief part o the visitors
reception Its special feature was a foregone family confidence and sympathy
When Young John appeared at halfpast one without the ivory hand and waistcoat
of golden sprigs the sun shorn of his beams by disastrous clouds Mr Pancks
presented him to the yellowhaired Ruggs as the young man he had so often
mentioned who loved Miss Dorrit
»I am glad« said Mr Rugg challenging him specially in that character »to
have the distinguished gratification of making your acquaintance sir Your
feelings do you honour You are young may you never outlive your feelings If I
was to outlive my own feelings sir« said Mr Rugg who was a man of many
words and was considered to possess a remarkably good address »if I was to
outlive my own feelings Id leave fifty pound in my will to the man who would
put me out of existence«
Miss Rugg heaved a sigh
»My daughter sir« said Mr Rugg »Anastatia you are no stranger to the
state of this young mans affections My daughter has had her trials sir« Mr
Rugg might have used the word more pointedly in the singular number »and she
can feel for you«
Young John almost overwhelmed by the touching nature of this greeting
professed himself to that effect
»What I envy you sir is« said Mr Rugg »allow me to take your hat we
are rather short of pegs Ill put it in the corner nobody will tread in it
there What I envy you sir is the luxury of your own feelings I belong to a
profession in which that luxury is sometimes denied us«
Young John replied with acknowledgments that he only hoped he did what was
right and what showed how entirely he was devoted to Miss Dorrit He wished to
be unselfish and he hoped he was He wished to do anything as laid in his power
to serve Miss Dorrit altogether putting himself out of sight and he hoped he
did It was but little that he could do but he hoped he did it
»Sir« said Mr Rugg taking him by the hand »you are a young man that it
does one good to come across You are a young man that I should like to put in
the witnessbox to humanise the minds of the legal profession I hope you have
brought your appetite with you and intend to play a good knife and fork«
»Thank you sir« returned Young John »I dont eat much at present«
Mr Rugg drew him a little apart »My daughters case sir« said he »at
the time when in vindication of her outraged feelings and her sex she became
the plaintiff in Rugg and Hawkins I suppose I could have put it in evidence
Mr Chivery if I had thought it worth my while that the amount of solid
sustenance my daughter consumed at that period did not exceed ten ounces per
week«
»I think I go a little beyond that sir« returned the other hesitating as
if he confessed it with some shame
»But in your case theres no fiend in human form« said Mr Rugg with
argumentative smile and action of hand »Observe Mr Chivery No fiend in human
form«
»No sir certainly« Young John added with simplicity »I should be very
sorry if there was«
»The sentiment« said Mr Rugg »is what I should have expected from your
known principles It would affect my daughter greatly sir if she heard it As
I perceive the mutton I am glad she didnt hear it Mr Pancks on this
occasion pray face me My dear face Mr Chivery For what we are going to
receive may we and Miss Dorrit be truly thankful«
But for a grave waggishness in Mr Ruggs manner of delivering this
introduction to the feast it might have appeared that Miss Dorrit was expected
to be one of the company Pancks recognised the sally in his usual way and took
in his provender in his usual way Miss Rugg perhaps making up some of her
arrears likewise took very kindly to the mutton and it rapidly diminished to
the bone A breadandbutter pudding entirely disappeared and a considerable
amount of cheese and radishes vanished by the same means Then came the dessert
Then also and before the broaching of the rum and water came Mr Panckss
notebook The ensuing business proceedings were brief but curious and rather
in the nature of a conspiracy Mr Pancks looked over his notebook which was
now getting full studiously and picked out little extracts which he wrote on
separate slips of paper on the table Mr Rugg in the meanwhile looking at him
with close attention and Young John losing his uncollected eye in mists of
meditation When Mr Pancks who supported the character of chief conspirator
had completed his extracts he looked them over corrected them put up his
notebook and held them like a hand at cards
»Now theres a churchyard in Bedfordshire« said Pancks »Who takes it«
»Ill take it sir« returned Mr Rugg »if no one bids«
Mr Pancks dealt him his card and looked at his hand again
»Now theres an Enquiry in York« said Pancks »Who takes it«
»Im not god for York« said Mr Rugg
»Then perhaps« pursued Pancks »youll be so obliging John Chivery« Young
John assenting Pancks dealt him his card and consulted his hand again
»Theres a Church in London I may as well take that And a Family Bible I
may as well take that too Thats two to me Two to me« repeated Pancks
breathing hard over his cards »Heres a Clerk at Durham for you John and an
old seafaring gentleman at Dunstable for you Mr Rugg Two to me was it Yes
two to me Heres a Stone three to me And a Stillborn Baby four to me And
all for the present told«
When he had thus disposed of his cards all being done very quietly and in a
suppressed tone Mr Pancks puffed his way into his own breastpocket and tugged
out a canvas bag from which with a sparing hand he told forth money for
travelling expenses in two little portions »Cash goes out fast« he said
anxiously as he pushed a portion to each of his male companions »very fast«
»I can only assure you Mr Pancks« said Young John »that I deeply regret
my circumstances being such that I cant afford to pay my own charges or that
its not advisable to allow me the time necessary for my doing the distances on
foot Because nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to walk myself off
my legs without fee or reward«
This young mans disinterestedness appeared so very ludicrous in the eyes of
Miss Rugg that she was obliged to effect a precipitate retirement from the
company and to sit upon the stairs until she had had her laugh out Meanwhile
Mr Pancks looking not without some pity at Young John slowly and
thoughtfully twisted up his canvas bag as if he were wringing its neck The lady
returning as he restored it to his pocket mixed rum and water for the party
not forgetting her fair self and handed to every one his glass When all were
supplied Mr Rugg rose and silently holding out his glass at arms length
above the centre of the table by that gesture invited the other three to add
theirs and to unite in a general conspiratorial clink The ceremony was
effective up to a certain point and would have been wholly so throughout if
Miss Rugg as she raised her glass to her lips in completion of it had not
happened to look at Young John when she was again so overcome by the
contemptible comicality of his disinterestedness as to splutter some ambrosial
drops of rum and water around and withdraw in confusion
Such was the dinner without precedent given by Pancks at Pentonville and
such was the busy and strange life Pancks led The only waking moments at which
he appeared to relax from his cares and to recreate himself by going anywhere
or saying anything without a pervading object were when he showed a dawning
interest in the lame foreigner with the stick down Bleeding Heart Yard
The foreigner by name John Baptist Cavalletto they called him Mr Baptist
in the Yard was such a chirping easy hopeful little fellow that his
attraction for Pancks was probably in the force of contrast Solitary weak and
scantily acquainted with the most necessary words of the only language in which
he could communicate with the people about him he went with the stream of his
fortunes in a brisk way that was new in those parts With little to eat and
less to drink and nothing to wear but what he wore upon him or had brought
tied up in one of the smallest bundles that ever were seen he put as bright a
face upon it as if he were in the most flourishing circumstances when he first
hobbled up and down the Yard humbly propitiating the general goodwill with his
white teeth
It was uphill work for a foreigner lame or sound to make his way with the
Bleeding Hearts In the first place they were vaguely persuaded that every
foreigner had a knife about him in the second they held it to be a sound
constitutional national axiom that he ought to go home to his own country They
never thought of inquiring how many of their own countrymen would be returned
upon their hands from divers parts of the world if the principle were generally
recognised they considered it practically and peculiarly British In the third
place they had a notion that it was a sort of Divine visitation upon a
foreigner that he was not an Englishman and that all kinds of calamities
happened to his country because it did things that England did not and did not
do things that England did In this belief to be sure they had long been
carefully trained by the Barnacles and Stiltstalkings who were always
proclaiming to them officially and unofficially that no country which failed
to submit itself to those two large families could possibly hope to be under the
protection of Providence and who when they believed it disparaged them in
private as the most prejudiced people under the sun
This therefore might be called a political position of the Bleeding
Hearts but they entertained other objections to having foreigners in the Yard
They believed that foreigners were always badly off and though they were as ill
off themselves as they could desire to be that did not diminish the force of
the objection They believed that foreigners were dragooned and bayoneted and
though they certainly got their own skulls promptly fractured if they showed any
illhumour still it was with a blunt instrument and that didnt count They
believed that foreigners were always immoral and though they had an occasional
assize at home and now and then a divorce case or so that had nothing to do
with it They believed that foreigners had no independent spirit as never being
escorted to the poll in droves by Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle with colours
flying and the tune of Rule Britannia playing Not to be tedious they had many
other beliefs of a similar kind
Against these obstacles the lame foreigner with the stick had to make head
as well as he could not absolutely singlehanded because Mr Arthur Clennam
had recommended him to the Plornishes he lived at the top of the same house
but still at heavy odds However the Bleeding Hearts were kind hearts and when
they saw the little fellow cheerily limping about with a goodhumoured face
doing no harm drawing no knives committing no outrageous immoralities living
chiefly on farinaceous and milk diet and playing with Mrs Plornishs children
of an evening they began to think that although he could never hope to be an
Englishman still it would be hard to visit that affliction on his head They
began to accommodate themselves to his level calling him Mr Baptist but
treating him like a baby and laughing immoderately at his lively gestures and
his childish English more because he didnt mind it and laughed too They
spoke to him in very loud voices as if he were stone deaf They constructed
sentences by way of teaching him the language in its purity such as were
addressed by the savages to Captain Cook or by Friday to Robinson Crusoe Mrs
Plornish was particularly ingenious in this art and attained so much celebrity
by saying »Me ope you leg well soon« that it was considered in the Yard but a
very short remove indeed from speaking Italian Even Mrs Plornish herself began
to think that she had a natural call towards that language As he became more
popular household objects were brought into requisition for his instruction in
a copious vocabulary and whenever he appeared in the Yard ladies would fly out
at their doors crying »Mr Baptist teapot« »Mr Baptist dustpan« »Mr
Baptist flourdredger« »Mr Baptist coffeebiggin« At the same time
exhibiting those articles and penetrating him with a sense of the appalling
difficulties of the Anglo tongue
It was in this stage of his progress and in about the third week of his
occupation that Mr Panckss fancy became attracted by the little man Mounting
to his attic attended by Mrs Plornish as interpreter he found Mr Baptist
with no furniture but his bed on the ground a table and a chair carving with
the aid of a few simple tools in the blithest way possible
»Now old chap« said Mr Pancks »pay up«
He had his money ready folded in a scrap of paper and laughingly handed it
in then with a free action threw out as many fingers of his right hand as
there were shillings and made a cut crosswise in the air for an odd sixpence
»Oh« said Mr Pancks watching him wonderingly »Thats it is it Youre
a quick customer Its all right I didnt expect to receive it though«
Mrs Plornish here interposed with great condescension and explained to Mr
Baptist »E please E glad get money«
The little man smiled and nodded His bright face seemed uncommonly
attractive to Mr Pancks »Hows he getting on in his limb« he asked Mrs
Plornish
»Oh hes a deal better sir« said Mrs Plornish »We expect next week
hell be able to leave off his stick entirely« The opportunity being too
favourable to be lost Mrs Plornish displayed her great accomplishment by
explaining with pardonable pride to Mr Baptist »E ope you leg well soon«
»Hes a merry fellow too« said Mr Pancks admiring him as if he were a
mechanical toy »How does he live«
»Why sir« rejoined Mrs Plornish »he turns out to have quite a power of
carving them flowers that you see him at now« Mr Baptist watching their
faces as they spoke held up his work Mrs Plornish interpreted in her Italian
manner on behalf of Mr Pancks »E please Double good«
»Can he live by that« asked Mr Pancks
»He can live on very little sir and it is expected as he will be able in
time to make a very good living Mr Clennam got it him to do and gives him
odd jobs besides in at the Works next door makes em for him in short when
he knows he wants em«
»And what does he do with himself now when he aint hard at it« said Mr
Pancks
»Why not much as yet sir on accounts I suppose of not being able to walk
much but he goes about the Yard and he chats without particular understanding
or being understood and he plays with the children and he sits in the sun
hell sit down anywhere as if it was a armchair and hell sing and hell
laugh«
»Laugh« echoed Mr Pancks »He looks to me as if every tooth in his head
was always laughing«
»But whenever he gets to the top of the steps at tother end of the Yard«
said Mrs Plornish »hell peep out in the curiousest way So that some of us
thinks hes peeping out towards where his own country is and some of us thinks
hes looking for somebody he dont want to see and some of us dont know what
to think«
Mr Baptist seemed to have a general understanding of what she said or
perhaps his quickness caught and applied her slight action of peeping In any
case he closed his eyes and tossed his head with the air of a man who had his
sufficient reasons for what he did and said in his own tongue it didnt
matter Altro
»Whats Altro« said Pancks
»Hem Its a sort of a general kind of expression sir« said Mrs Plornish
»Is it« said Pancks »Why then Altro to you old chap Good afternoon
Altro«
Mr Baptist in his vivacious way repeating the word several times Mr
Pancks in his duller way gave it him back once From that time it became a
frequent custom with Pancks the gipsy as he went home jaded at night to pass
round by Bleeding Heart Yard go quietly up the stairs look in at Mr Baptists
door and finding him in his room to say »Hallo old chap Altro« To which
Mr Baptist would reply with innumerable bright nods and smiles »Altro
signore altro altro altro« After this highly condensed conversation Mr
Pancks would go his way with an appearance of being lightened and refreshed
Chapter XXVI
Nobodys State of Mind
If Arthur Clennam had not arrived at that wise decision firmly to restrain
himself from loving Pet he would have lived on in a state of much perplexity
involving difficult struggles with his own heart Not the least of these would
have been a contention always waging within it between a tendency to dislike
Mr Henry Gowan if not to regard him with positive repugnance and a whisper
that the inclination was unworthy A generous nature is not prone to strong
aversions and is slow to admit them even dispassionately but when it finds
illwill gaining upon it and can discern betweenwhiles that its origin is not
dispassionate such a nature becomes distressed
Therefore Mr Henry Gowan would have clouded Clennams mind and would have
been far oftener present to it than more agreeable persons and subjects but for
the great prudence of his decision aforesaid As it was Mr Gowan seemed
transferred to Daniel Doyces mind at all events it so happened that it
usually fell to Mr Doyces turn rather than to Clennams to speak of him in
the friendly conversations they held together These were of frequent occurrence
now as the two partners shared a portion of a roomy house in one of the grave
oldfashioned City streets lying not far from the Bank of England by London
Wall
Mr Doyce had been to Twickenham to pass the day Clennam had excused
himself Mr Doyce was just come home He put in his head at the door of
Clennams sittingroom to say Good night
»Come in come in« said Clennam
»I saw you were reading« returned Doyce as he entered »and thought you
might not care to be disturbed«
But for the notable resolution he had made Clennam really might not have
known what he had been reading really might not have had his eyes upon the book
for an hour past though it lay open before him He shut it up rather quickly
»Are they well« he asked
»Yes« said Doyce »they are well They are all well«
Daniel had an old workmanlike habit of carrying his pockethandkerchief in
his hat He took it out and wiped his forehead with it slowly repeating »they
are all well Miss Minnie looking particularly well I thought«
»Any company at the cottage«
»No no company«
»And how did you get on you four« asked Clennam gaily
»There were five of us« returned his partner »There was Whatshisname
He was there«
»Who is he« said Clennam
»Mr Henry Gowan«
»Ah to be sure« cried Clennam with unusual vivacity »Yes I forgot
him«
»As I mentioned you may remember« said Daniel Doyce »he is always there
on Sunday«
»Yes yes« returned Clennam »I remember now«
Daniel Doyce still wiping his forehead ploddingly repeated »Yes He was
there he was there Oh yes he was there And his dog He was there too«
»Miss Meagles is quite attached to the dog« observed Clennam
»Quite so« assented his partner »More attached to the dog than I am to the
man«
»You mean Mr «
»I mean Mr Gowan most decidedly« said Daniel Doyce
There was a gap in the conversation which Clennam devoted to winding up his
watch
»Perhaps you are a little hasty in your judgment« he said »Our judgments
I am supposing a general case «
»Of course« said Doyce
»Are so liable to be influenced by many considerations which almost
without our knowing it are unfair that it is necessary to keep a guard upon
them For instance Mr «
»Gowan« quietly said Doyce upon whom the utterance of the name almost
always devolved
»Is young and handsome easy and quick has talent and has seen a good deal
of various kinds of life It might be difficult to give an unselfish reason for
being prepossessed against him«
»Not difficult for me I think Clennam« returned his partner »I see him
bringing present anxiety and I fear future sorrow into my old friends
house I see him wearing deeper lines into my old friends face the nearer he
draws to and the oftener he looks at the face of his daughter In short I see
him with a net about the pretty and affectionate creature whom he will never
make happy«
»We dont know« said Clennam almost in the tone of a man in pain »that he
will not make her happy«
»We dont know« returned his partner »that the earth will last another
hundred years but we think it highly probable«
»Well well« said Clennam »we must be hopeful and we must at least try to
be if not generous which in this case we have no opportunity of being
just We will not disparage this gentleman because he is successful in his
addresses to the beautiful object of his ambition and we will not question her
natural right to bestow her love on one whom she finds worthy of it«
»May be my friend« said Doyce »May be also that she is too young and
petted too confiding and inexperienced to discriminate well«
»That« said Clennam »would be far beyond our power of correction«
Daniel Doyce shook his head gravely and rejoined »I fear so«
»Therefore in a word« said Clennam »we should make up our minds that it
is not worthy of us to say any ill of Mr Gowan It would be a poor thing to
gratify a prejudice against him And I resolve for my part not to depreciate
him«
»I am not quite so sure of myself and therefore I reserve my privilege of
objecting to him« returned the other »But if I am not sure of myself I am
sure of you Clennam and I know what an upright man you are and how much to be
respected Good night my friend and partner« He shook his hand in saying this
as if there had been something serious at the bottom of their conversation and
they separated
By this time they had visited the family on several occasions and had
always observed that even a passing allusion to Mr Henry Gowan when he was not
among them brought back the cloud which had obscured Mr Meagless sunshine on
the morning of the chance encounter at the Ferry If Clennam had ever admitted
the forbidden passion into his breast this period might have been a period of
real trial under the actual circumstances doubtless it was nothing nothing
Equally if his heart had given entertainment to that prohibited guest his
silent fighting of his way through the mental condition of this period might
have been a little meritorious In the constant effort not to be betrayed into a
new phase of the besetting sin of his experience the pursuit of selfish objects
by low and small means and to hold instead to some high principle of honour and
generosity there might have been a little merit In the resolution not even to
avoid Mr Meagless house lest in the selfish sparing of himself he should
bring any slight distress upon the daughter through making her the cause of an
estrangement which he believed the father would regret there might have been a
little merit In the modest truthfulness of always keeping in view the greater
equality of Mr Gowans years and the greater attractions of his person and
manner there might have been a little merit In doing all this and much more
in a perfectly unaffected way and with a manful and composed constancy while
the pain within him peculiar as his life and history was very sharp there
might have been some quiet strength of character But after the resolution he
had made of course he could have no such merits as these and such a state of
mind was nobodys nobodys
Mr Gowan made it no concern of his whether it was nobodys or somebodys
He preserved his perfect serenity of manner on all occasions as if the
possibility of Clennams presuming to have debated the great question were too
distant and ridiculous to be imagined He had always an affability to bestow on
Clennam and an ease to treat him with which might of itself in the
supposititious case of his not having taken that sagacious course have been a
very uncomfortable element in his state of mind
»I quite regret you were not with us yesterday« said Mr Henry Gowan
calling on Clennam the next morning »We had an agreeable day up the river
there«
So he had heard Arthur said
»From your partner« returned Henry Gowan »What a dear old fellow he is«
»I have a great regard for him«
»By Jove he is the finest creature« said Gowan »So fresh so green
trusts in such wonderful things«
Here was one of the many little rough points that had a tendency to grate on
Clennams hearing He put it aside by merely repeating that he had a high regard
for Mr Doyce
»He is charming To see him mooning along to that time of life laying down
nothing by the way and picking up nothing by the way is delightful It warms a
man So unspoilt so simple such a good soul Upon my life Mr Clennam one
feels desperately worldly and wicked in comparison with such an innocent
creature I speak for myself let me add without including you You are genuine
also«
»Thank you for the compliment« said Clennam ill at ease »you are too I
hope«
»So so« rejoined the other »To be candid with you tolerably I am not a
great impostor Buy one of my pictures and I assure you in confidence it will
not be worth the money Buy one of another mans any great professor who beats
me hollow and the chances are that the more you give him the more hell
impose upon you They all do it«
»All painters«
»Painters writers patriots all the rest who have stands in the market
Give almost any man I know ten pounds and he will impose upon you to a
corresponding extent a thousand pounds to a corresponding extent ten
thousand pounds to a corresponding extent So great the success so great the
imposition But what a capital world it is« cried Gowan with warm enthusiasm
»What a jolly excellent lovable world it is«
»I had rather thought« said Clennam »that the principle you mention was
chiefly acted on by «
»By the Barnacles« interrupted Gowan laughing
»By the political gentlemen who condescend to keep the Circumlocution
Office«
»Ah Dont be hard upon the Barnacles« said Gowan laughing afresh »they
are darling fellows Even poor little Clarence the born idiot of the family is
the most agreeable and most endearing blockhead And by Jupiter with a kind of
cleverness in him too that would astonish you«
»It would Very much« said Clennam drily
»And after all« cried Gowan with that characteristic balancing of his
which reduced everything in the wide world to the same light weight »though I
cant deny that the Circumlocution Office may ultimately shipwreck everybody and
everything still that will probably not be in our time and its a school for
gentlemen«
»Its a very dangerous unsatisfactory and expensive school to the people
who pay to keep the pupils there I am afraid« said Clennam shaking his head
»Ah You are a terrible fellow« returned Gowan airily »I can understand
how you have frightened that little donkey Clarence the most estimable of
mooncalves I really love him nearly out of his wits But enough of him and
of all the rest of them I want to present you to my mother Mr Clennam Pray
do me the favour to give me the opportunity«
In nobodys state of mind there was nothing Clennam would have desired
less or would have been more at a loss how to avoid
»My mother lives in the most primitive manner down in that dreary redbrick
dungeon at Hampton Court« said Gowan »If you would make your own appointment
suggest your own day for permitting me to take you there to dinner you would be
bored and she would be charmed Really thats the state of the case«
What could Clennam say after this His retiring character included a great
deal that was simple in the best sense because unpractised and unused and in
his simplicity and modesty he could only say that he was happy to place himself
at Mr Gowans disposal Accordingly he said it and the day was fixed And a
dreaded day it was on his part and a very unwelcome day when it came and they
went down to Hampton Court together
The venerable inhabitants of that venerable pile seemed in those times to
be encamped there like a sort of civilised gipsies There was a temporary air
about their establishments as if they were going away the moment they could get
anything better there was also a dissatisfied air about themselves as if they
took it very ill that they had not already got something much better Genteel
blinds and makeshifts were more or less observable as soon as their doors were
opened screens not half high enough which made diningrooms out of arched
passages and warded off obscure corners where footboys slept at night with
their heads among the knives and forks curtains which called upon you to
believe that they didnt hide anything panes of glass which requested you not
to see them many objects of various forms feigning to have no connection with
their guilty secret a bed disguised traps in walls which were clearly
coalcellars affectations of no thoroughfares which were evidently doors to
little kitchens Mental reservations and artful mysteries grew out of these
things Callers looking steadily into the eyes of their receivers pretended not
to smell cooking three feet off people confronting closets accidentally left
open pretended not to see bottles visitors with their heads against a
partition of thin canvas and a page and a young female at high words on the
other side made believe to be sitting in a primeval silence There was no end
to the small social accommodationbills of this nature which the gipsies of
gentility were constantly drawing upon and accepting for one another.
Some of these Bohemians were of an irritable temperament as constantly
soured and vexed by two mental trials the first the consciousness that they
had never got enough out of the public the second the consciousness that the
public were admitted into the building Under the latter great wrong a few
suffered dreadfully particularly on Sundays when they had for some time
expected the earth to open and swallow the public up but which desirable event
had not yet occurred in consequence of some reprehensible laxity in the
arrangements of the Universe
Mrs Gowans door was attended by a family servant of several years
standing who had his own crow to pluck with the public concerning a situation
in the PostOffice which he had been for some time expecting and to which he
was not yet appointed He perfectly knew that the public could never have got
him in but he grimly gratified himself with the idea that the public kept him
out Under the influence of this injury and perhaps of some little straitness
and irregularity in the matter of wages he had grown neglectful of his person
and morose in mind and now beholding in Clennam one of the degraded body of his
oppressors received him with ignominy
Mrs Gowan however received him with condescension He found her a courtly
old lady formerly a Beauty and still sufficiently wellfavoured to have
dispensed with the powder on her nose and a certain impossible bloom under each
eye She was a little lofty with him so was another old lady darkbrowed and
highnosed and who must have had something real about her or she could not
have existed but it was certainly not her hair or her teeth or her figure or
her complexion so was a grey old gentleman of dignified and sullen appearance
both of whom had come to dinner But as they had all been in the British
Embassy way in sundry parts of the earth and as a British Embassy cannot better
establish a character with the Circumlocution Office than by treating its
compatriots with illimitable contempt else it would become like the Embassies
of other countries Clennam felt that on the whole they let him off lightly
The dignified old gentleman turned out to be Lord Lancaster Stiltstalking
who had been maintained by the Circumlocution Office for many years as a
representative of the Britannic Majesty abroad This noble Refrigerator had iced
several European courts in his time and had done it with such complete success
that the very name of Englishman yet struck cold to the stomachs of foreigners
who had the distinguished honour of remembering him at a distance of a quarter
of a century
He was now in retirement and hence in a ponderous white cravat like a
stiff snowdrift was so obliging as to shade the dinner There was a whisper of
the pervading Bohemian character in the nomadic nature of the service and its
curious races of plates and dishes but the noble Refrigerator infinitely
better than plate or porcelain made it superb He shaded the dinner cooled the
wines chilled the gravy and blighted the vegetables
There was only one other person in the room a microscopically small
footboy who waited on the malevolent man who hadnt got into the PostOffice
Even this youth if his jacket could have been unbuttoned and his heart laid
bare would have been seen as a distant adherent of the Barnacle family
already to aspire to a situation under Government
Mrs Gowan with a gentle melancholy upon her occasioned by her sons being
reduced to court the swinish public as a follower of the low Arts instead of
asserting his birthright and putting a ring through its nose as an acknowledged
Barnacle headed the conversation at dinner on the evil days It was then that
Clennam learned for the first time what little pivots this great world goes
round upon
»If John Barnacle« said Mrs Gowan after the degeneracy of the times had
been fully ascertained »if John Barnacle had but abandoned his most unfortunate
idea of conciliating the mob all would have been well and I think the country
would have been preserved«
The old lady with the high nose assented but added that if Augustus
Stiltstalking had in a general way ordered the cavalry out with instructions to
charge she thought the country would have been preserved
The noble Refrigerator assented but added that if William Barnacle and
Tudor Stiltstalking when they came over to one another and formed their
evermemorable coalition had boldly muzzled the newspapers and rendered it
penal for any Editorperson to presume to discuss the conduct of any appointed
authority abroad or at home he thought the country would have been preserved
It was agreed that the country another word for the Barnacles and
Stiltstalkings wanted preserving but how it came to want preserving was not so
clear It was only clear that the question was all about John Barnacle Augustus
Stiltstalking William Barnacle and Tudor Stiltstalking Tom Dick or Harry
Barnacle or Stiltstalking because there was nobody else but mob And this was
the feature of the conversation which impressed Clennam as a man not used to
it very disagreeably making him doubt if it were quite right to sit there
silently hearing a great nation narrowed to such little bounds Remembering
however that in the Parliamentary debates whether on the life of that nations
body or the life of its soul the question was usually all about and between
John Barnacle Augustus Stiltstalking William Barnacle and Tudor Stiltstalking
Tom Dick or Harry Barnacle or Stiltstalking and nobody else he said nothing
on the part of mob bethinking himself that mob was used to it
Mr Henry Gowan seemed to have a malicious pleasure in playing off the three
talkers against each other and in seeing Clennam startled by what they said
Having as supreme a contempt for the class that had thrown him off as for the
class that had not taken him on he had no personal disquiet in anything that
passed His healthy state of mind appeared even to derive a gratification from
Clennams position of embarrassment and isolation among the good company and if
Clennam had been in that condition with which Nobody was incessantly contending
he would have suspected it and would have struggled with the suspicion as a
meanness even while he sat at the table
In the course of a couple of hours the noble Refrigerator at no time less
than a hundred years behind the period got about five centuries in arrear and
delivered solemn political oracles appropriate to that epoch He finished by
freezing a cup of tea for his own drinking and retiring at his lowest
temperature
Then Mrs Gowan who had been accustomed in her days of state to retain a
vacant armchair beside her to which to summon her devoted slaves one by one
for short audiences as marks of her especial favour invited Clennam with a turn
of her fan to approach the presence He obeyed and took the tripod recently
vacated by Lord Lancaster Stiltstalking
»Mr Clennam« said Mrs Gowan »apart from the happiness I have in becoming
known to you though in this odiously inconvenient place a mere barrack
there is a subject on which I am dying to speak to you It is the subject in
connection with which my son first had I believe the pleasure of cultivating
your acquaintance«
Clennam inclined his head as a generally suitable reply to what he did not
yet quite understand
»First« said Mrs Gowan »now is she really pretty«
In nobodys difficulties he would have found it very difficult to answer
very difficult indeed to smile and say »Who«
»Oh You know« she returned »This flame of Henrys This unfortunate
fancy There If it is a point of honour that I should originate the name Miss
Mickles Miggles«
»Miss Meagles« said Clennam »is very beautiful«
»Men are so often mistaken on those points« returned Mrs Gowan shaking
her head »that I candidly confess to you I feel anything but sure of it even
now though it is something to have Henry corroborated with so much gravity and
emphasis He picked the people up at Rome I think«
The phrase would have given nobody mortal offence Clennam replied »Excuse
me I doubt if I understand your expression«
»Picked the people up« said Mrs Gowan tapping the sticks of her closed
fan a large green one which she used as a handscreen upon her little table
»Came upon them Found them out Stumbled against them«
»The people«
»Yes The Miggles people«
»I really cannot say« said Clennam »where my friend Mr Meagles first
presented Mr Henry Gowan to his daughter«
»I am pretty sure he picked her up at Rome but never mind where
somewhere Now this is entirely between ourselves is she very plebeian«
»Really maam« returned Clennam »I am so undoubtedly plebeian myself
that I do not feel qualified to judge«
»Very neat« said Mrs Gowan coolly unfurling her screen »Very happy From
which I infer that you secretly think her manner equal to her looks«
Clennam after a moments stiffness bowed
»Thats comforting and I hope you may be right Did Henry tell me you had
travelled with them«
»I travelled with my friend Mr Meagles and his wife and daughter during
some months« Nobodys heart might have been wrung by the remembrance
»Really comforting because you must have had a large experience of them
You see Mr Clennam this thing has been going on for a long time and I find
no improvement in it Therefore to have the opportunity of speaking to one so
well informed about it as yourself is an immense relief to me Quite a boon
Quite a blessing I am sure«
»Pardon me« returned Clennam »but I am not in Mr Henry Gowans
confidence I am far from being so well informed as you suppose me to be Your
mistake makes my position a very delicate one No word on this topic has ever
passed between Mr Henry Gowan and myself«
Mrs Gowan glanced at the other end of the room where her son was playing
écarté on a sofa with the old lady who was for a charge of cavalry
»Not in his confidence No« said Mrs Gowan »No word has passed between
you No That I can imagine But there are unexpressed confidences Mr Clennam
and as you have been together intimately among these people I cannot doubt that
a confidence of that sort exists in the present case Perhaps you have heard
that I have suffered the keenest distress of mind from Henrys having taken to a
pursuit which well« shrugging her shoulders »a very respectable pursuit I
dare say and some artists are as artists quite superior persons still we
never yet in our family have gone beyond an Amateur and it is a pardonable
weakness to feel a little «
As Mrs Gowan broke off to heave a sigh Clennam however resolute to be
magnanimous could not keep down the thought that there was mighty little danger
of the familys ever going beyond an Amateur even as it was
»Henry« the mother resumed »is selfwilled and resolute and as these
people naturally strain every nerve to catch him I can entertain very little
hope Mr Clennam that the thing will be broken off I apprehend the girls
fortune will be very small Henry might have done much better there is scarcely
anything to compensate for the connection still he acts for himself and if I
find no improvement within a short time I see no other course than to resign
myself and make the best of these people I am infinitely obliged to you for
what you have told me«
As she shrugged her shoulders Clennam stiffly bowed again With an uneasy
flush upon his face and hesitation in his manner he then said in a still
lower tone than he had adopted yet
»Mrs Gowan I scarcely know how to acquit myself of what I feel to be a
duty and yet I must ask you for your kind consideration in attempting to
discharge it A misconception on your part a very great misconception if I may
venture to call it so seems to require setting right You have supposed Mr
Meagles and his family to strain every nerve I think you said «
»Every nerve« repeated Mrs Gowan looking at him in calm obstinacy with
her green fan between her face and the fire
»To secure Mr Henry Gowan«
The lady placidly assented
»Now that is so far« said Arthur »from being the case that I know Mr
Meagles to be unhappy in this matter and to have interposed all reasonable
obstacles with the hope of putting an end to it«
Mrs Gowan shut up her great green fan tapped him on the arm with it and
tapped her smiling lips »Why of course« said she »Just what I mean«
Arthur watched her face for some explanation of what she did mean
»Are you really serious Mr Clennam Dont you see«
Arthur did not see and said so
»Why dont I know my son and dont I know that this is exactly the way to
hold him« said Mrs Gowan contemptuously »and do not these Miggles people
know it at least as well as I Oh shrewd people Mr Clennam evidently people
of business I believe Miggles belonged to a Bank It ought to have been a very
profitable Bank if he had much to do with its management This is very well
done indeed«
»I beg and entreat you maam « Arthur interposed
»Oh Mr Clennam can you really be so credulous«
It made such a painful impression upon him to hear her talking in this
haughty tone and to see her patting her contemptuous lips with her fan that he
said very earnestly »Believe me maam this is unjust a perfectly groundless
suspicion«
»Suspicion« repeated Mrs Gowan »Not suspicion Mr Clennam Certainty It
is very knowingly done indeed and seems to have taken you in completely« She
laughed and again sat tapping her lips with her fan and tossing her head as
if she added »Dont tell me I know such people will do anything for the honour
of such an alliance«
At this opportune moment the cards were thrown up and Mr Henry Gowan came
across the room saying »Mother if you can spare Mr Clennam for this time we
have a long way to go and its getting late« Mr Clennam thereupon rose as he
had no choice but to do and Mrs Gowan showed him to the last the same look
and the same tapped contemptuous lips
»You have had a portentously long audience of my mother« said Gowan as the
door closed upon them »I fervently hope she has not bored you«
»Not at all« said Clennam
They had a little open phaeton for the journey and were soon in it on the
road home Gowan driving lighted a cigar Clennam declined one Do what he
would he fell into such a mood of abstraction that Gowan said again »I am very
much afraid my mother has bored you« To which he roused himself to answer »Not
at all« and soon relapsed again
In that state of mind which rendered nobody uneasy his thoughtfulness would
have turned principally on the man at his side He would have thought of the
morning when he first saw him rooting out the stones with his heel and would
have asked himself »Does he jerk me out of the path in the same careless cruel
way« He would have thought had this introduction to his mother been brought
about by him because he knew what she would say and that he could thus place
his position before a rival and loftily warn him off without himself reposing a
word of confidence in him He would have thought even if there were no such
design as that had he brought him there to play with his repressed emotions
and torment him The current of these meditations would have been stayed
sometimes by a rush of shame bearing a remonstrance to himself from his own
open nature representing that to shelter such suspicions even for the passing
moment was not to hold the high unenvious course he had resolved to keep At
those times the striving within him would have been hardest and looking up and
catching Gowans eyes he would have started as if he had done him an injury
Then looking at the dark road and its uncertain objects he would have
gradually trailed off again into thinking »Where are we driving he and I I
wonder on the darker road of life How will it be with us and with her in the
obscure distance« Thinking of her he would have been troubled anew with a
reproachful misgiving that it was not even loyal to her to dislike him and that
in being so easily prejudiced against him he was less deserving of her than at
first
»You are evidently out of spirits« said Gowan »I am very much afraid my
mother must have bored you dreadfully«
»Believe me not at all« said Clennam »Its nothing nothing«
Chapter XXVII
FiveandTwenty
A frequently recurring doubt whether Mr Panckss desire to collect information
relative to the Dorrit family could have any possible bearing on the misgivings
he had imparted to his mother on his return from his long exile caused Arthur
Clennam much uneasiness at this period What Mr Pancks already knew about the
Dorrit family what more he really wanted to find out and why he should trouble
his busy head about them at all were questions that often perplexed him Mr
Pancks was not a man to waste his time and trouble in researches prompted by
idle curiosity That he had a specific object Clennam could not doubt And
whether the attainment of that object by Mr Panckss industry might bring to
light in some untimely way secret reasons which had induced his mother to take
Little Dorrit by the hand was a serious speculation
Not that he ever wavered either in his desire or his determination to
repair a wrong that had been done in his fathers time should a wrong come to
light and be reparable The shadow of a supposed act of injustice which had
hung over him since his fathers death was so vague and formless that it might
be the result of a reality widely remote from his idea of it But if his
apprehensions should prove to be well founded he was ready at any moment to lay
down all he had and begin the world anew As the fierce dark teaching of his
childhood had never sunk into his heart so the first article in his code of
morals was that he must begin in practical humility with looking well to his
feet on Earth and that he could never mount on wings of words to Heaven Duty
on Earth restitution on earth action on earth these first as the first steep
steps upward Strait was the gate and narrow was the way far straiter and
narrower than the broad high road paved with vain professions and vain
repetitions motes from other mens eyes and liberal delivery of others to the
judgment all cheap materials costing absolutely nothing
No It was not a selfish fear or hesitation that rendered him uneasy but a
mistrust lest Pancks might not observe his part of the understanding between
them and making any discovery might take some course upon it without
imparting it to him On the other hand when he recalled his conversation with
Pancks and the little reason he had to suppose that there was any likelihood of
that strange personage being on that track at all there were times when he
wondered that he made so much of it Labouring in this sea as all barks labour
in cross seas he tossed about and came to no haven
The removal of Little Dorrit herself from their customary association did
not mend the matter She was so much out and so much in her own room that he
began to miss her and to find a blank in her place He had written to her to
inquire if she were better and she had written back very gratefully and
earnestly telling him not to be uneasy on her behalf for she was quite well
but he had not seen her for what in their intercourse was a long time
He returned home one evening from an interview with her father who had
mentioned that she was out visiting which was what he always said when she
was hard at work to buy his supper and found Mr Meagles in an excited state
walking up and down his room On his opening the door Mr Meagles stopped
faced round and said
»Clennam Tattycoram«
»Whats the matter«
»Lost«
»Why bless my heart alive« cried Clennam in amazement »What do you mean«
»Wouldnt count fiveandtwenty sir couldnt be got to do it stopped at
eight and took herself off«
»Left your house«
»Never to come back« said Mr Meagles shaking his head »You dont know
that girls passionate and proud character A team of horses couldnt draw her
back now the bolts and bars of the old Bastille couldnt keep her«
»How did it happen Pray sit down and tell me«
»As to how it happened its not so easy to relate because you must have
the unfortunate temperament of the poor impetuous girl herself before you can
fully understand it But it came about in this way Pet and Mother and I have
been having a good deal of talk together of late Ill not disguise from you
Clennam that those conversations have not been of as bright a kind as I could
wish they have referred to our going away again In proposing to do which I
have had in fact an object.«
Nobodys heart beat quickly
»An object,« said Mr Meagles after a moments pause »that I will not
disguise from you either Clennam Theres an inclination on the part of my
dear child which I am sorry for Perhaps you guess the person Henry Gowan«
»I was not unprepared to hear it«
»Well« said Mr Meagles with a heavy sigh »I wish to God you had never
had to hear it However so it is Mother and I have done all we could to get
the better of it Clennam We have tried tender advice we have tried time we
have tried absence As yet of no use Our late conversations have been upon the
subject of going away for another year at least in order that there might be an
entire separation and breaking off for that term Upon that question Pet has
been unhappy and therefore Mother and I have been unhappy«
Clennam said that he could easily believe it
»Well« continued Mr Meagles in an apologetic way »I admit as a practical
man and I am sure Mother would admit as a practical woman that we do in
families magnify our troubles and make mountains of our molehills in a way
that is calculated to be rather trying to people who look on to mere outsiders
you know Clennam Still Pets happiness or unhappiness is quite a life or
death question with us and we may be excused I hope for making much of it At
all events it might have been borne by Tattycoram Now dont you think so«
»I do indeed think so« returned Clennam in most emphatic recognition of
this very moderate expectation
»No sir« said Mr Meagles shaking his head ruefully »She couldnt stand
it The chafing and firing of that girl the wearing and tearing of that girl
within her own breast has been such that I have softly said to her again and
again in passing her Fiveandtwenty Tattycoram fiveandtwenty I heartily
wish she could have gone on counting fiveandtwenty day and night and then it
wouldnt have happened«
Mr Meagles with a despondent countenance in which the goodness of his
heart was even more expressed than in his times of cheerfulness and gaiety
stroked his face down from his forehead to his chin and shook his head again
»I said to Mother not that it was necessary for she would have thought it
all for herself we are practical people my dear and we know her story we
see in this unhappy girl some reflection of what was raging in her mothers
heart before ever such a creature as this poor thing was in the world well
gloss her temper over Mother we wont notice it at present my dear well
take advantage of some better disposition in her another time So we said
nothing But do what we would it seems as if it was to be she broke out
violently one night«
»How and why«
»If you ask me Why« said Mr Meagles a little disturbed by the question
for he was far more intent on softening her case than the familys »I can only
refer you to what I have just repeated as having been pretty near my words to
Mother As to How we had said Good night to Pet in her presence very
affectionately I must allow and she had attended Pet upstairs you remember
she was her maid Perhaps Pet having been out of sorts may have been a little
more inconsiderate than usual in requiring services of her but I dont know
that I have any right to say so she was always thoughtful and gentle«
»The gentlest mistress in the world«
»Thank you Clennam« said Mr Meagles shaking him by the hand »you have
often seen them together Well We presently heard this unfortunate Tattycoram
loud and angry and before we could ask what was the matter Pet came back in a
tremble saying she was frightened of her Close after her came Tattycoram in a
flaming rage I hate you all three says she stamping her foot at us I am
bursting with hate of the whole house«
»Upon which you «
»I« said Mr Meagles with a plain good faith that might have commanded
the belief of Mrs Gowan herself »I said count fiveandtwenty Tattycoram«
Mr Meagles again stroked his face and shook his head with an air of
profound regret
»She was so used to do it Clennam that even then such a picture of
passion as you never saw she stopped short looked me full in the face and
counted as I made out to eight But she couldnt control herself to go any
further There she broke down poor thing and gave the other seventeen to the
four winds Then it all burst out She detested us she was miserable with us
she couldnt bear it she wouldnt bear it she was determined to go away She
was younger than her young mistress and would she remain to see her always held
up as the only creature who was young and interesting and to be cherished and
loved No She wouldnt she wouldnt she wouldnt What did we think she
Tattycoram might have been if she had been caressed and cared for in her
childhood like her young mistress As good as her Ah Perhaps fifty times as
good When we pretended to be so fond of one another, we exulted over her that
was what we did we exulted over her and shamed her And all in the house did
the same They talked about their fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters
they liked to drag them up before her face There was Mrs Tickit only
yesterday when her little grandchild was with her had been amused by the
childs trying to call her Tattycoram by the wretched name we gave her and
had laughed at the name Why who didnt and who were we that we should have a
right to name her like a dog or a cat But she didnt care She would take no
more benefits from us she would fling us her name back again and she would go
She would leave us that minute nobody should stop her and we should never hear
of her again«
Mr Meagles had recited all this with such a vivid remembrance of his
original that he was almost as flushed and hot by this time as he described her
to have been
»Ah well« he said wiping his face »It was of no use trying reason then
with that vehement panting creature Heaven knows what her mothers story must
have been so I quietly told her that she should not go at that late hour of
night and I gave her my hand and took her to her room and locked the house
doors But she was gone this morning«
»And you know no more of her«
»No more« returned Mr Meagles »I have been hunting about all day She
must have gone very early and very silently I have found no trace of her down
about us«
»Stay You want« said Clennam after a moments reflection »to see her I
assume that«
»Yes assuredly I want to give her another chance Mother and Pet want to
give her another chance come You yourself« said Mr Meagles persuasively as
if the provocation to be angry were not his own at all »want to give the poor
passionate girl another chance I know Clennam«
»It would be strange and hard indeed if I did not« said Clennam »when you
are all so forgiving What I was going to ask you was have you thought of that
Miss Wade«
»I have I did not think of her until I had pervaded the whole of our
neighbourhood and I dont know that I should have done so then but for finding
Mother and Pet when I went home full of the idea that Tattycoram must have
gone to her Then of course I recalled what she said that day at dinner when
you were first with us«
»Have you any idea where Miss Wade is to be found«
»To tell you the truth« returned Mr Meagles »its because I have an
addled jumble of a notion on that subject that you found me waiting here There
is one of those odd impressions in my house which do mysteriously get into
houses sometimes which nobody seems to have picked up in a distinct form from
anybody and yet which everybody seems to have got hold of loosely from somebody
and let go again that she lives or was living thereabouts« Mr Meagles
handed him a slip of paper on which was written the name of one of the dull
bystreets in the Grosvenor region near Park Lane
»Here is no number« said Arthur looking over it
»No number my dear Clennam« returned his friend »No anything The very
name of the street may have been floating in the air for as I tell you none
of my people can say where they got it from However its worth an inquiry and
as I would rather make it in company than alone and as you too were a
fellowtraveller of that immovable womans I thought perhaps « Clennam
finished the sentence for him by taking up his hat again and saying he was
ready
It was now summertime a grey hot dusty evening They rode to the top of
Oxford Street and there alighting dived in among the great streets of
melancholy stateliness and the little streets that try to be as stately and
succeed in being more melancholy of which there is a labyrinth near Park Lane
Wildernesses of corner houses with barbarous old porticoes and appurtenances
horrors that came into existence under some wrongheaded person in some
wrongheaded time still demanding the blind admiration of all ensuing
generations and determined to do so until they tumbled down frowned upon the
twilight Parasite little tenements with the cramp in their whole frame from
the dwarf halldoor on the giant model of His Graces in the Square to the
squeezed window of the boudoir commanding the dunghills in the Mews made the
evening doleful Rickety dwellings of undoubted fashion but of a capacity to
hold nothing comfortably except a dismal smell looked like the last result of
the great mansions breeding inandin and where their little supplementary
bows and balconies were supported on thin iron columns seemed to be
scrofulously resting upon crutches Here and there a Hatchment with the whole
science of Heraldry in it loomed down upon the street like an Archbishop
discoursing on Vanity The shops few in number made no show for popular
opinion was as nothing to them The pastrycook knew who was on his books and in
that knowledge could be calm with a few glass cylinders of dowager
peppermintdrops in his window and halfadozen ancient specimens of
currantjelly A few oranges formed the greengrocers whole concession to the
vulgar mind A single basket made of moss once containing plovers eggs held
all that the poulterer had to say to the rabble Everybody in those streets
seemed which is always the case at that hour and season to be gone out to
dinner and nobody seemed to be giving the dinners they had gone to On the
doorsteps there were lounging footmen with bright particoloured plumage and
white polls like an extinct race of monstrous birds and butlers solitary men
of recluse demeanour each of whom appeared distrustful of all other butlers
The roll of carriages in the Park was done for the day the street lamps were
lighting and wicked little grooms in the tightestfitting garments with twists
in their legs answering to the twists in their minds hung about in pairs
chewing straws and exchanging fraudulent secrets The spotted dogs who went out
with the carriages and who were so associated with splendid equipages that it
looked like a condescension in those animals to come out without them
accompanied helpers to and fro on messages Here and there was a retiring
publichouse which did not require to be supported on the shoulders of the
people and where gentlemen out of livery were not much wanted
This last discovery was made by the two friends in pursuing their inquiries
Nothing was there or anywhere known of such a person as Miss Wade in
connection with the street they sought It was one of the parasite streets
long regular narrow dull and gloomy like a brick and mortar funeral They
inquired at several little area gates where a dejected youth stood spiking his
chin on the summit of a precipitous little shoot of wooden steps but could gain
no information They walked up the street on one side of the way and down it on
the other what time two vociferous newssellers announcing an extraordinary
event that had never happened and never would happen pitched their hoarse
voices into the secret chambers but nothing came of it At length they stood at
the corner from which they had begun and it had fallen quite dark and they
were no wiser
It happened that in the street they had several times passed a dingy house
apparently empty with bills in the windows announcing that it was to let The
bills as a variety in the funeral procession almost amounted to a decoration
Perhaps because they kept the house separate in his mind or perhaps because Mr
Meagles and himself had twice agreed in passing »It is clear she dont live
there« Clennam now proposed that they should go back and try that house before
finally going away Mr Meagles agreed and back they went
They knocked once and they rang once without any response »Empty« said
Mr Meagles listening »Once more« said Clennam and knocked again After that
knock they heard a movement below and somebody shuffling up towards the door
The confined entrance was so dark that it was impossible to make out
distinctly what kind of person opened the door but it appeared to be an old
woman »Excuse our troubling you« said Clennam »Pray can you tell us where
Miss Wade lives« The voice in the darkness unexpectedly replied »Lives here«
»Is she at home«
No answer coming Mr Meagles asked again »Pray is she at home«
After another delay »I suppose she is« said the voice abruptly »you had
better come in and Ill ask«
They were summarily shut into the close black house and the figure rustling
away and speaking from a higher level said »Come up if you please you cant
tumble over anything« They groped their way upstairs towards a faint light
which proved to be the light of the street shining through a window and the
figure left them shut up in an airless room
»This is odd Clennam« said Mr Meagles softly
»Odd enough« assented Clennam in the same tone »but we have succeeded
thats the main point Heres a light coming«
The light was a lamp and the bearer was an old woman very dirty very
wrinkled and dry »Shes at home« she said and the voice was the same that had
spoken before »shell come directly« Having set the lamp down on the table
the old woman dusted her hands on her apron which she might have done for ever
without cleaning them looked at the visitors with a dim pair of eyes and
backed out
The lady whom they had come to see if she were the present occupant of the
house appeared to have taken up her quarters there as she might have
established herself in an Eastern caravanserai A small square of carpet in the
middle of the room a few articles of furniture that evidently did not belong to
the room and a disorder of trunks and travelling articles formed the whole of
her surroundings Under some former regular inhabitant the stifling little
apartment had broken out into a pierglass and a gilt table but the gilding was
as faded as last years flowers and the glass was so clouded that it seemed to
hold in magic preservation all the fogs and bad weather it had ever reflected
The visitors had had a minute or two to look about them when the door opened
and Miss Wade came in
She was exactly the same as when they had parted Just as handsome just as
scornful just as repressed She manifested no surprise in seeing them nor any
other emotion She requested them to be seated and declining to take a seat
herself at once anticipated any introduction of their business
»I apprehend« she said »that I know the cause of your favouring me with
this visit We may come to it at once«
»The cause then maam« said Mr Meagles »is Tattycoram«
»So I supposed«
»Miss Wade« said Mr Meagles »will you be so kind as to say whether you
know anything of her«
»Surely I know she is here with me«
»Then maam« said Mr Meagles »allow me to make known to you that I shall
be happy to have her back and that my wife and daughter will be happy to have
her back She has been with us a long time we dont forget her claims upon us
and I hope we know how to make allowances«
»You hope to know how to make allowances« she returned in a level
measured voice »For what«
»I think my friend would say Miss Wade« Arthur Clennam interposed seeing
Mr Meagles rather at a loss »for the passionate sense that sometimes comes
upon the poor girl of being at a disadvantage Which occasionally gets the
better of better remembrances«
The lady broke into a smile as she turned her eyes upon him »Indeed« was
all she answered
She stood by the table so perfectly composed and still after this
acknowledgment of his remark that Mr Meagles stared at her under a sort of
fascination and could not even look to Clennam to make another move After
waiting awkwardly enough for some moments Arthur said
»Perhaps it would be well if Mr Meagles could see her Miss Wade«
»That is easily done« said she »Come here child« She had opened a door
while saying this and now led the girl in by the hand It was very curious to
see them standing together the girl with her disengaged fingers plaiting the
bosom of her dress half irresolutely half passionately Miss Wade with her
composed face attentively regarding her and suggesting to an observer with
extraordinary force in her composure itself as a veil will suggest the form it
covers the unquenchable passion of her own nature
»See here« she said in the same level way as before »Here is your patron
your master He is willing to take you back my dear if you are sensible of the
favour and choose to go You can be again a foil to his pretty daughter a
slave to her pleasant wilfulness and a toy in the house showing the goodness of
the family You can have your droll name again playfully pointing you out and
setting you apart as it is right that you should be pointed out and set apart
Your birth you know you must not forget your birth You can again be shown
to this gentlemans daughter Harriet and kept before her as a living reminder
of her own superiority and her gracious condescension You can recover all these
advantages and many more of the same kind which I dare say start up in your
memory while I speak and which you lose in taking refuge with me you can
recover them all by telling these gentlemen how humbled and penitent you are
and by going back to them to be forgiven What do you say Harriet Will you
go«
The girl who under the influence of these words had gradually risen in
anger and heightened in colour answered raising her lustrous black eyes for
the moment and clenching her hand upon the folds it had been puckering up »Id
die sooner«
Miss Wade still standing at her side holding her hand looked quietly round
and said with a smile »Gentlemen What do you do upon that«
Poor Mr Meagless inexpressible consternation in hearing his motives and
actions so perverted had prevented him from interposing any word until now but
now he regained the power of speech
»Tattycoram« said he »for Ill call you by that name still my good girl
conscious that I meant nothing but kindness when I gave it to you and conscious
that you know it «
»I dont« said she looking up again and almost rending herself with the
same busy hand
»No not now perhaps« said Mr Meagles »not with that ladys eyes so
intent upon you Tattycoram« she glanced at them for a moment »and that power
over you which we see she exercises not now perhaps but at another time
Tattycoram Ill not ask that lady whether she believes what she has said even
in the anger and ill blood in which I and my friend here equally know she has
spoken though she subdues herself with a determination that any one who has
once seen her is not likely to forget Ill not ask you with your remembrance
of my house and all belonging to it whether you believe it Ill only say that
you have no profession to make to me or mine and no forgiveness to entreat and
that all in the world that I ask you to do is to count fiveandtwenty
Tattycoram«
She looked at him for an instant and then said frowningly »I wont Miss
Wade take me away please«
The contention that raged within her had no softening in it now it was
wholly between passionate defiance and stubborn defiance Her rich colour her
quick blood her rapid breath were all setting themselves against the
opportunity of retracing her steps »I wont I wont I wont« she repeated in
a low thick voice »Id be torn to pieces first Id tear myself to pieces
first«
Miss Wade who had released her hold laid her hand protectingly on the
girls neck for a moment and then said looking round with her former smile
and speaking exactly in her former tone »Gentlemen What do you do upon that«
»Oh Tattycoram Tattycoram« cried Mr Meagles adjuring her besides with
an earnest hand »Hear that ladys voice look at that ladys face consider
what is in that ladys heart and think what a future lies before you My child
whatever you may think that ladys influence over you astonishing to us and
I should hardly go too far in saying terrible to us to see is founded in
passion fiercer than yours and temper more violent than yours What can you two
be together What can come of it«
»I am alone here gentlemen« observed Miss Wade with no change of voice or
manner »Say anything you will«
»Politeness must yield to this misguided girl maam« said Mr Meagles »at
her present pass though I hope not altogether to dismiss it even with the
injury you do her so strongly before me Excuse me for reminding you in her
hearing I must say it that you were a mystery to all of us and had nothing
in common with any of us when she unfortunately fell in your way I dont know
what you are but you dont hide cant hide what a dark spirit you have within
you If it should happen that you are a woman who from whatever cause has a
perverted delight in making a sisterwoman as wretched as she is I am old
enough to have heard of such I warn her against you and I warn you against
yourself«
»Gentlemen« said Miss Wade calmly »When you have concluded Mr Clennam
perhaps you will induce your friend «
»Not without another effort« said Mr Meagles stoutly »Tattycoram my
poor dear girl count fiveandtwenty«
»Do not reject the hope the certainty this kind man offers you« said
Clennam in a low emphatic voice »Turn to the friends you have not forgotten
Think once more«
»I wont Miss Wade« said the girl with her bosom swelling high and
speaking with her hand held to her throat »take me away«
»Tattycoram« said Mr Meagles »Once more yet The only thing I ask of you
in the world my child Count fiveandtwenty«
She put her hands tightly over her ears confusedly tumbling down her bright
black hair in the vehemence of the action and turned her face resolutely to the
wall Miss Wade who had watched her under this final appeal with that strange
attentive smile and that repressing hand upon her own bosom with which she had
watched her in her struggle at Marseilles then put her arm about her waist as
if she took possession of her for evermore
And there was a visible triumph in her face when she turned it to dismiss
the visitors
»As it is the last time I shall have this honour« she said »and as you
have spoken of not knowing what I am and also of the foundation of my influence
here you may now know that it is founded in a common cause What your broken
plaything is as to birth I am She has no name I have no name Her wrong is my
wrong I have nothing more to say to you«
This was addressed to Mr Meagles who sorrowfully went out As Clennam
followed she said to him with the same external composure and in the same
level voice but with a smile that is only seen on cruel faces a very faint
smile lifting the nostril scarcely touching the lips and not breaking away
gradually but instantly dismissed when done with
»I hope the wife of your dear friend Mr Gowan may be happy in the
contrast of her extraction to this girls and mine and in the high good fortune
that awaits her«
Chapter XXVIII
Nobodys Disappearance
Not resting satisfied with the endeavours he had made to recover his lost
charge Mr Meagles addressed a letter of remonstrance breathing nothing but
goodwill not only to her but to Miss Wade too No answer coming to these
epistles or to another written to the stubborn girl by the hand of her late
young mistress which might have melted her if anything could all three letters
were returned weeks afterwards as having been refused at the housedoor he
deputed Mrs Meagles to make the experiment of a personal interview That worthy
lady being unable to obtain one and being steadfastly denied admission Mr
Meagles besought Arthur to essay once more what he could do All that came of
his compliance was his discovery that the empty house was left in charge of the
old woman that Miss Wade was gone that the waifs and strays of furniture were
gone and that the old woman would accept any number of halfcrowns and thank
the donor kindly but had no information whatever to exchange for those coins
beyond constantly offering for perusal a memorandum relative to fixtures which
the houseagents young man had left in the hall
Unwilling even under this discomfiture to resign the ingrate and leave her
hopeless in case of her better dispositions obtaining the mastery over the
darker side of her character Mr Meagles for six successive days published a
discreetly covert advertisement in the morning papers to the effect that if a
certain young person who had lately left home without reflection would at any
time apply at his address at Twickenham everything would be as it had been
before and no reproaches need be apprehended The unexpected consequences of
this notification suggested to the dismayed Mr Meagles for the first time that
some hundreds of young persons must be leaving their homes without reflection
every day for shoals of wrong young people came down to Twickenham who not
finding themselves received with enthusiasm generally demanded compensation by
way of damages in addition to coachhire there and back Nor were these the
only uninvited clients whom the advertisement produced The swarm of
beggingletter writers who would seem to be always watching eagerly for any
hook however small to hang a letter upon wrote to say that having seen the
advertisement they were induced to apply with confidence for various sums
ranging from ten shillings to fifty pounds not because they knew anything about
the young person but because they felt that to part with those donations would
greatly relieve the advertisers mind Several projectors likewise availed
themselves of the same opportunity to correspond with Mr Meagles as for
example, to apprise him that their attention having been called to the
advertisement by a friend they begged to state that if they should ever hear
anything of the young person they would not fail to make it known to him
immediately and that in the meantime if he would oblige them with the funds
necessary for bringing to perfection a certain entirely novel description of
Pump the happiest results would ensue to mankind
Mr Meagles and his family under these combined discouragements had begun
reluctantly to give up Tattycoram as irrecoverable when the new and active firm
of Doyce and Clennam in their private capacities went down on a Saturday to
stay at the cottage until Monday The senior partner took the coach and the
junior partner took his walkingstick
A tranquil summer sunset shone upon him as he approached the end of his
walk and passed through the meadows by the river side He had that sense of
peace and of being lightened of a weight of care which country quiet awakens
in the breasts of dwellers in towns Everything within his view was lovely and
placid The rich foliage of the trees the luxuriant grass diversified with wild
flowers the little green islands in the river the beds of rushes the
waterlilies floating on the surface of the stream the distant voices in boats
borne musically towards him on the ripple of the water and the evening air were
all expressive of rest In the occasional leap of a fish or dip of an oar or
twittering of a bird not yet at roost or distant barking of a dog or lowing of
a cow in all such sounds there was the prevailing breath of rest which
seemed to encompass him in every scent that sweetened the fragrant air The long
lines of red and gold in the sky and the glorious track of the descending sun
were all divinely calm Upon the purple treetops far away and on the green
height near at hand up which the shades were slowly creeping there was an equal
hush Between the real landscape and its shadow in the water there was no
division both were so untroubled and clear and while so fraught with solemn
mystery of life and death so hopefully reassuring to the gazers soothed heart
because so tenderly and mercifully beautiful
Clennam had stopped not for the first time by many times to look about him
and suffer what he saw to sink into his soul as the shadows looked at seemed
to sink deeper and deeper into the water He was slowly resuming his way when
he saw a figure in the path before him which he had perhaps already associated
with the evening and its impressions
Minnie was there alone She had some roses in her hand and seemed to have
stood still on seeing him waiting for him Her face was towards him and she
appeared to have been coming from the opposite direction There was a flutter in
her manner which Clennam had never seen in it before and as he came near her
it entered his mind all at once that she was there of a set purpose to speak to
him
She gave him her hand and said »You wonder to see me here by myself But
the evening is so lovely I have strolled further than I meant at first I
thought it likely I might meet you and that made me more confident You always
come this way do you not«
As Clennam said that it was his favourite way he felt her hand falter on
his arm and saw the roses shake
»Will you let me give you one Mr Clennam I gathered them as I came out of
the garden Indeed I almost gathered them for you thinking it so likely I
might meet you Mr Doyce arrived more than an hour ago and told us you were
walking down«
His own hand shook as he accepted a rose or two from hers and thanked her
They were now by an avenue of trees Whether they turned into it on his movement
or on hers matters little He never knew how that was
»It is very grave here« said Clennam »but very pleasant at this hour
Passing along this deep shade and out at that arch of light at the other end
we come upon the ferry and the cottage by the best approach I think«
In her simple gardenhat and her light summer dress with her rich brown
hair naturally clustering about her and her wonderful eyes raised to his for a
moment with a look in which regard for him and trustfulness in him were
strikingly blended with a kind of timid sorrow for him she was so beautiful
that it was well for his peace or ill for his peace he did not quite know
which that he had made that vigorous resolution he had so often thought about
She broke a momentary silence by inquiring if he knew that papa had been
thinking of another tour abroad He said he had heard it mentioned She broke
another momentary silence by adding with some hesitation that papa had
abandoned the idea
At this he thought directly »they are to be married«
»Mr Clennam« she said hesitating more timidly yet and speaking so low
that he bent his head to hear her »I should very much like to give you my
confidence if you would not mind having the goodness to receive it I should
have very much liked to have given it to you long ago because I felt that you
were becoming so much our friend«
»How can I be otherwise than proud of it at any time Pray give it to me
Pray trust me«
»I could never have been afraid of trusting you« she returned raising her
eyes frankly to his face »I think I would have done so some time ago if I had
known how But I scarcely know how even now«
»Mr Gowan« said Arthur Clennam »has reason to be very happy God bless
his wife and him«
She wept as she tried to thank him He reassured her took her hand as it
lay with the trembling roses in it on his arm took the remaining roses from it
and put it to his lips At that time it seemed to him he first finally
resigned the dying hope that had flickered in nobodys heart so much to its pain
and trouble and from that time he became in his own eyes as to any similar
hope or prospect a very much older man who had done with that part of life
He put the roses in his breast and they walked on for a little while slowly
and silently under the umbrageous trees Then he asked her in a voice of
cheerful kindness was there anything else that she would say to him as her
friend and her fathers friend many years older than herself was there any
trust she would repose in him any service she would ask of him any little aid
to her happiness that she could give him the lasting gratification of believing
it was in his power to render
She was going to answer when she was so touched by some little hidden
sorrow or sympathy what could it have been that she said bursting into
tears again »O Mr Clennam Good generous Mr Clennam pray tell me you do
not blame me«
»I blame you« said Clennam »My dearest girl I blame you No«
After clasping both her hands upon his arm and looking confidentially up
into his face with some hurried words to the effect that she thanked him from
her heart as she did if it be the source of earnestness she gradually
composed herself with now and then a word of encouragement from him as they
walked on slowly and almost silently under the darkening trees
»And now Minnie Gowan« at length said Clennam smiling »will you ask me
nothing«
»Oh I have very much to ask of you«
»Thats well I hope so I am not disappointed«
»You know how I am loved at home and how I love home You can hardly think
it perhaps dear Mr Clennam« she spoke with great agitation »seeing me going
from it of my own free will and choice but I do so dearly love it«
»I am sure of that« said Clennam »Can you suppose I doubt it«
»No no But it is strange even to me that loving it so much and being so
much beloved in it I can bear to cast it away It seems so neglectful of it so
unthankful«
»My dear girl« said Clennam »it is in the natural progress and change of
time All homes are left so«
»Yes I know but all homes are not left with such a blank in them as there
will be in mine when I am gone Not that there is any scarcity of far better and
more endearing and more accomplished girls than I am not that I am much but
that they have made so much of me«
Pets affectionate heart was overcharged and she sobbed while she pictured
what would happen
»I know what a change papa will feel at first and I know that at first I
cannot be to him anything like what I have been these many years And it is
then Mr Clennam then more than at any time that I beg and entreat you to
remember him and sometimes to keep him company when you can spare a little
while and to tell him that you know I was fonder of him when I left him than
I ever was in all my life For there is nobody he told me so himself when he
talked to me this very day there is nobody he likes so well as you or trusts
so much«
A clue to what had passed between the father and daughter dropped like a
heavy stone into the well of Clennams heart and swelled the water to his eyes
He said cheerily but not quite so cheerily as he tried to say that it should
be done that he gave her his faithful promise
»If I do not speak of mama« said Pet more moved by and more pretty in
her innocent grief than Clennam could trust himself even now to consider for
which reason he counted the trees between them and the fading light as they
slowly diminished in number »it is because mama will understand me better in
this action and will feel my loss in a different way and will look forward in
a different manner But you know what a dear devoted mother she is and you
will remember her too will you not«
Let Minnie trust him Clennam said let Minnie trust him to do all she
wished
»And dear Mr Clennam« said Minnie »because papa and one whom I need not
name do not fully appreciate and understand one another yet as they will
byandby and because it will be the duty and the pride and pleasure of my
new life to draw them to a better knowledge of one another, and to be a
happiness to one another, and to be proud of one another, and to love one
another, both loving me so dearly O as you are a kind true man when I am
first separated from home I am going a long distance away try to reconcile
papa to him a little more and use your great influence to keep him before
papas mind free from prejudice and in his real form Will you do this for me
as you are a noblehearted friend«
Poor Pet Selfdeceived mistaken child When were such changes ever made in
mens natural relations to one another: when was such reconcilement of ingrain
differences ever effected It has been tried many times by other daughters
Minnie it has never succeeded nothing has ever come of it but failure
So Clennam thought So he did not say it was too late He bound himself to
do all she asked and she knew full well that he would do it
They were now at the last tree in the avenue She stopped and withdrew her
arm Speaking to him with her eyes lifted up to his and with the hand that had
lately rested on his sleeve tremblingly touching one of the roses in his breast
as an additional appeal to him she said
»Dear Mr Clennam in my happiness for I am happy though you have seen me
crying I cannot bear to leave any cloud between us If you have anything to
forgive me not anything that I have wilfully done but any trouble I may have
caused you without meaning it or having it in my power to help it forgive me
tonight out of your noble heart«
He stooped to meet the guileless face that met his without shrinking He
kissed it and answered Heaven knew that he had nothing to forgive As he
stooped to meet the innocent face once again she whispered »Goodbye« and he
repeated it It was taking leave of all his old hopes all nobodys old
restless doubts They came out of the avenue next moment arminarm as they had
entered it and the trees seemed to close up behind them in the darkness like
their own perspective of the past
The voices of Mr and Mrs Meagles and Doyce were audible directly
speaking near the garden gate Hearing Pets name among them Clennam called
out »She is here with me« There was some little wondering and laughing until
they came up but as soon as they had all come together it ceased and Pet
glided away
Mr Meagles Doyce and Clennam without speaking walked up and down on the
brink of the river in the light of the rising moon for a few minutes and then
Doyce lingered behind and went into the house Mr Meagles and Clennam walked
up and down together for a few minutes more without speaking until at length
the former broke silence
»Arthur« said he using that familiar address for the first time in their
communication »do you remember my telling you as we walked up and down one hot
morning looking over the harbour at Marseilles that Pets baby sister who was
dead seemed to Mother and me to have grown as she had grown and changed as she
had changed«
»Very well«
»You remembered my saying that our thoughts had never been able to separate
those twin sisters and that in our fancy whatever Pet was the other was«
»Yes very well«
»Arthur« said Mr Meagles much subdued »I carry that fancy further
tonight I feel tonight my dear fellow as if you had loved my dead child
very tenderly and had lost her when she was like what Pet is now«
»Thank you« murmured Clennam »thank you« And pressed his hand
»Will you come in« said Mr Meagles presently
»In a little while«
Mr Meagles fell away and he was left alone When he had walked on the
rivers brink in the peaceful moonlight for some halfanhour he put his hand
in his breast and tenderly took out the handful of roses Perhaps he put them to
his heart perhaps he put them to his lips but certainly he bent down on the
shore and gently launched them on the flowing river Pale and unreal in the
moonlight the river floated them away
The lights were bright within doors when he entered and the faces on which
they shone his own face not excepted were soon quietly cheerful They talked
of many subjects his partner never had had such a ready store to draw upon for
the beguiling of the time and so to bed and to sleep While the flowers pale
and unreal in the moonlight floated away upon the river and thus do greater
things that once were in our breasts and near our hearts flow from us to the
eternal seas
Chapter XXIX
Mrs Flintwinch Goes on Dreaming
The house in the city preserved its heavy dulness through all these
transactions and the invalid within it turned the same unvarying round of life
Morning noon and night morning noon and night each recurring with its
accompanying monotony always the same reluctant return of the same sequences of
machinery like a dragging piece of clockwork
The wheeled chair had its associated remembrances and reveries one may
suppose as every place that is made the station of a human being has Pictures
of demolished streets and altered houses as they formerly were when the
occupant of the chair was familiar with them images of people as they too used
to be with little or no allowance made for the lapse of time since they were
seen of these there must have been many in the long routine of gloomy days To
stop the clock of busy existence at the hour when we were personally
sequestered from it to suppose mankind stricken motionless when we were
brought to a standstill to be unable to measure the changes beyond our view
by any larger standard than the shrunken one of our own uniform and contracted
existence; is the infirmity of many invalids and the mental unhealthiness of
almost all recluses
What scenes and actors the stern woman most reviewed as she sat from season
to season in her one dark room none knew but herself Mr Flintwinch with his
wry presence brought to bear upon her daily like some eccentric mechanical
force would perhaps have screwed it out of her if there had been less
resistance in her but she was too strong for him So far as Mistress Affery was
concerned to regard her liegelord and her disabled mistress with a face of
blank wonder to go about the house after dark with her apron over her head
always to listen for the strange noises and sometimes to hear them and never to
emerge from her ghostly dreamy sleepwaking state was occupation enough for
her
There was a fair stroke of business doing as Mistress Affery made out for
her husband had abundant occupation in his little office and saw more people
than had been used to come there for some years This might easily be the house
having been long deserted but he did receive letters and comers and keep
books and correspond Moreover he went about to other countinghouses and to
wharves and docks and to the Custom House and to Garraways Coffee House and
the Jerusalem Coffee House and on Change so that he was much in and out He
began too sometimes of an evening when Mrs Clennam expressed no particular
wish for his society to resort to a tavern in the neighbourhood to look at the
shipping news and closing prices in the evening paper and even to exchange
small socialities with mercantile Sea Captains who frequented that
establishment At some period of every day he and Mrs Clennam held a council
on matters of business and it appeared to Affery who was always groping about
listening and watching that the two clever ones were making money
The state of mind into which Mr Flintwinchs dazed lady had fallen had now
begun to be so expressed in all her looks and actions that she was held in very
low account by the two clever ones as a person never of strong intellect who
was becoming foolish Perhaps because her appearance was not of a commercial
cast or perhaps because it occurred to him that his having taken her to wife
might expose his judgment to doubt in the minds of customers Mr Flintwinch
laid his commands upon her that she should hold her peace on the subject of her
conjugal relations and should no longer call him Jeremiah out of the domestic
trio Her frequent forgetfulness of this admonition intensified her startled
manner since Mr Flintwinchs habit of avenging himself on her remissness by
making springs after her on the staircase and shaking her occasioned her to be
always nervously uncertain when she might be thus waylaid next
Little Dorrit had finished a long days work in Mrs Clennams room and was
neatly gathering up her shreds and odds and ends before going home Mr Pancks
whom Affery had just shown in was addressing an inquiry to Mrs Clennam on the
subject of her health coupled with the remark that »happening to find himself
in that direction« he had looked in to inquire on behalf of his proprietor
how she found herself Mrs Clennam with a deep contraction of her brows was
looking at him
»Mr Casby knows« said she »that I am not subject to changes The change
that I await here is the great change«
»Indeed maam« returned Mr Pancks with a wandering eye towards the
figure of the little seamstress on her knee picking threads and fraying of her
work from the carpet »You look nicely maam«
»I bear what I have to bear« she answered »Do you what you have to do«
»Thank you maam« said Mr Pancks »such is my endeavour«
»You are often in this direction are you not« asked Mrs Clennam
»Why yes maam« said Pancks »rather so lately I have lately been round
this way a good deal owing to one thing and another«
»Beg Mr Casby and his daughter not to trouble themselves by deputy about
me When they wish to see me they know I am here to see them They have no need
to trouble themselves to send You have no need to trouble yourself to come«
»Not the least trouble maam« said Mr Pancks »You really are looking
uncommonly nicely maam«
»Thank you Good evening«
The dismissal and its accompanying finger pointed straight at the door was
so curt and direct that Mr Pancks did not see his way to prolonging his visit
He stirred up his hair with his sprightliest expression glanced at the little
figure again said »Good evening maam dont come down Mrs Affery I know
the road to the door« and steamed out Mrs Clennam her chin resting on her
hand followed him with attentive and darkly distrustful eyes and Affery stood
looking at her as if she were spellbound
Slowly and thoughtfully Mrs Clennams eyes turned from the door by which
Pancks had gone out to Little Dorrit rising from the carpet With her chin
drooping more heavily on her hand and her eyes vigilant and lowering the sick
woman sat looking at her until she attracted her attention Little Dorrit
coloured under such a gaze and looked down Mrs Clennam still sat intent
»Little Dorrit« she said when she at last broke silence »what do you know
of that man«
»I dont know anything of him maam except that I have seen him about and
that he has spoken to me«
»What has he said to you«
»I dont understand what he has said he is so strange But nothing rough or
disagreeable«
»Why does he come here to see you«
»I dont know maam« said Little Dorrit with perfect frankness
»You know that he does come here to see you«
»I have fancied so« said Little Dorrit »But why he should come here or
anywhere for that maam I cant think«
Mrs Clennam cast her eyes towards the ground and with her strong set
face as intent upon a subject in her mind as it had lately been upon the form
that seemed to pass out of her view sat absorbed Some minutes elapsed before
she came out of this thoughtfulness and resumed her hard composure
Little Dorrit in the meanwhile had been waiting to go but afraid to disturb
her by moving She now ventured to leave the spot where she had been standing
since she had risen and to pass gently round by the wheeled chair She stopped
at its side to say »Good night maam«
Mrs Clennam put out her hand and laid it on her arm Little Dorrit
confused under the touch stood faltering Perhaps some momentary recollection
of the story of the Princess may have been in her mind
»Tell me Little Dorrit« said Mrs Clennam »have you many friends now«
»Very few maam Besides you only Miss Flora and one more«
»Meaning« said Mrs Clennam with her unbent finger again pointing to the
door »that man«
»Oh no maam«
»Some friend of his perhaps«
»No maam« Little Dorrit earnestly shook her head »Oh no No one at all
like him or belonging to him«
»Well« said Mrs Clennam almost smiling »It is no affair of mine I ask
because I take an interest in you and because I believe I was your friend when
you had no other who could serve you Is that so«
»Yes maam indeed it is I have been here many a time when but for you
and the work you gave me we should have wanted everything«
»We« repeated Mrs Clennam looking towards the watch once her dead
husbands which always lay upon her table »Are there many of you«
»Only father and I now I mean only father and I to keep regularly out of
what we get«
»Have you undergone many privations You and your father and who else there
may be of you« asked Mrs Clennam speaking deliberately and meditatively
turning the watch over and over
»Sometimes it has been rather hard to live« said Little Dorrit in her soft
voice and timid uncomplaining way »but I think not harder as to that than
many people find it«
»Thats well said« Mrs Clennam quickly returned »Thats the truth You
are a good thoughtful girl You are a grateful girl too or I much mistake
you«
»It is only natural to be that There is no merit in being that« said
Little Dorrit »I am indeed«
Mrs Clennam with a gentleness of which the dreaming Affery had never
dreamed her to be capable drew down the face of her little seamstress and
kissed her on the forehead
»Now go Little Dorrit« said she »or you will be late poor child«
In all the dreams Mistress Affery had been piling up since she first became
devoted to the pursuit she had dreamed nothing more astonishing than this Her
head ached with the idea that she would find the other clever one kissing Little
Dorrit next and then the two clever ones embracing each other and dissolving
into tears of tenderness for all mankind The idea quite stunned her as she
attended the light footsteps down the stairs that the house door might be
safely shut
On opening it to let Little Dorrit out she found Mr Pancks instead of
having gone his way as in any less wonderful place and among less wonderful
phenomena he might have been reasonably expected to do fluttering up and down
the court outside the house The moment he saw Little Dorrit he passed her
briskly said with his finger to his nose as Mistress Affery distinctly heard
»Pancks the gipsy fortunetelling« and went away »Lord save us heres a
gipsy and a fortuneteller in it now« cried Mistress Affery »What next«
She stood at the open door staggering herself with this enigma on a rainy
thundery evening The clouds were flying fast and the wind was coming up in
gusts banging some neighbouring shutters that had broken loose twirling the
rusty chimneycowls and weathercocks and rushing round and round a confined
adjacent churchyard as if it had a mind to blow the dead citizens out of their
graves The low thunder muttering in all quarters of the sky at once seemed to
threaten vengeance for this attempted desecration and to mutter »Let them
rest Let them rest«
Mistress Affery whose fear of thunder and lightning was only to be equalled
by her dread of the haunted house with a premature and preternatural darkness in
it stood undecided whether to go in or not until the question was settled for
her by the door blowing upon her in a violent gust of wind and shutting her out
»Whats to be done now whats to be done now« cried Mistress Affery wringing
her hands in this last uneasy dream of all »when shes all alone by herself
inside and can no more come down to open it than the churchyard dead
themselves«
In this dilemma Mistress Affery with her apron as a hood to keep the rain
off ran crying up and down the solitary paved enclosure several times Why she
should then stoop down and look in at the keyhole of the door as if an eye
would open it it would be difficult to say but it is none the less what most
people would have done in the same situation and it is what she did
From this posture she started up suddenly with a half scream feeling
something on her shoulder It was the touch of a hand of a mans hand
The man was dressed like a traveller in a foraging cap with fur about it
and a heap of cloak He looked like a foreigner He had a quantity of hair and
moustache jet black except at the shaggy ends where it had a tinge of red
and a high hook nose He laughed at Mistress Afferys start and cry and as he
laughed his moustache went up under his nose and his nose came down over his
moustache
»Whats the matter« he asked in plain English »What are you frightened
at«
»At you« panted Affery
»Me madam«
»And the dismal evening and and everything« said Affery »And here The
wind has been and blown the door to and I cant get in«
»Hah« said the gentleman who took that very coolly »Indeed Do you know
such a name as Clennam about here«
»Lord bless us I should think I did I should think I did« cried Affery
exasperated into a new wringing of hands by the inquiry
»Where about here«
»Where« cried Affery goaded into another inspection of the keyhole »Where
but here in this house And shes all alone in her room and lost the use of her
limbs and cant stir to help herself or me and the tother clever ones out
and Lord forgive me« cried Affery driven into a frantic dance by these
accumulated considerations »if I aint agoing headlong out of my mind«
Taking a warmer view of the matter now that it concerned himself the
gentleman stepped back to glance at the house and his eye soon rested on the
long narrow window of the little room near the halldoor
»Where may the lady be who has lost the use of her limbs madam« he
inquired with that peculiar smile which Mistress Affery could not choose but
keep her eyes upon
»Up there« said Affery »Them two windows«
»Ha I am of a fair size but could not have the honour of presenting myself
in that room without a ladder Now madam frankly frankness is a part of my
character shall I open the door for you«
»Yes bless you sir for a dear creetur and do it at once« cried Affery
»for she may be acalling to me at this very present minute or may be setting
herself afire and burning herself to death or theres no knowing what may be
happening to her and me agoing out of my mind at thinking of it«
»Stay my good madam« He restrained her impatience with a smooth white
hand »Businesshours I apprehend are over for the day«
»Yes yes yes« cried Affery »Long ago«
»Let me make then a fair proposal Fairness is a part of my character I
am just landed from the packetboat as you may see« He showed her that his
cloak was very wet and that his boots were saturated with water she had
previously observed that he was dishevelled and sallow as if from a rough
voyage and so chilled that he could not keep his teeth from chattering »I am
just landed from the packetboat madam and have been delayed by the weather
the infernal weather In consequence of this madam some necessary business
that I should otherwise have transacted here within the regular hours necessary
business because moneybusiness still remains to be done Now if you will
fetch any authorised neighbouring somebody to do it in return for my opening
the door Ill open the door If this arrangement should be objectionable Ill
« and with the same smile he made a significant feint of backing away
Mistress Affery heartily glad to effect the proposed compromise gave in
her willing adhesion to it The gentleman at once requested her to do him the
favour of holding his cloak took a short run at the narrow window made a leap
at the sill clung his way up the bricks and in a moment had his hand at the
sash raising it His eyes looked so very sinister as he put his leg into the
room and glanced round at Mistress Affery that she thought with a sudden
coldness if he were to go straight upstairs to murder the invalid what could
she do to prevent him
Happily he had no such purpose for he reappeared in a moment at the
house door »Now my dear madam« he said as he took back his cloak and threw
it on »if youll have the goodness to what the Devils that«
The strangest of sounds Evidently close at hand from the peculiar shock it
communicated to the air yet subdued as if it were far off A tremble a rumble
and a fall of some light dry matter
»What the Devil is it«
»I dont know what it is but Ive heard the like of it over and over
again« said Affery who had caught his arm
He could hardly be a very brave man even she thought in her dreamy start
and fright for his trembling lips had turned colourless After listening a few
moments he made light of it
»Bah Nothing Now my dear madam I think you spoke of some clever
personage Will you be so good as to confront me with that genius« He held the
door in his hand as though he were quite ready to shut her out again if she
failed
»Dont you say anything about the door and me then« whispered Affery
»Not a word«
»And dont you stir from here or speak if she calls while I run round the
corner«
»Madam I am a statue«
Affery had so vivid a fear of his going stealthily upstairs the moment her
back was turned that after hurrying out of sight she returned to the gateway
to peep at him Seeing him still on the threshold more out of the house than in
it as if he had no love for darkness and no desire to probe its mysteries she
flew into the next street and sent a message into the tavern to Mr Flintwinch
who came out directly The two returning together the lady in advance and Mr
Flintwinch coming up briskly behind animated with the hope of shaking her
before she could get housed saw the gentleman standing in the same place in
the dark and heard the strong voice of Mrs Clennam calling from her room »Who
is it What is it Why does no one answer Who is that down there«
Chapter XXX
The Word of a Gentleman
When Mr and Mrs Flintwinch panted up to the door of the old house in the
twilight Jeremiah within a second of Affery the stranger started back »Death
of my soul« he exclaimed »Why how did you get here«
Mr Flintwinch to whom these words were spoken repaid the strangers
wonder in full He gazed at him with blank astonishment he looked over his own
shoulder as expecting to see some one he had not been aware of standing behind
him he gazed at the stranger again speechlessly at a loss to know what he
meant he looked to his wife for explanation receiving none he pounced upon
her and shook her with such heartiness that he shook her cap off her head
saying between his teeth with grim raillery as he did it »Affery my woman
you must have a dose my woman This is some of your tricks You have been
dreaming again mistress Whats it about Who is it What does it mean Speak
out or be choked Its the only choice Ill give you«
Supposing Mistress Affery to have any power of election at the moment her
choice was decidedly to be choked for she answered not a syllable to this
adjuration but with her bare head wagging violently backwards and forwards
resigned herself to her punishment The stranger however picking up her cap
with an air of gallantry interposed
»Permit me« said he laying his hand on the shoulder of Jeremiah who
stopped and released his victim »Thank you Excuse me Husband and wife I
know from this playfulness Haha Always agreeable to see that relation
playfully maintained Listen May I suggest that somebody upstairs in the dark
is becoming energetically curious to know what is going on here«
This reference to Mrs Clennams voice reminded Mr Flintwinch to step into
the hall and call up the staircase »Its all right I am here Affery is coming
with your light« Then he said to the latter flustered woman who was putting
her cap on »Get out with you and get upstairs« and then turned to the
stranger and said to him »Now sir what might you please to want«
»I am afraid« said the stranger »I must be so troublesome as to propose a
candle«
»True« assented Jeremiah »I was going to do so Please to stand where you
are while I get one«
The visitor was standing in the doorway but turned a little into the gloom
of the house as Mr Flintwinch turned and pursued him with his eyes into the
little room where he groped about for a phosphorus box When he found it it
was damp or otherwise out of order and match after match that he struck into
it lighted sufficiently to throw a dull glare about his groping face and to
sprinkle his hands with pale little spots of fire but not sufficiently to light
the candle The stranger taking advantage of this fitful illumination of his
visage looked intently and wonderingly at him Jeremiah when he at last
lighted the candle knew he had been doing this by seeing the last shade of a
lowering watchfulness clear away from his face as it broke into the doubtful
smile that was a large ingredient in its expression
»Be so good« said Jeremiah closing the house door and taking a pretty
sharp survey of the smiling visitor in his turn »as to step into my
countinghouse Its all right I tell you« petulantly breaking off to answer
the voice upstairs still unsatisfied though Affery was there speaking in
persuasive tones »Dont I tell you its all right Preserve the woman has she
no reason at all in her«
»Timorous« remarked the stranger
»Timorous« said Mr Flintwinch turning his head to retort as he went
before with the candle »More courageous than ninety men in a hundred sir let
me tell you«
»Though an invalid«
»Many years an invalid Mrs Clennam The only one of that name left in the
House now My partner«
Saying something apologetically as he crossed the hall to the effect that
at that time of night they were not in the habit of receiving any one and were
always shut up Mr Flintwinch led the way into his own office which presented
a sufficiently businesslike appearance Here he put the light on his desk and
said to the stranger with his wryest twist upon him »Your commands«
»My name is Blandois«
»Blandois I dont know it« said Jeremiah
»I thought it possible« resumed the other »that you might have been
advised from Paris «
»We have had no advice from Paris respecting anybody of the name of
Blandois« said Jeremiah
»No«
»No«
Jeremiah stood in his favourite attitude The smiling Mr Blandois opening
his cloak to get his hand to a breastpocket paused to say with a laugh in his
glittering eyes which it occurred to Mr Flintwinch were too near together
»You are so like a friend of mine Not so identically the same as I supposed
when I really did for the moment take you to be the same in the dusk for which
I ought to apologise permit me to do so a readiness to confess my errors is I
hope a part of the frankness of my character still however uncommonly
like«
»Indeed« said Jeremiah perversely »But I have not received any letter of
advice from anywhere respecting anybody of the name of Blandois«
»Just so« said the stranger
»Just so« said Jeremiah
Mr Blandois not at all put out by this omission on the part of the
correspondents of the house of Clennam and Co took his pocketbook from his
breastpocket selected a letter from that receptacle and handed it to Mr
Flintwinch »No doubt you are well acquainted with the writing Perhaps the
letter speaks for itself, and requires no advice You are a far more competent
judge of such affairs than I am It is my misfortune to be not so much a man of
business as what the world calls arbitrarily a gentleman«
Mr Flintwinch took the letter and read under date of Paris »We have to
present to you on behalf of a highly esteemed correspondent of our Firm M
Blandois of this city« etc etc »Such facilities as he may require and such
attentions as may lie in your power« etc etc »Also have to add that if you
will honour M Blandois drafts at sight to the extent of say Fifty Pounds
sterling 50l« etc etc
»Very good sir« said Mr Flintwinch »Take a chair To the extent of
anything that our House can do we are in a retired oldfashioned steady way
of business sir we shall be happy to render you our best assistance I
observe from the date of this that we could not yet be advised of it Probably
you came over with the delayed mail that brings the advice«
»That I came over with the delayed mail sir« returned Mr Blandois
passing his white hand down his highhooked nose »I know to the cost of my head
and stomach the detestable and intolerable weather having racked them both You
see me in the plight in which I came out of the Packet within this halfhour I
ought to have been here hours ago and then I should not have to apologise
permit me to apologise for presenting myself so unseasonably an frightening
no bythebye you said not frightening permit me to apologise again the
esteemed lady Mrs Clennam in her invalid chamber above stairs«
Swagger and an air of authorised condescension do so much that Mr
Flintwinch had already begun to think this a highly gentlemanly personage Not
the less unyielding with him on that account he scraped his chin and said what
could he have the honour of doing for Mr Blandois tonight out of business
hours
»Faith« returned that gentleman shrugging his cloaked shoulders »I must
change and eat and drink and be lodged somewhere Have the kindness to advise
me a total stranger where and money is a matter of perfect indifference
until tomorrow The nearer the place the better Next door if thats all«
Mr Flintwinch was slowly beginning »For a gentleman of your habits there
is not in this immediate neighbourhood any hotel « when Mr Blandois took him
up
»So much for my habits my dear sir« snapping his fingers »A citizen of
the world has no habits That I am in my poor way a gentleman by Heaven I
will not deny but I have no unaccommodating prejudiced habits A clean room a
hot dish for dinner and a bottle of not absolutely poisonous wine are all I
want tonight But I want that much without the trouble of going one
unnecessary inch to get it«
»There is« said Mr Flintwinch with more than his usual deliberation as
he met for a moment Mr Blandois shining eyes which were restless »there is
a coffeehouse and tavern close here which so far I can recommend but
theres no style about it«
»I dispense with style« said Mr Blandois waving his hand »Do me the
honour to show me the house and introduce me there if I am not too
troublesome and I shall be infinitely obliged«
Mr Flintwinch upon this looked up his hat and lighted Mr Blandois
across the hall again As he put the candle on a bracket where the dark old
panelling almost served as an extinguisher for it he bethought himself of going
up to tell the invalid that he would not be absent five minutes
»Oblige me« said the visitor on his saying so »by presenting my card of
visit Do me the favour to add that I shall be happy to wait on Mrs Clennam
to offer my personal compliments and to apologise for having occasioned any
agitation in this tranquil corner if it should suit her convenience to endure
the presence of a stranger for a few minutes after he shall have changed his
wet clothes and fortified himself with something to eat and drink«
Jeremiah made all despatch and said on his return »Shell be glad to see
you sir but being conscious that her sick room has no attractions wishes me
to say that she wont hold you to your offer in case you should think better of
it«
»To think better of it« returned the gallant Blandois »would be to slight
a lady to slight a lady would be to be deficient in chivalry towards the sex
and chivalry towards the sex is a part of my character« Thus expressing
himself he threw the draggled skirt of his cloak over his shoulder and
accompanied Mr Flintwinch to the tavern taking up on the road a porter who
was waiting with his portmanteau on the outer side of the gateway
The house was kept in a homely manner and the condescension of Mr Blandois
was infinite It seemed to fill to inconvenience the little bar in which the
widow landlady and her two daughters received him it was much too big for the
narrow wainscoted room with a bagatelleboard in it that was first proposed for
his reception it perfectly swamped the little private holiday sittingroom of
the family which was finally given up to him Here in dry clothes and scented
linen with sleeked hair a great ring on each forefinger and a massive show of
watchchain Mr Blandois waiting for his dinner lolling on a windowseat with
his knees drawn up looked for all the difference in the setting of the jewel
fearfully and wonderfully like a certain Monsieur Rigaud who had once so waited
for his breakfast lying on the stone ledge of the iron grating of a cell in a
villainous dungeon at Marseilles
His greed at dinner too was closely in keeping with the greed of Monsieur
Rigaud at breakfast His avaricious manner of collecting all the eatables about
him and devouring some with his eyes while devouring others with his jaws was
the same manner His utter disregard of other people as shown in his way of
tossing the little womanly toys of furniture about flinging favourite cushions
under his boots for a softer rest and crushing delicate coverings with his big
body and his great black head had the same brute selfishness at the bottom of
it The softly moving hands that were so busy among the dishes had the old
wicked facility of the hands that had clung to the bars And when he could eat
no more and sat sucking his delicate fingers one by one and wiping them on a
cloth there wanted nothing but the substitution of vineleaves to finish the
picture
On this man with his moustache going up and his nose coming down in that
most evil of smiles and with his surface eyes looking as if they belonged to
his dyed hair and had had their natural power of reflecting light stopped by
some similar process Nature always true and never working in vain had set
the mark Beware It was not her fault if the warning were fruitless She is
never to blame in any such instance
Mr Blandois having finished his repast and cleaned his fingers took a
cigar from his pocket and lying on the windowseat again smoked it out at his
leisure occasionally apostrophising the smoke as it parted from his thin lips
in a thin stream
»Blandois you shall turn the tables on society my little child Haha Holy
blue you have begun well Blandois At a pinch an excellent master in English
or French a man for the bosom of families You have a quick perception you
have humour you have ease you have insinuating manners you have a good
appearance in effect you are a gentleman A gentleman you shall live my small
boy and a gentleman you shall die You shall win however the game goes They
shall all confess your merit Blandois You shall subdue the society which has
grievously wronged you to your own high spirit Death of my soul You are
highspirited by right and by nature my Blandois«
To such soothing murmurs did this gentleman smoke out his cigar and drink
out his bottle of wine Both being finished he shook himself into a sitting
attitude and with the concluding serious apostrophe »Hold then Blandois you
ingenious one have all your wits about you« arose and went back to the house
of Clennam and Co
He was received at the door by Mistress Affery who under instructions from
her lord had lighted up two candles in the hall and a third on the staircase
and who conducted him to Mrs Clennams room Tea was prepared there and such
little company arrangements had been made as usually attended the reception of
expected visitors They were slight on the greatest occasion never extending
beyond the production of the China teaservice and the covering of the bed with
a sober and sad drapery For the rest there was the bierlike sofa with the
block upon it and the figure in the widows dress as if attired for execution
the fire topped by the mound of damped ashes the grate with its second little
mound of ashes the kettle and the smell of black dye all as they had been for
fifteen years
Mr Flintwinch presented the gentleman commended to the consideration of
Clennam and Co Mrs Clennam who had the letter lying before her bent her head
and requested him to sit They looked very closely at one another. That was but
natural curiosity
»I thank you sir for thinking of a disabled woman like me Few who come
here on business have any remembrance to bestow on one so removed from
observation It would be idle to expect that they should have Out of sight out
of mind When I am grateful for the exception I dont complain of the rule«
Mr Blandois in his most gentlemanly manner was afraid he had disturbed
her by unhappily presenting himself at such an unconscionable time For which he
had already offered his best apologies to Mr he begged pardon but by name
had not the distinguished honour
»Mr Flintwinch has been connected with the House many years«
Mr Blandois was Mr Flintwinchs most obedient humble servant He entreated
Mr Flintwinch to receive the assurance of his profoundest consideration
»My husband being dead« said Mrs Clennam »and my son preferring another
pursuit our old House has no other representative in these days than Mr
Flintwinch«
»What do you call yourself« was the surly demand of that gentleman »You
have the head of two men«
»My sex disqualifies me« she proceeded with merely a slight turn of her
eyes in Jeremiahs direction »from taking a responsible part in the business
even if I had the ability and therefore Mr Flintwinch combines my interest
with his own and conducts it It is not what it used to be but some of our old
friends principally the writers of this letter have the kindness not to forget
us and we retain the power of doing what they entrust to us as efficiently as
we ever did This however is not interesting to you You are English sir«
»Faith madam no I am neither born nor bred in England In effect I am of
no country« said Mr Blandois stretching out his leg and smiting it »I
descend from halfadozen countries«
»You have been much about the world«
»It is true By Heaven madam I have been here and there and everywhere«
»You have no ties probably Are not married«
»Madam« said Mr Blandois with an ugly fall of his eyebrows »I adore your
sex but I am not married never was«
Mistress Affery who stood at the table near him pouring out the tea
happened in her dreamy state to look at him as he said these words and to fancy
that she caught an expression in his eyes which attracted her own eyes so that
she could not get them away The effect of this fancy was to keep her staring
at him with the teapot in her hand not only to her own great uneasiness but
manifestly to his too and through them both to Mrs Clennams and Mr
Flintwinchs Thus a few ghostly moments supervened when they were all
confusedly staring without knowing why
»Affery« her mistress was the first to say »what is the matter with you«
»I dont know« said Mistress Affery with her disengaged left hand extended
towards the visitor »It aint me Its him«
»What does this good woman mean« cried Mr Blandois turning white hot
and slowly rising with a look of such deadly wrath that it contrasted
surprisingly with the slight force of his words »How is it possible to
understand this good creature«
»Its not possible« said Mr Flintwinch screwing himself rapidly in that
direction »She dont know what she means Shes an idiot a wanderer in her
mind She shall have a dose she shall have such a dose Get along with you my
woman« he added in her ear »get along with you while you know youre Affery
and before youre shaken to yeast«
Mistress Affery sensible of the danger in which her identity stood
relinquished the teapot as her husband seized it put her apron over her head
and in a twinkling vanished The visitor gradually broke into a smile and sat
down again
»Youll excuse her Mr Blandois« said Jeremiah pouring out the tea
himself »shes failing and breaking up thats what shes about Do you take
sugar sir«
»Thank you no tea for me Pardon my observing it but thats a very
remarkable watch«
The teatable was drawn up near the sofa with a small interval between it
and Mrs Clennams own particular table Mr Blandois in his gallantry had risen
to hand that lady her tea her dish of toast was already there and it was in
placing the cup conveniently within her reach that the watch lying before her
as it always did attracted his attention Mrs Clennam looked suddenly up at
him
»May I be permitted Thank you A fine oldfashioned watch« he said taking
it in his hand »Heavy for use but massive and genuine I have a partiality for
everything genuine Such as I am I am genuine myself Hah A gentlemans watch
with two cases in the old fashion May I remove it from the outer case Thank
you Aye An old silk watchlining worked with beads I have often seen these
among old Dutch people and Belgians Quaint things«
»They are oldfashioned too« said Mrs Clennam
»Very But this is not so old as the watch I think«
»I think not«
»Extraordinary how they used to complicate these cyphers« remarked Mr
Blandois glancing up with his own smile again »Now is this DNF It might be
almost anything«
»Those are the letters«
Mr Flintwinch who had been observantly pausing all this time with a cup of
tea in his hand and his mouth open ready to swallow the contents began to do
so always entirely filling his mouth before he emptied it at a gulp and always
deliberating again before he refilled it
»DNF was some tender lovely fascinating fair creature I make no doubt«
observed Mr Blandois as he snapped on the case again »I adore her memory on
the assumption Unfortunately for my peace of mind I adore but too readily It
may be a vice it may be a virtue but adoration of female beauty and merit
constitutes three parts of my character madam«
Mr Flintwinch had by this time poured himself out another cup of tea which
he was swallowing in gulps as before with his eyes directed to the invalid
»You may be heartfree here sir« she returned to Mr Blandois »Those
letters are not intended I believe for the initials of any name«
»Of a motto perhaps« said Mr Blandois casually
»Of a sentence They have always stood I believe for Do Not Forget«
»And naturally« said Mr Blandois replacing the watch and stepping
backward to his former chair »you do not forget«
Mr Flintwinch finishing his tea not only took a longer gulp than he had
taken yet but made his succeeding pause under new circumstances that is to
say with his head thrown back and his cup held still at his lips while his
eyes were still directed at the invalid She had that force of face and that
concentrated air of collecting her firmness or obstinacy which represented in
her case what would have been gesture and action in another as she replied with
her deliberate strength of speech
»No sir I do not forget To lead a life as monotonous as mine has been
during many years is not the way to forget To lead a life of self-correction
is not the way to forget To be sensible of having as we all have every one of
us all the children of Adam offences to expiate and peace to make does not
justify the desire to forget Therefore I have long dismissed it and I neither
forget nor wish to forget«
Mr Flintwinch who had latterly been shaking the sediment at the bottom of
his teacup round and round here gulped it down and putting the cup in the
teatray as done with turned his eyes upon Mr Blandois as if to ask him what
he thought of that
»All expressed madam« said Mr Blandois with his smoothest bow and his
white hand on his breast »by the word naturally which I am proud to have had
sufficient apprehension and appreciation but without appreciation I could not
be Blandois to employ«
»Pardon me sir« she returned »if I doubt the likelihood of a gentleman of
pleasure and change and politeness accustomed to court and to be courted «
»Oh madam By Heaven«
» If I doubt the likelihood of such a character quite comprehending what
belongs to mine in my circumstances Not to obtrude doctrine upon you« she
looked at the rigid pile of hard pale books before her »for you go your own
way and the consequences are on your own head I will say this much that I
shape my course by pilots strictly by proved and tried pilots under whom I
cannot be shipwrecked can not be and that if I were unmindful of the
admonition conveyed in those three letters I should not be half as chastened as
I am«
It was curious how she seized the occasion to argue with some invisible
opponent Perhaps with her own better sense always turning upon herself and her
own deception
»If I forgot my ignorances in my life of health and freedom I might
complain of the life to which I am now condemned I never do I never have done
If I forgot that this scene the Earth is expressly meant to be a scene of
gloom and hardship and dark trial for the creatures who are made out of its
dust I might have some tenderness for its vanities But I have no such
tenderness If I did not know that we are every one the subject most justly
the subject of a wrath that must be satisfied and against which mere actions
are nothing I might repine at the difference between me imprisoned here and
the people who pass that gateway yonder But I take it as a grace and favour to
be elected to make the satisfaction I am making here to know what I know for
certain here and to work out what I have worked out here My affliction might
otherwise have had no meaning to me Hence I would forget and I do forget
nothing Hence I am contented and say it is better with me than with millions«
As she spoke these words she put her hand upon the watch and restored it
to the precise spot on her little table which it always occupied With her touch
lingering upon it she sat for some moments afterwards looking at it steadily
and halfdefiantly
Mr Blandois during this exposition had been strictly attentive keeping
his eyes fastened on the lady and thoughtfully stroking his moustache with his
two hands Mr Flintwinch had been a little fidgety and now struck in
»There there there« said he »That is quite understood Mrs Clennam and
you have spoken piously and well Mr Blandois I suspect is not of a pious
cast«
»On the contrary sir« that gentleman protested snapping his fingers
»Your pardon Its a part of my character I am sensitive ardent
conscientious and imaginative A sensitive ardent conscientious and
imaginative man Mr Flintwinch must be that or nothing«
There was an inkling of suspicion in Mr Flintwinchs face that he might be
nothing as he swaggered out of his chair it was characteristic of this man as
it is of all men similarly marked that whatever he did he overdid though it
were sometimes by only a hairsbreadth and approached to take his leave of
Mrs Clennam
»With what will appear to you the egotism of a sick old woman sir« she
then said »though really through your accidental allusion I have been led away
into the subject of myself and my infirmities Being so considerate as to visit
me I hope you will be likewise so considerate as to overlook that Dont
compliment me if you please« For he was evidently going to do it »Mr
Flintwinch will be happy to render you any service and I hope your stay in this
city may prove agreeable«
Mr Blandois thanked her and kissed his hand several times »This is an old
room« he remarked with a sudden sprightliness of manner looking round when he
got near the door »I have been so interested that I have not observed it But
its a genuine old room«
»It is a genuine old house« said Mrs Clennam with her frozen smile »A
place of no pretensions but a piece of antiquity«
»Faith« cried the visitor »If Mr Flintwinch would do me the favour to
take me through the rooms on my way out he could hardly oblige me more An old
house is a weakness with me I have many weaknesses but none greater I love
and study the picturesque in all its varieties I have been called picturesque
myself It is no merit to be picturesque I have greater merits perhaps but
I may be by an accident Sympathy sympathy«
»I tell you beforehand Mr Blandois that youll find it very dingy and
very bare« said Jeremiah taking up the candle »Its not worth your looking
at« But Mr Blandois smiting him in a friendly manner on the back only
laughed so the said Blandois kissed his hand again to Mrs Clennam and they
went out of the room together
»You dont care to go upstairs« said Jeremiah on the landing
»On the contrary Mr Flintwinch if not tiresome to you I shall be
ravished«
Mr Flintwinch therefore wormed himself up the staircase and Mr Blandois
followed close They ascended to the great garret bedroom which Arthur had
occupied on the night of his return »There Mr Blandois« said Jeremiah
showing it »I hope you may think that worth coming so high to see I confess I
dont«
Mr Blandois being enraptured they walked through other garrets and
passages and came down the staircase again By this time Mr Flintwinch had
remarked that he never found the visitor looking at any room after throwing one
quick glance around but always found the visitor looking at him Mr
Flintwinch With this discovery in his thoughts he turned about on the
staircase for another experiment He met his eyes directly and on the instant
of their fixing one another, the visitor with that ugly play of nose and
moustache laughed as he had done at every similar moment since they left Mrs
Clennams chamber a diabolically silent laugh
As a much shorter man than the visitor Mr Flintwinch was at the physical
disadvantage of being thus disagreeably leered at from a height and as he went
first down the staircase and was usually a step or two lower than the other
this disadvantage was at the time increased He postponed looking at Mr
Blandois again until this accidental inequality was removed by their having
entered the late Mr Clennams room But then twisting himself suddenly round
upon him he found his look unchanged
»A most admirable old house« smiled Mr Blandois »So mysterious Do you
never hear any haunted noises here«
»Noises« returned Mr Flintwinch »No«
»Nor see any devils«
»Not« said Mr Flintwinch grimly screwing himself at his questioner »not
any that introduce themselves under that name and in that capacity«
»Haha A portrait here I see«
Still looking at Mr Flintwinch as if he were the portrait
»Its a portrait sir as you observe«
»May I ask the subject Mr Flintwinch«
»Mr Clennam deceased Her husband«
»Former owner of the remarkable watch perhaps« said the visitor
Mr Flintwinch who had cast his eyes towards the portrait twisted himself
about again and again found himself the subject of the same look and smile
»Yes Mr Blandois« he replied tartly »It was his and his uncles before him
and Lord knows who before him and thats all I can tell you of its pedigree«
»Thats a strongly marked character Mr Flintwinch our friend upstairs«
»Yes sir« said Jeremiah twisting himself at the visitor again as he did
during the whole of this dialogue like some screwmachine that fell short of
its grip for the other never changed and he always felt obliged to retreat a
little »She is a remarkable woman Great fortitude great strength of mind«
»They must have been very happy« said Blandois
»Who« demanded Mr Flintwinch with another screw at him
Mr Blandois shook his right forefinger towards the sick room and his left
forefinger towards the portrait and then putting his arms akimbo and striding
his legs wide apart stood smiling down at Mr Flintwinch with the advancing
nose and the retreating moustache
»As happy as most other married people I suppose« returned Mr Flintwinch
»I cant say I dont know There are secrets in all families«
»Secrets« cried Mr Blandois quickly »Say it again my son«
»I say« replied Mr Flintwinch upon whom he had swelled himself so
suddenly that Mr Flintwinch found his face almost brushed by the dilated chest
»I say there are secrets in all families«
»So there are« cried the other clapping him on both shoulders and rolling
him backwards and forwards »Haha you are right So there are Secrets Holy
Blue There are the devils own secrets in some families Mr Flintwinch« With
that after clapping Mr Flintwinch on both shoulders several times as if in a
friendly and humorous way he were rallying him on a joke he had made he threw
up his arms threw back his head hooked his hands together behind it and burst
into a roar of laughter It was in vain for Mr Flintwinch to try another screw
at him He had his laugh out
»But favour me with the candle a moment« he said when he had done »Let
us have a look at the husband of the remarkable lady Hah« holding up the light
at arms length »A decided expression of face here too though not of the same
character Looks as if he were saying what is it Do Not Forget does he
not Mr Flintwinch By Heaven sir he does«
As he returned him the candle he looked at him once more and then
leisurely strolling out with him into the hall declared it to be a charming old
house indeed and one which had so greatly pleased him that he would not have
missed inspecting it for a hundred pounds
Throughout these singular freedoms on the part of Mr Blandois which
involved a general alteration in his demeanour making it much coarser and
rougher much more violent and audacious than before Mr Flintwinch whose
leathern face was not liable to many changes preserved its immobility intact
Beyond now appearing perhaps to have been left hanging a trifle too long
before that friendly operation of cutting down he outwardly maintained an
equable composure They had brought their survey to a close in the little room
at the side of the hall and he stood there eyeing Mr Blandois
»I am glad you are so well satisfied sir« was his calm remark »I didnt
expect it You seem to be quite in good spirits«
»In admirable spirits« returned Blandois »Word of honour never more
refreshed in spirits Do you ever have presentiments Mr Flintwinch«
»I am not sure that I know what you mean by the term, sir« replied that
gentleman
»Say in this case Mr Flintwinch undefined anticipations of pleasure to
come«
»I cant say Im sensible of such a sensation at present« returned Mr
Flintwinch with the utmost gravity »If I should find it coming on Ill
mention it«
»Now I« said Blandois »I my son have a presentiment tonight that we
shall be well acquainted Do you find it coming on«
»N no« returned Mr Flintwinch deliberately inquiring of himself »I
cant say I do«
»I have a strong presentiment that we shall become intimately acquainted
You have no feeling of that sort yet«
»Not yet« said Mr Flintwinch
Mr Blandois taking him by both shoulders again rolled him about a little
in his former merry way then drew his arm through his own and invited him to
come off and drink a bottle of wine like a dear deep old dog as he was
Without a moments indecision Mr Flintwinch accepted the invitation and
they went out to the quarters where the traveller was lodged through a heavy
rain which had rattled on the windows roofs and pavements ever since
nightfall The thunder and lightning had long ago passed over but the rain was
furious On their arrival at Mr Blandois room a bottle of port wine was
ordered by that gallant gentleman who crushing every pretty thing he could
collect in the soft disposition of his dainty figure coiled himself upon the
windowseat while Mr Flintwinch took a chair opposite to him with the table
between them Mr Blandois proposed having the largest glasses in the house to
which Mr Flintwinch assented The bumpers filled Mr Blandois with a
roystering gaiety clinked the top of his glass against the bottom of Mr
Flintwinchs and the bottom of his glass against the top of Mr Flintwinchs
and drank to the intimate acquaintance he foresaw Mr Flintwinch gravely
pledged him and drank all the wine he could get and said nothing As often as
Mr Blandois clinked glasses which was at every replenishment Mr Flintwinch
stolidly did his part of the clinking and would have stolidly done his
companions part of the wine as well as his own being except in the article of
palate a mere cask
In short Mr Blandois found that to pour port wine into the reticent
Flintwinch was not to open him but to shut him up Moreover he had the
appearance of a perfect ability to go on all night or if occasion were all
next day and all next night whereas Mr Blandois soon grew indistinctly
conscious of swaggering too fiercely and boastfully He therefore terminated the
entertainment at the end of the third bottle
»You will draw upon us tomorrow sir« said Mr Flintwinch with a
businesslike face at parting
»My Cabbage« returned the other taking him by the collar with both hands
»Ill draw upon you have no fear Adieu my Flintwinch Receive at parting«
here he gave him a southern embrace and kissed him soundly on both cheeks »the
word of a gentleman By a thousand Thunders you shall see me again«
He did not present himself next day though the letter of advice came duly
to hand Inquiring after him at night Mr Flintwinch found with surprise that
he had paid his bill and gone back to the Continent by way of Calais
Nevertheless Jeremiah scraped out of his cogitating face a lively conviction
that Mr Blandois would keep his word on this occasion and would be seen again
Chapter XXXI
Spirit
Anybody may pass any day in the thronged thoroughfares of the metropolis some
meagre wrinkled yellow old man who might be supposed to have dropped from the
stars if there were any star in the Heavens dull enough to be suspected of
casting off so feeble a spark creeping along with a scared air as though
bewildered and a little frightened by the noise and bustle This old man is
always a little old man If he were ever a big old man he has shrunk into a
little old man if he were always a little old man he has dwindled into a less
old man His coat is of a colour and cut that never was the mode anywhere at
any period Clearly it was not made for him or for any individual mortal Some
wholesale contractor measured Fate for five thousand coats of such quality and
Fate has lent this old coat to this old man as one of a long unfinished line of
many old men It has always large dull metal buttons similar to no other
buttons This old man wears a hat a thumbed and napless and yet an obdurate
hat which has never adapted itself to the shape of his poor head His coarse
shirt and his coarse neckcloth have no more individuality than his coat and hat
they have the same character of not being his of not being anybodys Yet this
old man wears these clothes with a certain unaccustomed air of being dressed and
elaborated for the public ways as though he passed the greater part of his time
in a nightcap and gown And so like the country mouse in the second year of a
famine come to see the town mouse and timidly threading his way to the town
mouses lodging through a city of cats this old man passes in the streets
Sometimes on holidays towards the evening he will be seen to walk with a
slightly increased infirmity and his old eyes will glimmer with a moist and
marshy light Then the little old man is drunk A very small measure will
overset him he may be bowled off his unsteady legs with a halfpint pot Some
pitying acquaintance chance acquaintance very often has warmed up his
weakness with a treat of beer and the consequence will be the lapse of a longer
time than usual before he shall pass again For the little old man is going
home to the Workhouse and on his good behaviour they do not let him out often
though methinks they might considering the few years he has before him to go
out in under the sun and on his bad behaviour they shut him up closer than
ever in a grove of two score and nineteen more old men every one of whom
smells of all the others
Mrs Plornishs father a poor little reedy piping old gentleman like a
wornout bird who had been in what he called the musicbinding business and
met with great misfortunes and who had seldom been able to make his way or to
