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desired her husband to take notice that their john's prospects of the
Lock would certainly be strengthened by an alliance with Miss Dorrit；
who had herself a kind of claim upon the College and was much respected
there。 Mrs Chivery had desired her husband to take notice that if； on
the one hand； their John had means and a post of trust； on the other
hand； Miss Dorrit had family； and that her （Mrs Chivery's） sentiment
was； that two halves made a whole。 Mrs Chivery； speaking as a mother and
not as a diplomatist； had then； from a different point of view； desired
her husband to recollect that their John had never been strong； and
that his love had fretted and worrited him enough as it was； without
his being driven to do himself a mischief； as nobody couldn't say
he wouldn't be if he was crossed。 These arguments had so powerfully
influenced the mind of Mr Chivery； who was a man of few words； that he
had on sundry Sunday mornings； given his boy what he termed 'a lucky
touch；' signifying that he considered such mendation of him to Good
Fortune； preparatory to his that day declaring his passion and
being triumphant。 But Young John had never taken courage to make
the declaration； and it was principally on these occasions that he had
returned excited to the tobacco shop； and flown at the customers。 In
this affair； as in every other； Little Dorrit herself was the last
person considered。 Her brother and sister were aware of it； and attained
a sort of station by making a peg of it on which to air the miserably
ragged old fiction of the family gentility。 Her sister asserted the
family gentility by flouting the poor swain as he loitered about the
prison for glimpses of his dear。 Tip asserted the family gentility； and
his own； by ing out in the character of the aristocratic brother； and
loftily swaggering in the little skittle ground respecting seizures by
the scruff of the neck； which there were looming probabilities of some
gentleman unknown executing on some little puppy not mentioned。 These
were not the only members of the Dorrit family who turned it to account。
No； no。 The Father of the Marshalsea was supposed to know nothing about
the matter； of course： his poor dignity could not see so low。
But he took the cigars； on Sundays； and was glad to get them； and
sometimes even condescended to walk up and down the yard with the donor
（who was proud and hopeful then）； and benignantly to smoke one in
his society。 With no less readiness and condescension did he receive
attentions from Chivery Senior； …chair
and newspaper to him； when he came into the Lodge during one of his
spells of duty； and who had even mentioned to him； that； if he would
like at any time after dusk quietly to step out into the fore…court and
take a look at the street； there was not much to prevent him。 If he did
not avail himself of this latter civility； it was only because he had
lost the relish for it； inasmuch as he took everything else he could
get； and would say at times； 'Extremely civil person； Chivery； very
attentive man and very respectful。 Young Chivery； too； really almost
with a delicate perception of one's position here。 A very well conducted
family indeed； the Chiveries。 Their behaviour gratifies me。'
The devoted Young John all this time regarded the family with reverence。
He never dreamed of disputing their pretensions； but did homage to the
miserable Mumbo jumbo they paraded。 As to resenting any affront from her
brother； he would have felt； even if he had not naturally been of a most
pacific disposition； that to wag his tongue or lift his hand against
that sacred gentleman would be an unhallowed act。 He was sorry that
his noble mind should take offence； still； he felt the fact to be not
inpatible with its nobility； and sought to propitiate and conciliate
that gallant soul。 Her father； a gentleman in misfortune……a gentleman of
a fine spirit and courtly manners； who always bore with him……he deeply
honoured。 Her sister he considered somewhat vain and proud； but a young
lady of infinite acplishments； who could not forget the past。 It was
an instinctive testimony to Little Dorrit's worth and difference from
all the rest； that the poor young fellow honoured and loved her for
being simply what she was。
The tobacco business round the corner of Horsemonger Lane was carried
out in a rural establishment one story high； which had the benefit of
the air from the yards of Horsemonger Lane jail； and the advantage of a
retired walk under the wall of that pleasant establishment。 The business
was of too modest a character to support a life…size Highlander； but it
maintained a little one on a bracket on the door…post； who looked like
a fallen Cherub that had found it necessary to take to a kilt。 From the
portal thus decorated； one Sunday after an early dinner of baked viands；
Young John issued forth on his usual Sunday errand； not empty…handed；
but with his offering of cigars。 He was neatly attired in a
plum…coloured coat； with as large a collar of black velvet as his figure
could carry； a silken waistcoat； bedecked with golden sprigs； a chaste
neckerchief much in vogue at that day； representing a preserve of
lilac pheasants on a buff ground； pantaloons so highly decorated with
side…stripes that each leg was a three…stringed lute； and a hat of
state very high and hard。 When the prudent Mrs Chivery perceived that
in addition to these adornments her John carried a pair of white kid
gloves； and a cane like a little finger…post； surmounted by an ivory
hand marshalling him the way that he should go； and when she saw him； in
this heavy marching order； turn the corner to the right； she remarked to
Mr Chivery； who was at home at the time； that she thought she knew which
way the wind blew。
The Collegians were entertaining a considerable number of visitors that
Sunday afternoon； and their Father kept his room for the purpose of
