quarter； came！' An effect in the nature of an affidavit was gained from
this speech by Mrs Chivery's 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 one's good word
and every one's 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 bee 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 e 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 broken…down ruin that
goes home to his mother's 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 e to attach to
Little Dorrit an interest so peculiar……an interest that removed her
from； while it grew out of； the mon and coarse things surrounding
her……that he found it disappointing； disagreeable； almost painful； to
suppose her in love with young Mr Chivery in the back…yard； 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 son's 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 fort 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
e there for air。 He had left her in her father's 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 her 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 fort 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 posure。 The
Little Dorrit； trembling on his arm； was less in unison than ever with
Mrs Chivery's 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 ing！ 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 conscience…stricken that her very
basket partook of the change。
'Maggy； you promised me to stop near father。'
'So I would； Little Mother； only he wouldn't 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 answer's a
good 'un；〃 I must take it。 Lor； Little Mother； what's a poor thing of
ten year old to do？ And if Mr Tip……if he happens to be a ing in as
I e out； and if he says 〃Where are you going； Maggy？〃 and if I says；
〃I'm a going So and So；〃 and if he says； 〃I'll 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 answer's a good 'un
I'll give you a shilling；〃 it ain't my fault； mother！'
Arthur read； in Little Dorrit's downcast eyes； to whom she foresaw that
the letters were addressed。
'I'm a going So and So。 There！ That's where I am a going to；' said
Maggy。 'I'm a going So and So。 It ain't you； Little Mother； that's got
anything to do with it……it's you； you know；' said Maggy； addressing
Arthur。 'You'd better e； 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； e across the road；' answered Maggy in a very loud
whisper。 'Little Mother wasn't 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 ain't 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
three…and…twenty years （doubly underlined）； from ing 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
I。O。U。； 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；
acpanied with every prospect of plete 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 fellow…creature）； bined 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
pocket…book； on the spot； sending the father what he asked for； and
excusing himself from pliance with the demand of the son。 He then
missioned 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。'
'Don't 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 don't mean it……even
Maggy。'
'It was a very innocent mission 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 bee 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。 Good…bye。 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。
'Don't call it home； my child！' he entreated。 'It is always painful to
me