’Ah!’groanedYoungJohn。’You!’
Hedidwhathecouldtomusterasmile，andreturned，’Yourfancy。
Youarecompletelymistaken。’
’Imistaken，sir!’saidYoungJohn。’_I_completelymistakenonthatsubject!No，MrClennam，don’ttellmeso。Onanyother，ifyoulike，forIdon’tsetuptobeapenetratingcharacter，andamwellawareofmyowndeficiencies。But，_I_mistakenonapointthathascausedmemoresmartinmybreastthanaflightofsavages’arrowscouldhavedone!_I_mistakenonapointthatalmostsentmeintomygrave，asIsometimeswisheditwould，ifthegravecouldonlyhavebeenmadecompatiblewiththetobacco-
businessandfatherandmother’sfeelings!Imistakenonapointthat，evenatthepresentmoment，makesmetakeoutmypocket-
handkercherlikeagreatgirl，aspeoplesay：thoughIamsureI
don’tknowwhyagreatgirlshouldbeatermofreproach，foreveryrightlyconstitutedmalemindloves’emgreatandsmall。Don’ttellmeso，don’ttellmeso!’
Stillhighlyrespectableatbottom，thoughabsurdenoughuponthesurface，YoungJohntookouthispocket-handkerchiefwithagenuineabsencebothofdisplayandconcealment，whichisonlytobeseeninamanwithagreatdealofgoodinhim，whenhetakesouthispocket-handkerchiefforthepurposeofwipinghiseyes。Havingdriedthem，andindulgedintheharmlessluxuryofasobandasniff，heputitupagain。
ThetouchwasstillinitsinfluencesolikeablowthatArthurcouldnotgetmanywordstogethertoclosethesubjectwith。HeassuredJohnChiverywhenhehadreturnedhishandkerchieftohispocket，thathedidallhonourtohisdisinterestednessandtothefidelityofhisremembranceofMissDorrit。Astotheimpressiononhismind，ofwhichhehadjustrelievedit——hereJohninterposed，andsaid，’Noimpression!Certainty!’——astothat，theymightperhapsspeakofitatanothertime，butwouldsaynomorenow。Feelinglow-spiritedandweary，hewouldgobacktohisroom，withjohn’sleave，andcomeoutnomorethatnight。Johnassented，andhecreptbackintheshadowofthewalltohisownlodging。
Thefeelingoftheblowwasstillsostronguponhimthat，whenthedirtyoldwomanwasgonewhomhefoundsittingonthestairsoutsidehisdoor，waitingtomakehisbed，andwhogavehimtounderstandwhiledoingit，thatshehadreceivedherinstructionsfromMrChivery，’nottheold’unbuttheyoung’un，’hesatdowninthefadedarm-chair，pressinghisheadbetweenhishands，asifhehadbeenstunned。LittleDorritlovehim!Morebewilderingtohimthanhismisery，far。
Considertheimprobability。Hehadbeenaccustomedtocallherhischild，andhisdearchild，andtoinviteherconfidencebydwellinguponthedifferenceintheirrespectiveages，andtospeakofhimselfasonewhowasturningold。Yetshemightnothavethoughthimold。Somethingremindedhimthathehadnotthoughthimselfso，untiltheroseshadfloatedawayupontheriver。
Hehadhertwolettersamongotherpapersinhisbox，andhetookthemoutandreadthem。Thereseemedtobeasoundinthemlikethesoundofhersweetvoice。Itfelluponhisearwithmanytonesoftenderness，thatwerenotinsusceptibleofthenewmeaning。Nowitwasthatthequietdesolationofheranswer，’No，No，No，’madetohimthatnightinthatveryroom——thatnightwhenhehadbeenshownthedawnofheralteredfortune，andwhenotherwordshadpassedbetweenthemwhichhehadbeendestinedtorememberinhumiliationandaprisoner，rushedintohismind。
