Asheembracedher，shesaidtohim，’Theynevertoldmeyouwereill，’anddrawinganarmsoftlyroundhisneck，laidhisheaduponherbosom，putahanduponhishead，andrestinghercheekuponthathand，nursedhimaslovingly，andGODknowsasinnocently，asshehadnursedherfatherinthatroomwhenshehadbeenbutababy，needingallthecarefromothersthatshetookofthem。
Whenhecouldspeak，hesaid，’Isitpossiblethatyouhavecometome？Andinthisdress？’
’Ihopedyouwouldlikemebetterinthisdressthananyother。I
havealwayskeptitbyme，toremindme：thoughIwantednoreminding。Iamnotalone，yousee。Ihavebroughtanoldfriendwithme。’
Lookinground，hesawMaggyinherbigcapwhichhadbeenlongabandoned，withabasketonherarmasinthebygonedays，chucklingrapturously。
’ItwasonlyyesterdayeveningthatIcametoLondonwithmybrother。IsentroundtoMrsPlornishalmostassoonaswearrived，thatImighthearofyouandletyouknowIhadcome。
ThenIheardthatyouwerehere。Didyouhappentothinkofmeinthenight？Ialmostbelieveyoumusthavethoughtofmealittle。
Ithoughtofyousoanxiously，anditappearedsolongtomorning。’
’Ihavethoughtofyou——’hehesitatedwhattocallher。Sheperceiveditinaninstant。
’Youhavenotspokentomebymyrightnameyet。Youknowwhatmyrightnamealwaysiswithyou。’
’Ihavethoughtofyou，LittleDorrit，everyday，everyhour，everyminute，sinceIhavebeenhere。’
’Haveyou？Haveyou？’
Hesawthebrightdelightofherface，andtheflushthatkindledinit，withafeelingofshame。He，abroken，bankrupt，sick，dishonouredprisoner。
’Iwasherebeforethegateswereopened，butIwasafraidtocomestraighttoyou。Ishouldhavedoneyoumoreharmthangood，atfirst；fortheprisonwassofamiliarandyetsostrange，anditbroughtbacksomanyremembrancesofmypoorfather，andofyoutoo，thatatfirstitoverpoweredme。ButwewenttoMrChiverybeforewecametothegate，andhebroughtusin，andgotjohn’sroomforus——mypooroldroom，youknow——andwewaitedtherealittle。Ibroughttheflowerstothedoor，butyoudidn’thearme。’
Shelookedsomethingmorewomanlythanwhenshehadgoneaway，andtheripeningtouchoftheItaliansunwasvisibleuponherface。
But，otherwise，shewasquiteunchanged。Thesamedeep，timidearnestnessthathehadalwaysseeninher，andneverwithoutemotion，hesawstill。Ifithadanewmeaningthatsmotehimtotheheart，thechangewasinhisperception，notinher。
Shetookoffheroldbonnet，hungitintheoldplace，andnoiselesslybegan，withMaggy’shelp，tomakehisroomasfreshandneatasitcouldbemade，andtosprinkleitwithapleasant-
smellingwater。Whenthatwasdone，thebasket，whichwasfilledwithgrapesandotherfruit，wasunpacked，andallitscontentswerequietlyputaway。Whenthatwasdone，amoment’swhisperdespatchedMaggytodespatchsomebodyelsetofillthebasketagain；whichsooncamebackreplenishedwithnewstores，fromwhichapresentprovisionofcoolingdrinkandjelly，andaprospectivesupplyofroastchickenandwineandwater，werethefirstextracts。Thesevariousarrangementscompleted，shetookoutheroldneedle-casetomakehimacurtainforhiswindow；andthus，withaquietreigningintheroom，thatseemedtodiffuseitselfthroughtheelsenoisyprison，hefoundhimselfcomposedinhischair，withLittleDorritworkingathisside。
Toseethemodestheadagainbentdownoveritstask，andthenimblefingersbusyattheiroldwork——thoughshewasnotsoabsorbedinit，butthathercompassionateeyeswereoftenraisedtohisface，and，whentheydroopedagainhadtearsinthem——tobesoconsoledandcomforted，andtobelievethatallthedevotionofthisgreatnaturewasturnedtohiminhisadversitytopouroutitsinexhaustiblewealthofgoodnessuponhim，didnotsteadyClennam’stremblingvoiceorhand，orstrengthenhiminhisweakness。Yetitinspiredhimwithaninwardfortitude，thatrosewithhislove。Andhowdearlyhelovedhernow，whatwordscantell!