see it or to pay it or to do anything at all with it but find it no
thoroughfare had retired of his own accord to the Workhouse which was
appointed by law to be the Good Samaritan of his district without the twopence
which was bad political economy on the settlement of that execution which had
carried Mr Plornish to the Marshalsea College Previous to his soninlaws
difficulties coming to that head Old Nandy he was always so called in his
legal Retreat but he was Old Mr Nandy among the Bleeding Hearts had sat in a
corner of the Plornish fireside and taken his bite and sup out of the Plornish
cupboard He still hoped to resume that domestic position when Fortune should
smile upon his soninlaw in the meantime while she preserved an immovable
countenance he was and resolved to remain one of these little old men in a
grove of little old men with a community of flavour
But no poverty in him and no coat on him that never was the mode, and no
Old Mens Ward for his dwellingplace could quench his daughters admiration
Mrs Plornish was as proud of her fathers talents as she possibly could have
been if they had made him Lord Chancellor She had as firm a belief in the
sweetness and propriety of his manners as she could possibly have had if he had
been Lord Chamberlain The poor little old man knew some pale and vapid little
songs long out of date about Chloe and Phyllis and Strephon being wounded by
the son of Venus and for Mrs Plornish there was no such music at the Opera as
the small internal flutterings and chirpings wherein he would discharge himself
of these ditties like a weak little broken barrelorgan ground by a baby On
his days out those flecks of light in his flat vista of pollard old men it was
at once Mrs Plornishs delight and sorrow when he was strong with meat and
had taken his full halfpennyworth of porter to say »Sing us a song Father«
Then would he give them Chloe and if he were in pretty good spirits Phyllis
also Strephon he had hardly been up to since he went into retirement and
then would Mrs Plornish declare she did believe there never was such a singer
as Father and wipe her eyes
If he had come from Court on these occasions nay if he had been the noble
Refrigerator come home triumphantly from a foreign court to be presented and
promoted on his last tremendous failure Mrs Plornish could not have handed him
with greater elevation about Bleeding Heart Yard »Heres Father« she would
say presenting him to a neighbour »Father will soon be home with us for good
now Aint Father looking well Fathers a sweeter singer than ever youd never
have forgotten it if youd aheard him just now« As to Mr Plornish he had
married these articles of belief in marrying Mr Nandys daughter and only
wondered how it was that so gifted an old gentleman had not made a fortune This
he attributed after much reflection to his musical genius not having been
scientifically developed in his youth »For why« argued Mrs Plornish »why go
a binding music when youve got it in yourself Thats where it is I consider«
Old Nandy had a patron one patron He had a patron who in a certain
sumptuous way an apologetic way as if he constantly took an admiring audience
to witness that he really could not help being more free with this old fellow
than they might have expected on account of his simplicity and poverty was
mightily good to him Old Nandy had been several times to the Marshalsea
College communicating with his soninlaw during his short durance there and
had happily acquired to himself and had by degrees and in course of time much
improved the patronage of the Father of that national institution
Mr Dorrit was in the habit of receiving this old man as if the old man
held of him in vassalage under some feudal tenure He made little treats and
teas for him as if he came in with his homage from some outlying district where
the tenantry were in a primitive state It seemed as if there were moments when
he could by no means have sworn but that the old man was an ancient retainer of
his who had been meritoriously faithful When he mentioned him he spoke of him
casually as his old pensioner He had a wonderful satisfaction in seeing him
and in commenting on his decayed condition after he was gone It appeared to him
amazing that he could hold up his head at all poor creature »In the Workhouse
sir the Union no privacy no visitors no station no respect no speciality
Most deplorable«
It was Old Nandys birthday and they let him out Ho said nothing about its
being his birthday or they might nave kept him in for such old men should not
be born He passed along the streets as usual to Bleeding Heart Yard and had
his dinner with his daughter and soninlaw and gave them Phyllis He had
hardly concluded when Little Dorrit looked in to see how they all were
»Miss Dorrit« said Mrs Plornish »Heres Father Aint he looking nice
And such voice hes in«
Little Dorrit gave him her hand and smilingly said she had not seen him
this long time
»No theyre rather hard on poor Father« said Mrs Plornish with a
lengthening face »and dont let him have half as much change and fresh air as
would benefit him But hell soon be home for good now Wont you Father«
»Yes my dear I hope so In good time please God«
Here Mr Plornish delivered himself of an oration which he invariably made
word for word the same on all such opportunities It was couched in the
following terms
»John Edward Nandy Sir While theres a ounce of wittles or drink of any
sort in this present roof youre fully welcome to your share on it While
theres a handful of fire or a mouthful of bed in this present roof youre
fully welcome to your share on it If so be as there should be nothing in this
present roof you should be as welcome to your share on it as if it was
something much or little And this is what I mean and so I dont deceive you
and consequently which is to stand out is to entreat of you and therefore why
not do it«
To this lucid address which Mr Plornish always delivered as if he had
composed it as no doubt he had with enormous labour Mrs Plornishs father
pipingly replied
»I thank you kindly Thomas and I know your intentions well which is the
same I thank you kindly for But no Thomas Until such times as its not to
take it out of your childrens mouths which take it is and call it by what
name you will it do remain and equally deprive though may they come and too
soon they can not come no Thomas no«
Mrs Plornish who had been turning her face a little away with a corner of
her apron in her hand brought herself back to the conversation again by
telling Miss Dorrit that Father was going over the water to pay his respects
unless she knew of any reason why it might not be agreeable
Her answer was »I am going straight home and if he will come with me I
shall be so glad to take care of him so glad« said Little Dorrit always
thoughtful of the feelings of the weak »of his company«
»There Father« cried Mrs Plornish »Aint you a gay young man to be going
for a walk along with Miss Dorrit Let me tie your neckhandkerchief into a
regular good bow for youre a regular beau yourself Father if ever there was
one«
With this filial joke his daughter smartened him up and gave him a loving
hug and stood at the door with her weak child in her arms and her strong child
tumbling down the steps looking after her little old father as he toddled away
with his arm under Little Dorrits
They walked at a slow pace and Little Dorrit took him by the Iron Bridge
and sat him down there for a rest and they looked over at the water and talked
about the shipping and the old man mentioned what he would do if he had a ship
full of gold coming home to him his plan was to take a noble lodging for the
Plornishes and himself at a Tea Gardens and live there all the rest of their
lives attended on by the waiter and it was a special birthday for the old
man They were within five minutes of their destination when at the corner of
her own street they came upon Fanny in her new bonnet bound for the same port
»Why good gracious me Amy« cried that young lady starting »You never
mean it«
»Mean what Fanny dear«
»Well I could have believed a great deal of you« returned the young lady
with burning indignation »but I dont think even I could have believed this of
even you«
»Fanny« cried Little Dorrit wounded and astonished
»Oh Dont Fanny me you mean little thing dont The idea of coming along
the open streets in the broad light of day with a Pauper« firing off the
last word as if it were a ball from an airgun
»O Fanny«
»I tell you not to Fanny me for Ill not submit to it I never knew such a
thing The way in which you are resolved and determined to disgrace us on all
occasions is really infamous You bad little thing«
»Does it disgrace anybody« said Little Dorrit very gently »to take care
of this poor old man«
»Yes Miss« returned her sister »and you ought to know it does And you do
know it does and you do it because you know it does The principal pleasure of
your life is to remind your family of their misfortunes And the next great
pleasure of your existence is to keep low company But however if you have no
sense of decency I have Youll please to allow me to go on the other side of
the way unmolested«
With this she bounced across to the opposite pavement The old disgrace
who had been deferentially bowing a pace or two off for Little Dorrit had let
his arm go in her wonder when Fanny began and who had been hustled and cursed
by impatient passengers for stopping the way rejoined his companion rather
giddy and said »I hope nothings wrong with your honoured father Miss I hope
theres nothing the matter in the honoured family«
»No no« returned Little Dorrit »No thank you Give me your arm again
Mr Nandy We shall soon be there now«
So she talked to him as she had talked before and they came to the Lodge
and found Mr Chivery on the lock and went in Now it happened that the Father
of the Marshalsea was sauntering towards the Lodge at the moment when they were
coming out of it entering the Prison arm in arm As the spectacle of their
approach met his view he displayed the utmost agitation and despondency of
mind and altogether regardless of Old Nandy who making his reverence stood
with his hat in his hand as he always did in that gracious presence turned
about and hurried in at his own doorway and up the staircase
Leaving the old unfortunate whom in an evil hour she had taken under her
protection with a hurried promise to return to him directly Little Dorrit
hastened after her father and on the staircase found Fanny following her and
flouncing up with offended dignity The three came into the room almost
together and the Father sat down in his chair buried his face in his hands
and uttered a groan
»Of course« said Fanny »Very proper Poor afflicted Pa Now I hope you
believe me Miss«
»What is it father« cried Little Dorrit bending over him »Have I made
you unhappy father Not I I hope«
»You hope indeed I dare say Oh you« Fanny paused for a sufficiently
strong expression »you Commonminded little Amy You complete prisonchild«
He stopped these angry reproaches with a wave of his hand and sobbed out
raising his face and shaking his melancholy head at his younger daughter »Amy
I know that you are innocent in intention But you have cut me to the soul«
»Innocent in intention« the implacable Fanny struck in »Stuff in
intention Low in intention Lowering of the family in intention«
»Father« cried Little Dorrit pale and trembling »I am very sorry Pray
forgive me Tell me how it is that I may not do it again«
»How it is you prevaricating little piece of goods« cried Fanny »You know
how it is I have told you already so dont fly in the face of Providence by
attempting to deny it«
»Hush Amy« said the father passing his pockethandkerchief several times
across his face and then grasping it convulsively in the hand that dropped
across his knee »I have done what I could to keep you select here I have done
what I could to retain you a position here I may have succeeded I may not You
may know it you may not I give no opinion I have endured everything here but
humiliation That I have happily been spared until this day«
Here his convulsive grasp unclosed itself, and he put his
pockethandkerchief to his eyes again Little Dorrit on the ground beside him
with her imploring hand upon his arm watched him remorsefully Coming out of
his fit of grief he clenched his pockethandkerchief once more
»Humiliation I have happily been spared until this day Through all my
troubles there has been that Spirit in myself and that that submission to
it if I may use the term, in those about me which has spared me ha
humiliation But this day this minute I have keenly felt it«
»Of course How could it be otherwise« exclaimed the irrepressible Fanny
»Careering and prancing about with a Pauper« airgun again
»But dear father« cried Little Dorrit »I dont justify myself for having
wounded your dear heart no Heaven knows I dont« She clasped her hands in
quite an agony of distress »I do nothing but beg and pray you to be comforted
and overlook it But if I had not known that you were kind to the old man
yourself and took much notice of him and were always glad to see him I would
not have come here with him father I would not indeed What I have been so
unhappy as to do I have done in mistake I would not wilfully bring a tear to
your eyes dear love« said Little Dorrit her heart wellnigh broken »for
anything the world could give me or anything it could take away«
Fanny with a partly angry and partly repentant sob began to cry herself
and to say as this young lady always said when she was half in a passion and
half out of it half spiteful with herself and half spiteful with everybody else
that she wished she was dead
The Father of the Marshalsea in the meantime took his younger daughter to
his breast and patted her head
»There there Say no more Amy say no more my child I will forget it as
soon as I can I« with hysterical cheerfulness »I shall soon be able to
dismiss it It is perfectly true my dear that I am always glad to see my old
pensioner as such as such and that I do ha extend as much protection
and kindness to the hum the bruised reed I trust I may so call him without
impropriety as in my circumstances I can It is quite true that this is the
case my dear child At the same time I preserve in doing this if I may ha
if I may use the expression Spirit Becoming Spirit And there are some things
which are,« he stopped to sob »irreconcilable with that and wound that wound
it deeply It is not that I have seen my good Amy attentive and ha
condescending to my old pensioner it is not that that hurts me It is if I am
to close the painful subject by being explicit that I have seen my child my
own child my own daughter coming into this College out of the public streets
smiling smiling arm in arm with O my God a livery«
This reference to the coat of no cut and no time the unfortunate gentleman
gasped forth in a scarcely audible voice and with his clenched
pockethandkerchief raised in the air His excited feelings might have found
some further painful utterance but for a knock at the door which had been
already twice repeated and to which Fanny still wishing herself dead and
indeed now going so far as to add buried cried »Come in«
»Ah Young John« said the Father in an altered and calmed voice »What is
it Young John«
»A letter for you sir being left in the Lodge just this minute and a
message with it I thought happening to be there myself sir I would bring it
to your room« The speakers attention was much distracted by the piteous
spectacle of Little Dorrit at her fathers feet with her head turned away
»Indeed John Thank you«
»The letter is from Mr Clennam sir its the answer and the message
was sir that Mr Clennam also sent his compliments and word that he would do
himself the pleasure of calling this afternoon hoping to see you and
likewise« attention more distracted than before »Miss Amy«
»Oh« As the Father glanced into the letter there was a banknote in it
he reddened a little and patted Amy on the head afresh »Thank you Young John
Quite right Much obliged to you for your attention No one waiting«
»No sir no one waiting«
»Thank you John How is your mother Young John«
»Thank you sir shes not quite as well as we could wish in fact we none
of us are except father but shes pretty well sir«
»Say we sent our remembrances will you Say kind remembrances if you
please Young John«
»Thank you sir I will« And Mr Chivery junior went his way having
spontaneously composed on the spot an entirely new epitaph for himself to the
effect that Here lay the body of John Chivery Who Having at such a date
Beheld the idol of his life In grief and tears And feeling unable to bear the
harrowing spectacle Immediately repaired to the abode of his inconsolable
parents And terminated his existence by his own rash act
»There there Amy« said the Father when Young John had closed the door
»let us say no more about it« The last few minutes had improved his spirits
remarkably and he was quite lightsome »Where is my old pensioner all this
while We must not leave him by himself any longer or he will begin to suppose
he is not welcome and that would pain me Will you fetch him my child or
shall I«
»If you wouldnt mind father« said Little Dorrit trying to bring her
sobbing to a close
»Certainly I will go my dear I forgot your eyes are rather There Cheer
up Amy Dont be uneasy about me I am quite myself again my love quite
myself Go to your room Amy and make yourself look comfortable and pleasant to
receive Mr Clennam«
»I would rather stay in my own room father« returned Little Dorrit
finding it more difficult than before to regain her composure »I would far
rather not see Mr Clennam«
»Oh fie fie my dear thats folly Mr Clennam is a very gentlemanly man
very gentlemanly A little reserved at times but I will say extremely
gentlemanly I couldnt think of your not being here to receive Mr Clennam my
dear especially this afternoon So go and freshen yourself up Amy go and
freshen yourself up like a good girl«
Thus directed Little Dorrit dutifully rose and obeyed only pausing for a
moment as she went out of the room to give her sister a kiss of reconciliation
Upon which that young lady feeling much harassed in her mind and having for
the time worn out the wish with which she generally relieved it conceived and
executed the brilliant idea of wishing Old Nandy dead rather than that he
should come bothering there like a disgusting tiresome wicked wretch and
making mischief between two sisters
The Father of the Marshalsea even humming a tune and wearing his black
velvet cap a little on one side so much improved were his spirits went down
into the yard and found his old pensioner standing hat in hand just within the
gate as he had stood all this time »Come Nandy« said he with great suavity
»Come upstairs Nandy you know the way why dont you come upstairs« He went
the length on this occasion of giving him his hand and saying »How are you
Nandy Are you pretty well« To which that vocalist returned »I thank you
honoured sir I am all the better for seeing your honour« As they went along
the yard the Father of the Marshalsea presented him to a Collegian of recent
date »An old acquaintance of mine sir an old pensioner« And then said »Be
covered my good Nandy put your hat on« with great consideration
His patronage did not stop here for he charged Maggy to get the tea ready
and instructed her to buy certain teacakes fresh butter eggs cold ham and
shrimps to purchase which collation he gave her a banknote for ten pounds
laying strict injunctions on her to be careful of the change These preparations
were in an advanced stage of progress and his daughter Amy had come back with
her work when Clennam presented himself Whom he most graciously received and
besought to join their meal
»Amy my love you know Mr Clennam even better than I have the happiness of
doing Fanny my dear you are acquainted with Mr Clennam« Fanny acknowledged
him haughtily the position she tacitly took up in all such cases being that
there was a vast conspiracy to insult the family by not understanding it or
sufficiently deferring to it and here was one of the conspirators »This Mr
Clennam you must know is an old pensioner of mine Old Nandy a very faithful
old man« He always spoke of him as an object of great antiquity but he was
two or three years younger than himself »Let me see You know Plornish I
think I think my daughter Amy has mentioned to me that you know poor Plornish«
»O yes« said Arthur Clennam
»Well sir this is Mrs Plornishs father«
»Indeed I am glad to see him«
»You would be more glad if you knew his many good qualities Mr Clennam«
»I hope I shall come to know them through knowing him« said Arthur
secretly pitying the bowed and submissive figure
»It is a holiday with him and he comes to see his old friends who are
always glad to see him« observed the Father of the Marshalsea Then he added
behind his hand »Union poor old fellow Out for the day«
By this time Maggy quietly assisted by her Little Mother had spread the
board and the repast was ready It being hot weather and the prison very close
the window was as wide open as it could be pushed »If Maggy will spread that
newspaper on the windowsill my dear« remarked the Father complacently and in
a half whisper to Little Dorrit »my old pensioner can have his tea there while
we are having ours«
So with a gulf between him and the good company of about a foot in width
standard measure Mrs Plornishs father was handsomely regaled Clennam had
never seen anything like his magnanimous protection by that other Father he of
the Marshalsea and was lost in the contemplation of its many wonders
The most striking of these was perhaps the relishing manner in which he
remarked on the pensioners infirmities and failings As if he were a gracious
Keeper making a running commentary on the decline of the harmless animal he
exhibited
»Not ready for more ham yet Nandy Why how slow you are His last
teeth« he explained to the company »are going poor old boy«
At another time he said »No shrimps Nandy« and on his not instantly
replying observed »His hearing is becoming very defective Hell be deaf
directly«
At another time he asked him »Do you walk much Nandy about the yard
within the walls of that place of yours«
»No sir no I havent any great liking for that«
»No to be sure« he assented »Very natural« Then he privately informed
the circle Legs going
Once he asked the pensioner in that general clemency which asked him
anything to keep him afloat how old his younger grandchild was
»John Edward« said the pensioner slowly laying down his knife and fork to
consider »How old sir Let me think now«
The Father of the Marshalsea tapped his forehead Memory weak
»John Edward sir Well I really forget I couldnt say at this minute
sir whether its two and two months or whether its two and five months Its
one or the other«
»Dont distress yourself by worrying your mind about it« he returned with
infinite forbearance »Faculties evidently decaying old man rusts in the life
he leads«
The more of these discoveries that he persuaded himself he made in the
pensioner the better he appeared to like him and when he got out of his chair
after tea to bid the pensioner goodbye on his intimating that he feared
honoured sir his time was running out he made himself look as erect and strong
as possible
»We dont call this a shilling Nandy you know« he said putting one in
his hand »We call it tobacco«
»Honoured sir I thank you It shall buy tobacco My thanks and duty to Miss
Amy and Miss Fanny I wish you good night Mr Clennam«
»And mind you dont forget us you know Nandy« said the Father »You must
come again mind whenever you have an afternoon You must not come out without
seeing us or we shall be jealous Good night Nandy Be very careful how you
descend the stairs Nandy they are rather uneven and worn« With that he stood
on the landing watching the old man down and when he came into the room again
said with a solemn satisfaction on him »A melancholy sight that Mr Clennam
though one has the consolation of knowing that he doesnt feel it himself The
poor old fellow is a dismal wreck Spirit broken and gone pulverised crushed
out of him sir completely«
As Clennam had a purpose in remaining he said what he could responsive to
these sentiments and stood at the window with their enunciator while Maggy and
her Little Mother washed the teaservice and cleared it away He noticed that
his companion stood at the window with the air of an affable and accessible
Sovereign and that when any of his people in the yard below looked up his
recognition of their salutes just stopped short of a blessing
When little Dorrit had her work on the table and Maggy hers on the
bedstead Fanny fell to tying her bonnet as a preliminary to her departure
Arthur still having his purpose still remained At this time the door opened
without any notice and Mr Tip came in He kissed Amy as she started up to meet
him nodded to Fanny nodded to his father gloomed on the visitor without
further recognition and sat down
»Tip dear« said Little Dorrit mildly shocked by this »dont you see «
»Yes I see Amy If you refer to the presence of any visitor you have here
I say if you refer to that« answered Tip jerking his head with emphasis
towards his shoulder nearest Clennam »I see«
»Is that all you say«
»Thats all I say And I suppose« added the lofty young man after a
moments pause »the visitor will understand me when I say thats all I say In
short I suppose the visitor will understand that he hasnt used me like a
gentleman«
»I do not understand that« observed the obnoxious personage referred to
with tranquillity
»No Why then to make it clearer to you sir I beg to let you know that
when I address what I call a properlyworded appeal and an urgent appeal and a
delicate appeal to an individual for a small temporary accommodation easily
within his power easily within his power mind and when that individual
writes back word to me that he begs to be excused I consider that he doesnt
treat me like a gentleman«
The Father of the Marshalsea who had surveyed his son in silence no sooner
heard this sentiment than he began in an angry voice
»How dare you « But his son stopped him
»Now dont ask me how I dare father because thats bosh As to the fact
of the line of conduct I choose to adopt towards the individual present you
ought to be proud of my showing a proper spirit«
»I should think so« cried Fanny
»A proper spirit« said the Father »Yes a proper spirit a becoming
spirit. Is it come to this that my son teaches me me spirit«
»Now dont let us bother about it father or have any row on the subject
I have fully made up my mind that the individual present has not treated me like
a gentleman And theres an end of it«
»But there is not an end of it sir« returned the Father »But there shall
not be an end of it You have made up your mind You have made up your mind «
»Yes I have Whats the good of keeping on like that«
»Because« returned the Father in a great heat »you had no right to make
up your mind to what is monstrous to what is ha immoral to what is hum
parricidal No Mr Clennam I beg sir Dont ask me to desist there is a
hum a general principle involved here which rises even above considerations
of ha hospitality I object to the assertion made by my son I ha I
personally repel it«
»Why what is it to you father« returned the son over his shoulder
»What is it to me sir I have a hum a spirit sir that will not endure
it I« he took out his pockethandkerchief again and dabbed his face »I am
outraged and insulted by it Let me suppose the case that I myself may at a
certain time ha or times have made a hum an appeal and a
properlyworded appeal and a delicate appeal and an urgent appeal to some
individual for a small temporary accommodation Let me suppose that that
accommodation could have been easily extended and was not extended and that
that individual informed me that he begged to be excused Am I to be told by my
own son that I therefore received treatment not due to a gentleman and that I
ha I submitted to it«
His daughter Amy gently tried to calm him but he would not on any account
be calmed He said his spirit was up and wouldnt endure this
Was he to be told that he wished to know again by his own son on his own
hearth to his own face Was that humiliation to be put upon him by his own
blood
»You are putting it on yourself father and getting into all this injury of
your own accord« said the young gentleman morosely »What I have made up my
mind about has nothing to do with you What I said had nothing to do with you
Why need you go trying on other peoples hats«
»I reply it has everything to do with me« returned the Father »I point out
to you sir with indignation that hum the ha delicacy and peculiarity
of your fathers position should strike you dumb sir if nothing else should
in laying down such ha such unnatural principles Besides if you are not
filial sir if you discard that duty you are at least hum not a Christian
Are you ha an Atheist And is it Christian let me ask you to stigmatise
and denounce an individual for begging to be excused this time when the same
individual may ha respond with the required accommodation next time Is it
the part of a Christian not to hum not to try him again« He had worked
himself into quite a religious glow and fervour
»I see precious well« said Mr Tip rising »that I shall get no sensible
or fair argument here tonight and so the best thing I can do is to cut Good
night Amy Dont be vexed I am very sorry it happens here and you here upon
my soul I am but I cant altogether part with my spirit even for your sake
old girl«
With those words he put on his hat and went out accompanied by Miss Fanny
who did not consider it spirited on her part to take leave of Clennam with any
less opposing demonstration than a stare importing that she had always known
him for one of the large body of conspirators
When they were gone the Father of the Marshalsea was at first inclined to
sink into despondency again and would have done so but that a gentleman
opportunely came up within a minute or two to attend him to the Snuggery It was
the gentleman Clennam had seen on the night of his own accidental detention
there who had that impalpable grievance about the misappropriated Fund on which
the Marshal was supposed to batten He presented himself as a deputation to
escort the Father to the Chair it being an occasion on which he had promised to
preside over the assembled Collegians in the enjoyment of a little Harmony
»Such you see Mr Clennam« said the Father »are the incongruities of my
position here But a public duty No man I am sure would more readily
recognise a public duty than yourself«
Clennam besought him not to delay a moment
»Amy my dear if you can persuade Mr Clennam to stay longer I can leave
the honours of our poor apology for an establishment with confidence in your
hands and perhaps you may do something towards erasing from Mr Clennams mind
the ha untoward and unpleasant circumstance which has occurred since
teatime«
Clennam assured him that it had made no impression on his mind and
therefore required no erasure
»My dear sir« said the Father with a removal of his black cap and a grasp
of Clennams hand combining to express the safe receipt of his note and
enclosure that afternoon »Heaven ever bless you«
So at last Clennams purpose in remaining was attained and he could speak
to Little Dorrit with nobody by Maggy counted as nobody and she was by
Chapter XXXII
More FortuneTelling
Maggy sat at her work in her great white cap with its quantity of opaque
frilling hiding what profile she had she had none to spare and her
serviceable eye brought to bear upon her occupation on the window side of the
room What with her flapping cap and what with her unserviceable eye she was
quite partitioned off from her Little Mother whose seat was opposite the
window The tread and shuffle of feet on the pavement of the yard had much
diminished since the taking of the Chair the tide of Collegians having set
strongly in the direction of Harmony Some few who had no music in their souls
or no money in their pockets dawdled about and the old spectacle of the
visitorwife and the depressed unseasoned prisoner still lingered in corners as
broken cobwebs and such unsightly discomforts draggle in corners of other
places It was the quietest time the College knew saving the night hours when
the Collegians took the benefit of the act of sleep The occasional rattle of
applause upon the tables of the Snuggery denoted the successful termination of
a morsel of Harmony or the responsive acceptance by the united children of
some toast or sentiment offered to them by their Father Occasionally a vocal
strain more sonorous than the generality informed the listener that some
boastful bass was in blue water or in the hunting field or with the reindeer
or on the mountain or among the heather but the Marshal of the Marshalsea knew
better and had got him hard and fast
As Arthur Clennam moved to sit down by the side of Little Dorrit she
trembled so that she had much ado to hold her needle Clennam gently put his
hand upon her work and said »Dear Little Dorrit let me lay it down«
She yielded it to him and he put it aside Her hands were then nervously
clasping together but he took one of them
»How seldom I have seen you lately Little Dorrit«
»I have been busy sir«
»But I heard only today« said Clennam »by mere accident of your having
been with those good people close by me Why not come to me then«
»I I dont know Or rather I thought you might be busy too You generally
are now are you not«
He saw her trembling little form and her downcast face and the eyes that
drooped the moment they were raised to his he saw them almost with as much
concern as tenderness
»My child your manner is so changed«
The trembling was now quite beyond her control Softly withdrawing her hand
and laying it in her other hand she sat before him with her head bent and her
whole form trembling
»My own Little Dorrit« said Clennam compassionately
She burst into tears Maggy looked round of a sudden and stared for at
least a minute but did not interpose Clennam waited some little while before
he spoke again
»I cannot bear« he said then »to see you weep but I hope this is a relief
to an overcharged heart«
»Yes it is sir Nothing but that«
»Well well I feared you would think too much of what passed here just now
It is of no moment not the least I am only unfortunate to have come in the
way Let it go by with these tears It is not worth one of them One of them
Such an idle thing should be repeated with my glad consent fifty times a day
to save you a moments heartache Little Dorrit«
She had taken courage now and answered far more in her usual manner »You
are so good But even if there was nothing else in it to be sorry for and
ashamed of it is such a bad return to you «
»Hush« said Clennam smiling and touching her lips with his hand
»Forgetfulness in you who remember so many and so much would be new indeed
Shall I remind you that I am not and that I never was anything but the friend
whom you agreed to trust No You remember it dont you«
»I try to do so or I should have broken the promise just now when my
mistaken brother was here You will consider his bringingup in this place and
will not judge him hardly poor fellow I know« In raising her eyes with these
words she observed his face more nearly than she had done yet and said with a
quick change of tone »You have not been ill Mr Clennam«
»No«
»Nor tried Nor hurt« she asked him anxiously
It fell to Clennam now to be not quite certain how to answer He said in
reply
»To speak the truth I have been a little troubled but it is over Do I
show it so plainly I ought to have more fortitude and selfcommand than that I
thought I had I must learn them of you Who could teach me better«
He never thought that she saw in him what no one else could see He never
thought that in the whole world there were no other eyes that looked upon him
with the same light and strength as hers
»But it brings me to something that I wish to say« he continued »and
therefore I will not quarrel even with my own face for telling tales and being
unfaithful to me Besides it is a privilege and pleasure to confide in my
Little Dorrit Let me confess then that forgetting how grave I was and how
old I was and how the time for such things had gone by me with the many years
of sameness and little happiness that made up my long life far away without
marking it that forgetting all this I fancied I loved some one«
»Do I know her sir« asked Little Dorrit
»No my child«
»Not the lady who has been kind to me for your sake«
»Flora No no Did you think «
»I never quite thought so« said Little Dorrit more to herself than him »I
did wonder at it a little«
»Well« said Clennam abiding by the feeling that had fallen on him in the
avenue on the night of the roses the feeling that he was an older man who had
done with that tender part of life »I found out my mistake and I thought about
it a little in short a good deal and got wiser Being wiser I counted up
my years and considered what I am and looked back and looked forward and
found that I should soon be grey I found that I had climbed the hill and
passed the level ground upon the top and was descending quickly«
If he had known the sharpness of the pain he caused the patient heart in
speaking thus While doing it too with the purpose of easing and serving her
»I found that the day when any such thing would have been graceful in me or
good in me or hopeful or happy for me or any one in connection with me was
gone and would never shine again«
O If he had known if he had known If he could have seen the dagger in his
hand and the cruel wounds it struck in the faithful bleeding breast of his
Little Dorrit
»All that is over and I have turned my face from it Why do I speak of this
to Little Dorrit Why do I show you my child the space of years that there is
between us and recall to you that I have passed by the amount of your whole
life the time that is present to you«
»Because you trust me I hope Because you know that nothing can touch you
without touching me that nothing can make you happy or unhappy but it must
make me who am so grateful to you the same«
He heard the thrill in her voice he saw her earnest face he saw her clear
true eyes he saw the quickened bosom that would have joyfully thrown itself
before him to receive a mortal wound directed at his breast with the dying cry
»I love him« and the remotest suspicion of the truth never dawned upon his
mind No He saw the devoted little creature with her worn shoes in her common
dress in her jailhome a slender child in body a strong heroine in soul and
the light of her domestic story made all else dark to him
»For those reasons assuredly Little Dorrit but for another too So far
removed so different and so much older I am the better fitted for your friend
and adviser I mean I am the more easily to be trusted and any little
constraint that you might feel with another may vanish before me Why have you
kept so retired from me Tell me«
»I am better here My place and use are here I am much better here« said
Little Dorrit faintly
»So you said that day upon the bridge I thought of it much afterwards
Have you no secret you could entrust to me with hope and comfort if you
would«
»Secret No I have no secret« said Little Dorrit in some trouble
They had been speaking in low voices more because it was natural to what
they said to adopt that tone than with any care to reserve it from Maggy at
her work All of a sudden Maggy stared again and this time spoke
»I say Little Mother«
»Yes Maggy«
»If you ant got no secret of your own to tell him tell him that about the
Princess She had a secret you know«
»The Princess had a secret« said Clennam in some surprise »What Princess
was that Maggy«
»Lor How you do go and bother a gal of ten« said Maggy »catching the poor
thing up in that way Whoever said the Princess had a secret I never said so«
»I beg your pardon I thought you did«
»No I didnt How could I when it was her as wanted to find it out It was
the little woman as had the secret and she was always a spinning at her wheel
And so she says to her why do you keep it there And so the tother one says
to her no I dont and so the tother one says to her yes you do and then
they both goes to the cupboard and there it is And she wouldnt go into the
Hospital and so she died You know Little Mother tell him that For it was a
reglar good secret that was« cried Maggy hugging herself
Arthur looked at Little Dorrit for help to comprehend this and was struck
by seeing her so timid and red But when she told him that it was only a Fairy
Tale she had one day made up for Maggy and that there was nothing in it which
she wouldnt be ashamed to tell again to anybody else even if she could
remember it he left the subject where it was
However he returned to his own subject by first entreating her to see him
oftener and to remember that it was impossible to have a stronger interest in
her welfare than he had or to be more set upon promoting it than he was When
she answered fervently she well knew that she never forgot it he touched upon
his second and more delicate point the suspicion he had formed
»Little Dorrit« he said taking her hand again and speaking lower than he
had spoken yet so that even Maggy in the small room could not hear him
»another word I have wanted very much to say this to you I have tried for
opportunities Dont mind me who for the matter of years might be your father
or your uncle Always think of me as quite an old man I know that all your
devotion centres in this room and that nothing to the last will ever tempt you
away from the duties you discharge here If I were not sure of it I should
before now have implored you and implored your father to let me make some
provision for you in a more suitable place But you may have an interest I
will not say now though even that might be may have at another time an
interest in some one else an interest not incompatible with your affection
here«
She was very very pale and silently shook her head
»It may be dear Little Dorrit«
»No No No« She shook her head after each slow repetition of the word
with an air of quiet desolation that he remembered long afterwards The time
came when he remembered it well long afterwards within those prison walls
within that very room
»But if it ever should be tell me so my dear child Entrust the truth to
me point out the object of such an interest to me and I will try with all the
zeal and honour and friendship and respect that I feel for you good Little
Dorrit of my heart to do you a lasting service«
»O thank you thank you But O no O no O no« She said this looking at
him with her workworn hands folded together and in the same resigned accents
as before
»I press for no confidence now I only ask you to repose unhesitating trust
in me«
»Can I do less than that when you are so good«
»Then you will trust me fully Will have no secret unhappiness or anxiety
concealed from me«
»Almost none«
»And you have none now«
She shook her head But she was very pale
»When I lie down tonight and my thoughts come back as they will for
they do every night even when I have not seen you to this sad place I may
believe that there is no grief beyond this room now and its usual occupants
which preys on Little Dorrits mind«
She seemed to catch at these words that he remembered too long
afterwards and said more brightly »Yes Mr Clennam yes you may«
The crazy staircase usually not slow to give notice when any one was coming
up or down here creaked under a quick tread and a further sound was heard upon
it as if a little steamengine with more steam than it knew what to do with
were working towards the room As it approached which it did very rapidly it
laboured with increased energy and after knocking at the door it sounded as
if it were stooping down and snorting in at the keyhole
Before Maggy could open the door Mr Pancks opening it from without stood
without a hat and with his bare head in the wildest condition looking at
Clennam and Little Dorrit over her shoulder He had a lighted cigar in his
hand and brought with him airs of ale and tobacco smoke
»Pancks the gipsy« he observed out of breath »fortunetelling«
He stood dingily smiling and breathing hard at them with a most curious
air As if instead of being his proprietors grubber he were the triumphant
proprietor of the Marshalsea the Marshal all the turnkeys and all the
Collegians In his great selfsatisfaction he put his cigar to his lips being
evidently no smoker and took such a pull at it with his right eye shut up
tight for the purpose that he underwent a convulsion of shuddering and choking
But even in the midst of that paroxysm he still essayed to repeat his favourite
introduction of himself »Paancks the giipsy fortunetelling«
»I am spending the evening with the rest of em« said Pancks »Ive been
singing Ive been taking a part in White sand and grey sand I dont know
anything about it Never mind Ill take any part in anything Its all the
same if youre loud enough«
At first Clennam supposed him to be intoxicated But he soon perceived that
though he might be a little the worse or better for ale the staple of his
excitement was not brewed from malt or distilled from any grain or berry
»How dye do Miss Dorrit« said Pancks »I thought you wouldnt mind my
running round and looking in for a moment Mr Clennam I heard was here from
Mr Dorrit How are you sir«
Clennam thanked him and said he was glad to see him so gay
»Gay« said Pancks »Im in wonderful feather sir I cant stop a minute
or I shall be missed and I dont want em to miss me Eh Miss Dorrit«
He seemed to have an insatiate delight in appealing to her and looking at
her excitedly sticking his hair up at the same moment like a dark species of
cockatoo
»I havent been here halfanhour I knew Mr Dorrit was in the chair and I
said Ill go and support him I ought to be down in Bleeding Heart Yard by
rights but I can worry them tomorrow Eh Miss Dorrit«
His little black eyes sparkled electrically His very hair seemed to sparkle
as he roughened it He was in that highlycharged state that one might have
expected to draw sparks and snaps from him by presenting a knuckle to any part
of his figure
»Capital company here« said Pancks »Eh Miss Dorrit«
She was half afraid of him and irresolute what to say He laughed with a
nod towards Clennam
»Dont mind him Miss Dorrit Hes one of us We agreed that you shouldnt
take on to mind me before people but we didnt mean Mr Clennam Hes one of
us Hes in it Ant you Mr Clennam Eh Miss Dorrit«
The excitement of this strange creature was fast communicating itself to
Clennam Little Dorrit with amazement saw this and observed that they
exchanged quick looks
»I was making a remark« said Pancks »but I declare I forget what it was
Oh I know Capital company here Ive been treating em all round Eh Miss
Dorrit«
»Very generous of you« she returned noticing another of the quick looks
between the two
»Not at all« said Pancks »Dont mention it Im coming into my property
thats the fact I can afford to be liberal I think Ill give em a treat here
Tables laid in the yard Bread in stacks Pipes in faggots Tobacco in hayloads
Roast beef and plumpudding for every one Quart of double stout a head Pint of
wine too if they like it and the authorities give permission Eh Miss
Dorrit«
She was thrown into such a confusion by his manner or rather by Clennams
growing understanding of his manner for she looked to him after every fresh
appeal and cockatoo demonstration on the part of Mr Pancks that she only
moved her lips in answer without forming any word
»And oh bythebye« said Pancks »you were to live to know what was behind
us on that little hand of yours And so you shall you shall my darling Eh
Miss Dorrit«
He had suddenly checked himself Where he got all the additional black
prongs from that now flew up all over his head like the myriads of points that
break out in the large change of a great firework was a wonderful mystery
»But I shall be missed« he came back to that »and I dont want em to miss
me Mr Clennam you and I made a bargain I said you should find me stick to
it You shall find me stick to it now sir if youll step out of the room a
moment Miss Dorrit I wish you good night Miss Dorrit I wish you good
fortune«
He rapidly shook her by both hands and puffed downstairs Arthur followed
him with such a hurried step that he had very nearly tumbled over him on the
last landing and rolled him down into the yard
»What is it for Heavens sake« Arthur demanded when they burst out there
both together
»Stop a moment sir Mr Rugg Let me introduce him«
With those words he presented another man without a hat and also with a
cigar and also surrounded with a halo of ale and tobacco smoke which man
though not so excited as himself was in a state which would have been akin to
lunacy but for its fading into sober method when compared with the rampancy of
Mr Pancks
»Mr Clennam Mr Rugg« said Pancks »Stop a moment Come to the pump«
They adjourned to the pump Mr Pancks instantly putting his head under the
spout requested Mr Rugg to take a good strong turn at the handle Mr Rugg
complying to the letter Mr Pancks came forth snorting and blowing to some
purpose and dried himself on his handkerchief
»I am the clearer for that« he gasped to Clennam standing astonished »But
upon my soul to hear her father making speeches in that chair knowing what we
know and to see her up in that room in that dress knowing what we know is
enough to give me a back Mr Rugg a little higher sir thatll do«
Then and there on that Marshalsea pavement in the shades of evening did
Mr Pancks of all mankind fly over the head and shoulders of Mr Rugg of
Pentonville General Agent Accountant and Recoverer of Debts Alighting on his
feet he took Clennam by the buttonhole led him behind the pump and pantingly
produced from his pocket a bundle of papers
Mr Rugg also pantingly produced from his pocket a bundle of papers
»Stay« said Clennam in a whisper »You have made a discovery«
Mr Pancks answered with an unction which there is no language to convey
»We rather think so«
»Does it implicate any one«
»How implicate sir«
»In any suppression or wrong dealing of any kind«
»Not a bit of it«
»Thank God« said Clennam to himself »Now show me«
»You are to understand« snorted Pancks feverishly unfolding papers and
speaking in short highpressure blasts of sentences »Wheres the Pedigree
Wheres Schedule number four Mr Rugg Oh all right Here we are You are to
understand that we are this very day virtually complete We shant be legally
for a day or two Call it at the outside a week Weve been at it night and
day for I dont know how long Mr Rugg you know how long Never mind Dont
say Youll only confuse me You shall tell her Mr Clennam Not till we give
you leave Wheres that rough total Mr Rugg Oh Here we are There sir
Thats what youll have to break to her That mans your Father of the
Marshalsea«
Chapter XXXIII
Mrs Merdles Complaint
Resigning herself to inevitable fate by making the best of those people the
Miggleses and submitting her philosophy to the draught upon it of which she
had foreseen the likelihood in her interview with Arthur Mrs Gowan handsomely
resolved not to oppose her sons marriage In her progress to and happy arrival
at this resolution she was possibly influenced not only by her maternal
affections but by three politic considerations
Of these the first may have been that her son had never signified the
smallest intention to ask her consent or any mistrust of his ability to
dispense with it the second that the pension bestowed upon her by a grateful
country and a Barnacle would be freed from any little filial inroads when her
Henry should be married to the darling only child of a man in very easy
circumstances the third that Henrys debts must clearly be paid down upon the
altarrailing by his fatherinlaw When to these threefold points of
prudence there is added the fact that Mrs Gowan yielded her consent the moment
she knew of Mr Meagles having yielded his and that Mr Meagless objection to
the marriage had been the sole obstacle in its way all along it becomes the
height of probability that the relict of the deceased Commissioner of nothing
particular turned these ideas in her sagacious mind
Among her connections and acquaintances however she maintained her
individual dignity and the dignity of the blood of the Barnacles by diligently
nursing the pretence that it was a most unfortunate business that she was sadly
cut up by it that this was a perfect fascination under which Henry laboured
that she had opposed it for a long time but what could a mother do and the
like She had already called Arthur Clennam to bear witness to this fable as a
friend of the Meagles family and she followed up the move by now impounding the
family itself for the same purpose In the first interview she accorded to Mr
Meagles she slided herself into the position of disconsolately but gracefully
yielding to irresistible pressure With the utmost politeness and goodbreeding
she feigned that it was she not he who had made the difficulty and who at
length gave way and that the sacrifice was hers not his The same feint with
the same polite dexterity she foisted on Mrs Meagles as a conjurer might have
forced a card on that innocent lady and when her future daughterinlaw was
presented to her by her son she said on embracing her »My dear what have you
done to Henry that has bewitched him so« at the same time allowing a few tears
to carry before them in little pills the cosmetic powder on her nose as a
delicate but touching signal that she suffered much inwardly for the show of
composure with which she bore her misfortune
Among the friends of Mrs Gowan who piqued herself at once on being
Society and on maintaining intimate and easy relations with that Power Mrs
Merdle occupied a front row True the Hampton Court Bohemians without
exception turned up their noses at Merdle as an upstart but they turned them
down again by falling flat on their faces to worship his wealth In which
compensating adjustment of their noses they were pretty much like Treasury
Bar and Bishop and all the rest of them
To Mrs Merdle Mrs Gowan repaired on a visit of self-condolence after
having given the gracious consent aforesaid She drove into town for the
purpose in a onehorse carriage irreverently called at that period of English
history a pillbox It belonged to a jobmaster in a small way who drove it
himself and who jobbed it by the day or hour to most of the old ladies in
Hampton Court Palace but it was a point of ceremony in that encampment that
the whole equipage should be tacitly regarded as the private property of the
jobber for the time being and that the jobmaster should betray personal
knowledge of nobody but the jobber in possession So the Circumlocution
Barnacles who were the largest jobmasters in the universe always pretended to
know of no other job but the job immediately in hand
Mrs Merdle was at home and was in her nest of crimson and gold with the
parrot on a neighbouring stem watching her with his head on one side as if he
took her for another splendid parrot of a larger species To whom entered Mrs
Gowan with her favourite green fan which softened the light on the spots of
bloom
»My dear soul« said Mrs Gowan tapping the back of her friends hand with
this fan after a little indifferent conversation »you are my only comfort
That affair of Henrys that I told you of is to take place Now how does it
strike you I am dying to know because you represent and express Society so
well«
Mrs Merdle reviewed the bosom which Society was accustomed to review and
having ascertained that showwindow of Mr Merdles and the London jewellers to
be in good order replied
»As to marriage on the part of a man my dear Society requires that he
should retrieve his fortunes by marriage Society requires that he should gain
by marriage Society requires that he should found a handsome establishment by
marriage Society does not see otherwise what he has to do with marriage
Bird be quiet«
For the parrot on his cage above them presiding over the conference as if
he were a Judge and indeed he looked rather like one had wound up the
exposition with a shriek
»Cases there are« said Mrs Merdle delicately crooking the little finger
of her favourite hand and making her remarks neater by that neat action »cases
there are where a man is not young or elegant and is rich and has a handsome
establishment already Those are of a different kind In such cases «
Mrs Merdle shrugged her snowy shoulders and put her hand upon the
jewelstand checking a little cough as though to add »why a man looks out for
this sort of thing my dear« Then the parrot shrieked again and she put up her
glass to look at him and said »Bird Do be quiet«
»But young men« resumed Mrs Merdle »and by young men you know what I
mean my love I mean peoples sons who have the world before them they must
place themselves in a better position towards Society by marriage or Society
really will not have any patience with their making fools of themselves
Dreadfully worldly all this sounds« said Mrs Merdle leaning back in her nest
and putting up her glass again »does it not«
»But it is true« said Mrs Gowan with a highly moral air
»My dear it is not to be disputed for a moment« returned Mrs Merdle
»because Society has made up its mind on the subject and there is nothing more
to be said If we were in a more primitive state if we lived under roofs of
leaves and kept cows and sheep and creatures instead of bankers accounts
which would be delicious my dear I am pastoral to a degree by nature well
and good But we dont live under leaves and keep cows and sheep and creatures
I perfectly exhaust myself sometimes in pointing out the distinction to Edmund
Sparkler«
Mrs Gowan looking over her green fan when this young gentlemans name was
mentioned replied as follows
»My love you know the wretched state of the country those unfortunate
concessions of John Barnacles and you therefore know the reasons for my
being as poor as Thingummy«
»A church mouse« Mrs Merdle suggested with a smile
»I was thinking of the other proverbial church person Job« said Mrs
Gowan »Either will do It would be idle to disguise consequently that there
is a wide difference between the position of your son and mine I may add too
that Henry has talent «
»Which Edmund certainly has not« said Mrs Merdle with the greatest
suavity
» And that his talent combined with disappointment« Mrs Gowan went on
»has led him into a pursuit which ah dear me You know my dear Such being
Henrys different position the question is what is the most inferior class of
marriage to which I can reconcile myself«
Mrs Merdle was so much engaged with the contemplation of her arms
beautifully formed arms and the very thing for bracelets that she omitted to
reply for a while Roused at length by the silence she folded the arms and
with admirable presence of mind looked her friend full in the face and said
interrogatively »Yees And then«
»And then my dear« said Mrs Gowan not quite so sweetly as before »I
should be glad to hear what you have to say to it«
Here the parrot who had been standing on one leg since he screamed last
burst into a fit of laughter bobbed himself derisively up and down on both
legs and finished by standing on one leg again and pausing for a reply with
his head as much awry as he could possibly twist it
»Sounds mercenary to ask what the gentleman is to get with the lady« said
Mrs Merdle »but Society is perhaps a little mercenary you know my dear«
»From what I can make out« said Mrs Gowan »I believe I may say that Henry
will be relieved from debt «
»Much in debt« asked Mrs Merdle through her eyeglass
»Why tolerably I should think« said Mrs Gowan
»Meaning the usual thing I understand just so« Mrs Merdle observed in a
comfortable sort of way
»And that the father will make them an allowance of three hundred ayear or
perhaps altogether something more Which in Italy «
»Oh Going to Italy« said Mrs Merdle
»For Henry to study You need be at no loss to guess why my dear That
dreadful Art «
True Mrs Merdle hastened to spare the feelings of her afflicted friend
She understood Say no more
»And that« said Mrs Gowan shaking her despondent head »thats all
That« repeated Mrs Gowan furling her green fan for the moment and tapping
her chin with it it was on the way to being a double chin might be called a
chin and a half at present »thats all On the death of the old people I
suppose there will be more to come but how it may be restricted or locked up I
dont know And as to that they may live for ever My dear they are just the
kind of people to do it«
Now Mrs Merdle who really knew her friend Society pretty well and who
knew what Societys mothers were and what Societys daughters were and what
Societys matrimonial market was and how prices ruled in it and what scheming
and counterscheming took place for the high buyers and what bargaining and
huckstering went on thought in the depths of her capacious bosom that this was
a sufficiently good catch Knowing however what was expected of her and
perceiving the exact nature of the fiction to be nursed she took it delicately
in her arms and put her required contribution of gloss upon it
»And that is all my dear« said she heaving a friendly sigh »Well well
The fault is not yours You have nothing to reproach yourself with You must
exercise the strength of mind for which you are renowned and make the best of
it«
»The girls family have made« said Mrs Gowan »of course the most
strenuous endeavours to as the lawyers say to have and to hold Henry«
»Of course they have my dear« said Mrs Merdle
»I have persisted in every possible objection and have worried myself
morning noon and night for means to detach Henry from the connection«
»No doubt you have my dear« said Mrs Merdle
»And all of no use All has broken down beneath me Now tell me my love Am
I justified in at last yielding my most reluctant consent to Henrys marrying
among people not in Society or have I acted with inexcusable weakness«
In answer to this direct appeal Mrs Merdle assured Mrs Gowan speaking as
a Priestess of Society that she was highly to be commended that she was much
to be sympathised with that she had taken the highest of parts, and had come
out of the furnace refined And Mrs Gowan who of course saw through her own
threadbare blind perfectly and who knew that Mrs Merdle saw through it
perfectly and who knew that Society would see through it perfectly came out of
this form notwithstanding as she had gone into it with immense complacency
and gravity
The conference was held at four or five oclock in the afternoon when all
the region of Harley Street Cavendish Square was resonant of carriagewheels
and doubleknocks It had reached this point when Mr Merdle came home from his
daily occupation of causing the British name to be more and more respected in
all parts of the civilised globe capable of the appreciation of worldwide
commercial enterprise and gigantic combinations of skill and capital For
though nobody knew with the least precision what Mr Merdles business was
except that it was to coin money these were the terms in which everybody
defined it on all ceremonious occasions and which it was the last new polite
reading of the parable of the camel and the needles eye to accept without
inquiry
For a gentleman who had this splendid work cut out for him Mr Merdle
looked a little common and rather as if in the course of his vast
transactions he had accidentally made an interchange of heads with some
inferior spirit He presented himself before the two ladies in the course of a
dismal stroll through his mansion which had no apparent object but escape from
the presence of the chief butler
»I beg your pardon« he said stopping short in confusion »I didnt know
there was anybody here but the parrot«
However as Mrs Merdle said »You can come in« and as Mrs Gowan said she
was just going and had already risen to take her leave he came in and stood
looking out at a distant window with his hands crossed under his uneasy
coatcuffs clasping his wrists as if he were taking himself into custody In
this attitude he fell directly into a reverie from which he was only aroused by
his wifes calling to him from her ottoman when they had been for some
quarterofanhour alone
»Eh Yes« said Mr Merdle turning towards her »What is it«
»What is it« repeated Mrs Merdle »It is I suppose that you have not
heard a word of my complaint«
»Your complaint Mrs Merdle« said Mr Merdle »I didnt know that you were
suffering from a complaint What complaint«
»A complaint of you« said Mrs Merdle
»Oh A complaint of me« said Mr Merdle »What is the what have I what
may you have to complain of in me Mrs Merdle«
In his withdrawing abstracted pondering way it took him some time to
shape this question As a kind of faint attempt to convince himself that he was
the master of the house he concluded by presenting his forefinger to the
parrot who expressed his opinion on that subject by instantly driving his bill
into it
»You were saying Mrs Merdle« said Mr Merdle with his wounded finger in
his mouth »that you had a complaint against me«
»A complaint which I could scarcely show the justice of more emphatically
than by having to repeat it« said Mrs Merdle »I might as well have stated it
to the wall I had far better have stated it to the bird He would at least have
screamed«
»You dont want me to scream Mrs Merdle I suppose« said Mr Merdle
taking a chair
»Indeed I dont know« retorted Mrs Merdle »but that you had better do
that than be so moody and distraught One would at least know that you were
sensible of what was going on around you«
»A man might scream and yet not be that Mrs Merdle« said Mr Merdle
heavily
»And might be dogged as you are at present without screaming« returned
Mrs Merdle »Thats very true If you wish to know the complaint I make against
you it is in so many plain words that you really ought not to go into
Society unless you can accommodate yourself to Society«
Mr Merdle so twisting his hands into what hair he had upon his head that
he seemed to lift himself up by it as he started out of his chair cried
»Why in the name of all the infernal powers Mrs Merdle who does more for
Society than I do Do you see these premises Mrs Merdle Do you see this
furniture Mrs Merdle Do you look in the glass and see yourself Mrs Merdle
Do you know the cost of all this and who its all provided for And yet will
you tell me that I oughtnt to go into Society I who shower money upon it in
this way I who might be almost said to to to harness myself to a
wateringcart full of money and go about saturating Society every day of my
life«
»Pray dont be violent Mr Merdle« said Mrs Merdle
»Violent« said Mr Merdle »You are enough to make me desperate You dont
know half of what I do to accommodate Society You dont know anything of the
sacrifices I make for it«
»I know« returned Mrs Merdle »that you receive the best in the land I
know that you move in the whole Society of the country And I believe I know
indeed not to make any ridiculous pretence about it I know I know who
sustains you in it Mr Merdle«
»Mrs Merdle« retorted that gentleman wiping his dull red and yellow face
»I know that as well as you do If you were not an ornament to Society and if
I was not a benefactor to Society you and I would never have come together
When I say a benefactor to it I mean a person who provides it with all sorts of
expensive things to eat and drink and look at But to tell me that I am not fit
for it after all I have done for it after all I have done for it« repeated
Mr Merdle with a wild emphasis that made his wife lift up her eyelids »after
all all to tell me I have no right to mix with it after all is a pretty
reward«
»I say« answered Mrs Merdle composedly »that you ought to make yourself
fit for it by being more dégagé and less preoccupied There is a positive
vulgarity in carrying your business affairs about with you as you do«
»How do I carry them about Mrs Merdle« asked Mr Merdle
»How do you carry them about« said Mrs Merdle »Look at yourself in the
glass«
Mr Merdle involuntarily turned his eyes in the direction of the nearest
mirror and asked with a slow determination of his turbid blood to his temples
whether a man was to be called to account for his digestion
»You have a physician« said Mrs Merdle
»He does me no good« said Mr Merdle
Mrs Merdle changed her ground
»Besides« said she »your digestion is nonsense I dont speak of your
digestion I speak of your manner«
»Mrs Merdle« returned her husband »I look to you for that You supply
manner and I supply money«
»I dont expect you« said Mrs Merdle reposing easily among her cushions
»to captivate people I dont want you to take any trouble upon yourself or to
try to be fascinating I simply request you to care about nothing or seem to
care about nothing as everybody else does«
»Do I ever say I care about anything« asked Mr Merdle
»Say No Nobody would attend to you if you did But you show it«
»Show what What do I show« demanded Mr Merdle hurriedly
»I have already told you You show that you carry your business cares and
projects about instead of leaving them in the City or wherever else they
belong to« said Mrs Merdle »Or seeming to Seeming would be quite enough I
ask no more Whereas you couldnt be more occupied with your days calculations
and combinations than you habitually show yourself to be if you were a
carpenter«
»A carpenter« repeated Mr Merdle checking something like a groan »I
shouldnt so much mind being a carpenter Mrs Merdle«
»And my complaint is« pursued the lady disregarding the low remark »that
it is not the tone of Society and that you ought to correct it Mr Merdle If
you have any doubt of my judgment ask even Edmund Sparkler« The door of the
room had opened and Mrs Merdle now surveyed the head of her son through her
glass »Edmund we want you here«
Mr Sparkler who had merely put in his head and looked round the room
without entering as if he were searching the house for that young lady with no
nonsense about her upon this followed up his head with his body and stood
before them To whom in a few easy words adapted to his capacity Mrs Merdle
stated the question at issue
The young gentleman after anxiously feeling his shirtcollar as if it were
his pulse and he were hypochondriacal observed »That he had heard it noticed
by fellers«
»Edmund Sparkler has heard it noticed« said Mrs Merdle with languid
triumph »Why no doubt everybody has heard it noticed« Which in truth was no
unreasonable inference seeing that Mr Sparkler would probably be the last
person in any assemblage of the human species to receive an impression from
anything that passed in his presence
»And Edmund Sparkler will tell you I dare say« said Mrs Merdle waving
her favourite hand towards her husband »how he has heard it noticed«
»I couldnt« said Mr Sparkler after feeling his pulse as before
»couldnt undertake to say what led to it cause memory desperate loose But
being in company with the brother of a doosed fine gal well educated too
with no biggodd nonsense about her at the period alluded to «
»There Never mind the sister« remarked Mrs Merdle a little impatiently
»What did the brother say«
»Didnt say a word maam« answered Mr Sparkler »As silent a feller as
myself Equally hard up for a remark«
»Somebody said something« returned Mrs Merdle »Never mind who it was«
»Assure you I dont in the least« said Mr Sparkler
»But tell us what it was«
Mr Sparkler referred to his pulse again and put himself through some
severe mental discipline before he replied
»Fellers referring to my Governor expression not my own occasionally
compliment my Governor in a very handsome way on being immensely rich and
knowing perfect phenomenon of Buyer and Banker and that but say the Shop
sits heavily on him Say he carries the Shop about on his back rather like
Jew clothesmen with too much business«
»Which« said Mrs Merdle rising with her floating drapery about her »is
exactly my complaint Edmund give me your arm upstairs«
Mr Merdle left alone to meditate on a better conformation of himself to
Society looked out of nine windows in succession and appeared to see nine
wastes of space. When he had thus entertained himself he went downstairs and
looked intently at all the carpets on the groundfloor and then came upstairs
again and looked intently at all the carpets on the firstfloor as if they
were gloomy depths in unison with his oppressed soul Through all the rooms he
wandered as he always did like the last person on earth who had any business
to approach them Let Mrs Merdle announce with all her might that she was at
Home ever so many nights in a season she could not announce more widely and
unmistakably than Mr Merdle did that he was never at home
At last he met the chief butler the sight of which splendid retainer always
finished him Extinguished by this great creature he sneaked to his
dressingroom and there remained shut up until he rode out to dinner with Mrs
Merdle in her own handsome chariot At dinner he was envied and flattered as a
being of might was Treasuried Barred and Bishoped as much as he would and
an hour after midnight came home alone and being instantly put out again in his
own hall like a rushlight by the chief butler went sighing to bed
Chapter XXXIV
A Shoal of Barnacles
Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage and the
day was fixed for the wedding There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the
occasion in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much
lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving
To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible
for two reasons Firstly because no building could have held all the members
and connections of that illustrious house Secondly because wherever there was
a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon with a
public post upon it sticking to that post was a Barnacle No intrepid navigator
could plant a flagstaff upon any spot of earth and take possession of it in
the British name but to that spot of earth so soon as the discovery was known
the Circumlocution Office sent out a Barnacle and a despatchbox Thus the
Barnacles were all over the world in every direction despatchboxing the
compass
But while the sopotent art of Prospero himself would have failed in
summoning the Barnacles from every speck of ocean and dry land on which there
was nothing except mischief to be done and anything to be pocketed it was
perfectly feasible to assemble a good many Barnacles This Mrs Gowan applied
herself to do calling on Mr Meagles frequently with new additions to the
list and holding conferences with that gentleman when he was not engaged as he
generally was at this period in examining and paying the debts of his future
soninlaw in the apartment of the scales and scoop
One marriage guest there was in reference to whose presence Mr Meagles
felt a nearer interest and concern than in the attendance of the most elevated
Barnacle expected though he was far from insensible of the honour of having
such company This guest was Clennam But Clennam had made a promise he held
sacred among the trees that summer night and in the chivalry of his heart
regarded it as binding him to many implied obligations In forgetfulness of
himself and delicate service to her on all occasions he was never to fail to
begin it he answered Mr Meagles cheerfully »I shall come of course«
His partner Daniel Doyce was something of a stumblingblock in Mr
Meagless way the worthy gentleman being not at all clear in his own anxious
mind but that the mingling of Daniel with official Barnacleism might produce
some explosive combination even at a marriage breakfast The national offender
however lightened him of his uneasiness by coming down to Twickenham to
represent that he begged with the freedom of an old friend and as a favour to
one that he might not be invited »For« said he »as my business with this set
of gentlemen was to do a public duty and a public service and as their business
with me was to prevent it by wearing my soul out I think we had better not eat
and drink together with a show of being of one mind« Mr Meagles was much
amused by his friends oddity and patronised him with a more protecting air of
allowance than usual when he rejoined »Well well Dan you shall have your
own crotchety way«
To Mr Henry Gowan as the time approached Clennam tried to convey by all
quiet and unpretending means that he was frankly and disinterestedly desirous
of tendering him any friendship he would accept Mr Gowan treated him in return
with his usual ease and with his usual show of confidence which was no
confidence at all
»You see Clennam« he happened to remark in the course of conversation one
day when they were walking near the Cottage within a week of the marriage »I
am a disappointed man That you know already«
»Upon my word« said Clennam a little embarrassed »I scarcely know how«
»Why« returned Gowan »I belong to a clan or a clique or a family or a
connection or whatever you like to call it that might have provided for me in
any one of fifty ways and that took it into its head not to do it at all So
here I am a poor devil of an artist«
Clennam was beginning »But on the other hand « when Gowan took him up
»Yes yes I know I have the good fortune of being beloved by a beautiful
and charming girl whom I love with all my heart«
»Is there much of it« Clennam thought And as he thought it felt ashamed
of himself
»And of finding a fatherinlaw who is a capital fellow and a liberal good
old boy Still I had other prospects washed and combed into my childish head
when it was washed and combed for me and I took them to a public school when I
washed and combed it for myself and I am here without them and thus I am a
disappointed man«
Clennam thought and as he thought it again felt ashamed of himself was
this notion of being disappointed in life an assertion of station which the
bridegroom brought into the family as his property having already carried it
detrimentally into his pursuit And was it a hopeful or a promising thing
anywhere
»Not bitterly disappointed I think« he said aloud
»Hang it no not bitterly« laughed Gowan »My people are not worth that
though they are charming fellows and I have the greatest affection for them
Besides its pleasant to show them that I can do without them and that they
may all go to the Devil And besides again most men are disappointed in life
somehow or other and influenced by their disappointment But its a dear good
world and I love it«
»It lies fair before you now« said Arthur
»Fair as this summer river« cried the other with enthusiasm »and by Jove
I glow with admiration of it and with ardour to run a race in it Its the best
of old worlds And my calling The best of old callings isnt it«
»Full of interest and ambition I conceive« said Clennam
»And imposition« added Gowan laughing »we wont leave out the imposition
I hope I may not break down in that but there my being a disappointed man may
show itself I may not be able to face it out gravely enough Between you and
me I think there is some danger of my being just enough soured not to be able
to do that«
»To do what« asked Clennam
»To keep it up To help myself in my turn as the man before me helps
himself in his and pass the bottle of smoke To keep up the pretence as to
labour and study and patience and being devoted to my art and giving up many
solitary days to it and abandoning many pleasures for it and living in it and
all the rest of it in short to pass the bottle of smoke according to rule«
»But it is well for a man to respect his own vocation whatever it is and
to think himself bound to uphold it and to claim for it the respect it
deserves is it not« Arthur reasoned »And your vocation Gowan may really
demand this suit and service I confess I should have thought that all Art did«
»What a good fellow you are Clennam« exclaimed the other stopping to look
at him as if with irrepressible admiration »What a capital fellow You have
never been disappointed Thats easy to see«
It would have been so cruel if he had meant it that Clennam firmly resolved
to believe he did not mean it Gowan without pausing laid his hand upon his
shoulder and laughingly and lightly went on
»Clennam I dont like to dispel your generous visions and I would give any
money if I had any to live in such a rosecoloured mist But what I do in my
trade I do to sell What all we fellows do we do to sell If we didnt want to
sell it for the most we can get for it we shouldnt do it Being work it has
to be done but its easily enough done All the rest is hocuspocus Now heres
one of the advantages or disadvantages of knowing a disappointed man You hear
the truth«
Whatever he had heard and whether it deserved that name or another it sank
into Clennams mind It so took root there that he began to fear Henry Gowan
would always be a trouble to him and that so far he had gained little or
nothing from the dismissal of Nobody with all his inconsistencies anxieties
and contradictions He found a contest still always going on in his breast
between his promise to keep Gowan in none but good aspects before the mind of
Mr Meagles and his enforced observation of Gowan in aspects that had no good
in them Nor could he quite support his own conscientious nature against
misgivings that he distorted and discoloured him by reminding himself that he
never sought those discoveries and that he would have avoided them with
willingness and great relief For he never could forget what had been and he
knew that he had once disliked Gowan for no better reason than that he had come
in his way
Harassed by these thoughts he now began to wish the marriage over Gowan
and his young wife gone and himself left to fulfil his promise and discharge
the generous function he had accepted This last week was in truth an uneasy
interval for the whole house Before Pet or before Gowan Mr Meagles was
radiant but Clennam had more than once found him alone with his view of the
scales and scoop much blurred and had often seen him look after the lovers in
the garden or elsewhere when he was not seen by them with the old clouded face
on which Gowan had fallen like a shadow In the arrangement of the house for the
great occasion many little reminders of the old travels of the father and
mother and daughter had to be disturbed and passed from hand to hand and
sometimes in the midst of these mute witnesses to the life they had had
together even Pet herself would yield to lamenting and weeping Mrs Meagles
the blithest and busiest of mothers went about singing and cheering everybody
but she honest soul had her flights into storerooms where she would cry
until her eyes were red and would then come out attributing that appearance to
pickled onions and pepper and singing clearer than ever Mrs Tickit finding
no balsam for a wounded mind in Buchans Domestic Medicine suffered greatly
from low spirits and from moving recollections of Minnies infancy When the
latter were powerful with her she usually sent up secret messages importing
that she was not in parlour condition as to her attire and that she solicited a
sight of her child in the kitchen there she would bless her childs face and
bless her childs heart and hug her child in a medley of tears and
congratulations choppingboards rollingpins and piecrust with the
tenderness of an attached old servant which is a very pretty tenderness indeed
But all days come that are to be and the marriageday was to be and it
came and with it came all the Barnacles who were bidden to the feast
There was Mr Tite Barnacle from the Circumlocution Office and Mews
Street Grosvenor Square with the expensive Mrs Tite Barnacle née
Stiltstalking who made the Quarter Days so long in coming and the three
expensive Miss Tite Barnacles doubleloaded with accomplishments and ready to
go off and yet not going off with the sharpness of flash and bang that might
have been expected but rather hanging fire There was Barnacle Junior also
from the Circumlocution Office leaving the Tonnage of the country which he was
somehow supposed to take under his protection to look after itself, and, sooth
to say not at all impairing the efficiency of its protection by leaving it
alone There was the engaging Young Barnacle deriving from the sprightly side
of the family also from the Circumlocution Office gaily and agreeably helping
the occasion along and treating it in his sparkling way as one of the
official forms and fees of the Church Department of How not to do it There were
three other Young Barnacles from three other offices insipid to all the
senses, and terribly in want of seasoning doing the marriage as they would have
done the Nile Old Rome the new singer or Jerusalem
But there was greater game than this There was Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle
himself in the odour of Circumlocution with the very smell of DespatchBoxes
upon him Yes there was Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle who had risen to official
heights on the wings of one indignant idea and that was My Lords that I am
yet to be told that it behoves a Minister of this free country to set bounds to
the philanthropy to cramp the charity to fetter the public spirit to contract
the enterprise to damp the independent selfreliance of its people That was
in other words, that this great statesman was always yet to be told that it
behoved the Pilot of the ship to do anything but prosper in the private loaf and
fish trade ashore the crew being able by dint of hard pumping to keep the
ship above water without him On this sublime discovery in the great art How
not to do it Lord Decimus had long sustained the highest glory of the Barnacle
family and let any illadvised member of either House but try How to do it by
bringing in a Bill to do it that Bill was as good as dead and buried when Lord
Decimus Tite Barnacle rose up in his place and solemnly said soaring into
indignant majesty as the Circumlocution cheering soared around him that he was
yet to be told My Lords that it behoved him as the Minister of this free
country to set bounds to the philanthropy to cramp the charity to fetter the
public spirit to contract the enterprise to damp the independent
selfreliance of its people The discovery of this Behoving Machine was the
discovery of the political perpetual motion It never wore out though it was
always going round and round in all the state Departments
And there with his noble friend and relative Lord Decimus was William
Barnacle who had made the everfamous coalition with Tudor Stiltstalking and
who always kept ready his own particular recipe for How not to do it sometimes
tapping the Speaker and drawing it fresh out of him with a »First I will beg
you sir to inform the House what Precedent we have for the course into which
the honourable gentleman would precipitate us« sometimes asking the honourable
gentleman to favour him with his own version of the Precedent sometimes telling
the honourable gentleman that he William Barnacle would search for a
Precedent and oftentimes crushing the honourable gentleman flat on the spot by
telling him there was no Precedent But Precedent and Precipitate were under
all circumstances the wellmatched pair of battlehorses of this able
Circumlocutionist No matter that the unhappy honourable gentleman had been
trying in vain for twentyfive years to precipitate William Barnacle into this
William Barnacle still put it to the House and at secondhand or so to the
country whether he was to be precipitated into this No matter that it was
utterly irreconcilable with the nature of things and course of events that the
wretched honourable gentleman could possibly produce a Precedent for this
William Barnacle would nevertheless thank the honourable gentleman for that
ironical cheer and would close with him upon that issue and would tell him to
his teeth that there was NO Precedent for this It might perhaps have been
objected that the William Barnacle wisdom was not high wisdom or the earth it
bamboozled would never have been made or if made in a rash mistake would have
remained blank mud But Precedent and Precipitate together frightened all
objection out of most people
And there too was another Barnacle a lively one who had leaped through
twenty places in quick succession and was always in two or three at once and
who was the muchrespected inventor of an art which he practised with great
success and admiration in all Barnacle Governments This was when he was asked
a Parliamentary question on any one topic to return an answer on any other It
had done immense service and brought him into high esteem with the
Circumlocution Office
And there too was a sprinkling of less distinguished Parliamentary
Barnacles who had not as yet got anything snug and were going through their
probation to prove their worthiness These Barnacles perched upon staircases and
hid in passages waiting their orders to make houses or not to make houses and
they did all their hearing and ohing and cheering and barking under
directions from the heads of the family and they put dummy motions on the paper
in the way of other mens motions and they stalled disagreeable subjects off
until late in the night and late in the session and then with virtuous
patriotism cried out that it was too late and they went down into the country
whenever they were sent and swore that Lord Decimus had revived trade from a
swoon and commerce from a fit and had doubled the harvest of corn quadrupled
the harvest of hay and prevented no end of gold from flying out of the Bank
Also these Barnacles were dealt by the heads of the family like so many cards
below the courtcards to public meetings and dinners where they bore testimony
to all sorts of services on the part of their noble and honourable relatives
and buttered the Barnacles on all sorts of toasts And they stood under similar
orders at all sorts of elections and they turned out of their own seats on
shortest notice and the most unreasonable terms to let in other men and they
fetched and carried and toadied and jobbed and corrupted and ate heaps of
dirt and were indefatigable in the public service And there was not a list in
all the Circumlocution Office of places that might fall vacant anywhere within
half a century from a lord of the Treasury to a Chinese consul and up again to
a governorgeneral of India but as applicants for such places the names of
some or of every one of these hungry and adhesive Barnacles were down
It was necessarily but a sprinkling of any class of Barnacles that attended
the marriage for there were not two score in all and what is that subtracted
from Legion But the sprinkling was a swarm in the Twickenham cottage and
filled it A Barnacle assisted by a Barnacle married the happy pair and it
behoved Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle himself to conduct Mrs Meagles to breakfast
The entertainment was not as agreeable and natural as it might have been
Mr Meagles hove down by his good company while he highly appreciated it was
not himself Mrs Gowan was herself and that did not improve him The fiction
that it was not Mr Meagles who had stood in the way but that it was the Family
greatness and that the Family greatness had made a concession and there was
now a soothing unanimity pervaded the affair though it was never openly
expressed Then the Barnacles felt that they for their parts would have done
with the Meagleses when the present patronising occasion was over and the
Meagleses felt the same for their parts Then Gowan asserting his rights as a
disappointed man who had his grudge against the family and who perhaps had
allowed his mother to have them there as much in the hope that it might give
them some annoyance as with any other benevolent object aired his pencil and
his poverty ostentatiously before them and told them he hoped in time to settle
a crust of bread and cheese on his wife and that he begged such of them as
more fortunate than himself came in for any good thing and could buy a
picture to please to remember the poor painter Then Lord Decimus who was a
wonder on his own Parliamentary pedestal turned out to be the windiest creature
here proposing happiness to the bride and bridegroom in a series of platitudes
that would have made the hair of any sincere disciple and believer stand on end
and trotting with the complacency of an idiotic elephant among howling
labyrinths of sentences which he seemed to take for high roads and never so
much as wanted to get out of Then Mr Tite Barnacle could not but feel that
there was a person in company who would have disturbed his lifelong sitting to
Sir Thomas Lawrence in full official character if such disturbance had been
possible while Barnacle Junior did with indignation communicate to two vapid
young gentlemen his relatives that there was a feller here look here who had
come to our Department without an appointment and said he wanted to know you
know and that look here if he was to break out now as he might you know for
you never could tell what an ungentlemanly Radical of that sort would be up to
next and was to say look here that he wanted to know this moment you know
that would be Jolly wouldnt it
The pleasantest part of the occasion by far to Clennam was the
painfullest When Mr and Mrs Meagles at last hung about Pet in the room with
the two pictures where the company were not before going with her to the
threshold which she could never recross to be the old Pet and the old delight
nothing could be more natural and simple than the three were Gowan himself was
touched and answered Mr Meagless »O Gowan take care of her take care of
her« with an earnest »Dont be so brokenhearted sir By Heaven I will«
And so with last sobs and last loving words and a last look to Clennam of
confidence in his promise Pet fell back in the carriage and her husband waved
his hand and they were away for Dover Though not until the faithful Mrs
Tickit in her silk gown and jet black curls had rushed out from some
hidingplace and thrown both her shoes after the carriage an apparition which
occasioned great surprise to the distinguished company at the windows
The said company being now relieved from further attendance and the chief
Barnacles being rather hurried for they had it in hand just then to send a mail
or two which was in danger of going straight to its destination beating about
the seas like the Flying Dutchman and to arrange with complexity for the
stoppage of a good deal of important business otherwise in peril of being done
went their several ways with all affability conveying to Mr and Mrs Meagles
that general assurance that what they had been doing there they had been doing
at a sacrifice for Mr and Mrs Meagless good which they always conveyed to
Mr John Bull in their official condescension to that most unfortunate creature
A miserable blank remained in the house and in the hearts of the father and
mother and Clennam Mr Meagles called only one remembrance to his aid that
really did him good
»Its very gratifying Arthur« he said »after all to look back upon«
»The past« said Clennam
»Yes but I mean the company«
It had made him much more low and unhappy at the time but now it really did
him good »Its very gratifying« he said often repeating the remark in the
course of the evening »Such high company«
Chapter XXXV
What Was Behind Mr Pancks on Little Dorrits Hand
It was at this time that Mr Pancks in discharge of his compact with Clennam
revealed to him the whole of his gipsy story and told him Little Dorrits
fortune Her father was heiratlaw to a great estate that had long lain unknown
of unclaimed and accumulating His right was now clear nothing interposed in
his way the Marshalsea gates stood open the Marshalsea walls were down a few
flourishes of his pen and he was extremely rich
In his tracking out of the claim to its complete establishment Mr Pancks
had shown a sagacity that nothing could baffle and a patience and secrecy that
nothing could tire »I little thought sir« said Pancks »when you and I
crossed Smithfield that night and I told you what sort of a Collector I was
that this would come of it I little thought sir when I told you you were not
of the Clennams of Cornwall that I was ever going to tell you who were of the
Dorrits of Dorsetshire« He then went on to detail How having that name
recorded in his notebook he was first attracted by the name alone How having
often found two exactly similar names even belonging to the same place to
involve no traceable consanguinity near or distant he did not at first give
much heed to this except in the way of speculation as to what a surprising
change would be made in the condition of a little seamstress if she could be
shown to have any interest in so large a property How he rather supposed
himself to have pursued the idea into its next degree because there was
something uncommon in the quiet little seamstress which pleased him and
provoked his curiosity How he had felt his way inch by inch and »Moled it out
sir« that was Mr Panckss expression grain by grain How in the beginning
of the labour described by this new verb and to render which the more
expressive Mr Pancks shut his eyes in pronouncing it and shook his hair over
them he had alternated from sudden lights and hopes to sudden darkness and no
hopes and back again and back again How he had made acquaintances in the
Prison expressly that he might come and go there as all other comers and goers
did and how his first ray of light was unconsciously given him by Mr Dorrit
himself and by his son to both of whom he easily became known with both of
whom he talked much casually »but always Moleing youll observe« said Mr
Pancks and from whom he derived without being at all suspected two or three
little points of family history which as he began to hold clues of his own
suggested others How it had at length become plain to Mr Pancks that he had
made a real discovery of the heiratlaw to a great fortune and that his
discovery had but to be ripened to legal fulness and perfection How he had
thereupon sworn his landlord Mr Rugg to secrecy in a solemn manner and
taken him into Moleing partnership How they had employed John Chivery as their
sole clerk and agent seeing to whom he was devoted And how until the present
hour when authorities mighty in the Bank and learned in the law declared their
successful labours ended they had confided in no other human being
»So if the whole thing had broken down sir« concluded Pancks »at the very
last say the day before the other day when I showed you our papers in the
Prison yard or say that very day nobody but ourselves would have been cruelly
disappointed or a penny the worse«
Clennam who had been almost incessantly shaking hands with him throughout
the narrative was reminded by this to say in an amazement which even the
preparation he had had for the main disclosure scarcely smoothed down »My dear
Mr Pancks this must have cost you a great sum of money«
»Pretty well sir« said the triumphant Pancks »No trifle though we did it
as cheap as it could be done And the outlay was a difficulty let me tell you«
»A difficulty« repeated Clennam »But the difficulties you have so
wonderfully conquered in the whole business« shaking his hand again
»Ill tell you how I did it« said the delighted Pancks putting his hair
into a condition as elevated as himself »First I spent all I had of my own
That wasnt much«
»I am sorry for it« said Clennam »not that it matters now though Then
what did you do«
»Then« answered Pancks »I borrowed a sum of my proprietor«
»Of Mr Casby« said Clennam »Hes a fine old fellow«
»Noble old boy ant he« said Mr Pancks entering on a series of the
dryest of snorts »Generous old buck Confiding old boy Philanthropic old buck
Benevolent old boy Twenty per cent I engaged to pay him sir But we never do
business for less at our shop«
Arthur felt an awkward consciousness of having in his exultant condition
been a little premature
»I said to that boilingover old Christian« Mr Pancks pursued appearing
greatly to relish this descriptive epithet »that I had got a little project on
hand a hopeful one I told him a hopeful one which wanted a certain small
capital I proposed to him to lend me the money on my note Which he did at
twenty sticking the twenty on in a businesslike way and putting it into the
note to look like a part of the principal If I had broken down after that I
should have been his grubber for the next seven years at half wages and double
grind But hes a perfect Patriarch and it would do a man good to serve him on
such terms on any terms«
Arthur for his life could not have said with confidence whether Pancks
really thought so or not
»When that was gone sir« resumed Pancks »and it did go though I dribbled
it out like so much blood I had taken Mr Rugg into the secret I proposed to
borrow of Mr Rugg or of Miss Rugg its the same thing she made a little
money by a speculation in the Common Pleas once He lent it at ten and thought
that pretty high But Mr Ruggs a redhaired man sir and gets his hair cut
And as to the crown of his hat its high And as to the brim of his hat its
narrow And theres no more benevolence bubbling out of him than out of a
ninepin«
»Your own recompense for all this Mr Pancks« said Clennam »ought to be a
large one«
»I dont mistrust getting it sir« said Pancks »I have made no bargain I
owed you one on that score now I have paid it Money out of pocket made good
time fairly allowed for and Mr Ruggs bill settled a thousand pounds would be
a fortune to me That matter I place in your hands I authorise you now to
break all this to the family in any way you think best Miss Amy Dorrit will be
with Mrs Finching this morning The sooner done the better Cant be done too
soon«
This conversation took place in Clennams bedroom while he was yet in bed
For Mr Pancks had knocked up the house and made his way in very early in the
morning and without once sitting down or standing still had delivered himself
of the whole of his details illustrated with a variety of documents at the
bedside He now said he would »go and look up Mr Rugg« from whom his excited
state of mind appeared to require another back and bundling up his papers and
exchanging one more hearty shake of the hand with Clennam he went at full speed
downstairs and steamed off
Clennam of course resolved to go direct to Mr Casbys He dressed and got
out so quickly that he found himself at the corner of the patriarchal street
nearly an hour before her time but he was not sorry to have the opportunity of
calming himself with a leisurely walk
When he returned to the street and had knocked at the bright brass knocker
he was informed that she had come and was shown upstairs to Floras
breakfastroom Little Dorrit was not there herself but Flora was and
testified the greatest amazement at seeing him
»Good gracious Arthur Doyce and Clennam« cried that lady »who would
have ever thought of seeing such a sight as this and pray excuse a wrapper for
upon my word I really never and a faded check too which is worse but our little
friend is making me a not that I need mind mentioning it to you for you must
know that there are such things a skirt and having arranged that a trying on
should take place after breakfast is the reason though I wish not so badly
starched«
»I ought to make an apology« said Arthur »for so early and abrupt a visit
but you will excuse it when I tell you the cause«
»In times for ever fled Arthur« returned Mrs Finching »pray excuse me
Doyce and Clennam infinitely more correct and though unquestionably distant
still tis distance lends enchantment to the view at least I dont mean that
and if I did I suppose it would depend considerably on the nature of the view
but Im running on again and you put it all out of my head«
She glanced at him tenderly and resumed
»In times for ever fled I was going to say it would have sounded strange
indeed for Arthur Clennam Doyce and Clennam naturally quite different to
make apologies for coming here at any time but that is past and what is past
can never be recalled except in his own case as poor Mr F said when he was in
spirits Cucumber and therefore never ate it«
She was making the tea when Arthur came in and now hastily finished that
operation
»Papa« she said all mystery and whisper as she shut down the teapot lid
»is sitting prosingly breaking his new laid egg in the back parlour over the
City article exactly like the Woodpecker Tapping and need never know that you
are here and our little friend you are well aware may be fully trusted when she
comes down from cutting out on the large table overhead«
Arthur then told her in the fewest words that it was their little friend
he came to see and what he had to announce to their little friend At which
astounding intelligence Flora clasped her hands fell into a tremble and shed
tears of sympathy and pleasure like the goodnatured creature she really was
»For gracious sake let me get out of the way first« said Flora putting her
hands to her ears and moving towards the door »or I know I shall go off dead
and screaming and make everybody worse and the dear little thing only this
morning looking so nice and neat and good and yet so poor and now a fortune is
she really and deserves it too and might I mention it to Mr Fs Aunt Arthur
not Doyce and Clennam for this once or if objectionable not on any account«
Arthur nodded his free permission since Flora shut out all verbal
communication Flora nodded in return to thank him and hurried out of the room
Little Dorrits step was already on the stairs and in another moment she
was at the door Do what he would to compose his face he could not convey so
much of an ordinary expression into it but that the moment she saw it she
dropped her work and cried »Mr Clennam Whats the matter«
»Nothing nothing That is no misfortune has happened I have come to tell
you something but it is a piece of great goodfortune«
»Goodfortune«
»Wonderful fortune«
They stood in a window and her eyes full of light were fixed upon his
face He put an arm about her seeing her likely to sink down She put a hand
upon that arm partly to rest upon it and partly so to preserve their relative
positions as that her intent look at him should be shaken by no change of
attitude in either of them Her lips seemed to repeat »Wonderful fortune« He
repeated it again aloud
»Dear Little Dorrit Your father«
The ice of the pale face broke at the word and little lights and shoots of
expression passed all over it They were all expressions of pain Her breath was
faint and hurried Her heart beat fast He would have clasped the little figure
closer but he saw that the eyes appealed to him not to be moved
»Your father can be free within this week He does not know it we must go
to him from here to tell him of it Your father will be free within a few days
Your father will be free within a few hours Remember we must go to him from
here to tell him of it«
That brought her back Her eyes were closing but they opened again
»This is not all the goodfortune This is not all the wonderful
goodfortune my dear Little Dorrit Shall I tell you more«
Her lips shaped »Yes«
»Your father will be no beggar when he is free He will want for nothing
Shall I tell you more Remember He knows nothing of it we must go to him from
here to tell him of it«
She seemed to entreat him for a little time He held her in his arm and
after a pause bent down his ear to listen
»Did you ask me to go on«
»Yes«
»He will be a rich man He is a rich man A great sum of money is waiting to
be paid over to him as his inheritance you are all henceforth very wealthy
Bravest and best of children I thank Heaven that you are rewarded«
As he kissed her she turned her head towards his shoulder and raised her
arm towards his neck cried out »Father Father Father« and swooned away
Upon which Flora returned to take care of her and hovered about her on a
sofa intermingling kind offices and incoherent scraps of conversation in a
manner so confounding that whether she pressed the Marshalsea to take a
spoonful of unclaimed dividends for it would do her good or whether she
congratulated Little Dorrits father on coming into possession of a hundred
thousand smellingbottles or whether she explained that she put seventyfive
thousand drops of spirits of lavender on fifty thousand pounds of lump sugar
and that she entreated Little Dorrit to take that gentle restorative or whether
she bathed the foreheads of Doyce and Clennam in vinegar and gave the late Mr
F more air no one with any sense of responsibility could have undertaken to
decide A tributary stream of confusion moreover poured in from an adjoining
bedroom where Mr Fs Aunt appeared from the sound of her voice to be in a
horizontal posture awaiting her breakfast and from which bower that inexorable
lady snapped off short taunts whenever she could get a hearing as »Dont
believe its his doing« and »He neednt take no credit to himself for it« and
»Itll be long enough I expect afore hell give up any of his own money« all
designed to disparage Clennams share in the discovery and to relieve those
inveterate feelings with which Mr Fs Aunt regarded him
But Little Dorrits solicitude to get to her father and to carry the
joyful tidings to him and not to leave him in his jail a moment with this
happiness in store for him and still unknown to him did more for her speedy
restoration than all the skill and attention on earth could have done »Come
with me to my dear father Pray come and tell my dear father« were the first
words she said Her father her father She spoke of nothing but him thought of
nothing but him Kneeling down and pouring out her thankfulness with uplifted
hands her thanks were for her father
Floras tenderness was quite overcome by this and she launched out among
the cups and saucers into a wonderful flow of tears and speech
»I declare« she sobbed »I never was so cut up since your mama and my papa
not Doyce and Clennam for this once but give the precious little thing a cup of
tea and make her put it to her lips at least pray Arthur do not even Mr Fs
last illness for that was of another kind and gout is not a childs affection
though very painful for all parties and Mr F a martyr with his leg upon a rest
and the wine trade in itself inflammatory for they will do it more or less among
themselves and who can wonder it seems like a dream I am sure to think of
nothing at all this morning and now Mines of money is it really but you must
you know my darling love because you never will be strong enough to tell him all
about it upon teaspoons mightnt it be even best to try the directions of my
own medical man for though the flavour is anything but agreeable still I force
myself to do it as a prescription and find the benefit youd rather not why no
my dear Id rather not but still I do it as a duty everybody will congratulate
you some in earnest and some not and many will congratulate you with all their
hearts but none more so I do assure you than from the bottom of my own I do
myself though sensible of blundering and being stupid and will be judged by
Arthur not Doyce and Clennam for this once so goodbye darling and God bless you
and may you be very happy and excuse the liberty vowing that the dress shall
never be finished by anybody else but shall be laid by for a keepsake just as it
is and called Little Dorrit though why that strangest of denominations at any
time I never did myself and now I never shall«
Thus Flora in taking leave of her favourite Little Dorrit thanked her and
embraced her over and over again and finally came out of the house with
Clennam and took coach for the Marshalsea
It was a strangely unreal ride through the old squalid streets with a
sensation of being raised out of them into an airy world of wealth and
grandeur When Arthur told her that she would soon ride in her own carriage
through very different scenes when all the familiar experiences would have
vanished away she looked frightened But when he substituted her father for
herself and told her how he would ride in his carriage and how great and grand
he would be her tears of joy and innocent pride fell fast Seeing that the
happiness her mind could realise was all shining upon him Arthur kept that
single figure before her and so they rode brightly through the poor streets in
the prison neighbourhood to carry him the great news
When Mr Chivery who was on duty admitted them into the Lodge he saw
something in their faces which filled him with astonishment He stood looking
after them when they hurried into the prison as though he perceived that they
had come back accompanied by a ghost apiece Two or three Collegians whom they
passed looked after them too and presently joining Mr Chivery formed a
little group on the Lodge steps in the midst of which there spontaneously
originated a whisper that the Father was going to get his discharge Within a
few minutes it was heard in the remotest room in the College
Little Dorrit opened the door from without and they both entered He was
sitting in his old grey gown and his old black cap in the sunlight by the
window reading his newspaper His glasses were in his hand and he had just
looked round surprised at first no doubt by her step upon the stairs not
expecting her until night surprised again by seeing Arthur Clennam in her
company As they came in the same unwonted look in both of them which had
already caught attention in the yard below struck him He did not rise or
speak but laid down his glasses and his newspaper on the table beside him and
looked at them with his mouth a little open and his lips trembling When Arthur
put out his hand he touched it but not with his usual state and then he
turned to his daughter who had sat down close beside him with her hands upon
his shoulder and looked attentively in her face
»Father I have been made so happy this morning«
»You have been made so happy my dear«
»By Mr Clennam father He brought me such joyful and wonderful
intelligence about you If he had not with his great kindness and gentleness
prepared me for it father prepared me for it father I think I could not
have borne it«
Her agitation was exceedingly great and the tears rolled down her face He
put his hand suddenly to his heart and looked at Clennam
»Compose yourself sir« said Clennam »and take a little time to think To
think of the brightest and most fortunate accidents of life We have all heard
of great surprises of joy They are not at an end sir They are rare but not
at an end«
»Mr Clennam Not at an end Not at an end for « He touched himself upon
the breast instead of saying »me«
»No« returned Clennam
»What surprise« he asked keeping his left hand over his heart and there
stopping in his speech while with his right hand he put his glasses exactly
level on the table »what such surprise can be in store for me«
»Let me answer with another question Tell me Mr Dorrit what surprise
would be the most unlocked for and the most acceptable to you Do not be afraid
to imagine it or to say what it would be«
He looked steadfastly at Clennam and so looking at him seemed to change
into a very old haggard man The sun was bright upon the wall beyond the window
and on the spikes at top He slowly stretched out the hand that had been upon
his heart and pointed at the wall
»It is down« said Clennam »Gone«
He remained in the same attitude looking steadfastly at him
»And in its place« said Clennam slowly and distinctly »are the means to
possess and enjoy the utmost that they have so long shut out Mr Dorrit there
is not the smallest doubt that within a few days you will be free and highly
prosperous I congratulate you with all my soul on this change of fortune and
on the happy future into which you are soon to carry the treasure you have been
blest with here the best of all the riches you can have elsewhere the
treasure at your side«
With those words he pressed his hand and released it and his daughter
laying her face against his encircled him in the hour of his prosperity with
her arms as she had in the long years of his adversity encircled him with her
love and toil and truth and poured out her full heart in gratitude hope joy
blissful ecstasy and all for him
»I shall see him as I never saw him yet I shall see my dear love with the
dark cloud cleared away I shall see him as my poor mother saw him long ago O
my dear my dear O father father O thank God thank God«
He yielded himself to her kisses and caresses but did not return them
except that he put an arm about her Neither did he say one word His steadfast
look was now divided between her and Clennam and he began to shake as if he
were very cold Explaining to Little Dorrit that he would run to the
coffeehouse for a bottle of wine Arthur fetched it with all the haste he could
use While it was being brought from the cellar to the bar a number of excited
people asked him what had happened when he hurriedly informed them that Mr
Dorrit had succeeded to a fortune
On coming back with the wine in his hand he found that she had placed her
father in his easychair and had loosened his shirt and neckcloth They filled
a tumbler with wine and held it to his lips When he had swallowed a little he
took the glass himself and emptied it Soon after that he leaned back in his
chair and cried with his handkerchief before his face
After this had lasted a while Clennam thought it a good season for
diverting his attention from the main surprise by relating its details Slowly
therefore and in a quiet tone of voice he explained them as he best could and
enlarged on the nature of Panckss service
»He shall be ha he shall be handsomely recompensed sir« said the
Father starting up and moving hurriedly about the room »Assure yourself Mr
Clennam that everybody concerned shall be ha shall be nobly rewarded No
one my dear sir shall say that he has an unsatisfied claim against me I shall
repay the hum the advances I have had from you sir with peculiar pleasure
I beg to be informed at your early convenience what advances you have made my
son«
He had no purpose in going about the room but he was not still a moment
»Everybody« he said »shall be remembered I will not go away from here in
anybodys debt All the people who have been ha well behaved towards myself
and my family shall be rewarded Chivery shall be rewarded Young John shall be
rewarded I particularly wish and intend to act munificently Mr Clennam«
»Will you allow me« said Arthur laying his purse on the table »to supply
any present contingencies Mr Dorrit I thought it best to bring a sum of money
for the purpose«
»Thank you sir thank you I accept with readiness at the present moment
what I could not an hour ago have conscientiously taken I am obliged to you for
the temporary accommodation Exceedingly temporary but well timed well
timed« His hand had closed upon the money and he carried it about with him
»Be so kind sir as to add the amount to those former advances to which I have
already referred being careful if you please not to omit advances made to my
son A mere verbal statement of the gross amount is all I shall ha all I
shall require«
His eye fell upon his daughter at this point and he stopped for a moment to
kiss her and to pat her head
»It will be necessary to find a milliner my love and to make a speedy
and complete change in your very plain dress Something must be done with Maggy
too who at present is ha barely respectable barely respectable And your
sister Amy and your brother And my brother your uncle poor soul I trust
this will arouse him messengers must be despatched to fetch them They must be
informed of this We must break it to them cautiously but they must be informed
directly We owe it as a duty to them and to ourselves from this moment not
to let them hum not to let them do anything«
This was the first intimation he had ever given that he was privy to the
fact that they did something for a livelihood
He was still jogging about the room with the purse clutched in his hand
when a great cheering arose in the yard »The news has spread already« said
Clennam looking down from the window »Will you show yourself to them Mr
Dorrit They are very earnest and they evidently wish it«
»I hum ha I confess I could have desired Amy my dear« he said
jogging about in a more feverish flutter than before »to have made some change
in my dress first and to have bought a hum a watch and chain But if it
must be done as it is it ha it must be done Fasten the collar of my shirt
my dear Mr Clennam would you oblige me hum with a blue neckcloth you will
find in that drawer at your elbow Button my coat across at the chest my love
It looks ha it looks broader buttoned«
With his trembling hand he pushed his grey hair up and then taking Clennam
and his daughter for supporters appeared at the window leaning on an arm of
each The Collegians cheered him very heartily and he kissed his hand to them
with great urbanity and protection When he withdrew into the room again he
said »Poor creatures« in a tone of much pity for their miserable condition
Little Dorrit was deeply anxious that he should lie down to compose himself
On Arthurs speaking to her of his going to inform Pancks that he might now
appear as soon as he would and pursue the joyful business to its close she
entreated him in a whisper to stay with her until her father should be quite
calm and at rest He needed no second entreaty and she prepared her fathers
bed and begged him to lie down For another halfhour or more he would be
persuaded to do nothing but go about the room discussing with himself the
probabilities for and against the Marshals allowing the whole of the prisoners
to go to the windows of the official residence which commanded the street to
see himself and family depart for ever in a carriage which he said he
thought would be a Sight for them But gradually he began to droop and tire
and at last stretched himself upon the bed
She took her faithful place beside him fanning him and cooling his
forehead and he seemed to be falling asleep always with the money in his
hand when he unexpectedly sat up and said
»Mr Clennam I beg your pardon Am I to understand my dear sir that I
could ha could pass through the Lodge at this moment and hum take a
walk«
»I think not Mr Dorrit« was the unwilling reply »There are certain forms
to be completed and although your detention here is now in itself a form I
fear it is one that for a little longer has to be observed too«
At this he shed tears again
»It is but a few hours sir« Clennam cheerfully urged upon him
»A few hours sir« he returned in a sudden passion »You talk very easily
of hours sir How long do you suppose sir that an hour is to a man who is
choking for want of air«
It was his last demonstration for that time as after shedding some more
tears and querulously complaining that he couldnt breathe he slowly fell into
a slumber Clennam had abundant occupation for his thoughts as he sat in the
quiet room watching the father on his bed and the daughter fanning his face
Little Dorrit had been thinking too After softly putting his grey hair
aside and touching his forehead with her lips she looked towards Arthur who
came nearer to her and pursued in a low whisper the subject of her thoughts
»Mr Clennam will he pay all his debts before he leaves here«
»No doubt All«
»All the debts for which he has been imprisoned here all my life and
longer«
»No doubt«
There was something of uncertainty and remonstrance in her look something
that was not all satisfaction He wondered to detect it and said
»You are glad that he should do so«
»Are you« asked Little Dorrit wistfully
»Am I Most heartily glad«
»Then I know I ought to be«
»And are you not«
»It seems to me hard« said Little Dorrit »that he should have lost so many
years and suffered so much and at last pay all the debts as well It seems to
me hard that he should pay in life and money both«
»My dear child « Clennam was beginning
»Yes I know I am wrong« she pleaded timidly »dont think any worse of me
it has grown up with me here«
The prison which could spoil so many things had tainted Little Dorrits
mind no more than this Engendered as the confusion was in compassion for the
poor prisoner her father it was the first speck Clennam had ever seen it was
the last speck Clennam ever saw of the prison atmosphere upon her
He thought this and forbore to say another word With the thought her
purity and goodness came before him in their brightest light The little spot
made them the more beautiful
Worn out with her own emotions and yielding to the silence of the room her
hand slowly slackened and failed in its fanning movement and her head dropped
down on the pillow at her fathers side Clennam rose softly opened and closed
the door without a sound and passed from the prison carrying the quiet with
him into the turbulent streets
Chapter XXXVI
The Marshalsea Becomes an Orphan
And now the day arrived when Mr Dorrit and his family were to leave the prison
for ever and the stones of its muchtrodden pavement were to know them no more
The interval had been short but he had greatly complained of its length
and had been imperious with Mr Rugg touching the delay He had been high with
Mr Rugg and had threatened to employ some one else He had requested Mr Rugg
not to presume upon the place in which he found him but to do his duty sir
and to do it with promptitude He had told Mr Rugg that he knew what lawyers
and agents were and that he would not submit to imposition On that gentlemans
humbly representing that he exerted himself to the utmost Miss Fanny was very
short with him desiring to know what less he could do when he had been told a
dozen times that money was no object and expressing her suspicion that he
forgot whom he talked to
Towards the Marshal who was a Marshal of many years standing and with
whom he had never had any previous difference Mr Dorrit comported himself with
severity That officer on personally tendering his congratulations offered the
free use of two rooms in his house for Mr Dorrits occupation until his
departure Mr Dorrit thanked him at the moment and replied that he would think
of it but the Marshal was no sooner gone than he sat down and wrote him a
cutting note in which he remarked that he had never on any former occasion had
the honour of receiving his congratulations which was true though indeed there
had not been anything particular to congratulate him upon and that he begged
on behalf of himself and family to repudiate the Marshals offer with all
those thanks which its disinterested character and its perfect independence of
all worldly considerations demanded
Although his brother showed so dim a glimmering of interest in their altered
fortunes that it was very doubtful whether he understood them Mr Dorrit
caused him to be measured for new raiment by the hosiers tailors hatters and
bootmakers whom he called in for himself and ordered that his old clothes
should be taken from him and burned Miss Fanny and Mr Tip required no
direction in making an appearance of great fashion and elegance and the three
passed this interval together at the best hotel in the neighbourhood though
truly as Miss Fanny said the best was very indifferent In connection with
that establishment Mr Tip hired a cabriolet horse and groom a very neat
turnout which was usually to be observed for two or three hours at a time
gracing the Borough High Street outside the Marshalsea courtyard A modest
little hired chariot and pair was also frequently to be seen there in alighting
from and entering which vehicle Miss Fanny fluttered the Marshals daughters by
the display of inaccessible bonnets
A great deal of business was transacted in this short period Among other
items Messrs Peddle and Pool solicitors of Monument Yard were instructed by
their client Edward Dorrit Esquire to address a letter to Mr Arthur Clennam
enclosing the sum of twentyfour pounds nine shillings and eightpence being the
amount of principal and interest computed at the rate of five per cent per
annum in which their client believed himself to be indebted to Mr Clennam In
making this communication and remittance Messrs Peddle and Pool were further
instructed by their client to remind Mr Clennam that the favour of the advance
now repaid including gatefees had not been asked of him and to inform him
that it would not have been accepted if it had been openly proffered in his
name With which they requested a stamped receipt and remained his obedient
servants A great deal of business had likewise to be done within the
sosoontobeorphaned Marshalsea by Mr Dorrit so long its Father chiefly
arising out of applications made to him by Collegians for small sums of money
To these he responded with the greatest liberality and with no lack of
formality always first writing to appoint a time at which the applicant might
wait upon him in his room and then receiving him in the midst of a vast
accumulation of documents and accompanying his donation for he said in every
such case »it is a donation not a loan« with a great deal of good counsel to
the effect that he the expiring Father of the Marshalsea hoped to be long
remembered as an example that a man might preserve his own and the general
respect even there
The Collegians were not envious Besides that they had a personal and
traditional regard for a Collegian of so many years standing the event was
creditable to the College and made it famous in the newspapers Perhaps more of
them thought too than were quite aware of it that the thing might in the
lottery of chances have happened to themselves or that something of the sort
might yet happen to themselves some day or other They took it very well A few
were low at the thought of being left behind and being left poor but even
these did not grudge the family their brilliant reverse There might have been
much more envy in politer places It seems probable that mediocrity of fortune
would have been disposed to be less magnanimous than the Collegians who lived
from hand to mouth from the pawnbrokers hand to the days dinner
They got up an address to him which they presented in a neat frame and
glass though it was not afterwards displayed in the family mansion or preserved
among the family papers and to which he returned a gracious answer In that
document he assured them in a Royal manner that he received the profession of
their attachment with a full conviction of its sincerity and again generally
exhorted them to follow his example which at least in so far as coming into a
great property was concerned there is no doubt they would have gladly imitated
He took the same occasion of inviting them to a comprehensive entertainment to
be given to the whole College in the yard and at which he signified he would
have the honour of taking a parting glass to the health and happiness of all
those whom he was about to leave behind
He did not in person dine at this public repast it took place at two in the
afternoon and his dinners now came in from the hotel at six but his son was
so good as to take the head of the principal table and to be very free and
engaging He himself went about among the company and took notice of
individuals and saw that the viands were of the quality he had ordered and
that all were served On the whole he was like a baron of the olden time in a
rare good humour At the conclusion of the repast he pledged his guests in a
bumper of old Madeira and told them that he hoped they had enjoyed themselves
and what was more that they would enjoy themselves for the rest of the evening
that he wished them well and that he bade them welcome His health being drunk
with acclamations he was not so baronial after all but that in trying to return
thanks he broke down in the manner of a mere serf with a heart in his breast
and wept before them all After this great success which he supposed to be a
failure he gave them »Mr Chivery and his brother officers« whom he had
beforehand presented with ten pounds each and who were all in attendance Mr
Chivery spoke to the toast saying What you undertake to lock up lock up but
remember that you are in the words of the fettered African a man and a brother
ever The list of toasts disposed of Mr Dorrit urbanely went through the
motions of playing a game at skittles with the Collegian who was the next oldest
inhabitant to himself and left the tenantry to their diversions
But all these occurrences preceded the final day And now the day arrived
when he and his family were to leave the prison for ever and when the stones of
its muchtrodden pavement were to know them no more
Noon was the hour appointed for the departure As it approached there was
not a Collegian within doors nor a turnkey absent The latter class of
gentlemen appeared in their Sunday clothes and the greater part of the
Collegians were brightened up as much as circumstances allowed Two or three
flags were even displayed and the children put on odds and ends of ribbon Mr
Dorrit himself at this trying time preserved a serious but graceful dignity
Much of his attention was given to his brother as to whose bearing on the great
occasion he felt anxious
»My dear Frederick« said he »if you will give me your arm we will pass
among our friends together I think it is right that we should go out
arminarm my dear Frederick«
»Hah« said Frederick »Yes yes yes yes«
»And if my dear Frederick if you could without putting any great
constraint upon yourself throw a little pray excuse me Frederick a little
polish into your usual demeanour «
»William William« said the other shaking his head »its for you to do
all that I dont know how All forgotten forgotten«
»But my dear fellow« returned William »for that very reason if for no
other you must positively try to rouse yourself What you have forgotten you
must now begin to recall my dear Frederick Your position «
»Eh« said Frederick
»Your position my dear Frederick«
»Mine« He looked first at his own figure and then at his brothers and
then drawing a long breath cried »Hah to be sure Yes yes yes«
»Your position my dear Frederick is now a fine one Your position as my
brother is a very fine one And I know that it belongs to your conscientious
nature to try to become worthy of it my dear Frederick and to try to adorn
it To be no discredit to it but to adorn it«
»William« said the other weakly and with a sigh »I will do anything you
wish my brother provided it lies in my power Pray be so kind as to recollect
what a limited power mine is What would you wish me to do today brother Say
what it is only say what it is«
»My dearest Frederick nothing It is not worth troubling so good a heart as
yours with«
»Pray trouble it« returned the other »It finds it no trouble William to
do anything it can for you«
William passed his hands across his eyes and murmured with august
satisfaction »Blessings on your attachment my poor dear fellow« Then he said
aloud »Well my dear Frederick if you will only try as we walk out to show
that you are alive to the occasion that you think about it «
»What would you advise me to think about it« returned his submissive
brother
»Oh my dear Frederick how can I answer you I can only say what in
leaving these good people I think myself«
»Thats it« cried his brother »That will help me«
»I find that I think my dear Frederick and with mixed emotions in which a
softened compassion predominates What will they do without me«
»True« returned his brother »Yes yes yes yes Ill think that as we go
What will they do without my brother Poor things What will they do without
him«
Twelve oclock having just struck and the carriage being reported ready in
the outer courtyard the brothers proceeded downstairs arminarm Edward
Dorrit Esquire once Tip and his sister Fanny followed also arminarm Mr
Plornish and Maggy to whom had been entrusted the removal of such of the family
effects as were considered worth removing followed bearing bundles and burdens
to be packed in a cart
In the yard were the Collegians and turnkeys In the yard were Mr Pancks
and Mr Rugg come to see the last touch given to their work In the yard was
Young John making a new epitaph for himself on the occasion of his dying of a
broken heart In the yard was the Patriarchal Casby looking so tremendously
benevolent that many enthusiastic Collegians grasped him fervently by the hand
and the wives and female relatives of many more Collegians kissed his hand
nothing doubting that he had done it all In the yard was the usual chorus of
people proper to such a place In the yard was the man with the shadowy
grievance respecting the Fund which the Marshal embezzled who had got up at
five in the morning to complete the copying of a perfectly unintelligible
history of that transaction which he had committed to Mr Dorrits care as a
document of the last importance calculated to stun the Government and effect
the Marshals downfall In the yard was the insolvent whose utmost energies
were always set on getting into debt who broke into prison with as much pains
as other men have broken out of it and who was always being cleared and
complimented while the insolvent at his elbow a mere little snivelling
striving tradesman half dead of anxious efforts to keep out of debt found it
a hard matter indeed to get a Commissioner to release him with much reproof
and reproach In the yard was the man of many children and many burdens whose
failure astonished everybody in the yard was the man of no children and large
resources whose failure astonished nobody There were the people who were
always going out tomorrow and always putting it off there were the people
who had come in yesterday and who were much more jealous and resentful of this
freak of fortune than the seasoned birds There were some who in pure meanness
of spirit cringed and bowed before the enriched Collegian and his family
there were others who did so really because their eyes accustomed to the gloom
of their imprisonment and poverty could not support the light of such bright
sunshine There were many whose shillings had gone into his pocket to buy him
meat and drink but none who were now obtrusively Hail fellow well met with
him on the strength of that assistance It was rather to be remarked of the
caged birds that they were a little shy of the bird about to be so grandly
free and that they had a tendency to withdraw themselves towards the bars and
seem a little fluttered as he passed
Through these spectators the little procession headed by the two brothers
moved slowly to the gate Mr Dorrit yielding to the vast speculation how the
poor creatures were to get on without him was great and sad but not absorbed
He patted children on the head like Sir Roger de Coverley going to church he
spoke to people in the background by their Christian names he condescended to
all present and seemed for their consolation to walk encircled by the legend in
golden characters »Be comforted my people Bear it«
At last three honest cheers announced that he had passed the gate and that
the Marshalsea was an orphan Before they had ceased to ring in the echoes of
the prison walls the family had got into their carriage and the attendant had
the steps in his hand
Then and not before »Good Gracious« cried Miss Fanny all at once
»Wheres Amy«
Her father had thought she was with her sister Her sister had thought she
was »somewhere or other« They had all trusted to finding her as they had
always done quietly in the right place at the right moment This going away was
perhaps the very first action of their joint lives that they had got through
without her
A minute might have been consumed in the ascertaining or these points when
Miss Fanny who from her seat in the carriage commanded the long narrow
passage leading to the Lodge flushed indignantly
»Now I do say Pa« cried she »that this is disgraceful«
»What is disgraceful Fanny«
»I do say« she repeated »this is perfectly infamous Really almost enough
even at such a time as this to make one wish one was dead Here is that child
Amy in her ugly old shabby dress which she was so obstinate about Pa which I
over and over again begged and prayed her to change and which she over and over
again objected to and promised to change today saying she wished to wear it
as long as ever she remained in there with you which was absolutely romantic
nonsense of the lowest kind here is that child Amy disgracing us to the last
moment and at the last moment by being carried out in that dress after all And
by that Mr Clennam too«
The offence was proved as she delivered the indictment Clennam appeared at
the carriagedoor bearing the little insensible figure in his arms
»She has been forgotten« he said in a tone of pity not free from reproach
»I ran up to her room which Mr Chivery showed me and found the door open and
that she had fainted on the floor dear child She appeared to have gone to
change her dress and to have sunk down overpowered It may have been the
cheering or it may have happened sooner Take care of this poor cold hand Miss
Dorrit Dont let it fall«
»Thank you sir« returned Miss Dorrit bursting into tears »I believe I
know what to do if you will give me leave Dear Amy open your eyes thats a
love Oh Amy Amy I really am so vexed and ashamed Do rouse yourself
darling Oh why are they not driving on Pray Pa do drive on«
The attendant getting between Clennam and the carriagedoor with a sharp
»By your leave sir« bundled up the steps and they drove away
Book the Second
Riches
Chapter I
FellowTravellers
In the autumn of the year Darkness and Night were creeping up to the highest
ridges of the Alps
It was vintage time in the valleys on the Swiss side of the Pass of the
Great Saint Bernard and along the banks of the Lake of Geneva The air there
was charged with the scent of gathered grapes Baskets troughs and tubs of
grapes stood in the dim village doorways stopped the steep and narrow village
streets and had been carrying all day along the roads and lanes Grapes spilt
and crushed under foot lay about everywhere The child carried in a sling by
the laden peasant woman toiling home was quieted with pickedup grapes the
idiot sunning his big goître under the eaves of the wooden châlet by the way to
the waterfall sat munching grapes the breath of the cows and goats was
redolent of leaves and stalks of grapes the company in every little cabaret
were eating drinking talking grapes A pity that no ripe touch of this
generous abundance could be given to the thin hard stony wine which after all
was made from the grapes
The air had been warm and transparent through the whole of the bright day
Shining metal spires and churchroofs distant and rarely seen had sparkled in
the view and the snowy mountaintops had been so clear that unaccustomed eyes
cancelling the intervening country and slighting their rugged height for
something fabulous would have measured them as within a few hours easy reach
Mountainpeaks of great celebrity in the valleys whence no trace of their
existence was visible sometimes for months together had been since morning
plain and near in the blue sky And now when it was dark below though they
seemed solemnly to recede like spectres who were going to vanish as the red
dye of the sunset faded out of them and left them coldly white they were yet
distinctly defined in their loneliness above the mists and shadows
Seen from those solitudes and from the Pass of the Great Saint Bernard
which was one of them the ascending Night came up the mountain like a rising
water When it at last rose to the walls of the convent of the Great Saint
Bernard it was as if that weatherbeaten structure were another Ark and
floated on the shadowy waves
Darkness outstripping some visitors on mules had risen thus to the rough
convent walls when those travellers were yet climbing the mountain As the heat
of the glowing day when they had stopped to drink at the streams of melted ice
and snow was changed to the searching cold of the frosty rarefied night air at
a great height so the fresh beauty of the lower journey had yielded to
barrenness and desolation A craggy track up which the mules in single file
scrambled and turned from block to block as though they were ascending the
broken staircase of a gigantic ruin was their way now No trees were to be