Considertheimprobability。
Butithadapreponderatingtendency，whenconsidered，tobecomefainter。Therewasanotherandacuriousinquiryofhisownheart’sthatconcurrentlybecamestronger。Inthereluctancehehadfelttobelievethatshelovedanyone；inhisdesiretosetthatquestionatrest；inahalf-formedconsciousnesshehadhadthattherewouldbeakindofnoblenessinhishelpingherloveforanyone，wastherenosuppressedsomethingonhisownsidethathehadhushedasitarose？Hadheeverwhisperedtohimselfthathemustnotthinkofsuchathingasherlovinghim，thathemustnottakeadvantageofhergratitude，thathemustkeephisexperienceinremembranceasawarningandreproof；thathemustregardsuchyouthfulhopesashavingpassedaway，ashisfriend’sdeaddaughterhadpassedaway；thathemustbesteadyinsayingtohimselfthatthetimehadgonebyhim，andhewastoosaddenedandold？
Hehadkissedherwhenheraisedherfromthegroundonthedaywhenshehadbeensoconsistentlyandexpressivelyforgotten。
Quiteashemighthavekissedher，ifshehadbeenconscious？Nodifference？
Thedarknessfoundhimoccupiedwiththesethoughts。ThedarknessalsofoundMrandMrsPlornishknockingathisdoor。Theybroughtwiththemabasket，filledwithchoiceselectionsfromthatstockintradewhichmetwithsuchaquicksaleandproducedsuchaslowreturn。MrsPlornishwasaffectedtotears。MrPlornishamiablygrowled，inhisphilosophicalbutnotlucidmanner，thattherewasupsyousee，andtherewasdowns。Itwasinvaintoaskwhyups，whydowns；theretheywas，youknow。Hehadheerditgivenforatruththataccordin’astheworldwentround，whichrounditdidrewolveundoubted，eventhebestofgentlemenmusttakehisturnofstandingwithhisedupsidedownandallhisairaflyingthewrongwayintowhatyoumightcallSpace。Werywellthen。WhatMrPlornishsaidwas，werywellthen。Thatgentleman’sedwouldcomeup-ardswhenhisturncome，thatgentleman’sairwouldbeapleasuretolookuponbeingallsmoothagain，andwerywellthen!
IthasbeenalreadystatedthatMrsPlornish，notbeingphilosophical，wept。ItfurtherhappenedthatMrsPlornish，notbeingphilosophical，wasintelligible。Itmayhavearisenoutofhersoftenedstateofmind，outofhersex’swit，outofawoman’squickassociationofideas，oroutofawoman’snoassociationofideas，butitfurtherhappenedsomehowthatMrsPlornish’sintelligibilitydisplayeditselfupontheverysubjectofArthur’smeditations。
’Thewayfatherhasbeentalkingaboutyou，MrClennam，’saidMrsPlornish，’youhardlywouldbelieve。It’smadehimquitepoorly。
Astohisvoice，thismisfortunehastookitaway。Youknowwhatasweetsingerfatheris；buthecouldn’tgetanoteoutforthechildrenattea，ifyou’llcreditwhatItellyou。’
Whilespeaking，MrsPlornishshookherhead，andwipedhereyes，andlookedretrospectivelyabouttheroom。
’AstoMrBaptist，’pursuedMrsPlornish，’whateverhe’lldowhenhecomestoknowofit，Ican’tconceivenoryetimagine。He’dhavebeenherebeforenow，youmaybesure，butthathe’sawayonconfidentialbusinessofyourown。Theperseveringmannerinwhichhefollowsupthatbusiness，andgiveshimselfnorestfromit——itreallydo，’saidMrsPlornish，windingupintheItalianmanner，’asIsaytohim，Mooshattonishapadrona。’
