Andthissavedhimstillfromthewhimperingweaknessandcruelselfishnessofholdingthatbecausesuchahappinessorsuchavirtuehadnotcomeintohislittlepath，orworkedwellforhim，thereforeitwasnotinthegreatscheme，butwasreducible，whenfoundinappearance，tothebasestelements。Adisappointedmindhehad，butamindtoofirmandhealthyforsuchunwholesomeair。
Leavinghimselfinthedark，itcouldriseintothelight，seeingitshineonothersandhailingit。
Therefore，hesatbeforehisdyingfire，sorrowfultothinkuponthewaybywhichhehadcometothatnight，yetnotstrewingpoisononthewaybywhichothermenhadcometoit。Thatheshouldhavemissedsomuch，andathistimeoflifeshouldlooksofarabouthimforanystafftobearhimcompanyuponhisdownwardjourneyandcheerit，wasajustregret。Helookedatthefirefromwhichtheblazedeparted，fromwhichtheafterglowsubsided，inwhichtheashesturnedgrey，fromwhichtheydroppedtodust，andthought，’HowsoonItooshallpassthroughsuchchanges，andbegone!’
Toreviewhislifewaslikedescendingagreentreeinfruitandflower，andseeingallthebrancheswitheranddropoff，onebyone，ashecamedowntowardsthem。
’Fromtheunhappysuppressionofmyyoungestdays，throughtherigidandunlovinghomethatfollowedthem，throughmydeparture，mylongexile，myreturn，mymother’swelcome，myintercoursewithhersince，downtotheafternoonofthisdaywithpoorFlora，’saidArthurClennam，’whathaveIfound!’
Hisdoorwassoftlyopened，andthesespokenwordsstartledhim，andcameasiftheywereananswer：
’LittleDorrit。’
LittleDorrit’sPartyArthurClennamrosehastily，andsawherstandingatthedoor。
ThishistorymustsometimesseewithLittleDorrit’seyes，andshallbeginthatcoursebyseeinghim。
LittleDorritlookedintoadimroom，whichseemedaspaciousonetoher，andgrandlyfurnished。CourtlyideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewithfamouscoffee-houses，wheregentlemenwearinggold-
lacedcoatsandswordshadquarrelledandfoughtduels；costlyideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewheretherewereflowersinwinteratguineasa-piece，pine-applesatguineasapound，andpeasatguineasapint；picturesqueideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewheretherewasamightytheatre，showingwonderfulandbeautifulsightstorichly-dressedladiesandgentlemen，andwhichwasforeverfarbeyondthereachofpoorFannyorpooruncle；desolateideasofCoventGarden，ashavingallthosearchesinit，wherethemiserablechildreninragsamongwhomshehadjustnowpassed，likeyoungrats，slunkandhid，fedonoffal，huddledtogetherforwarmth，andwerehuntedaboutlooktotheratsyoungandold，allyeBarnacles，forbeforeGodtheyareeatingawayourfoundations，andwillbringtheroofsonourheads!；teemingideasofCoventGarden，asaplaceofpastandpresentmystery，romance，abundance，want，beauty，ugliness，faircountrygardens，andfoulstreetgutters；allconfusedtogether，——madetheroomdimmerthanitwasinLittleDorrit’seyes，astheytimidlysawitfromthedoor。
Atfirstinthechairbeforethegone-outfire，andthenturnedroundwonderingtoseeher，wasthegentlemanwhomshesought。Thebrown，gravegentleman，whosmiledsopleasantly，whowassofrankandconsiderateinhismanner，andyetinwhoseearnestnesstherewassomethingthatremindedherofhismother，withthegreatdifferencethatshewasearnestinasperityandheingentleness。