seen nor any vegetable growth save a poor brown scrubby moss freezing in the
chinks of rock Blackened skeleton arms of wood by the wayside pointed upward to
the convent as if the ghosts of former travellers overwhelmed by the snow
haunted the scene of their distress Iciclehung caves and cellars built for
refuges from sudden storms were like so many whispers of the perils of the
place neverresting wreaths and mazes of mist wandered about hunted by a
moaning wind and snow the besetting danger of the mountain against which all
its defences were taken drifted sharply down
The file of mules jaded by their days work turned and wound slowly up the
steep ascent the foremost led by a guide on foot in his broadbrimmed hat and
round jacket carrying a mountain staff or two upon his shoulder with whom
another guide conversed There was no speaking among the string of riders The
sharp cold the fatigue of the journey and a new sensation of a catching in the
breath partly as if they had just emerged from very clear crisp water and
partly as if they had been sobbing kept them silent
At length a light on the summit of the rocky staircase gleamed through the
snow and mist The guides called to the mules the mules pricked up their
drooping heads the travellers tongues were loosened and in a sudden burst of
slipping climbing jingling clinking and talking they arrived at the convent
door
Other mules had arrived not long before some with peasant riders and some
with goods and had trodden the snow about the door into a pool of mud
Ridingsaddles and bridles packsaddles and strings of bells mules and men
lanterns torches sacks provender barrels cheeses kegs of honey and butter
straw bundles and packages of many shapes were crowded confusedly together in
this thawed quagmire and about the steps Up here in the clouds everything was
seen through cloud and seemed dissolving into cloud The breath of the men was
cloud the breath of the mules was cloud the lights were encircled by cloud
speakers close at hand were not seen for cloud though their voices and all
other sounds were surprisingly clear Of the cloudy line of mules hastily tied
to rings in the wall one would bite another or kick another and then the
whole mist would be disturbed with men diving into it and cries of men and
beasts coming out of it and no bystander discerning what was wrong In the
midst of this the great stable of the convent occupying the basement story
and entered by the basement door outside which all the disorder was poured
forth its contribution of cloud as if the whole rugged edifice were filled with
nothing else and would collapse as soon as it had emptied itself leaving the
snow to fall upon the bare mountain summit
While all this noise and hurry were rife among the living travellers there
too silently assembled in a grated house halfadozen paces removed with the
same cloud enfolding them and the same snowflakes drifting in upon them were
the dead travellers found upon the mountain The mother stormbelated many
winters ago still standing in the corner with her baby at her breast the man
who had frozen with his arm raised to his mouth in fear or hunger still
pressing it with his dry lips after years and years An awful company
mysteriously come together A wild destiny for that mother to have foreseen
»Surrounded by so many and such companions upon whom I never looked and never
shall look I and my child will dwell together inseparable on the Great Saint
Bernard outlasting generations who will come to see us and will never know our
name or one word of our story but the end«
The living travellers thought little or nothing of the dead just then They
thought much more of alighting at the convent door and warming themselves at
the convent fire Disengaged from the turmoil which was already calming down as
the crowd of mules began to be bestowed in the stable they hurried shivering up
the steps and into the building There was a smell within coming up from the
floor of tethered beasts like the smell of a menagerie of wild animals There
were strong arched galleries within huge stone piers great staircases and
thick walls pierced with small sunken windows fortifications against the
mountain storms as if they had been human enemies There were gloomy vaulted
sleepingrooms within intensely cold but clean and hospitably prepared for
guests Finally there was a parlour for guests to sit in and sup in where a
table was already laid and where a blazing fire shone red and high
In this room after having had their quarters for the night allotted to them
by two young Fathers the travellers presently drew round the hearth They were
in three parties of whom the first as the most numerous and important was the
slowest and had been overtaken by one of the others on the way up It consisted
of an elderly lady two greyhaired gentlemen two young ladies and their
brother These were attended not to mention four guides by a courier two
footmen and two waitingmaids which strong body of inconvenience was
accommodated elsewhere under the same roof The party that had overtaken them
and followed in their train consisted of only three members one lady and two
gentlemen The third party which had ascended from the valley on the Italian
side of the Pass and had arrived first were four in number a plethoric
hungry and silent German tutor in spectacles on a tour with three young men
his pupils all plethoric hungry and silent and all in spectacles
These three groups sat round the fire eyeing each other drily and waiting
for supper Only one among them one of the gentlemen belonging to the party of
three made advances towards conversation Throwing out his lines for the Chief
of the important tribe while addressing himself to his own companions he
remarked in a tone of voice which included all the company if they chose to be
included that it had been a long day and that he felt for the ladies That he
feared one of the young ladies was not a strong or accustomed traveller and had
been overfatigued two or three hours ago That he had observed from his
station in the rear that she sat her mule as if she were exhausted That he
had twice or thrice afterwards done himself the honour of inquiring of one of
the guides when he fell behind how the young lady did That he had been
enchanted to learn that she had recovered her spirits and that it had been but
a passing discomfort That he trusted by this time he had secured the eyes of
the Chief and addressed him he might be permitted to express his hope that she
was now none the worse and that she would not regret having made the journey
»My daughter I am obliged to you sir« returned the Chief »is quite
restored and has been greatly interested«
»New to mountains perhaps« said the insinuating traveller
»New to ha to mountains« said the Chief
»But you are familiar with them sir« the insinuating traveller assumed
»I am hum tolerably familiar Not of late years Not of late years«
replied the Chief with a flourish of his hand
The insinuating traveller acknowledging the flourish with an inclination of
his head passed from the Chief to the second young lady who had not yet been
referred to otherwise than as one of the ladies in whose behalf he felt so
sensitive an interest
He hoped she was not incommoded by the fatigues of the day
»Incommoded certainly« returned the young lady »but not tired«
The insinuating traveller complimented her on the justice of the
distinction. It was what he had meant to say Every lady must doubtless be
incommoded by having to do with that proverbially unaccommodating animal the
mule
»We have had of course« said the young lady who was rather reserved and
haughty »to leave the carriages and fourgon at Martigny And the impossibility
of bringing anything that one wants to this inaccessible place and the
necessity of leaving every comfort behind is not convenient«
»A savage place indeed« said the insinuating traveller
The elderly lady who was a model of accurate dressing and whose manner was
perfect considered as a piece of machinery here interposed a remark in a low
soft voice
»But like other inconvenient places« she observed »it must be seen As a
place much spoken of it is necessary to see it«
»Oh I have not the least objection to seeing it I assure you Mrs
General« returned the other carelessly
»You madam« said the insinuating traveller »have visited this spot
before«
»Yes« returned Mrs General »I have been here before Let me recommend
you my dear« to the former young lady »to shade your face from the hot wood
after exposure to the mountain air and snow You too my dear« to the other
and younger lady who immediately did so while the former merely said »Thank
you Mrs General I am perfectly comfortable and prefer remaining as I am«
The brother who had left his chair to open a piano that stood in the room
and who had whistled into it and shut it up again now came strolling back to
the fire with his glass in his eye He was dressed in the very fullest and
completest travelling trim The world seemed hardly large enough to yield him an
amount of travel proportionate to his equipment
»These fellows are an immense time with supper« he drawled »I wonder what
theyll give us Has anybody any idea«
»Not roast man I believe« replied the voice of the second gentleman of the
party of three
»I suppose not What dye mean« he inquired
»That as you are not to be served for the general supper perhaps you will
do us the favour of not cooking yourself at the general fire« returned the
other
The young gentleman who was standing in an easy attitude on the hearth
cocking his glass at the company with his back to the blaze and his coat tucked
under his arms something as if he were of the poultry species and were trussed
for roasting lost countenance at this reply he seemed about to demand further
explanation when it was discovered through all eyes turning on the speaker
that the lady with him who was young and beautiful had not heard what had
passed through having fainted with her head upon his shoulder
»I think« said the gentleman in a subdued tone »I had best carry her
straight to her room Will you call to some one to bring a light« addressing
his companion »and to show the way In this strange rambling place I dont know
that I could find it«
»Pray let me call my maid« cried the taller of the young ladies
»Pray let me put this water to her lips« said the shorter who had not
spoken yet
Each doing what she suggested there was no want of assistance Indeed when
the two maids came in escorted by the courier lest any one should strike them
dumb by addressing a foreign language to them on the road there was a prospect
of too much assistance Seeing this and saying as much in a few words to the
slighter and younger of the two ladies the gentleman put his wifes arm over
his shoulder lifted her up and carried her away
His friend being left alone with the other visitors walked slowly up and
down the room without coming to the fire again pulling his black moustache in
a contemplative manner as if he felt himself committed to the late retort
While the subject of it was breathing injury in a corner the Chief loftily
addressed this gentleman
»Your friend sir« said he »is ha is a little impatient and in his
impatience is not perhaps fully sensible of what he owes to hum to but we
will waive that we will waive that Your friend is a little impatient sir«
»It may be so sir« returned the other »But having had the honour of
making that gentlemans acquaintance at the hotel at Geneva where we and much
good company met some time ago and having had the honour of exchanging company
and conversation with that gentleman on several subsequent excursions I can
hear nothing no not even from one of your appearance and station sir
detrimental to that gentleman«
»You are in no danger sir of hearing any such thing from me In remarking
that your friend has shown impatience I say no such thing I make that remark
because it is not to be doubted that my son being by birth and by ha by
education a hum a gentleman would have readily adapted himself to any
obligingly expressed wish on the subject of the fire being equally accessible to
the whole of the present circle Which in principle I ha for all are hum
equal on these occasions I consider right«
»Good« was the reply »And there it ends I am your sons obedient servant
I beg your son to receive the assurance of my profound consideration And now
sir I may admit freely admit that my friend is sometimes of a sarcastic
temper«
»The lady is your friends wife sir«
»The lady is my friends wife sir«
»She is very handsome«
»Sir she is peerless They are still in the first year of their marriage
They are still partly on a marriage and partly on an artistic tour«
»Your friend is an artist sir«
The gentleman replied by kissing the fingers of his right hand and wafting
the kiss the length of his arm towards Heaven As who should say I devote him
to the celestial Powers as an immortal artist
»But he is a man of family« he added »His connexions are of the best He
is more than an artist he is highly connected He may in effect have
repudiated his connexions proudly impatiently sarcastically I make the
concession of both words but he has them Sparks that have been struck out
during our intercourse have shown me this«
»Well I hope« said the lofty gentleman with the air of finally disposing
of the subject »that the ladys indisposition may be only temporary«
»Sir I hope so«
»Mere fatigue I dare say«
»Not altogether mere fatigue sir for her mule stumbled today and she
fell from the saddle She fell lightly and was up again without assistance and
rode from us laughing but she complained towards evening of a slight bruise in
the side She spoke of it more than once as we followed your party up the
mountain«
The head of the large retinue who was gracious but not familiar appeared
by this time to think that he had condescended more than enough He said no
more and there was silence for some quarter of an hour until supper appeared
With the supper came one of the young Fathers there seemed to be no old
Fathers to take the head of the table It was like the supper of an ordinary
Swiss hotel and good red wine grown by the convent in more genial air was not
wanting The artist traveller calmly came and took his place at table when the
rest sat down with no apparent sense upon him of his late skirmish with the
completely dressed traveller
»Pray« he inquired of the host over his soup »has your convent many of
its famous dogs now«
»Monsieur it has three«
»I saw three in the gallery below Doubtless the three in question«
The host a slender brighteyed dark young man of polite manners whose
garment was a black gown with strips of white crossed over it like braces and
who no more resembled the conventional breed of Saint Bernard monks than he
resembled the conventional breed of Saint Bernard dogs replied doubtless those
were the three in question
»And I think« said the artist traveller »I have seen one of them before«
It was possible He was a dog sufficiently well known Monsieur might have
easily seen him in the valley or somewhere on the lake when he the dog had
gone down with one of the order to solicit aid for the convent
»Which is done in its regular season of the year I think«
Monsieur was right
»And never without the dog The dog is very important«
Again Monsieur was right The dog was very important People were justly
interested in the dog As one of the dogs celebrated everywhere Maamselle
would observe
Maamselle was a little slow to observe it as though she were not yet well
accustomed to the French tongue Mrs General however observed it for her
»Ask him if he has saved many lives« said in his native English the young
man who had been put out of countenance
The host needed no translation of the question He promptly replied in
French »No Not this one«
»Why not« the same gentleman asked
»Pardon« returned the host composedly »give him the opportunity and he
will do it without doubt For example, I am well convinced« smiling sedately
as he cut up the dish of veal to be handed round on the young man who had been
put out of countenance »that if you Monsieur would give him the opportunity
he would hasten with great ardour to fulfil his duty«
The artist traveller laughed The insinuating traveller who evinced a
provident anxiety to get his full share of the supper wiping some drops of
wine from his moustache with a piece of bread joined the conversation
»It is becoming late in the year my Father« said he »for
touristtravellers is it not«
»Yes it is late Yet two or three weeks at most and we shall be left to
the winter snows«
»And then« said the insinuating traveller »for the scratching dogs and the
buried children according to the pictures«
»Pardon« said the host not quite understanding the allusion »How then
the scratching dogs and the buried children according to the pictures«
The artist traveller struck in again before an answer could be given
»Dont you know« he coldly inquired across the table of his companion
»that none but smugglers come this way in the winter or can have any possible
business this way«
»Holy blue No never heard of it«
»So it is I believe And as they know the signs of the weather tolerably
well they dont give much employment to the dogs who have consequently died
out rather though this house of entertainment is conveniently situated for
themselves Their young families I am told they usually leave at home But
its a grand idea« cried the artist traveller unexpectedly rising into a tone
of enthusiasm »Its a sublime idea Its the finest idea in the world and
brings tears into a mans eyes by Jupiter« He then went on eating his veal
with great composure
There was enough of mocking inconsistency at the bottom of this speech to
make it rather discordant though the manner was refined and the person well
and though the depreciatory part of it was so skilfully thrown off as to be
very difficult for one not perfectly acquainted with the English language to
understand or even understanding to take offence at so simple and
dispassionate was its tone After finishing his veal in the midst of silence
the speaker again addressed his friend
»Look« said he in his former tone »at this gentleman our host not yet in
the prime of life who in so graceful a way and with such courtly urbanity and
modesty presides over us Manners fit for a crown Dine with the Lord Mayor of
London if you can get an invitation and observe the contrast This dear
fellow with the finest cut face I ever saw a face in perfect drawing leaves
some laborious life and comes up here I dont know how many feet above the level
of the sea for no other purpose on earth except enjoying himself I hope in a
capital refectory than to keep an hotel for idle poor devils like you and me
and leave the bill to our consciences Why isnt it a beautiful sacrifice What
do you want more to touch us Because rescued people of interesting appearance
are not for eight or nine months out of every twelve holding on here round the
necks of the most sagacious of dogs carrying wooden bottles shall we disparage
the place No Bless the place Its a great place a glorious place«
The chest of the greyhaired gentleman who was the Chief of the important
party had swelled as if with a protest against his being numbered among poor
devils No sooner had the artist traveller ceased speaking than he himself spoke
with great dignity as having it incumbent on him to take the lead in most
places and having deserted that duty for a little while
He weightily communicated his opinion to their host that his life must be a
very dreary life here in the winter
The host allowed to Monsieur that it was a little monotonous The air was
difficult to breathe for a length of time consecutively The cold was very
severe One needed youth and strength to bear it However having them and the
blessing of Heaven
Yes that was very good »But the confinement« said the greyhaired
gentleman
There were many days even in bad weather when it was possible to walk
about outside It was the custom to beat a little track and take exercise
there
»But the space« urged the greyhaired gentleman »So small So ha very
limited«
Monsieur would recall to himself that there were the refuges to visit and
that tracks had to be made to them also
Monsieur still urged on the other hand that the space was so ha hum
so very contracted More than that it was always the same always the same
With a deprecating smile the host gently raised and gently lowered his
shoulders That was true he remarked but permit him to say that almost all
objects had their various points of view Monsieur and he did not see this poor
life of his from the same point of view Monsieur was not used to confinement
»I ha yes very true« said the greyhaired gentleman He seemed to
receive quite a shock from the force of the argument
Monsieur as an English traveller surrounded by all means of travelling
pleasantly doubtless possessing fortune carriages and servants
»Perfectly perfectly Without doubt« said the gentleman
Monsieur could not easily place himself in the position of a person who had
not the power to choose I will go here tomorrow or there next day I will
pass these barriers I will enlarge those bounds Monsieur could not realise
perhaps how the mind accommodated itself in such things to the force of
necessity
»It is true« said Monsieur »We will ha not pursue the subject You are
hum quite accurate I have no doubt We will say no more«
The supper having come to a close he drew his chair away as he spoke and
moved back to his former place by the fire As it was very cold at the greater
part of the table the other guests also resumed their former seats by the fire
designing to toast themselves well before going to bed The host when they rose
from table bowed to all present wished them good night and withdrew But
first the insinuating traveller had asked him if they could have some wine made
hot and as he had answered Yes and had presently afterwards sent it in that
traveller seated in the centre of the group and in the full heat of the fire
was soon engaged in serving it out to the rest
At this time the younger of the two young ladies who had been silently
attentive in her dark corner the firelight was the chief light in the sombre
room the lamp being smoky and dull to what had been said of the absent lady
glided out She was at a loss which way to turn when she had softly closed the
door but after a little hesitation among the sounding passages and the many
ways came to a room in a corner of the main gallery where the servants were at
their supper From these she obtained a lamp and a direction to the ladys
room
It was up the great staircase on the story above Here and there the bare
white walls were broken by an iron grate and she thought as she went along that
the place was something like a prison The arched door of the ladys room or
cell was not quite shut After knocking at it two or three times without
receiving an answer she pushed it gently open and looked in
The lady lay with closed eyes on the outside of the bed protected from the
cold by the blankets and wrappers with which she had been covered when she
revived from her fainting fit A dull light placed in the deep recess of the
window made little impression on the arched room The visitor timidly stepped
to the bed and said in a soft whisper »Are you better«
The lady had fallen into a slumber and the whisper was too low to awake
her Her visitor standing quite still looked at her attentively
»She is very pretty« she said to herself »I never saw so beautiful a face
O how unlike me«
It was a curious thing to say but it had some hidden meaning for it filled
her eyes with tears
»I know I must be right I know he spoke of her that evening I could very
easily be wrong on any other subject but not on this not on this«
With a quiet and tender hand she put aside a straying fold of the sleepers
hair and then touched the hand that lay outside the covering
»I like to look at her« she breathed to herself »I like to see what has
affected him so much«
She had not withdrawn her hand when the sleeper opened her eyes and
started
»Pray dont be alarmed I am only one of the travellers from downstairs I
came to ask if you were better and if I could do anything for you«
»I think you have already been so kind as to send your servants to my
assistance«
»No not I that was my sister Are you better«
»Much better It is only a slight bruise and has been well looked to and
is almost easy now It made me giddy and faint in a moment It had hurt me
before but at last it overpowered me all at once«
»May I stay with you until some one comes Would you like it«
»I should like it for it is lonely here but I am afraid you will feel the
cold too much«
»I dont mind cold I am not delicate if I look so« She quickly moved one
of the two rough chairs to the bedside and sat down The other as quickly moved
a part of some travelling wrapper from herself and drew it over her so that
her arm in keeping it about her rested on her shoulder
»You have so much the air of a kind nurse« said the lady smiling on her
»that you seem as if you had come to me from home«
»I am very glad of it«
»I was dreaming of home when I woke just now Of my old home I mean before
I was married«
»And before you were so far away from it«
»I have been much farther away from it than this but then I took the best
part of it with me and missed nothing I felt solitary as I dropped asleep
here and missing it a little wandered back to it«
There was a sorrowfully affectionate and regretful sound in her voice which
made her visitor refrain from looking at her for the moment
»It is a curious chance which at last brings us together under this
covering in which you have wrapped me« said the visitor after a pause »for do
you know I think I have been looking for you some time«
»Looking for me«
»I believe I have a little note here which I was to give to you whenever I
found you This is it Unless I greatly mistake it is addressed to you Is it
not«
The lady took it and said yes and read it Her visitor watched her as she
did so It was very short She flushed a little as she put her lips to her
visitors cheek and pressed her hand
»The dear young friend to whom he presents me may be a comfort to me at
some time he says She is truly a comfort to me the first time I see her«
»Perhaps you dont« said the visitor hesitating »perhaps you dont know
my story Perhaps he never told you my story«
»No«
»O no why should he I have scarcely the right to tell it myself at
present because I have been entreated not to do so There is not much in it
but it might account to you for my asking you not to say anything about the
letter here You saw my family with me perhaps Some of them I only say this
to you are a little proud a little prejudiced«
»You shall take it back again« said the other »and then my husband is sure
not to see it He might see it and speak of it otherwise by some accident
Will you put it in your bosom again to be certain«
She did so with great care Her small slight hand was still upon the
letter when they heard some one in the gallery outside
»I promised« said the visitor rising »that I would write to him after
seeing you I could hardly fail to see you sooner or later and tell him if you
were well and happy I had better say you were well and happy«
»Yes yes yes Say I was very well and very happy And that I thanked him
affectionately and would never forget him«
»I shall see you in the morning After that we are sure to meet again before
very long Good night«
»Good night Thank you thank you Good night my dear«
Both of them were hurried and fluttered as they exchanged this parting and
as the visitor came out of the door She had expected to meet the ladys husband
approaching it but the person in the gallery was not he it was the traveller
who had wiped the winedrops from his moustache with the piece of bread When he
heard the step behind him he turned round for he was walking away in the
dark
His politeness which was extreme would not allow of the young ladys
lighting herself downstairs or going down alone He took her lamp held it so
as to throw the best light on the stone steps and followed her all the way to
the supperroom She went down not easily hiding how much she was inclined to
shrink and tremble for the appearance of this traveller was particularly
disagreeable to her She had sat in her quiet corner before supper imagining
what he would have been in the scenes and places within her experience until he
inspired her with an aversion that made him little less than terrific
He followed her down with his smiling politeness followed her in and
resumed his seat in the best place on the hearth There with the woodfire
which was beginning to burn low rising and falling upon him in the dark room
he sat with his legs thrust out to warm drinking the hot wine down to the lees
with a monstrous shadow imitating him on the wall and ceiling
The tired company had broken up and all the rest were gone to bed except
the young ladys father who dozed in his chair by the fire The traveller had
been at the pains of going a long way upstairs to his sleepingroom to fetch
his pocketflask of brandy He told them so as he poured its contents into what
was left of the wine and drank with a new relish
»May I ask sir if you are on your way to Italy«
The greyhaired gentleman had roused himself and was preparing to withdraw
He answered in the affirmative
»I also« said the traveller »I shall hope to have the honour of offering
my compliments in fairer scenes and under softer circumstances than on this
dismal mountain«
The gentleman bowed distantly enough and said he was obliged to him
»We poor gentlemen sir« said the traveller pulling his moustache dry with
his hand for he had dipped it in the wine and brandy »we poor gentlemen do not
travel like princes but the courtesies and graces of life are precious to us
To your health sir«
»Sir I thank you«
»To the health of your distinguished family of the fair ladies your
daughters«
»Sir I thank you again I wish you good night My dear are our ha our
people in attendance«
»They are close by father«
»Permit me« said the traveller rising and holding the door open as the
gentleman crossed the room towards it with his arm drawn through his daughters
»Good repose To the pleasure of seeing you once more To tomorrow«
As he kissed his hand with his best manner and his daintiest smile the
young lady drew a little nearer to her father and passed him with a dread of
touching him
»Humph« said the insinuating traveller whose manner shrunk and whose
voice dropped when he was left alone »If they all go to bed why I must go
They are in a devil of a hurry One would think the night would be long enough
in this freezing silence and solitude if one went to bed two hours hence«
Throwing back his head in emptying his glass he cast his eyes upon the
travellers book which lay on the piano open with pens and ink beside it as
if the nights names had been registered when he was absent Taking it in his
hand he read these entries
William Dorrit Esquire
Frederick Dorrit Esquire
Edward Dorrit Esquire
Miss Dorrit
Miss Amy Dorrit
Mrs General
And suite From France to Italy
Mr and Mrs Henry Gowan From France to Italy
To which he added in a small complicated hand ending with a long lean
flourish not unlike a lasso thrown at all the rest of the names
Blandois Paris From France to Italy
And then with his nose coming down over his moustache and his moustache going
up under his nose repaired to his allotted cell
Chapter II
Mrs General
It is indispensable to present the accomplished lady who was of sufficient
importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line to herself in the
Travellers Book
Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town
where she had led the fashion until she was as near fortyfive as a single lady
can be A stiff commissariat officer of sixty famous as a martinet had then
become enamoured of the gravity with which she drove the proprieties
fourinhand through the cathedral town society and had solicited to be taken
beside her on the box of the cool coach of ceremony to which that team was
harnessed His proposal of marriage being accepted by the lady the commissary
took his seat behind the proprieties with great decorum and Mrs General drove
until the commissary died In the course of their united journey they ran over
several people who came in the way of the proprieties but always in a high
style and with composure
The commissary having been buried with all the decorations suitable to the
service the whole team of proprieties were harnessed to his hearse and they
all had feathers and black velvet housings with his coat of arms in the
corner Mrs General began to inquire what quantity of dust and ashes was
deposited at the bankers It then transpired that the commissary had so far
stolen a march on Mrs General as to have bought himself an annuity some years
before his marriage and to have reserved that circumstance in mentioning at
the period of his proposal that his income was derived from the interest of his
money Mrs General consequently found her means so much diminished that but
for the perfect regulation of her mind she might have felt disposed to question
the accuracy of that portion of the late service which had declared that the
commissary could take nothing away with him
In this state of affairs it occurred to Mrs General that she might form
the mind, and eke the manners of some young lady of distinction Or that she
might harness the proprieties to the carriage of some rich young heiress or
widow and become at once the driver and guard of such vehicle through the
social mazes Mrs Generals communication of this idea to her clerical and
commissariat connection was so warmly applauded that but for the ladys
undoubted merit it might have appeared as though they wanted to get rid of her
Testimonials representing Mrs General as a prodigy of piety learning virtue
and gentility were lavishly contributed from influential quarters and one
venerable archdeacon even shed tears in recording his testimony to her
perfections described to him by persons on whom he could rely though he had
never had the honour and moral gratification of setting eyes on Mrs General in
all his life
Thus delegated on her mission as it were by Church and State Mrs General
who had always occupied high ground felt in a condition to keep it and began
by putting herself up at a very high figure An interval of some duration
elapsed in which there was no bid for Mrs General At length a countywidower
with a daughter of fourteen opened negotiations with the lady and as it was a
part either of the native dignity or of the artificial policy of Mrs General
but certainly one or the other to comport herself as if she were much more
sought than seeking the widower pursued Mrs General until he prevailed upon
her to form his daughters mind and manners
The execution of this trust occupied Mrs General about seven years in the
course of which time she made the tour of Europe and saw most of that extensive
miscellany of objects which it is essential that all persons of polite
cultivation should see with other peoples eyes and never with their own When
her charge was at length formed the marriage not only of the young lady but
likewise of her father the widower was resolved on The widower then finding
Mrs General both inconvenient and expensive became of a sudden almost as much
affected by her merits as the archdeacon had been and circulated such praises
of her surpassing worth in all quarters where he thought an opportunity might
arise of transferring the blessing to somebody else that Mrs General was a
name more honourable than ever
The phoenix was to let on this elevated perch when Mr Dorrit who had
lately succeeded to his property mentioned to his bankers that he wished to
discover a lady well bred accomplished well connected well accustomed to
good society who was qualified at once to complete the education of his
daughters and to be their matron or chaperon Mr Dorrits bankers as the
bankers of the countywidower instantly said »Mrs General«
Pursuing the light so fortunately hit upon and finding the concurrent
testimony of the whole of Mrs Generals acquaintance to be of the pathetic
nature already recorded Mr Dorrit took the trouble of going down to the county
of the countywidower to see Mrs General In whom he found a lady of a quality
superior to his highest expectations
»Might I be excused« said Mr Dorrit »if I inquired ha what remune«
»Why indeed« returned Mrs General stopping the word »it is a subject on
which I prefer to avoid entering I have never entered on it with my friends
here and I cannot overcome the delicacy Mr Dorrit with which I have always
regarded it I am not as I hope you are aware a governess «
»O dear no« said Mr Dorrit »Pray madam do not imagine for a moment that
I think so« He really blushed to be suspected of it
Mrs General gravely inclined her head »I cannot therefore put a price
upon services which it is a pleasure to me to render if I can render them
spontaneously but which I could not render in mere return for any
consideration Neither do I know how or where to find a case parallel to my
own It is peculiar«
No doubt But how then Mr Dorrit not unnaturally hinted could the subject
be approached
»I cannot object« said Mrs General »though even that is disagreeable to
me to Mr Dorrits inquiring in confidence of my friends here what amount
they have been accustomed at quarterly intervals to pay to my credit at my
bankers«
Mr Dorrit bowed his acknowledgments
»Permit me to add« said Mrs General »that beyond this I can never resume
the topic Also that I can accept no second or inferior position If the honour
were proposed to me of becoming known to Mr Dorrits family I think two
daughters were mentioned «
»Two daughters«
»I could only accept it on terms of perfect equality as a companion
protector Mentor and friend«
Mr Dorrit in spite of his sense of his importance felt as if it would be
quite a kindness in her to accept it on any conditions He almost said as much
»I think« repeated Mrs General »two daughters were mentioned«
»Two daughters« said Mr Dorrit again
»It would therefore« said Mrs General »be necessary to add a third more
to the payment whatever its amount may prove to be which my friends here have
been accustomed to make to my bankers«
Mr Dorrit lost no time in referring the delicate question to the
countywidower and finding that he had been accustomed to pay three hundred
pounds ayear to the credit of Mrs General arrived without any severe strain
on his arithmetic at the conclusion that he himself must pay four Mrs General
being an article of that lustrous surface which suggests that it is worth any
money he made a formal proposal to be allowed to have the honour and pleasure
of regarding her as a member of his family Mrs General conceded that high
privilege and here she was
In person Mrs General including her skirts which had much to do with it
was of a dignified and imposing appearance ample rustling gravely voluminous
always upright behind the proprieties She might have been taken had been
taken to the top of the Alps and the bottom of Herculaneum without
disarranging a fold in her dress or displacing a pin If her countenance and
hair had rather a floury appearance as though from living in some
transcendently genteel Mill it was rather because she was a chalky creation
altogether than because she mended her complexion with violet powder or had
turned grey If her eyes had no expression it was probably because they had
nothing to express If she had few wrinkles it was because her mind had never
traced its name or any other inscription on her face A cool waxy blownout
woman who had never lighted well
Mrs General had no opinions Her way of forming a mind was to prevent it
from forming opinions She had a little circular set of mental grooves or rails
on which she started little trains of other peoples opinions which never
overtook one another, and never got anywhere Even her propriety could not
dispute that there was impropriety in the world but Mrs Generals way of
getting rid of it was to put it out of sight and make believe that there was no
such thing This was another of her ways of forming a mind to cram all
articles of difficulty into cupboards lock them up and say they had no
existence It was the easiest way and beyond all comparison the properest
Mrs General was not to be told of anything shocking Accidents miseries
and offences were never to be mentioned before her Passion was to go to sleep
in the presence of Mrs General and blood was to change to milk and water The
little that was left in the world when all these deductions were made it was
Mrs Generals province to varnish In that formation process of hers she
dipped the smallest of brushes into the largest of pots and varnished the
surface of every object that came under consideration The more cracked it was
the more Mrs General varnished it
There was varnish in Mrs Generals voice varnish in Mrs Generals touch
an atmosphere of varnish round Mrs Generals figure Mrs Generals dreams
ought to have been varnished if she had any lying asleep in the arms of the
good Saint Bernard with the feathery snow falling on his housetop
Chapter III
On the Road
The bright morning sun dazzled the eyes the snow had ceased the mists had
vanished the mountain air was so clear and light that the new sensation of
breathing it was like the having entered on a new existence To help the
delusion the solid ground itself seemed gone and the mountain a shining waste
of immense white heaps and masses to be a region of cloud floating between the
blue sky above and the earth far below
Some dark specks in the snow like knots upon a little thread beginning at
the convent door and winding away down the descent in broken lengths which were
not yet pieced together showed where the Brethren were at work in several
places clearing the track Already the snow had begun to be footthawed again
about the door Mules were busily brought out tied to the rings in the wall
and laden strings of bells were buckled on burdens were adjusted the voices
of drivers and riders sounded musically Some of the earliest had even already
resumed their journey and both on the level summit by the dark water near the
convent and on the downward way of yesterdays ascent little moving figures of
men and mules reduced to miniatures by the immensity around went with a clear
tinkling of bells and a pleasant harmony of tongues
In the supperroom of last night a new fire piled upon the feathery ashes
of the old one shone upon a homely breakfast of loaves butter and milk It
also shone on the courier of the Dorrit family making tea for his party from a
supply he had brought up with him together with several other small stores
which were chiefly laid in for the use of the strong body of inconvenience Mr
Gowan and Blandois of Paris had already breakfasted and were walking up and
down by the lake smoking their cigars
»Gowan eh« muttered Tip otherwise Edward Dorrit Esquire turning over
the leaves of the book when the courier had left them to breakfast »Then Gowan
is the name of a puppy thats all I have got to say If it was worth my while
Id pull his nose But it isnt worth my while fortunately for him Hows his
wife Amy I suppose you know You generally know things of that sort«
»She is better Edward But they are not going today«
»Oh They are not going today Fortunately for that fellow too« said Tip
»or he and I might have come into collision«
»It is thought better here that she should lie quiet today and not be
fatigued and shaken by the ride down until tomorrow«
»With all my heart But you talk as if you had been nursing her You havent
been relapsing into Mrs General is not here into old habits have you Amy«
He asked her the question with a sly glance of observation at Miss Fanny
and at his father too
»I have only been in to ask her if I could do anything for her Tip« said
Little Dorrit
»You neednt call me Tip Amy child« returned that young gentleman with a
frown »because thats an old habit and one you may as well lay aside«
»I didnt mean to say so Edward dear I forgot It was so natural once
that it seemed at the moment the right word«
»Oh yes« Miss Fanny struck in »Natural and right word and once and all
the rest of it Nonsense you little thing I know perfectly well why you have
been taking such an interest in this Mrs Gowan You cant blind me«
»I will not try to Fanny Dont be angry«
»Oh angry« returned that young lady with a flounce »I have no patience«
which indeed was the truth
»Pray Fanny« said Mr Dorrit raising his eyebrows »what do you mean
Explain yourself«
»Oh Never mind Pa« replied Miss Fanny »its no great matter Amy will
understand me She knew or knew of this Mrs Gowan before yesterday and she
may as well admit that she did«
»My child« said Mr Dorrit turning to his younger daughter »has your
sister any ha authority for this curious statement«
»However meek we are« Miss Fanny struck in before she could answer »we
dont go creeping into peoples rooms on the tops of cold mountains and sitting
perishing in the frost with people unless we know something about them
beforehand Its not very hard to divine whose friend Mrs Gowan is«
»Whose friend« inquired her father
»Pa I am sorry to say« returned Miss Fanny who had by this time succeeded
in goading herself into a state of much illusage and grievance which she was
often at great pains to do »that I believe her to be a friend of that very
objectionable and unpleasant person who with a total absence of all delicacy
which our experience might have led us to expect from him insulted us and
outraged our feelings in so public and wilful a manner on an occasion to which
it is understood among us that we will not more pointedly allude«
»Amy my child« said Mr Dorrit tempering a bland severity with a
dignified affection »is this the case«
Little Dorrit mildly answered yes it was
»Yes it is« cried Miss Fanny »Of course I said so And now Pa I do
declare once for all« this young lady was in the habit of declaring the same
thing once for all every day of her life and even several times in a day »that
this is shameful I do declare once for all that it ought to be put a stop to
Is it not enough that we have gone through what is only known to ourselves but
are we to have it thrown in our faces perseveringly and systematically by the
very person who should spare our feelings most Are we to be exposed to this
unnatural conduct every moment of our lives Are we never to be permitted to
forget I say again it is absolutely infamous«
»Well Amy« observed her brother shaking his head »you know I stand by
you whenever I can and on most occasions But I must say that upon my soul I
do consider it rather an unaccountable mode of showing your sisterly affection
that you should back up a man who treated me in the most ungentlemanly way in
which one man can treat another And who« he added convincingly »must be a
lowminded thief you know or he never could have conducted himself as he did«
»And see« said Miss Fanny »see what is involved in this Can we ever hope
to be respected by our servants Never Here are our two women and Pas valet
and a footman and a courier and all sorts of dependants and yet in the midst
of these we are to have one of ourselves rushing about with tumblers of cold
water like a menial Why a policeman« said Miss Fanny »if a beggar had a fit
in the street could but go plunging about with tumblers as this very Amy did
in this very room before our very eyes last night«
»I dont so much mind that once in a way« remarked Mr Edward »but your
Clennam as he thinks proper to call himself is another thing«
»He is a part of the same thing« returned Miss Fanny »and of a piece with
all the rest He obtruded himself upon us in the first instance. We never wanted
him I always showed him for one that I could have dispensed with his company
with the greatest pleasure He then commits that gross outrage upon our
feelings which he never could or would have committed but for the delight he
took in exposing us and then we are to be demeaned for the service of his
friends Why I dont wonder at this Mr Gowans conduct towards you What else
was to be expected when he was enjoying our past misfortunes gloating over
them at the moment«
»Father Edward no indeed« pleaded Little Dorrit »Neither Mr nor Mrs
Gowan had ever heard our name They were and they are quite ignorant of our
history«
»So much the worse« retorted Fanny determined not to admit anything in
extenuation »for then you have no excuse If they had known about us you might
have felt yourself called upon to conciliate them That would have been a weak
and ridiculous mistake but I can respect a mistake whereas I cant respect a
wilful and deliberate abasing of those who should be nearest and dearest to us
No I cant respect that I can do nothing but denounce that«
»I never offend you wilfully Fanny« said Little Dorrit »though you are so
hard with me«
»Then you should be more careful Amy« returned her sister »If you do such
things by accident you should be more careful If I happened to have been born
in a peculiar place and under peculiar circumstances that blunted my knowledge
of propriety I fancy I should think myself bound to consider at every step Am
I going ignorantly to compromise any near and dear relations That is what I
fancy I should do if it was my case«
Mr Dorrit now interposed at once to stop these painful subjects by his
authority and to point their moral by his wisdom
»My dear« said he to his younger daughter »I beg you to ha to say no
more Your sister Fanny expresses herself strongly but not without considerable
reason You have now a hum a great position to support That great position
is not occupied by yourself alone but by ha by me and ha hum by us
Us Now it is incumbent upon all people in an exalted position but it is
particularly so on this family for reasons which I ha will not dwell upon
to make themselves respected To be vigilant in making themselves respected
Dependants to respect us must be ha kept at a distance and hum kept
down Down Therefore your not exposing yourself to the remarks of our
attendants by appearing to have at any time dispensed with their services and
performed them for yourself is ha highly important«
»Why who can doubt it« cried Miss Fanny »Its the essence of everything«
»Fanny« returned her father grandiloquently »give me leave my dear We
then come to ha to Mr Clennam I am free to say that I do not Amy share
your sisters sentiments that is to say altogether hum altogether in
reference to Mr Clennam I am content to regard that individual in the light of
ha generally a wellbehaved person Hum A wellbehaved person Nor will I
inquire whether Mr Clennam did at any time obtrude himself on ha my
society He knew my society to be hum sought and his plea might be that he
regarded me in the light of a public character But there were circumstances
attending my ha slight knowledge of Mr Clennam it was very slight
which« here Mr Dorrit became extremely grave and impressive »would render it
highly indelicate in Mr Clennam to ha to seek to renew communication with
me or with any member of my family under existing circumstances If Mr Clennam
has sufficient delicacy to perceive the impropriety of any such attempt I am
bound as a responsible gentleman to ha defer to that delicacy on his part
If on the other hand Mr Clennam has not that delicacy I cannot for a moment
ha hold any correspondence with so hum coarse a mind In either case it
would appear that Mr Clennam is put altogether out of the question and that we
have nothing to do with him or he with us Ha Mrs General«
The entrance of the lady whom he announced to take her place at the
breakfasttable terminated the discussion Shortly afterwards the courier
announced that the valet and the footman and the two maids and the four
guides and the fourteen mules were in readiness so the breakfast party went
out to the convent door to join the cavalcade
Mr Gowan stood aloof with his cigar and pencil but Mr Blandois was on the
spot to pay his respects to the ladies When he gallantly pulled off his
slouched hat to Little Dorrit she thought he had even a more sinister look
standing swart and cloaked in the snow than he had in the firelight overnight
But as both her father and her sister received his homage with some favour she
refrained from expressing any distrust of him lest it should prove to be a new
blemish derived from her prison birth
Nevertheless as they wound down the rugged way while the convent was yet in
sight she more than once looked round and descried Mr Blandois backed by the
convent smoke which rose straight and high from the chimneys in a golden film
always standing on one jutting point looking down after them Long after he was
a mere black stick in the snow she felt as though she could yet see that smile
of his that high nose and those eyes that were too near it And even after
that when the convent was gone and some light morning clouds veiled the pass
below it the ghastly skeleton arms by the wayside seemed to be all pointing up
at him
More treacherous than snow perhaps colder at heart and harder to melt
Blandois of Paris by degrees passed out of her mind as they came down into the
softer regions Again the sun was warm again the streams descending from
glaciers and snowy caverns were refreshing to drink at again they came among
the pinetrees the rocky rivulets the verdant heights and dales the wooden
châlets and rough zigzag fences of Swiss country Sometimes the way so widened
that she and her father could ride abreast And then to look at him handsomely
clothed in his fur and broadcloths rich free numerously served and attended
his eyes roving far away among the glories of the landscape no miserable screen
before them to darken his sight and cast its shadow on him was enough
Her uncle was so far rescued from that shadow of old that he wore the
clothes they gave him and performed some ablutions as a sacrifice to the family
credit and went where he was taken with a certain patient animal enjoyment
which seemed to express that the air and change did him good In all other
respects save one he shone with no light but such as was reflected from his
brother His brothers greatness wealth freedom and grandeur pleased him
without any reference to himself Silent and retiring he had no use for speech
when he could hear his brother speak no desire to be waited on so that the
servants devoted themselves to his brother The only noticeable change he
originated in himself was an alteration in his manner to his younger niece
Every day it refined more and more into a marked respect very rarely shown by
age to youth and still more rarely susceptible one would have said of the
fitness with which he invested it On those occasions when Miss Fanny did
declare once for all he would take the next opportunity of baring his grey head
before his younger niece and of helping her to alight or handing her to the
carriage or showing her any other attention with the profoundest deference
Yet it never appeared misplaced or forced being always heartily simple
spontaneous and genuine Neither would he ever consent even at his brothers
request to be helped to any place before her or to take precedence of her in
anything So jealous was he of her being respected that on this very journey
down from the Great Saint Bernard he took sudden and violent umbrage at the
footmans being remiss to hold her stirrup though standing near when she
dismounted and unspeakably astonished the whole retinue by charging at him on a
hardheaded mule riding him into a corner and threatening to trample him to
death
They were a goodly company and the Innkeepers all but worshipped them
Wherever they went their importance preceded them in the person of the courier
riding before to see that the rooms of state were ready He was the herald of
the family procession The great travellingcarriage came next containing
inside Mr Dorrit Miss Dorrit Miss Amy Dorrit and Mrs General outside
some of the retainers and in fine weather Edward Dorrit Esquire for whom
the box was reserved Then came the chariot containing Frederick Dorrit
Esquire and an empty place occupied by Edward Dorrit Esquire in wet weather
Then came the fourgon with the rest of the retainers the heavy baggage and as
much as it could carry of the mud and dust which the other vehicles left behind
These equipages adorned the yard of the hotel at Martigny on the return of
the family from their mountain excursion Other vehicles were there much
company being on the road from the patched Italian Vettura like the body of a
swing from an English fair put upon a wooden tray on wheels and having another
wooden tray without wheels put atop of it to the trim English carriage But
there was another adornment of the hotel which Mr Dorrit had not bargained for
Two strange travellers embellished one of his rooms
The Innkeeper hat in hand in the yard swore to the courier that he was
blighted that he was desolated that he was profoundly afflicted that he was
the most miserable and unfortunate of beasts that he had the head of a wooden
pig He ought never to have made the concession he said but the very genteel
lady had so passionately prayed him for the accommodation of that room to dine
in only for a little halfhour that he had been vanquished The little
halfhour was expired the lady and gentleman were taking their little dessert
and halfcup of coffee the note was paid the horses were ordered they would
depart immediately but owing to an unhappy destiny and the curse of Heaven
they were not yet gone
Nothing could exceed Mr Dorrits indignation as he turned at the foot of
the staircase on hearing these apologies He felt that the family dignity was
struck at by an assassins hand He had a sense of his dignity which was of
the most exquisite nature He could detect a design upon it when nobody else had
any perception of the fact His life was made an agony by the number of fine
scalpels that he felt to be incessantly engaged in dissecting his dignity
»Is it possible sir« said Mr Dorrit reddening excessively »that you
have ha had the audacity to place one of my rooms at the disposition of any
other person«
Thousands of pardons It was the hosts profound misfortune to have been
overcome by that too genteel lady He besought Monseigneur not to enrage
himself He threw himself on Monseigneur for clemency If Monseigneur would have
the distinguished goodness to occupy the other salon especially reserved for
him for but five minutes all would go well
»No sir« said Mr Dorrit »I will not occupy any salon I will leave your
house without eating or drinking or setting foot in it How do you dare to act
like this Who am I that you ha separate me from other gentlemen«
Alas The host called all the universe to witness that Monseigneur was the
most amiable of the whole body of nobility the most important the most
estimable the most honoured If he separated Monseigneur from others it was
only because he was more distinguished more cherished more generous more
renowned
»Dont tell me so sir« returned Mr Dorrit in a mighty heat »You have
affronted me You have heaped insults upon me How dare you Explain yourself«
Ah just Heaven then how could the host explain himself when he had
nothing more to explain when he had only to apologise and confide himself to
the so wellknown magnanimity of Monseigneur
»I tell you sir« said Mr Dorrit panting with anger »that you separate
me ha from other gentlemen that you make distinctions between me and other
gentlemen of fortune and station I demand of you why I wish to know on ha
what authority on whose authority Reply sir Explain Answer why«
Permit the landlord humbly to submit to Monsieur the Courier then that
Monseigneur ordinarily so gracious enraged himself without cause There was no
why Monsieur the Courier would represent to Monseigneur that he deceived
himself in suspecting that there was any why but the why his devoted servant
had already had the honour to present to him The very genteel lady
»Silence« cried Mr Dorrit »Hold your tongue I will hear no more of the
very genteel lady I will hear no more of you Look at this family my family
a family more genteel than any lady You have treated this family with
disrespect you have been insolent to this family Ill ruin you Ha send for
the horses pack the carriages Ill not set foot in this mans house again«
No one had interfered in the dispute which was beyond the French colloquial
powers of Edward Dorrit Esquire and scarcely within the province of the
ladies Miss Fanny however now supported her father with great bitterness
declaring in her native tongue that it was quite clear there was something
special in this mans impertinence and that she considered it important that he
should be by some means forced to give up his authority for making
distinctions between that family and other wealthy families What the reasons of
his presumption could be she was at a loss to imagine but reasons he must
have and they ought to be torn from him
All the guides muledrivers and idlers in the yard had made themselves
parties to the angry conference and were much impressed by the couriers now
bestirring himself to get the carriages out With the aid of some dozen people
to each wheel this was done at a great cost of noise and then the loading was
proceeded with pending the arrival of the horses from the posthouse
But the very genteel ladys English chariot being already horsed and at the
inndoor the landlord had slipped upstairs to represent his hard case This was
notified to the yard by his now coming down the staircase in attendance on the
gentleman and the lady and by his pointing out the offended majesty of Mr
Dorrit to them with a significant motion of his hand
»Beg your pardon« said the gentleman detaching himself from the lady and
coming forward »I am a man of few words and a bad hand at an explanation but
lady here is extremely anxious that there should be no Row Lady a mother of
mine in point of fact wishes me to say that she hopes no Row«
Mr Dorrit still panting under his injury saluted the gentleman and
saluted the lady in a distant final and invincible manner
»No but really here old feller you« This was the gentlemans way of
appealing to Edward Dorrit Esquire on whom he pounced as a great and
providential relief »Let you and I try to make this all right Lady so very
much wishes no Row«
Edward Dorrit Esquire led a little apart by the button assumed a
diplomatic expression of countenance in replying »Why you must confess that
when you bespeak a lot of rooms beforehand and they belong to you its not
pleasant to find other people in em«
»No« said the other »I know it isnt I admit it Still let you and I try
to make it all right and avoid Row The fault is not this chaps at all but my
mothers Being a remarkably fine woman with no bigodd nonsense about her well
educated too she was too many for this chap Regularly pocketed him«
»If thats the case « Edward Dorrit Esquire began
»Assure you pon my soul tis the case Consequently« said the other
gentleman retiring on his main position »why Row«
»Edmund« said the lady from the doorway »I hope you have explained or are
explaining to the satisfaction of this gentleman and his family that the civil
landlord is not to blame«
»Assure you maam« returned Edmund »perfectly paralysing myself with
trying it on« He then looked steadfastly at Edward Dorrit Esquire for some
seconds and suddenly added in a burst of confidence »Old feller Is it all
right«
»I dont know after all« said the lady gracefully advancing a step or two
towards Mr Dorrit »but that I had better say myself at once that I assured
this good man I took all the consequences on myself of occupying one of a
strangers suite of rooms during his absence for just as much or as little
time as I could dine in I had no idea the rightful owner would come back so
soon nor had I any idea that he had come back or I should have hastened to
make restoration of my illgotten chamber and to have offered my explanation
and apology I trust in saying this «
For a moment the lady with a glass at her eye stood transfixed and
speechless before the two Miss Dorrits At the same moment Miss Fanny in the
foreground of a grand pictorial composition formed by the family the family
equipages and the family servants held her sister tight under one arm to
detain her on the spot and with the other arm fanned herself with a
distinguished air and negligently surveyed the lady from head to foot
The lady recovering herself quickly for it was Mrs Merdle and she was
not easily dashed went on to add that she trusted in saying this she
apologised for her boldness and restored this wellbehaved landlord to the
favour that was so very valuable to him Mr Dorrit on the altar of whose
dignity all this was incense made a gracious reply and said that his people
should ha countermand his horses and he would hum overlook what he had
at first supposed to be an affront but now regarded as an honour Upon this the
bosom bent to him and its owner with a wonderful command of feature addressed
a winning smile of adieu to the two sisters as young ladies of fortune in whose
favour she was much prepossessed and whom she had never had the gratification
of seeing before
Not so however Mr Sparkler This gentleman becoming transfixed at the
same moment as his ladymother could not by any means unfix himself again but
stood stiffly staring at the whole composition with Miss Fanny in the
foreground On his mothers saying »Edmund we are quite ready will you give
me your arm« he seemed by the motion of his lips to reply with some remark
comprehending the form of words in which his shining talents found the most
frequent utterance but he relaxed no muscle So fixed was his figure that it
would have been matter of some difficulty to bend him sufficiently to get him in
the carriagedoor if he had not received the timely assistance of a maternal
pull from within He was no sooner within than the pad of the little window in
the back of the chariot disappeared and his eye usurped its place There it
remained as long as so small an object was discernible and probably much
longer staring as though something inexpressibly surprising should happen to a
codfish like an illexecuted eye in a large locket
This encounter was so highly agreeable to Miss Fanny and gave her so much
to think of with triumph afterwards that it softened her asperities
exceedingly When the procession was again in motion next day she occupied her
place in it with a new gaiety and showed such a flow of spirits indeed that
Mrs General looked rather surprised
Little Dorrit was glad to be found no fault with and to see that Fanny was
pleased but her part in the procession was a musing part and a quiet one
Sitting opposite her father in the travellingcarriage and recalling the old
Marshalsea room her present existence was a dream All that she saw was new and
wonderful but it was not real it seemed to her as if those visions of
mountains and picturesque countries might melt away at any moment and the
carriage turning some abrupt corner bring up with a jolt at the old Marshalsea
gate
To have no work to do was strange but not half so strange as having glided
into a corner where she had no one to think for nothing to plan and contrive
no cares of others to load herself with Strange as that was it was far
stranger yet to find a space between herself and her father where others
occupied themselves in taking care of him and where she was never expected to
be At first this was so much more unlike her old experience than even the
mountains themselves that she had been unable to resign herself to it and had
tried to retain her old place about him But he had spoken to her alone and had
said that people ha people in an exalted position my dear must
scrupulously exact respect from their dependants and that for her his
daughter Miss Amy Dorrit of the sole remaining branch of the Dorrits of
Dorsetshire to be known to hum to occupy herself in fulfilling the
functions of ha hum a valet would be incompatible with that respect
Therefore my dear he ha he laid his parental injunctions upon her to
remember that she was a lady who had now to conduct herself with hum a
proper pride and to preserve the rank of a lady and consequently he requested
her to abstain from doing what would occasion ha unpleasant and derogatory
remarks She had obeyed without a murmur Thus it had been brought about that
she now sat in her corner of the luxurious carriage with her little patient
hands folded before her quite displaced even from the last point of the old
standing ground in life on which her feet had lingered
It was from this position that all she saw appeared unreal the more
surprising the scenes the more they resembled the unreality of her own inner
life as she went through its vacant places all day long The gorges of the
Simplon its enormous depths and thundering waterfalls the wonderful road the
points of danger where a loose wheel or a faltering horse would have been
destruction the descent into Italy the opening of that beautiful land as the
rugged mountainchasm widened and let them out from a gloomy and dark
imprisonment all a dream only the old mean Marshalsea a reality Nay even
the old mean Marshalsea was shaken to its foundations when she pictured it
without her father She could scarcely believe that the prisoners were still
lingering in the close yard that the mean rooms were still every one tenanted
and that the turnkey still stood in the Lodge letting people in and out all
just as she well knew it to be
With a remembrance of her fathers old life in prison hanging about her like
the burden of a sorrowful tune Little Dorrit would wake from a dream of her
birthplace into a whole days dream The painted room in which she awoke often
a humbled statechamber in a dilapidated palace would begin it with its wild
red autumnal vineleaves overhanging the glass its orangetrees on the cracked
white terrace outside the window a group of monks and peasants in the little
street below misery and magnificence wrestling with each other upon every rood
of ground in the prospect no matter how widely diversified and misery throwing
magnificence with the strength of fate To this would succeed a labyrinth of
bare passages and pillared galleries with the family procession already
preparing in the quadrangle below through the carriages and luggage being
brought together by the servants for the days journey Then breakfast in
another painted chamber dampstained and of desolate proportions and then the
departure which to her timidity and sense of not being grand enough for her
place in the ceremonies was always an uneasy thing For then the courier who
himself would have been a foreign gentleman of high mark in the Marshalsea
would present himself to report that all was ready and then her fathers valet
would pompously induct him into his travellingcloak and then Fannys maid and
her own maid who was a weight on Little Dorrits mind absolutely made her cry
at first she knew so little what to do with her would be in attendance and
then her brothers man would complete his masters equipment and then her
father would give his arm to Mrs General and her uncle would give his to her
and escorted by the landlord and Inn servants they would swoop downstairs
There a crowd would be collected to see them enter their carriages which
amidst much bowing and begging and prancing and lashing and clattering they
would do and so they would be driven madly through the narrow unsavoury
streets and jerked out at the town gate
Among the days unrealities would be roads where the bright red vines were
looped and garlanded together on trees for many miles woods of olives white
villages and towns on hillsides lovely without but frightful in their dirt
and poverty within crosses by the way deep blue lakes with fairy islands and
clustering boats with awnings of bright colours and sails of beautiful forms
vast piles of building mouldering to dust hanginggardens where the weeds had
grown so strong that their stems like wedges driven home had split the arch
and rent the wall stoneterraced lanes with the lizards running into and out
of every chink beggars of all sorts everywhere pitiful picturesque hungry
merry children beggars and aged beggars Often at postinghouses and other
halting places these miserable creatures would appear to her the only realities
of the day and many a time when the money she had brought to give them was all
given away she would sit with her folded hands thoughtfully looking after some
diminutive girl leading her grey father as if the sight reminded her of
something in the days that were gone
Again there would be places where they stayed the week together in
splendid rooms had banquets every day rode out among heaps of wonders walked
through miles of palaces and rested in dark corners of great churches where
there were winking lamps of gold and silver among pillars and arches kneeling
figures dotted about at confessionals and on the pavements where there was the
mist and scent of incense where there were pictures fantastic images gaudy
altars great heights and distances all softly lighted through stained glass
and the massive curtains that hung in the doorways From these cities they would
go on again by the roads of vines and olives through squalid villages where
there was not a hovel without a gap in its filthy walls not a window with a
whole inch of glass or paper where there seemed to be nothing to support life
nothing to eat nothing to make nothing to grow nothing to hope nothing to do
but die
Again they would come to whole towns of palaces whose proper inmates were
all banished and which were all changed into barracks troops of idle soldiers
leaning out of the state windows where their accoutrements hung drying on the
marble architecture and showing to the mind like hosts of rats who were
happily eating away the props of the edifices that supported them and must
soon with them be smashed on the heads of the other swarms of soldiers and
the swarms of priests and the swarms of spies who were all the illlooking
population left to be ruined in the streets below
Through such scenes the family procession moved on to Venice And here it
dispersed for a time as they were to live in Venice some few months in a
palace itself six times as big as the whole Marshalsea on the Grand Canal
In this crowning unreality where all the streets were paved with water and
where the deathlike stillness of the days and nights was broken by no sound but
the softened ringing of churchbells the rippling of the current and the cry
of the gondoliers turning the corners of the flowing streets Little Dorrit
quite lost by her task being done sat down to muse The family began a gay
life went here and there and turned night into day but she was timid of
joining in their gaieties and only asked leave to be left alone
Sometimes she would step into one of the gondolas that were always kept in
waiting moored to painted posts at the door when she could escape from the
attendance of that oppressive maid who was her mistress and a very hard one
and would be taken all over the strange city Social people in other gondolas
began to ask each other who the little solitary girl was whom they passed
sitting in her boat with folded hands looking so pensively and wonderingly
about her Never thinking that it would be worth anybodys while to notice her
or her doings Little Dorrit in her quiet scared lost manner went about the
city none the less
But her favourite station was the balcony of her own room overhanging the
canal with other balconies below and none above It was of massive stone
darkened by ages built in a wild fancy which came from the East to that
collection of wild fancies and Little Dorrit was little indeed leaning on the
broadcushioned ledge and looking over As she liked no place of an evening
half so well she soon began to be watched for and many eyes in passing
gondolas were raised and many people said There was the little figure of the
English girl who was always alone
Such people were not realities to the little figure of the English girl
such people were all unknown to her She would watch the sunset in its long low
lines of purple and red and its burning flush high up into the sky so glowing
on the buildings and so lightening their structure that it made them look as
if their strong walls were transparent and they shone from within She would
watch those glories expire and then after looking at the black gondolas
underneath taking guests to music and dancing would raise her eyes to the
shining stars Was there no party of her own in other times on which the stars
had shone To think of that old gate now
She would think of that old gate and of herself sitting at it in the dead
of the night pillowing Maggys head and of other places and of other scenes
associated with those different times And then she would lean upon her balcony
and look over at the water as though they all lay underneath it When she got
to that she would musingly watch its running as if in the general vision it
might run dry and show her the prison again and herself and the old room and
the old inmates and the old visitors all lasting realities that had never
changed
Chapter IV
A Letter from Little Dorrit
Dear Mr Clennam
I write to you from my own room at Venice thinking you will be glad to hear
from me But I know you cannot be so glad to hear from me as I am to write to
you for everything about you is as you have been accustomed to see it and you
miss nothing unless it should be me which can only be for a very little while
together and very seldom while everything in my life is so strange and I miss
so much
When we were in Switzerland which appears to have been years ago though it
was only weeks I met young Mrs Gowan who was on a mountain excursion like
ourselves She told me she was very well and very happy She sent you the
message by me that she thanked you affectionately and would never forget you
She was quite confiding with me and I loved her almost as soon as I spoke to
her But there is nothing singular in that who could help loving so beautiful
and winning a creature I could not wonder at any one loving her No indeed
It will not make you uneasy on Mrs Gowans account I hope for I remember
that you said you had the interest of a true friend in her if I tell you that
I wish she could have married some one better suited to her Mr Gowan seems
fond of her and of course she is very fond of him but I thought he was not
earnest enough I dont mean in that respect I mean in anything I could not
keep it out of my mind that if I was Mrs Gowan what a change that would be
and how I must alter to become like her I should feel that I was rather lonely
and lost for the want of some one who was steadfast and firm in purpose I even
thought she felt this want a little almost without knowing it But mind you are
not made uneasy by this for she was very well and very happy And she looked
most beautiful
I expect to meet her again before long and indeed have been expecting for
some days past to see her here I will ever be as good a friend to her as I can
for your sake Dear Mr Clennam I dare say you think little of having been a
friend to me when I had no other not that I have any other now for I have made
no new friends but I think much of it and I never can forget it
I wish I knew but it is best for no one to write to me how Mr and Mrs
Plornish prosper in the business which my dear father bought for them and that
old Mr Nandy lives happily with them and his two grandchildren and sings all
his songs over and over again I cannot quite keep back the tears from my eyes
when I think of my poor Maggy and of the blank she must have felt at first
however kind they all are to her without her Little Mother Will you go and
tell her as a strict secret with my love that she never can have regretted
our separation more than I have regretted it And will you tell them all that I
have thought of them every day and that my heart is faithful to them
everywhere O if you could know how faithful you would almost pity me for
being so far away and being so grand
You will be glad I am sure to know that my dear father is very well in
health and that all these changes are highly beneficial to him and that he is
very different indeed from what he used to be when you used to see him There is
an improvement in my uncle too I think though he never complained of old and
never exults now Fanny is very graceful quick and clever It is natural to
her to be a lady she has adapted herself to our new fortunes with wonderful
ease
This reminds me that I have not been able to do so and that I sometimes
almost despair of ever being able to do so I find that I cannot learn Mrs
General is always with us and we speak French and speak Italian and she takes
pains to form us in many ways When I say we speak French and Italian I mean
they do As for me I am so slow that I scarcely get on at all As soon as I
begin to plan and think and try all my planning thinking and trying go in
old directions and I begin to feel careful again about the expenses of the day
and about my dear father and about my work and then I remember with a start
that there are no such cares left and that in itself is so new and improbable
that it sets me wandering again I should not have the courage to mention this
to any one but you
It is the same with all these new countries and wonderful sights They are
very beautiful and they astonish me but I am not collected enough not
familiar enough with myself if you can quite understand what I mean to have
all the pleasure in them that I might have What I knew before them blends with
them too so curiously For instance when we were among the mountains I often
felt I hesitate to tell such an idle thing dear Mr Clennam even to you as
if the Marshalsea must be behind that great rock or as if Mrs Clennams room
where I have worked so many days and where I first saw you must be just beyond
that snow Do you remember one night when I came with Maggy to your lodging in
Covent Garden That room I have often and often fancied I have seen before me
travelling along for miles by the side of our carriage when I have looked out
of the carriagewindow after dark We were shut out that night and sat at the
iron gate and walked about till morning I often look up at the stars even
from the balcony of this room and believe that I am in the street again shut
out with Maggy It is the same with people that I left in England
When I go about here in a gondola I surprise myself looking into other
gondolas as if I hoped to see them It would overcome me with joy to see them
but I dont think it would surprise me much at first In my fanciful times I
fancy that they might be anywhere and I almost expect to see their dear faces
on the bridges or the quays
Another difficulty that I have will seem very strange to you It must seem
very strange to any one but me and does even to me I often feel the old sad
pity for I need not write the word for him Changed as he is and
inexpressibly blest and thankful as I always am to know it the old sorrowful
feeling of compassion comes upon me sometimes with such strength that I want to
put my arms round his neck tell him how I love him and cry a little on his
breast I should be glad after that and proud and happy But I know that I must
not do this that he would not like it that Fanny would be angry that Mrs
General would be amazed and so I quiet myself Yet in doing so I struggle with
the feeling that I have come to be at a distance from him and that even in the
midst of all the servants and attendants he is deserted and in want of me
Dear Mr Clennam I have written a great deal about myself but I must write
a little more still or what I wanted most of all to say in this weak letter
would be left out of it In all these foolish thoughts of mine which I have
been so hardy as to confess to you because I know you will understand me if
anybody can and will make more allowance for me than anybody else would if you
cannot in all these thoughts there is one thought scarcely ever never out
of my memory and that is that I hope you sometimes in a quiet moment have a
thought for me I must tell you that as to this I have felt ever since I have
been away an anxiety which I am very very anxious to relieve I have been
afraid that you may think of me in a new light or a new character Dont do
that I could not bear that it would make me more unhappy than you can
suppose It would break my heart to believe that you thought of me in any way
that would make me stranger to you than I was when you were so good to me What
I have to pray and entreat of you is that you will never think of me as the
daughter of a rich person that you will never think of me as dressing any
better or living any better than when you first knew me That you will
remember me only as the little shabby girl you protected with so much
tenderness from whose threadbare dress you have kept away the rain and whose
wet feet you have dried at your fire That you will think of me when you think
of me at all and of my true affection and devoted gratitude always without
change as of
Your poor child
LITTLE DORRIT
PS Particularly remember that you are not to be uneasy about Mrs Gowan Her
words were »Very well and very happy« And she looked most beautiful
Chapter V
Something Wrong Somewhere
The family had been a month or two at Venice when Mr Dorrit who was much
among Counts and Marquises and had but scant leisure set an hour of one day
apart beforehand for the purpose of holding some conference with Mrs General
The time he had reserved in his mind arriving he sent Mr Tinkler his
valet to Mrs Generals apartment which would have absorbed about a third of
the area of the Marshalsea to present his compliments to that lady and
represent him as desiring the favour of an interview It being that period of
the forenoon when the various members of the family had coffee in their own
chambers some couple of hours before assembling at breakfast in a faded hall
which had once been sumptuous but was now the prey of watery vapours and a
settled melancholy Mrs General was accessible to the valet That envoy found
her on a little square of carpet so extremely diminutive in reference to the
size of her stone and marble floor that she looked as if she might have had it
spread for the trying on of a readymade pair of shoes or as if she had come
into possession of the enchanted piece of carpet bought for forty purses by one
of the three princes in the Arabian Nights and had that moment been transported
on it at a wish into a palatial saloon with which it had no connection
Mrs General replying to the envoy as she set down her empty coffeecup
that she was willing at once to proceed to Mr Dorrits apartment and spare him
the trouble of coming to her which in his gallantry he had proposed the
envoy threw open the door and escorted Mrs General to the presence It was
quite a walk by mysterious staircases and corridors from Mrs Generals
apartment hoodwinked by a narrow side street with a low gloomy bridge in it
and dungeonlike opposite tenements their walls besmeared with a thousand
downward stains and streaks as if every crazy aperture in them had been weeping
tears of rust into the Adriatic for centuries to Mr Dorrits apartment with
a whole English housefront of window a prospect of beautiful churchdomes
rising into the blue sky sheer out of the water which reflected them and a
hushed murmur of the Grand Canal laving the doorways below where his gondolas
and gondoliers attended his pleasure drowsily swinging in a little forest of
piles
Mr Dorrit in a resplendent dressinggown and cap the dormant grub that
had so long bided its time among the Collegians had burst into a rare butterfly
rose to receive Mrs General A chair to Mrs General An easier chair sir
what are you doing what are you about what do you mean Now leave us
»Mrs General« said Mr Dorrit »I took the liberty «
»By no means« Mrs General interposed »I was quite at your disposition I
had had my coffee«
»I took the liberty« said Mr Dorrit again with the magnificent placidity
of one who was above correction »to solicit the favour of a little private
conversation with you because I feel rather worried respecting my ha my
younger daughter You will have observed a great difference of temperament
madam between my two daughters«
Said Mrs General in response crossing her gloved hands she was never
without gloves and they never creased and always fitted »There is a great
difference«
»May I ask to be favoured with your view of it« said Mr Dorrit with a
deference not incompatible with majestic serenity
»Fanny« returned Mrs General »has force of character and selfreliance
Amy none«
None O Mrs General ask the Marshalsea stones and bars O Mrs General
ask the milliner who taught her to work and the dancingmaster who taught her
sister to dance O Mrs General Mrs General ask me her father what I owe to
her and hear my testimony touching the life of this slighted little creature
from her childhood up
No such adjuration entered Mr Dorrits head He looked at Mrs General
seated in her usual erect attitude on her coachbox behind the proprieties and
he said in a thoughtful manner »True madam«
»I would not« said Mrs General »be understood to say observe that there
is nothing to improve in Fanny But there is material there perhaps indeed a
little too much«
»Will you be kind enough madam« said Mr Dorrit »to be ha more
explicit I do not quite understand my elder daughters having hum too much
material What material«
»Fanny« returned Mrs General »at present forms too many opinions Perfect
breeding forms none and is never demonstrative«
Lest he himself should be found deficient in perfect breeding Mr Dorrit
hastened to reply »Unquestionably madam you are right« Mrs General
returned in her emotionless and expressionless manner »I believe so«
»But you are aware my dear madam« said Mr Dorrit »that my daughters had
the misfortune to lose their lamented mother when they were very young and
that in consequence of my not having been until lately the recognised heir to
my property they have lived with me as a comparatively poor though always
proud gentleman in ha hum retirement«
»I do not« said Mrs General »lose sight of the circumstance«
»Madam« pursued Mr Dorrit »of my daughter Fanny under her present
guidance and with such an example constantly before her «
Mrs General shut her eyes
» I have no misgivings There is adaptability of character in Fanny But my
younger daughter Mrs General rather worries and vexes my thoughts I must
inform you that she has always been my favourite«
»There is no accounting« said Mrs General »for these partialities«
»Ha no« assented Mr Dorrit »No Now madam I am troubled by noticing
that Amy is not so to speak one of ourselves She does not care to go about
with us she is lost in the society we have here our tastes are evidently not
her tastes Which« said Mr Dorrit summing up with judicial gravity »is to
say in other words, that there is something wrong in ha Amy«
»May we incline to the supposition« said Mrs General with a little touch
of varnish »that something is referable to the novelty of the position«
»Excuse me madam« observed Mr Dorrit rather quickly »The daughter of a
gentleman though ha himself at one time comparatively far from affluent
comparatively and herself reared in hum retirement need not of necessity
find this position so very novel«
»True« said Mrs General »true«
»Therefore madam« said Mr Dorrit »I took the liberty« he laid an
emphasis on the phrase and repeated it as though he stipulated with urbane
firmness that he must not be contradicted again »I took the liberty of
requesting this interview in order that I might mention the topic to you and
inquire how you would advise me«
»Mr Dorrit« returned Mrs General »I have conversed with Amy several
times since we have been residing here on the general subject of the formation
of a demeanour She has expressed herself to me as wondering exceedingly at
Venice I have mentioned to her that it is better not to wonder I have pointed
out to her that the celebrated Mr Eustace the classical tourist did not think
much of it and that he compared the Rialto greatly to its disadvantage with
Westminster and Blackfriars Bridges I need not add after what you have said
that I have not yet found my arguments successful You do me the honour to ask
me what I advise It always appears to me if this should prove to be a baseless
assumption I shall be pardoned that Mr Dorrit has been accustomed to
exercise influence over the minds of others«
»Hum madam« said Mr Dorrit »I have been at the head of ha of a
considerable community You are right in supposing that I am not unaccustomed to
an influential position«
»I am happy« returned Mrs General »to be so corroborated I would
therefore the more confidently recommend that Mr Dorrit should speak to Amy
himself and make his observations and wishes known to her Being his favourite
besides and no doubt attached to him she is all the more likely to yield to
his influence«
»I had anticipated your suggestion madam« said Mr Dorrit »but ha was
not sure that I might hum not encroach on «
»On my province Mr Dorrit« said Mrs General graciously »Do not mention
it«
»Then with your leave madam« resumed Mr Dorrit ringing his little bell
to summon his valet »I will send for her at once«
»Does Mr Dorrit wish me to remain«
»Perhaps if you have no other engagement you would not object for a minute
or two «
»Not at all«
So Tinkler the valet was instructed to find Miss Amys maid and to request
that subordinate to inform Miss Amy that Mr Dorrit wished to see her in his own
room In delivering this charge to Tinkler Mr Dorrit looked severely at him
and also kept a jealous eye upon him until he went out at the door mistrusting
that he might have something in his mind prejudicial to the family dignity that
he might have even got wind of some Collegiate joke before he came into the
service and might be derisively reviving its remembrance at the present moment
If Tinkler had happened to smile however faintly and innocently nothing would
have persuaded Mr Dorrit to the hour of his death but that this was the case
As Tinkler happened however very fortunately for himself to be of a serious
and composed countenance he escaped the secret danger that threatened him And
as on his return when Mr Dorrit eyed him again he announced Miss Amy as if
she had come to a funeral he left a vague impression on Mr Dorrits mind that
he was a wellconducted young fellow who had been brought up in the study of
his Catechism by a widowed mother
»Amy« said Mr Dorrit »you have just now been the subject of some
conversation between myself and Mrs General We agree that you scarcely seem at
home here Ha how is this«
A pause
»I think father I require a little time«
»Papa is a preferable mode of address« observed Mrs General »Father is
rather vulgar my dear The word Papa besides gives a pretty form to the lips
Papa potatoes poultry prunes and prism are all very good words for the
lips especially prunes and prism You will find it serviceable in the
formation of a demeanour if you sometimes say to yourself in company on
entering a room for instance Papa potatoes poultry prunes and prism
prunes and prism«
»Pray my child« said Mr Dorrit »attend to the hum precepts of Mrs
General«
Poor Little Dorrit with a rather forlorn glance at that eminent varnisher
promised to try
»You say Amy« pursued Mr Dorrit »that you think you require time Time
for what«
Another pause
»To become accustomed to the novelty of my life was all I meant« said
Little Dorrit with her loving eyes upon her father whom she had very nearly
addressed as poultry if not prunes and prism too in her desire to submit
herself to Mrs General and please him
Mr Dorrit frowned and looked anything but pleased »Amy« he returned »it
appears to me I must say that you have had abundance of time for that Ha
you surprise me You disappoint me Fanny has conquered any such little
difficulties and hum why not you«
»I hope I shall do better soon« said Little Dorrit
»I hope so« returned her father »I ha I most devoutly hope so Amy I
sent for you in order that I might say hum impressively say in the
presence of Mrs General to whom we are all so much indebted for obligingly
being present among us on ha on this or any other occasion« Mrs General
shut her eyes »that I ha hum am not pleased with you You make Mrs
Generals a thankless task You ha embarrass me very much You have always
as I have informed Mrs General been my favourite child I have always made
you a hum a friend and companion in return I beg I ha I do beg that
you accommodate yourself better to hum circumstances and dutifully do what
becomes your your station«
Mr Dorrit was even a little more fragmentary than usual being excited on
the subject and anxious to make himself particularly emphatic
»I do beg« he repeated »that this may be attended to and that you will
seriously take pains and try to conduct yourself in a manner both becoming your
position as ha Miss Amy Dorrit and satisfactory to myself and Mrs
General«
That lady shut her eyes again on being again referred to then slowly
opening them and rising added these words
»If Miss Amy Dorrit will direct her own attention to and will accept of my
poor assistance in the formation of a surface Mr Dorrit will have no further
cause of anxiety May I take this opportunity of remarking as an instance in
point that it is scarcely delicate to look at vagrants with the attention which
I have seen bestowed upon them by a very dear young friend of mine They should
not be looked at Nothing disagreeable should ever be looked at Apart from such
a habit standing in the way of that graceful equanimity of surface which is so
expressive of good breeding it hardly seems compatible with refinement of mind
A truly refined mind will seem to be ignorant of the existence of anything that
is not perfectly proper placid and pleasant« Having delivered this exalted
sentiment Mrs General made a sweeping obedience and retired with an
expression of mouth indicative of Prunes and Prism
Little Dorrit whether speaking or silent had preserved her quiet
earnestness and her loving look It had not been clouded except for a passing
moment until now But now that she was left alone with him the fingers of her
lightly folded hands were agitated and there was repressed emotion in her face
Not for herself She might feel a little wounded but her care was not for
herself Her thoughts still turned as they always had turned to him A faint
misgiving which had hung about her since their accession to fortune that even
now she could never see him as he used to be before the prison days had
gradually begun to assume form in her mind She felt that in what he had just
now said to her and in his whole bearing towards her there was the wellknown
shadow of the Marshalsea wall It took a new shape but it was the old sad
shadow She began with sorrowful unwillingness to acknowledge to herself that
she was not strong enough to keep off the fear that no space in the life of man
could overcome that quarter of a century behind the prison bars She had no
blame to bestow upon him therefore nothing to reproach him with no emotions
in her faithful heart but great compassion and unbounded tenderness
This is why it was that even as he sat before her on his sofa in the
brilliant light of a bright Italian day the wonderful city without and the
splendours of an old palace within she saw him at the moment in the
longfamiliar gloom of his Marshalsea lodging and wished to take her seat
beside him and comfort him and be again full of confidence with him and of
usefulness to him If he divined what was in her thoughts his own were not in
tune with it After some uneasy moving in his seat he got up and walked about
looking very much dissatisfied
»Is there anything else you wish to say to me dear father«
»No no Nothing else«
»I am sorry you have not been pleased with me dear I hope you will not
think of me with displeasure now I am going to try more than ever to adapt
myself as you wish to what surrounds me for indeed I have tried all along
though I have failed I know«
»Amy« he returned turning short upon her »You ha habitually hurt me«
»Hurt you father I«
»There is a hum a topic« said Mr Dorrit looking all about the ceiling
of the room and never at the attentive uncomplainingly shocked face »a
painful topic a series of events which I wish ha altogether to obliterate
This is understood by your sister who has already remonstrated with you in my
presence it is understood by your brother it is understood by ha hum by
every one of delicacy and sensitiveness except yourself ha I am sorry to
say except yourself You Amy hum you alone and only you constantly
revive the topic though not in words«
She laid her hand on his arm She did nothing more She gently touched him
The trembling hand may have said with some expression »Think of me think how
I have worked think of my many cares« But she said not a syllable herself
There was a reproach in the touch so addressed to him that she had not
foreseen or she would have withheld her hand He began to justify himself in a
heated stumbling angry manner which made nothing of it
»I was there all those years I was ha universally acknowledged as the
head of the place I hum I caused you to be respected there Amy I ha hum
I gave my family a position there I deserve a return I claim a return I
say sweep it off the face of the earth and begin afresh Is that much I ask
is that much«
He did not once look at her as he rambled on in this way but gesticulated
at and appealed to the empty air
»I have suffered Probably I know how much I have suffered better than any
one ha I say than any one If I can put that aside if I can eradicate the
marks of what I have endured and can emerge before the world a ha gentleman
unspoiled unspotted is it a great deal to expect I say again is it a great
deal to expect that my children should hum do the same and sweep that
accursed experience off the face of the earth«
In spite of his flustered state he made all these exclamations in a
carefully suppressed voice lest the valet should overhear anything
»Accordingly they do it Your sister does it Your brother does it You
alone my favourite child whom I made the friend and companion of my life when
you were a mere hum Baby do not do it You alone say you cant do it I
provide you with valuable assistance to do it I attach an accomplished and
highly bred lady ha Mrs General to you for the purpose of doing it Is it
surprising that I should be displeased Is it necessary that I should defend
myself for expressing my displeasure No«
Notwithstanding which he continued to defend himself without any abatement
of his flushed mood
»I am careful to appeal to that lady for confirmation before I express any
displeasure at all I hum I necessarily make that appeal within limited
bounds or I ha should render legible by that lady what I desire to be
blotted out Am I selfish Do I complain for my own sake No No Principally
for ha hum your sake Amy«
This last consideration plainly appeared from his manner of pursuing it to
have just that instant come into his head
»I said I was hurt So I am So I ha am determined to be whatever is
advanced to the contrary I am hurt that my daughter seated in the hum lap
of fortune should mope and retire and proclaim herself unequal to her destiny
I am hurt that she should ha systematically reproduce what the rest of us
blot out and seem hum I had almost said positively anxious to announce to
wealthy and distinguished society that she was born and bred in ha hum a
place that I myself decline to name But there is no inconsistency ha not
the least in my feeling hurt and yet complaining principally for your sake
Amy I do I say again I do It is for your sake that I wish you under the
auspices of Mrs General to form a hum a surface It is for your sake that
I wish you to have a ha truly refined mind and in the striking words of
Mrs General to be ignorant of everything that is not perfectly proper placid
and pleasant«
He had been running down by jerks during his last speech like a sort of
illadjusted alarum The touch was still upon his arm He felt silent and after
looking about the ceiling again for a little while looked down at her Her
head drooped and he could not see her face but her touch was tender and quiet
and in the expression of her dejected figure there was no blame nothing but
love He began to whimper just as he had done that night in the prison when she
afterwards sat at his bedside till morning exclaimed that he was a poor ruin
and a poor wretch in the midst of his wealth and clasped her in his arms
»Hush hush my own dear Kiss me« was all she said to him His tears were soon
dried much sooner than on the former occasion and he was presently afterwards
very high with his valet as a way of righting himself for having shed any
With one remarkable exception to be recorded in its place this was the
only time in his life of freedom and fortune when he spoke to his daughter Amy
of the old days
But now the breakfast hour arrived and with it Miss Fanny from her
apartment and Mr Edward from his apartment Both these young persons of
distinction were something the worse for late hours As to Miss Fanny she had
become the victim of an insatiate mania for what she called going into society
and would have gone into it headforemost fifty times between sunset and sunrise
if so many opportunities had been at her disposal As to Mr Edward he too
had a large acquaintance and was generally engaged for the most part in
diceing circles or others of a kindred nature during the greater part of
every night For this gentleman when his fortunes changed had stood at the
great advantage of being already prepared for the highest associates and having
little to learn so much was he indebted to the happy accidents which had made
him acquainted with horsedealing and billiardmarking
At breakfast Mr Frederick Dorrit likewise appeared As the old gentleman
inhabited the highest story of the palace where he might have practised
pistolshooting without much chance of discovery by the other inmates his
younger niece had taken courage to propose the restoration to him of his
clarionet which Mr Dorrit had ordered to be confiscated but which she had
ventured to preserve Notwithstanding some objections from Miss Fanny that it
was a low instrument and that she detested the sound of it the concession had
been made But it was then discovered that he had had enough of it and never
played it now that it was no longer his means of getting bread He had
insensibly acquired a new habit of shuffling into the picturegalleries always
with his twisted paper of snuff in his hand much to the indignation of Miss
Fanny who had proposed the purchase of a gold box for him that the family might
not be discredited which he had absolutely refused to carry when it was
bought and of passing hours and hours before the portraits of renowned
Venetians It was never made out what his dazed eyes saw in them whether he had
an interest in them merely as pictures or whether he confusedly identified them
with a glory that was departed like the strength of his own mind But he paid
his court to them with great exactness and clearly derived pleasure from the
pursuit After the first few days Little Dorrit happened one morning to assist
at these attentions It so evidently heightened his gratification that she often
accompanied him afterwards and the greatest delight of which the old man had
shown himself susceptible since his ruin arose out of these excursions when he
would carry a chair about for her from picture to picture and stand behind it
in spite of all her remonstrances silently presenting her to the noble
Venetians
It fell out that at this family breakfast he referred to their having seen
in a gallery on the previous day the lady and gentleman whom they had
encountered on the Great Saint Bernard »I forget the name« said he »I dare
say you remember them William I dare say you do Edward«
»I remember em well enough« said the latter
»I should think so« observed Miss Fanny with a toss of her head and a
glance at her sister »But they would not have been recalled to our remembrance
I suspect if Uncle hadnt tumbled over the subject«
»My dear what a curious phrase« said Mrs General »Would not
inadvertently lighted upon or accidentally referred to be better«
»Thank you very much Mrs General« returned the young lady »no I think
not On the whole I prefer my own expression«
This was always Miss Fannys way of receiving a suggestion from Mrs
General But she always stored it up in her mind and adopted it at another
time
»I should have mentioned our having met Mr and Mrs Gowan Fanny« said
Little Dorrit »even if Uncle had not I have scarcely seen you since you know
I meant to have spoken of it at breakfast because I should like to pay a visit
to Mrs Gowan and to become better acquainted with her if Papa and Mrs
General do not object«
»Well Amy« said Fanny »I am sure I am glad to find you at last
expressing a wish to become better acquainted with anybody in Venice Though
whether Mr and Mrs Gowan are desirable acquaintances remains to be
determined.«
»Mrs Gowan I spoke of dear«
»No doubt« said Fanny »But you cant separate her from her husband I
believe without an Act of Parliament«
»Do you think Papa« inquired Little Dorrit with diffidence and
hesitation »there is any objection to my making this visit«
»Really« he replied »I ha what is Mrs Generals view«
Mrs Generals view was that not having the honour of any acquaintance with
the lady and gentleman referred to she was not in a position to varnish the
present article She could only remark as a general principle observed in the
varnishing trade that much depended on the quarter from which the lady under
consideration was accredited to a family so conspicuously niched in the social
temple as the family of Dorrit
At this remark the face of Mr Dorrit gloomed considerably He was about
connecting the accrediting with an obtrusive person of the name of Clennam
whom he imperfectly remembered in some former state of existence to blackball
the name of Gowan finally when Edward Dorrit Esquire came into the
conversation with his glass in his eye and the preliminary remark of »I say
you there Go out will you« Which was addressed to a couple of men who were
handing the dishes round as a courteous intimation that their services could be
temporarily dispensed with
Those menials having obeyed the mandate Edward Dorrit Esquire proceeded
»Perhaps its a matter of policy to let you all know that these Gowans in
whose favour or at least the gentlemans I cant be supposed to be much
prepossessed myself are known to people of importance if that makes any
difference«
»That I would say« observed the fair varnisher »makes the greatest
difference The connexion in question being really people of importance and
consideration «
»As to that« said Edward Dorrit Esquire »Ill give you the means of
judging for yourself You are acquainted perhaps with the famous name of
Merdle«
»The great Merdle« exclaimed Mrs General
»The Merdle« said Edward Dorrit Esquire »They are known to him Mrs
Gowan I mean the dowager my polite friends mother is intimate with Mrs
Merdle and I know these two to be on their visiting list«
»If so a more undeniable guarantee could not be given« said Mrs General
to Mr Dorrit raising her gloves and bowing her head as if she were doing
homage to some visible graven image
»I beg to ask my son from motives of ha curiosity« Mr Dorrit
observed with a decided change in his manner »how he becomes possessed of this
hum timely information«
»Its not a long story sir« returned Edward Dorrit Esquire »and you
shall have it out of hand To begin with Mrs Merdle is the lady you had the
parley with at whatshisname place«
»Martigny« interposed Miss Fanny with an air of infinite languor
»Martigny« assented her brother with a slight nod and a slight wink in
acknowledgment of which Miss Fanny looked surprised and laughed and reddened
»How can that be Edward« said Mr Dorrit »You informed me that the name
of the gentleman with whom you conferred was ha Sparkler Indeed you showed
me his card Hum Sparkler«
»No doubt of it father but it doesnt follow that his mothers name must
be the same Mrs Merdle was married before and he is her son She is in Rome
now where probably we shall know more of her as you decide to winter there
Sparkler is just come here I passed last evening in company with Sparkler
Sparkler is a very good fellow on the whole though rather a bore on one
subject in consequence of being tremendously smitten with a certain young
lady« Here Edward Dorrit Esquire eyed Miss Fanny through his glass across the
table »We happened last night to compare notes about our travels and I had the
information I have given you from Sparkler himself« Here he ceased continuing
to eye Miss Fanny through his glass with a face much twisted and not
ornamentally so in part by the action of keeping his glass in his eye and in
part by the great subtlety of his smile
»Under these circumstances« said Mr Dorrit »I believe I express the
sentiments of ha Mrs General no less than my own when I say that there is
no objection but ha hum quite the contrary to your gratifying your
desire Amy I trust I may ha hail this desire« said Mr Dorrit in an
encouraging and forgiving manner »as an auspicious omen It is quite right to
know these people It is a very proper thing Mr Merdles a name of ha
worldwide repute Mr Merdles undertakings are immense They bring him in such
vast sums of money that they are regarded as hum national benefits Mr
Merdle is the man of this time The name of Merdle is the name of the age Pray
do everything on my behalf that is civil to Mr and Mrs Gowan for we will ha
we will certainly notice them«
This magnificent accordance of Mr Dorrits recognition settled the matter
It was not observed that Uncle had pushed away his plate and forgotten his
breakfast but he was not much observed at any time except by Little Dorrit
The servants were recalled and the meal proceeded to its conclusion Mrs
General rose and left the table Little Dorrit rose and left the table When
Edward and Fanny remained whispering together across it and when Mr Dorrit
remained eating figs and reading a French newspaper Uncle suddenly fixed the
attention of all three by rising out of his chair striking his hand upon the
table and saying »Brother I protest against it«
If he had made a proclamation in an unknown tongue and given up the ghost
immediately afterwards he could not have astounded his audience more The paper
fell from Mr Dorrits hand and he sat petrified with a fig halfway to his
mouth
»Brother« said the old man conveying a surprising energy into his
trembling voice »I protest against it I love you you know I love you dearly
In these many years I have never been untrue to you in a single thought Weak
as I am I would at any time have struck any man who spoke ill of you But
brother brother brother I protest against it«
It was extraordinary to see of what a burst of earnestness such a decrepit
man was capable His eyes became bright his grey hair rose on his head
markings of purpose on his brow and face which had faded from them for
fiveandtwenty years started out again and there was an energy in his hand
that made its action nervous once more
»My dear Frederick« exclaimed Mr Dorrit faintly »What is wrong What is
the matter«
»How dare you« said the old man turning round on Fanny »how dare you do
it Have you no memory Have you no heart«
»Uncle« cried Fanny affrighted and bursting into tears »why do you attack
me in this cruel manner What have I done«
»Done« returned the old man pointing to her sisters place »wheres your
affectionate invaluable friend Wheres your devoted guardian Wheres your more
than mother How dare you set up superiorities against all these characters
combined in your sister For shame you false girl for shame«
»I love Amy« cried Miss Fanny sobbing and weeping »as well as I love my
life better than I love my life I dont deserve to be so treated I am as
grateful to Amy and as fond of Amy as its possible for any human being to be
I wish I was dead I never was so wickedly wronged And only because I am
anxious for the family credit«
»To the winds with the family credit« cried the old man with great scorn
and indignation »Brother I protest against pride I protest against
ingratitude I protest against any one of us here who have known what we have
known and have seen what we have seen setting up any pretension that puts Amy
at a moments disadvantage or to the cost of a moments pain We may know that
its a base pretension by its having that effect It ought to bring a judgment
on us Brother I protest against it in the sight of God«
As his hand went up above his head and came down on the table it might have
been a blacksmiths After a few moments silence it had relaxed into its usual
weak condition He went round to his brother with his ordinary shuffling step
put the hand on his shoulder and said in a softened voice »William my dear
I felt obliged to say it forgive me for I felt obliged to say it« and then
went in his bowed way out of the palace hall just as he might have gone out
of the Marshalsea room
All this time Fanny had been sobbing and crying and still continued to do
so Edward beyond opening his mouth in amazement had not opened his lips and
had done nothing but stare Mr Dorrit also had been utterly discomfited and
quite unable to assert himself in any way Fanny was now the first to speak
»I never never never was so used« she sobbed »There never was anything
so harsh and unjustifiable so disgracefully violent and cruel Dear kind
quiet little Amy too what would she feel if she could know that she had been
innocently the means of exposing me to such treatment But Ill never tell her
No good darling Ill never tell her«
This helped Mr Dorrit to break his silence
»My dear« said he »I ha approve of your resolution It will be ha
hum much better not to speak of this to Amy It might hum it might
distress her Ha No doubt it would distress her greatly It is considerate and
right to avoid doing so We will ha keep this to ourselves«
»But the cruelty of Uncle« cried Miss Fanny »O I never can forgive the
wanton cruelty of Uncle«
»My dear« said Mr Dorrit recovering his tone though he remained
unusually pale »I must request you not to say so You must remember that your
uncle is ha not what he formerly was You must remember that your uncles
state requires hum great forbearance from us great forbearance«
»I am sure« cried Fanny piteously »it is only charitable to suppose that
there must be something wrong in him somewhere or he never could have so
attacked Me of all the people in the world«
»Fanny« returned Mr Dorrit in a deeply fraternal tone »you know with
his innumerable good points what a hum Wreck your uncle is and I entreat
you by the fondness that I have for him and by the fidelity that you know I
have always shown him to ha to draw your own conclusions and to spare my
brotherly feelings«
This ended the scene Edward Dorrit Esquire saying nothing throughout but
looking to the last perplexed and doubtful Miss Fanny awakened much
affectionate uneasiness in her sisters mind that day by passing the greater
part of it in violent fits of embracing her and in alternately giving her
brooches and wishing herself dead
Chapter VI
Something Right Somewhere
To be in the halting state of Mr Henry Gowan to have left one of two Powers in
disgust to want the necessary qualifications for finding promotion with
another and to be loitering moodily about on neutral ground cursing both is
to be in a situation unwholesome for the mind, which time is not likely to
improve The worst class of sum worked in the everyday world is cyphered by
the diseased arithmeticians who are always in the rule of Subtraction as to the
merits and successes of others and never in Addition as to their own
The habit too of seeking some sort of recompense in the discontented boast
of being disappointed is a habit fraught with degeneracy A certain idle
carelessness and recklessness of consistency soon comes of it To bring
deserving things down by setting undeserving things up is one of its perverted
delights and there is no playing fast and loose with the truth in any game
without growing the worse for it
In his expressed opinions of all performances in the Art of painting that
were completely destitute of merit Gowan was the most liberal fellow on earth
He would declare such a man to have more power in his little finger provided he
had none than such another had provided he had much in his whole mind and
body If the objection were taken that the thing commended was trash he would
reply on behalf of his art »My good fellow what do we all turn out but trash
I turn out nothing else and I make you a present of the confession«
To make a vaunt of being poor was another of the incidents of his splenetic
state though this may have had the design in it of showing that he ought to be
rich just as he would publicly laud and decry the Barnacles lest it should be
forgotten that he belonged to the family Howbeit these two subjects were very
often on his lips and he managed them so well that he might have praised
himself by the month together and not have made himself out half so important a
man as he did by his light disparagement of his claims on anybodys
consideration
Out of this same airy talk of his it always soon came to be understood
wherever he and his wife went that he had married against the wishes of his
exalted relations and had had much ado to prevail on them to countenance her
He never made the representation, on the contrary seemed to laugh the idea to
scorn but it did happen that with all his pains to depreciate himself he was
always in the superior position From the days of their honeymoon Minnie Gowan
felt sensible of being usually regarded as the wife of a man who had made a
descent in marrying her but whose chivalrous love for her had cancelled that
inequality
To Venice they had been accompanied by Monsieur Blandois of Paris and at
Venice Monsieur Blandois of Paris was very much in the society of Gowan When
they had first met this gallant gentleman at Geneva Gowan had been undecided
whether to kick him or encourage him and had remained for about
fourandtwenty hours so troubled to settle the point to his satisfaction that
he had thought of tossing up a fivefranc piece on the terms »Tails kick
heads encourage« and abiding by the voice of the oracle It chanced however
that his wife expressed a dislike to the engaging Blandois and that the balance
of feeling in the hotel was against him Upon that Gowan resolved to encourage
him
Why this perversity if it were not in a generous fit which it was not
Why should Gowan very much the superior of Blandois of Paris and very well
able to pull that prepossessing gentleman to pieces and find out the stuff he
was made of take up with such a man In the first place he opposed the first
separate wish he observed in his wife because her father had paid his debts
and it was desirable to take an early opportunity of asserting his independence
In the second place he opposed the prevalent feeling because with many
capacities of being otherwise he was an illconditioned man He found a
pleasure in declaring that a courtier with the refined manners of Blandois ought
to rise to the greatest distinction in any polished country He found a pleasure
in setting up Blandois as the type of elegance and making him a satire upon
others who piqued themselves on personal graces He seriously protested that the
bow of Blandois was perfect that the address of Blandois was irresistible and
that the picturesque ease of Blandois would be cheaply purchased if it were not
a gift and unpurchasable for a hundred thousand francs That exaggeration in
the manner of the man which has been noticed as appertaining to him and to
every such man whatever his original breeding as certainly as the sun belongs
to this system was acceptable to Gowan as a caricature which he found it a
humorous resource to have at hand for the ridiculing of numbers of people who
necessarily did more or less of what Blandois overdid Thus he had taken up with
him and thus negligently strengthening these inclinations with habit and idly
deriving some amusement from his talk he had glided into a way of having him
for a companion This though he supposed him to live by his wits at playtables
and the like though he suspected him to be a coward while he himself was
daring and courageous though he thoroughly knew him to be disliked by Minnie
and though he cared so little for him after all that if he had given her any
tangible personal cause to regard him with aversion he would have had no
compunction whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice into
the deepest water of the city
Little Dorrit would have been glad to make her visit to Mrs Gowan alone
but as Fanny who had not yet recovered from her Uncles protest though it was
fourandtwenty hours of age pressingly offered her company the two sisters
stepped together into one of the gondolas under Mr Dorrits window and with
the courier in attendance were taken in high state to Mrs Gowans lodging In
truth their state was rather too high for the lodging which was as Fanny
complained »fearfully out of the way« and which took them through a complexity
of narrow streets of water which the same lady disparaged as »mere ditches«
The house on a little desert island looked as if it had broken away from
somewhere else and had floated by chance into its present anchorage in company
with a vine almost as much in want of training as the poor wretches who were
lying under its leaves The features of the surrounding picture were a church
with hoarding and scaffolding about it which had been under supposititious
repair so long that the means of repair looked a hundred years old and had
themselves fallen into decay a quantity of washed linen spread to dry in the
sun a number of houses at odds with one another and grotesquely out of the
perpendicular like rotten preAdamite cheeses cut into fantastic shapes and
full of mites and a feverish bewilderment of windows with their latticeblinds
all hanging askew and something draggled and dirty dangling out of most of
them
On the firstfloor of the house was a Bank a surprising experience for any
gentleman of commercial pursuits bringing laws for all mankind from a British
city where two spare clerks like dried dragoons in green velvet caps adorned
with golden tassels stood bearded behind a small counter in a small room
containing no other visible objects than an empty iron safe with the door open
a jug of water and a papering of garlands of roses but who on lawful
requisition by merely dipping their hands out of sight could produce
exhaustless mounds of fivefranc pieces Below the Bank was a suite of three or
four rooms with barred windows which had the appearance of a jail for criminal
rats Above the Bank was Mrs Gowans residence
Notwithstanding that its walls were blotched as if missionary maps were
bursting out of them to impart geographical knowledge notwithstanding that its
weird furniture was forlornly faded and musty and that the prevailing Venetian
odour of bilge water and an ebb tide on a weedy shore was very strong the place
was better within than it promised The door was opened by a smiling man like a
reformed assassin a temporary servant who ushered them into the room where
Mrs Gowan sat with the announcement that two beautiful English ladies were
come to see the mistress
Mrs Gowan who was engaged in needlework put her work aside in a covered
basket and rose a little hurriedly Miss Fanny was excessively courteous to
her and said the usual nothings with the skill of a veteran
»Papa was extremely sorry« proceeded Fanny »to be engaged today he is so
much engaged here our acquaintance being so wretchedly large and
particularly requested me to bring his card for Mr Gowan That I may be sure to
acquit myself of a commission which he impressed upon me at least a dozen times
allow me to relieve my conscience by placing it on the table at once«
Which she did with veteran ease
»We have been« said Fanny »charmed to understand that you know the
Merdles We hope it may be another means of bringing us together«
»They are friends« said Mrs Gowan »of Mr Gowans family I have not yet
had the pleasure of a personal introduction to Mrs Merdle but I suppose I
shall be presented to her at Rome«
»Indeed« returned Fanny with an appearance of amiably quenching her own
superiority »I think youll like her«
»You know her very well«
»Why you see« said Fanny with a frank action of her pretty shoulders »in
London one knows every one We met her on our way here and to say the truth
papa was at first rather cross with her for taking one of the rooms that our
people had ordered for us However of course that soon blew over and we were
all good friends again«
Although the visit had as yet given Little Dorrit no opportunity of
conversing with Mrs Gowan there was a silent understanding between them which
did as well She looked at Mrs Gowan with keen and unabated interest the sound
of her voice was thrilling to her nothing that was near her or about her or
at all concerned her escaped Little Dorrit She was quicker to perceive the
slightest matter here than in any other case but one
»You have been quite well« she now said »since that night«
»Quite my dear And you«
»Oh I am always well« said Little Dorrit timidly »I yes thank you«
There was no reason for her faltering and breaking off other than that Mrs
Gowan had touched her hand in speaking to her and their looks had met
Something thoughtfully apprehensive in the large soft eyes had checked Little
Dorrit in an instant
»You dont know that you are a favourite of my husbands and that I am
almost bound to be jealous of you« said Mrs Gowan
Little Dorrit blushing shook her head
»He will tell you if he tells you what he tells me that you are quieter
and quicker of resource than any one he ever saw
He speaks far too well of me« said Little Dorrit
»I doubt that but I dont at all doubt that I must tell him you are here I
should never be forgiven if I were to let you and Miss Dorrit go without
doing so May I You can excuse the disorder and discomfort of a painters
studio«
The inquiries were addressed to Miss Fanny who graciously replied that she
would be beyond anything interested and enchanted Mrs Gowan went to a door
looked in beyond it and came back »Do Henry the favour to come in« said she
»I knew he would be pleased«
The first object that confronted Little Dorrit entering first was Blandois
of Paris in a great cloak and a furtive slouched hat standing on a throne
platform in a corner as he had stood on the Great Saint Bernard when the
warning arms seemed to be all pointing up at him She recoiled from this figure
as it smiled at her
»Dont be alarmed« said Gowan coming from his easel behind the door »Its
only Blandois He is doing duty as a model today I am making a study of him
It saves me money to turn him to some use We poor painters have none to spare«
Blandois of Paris pulled off his slouched hat and saluted the ladies
without coming out of his corner
»A thousand pardons« said he »But the Professor here is so inexorable
with me that I am afraid to stir«
»Dont stir then« said Gowan coolly as the sisters approached the easel
»Let the ladies at least see the original of the daub that they may know what
its meant for There he stands you see A bravo waiting for his prey a
distinguished noble waiting to save his country the common enemy waiting to do
somebody a bad turn an angelic messenger waiting to do somebody a good turn
whatever you think he looks most like«
»Say Professore Mio a poor gentleman waiting to do homage to elegance and
beauty« remarked Blandois
»Or say Cattivo Sogetto Mio« returned Gowan touching the painted face
with his brush in the part where the real face had moved »a murderer after the
fact Show that white hand of yours Blandois Put it outside the cloak Keep it
still«
Blandois hand was unsteady but he laughed and that would naturally shake
it
»He was formerly in some scuffle with another murderer or with a victim
you observe« said Gowan putting in the markings of the hand with a quick
impatient unskilful touch »and these are the tokens of it Outside the cloak
man Corpo di San Marco what are you thinking of«
Blandois of Paris shook with a laugh again so that his hand shook more now
he raised it to twist his moustache which had a damp appearance and now he
stood in the required position with a little new swagger
His face was so directed in reference to the spot where Little Dorrit stood
by the easel that throughout he looked at her Once attracted by his peculiar
eyes she could not remove her own and they had looked at each other all the
time She trembled now Gowan feeling it and supposing her to be alarmed by
the large dog beside him whose head she caressed in her hand and who had just
uttered a low growl glanced at her to say »He wont hurt you Miss Dorrit«
»I am not afraid of him« she returned in the same breath »but will you
look at him«
In a moment Gowan had thrown down his brush and seized the dog with both
hands by the collar
»Blandois How can you be such a fool as to provoke him By Heaven and the
other place too hell tear you to bits Lie down Lion Do you hear my voice
you rebel«
The great dog regardless of being halfchoked by his collar was obdurately
pulling with his dead weight against his master resolved to get across the
room He had been crouching for a spring at the moment when his master caught
him
»Lion Lion« He was up on his hind legs and it was a wrestle between
master and dog »Get back Down Lion Get out of his sight Blandois What
devil have you conjured into the dog«
»I have done nothing to him«
»Get out of his sight or I cant hold the wild beast Get out of the room
By my soul hell kill you«
The dog with a ferocious bark made one other struggle as Blandois
vanished then in the moment of the dogs submission the master little less
angry than the dog felled him with a blow on the head and standing over him
struck him many times severely with the heel of his boot so that his mouth was
presently bloody
»Now get you into that corner and lie down« said Gowan »or Ill take you
out and shoot you«
Lion did as he was ordered and lay down licking his mouth and chest Lions
master stopped for a moment to take breath and then recovering his usual
coolness of manner turned to speak to his frightened wife and her visitors
Probably the whole occurrence had not occupied two minutes
»Come come Minnie You know he is always goodhumoured and tractable
Blandois must have irritated him made faces at him The dog has his likings
and dislikings and Blandois is no great favourite of his but I am sure youll
give him a character Minnie for never having been like this before«
Minnie was too much disturbed to say anything connected in reply Little
Dorrit was already occupied in soothing her Fanny who had cried out twice or
thrice held Gowans arm for protection Lion deeply ashamed of having caused
them this alarm came trailing himself along the ground to the feet of his
mistress
»You furious brute« said Gowan striking him with his foot again »You
shall do penance for this« And he struck him again and yet again
»O pray dont punish him any more« cried Little Dorrit »Dont hurt him
See how gentle he is« At her entreaty Gowan spared him and he deserved her
intercession for truly he was as submissive and as sorry and as wretched as a
dog could be
It was not easy to recover this shock and make the visit unrestrained even
though Fanny had not been under the best of circumstances the least trifle in
the way In such further communication as passed among them before the sisters
took their departure Little Dorrit fancied it was revealed to her that Mr
Gowan treated his wife even in his very fondness too much like a beautiful
child He seemed so unsuspicious of the depths of feeling which she knew must
lie below that surface that she doubted if there could be any such depths in
himself She wondered whether his want of earnestness might be the natural
result of his want of such qualities and whether it was with people as with
ships that in too shallow and rocky waters their anchors had no hold and
they drifted anywhere
He attended them down the staircase jocosely apologising for the poor
quarters to which such poor fellows as himself were limited and remarking that
when the high and mighty Barnacles his relatives who would be dreadfully
ashamed of them presented him with better he would live in better to oblige
them At the waters edge they were saluted by Blandois who looked white enough
after his late adventure but who made very light of it notwithstanding
laughing at the mention of Lion
Leaving the two together under the scrap of vine upon the causeway Gowan
idly scattering the leaves from it into the water and Blandois lighting a
cigarette the sisters were paddled away in state as they had come They had not
glided on for many minutes when Little Dorrit became aware that Fanny was more
showy in manner than the occasion appeared to require and looking about for
the cause through the window and through the open door saw another gondola
evidently in waiting on them
As this gondola attended their progress in various artful ways sometimes
shooting on ahead and stopping to let them pass sometimes when the way was
broad enough skimming along side by side with them and sometimes following
close astern and as Fanny gradually made no disguise that she was playing off
graces upon somebody within it of whom she at the same time feigned to be
unconscious Little Dorrit at length asked who it was
To which Fanny made the short answer »That gaby«
»Who« said Little Dorrit
»My dear child« returned Fanny in a tone suggesting that before her
Uncles protest she might have said You little fool instead »how slow you
are Young Sparkler«
She lowered the window on her side and leaning back and resting her elbow
on it negligently fanned herself with a rich Spanish fan of black and gold The
attendant gondola having skimmed forward again with some swift trace of an eye
in the window Fanny laughed coquettishly and said »Did you ever see such a
fool my love«
»Do you think he means to follow you all the way« asked Little Dorrit
»My precious child« returned Fanny »I cant possibly answer for what an
idiot in a state of desperation may do but I should think it highly probable
Its not such an enormous distance All Venice would scarcely be that I
imagine if hes dying for a glimpse of me«
»And is he« asked Little Dorrit in perfect simplicity
»Well my love that really is an awkward question for me to answer« said
her sister »I believe he is You had better ask Edward He tells Edward he is
I believe I understand he makes a perfect spectacle of himself at the Casino
and that sort of places by going on about me But you had better ask Edward if
you want to know«
»I wonder he doesnt call« said Little Dorrit after thinking a moment
»My dear Amy your wonder will soon cease if I am rightly informed I
should not be at all surprised if he called today The creature has only been
waiting to get his courage up I suspect«
»Will you see him«
»Indeed my darling« said Fanny »thats just as it may happen Here he is
again Look at him O you simpleton«
Mr Sparkler had undeniably a weak appearance with his eye in the window
like a knot in the glass and no reason on earth for stopping his bark suddenly
except the real reason
»When you asked me if I will see him my dear« said Fanny almost as well
composed in the graceful indifference of her attitude as Mrs Merdle herself
»what do you mean«
»I mean« said Little Dorrit »I think I rather mean what do you mean dear
Fanny«
Fanny laughed again in a manner at once condescending arch and affable
and said putting her arm round her sister in a playfully affectionate way
»Now tell me my little pet When we saw that woman at Martigny how did you
think she carried it off Did you see what she decided on in a moment«
»No Fanny«
»Then Ill tell you Amy She settled with herself now Ill never refer to
that meeting under such different circumstances and Ill never pretend to have
any idea that these are the same girls Thats her way out of a difficulty What
did I tell you when we came away from Harley Street that time She is as
insolent and false as any woman in the world But in the first capacity my
love she may find people who can match her«
A significant turn of the Spanish fan towards Fannys bosom indicated with
great expression where one of these people was to be found
»Not only that« pursued Fanny »but she gives the same charge to Young
Sparkler and doesnt let him come after me until she has got it thoroughly into
his most ridiculous of all ridiculous noddles for one really cant call it a
head that he is to pretend to have been first struck with me in that Inn
Yard«
»Why« asked Little Dorrit
»Why Good gracious my love« again very much in the tone of You stupid
little creature »how can you ask Dont you see that I may have become a rather
desirable match for a noodle And dont you see that she puts the deception upon
us and makes a pretence while she shifts it from her own shoulders very good
shoulders they are too I must say« observed Miss Fanny glancing complacently
at herself »of considering our feelings«
»But we can always go back to the plain truth«
»Yes but if you please we wont« retorted Fanny »No I am not going to
have that done Amy The pretext is none of mine its hers and she shall have
enough of it«
In the triumphant exaltation of her feelings Miss Fanny using her Spanish
fan with one hand squeezed her sisters waist with the other as if she were
crushing Mrs Merdle
»No« repeated Fanny »She shall find me go her way She took it and Ill
follow it And with the blessing of fate and fortune Ill go on improving that
womans acquaintance until I have given her maid before her eyes things from
my dressmakers ten times as handsome and expensive as she once gave me from
hers«
Little Dorrit was silent sensible that she was not to be heard on any
question affecting the family dignity and unwilling to lose to no purpose her
sisters newly and unexpectedly restored favour She could not concur but she
was silent Fanny well knew what she was thinking of so well that she soon
asked her
Her reply was »Do you mean to encourage Mr Sparkler Fanny«
»Encourage him my dear« said her sister smiling contemptuously »that
depends upon what you call encourage No I dont mean to encourage him But
Ill make a slave of him«
Little Dorrit glanced seriously and doubtfully in her face but Fanny was
not to be so brought to a check She furled her fan of black and gold and used
it to tap her sisters nose with the air of a proud beauty and a great spirit
who toyed with and playfully instructed a homely companion
»I shall make him fetch and carry my dear and I shall make him subject to
me And if I dont make his mother subject to me too it shall not be my
fault«
»Do you think dear Fanny dont be offended we are so comfortable
together now that you can quite see the end of that course«
»I cant say I have so much as looked for it yet my dear« answered Fanny
with supreme indifference »all in good time Such are my intentions And really
they have taken me so long to develop that here we are at home And Young
Sparkler at the door inquiring who is within By the merest accident of
course«
In effect the swain was standing up in his gondola cardcase in hand
affecting to put the question to a servant This conjunction of circumstances
led to his immediately afterwards presenting himself before the young ladies in
a posture which in ancient times would not have been considered one of
favourable augury for his suit since the gondoliers of the young ladies having
