’Freelygranted，’saidClennam，wavinghishandwithoutraisinghissunkenhead。’Saynomore。Iamnotworthit。’
’Thisfurniture，sir，’saidYoungJohninavoiceofmildandsoftexplanation，’belongstome。Iaminthehabitoflettingitouttopartieswithoutfurniture，thathavetheroom。Itan’tmuch，butit’satyourservice。Free，Imean。Icouldnotthinkoflettingyouhaveitonanyotherterms。You’rewelcometoitfornothing。’
Arthurraisedhisheadagaintothankhim，andtosayhecouldnotacceptthefavour。Johnwasstillturninghiswrist，andstillcontendingwithhimselfinhisformerdividedmanner。
’Whatisthematterbetweenus？’saidArthur。
’Ideclinetonameit，sir，’returnedYoungJohn，suddenlyturningloudandsharp。’Nothing’sthematter。’
Arthurlookedathimagain，invain，foranexplanationofhisbehaviour。Afterawhile，Arthurturnedawayhisheadagain。
YoungJohnsaid，presentlyafterwards，withtheutmostmildness：
’Thelittleroundtable，sir，that’snighyourelbow，was——youknowwhose——Ineedn’tmentionhim——hediedagreatgentleman。Iboughtitofanindividualthathegaveitto，andthatlivedhereafterhim。Buttheindividualwasn’tanywaysequaltohim。Mostindividualswouldfindithardtocomeuptohislevel。’
Arthurdrewthelittletablenearer，restedhisarmuponit，andkeptitthere。
’Perhapsyoumaynotbeaware，sir，’saidYoungJohn，’thatI
intrudeduponhimwhenhewasoverhereinLondon。OnthewholehewasofopinionthatitWASanintrusion，thoughhewassogoodastoaskmetositdownandtoinquireafterfatherandallotheroldfriends。Leastwayshumblestacquaintances。Helooked，tome，agooddealchanged，andIsaidsowhenIcameback。IaskedhimifMissAmywaswell——’
’Andshewas？’
’Ishouldhavethoughtyouwouldhaveknownwithoutputtingthequestiontosuchasme，’returnedYoungJohn，afterappearingtotakealargeinvisiblepill。’Sinceyoudoputmethequestion，I
amsorryIcan’tanswerit。Butthetruthis，helookedupontheinquiryasaliberty，andsaid，“Whatwasthattome？“ItwasthenIbecamequiteawareIwasintruding：ofwhichIhadbeenfearfulbefore。However，hespokeveryhandsomeafterwards；veryhandsome。’
Theywerebothsilentforseveralminutes：exceptthatYoungJohnremarked，ataboutthemiddleofthepause，’Hebothspokeandactedveryhandsome。’
ItwasagainYoungJohnwhobrokethesilencebyinquiring：
’Ifit’snotaliberty，howlongmayitbeyourintentions，sir，togowithouteatinganddrinking？’
’Ihavenotfeltthewantofanythingyet，’returnedClennam。’I
havenoappetitejustnow。’
’Themorereasonwhyyoushouldtakesomesupport，sir，’urgedYoungJohn。’Ifyoufindyourselfgoingonsittinghereforhoursandhourspartakingofnorefreshmentbecauseyouhavenoappetite，whythenyoushouldandmustpartakeofrefreshmentwithoutanappetite。I’mgoingtohaveteainmyownapartment。Ifit’snotaliberty，pleasetocomeandtakeacup。OrIcanbringatrayhereintwominutes。’
FeelingthatYoungJohnwouldimposethattroubleonhimselfifherefused，andalsofeelinganxioustoshowthatheboreinmindboththeelderMrChivery’sentreaty，andtheyoungerMrChivery’sapology，ArthurroseandexpressedhiswillingnesstotakeacupofteainMrjohn’sapartment。YoungJohnlockedhisdoorforhimastheywentout，slidedthekeyintohispocketwithgreatdexterity，andledthewaytohisownresidence。
Itwasatthetopofthehousenearesttothegateway。ItwastheroomtowhichClennamhadhurriedonthedaywhentheenrichedfamilyhadlefttheprisonforever，andwherehehadliftedherinsensiblefromthefloor。Heforesawwheretheyweregoingassoonastheirfeettouchedthestaircase。Theroomwassofarchangedthatitwaspaperednow，andhadbeenrepainted，andwasfarmorecomfortablyfurnished；buthecouldrecallitjustashehadseenitinthatsingleglance，whenheraisedherfromthegroundandcarriedherdowntothecarriage。
YoungJohnlookedhardathim，bitinghisfingers。
’Iseeyourecollecttheroom，MrClennam？’
’Irecollectitwell，Heavenblessher!’
