GoneOnahealthyautumnday，theMarshalseaprisoner，weakbutotherwiserestored，satlisteningtoavoicethatreadtohim。Onahealthyautumnday；whenthegoldenfieldshadbeenreapedandploughedagain，whenthesummerfruitshadripenedandwaned，whenthegreenperspectivesofhopshadbeenlaidlowbythebusypickers，whentheapplesclusteringintheorchardswererusset，andtheberriesofthemountainashwerecrimsonamongtheyellowingfoliage。Alreadyinthewoods，glimpsesofthehardywinterthatwascomingweretobecaughtthroughunaccustomedopeningsamongtheboughswheretheprospectshonedefinedandclear，freefromthebloomofthedrowsysummerweather，whichhadrestedonitasthebloomliesontheplum。So，fromtheseashoretheoceanwasnolongertobeseenlyingasleepintheheat，butitsthousandsparklingeyeswereopen，anditswholebreadthwasinjoyfulanimation，fromthecoolsandonthebeachtothelittlesailsonthehorizon，driftingawaylikeautumn-tintedleavesthathaddriftedfromthetrees。
Changelessandbarren，lookingignorantlyatalltheseasonswithitsfixed，pinchedfaceofpovertyandcare，theprisonhadnotatouchofanyofthesebeautiesonit。Blossomwhatwould，itsbricksandbarsboreuniformlythesamedeadcrop。YetClennam，listeningtothevoiceasitreadtohim，heardinitallthatgreatNaturewasdoing，heardinitallthesoothingsongsshesingstoman。AtnoMother’skneebuthershadheeverdweltinhisyouthonhopefulpromises，onplayfulfancies，ontheharvestsoftendernessandhumilitythatliehiddenintheearly-fosteredseedsoftheimagination；ontheoaksofretreatfromblightingwinds，thathavethegermsoftheirstrongrootsinnurseryacorns。
But，inthetonesofthevoicethatreadtohim，therewerememoriesofanoldfeelingofsuchthings，andechoesofeverymercifulandlovingwhisperthathadeverstolentohiminhislife。
Whenthevoicestopped，heputhishandoverhiseyes，murmuringthatthelightwasstronguponthem。
LittleDorritputthebookby，andpresentlyarosequietlytoshadethewindow。Maggysatatherneedleworkinheroldplace。Thelightsoftened，LittleDorritbroughtherchairclosertohisside。
’Thiswillsoonbeovernow，dearMrClennam。NotonlyareMrDoyce’sletterstoyousofulloffriendshipandencouragement，butMrRuggsayshisletterstohimaresofullofhelp，andthateverybodynowalittleangerispastissoconsiderate，andspeakssowellofyou，thatitwillsoonbeovernow。’
’Deargirl。Dearheart。Goodangel!’
’Youpraisemefartoomuch。Andyetitissuchanexquisitepleasuretometohearyouspeaksofeelingly，andto——andtosee，’
saidLittleDorrit，raisinghereyestohis，’howdeeplyyoumeanit，thatIcannotsayDon’t。’
Heliftedherhandtohislips。
’Youhavebeenheremany，manytimes，whenIhavenotseenyou，LittleDorrit？’
’Yes，IhavebeenheresometimeswhenIhavenotcomeintotheroom。’
’Veryoften？’
’Ratheroften，’saidLittleDorrit，timidly。
’Everyday？’
’Ithink，’saidLittleDorrit，afterhesitating，’thatIhavebeenhereatleasttwiceeveryday。’
Hemighthavereleasedthelittlelighthandafterferventlykissingitagain；butthat，withaverygentlelingeringwhereitwas，itseemedtocourtbeingretained。Hetookitinbothofhis，anditlaysoftlyonhisbreast。
’DearLittleDorrit，itisnotmyimprisonmentonlythatwillsoonbeover。Thissacrificeofyoumustbeended。Wemustlearntopartagain，andtotakeourdifferentwayssowideasunder。Youhavenotforgottenwhatwesaidtogether，whenyoucameback？’
’Ono，Ihavenotforgottenit。Butsomethinghasbeen——Youfeelquitestrongto-day，don’tyou？’
’Quitestrong。’
Thehandheheldcreptupalittlenearerhisface。
’DoyoufeelquitestrongenoughtoknowwhatagreatfortuneI
havegot？’
’Ishallbeverygladtobetold。NofortunecanbetoogreatorgoodforLittleDorrit。’
’Ihavebeenanxiouslywaitingtotellyou。Ihavebeenlongingandlongingtotellyou。Youaresureyouwillnottakeit？’
’Never!’
’Youarequitesureyouwillnottakehalfofit？’
’Never，dearLittleDorrit!’