been put to some inconvenience by the chase so neatly brought their own boat in
the gentlest collision with the bark of Mr Sparkler as to tip that gentleman
over like a larger species of ninepin and cause him to exhibit the soles of his
shoes to the object of his dearest wishes while the nobler portions of his
anatomy struggled at the bottom of his boat in the arms of one of his men
However as Miss Fanny called out with much concern Was the gentleman hurt
Mr Sparkler rose more restored than might have been expected and stammered for
himself with blushes »Not at all so« Miss Fanny had no recollection of having
ever seen him before and was passing on with a distant inclination of her
head when he announced himself by name Even then she was in a difficulty from
being unable to call it to mind until he explained that he had had the honour
of seeing her at Martigny Then she remembered him and hoped his ladymother
was well
»Thank you« stammered Mr Sparkler »shes uncommonly well at least
poorly«
»In Venice« said Miss Fanny
»In Rome« Mr Sparkler answered »I am here by myself myself I came to
call upon Mr Edward Dorrit myself Indeed upon Mr Dorrit likewise In fact
upon the family«
Turning graciously to the attendants Miss Fanny inquired whether her papa
or brother was within The reply being that they were both within Mr Sparkler
humbly offered his arm Miss Fanny accepting it was squired up the great
staircase by Mr Sparkler who if he still believed which there is not any
reason to doubt that she had no nonsense about her rather deceived himself
Arrived in a mouldering receptionroom where the faded hangings of a sad
seagreen had worn and withered until they looked as if they might have claimed
kindred with the waifs of seaweed drifting under the windows or clinging to the
walls and weeping for their imprisoned relations Miss Fanny despatched
emissaries for her father and brother Pending whose appearance she showed to
great advantage on a sofa completing Mr Sparklers conquest with some remarks
upon Dante known to that gentleman as an eccentric man in the nature of an Old
File who used to put leaves round his head and sit upon a stool for some
unaccountable purpose outside the cathedral at Florence
Mr Dorrit welcomed the visitor with the highest urbanity and most courtly
manners He inquired particularly after Mrs Merdle He inquired particularly
after Mr Merdle Mr Sparkler said or rather twitched out of himself in small
pieces by the shirtcollar that Mrs Merdle having completely used up her place
in the country and also her house at Brighton and being of course unable
dont you see to remain in London when there wasnt a soul there and not
feeling herself this year quite up to visiting about at peoples places had
resolved to have a touch at Rome where a woman like herself with a
proverbially fine appearance and with no nonsense about her couldnt fail to
be a great acquisition As to Mr Merdle he was so much wanted by the men in
the City and the rest of those places and was such a doosed extraordinary
phenomenon in Buying and Banking and that that Mr Sparkler doubted if the
monetary system of the country would be able to spare him though that his work
was occasionally one too many for him and that he would be all the better for a
temporary shy at an entirely new scene and climate Mr Sparkler did not
conceal As to himself Mr Sparkler conveyed to the Dorrit family that he was
going on rather particular business wherever they were going
This immense conversational achievement required time but was effected
Being effected Mr Dorrit expressed his hope that Mr Sparkler would shortly
dine with them Mr Sparkler received the idea so kindly that Mr Dorrit asked
what he was going to do that day for instance As he was going to do nothing
that day his usual occupation and one for which he was particularly
qualified he was secured without postponement being further bound over to
accompany the ladies to the Opera in the evening
At dinnertime Mr Sparkler rose out of the sea like Venuss son taking
after his mother and made a splendid appearance ascending the great staircase
If Fanny had been charming in the morning she was now thrice charming very
becomingly dressed in her most suitable colours and with an air of negligence
upon her that doubled Mr Sparklers fetters and riveted them
»I hear you are acquainted Mr Sparkler« said his host at dinner »with
ha Mr Gowan Mr Henry Gowan«
»Perfectly sir« returned Mr Sparkler »His mother and my mother are
cronies in fact«
»If I had thought of it Amy« said Mr Dorrit with a patronage as
magnificent as that of Lord Decimus himself »you should have despatched a note
to them asking them to dine today Some of our people could have ha
fetched them and taken them home We could have spared a hum gondola for
that purpose I am sorry to have forgotten this Pray remind me of them
tomorrow«
Little Dorrit was not without doubts how Mr Henry Gowan might take their
patronage but she promised not to fail in the reminder
»Pray does Mr Henry Gowan paint ha Portraits« inquired Mr Dorrit
Mr Sparkler opined that he painted anything if he could get the job
»He has no particular walk« said Mr Dorrit
Mr Sparkler stimulated by Love to brilliancy replied that for a
particular walk a man ought to have a particular pair of shoes as for
example, shooting shootingshoes cricket cricketshoes Whereas he believed
that Henry Gowan had no particular pair of shoes
»No speciality« said Mr Dorrit
This being a very long word for Mr Sparkler and his mind being exhausted
by his late effort he replied »No thank you I seldom take it«
»Well« said Mr Dorrit »It would be very agreeable to me to present a
gentleman so connected with some ha Testimonial of my desire to further his
interests and develop the hum germs of his genius I think I must engage
Mr Gowan to paint my picture If the result should be ha mutually
satisfactory I might afterwards engage him to try his hand upon my family«
The exquisitely bold and original thought presented itself to Mr Sparkler
that there was an opening here for saying there were some of the family
emphasising some in a marked manner to whom no painter could render justice
But for want of a form of words in which to express the idea it returned to
the skies
This was the more to be regretted as Miss Fanny greatly applauded the notion
of the portrait and urged her papa to act upon it She surmised she said that
Mr Gowan had lost better and higher opportunities by marrying his pretty wife
and Love in a cottage painting pictures for dinner was so delightfully
interesting that she begged her papa to give him the commission whether he
could paint a likeness or not though indeed both she and Amy knew he could
from having seen a speaking likeness on his easel that day and having had the
opportunity of comparing it with the original These remarks made Mr Sparkler
as perhaps they were intended to do nearly distracted for while on the one
hand they expressed Miss Fannys susceptibility of the tender passion she
herself showed such an innocent unconsciousness of his admiration that his eyes
goggled in his head with jealousy of an unknown rival
Descending into the sea again after dinner and ascending out of it at the
Opera staircase preceded by one of their gondoliers like an attendant Merman
with a great linen lantern they entered their box and Mr Sparkler entered on
an evening of agony The theatre being dark and the box light several visitors
lounged in during the representation; in whom Fanny was so interested and in
conversation with whom she fell into such charming attitudes as she had little
confidences with them and little disputes concerning the identity of people in
distant boxes that the wretched Sparkler hated all mankind But he had two
consolations at the close of the performance She gave him her fan to hold while
she adjusted her cloak and it was his blessed privilege to give her his arm
downstairs again These crumbs of encouragement Mr Sparkler thought would
just keep him going and it is not impossible that Miss Dorrit thought so too
The Merman with his light was ready at the boxdoor and other Mermen with
other lights were ready at many of the doors The Dorrit Merman held his lantern
low to show the steps and Mr Sparkler put on another heavy set of fetters
over his former set as he watched her radiant feet twinkling down the stairs
beside him Among the loiterers here was Blandois of Paris He spoke and moved
forward beside Fanny
Little Dorrit was in front with her brother and Mrs General Mr Dorrit
had remained at home but on the brink of the quay they all came together She
started again to find Blandois close to her handing Fanny into the boat
»Gowan has had a loss« he said »since he was made happy today by a visit
from fair ladies«
»A loss« repeated Fanny relinquished by the bereaved Sparkler and taking
her seat
»A loss« said Blandois »His dog Lion«
Little Dorrits hand was in his as he spoke
»He is dead« said Blandois
»Dead« echoed Little Dorrit »That noble dog«
»Faith dear ladies« said Blandois smiling and shrugging his shoulders
»somebody has poisoned that noble dog He is as dead as the Doges«
Chapter VII
Mostly Prunes and Prism
Mrs General always on her coachbox keeping the proprieties well together
took pains to form a surface on her very dear young friend and Mrs Generals
very dear young friend tried hard to receive it Hard as she had tried in her
laborious life to attain many ends she had never tried harder than she did
now to be varnished by Mrs General It made her anxious and ill at ease to be
operated upon by that smoothing hand it is true but she submitted herself to
the family want in its greatness as she had submitted herself to the family want
in its littleness and yielded to her own inclinations in this thing no more
than she had yielded to her hunger itself in the days when she had saved her
dinner that her father might have his supper
One comfort that she had under the Ordeal by General was more sustaining to
her and made her more grateful than to a less devoted and affectionate spirit
not habituated to her struggles and sacrifices might appear quite reasonable
and indeed it may often be observed in life that spirits like Little Dorrit
do not appear to reason half as carefully as the folks who get the better of
them The continued kindness of her sister was this comfort to Little Dorrit It
was nothing to her that the kindness took the form of tolerant patronage she
was used to that It was nothing to her that it kept her in a tributary
position and showed her in attendance on the flaming car in which Miss Fanny
sat on an elevated seat exacting homage she sought no better place Always
admiring Fannys beauty and grace and readiness and not now asking herself
how much of her disposition to be strongly attached to Fanny was due to her own
heart and how much to Fannys she gave her all the sisterly fondness her great
heart contained
The wholesale amount of Prunes and Prism which Mrs General infused into the
family life combined with the perpetual plunges made by Fanny into society
left but a very small residue of any natural deposit at the bottom of the
mixture This rendered confidences with Fanny doubly precious to Little Dorrit
and heightened the relief they afforded her
»Amy« said Fanny to her one night when they were alone after a day so
tiring that Little Dorrit was quite worn out though Fanny would have taken
another dip into society with the greatest pleasure in life »I am going to put
something into your little head You wont guess what it is I suspect«
»I dont think thats likely dear« said Little Dorrit
»Come Ill give you a clue child« said Fanny »Mrs General«
Prunes and Prism in a thousand combinations having been wearily in the
ascendant all day everything having been surface and varnish and show without
substance Little Dorrit looked as if she had hoped that Mrs General was
safely tucked up in bed for some hours
»Now can you guess Amy« said Fanny
»No dear Unless I have done anything« said Little Dorrit rather alarmed
and meaning anything calculated to crack varnish and ruffle surface
Fanny was so very much amused by the misgiving that she took up her
favourite fan being then seated at her dressingtable with her armoury of cruel
instruments about her most of them reeking from the heart of Sparkler and
tapped her sister frequently on the nose with it laughing all the time
»Oh our Amy our Amy« said Fanny »What a timid little goose our Amy is
But this is nothing to laugh at On the contrary I am very cross my dear«
»As it is not with me Fanny I dont mind« returned her sister smiling
»Ah But I do mind« said Fanny »and so will you Pet when I enlighten
you Amy has it never struck you that somebody is monstrously polite to Mrs
General«
»Everybody is polite to Mrs General« said Little Dorrit »Because «
»Because she freezes them into it« interrupted Fanny »I dont mean that
quite different from that Come Has it never struck you Amy that Pa is
monstrously polite to Mrs General«
Amy murmuring »No« looked quite confounded
»No I dare say not But he is« said Fanny »He is Amy And remember my
words Mrs General has designs on Pa«
»Dear Fanny do you think it possible that Mrs General has designs on any
one«
»Do I think it possible« retorted Fanny »My love I know it I tell you
she has designs on Pa And more than that I tell you Pa considers her such a
wonder such a paragon of accomplishment and such an acquisition to our family
that he is ready to get himself into a state of perfect infatuation with her at
any moment And that opens a pretty picture of things I hope Think of me with
Mrs General for a Mama«
Little Dorrit did not reply »Think of me with Mrs General for a Mama« but
she looked anxious and seriously inquired what had led Fanny to these
conclusions
»Lord my darling« said Fanny tartly »You might as well ask me how I know
when a man is struck with myself But of course I do know It happens pretty
often but I always know it I know this in much the same way I suppose At
all events I know it«
»You never heard Papa say anything«
»Say anything« repeated Fanny »My dearest darling child what necessity
has he had yet awhile to say anything«
»And you have never heard Mrs General say anything«
»My goodness me Amy« returned Fanny »is she the sort of woman to say
anything Isnt it perfectly plain and clear that she has nothing to do at
present but to hold herself upright keep her aggravating gloves on and go
sweeping about Say anything If she had the ace of trumps in her hand at
whist she wouldnt say anything child It would come out when she played it«
»At least you may be mistaken Fanny Now may you not«
»O yes I may be« said Fanny »but I am not However I am glad you can
contemplate such an escape my dear and I am glad that you can take this for
the present with sufficient coolness to think of such a chance It makes me hope
that you may be able to bear the connexion I should not be able to bear it and
I should not try Id marry young Sparkler first«
»O you would never marry him Fanny under any circumstances«
»Upon my word my dear« rejoined that young lady with exceeding
indifference »I wouldnt positively answer even for that Theres no knowing
what might happen Especially as I should have many opportunities afterwards
of treating that woman his mother in her own style Which I most decidedly
should not be slow to avail myself of Amy«
No more passed between the sisters then but what had passed gave the two
subjects of Mrs General and Mr Sparkler great prominence in Little Dorrits
mind and thenceforth she thought very much of both
Mrs General having long ago formed her own surface to such perfection that
it hid whatever was below it if anything no observation was to be made in
that quarter Mr Dorrit was undeniably very polite to her and had a high
opinion of her but Fanny impetuous at most times might easily be wrong for
all that Whereas the Sparkler question was on the different footing that any
one could see what was going on there and Little Dorrit saw it and pondered on
it with many doubts and wonderings
The devotion of Mr Sparkler was only to be equalled by the caprice and
cruelty of his enslaver Sometimes she would prefer him to such distinction of
notice that he would chuckle aloud with joy next day or next hour she would
overlook him so completely and drop him into such an abyss of obscurity that
he would groan under a weak pretence of coughing The constancy of his
attendance never touched Fanny though he was so inseparable from Edward that
when that gentleman wished for a change of society he was under the irksome
necessity of gliding out like a conspirator in disguised boats and by secret
doors and back ways though he was so solicitous to know how Mr Dorrit was
that he called every other day to inquire as if Mr Dorrit were the prey of an
intermittent fever though he was so constantly being paddled up and down before
the principal windows that he might have been supposed to have made a wager for
a large stake to be paddled a thousand miles in a thousand hours though
whenever the gondola of his mistress left the gate the gondola of Mr Sparkler
shot out from some watery ambush and gave chase as if she were a fair smuggler
and he a customhouse officer It was probably owing to this fortification of
the natural strength of his constitution with so much exposure to the air and
the salt sea that Mr Sparkler did not pine outwardly but whatever the cause
he was so far from having any prospect of moving his mistress by a languishing
state of health that he grew bluffer every day and that peculiarity in his
appearance of seeming rather a swelled boy than a young man became developed to
an extraordinary degree of ruddy puffiness
Blandois calling to pay his respects Mr Dorrit received him with
affability as the friend of Mr Gowan and mentioned to him his idea of
commissioning Mr Gowan to transmit him to posterity Blandois highly extolling
it it occurred to Mr Dorrit that it might be agreeable to Blandois to
communicate to his friend the great opportunity reserved for him Blandois
accepted the commission with his own free elegance of manner and swore he would
discharge it before he was an hour older On his imparting the news to Gowan
that Master gave Mr Dorrit to the Devil with great liberality some round dozen
of times for he resented patronage almost as much as he resented the want of
it and was inclined to quarrel with his friend for bringing him the message
»It may be a defect in my mental vision Blandois« said he »but may I die
if I see what you have to do with this«
»Death of my life« replied Blandois »nor I neither except that I thought
I was serving my friend«
»By putting an upstarts hire in his pocket« said Gowan frowning »Do you
mean that Tell your other friend to get his head painted for the sign of some
publichouse and to get it done by a sign Who am I and who is he«
»Professore« returned the ambassador »and who is Blandois«
Without appearing at all interested in the latter question Gowan angrily
whistled Mr Dorrit away But next day he resumed the subject by saying in his
offhand manner and with a slighting laugh »Well Blandois when shall we go
to this Mæcenas of yours We journeymen must take jobs when we can get them
When shall we go and look after this job«
»When you will« said the injured Blandois »as you please What have I to
do with it What is it to me«
»I can tell you what it is to me« said Gowan »Bread and cheese One must
eat So come along my Blandois«
Mr Dorrit received him in the presence of his daughters and of Mr
Sparkler who happened by some surprising accident to be calling there »How
are you Sparkler« said Gowan carelessly »When you have to live by your mother
wit old boy I hope you may get on better than I do«
Mr Dorrit then mentioned his proposal »Sir« said Gowan laughing after
receiving it gracefully enough »I am new to the trade and not expert at its
mysteries I believe I ought to look at you in various lights tell you you are
a capital subject and consider when I shall be sufficiently disengaged to
devote myself with the necessary enthusiasm to the fine picture I mean to make
of you I assure you« and he laughed again »I feel quite a traitor in the camp
of those dear gifted good noble fellows my brother artists by not doing the
hocuspocus better But I have not been brought up to it and its too late to
learn it Now the fact is I am a very bad painter but not much worse than the
generality If you are going to throw away a hundred guineas or so I am as poor
as a poor relation of great people usually is and I shall be very much obliged
to you if youll throw them away upon me Ill do the best I can for the money
and if the best should be bad why even then you may probably have a bad
picture with a small name to it instead of a bad picture with a large name to
it«
This tone though not what he had expected on the whole suited Mr Dorrit
remarkably well It showed that the gentleman highly connected and not a mere
workman would be under an obligation to him He expressed his satisfaction in
placing himself in Mr Gowans hands and trusted that he would have the
pleasure in their characters of private gentlemen of improving his
acquaintance
»You are very good« said Gowan »I have not forsworn society since I joined
the brotherhood of the brush the most delightful fellows on the face of the
earth and am glad enough to smell the old fine gunpowder now and then though
it did blow me into midair and my present calling Youll not think Mr
Dorrit« and here he laughed again in the easiest way »that I am lapsing into
the freemasonry of the craft for its not so upon my life I cant help
betraying it wherever I go though by Jupiter I love and honour the craft with
all my might if I propose a stipulation as to time and place«
Ha Mr Dorrit could erect no hum suspicion of that kind on Mr Gowans
frankness
»Again you are very good« said Gowan »Mr Dorrit I hear you are going to
Rome I am going to Rome having friends there Let me begin to do you the
injustice I have conspired to do you there not here We shall all be hurried
during the rest of our stay here and though theres not a poorer man with whole
elbows in Venice than myself I have not quite got all the Amateur out of me
yet compromising the trade again you see and cant fall on to order in a
hurry for the mere sake of the sixpences«
These remarks were not less favourably received by Mr Dorrit than their
predecessors They were the prelude to the first reception of Mr and Mrs Gowan
at dinner and they skilfully placed Gowan on his usual ground in the new
family
His wife too they placed on her usual ground Miss Fanny understood with
particular distinctness that Mrs Gowans good looks had cost her husband very
dear that there had been a great disturbance about her in the Barnacle family
and that the Dowager Mrs Gowan nearly heartbroken had resolutely set her
face against the marriage until overpowered by her maternal feelings Mrs
General likewise clearly understood that the attachment had occasioned much
family grief and dissension Of honest Mr Meagles no mention was made except
that it was natural enough that a person of that sort should wish to raise his
daughter out of his own obscurity and that no one could blame him for trying
his best to do so
Little Dorrits interest in the fair subject of this easily accepted belief
was too earnest and watchful to fail in accurate observation She could see that
it had its part in throwing upon Mrs Gowan the touch of shadow under which she
lived and she even had an instinctive knowledge that there was not the least
truth in it But it had an influence in placing obstacles in the way of her
association with Mrs Gowan by making the Prunes and Prism school excessively
polite to her but not very intimate with her and Little Dorrit as an enforced
sizar of that college was obliged to submit herself humbly to its ordinances
Nevertheless there was a sympathetic understanding already established
between the two which would have carried them over greater difficulties and
made a friendship out of a more restricted intercourse As though accidents were
determined to be favourable to it they had a new assurance of congeniality in
the aversion which each perceived that the other felt towards Blandois of Paris
an aversion amounting to the repugnance and horror of a natural antipathy
towards an odious creature of the reptile kind
And there was a passive congeniality between them besides this active one
To both of them Blandois behaved in exactly the same manner and to both of
them his manner had uniformly something in it which they both knew to be
different from his bearing towards others The difference was too minute in its
expression to be perceived by others but they knew it to be there A mere trick
of his evil eyes a mere turn of his smooth white hand a mere hairsbreadth of
addition to the fall of his nose and the rise of the moustache in the most
frequent movement of his face conveyed to both of them equally a swagger
personal to themselves It was as if he had said »I have a secret power in this
quarter I know what I know«
This had never been felt by them both in so great a degree and never by
each so perfectly to the knowledge of the other as on a day when he came to Mr
Dorrits to take his leave before quitting Venice Mrs Gowan was herself there
for the same purpose and he came upon the two together the rest of the family
being out The two had not been together five minutes and the peculiar manner
seemed to convey to them »You were going to talk about me Ha Behold me here
to prevent it«
»Gowan is coming here« said Blandois with his smile
Mrs Gowan replied he was not coming
»Not coming« said Blandois »Permit your devoted servant when you leave
here to escort you home«
»Thank you I am not going home«
»Not going home« said Blandois »Then I am forlorn«
That he might be but he was not so forlorn as to roam away and leave them
together He sat entertaining them with his finest compliments and his choicest
conversation but he conveyed to them all the time »No no no dear ladies
Behold me here expressly to prevent it«
He conveyed it to them with so much meaning and he had such a diabolical
persistency in him that at length Mrs Gowan rose to depart On his offering
his hand to Mrs Gowan to lead her down the staircase she retained Little
Dorrits hand in hers with a cautious pressure and said »No thank you But
if you will please to see if my boatman is there I shall be obliged to you«
It left him no choice but to go down before them As he did so hat in hand
Mrs Gowan whispered
»He killed the dog«
»Does Mr Gowan know it« Little Dorrit whispered
»No one knows it Dont look towards me look towards him He will turn his
face in a moment No one knows it but I am sure he did You are«
»I I think so« Little Dorrit answered
»Henry likes him and will not think ill of him he is so generous and open
himself But you and I feel sure that we think of him as he deserves He argued
with Henry that the dog had been already poisoned when he changed so and sprung
at him Henry believes it but we do not I see he is listening but cant hear
Goodbye my love Goodbye«
The last words were spoken aloud as the vigilant Blandois stopped turned
his head and looked at them from the bottom of the staircase Assuredly he did
look then though he looked his politest as if any real philanthropist could
have desired no better employment than to lash a great stone to his neck and
drop him into the water flowing beyond the dark arched gateway in which he
stood No such benefactor to mankind being on the spot he handed Mrs Gowan to
her boat and stood there until it had shot out of the narrow view when he
handed himself into his own boat and followed
Little Dorrit had sometimes thought and now thought again as she retraced
her steps up the staircase that he had made his way too easily into her
fathers house But so many and such varieties of people did the same through
Mr Dorrits participation in his elder daughters society mania that it was
hardly an exceptional case A perfect fury for making acquaintances on whom to
impress their riches and importance had seized the House of Dorrit
It appeared on the whole to Little Dorrit herself that this same society
in which they lived greatly resembled a superior sort of Marshalsea Numbers of
people seemed to come abroad pretty much as people had come into the prison
through debt through idleness relationship curiosity and general unfitness
for getting on at home They were brought into these foreign towns in the
custody of couriers and local followers just as the debtors had been brought
into the prison They prowled about the churches and picturegalleries much in
the old dreary prisonyard manner They were usually going away again to or
next week and rarely knew their own minds and seldom did what they said they
would do or went where they said they would go in all this again very like
the prison debtors They paid high for poor accommodation and disparaged a
place while they pretended to like it which was exactly the Marshalsea custom
They were envied when they went away by people left behind feigning not to want
to go and that again was the Marshalsea habit invariably A certain set of
words and phrases as much belonging to tourists as the College and the Snuggery
belonged to the jail was always in their mouths They had precisely the same
incapacity for settling down to anything as the prisoners used to have they
rather deteriorated one another, as the prisoners used to do and they wore
untidy dresses and fell into a slouching way of life still always like the
people in the Marshalsea
The period of the familys stay at Venice came in its course to an end
and they moved with their retinue to Rome Through a repetition of the former
Italian scenes growing more dirty and more haggard as they went on and
bringing them at length to where the very air was diseased they passed to their
destination A fine residence had been taken for them on the Corso and there
they took up their abode in a city where everything seemed to be trying to
stand still for ever on the ruins of something else except the water which
following eternal laws tumbled and rolled from its glorious multitude of
fountains
Here it seemed to Little Dorrit that a change came over the Marshalsea
spirit of their society and that Prunes and Prism got the upper hand Everybody
was walking about St Peters and the Vatican on somebody elses cork legs and
straining every visible object through somebody elses sieve Nobody said what
anything was but everybody said what the Mrs Generals Mr Eustace or
somebody else said it was The whole body of travellers seemed to be a
collection of voluntary human sacrifices bound hand and foot and delivered
over to Mr Eustace and his attendants to have the entrails of their intellects
arranged according to the taste of that sacred priesthood Through the rugged
remains of temples and tombs and palaces and senate halls and theatres and
amphitheatres of ancient days hosts of tonguetied and blindfolded moderns were
carefully feeling their way incessantly repeating Prunes and Prism in the
endeavour to set their lips according to the received form Mrs General was in
her pure element Nobody had an opinion There was a formation of surface going
on around her on an amazing scale and it had not a flaw of courage or honest
free speech in it
Another modification of Prunes and Prism insinuated itself on Little
Dorrits notice very shortly after their arrival They received an early visit
from Mrs Merdle who led that extensive department of life in the Eternal City
that winter and the skilful manner in which she and Fanny fenced with one
another on the occasion almost made her quiet sister wink like the glittering
of smallswords
»So delighted« said Mrs Merdle »to resume an acquaintance so
inauspiciously begun at Martigny«
»At Martigny of course« said Fanny »Charmed I am sure«
»I understand« said Mrs Merdle »from my son Edmund Sparkler that he has
already improved that chance occasion He has returned quite transported with
Venice«
»Indeed« returned the careless Fanny »Was he there long«
»I might refer that question to Mr Dorrit« said Mrs Merdle turning the
bosom towards that gentleman »Edmund having been so much indebted to him for
rendering his stay agreeable«
»Oh pray dont speak of it« returned Fanny »I believe Papa had the
pleasure of inviting Mr Sparkler twice or thrice but it was nothing We had
so many people about us and kept such open house that if he had that pleasure
it was less than nothing«
»Except my dear« said Mr Dorrit »except ha as it afforded me unusual
gratification to hum show by any means however slight and worthless the
ha hum high estimation in which in ha common with the rest of the world
I hold so distinguished and princely a character as Mr Merdles«
The bosom received this tribute in its most engaging manner »Mr Merdle«
observed Fanny as a means of dismissing Mr Sparkler into the background »is
quite a theme of Papas you must know Mrs Merdle«
»I have been ha disappointed madam« said Mr Dorrit »to understand
from Mr Sparkler that there is no great hum probability of Mr Merdles
coming abroad«
»Why indeed« said Mrs Merdle »he is so much engaged and in such
request that I fear not He has not been able to get abroad for years You
Miss Dorrit I believe have been almost continually abroad for a long time«
»Oh dear yes« drawled Fanny with the greatest hardihood »An immense
number of years«
»So I should have inferred« said Mrs Merdle
»Exactly« said Fanny
»I trust however« resumed Mr Dorrit »that if I have not the hum
great advantage of becoming known to Mr Merdle on this side of the Alps or
Mediterranean I shall have that honour on returning to England It is an honour
I particularly desire and shall particularly esteem«
»Mr Merdle« said Mrs Merdle who had been looking admiringly at Fanny
through her eyeglass »will esteem it I am sure no less«
Little Dorrit still habitually thoughtful and solitary though no longer
alone at first supposed this to be mere Prunes and Prism But as her father
when they had been to a brilliant reception at Mrs Merdles harped at their
own family breakfasttable on his wish to know Mr Merdle with the contingent
view of benefiting by the advice of that wonderful man in the disposal of his
fortune she began to think it had a real meaning and to entertain a curiosity
on her own part to see the shining light of the time
Chapter VIII
The Dowager Mrs Gowan Is Reminded that It Never Does
While the waters of Venice and the ruins of Rome were sunning themselves for the
pleasure of the Dorrit family and were daily being sketched out of all earthly
proportion lineament and likeness by travelling pencils innumerable the firm
of Doyce and Clennam hammered away in Bleeding Heart Yard and the vigorous
clink of iron upon iron was heard there through the working hours
The younger partner had by this time brought the business into sound trim
and the elder left free to follow his own ingenious devices had done much to
enhance the character of the factory As an ingenious man he had necessarily to
encounter every discouragement that the ruling powers for a length of time had
been able by any means to put in the way of this class of culprits but that was
only reasonable selfdefence in the powers since How to do it must obviously be
regarded as the natural and mortal enemy of How not to do it In this was to be
found the basis of the wise system by tooth and nail upheld by the
Circumlocution Office of warning every ingenious British subject to be
ingenious at his peril of harassing him obstructing him inviting robbers by
making his remedy uncertain difficult and expensive to plunder him and at
the best of confiscating his property after a short term of enjoyment as though
invention were on a par with felony The system had uniformly found great favour
with the Barnacles and that was only reasonable too for one who worthily
invents must be in earnest and the Barnacles abhorred and dreaded nothing half
so much That again was very reasonable since in a country suffering under the
affliction of a great amount of earnestness there might in an exceeding short
space of time be not a single Barnacle left sticking to a post
Daniel Doyce faced his condition with its pains and penalties attached to
it and soberly worked on for the works sake Clennam cheering him with a
hearty cooperation was a moral support to him besides doing good service in
his business relation The concern prospered and the partners were fast
friends
But Daniel could not forget the old design of so many years It was not in
reason to be expected that he should if he could have lightly forgotten it he
could never have conceived it or had the patience and perseverance to work it
out So Clennam thought when he sometimes observed him of an evening looking
over the models and drawings and consoling himself by muttering with a sigh as
he put them away again that the thing was as true as it ever was
To show no sympathy with so much endeavour and so much disappointment
would have been to fail in what Clennam regarded as among the implied
obligations of his partnership A revival of the passing interest in the subject
which had been by chance awakened at the door of the Circumlocution Office
originated in this feeling He asked his partner to explain the invention to
him »having a lenient consideration« he stipulated »for my being no workman
Doyce«
»No workman« said Doyce »You would have been a thorough workman if you had
given yourself to it You have as good a head for understanding such things as I
have met with«
»A totally uneducated one I am sorry to add« said Clennam
»I dont know that« returned Doyce »and I wouldnt have you say that No
man of sense, who has been generally improved and has improved himself can be
called quite uneducated as to anything I dont particularly favour mysteries I
would as soon on a fair and clear explanation be judged by one class of man as
another provided he had the qualification I have named«
»At all events« said Clennam »this sounds as if we were exchanging
compliments but we know we are not I shall have the advantage of as plain an
explanation as can be given«
»Well« said Daniel in his steady even way »Ill try to make it so«
He had the power often to be found in union with such a character of
explaining what he himself perceived and meant with the direct force and
distinctness with which it struck his own mind His manner of demonstration was
so orderly and neat and simple that it was not easy to mistake him There was
something almost ludicrous in the complete irreconcilability of a vague
conventional notion that he must be a visionary man with the precise sagacious
travelling of his eye and thumb over the plans their patient stoppages at
particular points their careful returns to other points whence little channels
of explanation had to be traced up and his steady manner of making everything
good and everything sound at each important stage before taking his hearer on
a linesbreadth further His dismissal of himself from his description was
hardly less remarkable He never said I discovered this adaptation or invented
that combination but showed the whole thing as if the Divine artificer had made
it and he had happened to find it So modest he was about it such a pleasant
touch of respect was mingled with his quiet admiration of it and so calmly
convinced he was that it was established on irrefragable laws
Not only that evening but for several succeeding evenings Clennam was
quite charmed by this investigation The more he pursued it and the oftener he
glanced at the grey head bending over it and the shrewd eye kindling with
pleasure in it and love of it instrument for probing his heart though it had
been made for twelve long years the less he could reconcile it to his younger
energy to let it go without one effort more At length he said
»Doyce it came to this at last that the business was to be sunk with
Heaven knows how many more wrecks or begun all over again«
»Yes« returned Doyce »thats what the noblemen and gentlemen made of it
after a dozen years«
»And pretty fellows too« said Clennam bitterly
»The usual thing« observed Doyce »I must not make a martyr of myself when
I am one of so large a company«
»Relinquish it or begin it all over again« mused Clennam
»That was exactly the long and the short of it« said Doyce
»Then my friend« cried Clennam starting up and taking his workroughened
hand »it shall be begun all over again«
Doyce looked alarmed and replied in a hurry for him »No no Better put
it by Far better put it by It will be heard of one day I can put it by You
forget my good Clennam I have put it by Its all at an end«
»Yes Doyce« returned Clennam »at an end as far as your efforts and
rebuffs are concerned I admit but not as far as mine are I am younger than
you I have only once set foot in that precious office and I am fresh game for
them Come Ill try them You shall do exactly as you have been doing since we
have been together I will add as I easily can to what I have been doing the
attempt to get public justice done to you and unless I have some success to
report you shall hear no more of it«
Daniel Doyce was still reluctant to consent and again and again urged that
they had better put it by But it was natural that he should gradually allow
himself to be overpersuaded by Clennam and should yield Yield he did So
Arthur resumed the long and hopeless labour of striving to make way with the
Circumlocution Office
The waitingrooms of that Department soon began to be familiar with his
presence and he was generally ushered into them by its janitors much as a
pickpocket might be shown into a policeoffice the principal difference being
that the object of the latter class of public business is to keep the
pickpocket while the Circumlocution object was to get rid of Clennam However
he was resolved to stick to the Great Department and so the work of
formfilling corresponding minuting memorandummaking signing
countersigning countercountersigning backwards and forwards and referring
sideways crosswise and zigzag recommenced
Here arises a feature of the Circumlocution Office not previously mentioned
in the present record When that admirable Department got into trouble and was
by some infuriated member of Parliament whom the smaller Barnacles almost
suspected of labouring under diabolic possession attacked on the merits of no
individual case but as an Institution wholly abominable and Bedlamite then the
noble or right honourable Barnacle who represented it in the House would smite
that member and cleave him asunder with a statement of the quantity of business
for the prevention of business done by the Circumlocution Office Then would
that noble or right honourable Barnacle hold in his hand a paper containing a
few figures to which with the permission of the House he would entreat its
attention Then would the inferior Barnacles exclaim obeying orders »Hear
Hear Hear« and »Read« Then would the noble or right honourable Barnacle
perceive sir from this little document which he thought might carry
conviction even to the perversest mind Derisive laughter and cheering from the
Barnacle fry that within the short compass of the last financial halfyear
this muchmaligned Department Cheers had written and received fifteen thousand
letters Loud cheers had made twentyfour thousand minutes Louder cheers
and thirtytwo thousand five hundred and seventeen memoranda Vehement
cheering Nay an ingenious gentleman connected with the Department and
himself a valuable public servant had done him the favour to make a curious
calculation of the amount of stationery consumed in it during the same period
It formed a part of this same short document and he derived from it the
remarkable fact that the sheets of foolscap paper it had devoted to the public
service would pave the footways on both sides of Oxford Street from end to end
and leave nearly a quarter of a mile to spare for the park Immense cheering and
laughter while of tape red tape it had used enough to stretch in graceful
festoons from Hyde Park Corner to the General Post Office Then amidst a burst
of official exultation would the noble or right honourable Barnacle sit down
leaving the mutilated fragments of the Member on the field No one after that
exemplary demolition of him would have the hardihood to hint that the more the
Circumlocution Office did the less was done and that the greatest blessing it
could confer on an unhappy public would be to do nothing
With sufficient occupation on his hands now that he had this additional
task such a task had many and many a serviceable man died of before his day
Arthur Clennam led a life of slight variety Regular visits to his mothers dull
sick room and visits scarcely less regular to Mr Meagles at Twickenham were
its only changes during many months
He sadly and sorely missed Little Dorrit He had been prepared to miss her
very much but not so much He knew to the full extent only through experience
what a large place in his life was left blank when her familiar little figure
went out of it He felt too that he must relinquish the hope of its return
understanding the family character sufficiently well to be assured that he and
she were divided by a broad ground of separation The old interest he had had in
her and her old trusting reliance on him were tinged with melancholy in his
mind so soon had change stolen over them and so soon had they glided into the
past with other secret tendernesses
When he received her letter he was greatly moved but did not the less
sensibly feel that she was far divided from him by more than distance It helped
him to a clearer and keener perception of the place assigned him by the family
He saw that he was cherished in her grateful remembrance secretly and that they
resented him with the jail and the rest of its belongings
Through all these meditations which every day of his life crowded about her
he thought of her otherwise in the old way She was his innocent friend his
delicate child his dear Little Dorrit This very change of circumstances fitted
curiously in with the habit begun on the night when the roses floated away of
considering himself as a much older man than his years really made him He
regarded her from a point of view which in its remoteness tender as it was he
little thought would have been unspeakable agony to her He speculated about her
future destiny and about the husband she might have with an affection for her
which would have drained her heart of its dearest drop of hope and broken it
Everything about him tended to confirm him in the custom of looking on
himself as an elderly man from whom such aspirations as he had combated in the
case of Minnie Gowan though that was not so long ago either reckoning by
months and seasons were finally departed His relations with her father and
mother were like those on which a widower soninlaw might have stood If the
twin sister who was dead had lived to pass away in the bloom of womanhood and
he had been her husband the nature of his intercourse with Mr and Mrs Meagles
would probably have been just what it was This imperceptibly helped to render
habitual the impression within him that he had done with and dismissed that
part of life
He invariably heard of Minnie from them as telling them in her letters how
happy she was and how she loved her husband but inseparable from that subject
he invariably saw the old cloud on Mr Meagless face Mr Meagles had never
been quite so radiant since the marriage as before He had never quite recovered
the separation from Pet He was the same goodhumoured open creature but as if
his face from being much turned towards the pictures of his two children which
could show him only one look unconsciously adopted a characteristic from them
it always had now through all its changes of expression a look of loss in it
One wintry Saturday when Clennam was at the cottage the Dowager Mrs Gowan
drove up in the Hampton Court equipage which pretended to be the exclusive
equipage of so many individual proprietors She descended in her shady
ambuscade of green fan to favour Mr and Mrs Meagles with a call
»And how do you both do Papa and Mama Meagles« said she encouraging her
humble connexions »And when did you last hear from or about my poor fellow«
My poor fellow was her son and this mode of speaking of him politely kept
alive without any offence in the world the pretence that he had fallen a
victim to the Meagles wiles
»And the dear pretty one« said Mrs Gowan »Have you later news of her than
I have«
Which also delicately implied that her son had been captured by mere beauty
and under its fascination had foregone all sorts of worldly advantages
»I am sure« said Mrs Gowan without straining her attention on the answers
she received »its an unspeakable comfort to know they continue happy My poor
fellow is of such a restless disposition and has been so used to roving about
and to being inconstant and popular among all manner of people that its the
greatest comfort in life I suppose theyre as poor as mice Papa Meagles«
Mr Meagles fidgety under the question replied »I hope not maam I hope
they will manage their little income«
»Oh my dearest Meagles« returned that lady tapping him on the arm with
the green fan and then adroitly interposing it between a yawn and the company
»how can you as a man of the world and one of the most businesslike of human
beings for you know you are business like and a great deal too much for us
who are not «
Which went to the former purpose by making Mr Meagles out to be an artful
schemer
» How can you talk about their managing their little means My poor dear
fellow The idea of his managing hundreds And the sweet pretty creature too
The notion of her managing Papa Meagles Dont«
»Well maam« said Mr Meagles gravely »I am sorry to admit then that
Henry certainly does anticipate his means«
»My dear good man I use no ceremony with you because we are a kind of
relations positively Mama Meagles« exclaimed Mrs Gowan cheerfully as if
the absurd coincidence then flashed upon her for the first time »a kind of
relations My dear good man in this world none of us can have everything our
own way«
This again went to the former point and showed Mr Meagles with all good
breeding that so far he had been brilliantly successful in his deep designs
Mrs Gowan thought the hit so good a one that she dwelt upon it repeating »Not
everything No no in this world we must not expect everything Papa Meagles«
»And may I ask maam« retorted Mr Meagles a little heightened in colour
»who does expect everything«
»Oh nobody nobody« said Mrs Gowan »I was going to say but you put me
out You interrupting Papa what was I going to say«
Drooping her large green fan she looked musingly at Mr Meagles while she
thought about it a performance not tending to the cooling of that gentlemans
rather heated spirits
»Ah Yes to be sure« said Mrs Gowan »You must remember that my poor
fellow has always been accustomed to expectations They may have been realised
or they may not have been realised «
»Let us say then may not have been realised« observed Mr Meagles
The Dowager for a moment gave him an angry look but tossed it off with her
head and her fan and pursued the tenor of her way in her former manner
»It makes no difference My poor fellow has been accustomed to that sort of
thing and of course you knew it and were prepared for the consequences I
myself always clearly foresaw the consequences and am not surprised And you
must not be surprised In fact cant be surprised Must have been prepared for
it«
Mr Meagles looked at his wife and at Clennam bit his lip and coughed
»And now heres my poor fellow« Mrs Gowan pursued »receiving notice that
he is to hold himself in expectation of a baby and all the expenses attendant
on such an addition to his family Poor Henry But it cant be helped now its
too late to help it now Only dont talk of anticipating means Papa Meagles as
a discovery because that would be too much«
»Too much maam« said Mr Meagles as seeking an explanation
»There there« said Mrs Gowan putting him in his inferior place with an
expressive action of her hand »Too much for my poor fellows mother to bear at
this time of day They are fast married and cant be unmarried There there I
know that You neednt tell me that Papa Meagles I know it very well What was
it I said just now That it was a great comfort they continued happy It is to
be hoped they will still continue happy It is to be hoped Pretty One will do
everything she can to make my poor fellow happy and keep him contented Papa
and Mama Meagles we had better say no more about it We never did look at this
subject from the same side and we never shall There there Now I am good«
Truly having by this time said everything she could say in maintenance of
her wonderfully mythical position and in admonition to Mr Meagles that he must
not expect to bear his honours of alliance too cheaply Mrs Gowan was disposed
to forego the rest If Mr Meagles had submitted to a glance of entreaty from
Mrs Meagles and an expressive gesture from Clennam he would have left her in
the undisturbed enjoyment of this state of mind But Pet was the darling and
pride of his heart and if he could ever have championed her more devotedly or
loved her better than in the days when she was the sunlight of his house it
would have been now when in its daily grace and delight she was lost to it
»Mrs Gowan maam« said Mr Meagles »I have been a plain man all my life
If I was to try no matter whether on myself on somebody else or both any
genteel mystifications I should probably not succeed in them«
»Papa Meagles« returned the Dowager with an affable smile but with the
bloom on her cheeks standing out a little more vividly than usual as the
neighbouring surface became paler »probably not«
»Therefore my good madam« said Mr Meagles at great pains to restrain
himself »I hope I may without offence ask to have no such mystifications
played off upon me«
»Mama Meagles« observed Mrs Gowan »your good man is incomprehensible«
Her turning to that worthy lady was an artifice to bring her into the
discussion quarrel with her and vanquish her Mr Meagles interposed to
prevent that consummation
»Mother« said he »you are inexpert my dear and it is not a fair match
Let me beg of you to remain quiet Come Mrs Gowan come Let us try to be
sensible let us try to be goodnatured let us try to be fair Dont you pity
Henry and I wont pity Pet And dont be onesided my dear madam its not
considerate its not kind Dont let us say that we hope Pet will make Henry
happy or even that we hope Henry will make Pet happy« Mr Meagles himself did
not look happy as he spoke the words »but let us hope they will make each
other happy«
»Yes sure and there leave it father« said Mrs Meagles the kindhearted
and comfortable
»Why mother no« returned Mr Meagles »not exactly there I cant quite
leave it there I must say just halfadozen words more Mrs Gowan I hope I am
not oversensitive I believe I dont look it«
»Indeed you do not« said Mrs Gowan shaking her head and the great green
fan together for emphasis
»Thank you maam thats well Notwithstanding which I feel a little I
dont want to use a strong word now shall I say hurt« asked Mr Meagles at
once with frankness and moderation and with a conciliatory appeal in his tone
»Say what you like« answered Mrs Gowan »It is perfectly indifferent to
me«
»No no dont say that« urged Mr Meagles »because thats not responding
amiably I feel a little hurt when I hear references made to consequences having
been foreseen and to its being too late now and so forth«
»Do you Papa Meagles« said Mrs Gowan »I am not surprised«
»Well maam« reasoned Mr Meagles »I was in hopes you would have been at
least surprised because to hurt me wilfully on so tender a subject is surely
not generous«
»I am not responsible« said Mrs Gowan »for your conscience you know«
Poor Mr Meagles looked aghast with astonishment
»If I am unluckily obliged to carry a cap about with me which is yours and
fits you« pursued Mrs Gowan »dont blame me for its pattern Papa Meagles I
beg«
»Why good Lord maam« Mr Meagles broke out »thats as much as to state
«
»Now Papa Meagles Papa Meagles« said Mrs Gowan who became extremely
deliberate and prepossessing in manner whenever that gentleman became at all
warm »perhaps to prevent confusion I had better speak for myself than trouble
your kindness to speak for me Its as much as to state you begin If you
please I will finish the sentence It is as much as to state not that I wish
to press it or even recall it for it is of no use now and my only wish is to
make the best of existing circumstances that from the first to the last I
always objected to this match of yours and at a very late period yielded a most
unwilling consent to it«
»Mother« cried Mr Meagles »Do you hear this Arthur Do you hear this«
»The room being of a convenient size« said Mrs Gowan looking about as she
fanned herself »and quite charmingly adapted in all respects to conversation I
should imagine I am audible in any part of it«
Some moments passed in silence before Mr Meagles could hold himself in his
chair with sufficient security to prevent his breaking out of it at the next
word he spoke At last he said »Maam I am very unwilling to revive them but
I must remind you what my opinions and my course were all along on that
unfortunate subject«
»O my dear sir« said Mrs Gowan smiling and shaking her head with
accusatory intelligence »they were well understood by me I assure you«
»I never maam« said Mr Meagles »knew unhappiness before that time I
never knew anxiety before that time It was a time of such distress to me that
« That Mr Meagles could really say no more about it in short but passed his
handkerchief before his face
»I understood the whole affair« said Mrs Gowan composedly looking over
her fan »As you have appealed to Mr Clennam I may appeal to Mr Clennam too
He knows whether I did or not«
»I am very unwilling« said Clennam looked to by all parties »to take any
share in this discussion more especially because I wish to preserve the best
understanding and the clearest relations with Mr Henry Gowan I have very
strong reasons indeed for entertaining that wish Mrs Gowan attributed certain
views of furthering the marriage to my friend here in conversation with me
before it took place and I endeavoured to undeceive her I represented that I
knew him as I did and do to be strenuously opposed to it both in opinion and
action«
»You see« said Mrs Gowan turning the palms of her hands towards Mr
Meagles as if she were Justice herself representing to him that he had better
confess for he had not a leg to stand on »You see Very good Now Papa and
Mama Meagles both« here she rose »allow me to take the liberty of putting an
end to this rather formidable controversy I will not say another word upon its
merits I will only say that it is an additional proof of what one knows from
all experience that this kind of thing never answers as my poor fellow
himself would say that it never pays in one word that it never does«
Mr Meagles asked What kind of thing
»It is in vain« said Mrs Gowan »for people to attempt to get on together
who have such extremely different antecedents who are jumbled against each
other in this accidental matrimonial sort of way and who cannot look at the
untoward circumstance which has shaken them together in the same light It never
does«
Mr Meagles was beginning »Permit me to say maam «
»No dont« returned Mrs Gowan »Why should you It is an ascertained
fact It never does I will therefore if you please go my way leaving you to
yours I shall at all times be happy to receive my poor fellows pretty wife
and I shall always make a point of being on the most affectionate terms with
her But as to these terms semifamily and semistranger semigoring and
semiboring they form a state of things quite amusing in its impracticability
I assure you it never does«
The Dowager here made a smiling obeisance rather to the room than to any
one in it and therewith took a final farewell of Papa and Mama Meagles Clennam
stepped forward to hand her to the PillBox which was at the service of all the
Pills in Hampton Court Palace and she got into that vehicle with distinguished
serenity and was driven away
Thenceforth the Dowager with a light and careless humour often recounted
to her particular acquaintance how after a hard trial she had found it
impossible to know those people who belonged to Henrys wife and who had made
that desperate set to catch him Whether she had come to the conclusion
beforehand that to get rid of them would give her favourite pretence a better
air might save her some occasional inconvenience and could risk no loss the
pretty creature being fast married and her father devoted to her was best
known to herself Though this history has its opinion on that point too and
decidedly in the affirmative
Chapter IX
Appearance and Disappearance
»Arthur my dear boy« said Mr Meagles on the evening of the following day
»Mother and I have been talking this over and we dont feel comfortable in
remaining as we are That elegant connexion of ours that dear lady who was
here yesterday «
»I understand« said Arthur
»Even that affable and condescending ornament of society« pursued Mr
Meagles »may misrepresent us we are afraid We could bear a great deal
Arthur for her sake but we think we would rather not bear that if it was all
the same to her«
»Good« said Arthur »Go on«
»You see« proceeded Mr Meagles »it might put us wrong with our
soninlaw it might even put us wrong with our daughter and it might lead to a
great deal of domestic trouble You see dont you«
»Yes indeed« returned Arthur »there is much reason in what you say« He
had glanced at Mrs Meagles who was always on the good and sensible side and a
petition had shone out of her honest face that he would support Mr Meagles in
his present inclinings
»So we are very much disposed are Mother and I« said Mr Meagles »to pack
up bag and baggage and go among the Allongers and Marshongers once more I mean
we are very much disposed to be off strike right through France into Italy and
see our Pet«
»And I dont think« replied Arthur touched by the motherly anticipation in
the bright face of Mrs Meagles she must have been very like her daughter
once »that you could do better And if you ask me for my advice it is that
you set off tomorrow«
»Is it really though« said Mr Meagles »Mother this is being backed in
an idea«
Mother with a look which thanked Clennam in a manner very agreeable to him
answered that it was indeed
»The fact is besides Arthur« said Mr Meagles the old cloud coming over
his face »that my soninlaw is already in debt again and that I suppose I
must clear him again It may be as well even on this account that I should
step over there and look him up in a friendly way Then again heres Mother
foolishly anxious and yet naturally too about Pets state of health and that
she should not be left to feel lonesome at the present time Its undeniably a
long way off Arthur and a strange place for the poor love under all the
circumstances Let her be as well cared for as any lady in that land still it
is a long way off Just as Home is Home though its never so Homely why you
see« said Mr Meagles adding a new version to the proverb »Rome is Rome
though its never so Romely«
»All perfectly true« observed Arthur »and all sufficient reasons for
going«
»I am glad you think so it decides me Mother my dear you may get ready
We have lost our pleasant interpreter she spoke three foreign languages
beautifully Arthur you have heard her many a time and you must pull me
through it Mother as well as you can I require a deal of pulling through
Arthur« said Mr Meagles shaking his head »a deal of pulling through I stick
at everything beyond a nounsubstantive and I stick at him if hes at all a
tight one«
»Now I think of it« returned Clennam »theres Cavalletto He shall go with
you if you like I could not afford to lose him but you will bring him safe
back«
»Well I am much obliged to you my boy« said Mr Meagles turning it over
»but I think not No I think Ill be pulled through by Mother Cavallooro I
stick at his very name to start with and it sounds like the chorus to a comic
song is so necessary to you that I dont like the thought of taking him away
More than that theres no saying when we may come home again and it would
never do to take him away for an indefinite time The cottage is not what it
was It only holds two little people less than it ever did Pet and her poor
unfortunate maid Tattycoram but it seems empty now Once out of it theres no
knowing when we may come back to it No Arthur Ill be pulled through by
Mother«
They would do best by themselves perhaps after all Clennam thought
therefore did not press his proposal
»If you would come down and stay here for a change when it wouldnt trouble
you« Mr Meagles resumed »I should be glad to think and so would Mother too
I know that you were brightening up the old place with a bit of life it was
used to when it was full and that the Babies on the wall there had a kind eye
upon them sometimes You so belong to the spot and to them Arthur and we
should every one of us have been so happy if it had fallen out but let us see
hows the weather for travelling now« Mr Meagles broke off cleared his
throat and got up to look out of the window
They agreed that the weather was of high promise and Clennam kept the talk
in that safe direction until it had become easy again when he gently diverted
it to Henry Gowan and his quick sense and agreeable qualities when he was
delicately dealt with he likewise dwelt on the indisputable affection he
entertained for his wife Clennam did not fail of his effect upon good Mr
Meagles whom these commendations greatly cheered and who took Mother to
witness that the single and cordial desire of his heart in reference to their
daughters husband was harmoniously to exchange friendship for friendship and
confidence for confidence Within a few hours the cottage furniture began to be
wrapped up for preservation in the family absence or as Mr Meagles expressed
it the house began to put its hair in papers and within a few days Father and
Mother were gone Mrs Tickit and Dr Buchan were posted as of yore behind the
parlour blind and Arthurs solitary feet were rustling among the dry fallen
leaves in the garden walks
As he had a liking for the spot he seldom let a week pass without paying it
a visit Sometimes he went down alone from Saturday to Monday sometimes his
partner accompanied him sometimes he merely strolled for an hour or two about
the house and garden saw that all was right and returned to London again At
all times and under all circumstances Mrs Tickit with her dark row of curls
and Dr Buchan sat in the parlour window looking out for the family return
On one of his visits Mrs Tickit received him with the words »I have
something to tell you Mr Clennam that will surprise you« So surprising was
the something in question that it actually brought Mrs Tickit out of the
parlour window and produced her in the garden walk when Clennam went in at the
gate on its being opened for him
»What is it Mrs Tickit« said he
»Sir« returned that faithful housekeeper having taken him into the parlour
and closed the door »if ever I saw the led away and deluded child in my life I
saw her identically in the dusk of yesterday evening«
»You dont mean Tatty «
»Coram yes I do« quoth Mrs Tickit clearing the disclosure at a leap
»Where«
»Mr Clennam« returned Mrs Ticket »I was a little heavy in my eyes being
that I was waiting longer than customary for my cup of tea which was then
preparing by Mary Jane I was not sleeping nor what a person would term
correctly dozing I was more what a person would strictly call watching with my
eyes closed«
Without entering upon an inquiry into this curious abnormal condition
Clennam said »Exactly Well«
»Well sir« proceeded Mrs Tickit »I was thinking of one thing and
thinking of another Just as you yourself might Just as anybody might«
»Precisely so« said Clennam »Well«
»And when I do think of one thing and do think of another« pursued Mrs
Tickit »I hardly need to tell you Mr Clennam that I think of the family
Because dear me a persons thoughts« Mrs Tickit said this with an
argumentative and philosophic air »however they may stray will go more or less
on what is uppermost in their minds They will do it sir and a person cant
prevent them«
Arthur subscribed to this discovery with a nod
»You find it so yourself sir Ill be bold to say« said Mrs Tickit »and
we all find it so It ant our stations in life that changes us Mr Clennam
thoughts is free As I was saying I was thinking of one thing and thinking of
another and thinking very much of the family Not of the family in the present
times only but in the past times too For when a person does begin thinking of
one thing and thinking of another in that manner as its getting dark what I
say is that all times seem to be present and a person must get out of that
state and consider before they can say which is which«
He nodded again afraid to utter a word lest it should present any new
opening to Mrs Tickits conversational powers
»In consequence of which« said Mrs Tickit »when I quivered my eyes and
saw her actual form and figure looking in at the gate I let them close again
without so much as starting for that actual form and figure came so pat to the
time when it belonged to the house as much as mine or your own that I never
thought at the moment of its having gone away But sir when I quivered my eyes
again and saw that it wasnt there then it all flooded upon me with a fright
and I jumped up«
»You ran out directly« said Clennam
»I ran out« assented Mrs Tickit »as fast as ever my feet would carry me
and if youll credit it Mr Clennam there wasnt in the whole shining Heavens
no not so much as a finger of that young woman«
Passing over the absence from the firmament of this novel constellation
Arthur inquired of Mrs Tickit if she herself went beyond the gate
»Went to and fro and high and low« said Mrs Tickit »and saw no sign of
her«
He then asked Mrs Tickit how long a space of time she supposed there might
have been between the two sets of ocular quiverings she had experienced Mrs
Tickit though minutely circumstantial in her reply had no settled opinion
between five seconds and ten minutes She was so plainly at sea on this part of
the case and had so clearly been startled out of slumber that Clennam was much
disposed to regard the appearance as a dream Without hurting Mrs Tickits
feelings with that infidel solution of her mystery he took it away from the
cottage with him and probably would have retained it ever afterwards if a
circumstance had not soon happened to change his opinion
He was passing at nightfall along the Strand and the lamplighter was going
on before him under whose hand the streetlamps blurred by the foggy air
burst out one after another like so many blazing sunflowers coming into
fullblow all at once when a stoppage on the pavement caused by a train of
coalwaggons toiling up from the wharves at the riverside brought him to a
standstill He had been walking quickly and going with some current of thought
and the sudden check given to both operations caused him to look freshly about
him as people under such circumstances usually do
Immediately he saw in advance a few people intervening but still so near
to him that he could have touched them by stretching out his arm Tattycoram
and a strange man of a remarkable appearance a swaggering man with a high
nose and a black moustache as false in its colour as his eyes were false in
their expression who wore his heavy cloak with the air of a foreigner His
dress and general appearance were those of a man on travel and he seemed to
have very recently joined the girl In bending down being much taller than she
was listening to whatever she said to him he looked over his shoulder with
the suspicious glance of one who was not unused to be mistrustful that his
footsteps might be dogged It was then that Clennam saw his face as his eyes
lowered on the people behind him in the aggregate without particularly resting
upon Clennams face or any other
He had scarcely turned his head about again and it was still bent down
listening to the girl when the stoppage ceased and the obstructed stream of
people flowed on Still bending his head and listening to the girl he went on
at her side and Clennam followed them resolved to play this unexpected play
out and see where they went
He had hardly made the determination though he was not long about it when
he was again as suddenly brought up as he had been by the stoppage They turned
short into the Adelphi the girl evidently leading and went straight on as
if they were going to the Terrace which overhangs the river
There is always to this day a sudden pause in that place to the roar of
the great thoroughfare The many sounds become so deadened that the change is
like putting cotton in the ears or having the head thickly muffled At that
time the contrast was far greater there being no small steamboats on the river
no landingplaces but slippery wooden stairs and footcauseways no railroad on
the opposite bank no hanging bridge or fishmarket near at hand no traffic on
the nearest bridge of stone nothing moving on the stream but watermens
wherries and coallighters Long and broad black tiers of the latter moored
fast in the mud as if they were never to move again made the shore funereal and
silent after dark and kept what little watermovement there was far out
towards midstream At any hour later than sunset and not least at that hour
when most of the people who have anything to eat at home are going home to eat
it and when most of those who have nothing have hardly yet slunk out to beg or
steal it was a deserted place and looked on a deserted scene
Such was the hour when Clennam stopped at the corner observing the girl and
the strange man as they went down the street The mans footsteps were so noisy
on the echoing stones that he was unwilling to add the sound of his own But
when they had passed the turning and were in the darkness of the dark corner
leading to the terrace he made after them with such indifferent appearance of
being a casual passenger on his way as he could assume
When he rounded the dark corner they were walking along the terrace
towards a figure which was coming towards them If he had seen it by itself,
under such conditions of gaslamp mist and distance he might not have known
it at first sight but with the figure of the girl to prompt him he at once
recognised Miss Wade
He stopped at the corner seeming to look back expectantly up the street as
if he had made an appointment with some one to meet him there but he kept a
careful eye on the three When they came together the man took off his hat and
made Miss Wade a bow The girl appeared to say a few words as though she
presented him or accounted for his being late or early or what not and then
fell a pace or so behind by herself Miss Wade and the man then began to walk
up and down the man having the appearance of being extremely courteous and
complimentary in manner Miss Wade having the appearance of being extremely
haughty
When they came down to the corner and turned she was saying »If I pinch
myself for it sir that is my business Confine yourself to yours and ask me
no question«
»By Heaven maam« he replied making her another bow »It was my profound
respect for the strength of your character and my admiration of your beauty«
»I want neither the one nor the other from any one« said she »and
certainly not from you of all creatures Go on with your report«
»Am I pardoned« he asked with an air of half abashed gallantry
»You are paid« she said »and that is all you want«
Whether the girl hung behind because she was not to hear the business or as
already knowing enough about it Clennam could not determine They turned and
she turned She looked away at the river as she walked with her hands folded
before her and that was all he could make of her without showing his face
There happened by good fortune to be a lounger really waiting for some one
and he sometimes looked over the railing at the water and sometimes came to the
dark corner and looked up the street rendering Arthur less conspicuous
When Miss Wade and the man came back again she was saying »You must wait
until tomorrow«
»A thousand pardons« he returned »My faith Then its not convenient
tonight«
»No I tell you I must get it before I can give it to you«
She stopped in the roadway as if to put an end to the conference He of
course stopped too And the girl stopped
»Its a little inconvenient« said the man »A little But Holy Blue
thats nothing in such a service I am without money tonight by chance I have
a good banker in this city but I would not wish to draw upon the house until
the time when I shall draw for a round sum«
»Harriet« said Miss Wade »arrange with him this gentleman here for
sending him some money tomorrow« She said it with a slur of the word gentleman
which was more contemptuous than any emphasis and walked slowly on
The man bent his head again and the girl spoke to him as they both followed
her Clennam ventured to look at the girl as they moved away He could note that
her rich black eyes were fastened upon the man with a scrutinising expression
and that she kept at a little distance from him as they walked side by side to
the further end of the terrace
A loud and altered clank upon the pavement warned him before he could
discern what was passing there that the man was coming back alone Clennam
lounged into the road towards the railing and the man passed at a quick swing
with the end of his cloak thrown over his shoulder singing a scrap of a French
song
The whole vista had no one in it now but himself The lounger had lounged
out of view and Miss Wade and Tattycoram were gone More than ever bent on
seeing what became of them and on having some information to give his good
friend Mr Meagles he went out at the further end of the terrace looking
cautiously about him He rightly judged that at first at all events they would
go in a contrary direction from their late companion He soon saw them in a
neighbouring byestreet which was not a thoroughfare evidently allowing time
for the man to get well out of their way They walked leisurely arminarm down
one side of the street and returned on the opposite side When they came back
to the streetcorner they changed their pace for the pace of people with an
object and a distance before them and walked steadily away Clennam no less
steadily kept them in sight
They crossed the Strand and passed through Covent Garden under the windows
of his old lodging where dear Little Dorrit had come that night and slanted
away northeast until they passed the great building whence Tattycoram derived
her name and turned into the Grays Inn Road Clennam was quite at home here
in right of Flora not to mention the Patriarch and Pancks and kept them in
view with ease He was beginning to wonder where they might be going next when
that wonder was lost in the greater wonder with which he saw them turn into the
Patriarchal street That wonder was in its turn swallowed up in the greater
wonder with which he saw them stop at the Patriarchal door A low double knock
at the bright brass knocker a gleam of light into the road from the opened
door a brief pause for inquiry and answer and the door was shut and they were
housed
After looking at the surrounding objects for assurance that he was not in an
odd dream and after pacing a little while before the house Arthur knocked at
the door It was opened by the usual maidservant and she showed him up at
once with her usual alacrity to Floras sittingroom
There was no one with Flora but Mr Fs Aunt which respectable gentlewoman
basking in a balmy atmosphere of tea and toast was ensconced in an easychair
by the fireside with a little table at her elbow and a clean white
handkerchief spread over her lap on which two pieces of toast at that moment
awaited consumption Bending over a steaming vessel of tea and looking through
the steam and breathing forth the steam like a malignant Chinese enchantress
engaged in the performance of unholy rites Mr Fs Aunt put down her great
teacup and exclaimed »Drat him if he ant come back again«
It would seem from the foregoing exclamation that this uncompromising
relative of the lamented Mr F measuring time by the acuteness of her
sensations and not by the clock supposed Clennam to have lately gone away
whereas at least a quarter of a year had elapsed since he had had the temerity
to present himself before her
»My goodness Arthur« cried Flora rising to give him a cordial reception
»Doyce and Clennam what a start and a surprise for though not far from the
machinery and foundry business and surely might be taken sometimes if at no
other time about midday when a glass of sherry and a humble sandwich of
whatever cold meat in the larder might not come amiss nor taste the worse for
being friendly for you know you buy it somewhere and wherever bought a profit
must be made or they would never keep the place it stands to reason without a
motive still never seen and learnt now not to be expected for as Mr F himself
said if seeing is believing not seeing is believing too and when you dont see
you may fully believe youre not remembered not that I expect you Arthur Doyce
and Clennam to remember me why should I for the days are gone but bring another
teacup here directly and tell her fresh toast and pray sit near the fire«
Arthur was in the greatest anxiety to explain the object of his visit but
was put off for the moment in spite of himself by what he understood of the
reproachful purport of these words and by the genuine pleasure she testified in
seeing him
»And now pray tell me something all you know« said Flora drawing her chair
near to his »about the good dear quiet little thing and all the changes of her
fortunes carriage people now no doubt and horses without number most romantic a
coat of arms of course and wild beasts on their hind legs showing it as if it
was a copy they had done with mouths from ear to ear good gracious and has she
her health which is the first consideration after all for what is wealth without
it Mr F himself so often saying when his twinges came that sixpence a day and
find yourself and no gout so much preferable not that he could have lived on
anything like it being the last man or that the precious little thing though far
too familiar an expression now had any tendency of that sort much too slight and
small but looked so fragile bless her«
Mr Fs Aunt who had eaten a piece of toast down to the crust here
solemnly handed the crust to Flora who ate it for her as a matter of business
Mr Fs Aunt then moistened her ten fingers in slow succession at her lips and
wiped them in exactly the same order on the white handkerchief then took the
other piece of toast and fell to work upon it While pursuing this routine she
looked at Clennam with an expression of such intense severity that he felt
obliged to look at her in return against his personal inclinations
»She is in Italy with all her family Flora« he said when the dread lady
was occupied again
»In Italy is she really« said Flora »with the grapes and figs growing
everywhere and lava necklaces and bracelets too that land of poetry with burning
mountains picturesque beyond belief though if the organboys come away from the
neighbourhood not to be scorched nobody can wonder being so young and bringing
their white mice with them most humane and is she really in that favoured land
with nothing but blue about her and dying gladiators and Belvederas though Mr
F himself did not believe for his objection when in spirits was that the images
could not be true there being no medium between expensive quantities of linen
badly got up and all in creases and none whatever which certainly does not seem
probable though perhaps in consequence of the extremes of rich and poor which
may account for it«
Arthur tried to edge a word in but Flora hurried on again
»Venice Preserved too« said she »I think you have been there is it well or
ill preserved for people differ so and Maccaroni if they really eat it like the
conjurers why not cut it shorter you are acquainted Arthur dear Doyce and
Clennam at least not dear and most assuredly not Doyce for I have not the
pleasure but pray excuse me acquainted I believe with Mantua what has it got
to do with Mantuamaking for I never have been able to conceive«
»I believe there is no connection Flora between the two« Arthur was
beginning when she caught him up again
»Upon your word no isnt there I never did but thats like me I run away
with an idea and having none to spare I keep it alas there was a time dear
Arthur that is to say decidedly not dear nor Arthur neither but you understand
me when one bright idea gilded the whatshisname horizon of et cetera but it
is darkly clouded now and all is over«
Arthurs increasing wish to speak of something very different was by this
time so plainly written on his face that Flora stopped in a tender look and
asked him what it was
»I have the greatest desire Flora to speak to some one who is now in this
house with Mr Casby no doubt Some one whom I saw come in and who in a
misguided and deplorable way has deserted the house of a friend of mine«
»Papa sees so many and such odd people« said Flora rising »that I
shouldnt venture to go down for any one but you Arthur but for you I would
willingly go down in a divingbell much more a diningroom and will come back
directly if youll mind and at the same time not mind Mr Fs Aunt while Im
gone«
With those words and a parting glance Flora bustled out leaving Clennam
under dreadful apprehensions of this terrible charge
The first variation which manifested itself in Mr Fs Aunts demeanour when
she had finished her piece of toast was a loud and prolonged sniff Finding it
impossible to avoid construing this demonstration into a defiance of himself
its gloomy significance being unmistakable Clennam looked plaintively at the
excellent though prejudiced lady from whom it emanated in the hope that she
might be disarmed by a meek submission
»None of your eyes at me« said Mr Fs Aunt shivering with hostility
»Take that«
»That« was the crust of the piece of toast Clennam accepted the boon with a
look of gratitude and held it in his hand under the pressure of a little
embarrassment which was not relieved when Mr Fs Aunt elevating her voice
into a cry of considerable power exclaimed »He has a proud stomach this chap
Hes too proud a chap to eat it« and coming out of her chair shook her
venerable fist so very close to his nose as to tickle the surface But for the
timely return of Flora to find him in this difficult situation further
consequences might have ensued Flora without the least discomposure or
surprise but congratulating the old lady in an approving manner on being very
lively tonight handed her back to her chair
»He has a proud stomach this chap« said Mr Fs relation on being
reseated »Give him a meal of chaff«
»Oh I dont think he would like that aunt« returned Flora
»Give him a meal of chaff I tell you« said Mr Fs Aunt glaring round
Flora on her enemy »Its the only thing for a proud stomach Let him eat up
every morsel Drat him give him a meal of chaff«
Under a general pretence of helping him to this refreshment Flora got him
out on the staircase Mr Fs Aunt even then constantly reiterating with
inexpressible bitterness that he was a chap and had a proud stomach and over
and over again insisting on that equine provision being made for him which she
had already so strongly prescribed
»Such an inconvenient staircase and so many cornerstairs Arthur« whispered
Flora »would you object to putting your arm round me under my pelerine«
With a sense of going downstairs in a highlyridiculous manner Clennam
descended in the required attitude and only released his fair burden at the
diningroom door indeed even there she was rather difficult to be got rid of
remaining in his embrace to murmur »Arthur for mercys sake dont breathe it
to papa«
She accompanied Arthur into the room where the Patriarch sat alone with
his list shoes on the fender twirling his thumbs as if he had never left off
The youthful Patriarch aged ten looked out of his pictureframe above him
with no calmer air than he Both smooth heads were alike beaming blundering
and bumpy
»Mr Clennam I am glad to see you I hope you are well sir I hope you are
well Please to sit down please to sit down«
»I had hoped sir« said Clennam doing so and looking round with a face of
blank disappointment »not to find you alone«
»Ah indeed« said the Patriarch sweetly »Ah indeed«
»I told you so you know papa« cried Flora
»Ah to be sure« returned the Patriarch »Yes just so Ah to be sure«
»Pray sir« demanded Clennam anxiously »is Miss Wade gone«
»Miss Oh you call her Wade« returned Mr Casby »Highly proper«
Arthur quickly returned »What do you call her«
»Wade« said Mr Casby »Oh always Wade«
After looking at the philanthropic visage and the long silky white hair for
a few seconds during which Mr Casby twirled his thumbs and smiled at the fire
as if he were benevolently wishing it to burn him that he might forgive it
Arthur began
»I beg your pardon Mr Casby «
»Not so not so« said the Patriarch »not so«
» But Miss Wade had an attendant with her a young woman brought up by
friends of mine over whom her influence is not considered very salutary and to
whom I should be glad to have the opportunity of giving the assurance that she
has not yet forfeited the interest of those protectors«
»Really really« returned the Patriarch
»Will you therefore be so good as to give me the address of Miss Wade«
»Dear dear dear« said the Patriarch »how very unfortunate If you had
only sent in to me when they were here I observed the young woman Mr Clennam
A fine fullcoloured young woman Mr Clennam with very dark hair and very dark
eyes If I mistake not if I mistake not«
Arthur assented and said once more with new expression »If you would be so
good as to give me the address«
»Dear dear dear« exclaimed the Patriarch in sweet regret »Tut tut tut
what a pity what a pity I have no address sir Miss Wade mostly lives abroad
Mr Clennam She has done so for some years and she is if I may say so of a
fellowcreature and a lady fitful and uncertain to a fault Mr Clennam I may
not see her again for a long long time I may never see her again What a pity
what a pity«
Clennam saw now that he had as much hope of getting assistance out of the
Portrait as out of the Patriarch but he said nevertheless
»Mr Casby could you for the satisfaction of the friends I have mentioned
and under any obligation of secrecy that you may consider it your duty to
impose give me any information at all touching Miss Wade I have seen her
abroad and I have seen her at home but I know nothing of her Could you give
me any account of her whatever«
»None« returned the Patriarch shaking his big head with his utmost
benevolence »None at all Dear dear dear What a real pity that she stayed so
short a time and you delayed As confidential agency business agency business
I have occasionally paid this lady money but what satisfaction is it to you
sir to know that«
»Truly none at all« said Clennam
»Truly« assented the Patriarch with a shining face as he philanthropically
smiled at the fire »none at all sir You hit the wise answer Mr Clennam
Truly none at all sir«
His turning of his smooth thumbs over one another as he sat there was so
typical to Clennam of the way in which he would make the subject revolve if it
were pursued never showing any new part of it nor allowing it to make the
smallest advance that it did much to help to convince him of his labour having
been in vain He might have taken any time to think about it for Mr Casby
well accustomed to get on anywhere by leaving everything to his bumps and his
white hair knew his strength to lie in silence So there Casby sat twirling
and twirling and making his polished head and forehead look largely benevolent
in every knob
With this spectacle before him Arthur had risen to go when from the inner
Dock where the good ship Pancks was hove down when out in no cruising ground
the noise was heard of that steamer labouring towards them It struck Arthur
that the noise began demonstratively far off as though Mr Pancks sought to
impress on any one who might happen to think about it that he was working on
from out of hearing
Mr Pancks and he shook hands and the former brought his employer a letter
or two to sign Mr Pancks in shaking hands merely scratched his eyebrow with
his left forefinger and snorted once but Clennam who understood him better now
than of old comprehended that he had almost done for the evening and wished to
say a word to him outside Therefore when he had taken his leave of Mr Casby
and which was a more difficult process) of Flora he sauntered in the
neighbourhood on Mr Panckss line of road
He had waited but a short time when Mr Pancks appeared Mr Pancks shakes
hands again with another expressive snort and taking off his hat to put his
hair up Arthur thought he received his cue to speak to him as one who knew
pretty well what had just now passed Therefore he said without any preface
»I suppose they were really gone Pancks«
»Yes« replied Pancks »They were really gone«
»Does he know where to find that lady«
»Cant say I should think so«
Mr Pancks did not No Mr Pancks did not Did Mr Pancks know anything
about her
»I expect« rejoined that worthy »I know as much about her as she knows
about herself She is somebodys child anybodys nobodys Put her in a room
in London here with any six people old enough to be her parents and her parents
may be there for anything she knows They may be in any house she sees they may
be in any churchyard she passes she may run against em in any street she may
make chance acquaintances of em at any time and never know it She knows
nothing about em She knows nothing about any relative whatever Never did
Never will«
»Mr Casby could enlighten her perhaps«
»May be« said Pancks »I expect so but dont know He has long had money
not overmuch as I make out in trust to dole out to her when she cant do
without it Sometimes shes proud and wont touch it for a length of time
sometimes shes so poor that she must have it She writhes under her life A
woman more angry passionate reckless and revengeful never lived She came for
money tonight Said she had peculiar occasion for it«
»I think« observed Clennam musing »I by chance know what occasion I mean
into whose pocket the money is to go«
»Indeed« said Pancks »If its a compact I recommend that party to be
exact in it I wouldnt trust myself to that woman young and handsome as she
is if I had wronged her no not for twice my proprietors money Unless«
Pancks added as a saving clause »I had a lingering illness on me and wanted to
get it over«
Arthur hurriedly reviewing his own observation of her found it to tally
pretty nearly with Mr Panckss view
»The wonder is to me« pursued Pancks »that she has never done for my
proprietor as the only person connected with her story she can lay hold of
Mentioning that I may tell you between ourselves that I am sometimes tempted
to do for him myself«
Arthur started and said »Dear me Pancks dont say that«
»Understand me« said Pancks extending five cropped coaly fingernails on
Arthurs arm »I dont mean cut his throat But by all thats precious if he
goes too far Ill cut his hair«
Having exhibited himself in the new light of enunciating this tremendous
threat Mr Pancks with a countenance of grave import snorted several times
and steamed away
Chapter X
The Dreams of Mrs Flintwinch Thicken
The shady waitingrooms of the Circumlocution Office where he passed a good
deal of time in company with various troublesome Convicts who were under
sentence to be broken alive on that wheel had afforded Arthur Clennam ample
leisure in three or four successive days to exhaust the subject of his late
glimpse of Miss Wade and Tattycoram He had been able to make no more of it and
no less of it and in this unsatisfactory condition he was fain to leave it
During this space he had not been to his mothers dismal old house One of
his customary evenings for repairing thither now coming round he left his
dwelling and his partner at nearly nine oclock and slowly walked in the
direction of that grim home of his youth
It always affected his imagination as wrathful mysterious and sad and his
imagination was sufficiently impressible to see the whole neighbourhood under
some dark tinge of its dark shadow As he went along upon a dreary night the
dim streets by which he went seemed all depositories of oppressive secrets The
deserted countinghouses with their secrets of books and papers locked up in
chests and safes the bankinghouses with their secrets of strong rooms and
wells the keys of which were in a very few secret pockets and a very few secret
breasts the secrets of all the dispersed grinders in the vast mill among whom
there were doubtless plunderers forgers and trustbetrayers of many sorts
whom the light of any day that dawned might reveal he could have fancied that
these things in hiding imparted a heaviness to the air The shadow thickening
and thickening as he approached its source he thought of the secrets of the
lonely churchvaults where the people who had hoarded and secreted in iron
coffers were in their turn similarly hoarded not yet at rest from doing harm
and then of the secrets of the river as it rolled its turbid tide between two
frowning wildernesses of secrets extending thick and dense for many miles
and warding off the free air and the free country swept by winds and wings of
birds
The shadow still darkening as he drew near the house the melancholy room
which his father had once occupied haunted by the appealing face he had himself
seen fade away with him when there was no other watcher by the bed arose before
his mind Its close air was secret The gloom and must and dust of the whole
tenement were secret At the heart of it his mother presided inflexible of
face indomitable of will firmly holding all the secrets of her own and his
fathers life and austerely opposing herself front to front to the great
final secret of all life
He had turned into the narrow and steep street from which the court or
enclosure wherein the house stood opened when another footstep turned into it
behind him and so close upon his own that he was jostled to the wall As his
mind was teeming with these thoughts the encounter took him altogether
unprepared so that the other passenger had had time to say boisterously
»Pardon Not my fault« and to pass on before the instant had elapsed which was
requisite to his recovery of the realities about him
When that moment had flashed away he saw that the man striding on before
him was the man who had been so much in his mind during the last few days It
was no casual resemblance helped out by the force of the impression the man
made upon him It was the man the man he had followed in company with the girl
and whom he had overheard talking to Miss Wade
The street was a sharp descent and was crooked too and the man who
although not drunk had the air of being flushed with some strong drink went
down it so fast that Clennam lost him as he looked at him With no defined
intention of following him but with an impulse to keep the figure in view a
little longer Clennam quickened his pace to pass the twist in the street which
hid him from his sight On turning it he saw the man no more
Standing now close to the gateway of his mothers house he looked down the
street but it was empty There was no projecting shadow large enough to obscure
the man there was no turning near that he could have taken nor had there been
any audible sound of the opening and closing of a door Nevertheless he
concluded that the man must have had a key in his hand and must have opened one
of the many housedoors and gone in
Ruminating on this strange chance and strange glimpse he turned into the
courtyard As he looked by mere habit towards the feebly lighted windows of
his mothers room his eyes encountered the figure he had just lost standing
against the iron railings of the little waste enclosure looking up at those
windows and laughing to himself Some of the many vagrant cats who were always
prowling about there by night and who had taken fright at him appeared to have
stopped when he had stopped and were looking at him with eyes by no means
unlike his own from tops of walls and porches and other safe points of pause
He had only halted for a moment to entertain himself thus he immediately went
forward throwing the end of his cloak off his shoulder as he went ascended the
unevenly sunken steps and knocked a sounding knock at the door
Clennams surprise was not so absorbing but that he took his resolution
without any incertitude He went up to the door too and ascended the steps too
His friend looked at him with a braggart air and sang to himself
»Who passes by this road so late
Compagnon de la Majolaine
Who passes by this road so late
Always gay«
After which he knocked again
»You are impatient sir« said Arthur
»I am sir Death of my life sir« returned the stranger »its my character
to be impatient«
The sound of Mistress Affery cautiously chaining the door before she opened
it caused them both to look that way Affery opened it a very little with a
flaring candle in her hands and asked who was that at that time of night with
that knock »Why Arthur« she added with astonishment seeing him first »Not
you sure Ah Lord save us No« she cried out seeing the other »Him again«
»Its true Him again dear Mrs Flintwinch« cried the stranger »Open the
door and let me take my dear friend Jeremiah to my arms Open the door and let
me hasten myself to embrace my Flintwinch«
»Hes not at home« said Affery
»Fetch him« cried the stranger »Fetch my Flintwinch Tell him that it is
his old Blandois who comes from arriving in England tell him that it is his
little boy who is here his cabbage his wellbeloved Open the door beautiful
Mrs Flintwinch and in the meantime let me pass upstairs to present my
compliments homage of Blandois to my lady My lady lives always It is well
Open then«
To Arthurs increased surprise Mistress Affery stretching her eyes wide at
himself as if in warning that this was not a gentleman for him to interfere
with drew back the chain and opened the door The stranger without any
ceremony walked into the hall leaving Arthur to follow him
»Despatch then Achieve then Bring my Flintwinch Announce me to my lady«
cried the stranger clanking about the stone floor
»Pray tell me Affery« said Arthur aloud and sternly as he surveyed him
from head to foot with indignation »who is this gentleman«
»Pray tell me Affery« the stranger repeated in his turn »who ha ha
ha who is this gentleman«
The voice of Mrs Clennam opportunely called from her chamber above
»Affery let them both come up Arthur come straight to me«
»Arthur« exclaimed Blandois taking off his hat at arms length and
bringing his heels together from a great stride in making him a flourishing bow
»The son of my lady I am the alldevoted of the son of my lady«
Arthur looked at him again in no more flattering manner than before and
turning on his heel without acknowledgment went upstairs The visitor followed
him upstairs Mistress Affery took the key from behind the door and deftly
slipped out to fetch her lord
A bystander informed of the previous appearance of Monsieur Blandois in
that room would have observed a difference in Mrs Clennams present reception
of him Her face was not one to betray it and her suppressed manner and her
set voice were equally under her control It wholly consisted in her never
taking her eyes off his face from the moment of his entrance and in her twice
or thrice when he was becoming noisy swaying herself a very little forward in
the chair in which she sat upright with her hands immovable upon its elbows as
if she gave him the assurance that he should be presently heard at any length he
would Arthur did not fail to observe this though the difference between the
present occasion and the former was not within his power of observation
»Madame« said Blandois »do me the honour to present me to Monsieur your
son It appears to me madame that Monsieur your son is disposed to complain
of me He is not polite«
»Sir« said Arthur striking in expeditiously »whoever you are and however
you come to be here if I were the master of this house I would lose no time in
placing you on the outside of it«
»But you are not« said his mother without looking at him »Unfortunately
for the gratification of your unreasonable temper you are not the master
Arthur«
»I make no claim to be mother If I object to this persons manner of
conducting himself here and object to it so much that if I had any authority
here I certainly would not suffer him to remain a minute I object on your
account«
»In the case of objection being necessary« she returned »I could object
for myself And of course I should«
The subject of their dispute who had seated himself laughed loud and
rapped his legs with his hand
»You have no right« said Mrs Clennam always intent on Blandois however
directly she addressed her son »to speak to the prejudice of any gentleman
least of all a gentleman from another country because he does not conform to
your standard or square his behaviour by your rules It is possible that the
gentleman may on similar grounds object to you«
»I hope so« returned Arthur
»The gentleman« pursued Mrs Clennam »on a former occasion brought a
letter of recommendation to us from highly esteemed and responsible
correspondents I am perfectly unacquainted with the gentlemans object in
coming here at present I am entirely ignorant of it and cannot be supposed
likely to be able to form the remotest guess at its nature« her habitual frown
became stronger as she very slowly and weightily emphasised those words »but
when the gentleman proceeds to explain his object as I shall beg him to have
the goodness to do to myself and Flintwinch when Flintwinch returns it will
prove no doubt to be one more or less in the usual way of our business which
it will be both our business and our pleasure to advance It can be nothing
else«
»We shall see madame« said the man of business
»We shall see« she assented »The gentleman is acquainted with Flintwinch
and when the gentleman was in London last I remember to have heard that he and
Flintwinch had some entertainment or goodfellowship together I am not in the
way of knowing much that passes outside this room and the jingle of little
worldly things beyond it does not much interest me but I remember to have heard
that«
»Right madame It is true« He laughed again and whistled the burden of
the tune he had sung at the door
»Therefore Arthur« said his mother »the gentleman comes here as an
acquaintance and no stranger and it is much to be regretted that your
unreasonable temper should have found offence in him I regret it I say so to
the gentleman You will not say so I know therefore I say it for myself and
Flintwinch since with us two the gentlemans business lies«
The key of the door below was now heard in the lock and the door was heard
to open and close In due sequence Mr Flintwinch appeared on whose entrance
the visitor rose from his chair laughing loud and folded him in a close
embrace
»How goes it my cherished friend« said he »How goes the world my
Flintwinch Rosecoloured So much the better so much the better Ah but you
look charming Ah but you look young and fresh as the flowers of Spring Ah
good little boy Brave child brave child«
While heaping these compliments on Mr Flintwinch he rolled him about with
a hand on each of his shoulders until the staggerings of that gentleman who
under the circumstances was dryer and more twisted than ever were like those of
a teetotum nearly spent
»I had a presentiment last time that we should be better and more
intimately acquainted Is it coming on you Flintwinch Is it yet coming on«
»Why no sir« retorted Mr Flintwinch »Not unusually Hadnt you better
be seated You have been calling for some more of that port sir I guess«
»Ah Little joker Little pig« cried the visitor »Ha ha ha ha« And
throwing Mr Flintwinch away as a closing piece of raillery he sat down again
The amazement suspicion resentment and shame with which Arthur looked on
at all this struck him dumb Mr Flintwinch who had spun backward some two or
three yards under the impetus last given to him brought himself up with a face
completely unchanged in its stolidity except as it was affected by shortness of
breath and looked hard at Arthur Not a whit less reticent and wooden was Mr
Flintwinch outwardly than in the usual course of things the only perceptible
difference in him being that the knot of cravat which was generally under his
ear had worked round to the back of his head where it formed an ornamental
appendage not unlike a bagwig and gave him something of a courtly appearance
As Mrs Clennam never removed her eyes from Blandois on whom they had some
effect as a steady look has on a lower sort of dog so Jeremiah never removed
his from Arthur It was as if they had tacitly agreed to take their different
provinces Thus in the ensuing silence Jeremiah stood scraping his chin and
looking at Arthur as though he were trying to screw his thoughts out of him with
an instrument
After a little the visitor as if he felt the silence irksome rose and
impatiently put himself with his back to the sacred fire which had burned
through so many years Thereupon Mrs Clennam said moving one of her hands for
the first time and moving it very slightly with an action of dismissal
»Please to leave us to our business Arthur«
»Mother I do so with reluctance«
»Never mind with what« she returned »or with what not Please to leave us
Come back at any other time when you may consider it a duty to bury half an hour
wearily here Good night«
She held up her muffled fingers that he might touch them with his according
to their usual custom and he stood over her wheeled chair to touch her face
with his lips He thought then that her cheek was more strained than usual
and that it was colder As he followed the direction of her eyes in rising
again towards Mr Flintwinchs good friend Mr Blandois Mr Blandois snapped
his finger and thumb with one loud contemptuous snap
»I leave your your business acquaintance in my mothers room Mr
Flintwinch« said Clennam »with a great deal of surprise and a great deal of
unwillingness«
The person referred to snapped his finger and thumb again
»Good night mother«
»Good night«
»I had a friend once my good comrade Flintwinch« said Blandois standing
astride before the fire and so evidently saying it to arrest Clennams
retreating steps that he lingered near the door »I had a friend once who had
heard so much of the dark side of this city and its ways that he wouldnt have
confided himself alone by night with two people who had an interest in getting
him under the ground my faith not even in a respectable house like this
unless he was bodily too strong for them Bah What a poltroon my Flintwinch
Eh«
»A cur sir«
»Agreed A cur But he wouldnt have done it my Flintwinch unless he had
known them to have the will to silence him without the power He wouldnt have
drunk from a glass of water under such circumstances not even in a
respectable house like this my Flintwinch unless he had seen one of them
drink first and swallow too«
Disdaining to speak and indeed not very well able for he was halfchoking
Clennam only glanced at the visitor as he passed out The visitor saluted him
with another parting snap and his nose came down over his moustache and his
moustache went up under his nose in an ominous and ugly smile
»For Heavens sake Affery« whispered Clennam as she opened the door for
him in the dark hall and he groped his way to the sight of the nightsky »what
is going on here«
Her own appearance was sufficiently ghastly standing in the dark with her
apron thrown over her head and speaking behind it in a low deadened voice
»Dont ask me anything Arthur Ive been in a dream for ever so long Go
away«
He went out and she shut the door upon him He looked up at the windows of
his mothers room and the dim light deadened by the yellow blinds seemed to
say a response after Affery and to mutter »Dont ask me anything Go away«
Chapter XI
A Letter from Little Dorrit
Dear Mr Clennam
As I said in my last that it was best for nobody to write to me and as my
sending you another little letter can therefore give you no other trouble than
the trouble of reading it perhaps you may not find leisure for even that
though I hope you will some day I am now going to devote an hour to writing to
you again This time I write from Rome
We left Venice before Mr and Mrs Gowan did but they were not so long upon
the road as we were and did not travel by the same way and so when we arrived
we found them in a lodging here in a place called the Via Gregoriana I dare
say you know it
Now I am going to tell you all I can about them because I know that is what
you most want to hear Theirs is not a very comfortable lodging but perhaps I
thought it less so when I first saw it than you would have done because you
have been in many different countries and have seen many different customs Of
course it is a far far better place millions of times than any I have ever
been used to until lately and I fancy I dont look at it with my own eyes but
with hers For it would be easy to see that she has always been brought up in a
tender and happy home even if she had not told me so with great love for it
Well it is a rather bare lodging up a rather dark common staircase and it
is nearly all a large dull room where Mr Gowan paints The windows are blocked
up where any one could look out and the walls have been all drawn over with
chalk and charcoal by others who have lived there before oh I should think
for years There is a curtain more dustcoloured than red which divides it and
the part behind the curtain makes the private sittingroom When I first saw her
there she was alone and her work had fallen out of her hand and she was
looking up at the sky shining through the tops of the windows Pray do not be
uneasy when I tell you but it was not quite so airy nor so bright nor so
cheerful nor so happy and youthful altogether as I should have liked it to be
On account of Mr Gowan painting Papas picture which I am not quite
convinced I should have known from the likeness if I had not seen him doing it
I have had more opportunities of being with her since then than I might have
had without this fortunate chance She is very much alone Very much alone
indeed
Shall I tell you about the second time I saw her I went one day when it
happened that I could run round by myself at four or five oclock in the
afternoon She was then dining alone and her solitary dinner had been brought
in from somewhere over a kind of brazier with a fire in it and she had no
company or prospect of company that I could see but the old man who had
brought it He was telling her a long story of robbers outside the walls being
taken up by a stone statue of a Saint to entertain her as he said to me when
I came out »because he had a daughter of his own though she was not so
pretty«
I ought now to mention Mr Gowan before I say what little more I have to
say about her He must admire her beauty and he must be proud of her for
everybody praises it and he must be fond of her and I do not doubt that he is
but in his way You know his way and if it appears as careless and
discontented in your eyes as it does in mine I am not wrong in thinking that it
might be better suited to her If it does not seem so to you I am quite sure I
am wholly mistaken for your unchanged poor child confides in your knowledge and
goodness more than she could ever tell you if she was to try But dont be
frightened I am not going to try
Owing as I think if you think so too to Mr Gowans unsettled and
dissatisfied way he applies himself to his profession very little He does
nothing steadily or patiently but equally takes things up and throws them down
and does them or leaves them undone without caring about them When I have
heard him talking to Papa during the sittings for the picture I have sat
wondering whether it could be that he has no belief in anybody else because he
has no belief in himself Is it so I wonder what you will say when you come to
this I know how you will look and I can almost hear the voice in which you
would tell me on the Iron Bridge
Mr Gowan goes out a good deal among what is considered the best company
here though he does not look as if he enjoyed it or liked it when he is with
it and she sometimes accompanies him but lately she has gone out very little
I think I have noticed that they have an inconsistent way of speaking about her
as if she had made some great selfinterested success in marrying Mr Gowan
though at the same time the very same people would not have dreamed of taking
him for themselves or their daughters Then he goes into the country besides to
think about making sketches and in all places where there are visitors he has
a large acquaintance and is very well known Besides all this he has a friend
who is much in his society both at home and away from home though he treats
this friend very coolly and is very uncertain in his behaviour to him I am
quite sure because she has told me so that she does not like this friend He
is so revolting to me too that his being away from here at present is quite
a relief to my mind How much more to hers
But what I particularly want you to know and why I have resolved to tell
you so much even while I am afraid it may make you a little uncomfortable
without occasion is this She is so true and so devoted and knows so
completely that all her love and duty are his for ever that you may be certain
she will love him admire him praise him and conceal all his faults until she
dies I believe she conceals them and always will conceal them even from
herself She has given him a heart that can never be taken back and however
much he may try it he will never wear out its affection You know the truth of
this as you know everything far far better than I but I cannot help telling
you what a nature she shows and that you can never think too well of her
I have not yet called her by her name in this letter but we are such
friends now that I do so when we are quietly together and she speaks to me by
my name I mean not my Christian name but the name you gave me When she
began to call me Amy I told her my short story and that you had always called
me Little Dorrit I told her that the name was much dearer to me than any other
and so she calls me Little Dorrit too
Perhaps you have not heard from her father or mother yet and may not know
that she has a baby son He was born only two days ago and just a week after
they came It has made them very happy However I must tell you as I am to
tell you all that I fancy they are under a constraint with Mr Gowan and that
they feel as if his mocking way with them was sometimes a slight given to their
love for her It was but yesterday when I was there that I saw Mr Meagles
change colour and get up and go out as if he was afraid that he might say so
unless he prevented himself by that means Yet I am sure they are both so
considerate goodhumoured and reasonable that he might spare them It is hard
in him not to think of them a little more
I stopped at the last full stop to read all this over It looked at first as
if I was taking on myself to understand and explain so much that I was half
inclined not to send it But when I had thought it over a little I felt more
hopeful of your knowing at once that I had only been watchful for you and had
only noticed what I think I have noticed because I was quickened by your
interest in it Indeed you may be sure that is the truth
And now I have done with the subject in the present letter and have little
left to say
We are all quite well and Fanny improves every day You can hardly think
how kind she is to me and what pains she takes with me She has a lover who
has followed her first all the way from Switzerland and then all the way from
Venice and who has just confided to me that he means to follow her everywhere
I was much confused by his speaking to me about it but he would I did not know
what to say but at last I told him that I thought he had better not For Fanny
but I did not tell him this is much too spirited and clever to suit him
Still he said he would all the same I have no lover of course
If you should ever get so far as this in this long letter you will perhaps
say Surely Little Dorrit will not leave off without telling me something about
her travels and surely it is time she did I think it is indeed but I dont
know what to tell you Since we left Venice we have been in a great many
wonderful places Genoa and Florence among them and have seen so many wonderful
sights that I am almost giddy when I think what a crowd they make But you
could tell me so much more about them than I can tell you that why should I
tire you with my accounts and descriptions
Dear Mr Clennam as I had the courage to tell you what the familiar
difficulties in my travelling mind were before I will not be a coward now One
of my frequent thoughts is this Old as these cities are their age itself is
hardly so curious to my reflections as that they should have been in their
places all through those days when I did not even know of the existence of more
than two or three of them and when I scarcely knew of anything outside our old
walls There is something melancholy in it and I dont know why When we went
to see the famous leaning tower at Pisa it was a bright sunny day and it and
the buildings near it looked so old and the earth and sky looked so young and
its shadow on the ground was so soft and retired I could not at first think how
beautiful it was or how curious but I thought »O how many times when the
shadow of the wall was falling on our room and when that weary tread of feet
was going up and down the yard O how many times this place was just as quiet
and lovely as it is today« It quite overpowered me My heart was so full that
tears burst out of my eyes though I did what I could to restrain them And I
have the same feeling often often
Do you know that since the change in our fortunes though I appear to myself
to have dreamed more than before I have always dreamed of myself as very young
indeed I am not very old you may say No but that is not what I mean I have
always dreamed of myself as a child learning to do needlework I have often
dreamed of myself as back there seeing faces in the yard little known and
which I should have thought I had quite forgotten but as often as not I have
been abroad here in Switzerland or France or Italy somewhere where we have
been yet always as that little child I have dreamed of going down to Mrs
General with the patches on my clothes in which I can first remember myself I
have over and over again dreamed of taking my place at dinner at Venice when we
have had a large company in the mourning for my poor mother which I wore when I
was eight years old and wore long after it was threadbare and would mend no
more It has been a great distress to me to think how irreconcilable the company
would consider it with my fathers wealth and how I should displease and
disgrace him and Fanny and Edward by so plainly disclosing what they wished to
keep secret But I have not grown out of the little child in thinking of it and
at the self-same moment I have dreamed that I have sat with the heartache at
table calculating the expenses of the dinner and quite distracting myself with
thinking how they were ever to be made good I have never dreamed of the change
in our fortunes itself I have never dreamed of your coming back with me that
memorable morning to break it I have never even dreamed of you
Dear Mr Clennam it is possible that I have thought of you and others
so much by day that I have no thoughts left to wander round you by night For I
must now confess to you that I suffer from homesickness that I long so
ardently and earnestly for home as sometimes when no one sees me to pine for
it I cannot bear to turn my face further away from it My heart is a little
lightened when we turn towards it even for a few miles and with the knowledge
that we are soon to turn away again So dearly do I love the scene of my poverty
and your kindness O so dearly O so dearly
Heaven knows when your poor child will see England again We are all fond of
the life here except me and there are no plans for our return My dear father
talks of a visit to London late in this next spring on some affairs connected
with the property but I have no hope that he will bring me with him
I have tried to get on a little better under Mrs Generals instruction and
I hope I am not quite so dull as I used to be I have begun to speak and
understand almost easily the hard languages I told you about I did not
remember at the moment when I wrote last that you knew them both but I
remembered it afterwards and it helped me on God bless you dear Mr Clennam
Do not forget
Your ever grateful and affectionate
LITTLE DORRIT
PS Particularly remember that Minnie Gowan deserves the best remembrance in
which you can hold her You cannot think too generously or too highly of her I
forgot Mr Pancks last time Please if you should see him give him your Little
Dorrits kind regard He was very good to little D
Chapter XII
In which a Great Patriotic Conference Is Holden
The famous name of Merdle became every day more famous in the land Nobody
knew that the Merdle of such high renown had ever done any good to any one
alive or dead or to any earthly thing nobody knew that he had any capacity or
utterance of any sort in him which had ever thrown for any creature the
feeblest farthingcandle ray of light on any path of duty or diversion pain or
pleasure toil or rest fact or fancy among the multiplicity of paths in the
labyrinth trodden by the sons of Adam nobody had the smallest reason for
supposing the clay of which this object of worship was made to be other than
the commonest clay with as clogged a wick smouldering inside of it as ever kept
an image of humanity from tumbling to pieces All people knew or thought they
knew that he had made himself immensely rich and for that reason alone
prostrated themselves before him more degradedly and less excusably than the
darkest savage creeps out of his hole in the ground to propitiate in some log
or reptile the Deity of his benighted soul
Nay the high priests of this worship had the man before them as a protest
against their meanness The multitude worshipped on trust though always
distinctly knowing why but the officiators at the altar had the man habitually
in their view They sat at his feasts and he sat at theirs There was a spectre
always attendant on him saying to these high priests »Are such the signs you
trust and love to honour this head these eyes this mode of speech the tone
and manner of this man You are the levers of the Circumlocution Office and the
rulers of men When halfadozen of you fall out by the ears it seems that
mother earth can give birth to no other rulers Does your qualification lie in
the superior knowledge of men which accepts courts and puffs this man Or if
you are competent to judge aright the signs I never fail to show you when he
appears among you is your superior honesty your qualification« Two rather ugly
questions these always going about town with Mr Merdle and there was a tacit
agreement that they must be stifled
In Mrs Merdles absence abroad Mr Merdle still kept the great house open
for the passage through it of a stream of visitors A few of these took affable
possession of the establishment Three or four ladies of distinction and
liveliness used to say to one another, »Let us dine at our dear Merdles next
Thursday Whom shall we have« Our dear Merdle would then receive his
instructions and would sit heavily among the company at table and wander
lumpishly about his drawingrooms afterwards only remarkable for appearing to
have nothing to do with the entertainment beyond being in its way
The Chief Butler the Avenging Spirit of this great mans life relaxed
nothing of his severity He looked on at these dinners when the bosom was not
there as he looked on at other dinners when the bosom was there and his eye
was a basilisk to Mr Merdle He was a hard man and would never bate an ounce
of plate or a bottle of wine He would not allow a dinner to be given unless it
was up to his mark He set forth the table for his own dignity If the guests
chose to partake of what was served he saw no objection but it was served for
the maintenance of his rank As he stood by the sideboard he seemed to announce
»I have accepted office to look at this which is now before me and to look at
nothing less than this« If he missed the presiding bosom it was as a part of
his own state of which he was from unavoidable circumstances temporarily
deprived Just as he might have missed a centrepiece or a choice winecooler
which had been sent to the Bankers
Mr Merdle issued invitations for a Barnacle dinner Lord Decimus was to be
there Mr Tite Barnacle was to be there the pleasant young Barnacle was to be
there and the Chorus of Parliamentary Barnacles who went about the provinces
when the House was up warbling the praises of their Chief were to be
represented there It was understood to be a great occasion Mr Merdle was
going to take up the Barnacles Some delicate little negotiations had occurred
between him and the noble Decimus the young Barnacle of engaging manners
acting as negotiator and Mr Merdle had decided to cast the weight of his
great probity and great riches into the Barnacle scale Jobbery was suspected by
the malicious perhaps because it was indisputable that if the adherence of the
immortal Enemy of Mankind could have been secured by a job the Barnacles would
have jobbed him for the good of the country for the good of the country
Mrs Merdle had written to this magnificent spouse of hers whom it was
heresy to regard as anything less than all the British Merchants since the days
of Whittington rolled into one and gilded three feet deep all over had
written to this spouse of hers several letters from Rome in quick succession
urging upon him with importunity that now or never was the time to provide for
Edmund Sparkler Mrs Merdle had shown him that the case of Edmund was urgent
and that infinite advantages might result from his having some good thing
directly In the grammar of Mrs Merdles verbs on this momentous subject there
was only one Mood the Imperative and that Mood had only one Tense the
Present Mrs Merdles verbs were so pressingly presented to Mr Merdle to
conjugate that his sluggish blood and his long coatcuffs became quite
agitated
In which state of agitation Mr Merdle evasively rolling his eyes round
the Chief Butlers shoes without raising them to the index of that stupendous
creatures thoughts had signified to him his intention of giving a special
dinner not a very large dinner but a very special dinner The Chief Butler had
signified in return that he had no objection to look on at the most expensive
thing in that way that could be done and the day of the dinner was now come
Mr Merdle stood in one of his drawingrooms with his back to the fire
waiting for the arrival of his important guests He seldom or never took the
liberty of standing with his back to the fire unless he was quite alone In the
presence of the Chief Butler he could not have done such a deed He would have
clasped himself by the wrists in that constabulary manner of his and have paced
up and down the hearthrug or gone creeping about among the rich objects of
furniture if his oppressive retainer had appeared in the room at that very
moment The sly shadows which seemed to dart out of hiding when the fire rose
and to dart back into it when the fire fell were sufficient witnesses of his
making himself so easy They were even more than sufficient if his
uncomfortable glances at them might be taken to mean anything
Mr Merdles right hand was filled with the evening paper and the evening
paper was full of Mr Merdle His wonderful enterprise his wonderful wealth
his wonderful Bank were the fattening food of the evening paper that night The
wonderful Bank of which he was the chief projector establisher and manager
was the latest of the many Merdle wonders So modest was Mr Merdle withal in
the midst of these splendid achievements that he looked far more like a man in
possession of his house under a distraint than a commercial Colossus bestriding
his own hearthrug while the little ships were sailing in to dinner
Behold the vessels coming into port The engaging young Barnacle was the
first arrival but Bar overtook him on the staircase Bar strengthened as usual
with his double eyeglass and his little jury droop was overjoyed to see the
engaging young Barnacle and opined that we were going to sit in Banco as we
lawyers called it to take a special argument
»Indeed« said the sprightly young Barnacle whose name was Ferdinand »how
so«
»Nay« smiled Bar »If you dont know how can I know You are in the
innermost sanctuary of the temple I am one of the admiring concourse on the
plain without«
Bar could be light in hand or heavy in hand according to the customer he
had to deal with With Ferdinand Barnacle he was gossamer Bar was likewise
always modest and selfdepreciatory in his way Bar was a man of great
variety but one leading thread ran through the woof of all his patterns Every
man with whom he had to do was in his eyes a juryman and he must get that
juryman over if he could
»Our illustrious host and friend« said Bar »our shining mercantile star
going into politics«
»Going He has been in Parliament some time you know« returned the
engaging young Barnacle
»True« said Bar with his lightcomedy laugh for special jurymen which was
a very different thing from his lowcomedy laugh for comic tradesmen on common
juries »he has been in Parliament for some time Yet hitherto our star has been
a vacillating and wavering star Humph«
An average witness would have been seduced by the Humph into an affirmative
answer But Ferdinand Barnacle looked knowingly at Bar as they strolled
upstairs and gave him no answer at all
»Just so just so« said Bar nodding his head for he was not to be put off
in that way »and therefore I spoke of our sitting in Banco to take a special
argument meaning this to be a high and solemn occasion when as Captain
Macheath says the Judges are met a terrible show We lawyers are sufficiently
liberal you see to quote the Captain though the Captain is severe upon us
Nevertheless I think I could put in evidence an admission of the Captains«
said Bar with a little jocose roll of his head for in his legal current of
speech he always assumed the air of rallying himself with the best grace in the
world »an admission of the Captains that Law in the gross is at least
intended to be impartial For what says the Captain if I quote him correctly
and if not« with a lightcomedy touch of his double eyeglass on his
companions shoulder »my learned friend will set me right
Since laws were made for every degree
To curb vice in others as well as in me
I wonder we hant better company
Upon Tyburn Tree«
These words brought them to the drawingroom where Mr Merdle stood before the
fire So immensely astounded was Mr Merdle by the entrance of Bar with such a
reference in his mouth that Bar explained himself to have been quoting Gay
»Assuredly not one of our Westminster Hall authorities« said he »but still no
despicable one to a man possessing the largelypractical Mr Merdles knowledge
of the world«
Mr Merdle looked as if he thought he would say something but subsequently
looked as if he thought he wouldnt The interval afforded time for Bishop to be
announced
Bishop came in with meekness and yet with a strong and rapid step as if he
wanted to get his sevenleague dressshoes on and go round the world to see
that everybody was in a satisfactory state Bishop had no idea that there was
anything significant in the occasion That was the most remarkable trait in his
demeanour He was crisp fresh cheerful affable bland but so surprisingly
innocent
Bar sidled up to prefer his politest inquiries in reference to the health of
Mrs Bishop Mrs Bishop had been a little unfortunate in the article of taking
cold at a Confirmation but otherwise was well Young Mr Bishop was also well
He was down with his young wife and little family at his Cure of Souls
The representatives of the Barnacle Chorus dropped in next and Mr Merdles
physician dropped in next Bar who had a bit of one eye and a bit of his double
eyeglass for every one who came in at the door no matter with whom he was
conversing or what he was talking about got among them all by some skilful
means without being seen to get at them and touched each individual gentleman
of the jury on his own individual favourite spot With some of the Chorus he
laughed about the sleepy member who had gone out into the lobby the other night
and voted the wrong way with others he deplored that innovating spirit in the
time which could not even be prevented from taking an unnatural interest in the
public service and the public money with the physician he had a word to say
about the general health he had also a little information to ask him for
concerning a professional man of unquestioned erudition and polished manners
but those credentials in their highest development he believed were the
possession of other professors of the healing art jury droop whom he had
happened to have in the witnessbox the day before yesterday and from whom he
had elicited in crossexamination that he claimed to be one of the exponents of
this new mode of treatment which appeared to Bar to eh well Bar thought
so Bar had thought and hoped Physician would tell him so Without presuming
to decide where doctors disagreed it did appear to Bar viewing it as a
question of common sense and not of socalled legal penetration that this new
system was might he in the presence of so great an authority say Humbug
Ah Fortified by such encouragement he could venture to say Humbug and now
Bars mind was relieved
Mr Tite Barnacle who like Dr Johnsons celebrated acquaintance had only
one idea in his head and that was a wrong one had appeared by this time This
eminent gentleman and Mr Merdle seated diverse ways and with ruminating
aspects on a yellow ottoman in the light of the fire holding no verbal
communication with each other bore a strong general resemblance to the two cows
in the Cuyp picture over against them
But now Lord Decimus arrived The Chief Butler who up to this time had
limited himself to a branch of his usual function by looking at the company as
they entered and that with more of defiance than favour put himself so far
out of his way as to come upstairs with him and announce him Lord Decimus
being an overpowering peer a bashful young member of the Lower House who was
the last fish but one caught by the Barnacles and who had been invited on this
occasion to commemorate his capture shut his eyes when his Lordship came in
Lord Decimus nevertheless was glad to see the Member He was also glad to
see Mr Merdle glad to see Bishop glad to see Bar glad to see Physician glad
to see Tite Barnacle glad to see Chorus glad to see Ferdinand his private
secretary Lord Decimus though one of the greatest of the earth was not
remarkable for ingratiatory manners and Ferdinand had coached him up to the
point of noticing all the fellows he might find there and saying he was glad to
see them When he had achieved this rush of vivacity and condescension his
Lordship composed himself into the picture after Cuyp and made a third cow in
the group
Bar who felt that he had got all the rest of the jury and must now lay hold
of the Foreman soon came sliding up double eyeglass in hand Bar tendered the
weather as a subject neatly aloof from official reserve for the Foremans
consideration Bar said that he was told as everybody always is told though
who tells them and why will for ever remain a mystery that there was to be
no wallfruit this year Lord Decimus had not heard anything amiss of his
peaches but rather believed if his people were correct he was to have no
apples No apples Bar was lost in astonishment and concern It would have been
all one to him in reality if there had not been a pippin on the surface of the
earth but his show of interest in this apple question was positively painful
Now to what Lord Decimus for we troublesome lawyers loved to gather
information and could never tell how useful it might prove to us to what
Lord Decimus was this to be attributed Lord Decimus could not undertake to
propound any theory about it This might have stopped another man but Bar
sticking to him fresh as ever said »As to pears now«
Long after Bar got made AttorneyGeneral this was told of him as a
masterstroke Lord Decimus had a reminiscence about a peartree formerly
growing in a garden near the back of his dames house at Eton upon which
peartree the only joke of his life perennially bloomed It was a joke of a
compact and portable nature turning on the difference between Eton pears and
Parliamentary pairs but it was a joke a refined relish of which would seem to
have appeared to Lord Decimus impossible to be had without a thorough and
intimate acquaintance with the tree Therefore the story at first had no idea
of such a tree sir then gradually found it in winter carried it through the
changing seasons saw it bud saw it blossom saw it bear fruit saw the fruit
ripen in short the story cultivated the tree in that diligent and minute
manner before it got out of the bedroom window to steal the fruit that many
thanks had been offered up by belated listeners for the trees having been
planted and grafted prior to Lord Decimuss time Bars interest in apples was
so overtopped by the rapt suspense in which he pursued the changes of these
pears from the moment when Lord Decimus solemnly opened with »Your mentioning
pears recalls to my remembrance a peartree« down to the rich conclusion »And
so we pass through the various changes of life from Eton pears to
Parliamentary pairs« that he had to go downstairs with Lord Decimus and even
then to be seated next to him at table in order that he might hear the anecdote
out By that time Bar felt that he had secured the Foreman and might go to
dinner with a good appetite
It was a dinner to provoke an appetite though he had not had one The
rarest dishes sumptuously cooked and sumptuously served the choicest fruits
the most exquisite wines marvels of workmanship in gold and silver china and
glass innumerable things delicious to the senses of taste smell and sight
were insinuated into its composition O what a wonderful man this Merdle what
a great man what a master man how blessedly and enviably endowed in one
word what a rich man
He took his usual poor eighteenpennyworth of food in his usual indigestive
way and had as little to say for himself as ever a wonderful man had
Fortunately Lord Decimus was one of those sublimities who have no occasion to be
talked to for they can be at any time sufficiently occupied with the
contemplation of their own greatness This enabled the bashful young Member to
keep his eyes open long enough at a time to see his dinner But whenever Lord
Decimus spoke he shut them again
The agreeable young Barnacle and Bar were the talkers of the party Bishop
would have been exceedingly agreeable also but that his innocence stood in his
way He was so soon left behind When there was any little hint of anything
being in the wind he got lost directly Worldly affairs were too much for him
he couldnt make them out at all
This was observable when Bar said incidentally that he was happy to have
heard that we were soon to have the advantage of enlisting on the good side the
sound and plain sagacity not demonstrative or ostentatious but thoroughly
sound and practical of our friend Mr Sparkler
Ferdinand Barnacle laughed and said oh yes he believed so A vote was a
vote and always acceptable
