case； 'it is a donation； not a loan'） with a great deal of good counsel：
to the effect that he； the expiring Father of the Marshalsea； hoped to
be long remembered； as an example that a man might preserve his own and
the general respect even there。
The Collegians were not envious。 Besides that they had a personal and
traditional regard for a Collegian of so many years' standing； the event
was creditable to the College； and made it famous in the newspapers。
Perhaps more of them thought； too； than were quite aware of it； that the
thing might in the lottery of chances have happened to themselves； or
that something of the sort might yet happen to themselves some day or
other。 They took it very well。 A few were low at the thought of being
left behind； and being left poor； but even these did not grudge the
family their brilliant reverse。 There might have been much more envy in
politer places。 It seems probable that mediocrity of fortune would have
been disposed to be less magnanimous than the Collegians； who lived from
hand to mouth……from the pawnbroker's hand to the day's dinner。
They got up an address to him； which they presented in a neat frame and
glass （though it was not afterwards displayed in the family mansion or
preserved among the family papers）； and to which he returned a gracious
answer。 In that document he assured them； in a Royal manner； that he
received the profession of their attachment with a full conviction
of its sincerity； and again generally exhorted them to follow his
example……which； at least in so far as ing into a great property was
concerned； there is no doubt they would have gladly imitated。 He took
the same occasion of inviting them to a prehensive entertainment； to
be given to the whole College in the yard； and at which he signified
he would have the honour of taking a parting glass to the health and
happiness of all those whom he was about to leave behind。
He did not in person dine at this public repast （it took place at two in
the afternoon； and his dinners now came in from the hotel at six）； but
his son was so good as to take the head of the principal table； and to
be very free and engaging。 He himself went about among the pany； and
took notice of individuals； and saw that the viands were of the quality
he had ordered； and that all were served。 On the whole； he was like a
baron of the olden time in a rare good humour。 At the conclusion of the
repast； he pledged his guests in a bumper of old Madeira； and told them
that he hoped they had enjoyed themselves； and what was more； that they
would enjoy themselves for the rest of the evening； that he wished them
well； and that he bade them wele。
His health being drunk with acclamations； he was not so baronial after
all but that in trying to return thanks he broke down； in the manner of
a mere serf with a heart in his breast； and wept before them all。 After
this great success； which he supposed to be a failure； he gave them 'Mr
Chivery and his brother officers；' whom he had beforehand presented with
ten pounds each； and who were all in attendance。 Mr Chivery spoke to the
toast； saying； What you undertake to lock up； lock up； but remember that
you are； in the words of the fettered African； a man and a brother ever。
The list of toasts disposed of； Mr Dorrit urbanely went through the
motions of playing a game of skittles with the Collegian who was the
next oldest inhabitant to himself； and left the tenantry to their
diversions。
But all these occurrences preceded the final day。 And now the day
arrived when he and his family were to leave the prison for ever； and
when the stones of its much…trodden pavement were to know them no more。
Noon was the hour appointed for the departure。 As it approached； there
was not a Collegian within doors； nor a turnkey absent。 The latter class
of gentlemen appeared in their Sunday clothes； and the greater part of
the Collegians were brightened up as much as circumstances allowed。 Two
or three flags were even displayed； and the children put on odds and
ends of ribbon。 Mr Dorrit himself； at this trying time； preserved a
serious but graceful dignity。 Much of his great attention was given to
his brother； as to whose bearing on the great occasion he felt anxious。
'My dear Frederick；' said he； 'if you will give me your arm we will pass
among our friends together。 I think it is right that we should go out
arm in arm； my dear Frederick。'
'Hah！' said Frederick。 'Yes； yes； yes； yes。'
'And if； my dear Frederick……if you could； without putting any great
constraint upon yourself； throw a little （pray excuse me； Frederick）； a
little Polish into your usual demeanour……'
'William； William；' said the other； shaking his head； 'it's for you to
do all that。 I don't know how。 All forgotten； forgotten！'
'But； my dear fellow；' returned William； 'for that very reason； if
for no other； you must positively try to rouse yourself。 What you
have forgotten you must now begin to recall； my dear Frederick。 Your
position……'
'Eh？' said Frederick。
'Your position； my dear Frederick。'
'Mine？' He looked first at his own figure； and then at his brother's；
and then； drawing a long breath； cried； 'Hah； to be sure！ Yes； yes；
yes。' 'Your position； my dear Frederick； is now a fine one。 Your
position； as my brother； is a very fine one。 And I know that it belongs
to your conscientious nature to try to bee worthy of it； my dear
Frederick； and to try to adorn it。 To be no discredit to it； but to
adorn it。'
'William；' said the other weakly； and with a sigh； 'I will do anything
you wish； my brother； provided it lies in my power。 Pray be so kind as
