keeper of a chandler's shop in a front parlour； who took in gentlemen
boarders； lent his assistance in making the bed。 He had been a tailor in
his time； and had kept a phaeton； he said。 He boasted that he stood up
litigiously for the interests of the college； and he had undefined and
undefinable ideas that the marshal intercepted a 'Fund；' which ought to
e to the collegians。 He liked to believe this； and always impressed
the shadowy grievance on new…ers and strangers； though he could not；
for his life； have explained what Fund he meant； or how the notion had
got rooted in his soul。 He had fully convinced himself； notwithstanding；
that his own proper share of the Fund was three and ninepence a week；
and that in this amount he； as an individual collegian； was swindled by
the marshal； regularly every Monday。 Apparently； he helped to make the
bed； that he might not lose an opportunity of stating this case； after
which unloading of his mind； and after announcing （as it seemed he
always did； without anything ing of it） that he was going to write a
letter to the papers and show the marshal up； he fell into miscellaneous
conversation with the rest。 It was evident from the general tone of the
whole party； that they had e to regard insolvency as the normal state
of mankind； and the payment of debts as a disease that occasionally
broke out。 In this strange scene； and with these strange spectres
flitting about him； Arthur Clennam looked on at the preparations as if
they were part of a dream。 Pending which； the long…initiated Tip； with
an awful enjoyment of the Snuggery's resources； pointed out the mon
kitchen fire maintained by subscription of collegians； the boiler for
hot water supported in like manner； and other premises generally tending
to the deduction that the way to be healthy； wealthy； and wise； was to
e to the Marshalsea。
The two tables put together in a corner； were； at length； converted into
a very fair bed； and the stranger was left to the Windsor chairs；
the presidential tribune； the beery atmosphere； sawdust； pipe…lights；
spittoons and repose。 But the last item was long； long； long； in linking
itself to the rest。 The novelty of the place； the ing upon it without
preparation； the sense of being locked up； the remembrance of that room
up…stairs； of the two brothers； and above all of the retiring childish
form； and the face in which he now saw years of insufficient food； if
not of want； kept him waking and unhappy。
Speculations； too； bearing the strangest relations towards the prison；
but always concerning the prison； ran like nightmares through his mind
while he lay awake。 Whether coffins were kept ready for people who might
die there； where they were kept； how they were kept； where people who
died in the prison were buried； how they were taken out； what forms were
observed； whether an implacable creditor could arrest the dead？ As to
escaping； what chances there were of escape？ Whether a prisoner could
scale the walls with a cord and grapple； how he would descend upon
the other side？ whether he could alight on a housetop； steal down a
staircase； let himself out at a door； and get lost in the crowd？ As to
Fire in the prison； if one were to break out while he lay there？
And these involuntary starts of fancy were； after all； but the setting
of a picture in which three people kept before him。 His father； with the
steadfast look with which he had died； prophetically darkened forth in
the portrait； his mother； with her arm up； warding off his suspicion；
Little Dorrit； with her hand on the degraded arm； and her drooping head
turned away。
What if his mother had an old reason she well knew for softening to
this poor girl！ What if the prisoner now sleeping quietly……Heaven grant
it！……by the light of the great Day of judgment should trace back his
fall to her。 What if any act of hers and of his father's； should have
even remotely brought the grey heads of those two brothers so low！
A swift thought shot into his mind。 In that long imprisonment here； and
in her own long confinement to her room； did his mother find a balance
to be struck？ 'I admit that I was accessory to that man's captivity。 I
have suffered for it in kind。 He has decayed in his prison： I in mine。 I
have paid the penalty。'
When all the other thoughts had faded out； this one held possession
of him。 When he fell asleep； she came before him in her wheeled chair；
warding him off with this justification。 When he awoke； and sprang up
causelessly frightened； the words were in his ears； as if her voice had
slowly spoken them at his pillow； to break his rest： 'He withers away in
his prison； I wither away in mine； inexorable justice is done； what do I
owe on this score！'
CHAPTER 9。 Little Mother
The morning light was in no hurry to climb the prison wall and look in
at the Snuggery windows； and when it did e； it would have been more
wele if it had e alone； instead of bringing a rush of rain with
it。 But the equinoctial gales were blowing out at sea； and the impartial
south…west wind； in its flight； would not neglect even the narrow
Marshalsea。 While it roared through the steeple of St George's Church；
and twirled all the cowls in the neighbourhood； it made a swoop to beat
the Southwark smoke into the jail； and； plunging down the chimneys
of the few early collegians who were yet lighting their fires； half
suffocated them。 Arthur Clennam would have been little disposed to
linger in bed； though his bed had been in a more private situation； and
less affected by the raking out of yesterday's fire； the kindling of
