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。