to recollect what a limited power mine is。 What would you wish me to do
to…day； brother？ Say what it is； only say what it is。'
'My dearest Frederick； nothing。 It is not worth troubling so good a
heart as yours with。'
'Pray trouble it；' returned the other。 'It finds it no trouble； William；
to do anything it can for you。'
William passed his hand across his eyes； and murmured with august
satisfaction； 'Blessings on your attachment； my poor dear fellow！' Then
he said aloud； 'Well； my dear Frederick； if you will only try； as we
walk out； to show that you are alive to the occasion……that you think
about it……'
'What would you advise me to think about it？' returned his submissive
brother。
'Oh！ my dear Frederick； how can I answer you？ I can only say what； in
leaving these good people； I think myself。'
'That's it！' cried his brother。 'That will help me。'
'I find that I think； my dear Frederick； and with mixed emotions in
which a softened passion predominates； What will they do without me！'
'True；' returned his brother。 'Yes； yes； yes； yes。 I'll think that as we
go； What will they do without my brother！ Poor things！ What will they do
without him！'
Twelve o'clock having just struck； and the carriage being reported ready
in the outer court…yard； the brothers proceeded down…stairs arm…in…arm。
Edward Dorrit； Esquire （once Tip）； and his sister Fanny followed；
also arm…in…arm； Mr Plornish and Maggy； to whom had been entrusted the
removal of such of the family effects as were considered worth removing；
followed； bearing bundles and burdens to be packed in a cart。
In the yard； were the Collegians and turnkeys。 In the yard； were Mr
Pancks and Mr Rugg； e to see the last touch given to their work。
In the yard； was Young John making a new epitaph for himself； on
the occasion of his dying of a broken heart。 In the yard； was the
Patriarchal Casby； looking so tremendously benevolent that many
enthusiastic Collegians grasped him fervently by the hand； and the wives
and female relatives of many more Collegians kissed his hand； nothing
doubting that he had done it all。 In the yard； was the man with the
shadowy grievance respecting the Fund which the Marshal embezzled； who
had got up at five in the morning to plete the copying of a perfectly
unintelligible history of that transaction； which he had mitted to Mr
Dorrit's care； as a document of the last importance； calculated to stun
the Government and effect the Marshal's downfall。 In the yard； was the
insolvent whose utmost energies were always set on getting into debt；
who broke into prison with as much pains as other men have broken out
of it； and who was always being cleared and plimented； while the
insolvent at his elbow……a mere little； snivelling； striving tradesman；
half dead of anxious efforts to keep out of debt……found it a hard
matter； indeed； to get a missioner to release him with much reproof
and reproach。 In the yard； was the man of many children and many
burdens； whose failure astonished everybody； in the yard； was the man of
no children and large resources； whose failure astonished nobody。 There；
were the people who were always going out to…morrow； and always putting
it off； there； were the people who had e in yesterday； and who
were much more jealous and resentful of this freak of fortune than
the seasoned birds。 There； were some who； in pure meanness of spirit；
cringed and bowed before the enriched Collegian and his family； there；
were others who did so really because their eyes； accustomed to the
gloom of their imprisonment and poverty； could not support the light of
such bright sunshine。 There； were many whose shillings had gone into his
pocket to buy him meat and drink； but none who were now obtrusively Hail
fellow well met！ with him； on the strength of that assistance。 It was
rather to be remarked of the caged birds； that they were a little shy
of the bird about to be so grandly free； and that they had a tendency to
withdraw themselves towards the bars； and seem a little fluttered as he
passed。
Through these spectators the little procession； headed by the two
brothers； moved slowly to the gate。 Mr Dorrit； yielding to the vast
speculation how the poor creatures were to get on without him； was
great； and sad； but not absorbed。 He patted children on the head
like Sir Roger de Coverley going to church； he spoke to people in the
background by their Christian names； he condescended to all present； and
seemed for their consolation to walk encircled by the legend in golden
characters； 'Be forted； my people！ Bear it！'
At last three honest cheers announced that he had passed the gate； and
that the Marshalsea was an orphan。 Before they had ceased to ring in the
echoes of the prison walls； the family had got into their carriage； and
the attendant had the steps in his hand。
Then； and not before； 'Good Gracious！' cried Miss Fanny all at once；
'Where's Amy！'
Her father had thought she was with her sister。 Her sister had thought
she was 'somewhere or other。' They had all trusted to finding her； as
they had always done； quietly in the right place at the right moment。
This going away was perhaps the very first action of their joint lives
that they had got through without her。
A minute might have been consumed in the ascertaining of these points；
when Miss Fanny； who； from her seat in the carriage； manded the long
narrow passage leading to the Lodge； flushed indignantly。
'Now I do say； Pa；' cried she； 'that this is disgraceful！'
'What is disgraceful； Fanny？'
'I do say；' she repeated； 'this is perfectly infamo