Bar was sorry to miss our good friend Mr Sparkler today Mr Merdle
»He is away with Mrs Merdle« returned that gentleman slowly coming out of
a long abstraction in the course of which he had been fitting a tablespoon up
his sleeve »It is not indispensable for him to be on the spot«
»The magic name of Merdle« said Bar with the jury droop »no doubt will
suffice for all«
»Why yes I believe so« assented Mr Merdle putting the spoon aside
and clumsily hiding each of his hands in the coatcuff of the other hand »I
believe the people in my interest down there will not make any difficulty«
»Model people« said Bar
»I am glad you approve of them« said Mr Merdle
»And the people of those other two places now« pursued Bar with a bright
twinkle in his keen eye as it slightly turned in the direction of his
magnificent neighbour »we lawyers are always curious always inquisitive
always picking up odds and ends for our patchwork minds since there is no
knowing when and where they may fit into some corner the people of those
other two places now Do they yield so laudably to the vast and cumulative
influence of such enterprise and such renown do those little rills become
absorbed so quietly and easily and as it were by the influence of natural
laws so beautifully in the swoop of the majestic stream as it flows upon its
wondrous way enriching the surrounding lands that their course is perfectly to
be calculated and distinctly to be predicated«
Mr Merdle a little troubled by Bars eloquence looked fitfully about the
nearest saltcellar for some moments and then said hesitating
»They are perfectly aware sir of their duty to Society They will return
anybody I send to them for that purpose«
»Cheering to know« said Bar »Cheering to know«
The three places in question were three little rotten holes in this Island
containing three little ignorant drunken guzzling dirty outoftheway
constituencies that had reeled into Mr Merdles pocket Ferdinand Barnacle
laughed in his easy way and airily said they were a nice set of fellows
Bishop mentally perambulating among paths of peace was altogether swallowed up
in absence of mind
»Pray« asked Lord Decimus casting his eyes around the table »what is this
story I have heard of a gentleman long confined in a debtors prison proving to
be of a wealthy family and having come into the inheritance of a large sum of
money I have met with a variety of allusions to it Do you know anything of it
Ferdinand«
»I only know this much« said Ferdinand »that he has given the Department
with which I have the honour to be associated« this sparkling young Barnacle
threw off the phrase sportively as who should say We know all about these
forms of speech but we must keep it up we must keep the game alive »no end of
trouble and has put us into innumerable fixes«
»Fixes« repeated Lord Decimus with a majestic pausing and pondering on the
word that made the bashful Member shut his eyes quite tight »Fixes«
»A very perplexing business indeed« observed Mr Tite Barnacle with an air
of grave resentment
»What« said Lord Decimus »was the character of his business what was the
nature of these a Fixes Ferdinand«
»Oh its a good story as a story« returned that gentleman »as good a
thing of its kind as need be This Mr Dorrit his name is Dorrit had incurred
a responsibility to us ages before the fairy came out of the Bank and gave him
his fortune under a bond he had signed for the performance of a contract which
was not at all performed He was a partner in a house in some large way
spirits or buttons or wine or blacking or oatmeal or woollen or pork or
hooks and eyes or iron or treacle or shoes or something or other that was
wanted for troops or seamen or somebody and the house burst and we being
among the creditors detainers were lodged on the part of the Crown in a
scientific manner and all the rest of it When the fairy had appeared and he
wanted to pay us off Egad we had got into such an exemplary state of checking
and counterchecking signing and countersigning that it was six months before
we knew how to take the money or how to give a receipt for it It was a triumph
of public business« said this handsome young Barnacle laughing heartily »You
never saw such a lot of forms in your life Why the attorney said to me one
day if I wanted this office to give me two or three thousand pounds instead of
take it I couldnt have more trouble about it You are right old fellow I
told him and in future youll know that we have something to do here« The
pleasant young Barnacle finished by once more laughing heartily He was a very
easy pleasant fellow indeed and his manners were exceedingly winning
Mr Tite Barnacles view of the business was of a less airy character He
took it ill that Mr Dorrit had troubled the Department by wanting to pay the
money and considered it a grossly informal thing to do after so many years
But Mr Tite Barnacle was a buttonedup man and consequently a weighty one
All buttonedup men are weighty All buttonedup men are believed in Whether or
no the reserved and neverexercised power of unbuttoning fascinates mankind
whether or no wisdom is supposed to condense and augment when buttoned up and
to evaporate when unbuttoned it is certain that the man to whom importance is
accorded is the buttonedup man Mr Tite Barnacle never would have passed for
half his current value unless his coat had been always buttoned up to his white
cravat
»May I ask« said Lord Decimus »if Mr Darrit or Dorrit has any
family«
Nobody else replying the host said »He has two daughters my lord«
»Oh you are acquainted with him« asked Lord Decimus
»Mrs Merdle is Mr Sparkler is too In fact« said Mr Merdle »I rather
believe that one of the young ladies has made an impression on Edmund Sparkler
He is susceptible and I thinkthe conquest « Here Mr Merdle stopped and
looked at the tablecloth as he usually did when he found himself observed or
listened to
Bar was uncommonly pleased to find that the Merdle family and this family
had already been brought into contact He submitted in a low voice across the
table to Bishop that it was a kind of analogical illustration of those physical
laws in virtue of which Like flies to Like He regarded this power of
attraction in wealth to draw wealth to it as something remarkably interesting
and curious something indefinably allied to the loadstone and gravitation
Bishop who had ambled back to earth again when the present theme was broached
acquiesced He said it was indeed highly important to Society that one in the
trying situation of unexpectedly finding himself invested with a power for good
or for evil in Society should become as it were merged in the superior power
of a more legitimate and more gigantic growth the influence of which as in the
case of our friend at whose board we sat was habitually exercised in harmony
with the best interests of Society Thus instead of two rival and contending
flames a larger and a lesser each burning with a lurid and uncertain glare we
had a blended and a softened light whose genial ray diffused an equable warmth
throughout the land Bishop seemed to like his own way of putting the case very
much and rather dwelt upon it Bar meanwhile not to throw away a juryman
making a show of sitting at his feet and feeding on his precepts
The dinner and dessert being three hours long the bashful Member cooled in
the shadow of Lord Decimus faster than he warmed with food and drink and had
but a chilly time of it Lord Decimus like a tall tower in a flat country
seemed to project himself across the tablecloth hide the light from the
honourable Member cool the honourable Members marrow and give him a woeful
idea of distance When he asked this unfortunate traveller to take wine he
encompassed his faltering steps with the gloomiest of shades and when he said
»Your health sir« all around him was barrenness and desolation
At length Lord Decimus with a coffeecup in his hand began to hover about
among the pictures and to cause an interesting speculation to arise in all
minds as to the probabilities of his ceasing to hover and enabling the smaller
birds to flutter upstairs which could not be done until he had urged his noble
pinions in that direction After some delay and several stretches of his wings
which came to nothing he soared to the drawingrooms
And here a difficulty arose which always does arise when two people are
specially brought together at a dinner to confer with one another. Everybody
except Bishop who had no suspicion of it knew perfectly well that this dinner
had been eaten and drunk specifically to the end that Lord Decimus and Mr
Merdle should have five minutes conversation together The opportunity so
elaborately prepared was now arrived and it seemed from that moment that no
mere human ingenuity could so much as get the two chieftains into the same room
Mr Merdle and his noble guest persisted in prowling about at opposite ends of
the perspective It was in vain for the engaging Ferdinand to bring Lord Decimus
to look at the bronze horses near Mr Merdle Then Mr Merdle evaded and
wandered away It was in vain for him to bring Mr Merdle to Lord Decimus to
tell him the history of the unique Dresden vases Then Lord Decimus evaded and
wandered away while he was getting his man up to the mark
»Did you ever see such a thing as this« said Ferdinand to Bar when he had
been baffled twenty times
»Often« returned Bar
»Unless I butt one of them into an appointed corner and you butt the
other« said Ferdinand »it will not come off after all«
»Very good« said Bar »Ill butt Merdle if you like but not my lord«
Ferdinand laughed in the midst of his vexation »Confound them both« said
he looking at his watch »I want to get away Why the deuce cant they come
together They both know what they want and mean to do Look at them«
They were still looming at opposite ends of the perspective each with an
absurd pretence of not having the other on his mind which could not have been
more transparently ridiculous though his real mind had been chalked on his back
Bishop who had just now made a third with Bar and Ferdinand but whose
innocence had again cut him out of the subject and washed him in sweet oil was
seen to approach Lord Decimus and glide into conversation
»I must get Merdles doctor to catch and secure him I suppose« said
Ferdinand »and then I must lay hold of my illustrious kinsman and decoy him if
I can drag him if I cant to the conference«
»Since you do me the honour« said Bar with his slyest smile »to ask for
my poor aid it shall be yours with the greatest pleasure I dont think this is
to be done by one man But if you will undertake to pen my lord into that
furthest drawingroom where he is now so profoundly engaged I will undertake to
bring our dear Merdle into the presence without the possibility of getting
away«
»Done« said Ferdinand »Done« said Bar
Bar was a sight wondrous to behold and full of matter, when jauntily
waving his double eyeglass by its ribbon and jauntily drooping to an Universe
of Jurymen he in the most accidental manner ever seen found himself at Mr
Merdles shoulder and embraced that opportunity of mentioning a little point to
him on which he particularly wished to be guided by the light of his practical
knowledge Here he took Mr Merdles arm and walked him gently away A banker
whom we would call A. B., advanced a considerable sum of money which we would
call fifteen thousand pounds to a client or customer of his whom he would call
P Q Here as they were getting towards Lord Decimus he held Mr Merdle
tight As a security for the repayment of this advance to P Q whom we would
call a widow lady there were placed in A. B.'s hands the titledeeds of a
freehold estate which we would call Blinkiter Doddles Now the point was this
A limited right of felling and lopping in the woods of Blinkiter Doddles lay in
the son of P Q then past his majority and whom we would call X Y but
really this was too bad In the presence of Lord Decimus to detain the host
with chopping our dry chaff of law was really too bad Another time Bar was
truly repentant and would not say another syllable Would Bishop favour him
with halfadozen words He had now set Mr Merdle down on a couch side by
side with Lord Decimus and to it they must go now or never
And now the rest of the company highly excited and interested always
excepting Bishop who had not the slightest idea that anything was going on
formed in one group round the fire in the next drawingroom and pretended to be
chatting easily on an infinite variety of small topics while everybodys
thoughts and eyes were secretly straying towards the secluded pair The Chorus
were excessively nervous perhaps as labouring under the dreadful apprehension
that some good thing was going to be diverted from them Bishop alone talked
steadily and evenly He conversed with the great Physician on that relaxation of
the throat with which young curates were too frequently afflicted and on the
means of lessening the great prevalence of that disorder in the church
Physician as a general rule was of opinion that the best way to avoid it was
to know how to read before you made a profession of reading Bishop said
dubiously did he really think so And Physician said decidedly yes he did
Ferdinand meanwhile was the only one of the party who skirmished on the
outside of the circle he kept about midway between it and the two as if some
sort of surgical operation were being performed by Lord Decimus on Mr Merdle
or by Mr Merdle on Lord Decimus and his services might at any moment be
required as Dresser In fact within a quarter of an hour Lord Decimus called
to him »Ferdinand« and he went and took his place in the conference for some
five minutes more Then a halfsuppressed gasp broke out among the Chorus for
Lord Decimus rose to take his leave Again coached up by Ferdinand to the point
of making himself popular he shook hands in the most brilliant manner with the
whole company and even said to Bar »I hope you were not bored by my pears« To
which Bar retorted »Eton my lord or Parliamentary« neatly showing that he
had mastered the joke and delicately insinuating that he could never forget it
while his life remained
All the grave importance that was buttoned up in Mr Tite Barnacle took
itself away next and Ferdinand took himself away next to the opera Some of
the rest lingered a little marrying golden liqueur glasses to Buhl tables with
sticky rings on the desperate chance of Mr Merdles saying something But
Merdle as usual oozed sluggishly and muddily about his drawingroom saying
never a word
In a day or two it was announced to all the town that Edmund Sparkler
Esquire stepson of the eminent Mr Merdle of worldwide renown was made one
of the Lords of the Circumlocution Office and proclamation was issued to all
true believers that this admirable appointment was to be hailed as a graceful
and gracious mark of homage rendered by the graceful and gracious Decimus to
that commercial interest which must ever in a great commercial country and all
the rest of it with blast of trumpet So bolstered by this mark of Government
homage the wonderful Bank and all the other wonderful undertakings went on and
went up and gapers came to Harley Street Cavendish Square only to look at the
house where the golden wonder lived
And when they saw the Chief Butler looking out at the halldoor in his
moments of condescension the gapers said how rich he looked and wondered how
much money he had in the wonderful Bank But if they had known that respectable
Nemesis better they would not have wondered about it and might have stated the
amount with the utmost precision
Chapter XIII
The Progress of an Epidemic
That it is at least as difficult to stay a moral infection as a physical one
that such a disease will spread with the malignity and rapidity of the Plague
that the contagion when it has once made head will spare no pursuit or
condition but will lay hold on people in the soundest health and become
developed in the most unlikely constitutions is a fact as firmly established by
experience as that we human creatures breathe an atmosphere A blessing beyond
appreciation would be conferred upon mankind if the tainted in whose weakness
or wickedness these virulent disorders are bred could be instantly seized and
placed in close confinement not to say summarily smothered before the poison
is communicable
As a vast fire will fill the air to a great distance with its roar so the
sacred flame which the mighty Barnacles had fanned caused the air to resound
more and more with the name of Merdle It was deposited on every lip and
carried into every ear There never was there never had been there never again
should be such a man as Mr Merdle Nobody as aforesaid knew what he had
done but everybody knew him to be the greatest that had appeared
Down in Bleeding Heart Yard where there was not one unappropriated
halfpenny as lively an interest was taken in this paragon of men as on the
Stock Exchange Mrs Plornish now established in the small grocery and general
trade in a snug little shop at the crack end of the Yard at the top of the
steps with her little old father and Maggy acting as assistants habitually
held forth about him over the counter in conversation with her customers Mr
Plornish who had a small share in a small builders business in the
neighbourhood said trowel in hand on the tops of scaffolds and on the tiles
of houses that people did tell him as Mr Merdle was the one mind you to put
us all to rights in respects of that which all on us looked to and to bring us
all safe home as much we needed mind you fur toe be brought Mr Baptist sole
lodger of Mr and Mrs Plornish was reputed in whispers to lay by the savings
which were the result of his simple and moderate life for investment in one of
Mr Merdles certain enterprises The female Bleeding Hearts when they came for
ounces of tea and hundredweights of talk gave Mrs Plornish to understand
That how maam they had heard from their cousin Mary Anne which worked in the
line that his ladys dresses would fill three waggons That how she was as
handsome a lady maam as lived no matter wheres and a busk like marble
itself That how according to what they was told maam it was her son by a
former husband as was took into the Government and a General he had been and
armies he had marched again and victory crowned if all you heard was to be
believed That how it was reported that Mr Merdles words had been that if
they could have made it worth his while to take the whole Government he would
have took it without a profit but that take it he could not and stand a loss
That how it was not to be expected maam that he should lose by it his ways
being as you might say and utter no falsehood paved with gold but that how it
was much to be regretted that something handsome hadnt been got up to make it
worth his while for it was such and only such that knowed the heighth to which
the bread and butchers meat had rose and it was such and only such that both
could and would bring that heighth down
So rife and potent was the fever in Bleeding Heart Yard that Mr Panckss
rentdays caused no interval in the patients The disease took the singular
form on those occasions of causing the infected to find an unfathomable excuse
and consolation in allusions to the magic name
»Now then« Mr Pancks would say to a defaulting lodger »Pay up Come
on«
»I havent got it Mr Pancks« Defaulter would reply »I tell you the
truth sir when I say I havent got so much as a single sixpence of it to bless
myself with«
»This wont do you know« Mr Pancks would retort »You dont expect it
will do do you«
Defaulter would admit with a lowspirited »No sir« having no such
expectation
»My proprietor isnt going to stand this you know« Mr Pancks would
proceed »He dont send me here for this Pay up Come«
The Defaulter would make answer »Ah Mr Pancks If I was the rich
gentleman whose name is in everybodys mouth if my name was Merdle sir Id
soon pay up and be glad to do it«
Dialogues on the rentquestion usually took place at the housedoors or in
the entries and in the presence of several deeply interested Bleeding Hearts
They always received a reference of this kind with a low murmur of response as
if it were convincing and the Defaulter however black and discomfited before
always cheered up a little in making it
»If I was Mr Merdle sir you wouldnt have cause to complain of me then
No believe me« the Defaulter would proceed with a shake of the head »Id pay
up so quick then Mr Pancks that you shouldnt have to ask me«
The response would be heard again here implying that it was impossible to
say anything fairer and that this was the next thing to paying the money down
Mr Pancks would be now reduced to saying as he booked the case »Well
Youll have the broker in and be turned out thats whatll happen to you Its
no use talking to me about Mr Merdle You are not Mr Merdle any more than I
am«
»No sir« the Defaulter would reply »I only wish you were him sir«
The response would take this up quickly replying with great feeling »Only
wish you were him sir«
»Youd be easier with us if you were Mr Merdle sir« the Defaulter would
go on with rising spirits »and it would be better for all parties Better for
our sakes and better for yours too You wouldnt have to worry no one then
sir You wouldnt have to worry us and you wouldnt have to worry yourself
Youd be easier in your own mind sir and youd leave others easier too you
would if you were Mr Merdle«
Mr Pancks in whom these impersonal compliments produced an irresistible
sheepishness never rallied after such a charge He could only bite his nails
and puff away to the next Defaulter The responsive Bleeding Hearts would then
gather round the Defaulter whom he had just abandoned and the most extravagant
rumours would circulate among them to their great comfort touching the amount
of Mr Merdles ready money
From one of the many such defeats of one of many rentdays Mr Pancks
having finished his days collection repaired with his notebook under his arm
to Mrs Plornishs corner Mr Panckss object was not professional but social
He had had a trying day and wanted a little brightening By this time he was on
friendly terms with the Plornish family having often looked in upon them at
similar seasons and borne his part in recollections of Miss Dorrit
Mrs Plornishs shopparlour had been decorated under her own eye and
presented on the side towards the shop a little fiction in which Mrs Plornish
unspeakably rejoiced This poetical heightening of the parlour consisted in the
wall being painted to represent the exterior of a thatched cottage the artist
having introduced in as effective a manner as he found compatible with their
highly disproportioned dimensions the real door and window The modest
sunflower and hollyhock were depicted as flourishing with great luxuriance on
this rustic dwelling while a quantity of dense smoke issuing from the chimney
indicated good cheer within and also perhaps that it had not been lately
swept A faithful dog was represented as flying at the legs of the friendly
visitor from the threshold and a circular pigeonhouse enveloped in a cloud of
pigeons arose from behind the gardenpaling On the door when it was shut
appeared the semblance of a brassplate presenting the inscription Happy
Cottage T and M Plornish the partnership expressing man and wife No Poetry
and no Art ever charmed the imagination more than the union of the two in this
counterfeit cottage charmed Mrs Plornish It was nothing to her that Plornish
had a habit of leaning against it as he smoked his pipe after work when his hat
blotted out the pigeonhouse and all the pigeons when his back swallowed up the
dwelling when his hands in his pockets uprooted the blooming garden and laid
waste the adjacent country To Mrs Plornish it was still a most beautiful
cottage a most wonderful deception and it made no difference that Mr
Plornishs eye was some inches above the level of the gable bedroom in the
thatch To come out into the shop after it was shut and hear her father sing a
song inside this cottage was a perfect Pastoral to Mrs Plornish the Golden
Age revived And truly if that famous period had been revived or had ever been
at all it may be doubted whether it would have produced many more heartily
admiring daughters than the poor woman
Warned of a visitor by the tinkling bell at the shopdoor Mrs Plornish
came out of Happy Cottage to see who it might be »I guessed it was you Mr
Pancks« said she »for its quite your regular night aint it Heres father
you see come out to serve at the sound of the bell like a brisk young shopman
Aint he looking well Fathers more pleased to see you than if you was a
customer for he dearly loves a gossip and when it turns upon Miss Dorrit he
loves it all the more You never heard father in such voice as he is in at
present« said Mrs Plornish her own voice quavering she was so proud and
pleased »He gave us Strephon last night to that degree that Plornish gets up
and makes him this speech across the table John Edward Nandy says Plornish to
father I never heard you come the warbles as I have heard you come the warbles
this night Aint it gratifying Mr Pancks though really«
Mr Pancks who had snorted at the old man in his friendliest manner
replied in the affirmative and casually asked whether that lively Altro chap
had come in yet Mrs Plornish answered no not yet though he had gone to the
WestEnd with some work and had said he should be back by teatime Mr Pancks
was then hospitably pressed into Happy Cottage where he encountered the elder
Master Plornish just come home from school Examining that young student
lightly on the educational proceedings of the day he found that the more
advanced pupils who were in the large text and the letter M had been set the
copy »Merdle Millions«
»And how are you getting on Mrs Plornish« said Pancks »since were
mentioning millions«
»Very steady indeed sir« returned Mrs Plornish »Father dear would you
go into the shop and tidy the window a little bit before tea your taste being
so beautiful«
John Edward Nandy trotted away much gratified to comply with his
daughters request Mrs Plornish who was always in mortal terror of mentioning
pecuniary affairs before the old gentleman lest any disclosure she made might
rouse his spirit and induce him to run away to the workhouse was thus left free
to be confidential with Mr Pancks
»Its quite true that the business is very steady indeed« said Mrs
Plornish lowering her voice »and has a excellent connection The only thing
that stands in its way sir is the Credit«
This drawback rather severely felt by most people who engaged in commercial
transactions with the inhabitants of Bleeding Heart Yard was a large
stumblingblock in Mrs Plornishs trade When Mr Dorrit had established her in
the business the Bleeding Hearts had shown an amount of emotion and a
determination to support her in it that did honour to human nature Recognising
her claim upon their generous feelings as one who had long been a member of
their community they pledged themselves with great feeling to deal with Mrs
Plornish come what would and bestow their patronage on no other establishment
Influenced by these noble sentiments they had even gone out of their way to
purchase little luxuries in the grocery and butter line to which they were
unaccustomed saying to one another, that if they did stretch a point was it
not for a neighbour and a friend and for whom ought a point to be stretched if
not for such So stimulated the business was extremely brisk and the articles
in stock went off with the greatest celerity In short if the Bleeding Hearts
had but paid the undertaking would have been a complete success whereas by
reason of their exclusively confining themselves to owing the profits actually
realised had not yet begun to appear in the books
Mr Pancks was making a very porcupine of himself by sticking his hair up
in the contemplation of this state of accounts when old Mr Nandy reentering
the cottage with an air of mystery entreated them to come and look at the
strange behaviour of Mr Baptist who seemed to have met with something that had
scared him All three going into the shop and watching through the window then
saw Mr Baptist pale and agitated go through the following extraordinary
performances First he was observed hiding at the top of the steps leading down
into the Yard and peeping up and down the street with his head cautiously
thrust out close to the side of the shopdoor After very anxious scrutiny he
came out of his retreat and went briskly down the street as if he were going
away altogether then suddenly turned about and went at the same pace and
with the same feint up the street He had gone no further up the street than he
had gone down when he crossed the road and disappeared The object of this last
manoeuvre was only apparent when his entering the shop with a sudden twist
from the steps again explained that he had made a wide and obscure circuit
round to the other or Doyce and Clennam end of the Yard and had come through
the Yard and bolted in He was out of breath by that time as he might well be
and his heart seemed to jerk faster than the little shopbell as it quivered
and jingled behind him with his hasty shutting of the door
»Hallo old chap« said Mr Pancks »Altro old boy Whats the matter«
Mr Baptist or Signor Cavalletto understood English now almost as well as
Mr Pancks himself and could speak it very well too Nevertheless Mrs
Plornish with a pardonable vanity in that accomplishment of hers which made her
all but Italian stepped in as interpreter
»E ask know« said Mrs Plornish »what go wrong«
»Come into the happy little cottage Padrona« returned Mr Baptist
imparting great stealthiness to his flurried backhanded shake of his right
forefinger »Come there«
Mrs Plornish was proud of the title Padrona which she regarded as
signifying not so much Mistress of the house as Mistress of the Italian
tongue She immediately complied with Mr Baptists request and they all went
into the cottage
»E ope you no fright« said Mrs Plornish then interpreting Mr Pancks in a
new way with her usual fertility of resource »What appen Peaka Padrona«
»I have seen some one« returned Baptist »I have rincontrato him«
»Im Oo him« asked Mrs Plornish
»A bad man A baddest man I have hoped that I should never see him again«
»Ow you know him bad« asked Mrs Plornish
»It does not matter Padrona I know it too well«
»E see you« asked Mrs Plornish
»No I hope not I believe not«
»He says« Mrs Plornish then interpreted addressing her father and Pancks
with mild condescension »that he has met a bad man but he hopes the bad man
didnt see him Why« inquired Mrs Plornish reverting to the Italian
language »why ope bad man no see«
»Padrona dearest« returned the little foreigner whom she so considerately
protected »do not ask I pray Once again I say it matters not I have fear of
this man I do not wish to see him I do not wish to be known of him never
again Enough most beautiful Leave it«
The topic was so disagreeable to him and so put his usual liveliness to the
rout that Mrs Plornish forbore to press him further the rather as the tea had
been drawing for some time on the hob But she was not the less surprised and
curious for asking no more questions neither was Mr Pancks whose expressive
breathing had been labouring hard since the entrance of the little man like a
locomotive engine with a great load getting up a steep incline Maggy now
better dressed than of yore though still faithful to the monstrous character of
her cap had been in the background from the first with open mouth and eyes
which staring and gaping features were not diminished in breadth by the untimely
suppression of the subject However no more was said about it though much
appeared to be thought on all sides by no means excepting the two young
Plornishes who partook of the evening meal as if their eating the bread and
butter were rendered almost superfluous by the painful probability of the worst
of men shortly presenting himself for the purpose of eating them Mr Baptist
by degrees began to chirp a little but never stirred from the seat he had
taken behind the door and close to the window though it was not his usual
place As often as the little bell rang he started and peeped out secretly
with the end of the little curtain in his hand and the rest before his face
evidently not at all satisfied but that the man he dreaded had tracked him
through all his doublings and turnings with the certainty of a terrible
bloodhound
The entrance at various times of two or three customers and of Mr
Plornish gave Mr Baptist just enough of this employment to keep the attention
of the company fixed upon him Tea was over and the children were abed and
Mrs Plornish was feeling her way to the dutiful proposal that her father should
favour them with Chloe when the bell again rang and Mr Clennam came in
Clennam had been poring late over his books and letters for the
waitingrooms of the Circumlocution Office ravaged his time sorely Over and
above that he was depressed and made uneasy by the late occurrence at his
mothers He looked worn and solitary He felt so too but nevertheless was
returning home from his countinghouse by that end of the Yard to give them the
intelligence that he had received another letter from Miss Dorrit
The news made a sensation in the cottage which drew off the general
attention from Mr Baptist Maggy who pushed her way into the foreground
immediately would have seemed to draw in the tidings of her Little Mother
equally at her ears nose mouth and eyes but that the last were obstructed by
tears She was particularly delighted when Clennam assured her that there were
hospitals and very kindly conducted hospitals in Rome Mr Pancks rose into
new distinction in virtue of being specially remembered in the letter Everybody
was pleased and interested and Clennam was well repaid for his trouble
»But you are tired sir Let me make you a cup of tea« said Mrs Plornish
»if youd condescend to take such a thing in the cottage and many thanks to
you too I am sure for bearing us in mind so kindly«
Mr Plornish deeming it incumbent on him as host to add his personal
acknowledgments tendered them in the form which always expressed his highest
ideal of a combination of ceremony with sincerity
»John Edward Nandy« said Mr Plornish addressing the old gentleman »Sir
Its not too often that you see unpretending actions without a spark of pride
and therefore when you see them give grateful honour unto the same being that
if you dont and live to want em it follows serve you right«
To which Mr Nandy replied
»I am heartily of your opinion Thomas and which your opinion is the same
as mine and therefore no more words and not being backwards with that opinion
which opinion giving it as yes Thomas yes is the opinion in which yourself
and me must ever be unanimously jined by all and where there is not difference
of opinion there can be none but one opinion which fully no Thomas Thomas
no«
Arthur with less formality expressed himself gratified by their high
appreciation of so very slight an attention on his part and explained as to the
tea that he had not yet dined and was going straight home to refresh after a
long days labour or he would have readily accepted the hospitable offer As
Mr Pancks was somewhat noisily getting his steam up for departure he concluded
by asking that gentleman if he would walk with him Mr Pancks said he desired
no better engagement and the two took leave of Happy Cottage
»If you will come home with me Pancks« said Arthur when they got into the
street »and will share what dinner or supper there is it will be next door to
an act of charity for I am weary and out of sorts tonight«
»Ask me to do a greater thing than that« said Pancks »when you want it
done and Ill do it«
Between this eccentric personage and Clennam a tacit understanding and
accord had been always improving since Mr Pancks flew over Mr Ruggs back in
the Marshalsea Yard When the carriage drove away on the memorable day of the
familys departure these two had looked after it together and had walked
slowly away together When the first letter came from Little Dorrit nobody was
more interested in hearing of her than Mr Pancks The second letter at that
moment in Clennams breastpocket particularly remembered him by name Though
he had never before made any profession or protestation to Clennam and though
what he had just said was little enough as to the words in which it was
expressed Clennam had long had a growing belief that Mr Pancks in his own odd
way was becoming attached to him All these strings intertwining made Pancks a
very cable of anchorage that night
»I am quite alone« Arthur explained as they walked on »My partner is away
busily engaged at a distance on his branch of our business and you shall do
just as you like«
»Thank you You didnt take particular notice of little Altro just now did
you« said Pancks
»No Why«
»Hes a bright fellow and I like him« said Pancks »Something has gone
amiss with him today Have you any idea of any cause that can have overset
him«
»You surprise me None whatever«
Mr Pancks gave his reasons for the inquiry Arthur was quite unprepared for
them and quite unable to suggest an explanation of them
»Perhaps youll ask him« said Pancks »as hes a stranger«
»Ask him what« returned Clennam
»What he has on his mind«
»I ought first to see for myself that he has something on his mind I
think« said Clennam »I have found him in every way so diligent so grateful
for little enough and so trustworthy that it might look like suspecting him
And that would be very unjust«
»True« said Pancks »But I say You oughtnt to be anybodys proprietor
Mr Clennam Youre much too delicate«
»For the matter of that« returned Clennam laughing »I have not a large
proprietary share in Cavalletto His carving is his livelihood He keeps the
keys of the Factory watches it every alternate night and acts as a sort of
housekeeper to it generally but we have little work in the way of his
ingenuity though we give him what we have No I am rather his adviser than his
proprietor To call me his standing counsel and his banker would be nearer the
fact Speaking of being his banker is it not curious Pancks that the ventures
which run just now in so many peoples heads should run even in little
Cavallettos«
»Ventures« retorted Pancks with a snort »What ventures«
»These Merdle enterprises«
»Oh Investments« said Pancks »Ay ay I didnt know you were speaking of
investments«
His quick way of replying caused Clennam to look at him with a doubt
whether he meant more than he said As it was accompanied however with a
quickening of his pace and a corresponding increase in the labouring of his
machinery Arthur did not pursue the matter and they soon arrived at his house
A dinner of soup and a pigeonpie served on a little round table before the
fire and flavoured with a bottle of good wine oiled Mr Panckss works in a
highly effective manner So that when Clennam produced his Eastern pipe and
handed Mr Pancks another Eastern pipe the latter gentleman was perfectly
comfortable
They puffed for a while in silence Mr Pancks like a steamvessel with
wind tide calmwater and all other seagoing conditions in her favour He
was the first to speak and he spoke thus
»Yes Investments is the word«
Clennam with his former look said »Ah«
»I am going back to it you see« said Pancks
»Yes I see you are going back to it« returned Clennam wondering why
»Wasnt it a curious thing that they should run in little Altros head Eh«
said Pancks as he smoked »Wasnt that how you put it«
»That was what I said«
»Ay But think of the whole Yard having got it Think of their all meeting
me with it on my collecting days here and there and everywhere Whether they
pay or whether they dont pay Merdle Merdle Merdle Always Merdle«
»Very strange how these runs on an infatuation prevail« said Arthur
»Ant it« returned Pancks After smoking for a minute or so more drily
than comported with his recent oiling he added »Because you see these people
dont understand the subject«
»Not a bit« assented Clennam
»Not a bit« cried Pancks »Know nothing of figures Know nothing of money
questions Never made a calculation Never worked it sir«
»If they had « Clennam was going on to say when Mr Pancks without change
of countenance produced a sound so far surpassing all his usual efforts nasal
or bronchial that he stopped
»If they had« repeated Pancks in an inquiring tone
»I thought you spoke« said Arthur hesitating what name to give the
interruption
»Not at all« said Pancks »Not yet I may in a minute If they had«
»If they had« observed Clennam who was a little at a loss how to take his
friend »why I suppose they would have known better«
»How so Mr Clennam« Pancks asked quickly and with an odd effect of
having been from the commencement of the conversation loaded with the heavy
charge he now fired off »Theyre right you know They dont mean to be but
theyre right«
»Right in sharing Cavallettos inclination to speculate with Mr Merdle«
»Perfectly sir« said Pancks »Ive gone into it Ive made the
calculations Ive worked it Theyre safe and genuine« Relieved by having got
to this Mr Pancks took as long a pull as his lungs would permit at his Eastern
pipe and looked sagaciously and steadily at Clennam while inhaling and exhaling
too
In those moments Mr Pancks began to give out the dangerous infection with
which he was laden It is the manner of communicating these diseases it is the
subtle way in which they go about
»Do you mean my good Pancks« asked Clennam emphatically »that you would
put that thousand pounds of yours let us say for instance out at this kind of
interest«
»Certainly« said Pancks »Already done it sir«
Mr Pancks took another long inhalation another long exhalation another
long sagacious look at Clennam
»I tell you Mr Clennam Ive gone into it« said Pancks »Hes a man of
immense resources enormous capital government influence Theyre the best
schemes afloat Theyre safe Theyre certain«
»Well« returned Clennam looking first at him gravely and then at the fire
gravely »You surprise me«
»Bah« Pancks retorted »Dont say that sir Its what you ought to do
yourself Why dont you do as I do«
Of whom Mr Pancks had taken the prevalent disease he could no more have
told than if he had unconsciously taken a fever Bred at first as many physical
diseases are in the wickedness of men and then disseminated in their
ignorance these epidemics after a period get communicated to many sufferers
who are neither ignorant nor wicked Mr Pancks might or might not have caught
the illness himself from a subject of this class but in this category he
appeared before Clennam and the infection he threw off was all the more
virulent
»And you have really invested« Clennam had already passed to that word
»your thousand pounds Pancks«
»To be sure sir« replied Pancks boldly with a puff of smoke »And only
wish it ten«
Now Clennam had two subjects lying heavy on his lonely mind that night the
one his partners longdeferred hope the other what he had seen and heard at
his mothers In the relief of having this companion and of feeling that he
could trust him he passed on to both and both brought him round again with an
increase and acceleration of force to his point of departure
It came about in the simplest manner Quitting the investment subject after
an interval of silent looking at the fire through the smoke of his pipe he told
Pancks how and why he was occupied with the great National Department »A hard
case it has been and a hard case it is on Doyce« he finished by saying with
all the honest feeling the topic roused in him
»Hard indeed« Pancks acquiesced »But you manage for him Mr Clennam«
»How do you mean«
»Manage the money part of the business«
»Yes As well as I can«
»Manage it better sir« said Pancks »Recompense him for his toils and
disappointments Give him the chances of the time Hell never benefit himself
in that way patient and preoccupied workman He looks to you sir«
»I do my best Pancks« returned Clennam uneasily »As to duly weighing and
considering these new enterprises of which I have had no experience I doubt if
I am fit for it I am growing old«
»Growing old« cried Pancks »Ha ha«
There was something so indubitably genuine in the wonderful laugh and
series of snorts and puffs engendered in Mr Panckss astonishment at and
utter rejection of the idea that his being quite in earnest could not be
questioned
»Growing old« cried Pancks »Hear hear hear Old Hear him hear him«
The positive refusal expressed in Mr Panckss continued snorts no less
than in these exclamations to entertain the sentiment for a single instant
drove Arthur away from it Indeed he was fearful of something happening to Mr
Pancks in the violent conflict that took place between the breath he jerked out
of himself and the smoke he jerked into himself This abandonment of the second
topic threw him on the third
»Young old or middleaged Pancks« he said when there was a favourable
pause »I am in a very anxious and uncertain state a state that even leads me
to doubt whether anything now seeming to belong to me may be really mine Shall
I tell you how this is Shall I put a great trust in you«
»You shall sir« said Pancks »if you believe me worthy of it«
»I do«
»You may« Mr Panckss short and sharp rejoinder confirmed by the sudden
outstretching of his coaly hand was most expressive and convincing Arthur
shook the hand warmly
He then softening the nature of his old apprehensions as much as was
possible consistently with their being made intelligible and never alluding to
his mother by name but speaking vaguely of a relation of his confided to Mr
Pancks a broad outline of the misgivings he entertained and of the interview he
had witnessed Mr Pancks listened with such interest that regardless of the
charms of the Eastern pipe he put it in the grate among the fireirons and
occupied his hands during the whole recital in so erecting the loops and hooks
of hair all over his head that he looked when it came to a conclusion like a
journeyman Hamlet in conversation with his fathers spirit
»Brings me back sir« was his exclamation then with a startling touch on
Clennams knee »brings me back sir to the Investments I dont say anything
of your making yourself poor to repair a wrong you never committed Thats you
A man must be himself But I say this Fearing you may want money to save your
own blood from exposure and disgrace make as much as you can«
Arthur shook his head but looked at him thoughtfully too
»Be as rich as you can sir« Pancks adjured him with a powerful
concentration of all his energies on the advice »Be as rich as you honestly
can Its your duty Not for your sake but for the sake of others Take time by
the forelock Poor Mr Doyce who really is growing old depends upon you Your
relative depends upon you You dont know what depends upon you«
»Well well well« returned Arthur »Enough for tonight«
»One word more Mr Clennam« retorted Pancks »and then enough for
tonight Why should you leave all the gains to the gluttons knaves and
impostors Why should you leave all the gains that are to be got to my
proprietor and the like of him Yet youre always doing it When I say you I
mean such men as you You know you are Why I see it every day of my life I
see nothing else Its my business to see it Therefore I say« urged Pancks
»Go in and win«
»But what of Go in and lose« said Arthur
»Cant be done sir« returned Pancks »I have looked into it Name up
everywhere immense resources enormous capital great position high
connection government influence Cant be done«
Gradually after this closing exposition Mr Pancks subsided allowed his
hair to droop as much as it ever would droop on the utmost persuasion reclaimed
the pipe from the fireirons filled it anew and smoked it out They said
little more but were company to one another in silently pursuing the same
subjects and did not part until midnight On taking his leave Mr Pancks when
he had shaken hands with Clennam worked completely round him before he steamed
out at the door This Arthur received as an assurance that he might implicitly
rely on Pancks if he ever should come to need assistance either in any of the
matters of which they had spoken that night or any other subject that could in
any way affect himself
At intervals all next day and even while his attention was fixed on other
things he thought of Mr Panckss investment of his thousand pounds and of his
having looked into it He thought of Mr Panckss being so sanguine in this
matter and of his not being usually of a sanguine character He thought of the
great National Department and of the delight it would be to him to see Doyce
better off He thought of the darkly threatening place that went by the name of
Home in his remembrance and of the gathering shadows which made it yet more
darkly threatening than of old He observed anew that wherever he went he saw
or heard or touched the celebrated name of Merdle he found it difficult even
to remain at his desk a couple of hours without having it presented to one of
his bodily senses through some agency or other He began to think it was curious
too that it should be everywhere and that nobody but he should seem to have any
mistrust of it Though indeed he began to remember when he got to this even he
did not mistrust it he had only happened to keep aloof from it
Such symptoms when a disease of the kind is rife are usually the signs of
sickening
Chapter XIV
Taking Advice
When it became known to the Britons on the shore of the yellow Tiber that their
intelligent compatriot Mr Sparkler was made one of the Lords of their
Circumlocution Office they took it as a piece of news with which they had no
nearer concern than with any other piece of news any other Accident or Offence
in the English papers Some laughed some said by way of complete excuse
that the post was virtually a sinecure and any fool who could spell his name
was good enough for it some and these were the more solemn political oracles
said that Decimus did wisely to strengthen himself and that the sole
constitutional purpose of all places within the gift of Decimus was that
Decimus should strengthen himself A few bilious Britons there were who would
not subscribe to this article of faith but their objection was purely
theoretical In a practical point of view they listlessly abandoned the matter
as being the business of some other Britons unknown somewhere or nowhere In
like manner at home great numbers of Britons maintained for as long as
fourandtwenty consecutive hours that those invisible and anonymous Britons
ought to take it up and that if they quietly acquiesced in it they deserved
it But of what class the remiss Britons were composed and where the unlucky
creatures hid themselves and why they hid themselves and how it constantly
happened that they neglected their interests when so many other Britons were
quite at a loss to account for their not looking after those interests was not
either upon the shore of the yellow Tiber or the shore of the black Thames made
apparent to men
Mrs Merdle circulated the news as she received congratulations on it with
a careless grace that displayed it to advantage as the setting displays the
jewel Yes she said Edmund had taken the place Mr Merdle wished him to take
it and he had taken it She hoped Edmund might like it but really she didnt
know It would keep him in town a good deal and he preferred the country
Still it was not a disagreeable position and it was a position There was no
denying that the thing was a compliment to Mr Merdle and was not a bad thing
for Edmund if he liked it It was just as well that he should have something to
do and it was just as well that he should have something for doing it Whether
it would be more agreeable to Edmund than the army remained to be seen
Thus the Bosom accomplished in the art of seeming to make things of small
account and really enhancing them in the process. While Henry Gowan whom
Decimus had thrown away went through the whole round of his acquaintance
between the Gate of the People and the town of Albano vowing almost but not
quite with tears in his eyes that Sparkler was the sweetesttempered
simplesthearted altogether most lovable jackass that ever grazed on the public
common and that only one circumstance could have delighted him Gowan more
than his the beloved jackasss getting this post and that would have been his
Gowans getting it himself He said it was the very thing for Sparkler There
was nothing to do and he would do it charmingly there was a handsome salary to
draw and he would draw it charmingly it was a delightful appropriate capital
appointment and he almost forgave the donor his slight of himself in his joy
that the dear donkey for whom he had so great an affection was so admirably
stabled Nor did his benevolence stop here He took pains on all social
occasions to draw Mr Sparkler out and make him conspicuous before the
company and although the considerate action always resulted in that young
gentlemans making a dreary and forlorn mental spectacle of himself the
friendly intention was not to be doubted
Unless indeed it chanced to be doubted by the object of Mr Sparklers
affections Miss Fanny was now in the difficult situation of being universally
known in that light and of not having dismissed Mr Sparkler however
capriciously she used him Hence she was sufficiently identified with the
gentleman to feel compromised by his being more than usually ridiculous and
hence, being by no means deficient in quickness she sometimes came to his
rescue against Gowan and did him very good service But while doing this she
was ashamed of him undetermined whether to get rid of him or more decidedly
encourage him distracted with apprehensions that she was every day becoming
more and more immeshed in her uncertainties and tortured by misgivings that
Mrs Merdle triumphed in her distress With this tumult in her mind it is no
subject for surprise that Miss Fanny came home one night in a state of agitation
from a concert and ball at Mrs Merdles house and on her sister affectionately
trying to soothe her pushed that sister away from the toilettetable at which
she sat angrily trying to cry and declared with a heaving bosom that she
detested everybody and she wished she was dead
»Dear Fanny what is the matter Tell me«
»Matter you little Mole« said Fanny »If you were not the blindest of the
blind you would have no occasion to ask me The idea of daring to pretend to
assert that you have eyes in your head and yet ask me whats the matter«
»Is it Mr Sparkler dear«
»Mister Sparkler« repeated Fanny with unbounded scorn as if he were the
last subject in the Solar system that could possibly be near her mind »No Miss
Bat it is not«
Immediately afterwards she became remorseful for having called her sister
names declaring with sobs that she knew she made herself hateful but that
everybody drove her to it
»I dont think you are well tonight dear Fanny«
»Stuff and nonsense« replied the young lady turning angry again »I am as
well as you are Perhaps I might say better and yet make no boast of it«
Poor little Dorrit not seeing her way to the offering of any soothing words
that would escape repudiation deemed it best to remain quiet At first Fanny
took this ill too protesting to her lookingglass that of all the trying
sisters a girl could have she did think the most trying sister was a flat
sister That she knew she was at times a wretched temper that she knew she made
herself hateful that when she made herself hateful nothing would do her half
the good as being told so but that being afflicted with a flat sister she
never was told so and the consequence resulted that she was absolutely tempted
and goaded into making herself disagreeable Besides she angrily told her
lookingglass she didnt want to be forgiven It was not a right example that
she should be constantly stooping to be forgiven by a younger sister And this
was the Art of it that she was always being placed in the position of being
forgiven whether she liked it or not Finally she burst into violent weeping
and when her sister came and sat close at her side to comfort her said »Amy
youre an Angel«
»But I tell you what my Pet« said Fanny when her sisters gentleness had
calmed her »it now comes to this that things cannot and shall not go on as
they are at present going on and that there must be an end of this one way or
other«
As the announcement was vague though very peremptory Little Dorrit
returned »Let us talk about it«
»Quite so my dear« assented Fanny as she dried her eyes »Let us talk
about it I am rational again now and you shall advise me Will you advise me
my sweet child«
Even Amy smiled at the notion, but she said »I will Fanny as well as I
can«
»Thank you dearest Amy« returned Fanny kissing her »You are my Anchor«
Having embraced her Anchor with great affection Fanny took a bottle of
sweet toilette water from the table and called to her maid for a fine
handkerchief She then dismissed that attendant for the night and went on to be
advised dabbing her eyes and forehead from time to time to cool them
»My love« Fanny began »our characters and points of view are sufficiently
different kiss me again my darling to make it very probable that I shall
surprise you by what I am going to say What I am going to say my dear is
that notwithstanding our property we labour socially speaking under
disadvantages You dont quite understand what I mean Amy«
»I have no doubt I shall« said Amy mildly »after a few words more«
»Well my dear what I mean is that we are after all newcomers into
fashionable life«
»I am sure Fanny« Little Dorrit interposed in her zealous admiration »no
one need find that out in you«
»Well my dear child perhaps not« said Fanny »though its most kind and
most affectionate in you you precious girl to say so« Here she dabbed her
sisters forehead and blew upon it a little »But you are« resumed Fanny »as
is well known the dearest little thing that ever was To resume my child Pa
is extremely gentlemanly and extremely well informed but he is in some
trifling respects a little different from other gentlemen of his fortune
partly on account of what he has gone through poor dear partly I fancy on
account of its often running in his mind that other people are thinking about
that while he is talking to them Uncle my love is altogether unpresentable
Though a dear creature to whom I am tenderly attached he is socially speaking
shocking Edward is frightfully expensive and dissipated I dont mean that
there is anything ungenteel in that itself far from it but I do mean that he
doesnt do it well and that he doesnt if I may so express myself get the
moneysworth in the sort of dissipated reputation that attaches to him«
»Poor Edward« sighed Little Dorrit with the whole family history in the
sigh
»Yes And poor you and me too« returned Fanny rather sharply »Very true
Then my dear we have no mother and we have a Mrs General And I tell you
again darling that Mrs General if I may reverse a common proverb and adapt
it to her is a cat in gloves who will catch mice That woman I am quite sure
and confident will be our stepmother«
»I can hardly think Fanny « Fanny stopped her
»Now dont argue with me about it Amy« said she »because I know better«
Feeling that she had been sharp again she dabbed her sisters forehead again
and blew upon it again »To resume once more my dear It then becomes a
question with me I am proud and spirited Amy as you very well know too much
so I dare say whether I shall make up my mind to take it upon myself to carry
the family through«
»How« asked her sister anxiously
»I will not« said Fanny without answering the question »submit to be
stepmothered by Mrs General and I will not submit to be in any respect
whatever either patronised or tormented by Mrs Merdle«
Little Dorrit laid her hand upon the hand that held the bottle of sweet
water with a still more anxious look Fanny quite punishing her own forehead
with the vehement dabs she now began to give it fitfully went on
»That he has somehow or other and how is of no consequence attained a very
good position no one can deny That it is a very good connection no one can
deny And as to the question of clever or not clever I doubt very much whether
a clever husband would be suitable to me I cannot submit I should not be able
to defer to him enough«
»O my dear Fanny« expostulated Little Dorrit upon whom a kind of terror
had been stealing as she perceived what her sister meant »If you loved any one
all this feeling would change If you loved any one you would no more be
yourself but you would quite lose and forget yourself in your devotion to him
If you loved him Fanny « Fanny had stopped the dabbing hand and was looking
at her fixedly
»O indeed« cried Fanny »Really Bless me how much some people know of
some subjects They say every one has a subject and I certainly seem to have
hit upon yours Amy There you little thing I was only in fun« dabbing her
sisters forehead »but dont you be a silly puss and dont you think
flightily and eloquently about degenerate impossibilities There Now Ill go
back to myself«
»Dear Fanny let me say first that I would far rather we worked for a
scanty living again than I would see you rich and married to Mr Sparkler«
»Let you say my dear« retorted Fanny »Why of course I will let you say
anything There is no constraint upon you I hope We are together to talk it
over And as to marrying Mr Sparkler I have not the least intention of doing
so tonight my dear or tomorrow morning either«
»But at some time«
»At no time for anything I know at present« answered Fanny with
indifference Then suddenly changing her indifference into a burning
restlessness she added »You talk about the clever men you little thing Its
all very fine and easy to talk about the clever men but where are they I dont
see them anywhere near me«
»My dear Fanny so short a time «
»Short time or long time« interrupted Fanny »I am impatient of our
situation I dont like our situation and very little would induce me to change
it Other girls differently reared and differently circumstanced altogether
might wonder at what I say or may do Let them They are driven by their lives
and characters I am driven by mine«
»Fanny my dear Fanny you know that you have qualities to make you the wife
of one very superior to Mr Sparkler«
»Amy my dear Amy« retorted Fanny parodying her words »I know that I wish
to have a more defined and distinct position in which I can assert myself with
greater effect against that insolent woman«
»Would you therefore forgive my asking Fanny therefore marry her son«
»Why perhaps« said Fanny with a triumphant smile »There may be many less
promising ways of arriving at an end than that my dear That piece of insolence
may think now that it would be a great success to get her son off upon me and
shelve me But perhaps she little thinks how I would retort upon her if I
married her son I would oppose her in everything and compete with her I would
make it the business of my life«
Fanny set down the bottle when she came to this and walked about the room
always stopping and standing still while she spoke
»One thing I could certainly do my child I could make her older And I
would«
This was followed by another walk
»I would talk of her as an old woman I would pretend to know if I didnt
but I should from her son all about her age And she should hear me say Amy
affectionately quite dutifully and affectionately how well she looked
considering her time of life I could make her seem older at once by being
myself so much younger I may not be as handsome as she is I am not a fair
judge of that question I suppose but I know I am handsome enough to be a thorn
in her side And I would be«
»My dear sister would you condemn yourself to an unhappy life for this«
»It wouldnt be an unhappy life Amy It would be the life I am fitted for
Whether by disposition or whether by circumstances is no matter I am better
fitted for such a life than for almost any other«
There was something of a desolate tone in those words but with a short
proud laugh she took another walk and after passing a great lookingglass came
to another stop
»Figure Figure Amy Well The woman has a good figure I will give her her
due and not deny it But is it so far beyond all others that it is altogether
unapproachable Upon my word I am not so sure of it Give some much younger
women the latitude as to dress that she has being married and we would see
about that my dear«
Something in the thought that was agreeable and flattering brought her back
to her seat in a gayer temper She took her sisters hands in hers and clapped
all four hands above her head as she looked in her sisters face laughing
»And the dancer Amy that she has quite forgotten the dancer who bore no
sort of resemblance to me and of whom I never remind her oh dear no should
dance through her life and dance in her way to such a tune as would disturb
her insolent placidity a little Just a little my dear Amy just a little«
Meeting an earnest and imploring look in Amys face she brought the four
hands down and laid only one on Amys lips
»Now dont argue with me child« she said in a sterner way »because it is
of no use I understand these subjects much better than you do I have not
nearly made up my mind but it may be Now we have talked this over comfortably
and may go to bed You best and dearest little mouse Good night« With those
words Fanny weighed her Anchor and having taken so much advice left off
being advised for that occasion
Thenceforward Amy observed Mr Sparklers treatment by his enslaver with
new reasons for attaching importance to all that passed between them There were
times when Fanny appeared quite unable to endure his mental feebleness and when
she became so sharply impatient of it that she would all but dismiss him for
good There were other times when she got on much better with him when he
amused her and when her sense of superiority seemed to counterbalance that
opposite side of the scale If Mr Sparkler had been other than the faithfullest
and most submissive of swains he was sufficiently hard pressed to have fled
from the scene of his trials and have set at least the whole distance from Rome
to London between himself and his enchantress But he had no greater will of his
own than a boat has when it is towed by a steamship and he followed his cruel
mistress through rough and smooth on equally strong compulsion
Mrs Merdle during these passages said little to Fanny but said more
about her She was as it were forced to look at her through her eyeglass and
in general conversation to allow commendations of her beauty to be wrung from
her by its irresistible demands The defiant character it assumed when Fanny
heard these extollings as it generally happened that she did was not
expressive of concessions to the impartial bosom but the utmost revenge the
bosom took was to say audibly »a spoilt beauty but with that face and shape
who could wonder«
It might have been about a month or six weeks after the night of the advice
when Little Dorrit began to think she detected some new understanding between
Mr Sparkler and Fanny Mr Sparkler as if in adherence to some compact
scarcely ever spoke without first looking towards Fanny for leave That young
lady was too discreet ever to look back again but if Mr Sparkler had
permission to speak she remained silent if he had not she herself spoke
Moreover it became plain whenever Henry Gowan attempted to perform the friendly
office of drawing him out that he was not to be drawn And not only that but
Fanny would presently without any pointed application in the world chance to
say something with such a sting in it that Gowan would draw back as if he had
put his hand into a beehive
There was yet another circumstance which went a long way to confirm Little
Dorrit in her fears though it was not a great circumstance in itself. Mr
Sparklers demeanour towards herself changed It became fraternal Sometimes
when she was in the outer circle of assemblies at their own residence at Mrs
Merdles or elsewhere she would find herself stealthily supported round the
waist by Mr Sparklers arm Mr Sparkler never offered the slightest
explanation of this attention but merely smiled with an air of blundering
contented goodnatured proprietorship which in so heavy a gentleman was
ominously expressive
Little Dorrit was at home one day thinking about Fanny with a heavy heart
They had a room at one end of their drawingroom suite nearly all irregular
baywindow projecting over the street and commanding all the picturesque life
and variety of the Corso both up and down At three or four oclock in the
afternoon English time the view from this window was very bright and peculiar
and Little Dorrit used to sit and muse here much as she had been used to while
away the time in her balcony at Venice Seated thus one day she was softly
touched on the shoulder and Fanny said »Well Amy dear« and took her seat at
her side Their seat was a part of the window when there was anything in the
way of a procession going on they used to have bright draperies hung out at the
window and used to kneel or sit on this seat and look out at it leaning on
the brilliant colour But there was no procession that day and Little Dorrit
was rather surprised by Fannys being at home at that hour as she was generally
out on horseback then
»Well Amy« said Fanny »what are you thinking of little one«
»I was thinking of you Fanny«
»No What a coincidence I declare heres some one else You were not
thinking of this some one else too were you Amy«
Amy had been thinking of this some one else too for it was Mr Sparkler
She did not say so however as she gave him her hand Mr Sparkler came and sat
down on the other side of her and she felt the fraternal railing come behind
her and apparently stretch on to include Fanny
»Well my little sister« said Fanny with a sigh »I suppose you know what
this means«
»Shes as beautiful as shes doated on« stammered Mr Sparkler »and
theres no nonsense about her its arranged «
»You neednt explain Edmund« said Fanny
»No my love« said Mr Sparkler
»In short pet« proceeded Fanny »on the whole we are engaged We must
tell papa about it either tonight or tomorrow according to the
opportunities Then its done and very little more need be said«
»My dear Fanny« said Mr Sparkler with deference »I should like to say a
word to Amy«
»Well well Say it for goodness sake« returned the young lady
»I am convinced my dear Amy« said Mr Sparkler »that if ever there was a
girl next to your highly endowed and beautiful sister who had no nonsense
about her «
»We know all about that Edmund« interposed Miss Fanny »Never mind that
Pray go on to something else besides our having no nonsense about us«
»Yes my love« said Mr Sparkler »And I assure you Amy that nothing can
be a greater happiness to myself myself next to the happiness of being so
highly honoured with the choice of a glorious girl who hasnt an atom of «
»Pray Edmund pray« interrupted Fanny with a slight pat of her pretty
foot upon the floor
»My love youre quite right« said Mr Sparkler »and I know I have a habit
of it What I wished to declare was that nothing can be a greater happiness to
myself myself next to the happiness of being united to preeminently the most
glorious of girls than to have the happiness of cultivating the affectionate
acquaintance of Amy I may not myself« said Mr Sparkler manfully »be up to
the mark on some other subjects at a short notice and I am aware that if you
were to poll Society the general opinion would be that I am not but on the
subject of Amy I AM up to the mark«
Mr Sparkler kissed her in witness thereof
»A knife and fork and an apartment« proceeded Mr Sparkler growing in
comparison with his oratorical antecedents quite diffuse »will ever be at
Amys disposal My Governor I am sure will always be proud to entertain one
whom I so much esteem And regarding my mother« said Mr Sparkler »who is a
remarkably fine woman with «
»Edmund Edmund« cried Miss Fanny as before
»With submission my soul« pleaded Mr Sparkler »I know I have a habit of
it and I thank you very much my adorable girl for taking the trouble to
correct it but my mother is admitted on all sides to be a remarkably fine
woman and she really hasnt any«
»That may be or may not be« returned Fanny »but pray dont mention it any
more«
»I will not my love« said Mr Sparkler
»Then in fact you have nothing more to say Edmund have you« inquired
Fanny
»So far from it my adorable girl« answered Mr Sparkler »I apologise for
having said so much«
Mr Sparkler perceived by a kind of inspiration that the question implied
had he not better go He therefore withdrew the fraternal railing and neatly
said that he thought he would with submission take his leave He did not go
without being congratulated by Amy as well as she could discharge that office
in the flutter and distress of her spirits
When he was gone she said »O Fanny Fanny« and turned to her sister in
the bright window and fell upon her bosom and cried there Fanny laughed at
first but soon laid her face against her sisters and cried too a little It
was the last time Fanny ever showed that there was any hidden suppressed or
conquered feeling in her on the matter From that hour the way she had chosen
lay before her and she trod it with her own imperious selfwilled step
Chapter XV
No Just Cause or Impediment Why These Two Persons Should Not Be Joined Together
Mr Dorrit on being informed by his elder daughter that she had accepted
matrimonial overtures from Mr Sparkler to whom she had plighted her troth
received the communication at once with great dignity and with a large display
of parental pride his dignity dilating with the widened prospect of
advantageous ground from which to make acquaintances and his parental pride
being developed by Miss Fannys ready sympathy with that great object of his
existence He gave her to understand that her noble ambition found harmonious
echoes in his heart and bestowed his blessing on her as a child brimful of
duty and good principle selfdevoted to the aggrandisement of the family name
To Mr Sparkler when Miss Fanny permitted him to appear Mr Dorrit said
he would not disguise that the alliance Mr Sparkler did him the honour to
propose was highly congenial to his feelings both as being in unison with the
spontaneous affections of his daughter Fanny and as opening a family connection
of a gratifying nature with Mr Merdle the master spirit of the age Mrs
Merdle also as a leading lady rich in distinction elegance grace and beauty
he mentioned in very laudatory terms He felt it his duty to remark he was sure
a gentleman of Mr Sparklers fine sense would interpret him with all delicacy
that he could not consider this proposal definitely determined on until he
should have had the privilege of holding some correspondence with Mr Merdle
and of ascertaining it to be so far accordant with the views of that eminent
gentleman as that his Mr Dorrits daughter would be received on that footing
which her station in life and her dowry and expectations warranted him in
requiring that she should maintain in what he trusted he might be allowed
without the appearance of being mercenary to call the Eye of the Great World
While saying this which his character as a gentleman of some little station
and his character as a father equally demanded of him he would not be so
diplomatic as to conceal that the proposal remained in hopeful abeyance and
under conditional acceptance and that he thanked Mr Sparkler for the
compliment rendered to himself and to his family He concluded with some further
and more general observations on the ha character of an independent
gentleman and the hum character of a possibly too partial and admiring
parent To sum the whole up shortly he received Mr Sparklers offer very much
as he would have received three or four halfcrowns from him in the days that
were gone
Mr Sparkler finding himself stunned by the words thus heaped upon his
inoffensive head made a brief though pertinent rejoinder the same being
neither more nor less than that he had long perceived Miss Fanny to have no
nonsense about her and that he had no doubt of its being all right with his
Governor At that point the object of his affections shut him up like a box
with a spring lid and sent him away
Proceeding shortly afterwards to pay his respects to the Bosom Mr Dorrit
was received by it with great consideration Mrs Merdle had heard of this
affair from Edmund She had been surprised at first because she had not thought
Edmund a marrying man Society had not thought Edmund a marrying man Still of
course she had seen as a woman we women did instinctively see these things
Mr Dorrit that Edmund had been immensely captivated by Miss Dorrit and she
had openly said that Mr Dorrit had much to answer for in bringing so charming a
girl abroad to turn the heads of his countrymen
»Have I the honour to conclude madam« said Mr Dorrit »that the direction
which Mr Sparklers affections have taken is ha approved of by you«
»I assure you Mr Dorrit« returned the lady »that personally I am
charmed«
That was very gratifying to Mr Dorrit
»Personally« repeated Mrs Merdle »charmed«
This casual repetition of the word personally moved Mr Dorrit to express
his hope that Mr Merdles approval too would not be wanting
»I cannot« said Mrs Merdle »take upon myself to answer positively for Mr
Merdle gentlemen especially gentlemen who are what Society calls capitalists
having their own ideas of these matters But I should think merely giving an
opinion Mr Dorrit I should think Mr Merdle would be upon the whole« here
she held a review of herself before adding at her leisure »quite charmed«
At the mention of gentlemen whom Society called capitalists Mr Dorrit had
coughed as if some internal demur were breaking out of him Mrs Merdle had
observed it and went on to take up the cue
»Though indeed Mr Dorrit it is scarcely necessary for me to make that
remark except in the mere openness of saying what is uppermost to one whom I so
highly regard and with whom I hope I may have the pleasure of being brought
into still more agreeable relations For one cannot but see the great
probability of your considering such things from Mr Merdles own point of view
except indeed that circumstances have made it Mr Merdles accidental fortune
or misfortune to be engaged in business transactions and that they however
vast may a little cramp his horizon I am a very child as to having any notion
of business« said Mrs Merdle »but I am afraid Mr Dorrit it may have that
tendency«
This skilful seesaw of Mr Dorrit and Mrs Merdle so that each of them
sent the other up and each of them sent the other down and neither had the
advantage acted as a sedative on Mr Dorrits cough He remarked with his
utmost politeness that he must beg to protest against its being supposed even
by Mrs Merdle the accomplished and graceful to which compliment she bent
herself that such enterprises as Mr Merdles apart as they were from the
puny undertakings of the rest of men had any lower tendency than to enlarge and
expand the genius in which they were conceived »You are generosity itself«
said Mrs Merdle in return smiling her best smile »let us hope so But I
confess I am almost superstitious in my ideas about business«
Mr Dorrit threw in another compliment here to the effect that business
like the time which was precious in it was made for slaves and that it was not
for Mrs Merdle who ruled all hearts at her supreme pleasure to have anything
to do with it Mrs Merdle laughed and conveyed to Mr Dorrit an idea that the
Bosom flushed which was one of her best effects
»I say so much« she then explained »merely because Mr Merdle has always
taken the greatest interest in Edmund and has always expressed the strongest
desire to advance his prospects Edmunds public position I think you know His
private position rests wholly with Mr Merdle In my foolish incapacity for
business I assure you I know no more«
Mr Dorrit again expressed in his own way the sentiment that business was
below the ken of enslavers and enchantresses He then mentioned his intention
as a gentleman and a parent of writing to Mr Merdle Mrs Merdle concurred
with all her heart or with all her art which was exactly the same thing and
herself despatched a preparatory letter by the next post to the eighth wonder
of the world
In his epistolary communication as in his dialogues and discourses on the
great question to which it related Mr Dorrit surrounded the subject with
flourishes as writingmasters embellish copybooks and cipheringbooks where
the titles of the elementary rules of arithmetic diverge into swans eagles
griffins and other caligraphic recreations and where the capital letters go
out of their minds and bodies into ecstasies of pen and ink Nevertheless he
did render the purport of his letter sufficiently clear to enable Mr Merdle to
make a decent pretence of having learnt it from that source Mr Merdle replied
to it accordingly Mr Dorrit replied to Mr Merdle Mr Merdle replied to Mr
Dorrit and it was soon announced that the corresponding powers had come to a
satisfactory understanding
Now and not before Miss Fanny burst upon the scene completely arrayed for
her new part Now and not before she wholly absorbed Mr Sparkler in her
light and shone for both and twenty more No longer feeling that want of a
defined place and character which had caused her so much trouble this fair ship
began to steer steadily on a shaped course and to swim with a weight and
balance that developed her sailing qualities
»The preliminaries being so satisfactorily arranged I think I will now my
dear« said Mr Dorrit »announce ha formally to Mrs General «
»Papa« returned Fanny taking him up short upon that name »I dont see
what Mrs General has got to do with it«
»My dear« said Mr Dorrit »it will be an act of courtesy to hum a
lady well bred and refined «
»O I am sick of Mrs Generals good breeding and refinement papa« said
Fanny »I am tired of Mrs General«
»Tired« repeated Mr Dorrit in reproachful astonishment »of ha Mrs
General«
»Quite disgusted with her papa« said Fanny »I really dont see what she
has to do with my marriage Let her keep to her own matrimonial projects if
she has any«
»Fanny« returned Mr Dorrit with a grave and weighty slowness upon him
contrasting strongly with his daughters levity »I beg the favour of your
explaining ha what it is you mean«
»I mean papa« said Fanny »that if Mrs General should happen to have any
matrimonial projects of her own I dare say they are quite enough to occupy her
spare time And that if she has not so much the better but still I dont wish
to have the honour of making announcements to her«
»Permit me to ask you Fanny« said Mr Dorrit »why not«
»Because she can find my engagement out for herself papa« retorted Fanny
»She is watchful enough I dare say I think I have seen her so Let her find it
out for herself If she should not find it out for herself she will know it
when I am married And I hope you will not consider me wanting in affection for
you papa if I say it strikes me that will be quite time enough for Mrs
General«
»Fanny« returned Mr Dorrit »I am amazed I am displeased by this hum
this capricious and unintelligible display of animosity towards ha Mrs
General«
»Do not if you please papa« urged Fanny »call it animosity because I
assure you I do not consider Mrs General worth my animosity«
At this Mr Dorrit rose from his chair with a fixed look of severe reproof
and remained standing in his dignity before his daughter His daughter turning
the bracelet on her arm and now looking at him and now looking from him said
»Very well papa I am truly sorry if you dont like it but I cant help it I
am not a child and I am not Amy and I must speak«
»Fanny« gasped Mr Dorrit after a majestic silence »if I request you to
remain here while I formally announce to Mrs General as an exemplary lady
who is hum a trusted member of this family the ha the change that is
contemplated among us if I ha not only request it but hum insist upon
it «
»Oh papa« Fanny broke in with pointed significance »if you make so much
of it as that I have in duty nothing to do but comply I hope I may have my
thoughts upon the subject however for I really cannot help it under the
circumstances« So Fanny sat down with a meekness which in the junction of
extremes became defiance and her father either not deigning to answer or not
knowing what to answer summoned Mr Tinkler into his presence
»Mrs General«
Mr Tinkler unused to receive such short orders in connection with the fair
varnisher paused Mr Dorrit seeing the whole Marshalsea and all its
Testimonials in the pause instantly flew at him with »How dare you sir What
do you mean«
»I beg your pardon sir« pleaded Mr Tinkler »I was wishful to know «
»You wished to know nothing sir« cried Mr Dorrit highly flushed »Dont
tell me you did Ha You didnt You are guilty of mockery sir«
»I assure you sir « Mr Tinkler began
»Dont assure me« said Mr Dorrit »I will not be assured by a domestic
You are guilty of mockery You shall leave me hum the whole establishment
shall leave me What are you waiting for«
»Only for my orders sir«
»Its false« said Mr Dorrit »you have your orders Ha hum My
compliments to Mrs General and I beg the favour of her coming to me if quite
convenient for a few minutes Those are your orders«
In his execution of this mission Mr Tinkler perhaps expressed that Mr
Dorrit was in a raging fume However that was Mrs Generals skirts were very
speedily heard outside coming along one might almost have said bouncing along
with unusual expedition Albeit they settled down at the door and swept into
the room with their customary coolness
»Mrs General« said Mr Dorrit »take a chair«
Mrs General with a graceful curve of acknowledgment descended into the
chair which Mr Dorrit offered
»Madam« pursued that gentleman »as you have had the kindness to undertake
the hum formation of my daughters and as I am persuaded that nothing nearly
affecting them can ha be indifferent to you «
»Wholly impossible« said Mrs General in the calmest of ways
» I therefore wish to announce to you madam that my daughter now present
«
Mrs General made a slight inclination of her head to Fanny Who made a very
low inclination of her head to Mrs General and came loftily upright again
» That my daughter Fanny is ha contracted to be married to Mr
Sparkler with whom you are acquainted Hence madam you will be relieved of
half your difficult charge ha difficult charge« Mr Dorrit repeated it with
his angry eye on Fanny »But not I hope to the hum diminution of any other
portion direct or indirect of the footing you have at present the kindness to
occupy in my family«
»Mr Dorrit« returned Mrs General with her gloved hands resting on one
another in exemplary repose »is ever considerate and ever but too appreciative
of my friendly services«
Miss Fanny coughed as much as to say »You are right«
»Miss Dorrit has no doubt exercised the soundest discretion of which the
circumstances admitted and I trust will allow me to offer her my sincere
congratulations When free from the trammels of passion« Mrs General closed
her eyes at the word as if she could not utter it and see anybody »when
occurring with the approbation of near relatives and when cementing the proud
structure of a family edifice these are usually auspicious events I trust Miss
Dorrit will allow me to offer her my best congratulations«
Here Mrs General stopped and added internally for the setting of her
face »Papa potatoes poultry prunes and prism«
»Mr Dorrit« she superadded aloud »is ever most obliging and for the
attention and I will add distinction of having this confidence imparted to me
by himself and Miss Dorrit at this early time I beg to offer the tribute of my
thanks My thanks and my congratulations are equally the meed of Mr Dorrit
and of Miss Dorrit«
»To me« observed Miss Fanny »they are excessively gratifying
inexpressibly so The relief of finding that you have no objection to make Mrs
General quite takes a load off my mind I am sure I hardly know what I should
have done« said Fanny »if you had interposed any objection Mrs General«
Mrs General changed her gloves as to the right glove being uppermost and
the left undermost with a Prunes and Prism smile
»To preserve your approbation Mrs General« said Fanny returning the
smile with one in which there was no trace of those ingredients »will of course
be the highest object of my married life to lose it would of course be perfect
wretchedness I am sure your great kindness will not object and I hope papa
will not object to my correcting a small mistake you have made however The
best of us are so liable to mistakes that even you Mrs General have fallen
into a little error The attention and distinction you have so impressively
mentioned Mrs General as attaching to this confidence are I have no doubt
of the most complimentary and gratifying description but they dont at all
proceed from me The merit of having consulted you on the subject would have
been so great in me that I feel I must not lay claim to it when it really is
not mine It is wholly papas I am deeply obliged to you for your encouragement
and patronage but it was papa who asked for it I have to thank you Mrs
General for relieving my breast of a great weight by so handsomely giving your
consent to my engagement but you have really nothing to thank me for I hope
you will always approve of my proceedings after I have left home and that my
sister also may long remain the favoured object of your condescension Mrs
General«
With this address which was delivered in her politest manner Fanny left
the room with an elegant and cheerful air to tear upstairs with a flushed
face as soon as she was out of hearing pounce in upon her sister call her a
little Dormouse shake her for the better opening of her eyes tell her what had
passed below and ask her what she thought about Pa now
Towards Mrs Merdle the young lady comported herself with great
independence and selfpossession but not as yet with any more decided opening
of hostilities Occasionally they had a slight skirmish as when Fanny
considered herself patted on the back by that lady or as when Mrs Merdle
looked particularly young and well but Mrs Merdle always soon terminated those
passages of arms by sinking among her cushions with the gracefullest
indifference and finding her attention otherwise engaged Society for that
mysterious creature sat upon the Seven Hills too found Miss Fanny vastly
improved by her engagement She was much more accessible much more free and
engaging much less exacting insomuch that she now entertained a host of
followers and admirers to the bitter indignation of ladies with daughters to
marry who were to be regarded as having revolted from Society on the Miss
Dorrit grievance and erected a rebellious standard Enjoying the flutter she
caused Miss Dorrit not only haughtily moved through it in her own proper
person but haughtily even ostentatiously led Mr Sparkler through it too
seeming to say to them all »If I think proper to march among you in triumphal
procession attended by this weak captive in bonds rather than a stronger one
that is my business Enough that I choose to do it« Mr Sparkler for his part
questioned nothing but went wherever he was taken did whatever he was told
felt that for his brideelect to be distinguished was for him to be
distinguished on the easiest terms and was truly grateful for being so openly
acknowledged
The winter passing on towards the spring while this condition of affairs
prevailed it became necessary for Mr Sparkler to repair to England and take
his appointed part in the expression and direction of its genius learning
commerce spirit and sense The land of Shakespeare Milton Bacon Newton
Watt the land of a host of past and present abstract philosophers natural
philosophers and subduers of Nature and Art in their myriad forms called to
Mr Sparkler to come and take care of it lest it should perish Mr Sparkler
unable to resist the agonised cry from the depths of his countrys soul
declared that he must go
It followed that the question was rendered pressing when where and how
Mr Sparkler should be married to the foremost girl in all this world with no
nonsense about her Its solution after some little mystery and secrecy Miss
Fanny herself announced to her sister
»Now my child« said she seeking her out one day »I am going to tell you
something It is only this moment broached and naturally I hurry to you the
moment it is broached«
»Your marriage Fanny«
»My precious child« said Fanny »dont anticipate me Let me impart my
confidence to you you flurried little thing in my own way As to your guess
if I answered it literally I should answer no For really it is not my marriage
that is in question half as much as it is Edmunds«
Little Dorrit looked and perhaps not altogether without cause somewhat at
a loss to understand this fine distinction
»I am in no difficulty« exclaimed Fanny »and in no hurry I am not wanted
at any public office or to give any vote anywhere else But Edmund is And
Edmund is deeply dejected at the idea of going away by himself and indeed I
dont like that he should be trusted by himself For if its possible and it
generally is to do a foolish thing he is sure to do it«
As she concluded this impartial summary of the reliance that might be safely
placed upon her future husband she took off with an air of business the
bonnet she wore and dangled it by its strings upon the ground
»It is far more Edmunds question therefore than mine However we need
say no more about that That is selfevident on the face of it Well my dearest
Amy The point arising is he to go by himself or is he not to go by himself
this other point arises are we to be married here and shortly or are we to be
married at home months hence«
»I see I am going to lose you Fanny«
»What a little thing you are« cried Fanny half tolerant and half
impatient »for anticipating one Pray my darling hear me out That woman«
she spoke of Mrs Merdle of course »remains here until after Easter so in
the case of my being married here and going to London with Edmund I should have
the start of her That is something Further Amy That woman being out of the
way I dont know that I greatly object to Mr Merdles proposal to Pa that
Edmund and I should take up our abode in that house you know where you once
went with a dancer my dear until our own house can be chosen and fitted up
Further still Amy Papa having always intended to go to town himself in the
spring you see if Edmund and I were married here we might go off to
Florence where papa might join us and we might all three travel home together
Mr Merdle has intreated Pa to stay with him in that same mansion I have
mentioned and I suppose he will But he is master of his own actions and upon
that point which is not at all material I cant speak positively«
The difference between papas being master of his own actions and Mr
Sparklers being nothing of the sort was forcibly expressed by Fanny in her
manner of stating the case Not that her sister noticed it for she was divided
between regret at the coming separation and a lingering wish that she had been
included in the plans for visiting England
»And these are the arrangements Fanny dear«
»Arrangements« repeated Fanny »Now really child you are a little
trying You know I particularly guarded myself against laying my words open to
any such construction What I said was that certain questions present
themselves and these are the questions«
Little Dorrits thoughtful eyes met hers tenderly and quietly
»Now my own sweet girl« said Fanny weighing her bonnet by the strings
with considerable impatience »its no use staring A little owl could stare I
look to you for advice Amy What do you advise me to do«
»Do you think« asked Little Dorrit persuasively after a short hesitation
»do you think Fanny that if you were to put it off for a few months it might
be considering all things best«
»No little Tortoise« retorted Fanny with exceeding sharpness »I dont
think anything of the kind«
Here she threw her bonnet from her altogether and flounced into a chair
But becoming affectionate almost immediately she flounced out of it again and
kneeled down on the floor to take her sister chair and all in her arms
»Dont suppose I am hasty or unkind darling because I really am not But
you are such a little oddity You make one bite your head off when one wants to
be soothing beyond everything Didnt I tell you you dearest baby that Edmund
cant be trusted by himself And dont you know that he cant«
»Yes yes Fanny You said so I know«
»And you know it I know« retorted Fanny »Well my precious child If he
is not to be trusted by himself it follows, I suppose that I should go with
him«
»It seems so love« said Little Dorrit
»Therefore having heard the arrangements that are feasible to carry out
that object am I to understand dearest Amy that on the whole you advise me to
make them«
»It seems so love« said Little Dorrit again
»Very well« cried Fanny with an air of resignation »then I suppose it must
be done I came to you my sweet the moment I saw the doubt and the necessity
of deciding I have now decided So let it be«
After yielding herself up in this pattern manner to sisterly advice and
the force of circumstances Fanny became quite benignant as one who had laid
her own inclinations at the feet of her dearest friend and felt a glow of
conscience in having made the sacrifice »After all my Amy« she said to her
sister »you are the best of small creatures and full of good sense and I
dont know what I shall ever do without you«
With which words she folded her in a closer embrace and a really fond one
»Not that I contemplate doing without you Amy by any means for I hope we
shall ever be next to inseparable And now my pet I am going to give you a
word of advice When you are left alone here with Mrs General «
»I am to be left alone here with Mrs General« said Little Dorrit
quietly
»Why of course my precious till papa comes back Unless you call Edward
company which he certainly is not even when he is here and still more
certainly is not when he is away at Naples or in Sicily I was going to say
but you are such a beloved little Marplot for putting one out when you are
left alone here with Mrs General Amy dont you let her slide into any sort of
artful understanding with you that she is looking after Pa or that Pa is
looking after her She will if she can I know her sly manner of feeling her way
with those gloves of hers But dont you comprehend her on any account And if
Pa should tell you when he comes back that he has it in contemplation to make
Mrs General your mama which is not the less likely because I am going away
my advice to you is that you say at once Papa I beg to object most strongly
Fanny cautioned me about this and she objected and I object I dont mean to
say that any objection from you Amy is likely to be of the smallest effect or
that I think you likely to make it with any degree of firmness But there is a
principle involved a filial principle and I implore you not to submit to be
stepmothered by Mrs General without asserting it in making every one about
you as uncomfortable as possible I dont expect you to stand by it indeed I
know you wont Pa being concerned but I wish to rouse you to a sense of duty
As to any help from me or as to any opposition that I can offer to such a
match you shall not be left in the lurch my love Whatever weight I may derive
from my position as a married girl not wholly devoid of attractions used as
that position always shall be to oppose that woman I will bring to bear you
may depend upon it on the head and false hair for I am confident its not all
real ugly as it is and unlikely as it appears that any one in their senses
would go to the expense of buying it of Mrs General«
Little Dorrit received this counsel without venturing to oppose it but
without giving Fanny any reason to believe that she intended to act upon it
Having now as it were formally wound up her single life and arranged her
worldly affairs Fanny proceeded with characteristic ardour to prepare for the
serious change in her condition
The preparation consisted in the despatch of her maid to Paris under the
protection of the Courier for the purchase of that outfit for a bride on which
it would be extremely low in the present narrative to bestow an English name
but to which on a vulgar principle it observes of adhering to the language in
which it professes to be written it declines to give a French one The rich and
beautiful wardrobe purchased by these agents in the course of a few weeks made
its way through the intervening country bristling with customhouses
garrisoned by an immense army of shabby mendicants in uniform who incessantly
repeated the Beggars Petition over it as if every individual warrior among
them were the ancient Belisarius and of whom there were so many Legions that
unless the Courier had expended just one bushel and a half of silver money in
relieving their distresses they would have worn the wardrobe out before it got
to Rome by turning it over and over Through all such dangers however it was
triumphantly brought inch by inch and arrived at its journeys end in fine
condition
There it was exhibited to select companies of female viewers in whose
gentle bosoms it awakened implacable feelings Concurrently active preparations
were made for the day on which some of its treasures were to be publicly
displayed Cards of breakfastinvitation were sent out to half the English in
the city of Romulus the other half made arrangements to be under arms as
criticising volunteers at various outer points of the solemnity The most high
and illustrious English Signor Edgardo Dorrit came post through the deep mud
and ruts from forming a surface under the improving Neapolitan nobility to
grace the occasion The best hotel and all its culinary myrmidons were set to
work to prepare the feast The drafts of Mr Dorrit almost constituted a run on
the Torlonia Bank The British Consul hadnt had such a marriage in the whole of
his Consularity
The day came and the SheWolf in the Capitol might have snarled with envy
to see how the Island Savages contrived these things nowadays The
murderousheaded statues of the wicked Emperors of the Soldiery whom sculptors
had not been able to flatter out of their villainous hideousness might have
come off their pedestals to run away with the Bride The choked old fountain
where erst the gladiators washed might have leaped into life again to honour
the ceremony The Temple of Vesta might have sprung up anew from its ruins
expressly to lend its countenance to the occasion Might have done but did not
Like sentient things even like the lords and ladies of creation sometimes
might have done much but did nothing The celebration went off with admirable
pomp monks in black robes white robes and russet robes stopped to look after
the carriages wandering peasants in fleeces of sheep begged and piped under
the housewindows the English volunteers defiled the day wore on to the hour
of vespers the festival wore away the thousand churches rang their bells
without any reference to it and St Peter denied that he had anything to do
with it
But by that time the Bride was near the end of the first days journey
towards Florence It was the peculiarity of the nuptials that they were all
Bride Nobody noticed the Bridegroom Nobody noticed the first Bridesmaid Few
could have seen Little Dorrit who held that post for the glare even supposing
many to have sought her So the Bride had mounted into her handsome chariot
incidentally accompanied by the Bridegroom and after rolling for a few minutes
smoothly over a fair pavement had begun to jolt through a Slough of Despond
and through a long long avenue of wrack and ruin Other nuptial carriages are
said to have gone the same road before and since
If Little Dorrit found herself left a little lonely and a little low that
night nothing would have done so much against her feeling of depression as the
being able to sit at work by her father as in the old time and help him to his
supper and his rest But that was not to be thought of now when they sat in the
stateequipage with Mrs General on the coachbox And as to supper If Mr
Dorrit had wanted supper there was an Italian cook and there was a Swiss
confectioner who must have put on caps as high as the Popes Mitre and have
performed the mysteries of Alchemists in a coppersaucepaned laboratory below
before he could have got it
He was sententious and didactic that night If he had been simply loving he
would have done Little Dorrit more good but she accepted him as he was when
had she not accepted him as he was and made the most and best of him Mrs
General at length retired Her retirement for the night was always her frostiest
ceremony as if she felt it necessary that the human imagination should be
chilled into stone to prevent its following her When she had gone through her
rigid preliminaries amounting to a sort of genteel platoonexercise she
withdrew Little Dorrit then put her arm round her fathers neck to bid him
good night
»Amy my dear« said Mr Dorrit taking her by the hand »this is the close
of a day that has ha greatly impressed and gratified me«
»A little tired you dear too«
»No« said Mr Dorrit »no I am not sensible of fatigue when it arises from
an occasion so hum replete with gratification of the purest kind«
Little Dorrit was glad to find him in such heart and smiled from her own
heart
»My dear« he continued »this is an occasion ha teeming with a good
example With a good example my favourite and attached child hum to you«
Little Dorrit fluttered by his words did not know what to say though he
stopped as if he expected her to say something
»Amy« he resumed »your dear sister our Fanny has contracted ha hum a
marriage eminently calculated to extend the basis of our ha connection and
to hum consolidate our social relations My love I trust that the time is
not far distant when some ha eligible partner may be found for you«
»Oh no Let me stay with you I beg and pray that I may stay with you I
want nothing but to stay and take cope of you«
She said it like one in sudden alarm
»Nay Amy Amy« said Mr Dorrit »This is weak and foolish weak and
foolish You have a ha responsibility imposed upon you by your position It
is to develop that position and be hum worthy of that position As to
taking care of me I can ha take care of myself Or« he added after a
moment »if I should need to be taken care of I hum can with the ha
blessing of Providence be taken care of I ha hum I cannot my dear child
think of engrossing and ha as it were sacrificing you«
O what a time of day at which to begin that profession of self-denial at
which to make it with an air of taking credit for it at which to believe it
if such a thing could be
»Dont speak Amy I positively say I cannot do it I ha must not do it
My hum conscience would not allow it I therefore my love take the
opportunity afforded by this gratifying and impressive occasion of ha
solemnly remarking that it is now a cherished wish and purpose of mine to see
you ha eligibly I repeat eligibly married«
»Oh no dear Pray«
»Amy« said Mr Dorrit »I am well persuaded that if the topic were referred
to any person of superior social knowledge of superior delicacy and sense
let us say for instance to ha Mrs General that there would not be two
opinions as to the hum affectionate character and propriety of my
sentiments But as I know your loving and dutiful nature from hum from
experience, I am quite satisfied that it is necessary to say no more I have
hum no husband to propose at present my dear I have not even one in view I
merely wish that we should ha understand each other Hum Good night my
dear and sole remaining daughter Good night God bless you«
If the thought ever entered Little Dorrits head that night that he could
give her up lightly now in his prosperity and when he had it in his mind to
replace her with a second wife she drove it away Faithful to him still as in
the worst times through which she had borne him singlehanded she drove the
thought away and entertained no harder reflection in her tearful unrest than
that he now saw everything through their wealth and through the care he always
had upon him that they should continue rich and grow richer
They sat in their equipage of state with Mrs General on the box for three
weeks longer and then he started for Florence to join Fanny Little Dorrit
would have been glad to bear him company so far only for the sake of her own
love and then to have turned back alone thinking of dear England But though
the Courier had gone on with the Bride the Valet was next in the line and the
succession would not have come to her as long as any one could be got for
money
Mrs General took life easily as easily that is as she could take
anything when the Roman establishment remained in their sole occupation and
Little Dorrit would often ride out in a hired carriage that was left them and
alight alone and wander among the ruins of old Rome The ruins of the vast old
Amphitheatre of the old Temples of the old commemorative Arches of the old
trodden highways of the old tombs beside being what they were to her were
ruins of the old Marshalsea ruins of her own old life ruins of the faces and
forms that of old peopled it ruins of its loves hopes cares and joys Two
ruined spheres of action and suffering were before the solitary girl often
sitting on some broken fragment and in the lonely places under the blue sky
she saw them both together
Up then would come Mrs General taking all the colour out of everything
as Nature and Art had taken it out of herself writing Prunes and Prism in Mr
Eustaces text wherever she could lay a hand looking everywhere for Mr
Eustace and company and seeing nothing else scratching up the driest little
bones of antiquity and bolting them whole without any human visitings like a
Ghoule in gloves
Chapter XVI
Getting On
The newly married pair on their arrival in Harley Street Cavendish Square
London were received by the Chief Butler That great man was not interested in
them but on the whole endured them People must continue to be married and
given in marriage or Chief Butlers would not be wanted As nations are made to
be taxed so families are made to be butlered The Chief Butler no doubt
reflected that the course of nature required the wealthy population to be kept
up on his account
He therefore condescended to look at the carriage from the Halldoor without
frowning at it and said in a very handsome way to one of his men »Thomas
help with the luggage« He even escorted the Bride upstairs into Mr Merdles
presence but this must be considered as an act of homage to the sex of which
he was an admirer being notoriously captivated by the charms of a certain
Duchess and not as a committal of himself with the family
Mr Merdle was slinking about the hearthrug waiting to welcome Mrs
Sparkler His hand seemed to retreat up his sleeve as he advanced to do so and
he gave her such a superfluity of coatcuff that it was like being received by
the popular conception of Guy Fawkes When he put his lips to hers besides he
took himself into custody by the wrists and backed himself among the ottomans
and chairs and tables as if he were his own Police officer saying to himself
»Now none of that Come Ive got you you know and you go quietly along with
me«
Mrs Sparkler installed in the rooms of state the innermost sanctuary of
down silk chintz and fine linen felt that so far her triumph was good and
her way made step by step On the day before her marriage she had bestowed on
Mrs Merdles maid with an air of gracious indifference in Mrs Merdles
presence a trifling little keepsake bracelet bonnet and two dresses all
new about four times as valuable as the present formerly made by Mrs Merdle to
her She was now established in Mrs Merdles own rooms to which some extra
touches had been given to render them more worthy of her occupation In her
minds eye as she lounged there surrounded by every luxurious accessory that
wealth could obtain or invention devise she saw the fair bosom that beat in
unison with the exultation of her thoughts competing with the bosom that had
been famous so long outshining it and deposing it Happy Fanny must have been
happy No more wishing ones self dead now
The Courier had not approved of Mr Dorrits staying in the house of a
friend and had preferred to take him to an hotel in Brook Street Grosvenor
Square Mr Merdle ordered his carriage to be ready early in the morning that he
might wait upon Mr Dorrit immediately after breakfast
Bright the carriage looked sleek the horses looked gleaming the harness
looked luscious and lasting the liveries looked A rich responsible turnout
An equipage for a Merdle Early people looked after it as it rattled along the
streets and said with awe in their breath »There he goes«
There he went until Brook Street stopped him Then forth from its
magnificent case came the jewel not lustrous in itself, but quite the contrary
Commotion in the office of the hotel Merdle The landlord though a
gentleman of a haughty spirit who had just driven a pair of thoroughbred horses
into town turned out to show him upstairs The clerks and servants cut him off
by backpassages and were found accidentally hovering in doorays and angles
that they might look upon him Merdle O ye sun moon and stars the great man
The rich man who had in a manner revised the New Testament and already entered
into the kingdom of Heaven The man who could have any one he chose to dine with
him and who had made the money As he went up the stairs people were already
posted on the lower stairs that his shadow might fall upon them when he came
down So were the sick brought out and laid in the track of the Apostle who
had not got into the good society and had not made the money
Mr Dorrit dressinggowned and newspapered was at his breakfast The
Courier with agitation in his voice announced »Miss Mairdale« Mr Dorrits
overwrought heart bounded as he leaped up
»Mr Merdle this is ha indeed an honour Permit me to express the hum
sense the high sense I entertain of this ha hum highly gratifying act of
attention I am well aware sir of the many demands upon your time and its
ha enormous value« Mr Dorrit could not say enormous roundly enough for his
own satisfaction »That you should ha at this early hour bestow any of your
priceless time upon me is ha a compliment that I acknowledge with the
greatest esteem« Mr Dorrit positively trembled in addressing the great man
Mr Merdle uttered in his subdued inward hesitating voice a few sounds
that were to no purpose whatever and finally said »I am glad to see you sir«
»You are very kind« said Mr Dorrit »Truly kind« By this time the visitor
was seated and was passing his great hand over his exhausted forehead »You are
well I hope Mr Merdle«
»I am as well as I yes I am as well as I usually am« said Mr Merdle
»Your occupations must be immense«
»Tolerably so But Oh dear no theres not much the matter with me« said
Mr Merdle looking round the room
»A little dyspeptic« Mr Dorrit hinted
»Very likely But I Oh I am well enough« said Mr Merdle
There were black traces on his lips where they met as if a little train of
gunpowder had been fired there and he looked like a man who if his natural
temperament had been quicker would have been very feverish that morning This
and his heavy way of passing his hand over his forehead had prompted Mr
Dorrits solicitous inquiries
»Mrs Merdle« Mr Dorrit insinuatingly pursued »I left as you will be
prepared to hear the ha observed of all observers the hum admired of
all admirers the leading fascination and charm of Society in Rome She was
looking wonderfully well when I quitted it«
»Mrs Merdle« said Mr Merdle »is generally considered a very attractive
woman And she is no doubt I am sensible of her being so«
»Who can be otherwise« responded Mr Dorrit
Mr Merdle turned his tongue in his closed mouth it seemed rather a stiff
and unmanageable tongue moistened his lips passed his hand over his forehead
again and looked all round the room again principally under the chairs
»But« he said looking Mr Dorrit in the face for the first time and
immediately afterwards dropping his eyes to the buttons of Mr Dorrits
waistcoat »if we speak of attractions your daughter ought to be the subject of
our conversation She is extremely beautiful Both in face and figure she is
quite uncommon When the young people arrived last night I was really surprised
to see such charms«
Mr Dorrits gratification was such that he said ha he could not refrain
from telling Mr Merdle verbally as he had already done by letter what honour
and happiness he felt in this union of their families And he offered his hand
Mr Merdle looked at the hand for a little while took it on his for a moment as
if his were a yellow salver or fishslice and then returned it to Mr Dorrit
»I thought I would drive round the first thing« said Mr Merdle »to offer
my services in case I can do anything for you and to say that I hope you will
at least do me the honour of dining with me today and every day when you are
not better engaged during your stay in town«
Mr Dorrit was enraptured by these attentions
»Do you stay long sir«
»I have not at present the intention« said Mr Dorrit »of ha exceeding
a fortnight«
»Thats a very short stay after so long a journey« returned Mr Merdle
»Hum Yes« said Mr Dorrit »But the truth is ha my dear Mr Merdle
that I find a foreign life so well suited to my health and taste that I hum
have but two objects in my present visit to London First the ha the
distinguished happiness and ha privilege which I now enjoy and appreciate
secondly the arrangement hum the laying out that is to say in the best
way of ha hum my money«
»Well sir« said Mr Merdle after turning his tongue again »if I can be
of any use to you in that respect you may command me«
Mr Dorrits speech had had more hesitation in it than usual as he
approached the ticklish topic for he was not perfectly clear how so exalted a
potentate might take it He had doubts whether reference to any individual
capital or fortune might not seem a wretchedly retail affair to so wholesale a
dealer Greatly relieved by Mr Merdles affable offer of assistance he caught
at it directly and heaped acknowledgments upon him
»I scarcely ha dared« said Mr Dorrit »I assure you to hope for so
hum vast an advantage as your direct advice and assistance Though of course I
should under any circumstances like the ha hum rest of the civilised
world have followed in Mr Merdles train«
»You know we may almost say we are related sir« said Mr Merdle curiously
interested in the pattern of the carpet »and therefore you may consider me at
your service«
»Ha Very handsome indeed« cried Mr Dorrit »Ha Most handsome«
»It would not« said Mr Merdle »be at the present moment easy for what I
may call a mere outsider to come into any of the good things of course I speak
of my own good things «
»Of course of course« cried Mr Dorrit in a tone implying that there were
no other good things
» Unless at a high price At what we are accustomed to term a very long
figure«
Mr Dorrit laughed in the buoyancy of his spirit Ha ha ha Long figure
Good Ha Very expressive to be sure
»However« said Mr Merdle »I do generally retain in my own hands the power
of exercising some preference people in general would be pleased to call it
favour as a sort of compliment for my care and trouble«
»And public spirit and genius« Mr Dorrit suggested
Mr Merdle with a dry swallowing action seemed to dispose of those
qualities like a bolus then added »As a sort of return for it I will see if
you please how I can exert this limited power for people are jealous and it
is limited to your advantage«
»You are very good« replied Mr Dorrit »You are very good«
»Of course« said Mr Merdle »there must be the strictest integrity and
uprightness in these transactions there must be the purest faith between man
and man there must be unimpeached and unimpeachable confidence or business
could not be carried on«
Mr Dorrit hailed these generous sentiments with fervour
»Therefore« said Mr Merdle »I can only give you a preference to a certain
extent«
»I perceive To a defined extent« observed Mr Dorrit
»Defined extent And perfectly aboveboard As to my advice however« said
Mr Merdle »that is another matter That such as it is «
Oh Such as it was Mr Dorrit could not bear the faintest appearance of
its being depreciated even by Mr Merdle himself
» That there is nothing in the bonds of spotless honour between myself and
my fellowman to prevent my parting with if I choose And that« said Mr
Merdle now deeply intent upon a dustcart that was passing the windows »shall
be at your command whenever you think proper«
New acknowledgments from Mr Dorrit New passages of Mr Merdles hand over
his forehead Calm and silence Contemplation of Mr Dorrits waistcoat buttons
by Mr Merdle
»My time being rather precious« said Mr Merdle suddenly getting up as if
he had been waiting in the interval for his legs and they had just come »I
must be moving towards the City Can I take you anywhere sir I shall be happy
to set you down or send you on My carriage is at your disposal«
Mr Dorrit bethought himself that he had business at his bankers His
bankers was in the City That was fortunate Mr Merdle would take him into the
City But surely he might not detain Mr Merdle while he assumed his coat
Yes he might and must Mr Merdle insisted on it So Mr Dorrit retiring
into the next room put himself under the hands of his valet and in five
minutes came back glorious
Then said Mr Merdle »Allow me sir Take my arm« Then leaning on Mr
Merdles arm did Mr Dorrit descend the staircase seeing the worshippers on
the steps and feeling that the light of Mr Merdle shone by reflection in
himself Then the carriage and the ride into the City and the people who
looked at them and the hats that flew off grey heads and the general bowing
and crouching before this wonderful mortal the like of which prostration of
spirit was not to be seen no by high Heaven no It may be worth thinking of
by Fawners of all denominations in Westminster Abbey and Saint Pauls
Cathedral put together on any Sunday in the year It was a rapturous dream to
Mr Dorrit to find himself set aloft in this public car of triumph making a
magnificent progress to that befitting destination the golden Street of the
Lombards
There Mr Merdle insisted on alighting and going his way afoot and leaving
his poor equipage at Mr Dorrits disposition So the dream increased in
rapture when Mr Dorrit came out of the bank alone and people looked at him in
default of Mr Merdle and when with the ears of his mind he heard the
frequent exclamation as he rolled glibly along »A wonderful man to be Mr
Merdles friend«
At dinner that day although the occasion was not foreseen and provided for
a brilliant company of such as are not made of the dust of the earth but of
some superior article for the present unknown shed their lustrous benediction
upon Mr Dorrits daughters marriage And Mr Dorrits daughter that day began
in earnest her competition with that woman not present and began it so well
that Mr Dorrit could all but have taken his affidavit if required that Mrs
Sparkler had all her life been lying at full length in the lap of luxury and
had never heard of such a rough word in the English tongue as Marshalsea
Next day and the day after and every day all graced by more dinner
company cards descended on Mr Dorrit like theatrical snow As the friend and
relative by marriage of the illustrious Merdle Bar Bishop Treasury Chorus
Everybody wanted to make or improve Mr Dorrits acquaintance In Mr Merdles
heaps of offices in the City when Mr Dorrit appeared at any of them on his
business taking him Eastward which it frequently did for it throve amazingly
the name of Dorrit was always a passport to the great presence of Merdle So the
dream increased in rapture every hour as Mr Dorrit felt increasingly sensible
that this connection had brought him forward indeed
Only one thing sat otherwise than auriferously and at the same time
lightly on Mr Dorrits mind It was the Chief Butler That stupendous
character looked at him in the course of his official looking at the dinners
in a manner that Mr Dorrit considered questionable He looked at him as he
passed through the hall and up the staircase going to dinner with a glazed
fixedness that Mr Dorrit did not like Seated at table in the act of drinking
Mr Dorrit still saw him through his wineglass regarding him with a cold and
ghostly eye It misgave him that the Chief Butler must have known a Collegian
and must have seen him in the College perhaps had been presented to him He
looked as closely at the Chief Butler as such a man could be looked at and yet
he did not recall that he had ever seen him elsewhere Ultimately he was
inclined to think that there was no reverence in the man no sentiment in the
great creature But he was not relieved by that for let him think what he
would the Chief Butler had him in his supercilious eye even when that eye was
on the plate and other tablegarniture and he never let him out of it To hint
to him that this confinement in his eye was disagreeable or to ask him what he
meant was an act too daring to venture upon his severity with his employers
and their visitors being terrific and he never permitting himself to be
approached with the slightest liberty
Chapter XVII
Missing
The term of Mr Dorrits visit was within two days of being out and he was
about to dress for another inspection by the Chief Butler whose victims were
always dressed expressly for him when one of the servants of the hotel
presented himself bearing a card Mr Dorrit taking it read
»Mrs Finching«
The servant waited in speechless deference
»Man man« said Mr Dorrit turning upon him with grievous indignation
»explain your motive in bringing me this ridiculous name I am wholly
unacquainted with it Finching sir« said Mr Dorrit perhaps avenging himself
on the Chief Butler by Substitute »Ha What do you mean by Finching«
The man man seemed to mean Flinching as much as anything else for he
backed away from Mr Dorrits severe regard as he replied »A lady sir«
»I know no such lady sir« said Mr Dorrit »Take this card away I know no
Finching of either sex«
»Ask your pardon sir The lady said she was aware she might be unknown by
name But she begged me to say sir that she had formerly the honour of being
acquainted with Miss Dorrit The lady said sir the youngest Miss Dorrit«
Mr Dorrit knitted his brows and rejoined after a moment or two »Inform
Mrs Finching sir« emphasising the name as if the innocent man were solely
responsible for it »that she can come up«
He had reflected in his momentary pause that unless she were admitted she
might leave some message or might say something below having a disagreeable
reference to that former state of existence Hence the concession and hence the
appearance of Flora piloted in by the man man
»I have not the pleasure« said Mr Dorrit standing with the card in his
hand and with an air which imported that it would scarcely have been a
firstclass pleasure if he had had it »of knowing either this name or
yourself madam Place a chair sir«
The responsible man with a start obeyed and went out on tiptoe Flora
putting aside her veil with a bashful tremor upon her proceeded to introduce
herself At the same time a singular combination of perfumes was diffused
through the room as if some brandy had been put by mistake in a lavenderwater
bottle or as if some lavenderwater had been put by mistake in a brandybottle
»I beg Mr Dorrit to offer a thousand apologies and indeed they would be far
too few for such an intrusion which I know must appear extremely bold in a lady
and alone too but I thought it best upon the whole however difficult and even
apparently improper though Mr Fs Aunt would have willingly accompanied me and
as a character of great force and spirit would probably have struck one
possessed of such a knowledge of life as no doubt with so many changes must have
been acquired for Mr F himself said frequently that although well educated in
the neighbourhood of Blackheath at as high as eighty guineas which is a good
deal for parents and the plate kept back too on going away but that is more a
meanness than its value that he had learnt more in his first year as a
commercial traveller with a large commission on the sale of an article that
nobody would hear of much less buy which preceded the wine trade a long time
than in the whole six years in that academy conducted by a college Bachelor
though why a Bachelor more clever than a married man I do not see and never did
but pray excuse me that is not the point«
Mr Dorrit stood rooted to the carpet a statue of mystification
»I must openly admit that I have no pretensions« said Flora »but having
known the dear little thing which under altered circumstances appears a liberty
but is not so intended and Goodness knows there was no favour in halfacrown a
day to such a needle as herself but quite the other way and as to anything
lowering in it far from it the labourer is worthy of his hire and I am sure I
only wish he got it oftener and more animal food and less rheumatism in the back
and legs poor soul«
»Madam« said Mr Dorrit recovering his breath by a great effort as the
relict of the late Mr Finching stopped to take hers »madam« said Mr Dorrit
very red in the face »if I understand you to refer to ha to anything in the
antecedents of hum a daughter of mine involving ha hum daily
compensation madam I beg to observe that the ha fact assuming it ha
to be fact never was within my knowledge Hum I should not have permitted it
Ha Never Never«
»Unnecessary to pursue the subject« returned Flora »and would not have
mentioned it on any account except as supposing it a favourable and only letter
of introduction but as to being fact no doubt whatever and you may set your mind
at rest for the very dress I have on now can prove it and sweetly made though
there is no denying that it would tell better on a better figure for my own is
much too fat though how to bring it down I know not pray excuse me I am roving
off again«
Mr Dorrit backed to his chair in a stony way and seated himself as Flora
gave him a softening look and played with her parasol
»The dear little thing« said Flora »having gone off perfectly limp and
white and cold in my own house or at least papas for though not a freehold
still a long lease at a peppercorn on the morning when Arthur foolish habit of
our youthful days and Mr Clennam far more adapted to existing circumstances
particularly addressing a stranger and that stranger a gentleman in an elevated
station communicated the glad tidings imparted by a person of the name of
Pancks emboldens me«
At the mention of these two names Mr Dorrit frowned stared frowned
again hesitated with his fingers at his lips as he had hesitated long ago and
said »Do me the favour to ha state your pleasure madam«
»Mr Dorrit« said Flora »you are very kind in giving me permission and
highly natural it seems to me that you should be kind for though more stately I
perceive a likeness filled out of course but a likeness still the object of my
intruding is my own without the slightest consultation with any human being and
most decidedly not with Arthur pray excuse me Doyce and Clennam I dont know
what I am saying Mr Clennam solus for to put that individual linked by a
golden chain to a purple time when all was ethereal out of any anxiety would be
worth to me the ransom of a monarch not that I have the least idea how much that
would come to but using it as the total of all I have in the world and more«
Mr Dorrit without greatly regarding the earnestness of these latter words
repeated »State your pleasure madam«
»Its not likely I well know« said Flora »but its possible and being
possible when I had the gratification of reading in the papers that you had
arrived from Italy and were going back I made up my mind to try it for you might
come across him or hear something of him and if so what a blessing and relief to
all«
»Allow me to ask madam« said Mr Dorrit with his ideas in wild confusion
»to whom ha TO WHOM« he repeated it with a raised voice in mere
desperation »you at present allude«
»To the foreigner from Italy who disappeared in the City as no doubt you
have read in the papers equally with myself« said Flora »not referring to
private sources by the name of Pancks from which one gathers what dreadfully
illnatured things some people are wicked enough to whisper most likely judging
others by themselves and what the uneasiness and indignation of Arthur quite
unable to overcome it Doyce and Clennam cannot fail to be«
It happened fortunately for the elucidation of any intelligible result
that Mr Dorrit had heard or read nothing about the matter This caused Mrs
Finching with many apologies for being in great practical difficulties as to
finding the way to her pocket among the stripes of her dress at length to
produce a police handbill setting forth that a foreign gentleman of the name of
Blandois last from Venice had unaccountably disappeared on such a night in
such a part of the city of London that he was known to have entered such a
house at such an hour that he was stated by the inmates of that house to have
left it about so many minutes before midnight and that he had never been
beheld since This with exact particulars of time and locality and with a good
detailed description of the foreign gentleman who had so mysteriously vanished
Mr Dorrit read at large
»Blandois« said Mr Dorrit »Venice And this description I know this
gentleman He has been in my house He is intimately acquainted with a gentleman
of good family but in indifferent circumstances of whom I am a hum
patron«
»Then my humble and pressing entreaty is the more« said Flora »that in
travelling back you will have the kindness to look for this foreign gentleman
along all the roads and up and down all the turnings and to make inquiries for
him at all the hotels and orangetrees and vineyards and volcanoes and places
for he must be somewhere and why doesnt he come forward and say hes there and
clear all parties up«
»Pray madam« said Mr Dorrit referring to the handbill again »who is
Clennam and Co Ha I see the name mentioned here in connection with the
occupation of the house which Monsieur Blandois was seen to enter who is
Clennam and Co Is it the individual of whom I had formally hum some ha
slight transitory knowledge and to whom I believe you have referred Is it ha
that person«
»Its a very different person indeed« replied Flora »with no limbs and
wheels instead and the grimmest of women though his mother«
»Clennam and Co a hum a mother« exclaimed Mr Dorrit
»And an old man besides« said Flora
Mr Dorrit looked as if he must immediately be driven out of his mind by
this account Neither was it rendered more favourable to sanity by Floras
dashing into a rapid analysis of Mr Flintwinchs cravat and describing him
without the lightest boundary line of separation between his identity and Mrs
Clennams as a rusty screw in gaiters Which compound of man and woman no
limbs wheels rusty screw grimness and gaiters so completely stupefied Mr
Dorrit that he was a spectacle to be pitied
»But I would not detain you one moment longer« said Flora upon whom his
condition wrought its effect though she was quite unconscious of having
produced it »if you would have the goodness to give me your promise as a
gentleman that both in going back to Italy and in Italy too you would look for
this Mr Blandois high and low and if you found or heard of him make him come
forward for the clearing of all parties«
By that time Mr Dorrit had so far recovered from his bewilderment as to be
able to say in a tolerably connected manner that he should consider that his
duty Flora was delighted with her success and rose to take her leave
»With a million thanks« said she »and my address upon my card in case of
anything to be communicated personally I will not send my love to the dear
little thing for it might not be acceptable and indeed there is no dear little
thing left in the transformation so why do it but both myself and Mr Fs Aunt
ever wish her well and lay no claim to any favour on our side you may be sure of
that but quite the other way for what she undertook to do she did and that is
more than a great many of us do not to say anything of her doing it as well as
it could be done and I myself am one of them for I have said ever since I began
to recover the blow of Mr Fs death that I would learn the Organ of which I am
extremely fond but of which I am ashamed to say I do not yet know a note good
evening«
When Mr Dorrit who attended her to the roomdoor had had a little time to
collect his senses he found that the interview had summoned back discarded
reminiscences which jarred with the Merdle dinnertable He wrote and sent off a
brief note excusing himself for that day and ordered dinner presently in his
own rooms at the hotel He had another reason for this His time in London was
very nearly out and was anticipated by engagements his plans were made for
returning and he thought it behoved his importance to pursue some direct
inquiry into the Blandois disappearance and be in a condition to carry back to
Mr Henry Gowan the result of his own personal investigation He therefore
resolved that he would take advantage of that evenings freedom to go down to
Clennam and Cos easily to be found by the direction set forth in the
handbill and see the place and ask a question or two there himself
Having dined as plainly as the establishment and the Courier would let him
and having taken a short sleep by the fire for his better recovery from Mrs
Finching he set out in a hackneycabriolet alone The deep bell of St Pauls
was striking nine as he passed under the shadow of Temple Bar headless and
forlorn in these degenerate days
As he approached his destination through the bystreets and waterside ways
that part of London seemed to him an uglier spot at such an hour than he had
ever supposed it to be Many long years had passed since he had seen it he had
never known much of it and it wore a mysterious and dismal aspect in his eyes
So powerfully was his imagination impressed by it that when his driver stopped
after having asked the way more than once and said to the best of his belief
this was the gateway they wanted Mr Dorrit stood hesitating with the
coachdoor in his hand half afraid of the dark look of the place
Truly it looked as gloomy that night as even it had ever looked Two of
the handbills were posted on the entrance wall one on either side and as the
lamp flickered in the night air shadows passed over them not unlike the
shadows of fingers following the lines A watch was evidently kept upon the
place As Mr Dorrit paused a man passed in from over the way and another man
passed out from some dark corner within and both looked at him in passing and
both remained standing about
As there was only one house in the enclosure there was no room for
uncertainty so he went up the steps of that house and knocked There was a dim
light in two windows on the firstfloor The door gave back a dreary vacant
sound as though the house were empty but it was not for a light was visible
and a step was audible almost directly They both came to the door and a chain
grated and a woman with her apron thrown over her face and head stood in the
aperture
»Who is it« said the woman
Mr Dorrit much amazed by this appearance replied that he was from Italy
and that he wished to ask a question relative to the missing person whom he
knew
»Hi« cried the woman raising a cracked voice »Jeremiah«
Upon this a dry old man appeared whom Mr Dorrit thought he identified by
his gaiters as the rusty screw The woman was under apprehensions of the dry
old man for she whisked her apron away as he approached and disclosed a pale
affrighted face »Open the door you fool« said the old man »and let the
gentleman in«
Mr Dorrit not without a glance over his shoulder towards his driver and
the cabriolet walked into the dim hall »Now sir« said Mr Flintwinch »you
can ask anything here you think proper there are no secrets here sir«
Before a reply could be made a strong stern voice though a womans called
from above »Who is it«
»Who is it« returned Jeremiah »More inquiries A gentleman from Italy«
»Bring him up here«
Mr Flintwinch muttered as if he deemed that unnecessary but turning to
Mr Dorrit said »Mrs Clennam She will do as she likes Ill show you the
way« He then preceded Mr Dorrit up the blackened staircase that gentleman
not unnaturally looking behind him on the road saw the woman following with
her apron thrown over her head again in her former ghastly manner
Mrs Clennam had her books open on her little table »Oh« said she
abruptly as she eyed her visitor with a steady look »You are from Italy sir
are you Well«
Mr Dorrit was at a loss for any more distinct rejoinder at the moment than
»Ha well«
»Where is this missing man Have you come to give us information where he
is I hope you have«
»So far from it I hum have come to seek information«
»Unfortunately for us there is none to be got here Flintwinch show the
gentleman the handbill Give him several to take away Hold the light for him to
read it«
Mr Flintwinch did as he was directed and Mr Dorrit read it through as if
he had not previously seen it glad enough of the opportunity of collecting his
presence of mind which the air of the house and of the people in it had a
little disturbed While his eyes were on the paper he felt that the eyes of Mr
Flintwinch and of Mrs Clennam were on him He found when he looked up that
this sensation was not a fanciful one
»Now you know as much« said Mrs Clennam »as we know sir Is Mr Blandois
a friend of yours«
»No a hum an acquaintance« answered Mr Dorrit
»You have no commission from him perhaps«
»I Ha Certainly not«
The searching look turned gradually to the floor after taking Mr
Flintwinchs face in its way Mr Dorrit discomfited by finding that he was the
questioned instead of the questioner applied himself to the reversal of that
unexpected order of things
»I am ha a gentleman of property at present residing in Italy with my
family my servants and hum my rather large establishment Being in London
for a short time on affairs connected with ha my estate and hearing of this
strange disappearance I wished to make myself acquainted with the circumstances
at firsthand because there is ha hum an English gentleman in Italy whom I
shall no doubt see on my return who has been in habits of close and daily
intimacy with Monsieur Blandois Mr Henry Gowan You may know the name«
»Never heard of it«
Mrs Clennam said it and Mr Flintwinch echoed it
»Wishing to ha make the narrative coherent and consecutive to him« said
Mr Dorrit »may I ask say three questions«
»Thirty if you choose«
»Have you known Monsieur Blandois long«
»Not a twelvemonth Mr Flintwinch here will refer to the books and tell
you when and by whom at Paris he was introduced to us If that« Mrs Clennam
added »should be any satisfaction to you It is poor satisfaction to us«
»Have you seen him often«
»No Twice Once before and «
»That once« suggested Mr Flintwinch
»And that once«
»Pray madam« said Mr Dorrit with a growing fancy upon him as he
recovered his importance that he was in some superior way in the Commission of
the Peace »pray madam may I inquire for the greater satisfaction of the
gentleman whom I have the honour to ha retain or protect or let me say to
hum know to know Was Monsieur Blandois here on business on the night
indicated in this printed sheet«
»On what he called business« returned Mrs Clennam
»Is ha excuse me is its nature to be communicated«
»No«
It was evidently impracticable to pass the barrier of that reply
»The question has been asked before« said Mrs Clennam »and the answer has
been No We dont choose to publish our transactions however unimportant to
all the town We say, No«
»I mean he took away no money with him for example,« said Mr Dorrit
»He took away none of ours sir and got none here«
»I suppose« observed Mr Dorrit glancing from Mrs Clennam to Mr
Flintwinch and from Mr Flintwinch to Mrs Clennam »you have no way of
accounting to yourself for this mystery«
»Why do you suppose so« rejoined Mrs Clennam
