don’tcareforyourpresenteyes。Now，Iamcomingtothepaper，andmarkwhatIsay。Youputitawaysomewhere，andyoukeptyourowncounselwhere。You’reanactivewomanatthattime，andifyouwanttogetthatpaper，youcangetit。But，mark。Therecomesatimewhenyouarestruckintowhatyouarenow，andthenifyouwanttogetthatpaper，youcan’tgetit。Soitlies，longyears，initshiding-place。Atlast，whenweareexpectingArthurhomeeveryday，andwhenanydaymaybringhimhome，andit’simpossibletosaywhatrummaginghemaymakeaboutthehouse，Irecommendyoufivethousandtimes，ifyoucan’tgetatit，toletmegetatit，thatitmaybeputinthefire。Butno——noonebutyouknowswhereitis，andthat’spower；and，callyourselfwhateverhumblenamesyouwill，IcallyouafemaleLuciferinappetiteforpower!OnaSundaynight，Arthurcomeshome。Hehasnotbeeninthisroomtenminutes，whenhespeaksofhisfather’swatch。YouknowverywellthattheDoNotForget，atthetimewhenhisfathersentthatwatchtoyou，couldonlymean，therestofthestorybeingthenalldeadandover，DoNotForgetthesuppression。Makerestitution!
Arthur’swayshavefrightenedyouabit，andthepapershallbeburntafterall。So，beforethatjumpingjadeandJezebel，’MrFlintwinchgrinnedathiswife，’hasgotyouintobed，youatlasttellmewhereyouhaveputthepaper，amongtheoldledgersinthecellars，whereArthurhimselfwentprowlingtheverynextmorning。
Butit’snottobeburntonaSundaynight。No；youarestrict，youare；wemustwaitovertwelveo’clock，andgetintoMonday。
Now，allthisisaswallowingofmeupalivethatraspsme；so，feelingalittleoutoftemper，andnotbeingasstrictasyourself，Itakealookatthedocumentbeforetwelveo’clocktorefreshmymemoryastoitsappearance——folduponeofthemanyyellowoldpapersinthecellarslikeit——andafterwards，whenwehavegotintoMondaymorning，andIhave，bythelightofyourlamp，towalkfromyou，lyingonthatbed，tothisgrate，makealittleexchangeliketheconjuror，andburnaccordingly。MybrotherEphraim，thelunatic-keeperIwishhehadhadhimselftokeepinastrait-waistcoat，hadhadmanyjobssincethecloseofthelongjobhegotfromyou，buthadnotdonewell。Hiswifediednotthatthatwasmuch；minemighthavediedinstead，andwelcome，hespeculatedunsuccessfullyinlunatics，hegotintodifficultyaboutover-roastingapatienttobringhimtoreason，andhegotintodebt。Hewasgoingoutoftheway，onwhathehadbeenabletoscrapeup，andatriflefromme。HewasherethatearlyMondaymorning，waitingforthetide；inshort，hewasgoingtoAntwerp，whereIamafraidyou’llbeshockedatmysaying，Andbedamnedtohim!hemadetheacquaintanceofthisgentleman。Hehadcomealongway，and，Ithoughtthen，wasonlysleepy；but，I
supposenow，wasdrunk。WhenArthur’smotherhadbeenunderthecareofhimandhiswife，shehadbeenalwayswriting，incessantlywriting，——mostlylettersofconfessiontoyou，andPrayersforforgiveness。Mybrotherhadhanded，fromtimetotime，lotsofthesesheetstome。IthoughtImightaswellkeepthemtomyselfashavethemswallowedupalivetoo；soIkepttheminabox，lookingoverthemwhenIfeltinthehumour。Convincedthatitwasadvisabletogetthepaperoutoftheplace，withArthurcomingaboutit，Iputitintothissamebox，andIlockedthewholeupwithtwolocks，andItrustedittomybrothertotakeawayandkeep，tillIshouldwriteaboutit。Ididwriteaboutit，andnevergotananswer。Ididn’tknowwhattomakeofit，tillthisgentlemanfavoureduswithhisfirstvisit。Ofcourse，Ibegantosuspecthowitwas，then；andIdon’twanthiswordforitnowtounderstandhowhegetshisknowledgefrommypapers，andyourpaper，andmybrother’scognacandtobaccotalkIwishhe’dhadtogaghimself。Now，Ihaveonlyonethingmoretosay，youhammer-
