’Fannyisnotgoingtolivewithusjustnow，father。Shewillbehereagooddealintheday，butsheisgoingtoliveoutsidewithuncle。’
’Yousurpriseme。Why？’
’Ithinkunclewantsacompanion，father。Heshouldbeattendedto，andlookedafter。’
’Acompanion？Hepassesmuchofhistimehere。Andyouattendtohimandlookafterhim，Amy，agreatdealmorethaneveryoursisterwill。Youallgooutsomuch；youallgooutsomuch。’
ThiswastokeepuptheceremonyandpretenceofhishavingnoideathatAmyherselfwentoutbythedaytowork。
’Butwearealwaysgladtocomehome，father；now，arewenot？AndastoFanny，perhapsbesideskeepingunclecompanyandtakingcareofhim，itmaybeaswellforhernotquitetolivehere，always。
ShewasnotbornhereasIwas，youknow，father。’
’Well，Amy，well。Idon’tquitefollowyou，butit’snaturalI
supposethatFannyshouldprefertobeoutside，andeventhatyouoftenshould，too。So，youandFannyandyouruncle，mydear，shallhaveyourownway。Good，good。I’llnotmeddle；don’tmindme。’
Togetherbrotheroutoftheprison；outofthesuccessiontoMrsBanghaminexecutingcommissions，andoutoftheslanginterchangewithverydoubtfulcompanionsconsequentuponboth；washerhardesttask。Ateighteenhewouldhavedraggedonfromhandtomouth，fromhourtohour，frompennytopenny，untileighty。Nobodygotintotheprisonfromwhomhederivedanythingusefulorgood，andshecouldfindnopatronforhimbutheroldfriendandgodfather。
’DearBob，’saidshe，’whatistobecomeofpoorTip？’HisnamewasEdward，andTedhadbeentransformedintoTip，withinthewalls。
TheturnkeyhadstrongprivateopinionsastowhatwouldbecomeofpoorTip，andhadevengonesofarwiththeviewofavertingtheirfulfilment，astosoundTipinreferencetotheexpediencyofrunningawayandgoingtoservehiscountry。ButTiphadthankedhim，andsaidhedidn’tseemtocareforhiscountry。
’Well，mydear，’saidtheturnkey，’somethingoughttobedonewithhim。SupposeItryandgethimintothelaw？’
’Thatwouldbesogoodofyou，Bob!’
Theturnkeyhadnowtwopointstoputtotheprofessionalgentlemenastheypassedinandout。HeputthissecondonesoperseveringlythatastoolandtwelveshillingsaweekwereatlastfoundforTipintheofficeofanattorneyinagreatNationalPalladiumcalledthePalaceCourt；atthattimeoneofaconsiderablelistofeverlastingbulwarkstothedignityandsafetyofAlbion，whoseplacesknowthemnomore。
TiplanguishedinClifford’sInnsforsixmonths，andattheexpirationofthattermsaunteredbackoneeveningwithhishandsinhispockets，andincidentallyobservedtohissisterthathewasnotgoingbackagain。
’Notgoingbackagain？’saidthepoorlittleanxiousChildoftheMarshalsea，alwayscalculatingandplanningforTip，inthefrontrankofhercharges。
’Iamsotiredofit，’saidTip，’thatIhavecutit。’
Tiptiredofeverything。WithintervalsofMarshalsealounging，andMrsBanghamsuccession，hissmallsecondmother，aidedbyhertrustyfriend，gothimintoawarehouse，intoamarketgarden，intothehoptrade，intothelawagain，intoanauctioneers，intoabrewery，intoastockbroker’s，intothelawagain，intoacoachoffice，intoawaggonoffice，intothelawagain，intoageneraldealer’s，intoadistillery，intothelawagain，intoawoolhouse，intoadrygoodshouse，intotheBillingsgatetrade，intotheforeignfruittrade，andintothedocks。ButwhateverTipwentinto，hecameoutoftired，announcingthathehadcutit。
Whereverhewent，thisforedoomedTipappearedtotaketheprisonwallswithhim，andtosetthemupinsuchtradeorcalling；andtoprowlaboutwithintheirnarrowlimitsintheoldslip-shod，purposeless，down-at-heelway；untiltherealimmovableMarshalseawallsassertedtheirfascinationoverhim，andbroughthimback。
Nevertheless，thebravelittlecreaturedidsofixherheartonherbrother’srescue，thatwhilehewasringingoutthesedolefulchanges，shepinchedandscrapedenoughtogethertoshiphimforCanada。Whenhewastiredofnothingtodo，anddisposedinitsturntocuteventhat，hegraciouslyconsentedtogotoCanada。
Andtherewasgriefinherbosomoverpartingwithhim，andjoyinthehopeofhisbeingputinastraightcourseatlast。
’Godblessyou，dearTip。Don’tbetooproudtocomeandseeus，whenyouhavemadeyourfortune。’