Obliviousofthetea，YoungJohncontinuedtobitehisfingersandtolookathisvisitor，aslongashisvisitorcontinuedtoglanceabouttheroom。Finally，hemadeastartattheteapot，gustilyrattledaquantityofteaintoitfromacanister，andsetoffforthecommonkitchentofillitwithhotwater。
TheroomwassoeloquenttoClennaminthechangedcircumstancesofhisreturntothemiserableMarshalsea；itspoketohimsomournfullyofher，andofhislossofher；thatitwouldhavegonehardwithhimtoresistit，eventhoughhehadnotbeenalone。
Alone，hedidnottry。Hehadhishandontheinsensiblewallastenderlyasifithadbeenherselfthathetouched，andpronouncedhernameinalowvoice。Hestoodatthewindow，lookingovertheprison-parapetwithitsgrimspikedborder，andbreathedabenedictionthroughthesummerhazetowardsthedistantlandwhereshewasrichandprosperous。
YoungJohnwassometimeabsent，and，whenhecameback，showedthathehadbeenoutsidebybringingwithhimfreshbutterinacabbageleaf，somethinslicesofboiledhaminanothercabbageleaf，andalittlebasketofwater-cressesandsaladherbs。Whenthesewerearrangeduponthetabletohissatisfaction，theysatdowntotea。
Clennamtriedtodohonourtothemeal，butunavailingly。Thehamsickenedhim，thebreadseemedtoturntosandinhismouth。Hecouldforcenothinguponhimselfbutacupoftea。
’Tryalittlesomethinggreen，’saidYoungJohn，handinghimthebasket。
Hetookasprigorsoofwater-cress，andtriedagain；butthebreadturnedtoaheaviersandthanbefore，andthehamthoughitwasgoodenoughofitselfseemedtoblowafaintsimoomofhamthroughthewholeMarshalsea。
’Tryalittlemoresomethinggreen，sir，’saidYoungJohn；andagainhandedthebasket。
Itwassolikehandinggreenmeatintothecageofadullimprisonedbird，andJohnhadsoevidentlybroughtthelittlebasketasahandfuloffreshrelieffromthestalehotpaving-
stonesandbricksofthejail，thatClennamsaid，withasmile，’Itwasverykindofyoutothinkofputtingthisbetweenthewires；
butIcannotevengetthisdownto-day。’
Asifthedifficultywerecontagious，YoungJohnsoonpushedawayhisownplate，andfelltofoldingthecabbage-leafthathadcontainedtheham。Whenhehadfoldeditintoanumberoflayers，oneoveranother，sothatitwassmallinthepalmofhishand，hebegantoflattenitbetweenbothhishands，andtoeyeClennamattentively。
’Iwonder，’heatlengthsaid，compressinghisgreenpacketwithsomeforce，’thatifit’snotworthyourwhiletotakecareofyourselfforyourownsake，it’snotworthdoingforsomeoneelse’s。’
’Truly，’returnedArthur，withasighandasmile，’Idon’tknowforwhose。’
’MrClennam，’saidJohn，warmly，’Iamsurprisedthatagentlemanwhoiscapableofthestraightforwardnessthatyouarecapableof，shouldbecapableofthemeanactionofmakingmesuchananswer。
MrClennam，Iamsurprisedthatagentlemanwhoiscapableofhavingaheartofhisown，shouldbecapableoftheheartlessnessoftreatingmineinthatway。Iamastonishedatit，sir。ReallyandtrulyIamastonished!’