NowheregardedherwiththatattentiveandinquiringlookbeforewhichLittleDorrit’seyeshadalwaysfallen，andbeforewhichtheyfellstill。
’Mypoorchild!Hereatmidnight？’
’IsaidLittleDorrit，sir，onpurposetoprepareyou。Iknewyoumustbeverymuchsurprised。’
’Areyoualone？’
’Nosir，IhavegotMaggywithme。’
Consideringherentrancesufficientlypreparedforbythismentionofhername，Maggyappearedfromthelandingoutside，onthebroadgrin。Sheinstantlysuppressedthatmanifestation，however，andbecamefixedlysolemn。
’AndIhavenofire，’saidClennam。’Andyouare——’Hewasgoingtosaysolightlyclad，butstoppedhimselfinwhatwouldhavebeenareferencetoherpoverty，sayinginstead，’Anditissocold。’
Puttingthechairfromwhichhehadrisennearertothegrate，hemadehersitdowninit；andhurriedlybringingwoodandcoal，heapedthemtogetherandgotablaze。
’Yourfootislikemarble，mychild；’hehadhappenedtotouchit，whilestoopingononekneeathisworkofkindlingthefire；’putitnearerthewarmth。’LittleDorritthankedhimhastily。Itwasquitewarm，itwasverywarm!Itsmoteuponhishearttofeelthatshehidherthin，wornshoe。
LittleDorritwasnotashamedofherpoorshoes。Heknewherstory，anditwasnotthat。LittleDorrithadamisgivingthathemightblameherfather，ifhesawthem；thathemightthink，’whydidhedineto-day，andleavethislittlecreaturetothemercyofthecoldstones!’Shehadnobeliefthatitwouldhavebeenajustreflection；shesimplyknew，byexperience，thatsuchdelusionsdidsometimespresentthemselvestopeople。Itwasapartofherfather’smisfortunesthattheydid。
’BeforeIsayanythingelse，’LittleDorritbegan，sittingbeforethepalefire，andraisinghereyesagaintothefacewhichinitsharmoniouslookofinterest，andpity，andprotection，shefelttobeamysteryfaraboveherindegree，andalmostremovedbeyondherguessingat；’mayItellyousomething，sir？’
’Yes，mychild。’
Aslightshadeofdistressfelluponher，athissooftencallingherachild。Shewassurprisedthatheshouldseeit，orthinkofsuchaslightthing；buthesaiddirectly：
’Iwantedatenderword，andcouldthinkofnoother。Asyoujustnowgaveyourselfthenametheygiveyouatmymother’s，andasthatisthenamebywhichIalwaysthinkofyou，letmecallyouLittleDorrit。’
’Thankyou，sir，Ishouldlikeitbetterthananyname。’
’LittleDorrit。’
’Littlemother，’Maggywhohadbeenfallingasleepputin，asacorrection。
’It’sallthesame，MaggY，’returnedLittleDorrit，’allthesame。’
’Isitallthesame，mother？’
’Justthesame。’
Maggylaughed，andimmediatelysnored。InLittleDorrit’seyesandears，theuncouthfigureandtheuncouthsoundwereaspleasantascouldbe。Therewasaglowofprideinherbigchild，overspreadingherface，whenitagainmettheeyesofthegravebrowngentleman。Shewonderedwhathewasthinkingof，ashelookedatMaggyandher。Shethoughtwhatagoodfatherhewouldbe。How，withsomesuchlook，hewouldcounselandcherishhisdaughter。
’WhatIwasgoingtotellyou，sir，’saidLittleDorrit，’is，thatMYbrotherisatlarge。’
Arthurwasrejoicedtohearit，andhopedhewoulddowell。
’AndwhatIwasgoingtotellyou，sir，’saidLittleDorrit，tremblinginallherlittlefigureandinhervoice，’is，thatIamnottoknowwhosegenerosityreleasedhim——amnevertoask，andamnevertobetold，andamnevertothankthatgentlemanwithallMY
gratefulheart!’