to…day's under the collegiate boiler； the filling of that Spartan vessel
at the pump； the sweeping and sawdusting of the mon room； and other
such preparations。 Heartily glad to see the morning； though little
rested by the night； he turned out as soon as he could distinguish
objects about him； and paced the yard for two heavy hours before the
gate was opened。
The walls were so near to one another； and the wild clouds hurried
over them so fast； that it gave him a sensation like the beginning of
sea…sickness to look up at the gusty sky。 The rain； carried aslant by
flaws of wind； blackened that side of the central building which he had
visited last night； but left a narrow dry trough under the lee of the
wall； where he walked up and down among the waits of straw and dust
and paper； the waste droppings of the pump； and the stray leaves of
yesterday's greens。 It was as haggard a view of life as a man need look
upon。
Nor was it relieved by any glimpse of the little creature who had
brought him there。 Perhaps she glided out of her doorway and in at that
where her father lived； while his face was turned from both； but he saw
nothing of her。 It was too early for her brother； to have seen him once；
was to have seen enough of him to know that he would be sluggish to
leave whatever frowsy bed he occupied at night； so； as Arthur Clennam
walked up and down； waiting for the gate to open； he cast about in
his mind for future rather than for present means of pursuing his
discoveries。
At last the lodge…gate turned； and the turnkey； standing on the step；
taking an early b at his hair； was ready to let him out。 With a
joyful sense of release he passed through the lodge； and found himself
again in the little outer court…yard where he had spoken to the brother
last night。
There was a string of people already straggling in； whom it was not
difficult to identify as the nondescript messengers； go…betweens； and
errand…bearers of the place。 Some of them had been lounging in the rain
until the gate should open； others； who had timed their arrival
with greater nicety； were ing up now； and passing in with damp
whitey…brown paper bags from the grocers； loaves of bread； lumps of
butter； eggs； milk； and the like。 The shabbiness of these attendants
upon shabbiness； the poverty of these insolvent waiters upon insolvency；
was a sight to see。 Such threadbare coats and trousers； such fusty gowns
and shawls； such squashed hats and bons； such boots and shoes； such
umbrellas and walking…sticks； never were seen in Rag Fair。 All of
them wore the cast…off clothes of other men and women； were made up of
patches and pieces of other people's individuality； and had no sartorial
existence of their own proper。 Their walk was the walk of a race apart。
They had a peculiar way of doggedly slinking round the corner； as if
they were eternally going to the pawnbroker's。 When they coughed； they
coughed like people accustomed to be forgotten on doorsteps and in
draughty passages； waiting for answers to letters in faded ink； which
gave the recipients of those manuscripts great mental disturbance and no
satisfaction。 As they eyed the stranger in passing； they eyed him with
borrowing eyes……hungry； sharp； speculative as to his softness if they
were accredited to him； and the likelihood of his standing something
handsome。 Mendicity on mission stooped in their high shoulders；
shambled in their unsteady legs； buttoned and pinned and darned and
dragged their clothes； frayed their button…holes； leaked out of their
figures in dirty little ends of tape； and issued from their mouths in
alcoholic breathings。
As these people passed him standing still in the court…yard； and one of
them turned back to inquire if he could assist him with his services；
it came into Arthur Clennam's mind that he would speak to Little Dorrit
again before he went away。 She would have recovered her first surprise；
and might feel easier with him。 He asked this member of the fraternity
（who had two red herrings in his hand； and a loaf and a blacking brush
under his arm）； where was the nearest place to get a cup of coffee
at。 The nondescript replied in encouraging terms； and brought him to a
coffee…shop in the street within a stone's throw。
'Do you know Miss Dorrit？' asked the new client。
The nondescript knew two Miss Dorrits； one who was born inside……That was
the one！ That was the one？ The nondescript had known her many years。
In regard of the other Miss Dorrit； the nondescript lodged in the same
house with herself and uncle。
This changed the client's half…formed design of remaining at the
coffee…shop until the nondescript should bring him word that Dorrit
had issued forth into the street。 He entrusted the nondescript with a
confidential message to her； importing that the visitor who had waited
on her father last night； begged the favour of a few words with her at
her uncle's lodging； he obtained from the same source full directions to
the house； which was very near； dismissed the nondescript gratified with
half…a…crown； and having hastily refreshed himself at the coffee…shop；
repaired with all speed to the clario…player's dwelling。
There were so many lodgers in this house that the doorpost seemed to be
as full of bell…handles as a cathedral organ is of stops。 Doubtful
which might be the clario…stop； he was considering the point； when a
shuttlecock flew out of the parlour window； and alighted on his hat。
He then observed that in the parlour window was a blind with the
inscription； MR CRIPPLES's ACADEMY； also in another line； EVENING
TUITION； and behind the blind was a little white…faced boy；