Havinggotuponhisfeettoemphasisehisconcludingwords，YoungJohnsatdownagain，andfelltorollinghisgreenpacketonhisrightleg；nevertakinghiseyesoffClennam，butsurveyinghimwithafixedlookofindignantreproach。
’Ihadgotoverit，sir，’saidJohn。’Ihadconqueredit，knowingthatitmustbeconquered，andhadcometotheresolutiontothinknomoreaboutit。Ishouldn’thavegivenmymindtoitagain，I
hope，iftothisprisonyouhadnotbeenbrought，andinanhourunfortunateforme，thisday!’InhisagitationYoungJohnadoptedhismother’spowerfulconstructionofsentences。’Whenyoufirstcameuponme，sir，intheLodge，thisday，moreasifaUpastreehadbeenmadeacaptureofthanaprivatedefendant，suchmingledstreamsoffeelingsbrokelooseagainwithinme，thateverythingwasforthefirstfewminutessweptawaybeforethem，andIwasgoingroundandroundinavortex。Igotoutofit。I
struggled，andgotoutofit。IfitwasthelastwordIhadtospeak，againstthatvortexwithmyutmostpowersIstrove，andoutofitIcame。IarguedthatifIhadbeenrude，apologieswasdue，andthoseapologieswithoutaquestionofdemeaning，Ididmake。
Andnow，whenI’vebeensowishfultoshowthatonethoughtisnexttobeingaholyonewithmeandgoesbeforeallothers——now，afterall，youdodgemewhenIeversogentlyhintatit，andthrowmebackuponmyself。For，donot，sir，’saidYoungJohn，’donotbesobaseastodenythatdodgeyoudo，andthrownmebackuponmyselfyouhave!’
Allamazement，Arthurgazedathimlikeonelost，onlysaying，’Whatisit？Whatdoyoumean，John？’But，John，beinginthatstateofmindinwhichnothingwouldseemtobemoreimpossibletoacertainclassofpeoplethanthegivingofananswer，wentaheadblindly。
’Ihadn’t，’Johndeclared，’no，Ihadn’t，andIneverhadtheaudaciousnesstothink，Iamsure，thatallwasanythingbutlost。
Ihadn’t，no，whyshouldIsayIhadn’tifIeverhad，anyhopethatitwaspossibletobesoblest，notafterthewordsthatpassed，notevenifbarriersinsurmountablehadnotbeenraised!
ButisthatareasonwhyIamtohavenomemory，whyIamtohavenothoughts，whyIamtohavenosacredspots，noranything？’
’Whatcanyoumean？’criedArthur。
’It’sallverywelltotrampleonit，sir，’Johnwenton，scouringaveryprairieofwildwords，’ifapersoncanmakeuphismindtobeguiltyoftheaction。It’sallverywelltotrampleonit，butit’sthere。Itmaybethatitcouldn’tbetrampleduponifitwasn’tthere。Butthatdoesn’tmakeitgentlemanly，thatdoesn’tmakeithonourable，thatdoesn’tjustifythrowingapersonbackuponhimselfafterhehasstruggledandstrivedoutofhimselflikeabutterfly。Theworldmaysneerataturnkey，buthe’saman——
whenheisn’tawoman，whichamongfemalecriminalshe’sexpectedtobe。’
Ridiculousastheincoherenceofhistalkwas，therewasyetatruthfulnessinYoungjohn’ssimple，sentimentalcharacter，andasenseofbeingwoundedinsomeverytenderrespect，expressedinhisburningfaceandintheagitationofhisvoiceandmanner，whichArthurmusthavebeencrueltodisregard。Heturnedhisthoughtsbacktothestarting-pointofthisunknowninjury；andinthemeantimeYoungJohn，havingrolledhisgreenpacketprettyround，cutitcarefullyintothreepieces，andlaiditonaplateasifitweresomeparticulardelicacy。
’Itseemstomejustpossible，’saidArthur，whenhehadretracedtheconversationtothewater-cressesandbackagain，’thatyouhavemadesomereferencetoMissDorrit。’
’Itisjustpossible，sir，’returnedJohnChivery。
’Idon’tunderstandit。IhopeImaynotbesounluckyastomakeyouthinkImeantooffendyouagain，forIneverhavemeanttooffendyouyet，whenIsayIdon’tunderstandit。’
’Sir，’saidYoungJohn，’willyouhavetheperfidytodenythatyouknowandlonghaveknownthatIfelttowardsMissDorrit，callitnotthepresumptionoflove，butadorationandsacrifice？’
’Indeed，John，IwillnothaveanyperfidyifIknowit；whyyoushouldsuspectmeofitIamatalosstothink。DidyoueverhearfromMrsChivery，yourmother，thatIwenttoseeheronce？’
’No，sir，’returnedJohn，shortly。’Neverheardofsuchathing。’