Asshelookedathimsilently，therewassomethinginheraffectionatefacethathedidnotquitecomprehend：somethingthatcouldhavebrokenintotearsinamoment，andyetthatwashappyandproud。
’YouwillbesorrytohearwhatIhavetotellyouaboutFanny。
PoorFannyhaslosteverything。Shehasnothingleftbutherhusband’sincome。Allthatpapagaveherwhenshemarriedwaslostasyourmoneywaslost。Itwasinthesamehands，anditisallgone。’
Arthurwasmoreshockedthansurprisedtohearit。’Ihadhopeditmightnotbesobad，’hesaid：’butIhadfearedaheavylossthere，knowingtheconnectionbetweenherhusbandandthedefaulter。’
’Yes。Itisallgone。IamverysorryforFanny；very，very，verysorryforpoorFanny。Mypoorbrothertoo!’
’Hadhepropertyinthesamehands？’
’Yes!Andit’sallgone——Howmuchdoyouthinkmyowngreatfortuneis？’
AsArthurlookedatherinquiringly，withanewapprehensiononhim，shewithdrewherhand，andlaidherfacedownonthespotwhereithadrested。
’Ihavenothingintheworld。IamaspooraswhenIlivedhere。
WhenpapacameovertoEngland，heconfidedeverythinghehadtothesamehands，anditisallsweptaway。Omydearestandbest，areyouquitesureyouwillnotsharemyfortunewithmenow？’
Lockedinhisarms，heldtohisheart，withhismanlytearsuponherowncheek，shedrewtheslighthandroundhisneck，andclaspeditinitsfellow-hand。
’Nevertopart，mydearestArthur；neveranymore，untilthelast!
Ineverwasrichbefore，Ineverwasproudbefore，Ineverwashappybefore，Iamrichinbeingtakenbyyou，Iamproudinhavingbeenresignedbyyou，Iamhappyinbeingwithyouinthisprison，asIshouldbehappyincomingbacktoitwithyou，ifitshouldbethewillofGOD，andcomfortingandservingyouwithallmyloveandtruth。Iamyoursanywhere，everywhere!Iloveyoudearly!
Iwouldratherpassmylifeherewithyou，andgooutdaily，workingforourbread，thanIwouldhavethegreatestfortunethateverwastold，andbethegreatestladythateverwashonoured。O，ifpoorpapamayonlyknowhowblestatlastmyheartis，inthisroomwherehesufferedforsomanyyears!’
Maggyhadofcoursebeenstaringfromthefirst，andhadofcoursebeencryinghereyesoutlongbeforethis。Maggywasnowsooverjoyedthat，afterhuggingherlittlemotherwithallhermight，shewentdown-stairslikeaclog-hornpipetofindsomebodyorothertowhomtoimparthergladness。WhomshouldMaggymeetbutFloraandMrF。’sAuntopportunelycomingin？Andwhomelse，asaconsequenceofthatmeeting，shouldLittleDorritfindwaitingforherself，when，agoodtwoorthreehoursafterwards，shewentout？
Flora’seyeswerealittlered，andsheseemedratheroutofspirits。MrF。’sAuntwassostiffenedthatshehadtheappearanceofbeingpastbendingbyanymeansshortofpowerfulmechanicalpressure。Herbonnetwascockedupbehindinaterrificmanner；
andherstonyreticulewasasrigidasifithadbeenpetrifiedbytheGorgon’shead，andhadgotitatthatmomentinside。Withtheseimposingattributes，MrF。’sAunt，publiclyseatedonthestepsoftheMarshal’sofficialresidence，hadbeenforthetwoorthreehoursinquestionagreatboontotheyoungerinhabitantsoftheBorough，whosesalliesofhumourshehadconsiderablyflushedherselfbyresentingatthepointofherumbrella，fromtimetotime。
’Painfullyaware，MissDorrit，Iamsure，’saidFlora，’thattoproposeanadjournmenttoanyplacetoonesofarremovedbyfortuneandsocourtedandcaressedbythebestsocietymusteverappearintrudingevenifnotapie-shopfarbelowyourpresentsphereandaback-parlourthoughacivilmanbutifforthesakeofArthur——cannotovercomeitmoreimpropernowthaneverlateDoyceandClennam——onelastremarkImightwishtomakeonelastexplanationImightwishtoofferperhapsyourgoodnaturemightexcuseunderpretenceofthreekidneyonesthehumbleplaceofconversation。’
Rightlyinterpretingthisratherobscurespeech，LittleDorritreturnedthatshewasquiteatFlora’sdisposition。Floraaccordinglyledthewayacrosstheroadtothepie-shopinquestion：MrF。’sAuntstalkingacrossintherear，andputtingherselfinthewayofbeingrunover，withaperseveranceworthyofabettercause。
Whenthe’threekidneyones，’whichweretobeablindtotheconversation，weresetbeforethemonthreelittletinplatters，eachkidneyoneornamentedwithaholeatthetop，intowhichthecivilmanpouredhotgravyoutofaspoutedcanasifhewerefeedingthreelamps，Floratookoutherpocket-handkerchief。
