day； when the golden fields had been reaped and ploughed again； when the
summer fruits had ripened and waned； when the green perspectives of hops
had been laid low by the busy pickers； when the apples clustering in the
orchards were russet； and the berries of the mountain ash were crimson
among the yellowing foliage。 Already in the woods； glimpses of the hardy
winter that was ing were to be caught through unaccustomed openings
among the boughs where the prospect shone defined and clear； free from
the bloom of the drowsy summer weather； which had rested on it as the
bloom lies on the plum。 So； from the seashore the ocean was no longer to
be seen lying asleep in the heat； but its thousand sparkling eyes were
open； and its whole breadth was in joyful animation； from the cool sand
on the beach to the little sails on the horizon； drifting away like
autumn…tinted leaves that had drifted from the trees。 Changeless and
barren； looking ignorantly at all the seasons with its fixed； pinched
face of poverty and care； the prison had not a touch of any of these
beauties on it。 Blossom what would； its bricks and bars bore uniformly
the same dead crop。 Yet Clennam； listening to the voice as it read to
him； heard in it all that great Nature was doing； heard in it all the
soothing songs she sings to man。 At no Mother's knee but hers had he
ever dwelt in his youth on hopeful promises； on playful fancies； on
the harvests of tenderness and humility that lie hidden in the
early…fostered seeds of the imagination； on the oaks of retreat from
blighting winds； that have the germs of their strong roots in nursery
acorns。
But； in the tones of the voice that read to him； there were memories of
an old feeling of such things； and echoes of every merciful and loving
whisper that had ever stolen to him in his life。
When the voice stopped； he put his hand over his eyes； murmuring that
the light was strong upon them。
Little Dorrit put the book by； and presently arose quietly to shade
the window。 Maggy sat at her needlework in her old place。 The light
softened； Little Dorrit brought her chair closer to his side。
'This will soon be over now； dear Mr Clennam。 Not only are Mr Doyce's
letters to you so full of friendship and encouragement； but Mr Rugg says
his letters to him are so full of help； and that everybody （now a little
anger is past） is so considerate； and speaks so well of you； that it
will soon be over now。'
'Dear girl。 Dear heart。 Good angel！'
'You praise me far too much。 And yet it is such an exquisite pleasure
to me to hear you speak so feelingly； and to……and to see；' said Little
Dorrit； raising her eyes to his； 'how deeply you mean it； that I cannot
say Don't。'
He lifted her hand to his lips。
'You have been here many； many times； when I have not seen you； Little
Dorrit？'
'Yes； I have been here sometimes when I have not e into the room。'
'Very often？'
'Rather often；' said Little Dorrit； timidly。
'Every day？'
'I think；' said Little Dorrit； after hesitating； 'that I have been here
at least twice every day。' He might have released the little light hand
after fervently kissing it again； but that； with a very gentle lingering
where it was； it seemed to court being retained。 He took it in both of
his； and it lay softly on his breast。
'Dear Little Dorrit； it is not my imprisonment only that will soon be
over。 This sacrifice of you must be ended。 We must learn to part again；
and to take our different ways so wide asunder。 You have not forgotten
what we said together； when you came back？'
'O no； I have not forgotten it。 But something has been……You feel quite
strong to…day； don't you？'
'Quite strong。'
The hand he held crept up a little nearer his face。
'Do you feel quite strong enough to know what a great fortune I have
got？'
'I shall be very glad to be told。 No fortune can be too great or good
for Little Dorrit。'
'I have been anxiously waiting to tell you。 I have been longing and
longing to tell you。 You are sure you will not take it？'
'Never！'
'You are quite sure you will not take half of it？'
'Never； dear Little Dorrit！'
As she looked at him silently； there was something in her affectionate
face that he did not quite prehend： something that could have broken
into tears in a moment； and yet that was happy and proud。
'You will be sorry to hear what I have to tell you about Fanny。 Poor
Fanny has lost everything。 She has nothing left but her husband's
ine。 All that papa gave her when she married was lost as your money
was lost。 It was in the same hands； and it is all gone。'
Arthur was more shocked than surprised to hear it。 'I had hoped it might
not be so bad；' he said： 'but I had feared a heavy loss there； knowing
the connection between her husband and the defaulter。'
'Yes。 It is all gone。 I am very sorry for Fanny； very； very； very sorry
for poor Fanny。 My poor brother too！' 'Had he property in the same
hands？'
'Yes！ And it's all gone。……How much do you think my own great fortune
is？'
As Arthur looked at her inquiringly； with a new apprehension on him；
she withdrew her hand； and laid her face down on the spot where it had
rested。
'I have nothing in the world。 I am as poor as when I lived here。 When
papa came over to England； he confided everything he had to the same
hands； and it is all swept away。 O my dearest and best； are you quite
sure you will not share my fortune with me now？'
Locked in his arms； held to his heart； with his manly tears upon her own
cheek； she drew the slight hand round his neck； and clasped it in its
fellow…hand。
'Never to part； my dearest Arthur； never any more； until the last！