Astheysatsidebysideintheshadowofthewall，theshadowfelllikelightuponhim。Shewouldnotlethimspeakmuch，andhelaybackinhischair，lookingather。Nowandagainshewouldriseandgivehimtheglassthathemightdrink，orwouldsmooththeresting-placeofhishead；thenshewouldgentlyresumeherseatbyhim，andbendoverherworkagain。
Theshadowmovedwiththesun，butshenevermovedfromhisside，excepttowaituponhim。Thesunwentdownandshewasstillthere。Shehaddoneherworknow，andherhand，falteringonthearmofhischairsinceitslasttendingofhim，washesitatingthereyet。Helaidhishanduponit，anditclaspedhimwithatremblingsupplication。
’DearMrClennam，ImustsaysomethingtoyoubeforeIgo。Ihaveputitofffromhourtohour，butImustsayit。’
’Itoo，dearLittleDorrit。IhaveputoffwhatImustsay。’
Shenervouslymovedherhandtowardshislipsasiftostophim；
thenitdropped，trembling，intoitsformerplace。
’Iamnotgoingabroadagain。Mybrotheris，butIamnot。Hewasalwaysattachedtome，andheissogratefultomenow——somuchtoograteful，foritisonlybecauseIhappenedtobewithhiminhisillness——thathesaysIshallbefreetostaywhereIlikebest，andtodowhatIlikebest。Heonlywishesmetobehappy，hesays。’
Therewasonebrightstarshininginthesky。ShelookedupatitWhileshespoke，asifitweretheferventpurposeofherownheartshiningaboveher。
’Youwillunderstand，Idaresay，withoutmytellingyou，thatmybrotherhascomehometofindmydearfather’swill，andtotakepossessionofhisproperty。Hesays，ifthereisawill，heissureishallbeleftrich；andifthereisnone，thathewillmakemeso。’
Hewouldhavespoken；butsheputuphertremblinghandagain，andhestopped。
’Ihavenouseformoney，Ihavenowishforit。Itwouldbeofnovalueatalltomebutforyoursake。Icouldnotberich，andyouhere。Imustalwaysbemuchworsethanpoor，withyoudistressed。
WillyouletmelendyouallIhave？Willyouletmegiveityou？
WillyouletmeshowyouthatIhaveneverforgotten，thatInevercanforget，yourprotectionofmewhenthiswasmyhome？DearMrClennam，makemeofalltheworldthehappiest，bysayingYes。
MakemeashappyasIcanbeinleavingyouhere，bysayingnothingto-night，andlettingmegoawaywiththehopethatyouwillthinkofitkindly；andthatformysake——notforyours，formine，fornobody’sbutmine!——youwillgivemethegreatestjoyIcanexperienceonearth，thejoyofknowingthatIhavebeenserviceabletoyou，andthatIhavepaidsomelittleofthegreatdebtofmyaffectionandgratitude。Ican’tsaywhatIwishtosay。Ican’tvisityouherewhereIhavelivedsolong，Ican’tthinkofyouherewhereIhaveseensomuch，andbeascalmandcomfortingasIought。Mytearswillmaketheirway。Icannotkeepthemback。Butpray，pray，pray，donotturnfromyourLittleDorrit，now，inyouraffliction!Pray，pray，pray，Ibegyouandimploreyouwithallmygrievingheart，myfriend——mydear!——takeallIhave，andmakeitaBlessingtome!’
Thestarhadshoneonherfaceuntilnow，whenherfacesankuponhishandandherown。
Ithadgrowndarkerwhenheraisedherinhisencirclingarm，andsoftlyansweredher。
’No，darlingLittleDorrit。No，mychild。Imustnothearofsuchasacrifice。Libertyandhopewouldbesodear，boughtatsuchaprice，thatIcouldneversupporttheirweight，neverbearthereproachofpossessingthem。ButwithwhatardentthankfulnessandloveIsaythis，ImaycallHeaventowitness!’
’Andyetyouwillnotletmebefaithfultoyouinyouraffliction？’
’Say，dearestLittleDorrit，andyetIwilltrytobefaithfultoyou。If，inthebygonedayswhenthiswasyourhomeandwhenthiswasyourdress，IhadunderstoodmyselfIspeakonlyofmyself
better，andhadreadthesecretsofmyownbreastmoredistinctly；
if，throughmyreserveandself-mistrust，IhaddiscernedalightthatIseebrightlynowwhenithaspassedfaraway，andmyweakfootstepscanneverovertakeit；ifIhadthenknown，andtoldyouthatIlovedandhonouredyou，notasthepoorchildIusedtocallyou，butasawomanwhosetruehandwouldraisemehighabovemyselfandmakemeafarhappierandbetterman；ifIhadsousedtheopportunitythereisnorecalling——asIwishIhad，OIwishI
had!——andifsomethinghadkeptusapartthen，whenIwasmoderatelythriving，andwhenyouwerepoor；Imighthavemetyournobleofferofyourfortune，dearestgirl，withotherwordsthanthese，andstillhaveblushedtotouchit。But，asitis，Imustnevertouchit，never!’