Hewouldprobablyneednothanks，Clennamsaid。Verylikelyhewouldbethankfulhimselfandwithreason，thathehadhadthemeansandchanceofdoingalittleservicetoher，whowelldeservedagreatone。
’AndwhatIwasgoingtosay，sir，is，’saidLittleDorrit，tremblingmoreandmore，’thatifIknewhim，andImight，Iwouldtellhimthathecannever，neverknowhowIfeelhisgoodness，andhowmygoodfatherwouldfeelit。AndwhatIwasgoingtosay，sir，is，thatifIknewhim，andImight——butIdon’tknowhimandImustnot——Iknowthat!——IwouldtellhimthatIshallneveranymoreliedowntosleepwithouthavingprayedtoHeaventoblesshimandrewardhim。AndifIknewhim，andImight，Iwouldgodownonmykneestohim，andtakehishandandkissitandaskhimnottodrawitaway，buttoleaveit——Otoleaveitforamoment——andletmythankfultearsfallonit；forIhavenootherthankstogivehim!’
LittleDorrithadputhishandtoherlips，andwouldhavekneeledtohim，buthegentlypreventedher，andreplacedherinherchair。
Hereyes，andthetonesofhervoice，hadthankedhimfarbetterthanshethought。Hewasnotabletosay，quiteascomposedlyasusual，’There，LittleDorrit，there，there，there!Wewillsupposethatyoudidknowthisperson，andthatyoumightdoallthis，andthatitwasalldone。Andnowtellme，Whoamquiteanotherperson——whoamnothingmorethanthefriendwhobeggedyoutotrusthim——whyyouareoutatmidnight，andwhatitisthatbringsyousofarthroughthestreetsatthislatehour，myslight，delicate，’
childwasonhislipsagain，’LittleDorrit!’
’MaggyandIhavebeento-night，’sheanswered，subduingherselfwiththequieteffortthathadlongbeennaturaltoher，’tothetheatrewheremysisterisengaged。’
’Andohain’titaEv’nlyplace，’suddenlyinterruptedMaggy，whoseemedtohavethepowerofgoingtosleepandwakingupwhenevershechose。’Almostasgoodasahospital。Onlythereain’tnoChickinginit。’
Heresheshookherself，andfellasleepagain。
’Wewentthere，’saidLittleDorrit，glancingathercharge，’becauseIlikesometimestoknow，ofmyownknowledge，thatmysisterisdoingwell；andliketoseeherthere，withmyowneyes，whenneithershenorUncleisaware。ItisveryseldomindeedthatIcandothat，becausewhenIamnotoutatwork，Iamwithmyfather，andevenwhenIamoutatwork，Ihurryhometohim。ButIpretendto-nightthatIamataparty。’
Asshemadetheconfession，timidlyhesitating，sheraisedhereyestotheface，andreaditsexpressionsoplainlythatsheansweredit。’Ohno，certainly!Ineverwasatapartyinmylife。’Shepausedalittleunderhisattentivelook，andthensaid，’Ihopethereisnoharminit。Icouldneverhavebeenofanyuse，ifI
hadnotpretendedalittle。’
Shefearedthathewasblamingherinhismindforsodevisingtocontriveforthem，thinkforthem，andwatchoverthem，withouttheirknowledgeorgratitude；perhapsevenwiththeirreproachesforsupposedneglect。Butwhatwasreallyinhismind，wastheweakfigurewithitsstrongpurpose，thethinwornshoes，theinsufficientdress，andthepretenceofrecreationandenjoyment。
Heaskedwherethesuppositiouspartywas？Ataplacewheresheworked，answeredLittleDorrit，blushing。Shehadsaidverylittleaboutit；onlyafewwordstomakeherfathereasy。Herfatherdidnotbelieveittobeagrandparty——indeedhemightsupposethat。
Andsheglancedforaninstantattheshawlshewore。
’Itisthefirstnight，’saidLittleDorrit，’thatIhaveeverbeenawayfromhome。AndLondonlookssolarge，sobarren，andsowild。’InLittleDorrit’seyes，itsvastnessundertheblackskywasawful；atremorpassedoverherasshesaidthewords。