headedwoman，andthatis，thatIhaven’taltogethermadeupmymindwhetherImight，ormightnot，haveevergivenyouanytroubleaboutthecodicil。Ithinknot；andthatIshouldhavebeenquitesatisfiedwithknowingIhadgotthebetterofyou，andthatIheldthepoweroveryou。Inthepresentstateofcircumstances，Ihavenomoreexplanationtogiveyoutillthistimeto-morrownight。Soyoumayaswell，’saidMrFlintwinch，terminatinghisorationwithascrew，’keepyoureyesopenatsomebodyelse，forit’snousekeeping’emopenatme。’
Sheslowlywithdrewthemwhenhehadceased，anddroppedherforeheadonherhand。Herotherhandpressedharduponthetable，andagainthecuriousstirwasobservableinher，asifsheweregoingtorise。
’Thisboxcanneverbring，elsewhere，thepriceitwillbringhere。
Thisknowledgecanneverbeofthesameprofittoyou，soldtoanyotherperson，assoldtome。ButIhavenotthepresentmeansofraisingthesumyouhavedemanded。Ihavenotprospered。Whatwillyoutakenow，andwhatatanothertime，andhowamItobeassuredofyoursilence？’
’Myangel，’saidRigaud，’IhavesaidwhatIwilltake，andtimepresses。Beforecominghere，Iplacedcopiesofthemostimportantofthesepapersinanotherhand。PutoffthetimetilltheMarshalseagateshallbeshutforthenight，anditwillbetoolatetotreat。Theprisonerwillhavereadthem。’
Sheputhertwohandstoherheadagain，utteredaloudexclamation，andstartedtoherfeet。Shestaggeredforamoment，asifshewouldhavefallen；thenstoodfirm。
’Saywhatyoumean。Saywhatyoumean，man!’
Beforeherghostlyfigure，solongunusedtoitserectattitude，andsostiffenedinit，Rigaudfellbackanddroppedhisvoice。Itwas，toallthethree，almostasifadeadwomanhadrisen。
’MissDorrit，’answeredRigaud，’thelittlenieceofMonsieurFrederick，whomIhaveknownacrossthewater，isattachedtotheprisoner。MissDorrit，littlenieceofMonsieurFrederick，watchesatthismomentovertheprisoner，whoisill。ForherIwithmyownhandsleftapacketattheprison，onmywayhere，withaletterofinstructions，“FORHISSAKE“——shewilldoanythingforhissake——tokeepitwithoutbreakingtheseal，incaseofitsbeingreclaimedbeforethehourofshuttingupto-night——ifitshouldnotbereclaimedbeforetheringingoftheprisonbell，togiveittohim；anditenclosesasecondcopyforherself，whichhemustgivetoher。What!Idon’ttrustmyselfamongyou，nowwehavegotsofar，withoutgivingmysecretasecondlife。Andastoitsnotbringingme，elsewhere，thepriceitwillbringhere，saythen，madame，haveyoulimitedandsettledthepricethelittleniecewillgive——forhissake——tohushitup？OncemoreIsay，timepresses。Thepacketnotreclaimedbeforetheringingofthebellto-night，youcannotbuy。Isell，then，tothelittlegirl!’
Oncemorethestirandstruggleinher，andsherantoacloset，torethedooropen，tookdownahoodorshawl，andwrappeditoverherhead。Affery，whohadwatchedherinterror，dartedtoherinthemiddleoftheroom，caughtholdofherdress，andwentonherkneestoher。
’Don’t，don’t，don’t!Whatareyoudoing？Whereareyougoing？
You’reafearfulwoman，butIdon’tbearyounoill-will。IcandopoorArthurnogoodnow，thatIsee；andyouneedn’tbeafraidofme。I’llkeepyoursecret。Don’tgoout，you’llfalldeadinthestreet。Onlypromiseme，that，ifit’sthepoorthingthat’skeptheresecretly，you’llletmetakechargeofherandbehernurse。
Onlypromisemethat，andneverbeafraidofme。’
MrsClennamstoodstillforaninstant，attheheightofherrapidhaste，sayinginsternamazement：
’Kepthere？Shehasbeendeadascoreofyearsormore。AskFlintwinch——askHIM。TheycanbothtellyouthatshediedwhenArthurwentabroad。’
’Somuchtheworse，’saidAffery，withashiver，’forshehauntsthehouse，then。Whoelserustlesaboutit，makingsignalsbydroppingdustsosoftly？Whoelsecomesandgoes，andmarksthewallswithlongcrookedtoucheswhenwearealla-bed？Whoelseholdsthedoorsometimes？Butdon’tgoout——don’tgoout!