Thoughnotconceited，MrsPlornishfeltthatshehadturnedthisTuscansentencewithpeculiarelegance。MrPlornishcouldnotconcealhisexultationinheraccomplishmentsasalinguist。
’ButwhatIsayis，MrClennam，’thegoodwomanwenton，’there’salwayssomethingtobethankfulfor，asIamsureyouwillyourselfadmit。Speakinginthisroom，it’snothardtothinkwhatthepresentsomethingis。It’sathingtobethankfulfor，indeed，thatMissDorritisnotheretoknowit。’
Arthurthoughtshelookedathimwithparticularexpression。
’It’sathing，’reiteratedMrsPlornish，’tobethankfulfor，indeed，thatMissDorritisfaraway。It’stobehopedsheisnotlikelytohearofit。Ifshehadbeenheretoseeit，sir，it’snottobedoubtedthatthesightofyou，’MrsPlornishrepeatedthosewords——’nottobedoubted，thatthesightofyou——inmisfortuneandtrouble，wouldhavebeenalmosttoomuchforheraffectionateheart。There’snothingIcanthinkof，thatwouldhavetouchedMissDorritsobadasthat。’
OfacertaintyMrsPlornishdidlookathimnow，withasortofquiveringdefianceinherfriendlyemotion。
’Yes!’saidshe。’Anditshowswhatnoticefathertakes，thoughathistimeoflife，thathesaystomethisafternoon，whichHappyCottageknowsIneithermakeitupnoranywaysenlarge，“Mary，it’smuchtoberejoicedinthatMissDorritisnotonthespottobeholdit。“Thosewerefather’swords。Father’sownwordswas，“Muchtoberejoicedin，Mary，thatMissDorritisnotonthespottobeholdit。“Isaystofatherthen，Isaystohim，“Father，youareright!“That，’MrsPlornishconcluded，withtheairofaverypreciselegalwitness，’iswhatpassedbetwixtfatherandme。AndItellyounothingbutwhatdidpassbetwixtmeandfather。’
MrPlornish，asbeingofamorelaconictemperament，embracedthisopportunityofinterposingwiththesuggestionthatsheshouldnowleaveMrClennamtohimself。’For，yousee，’saidMrPlornish，gravely，’Iknowwhatitis，oldgal；’repeatingthatvaluableremarkseveraltimes，asifitappearedtohimtoincludesomegreatmoralsecret。Finally，theworthycouplewentawayarminarm。
LittleDorrit，LittleDorrit。Again，forhours。AlwaysLittleDorrit!
Happily，ifiteverhadbeenso，itwasover，andbetterover。
Grantedthatshehadlovedhim，andhehadknownitandhadsufferedhimselftoloveher，whataroadtohaveledherawayupon——theroadthatwouldhavebroughtherbacktothismiserableplace!Heoughttobemuchcomfortedbythereflectionthatshewasquitofitforever；thatshewas，orwouldsoonbe，marriedvaguerumoursofherfather’sprojectsinthatdirectionhadreachedBleedingHeartYard，withthenewsofhersister’smarriage；andthattheMarshalseagatehadshutforeveronallthoseperplexedpossibilitiesofatimethatwasgone。
DearLittleDorrit。
Lookingbackuponhisownpoorstory，shewasitsvanishing-point。
Everythinginitsperspectiveledtoherinnocentfigure。Hehadtravelledthousandsofmilestowardsit；previousunquiethopesanddoubtshadworkedthemselvesoutbeforeit；itwasthecentreoftheinterestofhislife；itwastheterminationofeverythingthatwasgoodandpleasantinit；beyond，therewasnothingbutmerewasteanddarkenedsky。
Asillateaseasonthefirstnightofhislyingdowntosleepwithinthosedrearywalls，heworethenightoutwithsuchthoughts。WhattimeYoungJohnlaywraptinpeacefulslumber，aftercomposingandarrangingthefollowingmonumentalinscriptiononhispillow——
STRANGER!
