MrsFlintwinchgoesonDreamingThehouseinthecitypreserveditsheavydulnessthroughallthesetransactions，andtheinvalidwithinitturnedthesameunvaryingroundoflife。Morning，noon，andnight，morning，noon，andnight，eachrecurringwithitsaccompanyingmonotony，alwaysthesamereluctantreturnofthesamesequencesofmachinery，likeadraggingpieceofclockwork。
　　Thewheeledchairhaditsassociatedremembrancesandreveries，onemaysuppose，aseveryplacethatismadethestationofahumanbeinghas。Picturesofdemolishedstreetsandalteredhouses，astheyformerlywerewhentheoccupantofthechairwasfamiliarwiththem，imagesofpeopleastheytoousedtobe，withlittleornoallowancemadeforthelapseoftimesincetheywereseen；ofthese，theremusthavebeenmanyinthelongroutineofgloomydays。Tostoptheclockofbusyexistenceatthehourwhenwewerepersonallysequesteredfromit，tosupposemankindstrickenmotionlesswhenwewerebroughttoastand-still，tobeunabletomeasurethechangesbeyondourviewbyanylargerstandardthantheshrunkenoneofourownuniformandcontractedexistence，istheinfirmityofmanyinvalids，andthementalunhealthinessofalmostallrecluses。
　　Whatscenesandactorsthesternwomanmostreviewed，asshesatfromseasontoseasoninheronedarkroom，noneknewbutherself。
　　MrFlintwinch，withhiswrypresencebroughttobearuponherdailylikesomeeccentricmechanicalforce，wouldperhapshavescreweditoutofher，iftherehadbeenlessresistanceinher；butshewastoostrongforhim。SofarasMistressAfferywasconcerned，toregardherliege-lordandherdisabledmistresswithafaceofblankwonder，togoaboutthehouseafterdarkwithherapronoverherhead，alwaystolistenforthestrangenoisesandsometimestohearthem，andnevertoemergefromherghostly，dreamy，sleep-
　　wakingstate，wasoccupationenoughforher。
　　Therewasafairstrokeofbusinessdoing，asMistressAfferymadeout，forherhusbandhadabundantoccupationinhislittleoffice，andsawmorepeoplethanhadbeenusedtocomethereforsomeyears。Thismighteasilybe，thehousehavingbeenlongdeserted；
　　buthedidreceiveletters，andcomers，andkeepbooks，andcorrespond。Moreover，hewentabouttoothercounting-houses，andtowharves，anddocks，andtotheCustomHouse，’andtoGarraway’sCoffeeHouse，andtheJerusalemCoffeeHouse，andon’Change；sothathewasmuchinandout。Hebegan，too，sometimesofanevening，whenMrsClennamexpressednoparticularwishforhissociety，toresorttoatavernintheneighbourhoodtolookattheshippingnewsandclosingpricesintheeveningpaper，andeventoexchangeSmallsocialitieswithmercantileSeaCaptainswhofrequentedthatestablishment。Atsomeperiodofeveryday，heandMrsClennamheldacouncilonmattersofbusiness；anditappearedtoAffery，whowasalwaysgropingabout，listeningandwatching，thatthetwocleveronesweremakingmoney。
　　ThestateofmindintowhichMrFlintwinch’sdazedladyhadfallen，hadnowbeguntobesoexpressedinallherlooksandactionsthatshewasheldinverylowaccountbythetwocleverones，asaperson，neverofstrongintellect，whowasbecomingfoolish。
　　Perhapsbecauseherappearancewasnotofacommercialcast，orperhapsbecauseitoccurredtohimthathishavingtakenhertowifemightexposehisjudgmenttodoubtinthemindsofcustomers，MrFlintwinchlaidhiscommandsuponherthatsheshouldholdherpeaceonthesubjectofherconjugalrelations，andshouldnolongercallhimJeremiahoutofthedomestictrio。Herfrequentforgetfulnessofthisadmonitionintensifiedherstartledmanner，sinceMrFlintwinch’shabitofavenginghimselfonherremissnessbymakingspringsafterheronthestaircase，andshakingher，occasionedhertobealwaysnervouslyuncertainwhenshemightbethuswaylaidnext。