’IfFancy’sfairdreams，’shebegan，’haveeverpicturedthatwhenArthur——cannotovercomeitprayexcuseme——wasrestoredtofreedomevenapieasfarfromflakyasthepresentandsodeficientinkidneyastobeinthatrespectlikeamincednutmegmightnotproveunacceptableifofferedbythehandoftrueregardsuchvisionshaveforeverfledandalliscancelledbutbeingawarethattenderrelationsareincontemplationbegtostatethatI
heartilywishwelltobothandfindnofaultwitheithernottheleast，itmaybewitheringtoknowthaterethehandofTimehadmadememuchlessslimthanformerlyanddreadfullyredontheslightestexertionparticularlyaftereatingIwellknowwhenittakestheformofarash，itmighthavebeenandwasnotthroughtheinterruptionofparentsandmentaltorporsucceededuntilthemysteriouscluewasheldbyMrF。stillIwouldnotbeungeneroustoeitherandIheartilywishwelltoboth。’
LittleDorrittookherhand，andthankedherforallheroldkindness。
’Callitnotkindness，’returnedFlora，givingheranhonestkiss，’foryoualwayswerethebestanddearestlittlethingthateverwasifImaytakethelibertyandeveninamoneypointofviewasavingbeingConscienceitselfthoughImustaddmuchmoreagreeablethanmineeverwastomeforthoughnotIhopemoreburdenedthanotherpeople’syetIhavealwaysfounditfarreadiertomakeoneuncomfortablethancomfortableandevidentlytakingagreaterpleasureindoingitbutIamwandering，onehopeIwishtoexpressereyettheclosingscenedrawsinanditisthatIdotrustforthesakeofoldtimesandoldsinceritythatArthurwillknowthatIdidn’tdeserthiminhismisfortunesbutthatIcamebackwardsandforwardsconstantlytoaskifIcoulddoanythingforhimandthatIsatinthepie-shopwheretheyverycivillyfetchedsomethingwarminatumblerfromthehotelandreallyverynicehoursafterhourstokeephimcompanyoverthewaywithouthisknowingit。’
Florareallyhadtearsinhereyesnow，andtheyshowedhertogreatadvantage。
’Overandabovewhich，’saidFlora，’Iearnestlybegyouasthedearestthingthateverwasifyou’llstillexcusethefamiliarityfromonewhomovesinverydifferentcirclestoletArthurunderstandthatIdon’tknowafterallwhetheritwasn’tallnonsensebetweenusthoughpleasantatthetimeandtryingtooandcertainlyMrF。didworkachangeandthespellbeingbrokennothingcouldbeexpectedtotakeplacewithoutweavingitafreshwhichvariouscircumstanceshavecombinedtopreventofwhichperhapsnottheleastpowerfulwasthatitwasnottobe，IamnotpreparedtosaythatifithadbeenagreeabletoArthurandhadbroughtitselfaboutnaturallyinthefirstinstanceIshouldnothavebeenverygladbeingofalivelydispositionandmopedathomewherepapaundoubtedlyisthemostaggravatingofhissexandnotimprovedsincehavingbeencutdownbythehandoftheIncendiaryintosomethingofwhichIneversawthecounterpartinallmylifebutjealousyisnotmycharacternorill-willthoughmanyfaults。’
WithouthavingbeenablecloselytofollowMrsFinchingthroughthislabyrinth，LittleDorritunderstooditspurpose，andcordiallyacceptedthetrust。
’Thewitheredchapletmydear，’saidFlora，withgreatenjoyment，’isthenperishedthecolumniscrumbledandthepyramidisstandingupsidedownuponitswhat’s-his-namecallitnotgiddinesscallitnotweaknesscallitnotfollyImustnowretireintoprivacyandlookupontheashesofdepartedjoysnomorebuttakingafurtherlibertyofpayingforthepastrywhichhasformedthehumblepretextofourinterviewwillforeversayAdieu!’
MrF。’sAunt，whohadeatenherpiewithgreatsolemnity，andwhohadbeenelaboratingsomegrievousschemeofinjuryinhermindsinceherfirstassumptionofthatpublicpositionontheMarshal’ssteps，tookthepresentopportunityofaddressingthefollowingSibyllicapostrophetotherelictofherlatenephew。
’Bringhimfor’ard，andI’llchuckhimouto’winder!’
Floratriedinvaintosoothetheexcellentwomanbyexplainingthattheyweregoinghometodinner。MrF。’sAuntpersistedinreplying，’Bringhimfor’ardandI’llchuckhimouto’winder!’
Havingreiteratedthisdemandanimmensenumberoftimes，withasustainedglareofdefianceatLittleDorrit，MrF。’sAuntfoldedherarms，andsatdowninthecornerofthepie-shopparlour；
steadfastlyrefusingtobudgeuntilsuchtimeas’he’shouldhavebeen’broughtfor’ard，’andthechuckingportionofhisdestinyaccomplished。
Inthisconditionofthings，FloraconfidedtoLittleDorritthatshehadnotseenMrF。’sAuntsofulloflifeandcharacterforweeks；thatshewouldfinditnecessarytoremainthere’hoursperhaps，’untiltheinexorableoldladycouldbesoftened；andthatshecouldmanageherbestalone。Theyparted，therefore，inthefriendliestmanner，andwiththekindestfeelingonbothsides。