RESPECTTHETOMBOF
JOHNCHIVERY，JUNIOR，WHODIEDATANADVANCEDAGE
NOTNECESSARYTOMENTION。
HEENCOUNTEREDHISRIVALINADISTRESSEDSTATE，ANDFELTINCLINED
TOHAVEAROUNDWITHHIM；
BUT，FORTHESAKEOFTHELOVEDONE，CONQUEREDTHOSEFEELINGS
OFBITTERNESS，ANDBECAME
MAGNANIMOUS。
AnAppearanceintheMarshalseaTheopinionofthecommunityoutsidetheprisongatesborehardonClennamastimewenton，andhemadenofriendsamongthecommunitywithin。Toodepressedtoassociatewiththeherdintheyard，whogottogethertoforgettheircares；tooretiringandtoounhappytojoininthepoorsocialitiesofthetavern；hekepthisownroom，andwasheldindistrust。Somesaidhewasproud；someobjectedthathewassullenandreserved；somewerecontemptuousofhim，forthathewasapoor-spiriteddogwhopinedunderhisdebts。Thewholepopulationwereshyofhimonthesevariouscountsofindictment，butespeciallythelast，whichinvolvedaspeciesofdomestictreason；andhesoonbecamesoconfirmedinhisseclusion，thathisonlytimeforwalkingupanddownwaswhentheeveningClubwereassembledattheirsongsandtoastsandsentiments，andwhentheyardwasnearlylefttothewomenandchildren。
Imprisonmentbegantotelluponhim。Heknewthatheidledandmoped。Afterwhathehadknownoftheinfluencesofimprisonmentwithinthefoursmallwallsoftheveryroomheoccupied，thisconsciousnessmadehimafraidofhimself。Shrinkingfromtheobservationofothermen，andshrinkingfromhisown，hebegantochangeverysensibly。Anybodymightseethattheshadowofthewallwasdarkuponhim。
Onedaywhenhemighthavebeensometenortwelveweeksinjail，andwhenhehadbeentryingtoreadandhadnotbeenabletoreleaseeventheimaginarypeopleofthebookfromtheMarshalsea，afootstepstoppedathisdoor，andahandtappedatit。Hearoseandopenedit，andanagreeablevoiceaccostedhimwith’Howdoyoudo，MrClennam？IhopeIamnotunwelcomeincallingtoseeyou。’
ItwasthesprightlyyoungBarnacle，Ferdinand。Helookedverygood-naturedandprepossessing，thoughoverpoweringlygayandfree，incontrastwiththesqualidprison。
’Youaresurprisedtoseeme，MrClennam，’hesaid，takingtheseatwhichClennamofferedhim。
’Imustconfesstobeingmuchsurprised。’
’Notdisagreeably，Ihope？’
’Bynomeans。’
’Thankyou。Frankly，’saidtheengagingyoungBarnacle，’Ihavebeenexcessivelysorrytohearthatyouwereunderthenecessityofatemporaryretirementhere，andIhopeofcourseasbetweentwoprivategentlementhatourplacehashadnothingtodowithit？’
’Youroffice？’
’OurCircumlocutionplace。’
’Icannotchargeanypartofmyreversesuponthatremarkableestablishment。’
Uponmylife，’saidthevivaciousyoungBarnacle，’Iamheartilygladtoknowit。Itisquitearelieftometohearyousayit。
Ishouldhavesoexceedinglyregrettedourplacehavinghadanythingtodowithyourdifficulties。’
Clennamagainassuredhimthatheabsolveditoftheresponsibility。
’That’sright，’saidFerdinand。’Iamveryhappytohearit。I
wasratherafraidinmyownmindthatwemighthavehelpedtoflooryou，becausethereisnodoubtthatitisourmisfortunetodothatkindofthingnowandthen。Wedon’twanttodoit；butifmenwillbegravelled，why——wecan’thelpit。’
’Withoutgivinganunqualifiedassenttowhatyousay，’returnedArthur，gloomily，’Iammuchobligedtoyouforyourinterestinme。’
’No，butreally!Ourplaceis，’saidtheeasyyoungBarnacle，’themostinoffensiveplacepossible。You’llsayweareahumbug。I
won’tsaywearenot；butallthatsortofthingisintendedtobe，andmustbe。Don’tyousee？’
’Idonot，’saidClennam。
’Youdon’tregarditfromtherightpointofview。Itisthepointofviewthatistheessentialthing。Regardourplacefromthepointofviewthatweonlyaskyoutoleaveusalone，andweareascapitalaDepartmentasyou’llfindanywhere。’