I never was rich before； I never was proud before； I never was happy
before； I am rich in being taken by you； I am proud in having been
resigned by you； I am happy in being with you in this prison； as I
should be happy in ing back to it with you； if it should be the will
of GOD； and forting and serving you with all my love and truth。 I am
yours anywhere； everywhere！ I love you dearly！ I would rather pass my
life here with you； and go out daily； working for our bread； than I
would have the greatest fortune that ever was told； and be the greatest
lady that ever was honoured。 O； if poor papa may only know how blest at
last my heart is； in this room where he suffered for so many years！'
Maggy had of course been staring from the first； and had of course been
crying her eyes out long before this。 Maggy was now so overjoyed that；
after hugging her little mother with all her might； she went down…stairs
like a clog…hornpipe to find somebody or other to whom to impart her
gladness。 Whom should Maggy meet but Flora and Mr F。's Aunt opportunely
ing in？ And eeting； should
Little Dorrit find waiting for herself； when； a good two or three hours
afterwards； she went out？
Flora's eyes were a little red； and she seemed rather out of spirits。
Mr F。's Aunt was so stiffened that she had the appearance of being past
bending by any means short of powerful mechanical pressure。 Her bon
was cocked up behind in a terrific manner； and her stony reticule was as
rigid as if it had been petrified by the Gorgon's head； and had got it
at that moment inside。 With these imposing attributes； Mr F。's Aunt；
publicly seated on the steps of the Marshal's official residence； had
been for the two or three hours in question a great boon to the younger
inhabitants of the Borough； whose sallies of humour she had considerably
flushed herself by resenting at the point of her umbrella； from time to
time。
'Painfully aware； Miss Dorrit； I am sure；' said Flora； 'that to propose
an adjournment to any place to one so far removed by fortune and so
courted and caressed by the best society must ever appear intruding
even if not a pie…shop far below your present sphere and a back…parlour
though a civil man but if for the sake of Arthur……cannot overe it
more improper now than ever late Doyce and Clennam……one last remark I
might wish to make one last explanation I might wish to offer perhaps
your good nature might excuse under pretence of three kidney ones the
humble place of conversation。'
Rightly interpreting this rather obscure speech； Little Dorrit returned
that she was quite at Flora's disposition。 Flora accordingly led the
way across the road to the pie…shop in question： Mr F。's Aunt stalking
across in the rear； and putting herself in the way of being run over；
with a perseverance worthy of a better cause。
When the 'three kidney ones；' which were to be a blind to the
conversation； were set before them on three little tin platters； each
kidney one ornamented with a hole at the top； into which the civil man
poured hot gravy out of a spouted can as if he were feeding three lamps；
Flora took out her pocket…handkerchief。
'If Fancy's fair dreams；' she began； 'have ever pictured that when
Arthur……cannot overe it pray excuse me……was restored to freedom even
a pie as far from flaky as the present and so deficient in kidney as to
be in that respect like a minced nutmeg might not prove unacceptable if
offered by the hand of true regard such visions have for ever fled
and all is cancelled but being aware that tender relations are in
contemplation beg to state that I heartily wish well to both and find
no fault with either not the least； it may be withering to know that ere
the hand of Time had made me much less slim than formerly and dreadfully
red on the slightest exertion particularly after eating I well know when
it takes the form of a rash； it might have been and was not through the
interruption of parents and mental torpor succeeded until the mysterious
clue was held by Mr F。 still I would not be ungenerous to either and I
heartily wish well to both。'
Little Dorrit took her hand； and thanked her for all her old kindness。
'Call it not kindness；' returned Flora； giving her an honest kiss； 'for
you always were the best and dearest little thing that ever was if I
may take the liberty and even in a money point of view a saving being
Conscience itself though I must add much more agreeable than mine ever
was to me for though not I hope more burdened than other people's yet
I have always found it far readier to make one unfortable than
fortable and evidently taking a greater pleasure in doing it but I am
wandering； one hope I wish to express ere yet the closing scene draws
in and it is that I do trust for the sake of old times and old sincerity
that Arthur will know that I didn't desert him in his misfortunes but
that I came backwards and forwards constantly to ask if I could do
anything for him and that I sat in the pie…shop where they very civilly
fetched something warm in a tumbler from the hotel and really very nice
hours after hours to keep him pany over the way without his knowing
it。'
Flora really had tears in her eyes now； and they showed her to great
advantage。
'Over and above which；' said Flora； 'I earnestly beg you as the dearest
thing that ever was if you'll still excuse the familiarity from one who
moves in very different circles to let Arthur understand that I don't
know after all whether it wasn't all nonsense between us though pleasant
at the time and trying too and cer