Mistress，you’lldieinthestreet!’
Hermistressonlydisengagedherdressfromthebeseechinghands，saidtoRigaud，’WaitheretillIcomeback!’andranoutoftheroom。Theysawher，fromthewindow，runwildlythroughthecourt-
yardandoutatthegateway。
Forafewmomentstheystoodmotionless。Afferywasthefirsttomove，andshe，wringingherhands，pursuedhermistress。Next，JeremiahFlintwinch，slowlybackingtothedoor，withonehandinapocket，andtheotherrubbinghischin，twistedhimselfoutinhisreticentway，speechlessly。Rigaud，leftalone，composedhimselfuponthewindow-seatoftheopenwindow，intheoldMarseilles-jailattitude。Helaidhiscigarettesandfire-boxreadytohishand，andfelltosmoking。
’Whoof!Almostasdullastheinfernaloldjail。Warmer，butalmostasdismal。Waittillshecomesback？Yes，certainly；butwhereisshegone，andhowlongwillshebegone？Nomatter!
RigaudLagnierBlandois，myamiablesubject，youwillgetyourmoney。Youwillenrichyourself。Youhavelivedagentleman；youwilldieagentleman。Youtriumph，mylittleboy；butitisyourcharactertotriumph。Whoof!’
Inthehourofhistriumph，hismoustachewentupandhisnosecamedown，asheogledagreatbeamoverhisheadwithparticularsatisfaction。
CHAPTER31
ClosedThesunhadset，andthestreetswerediminthedustytwilight，whenthefiguresolongunusedtothemhurriedonitsway。Intheimmediateneighbourhoodoftheoldhouseitattractedlittleattention，fortherewereonlyafewstragglingpeopletonoticeit；but，ascendingfromtheriverbythecrookedwaysthatledtoLondonBridge，andpassingintothegreatmainroad，itbecamesurroundedbyastonishment。
Resoluteandwildoflook，rapidoffootandyetweakanduncertain，conspicuouslydressedinitsblackgarmentsandwithitshurriedhead-covering，gauntandofanunearthlypaleness，itpressedforward，takingnomoreheedofthethrongthanasleep-
walker。Moreremarkablebybeingsoremovedfromthecrowditwasamongthanifithadbeenliftedonapedestaltobeseen，thefigureattractedalleyes。Saunterersprickeduptheirattentiontoobserveit；busypeople，crossingit，slackenedtheirpaceandturnedtheirheads；companionspausingandstandingaside，whisperedoneanothertolookatthisspectralwomanwhowascomingby；andthesweepofthefigureasitpassedseemedtocreateavortex，drawingthemostidleandmostcuriousafterit。
Madegiddybytheturbulentirruptionofthismultitudeofstaringfacesintohercellofyears，bytheconfusingsensationofbeingintheair，andtheyetmoreconfusingsensationofbeingafoot，bytheunexpectedchangesinhalf-rememberedobjects，andthewantoflikenessbetweenthecontrollablepicturesherimaginationhadoftendrawnofthelifefromwhichshewassecludedandtheoverwhelmingrushofthereality，sheheldherwayasifshewereenvironedbydistractingthoughts，ratherthanbyexternalhumanityandobservation。But，havingcrossedthebridgeandgonesomedistancestraightonward，sherememberedthatshemustaskforadirection；anditwasonlythen，whenshestoppedandturnedtolookaboutherforapromisingplaceofinquiry，thatshefoundherselfsurroundedbyaneagerglareoffaces。
’Whyareyouencirclingme？’sheasked，trembling。
Noneofthosewhowerenearestanswered；butfromtheouterringtherearoseashrillcryof’’Causeyou’remad!’