Disconcerted by the cold and hard inquiry Mr Dorrit was unable to assign
any reason for his supposing so
»I account for it sir« she pursued after an awkward silence on Mr
Dorrits part »by having no doubt that he is travelling somewhere or hiding
somewhere«
»Do you know ha why he should hide anywhere«
»No«
It was exactly the same No as before and put another barrier up
»You asked me if I accounted for the disappearance to myself« Mrs Clennam
sternly reminded him »not if I accounted for it to you I do not pretend to
account for it to you sir I understand it to be no more my business to do
that than it is yours to require that«
Mr Dorrit answered with an apologetic bend of his head As he stepped back
preparatory to saying he had no more to ask he could not but observe how
gloomily and fixedly she sat with her eyes fastened on the ground and a certain
air upon her of resolute waiting also how exactly the self-same expression was
reflected in Mr Flintwinch standing at a little distance from her chair with
his eyes also on the ground and his right hand softly rubbing his chin
At that moment Mistress Affery of course the woman with the apron
dropped the candlestick she held and cried out »There O good Lord there it
is again Hark Jeremiah Now«
If there were any sound at all it was so slight that she must have fallen
into a confirmed habit of listening for sounds but Mr Dorrit believed he did
hear a something like the falling of dry leaves The womans terror for a very
short space seemed to touch the three and they all listened
Mr Flintwinch was the first to stir »Affery my woman« said he sidling
at her with his fists clenched and his elbows quivering with impatience to
shake her »you are at your old tricks Youll be walking in your sleep next my
woman and playing the whole round of your distempered antics You must have
some physic When I have shown this gentleman out Ill make you up such a
comfortable dose my woman such a comfortable dose«
It did not appear altogether comfortable in expectation to Mistress Affery
but Jeremiah without further reference to his healing medicine took another
candle from Mrs Clennams table and said »Now sir shall I light you down«
Mr Dorrit professed himself obliged and went down Mr Flintwinch shut him
out and chained him out without a moments loss of time He was again passed
by the two men one going out and the other coming in got into the vehicle he
had left waiting and was driven away
Before he had gone far the driver stopped to let him know that he had given
his name number and address to the two men on their joint requisition and
also the address at which he had taken Mr Dorrit up the hour at which he had
been called from his stand and the way by which he had come This did not make
the nights adventure run the less hotly in Mr Dorrits mind either when he
sat down by his fire again or when he went to bed All night he haunted the
dismal house saw the two people resolutely waiting heard the woman with her
apron over her face cry out about the noise and found the body of the missing
Blandois now buried in a cellar and now bricked up in a wall
Chapter XVIII
A Castle in the Air
Manifold are the cares of wealth and state Mr Dorrits satisfaction in
remembering that it had not been necessary for him to announce himself to
Clennam and Co or to make an allusion to his having ever had any knowledge of
the intrusive person of that name had been damped overnight while it was
still fresh by a debate that arose within him whether or no he should take the
Marshalsea in his way back and look at the old gate He had decided not to do
so and had astonished the coachman by being very fierce with him for proposing
to go over London Bridge and recross the river by Waterloo Bridge a course
which would have taken him almost within sight of his old quarters Still for
all that the question had raised a conflict in his breast and for some odd
reason or no reason he was vaguely dissatisfied Even at the Merdle
dinnertable next day he was so out of sorts about it that he continued at
intervals to turn it over and over in a manner frightfully inconsistent with
the good society surrounding him It made him hot to think what the Chief
Butlers opinion of him would have been if that illustrious personage could
have plumbed with that heavy eye of his the stream of his meditations
The farewell banquet was of a gorgeous nature and wound up his visit in a
most brilliant manner Fanny combined with the attractions of her youth and
beauty a certain weight of self-sustainment as if she had been married twenty
years He felt that he could leave her with a quiet mind to tread the paths of
distinction and wished but without abatement of patronage and without
prejudice to the retiring virtues of his favourite child that he had such
another daughter
»My dear« he told her at parting »our family looks to you to ha assert
its dignity and hum maintain its importance I know you will never
disappoint it«
»No papa« said Fanny »you may rely upon that I think My best love to
dearest Amy and I will write to her very soon«
»Shall I convey any message to ha anybody else« asked Mr Dorrit in an
insinuating manner
»Papa« said Fanny before whom Mrs General instantly loomed »no I thank
you You are very kind Pa but I must beg to be excused There is no other
message to send I thank you dear papa that it would be at all agreeable to
you to take«
They parted in an outer drawingroom where only Mr Sparkler waited on his
lady and dutifully bided his time for shaking hands When Mr Sparkler was
admitted to this closing audience Mr Merdle came creeping in with not much
more appearance of arms in his sleeves than if he had been the twin brother of
Miss Biffin and insisted on escorting Mr Dorrit downstairs All Mr Dorrits
protestations being in vain he enjoyed the honour of being accompanied to the
halldoor by this distinguished man who as Mr Dorrit told him in shaking
hands on the step had really overwhelmed him with attentions and services
during this memorable visit Thus they parted Mr Dorrit entering his carriage
with a swelling breast not at all sorry that his Courier who had come to take
leave in the lower regions should have an opportunity of beholding the grandeur
of his departure
The aforesaid grandeur was yet full upon Mr Dorrit when he alighted at his
hotel Helped out by the Courier and some halfdozen of the hotel servants he
was passing through the hall with a serene magnificence when lo a sight
presented itself that struck him dumb and motionless John Chivery in his best
clothes with his tall hat under his arm his ivoryhandled cane genteelly
embarrassing his deportment and a bundle of cigars in his hand
»Now young man« said the porter »This is the gentleman This young man
has persisted in waiting sir saying you would be glad to see him«
Mr Dorrit glared on the young man choked and said in the mildest of
tones »Ah Young John It is Young John I think is it not«
»Yes sir« returned Young John
»I ha thought it was Young John« said Mr Dorrit »The young man may
come up« turning to the attendants as he passed on »oh yes he may come up
Let Young John follow I will speak to him above«
Young John followed smiling and much gratified Mr Dorrits rooms were
reached Candles were lighted The attendants withdrew
»Now sir« said Mr Dorrit turning round upon him and seizing him by the
collar when they were safely alone »What do you mean by this«
The amazement and horror depicted in the unfortunate Johns face for he
had rather expected to be embraced next were of that powerfully expressive
nature that Mr Dorrit withdrew his hand and merely glared at him
»How dare you do this« said Mr Dorrit »How do you presume to come here
How dare you insult me«
»I insult you sir« cried Young John »Oh«
»Yes sir« returned Mr Dorrit »Insult me Your coming here is an affront
an impertinence an audacity You are not wanted here Who sent you here What
ha the Devil do you do here«
»I thought sir« said Young John with as pale and shocked a face as ever
had been turned to Mr Dorrits in his life even in his College life »I
thought sir you mightnt object to have the goodness to accept a bundle «
»Damn your bundle sir« cried Mr Dorrit in irrepressible rage »I hum
dont smoke«
»I humbly beg your pardon sir You used to«
»Tell me that again« cried Mr Dorrit quite beside himself »and Ill take
the poker to you«
John Chivery backed to the door
»Stop sir« cried Mr Dorrit »Stop Sit down Confound you sit down«
John Chivery dropped into the chair nearest the door and Mr Dorrit walked
up and down the room rapidly at first then more slowly Once he went to the
window and stood there with his forehead against the glass All of a sudden he
turned and said
»What else did you come for sir«
»Nothing else in the world sir Oh dear me Only to say sir that I hoped
you was well and only to ask if Miss Amy was well«
»Whats that to you sir« retorted Mr Dorrit
»Its nothing to me sir by rights I never thought of lessening the
distance betwixt us I am sure I know its a liberty sir but I never thought
youd have taken it ill Upon my word and honour sir« said Young John with
emotion »in my poor way I am too proud to have come I assure you if I had
thought so«
Mr Dorrit was ashamed He went back to the window and leaned his forehead
against the glass for some time When he turned he had his handkerchief in his
hand and he had been wiping his eyes with it and he looked tired and ill
»Young John I am very sorry to have been hasty with you but ha some
remembrances are not happy remembrances and hum you shouldnt have come«
»I feel that now sir« returned John Chivery »but I didnt before and
Heaven knows I meant no harm sir«
»No No« said Mr Dorrit »I am hum sure of that Ha Give me your
hand Young John give me your hand«
Young John gave it but Mr Dorrit had driven his heart out of it and
nothing could change his face now from its white shocked look
»There« said Mr Dorrit slowly shaking hands with him »Sit down again
Young John«
»Thank you sir but Id rather stand«
Mr Dorrit sat down instead After painfully holding his head a little
while he turned it to his visitor and said with an effort to be easy
»And how is your father Young John How ha how are they all Young
John«
»Thank you sir Theyre all pretty well sir Theyre not any ways
complaining«
»Hum You are in your ha old business I see John« said Mr Dorrit
with a glance at the offending bundle he had anathematised
»Partly sir I am in my« John hesitated a little » fathers business
likewise«
»Oh indeed« said Mr Dorrit »Do you ha hum go upon the ha «
»Lock sir Yes sir«
»Much to do John«
»Yes sir were pretty heavy at present I dont know how it is but we
generally are pretty heavy«
»At this time of the year Young John«
»Mostly at all times of the year sir I dont know the time that makes much
difference to us I wish you good night sir«
»Stay a moment John ha stay a moment Hum Leave me the cigars John I
ha beg«
»Certainly sir John put them with a trembling hand on the table«
»Stay a moment Young John stay another moment It would be a ha a
gratification to me to send a little hum Testimonial by such a trusty
messenger to be divided among ha hum them them according to their
wants Would you object to take it John«
»Not in any ways sir Theres many of them Im sure that would be the
better for it«
»Thank you John I ha Ill write it John«
His hand shook so that he was a long time writing it and wrote it in a
tremulous scrawl at last It was a cheque for one hundred pounds He folded it
up put it in Young Johns hand and pressed the hand in his
»I hope youll ha overlook hum what has passed John«
»Dont speak of it sir on any accounts I dont in any ways bear malice
Im sure«
But nothing while John was there could change Johns face to its natural
colour and expression or restore Johns natural manner
»And John« said Mr Dorrit giving his hand a final pressure and
releasing it »I hope we ha agree that we have spoken together in
confidence and that you will abstain in going out from saying anything to any
one that might hum suggest that ha once I «
»Oh I assure you sir« returned John Chivery »in my poor humble way sir
Im too proud and honourable to do it sir«
Mr Dorrit was not too proud and honourable to listen at the door that he
might ascertain for himself whether John really went straight out or lingered
to have any talk with any one There was no doubt that he went direct out at the
door and away down the street with a quick step After remaining alone for an
hour Mr Dorrit rang for the Courier who found him with his chair on the
hearthrug sitting with his back towards him and his face to the fire »You can
take that bundle of cigars to smoke on the journey if you like« said Mr
Dorrit with a careless wave of his hand »Ha brought by hum little
offering from ha son of old tenant of mine«
Next mornings sun saw Mr Dorrits equipage upon the Dover road where
every redjacketed postilion was the sign of a cruel house established for the
unmerciful plundering of travellers The whole business of the human race
between London and Dover being spoliation Mr Dorrit was waylaid at Dartford
pillaged at Gravesend rifled at Rochester fleeced at Sittingbourne and sacked
at Canterbury However it being the Couriers business to get him out of the
hands of the banditti the Courier brought him off at every stage and so the
redjackets went gleaming merrily along the spring landscape rising and falling
to a regular measure between Mr Dorrit in his snug corner and the next chalky
rise in the dusty highway
Another days sun saw him at Calais And having now got the Channel between
himself and John Chivery he began to feel safe and to find that the foreign
air was lighter to breathe than the air of England
On again by the heavy French roads for Paris Having now quite recovered his
equanimity Mr Dorrit in his snug corner fell to castlebuilding as he rode
along It was evident that he had a very large castle in hand All day long he
was running towers up taking towers down adding a wing here putting on a
battlement there looking to the walls strengthening the defences giving
ornamental touches to the interior making in all respects a superb castle of
it His preoccupied face so clearly denoted the pursuit in which he was engaged
that every cripple at the posthouses not blind who shoved his little battered
tinbox in at the carriage window for Charity in the name of Heaven Charity in
the name of our Lady Charity in the name of all the Saints knew as well what
work he was at as their countryman Le Brun could have known it himself though
he had made that English traveller the subject of a special physiognomical
treatise
Arrived at Paris and resting there three days Mr Dorrit strolled much
about the streets alone looking in at the shopwindows and particularly the
jewellers windows Ultimately he went into the most famous jewellers and
said he wanted to buy a little gift for a lady
It was a charming little woman to whom he said it a sprightly little
woman dressed in perfect taste who came out of a green velvet bower to attend
upon him from posting up some dainty little books of account which one could
hardly suppose to be ruled for the entry of any articles more commercial than
kisses at a dainty little shining desk which looked in itself like a sweetmeat
For example, then said the little woman what species of gift did Monsieur
desire A lovegift
Mr Dorrit smiled and said Eh well Perhaps What did he know It was
always possible the sex being so charming Would she show him some
Most willingly said the little woman Flattered and enchanted to show him
many But pardon To begin with he would have the great goodness to observe
that there were lovegifts and there were nuptial gifts For example, these
ravishing earrings and this necklace so superb to correspond were what one
called a lovegift These brooches and these rings of a beauty so gracious and
celestial were what one called with the permission of Monsieur nuptial gifts
Perhaps it would be a good arrangement Mr Dorrit hinted smiling to
purchase both and to present the lovegift first and to finish with the
nuptial offering
Ah Heaven said the little woman laying the tips of the fingers of her two
little hands against each other that would be generous indeed that would be a
special gallantry And without doubt the lady so crushed with gifts would find
them irresistible
Mr Dorrit was not sure of that But for example, the sprightly little
woman was very sure of it she said So Mr Dorrit bought a gift of each sort
and paid handsomely for it As he strolled back to his hotel afterwards he
carried his head high having plainly got up his castle now to a much loftier
altitude than the two square towers of Notre Dame
Building away with all his might but reserving the plans of his castle
exclusively for his own eye Mr Dorrit posted away for Marseilles Building on
building on busily busily from morning to night Falling asleep and leaving
great blocks of building materials dangling in the air waking again to resume
work and get them into their places What time the Courier in the rumble
smoking Young Johns best cigars left a little thread of thin light smoke
behind perhaps as he built a castle or two with stray pieces of Mr Dorrits
money
Not a fortified town that they passed in all their journey was as strong
not a Cathedral summit was as high as Mr Dorrits castle Neither the Saone
nor the Rhone sped with the swiftness of that peerless building nor was the
Mediterranean deeper than its foundations nor were the distant landscapes on
the Cornice road nor the hills and bay of Genoa the Superb more beautiful Mr
Dorrit and his matchless castle were disembarked among the dirty white houses
and dirtier felons of Civita Vecchia and thence scrambled on to Rome as they
could through the filth that festered on the way
Chapter XIX
The Storming of the Castle in the Air
The sun had gone down full four hours and it was later than most travellers
would like it to be for finding themselves outside the walls of Rome when Mr
Dorrits carriage still on its last wearisome stage rattled over the solitary
Campagna The savage herdsmen and the fiercelooking peasants who had chequered
the way while the light lasted had all gone down with the sun and left the
wilderness blank At some turns of the road a pale flare on the horizon like
an exhalation from the ruinsown land showed that the city was yet far off
but this poor relief was rare and shortlived The carriage dipped down again
into a hollow of the black dry sea and for a long time there was nothing
visible save its petrified swell and the gloomy sky
Mr Dorrit though he had his castlebuilding to engage his mind could not
be quite easy in that desolate place He was far more curious in every swerve
of the carriage and every cry of the postilions than he had been since he
quitted London The valet on the box evidently quaked The Courier in the rumble
was not altogether comfortable in his mind As often as Mr Dorrit let down the
glass and looked back at him which was very often he saw him smoking John
Chivery out it is true but still generally standing up the while and looking
about him like a man who had his suspicions and kept upon his guard Then
would Mr Dorrit pulling up the glass again reflect that those postilions were
cutthroat looking fellows and that he would have done better to have slept at
Civita Vecchia and have started betimes in the morning But for all this he
worked at his castle in the intervals
And now fragments of ruinous enclosure yawning window gap and crazy wall
deserted houses leaking wells broken watertanks spectral cypresstrees
patches of tangled vine and the changing of the track to a long irregular
disordered lane where everything was crumbling away from the unsightly
buildings to the jolting road now these objects showed that they were nearing
Rome And now a sudden twist and stoppage of the carriage inspired Mr Dorrit
with the mistrust that the brigand moment was come for twisting him into a ditch
and robbing him until letting down the glass again and looking out he
perceived himself assailed by nothing worse than a funeral procession which
came mechanically chaunting by with an indistinct show of dirty vestments
lurid torches swinging censers and a great cross borne before a priest He was
an ugly priest by torchlight of a lowering aspect with an overhanging brow
and as his eyes met those of Mr Dorrit looking bareheaded out of the carriage
his lips moving as they chaunted seemed to threaten that important traveller
likewise the action of his hand which was in fact his manner of returning the
travellers salutation seemed to come in aid of that menace So thought Mr
Dorrit made fanciful by the weariness of building and travelling as the priest
drifted past him and the procession straggled away taking its dead along with
it Upon their sodifferent way went Mr Dorrits company too and soon with
their coachload of luxuries from the two great capitals of Europe they were
like the Goths reversed beating at the gates of Rome
Mr Dorrit was not expected by his own people that night He had been but
they had given him up until tomorrow not doubting that it was later than he
would care in those parts to be out Thus when his equipage stopped at his
own gate no one but the porter appeared to receive him Was Miss Dorrit from
home he asked No She was within Good said Mr Dorrit to the assembling
servants let them keep where they were let them help to unload the carriage
he would find Miss Dorrit for himself
So he went up his grand staircase slowly and tired and looked into
various chambers which were empty until he saw a light in a small anteroom It
was a curtained nook like a tent within two other rooms and it looked warm
and bright in colour as he approached it through the dark avenue they made
There was a draped doorway but no door and as he stopped here looking in
unseen he felt a pang Surely not like jealousy For why like jealousy There
were only his daughter and his brother there he with his chair drawn to the
hearth enjoying the warmth of the evening wood fire she seated at a little
table busied with some embroidery work Allowing for the great difference in
the stilllife of the picture the figures were much the same as of old his
brother being sufficiently like himself to represent himself for a moment in
the composition So had he sat many a night over a coal fire far away so had
she sat devoted to him Yet surely there was nothing to be jealous of in the
old miserable poverty Whence then the pang in his heart
»Do you know uncle I think you are growing young again«
Her uncle shook his head and said »Since when my dear since when«
»I think« returned Little Dorrit plying her needle »that you have been
growing younger for weeks past So cheerful uncle and so ready and so
interested«
»My dear child all you«
»All me uncle«
»Yes yes You have done me a world of good You have been so considerate of
me and so tender with we and so delicate in trying to hide your attentions
from me that I well well well Its treasured up my darling treasured
up«
»There is nothing in it but your own fresh fancy uncle« said Little
Dorrit cheerfully
»Well well well« murmured the old man »Thank God«
She paused for an instant in her work to look at him and her look revived
that former pain in her fathers breast in his poor weak breast so full of
contradictions vacillations inconsistencies the little peevish perplexities
of this ignorant life mists which the morning without a night only can clear
away
»I have been freer with you you see my dove« said the old man »since we
have been alone I say alone for I dont count Mrs General I dont care for
her she has nothing to do with me But I know Fanny was impatient of me And I
dont wonder at it or complain of it for I am sensible that I must be in the
way though I try to keep out of it as well as I can I know I am not fit
company for our company My brother William« said the old man admiringly »is
fit company for monarchs but not so your uncle my dear Frederick Dorrit is no
credit to William Dorrit and he knows it quite well Ah Why heres your
father Amy My dear William welcome back My beloved brother I am rejoiced to
see you«
Turning his head in speaking he had caught sight of him as he stood in the
doorway
Little Dorrit with a cry of pleasure put her arms about her fathers neck
and kissed him again and again Her father was a little impatient and a little
querulous »I am glad to find you at last Amy« he said »Ha Really I am glad
to find hum any one to receive me at last I appear to have been ha so
little expected that upon my word I began ha hum to think it might be right
to offer an apology for ha taking the liberty of coming back at all«
»It was so late my dear William« said his brother »that we had given you
up for tonight«
»I am stronger than you dear Frederick« returned his brother with an
elaboration of fraternity in which there was severity »and I hope I can travel
without detriment at ha any hour I choose«
»Surely surely« returned the other with a misgiving that he had given
offence »Surely William«
»Thank you Amy« pursued Mr Dorrit as she helped him to put off his
wrappers »I can do it without assistance I ha need not trouble you Amy
Could I have a morsel of bread and a glass of wine or hum would it cause
too much inconvenience«
»Dear father you shall have supper in a very few minutes«
»Thank you my love« said Mr Dorrit with a reproachful frost upon him »I
ha am afraid I am causing inconvenience Hum Mrs General pretty well«
»Mrs General complained of a headache and of being fatigued and so when
we gave you up she went to bed dear«
Perhaps Mr Dorrit thought that Mrs General had done well in being overcome
by the disappointment of his not arriving At any rate his face relaxed and he
said with obvious satisfaction »Extremely sorry to hear that Mrs General is
not well«
During this short dialogue his daughter had been observant of him with
something more than her usual interest It would seem as though he had a changed
or worn appearance in her eyes and he perceived and resented it for he said
with renewed peevishness when he had divested himself of his travellingcloak
and had come to the fire
»Amy what are you looking at What do you see in me that causes you to ha
concentrate your solicitude on me in that hum very particular manner«
»I did not know it father I beg your pardon It gladdens my eyes to see
you again thats all«
»Dont say thats all because ha thats not all You hum you
think« said Mr Dorrit with an accusatory emphasis »that I am not looking
well«
»I thought you looked a little tired love«
»Then you are mistaken« said Mr Dorrit »Ha I am not tired Ha hum I am
very much fresher than I was when I went away«
He was so inclined to be angry that she said nothing more in her
justification but remained quietly beside him embracing his arm As he stood
thus with his brother on the other side he fell into a heavy doze of not a
minutes duration and awoke with a start
»Frederick« he said turning on his brother »I recommend you to go to bed
immediately«
»No William Ill wait and see you sup«
»Frederick« he retorted »I beg you to go to bed I ha make it a
personal request that you go to bed You ought to have been in bed long ago You
are very feeble«
»Ha« said the old man who had no wish but to please him »Well well
well I dare say I am«
»My dear Frederick« returned Mr Dorrit with an astonishing superiority to
his brothers failing powers »there can be no doubt of it It is painful to me
to see you so weak Ha It distresses me Hum I dont find you looking at all
well You are not fit for this sort of thing You should be more careful you
should be very careful«
»Shall I go to bed« asked Frederick
»Dear Frederick« said Mr Dorrit »do I adjure you Good night brother I
hope you will be stronger tomorrow I am not at all pleased with your looks
Good night dear fellow« After dismissing his brother in this gracious way he
fell into a doze again before the old man was well out of the room and he
would have stumbled forward upon the logs but for his daughters restraining
hold
»Your uncle wanders very much Amy« he said when he was thus roused »He
is less ha coherent and his conversation is more hum broken than I
have ha hum ever known Has he had any illness since I have been gone«
»No father«
»You ha see a great change in him Amy«
»I had not observed it dear«
»Greatly broken« said Mr Dorrit »Greatly broken My poor affectionate
failing Frederick Ha Even taking into account what he was before he is hum
sadly broken«
His supper which was brought to him there and spread upon the little table
where he had seen her working diverted his attention She sat at his side as in
the days that were gone for the first time since those days ended They were
alone and she helped him to his meat and poured out his drink for him as she
had been used to do in the prison All this happened now for the first time
since their accession to wealth She was afraid to look at him much after the
offence he had taken but she noticed two occasions in the course of his meal
when he all of a sudden looked at her and looked about him as if the
association were so strong that he needed assurance from his sense of sight that
they were not in the old prisonroom Both times he put his hand to his head as
if he missed his old black cap though it had been ignominiously given away in
the Marshalsea and had never got free to that hour but still hovered about the
yards on the head of his successor
He took very little supper but was a long time over it and often reverted
to his brothers declining state Though he expressed the greatest pity for him
he was almost bitter upon him He said that poor Frederick ha hum drivelled
There was no other word to express it drivelled Poor fellow It was melancholy
to reflect what Amy must have undergone from the excessive tediousness of his
society wandering and babbling on poor dear estimable creature wandering and
babbling on if it had not been for the relief she had had in Mrs General
Extremely sorry he then repeated with his former satisfaction that that ha
superior woman was poorly
Little Dorrit in her watchful love would have remembered the lightest
thing he said or did that night though she had had no subsequent reason to
recall that night She always remembered that when he looked about him under
the strong influence of the old association he tried to keep it out of her
mind and perhaps out of his own too by immediately expatiating on the great
riches and great company that had encompassed him in his absence and on the
lofty position he and his family had to sustain Nor did she fail to recall that
there were two undercurrents side by side pervading all his discourse and all
his manner one showing her how well he had got on without her and how
independent he was of her the other in a fitful and unintelligible way almost
complaining of her as if it had been possible that she had neglected him while
he was away
His telling her of the glorious state that Mr Merdle kept and of the court
that bowed before him naturally brought him to Mrs Merdle So naturally
indeed that although there was an unusual want of sequence in the greater part
of his remarks he passed to her at once and asked how she was
»She is very well She is going away next week«
»Home« asked Mr Dorrit
»After a few weeks stay upon the road«
»She will be a vast loss here« said Mr Dorrit »A vast ha acquisition
at home To Fanny and to hum the rest of the ha great world«
Little Dorrit thought of the competition that was to be entered upon and
assented very softly
»Mrs Merdle is going to have a great farewell Assembly dear and a dinner
before it She has been expressing her anxiety that you should return in time
She has invited both you and me to her dinner«
»She is ha very kind When is the day«
»The day after tomorrow«
»Write round in the morning and say that I have returned and shall hum
be delighted«
»May I walk with you up the stairs to your room dear«
»No« he answered looking angrily round for he was moving away as if
forgetful of leavetaking »You may not Amy I want no help I am your father
not your infirm uncle« He checked himself as abruptly as he had broken into
this reply and said »You have not kissed me Amy Good night my dear We must
marry ha we must marry you now« With that he went more slowly and more
tired up the staircase to his rooms and almost as soon as he got there
dismissed his valet His next care was to look about him for his Paris
purchases and after opening their cases and carefully surveying them to put
them away under lock and key After that what with dozing and what with
castlebuilding he lost himself for a long time so that there was a touch of
morning on the eastward rim of the desolate Campagna when he crept to bed
Mrs General sent up her compliments in good time next day and hoped he had
rested well after his fatiguing journey He sent down his compliments and
begged to inform Mrs General that he had rested very well indeed and was in
high condition Nevertheless he did not come forth from his own rooms until
late in the afternoon and although he then caused himself to be magnificently
arrayed for a drive with Mrs General and his daughter his appearance was
scarcely up to his description of himself
As the family had no visitors that day its four members dined alone
together He conducted Mrs General to the seat at his right hand with immense
ceremony and Little Dorrit could not but notice as she followed with her uncle
both that he was again elaborately dressed and that his manner towards Mrs
General was very particular The perfect formation of that accomplished ladys
surface rendered it difficult to displace an atom of its genteel glaze but
Little Dorrit thought she descried a slight thaw of triumph in a corner of her
frosty eye
Notwithstanding what may be called in these pages the Pruney and Prismatic
nature of the family banquet Mr Dorrit several times fell asleep while it was
in progress His fits of dozing were as sudden as they had been overnight and
were as short and profound When the first of these slumberings seized him Mrs
General looked almost amazed but on each recurrence of the symptoms she told
her polite beads Papa Potatoes Poultry Prunes and Prism and by dint of
going through that infallible performance very slowly appeared to finish her
rosary at about the same time as Mr Dorrit started from his sleep
He was again painfully aware of a somnolent tendency in Frederick which had
no existence out of his own imagination and after dinner when Frederick had
withdrawn privately apologised to Mrs General for the poor man »The most
estimable and affectionate of brothers« he said »but ha hum broken up
altogether Unhappily declining fast«
»Mr Frederick sir« quoth Mrs General »is habitually absent and
drooping but let us hope it is not so bad as that«
Mr Dorrit however was determined not to let him off »Fast declining
madam A wreck A ruin Mouldering away before our eyes Hum Good Frederick«
»You left Mrs Sparkler quite well and happy I trust« said Mrs General
after heaving a cool sigh for Frederick
»Surrounded« replied Mr Dorrit »by ha all that can charm the taste
and hum elevate the mind. Happy my dear madam in a hum husband«
Mrs General was a little fluttered seeming delicately to put the word away
with her gloves as if there were no knowing what it might lead to
»Fanny« Mr Dorrit continued »Fanny Mrs General has high qualities Ha
Ambition hum purpose consciousness of ha position determination to
support that position ha hum grace beauty and native nobility«
»No doubt« said Mrs General with a little extra stiffness
»Combined with these qualities madam« said Mr Dorrit »Fanny has ha
manifested one blemish which has made me hum made me uneasy and ha I
must add angry but which I trust may now be considered at an end even as to
herself and which is undoubtedly at an end as to ha others«
»To what Mr Dorrit« returned Mrs General with her gloves again somewhat
excited »can you allude I am at a loss to «
»Do not say that my dear madam« interrupted Mr Dorrit
Mrs Generals voice as it died away pronounced the words »at a loss to
imagine«
After which Mr Dorrit was seized with a doze for about a minute out of
which he sprang with spasmodic nimbleness
»I refer Mrs General to that ha strong spirit of opposition or hum
I might say ha jealousy in Fanny which has occasionally risen against the
ha sense I entertain of hum the claims of ha the lady with whom I
have now the honour of communing«
»Mr Dorrit« returned Mrs General »is ever but too obliging ever but too
appreciative If there have been moments when I have imagined that Miss Dorrit
has indeed resented the favourable opinion Mr Dorrit has formed of my services
I have found in that only too high opinion my consolation and recompense«
»Opinion of your services madam« said Mr Dorrit
»Of« Mrs General repeated in an elegantly impressive manner »my
services«
»Of your services alone dear madam« said Mr Dorrit
»I presume« retorted Mrs General in her former impressive manner »of my
services alone For to what else« said Mrs General with a slightly
interrogative action of her gloves »could I impute «
»To ha yourself Mrs General Ha hum To yourself and your merits«
was Mr Dorrits rejoinder
»Mr Dorrit will pardon me« said Mrs General »if I remark that this is
not a time or place for the pursuit of the present conversation Mr Dorrit will
excuse me if I remind him that Miss Dorrit is in the adjoining room and is
visible to myself while I utter her name Mr Dorrit will forgive me if I
observe that I am agitated and that I find there are moments when weaknesses I
supposed myself to have subdued return with redoubled power Mr Dorrit will
allow me to withdraw«
»Hum Perhaps we may resume this ha interesting conversation« said Mr
Dorrit »at another time unless it should be what I hope it is not hum in
any way disagreeable to ha Mrs General«
»Mr Dorrit« said Mrs General casting down her eyes as she rose with a
bend »must ever claim my homage and obedience«
Mrs General then took herself off in a stately way and not with that
amount of trepidation upon her which might have been expected in a less
remarkable woman Mr Dorrit who had conducted his part of the dialogue with a
certain majestic and admiring condescension much as some people may be seen to
conduct themselves in Church and to perform their part in the service
appeared on the whole very well satisfied with himself and with Mrs General
too On the return of that lady to tea she had touched herself up with a little
powder and pomatum and was not without moral enhancement likewise the latter
showing itself in much sweet patronage of manner towards Miss Dorrit and in an
air of as tender interest in Mr Dorrit as was consistent with rigid propriety
At the close of the evening when she rose to retire Mr Dorrit took her by the
hand as if he were going to lead her out into the Piazza of the People to walk
a minuet by moonlight and with great solemnity conducted her to the room door
where he raised her knuckles to his lips Having parted from her with what may
be conjectured to have been a rather bony kiss of a cosmetic flavour he gave
his daughter his blessing graciously And having thus hinted that there was
something remarkable in the wind he again went to bed
He remained in the seclusion of his own chamber next morning but early in
the afternoon sent down his best compliments to Mrs General by Mr Tinkler
and begged she would accompany Miss Dorrit on an airing without him His
daughter was dressed for Mrs Merdles dinner before he appeared He then
presented himself in a refulgent condition as to his attire but looking
indefinably shrunken and old However as he was plainly determined to be angry
with her if she so much as asked him how he was she only ventured to kiss his
cheek before accompanying him to Mrs Merdles with an anxious heart
The distance that they had to go was very short but he was at his building
work again before the carriage had half traversed it Mrs Merdle received him
with great distinction the bosom was in admirable preservation and on the best
terms with itself; the dinner was very choice and the company was very select
It was principally English saving that it comprised the usual French Count
and the usual Italian Marchese decorative social milestones always to be
found in certain places and varying very little in appearance The table was
long and the dinner was long and Little Dorrit overshadowed by a large pair
of black whiskers and a large white cravat lost sight of her father altogether
until a servant put a scrap of paper in her hand with a whispered request from
Mrs Merdle that she would read it directly Mrs Merdle had written on it in
pencil »Pray come and speak to Mr Dorrit I doubt if he is well«
She was hurrying to him unobserved when he got up out of his chair and
leaning over the table called to her supposing her to be still in her place
»Amy Amy my child«
The action was so unusual to say nothing of his strange eager appearance
and strange eager voice that it instantaneously caused a profound silence
»Amy my dear« he repeated »Will you go and see if Bob is on the lock«
She was at his side and touching him but he still perversely supposed her
to be in her seat and called out still leaning over the table »Amy Amy I
dont feel quite myself Ha I dont know whats the matter with me I
particularly wish to see Bob Ha Of all the turnkeys hes as much my friend as
yours See if Bob is in the lodge and beg him to come to me«
All the guests were now in consternation and everybody rose
»Dear father I am not there I am here by you«
»Oh You are here Amy Good Hum Good Ha Call Bob If he has been
relieved and is not on the lock tell Mrs Bangham to go and fetch him«
She was gently trying to get him away but he resisted and would not go
»I tell you child« he said petulantly »I cant be got up the narrow
stairs without Bob Ha Send for Bob Hum Send for Bob best of all the
turnkeys send for Bob«
He looked confusedly about him and becoming conscious of the number of
faces by which he was surrounded addressed them
»Ladies and gentlemen the duty ha devolves upon me of hum welcoming
you to the Marshalsea Welcome to the Marshalsea The space is ha limited
limited the parade might be wider but you will find it apparently grow larger
after a time a time ladies and gentlemen and the air is all things
considered very good It blows over the ha Surrey hills Blows over the
Surrey hills This is the Snuggery Hum Supported by a small subscription of
the ha Collegiate body In return for which hot water general kitchen
and little domestic advantages Those who are habituated to the ha
Marshalsea are pleased to call me its Father I am accustomed to be
complimented by strangers as the ha Father of the Marshalsea Certainly if
years of residence may establish a claim to so ha honourable a title I may
accept the hum conferred distinction My child ladies and gentlemen My
daughter Born here«
She was not ashamed of it or ashamed of him She was pale and frightened
but she had no other care than to soothe him and get him away for his own dear
sake She was between him and the wondering faces turned round upon his breast
with her own face raised to his He held her clasped in his left arm and
between whiles her low voice was heard tenderly imploring him to go away with
her
»Born here« he repeated shedding tears »Bred here Ladies and gentlemen
my daughter Child of an unfortunate father but ha always a gentleman
Poor no doubt but hum proud Always proud It has become a hum not
infrequent custom for my ha personal admirers personal admirers solely
to be pleased to express their desire to acknowledge my semiofficial position
here by offering ha little tributes which usually take the form of ha
Testimonials pecuniary Testimonials In the acceptance of those ha
voluntary recognitions of my humble endeavours to hum to uphold a Tone here
a Tone I beg it to be understood that I do not consider myself compromised
Ha Not compromised Ha Not a beggar No I repudiate the title At the same
time far be it from me to hum to put upon the fine feelings by which my
partial friends are actuated the slight of scrupling to admit that those
offerings are hum highly acceptable On the contrary they are most
acceptable In my childs name if not in my own I make the admission in the
fullest manner at the same time reserving ha shall I say my personal
dignity Ladies and gentlemen God bless you all«
By this time the exceeding mortification undergone by the Bosom had
occasioned the withdrawal of the greater part of the company into other rooms
The few who had lingered thus long followed the rest and Little Dorrit and her
father were left to the servants and themselves Dearest and most precious to
her he would come with her now would he not He replied to her fervid
entreaties that he would never be able to get up the narrow stairs without Bob
where was Bob would nobody fetch Bob Under pretence of looking for Bob she
got him out against the stream of gay company now pouring in for the evening
assembly and got him into a coach that had just set down its load and got him
home
The broad stairs of his Roman palace were contracted in his failing sight to
the narrow stairs of his London prison and he would suffer no one but her to
touch him his brother excepted They got him up to his room without help and
laid him down on his bed And from that hour his poor maimed spirit only
remembering the place where it had broken its wings cancelled the dream through
which it had since groped and knew of nothing beyond the Marshalsea When he
heard footsteps in the street he took them for the old weary tread in the
yards When the hour came for locking up he supposed all strangers to be
excluded for the night When the time for opening came again he was so anxious
to see Bob that they were fain to patch up a narrative how that Bob many a
year dead then gentle turnkey had taken cold but hoped to be out tomorrow
or the next day or the next at furthest
He fell away into a weakness so extreme that he could not raise his hand
But he still protected his brother according to his long usage and would say
with some complacency fifty times a day when he saw him standing by his bed
»My good Frederick sit down You are very feeble indeed«
They tried him with Mrs General but he had not the faintest knowledge of
her Some injurious suspicion lodged itself in his brain that she wanted to
supplant Mrs Bangham and that she was given to drinking He charged her with
it in no measured terms and was so urgent with his daughter to go round to the
Marshal and entreat him to turn her out that she was never reproduced after the
first failure
Saving that he once asked »if Tip had gone outside« the remembrance of his
two children not present seemed to have departed from him But the child who
had done so much for him and had been so poorly repaid was never out of his
mind Not that he spared her or was fearful of her being spent by watching and
fatigue he was not more troubled on that score than he had usually been No he
loved her in his old way They were in the jail again and she tended him and
he had constant need of her and could not turn without her and he even told
her sometimes that he was content to have undergone a great deal for her sake
As to her she bent over his bed with her quiet face against his and would have
laid down her own life to restore him
When he had been sinking in this painless way for two or three days she
observed him to be troubled by the ticking of his watch a pompous gold watch
that made as great a todo about its going as if nothing else went but itself
and Time She suffered it to run down but he was still uneasy and showed that
was not what he wanted At length he roused himself to explain that he wanted
money to be raised on this watch He was quite pleased when she pretended to
take it away for the purpose and afterwards had a relish for his little tastes
of wine and jelly that he had not had before
He soon made it plain that this was so for in another day or two he sent
off his sleevebuttons and fingerrings He had an amazing satisfaction in
entrusting her with these errands and appeared to consider it equivalent to
making the most methodical and provident arrangements After his trinkets or
such of them as he had been able to see about him were gone his clothes
engaged his attention and it is as likely as not that he was kept alive for
some days by the satisfaction of sending them piece by piece to an imaginary
pawnbrokers
Thus for ten days Little Dorrit bent over his pillow laying her cheek
against his Sometimes she was so worn out that for a few minutes they would
slumber together Then she would awake to recollect with fastflowing silent
tears what it was that touched her face and to see stealing over the cherished
face upon the pillow a deeper shadow than the shadow of the Marshalsea Wall
Quietly quietly all the lines of the plan of the great Castle melted one
after another Quietly quietly the ruled and crossruled countenance on which
they were traced became fair and blank Quietly quietly the reflected marks
of the prison bars and of the zigzag iron on the walltop faded away Quietly
quietly the face subsided into a far younger likeness of her own than she had
ever seen under the grey hair and sank to rest
At first her uncle was stark distracted »O my brother O William William
You to go before me you to go alone you to go and I to remain You so far
superior so distinguished so noble I a poor useless creature fit for
nothing and whom no one would have missed«
It did her for the time the good of having him to think of and to succour
»Uncle dear uncle spare yourself spare me«
The old man was not deaf to the last words When he did begin to restrain
himself it was that he might spare her He had no care for himself but with
all the remaining power of the honest heart stunned so long and now awaking to
be broken he honoured and blessed her
»O God« he cried before they left the room with his wrinkled hands
clasped over her »Thou seest this daughter of my dear dead brother All that I
have looked upon with my halfblind and sinful eyes Thou hast discerned
clearly brightly Not a hair of her head shall be harmed before Thee Thou wilt
uphold her here to her last hour And I know Thou wilt reward her hereafter«
They remained in a dim room near until it was almost midnight quiet and
sad together At times his grief would seek relief in a burst like that in
which it had found its earliest expression but besides that his little
strength would soon have been unequal to such strains he never failed to recall
her words and to reproach himself and calm himself The only utterance with
which he indulged his sorrow was the frequent exclamation that his brother was
gone alone that they had been together in the outset of their lives that they
had fallen into misfortune together that they had kept together through their
many years of poverty that they had remained together to that day and that his
brother was gone alone alone
They parted heavy and sorrowful She would not consent to leave him
anywhere but in his own room and she saw him lie down in his clothes upon his
bed and covered him with her own hands Then she sank upon her own bed and
fell into a deep sleep the sleep of exhaustion and rest though not of complete
release from a pervading consciousness of affliction Sleep good Little Dorrit
Sleep through the night
It was a moonlight night but the moon rose late being long past the full
When it was high in the peaceful firmament it shone through halfclosed lattice
blinds into the solemn room where the stumblings and wanderings of a life had so
lately ended Two quiet figures were within the room two figures equally still
and impassive equally removed by an untraversable distance from the teeming
earth and all that it contains though soon to lie in it
One figure reposed upon the bed The other kneeling on the floor drooped
over it the arms easily and peacefully resting on the coverlet the face bowed
down so that the lips touched the hand over which with its last breath it had
bent The two brothers were before their Father far beyond the twilight
judgments of this world high above its mists and obscurities
Chapter XX
Introduces the Next
The passengers were landing from the packet on the pier at Calais A lowlying
place and a lowspirited place Calais was with the tide ebbing out towards
lowwater mark There had been no more water on the bar than had sufficed to
float the packet in and now the bar itself with a shallow break of sea over
it looked like a lazy marine monster just risen to the surface whose form was
indistinctly shown as it lay asleep The meagre lighthouse all in white
haunting the seaboard as if it were the ghost of an edifice that had once had
colour and rotundity dripped melancholy tears after its late buffeting by the
waves The long rows of gaunt black piles slimy and wet and weatherworn with
funeral garlands of seaweed twisted about them by the late tide might have
represented an unsightly marine cemetery Every wavedashed stormbeaten
object was so low and so little under the broad grey sky in the noise of the
wind and sea and before the curling lines of surf making at it ferociously
that the wonder was there was any Calais left and that its low gates and low
wall and low roofs and low ditches and low sandhills and low ramparts and flat
streets had not yielded long ago to the undermining and besieging sea like the
fortifications children make on the seashore
After slipping among oozy piles and planks stumbling up wet steps and
encountering many salt difficulties the passengers entered on their comfortless
peregrination along the pier where all the French vagabonds and English outlaws
in the town half the population attended to prevent their recovery from
bewilderment After being minutely inspected by all the English and claimed and
reclaimed and counterclaimed as prizes by all the French in a handtohand
scuffle three quarters of a mile long they were at last free to enter the
streets and to make off in their various directions hotly pursued
Clennam harassed by more anxieties than one was among this devoted band
Having rescued the most defenceless of his compatriots from situations of great
extremity he now went his way alone or as nearly alone as he could be with a
native gentleman in a suit of grease and a cap of the same material giving
chase at a distance of some fifty yards and continually calling after him »Hi
Icesay You Seer Icesay Nice Oatel«
Even this hospitable person however was left behind at last and Clennam
pursued his way unmolested There was a tranquil air in the town after the
turbulence of the Channel and the beach and its dulness in that comparison was
agreeable He met new groups of his countrymen who had all a straggling air of
having at one time overblown themselves like certain uncomfortable kinds of
flowers and of being now mere weeds They had all an air too of lounging
out a limited round day after day which strongly reminded him of the
Marshalsea But taking no further note of them than was sufficient to give
birth to the reflection he sought out a certain street and number which he
kept in his mind
»So Pancks said« he murmured to himself as he stopped before a dull house
answering to the address »I suppose his information to be correct and his
discovery among Mr Casbys loose papers indisputable but without it I
should hardly have supposed this to be a likely place«
A dead sort of house with a dead wall over the way and a dead gateway at
the side where a pendant bellhandle produced two dead tinkles and a knocker
produced a dead flat surfacetapping that seemed not to have depth enough in
it to penetrate even the cracked door However the door jarred open on a dead
sort of spring and he closed it behind him as he entered a dull yard soon
brought to a close at the back by another dead wall where an attempt had been
made to train some creeping shrubs which were dead and to make a little
fountain in a grotto which was dry and to decorate that with a little statue
which was gone
The entry to the house was on the left and it was garnished as the outer
gateway was with two printed bills in French and English announcing Furnished
Apartments to let with immediate possession A strong cheerful peasant woman
all stocking petticoat white cap and earring stood here in a dark doorway
and said with a pleasant show of teeth »Icesay Seer Who«
Clennam replying in French said the English lady he wished to see the
English lady »Enter then and ascend if you please« returned the peasant
woman in French likewise He did both and followed her up a dark bare
staircase to a back room on the firstfloor Hence there was a gloomy view of
the yard that was dull and of the shrubs that were dead and of the fountain
that was dry and of the pedestal of the statue that was gone
»Monsieur Blandois« said Clennam
»With pleasure Monsieur«
Thereupon the woman withdrew and left him to look at the room It was the
pattern of room always to be found in such a house Cool dull and dark Waxed
floor very slippery A room not large enough to skate in nor adapted to the
easy pursuit of any other occupation Red and white curtained windows little
straw mat little round table with a tumultuous assemblage of legs underneath
clumsy rushbottomed chairs two great red velvet armchairs affording plenty of
space to be uncomfortable in bureau chimneyglass in several pieces pretending
to be in one piece pair of gaudy vases of very artificial flowers between them
a Greek warrior with his helmet off sacrificing a clock to the Genius of
France
After some pause a door of communication with another room was opened and
a lady entered She manifested great surprise on seeing Clennam and her glance
went round the room in search of some one else
»Pardon me Miss Wade I am alone«
»It was not your name that was brought to me«
»No I know that Excuse me I have already had experience that my name does
not predispose you to an interview and I ventured to mention the name of one I
am in search of«
»Pray« she returned motioning him to a chair so coldly that he remained
standing »what name was it that you gave«
»I mentioned the name of Blandois«
»Blandois«
»A name you are acquainted with«
»It is strange« she said frowning »that you should still press an
undesired interest in me and my acquaintances in me and my affairs Mr
Clennam I dont know what you mean«
»Pardon me You know the name«
»What can you have to do with the name What can I have to do with the name
What can you have to do with my knowing or not knowing any name I know many
names and I have forgotten many more This may be in the one class or it may be
in the other or I may never have heard it I am acquainted with no reason for
examining myself or for being examined about it«
»If you will allow me« said Clennam »I will tell you my reason for
pressing the subject I admit that I do press it and I must beg you to forgive
me if I do so very earnestly The reason is all mine I do not insinuate that
it is in any way yours«
»Well sir« she returned repeating a little less haughtily than before her
former invitation to him to be seated to which he now deferred as she seated
herself »I am at least glad to know that this is not another bondswoman of some
friend of yours who is bereft of free choice and whom I have spirited away I
will hear your reason if you please«
»First to identify the person of whom we speak« said Clennam »let me
observe that it is the person you met in London some time back You will
remember meeting him near the river in the Adelphi«
»You mix yourself most unaccountably with my business« she replied looking
full at him with stern displeasure »How do you know that«
»I entreat you not to take it ill By mere accident«
»What accident«
»Solely the accident of coming upon you in the street and seeing the
meeting«
»Do you speak of yourself or of some one else«
»Of myself I saw it«
»To be sure it was in the open street« she observed after a few moments of
less and less angry reflection »Fifty people might have seen it It would have
signified nothing if they had«
»Nor do I make my having seen it of any moment nor otherwise than as an
explanation of my coming here do I connect my visit with it or the favour that
I have to ask«
»Oh You have to ask a favour It occurred to me« and the handsome face
looked bitterly at him »that your manner was softened Mr Clennam«
He was content to protest against this by a slight action without contesting
it in words He then referred to Blandois disappearance of which it was
probable she had heard No However probable it was to him she had heard of no
such thing Let him look round him she said and judge for himself what general
intelligence was likely to reach the ears of a woman who had been shut up there
while it was rife devouring her own heart When she had uttered this denial
which he believed to be true she asked him what he meant by disappearance That
led to his narrating the circumstances in detail and expressing something of
his anxiety to discover what had really become of the man and to repel the dark
suspicions that clouded about his mothers house She heard him with evident
surprise and with more marks of suppressed interest than he had before seen in
her still they did not overcome her distant proud and selfsecluded manner
When he had finished she said nothing but these words
»You have not yet told me sir what I have to do with it or what the
favour is Will you be so good as come to that«
»I assume« said Arthur persevering in his endeavour to soften her scornful
demeanour »that being in communication may I say confidential communication
with this person «
»You may say of course whatever you like« she remarked »but I do not
subscribe to your assumptions Mr Clennam or to any ones«
» that being at least in personal communication with him« said Clennam
changing the form of his position in the hope of making it unobjectionable
»you can tell me something of his antecedents pursuits habits usual place of
residence Can give me some little clue by which to seek him out in the
likeliest manner and either produce him or establish what has become of him
This is the favour I ask and I ask it in a distress of mind for which I hope
you will feel some consideration If you should have any reason for imposing
conditions upon me I will respect it without asking what it is«
»You chanced to see me in the street with the man« she observed after
being to his mortification evidently more occupied with her own reflections on
the matter than with his appeal »Then you knew the man before«
»Not before afterwards I never saw him before but I saw him again on this
very night of his disappearance In my mothers room in fact I left him there
You will read in this paper all that is known of him«
He handed her one of the printed bills which she read with a steady and
attentive face
»This is more than I knew of him« she said giving it back
Clennams looks expressed his heavy disappointment perhaps his incredulity
for she added in the same unsympathetic tone »You dont believe it Still it
is so As to personal communication it seems that there was personal
communication between him and your mother And yet you say you believe her
declaration that she knows no more of him«
A sufficiently expressive hint of suspicion was conveyed in these words and
in the smile by which they were accompanied to bring the blood into Clennams
cheeks
»Come sir« she said with a cruel pleasure in repeating the stab »I will
be as open with you as you can desire I will confess that if I cared for my
credit which I do not or had a good name to preserve which I have not for I
am utterly indifferent to its being considered good or bad I should regard
myself as heavily compromised by having had anything to do with this fellow Yet
he never passed in at my door never sat in colloquy with me until midnight«
She took her revenge for her old grudge in thus turning his subject against
him Hers was not the nature to spare him and she had no compunction
»That he is a low mercenary wretch that I first saw him prowling about
Italy where I was not long ago and that I hired him there as the suitable
instrument of a purpose I happened to have I have no objection to tell you In
short it was worth my while for my own pleasure the gratification of a
strong feeling to pay a spy who would fetch and carry for money I paid this
creature And I dare say that if I had wanted to make such a bargain and if I
could have paid him enough and if he could have done it in the dark free from
all risk he would have taken any life with as little scruple as he took my
money That at least is my opinion of him and I see it is not very far
removed from yours Your mothers opinion of him I am to assume following your
example of assuming this and that was vastly different«
»My mother let me remind you« said Clennam »was first brought into
communication with him in the unlucky course of business«
»It appears to have been an unlucky course of business that last brought her
into communication with him« returned Miss Wade »and business hours on that
occasion were late«
»You imply« said Arthur smarting under these coolhanded thrusts of which
he had deeply felt the force already »that there was something «
»Mr Clennam« she composedly interrupted »recollect that I do not speak by
implication about the man He is I say again without disguise a low mercenary
wretch I suppose such a creature goes where there is occasion for him If I had
not had occasion for him you would not have seen him and me together«
Wrung by her persistence in keeping that dark side of the case before him
of which there was a halfhidden shadow in his own breast Clennam was silent
»I have spoken of him as still living« she added »but he may have been put
out of the way for anything I know For anything I care also I have no further
occasion for him«
With a heavy sigh and a despondent air Arthur Clennam slowly rose She did
not rise also but said having looked at him in the meanwhile with a fixed look
of suspicion and lips angrily compressed
»He was the chosen associate of your dear friend Mr Gowan was he not Why
dont you ask your dear friend to help you«
The denial that he was a dear friend rose to Arthurs lips but he
repressed it remembering his old struggles and resolutions and said
»Further than that he has never seen Blandois since Blandois set out for
England Mr Gowan knows nothing additional about him He was a chance
acquaintance made abroad«
»A chance acquaintance made abroad« she repeated »Yes Your dear friend
has need to divert himself with all the acquaintances he can make seeing what a
wife he has I hate his wife sir«
The anger with which she said it the more remarkable for being so much
under her restraint fixed Clennams attention and kept him on the spot It
flashed out of her dark eyes as they regarded him quivered in her nostrils and
fired the very breath she exhaled but her face was otherwise composed into a
disdainful serenity and her attitude was as calmly and haughtily graceful as if
she had been in a mood of complete indifference
»All I will say is Miss Wade« he remarked »that you can have received no
provocation to a feeling in which I believe you have no sharer«
»You may ask your dear friend if you choose« she returned »for his
opinion upon that subject«
»I am scarcely on those intimate terms with my dear friend« said Arthur in
spite of his resolutions »that would render my approaching the subject very
probable Miss Wade«
»I hate him« she returned »Worse than his wife because I was once dupe
enough and false enough to myself almost to love him You have seen me sir
only on commonplace occasions when I dare say you have thought me a commonplace
woman a little more selfwilled than the generality You dont know what I mean
by hating if you know me no better than that you cant know without knowing
with what care I have studied myself and people about me For this reason I
have for some time inclined to tell you what my life has been not to
propitiate your opinion for I set no value on it but that you may comprehend
when you think of your dear friend and his dear wife what I mean by hating
Shall I give you something I have written and put by for your perusal or shall
I hold my hand«
Arthur begged her to give it to him She went to the bureau unlocked it
and took from an inner drawer a few folded sheets of paper Without any
conciliation of him scarcely addressing him rather speaking as if she were
speaking to her own lookingglass for the justification of her own stubbornness
she said as she gave them to him
»Now you may know what I mean by hating No more of that Sir whether you
find me temporarily and cheaply lodging in an empty London house or in a Calais
apartment you find Harriet with me You may like to see her before you leave
Harriet come in« She called Harriet again The second call produced Harriet
once Tattycoram
»Here is Mr Clennam« said Miss Wade »not come for you he has given you
up I suppose you have by this time«
»Having no authority or influence yes« assented Clennam
»Not come in search of you you see but still seeking some one He wants
that Blandois man«
»With whom I saw you in the Strand in London« hinted Arthur
»If you know anything of him Harriet except that he came from Venice
which we all know tell it to Mr Clennam freely«
»I know nothing more about him« said the girl
»Are you satisfied« Miss Wade inquired of Arthur
He had no reason to disbelieve them the girls manner being so natural as
to be almost convincing if he had had any previous doubts He replied »I must
seek for intelligence elsewhere«
He was not going in the same breath but he had risen before the girl
entered and she evidently thought he was She looked quickly at him and said
»Are they well sir«
»Who«
She stopped herself in saying what would have been »all of them« glanced at
Miss Wade and said »Mr and Mrs Meagles«
»They were when I last heard of them They are not at home By the way let
me ask you Is it true that you were seen there«
»Where Where does any one say I was seen« returned the girl sullenly
casting down her eyes
»Looking in at the garden gate of the cottage«
»No« said Miss Wade »She has never been near it«
»You are wrong then« said the girl »I went down there the last time we
were in London I went one afternoon when you left me alone And I did look in«
»You poorspirited girl« returned Miss Wade with infinite contempt »does
all our companionship do all our conversations do all your old complainings
tell for so little as that«
»There was no harm in looking in at the gate for an instant« said the girl
»I saw by the windows that the family were not there«
»Why should you go near the place«
»Because I wanted to see it Because I felt that I should like to look at it
again«
As each of the two handsome faces looked at the other Clennam felt how each
of the two natures must be constantly tearing the other to pieces
»Oh« said Miss Wade coldly subduing and removing her glance »if you had
any desire to see the place where you led the life from which I rescued you
because you had found out what it was that is another thing But is that your
truth to me Is that your fidelity to me Is that the common cause I make with
you You are not worth the confidence I have placed in you You are not worth
the favour I have shown you You are no higher than a spaniel and had better go
back to the people who did worse than whip you«
»If you speak so of them with any one else by to hear youll provoke me to
take their part« said the girl
»Go back to them« Miss Wade retorted »Go back to them«
»You know very well« retorted Harriet in her turn »that I wont go back to
them You know very well that I have thrown them off and never can never
shall never will go back to them Let them alone then Miss Wade«
»You prefer their plenty to your less fat living here« she rejoined »You
exalt them and slight me What else should I have expected I ought to have
known it«
»Its not so« said the girl flushing high »and you dont say what you
mean I know what you mean You are reproaching me underhanded with having
nobody but you to look to And because I have nobody but you to look to you
think you are to make me do or not do everything you please and are to put
any affront upon me You are as bad as they were every bit But I will not be
quite tamed and made submissive I will say again that I went to look at the
house because I had often thought that I should like to see it once more I
will ask again how they are because I once liked them and at times thought
they were kind to me«
Hereupon Clennam said that he was sure they would still receive her kindly
if she should ever desire to return
»Never« said the girl passionately »I shall never do that Nobody knows
that better than Miss Wade though she taunts me because she has made me her
dependant And I know I am so and I know she is overjoyed when she can bring it
to my mind«
»A good pretence« said Miss Wade with no less anger haughtiness and
bitterness »but too threadbare to cover what I plainly see in this My poverty
will not bear competition with their money Better go back at once better go
back at once and have done with it«
Arthur Clennam looked at them standing a little distance asunder in the
dull confined room each proudly cherishing her own anger each with a fixed
determination torturing her own breast and torturing the others He said a
word or two of leavetaking but Miss Wade barely inclined her head and
Harriet with the assumed humiliation of an abject dependant and serf but not
without defiance for all that made as if she were too low to notice or to be
noticed
He came down the dark winding stairs into the yard with an increased sense
upon him of the gloom of the wall that was dead and of the shrubs that were
dead and of the fountain that was dry and of the statue that was gone
Pondering much on what he had seen and heard in that house as well as on the
failure of all his efforts to trace the suspicious character who was lost he
returned to London and to England by the packet that had taken him over On the
way he unfolded the sheets of paper and read in them what is reproduced in the
next chapter
Chapter XXI
The History of a Self-Tormentor
I have the misfortune of not being a fool From a very early age I have detected
what those about me thought they hid from me If I could have been habitually
imposed upon instead of habitually discerning the truth I might have lived as
smoothly as most fools do
My childhood was passed with a grandmother that is to say with a lady who
represented that relative to me and who took that title on herself She had no
claim to it but I being to that extent a little fool had no suspicion of
her She had some children of her own family in her house and some children of
other people All girls ten in number including me We all lived together and
were educated together
I must have been about twelve years old when I began to see how determinedly
those girls patronised me I was told I was an orphan There was no other orphan
among us and I perceived here was the first disadvantage of not being a fool
that they conciliated me in an insolent pity and in a sense of superiority I
did not set this down as a discovery rashly I tried them often I could hardly
make them quarrel with me When I succeeded with any of them they were sure to
come after an hour or two and begin a reconciliation I tried them over and
over again and I never knew them wait for me to begin They were always
forgiving me in their vanity and condescension Little images of grown people
One of them was my chosen friend I loved that stupid mite in a passionate
way that she could no more deserve than I can remember without feeling ashamed
of though I was but a child She had what they called an amiable temper an
affectionate temper She could distribute and did distribute pretty looks and
smiles to every one among them I believe there was not a soul in the place
except myself who knew that she did it purposely to wound and gall me
Nevertheless I so loved that unworthy girl that my life was made stormy by
my fondness for her I was constantly lectured and disgraced for what was called
trying her in other words, charging her with her little perfidy and throwing
her into tears by showing her that I read her heart However I loved her
faithfully and one time I went home with her for the holidays
She was worse at home than she had been at school She had a crowd of
cousins and acquaintances and we had dances at her house and went out to
dances at other houses and both at home and out she tormented my love beyond
endurance Her plan was to make them all fond of her and so drive me wild
with jealousy To be familiar and endearing with them all and so make me mad
with envying them When we were left alone in our bedroom at night I would
reproach her with my perfect knowledge of her baseness and then she would cry
and cry and say I was cruel and then I would hold her in my arms till morning
loving her as much as ever and often feeling as if rather than suffer so I
could so hold her in my arms and plunge to the bottom of a river where I would
still hold her after we were both dead
It came to an end and I was relieved In the family there was an aunt who
was not fond of me I doubt if any of the family liked me much but I never
wanted them to like me being altogether bound up in the one girl The aunt was
a young woman and she had a serious way with her eyes of watching me She was
an audacious woman and openly looked compassionately at me After one of the
nights that I have spoken of I came down into a greenhouse before breakfast
Charlotte the name of my false young friend had gone down before me and I
heard this aunt speaking to her about me as I entered I stopped where I was
among the leaves and listened
The aunt said »Charlotte Miss Wade is wearing you to death and this must
not continue« I repeat the very words I heard
Now what did she answer Did she say »It is I who am wearing her to death
I who am keeping her on a rack and am the executioner yet she tells me every
night that she loves me devotedly though she knows what I make her undergo«
No my first memorable experience was true to what I knew her to be and to all
my experience She began sobbing and weeping to secure the aunts sympathy to
herself and said »Dear aunt she has an unhappy temper other girls at
school besides I try hard to make it better we all try hard«
Upon that the aunt fondled her as if she had said something noble instead
of despicable and false and kept up the infamous pretence by replying »But
there are reasonable limits my dear love to everything and I see that this
poor miserable girl causes you more constant and useless distress than even so
good an effort justifies«
The poor miserable girl came out of her concealment as you may be prepared
to hear and said »Send me home« I never said another word to either of them
or to any of them but »Send me home or I will walk home alone night and day«
When I got home I told my supposed grandmother that unless I was sent away to
finish my education somewhere else before that girl came back or before any
one of them came back I would burn my sight away by throwing myself into the
fire rather than I would endure to look at their plotting faces
I went among young women next and I found them no better Fair words and
fair pretences but I penetrated below those assertions of themselves and
depreciations of me and they were no better Before I left them I learned that
I had no grandmother and no recognised relation I carried the light of that
information both into my past and into my future It showed me many new
occasions on which people triumphed over me when they made a pretence of
treating me with consideration or doing me a service
A man of business had a small property in trust for me I was to be a
governess I became a governess and went into the family of a poor nobleman
where there were two daughters little children but the parents wished them to
grow up if possible under one instructress The mother was young and pretty
From the first she made a show of behaving to me with great delicacy I kept my
resentment to myself but I knew very well that it was her way of petting the
knowledge that she was my Mistress and might have behaved differently to her
servant if it had been her fancy
I say I did not resent it nor did I but I showed her by not gratifying
her that I understood her When she pressed me to take wine I took water If
there happened to be anything choice at table she always sent it to me but I
always declined it and ate of the rejected dishes These disappointments of her
patronage were a sharp retort and made me feel independent
I liked the children They were timid but on the whole disposed to attach
themselves to me There was a nurse however in the house a rosyfaced woman
always making an obtrusive pretence of being gay and goodhumoured who had
nursed them both and who had secured their affections before I saw them I
could almost have settled down to my fate but for this woman Her artful devices
for keeping herself before the children in constant competition with me might
have blinded many in my place but I saw through them from the first On the
pretext of arranging my rooms and waiting on me and taking care of my wardrobe
all of which she did busily she was never absent The most crafty of her many
subtleties was her feint of seeking to make the children fonder of me She would
lead them to me and coax them to me »Come to good Miss Wade come to dear Miss
Wade come to pretty Miss Wade She loves you very much Miss Wade is a clever
lady who has read heaps of books and can tell you far better and more
interesting stories than I know Come and hear Miss Wade« How could I engage
their attention when my heart was burning against these ignorant designs How
could I wonder when I saw their innocent faces shrinking away and their arms
twining round her neck instead of mine Then she would look up at me shaking
their curls from her face and say »Theyll come round soon Miss Wade theyre
very simple and loving maam dont be at all cast down about it maam«
exulting over me
There was another thing the woman did At times when she saw that she had
safely plunged me into a black despondent brooding by these means she would
call the attention of the children to it and would show them the difference
between herself and me »Hush Poor Miss Wade is not well Dont make a noise
my dears her head aches Come and comfort her Come and ask her if she is
better come and ask her to lie down I hope you have nothing on your mind
maam Dont take on maam and be sorry«
It became intolerable Her ladyship my Mistress coming in one day when I was
alone and at the height of feeling that I could support it no longer I told
her I must go I could not bear the presence of that woman Dawes
»Miss Wade Poor Dawes is devoted to you would do anything for you«
I knew beforehand she would say so I was quite prepared for it I only
answered it was not for me to contradict my Mistress I must go
»I hope Miss Wade« she returned instantly assuming the tone of
superiority she had always so thinly concealed »that nothing I have ever said
or done since we have been together has justified your use of that disagreeable
word Mistress It must have been wholly inadvertent on my part Pray tell me
what it is«
I replied that I had no complaint to make either of my Mistress or to my
Mistress but I must go
She hesitated a moment and then sat down beside me and laid her hand on
mine As if that honour would obliterate any remembrance
»Miss Wade I fear you are unhappy through causes over which I have no
influence«
I smiled thinking of the experience the word awakened and said »I have an
unhappy temper I suppose«
»I did not say that«
»It is an easy way of accounting for anything« said I
»It may be but I did not say so What I wish to approach is something very
different My husband and I have exchanged some remarks upon the subject when
we have observed with pain that you have not been easy with us«
»Easy Oh You are such great people my lady« said I
»I am unfortunate in using a word which may convey a meaning and evidently
does quite opposite to my intention« She had not expected my reply and it
shamed her »I only mean not happy with us It is a difficult topic to enter
on but from one young woman to another perhaps in short we have been
apprehensive that you may allow some family circumstances of which no one can be
more innocent than yourself to prey upon your spirits If so let us entreat
you not to make them a cause of grief My husband himself as is well known
formerly had a very dear sister who was not in law his sister but who was
universally beloved and respected «
I saw directly that they had taken me in for the sake of the dead woman
whoever she was and to have that boast of me and advantage of me I saw in the
nurses knowledge of it an encouragement to goad me as she had done and I saw
in the childrens shrinking away a vague impression that I was not like other
people I left that house that night
After one or two short and very similar experiences which are not to the
present purpose I entered another family where I had but one pupil a girl of
fifteen who was the only daughter The parents here were elderly people people
of station and rich A nephew whom they had brought up was a frequent visitor
at the house among many other visitors and he began to pay me attention I was
resolute in repulsing him for I had determined when I went there that no one
should pity me or condescend to me But he wrote me a letter It led to our
being engaged to be married
He was a year younger than I and younglooking even when that allowance was
made He was on absence from India where he had a post that was soon to grow
into a very good one In six months we were to be married and were to go to
India I was to stay in the house and was to be married from the house Nobody
objected to any part of the plan
I cannot avoid saying he admired me but if I could I would Vanity has
nothing to do with the declaration for his admiration worried me He took no
pains to hide it and caused me to feel among the rich people as if he had
bought me for my looks and made a show of his purchase to justify himself They
appraised me in their own minds I saw and were curious to ascertain what my
full value was I resolved that they should not know I was immovable and silent
before them and would have suffered any one of them to kill me sooner than I
would have laid myself out to bespeak their approval
He told me I did not do myself justice I told him I did and it was because
I did and meant to do so to the last that I would not stoop to propitiate any
of them He was concerned and even shocked when I added that I wished he would
not parade his attachment before them but he said he would sacrifice even the
honest impulses of his affection to my peace
Under that pretence he began to retort upon me By the hour together he
would keep at a distance from me talking to any one rather than to me I have
sat alone and unnoticed half an evening while he conversed with his young
cousin my pupil I have seen all the while in peoples eyes that they thought
the two looked nearer on an equality than he and I I have sat divining their
thoughts until I have felt that his young appearance made me ridiculous and
have raged against myself for ever loving him
For I did love him once Undeserving as he was and little as he thought of
all these agonies that it cost me agonies which should have made him wholly
and gratefully mine to his lifes end I loved him I bore with his cousins
praising him to my face and with her pretending to think that it pleased me
but full well knowing that it rankled in my breast for his sake While I have
sat in his presence recalling all my slights and wrongs and deliberating
whether I should not fly from the house at once and never see him again I have
loved him
His aunt my Mistress you will please to remember deliberately wilfully
added to my trials and vexations It was her delight to expatiate on the style
in which we were to live in India and on the establishment we should keep and
the company we should entertain when he got his advancement My pride rose
against this barefaced way of pointing out the contrast my married life was to
present to my then dependent and inferior position I suppressed my indignation
but I showed her that her intention was not lost upon me and I repaid her
annoyances by affecting humility What she described would surely be a great
deal too much honour for me I would tell her I was afraid I might not be able
to support so great a change Think of a mere governess her daughters
governess coming to that high distinction It made her uneasy and made them
all uneasy when I answered in this way They knew that I fully understood her
It was at the time when my troubles were at their highest and when I was
most incensed against my lover for his ingratitude in caring as little as he did
for the innumerable distresses and mortifications I underwent on his account
that your dear friend Mr Gowan appeared at the house He had been intimate
there for a long time but had been abroad He understood the state of things at
a glance and he understood me
He was the first person I had ever seen in my life who had understood me He
was not in the house three times before I knew that he accompanied every
movement of my mind In his cold easy way with all of them and with me and
with the whole subject I saw it clearly In his light protestations of
admiration of my future husband in his enthusiasm regarding our engagement and
our prospects in his hopeful congratulations on our future wealth and his
despondent references to his own poverty all equally hollow and jesting and
full of mockery I saw it clearly He made me feel more and more resentful and
more and more contemptible by always presenting to me everything that
surrounded me with some new hateful light upon it while he pretended to
exhibit it in its best aspect for my admiration and his own He was like the
dressedup Death in the Dutch series whatever figure he took upon his arm
whether it was youth or age beauty or ugliness whether he danced with it sang
with it played with it or prayed with it he made it ghastly
You will understand then that when your dear friend complimented me he
really condoled with me that when he soothed me under my vexations he laid
bare every smarting wound I had that when he declared my »faithful swain« to be
»the most loving young fellow in the world with the tenderest heart that ever
beat« he touched my old misgiving that I was made ridiculous These were not
great services you may say They were acceptable to me because they echoed my
own mind and confirmed my own knowledge I soon began to like the society of
your dear friend better than any other
When I perceived which I did almost as soon that jealousy was growing out
of this I liked this society still better Had I not been subjected to
jealousy and were the endurances to be all mine No Let him know what it was
I was delighted that he should know it I was delighted that he should feel
keenly and I hoped he did More than that He was tame in comparison with Mr
Gowan who knew how to address me on equal terms and how to anatomise the
wretched people around us
This went on until the aunt my Mistress took it upon herself to speak to
me It was scarcely worth alluding to she knew I meant nothing but she
suggested from herself knowing it was only necessary to suggest that it might
be better if I were a little less companionable with Mr Gowan
I asked her how she could answer for what I meant She could always answer
she replied for my meaning nothing wrong I thanked her but I said I would
prefer to answer for myself and to myself Her other servants would probably be
grateful for good characters but I wanted none
Other conversation followed and induced me to ask her how she knew that it
was only necessary for her to make a suggestion to me to have it obeyed Did
she presume on my birth or on my hire I was not bought body and soul She
seemed to think that her distinguished nephew had gone into a slavemarket and
purchased a wife
It would probably have come sooner or later to the end to which it did
come but she brought it to its issue at once She told me with assumed
commiseration that I had an unhappy temper On this repetition of the old
wicked injury I withheld no longer but exposed to her all I had known of her
and seen in her and all I had undergone within myself since I had occupied the
despicable position of being engaged to her nephew I told her that Mr Gowan
was the only relief I had had in my degradation that I had borne it too long
and that I shook it off too late but that I would see none of them more And I
never did
Your dear friend followed me to my retreat and was very droll on the
severance of the connection though he was sorry too for the excellent people
in their way the best he had ever met and deplored the necessity of breaking
mere houseflies on the wheel He protested before long and far more truly than
I then supposed that he was not worth acceptance by a woman of such endowments
and such power of character but well well
Your dear friend amused me and amused himself as long as it suited his
inclinations and then reminded me that we were both people of the world that
we both understood mankind that we both knew there was no such thing as
romance that we were both prepared for going different ways to seek our
fortunes like people of sense, and that we both foresaw that whenever we
encountered one another again we should meet as the best friends on earth So he
said and I did not contradict him
It was not very long before I found that he was courting his present wife
and that she had been taken away to be out of his reach I hated her then quite
as much as I hate her now and naturally therefore could desire nothing better
than that she should marry him But I was restlessly curious to look at her
so curious that I felt it to be one of the few sources of entertainment left to
me I travelled a little travelled until I found myself in her society and in
yours Your dear friend I think was not known to you then and had not given
you any of those signal marks of his friendship which he has bestowed upon you
In that company I found a girl in various circumstances of whose position
there was a singular likeness to my own and in whose character I was interested
and pleased to see much of the rising against swollen patronage and selfishness
calling themselves kindness protection benevolence and other fine names
which I have described as inherent in my nature I often heard it said too
that she had »an unhappy temper« Well understanding what was meant by the
convenient phrase and wanting a companion with a knowledge of what I knew I
thought I would try to release the girl from her bondage and sense of injustice
I have no occasion to relate that I succeeded
We have been together ever since sharing my small means
Chapter XXII
Who Passes by This Road so Late
Arthur Clennam had made his unavailing expedition to Calais in the midst of a
great pressure of business A certain barbaric Power with valuable possessions
on the map of the world had occasion for the services of one or two engineers
quick in invention and determined in execution practical men who could make
the men and means their ingenuity perceived to be wanted out of the best
materials they could find at hand and who were as bold and fertile in the
adaptation of such materials to their purpose as in the conception of their
purpose itself. This Power being a barbaric one had no idea of stowing away a
great national object in a Circumlocution Office as strong wine is hidden from
the light in a cellar until its fire and youth are gone and the labourers who
worked in the vineyard and pressed the grapes are dust With characteristic
ignorance it acted on the most decided and energetic notions of How to do it
and never showed the least respect for or gave any quarter to the great
political science How not to do it Indeed it had a barbarous way of striking
the latter art and mystery dead in the person of any enlightened subject who
practised it
Accordingly the men who were wanted were sought out and found which was
in itself a most uncivilised and irregular way of proceeding Being found they
were treated with great confidence and honour which again showed dense
political ignorance and were invited to come at once and do what they had to
do In short they were regarded as men who meant to do it engaging with other
men who meant it to be done
Daniel Doyce was one of the chosen There was no foreseeing at that time
whether he would be absent months or years The preparations for his departure
and the conscientious arrangement for him of all the details and results of
their joint business had necessitated labour within a short compass of time
which had occupied Clennam day and night He had slipped across the water in his
first leisure and had slipped as quickly back again for his farewell interview
with Doyce
Him Arthur now showed with pains and care the state of their gains and
losses responsibilities and prospects Daniel went through it all in his
patient manner and admired it all exceedingly He audited the accounts as if
they were a far more ingenious piece of mechanism than he had ever constructed
and afterwards stood looking at them weighing his hat over his head by the
brims as if he were absorbed in the contemplation of some wonderful engine
»Its all beautiful Clennam in its regularity and order Nothing can be
plainer Nothing can be better«
»I am glad you approve Doyce Now as to the management of our capital
while you are away and as to the conversion of so much of it as the business
may need from time to time « His partner stopped him
»As to that and as to everything else of that kind all rests with you You
will continue in all such matters to act for both of us as you have done
hitherto and to lighten my mind of a load it is much relieved from«
»Though as I often tell you« returned Clennam »you unreasonably
depreciate your business qualities«
»Perhaps so« said Doyce smiling »And perhaps not Anyhow I have a
calling that I have studied more than such matters and that I am better fitted
for I have perfect confidence in my partner and I am satisfied that he will do
what is best If I have a prejudice connected with money and money figures«
continued Doyce laying that plastic workmans thumb of his on the lappel of his
partners coat »it is against speculating I dont think I have any other I
dare say I entertain that prejudice only because I have never given my mind
fully to the subject«
»But you shouldnt call it a prejudice« said Clennam »My dear Doyce it is
the soundest sense«
»I am glad you think so« returned Doyce with his grey eyes looking kind
and bright
»It so happens« said Clennam »that just now not half an hour before you
came down I was saying the same thing to Pancks who looked in here We both
agreed that to travel out of safe investments is one of the most dangerous as
it is one of the most common of those follies which often deserve the name of
vices«
»Pancks« said Doyce tilting up his hat at the back and nodding with an
air of confidence »Aye aye aye Thats a cautious fellow«
»He is a very cautious fellow indeed« returned Arthur »Quite a specimen of
caution«
They both appeared to derive a larger amount of satisfaction from the
cautious character of Mr Pancks than was quite intelligible judged by the
surface of their conversation
»And now« said Daniel looking at his watch »as time and tide wait for no
one my trusty partner and as I am ready for starting bag and baggage at the
gate below let me say a last word I want you to grant a request of mine«
»Any request you can make Except« Clennam was quick with his exception
for his partners face was quick in suggesting it »except that I will abandon
your invention«
»Thats the request and you know it is« said Doyce
»I say No then I say positively No Now that I have begun I will have
some definite reason some responsible statement something in the nature of a
real answer from those people«
»You will not« returned Doyce shaking his head »Take my word for it you
never will«
»At least Ill try« said Clennam »It will do me no harm to try«
»I am not certain of that« rejoined Doyce laying his hand persuasively on
his shoulder »It has done me harm my friend It has aged me tired me vexed
me disappointed me It does no man any good to have his patience worn out and
to think himself illused I fancy even already that unavailing attendance on
delays and evasions has made you something less elastic than you used to be«
»Private anxieties may have done that for the moment« said Clennam »but
not official harrying Not yet I am not hurt yet«
»Then you wont grant my request«
»Decidedly No« said Clennam »I should be ashamed if I submitted to be so
soon driven out of the field where a much older and a much more sensitively
interested man contended with fortitude so long«
As there was no moving him Daniel Doyce returned the grasp of his hand
and casting a farewell look round the countinghouse went downstairs with
him Doyce was to go to Southampton to join the small staff of his
fellowtravellers and a coach was at the gate well furnished and packed and
ready to take him there The workmen were at the gate to see him off and were
mightily proud of him »Good luck to you Mr Doyce« said one of the number
»Wherever you go theyll find as theyve got a man among em a man as knows
his tools and as his tools knows a man as is willing and a man as is able and
if thats not a man where is a man« This oration from a gruff volunteer in the
background not previously suspected of any powers in that way was received
with three loud cheers and the speaker became a distinguished character for
ever afterwards In the midst of the three loud cheers Daniel gave them all a
hearty »Good Bye Men« and the coach disappeared from sight as if the
concussion of the air had blown it out of Bleeding Heart Yard
Mr Baptist as a grateful little fellow in a position of trust was among
the workmen and had done as much towards the cheering as a mere foreigner
could In truth no men on earth can cheer like Englishmen who do so rally one
another's blood and spirit when they cheer in earnest that the stir is like the
rush of their whole history with all its standards waving at once from Saxon
Alfreds downward Mr Baptist had been in a manner whirled away before the
onset and was taking his breath in quite a scared condition when Clennam
beckoned him to follow upstairs and return the books and papers to their
places
In the lull consequent on the departure in that first vacuity which ensues
on every separation foreshadowing the great separation that is always
overhanging all mankind Arthur stood at his desk looking dreamily out at a
gleam of sun But his liberated attention soon reverted to the theme that was
foremost in his thoughts and began for the hundredth time to dwell upon every
circumstance that had impressed itself upon his mind on the mysterious night
when he had seen the man at his mothers Again the man jostled him in the
crooked street again he followed the man and lost him again he came upon the
man in the courtyard looking at the house again he followed the man and stood
beside him on the doorsteps
»Who passes by this road so late
Compagnon de la Majolaine
Who passes by this road so late
Always gay«
It was not the first time by many that he had recalled the song of the childs
game of which the fellow had hummed this verse while they stood side by side
but he was so unconscious of having repeated it audibly that he started to
hear the next verse
»Of all the kings knights tis the flower
Compagnon de la Majolaine
Of all the kings knights tis the flower
Always gay«
Cavalletto had deferentially suggested the words and tune supposing him to have
stopped short for want of more
»Ah You know the song Cavalletto«
»By Bacchus yes sir They all know it in France I have heard it many
times sung by the little children The last time when it I have heard« said
Mr Baptist formerly Cavalletto who usually went back to his native
construction of sentences when his memory went near home »is from a sweet
little voice A little voice very pretty very innocent Altro«
»The last time I heard it« returned Arthur »was in a voice quite the
reverse of pretty and quite the reverse of innocent« He said it more to
himself than to his companion and added to himself repeating the mans next
words »Death of my life sir its my character to be impatient«
»EH« cried Cavalletto astounded and with all his colour gone in a moment
»What is the matter«
»Sir You know where I have heard that song the last time«
With his rapid native action his hands made the outline of a high hook
nose pushed his eyes near together dishevelled his hair puffed out his upper
lip to represent a thick moustache and threw the heavy end of an ideal cloak
over his shoulder While doing this with a swiftness incredible to one who has
not watched an Italian peasant he indicated a very remarkable and sinister
smile The whole change passed over him like a flash of light and he stood in
the same instant pale and astonished before his patron
»In the name of Fate and wonder« said Clennam »what do you mean Do you
know a man of the name of Blandois«
»No« said Mr Baptist shaking his head
»You have just now described a man who was by when you heard that song
have you not«
»Yes« said Mr Baptist nodding fifty times
»And was he not called Blandois«
»No« said Mr Baptist »Altro Altro Altro Altro« He could not reject
the name sufficiently with his head and his right forefinger going at once
»Stay« cried Clennam spreading out the handbill on his desk »Was this the
man You can understand what I read aloud«
»Altogether Perfectly«
»But look at it too Come here and look over me while I read«
Mr Baptist approached followed every word with his quick eyes saw and
heard it all out with the greatest impatience then clapped his two hands flat
upon the bill as if he had fiercely caught some noxious creature and cried
looking eagerly at Clennam »It is the man Behold him«
»This is of far greater moment to me« said Clennam in great agitation
»than you can imagine Tell me where you knew the man«
Mr Baptist releasing the paper very slowly and with much discomfiture and
drawing himself back two or three paces and making as though he dusted his
hands returned very much against his will
»At Marsiglia Marseilles«
»What was he«
»A prisoner and Altro I believe yes an« Mr Baptist crept closer
again to whisper it »Assassin«
Clennam fell back as if the word had struck him a blow so terrible did it
make his mothers communication with the man appear Cavalletto dropped on one
knee and implored him with a redundancy of gesticulation to hear what had
brought himself into such foul company
He told with perfect truth how it had come of a little contraband trading
and how he had in time been released from prison and how he had gone away from
those antecedents How at the house of entertainment called the Break of Day at
Chalons on the Saone he had been awakened in his bed at night by the same
assassin then assuming the name of Lagnier though his name had formerly been
Rigaud how the assassin had proposed that they should join their fortunes
together how he held the assassin in such dread and aversion that he had fled
from him at daylight and how he had ever since been haunted by the fear of
seeing the assassin again and being claimed by him as an acquaintance When he
had related this with an emphasis and poise on the word assassin peculiarly
belonging to his own language and which did not serve to render it less
terrible to Clennam he suddenly sprang to his feet pounced upon the bill
again and with a vehemence that would have been absolute madness in any man of
Northern origin cried »Behold the same assassin Here he is«
In his passionate raptures he at first forgot the fact that he had lately
seen the assassin in London On his remembering it it suggested hope to Clennam
that the recognition might be of later date than the night of the visit at his
mothers but Cavalletto was too exact and clear about time and place to leave
any opening for doubt that it had preceded that occasion
»Listen« said Arthur very seriously »This man as we have read here has
wholly disappeared«
»Of it I am well content« said Cavalletto raising his eyes piously »A
thousand thanks to Heaven Accursed assassin«
»Not so« returned Clennam »for until something more is heard of him I can
never know an hours peace«
»Enough Benefactor that is quite another thing A million of excuses«
»Now Cavalletto« said Clennam gently turning him by the arm so that they
looked into each others eyes »I am certain that for the little I have been
able to do for you you are the most sincerely grateful of men«
»I swear it« cried the other
»I know it If you could find this man or discover what has become of him
or gain any later intelligence whatever of him you would render me a service
above any other service I could receive in the world and would make me with
far greater reason as grateful to you as you are to me«
»I know not where to look« cried the little man kissing Arthurs hand in a
transport »I know not where to begin I know not where to go But courage
Enough It matters not I go in this instant of time«
»Not a word to any one but me Cavalletto«
»Altro« cried Cavalletto And was gone with great speed
Chapter XXIII
Mistress Affery Makes a Conditional Promise Respecting Her Dreams
Left alone with the expressive looks and gestures of Mr Baptist otherwise
Giovanni Baptista Cavalletto vividly before him Clennam entered on a weary
day It was in vain that he tried to control his attention by directing it to
any business occupation or train of thought it rode at anchor by the haunting
topic and would hold to no other idea As though a criminal should be chained
in a stationary boat on a deep clear river condemned whatever countless
leagues of water flowed past him always to see the body of the fellowcreature
he had drowned lying at the bottom immovable and unchangeable except as the
eddies made it broad or long now expanding now contracting its terrible
lineaments so Arthur below the shifting current of transparent thoughts and
fancies which were gone and succeeded by others as soon as come saw steady and
dark and not to be stirred from its place the one subject that he endeavoured
with all his might to rid himself of and that he could not fly from
The assurance he now had that Blandois whatever his right name was one of
the worst of characters greatly augmented the burden of his anxieties Though
the disappearance should be accounted for tomorrow the fact that his mother
had been in communication with such a man would remain unalterable That the
communication had been of a secret kind and that she had been submissive to him
and afraid of him he hoped might be known to no one beyond himself yet
knowing it how could he separate it from his old vague fears and how believe
that there was nothing evil in such relations
Her resolution not to enter on the question with him and his knowledge of
her indomitable character enhanced his sense of helplessness It was like the
oppression of a dream to believe that shame and exposure were impending over
her and his fathers memory and to be shut out as by a brazen wall from the
possibility of coming to their aid The purpose he had brought home to his
native country and had ever since kept in view was with her greatest
determination defeated by his mother herself at the time of all others when he
feared that it pressed most His advice energy activity money credit all
his resources whatsoever were all made useless If she had been possessed of
the old fabled influence and had turned those who looked upon her into stone
she could not have rendered him more completely powerless so it seemed to him
in his distress of mind than she did when she turned her unyielding face to
his in her gloomy room
But the light of that days discovery shining on these considerations
roused him to take a more decided course of action Confident in the rectitude
of his purpose and impelled by a sense of overhanging danger closing in around
he resolved if his mother would still admit of no approach to make a desperate
appeal to Affery If she could be brought to become communicative and to do
what lay in her to break the spell of secrecy that enshrouded the house he
might shake off the paralysis of which every hour that passed over his head made
him more acutely sensible This was the result of his days anxiety and this
was the decision he put in practice when the day closed in
His first disappointment on arriving at the house was to find the door
open and Mr Flintwinch smoking a pipe on the steps If circumstances had been
commonly favourable Mistress Affery would have opened the door to his knock
Circumstances being uncommonly unfavourable the door stood open and Mr
Flintwinch was smoking his pipe on the steps
»Good evening« said Arthur
»Good evening« said Mr Flintwinch
The smoke came crookedly out of Mr Flintwinchs mouth as if it circulated
through the whole of his wry figure and came back by his wry throat before
coming forth to mingle with the smoke from the crooked chimneys and the mists
from the crooked river
»Have you any news« said Arthur
»We have no news« said Jeremiah
»I mean of the foreign man« Arthur explained
»I mean of the foreign man« said Jeremiah
He looked so grim as he stood askew with the knot of his cravat under his
ear that the thought passed into Clennams mind and not for the first time by
many could Flintwinch for a purpose of his own have got rid of Blandois Could
it have been his secret and his safety that were at issue He was small and
bent and perhaps not actively strong yet he was as tough as an old yewtree
and as crusty as an old jackdaw Such a man coming behind a much younger and
more vigorous man and having the will to put an end to him and no relenting
might do it pretty surely in that solitary place at a late hour
While in the morbid condition of his thoughts these thoughts drifted over
the main one that was always in Clennams mind Mr Flintwinch regarding the
opposite house over the gateway with his neck twisted and one eye shut up stood
smoking with a vicious expression upon him more as if he were trying to bite
off the stem of his pipe than as if he were enjoying it Yet he was enjoying
it in his own way
»Youll be able to take my likeness the next time you call Arthur I
should think« said Mr Flintwinch drily as he stooped to knock the ashes out
Rather conscious and confused Arthur asked his pardon if he had stared at
him unpolitely »But my mind runs so much upon this matter« he said »that I
lose myself«
»Hah Yet I dont see« returned Mr Flintwinch quite at his leisure »why
it should trouble you Arthur«
»No«
»No« said Mr Flintwinch very shortly and decidedly much as if he were of
the canine race and snapped at Arthurs hand
»Is it nothing to me to see those placards about Is it nothing to me to see
my mothers name and residence hawked up and down in such an association«
»I dont see« returned Mr Flintwinch scraping his horny cheek »that it
need signify much to you But Ill tell you what I do see Arthur« glancing up
at the windows »I see the light of fire and candle in your mothers room«
»And what has that to do with it«
»Why sir I read by it« said Mr Flintwinch screwing himself at him
»that if its advisable as the proverb says it is to let sleeping dogs lie
its just as advisable perhaps to let missing dogs lie Let em be They
generally turn up soon enough«
Mr Flintwinch turned short round when he had made this remark and went
into the dark hall Clennam stood there following him with his eyes as he
dipped for a light in the phosphorusbox in the little room at the side got one
after three or four dips and lighted the dim lamp against the wall All the
while Clennam was pursuing the probabilities rather as if they were being
shown to him by an invisible hand than as if he himself were conjuring them up
of Mr Flintwinchs ways and means of doing that darker deed and removing its
traces by any of the black avenues of shadow that lay around them
»Now sir« said the testy Jeremiah »will it be agreeable to walk
upstairs«
»My mother is alone I suppose«
»Not alone« said Mr Flintwinch »Mr Casby and his daughter are with her
They came in while I was smoking and I stayed behind to have my smoke out«
This was the second disappointment Arthur made no remark upon it and
repaired to his mothers room where Mr Casby and Flora had been taking tea
anchovy paste and hot buttered toast The relics of those delicacies were not
yet removed either from the table or from the scorched countenance of Affery
who with the kitchen toastingfork still in her hand looked like a sort of
allegorical personage except that she had a considerable advantage over the
general run of such personages in point of significant emblematical purpose
Flora had spread her bonnet and shawl upon the bed with a care indicative
of an intention to stay some time Mr Casby too was beaming near the hob
with his benevolent knobs shining as if the warm butter of the toast were
exuding through the patriarchal skull and with his face as ruddy as if the
colouring matter of the anchovy paste were mantling in the patriarchal visage
Seeing this as he exchanged the usual salutations Clennam decided to speak to
his mother without postponement
It had long been customary as she never changed her room for those who had
anything to say to her apart to wheel her to her desk where she sat usually
with the back of her chair turned towards the rest of the room and the person
who talked with her seated in a corner on a stool which was always set in that
place for that purpose Except that it was long since the mother and son had
spoken together without the intervention of a third person it was an ordinary
matter of course within the experience of visitors for Mrs Clennam to be asked
with a word of apology for the interruption if she could be spoken with on a
matter of business and on her replying in the affirmative to be wheeled into
the position described
Therefore when Arthur now made such an apology and such a request and
moved her to her desk and seated himself on the stool Mrs Finching merely
began to talk louder and faster as a delicate hint that she could overhear
nothing and Mr Casby stroked his long white locks with sleepy calmness
»Mother I have heard something today which I feel persuaded you dont
know and which I think you should know of the antecedents of that man I saw
here«
»I know nothing of the antecedents of the man you saw here Arthur«
She spoke aloud He had lowered his own voice but she rejected that
advance towards confidence as she rejected every other and spoke in her usual
key and in her usual stern voice
»I have received it on no circuitous information it has come to me direct«
She asked him exactly as before if he were there to tell her what it was
»I thought it right that you should know it«
»And what is it«
»He has been a prisoner in a French gaol«
She answered with composure »I should think that very likely«
»But in a gaol for criminals mother On an accusation of murder«
She started at the word and her looks expressed her natural horror Yet she
still spoke aloud when she demanded
»Who told you so«
»A man who was his fellowprisoner«
»That mans antecedents I suppose were not known to you before he told
you«
»No«
»Though the man himself was«
»Yes«
»My case and Flintwinchs in respect of this other man I dare say the
resemblance is not so exact though as that your informant became known to you
through a letter from a correspondent with whom he had deposited money How
does that part of the parallel stand«
Arthur had no choice but to say that his informant had not become known to
him through the agency of any such credentials or indeed of any credentials at
all Mrs Clennams attentive frown expanded by degrees into a severe look of
triumph and she retorted with emphasis »Take care how you judge others then
I say to you Arthur for your good take care how you judge«
Her emphasis had been derived from her eyes quite as much as from the stress
she laid upon her words She continued to look at him and if when he entered
the house he had had any latent hope of prevailing in the least with her she
now looked it out of his heart
»Mother shall I do nothing to assist you«
»Nothing«
»Will you entrust me with no confidence no charge no explanation Will you
take no counsel with me Will you not let me come near you«
»How can you ask me You separated yourself from my affairs It was not my
act it was yours How can you consistently ask me such a question You know
that you left me to Flintwinch and that he occupies your place«
Glancing at Jeremiah Clennam saw in his very gaiters that his attention was
closely directed to them though he stood leaning against the wall scraping his
jaw and pretended to listen to Flora as she held forth in a most distracting
manner on a chaos of subjects in which mackerel and Mr Fs Aunt in a swing
had become entangled with cockchafers and the wine trade
»A prisoner in a French gaol on an accusation of murder« repeated Mrs
Clennam steadily going over what her son had said »That is all you know of him
from the fellowprisoner«
»In substance all«
»And was the fellowprisoner his accomplice and a murderer too But of
course he gives a better account of himself than of his friend it is needless
to ask This will supply the rest of them here with something new to talk about
Casby Arthur tells me «
»Stay mother Stay stay« He interrupted her hastily for it had not
entered his imagination that she would openly proclaim what he had told her
»What now« she said with displeasure »What more«
»I beg you to excuse me Mr Casby and you too Mrs Finching for one
other moment with my mother «
He had laid his hand upon her chair or she would otherwise have wheeled it
round with the touch of her foot upon the ground They were still face to face
She looked at him as he ran over the possibilities of some result he had not
intended and could not foresee being influenced by Cavallettos disclosure
becoming a matter of notoriety and hurriedly arrived at the conclusion that it
had best not be talked about though perhaps he was guided by no more distinct
reason than that he had taken it for granted that his mother would reserve it to
herself and her partner
»What now« she said again impatiently »What is it«
»I did not mean mother that you should repeat what I have communicated I
think you had better not repeat it«
»Do you make that a condition with me«
»Well Yes«
»Observe then It is you who make this a secret« said she holding up her
hand »and not I It is you Arthur who bring here doubts and suspicions and
entreaties for explanations and it is you Arthur who bring secrets here What
is it to me do you think where the man has been or what he has been What can
it be to me The whole world may know it if they care to know it it is nothing
to me Now let me go«
He yielded to her imperious but elated look and turned her chair back to
the place from which he had wheeled it In doing so he saw elation in the face
of Mr Flintwinch which most assuredly was not inspired by Flora This turning
of his intelligence and of his whole attempt and design against himself did
even more than his mothers fixedness and firmness to convince him that his
efforts with her were idle Nothing remained but the appeal to his old friend
Affery
But even to get the very doubtful and preliminary stage of making the
appeal seemed one of the least promising of human undertakings She was so
completely under the thrall of the two clever ones was so systematically kept
in sight by one or other of them and was so afraid to go about the house
besides that every opportunity of speaking to her alone appeared to be
forestalled Over and above that Mistress Affery by some means it was not
very difficult to guess through the sharp arguments of her liege lord had
acquired such a lively conviction of the hazard of saying anything under any
circumstances that she had remained all this time in a corner guarding herself
from approach with that symbolical instrument of hers so that when a word or
two had been addressed to her by Flora or even by the bottlegreen patriarch
himself she had warded off conversation with the toastingfork like a dumb
woman
After several abortive attempts to get Affery to look at him while she
cleared the table and washed the teaservice Arthur thought of an expedient
which Flora might originate To whom he therefore whispered »Could you say you
would like to go through the house«
Now poor Flora being always in fluctuating expectation of the time when
Clennam would renew his boyhood and be madly in love with her again received
the whisper with the utmost delight not only as rendered precious by its
mysterious character but as preparing the way for a tender interview in which
he would declare the state of his affections She immediately began to work out
the hint
»Ah dear me the poor old room« said Flora glancing round »looks just as
ever Mrs Clennam I am touched to see except for being smokier which was to be
expected with time and which we must all expect and reconcile ourselves to being
whether we like it or not as I am sure I have had to do myself if not exactly
smokier dreadfully stouter which is the same or worse to think of the days when
papa used to bring me here the least of girls a perfect mass of chilblains to be
stuck upon a chair with my feet on the rails and stare at Arthur pray excuse
me Mr Clennam the least of boys in the frightfullest of frills and jackets
ere yet Mr F appeared a misty shadow on the horizon paying attentions like the
wellknown spectre of some place in Germany beginning with a B is a moral lesson
inculcating that all the paths in life are similar to the paths down in the
North of England where they get the coals and make the iron and things gravelled
with ashes«
Having paid the tribute of a sigh to the instability of human existence
Flora hurried on with her purpose
»Not that at any time« she proceeded »its worst enemy could have said it
was a cheerful house for that it was never made to be but always highly
impressive fond memory recalls an occasion in youth ere yet the judgment was
mature when Arthur confirmed habit Mr Clennam took me down into an unused
kitchen eminent for mouldiness and proposed to secrete me there for life and
feed me on what he could hide from his meals when he was not at home for the
holidays and on dry bread in disgrace which at that halcyon period too
frequently occurred would it be inconvenient or asking too much to beg to be
permitted to revive those scenes and walk through the house«
Mrs Clennam who responded with a constrained grace to Mrs Finchings good
nature in being there at all though her visit before Arthurs unexpected
arrival was undoubtedly an act of pure good nature and no selfgratification
intimated that all the house was open to her Flora rose and looked to Arthur
for his escort »Certainly« said he aloud »and Affery will light us I dare
say«
Affery was excusing herself with »Dont ask nothing of me Arthur« when Mr
Flintwinch stopped her with »Why not Affery whats the matter with you woman
Why not jade« Thus expostulated with she came unwillingly out of her corner
resigned the toastingfork into one of her husbands hands and took the
candlestick he offered from the other
»Go before you fool« said Jeremiah »Are you going up or down Mrs
Finching«
Flora answered »Down«
»Then go before and down you Affery« said Jeremiah »And do it properly
or Ill come rolling down the banisters and tumbling over you«
Affery headed the exploring party Jeremiah closed it He had no intention
of leaving them Clennam looking back and seeing him following three stairs
behind in the coolest and most methodical manner exclaimed in a low voice »Is
there no getting rid of him« Flora reassured his mind by replying promptly
»Why though not exactly proper Arthur and a thing I couldnt think of before a
younger man or a stranger still I dont mind him if you so particularly wish it
and provided youll have the goodness not to take me too tight«
Wanting the heart to explain that this was not at all what he meant Arthur
extended his supporting arm round Floras figure »Oh my goodness me« said she
»You are very obedient indeed really and its extremely honourable and
gentlemanly in you I am sure but still at the same time if you would like to be
a little tighter than that I shouldnt consider it intruding«
In this preposterous attitude unspeakably at variance with his anxious
mind Clennam descended to the basement of the house finding that wherever it
became darker than elsewhere Flora became heavier and that when the house was
lightest she was too Returning from the dismal kitchen regions which were as
dreary as they could be Mistress Affery passed with the light into his fathers
old room and then into the old diningroom always passing on before like a
phantom that was not to be overtaken and neither turning nor answering when he
whispered »Affery I want to speak to you«
In the diningroom a sentimental desire came over Flora to look into the
dragon closet which had so often swallowed Arthur in the days of his boyhood
not improbably because as a very dark closet it was a likely place to be heavy
in Arthur fast subsiding into despair had opened it when a knock was heard
at the outer door
Mistress Affery with a suppressed cry threw her apron over her head
»What You want another dose« said Mr Flintwinch »You shall have it my
woman you shall have a good one Oh You shall have a sneezer you shall have a
teaser«
»In the meantime is anybody going to the door« said Arthur
»In the meantime I am going to the door sir« returned the old man so
savagely as to render it clear that in a choice of difficulties he felt he must
go though he would have preferred not to go »Stay here the while all Affery
my woman move an inch or speak a word in your foolishness and Ill treble
your dose«
The moment he was gone Arthur released Mrs Finching with some difficulty
by reason of that lady misunderstanding his intentions and making her
arrangements with a view to tightening instead of slackening
»Affery speak to me now«
»Dont touch me Arthur« she cried shrinking from him »Dont come near
me Hell see you Jeremiah will Dont«
»He cant see me« returned Arthur suiting the action to the word »if I
blow the candle out«
»Hell hear you« cried Affery
»He cant hear me« returned Arthur suiting the action to the word again
»if I draw you into this black closet and speak here Why do you hide your
face«
»Because I am afraid of seeing something«
»You cant be afraid of seeing anything in this darkness Affery«
»Yes I am Much more than if it was light«
»Why are you afraid«
»Because the house is full of mysteries and secrets because its full of
whisperings and counsellings because its full of noises There never was such
a house for noises I shall die of em if Jeremiah dont strangle me first As
I expect he will«
»I have never heard any noises here worth speaking of«
»Ah But you would though if you lived in the house and was obliged to go
about it as I am« said Affery »and youd feel that they was so well worth
speaking of that youd feel you was nigh bursting through not being allowed to
speak of em Heres Jeremiah Youll get me killed«
»My good Affery I solemnly declare to you that I can see the light of the
open door on the pavement of the hall and so could you if you would uncover
your face and look«
»I durstnt do it« said Affery »I durstnt never Arthur Im always
blindfolded when Jeremiah ant a looking and sometimes even when he is«
»He cannot shut the door without my seeing him« said Arthur »You are as
safe with me as if he was fifty miles away«
»I wish he was« cried Affery
»Affery I want to know what is amiss here I want some light thrown on the
secrets of this house«
»I tell you Arthur« she interrupted »noises is the secrets rustlings and
stealings about tremblings treads overhead and treads underneath«
»But those are not all the secrets«
»I dont know« said Affery »Dont ask me no more Your old sweetheart ant
far off and shes a blabber«
His old sweetheart being in fact so near at hand that she was then
reclining against him in a flutter a very substantial angle of fortyfive
degrees here interposed to assure Mistress Affery with greater earnestness than
directness of asseveration that what she heard should go no further but should
be kept inviolate »if on no other account on Arthurs sensible of intruding
in being too familiar Doyce and Clennams«
»I make an imploring appeal to you Affery to you one of the few agreeable
early remembrances I have for my mothers sake for your husbands sake for my
own for all our sakes I am sure you can tell me something connected with the
coming here of this man if you will«
»Why then Ill tell you Arthur« returned Affery »Jeremiahs a coming«
»No indeed he is not The door is open and he is standing outside
talking«
»Ill tell you then« said Affery after listening »that the first time he
ever come he heard the noises his own self Whats that he said to me I dont
know what it is I says to him catching hold of him but I have heard it over
and over again While I says it he stands a looking at me all of a shake he
do«
»Has he been here often«
»Only that night and the last night«
»What did you see of him on the last night after I was gone«
»Them two clever ones had him all alone to themselves Jeremiah come a
dancing at me sideways after I had let you out he always comes a dancing at me
sideways when hes going to hurt me and he said to me Now Affery he said I
am a coming behind you my woman and a going to run you up So he took and
squeezed the back of my neck in his hand till it made me open my mouth and
then he pushed me before him to bed squeezing all the way Thats what he calls
running me up he do Oh hes a wicked one«
»And did you hear or see no more Affery«
»Dont I tell you I was sent to bed Arthur Here he is «
»I assure you he is still at the door Those whisperings and counsellings
Affery that you have spoken of What are they«
»How should I know Dont ask me nothing about em Arthur Get away«
»But my dear Affery unless I can gain some insight into these hidden
things in spite of your husband and in spite of my mother ruin will come of
it«
»Dont ask me nothing« repeated Affery »I have been in a dream for ever so
long Go away go away«
»You said that before« returned Arthur »You used the same expression that
night at the door when I asked you what was going on here What do you mean by
being in a dream«
»I ant a going to tell you Get away I shouldnt tell you if you was by
yourself much less with your old sweetheart here«
It was equally vain for Arthur to entreat and for Flora to protest Affery
who had been trembling and struggling the whole time turned a deaf ear to all
adjuration and was bent on forcing herself out of the closet
»Id sooner scream to Jeremiah than say another word Ill call out to him
Arthur if you dont give over speaking to me Now heres the very last word
Ill say afore I call to him If ever you begin to get the better of them two
clever ones your own self you ought to it as I told you when you first come
home for you havent been a living here long years to be made afeard of your
life as I have then do you get the better of em afore my face and then do
you say to me Affery tell your dreams Maybe then Ill tell em«
The shutting of the door stopped Arthur from replying They glided into the
places where Jeremiah had left them and Clennam stepping forward as that old
gentleman returned informed him that he had accidentally extinguished the
candle Mr Flintwinch looked on as he relighted it at the lamp in the hall
and preserved a profound taciturnity respecting the person who had been holding
him in conversation Perhaps his irascibility demanded compensation for some
tediousness that the visitor had expended on him however that was he took such
umbrage at seeing his wife with her apron over her head that he charged at her
and taking her veiled nose between his thumb and finger appeared to throw the
whole screwpower of his person into the wring he gave it
Flora now permanently heavy did not release Arthur from the survey of the
house until it had extended even to his old garret bedchamber His thoughts
were otherwise occupied than with the tour of inspection yet he took particular
notice at the time as he afterwards had occasion to remember of the
airlessness and closeness of the house that they left the track of their
footsteps in the dust on the upper floors and that there was a resistance to
the opening of one room door which occasioned Affery to cry out that somebody
was hiding inside and to continue to believe so though somebody was sought and
not discovered When they at last returned to his mothers room they found her
shading her face with her muffled hand and talking in a low voice to the
Patriarch as he stood before the fire Whose blue eyes polished head and
silken locks turning towards them as they came in imparted an inestimable
value and inexhaustible love of his species to his remark
»So you have been seeing the premises seeing the premises premises
seeing the premises«
It was not in itself a jewel of benevolence or wisdom yet he made it an
exemplar of both that one would have liked to have a copy of
Chapter XXIV
The Evening of a Long Day
That illustrious man and great national ornament Mr Merdle continued his
shining course It began to be widely understood that one who had done society
the admirable service of making so much money out of it could not be suffered
to remain a commoner A baronetcy was spoken of with confidence a peerage was
frequently mentioned Rumour had it that Mr Merdle had set his golden face
against a baronetcy that he had plainly intimated to Lord Decimus that a
baronetcy was not enough for him that he had said »No a Peerage or plain
Merdle« This was reported to have plunged Lord Decimus as nigh to his noble
chin in a slough of doubts as so lofty a person could be sunk For the
Barnacles as a group of themselves in creation had an idea that such
distinctions belonged to them and that when a soldier sailor or lawyer
became ennobled they let him in as it were by an act of condescension at the
family door and immediately shut it again Not only said Rumour had the
troubled Decimus his own hereditary part in this impression but he also knew of
several Barnacle claims already on the file which came into collision with that
of the masterspirit Right or wrong Rumour was very busy and Lord Decimus
while he was or was supposed to be in stately excogitation of the difficulty
lent her some countenance by taking on several public occasions one of those
elephantine trots of his through a jungle of overgrown sentences waving Mr
Merdle about on his trunk as Gigantic Enterprise The Wealth of England
Elasticity Credit Capital Prosperity and all manner of blessings
So quietly did the mowing of the old scythe go on that fully three months
had passed unnoticed since the two English brothers had been laid in one tomb in
the strangers cemetery at Rome Mr and Mrs Sparkler were established in their
own house a little mansion rather of the Tite Barnacle class quite a triumph
of inconvenience with a perpetual smell in it of the day before yesterdays
soup and coachhorses but extremely dear as being exactly in the centre of the
habitable globe In this enviable abode and envied it really was by many
people Mrs Sparkler had intended to proceed at once to the demolition of the
Bosom when active hostilities had been suspended by the arrival of the Courier
with his tidings of death Mrs Sparkler who was not unfeeling had received
them with a violent burst of grief which had lasted twelve hours after which
she had arisen to see about her mourning and to take every precaution that
could ensure its being as becoming as Mrs Merdles A gloom was then cast over
more than one distinguished family according to the politest sources of
intelligence and the Courier went back again
Mr and Mrs Sparkler had been dining alone with their gloom cast over
them and Mrs Sparkler reclined on a drawingroom sofa It was a hot summer
Sunday evening The residence in the centre of the habitable globe at all times
stuffed and close as if it had an incurable cold in its head was that evening
particularly stifling The bells of the churches had done their worst in the way
of clanging among the unmelodious echoes of the streets and the lighted windows
of the churches had ceased to be yellow in the grey dusk and had died out
opaque black Mrs Sparkler lying on her sofa looking through an open window at
the opposite side of a narrow street over boxes of mignonette and flowers was
tired of the view Mrs Sparkler looking at another window where her husband
stood in the balcony was tired of that view Mrs Sparkler looking at herself
in her mourning was even tired of that view though naturally not so tired of
that as of the other two
»Its like lying in a well« said Mrs Sparkler changing her position
fretfully »Dear me Edmund if you have anything to say why dont you say it«
Mr Sparkler might have replied with ingenuousness »My life I have nothing
to say« But as the repartee did not occur to him he contented himself with
coming in from the balcony and standing at the side of his wifes couch
»Good gracious Edmund« said Mrs Sparkler more fretfully still »you are
absolutely putting mignonette up your nose Pray dont«
Mr Sparkler in absence of mind perhaps in a more literal absence of mind
than is usually understood by the phrase had smelt so hard at a sprig in his
hand as to be on the verge of the offence in question He smiled said »I ask
your pardon my dear« and threw it out of window
»You make my head ache by remaining in that position Edmund« said Mrs
Sparkler raising her eyes to him after another minute »you look so
aggravatingly large by this light Do sit down«
»Certainly my dear« said Mr Sparkler And took a chair on the same spot
»If I didnt know that the longest day was past« said Fanny yawning in a
dreary manner »I should have felt certain this was the longest day I never did
experience such a day«
»Is this your fan my love« asked Mr Sparkler picking up one and
presenting it
»Edmund« returned his wife more wearily yet »dont ask weak questions I
entreat you not Whose can it be but mine«
»Yes I thought it was yours« said Mr Sparkler
»Then you shouldnt ask« retorted Fanny After a little while she turned on
her sofa and exclaimed »Dear me dear me there never was such a long day as
this« After another little while she got up slowly walked about and came
back again
»My dear« said Mr Sparkler flashing with an original conception »I think
you must have got the fidgets«
»Oh Fidgets« repeated Mrs Sparkler »Dont«
»My adorable girl« urged Mr Sparkler »try your aromatic vinegar I have
often seen my mother try it and it seemingly refreshed her And she is as I
believe you are aware a remarkably fine woman with no non «
»Good Gracious« exclaimed Fanny starting up again »Its beyond all
patience This is the most wearisome day that ever did dawn upon the world I am
certain«
Mr Sparkler looked meekly after her as she lounged about the room and he
appeared to be a little frightened When she had tossed a few trifles about and
had looked down into the darkening street out of all the three windows she
returned to her sofa and threw herself among its pillows
»Now Edmund come here Come a little nearer because I want to be able to
touch you with my fan that I may impress you very much with what I am going to
say That will do Quite close enough Oh you do look so big«
Mr Sparkler apologised for the circumstance pleaded that he couldnt help
it and said that »our fellows« without more particularly indicating whose
fellows used to call him by the name of Quinbus Flestrin Junior or the Young
Man Mountain