　　LittleDorrithadfinishedalongday’sworkinMrsClennam’sroom，andwasneatlygatheringuphershredsandoddsandendsbeforegoinghome。MrPancks，whomAfferyhadjustshownin，wasaddressinganinquirytoMrsClennamonthesubjectofherhealth，coupledwiththeremarkthat，’happeningtofindhimselfinthatdirection，’hehadlookedintoinquire，onbehalfofhisproprietor，howshefoundherself。MrsClennam，withadeepcontractionofherbrows，waslookingathim。
　　’MrCasbyknows，’saidshe，’thatIamnotsubjecttochanges。ThechangethatIawaithereisthegreatchange。’
　　’Indeed，ma’am？’returnedMrPancks，withawanderingeyetowardsthefigureofthelittleseamstressonherkneepickingthreadsandfrayingofherworkfromthecarpet。’Youlooknicely，ma’am。’
　　’IbearwhatIhavetobear，’sheanswered。’Doyouwhatyouhavetodo。’
　　’Thankyou，ma’am，’saidMrPancks，’suchismyendeavour。’
　　’Youareofteninthisdirection，areyounot？’askedMrsClennam。
　　’Why，yes，ma’am，’saidPancks，’rathersolately；Ihavelatelybeenroundthiswayagooddeal，owingtoonethingandanother。’
　　’BegMrCasbyandhisdaughternottotroublethemselves，bydeputy，aboutme。Whentheywishtoseeme，theyknowIamheretoseethem。Theyhavenoneedtotroublethemselvestosend。Youhavenoneedtotroubleyourselftocome。’
　　’Nottheleasttrouble，ma’am，’saidMrPancks。’Youreallyarelookinguncommonlynicely，ma’am。’
　　’Thankyou。Goodevening。’
　　Thedismissal，anditsaccompanyingfingerpointedstraightatthedoor，wassocurtanddirectthatMrPancksdidnotseehiswaytoprolonghisvisit。Hestirreduphishairwithhissprightliestexpression，glancedatthelittlefigureagain，said’Goodevening，ma’am；don’tcomedown，MrsAffery，Iknowtheroadtothedoor，’
　　andsteamedout。MrsClennam，herchinrestingonherhand，followedhimwithattentiveanddarklydistrustfuleyes；andAfferystoodlookingatherasifshewerespell-bound。
　　Slowlyandthoughtfully，MrsClennam’seyesturnedfromthedoorbywhichPanckshadgoneout，toLittleDorrit，risingfromthecarpet。Withherchindroopingmoreheavilyonherhand，andhereyesvigilantandlowering，thesickwomansatlookingatheruntilsheattractedherattention。LittleDorritcolouredundersuchagaze，andlookeddown。MrsClennamstillsatintent。
　　’LittleDorrit，’shesaid，whensheatlastbrokesilence，’whatdoyouknowofthatman？’
　　’Idon’tknowanythingofhim，ma’am，exceptthatIhaveseenhimabout，andthathehasspokentome。’
　　’Whathashesaidtoyou？’
　　’Idon’tunderstandwhathehassaid，heissostrange。Butnothingroughordisagreeable。’
　　’Whydoeshecomeheretoseeyou？’
　　’Idon’tknow，ma’am，’saidLittleDorrit，withperfectfrankness。
　　’Youknowthathedoescomeheretoseeyou？’
　　’Ihavefanciedso，’saidLittleDorrit。’Butwhyheshouldcomehereoranywhereforthat，ma’am，Ican’tthink。’
　　MrsClennamcasthereyestowardstheground，andwithherstrong，setface，asintentuponasubjectinhermindasithadlatelybeenupontheformthatseemedtopassoutofherview，satabsorbed。Someminuteselapsedbeforeshecameoutofthisthoughtfulness，andresumedherhardcomposure。
　　LittleDorritinthemeanwhilehadbeenwaitingtogo，butafraidtodisturbherbymoving。Shenowventuredtoleavethespotwhereshehadbeenstandingsinceshehadrisen，andtopassgentlyroundbythewheeledchair。Shestoppedatitssidetosay’Goodnight，ma’am。’
　　MrsClennamputoutherhand，andlaiditonherarm。LittleDorrit，confusedunderthetouch，stoodfaltering。PerhapssomemomentaryrecollectionofthestoryofthePrincessmayhavebeeninhermind。
　　’Tellme，LittleDorrit，’saidMrsClennam，’haveyoumanyfriendsnow？’
　　’Veryfew，ma’am。Besidesyou，onlyMissFloraand——onemore。’
　　’Meaning，’saidMrsClennam，withherunbentfingeragainpointingtothedoor，’thatman？’
　　’Ohno，ma’am!’