’Iamsureassaneasanyonehere。IwanttofindtheMarshalseaprison。’
Theshrilloutercircleagainretorted，’Thenthat’udshowyouwasmadifnothingelsedid，’causeit’srightopposite!’
Ashort，mild，quiet-lookingyoungmanmadehiswaythroughtoher，asawhoopingensuedonthisreply，andsaid：’WasittheMarshalseayouwanted？I’mgoingondutythere。Comeacrosswithme。’
Shelaidherhanduponhisarm，andhetookherovertheway；thecrowd，ratherinjuredbythenearprospectoflosingher，pressingbeforeandbehindandoneitherside，andrecommendinganadjournmenttoBedlam。Afteramomentarywhirlintheoutercourt-
yard，theprison-dooropened，andshutuponthem。IntheLodge，whichseemedbycontrastwiththeouternoiseaplaceofrefugeandpeace，ayellowlampwasalreadystrivingwiththeprisonshadows。
’Why，John!’saidtheturnkeywhoadmittedthem。’Whatisit？’
’Nothing，father；onlythisladynotknowingherway，andbeingbadgeredbytheboys。Whodidyouwant，ma’am？’
’MissDorrit。Isshehere？’
Theyoungmanbecamemoreinterested。’Yes，sheishere。Whatmightyournamebe？’
’MrsClennam。’
’MrClennam’smother？’askedtheyoungman。
Shepressedherlipstogether，andhesitated。’Yes。Shehadbetterbetolditishismother。’
’Yousee，’saidtheyoungman，’theMarshal’sfamilylivinginthecountryatpresent，theMarshalhasgivenMissDorritoneoftheroomsinhishousetousewhenshelikes。Don’tyouthinkyouhadbettercomeupthere，andletmebringMissDorrit？’
Shesignifiedherassent，andheunlockedadoorandconductedherupasidestaircaseintoadwelling-houseabove。Heshowedherintoadarkeningroom，andlefther。Theroomlookeddownintothedarkeningprison-yard，withitsinmatesstrollinghereandthere，leaningoutofwindowscommuningasmuchapartastheycouldwithfriendswhoweregoingaway，andgenerallywearingouttheirimprisonmentastheybestmightthatsummerevening。Theairwasheavyandhot；theclosenessoftheplace，oppressive；andfromwithouttherearosearushoffreesounds，likethejarringmemoryofsuchthingsinaheadacheandheartache。Shestoodatthewindow，bewildered，lookingdownintothisprisonasitwereoutofherowndifferentprison，whenasoftwordortwoofsurprisemadeherstart，andLittleDorritstoodbeforeher。
’Isitpossible，MrsClennam，thatyouaresohappilyrecoveredas——’
LittleDorritstopped，fortherewasneitherhappinessnorhealthinthefacethatturnedtoher。
’Thisisnotrecovery；itisnotstrength；Idon’tknowwhatitis。’Withanagitatedwaveofherhand，sheputallthataside。
’YouhaveapacketleftwithyouwhichyouweretogivetoArthur，ifitwasnotreclaimedbeforethisplaceclosedto-night。’
’Yes。’
’Ireclaimit。’
LittleDorrittookitfromherbosom，andgaveitintoherhand，whichremainedstretchedoutafterreceivingit。
’Haveyouanyideaofitscontents？’
FrightenedbyherbeingtherewiththatnewpowerOfMovementinher，which，asshesaidherself，wasnotstrength，andwhichwasunrealtolookupon，asthoughapictureorstatuehadbeenanimated，LittleDorritanswered’No。’
’Readthem。’
LittleDorrittookthepacketfromthestilloutstretchedhand，andbroketheseal。MrsClennamthengavehertheinnerpacketthatwasaddressedtoherself，andheldtheother。Theshadowofthewallandoftheprisonbuildings，whichmadetheroomsombreatnoon，madeittoodarktoreadthere，withtheduskdeepeningapace，saveinthewindow。Inthewindow，wherealittleofthebrightsummereveningskycouldshineuponher，LittleDorritstood，andread。Afterabrokenexclamationorsoofwonderandofterror，shereadinsilence。Whenshehadfinished，shelookedround，andheroldmistressbowedherselfbeforeher。