’Allright!’saidTip，andwent。
ButnotallthewaytoCanada；infact，notfurtherthanLiverpool。
AftermakingthevoyagetothatportfromLondon，hefoundhimselfsostronglyimpelledtocutthevessel，thatheresolvedtowalkbackagain。Carryingoutwhichintention，hepresentedhimselfbeforeherattheexpirationofamonth，inrags，withoutshoes，andmuchmoretiredthanever。
Atlength，afteranotherintervalofsuccessorshiptoMrsBangham，hefoundapursuitforhimself，andannouncedit。
’Amy，Ihavegotasituation。’
’Haveyoureallyandtruly，Tip？’
’Allright。Ishalldonow。Youneedn’tlookanxiousaboutmeanymore，oldgirl。’
’Whatisit，Tip？’
’Why，youknowSlingobysight？’
’Notthemantheycallthedealer？’
’That’sthechap。He’llbeoutonMonday，andhe’sgoingtogivemeaberth。’
’Whatisheadealerin，Tip？’
’Horses。Allright!Ishalldonow，Amy。’
Shelostsightofhimformonthsafterwards，andonlyheardfromhimonce。AwhisperpassedamongtheeldercollegiansthathehadbeenseenatamockauctioninMoorfields，pretendingtobuyplatedarticlesformassivesilver，andpayingforthemwiththegreatestliberalityinbanknotes；butitneverreachedherears。Oneeveningshewasaloneatwork——standingupatthewindow，tosavethetwilightlingeringabovethewall——whenheopenedthedoorandwalkedin。
Shekissedandwelcomedhim；butwasafraidtoaskhimanyquestions。Hesawhowanxiousandtimidshewas，andappearedsorry。
’Iamafraid，Amy，you’llbevexedthistime。UponmylifeIam!’
’Iamverysorrytohearyousayso，Tip。Haveyoucomeback？’
’Why——yes。’
’Notexpectingthistimethatwhatyouhadfoundwouldanswerverywell，IamlesssurprisedandsorrythanImighthavebeen，Tip。’
’Ah!Butthat’snottheworstofit。’
’Nottheworstofit？’
’Don’tlooksostartled。No，Amy，nottheworstofit。Ihavecomeback，yousee；but——DON’Tlooksostartled——IhavecomebackinwhatImaycallanewway。Iamoffthevolunteerlistaltogether。Iaminnow，asoneoftheregulars。’
’Oh!Don’tsayyouareaprisoner，Tip!Don’t，don’t!’
’Well，Idon’twanttosayit，’hereturnedinareluctanttone；
’butifyoucan’tunderstandmewithoutmysayingit，whatamItodo？Iaminforfortypoundodd。’
Forthefirsttimeinallthoseyears，shesunkunderhercares。
Shecried，withherclaspedhandsliftedaboveherhead，thatitwouldkilltheirfatherifheeverknewit；andfelldownatTip’sgracelessfeet。
ItwaseasierforTiptobringhertohersensesthanforhertobringhimtounderstandthattheFatheroftheMarshalseawouldbebesidehimselfifheknewthetruth。ThethingwasincomprehensibletoTip，andaltogetherafancifulnotion。Heyieldedtoitinthatlightonly，whenhesubmittedtoherentreaties，backedbythoseofhisuncleandsister。Therewasnowantofprecedentforhisreturn；itwasaccountedfortothefatherintheusualway；andthecollegians，withabettercomprehensionofthepiousfraudthanTip，supporteditloyally。
Thiswasthelife，andthisthehistory，ofthechildoftheMarshalseaattwenty-two。Withastillsurvivingattachmenttotheonemiserableyardandblockofhousesasherbirthplaceandhome，shepassedtoandfroinitshrinkinglynow，withawomanlyconsciousnessthatshewaspointedouttoeveryone。Sinceshehadbeguntoworkbeyondthewalls，shehadfounditnecessarytoconcealwhereshelived，andtocomeandgoassecretlyasshecould，betweenthefreecityandtheirongates，outsideofwhichshehadneversleptinherlife。Heroriginaltimidityhadgrownwiththisconcealment，andherlightstepandherlittlefigureshunnedthethrongedstreetswhiletheypassedalongthem。
Worldlywiseinhardandpoornecessities，shewasinnocentinallthingselse。Innocent，inthemistthroughwhichshesawherfather，andtheprison，andtheturbidlivingriverthatflowedthroughitandflowedon。
Thiswasthelife，andthisthehistory，ofLittleDorrit；nowgoinghomeuponadullSeptemberevening，observedatadistancebyArthurClennam。Thiswasthelife，andthisthehistory，ofLittleDorrit；turningattheendofLondonBridge，recrossingit，goingbackagain，passingontoSaintGeorge’sChurch，turningbacksuddenlyoncemore，andflittinginattheopenoutergateandlittlecourt-yardoftheMarshalsea。