»You ought to have told me so before« Fanny complained
»My dear« returned Mr Sparkler rather gratified »I didnt know it would
interest you or I would have made a point of telling you«
»There For goodness sake dont talk« said Fanny »I want to talk myself
Edmund we must not be alone any more I must take such precautions as will
prevent my being ever again reduced to the state of dreadful depression in which
I am this evening«
»My dear« answered Mr Sparkler »being as you are well known to be a
remarkably fine woman with no «
»Oh good GRACIOUS« cried Fanny
Mr Sparkler was so discomposed by the energy of this exclamation
accompanied with a flouncing up from the sofa and a flouncing down again that a
minute or two elapsed before he felt himself equal to saying in explanation
»I mean my dear that everybody knows you are calculated to shine in
society«
»Calculated to shine in society« retorted Fanny with great irritability
»yes indeed And then what happens I no sooner recover in a visiting point of
view the shock of poor dear papas death and my poor uncles though I do not
disguise from myself that the last was a happy release for if you are not
presentable you had much better die «
»You are not referring to me my love I hope« Mr Sparkler humbly
interrupted
»Edmund Edmund you would wear out a Saint Am I not expressly speaking of
my poor uncle«
»You looked with so much expression at myself my dear girl« said Mr
Sparkler »that I felt a little uncomfortable Thank you my love«
»Now you have put me out« observed Fanny with a resigned toss of her fan
»and I had better go to bed«
»Dont do that my love« urged Mr Sparkler »Take time«
Fanny took a good deal of time lying back with her eyes shut and her
eyebrows raised with a hopeless expression as if she had utterly given up all
terrestrial affairs At length without the slightest notice she opened her
eyes again and recommenced in a short sharp manner
»What happens then I ask What happens Why I find myself at the very
period when I might shine most in society and should most like for very
momentous reasons to shine in society I find myself in a situation which to a
certain extent disqualifies me for going into society Its too bad really«
»My dear« said Mr Sparkler »I dont think it need keep you at home«
»Edmund you ridiculous creature« returned Fanny with great indignation
»do you suppose that a woman in the bloom of youth and not wholly devoid of
personal attractions can put herself at such a time in competition as to
figure with a woman in every other way her inferior If you do suppose such a
thing your folly is boundless«
Mr Sparkler submitted that he had thought »it might be got over«
»Got over« repeated Fanny with immeasurable scorn
»For a time« Mr Sparkler submitted
Honouring the last feeble suggestion with no notice Mrs Sparkler declared
with bitterness that it really was too bad and that positively it was enough to
make one wish one was dead
»However« she said when she had in some measure recovered from her sense
of personal ill »provoking as it is and cruel as it seems I suppose it must
be submitted to«
»Especially as it was to be expected« said Mr Sparkler
»Edmund« returned his wife »if you have nothing more becoming to do than
to attempt to insult the woman who has honoured you with her hand when she
finds herself in adversity I think you had better go to bed«
Mr Sparkler was much afflicted by the charge and offered a most tender and
earnest apology His apology was accepted but Mrs Sparkler requested him to go
round to the other side of the sofa and sit in the windowcurtain to tone
himself down
»Now Edmund« she said stretching out her fan and touching him with it at
arms length »what I was going to say to you when you began as usual to prose
and worry is that I shall guard against our being alone any more and that
when circumstances prevent my going out to my own satisfaction I must arrange
to have some people or other always here for I really cannot and will not
have another such day as this has been«
Mr Sparklers sentiments as to the plan were in brief that it had no
nonsense about it He added »And besides you know its likely that youll soon
have your sister «
»Dearest Amy yes« cried Mrs Sparkler with a sigh of affection »Darling
little thing Not however that Amy would do here alone«
Mr Sparkler was going to say »No« interrogatively But he saw his danger
and said it assentingly »No Oh dear no she wouldnt do here alone«
»No Edmund For not only are the virtues of the precious child of that
still character that they require a contrast require life and movement around
them to bring them out in their right colours and make one love them of all
things but she will require to be roused on more accounts than one«
»Thats it« said Mr Sparkler »Roused«
»Pray dont Edmund Your habit of interrupting without having the least
thing in the world to say distracts one You must be broken of it Speaking of
Amy my poor little pet was devotedly attached to poor papa and no doubt will
have lamented his loss exceedingly and grieved very much I have done so
myself I have felt it dreadfully But Amy will no doubt have felt it even more
from having been on the spot the whole time and having been with poor dear papa
at the last which I unhappily was not«
Here Fanny stopped to weep and to say »Dear dear beloved papa How truly
gentlemanly he was What a contrast to poor uncle«
»From the effects of that trying time« she pursued »my good little Mouse
will have to be roused Also from the effects of this long attendance upon
Edward in his illness an attendance which is not yet over which may even go on
for some time longer and which in the meanwhile unsettles us all by keeping
poor dear papas affairs from being wound up Fortunately however the papers
with his agents here being all sealed up and locked up as he left them when he
providentially came to England the affairs are in that state of order that they
can wait until my brother Edward recovers his health in Sicily sufficiently to
come over and administer or execute or whatever it may be that will have to
be done«
»He couldnt have a better nurse to bring him round« Mr Sparkler made bold
to opine
»For a wonder I can agree with you« returned his wife languidly turning
her eyelids a little in his direction she held forth in general as if to the
drawingroom furniture »and can adopt your words He couldnt have a better
nurse to bring him round There are times when my dear child is a little
wearing to an active mind but as a nurse she is Perfection Best of Amys«
Mr Sparkler growing rash on his late success observed that Edward had
had biggodd a long bout of it my dear girl
»If Bout Edmund« returned Mrs Sparkler »is the slang term for
indisposition he has If it is not I am unable to give an opinion on the
barbarous language you address to Edwards sister That he contracted Malaria
Fever somewhere either by travelling day and night to Rome where after all
he arrived too late to see poor dear papa before his death or under some other
unwholesome circumstances is indubitable if that is what you mean Likewise
that his extremely careless life has made him a very bad subject for it indeed«
Mr Sparkler considered it a parallel case to that of some of our fellows in
the West Indies with Yellow Jack Mrs Sparkler closed her eyes again and
refused to have any consciousness of our fellows of the West Indies or of
Yellow Jack
»So Amy« she pursued when she reopened her eyelids »will require to be
roused from the effects of many tedious and anxious weeks And lastly she will
require to be roused from a low tendency which I know very well to be at the
bottom of her heart Dont ask me what it is Edmund because I must decline to
tell you«
»I am not going to my dear« said Mr Sparkler
»I shall thus have much improvement to effect in my sweet child« Mrs
Sparkler continued »and cannot have her near me too soon Amiable and dear
little Twoshoes As to the settlement of poor papas affairs my interest in
that is not very selfish Papa behaved very generously to me when I was married
and I have little or nothing to expect Provided he has made no will that can
come into force leaving a legacy to Mrs General I am contented Dear papa
dear papa«
She wept again but Mrs General was the best of restoratives The name soon
stimulated her to dry her eyes and say
»It is a highly encouraging circumstance in Edwards illness I am thankful
to think and gives one the greatest confidence in his sense not being impaired
or his proper spirit weakened down to the time of poor dear papas death at
all events that he paid off Mrs General instantly and sent her out of the
house I applaud him for it I could forgive him a great deal for doing with
such promptitude so exactly what I would have done myself«
Mrs Sparkler was in the full glow of her gratification when a double knock
was heard at the door A very odd knock Low as if to avoid making a noise and
attracting attention Long as if the person knocking were preoccupied in mind
and forgot to leave off
»Halloa« said Mr Sparkler »Whos this«
»Not Amy and Edward without notice and without a carriage« said Mrs
Sparkler »Look out«
The room was dark but the street was lighter because of its lamps Mr
Sparklers head peeping over the balcony looked so very bulky and heavy that it
seemed on the point of overbalancing him and flattening the unknown below
»Its one fellow« said Mr Sparkler »I cant see who stop though«
On this second thought he went out into the balcony again and had another
look He came back as the door was opened and announced that he believed he had
identified his governors tile He was not mistaken for his governor with his
tile in his hand was introduced immediately afterwards
»Candles« said Mrs Sparkler with a word of excuse for the darkness
»Its light enough for me« said Mr Merdle
When the candles were brought in Mr Merdle was discovered standing behind
the door picking his lips »I thought Id give you a call« he said »I am
rather particularly occupied just now and as I happened to be out for a
stroll I thought Id give you a call«
As he was in dinner dress Fanny asked him where he had been dining
»Well« said Mr Merdle »I havent been dining anywhere particularly«
»Of course you have dined« said Fanny
»Why no I havent exactly dined« said Mr Merdle
He had passed his hand over his yellow forehead and considered, as if he
were not sure about it Something to eat was proposed »No thank you« said Mr
Merdle »I dont feel inclined for it I was to have dined out along with Mrs
Merdle But as I didnt feel inclined for dinner I let Mrs Merdle go by
herself just as we were getting into the carriage and thought Id take a stroll
instead«
Would he have tea or coffee »No thank you« said Mr Merdle »I looked in
at the Club and got a bottle of wine«
At this period of his visit Mr Merdle took the chair which Edmund Sparkler
had offered him and which he had hitherto been pushing slowly about before him
like a dull man with a pair of skates on for the first time who could not make
up his mind to start He now put his hat upon another chair beside him and
looking down into it as if it were twenty feet deep said again »You see I
thought Id give you a call«
»Flattering to us« said Fanny »for you are not a calling man«
»N no« returned Mr Merdle who was by this time taking himself into
custody under both coatsleeves »No I am not a calling man«
»You have too much to do for that« said Fanny »Having so much to do Mr
Merdle loss of appetite is a serious thing with you and you must have it seen
to You must not be ill«
»Oh I am very well« replied Mr Merdle after deliberating about it »I am
as well as I usually am I am well enough I am as well as I want to be«
The mastermind of the age true to its characteristic of being at all times
a mind that had as little as possible to say for itself and great difficulty in
saying it became mute again Mrs Sparkler began to wonder how long the
mastermind meant to stay
»I was speaking of poor papa when you came in sir«
»Aye Quite a coincidence« said Mr Merdle
Fanny did not see that but felt it incumbent on her to continue talking »I
was saying« she pursued »that my brothers illness has occasioned a delay in
examining and arranging papas property«
»Yes« said Mr Merdle »yes There has been a delay«
»Not that it is of consequence« said Fanny
»Not« assented Mr Merdle after having examined the cornice of all that
part of the room which was within his range »not that it is of any
consequence«
»My only anxiety is« said Fanny »that Mrs General should not get
anything«
»She wont get anything« said Mr Merdle
Fanny was delighted to hear him express the opinion Mr Merdle after
taking another gaze into the depths of his hat as if he thought he saw
something at the bottom rubbed his hair and slowly appended to his last remark
the confirmatory words »Oh dear no No Not she Not likely«
As the topic seemed exhausted and Mr Merdle too Fanny inquired if he were
going to take up Mrs Merdle and the carriage in his way home
»No« he answered »I shall go by the shortest way and leave Mrs Merdle to
« here he looked all over the palms of both his hands as if he were telling his
own fortune »to take care of herself I dare say shell manage to do it«
»Probably« said Fanny
There was then a long silence during which Mrs Sparkler lying back on
her sofa again shut her eyes and raised her eyebrows in her former retirement
from mundane affairs
»But however« said Mr Merdle »I am equally detaining you and myself I
thought Id give you a call you know«
»Charmed I am sure« said Fanny
»So I am off« added Mr Merdle getting up »Could you lend me a penknife«
It was an odd thing Fanny smilingly observed for her who could seldom
prevail upon herself even to write a letter to lend to a man of such vast
business as Mr Merdle »Isnt it« Mr Merdle acquiesced »but I want one and
I know you have got several little wedding keepsakes about with scissors and
tweezers and such things in them You shall have it back tomorrow«
»Edmund« said Mrs Sparkler »open now very carefully I beg and beseech
for you are so very awkward the mother of pearl box on my little table there
and give Mr Merdle the mother of pearl penknife«
»Thank you« said Mr Merdle »but if you have got one with a darker handle
I think I should prefer one with a darker handle«
»Tortoiseshell«
»Thank you« said Mr Merdle »yes I think I should prefer tortoiseshell«
Edmund accordingly received instructions to open the tortoiseshell box and
give Mr Merdle the tortoiseshell knife On his doing so his wife said to the
masterspirit graciously
»I will forgive you if you ink it«
»Ill undertake not to ink it« said Mr Merdle
The illustrious visitor then put out his coatcuff and for a moment
entombed Mrs Sparklers hand wrist bracelet and all Where his own hand
shrunk to was not made manifest but it was as remote from Mrs Sparklers
sense of touch as if he had been a highly meritorious Chelsea Veteran or
Greenwich Pensioner
Thoroughly convinced as he went out of the room that it was the longest
day that ever did come to an end at last and that there never was a woman not
wholly devoid of personal attractions so worn out by idiotic and lumpish
people Fanny passed into the balcony for a breath of air Waters of vexation
filled her eyes and they had the effect of making the famous Mr Merdle in
going down the street appear to leap and waltz and gyrate as if he were
possessed by several Devils
Chapter XXV
The Chief Butler Resigns the Seals of Office
The dinnerparty was at the great Physicians Bar was there and in full force
Ferdinand Barnacle was there and in his most engaging state Few ways of life
were hidden from Physician and he was oftener in its darkest places than even
Bishop There were brilliant ladies about London who perfectly doted on him my
dear as the most charming creature and the most delightful person who would
have been shocked to find themselves so close to him if they could have known on
what sights those thoughtful eyes of his had rested within an hour or two and
near to whose beds and under what roofs his composed figure had stood But
Physician was a composed man who performed neither on his own trumpet nor on
the trumpets of other people Many wonderful things did he see and hear and
much irreconcilable moral contradiction did he pass his life among yet his
equality of compassion was no more disturbed than the Divine Masters of all
healing was He went like the rain among the just and unjust doing all the
good he could and neither proclaiming it in the synagogues nor at the corners
of streets
As no man of large experience of humanity however quietly carried it may
be can fail to be invested with an interest peculiar to the possession of such
knowledge Physician was an attractive man Even the daintier gentlemen and
ladies who had no idea of his secret and who would have been startled out of
more wits than they had by the monstrous impropriety of his proposing to them
»Come and see what I see« confessed his attraction Where he was something
real was And half a grain of reality like the smallest portion of some other
scarce natural productions will flavour an enormous quantity of diluent
It came to pass therefore that Physicians little dinners always presented
people in their least conventional lights The guests said to themselves
whether they were conscious of it or no »Here is a man who really has an
acquaintance with us as we are who is admitted to some of us every day with our
wigs and paint off who hears the wanderings of our minds, and sees the
undisguised expression of our faces when both are past our control we may as
well make an approach to reality with him for the man has got the better of us
and is too strong for us« Therefore Physicians guests came out so
surprisingly at his round table that they were almost natural
Bars knowledge of that agglomeration of Jurymen which is called humanity
was as sharp as a razor yet a razor is not a generally convenient instrument
and Physicians plain bright scalpel though far less keen was adaptable to far
wider purposes Bar knew all about the gullibility and knavery of people but
Physician could have given him a better insight into their tendernesses and
affections in one week of his rounds than Westminster Hall and all the
circuits put together in threescore years and ten Bar always had a suspicion
of this and perhaps was glad to encourage it for if the world were really a
great Law Court one would think that the last day of Term could not too soon
arrive and so he liked and respected Physician quite as much as any other kind
of man did
Mr Merdles default left a Banquos chair at the table but if he had been
there he would have merely made the difference of Banquo in it and
consequently he was no loss Bar who picked up all sorts of odds and ends about
Westminster Hall much as a raven would have done if he had passed as much of
his time there had been picking up a great many straws lately and tossing them
about to try which way the Merdle wind blew He now had a little talk on the
subject with Mrs Merdle herself sliding up to that lady of course with his
double eyeglass and his Jury droop
»A certain bird« said Bar and he looked as if it could have been no other
bird than a magpie »has been whispering among us lawyers lately that there is
to be an addition to the titled personages of this realm«
»Really« said Mrs Merdle
»Yes« said Bar »Has not the bird been whispering in very different ears
from ours in lovely ears« He looked expressively at Mrs Merdles nearest
earring
»Do you mean mine« asked Mrs Merdle
»When I say lovely« said Bar »I always mean you«
»You never mean anything I think« returned Mrs Merdle not displeased
»Oh cruelly unjust« said Bar »But the bird«
»I am the last person in the world to hear news« observed Mrs Merdle
carelessly arranging her stronghold »Who is it«
»What an admirable witness you would make« said Bar »No jury unless we
could empanel one of blind men could resist you if you were ever so bad a one
but you would be such a good one«
»Why you ridiculous man« asked Mrs Merdle laughing
Bar waved his double eyeglass three or four times between himself and the
Bosom as a rallying answer and inquired in his most insinuating accents
»What am I to call the most elegant accomplished and charming of women a
few weeks or it may be a few days hence«
»Didnt your bird tell you what to call her« answered Mrs Merdle »Do ask
it tomorrow and tell me the next time you see me what it says«
This led to further passages of similar pleasantry between the two but Bar
with all his sharpness got nothing out of them Physician on the other hand
taking Mrs Merdle down to her carriage and attending on her as she put on her
cloak inquired into the symptoms with his usual calm directness
»May I ask« he said »is this true about Merdle«
»My dear doctor« she returned »you ask me the very question that I was
half disposed to ask you«
»To ask me Why me«
»Upon my honour I think Mr Merdle reposes greater confidence in you than
in any one«
»On the contrary he tells me absolutely nothing even professionally You
have heard the talk of course«
»Of course I have But you know what Mr Merdle is you know how taciturn
and reserved he is I assure you I have no idea what foundation for it there may
be I should like it to be true why should I deny that to you You would know
better if I did«
»Just so« said Physician
»But whether it is all true or partly true or entirely false I am wholly
unable to say It is a most provoking situation a most absurd situation but
you know Mr Merdle and are not surprised«
Physician was not surprised handed her into her carriage and bade her Good
Night He stood for a moment at his own hall door looking sedately at the
elegant equipage as it rattled away On his return upstairs the rest of the
guests soon dispersed and he was left alone Being a great reader of all kinds
of literature and never at all apologetic for that weakness he sat down
comfortably to read
The clock upon his studytable pointed to a few minutes short of twelve
when his attention was called to it by a ringing at the door bell A man of
plain habits he had sent his servants to bed and must needs go down to open the
door He went down and there found a man without hat or coat whose
shirtsleeves were rolled up tight to his shoulders For a moment he thought
the man had been fighting the rather as he was much agitated and out of
breath A second look however showed him that the man was particularly clean
and not otherwise discomposed as to his dress than as it answered this
description
»I come from the warmbaths sir round in the neighbouring street«
»And what is the matter at the warmbaths«
»Would you please to come directly sir We found that lying on the table«
He put into the physicians hand a scrap of paper Physician looked at it
and read his own name and address written in pencil nothing more He looked
closer at the writing looked at the man took his hat from its peg put the key
of his door in his pocket and they hurried away together
When they came to the warmbaths all the other people belonging to that
establishment were looking out for them at the door and running up and down the
passages »Request everybody else to keep back if you please« said the
physician aloud to the master »and do you take me straight to the place my
friend« to the messenger
The messenger hurried before him along a grove of little rooms and
turning into one at the end of the grove looked round the door Physician was
close upon him and looked round the door too
There was a bath in that corner from which the water had been hastily
drained off Lying in it as in a grave or sarcophagus with a hurried drapery
of sheet and blanket thrown across it was the body of a heavilymade man with
an obtuse head and coarse mean common features A skylight had been opened to
release the steam with which the room had been filled but it hung condensed
into waterdrops heavily upon the walls and heavily upon the face and figure
in the bath The room was still hot and the marble of the bath still warm but
the face and figure were clammy to the touch The white marble at the bottom of
the bath was veined with a dreadful red On the ledge at the side were an empty
laudanumbottle and a tortoiseshell handled penknife soiled but not with
ink
»Separation of jugular vein death rapid been dead at least half an
hour« This echo of the physicians words ran through the passages and little
rooms and through the house while he was yet straightening himself from having
bent down to reach to the bottom of the bath and while he was yet dabbling his
hands in water redly veining it as the marble was veined before it mingled
into one tint
He turned his eyes to the dress upon the sofa and to the watch money and
pocketbook on the table A folded note half buckled up in the pocketbook and
half protruding from it caught his observant glance He looked at it touched
it pulled it a little further out from among the leaves said quietly »This is
addressed to me« and opened and read it
There were no directions for him to give The people of the house knew what
to do the proper authorities were soon brought and they took an equable
businesslike possession of the deceased and of what had been his property
with no greater disturbance of manner or countenance than usually attends the
windingup of a clock Physician was glad to walk out into the night air was
even glad in spite of his great experience to sit down upon a doorstep for a
little while feeling sick and faint
Bar was a near neighbour of his and when he came to the house he saw a
light in the room where he knew his friend often sat late getting up his work
As the light was never there when Bar was not it gave him assurance that Bar
was not yet in bed In fact this busy bee had a verdict to get tomorrow
against evidence and was improving the shining hours in setting snares for the
gentlemen of the jury
Physicians knock astonished Bar but as he immediately suspected that
somebody had come to tell him that somebody else was robbing him or otherwise
trying to get the better of him he came down promptly and softly He had been
clearing his head with a lotion of cold water as a good preparative to
providing hot water for the heads of the jury and had been reading with the
neck of his shirt thrown wide open that he might the more freely choke the
opposite witnesses In consequence he came down looking rather wild Seeing
Physician the least expected of men he looked wilder and said »Whats the
matter«
»You asked me once what Merdles complaint was«
»Extraordinary answer I know I did«
»I told you I had not found it out«
»Yes I know you did«
»I have found it out«
»My God« said Bar starting back and clapping his hand upon the others
breast »And so have I I see it in your face«
They went into the nearest room where Physician gave him the letter to
read He read it through halfadozen times There was not much in it as to
quantity but it made a great demand on his close and continuous attention He
could not sufficiently give utterance to his regret that he had not himself
found a clue to this The smallest clue he said would have made him master of
the case and what a case it would have been to have got to the bottom of
Physician had engaged to break the intelligence in Harley Street Bar could
not at once return to his inveiglements of the most enlightened and remarkable
jury he had ever seen in that box with whom he could tell his learned friend
no shallow sophistry would go down and no unhappily abused professional tact
and skill prevail this was the way he meant to begin with them so he said he
would go too and would loiter to and fro near the house while his friend was
inside They walked there the better to recover selfpossession in the air and
the wings of day were fluttering the night when Physician knocked at the door
A footman of rainbow hues in the public eye was sitting up for his master
that is to say was fast asleep in the kitchen over a couple of candles and a
newspaper demonstrating the great accumulation of mathematical odds against the
probabilities of a house being set on fire by accident When this servingman
was roused Physician had still to await the rousing of the Chief Butler At
last that noble creature came into the diningroom in a flannel gown and list
shoes but with his cravat on and a Chief Butler all over It was morning now
Physician had opened the shutters of one window while waiting that he might see
the light
»Mrs Merdles maid must be called and told to get Mrs Merdle up and
prepare her as gently as she can to see me I have dreadful news to break to
her«
Thus Physician to the Chief Butler The latter who had a candle in his
hand called his man to take it away Then he approached the window with
dignity looking on at Physicians news exactly as he had looked on at the
dinners in that very room
»Mr Merdle is dead«
»I should wish« said the Chief Butler »to give a months notice«
»Mr Merdle has destroyed himself«
»Sir« said the Chief Butler »that is very unpleasant to the feelings of
one in my position as calculated to awaken prejudice and I should wish to
leave immediately«
»If you are not shocked are you not surprised man« demanded the
Physician warmly
The Chief Butler erect and calm replied in these memorable words »Sir
Mr Merdle never was the gentleman and no ungentlemanly act on Mr Merdles
part would surprise me Is there anybody else I can send to you or any other
directions I can give before I leave respecting what you would wish to be
done«
When Physician after discharging himself of his trust upstairs rejoined
Bar in the street he said no more of his interview with Mrs Merdle than that
he had not yet told her all but that what he had told her she had borne pretty
well Bar had devoted his leisure in the street to the construction of a most
ingenious mantrap for catching the whole of his Jury at a blow having got that
matter settled in his mind it was lucid on the late catastrophe and they
walked home slowly discussing it in every bearing Before parting at
Physicians door they both looked up at the sunny morning sky into which the
smoke of a few early fires and the breath and voices of a few early stirrers
were peacefully rising and then looked round upon the immense city and said
If all those hundreds and thousands of beggared people who were yet asleep could
only know as they two spoke the ruin that impended over them what a fearful
cry against one miserable soul would go up to Heaven
The report that the great man was dead got about with astonishing rapidity
At first he was dead of all the diseases that ever were known and of several
brannew maladies invented with the speed of Light to meet the demand of the
occasion He had concealed a dropsy from infancy he had inherited a large
estate of water on the chest from his grandfather he had had an operation
performed upon him every morning of his life for eighteen years he had been
subject to the explosion of important veins in his body after the manner of
fireworks he had had something the matter with his lungs he had had something
the matter with his heart he had had something the matter with his brain Five
hundred people who sat down to breakfast entirely uninformed on the whole
subject believed before they had done breakfast that they privately and
personally knew Physician to have said to Mr Merdle »You must expect to go
out some day like the snuff of a candle« and that they knew Mr Merdle to
have said to Physician »A man can die but once« By about eleven oclock in the
forenoon something the matter with the brain became the favourite theory
against the field and by twelve the something had been distinctly ascertained
to be Pressure
Pressure was so entirely satisfactory to the public mind and seemed to make
everybody so comfortable that it might have lasted all day but for Bars having
taken the real state of the case into Court at halfpast nine This led to its
beginning to be currently whispered all over London by about one that Mr
Merdle had killed himself Pressure however so far from being overthrown by
the discovery became a greater favourite than ever There was a general
moralising upon Pressure in every street All the people who had tried to make
money and had not been able to do it said There you were You no sooner began
to devote yourself to the pursuit of wealth than you got Pressure The idle
people improved the occasion in a similar manner See said they what you
brought yourself to by work work work You persisted in working you overdid
it Pressure came on and you were done for This consideration was very potent
in many quarters but nowhere more so than among the young clerks and partners
who had never been in the slightest danger of overdoing it These one and all
declared quite piously that they hoped they would never forget the warning as
long as they lived and that their conduct might be so regulated as to keep off
Pressure and preserve them a comfort to their friends for many years
But at about the time of High Change Pressure began to wane and
appalling whispers to circulate east west north and south At first they
were faint and went no further than a doubt whether Mr Merdles wealth would
be found to be as vast as had been supposed whether there might not be a
temporary difficulty in realising it whether there might not even be a
temporary suspension say a month or so on the part of the wonderful Bank As
the whispers became louder which they did from that time every minute they
became more threatening He had sprung from nothing by no natural growth or
process that any one could account for he had been after all a low ignorant
fellow he had been a downlooking man and no one had ever been able to catch
his eye he had been taken up by all sorts of people in quite an unaccountable
manner he had never had any money of his own his ventures had been utterly
reckless and his expenditure had been most enormous In steady progression as
the day declined the talk rose in sound and purpose He had left a letter at
the Baths addressed to his physician and his physician had got the letter and
the letter would be produced at the Inquest on the morrow and it would fall
like a thunderbolt upon the multitude he had deluded Numbers of men in every
profession and trade would be blighted by his insolvency old people who had
been in easy circumstances all their lives would have no place of repentance for
their trust in him but the workhouse legions of women and children would have
their whole future desolated by the hand of this mighty scoundrel Every
partaker of his magnificent feasts would be seen to have been a sharer in the
plunder of innumerable homes every servile worshipper of riches who had helped
to set him on his pedestal would have done better to worship the Devil
pointblank So the talk lashed louder and higher by confirmation on
confirmation and by edition after edition of the evening papers swelled into
such a roar when night came as might have brought one to believe that a
solitary watcher on the gallery above the Dome of St Pauls would have
perceived the night air to be laden with a heavy muttering of the name of
Merdle coupled with every form of execration
For by that time it was known that the late Mr Merdles complaint had
been simply Forgery and Robbery He the uncouth object of such widespread
adulation the sitter at great mens feasts the rocs egg of great ladies
assemblies the subduer of exclusiveness the leveller of pride the patron of
patrons the bargaindriver with a Minister for Lordships of the Circumlocution
Office the recipient of more acknowledgment within some ten or fifteen years
at most than had been bestowed in England upon all peaceful public benefactors
and upon all the leaders of all the Arts and Sciences with all their works to
testify for them during two centuries at least he the shining wonder the
new constellation to be followed by the wise men bringing gifts until it
stopped over certain carrion at the bottom of a bath and disappeared was
simply the greatest Forger and the greatest Thief that ever cheated the gallows
Chapter XXVI
Reaping the Whirlwind
With a precursory sound of hurried breath and hurried feet Mr Pancks rushed
into Arthur Clennams Countinghouse The Inquest was over the letter was
public the Bank was broken the other model structures of straw had taken fire
and were turned to smoke The admired piratical ship had blown up in the midst
of a vast fleet of ships of all rates and boats of all sizes and on the deep
was nothing but ruin nothing but burning hulls bursting magazines great guns
selfexploded tearing friends and neighbours to pieces drowning men clinging to
unseaworthy spars and going down every minute spent swimmers floating dead
and sharks
The usual diligence and order of the Countinghouse at the Works were
overthrown Unopened letters and unsorted papers lay strewn about the desk In
the midst of these tokens of prostrated energy and dismissed hope the master of
the Countinghouse stood idle in his usual place with his arms crossed on the
desk and his head bowed down upon them
Mr Pancks rushed in and saw him and stood still In another minute Mr
Panckss arms were on the desk and Mr Panckss head was bowed down upon them
and for some time they remained in these attitudes idle and silent with the
width of the little room between them
Mr Pancks was the first to lift up his head and speak
»I persuaded you to it Mr Clennam I know it Say what you will You cant
say more to me than I say to myself You cant say more than I deserve«
»O Pancks Pancks« returned Clennam »dont speak of deserving What do I
myself deserve«
»Better luck« said Pancks
»I« pursued Clennam without attending to him »who have ruined my partner
Pancks Pancks I have ruined Doyce The honest selfhelpful indefatigable old
man who has worked his way all through his life the man who has contended
against so much disappointment and who has brought out of it such a good and
hopeful nature the man I have felt so much for and meant to be so true and
useful to I have ruined him brought him to shame and disgrace ruined him
ruined him«
The agony into which the reflection wrought his mind was so distressing to
see that Mr Pancks took hold of himself by the hair of his head and tore it
in desperation at the spectacle
»Reproach me« cried Pancks »Reproach me sir or Ill do myself an injury
Say You fool you villain Say Ass how could you do it Beast what did you
mean by it Catch hold of me somewhere Say something abusive to me« All the
time Mr Pancks was tearing at his tough hair in a most pitiless and cruel
manner
»If you had never yielded to this fatal mania Pancks« said Clennam more
in commiseration than retaliation »it would have been how much better for you
and how much better for me«
»At me again sir« cried Pancks grinding his teeth in remorse »At me
again«
»If you had never gone into those accursed calculations and brought out
your results with such abominable clearness« groaned Clennam »it would have
been how much better for you Pancks and how much better for me«
»At me again sir« exclaimed Pancks loosening his hold of his hair »at me
again and again«
Clennam however finding him already beginning to be pacified had said all
he wanted to say and more He wrung his hand only adding »Blind leaders of
the blind Pancks Blind leaders of the blind But Doyce Doyce Doyce my
injured partner« That brought his head down on the desk once more
Their former attitudes and their former silence were once more first
encroached upon by Pancks
»Not been to bed sir since it began to get about Been high and low on
the chance of finding some hope of saving any cinders from the fire All in
vain All gone All vanished«
»I know it« returned Clennam »too well«
Mr Pancks filled up a pause with a groan that came out of the very depths
of his soul
»Only yesterday Pancks« said Arthur »only yesterday Monday I had the
fixed intention of selling realising and making an end of it«
»I cant say as much for myself sir« returned Pancks »Though its
wonderful how many people Ive heard of who were going to realise yesterday of
all days in the three hundred and sixtyfive if it hadnt been too late«
His steamlike breathings usually droll in their effect were more tragic
than so many groans while from head to foot he was in that begrimed
besmeared neglected state that he might have been an authentic portrait of
Misfortune which could scarcely be discerned through its want of cleaning
»Mr Clennam had you laid out everything« He got over the break before
the last word and also brought out the last word itself with great difficulty
»Everything«
Mr Pancks took hold of his tough hair again and gave it such a wrench that
he pulled out several prongs of it After looking at these with an eye of wild
hatred he put them in his pocket
»My course« said Clennam brushing away some tears that had been silently
dropping down his face »must be taken at once What wretched amends I can make
must be made I must clear my unfortunate partners reputation I must retain
nothing for myself I must resign to our creditors the power of management I
have so much abused and I must work out as much of my fault or crime as is
susceptible of being worked out in the rest of my days«
»Is it impossible sir to tide over the present«
»Out of the question Nothing can be tided over now Pancks The sooner the
business can pass out of my hands the better for it There are engagements to
be met this week which would bring the catastrophe before many days were over
even if I would postpone it for a single day by going on for that space
secretly knowing what I know All last night I thought of what I would do what
remains is to do it«
»Not entirely of yourself« said Pancks whose face was as damp as if his
steam were turning into water as fast as he dismally blew it off »Have some
legal help«
»Perhaps I had better«
»Have Rugg«
»There is not much to do He will do it as well as another«
»Shall I fetch Rugg Mr Clennam«
»If you could spare the time I should be much obliged to you«
Mr Pancks put on his hat that moment and steamed away to Pentonville
While he was gone Arthur never raised his head from the desk but remained in
that one position
Mr Pancks brought his friend and professional adviser Mr Rugg back with
him Mr Rugg had had such ample experience on the road of Mr Panckss being
at that present in an irrational state of mind that he opened his professional
mediation by requesting that gentleman to take himself out of the way Mr
Pancks crushed and submissive obeyed
»He is not unlike what my daughter was sir when we began the Breach of
Promise action of Rugg and Bawkins in which she was Plaintiff« said Mr Rugg
»He takes too strong and direct an interest in the case His feelings are worked
upon There is no getting on in our profession with feelings worked upon
sir«
As he pulled off his gloves and put them in his hat he saw in a side
glance or two that a great change had come over his client
»I am sorry to perceive sir« said Mr Rugg »that you have been allowing
your own feelings to be worked upon Now pray dont pray dont These losses
are much to be deplored sir but we must look em in the face«
»If the money I have sacrificed had been all my own Mr Rugg« sighed Mr
Clennam »I should have cared far less«
»Indeed sir« said Mr Rugg rubbing his hands with a cheerful air »You
surprise me Thats singular sir I have generally found in my experience
that its their own money people are most particular about I have seen people
get rid of a good deal of other peoples money and bear it very well very well
indeed«
With these comforting remarks Mr Rugg seated himself on an officestool at
the desk and proceeded to business
»Now Mr Clennam by your leave let us go into the matter Let us see the
state of the case The question is simple The question is the usual plain
straightforward commonsense question What can we do for ourself What can we
do for ourself«
»This is not the question with me Mr Rugg« said Arthur »You mistake it
in the beginning It is what can I do for my partner how can I best make
reparation to him«
»I am afraid sir do you know« argued Mr Rugg persuasively »that you are
still allowing your feelings to be worked upon I dont like the term
reparation sir except as a lever in the hands of counsel Will you excuse my
saying that I feel it my duty to offer you the caution that you really must not
allow your feelings to be worked upon«
»Mr Rugg« said Clennam nerving himself to go through with what he had
resolved upon and surprising that gentleman by appearing in his despondency
to have a settled determination of purpose »you give me the impression that you
will not be much disposed to adopt the course I have made up my mind to take If
your disapproval of it should render you unwilling to discharge such business as
it necessitates I am sorry for it and must seek other aid But I will
represent to you at once that to argue against it with me is useless«
»Good sir« answered Mr Rugg shrugging his shoulders »Good sir Since
the business is to be done by some hands let it be done by mine Such was my
principle in the case of Rugg and Bawkins Such is my principle in most cases«
Clennam then proceeded to state to Mr Rugg his fixed resolution He told
Mr Rugg that his partner was a man of great simplicity and integrity and that
in all he meant to do he was guided above all things by a knowledge of his
partners character and a respect for his feelings He explained that his
partner was then absent on an enterprise of importance and that it particularly
behoved himself publicly to accept the blame of what he had rashly done and
publicly to exonerate his partner from all participation in the responsibility
of it lest the successful conduct of that enterprise should be endangered by
the slightest suspicion wrongly attaching to his partners honour and credit in
another country He told Mr Rugg that to clear his partner morally to the
fullest extent and publicly and unreservedly to declare that he Arthur
Clennam of that Firm had of his own sole act and even expressly against his
partners caution embarked its resources in the swindles that had lately
perished was the only real atonement within his power was a better atonement
to the particular man than it would be to many men and was therefore the
atonement he had first to make With this view his intention was to print a
declaration to the foregoing effect which he had already drawn up and besides
circulating it among all who had dealings with the House to advertise it in the
public papers Concurrently with this measure the description of which cost Mr
Rugg innumerable wry faces and great uneasiness in his limbs he would address
a letter to all the creditors exonerating his partner in a solemn manner
informing them of the stoppage of the House until their pleasure could be known
and his partner communicated with and humbly submitting himself to their
direction If through their consideration for his partners innocence the
affairs could ever be got into such train as that the business could be
profitably resumed and its present downfall overcome then his own share in it
should revert to his partner as the only reparation he could make to him in
money value for the distress and loss he had unhappily brought upon him and he
himself at as small a salary as he could live upon would ask to be allowed to
serve the business as a faithful clerk
Though Mr Rugg saw plainly there was no preventing this from being done
still the wryness of his face and the uneasiness of his limbs so sorely required
the propitiation of a Protest that he made one »I offer no objection sir«
said he »I argue no point with you I will carry out your views sir but
under protest« Mr Rugg then stated not without prolixity the heads of his
protest These were in effect Because the whole town or he might say the whole
country was in the first madness of the late discovery and the resentment
against the victims would be very strong those who had not been deluded being
certain to wax exceeding wroth with them for not having been as wise as they
were and those who had been deluded being certain to find excuses and reasons
for themselves of which they were equally certain to see that other sufferers
were wholly devoid not to mention the great probability of every individual
sufferer persuading himself to his violent indignation that but for the
example of all the other sufferers he never would have put himself in the way of
suffering Because such a declaration as Clennams made at such a time would
certainly draw down upon him a storm of animosity rendering it impossible to
calculate on forbearance in the creditors or on unanimity among them and
exposing him a solitary target to a straggling crossfire which might bring him
down from halfadozen quarters at once
To all this Clennam merely replied that granting the whole protest nothing
in it lessened the force or could lessen the force of the voluntary and public
exoneration of his partner He therefore once for all requested Mr Ruggs
immediate aid in getting the business despatched Upon that Mr Rugg fell to
work and Arthur retaining no property to himself but his clothes and books
and a little loose money placed his small private bankers account with the
papers of the business
The disclosure was made and the storm raged fearfully Thousands of people
were wildly staring about for somebody alive to heap reproaches on and this
notable case courting publicity set the living somebody so much wanted on a
scaffold When people who had nothing to do with the case were so sensible of
its flagrancy people who lost money by it could scarcely be expected to deal
mildly with it Letters of reproach and invective showered in from the
creditors and Mr Rugg who sat upon the high stool every day and read them
all informed his client within a week that he feared there were writs out
»I must take the consequences of what I have done« said Clennam »The writs
will find me here«
On the very next morning as he was turning in Bleeding Heart Yard by Mrs
Plornishs corner Mrs Plornish stood at the door waiting for him and
mysteriously besought him to step into Happy Cottage There he found Mr Rugg
»I thought Id wait for you here I wouldnt go on to the Countinghouse
this morning if I was you sir«
»Why not Mr Rugg«
»There are as many as five out to my knowledge«
»It cannot be too soon over« said Clennam »Let them take me at once«
»Yes but« said Mr Rugg getting between him and the door »hear reason
hear reason Theyll take you soon enough Mr Clennam I dont doubt but hear
reason It almost always happens in these cases that some insignificant matter
pushes itself in front and makes much of itself. Now I find theres a little
one out a mere Palace Court jurisdiction and I have reason to believe that a
caption may be made upon that I wouldnt be taken upon that«
»Why not« asked Clennam
»Id be taken on a fullgrown one sir« said Mr Rugg »Its as well to
keep up appearances As your professional adviser I should prefer your being
taken on a writ from one of the Superior Courts if you have no objection to do
me that favour It looks better«
»Mr Rugg« said Arthur in his dejection »my only wish is that it should
be over I will go on and take my chance«
»Another word of reason, sir« cried Mr Rugg »Now this is reason The
other may be taste but this is reason If you should be taken on the little
one sir you would go to the Marshalsea Now you know what the Marshalsea is
Very close Excessively confined Whereas in the Kings Bench « Mr Rugg waved
his right hand freely as expressing abundance of space.
»I would rather« said Clennam »be taken to the Marshalsea than to any
other prison«
»Do you say so indeed sir« returned Mr Rugg »Then this is taste too
and we may be walking«
He was a little offended at first but he soon overlooked it They walked
through the Yard to the other end The Bleeding Hearts were more interested in
Arthur since his reverses than formerly now regarding him as one who was true
to the place and had taken up his freedom Many of them came out to look after
him and to observe to one another, with great unctuousness that he was pulled
down by it Mrs Plornish and her father stood at the top of the steps at their
own end much depressed and shaking their heads
There was nobody visibly in waiting when Arthur and Mr Rugg arrived at the
Countinghouse But an elderly member of the Jewish persuasion preserved in
rum followed them close and looked in at the glass before Mr Rugg had opened
one of the days letters »Oh« said Mr Rugg looking up »How do you do Step
in Mr Clennam I think this is the gentleman I was mentioning«
The gentleman explained the object of his visit to be »a tyfling madder ob
bithznithz« and executed his legal function
»Shall I accompany you Mr Clennam« asked Mr Rugg politely rubbing his
hands
»I would rather go alone thank you Be so good as send me my clothes« Mr
Rugg in a light airy way replied in the affirmative and shook hands with him
He and his attendant then went downstairs got into the first conveyance they
found and drove to the old gates
»Where I little thought Heaven forgive me« said Clennam to himself »that
I should ever enter thus«
Mr Chivery was on the Lock and Young John was in the Lodge either newly
released from it or waiting to take his own spell of duty Both were more
astonished on seeing who the new prisoner was than one might have thought
turnkeys would have been The elder Mr Chivery shook hands with him in a
shamefaced kind of way and said »I dont call to mind sir as I was ever
less glad to see you« The younger Mr Chivery more distant did not shake
hands with him at all he stood looking at him in a state of indecision so
observable that it even came within the observation of Clennam with his heavy
eyes and heavy heart Presently afterwards Young John disappeared into the
jail
As Clennam knew enough of the place to know that he was required to remain
in the Lodge a certain time he took a seat in a corner and feigned to be
occupied with the perusal of letters from his pocket They did not so engross
his attention but that he saw with gratitude how the elder Mr Chivery kept
the Lodge clear of prisoners how he signed to some with his keys not to come
in how he nudged others with his elbow to go out and how he made his misery as
easy to him as he could
Arthur was sitting with his eyes fixed on the floor recalling the past
brooding over the present and not attending to either when he felt himself
touched upon the shoulder It was by Young John and he said »You can come
now«
He got up and followed Young John When they had gone a step or two within
the inner iron gate Young John turned and said to him
»You want a room I have got you one«
»I thank you heartily«
Young John turned again and took him in at the old doorway up the old
staircase into the old room Arthur stretched out his hand Young John looked
at it looked at him sternly swelled choked and said
»I dont know as I can No I find I cant But I thought youd like the
room and here it is for you«
Surprise at this inconsistent behaviour yielded when he was gone he went
away directly to the feelings which the empty room awakened in Clennams
wounded breast and to the crowding associations with the one good and gentle
creature who had sanctified it Her absence in his altered fortunes made it and
him in it so very desolate and so much in need of such a face of love and
truth that he turned against the wall to weep sobbing out as his heart
relieved itself »O my Little Dorrit«
Chapter XXVII
The Pupil of the Marshalsea
The day was sunny and the Marshalsea with the hot noon striking upon it was
unwontedly quiet Arthur Clennam dropped into a solitary armchair itself as
faded as any debtor in the jail and yielded himself to his thoughts
In the unnatural peace of having gone through the dreaded arrest and got
there the first change of feeling which the prison most commonly induced and
from which dangerous restingplace so many men had slipped down to the depths of
degradation and disgrace by so many ways he could think of some passages in
his life almost as if he were removed from them into another state of
existence Taking into account where he was the interest that had first brought
him there when he had been free to keep away and the gentle presence that was
equally inseparable from the walls and bars about him and from the impalpable
remembrances of his later life which no walls or bars could imprison it was not
remarkable that everything his memory turned upon should bring him round again
to Little Dorrit Yet it was remarkable to him not because of the fact itself;
but because of the reminder it brought with it how much the dear little
creature had influenced his better resolutions
None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise
until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right perception
with it It comes with sickness it comes with sorrow it comes with the loss of
the dearly loved it is one of the most frequent uses of adversity It came to
Clennam in his adversity strongly and tenderly »When I first gathered myself
together« he thought »and set something like purpose before my jaded eyes
whom had I before me toiling on for a good objects sake without
encouragement without notice against ignoble obstacles that would have turned
an army of received heroes and heroines One weak girl When I tried to conquer
my misplaced love and to be generous to the man who was more fortunate than I
though he should never know it or repay me with a gracious word in whom had I
watched patience selfdenial selfsubdual charitable construction the
noblest generosity of the affections In the same poor girl If I a man with a
mans advantages and means and energies had slighted the whisper in my heart
that if my father had erred it was my first duty to conceal the fault and to
repair it what youthful figure with tender feet going almost bare on the damp
ground with spare hands ever working with its slight shape but half protected
from the sharp weather would have stood before me to put me to shame Little
Dorrits« So always as he sat alone in the faded chair thinking Always
Little Dorrit Until it seemed to him as if he met the reward of having wandered
away from her and suffered anything to pass between him and his remembrance of
her virtues
His door was opened and the head of the elder Chivery was put in a very
little way without being turned towards him
»I am off the Lock Mr Clennam and going out Can I do anything for you«
»Many thanks Nothing«
»Youll excuse me opening the door« said Mr Chivery »but I couldnt make
you hear«
»Did you knock«
»Halfadozen times«
Rousing himself Clennam observed that the prison had awakened from its
noontide doze that the inmates were loitering about the shady yard and that it
was late in the afternoon He had been thinking for hours
»Your things is come« said Mr Chivery »and my son is going to carry em
up I should have sent em up but for his wishing to carry em himself Indeed
he would have em himself and so I couldnt send em up Mr Clennam could I
say a word to you«
»Pray come in« said Arthur for Mr Chiverys head was still put in at the
door a very little way and Mr Chivery had but one ear upon him instead of
both eyes This was native delicacy in Mr Chivery true politeness though his
exterior had very much of a turnkey about it and not the least of a gentleman
»Thank you sir« said Mr Chivery without advancing »its no odds me
coming in Mr Clennam dont you take no notice of my son if youll be so
good in case you find him cut up anyways difficult My son has a art and my
sons art is in the right place Me and his mother knows where to find it and
we find it sitiwated correct«
With this mysterious speech Mr Chivery took his ear away and shut the
door He might have been gone ten minutes when his son succeeded him
»Heres your portmanteau« he said to Arthur putting it carefully down
»Its very kind of you I am ashamed that you should have the trouble«
He was gone before it came to that but soon returned saying exactly as
before »Heres your black box« which he also put down with care
»I am very sensible of this attention I hope we may shake hands now Mr
John«
Young John however drew back turning his right wrist in a socket made of
his left thumb and middle finger and said as he had said at first »I dont
know as I can No I find I cant« He then stood regarding the prisoner
sternly though with a swelling humour in his eyes that looked like pity
»Why are you angry with me« said Clennam »and yet so ready to do me these
kind services There must be some mistake between us If I have done anything to
occasion it I am sorry«
»No mistake sir« returned John turning the wrist backwards and forwards
in the socket for which it was rather tight »No mistake sir in the feelings
with which my eyes behold you at the present moment If I was at all fairly
equal to your weight Mr Clennam which I am not and if you werent under a
cloud which you are and if it wasnt against all rules of the Marshalsea
which it is those feelings are such that they would stimulate me more to
having it out with you in a Round on the present spot than to anything else I
could name«
Arthur looked at him for a moment in some wonder and some little anger
»Well well« he said »A mistake a mistake« Turning away he sat down with a
heavy sigh in the faded chair again
Young John followed him with his eyes and after a short pause cried out
»I beg your pardon«
»Freely granted« said Clennam waving his hand without raising his sunken
head »Say no more I am not worth it«
»This furniture sir« said Young John in a voice of mild and soft
explanation »belongs to me I am in the habit of letting it out to parties
without furniture that have the room It aint much but its at your service
Free I mean I could not think of letting you have it on any other terms
Youre welcome to it for nothing«
Arthur raised his head again to thank him and to say he could not accept
the favour John was still turning his wrist and still contending with himself
in his former divided manner
»What is the matter between us« said Arthur
»I decline to name it sir« returned Young John suddenly turning loud and
sharp »Nothings the matter«
Arthur looked at him again in vain for an explanation of his behaviour
After a while Arthur turned away his head again Young John said presently
afterwards with the utmost mildness
»The little round table sir thats nigh your elbow was you know whose
I neednt mention him he died a great gentleman I bought it of an individual
that he gave it to and that lived here after him But the individual wasnt any
ways equal to him Most individuals would find it hard to come up to his level«
Arthur drew the little table nearer rested his arm upon it and kept it
there
»Perhaps you may not be aware sir« said Young John »that I intruded upon
him when he was over here in London On the whole he was of opinion that it was
an intrusion though he was so good as to ask me to sit down and to inquire
after father and all other old friends Leastways humblest acquaintances He
looked to me a good deal changed and I said so when I came back I asked him
if Miss Amy was well «
»And she was«
»I should have thought you would have known without putting the question to
such as me« returned Young John after appearing to take a large invisible
pill »Since you do put me the question I am sorry I cant answer it But the
truth is he looked upon the inquiry as a liberty and said What was that to
me It was then I became quite aware I was intruding of which I had been
fearful before However he spoke very handsome afterwards very handsome«
They were both silent for several minutes except that Young John remarked
at about the middle of the pause »He both spoke and acted very handsome«
It was again Young John who broke the silence by inquiring
»If its not a liberty how long may it be your intentions sir to go
without eating and drinking«
»I have not felt the want of anything yet« returned Clennam »I have no
appetite just now«
»The more reason why you should take some support sir« urged Young John
»If you find yourself going on sitting here for hours and hours partaking of no
refreshment because you have no appetite why then you should and must partake
of refreshment without an appetite Im going to have tea in my own apartment
If its not a liberty please to come and take a cup Or I can bring a tray
here in two minutes«
Feeling that Young John would impose that trouble on himself if he refused
and also feeling anxious to show that he bore in mind both the elder Mr
Chiverys entreaty and the younger Mr Chiverys apology Arthur rose and
expressed his willingness to take a cup of tea in Mr Johns apartment Young
John locked his door for him as they went out slided the key into his pocket
with great dexterity and led the way to his own residence
It was at the top of the house nearest to the gateway It was the room to
which Clennam had hurried on the day when the enriched family had left the
prison for ever and where he had lifted her insensible from the floor He
foresaw where they were going as soon as their feet touched the staircase The
room was so far changed that it was papered now and had been repainted and was
far more comfortably furnished but he could recall it just as he had seen it
in that single glance when he raised her from the ground and carried her down
to the carriage
Young John looked hard at him biting his fingers
»I see you recollect the room Mr Clennam«
»I recollect it well Heaven bless her«
Oblivious of the tea Young John continued to bite his fingers and to look
at his visitor as long as his visitor continued to glance about the room
Finally he made a start at the teapot gustily rattled a quantity of tea into
it from a canister and set off for the common kitchen to fill it with hot
water
The room was so eloquent to Clennam in the changed circumstances of his
return to the miserable Marshalsea it spoke to him so mournfully of her and of
his loss of her that it would have gone hard with him to resist it even though
he had not been alone Alone he did not try He laid his hand on the insensible
wall as tenderly as if it had been herself that he touched and pronounced her
name in a low voice He stood at the window looking over the prisonparapet
with its grim spiked border and breathed a benediction through the summer haze
towards the distant land where she was rich and prosperous
Young John was some time absent and when he came back showed that he had
been outside by bringing with him fresh butter in a cabbageleaf some thin
slices of boiled ham in another cabbageleaf and a little basket of
watercresses and salad herbs When these were arranged upon the table to his
satisfaction they sat down to tea
Clennam tried to do honour to the meal but unavailingly The ham sickened
him the bread seemed to turn to sand in his mouth He could force nothing upon
himself but a cup of tea
»Try a little something green« said Young John handing him the basket
He took a sprig or so of watercress and tried again but the bread turned
to a heavier sand than before and the ham though it was good enough of itself)
seemed to blow a faint simoom of ham through the whole Marshalsea
»Try a little more something green sir« said Young John and again handed
the basket
It was so like handing green meat into the cage of a dull imprisoned bird
and John had so evidently brought the little basket as a handful of fresh relief
from the stale hot pavingstones and bricks of the jail that Clennam said with
a smile »It was very kind of you to think of putting this between the wires
but I cannot even get this down today«
As if the difficulty were contagious Young John soon pushed away his own
plate and fell to folding the cabbageleaf that had contained the ham When he
had folded it into a number of layers one over another so that it was small in
the palm of his hand he began to flatten it between both his hands and to eye
Clennam attentively
»I wonder« he at length said compressing his green packet with some force
»that if its not worth your while to take care of yourself for your own sake
its not worth doing for some one elses«
»Truly« returned Arthur with a sigh and a smile »I dont know for whose«
»Mr Clennam« said John warmly »I am surprised that a gentleman who is
capable of the straightforwardness that you are capable of should be capable of
the mean action of making me such an answer Mr Clennam I am surprised that a
gentleman who is capable of having a heart of his own should be capable of the
heartlessness of treating mine in that way I am astonished at it sir Really
and truly I am astonished«
Having got upon his feet to emphasise his concluding words Young John sat
down again and fell to rolling his green packet on his right leg never taking
his eyes off Clennam but surveying him with a fixed look of indignant reproach
»I had got over it sir« said John »I had conquered it knowing that it
must be conquered and had come to the resolution to think no more about it I
shouldnt have given my mind to it again I hope if to this prison you had not
been brought and in an hour unfortunate for me this day« In his agitation
Young John adopted his mothers powerful construction of sentences »When you
first came upon me sir in the Lodge this day more as if a Upas tree had been
made a capture of than a private defendant such mingled streams of feelings
broke loose again within me that everything was for the first few minutes swept
away before them and I was going round and round in a vortex I got out of it
I struggled and got out of it If it was the last word I had to speak against
that vortex with my utmost powers I strove and out of it I came I argued that
if I had been rude apologies was due and those apologies without a question of
demeaning I did make And now when Ive been so wishful to show that one
thought is next to being a holy one with me and goes before all others now
after all you dodge me when I ever so gently hint at it and throw me back upon
myself For do not sir« said Young John »do not be so base as to deny that
dodge you do and thrown me back upon myself you have«
All amazement Arthur gazed at him like one lost only saying »What is it
What do you mean John« But John being in that state of mind in which nothing
would seem to be more impossible to a certain class of people than the giving of
an answer went ahead blindly
»I hadnt« John declared »no I hadnt and I never had the audaciousness
to think I am sure that all was anything but lost I hadnt no why should I
say I hadnt if I ever had any hope that it was possible to be so blest not
after the words that passed not even if barriers insurmountable had not been
raised But is that a reason why I am to have no memory why I am to have no
thoughts why I am to have no sacred spots nor anything«
»What can you mean« cried Arthur
»Its all very well to trample on it sir« John went on scouring a very
prairie of wild words »if a person can make up his mind to be guilty of the
action Its all very well to trample on it but its there It may be that it
couldnt be trampled upon if it wasnt there But that doesnt make it
gentlemanly that doesnt make it honourable that doesnt justify throwing a
person back upon himself after he has struggled and strived out of himself like
a butterfly The world may sneer at a turnkey but hes a man when he isnt a
woman which among female criminals hes expected to be«
Ridiculous as the incoherence of his talk was there was yet a truthfulness
in Young Johns simple sentimental character and a sense of being wounded in
some very tender respect expressed in his burning face and in the agitation of
his voice and manner which Arthur must have been cruel to disregard He turned
his thoughts back to the startingpoint of this unknown injury and in the
meantime Young John having rolled his green packet pretty round cut it
carefully into three pieces and laid it on a plate as if it were some
particular delicacy
»It seems to me just possible« said Arthur when he had retraced the
conversation to the watercresses and back again »that you have made some
reference to Miss Dorrit«
»It is just possible sir« returned John Chivery
»I dont understand it I hope I may not be so unlucky as to make you think
I mean to offend you again for I never have meant to offend you yet when I say
I dont understand it«
»Sir« said Young John »will you have the perfidy to deny that you know and
long have known that I felt towards Miss Dorrit call it not the presumption of
love but adoration and sacrifice«
»Indeed John I will not have any perfidy if I know it why you should
suspect me of it I am at a loss to think Did you ever hear from Mrs Chivery
your mother that I went to see her once«
»No sir« returned John shortly »Never heard of such a thing«
»But I did Can you imagine why«
»No sir« returned John shortly »I cant imagine why«
»I will tell you I was solicitous to promote Miss Dorrits happiness and
if I could have supposed that Miss Dorrit returned your affection «
Poor John Chivery turned crimson to the tips of his ears »Miss Dorrit never
did sir I wish to be honourable and true so far as in my humble way I can
and I would scorn to pretend for a moment that she ever did or that she ever
led me to believe she did no nor even that it was ever to be expected in any
cool reason that she would or could She was far above me in all respects at all
times As likewise« added John »similarly was her genteel family«
His chivalrous feeling towards all that belonged to her made him so very
respectable in spite of his small stature and his rather weak legs and his
very weak hair and his poetical temperament that a Goliath might have sat in
his place demanding less consideration at Arthurs hands
»You speak John« he said with cordial admiration »like a Man«
»Well sir« returned John brushing his hand across his eyes »then I wish
youd do the same«
He was quick with this unexpected retort and it again made Arthur regard
him with a wondering expression of face
»Leastways« said John stretching his hand across the teatray »if too
strong a remark withdrawn But why not why not When I say to you Mr
Clennam take care of yourself for some one elses sake why not be open though
a turnkey Why did I get you the room which I knew youd like best Why did I
carry up your things Not that I found em heavy I dont mention em on that
accounts far from it Why have I cultivated you in the manner I have done
since the morning On the ground of your own merits No Theyre very great
Ive no doubt at all but not on the ground of them Anothers merits have had
their weight and have had far more weight with Me Then why not speak free«
»Unaffectedly John« said Clennam »you are so good a fellow and I have so
true a respect for your character that if I have appeared to be less sensible
than I really am of the fact that the kind services you have rendered me today
are attributable to my having been trusted by Miss Dorrit as her friend I
confess it to be a fault and I ask your forgiveness«
»Oh why not« John repeated with returning scorn »why not speak free«
»I declare to you« returned Arthur »that I do not understand you Look at
me Consider the trouble I have been in Is it likely that I would wilfully add
to my other selfreproaches that of being ungrateful or treacherous to you I
do not understand you«
Johns incredulous face slowly softened into a face of doubt He rose
backed into the garretwindow of the room beckoned Arthur to come there and
stood looking at him thoughtfully
»Mr Clennam do you mean to say that you dont know«
»What John«
»Lord« said Young John appealing with a gasp to the spikes on the wall
»He says What«
Clennam looked at the spikes and looked at John and looked at the spikes
and looked at John
»He says What And what is more« exclaimed Young John surveying him in a
doleful maze »he appears to mean it Do you see this window sir«
»Of course I see this window«
»See this room«
»Why of course I see this room«
»That wall opposite and that yard down below They have all been witnesses
of it from day to day from night to night from week to week from month to
month For how often have I seen Miss Dorrit here when she has not seen me«
»Witnesses of what« said Clennam
»Of Miss Dorrits love«
»For whom«
»You« said John And touched him with the back of his hand upon the breast
and backed to his chair and sat down in it with a pale face holding the arms
and shaking his head at him
If he had dealt Clennam a heavy blow instead of laying that light touch
upon him its effect could not have been to shake him more He stood amazed his
eyes looking at John his lips parted and seeming now and then to form the word
Me without uttering it his hands dropped at his sides his whole appearance
that of a man who has been awakened from sleep and stupefied by intelligence
beyond his full comprehension
»Me« he at length said aloud
»Ah« groaned Young John »You«
He did what he could to muster a smile and returned »Your fancy You are
completely mistaken«
»I mistaken sir« said Young John »I completely mistaken on that subject
No Mr Clennam dont tell me so On any other if you like for I dont set up
to be a penetrating character and am well aware of my own deficiencies But I
mistaken on a point that has caused me more smart in my breast than a flight of
savages arrows could have done I mistaken on a point that almost sent me into
my grave as I sometimes wished it would if the grave could only have been made
compatible with the tobaccobusiness and father and mothers feelings I
mistaken on a point that even at the present moment makes me take out my
pockethandkerchief like a great girl as people say though I am sure I dont
know why a great girl should be a term of reproach for every rightly
constituted male mind loves em great and small Dont tell me so dont tell me
so«
Still highly respectable at bottom though absurd enough upon the surface
Young John took out his pockethandkerchief with a genuine absence both of
display and concealment which is only to be seen in a man with a great deal of
good in him when he takes out his pockethandkerchief for the purpose of wiping
his eyes Having dried them and indulged in the harmless luxury of a sob and a
sniff he put it up again
The touch was still in its influence so like a blow that Arthur could not
get many words together to close the subject with He assured John Chivery when
he had returned his handkerchief to his pocket that he did all honour to his
disinterestedness and to the fidelity of his remembrance of Miss Dorrit As to
the impression on his mind of which he had just relieved it here John
interposed and said »No impression Certainty« as to that they might
perhaps speak of it at another time but would say no more now Feeling
lowspirited and weary he would go back to his room with Johns leave and
come out no more that night John assented and he crept back in the shadow of
the wall to his own lodging
The feeling of the blow was still so strong upon him that when the dirty
old woman was gone whom he found sitting on the stairs outside his door waiting
to make his bed and who gave him to understand while doing it that she had
received her instructions from Mr Chivery not the old un but the young un
he sat down in the faded armchair pressing his head between his hands as if
he had been stunned Little Dorrit love him More bewildering to him than his
misery far
Consider the improbability He had been accustomed to call her his child
and his dear child and to invite her confidence by dwelling upon the difference
in their respective ages and to speak of himself as one who was turning old
Yet she might not have thought him old Something reminded him that he had not
thought himself so until the roses had floated away upon the river
He had her two letters among other papers in his box and he took them out
and read them There seemed to be a sound in them like the sound of her sweet
voice It fell upon his ear with many tones of tenderness that were not
insusceptible of the new meaning Now it was that the quiet desolation of her
answer »No No No« made to him that night in that very room that night
when he had been shown the dawn of her altered fortune and when other words had
passed between them which he had been destined to remember in humiliation and a
prisoner rushed into his mind
Consider the improbability
But it had a preponderating tendency when considered to become fainter
There was another and a curious inquiry of his own hearts that concurrently
became stronger In the reluctance he had felt to believe that she loved any
one in his desire to set that question at rest in a halfformed consciousness
he had had that there would be a kind of nobleness in his helping her love for
any one was there no suppressed something on his own side that he had hushed as
it arose Had he ever whispered to himself that he must not think of such a
thing as her loving him that he must not take advantage of her gratitude that
he must keep his experience in remembrance as a warning and reproof that he
must regard such youthful hopes as having passed away as his friends dead
daughter had passed away that he must be steady in saying to himself that the
time had gone by him and he was too saddened and old
He had kissed her when he raised her from the ground on the day when she
had been so consistently and expressively forgotten Quite as he might have
kissed her if she had been conscious No difference
The darkness found him occupied with these thoughts The darkness also found
Mr and Mrs Plornish knocking at his door They brought with them a basket
filled with choice selections from that stock in trade which met with such a
quick sale and produced such a slow return Mrs Plornish was affected to tears
Mr Plornish amiably growled in his philosophical but not lucid manner that
there was ups you see and there was downs It was in wain to ask why ups why
downs there they was you know He had heerd it given for a truth that
accordin as the world went round which round it did rewolve undoubted even
the best of gentlemen must take his turn of standing with his ed upside down and
all his air a flying the wrong way into what you might call Space Wery well
then What Mr Plornish said was wery well then That gentlemans ed would come
upards when his turn come that gentlemans air would be a pleasure to look
upon being all smooth again and wery well then
It has been already stated that Mrs Plornish not being philosophical
wept It further happened that Mrs Plornish not being philosophical was
intelligible It may have arisen out of her softened state of mind out of her
sexs wit out of a womans quick association of ideas, or out of a womans no
association of ideas, but it further happened somehow that Mrs Plornishs
intelligibility displayed itself upon the very subject of Arthurs meditations
»The way father has been talking about you Mr Clennam« said Mrs
Plornish »you hardly would believe Its made him quite poorly As to his
voice this misfortune has took it away You know what a sweet singer father is
but he couldnt get a note out for the children at tea if youll credit what I
tell you«
While speaking Mrs Plornish shook her head and wiped her eyes and looked
retrospectively about the room
»As to Mr Baptist« pursued Mrs Plornish »whatever hell do when he comes
to know of it I cant conceive nor yet imagine Hed have been here before now
you may be sure but that hes away on confidential business of your own The
persevering manner in which he follows up that business and gives himself no
rest from it it really do« said Mrs Plornish winding up in the Italian
manner »as I say to him Mooshattonisha padrona«
Though not conceited Mrs Plornish felt that she had turned this Tuscan
sentence with peculiar elegance Mr Plornish could not conceal his exultation
in her accomplishments as a linguist
»But what I say is Mr Clennam« the good woman went on »theres always
something to be thankful for as I am sure you will yourself admit Speaking in
this room its not hard to think what the present something is Its a thing to
be thankful for indeed that Miss Dorrit is not here to know it«
Arthur thought she looked at him with particular expression
»Its a thing« reiterated Mrs Plornish »to be thankful for indeed that
Miss Dorrit is far away Its to be hoped she is not likely to hear of it If
she had been here to see it sir its not to be doubted that the sight of you«
Mrs Plornish repeated those words »not to be doubted that the sight of you
in misfortune and trouble would have been almost too much for her affectionate
heart Theres nothing I can think of that would have touched Miss Dorrit so
bad as that«
Of a certainty Mrs Plornish did look at him now with a sort of quivering
defiance in her friendly emotion
»Yes« said she »And it shows what notice father takes though at his time
of life that he says to me this afternoon which Happy Cottage knows I neither
make it up nor anyways enlarge Mary its much to be rejoiced in that Miss
Dorrit is not on the spot to behold it Those were fathers words Fathers own
words was Much to be rejoiced in Mary that Miss Dorrit is not on the spot to
behold it I says to father then I says to him Father you are right That«
Mrs Plornish concluded with the air of a very precise legal witness »is what
passed betwixt father and me And I tell you nothing but what did pass betwixt
me and father«
Mr Plornish as being of a more laconic temperament embraced this
opportunity of interposing with the suggestion that she should now leave Mr
Clennam to himself »For you see« said Mr Plornish gravely »I know what it
is old gal« repeating that valuable remark several times as if it appeared to
him to include some great moral secret Finally the worthy couple went away arm
in arm
Little Dorrit Little Dorrit Again for hours Always Little Dorrit
Happily if it ever had been so it was over and better over Granted that she
had loved him and he had known it and had suffered himself to love her what a
road to have led her away upon the road that would have brought her back to
this miserable place He ought to be much comforted by the reflection that she
was quit of it for ever that she was or would soon be married vague rumours
of her fathers projects in that direction had reached Bleeding Heart Yard with
the news of her sisters marriage and that the Marshalsea gate had shut for
ever on all those perplexed possibilities of a time that was gone
Dear little Dorrit
Looking back upon his own poor story she was its vanishingpoint
Everything in its perspective led to her innocent figure He had travelled
thousands of miles towards it previous unquiet hopes and doubts had worked
themselves out before it it was the centre of the interest of his life it was
the termination of everything that was good and pleasant in it beyond there was
nothing but mere waste and darkened sky
As ill at ease as on the first night of his lying down to sleep within those
dreary walls he wore the night out with such thoughts What time Young John lay
wrapt in peaceful slumber after composing and arranging the following
monumental inscription on his pillow
STRANGER
Respect the Tomb of
JOHN CHIVERY JUNIOR
Who Died at an Advanced Age
Not Necessary to Mention
He Encountered His Rival in a Distressed State
And Felt Inclined
TO HAVE A ROUND WITH HIM
But for the Sake of the Loved One
Conquered Those Feelings of Bitterness and Became
MAGNANIMOUS
Chapter XXVIII
An Appearance in the Marshalsea
The opinion of the community outside the prison gates bore hard on Clennam as
time went on and he made no friends among the community within Too depressed
to associate with the herd in the yard who got together to forget their cares
too retiring and too unhappy to join in the poor socialities of the tavern he
kept his own room and was held in distrust Some said he was proud some
objected that he was sullen and reserved some were contemptuous of him for
that he was a poorspirited dog who pined under his debts The whole population
were shy of him on these various counts of indictment but especially the last
which involved a species of domestic treason and he soon became so confirmed in
his seclusion that his only time for walking up and down was when the evening
Club were assembled at their songs and toasts and sentiments and when the yard
was nearly left to the women and children
Imprisonment began to tell upon him He knew that he idled and moped After
what he had known of the influences of imprisonment within the four small walls
of the very room he occupied this consciousness made him afraid of himself
Shrinking from the observation of other men and shrinking from his own he
began to change very sensibly Anybody might see that the shadow of the wall was
dark upon him
One day when he might have been some ten or twelve weeks in jail and when
he had been trying to read and had not been able to release even the imaginary
people of the book from the Marshalsea a footstep stopped at his door and a
hand tapped at it He arose and opened it and an agreeable voice accosted him
with »How do you do Mr Clennam I hope I am not unwelcome in calling to see
you«
It was the sprightly young Barnacle Ferdinand He looked very goodnatured
and prepossessing though overpoweringly gay and free in contrast with the
squalid prison
»You are surprised to see me Mr Clennam« he said taking the seat which
Clennam offered him
»I must confess to being much surprised«
»Not disagreeably I hope«
»By no means«
»Thank you Frankly« said the engaging young Barnacle »I have been
excessively sorry to hear that you were under the necessity of a temporary
retirement here and I hope of course as between two private gentlemen that
our place has had nothing to do with it«
»Your office«
»Our Circumlocution place«
»I cannot charge any part of my reverses upon that remarkable
establishment«
»Upon my life« said the vivacious young Barnacle »I am heartily glad to
know it It is quite a relief to me to hear you say it I should have so
exceedingly regretted our place having had anything to do with your
difficulties«
Clennam again assured him that he absolved it of the responsibility
»Thats right« said Ferdinand »I am very happy to hear it I was rather
afraid in my own mind that we might have helped to floor you because there is
no doubt that it is our misfortune to do that kind of thing now and then We
dont want to do it but if men will be gravelled why we cant help it«
»Without giving an unqualified assent to what you say« returned Arthur
gloomily »I am much obliged to you for your interest in me«
»No but really Our place is« said the easy young Barnacle »the most
inoffensive place possible Youll say we are a Humbug I wont say we are not
but all that sort of thing is intended to be and must be Dont you see«
»I do not« said Clennam
»You dont regard it from the right point of view It is the point of view
that is the essential thing Regard our place from the point of view that we
only ask you to leave us alone and we are as capital a Department as youll
find anywhere«
»Is your place there to be left alone« asked Clennam
»You exactly hit it« returned Ferdinand »It is there with the express
intention that everything shall be left alone That is what it means That is
what its for No doubt theres a certain form to be kept up that its for
something else but its only a form Why good Heaven we are nothing but
forms Think what a lot of our forms you have gone through And you have never
got any nearer to an end«
»Never« said Clennam
»Look at it from the right point of view and there you have us official
and effectual Its like a limited game of cricket A field of outsiders are
always going in to bowl at the Public Service and we block the balls«
Clennam asked what became of the bowlers The airy young Barnacle replied
that they grew tired got dead beat got lamed got their backs broken died
off gave it up went in for other games
»And this occasions me to congratulate myself again« he pursued »on the
circumstance that our place has had nothing to do with your temporary
retirement It very easily might have had a hand in it because it is
undeniable that we are sometimes a most unlucky place in our effects upon
people who will not leave us alone Mr Clennam I am quite unreserved with you
As between yourself and myself I know I may be I was so when I first saw you
making the mistake of not leaving us alone because I perceived that you were
inexperienced and sanguine and had I hope youll not object to my saying
some simplicity«
»Not at all«
»Some simplicity Therefore I felt what a pity it was and I went out of my
way to hint to you which really was not official but I never am official when
I can help it something to the effect that if I were you I wouldnt bother
myself However you did bother yourself and you have since bothered yourself
Now dont do it any more«
»I am not likely to have the opportunity« said Clennam
»Oh yes you are Youll leave here Everybody leaves here There are no
ends of ways of leaving here Now dont come back to us That entreaty is the
second object of my call Pray dont come back to us Upon my honour« said
Ferdinand in a very friendly and confiding way »I shall be greatly vexed if you
dont take warning by the past and keep away from us«
»And the invention« said Clennam
»My good fellow« returned Ferdinand »if youll excuse the freedom of that
form of address nobody wants to know of the invention and nobody cares
twopencehalfpenny about it«
»Nobody in the Office that is to say«
»Nor out of it Everybody is ready to dislike and ridicule any invention
You have no idea how many people want to be left alone You have no idea how the
Genius of the country overlook the Parliamentary nature of the phrase and
dont be bored by it tends to being left alone Believe me Mr Clennam« said
the sprightly young Barnacle in his pleasantest manner »our place is not a
wicked Giant to be charged at full tilt but only a windmill showing you as it
grinds immense quantities of chaff which way the country wind blows«
»If I could believe that« said Clennam »it would be a dismal prospect for
all of us«
»Oh Dont say so« returned Ferdinand »Its all right We must have
humbug we all like humbug we couldnt get on without humbug A little humbug
and a groove and everything goes on admirably if you leave it alone«
With this hopeful confession of his faith as the head of the rising
Barnacles who were born of woman to be followed under a variety of watchwords
which they utterly repudiated and disbelieved Ferdinand rose Nothing could be
more agreeable than his frank and courteous bearing or adapted with a more
gentlemanly instinct to the circumstances of his visit
»Is it fair to ask« he said as Clennam gave him his hand with a real
feeling of thankfulness for his candour and goodhumour »whether it is true
that our late lamented Merdle is the cause of this passing inconvenience«
»I am one of the many he has ruined Yes«
»He must have been an exceedingly clever fellow« said Ferdinand Barnacle
Arthur not being in the mood to extol the memory of the deceased was
silent
»A consummate rascal of course« said Ferdinand »but remarkably clever One
cannot help admiring the fellow Must have been such a master of humbug Knew
people so well got over them so completely did so much with them«
In his easy way he was really moved to genuine admiration
»I hope« said Arthur »that he and his dupes may be a warning to people not
to have so much done with them again«
»My dear Mr Clennam« returned Ferdinand laughing »have you really such a
verdant hope The next man who has as large a capacity and as genuine a taste
for swindling will succeed as well Pardon me but I think you really have no
idea how the human bees will swarm to the beating of any old tin kettle in that
fact lies the complete manual of governing them When they can be got to believe
that the kettle is made of the precious metals in that fact lies the whole
power of men like our late lamented No doubt there are here and there« said
Ferdinand politely »exceptional cases where people have been taken in for what
appeared to them to be much better reasons and I need not go far to find such a
case but they dont invalidate the rule Good day I hope that when I have the
pleasure of seeing you next this passing cloud will have given place to
sunshine Dont come a step beyond the door I know the way out perfectly Good
day«
With those words the best and brightest of the Barnacles went downstairs
hummed his way through the Lodge mounted his horse in the front courtyard and
rode off to keep an appointment with his noble kinsman who wanted a little
coaching before he could triumphantly answer certain infidel Snobs who were
going to question the Nobs about their statesmanship
He must have passed Mr Rugg on his way out for a minute or two
afterwards that ruddyheaded gentleman shone in at the door like an elderly
Phoebus
»How do you do today sir« said Mr Rugg »Is there any little thing I can
do for you today sir«
»No I thank you«
Mr Ruggs enjoyment of embarrassed affairs was like a housekeepers
enjoyment in pickling and preserving or a washerwomans enjoyment of a heavy
wash or a dustmans enjoyment of an overflowing dustbin or any other
professional enjoyment of a mess in the way of business
»I still look round from time to time sir« said Mr Rugg cheerfully »to
see whether any lingering Detainers are accumulating at the gate They have
fallen in pretty thick sir as thick as we could have expected«
He remarked upon the circumstance as if it were matter of congratulation
rubbing his hands briskly and rolling his head a little
»As thick« repeated Mr Rugg »as we could reasonably have expected Quite
a showerbath of em I dont often intrude upon you now when I look round
because I know you are not inclined for company and that if you wished to see
me you would leave word in the Lodge But I am here pretty well every day sir
Would this be an unseasonable time sir« asked Mr Rugg coaxingly »for me to
offer an observation«
»As seasonable a time as any other«
»Hum Public opinion sir« said Mr Rugg »has been busy with you«
»I dont doubt it«
»Might it not be advisable sir« said Mr Rugg more coaxingly yet »now to
make at last and after all a trifling concession to public opinion We all do
it in one way or another The fact is we must do it«
»I cannot set myself right with it Mr Rugg and have no business to expect
that I ever shall«
»Dont say that sir dont say that The cost of being moved to the Bench
is almost insignificant and if the general feeling is strong that you ought to
be there why really «
»I thought you had settled Mr Rugg« said Arthur »that my determination
to remain here was a matter of taste«
»Well sir well But is it good taste is it good taste Thats the
question« Mr Rugg was so soothingly persuasive as to be quite pathetic »I
was almost going to say is it good feeling This is an extensive affair of
yours and your remaining here where a man can come for a pound or two is
remarked upon as not in keeping It is not in keeping I cant tell you sir
in how many quarters I heard it mentioned I heard comments made upon it last
night in a Parlour frequented by what I should call if I did not look in there
now and then myself the best legal company I heard there comments on it
that I was sorry to hear They hurt me on your account Again only this
morning at breakfast My daughter but a woman youll say yet still with a
feeling for these things and even with some little personal experience as the
plaintiff in Rugg and Bawkins was expressing her great surprise her great
surprise Now under these circumstances and considering that none of us can
quite set ourselves above public opinion wouldnt a trifling concession to that
opinion be Come sir« said Rugg »I will put it on the lowest ground of
argument and say Amiable«
Arthurs thoughts had once more wandered away to Little Dorrit and the
question remained unanswered
»As to myself sir« said Mr Rugg hoping that his eloquence had reduced
him to a state of indecision »it is a principle of mine not to consider myself
when a clients inclinations are in the scale But knowing your considerate
character and general wish to oblige I will repeat that I should prefer your
being in the Bench Your case has made a noise it is a creditable case to be
professionally concerned in I should feel on a better standing with my
connection if you went to the Bench Dont let that influence you sir I
merely state the fact«
So errant had the prisoners attention already grown in solitude and
dejection and so accustomed had it become to commune with only one silent
figure within the everfrowning walls that Clennam had to shake off a kind of
stupor before he could look at Mr Rugg recall the thread of his talk and
hurriedly say »I am unchanged and unchangeable in my decision Pray let it
be let it be« Mr Rugg without concealing that he was nettled and mortified
replied
»Oh Beyond a doubt sir I have travelled out of the record sir I am
aware in putting the point to you But really when I hear it remarked in
several companies and in very good company that however worthy of a foreigner
it is not worthy of the spirit of an Englishman to remain in the Marshalsea when
the glorious liberties of his island home admit of his removal to the Bench I
thought I would depart from the narrow professional line marked out to me and
mention it Personally« said Mr Rugg »I have no opinion on the topic«
»Thats well« returned Arthur
»Oh None at all sir« said Mr Rugg »If I had I should have been
unwilling some minutes ago to see a client of mine visited in this place by a
gentleman of a high family riding a saddlehorse But it was not my business If
I had I might have wished to be now empowered to mention to another gentleman
a gentleman of military exterior at present waiting in the Lodge that my client
had never intended to remain here and was on the eve of removal to a superior
abode But my course as a professional machine is clear I have nothing to do
with it Is it your good pleasure to see the gentleman sir«
»Who is waiting to see me did you say«
»I did take that unprofessional liberty sir Hearing that I was your
professional adviser he declined to interpose before my very limited function
was performed Happily« said Mr Rugg with sarcasm »I did not so far travel
out of the record as to ask the gentleman for his name«
»I suppose I have no resource but to see him« sighed Clennam wearily
»Then it is your good pleasure sir« retorted Rugg »Am I honoured by your
instructions to mention as much to the gentleman as I pass out I am Thank
you sir I take my leave« His leave he took accordingly in dudgeon
The gentleman of military exterior had so imperfectly awakened Clennams
curiosity in the existing state of his mind that a halfforgetfulness of such
a visitors having been referred to was already creeping over it as a part of
the sombre veil which almost always dimmed it now when a heavy footstep on the
stairs aroused him It appeared to ascend them not very promptly or
spontaneously yet with a display of stride and clatter meant to be insulting
As it paused for a moment on the landing outside his door he could not recall
his association with the peculiarity of its sound though he thought he had one
Only a moment was given him for consideration His door was immediately swung
open by a thump and in the doorway stood the missing Blandois the cause of
many anxieties
»Salve fellow jailbird« said he »You want me it seems Here I am«
Before Arthur could speak to him in his indignant wonder Cavalletto
followed him into the room Mr Pancks followed Cavalletto Neither of the two
had been there since its present occupant had had possession of it Mr Pancks
breathing hard sidled near the window put his hat on the ground stirred his
hair up with both hands and folded his arms like a man who had come to a pause
in a hard days work Mr Baptist never taking his eyes from his dreaded chum
of old softly sat down on the floor with his back against the door and one of
his ankles in each hand resuming the attitude except that it was now
expressive of unwinking watchfulness in which he had sat before the same man in
the deeper shade of another prison one hot morning at Marseilles
»I have it on the witnessing of these two madmen« said Monsieur Blandois
otherwise Lagnier otherwise Rigaud »that you want me brotherbird Here I
am«
Glancing round contemptuously at the bedstead which was turned up by day
he leaned his back against it as a restingplace without removing his hat from
his head and stood defiantly lounging with his hands in his pockets
»You villain of illomen« said Arthur »You have purposely cast a dreadful
suspicion upon my mothers house Why have you done it What prompted you to the
devilish invention«
Monsieur Rigaud after frowning at him for a moment laughed »Hear this
noble gentleman Listen all the world to this creature of Virtue But take
care take care It is possible my friend that your ardour is a little
compromising Holy Blue It is possible«
»Signore« interposed Cavalletto also addressing Arthur »for to commence
hear me I received your instructions to find him Rigaud is it not«
»It is the truth«
»I go consequentementally« it would have given Mrs Plornish great concern
if she could have been persuaded that his occasional lengthening of an adverb in
this way was the chief fault of his English »first among my countrymen I ask
them what news in Londra of foreigners arrived Then I go among the French
Then I go among the Germans They all tell me The great part of us know well
the other and they all tell me But no person can tell me nothing of him
Rigaud Fifteen times« said Cavalletto thrice throwing out his left hand with
all its fingers spread and doing it so rapidly that the sense of sight could
hardly follow the action »I ask of him in every place where go the foreigners
and fifteen times« repeating the same swift performance »they know nothing
But «
At this significant Italian rest on the word But his backhanded shake of
his right forefinger came into play a very little and very cautiously
»But After a long time when I have not been able to find that he is here
in Londra some one tells me of a soldier with white hair hey not hair like
this that he carries white who lives retired secrettementally in a certain
place But « with another rest upon the word »who sometimes in the
afterdinner walks and smokes It is necessary as they say in Italy and as
they know poor people to have patience I have patience I ask where is this
certain place One believes it is here one believes it is there Eh well It is
not here it is not there I wait patientissamentally At last I find it Then
I watch then I hide until he walks and smokes He is a soldier with grey hair
But « a very decided rest indeed and a very vigorous play from side to side
of the backhanded forefinger »he is also this man that you see«
It was noticeable that in his old habit of submission to one who had been
at the trouble of asserting superiority over him he even then bestowed upon
Rigaud a confused bend of his head after thus pointing him out
»Eh well Signore« he cried in conclusion addressing Arthur again »I
waited for a good opportunity I writed some words to Signor Panco« an air of
novelty came over Mr Pancks with this designation »to come and help I showed
him Rigaud at his window to Signor Panco who was often the spy in the day I
slept at night near the door of the house At last we entered only this today
and now you see him As he would not come up in presence of the illustrious
Advocate« such was Mr Baptists honourable mention of Mr Rugg »we waited
down below there together and Signor Panco guarded the street«
At the close of this recital Arthur turned his eyes upon the impudent and
wicked face As it met his the nose came down over the moustache and the
moustache went up under the nose When nose and moustache had settled into their
places again Monsieur Rigaud loudly snapped his fingers halfadozen times
bending forward to jerk the snaps at Arthur as if they were palpable missiles
which he jerked into his face
»Now Philosopher« said Rigaud »What do you want with me«
»I want to know« returned Arthur without disguising his abhorrence »how
you dare direct a suspicion of murder against my mothers house«
»Dare« cried Rigaud »Ho ho Hear him Dare Is it dare By Heaven my
small boy but you are a little imprudent«
»I want that suspicion to be cleared away« said Arthur »You shall be taken
there and be publicly seen I want to know moreover what business you had
there when I had a burning desire to fling you downstairs Dont frown at me
man I have seen enough of you to know that you are a bully and coward I need
no revival of my spirits from the effects of this wretched place to tell you so
plain a fact and one that you know so well«
White to the lips Rigaud stroked his moustache muttering »By Heaven my
small boy but you are a little compromising of my lady your respectable mother«
and seemed for a minute undecided how to act His indecision was soon gone He
sat himself down with a threatening swagger and said
»Give me a bottle of wine You can buy wine here Send one of your madmen to
get me a bottle of wine I wont talk to you without wine Come Yes or no«
»Fetch him what he wants Cavalletto« said Arthur scornfully producing the
money
»Contraband beast« added Rigaud »bring Port wine Ill drink nothing but
PortoPorto«
The contraband beast however assuring all present with his significant
finger that he peremptorily declined to leave his post at the door Signor
Panco offered his services He soon returned with the bottle of wine which
according to the custom of the place originating in a scarcity of corkscrews
among the Collegians in common with a scarcity of much else was already
opened for use
»Madman A large glass« said Rigaud
Signor Panco put a tumbler before him not without a visible conflict of
feeling on the question of throwing it at his head
»Haha« boasted Rigaud »Once a gentleman and always a gentleman A
gentleman from the beginning and a gentleman to the end What the Devil A
gentleman must be waited on I hope Its a part of my character to be waited
on«
He half filled the tumbler as he said it and drank off the contents when he
had done saying it
»Hah« smacking his lips »Not a very old prisoner that I judge by your
looks brave sir that imprisonment will subdue your blood much sooner than it
softens this hot wine You are mellowing losing body and colour already I
salute you«
He tossed off another halfglass holding it up both before and afterwards
so as to display his small white hand
»To business« he then continued »To conversation You have shown yourself
more free of speech than body sir«
»I have used the freedom of telling you what you know yourself to be You
know yourself as we all know you to be far worse than that«
»Add always a gentleman and its no matter Except in that regard we are
all alike For example: you couldnt for your life be a gentleman I couldnt
for my life be otherwise How great the difference Let us go on Words sir
never influence the course of the cards or the course of the dice Do you know
that You do I also play a game and words are without power over it«
Now that he was confronted with Cavalletto and knew that his story was
known whatever thin disguise he had worn he dropped and faced it out with a
bare face as the infamous wretch he was
»No my son« he resumed with a snap of his fingers »I play my game to the
end in spite of words and Death of my Body and Death of my Soul Ill win it
You want to know why I played this little trick that you have interrupted Know
then that I had and that I have do you understand me Have a commodity to
sell to my lady your respectable mother I described my precious commodity and
fixed my price Touching the bargain your admirable mother was a little too
calm too stolid too immovable and statuelike In fine your admirable mother
vexed me To make variety in my position and to amuse myself what a
gentleman must be amused at somebodys expense I conceived the happy idea of
disappearing An idea see you that your characteristic mother and my
Flintwinch would have been well enough pleased to execute Ah Bah bah bah
dont look as from high to low at me I repeat it Well enough pleased
excessively enchanted and with all their hearts ravished How strongly will you
have it«
He threw out the lees of his glass on the ground so that they nearly
spattered Cavalletto This seemed to draw his attention to him anew He set down
his glass and said
»Ill not fill it What I am born to be served Come then you Cavalletto
and fill«
The little man looked at Clennam whose eyes were occupied with Rigaud and
seeing no prohibition got up from the ground and poured out from the bottle
into the glass The blending as he did so of his old submission with a sense
of something humorous the striving of that with a certain smouldering ferocity
which might have flashed fire in an instant as the born gentleman seemed to
think for he had a wary eye upon him and the easy yielding of all to a
goodnatured careless predominant propensity to sit down on the ground again
formed a very remarkable combination of character
»This happy idea brave sir« Rigaud resumed after drinking »was a happy
idea for several reasons It amused me it worried your dear mama and my
Flintwinch it caused you agonies my terms for a lesson in politeness towards a
gentleman and it suggested to all the amiable persons interested that your
entirely devoted is a man to fear By Heaven he is a man to fear Beyond this
it might have restored her wit to my lady your mother might under the
pressing little suspicion your wisdom has recognised have persuaded her at last
to announce covertly in the journals that the difficulties of a certain
contract would be removed by the appearance of a certain important party to it
Perhaps yes perhaps no But that you have interrupted Now what is it you
say What is it you want«
Never had Clennam felt more acutely that he was a prisoner in bonds than
when he saw this man before him and could not accompany him to his mothers
house All the undiscernible difficulties and dangers he had ever feared were
closing in when he could not stir hand or foot
»Perhaps my friend philosopher man of virtue Imbecile what you will
perhaps« said Rigaud pausing in his drink to look out of his glass with his
horrible smile »you would have done better to leave me alone«
»No At least« said Clennam »you are known to be alive and unharmed At
least you cannot escape from these two witnesses and they can produce you
before any public authorities or before hundreds of people«
»But will not produce me before one« said Rigaud snapping his fingers
again with an air of triumphant menace »To the Devil with your witnesses To
the Devil with your produced To the Devil with yourself What Do I know what I
know for that Have I my commodity on sale for that Bah poor debtor You
have interrupted my little project Let it pass How then What remains To you
nothing to me all Produce me Is that what you want I will produce myself
only too quickly Contrabandist Give me pen ink and paper«
Cavalletto got up again as before and laid them before him in his former
manner Rigaud after some villainous thinking and smiling wrote and read aloud
as follows
»TO MRS CLENNAM
Wait answer
Prison of the Marshalsea
At the apartment of your son
Dear Madam
I am in despair to be informed today by our prisoner here who has
had the goodness to employ spies to seek me living for politic reasons
in retirement that you have had fears for my safety
Reassure yourself dear madam I am well I am strong and constant
With the greatest impatience I should fly to your house but that I
foresee it to be possible under the circumstances that you will not
yet have quite definitively arranged the little proposition I have had
the honour to submit to you I name one week from this day for a last
final visit on my part when you will unconditionally accept it or
reject it with its train of consequences
I suppress my ardour to embrace you and achieve this interesting
business in order that you may have leisure to adjust its details to
our perfect mutual satisfaction
In the meanwhile it is not too much to propose our prisoner having
deranged my housekeeping that my expenses of lodging and nourishment
at an hotel shall be paid by you
Receive dear madam the assurance of my highest and most
distinguished consideration
RIGAUD BLANDOIS
A thousand friendships to that dear Flintwinch
I kiss the hands of Madame F«
When he had finished this epistle Rigaud folded it and tossed it with a
flourish at Clennams feet »Hola you Apropos of producing let somebody
produce that at its address and produce the answer here«
»Cavalletto« said Arthur »Will you take this fellows letter«
But Cavallettos significant finger again expressing that his post was at
the door to keep watch over Rigaud now he had found him with so much trouble
and that the duty of his post was to sit on the floor backed up by the door
looking at Rigaud and holding his own ankles Signor Panco once more
volunteered His services being accepted Cavalletto suffered the door to open
barely wide enough to admit of his squeezing himself out and immediately shut
it on him
»Touch me with a finger touch me with an epithet question my superiority
as I sit here drinking my wine at my pleasure« said Rigaud »and I follow the
letter and cancel my weeks grace You wanted me You have got me How do you
like me«
»You know« returned Clennam with a bitter sense of his helplessness »that
when I sought you I was not a prisoner«
»To the Devil with you and your prison« retorted Rigaud leisurely as he
took from his pocket a case containing the materials for making cigarettes and
employed his facile hands in folding a few for present use »I care for neither
of you Contrabandist A light«
Again Cavalletto got up and gave him what he wanted There had been
something dreadful in the noiseless skill of his cold white hands with the
fingers lithely twisting about and twining one over another like serpents
Clennam could not prevent himself from shuddering inwardly as if he had been
looking on at a nest of those creatures
»Hola Pig« cried Rigaud with a noisy stimulating cry as if Cavalletto
were an Italian horse or mute »What The infernal old jail was a respectable
one to this There was dignity in the bars and stones of that place It was a
prison for men But this Bah A hospital for imbeciles«
He smoked his cigarette out with his ugly smile so fixed upon his face
that he looked as though he were smoking with his drooping beak of a nose
rather than his mouth like a fancy in a weird picture When he had lighted a
second cigarette at the still burning end of the first he said to Clennam
»One must pass the time in the madmans absence One must talk One cant
drink strong wine all day long or I would have another bottle Shes handsome
sir Though not exactly to my taste still by the Thunder and the Lightning
handsome I felicitate you on your admiration«
»I neither know nor ask« said Clennam »of whom you speak«
»Della bella Gowana sir as they say in Italy Of the Gowan the fair
Gowan«
»Of whose husband you were the follower I think«
»Sir Follower You are insolent The friend«
»Do you sell all your friends«
Rigaud took his cigarette from his mouth and eyed him with a momentary
revelation of surprise But he put it between his lips again as he answered
with coolness
»I sell anything that commands a price How do your lawyers live your
politicians your intriguers your men of the Exchange How do you live How do
you come here Have you sold no friend Lady of mine I rather think yes«
Clennam turned away from him towards the window and sat looking out at the
wall
»Effectively sir« said Rigaud »Society sells itself and sells me and I
sell Society I perceive you have acquaintance with another lady Also handsome
A strong spirit Let us see How do they call her Wade«
He received no answer but could easily discern that he had hit the mark
»Yes« he went on »that handsome lady and strong spirit addresses me in the
street and I am not insensible I respond That handsome lady and strong spirit
does me the favour to remark in full confidence I have my curiosity and I
have my chagrins You are not more than ordinarily honourable perhaps I
announce myself Madame a gentleman from the birth and a gentleman to the
death but not more than ordinarily honourable I despise such a weak fantasy
Thereupon she is pleased to compliment The difference between you and the rest
is she answers that you say so For she knows Society I accept her
congratulations with gallantry and politeness Politeness and little gallantries
are inseparable from my character She then makes a proposition, which is in
effect that she has seen us much together that it appears to her that I am
for the passing time the cat of the house the friend of the family that her
curiosity and her chagrins awaken the fancy to be acquainted with their
movements to know the manner of their life how the fair Gowana is beloved how
the fair Gowana is cherished and so on She is not rich but offers such and
such little recompenses for the little cares and derangements of such services
and I graciously to do everything graciously is a part of my character
consent to accept them O yes So goes the world It is the mode.«
Though Clennams back was turned while he spoke and thenceforth to the end
of the interview he kept those glittering eyes of his that were too near
together upon him and evidently saw in the very carriage of the head as he
passed with his braggart recklessness from clause to clause of what he said
that he was saying nothing which Clennam did not already know
»Whoof The fair Gowana« he said lighting a third cigarette with a sound
as if his lightest breath could blow her away »Charming but imprudent For it
was not well of the fair Gowana to make mysteries of letters from old lovers in
her bedchamber on the mountain that her husband might not see them No no
That was not well Whoof The Gowana was mistaken there«
»I earnestly hope« cried Arthur aloud »that Pancks may not be long gone
for this mans presence pollutes the room«
»Ah But hell flourish here and everywhere« said Rigaud with an exulting
look and snap of his fingers »He always has he always will« Stretching his
body out on the only three chairs in the room besides that on which Clennam sat
he sang smiting himself on the breast as the gallant personage of the song
»Who passes by this road so late
Compagnon de la Majolaine
Who passes by this road so late
Always gay
Sing the Refrain pig You could sing it once in another jail Sing it Or by
every Saint who was stoned to death Ill be affronted and compromising and
then some people who are not dead yet had better have been stoned along with
them
Of all the kings knights tis the flower
Compagaon de la Majolaine
Of all the kings knights tis the flower
Always gay«
Partly in his old habit of submission partly because his not doing it might
injure his benefactor and partly because he would as soon do it as anything
else Cavalletto took up the Refrain this time Rigaud laughed and fell to
smoking with his eyes shut
Possibly another quarter of an hour elapsed before Mr Panckss step was
heard upon the stairs but the interval seemed to Clennam insupportably long
His step was attended by another step and when Cavalletto opened the door he
admitted Mr Pancks and Mr Flintwinch The latter was no sooner visible than
Rigaud rushed at him and embraced him boisterously
»How do you find yourself sir« said Mr Flintwinch as soon as he could
disengage himself which he struggled to do with very little ceremony »Thank
you no I dont want any more« This was in reference to another menace of
affection from his recovered friend »Well Arthur You remember what I said to
you about sleeping dogs and missing ones Its come true you see«
He was as imperturbable as ever to all appearance and nodded his head in a
moralising way as he looked round the room
»And this is the Marshalsea prison for debt« said Mr Flintwinch »Hah you
have brought your pigs to a very indifferent market Arthur«
If Arthur had patience Rigaud had not He took his little Flintwinch with
fierce playfulness by the two lapels of his coat and cried
»To the Devil with the Market to the Devil with the Pigs and to the Devil
with the PigDriver Now Give me the answer to my letter«
»If you can make it convenient to let go a moment sir« returned Mr
Flintwinch »Ill first hand Mr Arthur a little note that I have for him«
He did so It was in his mothers maimed writing on a slip of paper and
contained only these words
»I hope it is enough that you have ruined yourself Rest contented
without more ruin Jeremiah Flintwinch is my messenger and
representative Your affectionate M C«
Clennam read this twice in silence and then tore it to pieces Rigaud in the
meanwhile stepped into a chair and sat himself on the back with his feet upon
the seat
»Now Beau Flintwinch« he said when he had closely watched the note to its
destruction »the answer to my letter«
»Mrs Clennam did not write Mr Blandois her hands being cramped and she
thinking it as well to send it verbally by me« Mr Flintwinch screwed this out
of himself unwillingly and rustily »She sends her compliments and says she
doesnt on the whole wish to term you unreasonable and that she agrees But
without prejudicing the appointment that stands for this day week«
Monsieur Rigaud after indulging in a fit of laughter descended from his
throne saying »Good I go to seek an hotel« But there his eyes encountered
Cavalletto who was still at his post
»Come Pig« he added »I have had you for a follower against my will now
Ill have you against yours I tell you my little reptiles I am born to be
served I demand the service of this contrabandist as my domestic until this day
week«
In answer to Cavallettos look of inquiry Clennam made him a sign to go
but he added aloud »unless you are afraid of him« Cavalletto replied with a
very emphatic fingernegative »No master I am not afraid of him when I no
more keep it secrettementally that he was once my comrade« Rigaud took no
notice of either remark until he had lighted his last cigarette and was quite
ready for walking
»Afraid of him« he said then looking round upon them all »Whoof My
children my babies my little dolls you are all afraid of him You give him
his bottle of wine here you give him meat drink and lodging there you dare
not touch him with a finger or an epithet No It is his character to triumph
Whoof
Of all the kings knights hes the flower
And hes always gay«
With this adaptation of the Refrain to himself he stalked out of the room
closely followed by Cavalletto whom perhaps he had pressed into his service
because he tolerably well knew it would not be easy to get rid of him Mr
Flintwinch after scraping his chin and looking about with caustic
disparagement of the PigMarket nodded to Arthur and followed Mr Pancks
still penitent and depressed followed too after receiving with great attention
a secret word or two of instructions from Arthur and whispering back that he
would see this affair out and stand by it to the end The prisoner with the
feeling that he was more despised more scorned and repudiated more helpless
altogether more miserable and fallen than before was left alone again
Chapter XXIX
A Plea in the Marshalsea
Haggard anxiety and remorse are bad companions to be barred up with Brooding
all day and resting very little indeed at night will not arm a man against
misery Next morning Clennam felt that his health was sinking as his spirits
had already sunk and that the weight under which he bent was bearing him down
Night after night he had risen from his bed of wretchedness at twelve or
one oclock and had sat at his window watching the sickly lamps in the yard
and looking upward for the first wan trace of day hours before it was possible
that the sky could show it to him Now when the night came he could not even
persuade himself to undress
For a burning restlessness set in an agonised impatience of the prison and
a conviction that he was going to break his heart and die there which caused
him indescribable suffering His dread and hatred of the place became so intense
that he felt it a labour to draw his breath in it The sensation of being
stifled sometimes so overpowered him that he would stand at the window holding
his throat and gasping At the same time a longing for other air and a yearning
to be beyond the blind blank wall made him feel as if he must go mad with the
ardour of the desire
Many other prisoners had had experience of this condition before him and
its violence and continuity had worn themselves out in their cases as they did
in his Two nights and a day exhausted it It came back by fits but those grew
fainter and returned at lengthening intervals A desolate calm succeeded and
the middle of the week found him settled down in the despondency of low slow
fever
With Cavalletto and Pancks away he had no visitors to fear but Mr and Mrs
Plornish His anxiety in reference to that worthy pair was that they should
not come near him for in the morbid state of his nerves he sought to be left
alone and spared the being seen so subdued and weak He wrote a note to Mrs
Plornish representing himself as occupied with his affairs and bound by the
necessity of devoting himself to them to remain for a time even without the
pleasant interruption of a sight of her kind face As to Young John who looked
in daily at a certain hour when the turnkeys were relieved to ask if he could
do anything for him he always made a pretence of being engaged in writing and
to answer cheerfully in the negative. The subject of their only long
conversation had never been revived between them Through all these changes of
unhappiness however it had never lost its hold on Clennams mind
The sixth day of the appointed week was a moist hot misty day It seemed
as though the prisons poverty and shabbiness and dirt were growing in the
sultry atmosphere With an aching head and a weary heart Clennam had watched
the miserable night out listening to the fall of rain on the yard pavement
thinking of its softer fall upon the country earth A blurred circle of yellow
haze had risen up in the sky in lieu of sun and he had watched the patch it put
upon his wall like a bit of the prisons raggedness He had heard the gates
open and the badly shod feet that waited outside shuffle in and the sweeping
and pumping and moving about begin which commenced the prison morning So ill
and faint that he was obliged to rest many times in the process of getting
himself washed he had at length crept to his chair by the open window In it he
sat dozing while the old woman who arranged his room went through her mornings
work
Light of head with want of sleep and want of food his appetite and even
his sense of taste having forsaken him he had been two or three times
conscious in the night of going astray He had heard fragments of tunes and
songs in the warm wind which he knew had no existence Now that he began to
doze in exhaustion he heard them again and voices seemed to address him and
he answered and started
Dozing and dreaming without the power of reckoning time so that a minute
might have been an hour and an hour a minute some abiding impression of a
garden stole over him a garden of flowers with a damp warm wind gently
stirring their scents It required such a painful effort to lift his head for
the purpose of inquiring into this or inquiring into anything that the
impression appeared to have become quite an old and importunate one when he
looked round Beside the teacup on his table he saw then a blooming nosegay
a wonderful handful of the choicest and most lovely flowers
Nothing had ever appeared so beautiful in his sight He took them up and
inhaled their fragrance and he lifted them to his hot head and he put them
down and opened his parched hands to them as cold hands are opened to receive
the cheering of a fire It was not until he had delighted in them for some time
that he wondered who had sent them and opened his door to ask the woman who
must have put them there how they had come into her hands But she was gone
and seemed to have been long gone for the tea she had left for him on the table
was cold He tried to drink some but could not bear the odour of it so he
crept back to his chair by the open window and put the flowers on the little
round table of old
When the first faintness consequent on having moved about had left him he
subsided into his former state One of the nighttunes was playing in the wind
when the door of his room seemed to open to a light touch and after a moments
pause a quiet figure seemed to stand there with a black mantle on it It
seemed to draw the mantle off and drop it on the ground and then it seemed to
be his Little Dorrit in her old worn dress It seemed to tremble and to clasp
its hands and to smile and to burst into tears
He roused himself and cried out And then he saw in the loving pitying
sorrowing dear face as in a mirror how changed he was and she came towards
him and with her hands laid on his breast to keep him in his chair and with
her knees upon the floor at his feet and with her lips raised up to kiss him
and with her tears dropping on him as the rain from Heaven had dropped upon the
flowers Little Dorrit a living presence called him by his name
»O my best friend Dear Mr Clennam dont let me see you weep Unless you
weep with pleasure to see me I hope you do Your own poor child come back«
So faithful tender and unspoiled by Fortune In the sound of her voice in
the light of her eyes in the touch of her hands so Angelically comforting and
true
As he embraced her she said to him »They never told me you were ill« and
drawing an arm softly round his neck laid his head upon her bosom put a hand
upon his head and resting her cheek upon that hand nursed him as lovingly and
GOD knows as innocently as she had nursed her father in that room when she had
been but a baby needing all the care from others that she took of them
When he could speak he said »Is it possible that you have come to me And
in this dress«
»I hoped you would like me better in this dress than any other I have
always kept it by me to remind me though I wanted no reminding I am not
alone you see I have brought an old friend with me«
Looking round he saw Maggy in her big cap which had been long abandoned
with a basket on her arm as in the bygone days chuckling rapturously
»It was only yesterday evening that I came to London with my brother I sent
round to Mrs Plornish almost as soon as we arrived that I might hear of you
and let you know I had come Then I heard that you were here Did you happen to
think of me in the night I almost believe you must have thought of me a little
I thought of you so anxiously and it appeared so long to morning«
»I have thought of you « he hesitated what to call her She perceived it in
an instant
»You have not spoken to me by my right name yet You know what my right name
always is with you«
»I have thought of you Little Dorrit every day every hour every minute
since I have been here«
»Have you Have you«
He saw the bright delight of her face and the flush that kindled in it
with a feeling of shame He a broken bankrupt sick dishonoured prisoner
»I was here before the gates were opened but I was afraid to come straight
to you I should have done you more harm than good at first for the prison was
so familiar and yet so strange and it brought back so many remembrances of my
poor father and of you too that at first it overpowered me But we went to
Mr Chivery before we came to the gate and he brought us in and got Johns
room for us my poor old room you know and we waited there a little I
brought the flowers to the door but you didnt hear me«
She looked something more womanly than when she had gone away and the
ripening touch of the Italian sun was visible upon her face But otherwise she
was quite unchanged The same deep timid earnestness that he had always seen in
her and never without emotion he saw still If it had a new meaning that smote
him to the heart the change was in his perception not in her
She took off her old bonnet hung it in the old place and noiselessly
began with Maggys help to make his room as fresh and neat as it could be
made and to sprinkle it with a pleasantsmelling water When that was done the
basket which was filled with grapes and other fruit was unpacked and all its
contents were quietly put away When that was done a moments whisper
despatched Maggy to despatch somebody else to fill the basket again which soon
came back replenished with new stores from which a present provision of cooling
drink and jelly and a prospective supply of roast chicken and wine and water
were the first extracts These various arrangements completed she took out her
old needlecase to make him a curtain for his window and thus with a quiet
reigning in the room that seemed to diffuse itself through the else noisy
prison he found himself composed in his chair with Little Dorrit working at
his side
To see the modest head again bent down over its task and the nimble fingers
busy at their old work though she was not so absorbed in it but that her
compassionate eyes were often raised to his face and when they drooped again
had tears in them to be so consoled and comforted and to believe that all the
devotion of this great nature was turned to him in his adversity to pour out
its inexhaustible wealth of goodness upon him did not steady Clennams
trembling voice or hand or strengthen him in his weakness Yet it inspired him
with an inward fortitude that rose with his love And how dearly he loved her
now what words can tell
As they sat side by side in the shadow of the wall the shadow fell like
light upon him She would not let him speak much and he lay back in his chair
looking at her Now and again she would rise and give him the glass that he
might drink or would smooth the restingplace of his head then she would
gently resume her seat by him and bend over her work again
The shadow moved with the sun but she never moved from his side except to
wait upon him The sun went down and she was still there She had done her work
now and her hand faltering on the arm of his chair since its last tending of
him was hesitating there yet He laid his hand upon it and it clasped him with
a trembling supplication
»Dear Mr Clennam I must say something to you before I go I have put it
off from hour to hour but I must say it«
»I too dear Little Dorrit I have put off what I must say«
She nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him then it
dropped trembling into its former place
»I am not going abroad again My brother is but I am not He was always
attached to me and he is so grateful to me now so much too grateful for it
is only because I happened to be with him in his illness that he says I shall
be free to stay where I like best and to do what I like best He only wishes me
to be happy he says«
There was one bright star shining in the sky She looked up at it while she
spoke as if it were the fervent purpose of her own heart shining above her
»You will understand I dare say without my telling you that my brother
has come home to find my dear fathers will and to take possession of his
property He says if there is a will he is sure I shall be left rich and if
there is none that he will make me so«
He would have spoken but she put up her trembling hand again and he
stopped
»I have no use for money I have no wish for it It would be of no value at
all to me but for your sake I could not be rich and you here I must always
be much worse than poor with you distressed Will you let me lend you all I
have Will you let me give it you Will you let me show you that I never have
forgotten that I never can forget your protection of me when this was my home
Dear Mr Clennam make me of all the world the happiest by saying Yes Make me
as happy as I can be in leaving you here by saying nothing tonight and
letting me go away with the hope that you will think of it kindly and that for
my sake not for yours for mine for nobodys but mine you will give me the
greatest joy I can experience on earth the joy of knowing that I have been
serviceable to you and that I have paid some little of the great debt of my
affection and gratitude I cant say what I wish to say I cant visit you here
where I have lived so long I cant think of you here where I have seen so much
and be as calm and comforting as I ought My tears will make their way I cannot
keep them back But pray pray pray do not turn from your Little Dorrit now
in your affliction Pray pray pray I beg you and implore you with all my
grieving heart my friend my dear take all I have and make it a Blessing
to me«
The star had shone on her face until now when her face sank upon his hand
and her own
It had grown darker when he raised her in his encircling arm and softly
answered her
»No darling Little Dorrit No my child I must not hear of such a
sacrifice Liberty and hope would be so dear bought at such a price that I
could never support their weight never bear the reproach of possessing them
But with what ardent thankfulness and love I say this I may call Heaven to
witness«
»And yet you will not let me be faithful to you in your affliction«
»Say dearest Little Dorrit and yet I will try to be faithful to you If
in the bygone days when this was your home and when this was your dress I had
understood myself I speak only of myself better and had read the secrets of
my own breast more distinctly if through my reserve and selfmistrust I had
discerned a light that I see brightly now when it has passed far away and my
weak footsteps can never overtake it if I had then known and told you that I
loved and honoured you not as the poor child I used to call you but as a woman
whose true hand would raise me high above myself and make me a far happier and
better man if I had so used the opportunity there is no recalling as I wish I
had O I wish I had and if something had kept us apart then when I was
moderately thriving and when you were poor I might have met your noble offer
of your fortune dearest girl with other words than these and still have
blushed to touch it But as it is I must never touch it never«
She besought him more pathetically and earnestly with her little
supplicatory hand than she could have done in any words
»I am disgraced enough my Little Dorrit I must not descend so low as that
and carry you so dear so generous so good down with me GOD bless you GOD
reward you It is past«
He took her in his arms as if she had been his daughter
»Always so much older so much rougher and so much less worthy even what I
was must be dismissed by both of us and you must see me only as I am I put
this parting kiss upon your cheek my child who might have been more near to
me who never could have been more dear a ruined man far removed from you for
ever separated from you whose course is run while yours is but beginning I
have not the courage to ask to be forgotten by you in my humiliation but I ask
to be remembered only as I am«
The bell began to ring warning visitors to depart He took her mantle from
the wall and tenderly wrapped it round her
»One other word my Little Dorrit A hard one to me but it is a necessary
one The time when you and this prison had anything in common has long gone by
Do you understand«
»O you will never say to me« she cried weeping bitterly and holding up
her clasped hands in entreaty »that I am not to come back any more You will
surely not desert me so«
»I would say it if I could but I have not the courage quite to shut out
this dear face and abandon all hope of its return But do not come soon do not
come often This is now a tainted place and I well know the taint of it clings
to me You belong to much brighter and better scenes You are not to look back
here my Little Dorrit you are to look away to very different and much happier
paths Again GOD bless you in them GOD reward you«
Maggy who had fallen into very low spirits here cried »Oh get him into a
hospital do get him into a hospital Mother Hell never look like hisself
again if he ant got into a hospital And then the little woman as was always a
spinning at her wheel she can go to the cupboard with the Princess and say
