’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。’