Shebesoughthim，morepatheticallyandearnestly，withherlittlesupplicatoryhand，thanshecouldhavedoneinanywords。
’Iamdisgracedenough，myLittleDorrit。Imustnotdescendsolowasthat，andcarryyou——sodear，sogenerous，sogood——downwithme。GODblessyou，GODrewardyou!Itispast。’Hetookherinhisarms，asifshehadbeenhisdaughter。
’Alwayssomucholder，somuchrougher，andsomuchlessworthy，evenwhatIwasmustbedismissedbybothofus，andyoumustseemeonlyasIam。Iputthispartingkissuponyourcheek，mychild——whomighthavebeenmoreneartome，whonevercouldhavebeenmoredear——aruinedmanfarremovedfromyou，foreverseparatedfromyou，whosecourseisrunwhileyoursisbutbeginning。Ihavenotthecouragetoasktobeforgottenbyyouinmyhumiliation；butIasktoberememberedonlyasIam。’
Thebellbegantoring，warningvisitorstodepart。Hetookhermantlefromthewall，andtenderlywrappeditroundher。
’Oneotherword，myLittleDorrit。Ahardonetome，butitisanecessaryone。Thetimewhenyouandthisprisonhadanythingincommonhaslonggoneby。Doyouunderstand？’
’O!youwillneversaytome，’shecried，weepingbitterly，andholdingupherclaspedhandsinentreaty，’thatIamnottocomebackanymore!Youwillsurelynotdesertmeso!’
’Iwouldsayit，ifIcould；butIhavenotthecouragequitetoshutoutthisdearface，andabandonallhopeofitsreturn。Butdonotcomesoon，donotcomeoften!Thisisnowataintedplace，andIwellknowthetaintofitclingstome。Youbelongtomuchbrighterandbetterscenes。Youarenottolookbackhere，myLittleDorrit；youaretolookawaytoverydifferentandmuchhappierpaths。Again，GODblessyouinthem!GODrewardyou!’
Maggy，whohadfallenintoverylowspirits，herecried，’Ohgethimintoahospital；dogethimintoahospital，Mother!He’llneverlooklikehisselfagain，ifhean’tgotintoahospital。Andthenthelittlewomanaswasalwaysaspinningatherwheel，shecangotothecupboardwiththePrincess，andsay，whatdoyoukeeptheChickingtherefor？andthentheycantakeitoutandgiveittohim，andthenallbehappy!’
Theinterruptionwasseasonable，forthebellhadnearlyrungitselfout。Againtenderlywrappinghermantleabouther，andtakingheronhisarmthough，butforhervisit，hewasalmosttooweaktowalk，ArthurledLittleDorritdown-stairs。ShewasthelastvisitortopassoutattheLodge，andthegatejarredheavilyandhopelesslyuponher。
WiththefuneralclangthatitsoundedintoArthur’sheart，hissenseofweaknessreturned。Itwasatoilsomejourneyup-stairstohisroom，andhere-entereditsdarksolitaryprecinctsinunutterablemisery。
Whenitwasalmostmidnight，andtheprisonhadlongbeenquiet，acautiouscreakcameupthestairs，andacautioustapofakeywasgivenathisdoor。ItwasYoungJohn。Heglidedin，inhisstockings，andheldthedoorclosed，whilehespokeinawhisper。
’It’sagainstallrules，butIdon’tmind。Iwasdeterminedtocomethrough，andcometoyou。’
’Whatisthematter？’
’Nothing’sthematter，sir。Iwaswaitinginthecourt-yardforMissDorritwhenshecameout。Ithoughtyou’dlikesomeonetoseethatshewassafe。’
’Thankyou，thankyou!Youtookherhome，John？’
’Isawhertoherhotel。ThesamethatMrDorritwasat。MissDorritwalkedalltheway，andtalkedtomesokind，itquiteknockedmeover。Whydoyouthinkshewalkedinsteadofriding？’
’Idon’tknow，John。’
’Totalkaboutyou。Shesaidtome，“John，youwasalwayshonourable，andifyou’llpromisemethatyouwilltakecareofhim，andneverlethimwantforhelpandcomfortwhenIamnotthere，mymindwillbeatrestsofar。“Ipromisedher。AndI’llstandbyyou，’saidJohnChivery，’forever!’
Clennam，muchaffected，stretchedouthishandtothishonestspirit。
’BeforeItakeit，’saidJohn，lookingatit，withoutcomingfromthedoor，’guesswhatmessageMissDorritgaveme。’
Clennamshookhishead。
’“Tellhim，“’repeatedJohn，inadistinct，thoughquaveringvoice，’“thathisLittleDorritsenthimherundyinglove。“Nowit’sdelivered。HaveIbeenhonourable，sir？’
’Very，very!’
’WillyoutellMissDorritI’vebeenhonourable，sir？’
’Iwillindeed。’
’There’smyhand，sir，’saidjohn，’andI’llstandbyyouforever!’
Afteraheartysqueeze，hedisappearedwiththesamecautiouscreakuponthestair，creptshoelessoverthepavementoftheyard，and，lockingthegatesbehindhim，passedoutintothefrontwherehehadlefthisshoes。Ifthesamewayhadbeenpavedwithburningploughshares，itisnotatallimprobablethatJohnwouldhavetraverseditwiththesamedevotion，forthesamepurpose。