what do you keep the Chicking there for and then they can take it out and give
it to him and then all be happy«
The interruption was seasonable for the bell had nearly rung itself out
Again tenderly wrapping her mantle about her and taking her on his arm though
but for her visit he was almost too weak to walk Arthur led Little Dorrit
downstairs She was the last visitor to pass out at the Lodge and the gate
jarred heavily and hopelessly upon her
With the funeral clang that it sounded into Arthurs heart his sense of
weakness returned It was a toilsome journey upstairs to his room and he
reentered its dark solitary precincts in unutterable misery
When it was almost midnight and the prison had long been quiet a cautious
creak came up the stairs and a cautious tap of a key was given at his door It
was Young John He glided in in his stockings and held the door closed while
he spoke in a whisper
»Its against all rules but I dont mind I was determined to come through
and come to you«
»What is the matter«
»Nothings the matter sir I was waiting in the courtyard for Miss Dorrit
when she came out I thought youd like some one to see that she was safe«
»Thank you thank you You took her home John«
»I saw her to her hotel The same that Mr Dorrit was at Miss Dorrit walked
all the way and talked to me so kind it quite knocked me over Why do you
think she walked instead of riding«
»I dont know John«
»To talk about you She said to me John you was always honourable and if
youll promise me that you will take care of him and never let him want for
help and comfort when I am not there my mind will be at rest so far I promised
her And Ill stand by you« said John Chivery »for ever«
Clennam much affected stretched out his hand to this honest spirit
»Before I take it« said John looking at it without coming from the door
»guess what message Miss Dorrit gave me«
Clennam shook his head
» Tell him« repeated John in a distinct though quavering voice »that his
Little Dorrit sent him her undying love Now its delivered Have I been
honourable sir«
»Very very«
»Will you tell Miss Dorrit Ive been honourable sir«
»I will indeed«
»Theres my hand sir« said John »and Ill stand by you for ever«
After a hearty squeeze he disappeared with the same cautious creak upon the
stair crept shoeless over the pavement of the yard and locking the gates
behind him passed out into the front where he had left his shoes If the same
way had been paved with burning ploughshares it is not at all improbable that
John would have traversed it with the same devotion for the same purpose
Chapter XXX
Closing In
The last day of the appointed week touched the bars of the Marshalsea gate
Black all night since the gate had clashed upon Little Dorrit its iron
stripes were turned by the earlyglowing sun into stripes of gold For aslant
across the city over its jumbled roofs and through the open tracery of its
church towers struck the long bright rays bars of the prison of this lower
world
Throughout the day the old house within the gateway remained untroubled by
any visitors But when the sun was low three men turned in at the gateway and
made for the dilapidated house
Rigaud was the first and walked by himself smoking Mr Baptist was the
second and jogged close after him looking at no other object Mr Pancks was
the third and carried his hat under his arm for the liberation of his restive
hair the weather being extremely hot They all came together at the doorsteps
»You pair of madmen« said Rigaud facing about »Dont go yet«
»We dont mean to« said Mr Pancks
Giving him a dark glance in acknowledgment of his answer Rigaud knocked
loudly He had charged himself with drink for the playing out of his game and
was impatient to begin He had hardly finished one long resounding knock when
he turned to the knocker again and began another That was not yet finished
when Jeremiah Flintwinch opened the door and they all clanked into the stone
hall Rigaud thrusting Mr Flintwinch aside proceeded straight upstairs His
two attendants followed him Mr Flintwinch followed them and they all came
trooping into Mrs Clennams quiet room It was in its usual state except that
one of the windows was wide open and Affery sat on its oldfashioned
windowseat mending a stocking The usual articles were on the little table
the usual deadened fire was in the grate the bed had its usual pall upon it
and the mistress of all sat on her black bierlike sofa propped up by her black
angular bolster that was like the headsmans block
Yet there was a nameless air of preparation in the room as if it were
strung up for an occasion From what the room derived it every one of its
small variety of objects being in the fixed spot it had occupied for years no
one could have said without looking attentively at its mistress and that too
with a previous knowledge of her face Although her unchanging black dress was
in every plait precisely as of old and her unchanging attitude was rigidly
preserved a very slight additional setting of her features and contraction of
her gloomy forehead was so powerfully marked that it marked everything about
her
»Who are these« she said wonderingly as the two attendants entered »What
do these people want here«
»Who are these dear madame is it« returned Rigaud »Faith they are
friends of your son the prisoner And what do they want here is it Death
madame I dont know You will do well to ask them«
»You know you told us at the door not to go yet« said Pancks
»And you know you told me at the door you didnt mean to go« retorted
Rigaud »In a word madame permit me to present two spies of the prisoners
madmen but spies If you wish them to remain here during our little
conversation say the word It is nothing to me«
»Why should I wish them to remain here« said Mrs Clennam »What have I to
do with them«
»Then dearest madame« said Rigaud throwing himself into an armchair so
heavily that the old room trembled »you will do well to dismiss them It is
your affair They are not my spies not my rascals«
»Hark You Pancks« said Mrs Clennam bending her brows upon him angrily
»you Casbys clerk Attend to your employers business and your own Go And
take that other man with you«
»Thank you maam« returned Mr Pancks »I am glad to say I see no
objection to our both retiring We have done all we undertook to do for Mr
Clennam His constant anxiety has been and it grew worse upon him when he
became a prisoner that this agreeable gentleman should be brought back here to
the place from which he slipped away Here he is brought back And I will
say« added Mr Pancks »to his illlooking face that in my opinion the world
would be no worse for his slipping out of it altogether«
»Your opinion is not asked« answered Mrs Clennam »Go«
»I am sorry not to leave you in better company maam« said Pancks »and
sorry too that Mr Clennam cant be present Its my fault that is«
»You mean his own« she returned
»No I mean mine maam« said Pancks »for it was my misfortune to lead him
into a ruinous investment« Mr Pancks still clung to that word and never said
speculation »Though I can prove by figures« added Mr Pancks with an anxious
countenance »that it ought to have been a good investment I have gone over it
since it failed every day of my life and it comes out regarded as a question
of figures triumphant The present is not a time or place« Mr Pancks
pursued with a longing glance into his hat where he kept his calculations
»for entering upon the figures but the figures are not to be disputed Mr
Clennam ought to have been at this moment in his carriage and pair and I ought
to have been worth from three to five thousand pound«
Mr Pancks put his hair erect with a general aspect of confidence that
could hardly have been surpassed if he had had the amount in his pocket These
incontrovertible figures had been the occupation of every moment of his leisure
since he had lost his money and were destined to afford him consolation to the
end of his days
»However« said Mr Pancks »enough of that Altro old boy you have seen
the figures and you know how they come out« Mr Baptist who had not the
slightest arithmetical power of compensating himself in this way nodded with a
fine display of bright teeth
At whom Mr Flintwinch had been looking and to whom he then said
»Oh Its you is it I thought I remembered your face but I wasnt certain
till I saw your teeth Ah yes to be sure It was this officious refugee« said
Jeremiah to Mrs Clennam »who came knocking at the door on the night when
Arthur and Chatterbox were here and who asked me a whole Catechism of questions
about Mr Blandois«
»It is true« Mr Baptist cheerfully admitted »And behold him padrone I
have found him consequentementally«
»I shouldnt have objected« returned Mr Flintwinch »to your having broken
your neck consequentementally«
»And now« said Mr Pancks whose eye had often stealthily wandered to the
windowseat and the stocking that was being mended there »Ive only one other
word to say before I go If Mr Clennam was here but unfortunately though he
has so far got the better of this fine gentleman as to return him to this place
against his will he is ill and in prison ill and in prison poor fellow if
he was here« said Mr Pancks taking one step aside towards the windowseat
and laying his right hand upon the stocking »he would say Affery tell your
dreams«
Mr Pancks held up his right forefinger between his nose and the stocking
with a ghostly air of warning turned steamed out and towed Mr Baptist after
him The housedoor was heard to close upon them their steps were heard passing
over the dull pavement of the echoing courtyard and still nobody had added a
word Mrs Clennam and Jeremiah had exchanged a look and had then looked and
looked still at Affery who sat mending the stocking with great assiduity
»Come« said Mr Flintwinch at length screwing himself a curve or two in
the direction of the windowseat and rubbing the palms of his hands on his
coattail as if he were preparing them to do something »Whatever has to be said
among us had better be begun to be said without more loss of time So
Affery my woman take yourself away«
In a moment Affery had thrown the stocking down started up caught hold of
the windowsill with her right hand lodged herself upon the windowseat with
her right knee and was flourishing her left hand beating expected assailants
off
»No I wont Jeremiah no I wont no I wont I wont go Ill stay
here Ill hear all I dont know and say all I know I will at last if I die
for it I will I will I will I will«
Mr Flintwinch stiffening with indignation and amazement moistened the
fingers of one hand at his lips softly described a circle with them in the palm
of the other hand and continued with a menacing grin to screw himself in the
direction of his wife gasping some remark as he advanced of which in his
choking anger only the words »Such a dose« were audible
»Not a bit nearer Jeremiah« cried Affery never ceasing to beat the air
»Dont come a bit nearer to me or Ill rouse the neighbourhood Ill throw
myself out of window Ill scream Fire and Murder Ill wake the dead Stop
where you are or Ill make shrieks enough to wake the dead«
The determined voice of Mrs Clennam echoed »Stop« Jeremiah had stopped
already
»It is closing in Flintwinch Let her alone Affery do you turn against me
after these many years«
»I do if its turning against you to hear what I dont know and say what I
know I have broke out now and I cant go back I am determined to do it I
will do it I will I will I will If thats turning against you yes I turn
against both of you two clever ones I told Arthur when he first come home to
stand up against you I told him it was no reason because I was afeard of my
life of you that he should be All manner of things have been agoing on since
then and I wont be run up by Jeremiah nor yet I wont be dazed and scared
nor made a party to I dont know what no more I wont I wont I wont Ill
up for Arthur when he has nothing left and is ill and in prison and cant up
for himself I will I will I will I will«
»How do you know you heap of confusion« asked Mrs Clennam sternly »that
in doing what you are doing now you are even serving Arthur«
»I dont know nothing rightly about anything« said Affery »and if ever you
said a true word in your life its when you call me a heap of confusion for
you two clever ones have done your most to make me such You married me whether
I liked it or not and youve led me pretty well ever since such a life of
dreaming and frightening as never was known and what do you expect me to be but
a heap of confusion You wanted to make me such and I am such but I wont
submit no longer no I wont I wont I wont I wont« She was still beating
the air against all corners
After gazing at her in silence Mrs Clennam turned to Rigaud »You see and
hear this foolish creature Do you object to such a piece of distraction
remaining where she is«
»I madame« he replied »do I Thats a question for you«
»I do not« she said gloomily »There is little left to choose now
Flintwinch it is closing in«
Mr Flintwinch replied by directing a look of red vengeance at his wife and
then as if to pinion himself from falling upon her screwed his crossed arms
into the breast of his waistcoat and with his chin very near one of his elbows
stood in a corner watching Rigaud in the oddest attitude Rigaud for his part
arose from his chair and seated himself on the table with his legs dangling
In this easy attitude he met Mrs Clennams set face with his moustache going
up and his nose coming down
»Madame I am a gentleman «
»Of whom« she interrupted in her steady tones »I have heard disparagement
in connection with a French jail and an accusation of murder«
He kissed his hand to her with his exaggerated gallantry
»Perfectly Exactly Of a lady too What absurdity How incredible I had
the honour of making a great success then I hope to have the honour of making a
great success now I kiss your hands Madame I am a gentleman I was going to
observe who when he says I will definitely finish this or that affair at the
present sitting does definitely finish it I announce to you that we are
arrived at our last sitting on our little business You do me the favour to
follow and to comprehend«
She kept her eyes fixed upon him with a frown »Yes«
»Further I am a gentleman to whom mere mercenary tradebargains are
unknown but to whom money is always acceptable as the means of pursuing his
pleasures You do me the favour to follow and to comprehend«
»Scarcely necessary to ask one would say Yes«
»Further I am a gentleman of the softest and sweetest disposition but who
if trifled with becomes enraged Noble natures under such circumstances become
enraged I possess a noble nature When the lion is awakened that is to say
when I enrage the satisfaction of my animosity is as acceptable to me as
money You always do me the favour to follow and to comprehend«
»Yes« she answered somewhat louder than before
»Do not let me derange you pray be tranquil I have said we are now arrived
at our last sitting Allow me to recall the two sittings we have held«
»It is not necessary«
»Death madame« he burst out »its my fancy Besides it clears the way
The first sitting was limited I had the honour of making your acquaintance of
presenting my letter I am a Knight of Industry at your service madame but my
polished manners had won me so much of success as a master of languages among
your compatriots who are as stiff as their own starch is to one another, but are
ever ready to relax to a foreign gentleman of polished manners and of
observing one or two little things« he glanced around the room and smiled
»about this honourable house to know which was necessary to assure me and to
convince me that I had the distinguished pleasure of making the acquaintance of
the lady I sought I achieved this I gave my word of honour to our dear
Flintwinch that I would return I gracefully departed«
Her face neither acquiesced nor demurred The same when he paused and when
he spoke it as yet showed him always the one attentive frown and the dark
revelation before mentioned of her being nerved for the occasion
»I say gracefully departed because it was graceful to retire without
alarming a lady To be morally graceful not less than physically is a part of
the character of Rigaud Blandois It was also politic as leaving you with
something overhanging you to expect me again with a little anxiety on a day
not named But your slave is politic By Heaven madame politic Let us return
On the day not named I have again the honour to render myself at your house I
intimate that I have something to sell which if not bought will compromise
madame whom I highly esteem I explain myself generally I demand I think it
was a thousand pounds Will you correct me«
Thus forced to speak she replied with constraint »You demanded as much as
a thousand pounds«
»I demand at present Two Such are the evils of delay But to return once
more We are not accordant we differ on that occasion I am playful
playfulness is a part of my amiable character Playfully I become as one slain
and hidden For it may alone be worth half the sum to madame to be freed from
the suspicions that my droll idea awakens Accident and spies intermix
themselves against my playfulness and spoil the fruit perhaps who knows
only you and Flintwinch when it is just ripe Thus madame I am here for the
last time Listen Definitely the last«
As he struck his straggling bootheels against the flap of the table
meeting her frown with an insolent gaze he began to change his tone for a
fiercer one
»Bah Stop an instant Let us advance by steps Here is my Hotelnote to be
paid according to contract Five minutes hence we may be at daggers points
Ill not leave it till then or youll cheat me Pay it Count me the money«
»Take it from his hand and pay it Flintwinch« said Mrs Clennam
He spirted it into Mr Flintwinchs face when the old man advanced to take
it and held forth his hand repeating noisily »Pay it Count it out Good
money« Jeremiah picked the bill up looked at the total with a bloodshot eye
took a small canvas bag from his pocket and told the amount into his hand
Rigaud chinked the money weighed it in his hand threw it up a little way
and caught it chinked it again
»The sound of it to the bold Rigaud Blandois is like the taste of fresh
meat to the tiger Say then madame How much«
He turned upon her suddenly with a menacing gesture of the weighted hand
that clenched the money as if he were going to strike her with it
»I tell you again as I told you before that we are not rich here as you
suppose us to be and that your demand is excessive I have not the present
means of complying with such a demand if I had ever so great an inclination«
»If« cried Rigaud »Hear this lady with her If Will you say that you have
not the inclination«
»I will say what presents itself to me and not what presents itself to
you«
»Say it then As to the inclination Quick Come to the inclination and I
know what to do«
She was no quicker and no slower in her reply »It would seem that you
have obtained possession of a paper or of papers which I assuredly have the
inclination to recover«
Rigaud with a loud laugh drummed his heels against the table and chinked
his money »I think so I believe you there«
»The paper might be worth to me a sum of money I cannot say how much or
how little«
»What the Devil« he asked savagely »Not after a weeks grace to consider«
»No I will not out of my scanty means for I tell you again we are poor
here and not rich I will not offer any price for a power that I do not know
the worst and the fullest extent of This is the third time of your hinting and
threatening You must speak explicitly or you may go where you will and do
what you will It is better to be torn to pieces at a spring than to be a mouse
at the caprice of such a cat«
He looked at her so hard with those eyes too near together that the
sinister sight of each crossing that of the other seemed to make the bridge of
his hooked nose crooked After a long survey he said with the further setting
off of his infernal smile
»You are a bold woman«
»I am a resolved woman«
»You always were What She always was is it not so my little Flintwinch«
»Flintwinch say nothing to him It is for him to say here and now all he
can or to go hence and do all he can You know this to be our determination
Leave him to his action on it«
She did not shrink under his evil leer or avoid it He turned it upon her
again but she remained steady at the point to which she had fixed herself He
got off the table placed a chair near the sofa sat down in it and leaned an
arm upon the sofa close to her own which he touched with his hand Her face was
ever frowning attentive and settled
»It is your pleasure then madame that I shall relate a morsel of family
history in this little family society« said Rigaud with a warning play of his
lithe fingers on her arm »I am something of a doctor Let me touch your pulse«
She suffered him to take her wrist in his hand Holding it he proceeded to
say
»A history of a strange marriage and a strange mother and a revenge and a
suppression Aye aye aye This pulse is beating curiously It appears to me
that it doubles while I touch it Are these the usual changes of your malady
madame«
There was a struggle in her maimed arm as she twisted it away but there was
none in her face On his face there was his own smile
»I have lived an adventurous life I am an adventurous character I have
known many adventurers interesting spirits amiable society To one of them I
owe my knowledge and my proofs I repeat it estimable lady proofs of the
ravishing little family history I go to commence You will be charmed with it
But bah I forget One should name a history Shall I name it the history of a
house But bah again There are so many houses Shall I name it the history of
this house«
Leaning over the sofa poised on two legs of his chair and his left elbow
that hand often tapping her arm to beat his words home his legs crossed his
right hand sometimes arranging his hair sometimes smoothing his moustache
sometimes striking his nose always threatening her whatever it did coarse
insolent rapacious cruel and powerful he pursued his narrative at his ease
»In fine then I name it the history of this house I commence it There
live here let us suppose an uncle and nephew The uncle a rigid old gentleman
of strong force of character the nephew habitually timid repressed and under
constraint«
Mistress Affery fixedly attentive in the windowseat biting the rolledup
end of her apron and trembling from head to foot here cried out »Jeremiah
keep off from me Ive heerd in my dreams of Arthurs father and his uncle
Hes a talking of them It was before my time here but Ive heerd in my dreams
that Arthurs father was a poor irresolute frightened chap who had had
everything but his orphan life scared out of him when he was young and that he
had no voice in the choice of his wife even but his uncle chose her There she
sits I heerd it in my dreams and you said it to her own self«
As Mr Flintwinch shook his fist at her and as Mrs Clennam gazed upon her
Rigaud kissed his hand to her
»Perfectly right dear Madame Flintwinch You have a genius for dreaming«
»I dont want none of your praises« returned Affery »I dont want to have
nothing at all to say to you But Jeremiah said they was dreams and Ill tell
em as such« Here she put her apron in her mouth again as if she were stopping
somebody elses mouth perhaps Jeremiahs which was chattering with threats as
if he were grimly cold
»Our beloved Madame Flintwinch« said Rigaud »developing all of a sudden a
fine susceptibility and spirituality is right to a marvel Yes So runs the
history Monsieur the uncle commands the nephew to marry Monsieur says to him
in effect My nephew I introduce to you a lady of strong force of character
like myself a resolved lady a stern lady a lady who has a will that can break
the weak to powder a lady without pity without love implacable revengeful
cold as the stone but raging as the fire Ah what fortitude Ah what
superiority of intellectual strength Truly a proud and noble character that I
describe in the supposed words of Monsieur the uncle Ha ha ha Death of my
soul I love the sweet lady«
Mrs Clennams face had changed There was a remarkable darkness of colour
on it and the brow was more contracted »Madame madame« said Rigaud tapping
her on the arm as if his cruel hand were sounding a musical instrument »I
perceive I interest you I perceive I awaken your sympathy Let us go on«
The drooping nose and the ascending moustache had however to be hidden for
a moment with the white hand before he could go on he enjoyed the effect he
made so much
»The nephew being as the lucid Madame Flintwinch has remarked a poor
devil who has had everything but his orphan life frightened and famished out of
him the nephew abases his head and makes response My uncle it is to you to
command Do as you will Monsieur the uncle does as he will It is what he
always does The auspicious nuptials take place the newly married come home to
this charming mansion the lady is received let us suppose by Flintwinch Hey
old intriguer«
Jeremiah with his eyes upon his mistress made no reply Rigaud looked from
one to the other struck his ugly nose and made a clucking with his tongue
»Soon the lady makes a singular and exciting discovery Thereupon full of
anger full of jealousy full of vengeance she forms see you madame a
scheme of retribution the weight of which she ingeniously forces her crushed
husband to bear himself as well as execute upon her enemy What superior
intelligence«
»Keep off Jeremiah« cried the palpitating Affery taking her apron from
her mouth again »But it was one of my dreams that you told her when you
quarrelled with her one winter evening at dusk there she sits and you looking
at her that she oughtnt to have let Arthur when he come home suspect his
father only that she had always had the strength and the power and that she
ought to have stood up more to Arthur for his father It was in the same dream
where you said to her that she was not not something but I dont know what
for she burst out tremendous and stopped you You know the dream as well as I
do When you come downstairs into the kitchen with the candle in your hand and
hitched my apron off my head When you told me I had been dreaming When you
wouldnt believe the noises« After this explosion Affery put her apron into her
mouth again always keeping her hand on the windowsill and her knee on the
windowseat ready to cry out or jump out if her lord and master approached
Rigaud had not lost a word of this
»Haha« he cried lifting his eyebrows folding his arms and leaning back
in his chair »Assuredly Madame Flintwinch is an oracle How shall we interpret
the oracle you and I and the old intriguer He said that you were not And
you burst out and stopped him What was it you were not What is it you are not
Say then madame«
Under this ferocious banter she sat breathing harder and her mouth was
disturbed Her lips quivered and opened in spite of her utmost efforts to keep
them still
»Come then madame Speak then Our old intriguer said that you were not
and you stopped him He was going to say that you were not what I know
already but I want a little confidence from you How then You are not what«
She tried again to repress herself but broke out vehemently »Not Arthurs
mother«
»Good« said Rigaud »You are amenable«
With the set expression of her face all torn away by the explosion of her
passion and with a bursting from every rent feature of the smouldering fire so
long pent up she cried out »I will tell it myself I will not hear it from
your lips and with the taint of your wickedness upon it Since it must be seen
I will have it seen by the light I stood in Not another word Hear me«
»Unless you are a more obstinate and more persisting woman than even I know
you to be« Mr Flintwinch interposed »you had better leave Mr Rigaud Mr
Blandois Mr Beelzebub to tell it in his own way What does it signify when he
knows all about it«
»He does not know all about it«
»He knows all he cares about it« Mr Flintwinch testily urged
»He does not know me«
»What do you suppose he cares for you you conceited woman« said Mr
Flintwinch
»I tell you Flintwinch I will speak I tell you when it has come to this
I will tell it with my own lips and will express myself throughout it What
Have I suffered nothing in this room no deprivation no imprisonment that I
should condescend at last to contemplate myself in such a glass as that Can you
see him Can you hear him If your wife were a hundred times the ingrate that
she is and if I were a thousand times more hopeless than I am of inducing her
to be silent if this man is silenced I would tell it myself before I would
bear the torment of the hearing it from him«
Rigaud pushed his chair a little back pushed his legs out straight before
him and sat with his arms folded over against her
»You do not know what it is« she went on addressing him »to be brought up
strictly and straitly I was so brought up Mine was no light youth of sinful
gaiety and pleasure Mine were days of wholesome repression punishment and
fear The corruption of our hearts the evil of our ways the curse that is upon
us the terrors that surround us these were the themes of my childhood They
formed my character and filled me with an abhorrence of evildoers When old
Mr Gilbert Clennam proposed his orphan nephew to my father for my husband my
father impressed upon me that his bringingup had been like mine one of severe
restraint He told me that besides the discipline his spirit had undergone he
had lived in a starved house where rioting and gaiety were unknown and where
every day was a day of toil and trial like the last He told me that he had been
a man in years long before his uncle had acknowledged him as one and that from
his schooldays to that hour his uncles roof had been a sanctuary to him from
the contagion of the irreligious and dissolute When within a twelvemonth of
our marriage I found my husband at that time when my father spoke of him to
have sinned against the Lord and outraged me by holding a guilty creature in my
place was I to doubt that it had been appointed to me to make the discovery
and that it was appointed to me to lay the hand of punishment upon that creature
of perdition Was I to dismiss in a moment not my own wrongs what was I but
all the rejection of sin and all the war against it in which I had been bred«
She laid her wrathful hand upon the watch on the table
»No Do not forget The initials of those words are within here now and
were within here then I was appointed to find the old letter that referred to
them and that told me what they meant and whose work they were and why they
were worked lying with this watch in his secret drawer But for that
appointment there would have been no discovery Do not forget It spoke to me
like a voice from an angry cloud Do not forget the deadly sin do not forget
the appointed discovery do not forget the appointed suffering I did not
forget Was it my own wrong I remembered Mine I was but a servant and a
minister What power could I have had over them but that they were bound in the
bonds of their sin and delivered to me«
More than forty years had passed over the grey head of this determined
woman since the time she recalled More than forty years of strife and struggle
with the whisper that by whatever name she called her vindictive pride and
rage nothing through all eternity could change their nature Yet gone those
more than forty years and come this Nemesis now looking her in the face she
still abided by her old impiety still reversed the order of Creation and
breathed her own breath into a clay image of her Creator Verily verily
travellers have seen many monstrous idols in many countries but no human eyes
have ever seen more daring gross and shocking images of the Divine nature
than we creatures of the dust make in our own likenesses of our own bad
passions
»When I forced him to give her up to me by her name and place of abode«
she went on in her torrent of indignation and defence »when I accused her and
she fell hiding her face at my feet was it my injury that I asserted were they
my reproaches that I poured upon her Those who were appointed of old to go to
wicked kings and accuse them were they not ministers and servants And had not
I unworthy and far removed from them sin to denounce When she pleaded to me
her youth and his wretched and hard life that was her phrase for the virtuous
training he had belied and the desecrated ceremony of marriage there had
secretly been between them and the terrors of want and shame that had
overwhelmed them both when I was first appointed to be the instrument of their
punishment and the love for she said the word to me down at my feet in which
she had abandoned him and left him to me was it my enemy that became my
footstool were they the words of my wrath that made her shrink and quiver Not
unto me the strength be ascribed not unto me the wringing of the expiation«
Many years had come and gone since she had had the free use even of her
fingers but it was noticeable that she had already more than once struck her
clenched hand vigorously upon the table and that when she said these words she
raised her whole arm in the air as though it had been a common action with her
»And what was the repentance that was extorted from the hardness of her
heart and the blackness of her depravity I vindictive and implacable It may
seem so to such as you who know no righteousness and no appointment except
Satans Laugh but I will be known as I know myself and as Flintwinch knows
me though it is only to you and this halfwitted woman«
»Add to yourself madame« said Rigaud »I have my little suspicions that
madame is rather solicitous to be justified to herself«
»It is false It is not so I have no need to be« she said with great
energy and anger
»Truly« retorted Rigaud »Hah«
»I ask what was the penitence in works that was demanded of her You have
a child I have none You love that child Give him to me He shall believe
himself to be my son and he shall be believed by every one to be my son To
save you from exposure his father shall swear never to see or communicate with
you more equally to save him from being stripped by his uncle and to save your
child from being a beggar you shall swear never to see or communicate with
either of them more That done and your present means derived from my husband
renounced I charge myself with your support You may with your place of
retreat unknown then leave if you please uncontradicted by me the lie that
when you passed out of all knowledge but mine you merited a good name That was
all She had to sacrifice her sinful and shameful affections no more She was
then free to bear her load of guilt in secret and to break her heart in secret
and through such present misery light enough for her I think to purchase her
redemption from endless misery if she could If in this I punished her here
did I not open to her a way hereafter If she knew herself to be surrounded by
insatiable vengeance and unquenchable fires were they mine If I threatened
her then and afterwards with the terrors that encompassed her did I hold them
in my right hand«
She turned the watch upon the table and opened it and with an unsoftening
face looked at the worked letters within
»They did not forget It is appointed against such offences that the
offenders shall not be able to forget If the presence of Arthur was a daily
reproach to his father and if the absence of Arthur was a daily agony to his
mother that was the just dispensation of Jehovah As well might it be charged
upon me that the stings of an awakened conscience drove her mad and that it
was the will of the Disposer of all things that she should live so many years
I devoted myself to reclaim the otherwise predestined and lost boy to give him
the reputation of an honest origin to bring him up in fear and trembling and
in a life of practical contrition for the sins that were heavy on his head
before his entrance into this condemned world Was that a cruelty Was I too
not visited with consequences of the original offence in which I had no
complicity Arthurs father and I lived no further apart with half the globe
between us than when we were together in this house He died and sent this
watch back to me with its Do not forget I do NOT forget though I do not read
it as he did I read in it that I was appointed to do these things I have so
read these three letters since I have had them lying on this table and I did so
read them with equal distinctness when they were thousands of miles away«
As she took the watchcase in her hand with that new freedom in the use of
her hand of which she showed no consciousness whatever bending her eyes upon it
as if she were defying it to move her Rigaud cried with a loud and contemptuous
snapping of his fingers »Come madame Time runs out Come lady of piety it
must be You can tell nothing I dont know Come to the money stolen or I will
Death of my soul I have had enough of your other jargon Come straight to the
stolen money«
»Wretch that you are« she answered and now her hands clasped her head
»through what fatal error of Flintwinchs through what incompleteness on his
part who was the only other person helping in these things and trusted with
them through whose and what bringing together of the ashes of a burnt paper
you have become possessed of that codicil I know no more than how you acquired
the rest of your power here «
»And yet« interrupted Rigaud »it is my odd fortune to have by me in a
convenient place that I know of that same short little addition to the will of
Monsieur Gilbert Clennam written by a lady and witnessed by the same lady and
our old intriguer Ah bah old intriguer crooked little puppet Madame let us
go on Time presses You or I to finish«
»I« she answered with increased determination if it were possible »I
because I will not endure to be shown myself and have myself shown to any one
with your horrible distortion upon me You with your practices of infamous
foreign prisons and galleys would make it the money that impelled me It was not
the money«
»Bah bah bah I repudiate for the moment my politeness and say Lies
lies lies You know you suppressed the deed and kept the money«
»Not for the moneys sake wretch« She made a struggle as if she were
starting up even as if in her vehemence she had almost risen on her disabled
feet »If Gilbert Clennam reduced to imbecility at the point of death and
labouring under the delusion of some imaginary relenting towards a girl of whom
he had heard that his nephew had once had a fancy for her which he had crushed
out of him and that she afterwards drooped away into melancholy and withdrawal
from all who knew her if in that state of weakness he dictated to me whose
life she had darkened with her sin and who had been appointed to know her
wickedness from her own hand and her own lips a bequest meant as a recompense
to her for supposed unmerited suffering was there no difference between my
spurning that injustice and coveting mere money a thing which you and your
comrades in the prisons may steal from any one«
»Time presses madame Take care«
»If this house was blazing from the roof to the ground« she returned »I
would stay in it to justify myself against my righteous motives being classed
with those of stabbers and thieves«
Rigaud snapped his fingers tauntingly in her face »One thousand guineas to
the little beauty you slowly hunted to death One thousand guineas to the
youngest daughter her patron might have at fifty or if he had none brothers
youngest daughter on her coming of age as the remembrance his
disinterestedness may like best of his protection of a friendless young orphan
girl Two thousand guineas What You will never come to the money«
»That patron« she was vehemently proceeding when he checked her
»Names Call him Mr Frederick Dorrit No more evasions«
»That Frederick Dorrit was the beginning of it all If he had not been a
player of music and had not kept in those days of his youth and prosperity an
idle house where singers and players and suchlike children of Evil turned
their backs on the Light and their faces to the Darkness she might have
remained in her lowly station and might not have been raised out of it to be
cast down But no Satan entered into that Frederick Dorrit and counselled him
that he was a man of innocent and laudable tastes who did kind actions and that
here was a poor girl with a voice for singing music with Then he is to have her
taught Then Arthurs father who has all along been secretly pining in the ways
of virtuous ruggedness for those accursed snares which are called the Arts
becomes acquainted with her And so a graceless orphan training to be a
singing girl carries it by that Frederick Dorrits agency against me and I
am humbled and deceived Not I that is to say« she added quickly as colour
flushed into her face »a greater than I What am I«
Jeremiah Flintwinch who had been gradually screwing himself towards her
and who was now very near her elbow without her knowing it made a specially wry
face of objection when she said these words and moreover twitched his gaiters
as if such pretensions were equivalent to little barbs in his legs
»Lastly« she continued »for I am at the end of these things and I will
say no more of them and you shall say no more of them and all that remains
will be to determine whether the knowledge of them can be kept among us who are
here present lastly when I suppressed that paper with the knowledge of
Arthurs father «
»But not with his consent you know« said Mr Flintwinch
»Who said with his consent« She started to find Jeremiah so near her and
drew back her head looking at him with some rising distrust »You were often
enough between us when he would have had me produce it and I would not to have
contradicted me if I had said with his consent I say when I suppressed that
paper I made no effort to destroy it but kept it by me here in this house
many years The rest of the Gilbert property being left to Arthurs father I
could at any time without unsettling more than the two sums have made a
pretence of finding it But besides that I must have supported such pretence by
a direct falsehood a great responsibility I have seen no new reason, in all
the time I have been tried here to bring it to light It was a rewarding of
sin the wrong result of a delusion I did what I was appointed to do and I
have undergone within these four walls what I was appointed to undergo When
the paper was at last destroyed as I thought in my presence she had long
been dead and her patron Frederick Dorrit had long been deservedly ruined and
imbecile He had no daughter I had found the niece before then and what I did
for her was better for her far than the money of which she would have had no
good« She added after a moment as though she addressed the watch »She
herself was innocent and I might not have forgotten to relinquish it to her at
my death« and sat looking at it
»Shall I recall something to you worthy madame« said Rigaud »The little
paper was in this house on the night when our friend the prisoner
jailcomrade of my soul came home from foreign countries Shall I recall yet
something more to you The little singingbird that never was fledged was long
kept in a cage by a guardian of your appointing well enough known to our old
intriguer here Shall we coax our old intriguer to tell us when he saw him
last«
»Ill tell you« cried Affery unstopping her mouth »I dreamed it first of
all my dreams Jeremiah if you come anigh me now Ill scream to be heard at
St Pauls The person as this man has spoken of was Jeremiahs own twin
brother and he was here in the dead of the night on the night when Arthur come
home and Jeremiah with his own hands give him this paper along with I dont
know what more and he took it away in an iron box Help Murder Save me from
Jeremiah«
Mr Flintwinch had made a run at her but Rigaud had caught him in his arms
midway After a moments wrestle with him Flintwinch gave up and put his hands
in his pockets
»What« cried Rigaud rallying him as he poked and jerked him back with his
elbows »assault a lady with such a genius for dreaming Ha ha ha Why shell
be a fortune to you as an exhibition All that she dreams comes true Ha ha
ha Youre so like him Little Flintwinch So like him as I knew him when I
first spoke English for him to the host in the Cabaret of the Three Billiard
tables in the little street of the high roofs by the wharf at Antwerp Ah but
he was a brave boy to drink Ah but he was a brave boy to smoke Ah but he
lived in a sweet bachelorapartment furnished on the fifth floor above the
wood and charcoal merchants and the dressmakers and the chairmakers and
the maker of tubs where I knew him too and where with his cognac and
tobacco he had twelve sleeps a day and one fit until he had a fit too much
and ascended to the skies Ha ha ha What does it matter how I took possession
of the papers in his iron box Perhaps he confided it to my hands for you
perhaps it was locked and my curiosity was piqued perhaps I suppressed it Ha
ha ha What does it matter so that I have it safe We are not particular here
hey Flintwinch We are not particular here is it not so madame«
Retiring before him with vicious counterjerks of his own elbows Mr
Flintwinch had got back into his corner where he now stood with his hands in
his pockets taking breath and returning Mrs Clennams stare »Ha ha ha But
whats this« cried Rigaud »It appears as if you dont know one the other
Permit me Madame Clennam who suppresses to present Monsieur Flintwinch who
intrigues«
Mr Flintwinch unpocketing one of his hands to scrape his jaw advanced a
step or so in that attitude still returning Mrs Clennams look and thus
addressed her
»Now I know what you mean by opening your eyes so wide at me but you
neednt take the trouble because I dont care for it Ive been telling you for
how many years that youre one of the most opiniated and obstinate of women
Thats what you are You call yourself humble and sinful but you are the most
Bumptious of your sex Thats what you are I have told you over and over again
when we have had a tiff that you wanted to make everything go down before you
but I wouldnt go down before you that you wanted to swallow up everybody
alive but I wouldnt be swallowed up alive Why didnt you destroy the paper
when you first laid hands upon it I advised you to but no its not your way
to take advice You must keep it forsooth Perhaps you may carry it out at some
other time forsooth As if I didnt know better than that I think I see your
pride carrying it out with a chance of being suspected of having kept it by
you But thats the way you cheat yourself Just as you cheat yourself into
making out that you didnt do all this business because you were a rigorous
woman all slight and spite and power and unforgiveness but because you were
a servant and a minister and were appointed to do it Who are you that you
should be appointed to do it That may be your religion but its my gammon And
to tell you all the truth while I am about it« said Mr Flintwinch crossing
his arms and becoming the express image of irascible doggedness »I have been
rasped rasped these forty years by your taking such high ground even with
me who knows better the effect of it being coolly to put me on low ground I
admire you very much you are a woman of strong head and great talent but the
strongest head and the greatest talent cant rasp a man for forty years
without making him sore So I dont care for your present eyes Now I am coming
to the paper and mark what I say You put it away somewhere and you kept your
own counsel where Youre an active woman at that time and if you want to get
that paper you can get it But mark There comes a time when you are struck
into what you are now and then if you want to get that paper you cant get it
So it lies long years in its hidingplace At last when we are expecting
Arthur home every day and when any day may bring him home and its impossible
to say what rummaging he may make about the house I recommend you five thousand
times if you cant get at it to let me get at it that it may be put in the
fire But no no one but you knows where it is and thats power and call
yourself whatever humble names you will I call you a female Lucifer in appetite
for power On a Sunday night Arthur comes home He has not been in this room
ten minutes when he speaks of his fathers watch You know very well that the
Do Not Forget at the time when his father sent that watch to you could only
mean the rest of the story being then all dead and over Do Not Forget the
suppression Make restitution Arthurs ways have frightened you a bit and the
paper shall be burnt after all So before that jumping jade and Jezabel« Mr
Flintwinch grinned at his wife »has got you into bed you at last tell me where
you have put the paper among the old ledgers in the cellars where Arthur
himself went prowling the very next morning But its not to be burnt on a
Sunday night No you are strict you are we must wait over twelve oclock and
get into Monday Now all this is a swallowing of me up alive that rasps me
so feeling a little out of temper and not being as strict as yourself I take
a look at the document before twelve oclock to refresh my memory as to its
appearance fold up one of the many yellow old papers in the cellars like it
and afterwards when we have got into Monday morning and I have by the light
of your lamp to walk from you lying on that bed to this grate make a little
exchange like the conjurer and burn accordingly My brother Ephraim the
lunatickeeper I wish he had had himself to keep in a straitwaistcoat had
had many jobs since the close of the long job he got from you but had not done
well His wife died not that that was much mine might have died instead and
welcome he speculated unsuccessfully in lunatics he got into difficulty about
overroasting a patient to bring him to reason and he got into debt He was
going out of the way on what he had been able to scrape up and a trifle from
me He was here that early Monday morning waiting for the tide in short he
was going to Antwerp where I am afraid youll be shocked at my saying And be
damned to him he made the acquaintance of this gentleman He had come a long
way and I thought then was only sleepy but I suppose now was drunk When
Arthurs mother had been under the care of him and his wife she had been always
writing incessantly writing mostly letters of confession to you and Prayers
for forgiveness My brother had handed from time to time lots of these sheets
to me I thought I might as well keep them to myself as have them swallowed up
alive too so I kept them in a box looking over them when I felt in the humour
Convinced that it was advisable to get the paper out of the place with Arthur
coming about it I put it into this same box and I locked the whole up with two
locks and I trusted it to my brother to take away and keep till I should write
about it I did write about it and never got an answer I didnt know what to
make of it till this gentleman favoured us with his first visit Of course I
began to suspect how it was then and I dont want his word for it now to
understand how he gets his knowledge from my papers and your paper and my
brothers cognac and tobacco talk I wish hed had to gag himself Now I have
only one thing more to say you hammerheaded woman and that is that I havent
altogether made up my mind whether I might or might not have ever given you
any trouble about the codicil I think not and that I should have been quite
satisfied with knowing I had got the better of you and that I held the power
over you In the present state of circumstances I have no more explanation to
give you till this time tomorrow night So you may as well« said Mr
Flintwinch terminating his oration with a screw »keep your eyes open at
somebody else for its no use keeping em open at me«
She slowly withdrew them when he had ceased and dropped her forehead on her
hand Her other hand pressed hard upon the table and again the curious stir was
observable in her as if she were going to rise
»This box can never bring elsewhere the price it will bring here This
knowledge can never be of the same profit to you sold to any other person as
sold to me But I have not the present means of raising the sum you have
demanded I have not prospered What will you take now and what at another
time and how am I to be assured of your silence«
»My angel« said Rigaud »I have said what I will take and time presses
Before coming here I placed copies of the most important of these papers in
another hand Put off the time till the Marshalsea gate shall be shut for the
night and it will be too late to treat The prisoner will have read them«
She put her two hands to her head again uttered a loud exclamation and
started to her feet She staggered for a moment as if she would have fallen
then stood firm
»Say what you mean Say what you mean man«
Before her ghostly figure so long unused to its erect attitude and so
stiffened in it Rigaud fell back and dropped his voice It was to all the
three almost as if a dead woman had risen
»Miss Dorrit« answered Rigaud »the little niece of Monsieur Frederick
whom I have known across the water is attached to the prisoner Miss Dorrit
little niece of Monsieur Frederick watches at this moment over the prisoner
who is ill For her I with my own hands left a packet at the prison on my way
here with a letter of instructions for his sake she will do anything for his
sake to keep it without breaking the seal in case of its being reclaimed
before the hour of shutting up tonight if it should not be reclaimed before
the ringing of the prison bell to give it to him and it encloses a second copy
for herself which he must give to her What I dont trust myself among you
now we have got so far without giving my secret a second life And as to its
not bringing me elsewhere the price it will bring here say then madame have
you limited and settled the price the little niece will give for his sake to
hush it up Once more I say time presses The packet not reclaimed before the
ringing of the bell tonight you cannot buy I sell then to the little girl«
Once more the stir and struggle in her and she ran to a closet tore the
door open took down a hood or shawl and wrapped it over her head Affery who
had watched her in terror darted to her in the middle of the room caught hold
of her dress and went on her knees to her
»Dont dont dont What are you doing Where are you going Youre a
fearful woman but I dont bear you no illwill I can do poor Arthur no good
now that I see and you neednt be afraid of me Ill keep your secret Dont
go out youll fall dead in the street Only promise me that if its the poor
thing thats kept here secretly youll let me take charge of her and be her
nurse Only promise me that and never be afraid of me«
Mrs Clennam stood still for an instant at the height of her rapid haste
saying in stern amazement
»Kept here She has been dead a score of years or more Ask Flintwinch ask
him They can both tell you that she died when Arthur went abroad«
»So much the worse« said Affery with a shiver »for she haunts the house
then Who else rustles about it making signals by dropping dust so softly Who
else comes and goes and marks the walls with long crooked touches when we are
all abed Who else holds the door sometimes But dont go out dont go out
Mistress youll die in the street«
Her mistress only disengaged her dress from the beseeching hands said to
Rigaud »Wait here till I come back« and ran out of the room They saw her
from the window run wildly through the courtyard and out at the gateway
For a few moments they stood motionless Affery was the first to move and
she wringing her hands pursued her mistress Next Jeremiah Flintwinch slowly
backing to the door with one hand in a pocket and the other rubbing his chin
twisted himself out in his reticent way speechlessly Rigaud left alone
composed himself upon the windowseat of the open window in the old
MarseillesJail attitude He laid his cigarettes and firebox ready to his hand
and fell to smoking
»Whoof Almost as dull as the infernal old jail Warmer but almost as
dismal Wait till she comes back Yes certainly but where is she gone and how
long will she be gone No matter Rigaud Lagnier Blandois my amiable subject
you will get your money You will enrich yourself You have lived a gentleman
you will die a gentleman You triumph my little boy but it is your character
to triumph Whoof«
In the hour of his triumph his moustache went up and his nose came down as
he ogled a great beam over his head with particular satisfaction
Chapter XXXI
Closed
The sun had set and the streets were dim in the dusty twilight when the figure
so long unused to them hurried on its way In the immediate neighbourhood of the
old house it attracted little attention for there were only a few straggling
people to notice it but ascending from the river by the crooked ways that led
to London Bridge and passing into the great main road it became surrounded by
astonishment
Resolute and wild of look rapid of foot and yet weak and uncertain
conspicuously dressed in its black garments and with its hurried headcovering
gaunt and of an unearthly paleness it pressed forward taking no more heed of
the throng than a sleepwalker More remarkable by being so removed from the
crowd it was among than if it had been lifted on a pedestal to be seen the
figure attracted all eyes Saunterers pricked up their attention to observe it
busy people crossing it slackened their pace and turned their heads
companions pausing and standing aside whispered one another to look at this
spectral woman who was coming by and the sweep of the figure as it passed
seemed to create a vortex drawing the most idle and most curious after it
Made giddy by the turbulent irruption of this multitude of staring faces
into her cell of years by the confusing sensation of being in the air and the
yet more confusing sensation of being afoot by the unexpected changes in
halfremembered objects and the want of likeness between the controllable
pictures her imagination had often drawn of the life from which she was
secluded and the overwhelming rush of the reality she held her way as if she
were environed by distracting thoughts rather than by external humanity and
observation But having crossed the bridge and gone some distance straight
onward she remembered that she must ask for a direction and it was only then
when she stopped and turned to look about her for a promising place of inquiry
that she found herself surrounded by an eager glare of faces
»Why are you encircling me« she asked trembling
None of those who were nearest answered but from the outer ring there arose
a shrill cry of »Cause youre mad«
»I am as sane as any one here I want to find the Marshalsea prison«
The shrill outer circle again retorted »Then that ud show you was mad if
nothing else did cause its right opposite«
A short mild quietlooking young man made his way through to her as a
whooping ensued on this reply and said »Was it the Marshalsea you wanted Im
going on duty there Come across with me«
She laid her hand upon his arm and he took her over the way the crowd
rather injured by the near prospect of losing her pressing before and behind
and on either side and recommending an adjournment to Bedlam After a momentary
whirl in the outer courtyard the prison door opened and shut upon them In
the Lodge which seemed by contrast with the outer noise a place of refuge and
peace a yellow lamp was already striving with the prison shadows
»Why John« said the turnkey who admitted them »What is it«
»Nothing father only this lady not knowing her way and being badgered by
the boys Who did you want maam«
»Miss Dorrit Is she here«
The young man became more interested »Yes she is here What might your
name be«
»Mrs Clennam«
»Mr Clennams mother« asked the young man
She pressed her lips together and hesitated »Yes She had better be told
it is his mother«
»You see« said the young man »the Marshals family living in the country
at present the Marshal has given Miss Dorrit one of the rooms in his house to
use when she likes Dont you think you had better come up there and let me
bring Miss Dorrit«
She signified her assent and he unlocked a door and conducted her up a
side staircase into a dwellinghouse above He showed her into a darkening room
and left her The room looked down into the darkening prisonyard with its
inmates strolling here and there leaning out of windows communing as much
apart as they could with friends who were going away and generally wearing out
their imprisonment as they best might that summer evening The air was heavy
and hot the closeness of the place oppressive and from without there arose a
rush of free sounds like the jarring memory of such things in a headache and
heartache She stood at the window bewildered looking down into this prison as
it were out of her own different prison when a soft word or two of surprise
made her start and little Dorrit stood before her
»Is it possible Mrs Clennam that you are so happily recovered as «
Little Dorrit stopped for there was neither happiness nor health in the
face that turned to her
»This is not recovery it is not strength I dont know what it is« With an
agitated wave of her hand she put all that aside »You have had a packet left
with you which you were to give to Arthur if it was not reclaimed before this
place closed tonight«
»Yes«
»I reclaim it«
Little Dorrit took it from her bosom and gave it into her hand which
remained stretched out after receiving it
»Have you any idea of its contents«
Frightened by her being there with that new power of movement in her
which as she said herself was not strength and which was unreal to look upon
as though a picture or a statue had been animated Little Dorrit answered »No«
»Read them«
Little Dorrit took the packet from the still outstretched hand and broke
the seal Mrs Clennam then gave her the inner packet that was addressed to
herself and held the other The shadow of the wall and of the prison buildings
which made the room sombre at noon made it too dark to read there with the
dusk deepening apace save in the window In the window where a little of the
bright summer evening sky could shine upon her Little Dorrit stood and read
After a broken exclamation or so of wonder and of terror she read in silence
When she had finished she looked round and her old mistress bowed herself
before her
»You know now what I have done«
»I think so I am afraid so though my mind is so hurried and so sorry and
has so much to pity that it has not been able to follow all I have read« said
Little Dorrit tremulously
»I will restore to you what I have withheld from you Forgive me Can you
forgive me«
»I can and Heaven knows I do Do not kiss my dress and kneel to me you are
too old to kneel to me I forgive you freely without that«
»I have more to ask yet«
»Not in that posture« said Little Dorrit »It is unnatural to see your grey
hair lower than mine Pray rise let me help you« With that she raised her up
and stood rather shrinking from her but looking at her earnestly
»The great petition that I make to you there is another which grows out of
it the great supplication that I address to your merciful and gentle heart
is that you will not disclose this to Arthur until I am dead If you think
when you have had time for consideration that it can do him any good to know it
while I am yet alive then tell him But you will not think that and in such
case will you promise me to spare me until I am dead«
»I am so sorry and what I have read has so confused my thoughts« returned
Little Dorrit »that I can scarcely give you a steady answer If I should be
quite sure that to be acquainted with it will do Mr Clennam no good «
»I know you are attached to him and will make him the first consideration
It is right that he should be the first consideration I ask that But having
regarded him and still finding that you may spare me for the little time I
shall remain on earth will you do it«
»I will«
»GOD bless you«
She stood in the shadow so that she was only a veiled form to Little Dorrit
in the light but the sound of her voice in saying those three grateful words
was at once fervent and broken Broken by emotion as unfamiliar to her frozen
eyes as action to her frozen limbs
»You will wonder perhaps« she said in a stronger tone »that I can better
bear to be known to you whom I have wronged than to the son of my enemy who
wronged me For she did wrong me She not only sinned grievously against the
Lord but she wronged me What Arthurs father was to me she made him From our
marriage day I was his dread and that she made me I was the scourge of both
and that is referable to her You love Arthur I can see the blush upon your
face may it be the dawn of happier days to both of you and you will have
thought already that he is as merciful and kind as you and why do I not trust
myself to him as soon as to you Have you not thought so«
»No thought« said Little Dorrit »can be quite a stranger to my heart that
springs out of the knowledge that Mr Clennam is always to be relied upon for
being kind and generous and good«
»I do not doubt it Yet Arthur is of the whole world the one person from
whom I would conceal this while I am in it I kept over him as a child in the
days of his first remembrance my restraining and correcting hand I was stern
with him knowing that the transgressions of the parents are visited on their
offspring and that there was an angry mark upon him at his birth I have sat
with him and his father seeing the weakness of his father yearning to unbend to
him and forcing it back that the child might work out his release in bondage
and hardship I have seen him with his mothers face looking up at me in awe
from his little books and trying to soften me with his mothers ways that
hardened me«
The shrinking of her auditress stopped her for a moment in her flow of
words delivered in a retrospective gloomy voice
»For his good Not for the satisfaction of my injury What was I and what
was the worth of that before the curse of Heaven I have seen that child grow
up not to be pious in a chosen way his mothers offence lay too heavy on him
for that but still to be just and upright and to be submissive to me He
never loved me as I once half hoped he might so frail we are and so do the
corrupt affections of the flesh war with our trusts and tasks but he always
respected me and ordered himself dutifully to me He does to this hour With an
empty place in his heart that he has never known the meaning of he has turned
away from me and gone his separate road but even that he has done
considerately and with deference These have been his relations towards me
Yours have been of a much slighter kind spread over a much shorter time When
you have sat at your needle in my room you have been in fear of me but you
have supposed me to have been doing you a kindness you are better informed now
and know me to have done you an injury Your misconstruction and
misunderstanding of the cause in which and the motives with which I have
worked out this work is lighter to endure than this would be I would not for
any worldly recompense I can imagine have him in a moment however blindly
throw me down from the station I have held before him all his life and change
me altogether into something he would cast out of his respect and think
detected and exposed Let him do it if it must be done when I am not here to
see it Let me never feel while I am still alive that I die before his face
and utterly perish away from him like one consumed by lightning and swallowed
by an earthquake«
Her pride was very strong in her the pain of it and of her old passions was
very sharp with her when she thus expressed herself Not less so when she
added
»Even now I see you shrink from me as if I had been cruel«
Little Dorrit could not gainsay it She tried not to show it but she
recoiled with dread from the state of mind that had burnt so fiercely and lasted
so long It presented itself to her with no sophistry upon it in its own plain
nature
»I have done« said Mrs Clennam »what it was given to me to do I have set
myself against evil not against good I have been an instrument of severity
against sin Have not mere sinners like myself been commissioned to lay it low
in all time«
»In all time« repeated Little Dorrit
»Even if my own wrong had prevailed with me and my own vengeance had moved
me could I have found no justification None in the old days when the innocent
perished with the guilty a thousand to one When the wrath of the hater of the
unrighteous was not slaked even in blood and yet found favour«
»O Mrs Clennam Mrs Clennam« said Little Dorrit »angry feelings and
unforgiving deeds are no comfort and no guide to you and me My life has been
passed in this poor prison and my teaching has been very defective but let me
implore you to remember later and better days Be guided only by the healer of
the sick the raiser of the dead the friend of all who were afflicted and
forlorn the patient Master who shed tears of compassion for our infirmities We
cannot but be right if we put all the rest away and do everything in
remembrance of Him There is no vengeance and no infliction of suffering in His
life I am sure There can be no confusion in following Him and seeking for no
other footsteps I am certain«
In the softened light of the window looking from the scene of her early
trials to the shining sky she was not in stronger opposition to the black
figure in the shade than the life and doctrine on which she rested were to that
figures history It bent its head low again and said not a word It remained
thus until the first warning bell began to ring
»Hark« cried Mrs Clennam starting »I said I had another petition It is
one that does not admit of delay The man who brought you this packet and
possesses these proofs is now waiting at my house to be bought off I can keep
this from Arthur only by buying him off He asks a large sum more than I can
get together to pay him without having time He refuses to make any abatement
because his threat is that if he fails with me he will come to you Will you
return with me and show him that you already know it Will you return with me
and try to prevail with him Will you come and help me with him Do not refuse
what I ask in Arthurs name though I dare not ask it for Arthurs sake«
Little Dorrit yielded willingly She glided away into the prison for a few
moments returned and said she was ready to go They went out by another
staircase avoiding the lodge and coming into the front courtyard now all
quiet and deserted gained the street
It was one of those summer evenings when there is no greater darkness than a
long twilight The vista of street and bridge was plain to see and the sky was
serene and beautiful People stood and sat at their doors playing with children
and enjoying the evening numbers were walking for air the worry of the day had
almost worried itself out and few but themselves were hurried As they crossed
the bridge the clear steeples of the many churches looked as if they had
advanced out of the murk that usually enshrouded them and come much nearer The
smoke that rose into the sky had lost its dingy hue and taken a brightness upon
it The beauties of the sunset had not faded from the long light films of cloud
that lay at peace in the horizon From a radiant centre over the whole length
and breadth of the tranquil firmament great shoots of light streamed among the
early stars like signs of the blessed later covenant of peace and hope that
changed the crown of thorns into a glory
Less remarkable now that she was not alone and it was darker Mrs Clennam
hurried on at Little Dorrits side unmolested They left the great thoroughfare
at the turning by which she had entered it and wound their way down among the
silent empty crossstreets Their feet were at the gateway when there was a
sudden noise like thunder
»What was that Let us make haste in« cried Mrs Clennam
They were in the gateway Little Dorrit with a piercing cry held her back
In one swift instant the old house was before them with the man lying
smoking in the window another thundering sound and it heaved surged outward
opened asunder in fifty places collapsed and fell Deafened by the noise
stifled choked and blinded by the dust they hid their faces and stood rooted
to the spot The dust storm driving between them and the placid sky parted for
a moment and showed them the stars As they looked up wildly crying for help
the great pile of chimneys which was then alone left standing like a tower in a
whirlwind rocked broke and hailed itself down upon the heap of ruin as if
every tumbling fragment were intent on burying the crushed wretch deeper
So blackened by the flying particles of rubbish as to be unrecognisable
they ran back from the gateway into the street crying and shrieking There Mrs
Clennam dropped upon the stones and she never from that hour moved so much as a
finger again or had the power to speak one word For upwards of three years she
reclined in her wheeled chair looking attentively at those about her and
appearing to understand what they said but the rigid silence she had so long
held was evermore enforced upon her and except that she could move her eyes
and faintly express a negative and affirmative with her head she lived and died
a statue
Affery had been looking for them at the prison and had caught sight of them
at a distance on the bridge She came up to receive her old mistress in her
arms to help to carry her into a neighbouring house and to be faithful to her
The mystery of the noises was out now Affery like greater people had always
been right in her facts and always wrong in the theories she deduced from them
When the storm of dust had cleared away and the summer night was calm again
numbers of people choked up every avenue of access and parties of diggers were
formed to relieve one another in digging among the ruins There had been a
hundred people in the house at the time of its fall there had been fifty there
had been fifteen there had been two Rumour finally settled the number at two
the foreigner and Mr Flintwinch
The diggers dug all through the short night by flaring pipes of gas and on
a level with the early sun and deeper and deeper below it as it rose into its
zenith and aslant of it as it declined and on a level with it again as it
departed Sturdy digging and shovelling and carrying away in carts barrows
and baskets went on without intermission by night and by day but it was
night for the second time when they found the dirty heap of rubbish that had
been the foreigner before his head had been shivered to atoms like so much
glass by the great beam that lay upon him crushing him
Still they had not come upon Flintwinch yet so the sturdy digging and
shovelling and carrying away went on without intermission by night and by day
It got about that the old house had had famous cellarage which indeed was
true and that Flintwinch had been in a cellar at the moment or had had time
to escape into one and that he was safe under its strong arch and even that he
had been heard to cry in hollow subterranean suffocated notes »Here I am«
At the opposite extremity of the town it was even known that the excavators had
been able to open a communication with him through a pipe and that he had
received both soup and brandy by that channel and that he had said with
admirable fortitude that he was All right my lads with the exception of his
collarbone But the digging and shovelling and carrying away went on without
intermission until the ruins were all dug out and the cellars opened to the
light and still no Flintwinch living or dead all right or all wrong had been
turned up by pick or spade
It began then to be perceived that Flintwinch had not been there at the
time of the fall and it began then to be perceived that he had been rather busy
elsewhere converting securities into as much money as could be got for them on
the shortest notice and turning to his own exclusive account his authority to
act for the Firm Affery remembering that the clever one had said he would
explain himself further in fourandtwenty hours time determined for her part
that his taking himself off within that period with all he could get was the
final satisfactory sum and substance of his promised explanation but she held
her peace devoutly thankful to be quit of him As it seemed reasonable to
conclude that a man who had never been buried could not be unburied the diggers
gave him up when their task was done and did not dig down for him into the
depths of the earth
This was taken in ill part by a great many people who persisted in
believing that Flintwinch was lying somewhere among the London geological
formations Nor was their belief much shaken by repeated intelligence which came
over in course of time that an old man who wore the tie of his neckcloth under
one ear and who was very well known to be an Englishman consorted with the
Dutchmen on the quaint banks of the canals at the Hague and in the
drinkingshops of Amsterdam under the style and designation of Mynheer von
Flyntevynge
Chapter XXXII
Going
Arthur continuing to lie very ill in the Marshalsea and Mr Rugg descrying no
break in the legal sky affording a hope of his enlargement Mr Pancks suffered
desperately from selfreproaches If it had not been for those infallible
figures which proved that Arthur instead of pining in imprisonment ought to be
promenading in a carriage and pair and that Mr Pancks instead of being
restricted to his clerkly wages ought to have from three to five thousand
pounds of his own at his immediate disposal that unhappy arithmetician would
probably have taken to his bed and there have made one of the many obscure
persons who have turned their faces to the wall and died as a last sacrifice to
the late Mr Merdles greatness Solely supported by his unimpugnable
calculations Mr Pancks led an unhappy and restless life constantly carrying
his figures about with him in his hat and not only going over them himself on
every possible occasion but entreating every human being he could lay hold of
to go over them with him and observe what a clear case it was Down in Bleeding
Heart Yard there was scarcely an inhabitant of any note to whom Mr Pancks had
not imparted his demonstration and as figures are catching a kind of
cyphering measles broke out in that locality under the influence of which the
whole Yard was lightheaded
The more restless Mr Pancks grew in his mind the more impatient he became
of the Patriarch In their later conferences his snorting had assumed an
irritable sound which boded the Patriarch no good likewise Mr Pancks had on
several occasions looked harder at the Patriarchal bumps than was quite
reconcilable with the fact of his not being a painter or a perukemaker in
search of the living model
However he steamed in and out of his little back Dock according as he was
wanted or not wanted in the Patriarchal presence and business had gone on in
its customary course Bleeding Heart Yard had been harrowed by Mr Pancks and
cropped by Mr Casby at the regular seasons Mr Pancks had taken all the
drudgery and all the dirt of the business as his share Mr Casby had taken all
the profits all the ethereal vapour and all the moonshine as his share and
in the form of words which that benevolent beamer generally employed on Saturday
evenings when he twirled his fat thumbs after striking the weeks balance
»everything had been satisfactory to all parties all parties satisfactory
sir to all parties«
The Dock of the SteamTug Pancks had a leaden roof which frying in the
very hot sunshine may have heated the vessel Be that as it may one glowing
Saturday evening on being hailed by the lumbering bottlegreen ship the Tug
instantly came working out of the Dock in a highly heated condition
»Mr Pancks« was the Patriarchal remark »you have been remiss you have
been remiss sir«
»What do you mean by that« was the short rejoinder
The Patriarchal state always a state of calmness and composure was so
particularly serene that evening as to be provoking Everybody else within the
bills of mortality was hot but the Patriarch was perfectly cool Everybody was
thirsty and the Patriarch was drinking There was a fragrance of limes or
lemons about him and he had made a drink of golden sherry which shone in a
large tumbler as if he were drinking the evening sunshine This was bad but
not the worst The worst was that with his big blue eyes and his polished
head and his long white hair and his bottlegreen legs stretched out before
him terminating in his easy shoes easily crossed at the instep he had a
radiant appearance of having in his extensive benevolence made the drink for the
human species while he himself wanted nothing but his own milk of human
kindness
Wherefore Mr Pancks said »What do you mean by that« and put his hair up
with both hands in a highly portentous manner
»I mean Mr Pancks that you must be sharper with the people sharper with
the people much sharper with the people sir You dont squeeze them You dont
squeeze them Your receipts are not up to the mark You must squeeze them sir
or our connection will not continue to be as satisfactory as I could wish it to
be to all parties All parties«
»Dont I squeeze em« retorted Mr Pancks »What else am I made for«
»You are made for nothing else Mr Pancks You are made to do your duty
but you dont do your duty You are paid to squeeze and you must squeeze to
pay« The Patriarch so much surprised himself by this brilliant turn after Dr
Johnson which he had not in the least expected or intended that he laughed
aloud and repeated with great satisfaction as he twirled his thumbs and nodded
at his youthful portrait »Paid to squeeze sir and must squeeze to pay«
»Oh« said Pancks »Anything more«
»Yes sir yes sir Something more You will please Mr Pancks to squeeze
the Yard again the first thing on Monday morning«
»Oh« said Pancks »Aint that too soon I squeezed it dry today«
»Nonsense sir Not near the mark not near the mark«
»Oh« said Pancks watching him as he benevolently gulped down a good
draught of his mixture »Anything more«
»Yes sir yes sir something more I am not at all pleased Mr Pancks
with my daughter not at all pleased Besides calling much too often to inquire
for Mrs Clennam Mrs Clennam who is not just now in circumstances that are by
any means calculated to to be satisfactory to all parties she goes Mr
Pancks unless I am much deceived to inquire for Mr Clennam in jail In jail«
»Hes laid up you know« said Pancks »Perhaps its kind«
»Pooh pooh Mr Pancks She has nothing to do with that nothing to do with
that I cant allow it Let him pay his debts and come out come out pay his
debts and come out«
Although Mr Panckss hair was standing up like strong wire he gave it
another doublehanded impulse in the perpendicular direction and smiled at his
proprietor in a most hideous manner
»You will please to mention to my daughter Mr Pancks that I cant allow
it cant allow it« said the Patriarch blandly
»Oh« said Pancks »You couldnt mention it yourself«
»No sir no you are paid to mention it« the blundering old booby could
not resist the temptation of trying it again »and you must mention it to pay
mention it to pay«
»Oh« said Pancks »Anything more«
»Yes sir It appears to me Mr Pancks that you yourself are too often and
too much in that direction that direction I recommend you Mr Pancks to
dismiss from your attention both your own losses and other peoples losses and
to mind your business mind your business«
Mr Pancks acknowledged this recommendation with such an extraordinarily
abrupt short and loud utterance of the monosyllable »Oh« that even the
unwieldy Patriarch moved his blue eyes in something of a hurry to look at him
Mr Pancks with a sniff of corresponding intensity then added »Anything
more«
»Not at present sir not at present I am going« said the Patriarch
finishing his mixture and rising with an amiable air »to take a little stroll
a little stroll Perhaps I shall find you here when I come back If not sir
duty duty squeeze squeeze squeeze on Monday squeeze on Monday«
Mr Pancks after another stiffening of his hair looked on at the
Patriarchal assumption of the broadbrimmed hat with a momentary appearance of
indecision contending with a sense of injury He was also hotter than at first
and breathed harder But he suffered Mr Casby to go out without offering any
further remark and then took a peep at him over the little green windowblinds
»I thought so« he observed »I knew where you were bound to Good« He then
steamed back to his Dock put it carefully in order took down his hat looked
round the Dock said »Goodbye« and puffed away on his own account He steered
straight for Mrs Plornishs end of Bleeding Heart Yard and arrived there at
the top of the steps hotter than ever
At the top of the steps resisting Mrs Plornishs invitations to come and
sit along with father in Happy Cottage which to his relief were not so
numerous as they would have been on any other night than Saturday when the
connection who so gallantly supported the business with everything but money
gave their orders freely at the top of the steps Mr Pancks remained until he
beheld the Patriarch who always entered the Yard at the other end slowly
advancing beaming and surrounded by suitors Then Mr Pancks descended and
bore down upon him with his utmost pressure of steam on
The Patriarch approaching with his usual benignity was surprised to see
Mr Pancks but supposed him to have been stimulated to an immediate squeeze
instead of postponing that operation until Monday The population of the Yard
were astonished at the meeting for the two powers had never been seen there
together within the memory of the oldest Bleeding Heart But they were
overcome by unutterable amazement when Mr Pancks going close up to the most
venerable of men and halting in front of the bottlegreen waistcoat made a
trigger of his right thumb and forefinger applied the same to the brim of the
broadbrimmed hat and with singular smartness and precision shot it off the
polished head as if it had been a large marble
Having taken this little liberty with the Patriarchal person Mr Pancks
further astounded and attracted the Bleeding Hearts by saying in an audible
voice »Now you sugary swindler I mean to have it out with you«
Mr Pancks and the Patriarch were instantly the centre of a press all eyes
and ears windows were thrown open and doorsteps were thronged
»What do you pretend to be« said Mr Pancks »Whats your moral game What
do you go in for Benevolence aint it YOU benevolent« Here Mr Pancks
apparently without the intention of hitting him but merely to relieve his mind
and expend his superfluous power in wholesome exercise aimed a blow at the
bumpy head which the bumpy head ducked to avoid This singular performance was
repeated to the everincreasing admiration of the spectators at the end of
every succeeding article of Mr Panckss oration
»I have discharged myself from your service« said Pancks »that I may tell
you what you are Youre one of a lot of impostors that are the worst lot of all
the lots to be met with Speaking as a sufferer by both I dont know that I
wouldnt as soon have the Merdle lot as your lot Youre a driver in disguise a
screwer by deputy a wringer and squeezer and a shaver by substitute Youre a
philanthropic sneak Youre a shabby deceiver«
The repetition of the performance at this point was received with a burst
of laughter
»Ask these good people whos the hard man here Theyll tell you Pancks I
believe«
This was confirmed with cries of »Certainly« and »Hear«
»But I tell you good people Casby This mound of meekness this lump of
love this bottlegreen smiler this is your driver« said Pancks »If you want
to see the man who would flay you alive here he is Dont look for him in me
at thirty shillings a week but look for him in Casby at I dont know how much
a year«
»Good« cried several voices »Hear Mr Pancks«
»Hear Mr Pancks« cried that gentleman after repeating the popular
performance »Yes I should think so Its almost time to hear Mr Pancks Mr
Pancks has come down into the Yard tonight on purpose that you should hear
him Pancks is only the Works but heres the Winder«
The audience would have gone over to Mr Pancks as one man woman and
child but for the long grey silken locks and the broadbrimmed hat
»Heres the Stop« said Pancks »that sets the tune to be ground And there
is but one tune and its name is Grind Grind Grind Heres the Proprietor and
heres his Grubber Why good people when he comes smoothly spinning through
the Yard tonight like a slowgoing benevolent HummingTop and when you come
about him with your complaints of the Grubber you dont know what a cheat the
Proprietor is What do you think of his showing himself tonight that I may
have all the blame on Monday What do you think of his having had me over the
coals this very evening because I dont squeeze you enough What do you think
of my being at the present moment under special orders to squeeze you dry on
Monday«
The reply was given in a murmur of »Shame« and »Shabby«
»Shabby« snorted Pancks »Yes I should think so The lot that your Casby
belongs to is the shabbiest of all the lots Setting their Grubbers on at a
wretched pittance to do what theyre ashamed and afraid to do and pretend not
to do but what they will have done or give a man no rest Imposing on you to
give their Grubbers nothing but blame and to give them nothing but credit Why
the worstlooking cheat in all this town who gets the value of eighteenpence
under false pretences ant half such a cheat as this signpost of The Casbys
Head here«
Cries of »Thats true« and »No more he ant«
»And see what you get of these fellows besides« said Pancks »See what
more you get of these precious HummingTops revolving among you with such
smoothness that youve no idea of the pattern painted on em or the little
window in em I wish to call your attention to myself for a moment I ant an
agreeable style of chap I know that very well«
The auditory were divided on this point its more uncompromising members
crying »No you are not« and its politer materials »Yes you are«
»I am in general« said Mr Pancks »a dry uncomfortable dreary Plodder
and Grubber Thats your humble servant Theres his fulllength portrait
painted by himself and presented to you warranted a likeness But whats a man
to be with such a man as this for his Proprietor What can be expected of him
Did anybody ever find boiled mutton and capersauce growing in a cocoanut«
None of the Bleeding Hearts ever had it was clear from the alacrity of
their response
»Well« said Mr Pancks »and neither will you find in Grubbers like myself
under Proprietors like this pleasant qualities Ive been a Grubber from a boy
What has my life been Fag and grind fag and grind turn the wheel turn the
wheel I havent been agreeable to myself and I havent been likely to be
agreeable to anybody else If I was a shilling a week less useful in ten years
time this impostor would give me a shilling a week less if as useful a man
could be got at sixpence cheaper he would be taken in my place at sixpence
cheaper Bargain and sale bless you Fixed principles It is a mighty fine
signpost is The Casbys Head« said Mr Pancks surveying it with anything
rather than admiration »but the real name of the House is the Shams Arms Its
motto is Keep the Grubber always at it Is any gentleman present« said Mr
Pancks breaking off and looking round »acquainted with the English Grammar«
Bleeding Heart Yard was shy of claiming that acquaintance
»Its no matter« said Mr Pancks »I merely wish to remark that the task
this Proprietor has set me has been never to leave off conjugating the
Imperative Mood Present Tense of the verb To keep always at it Keep thou always
at it Let him keep always at it Keep we or do we keep always at it Keep ye or
do ye or you keep always at it Let them keep always at it Here is your
benevolent Patriarch of a Casby and there is his golden rule He is uncommonly
improving to look at and I am not at all so He is as sweet as honey and I am
as dull as ditchwater He provides the pitch and I handle it and it sticks to
me Now« said Mr Pancks closing upon his late Proprietor again from whom he
had withdrawn a little for the better display of him to the Yard »as I am not
accustomed to speak in public and as I have made a rather lengthy speech all
circumstances considered I shall bring my observations to a close by requesting
you to get out of this«
The Last of the Patriarchs had been so seized by assault and required so
much room to catch an idea in and so much more room to turn it in that he had
not a word to offer in reply He appeared to be meditating some Patriarchal way
out of his delicate position when Mr Pancks once more suddenly applying the
trigger to his hat shot it off again with his former dexterity On the
preceding occasion one or two of the Bleeding Heart Yarders had obsequiously
picked it up and handed it to its owner but Mr Pancks had now so far impressed
his audience that the Patriarch had to turn and stoop for it himself
Quick as lightning Mr Pancks who for some moments had had his right
hand in his coat pocket whipped out a pair of shears swooped upon the
Patriarch behind and snipped off short the sacred locks that flowed upon his
shoulders In a paroxysm of animosity and rapidity Mr Pancks then caught the
broadbrimmed hat out of the astounded Patriarchs hand cut it down into a mere
stewpan and fixed it on the Patriarchs head
Before the frightful results of this desperate action Mr Pancks himself
recoiled in consternation A barepolled goggleeyed bigheaded lumbering
personage stood staring at him not in the least impressive not in the least
venerable who seemed to have started out of the earth to ask what was become of
Casby After staring at this phantom in return in silent awe Mr Pancks threw
down his shears and fled for a place of hiding where he might lie sheltered
from the consequences of his crime Mr Pancks deemed it prudent to use all
possible despatch in making off though he was pursued by nothing but the sound
of laughter in Bleeding Heart Yard rippling through the air and making it ring
again
Chapter XXXIII
Going
The changes of a fevered room are slow and fluctuating but the changes of the
fevered world are rapid and irrevocable
It was Little Dorrits lot to wait upon both kinds of change The Marshalsea
walls during a portion of every day again embraced her in their shadows as
their child while she thought for Clennam worked for him watched him and only
left him still to devote her utmost love and care to him Her part in the life
outside the gate urged its pressing claims upon her too and her patience
untiringly responded to them Here was Fanny proud fitful whimsical further
advanced in that disqualified state for going into society which had so much
fretted her on the evening of the tortoiseshell knife resolved always to want
comfort resolved not to be comforted resolved to be deeply wronged and
resolved that nobody should have the audacity to think her so Here was her
brother a weak proud tipsy young old man shaking from head to foot talking
as indistinctly as if some of the money he plumed himself upon had got into his
mouth and couldnt be got out unable to walk alone in any act of his life and
patronising the sister whom he selfishly loved he always had that negative
merit illstarred and illlaunched Tip because he suffered her to lead him
Here was Mrs Merdle in gauzy mourning the original cap whereof had possibly
been rent to pieces in a fit of grief but had certainly yielded to a highly
becoming article from the Parisian market warring with Fanny foot to foot and
breasting her with her desolate bosom every hour in the day Here was poor Mr
Sparkler not knowing how to keep the peace between them but humbly inclining
to the opinion that they could do no better than agree that they were both
remarkably fine women and that there was no nonsense about either of them for
which gentle recommendation they united in falling upon him frightfully Then
too here was Mrs General got home from foreign parts sending a Prune and a
Prism by post every other day demanding a new Testimonial by way of
recommendation to some vacant appointment or other Of which remarkable
gentlewoman it may be finally observed that there surely never was a
gentlewoman of whose transcendent fitness for any vacant appointment on the face
of this earth so many people were as the warmth of her Testimonials evinced
so perfectly satisfied or who was so very unfortunate in having a large circle
of ardent and distinguished admirers who never themselves happened to want her
in any capacity
On the first crash of the eminent Mr Merdles decease many important
persons had been unable to determine whether they should cut Mrs Merdle or
comfort her As it seemed however essential to the strength of their own case
that they should admit her to have been cruelly deceived they graciously made
the admission and continued to know her It followed that Mrs Merdle as a
woman of fashion and good breeding who had been sacrificed to the wiles of a
vulgar barbarian for Mr Merdle was found out from the crown of his head to the
sole of his foot the moment he was found out in his pocket must be actively
championed by her order for her orders sake She returned this fealty by
causing it to be understood that she was even more incensed against the
felonious shade of the deceased than anybody else was thus on the whole she
came out of her furnace like a wise woman and did exceedingly well
Mr Sparklers lordship was fortunately one of those shelves on which a
gentleman is considered to be put away for life unless there should be reasons
for hoisting him up with the Barnacle crane to a more lucrative height That
patriotic servant accordingly stuck to his colours the Standard of four
Quarterings and was a perfect Nelson in respect of nailing them to the mast
On the profits of his intrepidity Mrs Sparkler and Mrs Merdle inhabiting
different floors of the genteel little temple of inconvenience to which the
smell of the day before yesterdays soup and coachhorses was as constant as
Death to man arrayed themselves to fight it out in the lists of Society sworn
rivals And Little Dorrit seeing all these things as they developed themselves
could not but wonder anxiously into what back corner of the genteel
establishment Fannys children would be poked byandby and who would take care
of those unborn little victims
Arthur being far too ill to be spoken with on subjects of emotion or
anxiety and his recovery greatly depending on the repose into which his
weakness could be hushed Little Dorrits sole reliance during this heavy period
was on Mr Meagles He was still abroad but she had written to him through his
daughter immediately after first seeing Arthur in the Marshalsea and since
confiding her uneasiness to him on the points on which she was most anxious
but especially on one To that one the continued absence of Mr Meagles abroad
instead of his comforting presence in the Marshalsea was referable
Without disclosing the precise nature of the documents that had fallen into
Rigauds hands Little Dorrit had confided the general outline of that story to
Mr Meagles to whom she had also recounted his fate The old cautious habits of
the scales and scoop at once showed Mr Meagles the importance of recovering the
original papers wherefore he wrote back to Little Dorrit strongly confirming
her in the solicitude she expressed on that head and adding that he would not
come over to England without making some attempt to trace them out
By this time Mr Henry Gowan had made up his mind that it would be
agreeable to him not to know the Meagleses He was so considerate as to lay no
injunctions on his wife in that particular but he mentioned to Mr Meagles
that personally they did not appear to him to get on together and that he
thought it would be a good thing if politely and without any scene or
anything of that sort they agreed that they were the best fellows in the
world but were best apart Poor Mr Meagles who was already sensible that he
did not advance his daughters happiness by being constantly slighted in her
presence said »Good Henry You are my Pets husband you have displaced me
in the course of nature; if you wish it good« This arrangement involved the
contingent advantage which perhaps Henry Gowan had not foreseen that both Mr
and Mrs Meagles were more liberal than before to their daughter when their
communication was only with her and her young child and that his high spirit
found itself better provided with money without being under the degrading
necessity of knowing whence it came
Mr Meagles at such a period naturally seized an occupation with great
ardour He knew from his daughter the various towns which Rigaud had been
haunting and the various hotels at which he had been living for some time back
The occupation he set himself was to visit these with all discretion and speed
and in the event of finding anywhere that he had left a bill unpaid and a box
or parcel behind to pay such bill and bring away such box or parcel
With no other attendant than Mother Mr Meagles went upon his pilgrimage
and encountered a number of adventures Not the least of his difficulties was
that he never knew what was said to him and that he pursued his inquiries among
people who never knew what he said to them Still with an unshaken confidence
that the English tongue was somehow the mother tongue of the whole world only
the people were too stupid to know it Mr Meagles harangued innkeepers in the
most voluble manner entered into loud explanations of the most complicated
sort and utterly renounced replies in the native language of the respondents
on the ground that they were all bosh Sometimes interpreters were called in
whom Mr Meagles addressed in such idiomatic terms of speech as instantly to
extinguish and shut up which made the matter worse On a balance of the
account however it may be doubted whether he lost much for although he found
no property he found so many debts and various associations of discredit with
the proper name which was the only word he made intelligible that he was
almost everywhere overwhelmed with injurious accusations On no fewer than four
occasions the police were called in to receive denunciations of Mr Meagles as
a Knight of Industry a goodfornothing and a thief all of which opprobrious
language he bore with the best temper having no idea what it meant and was in
the most ignominious manner escorted to steamboats and public carriages to be
got rid of talking all the while like a cheerful and fluent Briton as he was
with Mother under his arm
But in his own tongue and in his own head Mr Meagles was a clear
shrewd persevering man When he had worked round as he called it to Paris in
his pilgrimage and had wholly failed in it so far he was not disheartened
»The nearer to England I follow him you see Mother« argued Mr Meagles »the
nearer I am likely to come to the papers whether they turn up or no Because it
is only reasonable to conclude that he would deposit them somewhere where they
would be safe from people over in England and where they would yet be
accessible to himself dont you see«
At Paris Mr Meagles found a letter from Little Dorrit lying waiting for
him in which she mentioned that she had been able to talk for a minute or two
with Mr Clennam about this man who was no more and that when she told Mr
Clennam that his friend Mr Meagles who was on his way to see him had an
interest in ascertaining something about the man if he could he had asked her
to tell Mr Meagles that he had been known to Miss Wade then living in such a
street at Calais »Oho« said Mr Meagles
As soon afterwards as might be in those Diligence days Mr Meagles rang
the cracked bell at the cracked gate and it jarred open and the peasantwoman
stood in the dark doorway saying »Icesay Seer Who« In acknowledgment of
whose address Mr Meagles murmured to himself that there was some sense about
these Calais people who really did know something of what you and themselves
were up to and returned »Miss Wade my dear« He was then shown into the
presence of Miss Wade
»Its some time since we met« said Mr Meagles clearing his throat »I
hope you have been pretty well Miss Wade«
Without hoping that he or anybody else had been pretty well Miss Wade asked
him to what she was indebted for the honour of seeing him again Mr Meagles in
the meanwhile glanced all round the room without observing anything in the
shape of a box
»Why the truth is Miss Wade« said Mr Meagles in a comfortable
managing not to say coaxing voice »it is possible that you may be able to
throw a light upon a little something that is at present dark Any unpleasant
bygones between us are bygones I hope Cant be helped now You recollect my
daughter Time changes so A mother«
In his innocence Mr Meagles could not have struck a worse keynote He
paused for any expression of interest but paused in vain
»That is not the subject you wished to enter on« she said after a cold
silence
»No no« returned Mr Meagles »No I thought your goodnature might «
»I thought you knew« she interrupted with a smile »that my goodnature is
not to be calculated upon«
»Dont say so« said Mr Meagles »you do yourself an injustice However to
come to the point« For he was sensible of having gained nothing by approaching
it in a roundabout way »I have heard from my friend Clennam who you will be
sorry to hear has been and still is very ill «
He paused again and again she was silent
» that you had some knowledge of one Blandois lately killed in London by a
violent accident Now dont mistake me I know it was a slight knowledge« said
Mr Meagles dexterously forestalling an angry interruption which he saw about
to break »I am fully aware of that It was a slight knowledge I know But the
question is« Mr Meagless voice here became comfortable again »did he on his
way to England last time leave a box of papers or a bundle of papers or some
papers or other in some receptacle or other any papers with you begging you
to allow him to leave them here for a short time until he wanted them«
»The question is« she repeated »Whose question is«
»Mine« said Mr Meagles »And not only mine but Clennams question and
other peoples question Now I am sure« continued Mr Meagles whose heart was
overflowing with Pet »that you cant have any unkind feeling towards my
daughter its impossible Well Its her question too being one in which a
particular friend of hers is nearly interested So here I am frankly to say
that is the question and to ask Now did he«
»Upon my word« she returned »I seem to be a mark for everybody who knew
anything of a man I once in my life hired and paid and dismissed to aim their
questions at«
»Now dont« remonstrated Mr Meagles »dont Dont take offence because
its the plainest question in the world and might be asked of any one The
documents I refer to were not his own were wrongfully obtained might at some
time or other be troublesome to an innocent person to have in keeping and are
sought by the people to whom they really belong He passed through Calais going
to London and there were reasons why he should not take them with him then why
he should wish to be able to put his hand upon them readily and why he should
distrust leaving them with people of his own sort Did he leave them here I
declare if I knew how to avoid giving you offence I would take any pains to do
it I put the question personally but theres nothing personal in it I might
put it to any one I have put it already to many people Did he leave them here
Did he leave anything here«
»No«
»Then unfortunately Miss Wade you know nothing about them«
»I know nothing about them I have now answered your unaccountable question
He did not leave them here and I know nothing about them«
»There« said Mr Meagles rising »I am sorry for it thats over and I
hope there is not much harm done Tattycoram well Miss Wade«
»Harriet well O yes«
»I have put my foot in it again« said Mr Meagles thus corrected »I cant
keep my foot out of it here it seems Perhaps if I had thought twice about
it I might never have given her the jingling name But when one means to be
goodnatured and sportive with young people one doesnt think twice Her old
friend leaves a kind word for her Miss Wade if you should think proper to
deliver it«
She said nothing as to that and Mr Meagles taking his honest face out of
the dull room where it shone like a sun took it to the Hotel where he had left
Mrs Meagles and where he made the Report »Beaten Mother no effects« He
took it next to the London Steam Packet which sailed in the night and next to
the Marshalsea
The faithful John was on duty when Father and Mother Meagles presented
themselves at the wicket towards nightfall Miss Dorrit was not there then he
said but she had been there in the morning and invariably came in the evening
Mr Clennam was slowly mending and Maggy and Mrs Plornish and Mr Baptist took
care of him by turns Miss Dorrit was sure to come back that evening before the
bell rang There was the room the Marshal had lent her upstairs in which they
could wait for her if they pleased Mistrustful that it might be hazardous to
Arthur to see him without preparation Mr Meagles accepted the offer and they
were left shut up in the room looking down through its barred window into the
jail
The cramped area of the prison had such an effect on Mrs Meagles that she
began to weep and such an effect on Mr Meagles that he began to gasp for air
He was walking up and down the room panting and making himself worse by
laboriously fanning himself with his handkerchief when he turned towards the
opening door
»Eh Good gracious« said Mr Meagles »this is not Miss Dorrit Why
Mother look Tattycoram«
No other And in Tattycorams arms was an iron box some two feet square
Such a box had Affery Flintwinch seen in the first of her dreams going out of
the old house in the dead of the night under Doubles arm This Tattycoram put
on the ground at her old masters feet this Tattycoram fell on her knees by
and beat her hands upon crying half in exultation and half in despair half in
laughter and half in tears »Pardon dear Master take me back dear Mistress
here it is«
»Tatty« exclaimed Mr Meagles
»What you wanted« said Tattycoram »Here it is I was put in the next room
not to see you I heard you ask her about it I heard her say she hadnt got it
I was there when he left it and I took it at bedtime and brought it away Here
it is«
»Why my girl« cried Mr Meagles more breathless than before »how did you
come over«
»I came in the boat with you I was sitting wrapped up at the other end
When you took a coach at the wharf I took another coach and followed you here
She never would have given it up after what you had said to her about its being
wanted she would sooner have sunk it in the sea or burnt it But here it is«
The glow and rapture that the girl was in with her »Here it is«
»She never wanted it to be left I must say that for her but he left it
and I know well that after what you said and after her denying it she never
would have given it up But here it is Dear Master dear Mistress take me back
again and give me back the dear old name Let this intercede for me Here it
is«
Father and Mother Meagles never deserved their names better than when they
took the headstrong foundlinggirl into their protection again
»Oh I have been so wretched« cried Tattycoram weeping much more after
that than before »always so unhappy and so repentant I was afraid of her
from the first time I ever saw her I knew she had got a power over me through
understanding what was bad in me so well It was a madness in me and she could
raise it whenever she liked I used to think when I got into that state that
people were all against me because of my first beginning and the kinder they
were to me the worse fault I found in them I made it out that they triumphed
above me and that they wanted to make me envy them when I know when I even
knew then if I would that they never thought of such a thing And my
beautiful young mistress not so happy as she ought to have been and I gone away
from her Such a brute and wretch as she must think me But youll say a word to
her for me and ask her to be as forgiving as you two are For I am not so bad
as I was« pleaded Tattycoram »I am bad enough but not so bad as I was
indeed I have had Miss Wade before me all this time as if it was my own self
grown ripe turning everything the wrong way and twisting all good into evil
I have had her before me all this time finding no pleasure in anything but
keeping me as miserable suspicious and tormenting as herself Not that she had
much to do to do that« cried Tattycoram in a closing great burst of distress
»for I was as bad as bad could be I only mean to say that after what I have
gone through I hope I shall never be quite so bad again and that I shall get
better by very slow degrees Ill try very hard I wont stop at
fiveandtwenty sir Ill count fiveandtwenty hundred fiveandtwenty
thousand«
Another opening of the door and Tattycoram subsided and Little Dorrit came
in and Mr Meagles with pride and joy produced the box and her gentle face was
lighted up with grateful happiness and joy The secret was safe now She could
keep her own part of it from him he should never know of her loss in time to
come he should know all that was of import to himself but he should never know
what concerned her only That was all passed all forgiven all forgotten
»Now my dear Miss Dorrit« said Mr Meagles »I am a man of business or
at least was and I am going to take my measures promptly in that character
Had I better see Arthur tonight«
»I think not tonight I will go to his room and ascertain how he is But I
think it will be better not to see him tonight«
»I am much of your opinion my dear« said Mr Meagles »and therefore I
have not been any nearer to him than this dismal room Then I shall probably not
see him for some little time to come But Ill explain what I mean when you come
back«
She left the room Mr Meagles looking through the bars of the window saw
her pass out of the Lodge below him into the prisonyard He said gently
»Tattycoram come to me a moment my good girl«
She went up to the window
»You see that young lady who was here just now that little quiet fragile
figure passing along there Tatty Look The people stand out of the way to let
her go by The men see the poor shabby fellows pull off their hats to her
quite politely and now she glides in at that doorway See her Tattycoram«
»Yes sir«
»I have heard tell Tatty that she was once regularly called the child of
this place She was born here and lived here many years I cant breathe here
A doleful place to be born and bred in Tattycoram«
»Yes indeed sir«
»If she had constantly thought of herself and settled with herself that
everybody visited this place upon her turned it against her and cast it at
her she would have led an irritable and probably an useless existence Yet I
have heard tell Tattycoram that her young life has been one of active
resignation goodness and noble service Shall I tell you what I consider those
eyes of hers that were here just now to have always looked at to get that
expression«
»Yes if you please sir«
»Duty Tattycoram Begin it early and do it well and there is no
antecedent to it in any origin or station that will tell against us with the
Almighty or with ourselves«
They remained at the window Mother joining them and pitying the prisoners
until she was seen coming back She was soon in the room and recommended that
Arthur whom she had left calm and composed should not be visited that night
»Good« said Mr Meagles cheerily »I have not a doubt thats best I shall
trust my remembrances then my sweet nurse in your hands and I well know they
couldnt be in better I am off again tomorrow morning«
Little Dorrit surprised asked him where
»My dear« said Mr Meagles »I cant live without breathing This place has
taken my breath away and I shall never get it back again until Arthur is out of
this place«
»How is that a reason for going off again tomorrow morning«
»You shall understand« said Mr Meagles »Tonight we three will put up at
a City Hotel Tomorrow morning Mother and Tattycoram will go down to
Twickenham where Mrs Tickit sitting attended by Dr Buchan in the
parlourwindow will think them a couple of ghosts and I shall go abroad again
for Doyce We must have Dan here Now I tell you my love its of no use
writing and planning and conditionally speculating upon this and that and the
other at uncertain intervals and distances we must have Doyce here I devote
myself at daybreak tomorrow morning to bringing Doyce here Its nothing to
me to go and find him Im an old traveller and all foreign languages and
customs are alike to me I never understand anything about any of em
Therefore I cant be put to any inconvenience Go at once I must it stands to
reason because I cant live without breathing freely and I cant breathe
freely until Arthur is out of this Marshalsea I am stifled at the present
moment and have scarcely breath enough to say this much and to carry this
precious box downstairs for you«
They got into the street as the bell began to ring Mr Meagles carrying the
box Little Dorrit had no conveyance there which rather surprised him He
called a coach for her and she got into it and he placed the box beside her
when she was seated In her joy and gratitude she kissed his hand
»I dont like that my dear« said Mr Meagles »It goes against my feeling
of whats right that you should do homage to me at the Marshalsea Gate«
She bent forward and kissed his cheek
»You remind me of the days« said Mr Meagles suddenly drooping »but
shes very fond of him and hides his faults and thinks that no one sees them
and he certainly is well connected and of a very good family«
It was the only comfort he had in the loss of his daughter and if he made
the most of it who could blame him
Chapter XXXIV
Gone
On a healthy autumn day the Marshalsea prisoner weak but otherwise restored
sat listening to a voice that read to him On a healthy autumn day when the
golden fields had been reaped and ploughed again when the summer fruits had
ripened and waned when the green perspectives of hops had been laid low by the
busy pickers when the apples clustering in the orchards were russet and the
berries of the mountain ash were crimson among the yellowing foliage Already in
the woods glimpses of the hardy winter that was coming were to be caught
through unaccustomed openings among the boughs where the prospect shone defined
and clear free from the bloom of the drowsy summer weather which had rested on
it as the bloom lies on the plum So from the seashore the ocean was no longer
to be seen lying asleep in the heat but its thousand sparkling eyes were open
and its whole breadth was in joyful animation from the cool sand on the beach
to the little sails on the horizon drifting away like autumntinted leaves that
had drifted from the trees
Changeless and barren looking ignorantly at all the seasons with its fixed
pinched face of poverty and care the prison had not a touch of any of these
beauties on it Blossom what would its bricks and bars bore uniformly the same
dead crop Yet Clennam listening to the voice as it read to him heard in it
all that great Nature was doing heard in it all the soothing songs she sings to
man At no Mothers knee but hers had he ever dwelt in his youth on hopeful
promises on playful fancies on the harvests of tenderness and humility that
lie hidden in the earlyfostered seeds of the imagination on the oaks of
retreat from blighting winds that have the germs of their strong roots in
nursery acorns But in the tones of the voice that read to him there were
memories of an old feeling of such things and echoes of every merciful and
loving whisper that had ever stolen to him in his life
When the voice stopped he put his hand over his eyes murmuring that the
light was strong upon them
Little Dorrit put the book by and presently arose quietly to shade the
window Maggy sat at her needlework in her old place The light softened Little
Dorrit brought her chair closer to his side
»This will soon be over now dear Mr Clennam Not only are Mr Doyces
letters to you so full of friendship and encouragement but Mr Rugg says his
letters to him are so full of help and that everybody now a little anger is
past is so considerate and speaks so well of you that it will soon be over
now«
»Dear girl Dear heart Good angel«
»You praise me far too much And yet it is such an exquisite pleasure to me
to hear you speak so feelingly and to and to see« said Little Dorrit
raising her eyes to his »how deeply you mean it that I cannot say Dont«
He lifted her hand to his lips
»You have been here many many times when I have not seen you Little
Dorrit«
»Yes I have been here sometimes when I have not come into the room«
»Very often«
»Rather often« said Little Dorrit timidly
»Every day«
»I think« said Little Dorrit after hesitating »that I have been here at
least twice every day«
He might have released the little light hand after fervently kissing it
again but that with a very gentle lingering where it was it seemed to court
being retained He took it in both of his and it lay softly on his breast
»Dear Little Dorrit it is not my imprisonment only that will soon be over
This sacrifice of you must be ended We must learn to part again and to take
our different ways so wide asunder You have not forgotten what we said
together when you came back«
»O no I have not forgotten it But something has been You feel quite
strong today dont you«
»Quite strong«
The hand he held crept up a little nearer to his face
»Do you feel quite strong enough to know what a great fortune I have got«
»I shall be very glad to be told No fortune can be too great or good for
Little Dorrit«
»I have been anxiously waiting to tell you I have been longing and longing
to tell you You are sure you will not take it«
»Never«
»You are quite sure you will not take half of it«
»Never dear Little Dorrit«
As she looked at him silently there was something in her affectionate face
that he did not quite comprehend something that could have broken into tears in
a moment and yet that was happy and proud
»You will be sorry to hear what I have to tell you about Fanny Poor Fanny
has lost everything She has nothing left but her husbands income All that
papa gave her when she married was lost as your money was lost It was in the
same hands and it is all gone«
Arthur was more shocked than surprised to hear it »I had hoped it might not
be so bad« he said »but I had feared a heavy loss there knowing the
connection between her husband and the defaulter«
»Yes It is all gone I am very sorry for Fanny very very very sorry for
poor Fanny My poor brother too«
»Had he property in the same hands«
»Yes And it is all gone How much do you think my own great fortune is«
As Arthur looked at her inquiringly with a new apprehension on him she
withdrew her hand and laid her face down on the spot where it had rested
»I have nothing in the world I am as poor as when I lived here When papa
came over to England he confided everything he had to the same hands and it is
all swept away O my dearest and best are you quite sure you will not share my
fortune with me now«
Locked in his arms held to his heart with his manly tears upon her own
cheek she drew the slight hand round his neck and clasped it in its
fellowhand
»Never to part my dearest Arthur never any more until the last I never
was rich before I never was proud before I never was happy before I am rich
in being taken by you I am proud in having been resigned by you I am happy in
being with you in this prison as I should be happy in coming back to it with
you if it should be the will of GOD and comforting and serving you with all my
love and truth I am yours anywhere everywhere I love you dearly I would
rather pass my life here with you and go out daily working for our bread than
I would have the greatest fortune that ever was told and be the greatest lady
that ever was honoured O if poor papa may only know how blest at last my heart
is in this room where he suffered for so many years«
Maggy had of course been staring from the first and had of course been crying
her eyes out long before this Maggy was now so overjoyed that after hugging
her little mother with all her might she went downstairs like a cloghornpipe
to find somebody or other to whom to impart her gladness Whom should Maggy meet
but Flora and Mr Fs Aunt opportunely coming in And whom else as a
consequence of that meeting should Little Dorrit find waiting for herself
when a good two or three hours afterwards she went out
Floras eyes were a little red and she seemed rather out of spirits Mr
Fs Aunt was so stiffened that she had the appearance of being past bending by
any means short of powerful mechanical pressure Her bonnet was cocked up behind
in a terrific manner and her stony reticule was as rigid as if it had been
petrified by the Gorgons head and had got it at that moment inside With these
imposing attributes Mr Fs Aunt publicly seated on the steps of the Marshals
official residence had been for the two or three hours in question a great boon
to the younger inhabitants of the Borough whose sallies of humour she had
considerably flushed herself by resenting at the point of her umbrella from
time to time
»Painfully aware Miss Dorrit I am sure« said Flora »that to propose an
adjournment to any place to one so far removed by fortune and so courted and
caressed by the best society must ever appear intruding even if not a pieshop
far below your present sphere and a backparlour though a civil man but if for
the sake of Arthur cannot overcome it more improper now than ever late Doyce
and Clennam one last remark I might wish to make one last explanation I might
wish to offer perhaps your good nature might excuse under pretence of three
kidney ones the humble place of conversation«
Rightly interpreting this rather obscure speech Little Dorrit returned that
she was quite at Floras disposition Flora accordingly led the way across the
road to the pieshop in question Mr Fs Aunt stalking across in the rear and
putting herself in the way of being run over with a perseverance worthy of a
better cause
When the three kidney ones which were to be a blind to the conversation
were set before them on three little tin platters each kidney one ornamented
with a hole at the top into which the civil man poured hot gravy out of a
spouted can as if he were feeding three lamps Flora took out her
pockethandkerchief
»If Fancys fair dreams« she began »have ever pictured that when Arthur
cannot overcome it pray excuse me was restored to freedom even a pie as far
from flaky as the present and so deficient in kidney as to be in that respect
like a minced nutmeg might not prove unacceptable if offered by the hand of true
regard such visions have for ever fled and all is cancelled but being aware that
tender relations are in contemplation beg to state that I heartily wish well to
both and find no fault with either not the least it may be withering to know
that ere the hand of Time had made me much less slim than formerly and
dreadfully red on the slightest exertion particularly after eating I well know
when it takes the form of a rash it might have been and was not through the
interruption of parents and mental torpor succeeded until the mysterious clue
was held by Mr F still I would not be ungenerous to either and I heartily wish
well to both«
Little Dorrit took her hand and thanked her for all her old kindness
»Call it not kindness« returned Flora giving her an honest kiss »for you
always were the best and dearest little thing that ever was if I may take the
liberty and even in a money point of view a saving being Conscience itself
though I must add much more agreeable than mine ever was to me for though not I
hope more burdened than other peoples yet I have always found it far readier to
make one uncomfortable than comfortable and evidently taking a greater pleasure
in doing it but I am wandering one hope I wish to express ere yet the closing
scene draws in and it is that I do trust for the sake of old times and old
sincerity that Arthur will know that I didnt desert him in his misfortunes but
that I came backwards and forwards constantly to ask if I could do anything for
him and that I sat in the pieshop where they very civilly fetched something
warm in a tumbler from the hotel and really very nice hours after hours to keep
him company over the way without his knowing it«
Flora really had tears in her eyes now and they showed her to great
advantage
»Over and above which« said Flora »I earnestly beg you as the dearest
thing that ever was if youll still excuse the familiarity from one who moves in
very different circles to let Arthur understand that I dont know after all
whether it wasnt all nonsense between us though pleasant at the time and trying
too and certainly Mr F did work a change and the spell being broken nothing
could be expected to take place without weaving it afresh which various
circumstances have combined to prevent of which perhaps not the least powerful
was that it was not to be I am not prepared to say that if it had been
agreeable to Arthur and had brought itself about naturally in the first instance
I should not have been very glad being of a lively disposition and moped at home
where papa undoubtedly is the most aggravating of his sex and not improved since
having been cut down by the hand of the Incendiary into something of which I
never saw the counterpart in all my life but jealousy is not my character nor
illwill though many faults«
Without having been able closely to follow Mrs Finching through this
labyrinth Little Dorrit understood its purpose and cordially accepted the
trust
»The withered chaplet my dear« said Flora with great enjoyment »is then
perished the column is crumbled and the pyramid is standing upside down upon its
whatshisname call it not giddiness call it not weakness call it not folly I
must now retire into privacy and look upon the ashes of departed joys no more
but taking the further liberty of paying for the pastry which has formed the
humble pretext of our interview will for ever say Adieu«
Mr Fs Aunt who had eaten her pie with great solemnity and who had been
elaborating some grievous scheme of injury in her mind since her first
assumption of that public position on the Marshals steps took the present
opportunity of addressing the following Sibyllic apostrophe to the relict of her
late nephew
»Bring him forard and Ill chuck him out o winder«
Flora tried in vain to soothe the excellent woman by explaining that they
were going home to dinner Mr Fs Aunt persisted in replying »Bring him
forard and Ill chuck him out o winder« Having reiterated this demand an
immense number of times with a sustained glare of defiance at Little Dorrit
Mr Fs Aunt folded her arms and sat down in the corner of the pieshop
parlour steadfastly refusing to budge until such time as he should have been
brought forard and the chucking portion of his destiny accomplished
In this condition of things Flora confided to Little Dorrit that she had
not seen Mr Fs Aunt so full of life and character for weeks that she would
find it necessary to remain there hours perhaps until the inexorable old lady
could be softened and that she could manage her best alone They parted
therefore in the friendliest manner and with the kindest feeling on both
sides
Mr Fs Aunt holding out like a grim fortress and Flora becoming in need of
refreshment a messenger was despatched to the hotel for the tumbler already
glanced at which was afterwards replenished With the aid of its contents a
newspaper and some skimming of the cream of the piestock Flora got through
the remainder of the day in perfect good humour though occasionally embarrassed
by the consequences of an idle rumour which circulated among the credulous
infants of the neighbourhood to the effect that an old lady had sold herself to
the pieshop to be made up and was then sitting in the pieshop parlour
declining to complete her contract This attracted so many young persons of both
sexes and when the shades of evening began to fall occasioned so much
interruption to the business that the merchant became very pressing in his
proposals that Mr Fs Aunt should be removed A conveyance was accordingly
brought to the door which by the joint efforts of the merchant and Flora this
remarkable woman was at last induced to enter though not without even then
putting her head out of the window and demanding to have him brought forard
for the purpose originally mentioned As she was observed at this time to direct
baleful glances towards the Marshalsea it has been supposed that this admirably
consistent female intended by him Arthur Clennam This however, is mere
speculation who the person was who for the satisfaction of Mr Fs Aunts
mind ought to have been brought forward and never was brought forward will
never be positively known
The autumn days went on and Little Dorrit never came to the Marshalsea now and
went away without seeing him No no no
One morning as Arthur listened for the light feet that every morning
ascended winged to his heart bringing the heavenly brightness of a new love
into the room where the old love had wrought so hard and been so true one
morning as he listened he heard her coming not alone
»Dear Arthur« said her delighted voice outside the door »I have some one
here May I bring some one in«
He had thought from the tread there were two with her He answered »Yes«
and she came in with Mr Meagles Sunbrowned and jolly Mr Meagles looked and
he opened his arms and folded Arthur in them like a sunbrowned and jolly
father
»Now I am all right« said Mr Meagles after a minute or so »Now its
over Arthur my dear fellow confess at once that you expected me before«
»I did« said Arthur »but Amy told me «
»Little Dorrit Never any other name« It was she who whispered it
» But my Little Dorrit told me that without asking for any further
explanation I was not to expect you until I saw you«
»And now you see me my boy« said Mr Meagles shaking him by the hand
stoutly »and now you shall have any explanation and every explanation The fact
is I was here came straight to you from the Allongers and Marshongers or I
should be ashamed to look you in the face this day but you were not in
company trim at the moment and I had to start off again to catch Doyce«
»Poor Doyce« sighed Arthur
»Dont call him names that he dont deserve« said Mr Meagles »Hes not
poor hes doing well enough Doyce is a wonderful fellow over there I assure
you he is making out his case like a house afire He has fallen on his legs
has Dan Where they dont want things done and find a man to do em that mans
off his legs but where they do want things done and find a man to do em that
mans on his legs You wont have occasion to trouble the Circumlocution Office
any more Let me tell you Dan has done without em«
»What a load you take from my mind« cried Arthur »What happiness you give
me«
»Happiness« retorted Mr Meagles »Dont talk about happiness till you see
Dan I assure you Dan is directing works and executing labours over yonder
that it would make your hair stand on end to look at Hes no public offender
bless you now Hes medalled and ribboned and starred and crossed and I
dontknowwhat alld like a born nobleman But we mustnt talk about that over
here«
»Why not«
»Oh egad« said Mr Meagles shaking his head very seriously »he must hide
all those things under lock and key when he comes over here They wont do over
here In that particular Britannia is a Britannia in the Manger wont give
her children such distinctions herself and wont allow them to be seen when
they are given by other countries No no Dan« said Mr Meagles shaking his
head again »That wont do here«
»If you had brought me except for Doyces sake twice what I have lost«
cried Arthur »you would not have given me the pleasure that you give me in this
news«
»Why of course of course« assented Mr Meagles »Of course I know that
my good fellow and therefore I come out with it in the first burst Now to go
back about catching Doyce I caught Doyce Ran against him among a lot of
those dirty brown dogs in womens nightcaps a great deal too big for em
calling themselves Arabs and all sorts of incoherent races You know em Well
He was coming straight to me and I was going straight to him and so we came
back together«
»Doyce in England« exclaimed Arthur
»There« said Mr Meagles throwing open his arms »I am the worst man in
the world to manage a thing of this sort I dont know what I should have done
if I had been in the diplomatic line right perhaps The long and the short of
it is Arthur we have both been in England this fortnight And if you go on to
ask where Doyce is at the present moment why my plain answer is here he is
And now I can breathe again at last«
Doyce darted in from behind the door caught Arthur by both hands and said
the rest for himself
»There are only three branches of my subject my dear Clennam« said Doyce
proceeding to mould them severally with his plastic thumb on the palm of his
hand »and theyre soon disposed of First not a word more from you about the
past There was an error in your calculations I know what that is It affects
the whole machine and failure is the consequence You will profit by the
failure and will avoid it another time I have done a similar thing myself in
construction often Every failure teaches a man something if he will learn
and you are too sensible a man not to learn from this failure So much for
firstly Secondly I was sorry you should have taken it so heavily to heart and
reproached yourself so severely I was travelling home night and day to put
matters right with the assistance of our friend when I fell in with our friend
as he has informed you Thirdly We two agreed that after what you had
undergone after your distress of mind and after your illness it would be a
pleasant surprise if we could so far keep quiet as to get things perfectly
arranged without your knowledge and then come and say that all the affairs were
smooth that everything was right that the business stood in greater want of
you than ever it did and that a new and prosperous career was opened before you
and me as partners Thats thirdly But you know we always make an allowance for
friction and so I have reserved space to close in My dear Clennam I
thoroughly confide in you you have it in your power to be quite as useful to
me as I have or have had it in my power to be useful to you your old place
awaits you and wants you very much there is nothing to detain you here one
halfhour longer«
There was silence which was not broken until Arthur had stood for some time
at the window with his back towards them and until his little wife that was to
be had gone to him and stayed by him
»I made a remark a little while ago« said Daniel Doyce then »which I am
inclined to think was an incorrect one I said there was nothing to detain you
here Clennam half an hour longer Am I mistaken in supposing that you would
rather not leave here till tomorrow morning Do I know without being very
wise where you would like to go direct from these walls and from this room«
»You do« returned Arthur »It has been our cherished purpose«
»Very well« said Doyce »Then if this young lady will do me the honour of
regarding me for fourandtwenty hours in the light of a father and will take a
ride with me now towards Saint Pauls Churchyard I dare say I know what we want
to get there«
Little Dorrit and he went out together soon afterwards and Mr Meagles
lingered behind to say a word to his friend
»I think Arthur you will not want Mother and me in the morning and we
will keep away It might set Mother thinking about Pet shes a softhearted
woman Shes best at the cottage and Ill stay there and keep her company«
With that they parted for the time And the day ended and the night ended
and the morning came and Little Dorrit simply dressed as usual and having no
one with her but Maggy came into the prison with the sunshine The poor room
was a happy room that morning Where in the world was there a room so full of
quiet joy
»My dear love« said Arthur »Why does Maggy light the fire We shall be
gone directly«
»I asked her to do it I have taken such an odd fancy I want you to burn
something for me«
»What«
»Only this folded paper If you will put it in the fire with your own hand
just as it is my fancy will be gratified«
»Superstitious darling Little Dorrit Is it a charm«
»It is anything you like best my own« she answered laughing with
glistening eyes and standing on tiptoe to kiss him »if you will only humour me
when the fire burns up«
So they stood before the fire waiting Clennam with his arm about her
waist and the fire shining as fire in that same place had often shone in
Little Dorrits eyes »Is it bright enough now« said Arthur »Quite bright
enough now« said Little Dorrit »Does the charm want any words to be said«
asked Arthur as he held the paper over the flame »You can say if you dont
mind I love you« answered Little Dorrit So he said it and the paper burned
away
They passed very quietly along the yard for no one was there though many
heads were stealthily peeping from the windows Only one face familiar of old
was in the Lodge When they had both accosted it and spoken many kind words
Little Dorrit turned back one last time with her hand stretched out saying
»Goodbye good John I hope you will live very happy dear«
Then they went up the steps of the neighbouring Saint Georges Church and
went up to the altar where Daniel Doyce was waiting in his paternal character
And there was Little Dorrits old friend who had given her the Burial Register
for a pillow full of admiration that she should come back to them to be
married after all
And they were married with the sun shining on them through the painted
figure of Our Saviour on the window And they went into the very room where
Little Dorrit had slumbered after her party to sign the Marriage Register And
there Mr Pancks destined to be chief clerk to Doyce and Clennam and
afterwards partner in the house sinking the Incendiary in the peaceful friend
looked in at the door to see it done with Flora gallantly supported on one arm
and Maggy on the other and a background of John Chivery and father and other
turnkeys who had run round for the moment deserting the parent Marshalsea for
its happy child Nor had Flora the least signs of seclusion upon her
notwithstanding her recent declaration but on the contrary was wonderfully
smart and enjoyed the ceremonies mightily though in a fluttered way
Little Dorrits old friend held the inkstand as she signed her name and the
clerk paused in taking off the good clergymans surplice and all the witnesses
looked on with special interest »For you see« said Little Dorrits old
friend »this young lady is one of our curiosities and has come now to the
third volume of our Registers Her birth is in what I call the first volume she
lay asleep on this very floor with her pretty head on what I call the second
volume and shes now awriting her little name as a bride in what I call the
third volume«
They all gave place when the signing was done and little Dorrit and her
husband walked out of the church alone They paused for a moment on the steps of
the portico looking at the fresh perspective of the street in the autumn
morning suns bright rays and then went down
Went down into a modest life of usefulness and happiness Went down to give
a mothers care in the fulness of time to Fannys neglected children no less
than to their own and to leave that lady going into Society for ever and a day
Went down to give a tender nurse and friend to Tip for some few years who was
never vexed by the great exactions he made of her in return for the riches he
might have given her if he had ever had them and who lovingly closed his eyes
upon the Marshalsea and all its blighted fruits They went quietly down into the
roaring streets inseparable and blessed and as they passed along in sunshine
and shade the noisy and the eager and the arrogant and the froward and the
vain fretted and chafed and made their usual uproar