　　’Somefriendofhis，perhaps？’
　　’Noma’am。’LittleDorritearnestlyshookherhead。’Ohno!Nooneatalllikehim，orbelongingtohim。’
　　’Well!’saidMrsClennam，almostsmiling。’Itisnoaffairofmine。Iask，becauseItakeaninterestinyou；andbecauseI
　　believeIwasyourfriendwhenyouhadnootherwhocouldserveyou。Isthatso？’
　　’Yes，ma’am；indeeditis。Ihavebeenheremanyatimewhen，butforyouandtheworkyougaveme，weshouldhavewantedeverything。’
　　’We，’repeatedMrsClennam，lookingtowardsthewatch，onceherdeadhusband’s，whichalwayslayuponhertable。’Aretheremanyofyou？’
　　’OnlyfatherandI，now。Imean，onlyfatherandItokeepregularlyoutofwhatweget。’
　　’Haveyouundergonemanyprivations？Youandyourfatherandwhoelsetheremaybeofyou？’askedMrsClennam，speakingdeliberately，andmeditativelyturningthewatchoverandover。
　　’Sometimesithasbeenratherhardtolive，’saidLittleDorrit，inhersoftvoice，andtimiduncomplainingway；’butIthinknotharder——astothat——thanmanypeoplefindit。’
　　’That’swellsaid!’MrsClennamquicklyreturned。’That’sthetruth!Youareagood，thoughtfulgirl。Youareagratefulgirltoo，orImuchmistakeyou。’
　　’Itisonlynaturaltobethat。Thereisnomeritinbeingthat，’
　　saidLittleDorrit。’Iamindeed。’
　　MrsClennam，withagentlenessofwhichthedreamingAfferyhadneverdreamedhertobecapable，drewdownthefaceofherlittleseamstress，andkissedherontheforehead。’Nowgo，LittleDorrit，’saidshe，’oryouwillbelate，poorchild!’
　　InallthedreamsMistressAfferyhadbeenpilingupsinceshefirstbecamedevotedtothepursuit，shehaddreamednothingmoreastonishingthanthis。HerheadachedwiththeideathatshewouldfindtheothercleveronekissingLittleDorritnext，andthenthetwocleveronesembracingeachotheranddissolvingintotearsoftendernessforallmankind。Theideaquitestunnedher，assheattendedthelightfootstepsdownthestairs，thatthehousedoormightbesafelyshut。
　　OnopeningittoletLittleDorritout，shefoundMrPancks，insteadofhavinggonehisway，asinanylesswonderfulplaceandamonglesswonderfulphenomenahemighthavebeenreasonablyexpectedtodo，flutteringupanddownthecourtoutsidethehouse。
　　ThemomenthesawLittleDorrit，hepassedherbriskly，saidwithhisfingertohisnoseasMrsAfferydistinctlyheard，’Pancksthegipsy，fortune-telling，’andwentaway。’Lordsaveus，here’sagipsyandafortune-tellerinitnow!’criedMistressAffery。
　　’Whatnext!Shestoodattheopendoor，staggeringherselfwiththisenigma，onarainy，thunderyevening。Thecloudswereflyingfast，andthewindwascomingupingusts，bangingsomeneighbouringshuttersthathadbrokenloose，twirlingtherustychimney-cowlsandweather-cocks，andrushingroundandroundaconfinedadjacentchurchyardasifithadamindtoblowthedeadcitizensoutoftheirgraves。Thelowthunder，mutteringinallquartersoftheskyatonce，seemedtothreatenvengeanceforthisattempteddesecration，andtomutter，’Letthemrest!Letthemrest!’