’ButIdid。Canyouimaginewhy？’
’No，sir，’returnedJohn，shortly。’Ican’timaginewhy。’
’Iwilltellyou。IwassolicitoustopromoteMissDorrit’shappiness；andifIcouldhavesupposedthatMissDorritreturnedyouraffection——’
PoorJohnChiveryturnedcrimsontothetipsofhisears。’MissDorritneverdid，sir。Iwishtobehonourableandtrue，sofarasinmyhumblewayIcan，andIwouldscorntopretendforamomentthatsheeverdid，orthatsheeverledmetobelieveshedid；no，noreventhatitwasevertobeexpectedinanycoolreasonthatshewouldorcould。Shewasfarabovemeinallrespectsatalltimes。Aslikewise，’addedJohn，’similarlywashergen-teelfamily。’
Hischivalrousfeelingtowardsallthatbelongedtohermadehimsoveryrespectable，inspiteofhissmallstatureandhisratherweaklegs，andhisveryweakhair，andhispoeticaltemperament，thataGoliathmighthavesatinhisplacedemandinglessconsiderationatArthur’shands。
’Youspeak，john，’hesaid，withcordialadmiration，’likeaMan。’
’Well，sir，’returnedJohn，brushinghishandacrosshiseyes，’thenIwishyou’ddothesame。’
Hewasquickwiththisunexpectedretort，anditagainmadeArthurregardhimwithawonderingexpressionofface。
’Leastways，’saidJohn，stretchinghishandacrossthetea-tray，’iftoostrongaremark，withdrawn!But，whynot，whynot？WhenIsaytoyou，MrClennam，takecareofyourselfforsomeoneelse’ssake，whynotbeopen，thoughaturnkey？WhydidIgetyoutheroomwhichIknewyou’dlikebest？WhydidIcarryupyourthings？
NotthatIfound’emheavy；Idon’tmention’emonthataccounts；
farfromit。WhyhaveIcultivatedyouinthemannerIhavedonesincethemorning？Onthegroundofyourownmerits？No。They’reverygreat，I’venodoubtatall；butnotonthegroundofthem。
Another’smeritshavehadtheirweight，andhavehadfarmoreweightwithMe。Thenwhynotspeakfree？’
’Unaffectedly，John，’saidClennam，’youaresogoodafellowandIhavesotruearespectforyourcharacter，thatifIhaveappearedtobelesssensiblethanIreallyamofthefactthatthekindservicesyouhaverenderedmeto-dayareattributabletomyhavingbeentrustedbyMissDorritasherfriend——Iconfessittobeafault，andIaskyourforgiveness。’
’Oh!whynot，’Johnrepeatedwithreturningscorn，’whynotspeakfree!’
’Ideclaretoyou，’returnedArthur，’thatIdonotunderstandyou。
Lookatme。ConsiderthetroubleIhavebeenin。IsitlikelythatIwouldwilfullyaddtomyotherself-reproaches，thatofbeingungratefulortreacheroustoyou。Idonotunderstandyou。’
john’sincredulousfaceslowlysoftenedintoafaceofdoubt。Herose，backedintothegarret-windowoftheroom，beckonedArthurtocomethere，andstoodlookingathimthoughtfully。
’MrClennam，doyoumeantosaythatyoudon’tknow？’
’What，John？’
’Lord，’saidYoungJohn，appealingwithagasptothespikesonthewall。’Hesays，What!’
Clennamlookedatthespikes，andlookedatJohn；andlookedatthespikes，andlookedatJohn。
’HesaysWhat!Andwhatismore，’exclaimedYoungJohn，surveyinghiminadolefulmaze，’heappearstomeanit!Doyouseethiswindow，sir？’
’OfcourseIseethiswindow。’
’Seethisroom？’
’Why，ofcourseIseethisroom。’
’Thatwallopposite，andthatyarddownbelow？Theyhaveallbeenwitnessesofit，fromdaytoday，fromnighttonight，fromweektoweek，frommonthtomonth。ForhowoftenhaveIseenMissDorritherewhenshehasnotseenme!’
’Witnessesofwhat？’saidClennam。
’OfMissDorrit’slove。’
’Forwhom？’
’You，’saidJohn。Andtouchedhimwiththebackofhishanduponthebreast，andbackedtohischair，andsatdownonitwithapaleface，holdingthearms，andshakinghisheadathim。
IfhehaddealtClennamaheavyblow，insteadoflayingthatlighttouchuponhim，itseffectcouldnothavebeentoshakehimmore。
Hestoodamazed；hiseyeslookingatJohn；hislipsparted，andseemingnowandthentoformtheword’Me!’withoututteringit；
hishandsdroppedathissides；hiswholeappearancethatofamanwhohasbeenawakenedfromsleep，andstupefiedbyintelligencebeyondhisfullcomprehension。
’Me!’heatlengthsaidaloud。