receiving presentations。 After making the tour of the yard； Little
Dorrit's lover with a hurried heart went up…stairs； and knocked with his
knuckles at the Father's door。
'e in； e in！' said a gracious voice。 The Father's voice； her
father's； the Marshalsea's father's。 He was seated in his black velvet
cap； with his newspaper； three…and…sixpence accidentally left on the
table； and two chairs arranged。 Everything prepared for holding his
Court。
'Ah； Young John！ How do you do； how do you do！'
'Pretty well； I thank you； sir。 I hope you are the same。'
'Yes； John Chivery； yes。 Nothing to plain of。'
'I have taken the liberty； sir； of……'
'Eh？' The Father of the Marshalsea always lifted up his eyebrows at this
point； and became amiably distraught and smilingly absent in mind。
'……A few cigars； sir。'
'Oh！' （For the moment； excessively surprised。） 'Thank you； Young John；
thank you。 But really； I am afraid I am too……No？ Well then； I will say
no more about it。 Put them on the mantelshelf； if you please； Young
John。 And sit down； sit down。 You are not a stranger； John。'
'Thank you； sir； I am sure……Miss；' here Young John turned the great hat
round and round upon his left…hand； like a slowly twirling mouse…cage；
'Miss Amy quite well； sir？' 'Yes； John； yes； very well。 She is out。'
'Indeed； sir？'
'Yes； John。 Miss Amy is gone for an airing。 My young people all go out a
good deal。 But at their time of life； it's natural； John。'
'Very much so； I am sure； sir。'
'An airing。 An airing。 Yes。' He was blandly tapping his fingers on
the table； and casting his eyes up at the window。 'Amy has gone for
an airing on the Iron Bridge。 She has bee quite partial to the Iron
Bridge of late； and seems to like to walk there better than anywhere。'
He returned to conversation。 'Your father is not on duty at present； I
think； John？'
'No； sir； he es on later in the afternoon。' Another twirl of the
great hat； and then Young John said； rising； 'I am afraid I must wish
you good day； sir。'
'So soon？ Good day； Young John。 Nay； nay；' with the utmost
condescension； 'never mind your glove； John。 Shake hands with it on。 You
are no stranger here； you know。'
Highly gratified by the kindness of his reception； Young John descended
the staircase。 On his way down he met some Collegians bringing up
visitors to be presented； and at that moment Mr Dorrit happened to call
over the banisters with particular distinctness； 'Much obliged to you
for your little testimonial； John！'
Little Dorrit's lover very soon laid down his penny on the tollplate of
the Iron Bridge； and came upon it looking about him for the well…known
and well…beloved figure。 At first he feared she was not there； but as he
walked on towards the Middlesex side； he saw her standing still； looking
at the water。 She was absorbed in thought； and he wondered what
she might be thinking about。 There were the piles of city roofs and
chimneys； more free from smoke than on week…days； and there were the
distant masts and steeples。 Perhaps she was thinking about them。
Little Dorrit mused so long； and was so entirely preoccupied； that
although her lover stood quiet for what he thought was a long time； and
twice or thrice retired and came back again to the former spot； still
she did not move。 So； in the end； he made up his mind to go on； and seem
to e upon her casually in passing； and speak to her。 The place was
quiet； and now or never was the time to speak to her。
He walked on； and she did not appear to hear his steps until he was
close upon her。 When he said 'Miss Dorrit！' she started and fell back
from him； with an expression in her face of fright and something like
dislike that caused him unutterable dismay。 She had often avoided him
before……always； indeed； for a long； long while。 She had turned away and
glided off so often when she had seen him ing toward her； that the
unfortunate Young John could not think it accidental。 But he had hoped
that it might be shyness； her retiring character； her foreknowledge of
the state of his heart； anything short of aversion。 Now； that momentary
look had said； 'You； of all people！ I would rather have seen any one on
earth than you！'
It was but a momentary look； inasmuch as she checked it； and said in her
soft little voice； 'Oh； Mr John！ Is it you？' But she felt what it had
been； as he felt what it had been； and they stood looking at one another
equally confused。
'Miss Amy； I am afraid I disturbed you by speaking to you。'
'Yes； rather。 I……I came here to be alone； and I thought I was。'
'Miss Amy； I took the liberty of walking this way； because Mr Dorrit
chanced to mention； when I called upon him just now； that you……'
She caused him more dismay than before by suddenly murmuring； 'O father；
father！' in a heartrending tone； and turning her face away。
'Miss Amy； I hope I don't give you any uneasiness by naming Mr Dorrit。
I assure you I found him very well and in the best of Spirits； and he
showed me even more than his usual kindness； being so very kind as to
say that I was not a stranger there； and in all ways gratifying me very
much。'
To the inexpressible consternation of her lover； Little Dorrit； with her
hands to her averted face； and rocking herself where she stood as if she
were in pain； murmured； 'O father； how can you！ O dear； dear father； how
can you； can you； do it！'
The poor fellow stood gazing at her； overflowing with sympathy； but not
knowing what to make of this； until； having taken out her handkerchief
and put it to her still averted face； she hurried away。 At first he
remained stock still； then hurried after her。
'Miss Amy； pray！ Will you have the goodness to stop a moment？ Miss Amy；
if it es to that； let ME go。 I shall go out of my senses； if I have
to think that I have driven you away like this。'
His trembling voice and unfeigned earnestness brought Little Dorrit to
a stop。 'Oh； I don't know what to do；' she cried； 'I don't know what to
do！'
To Young John； who had never seen her bereft of her quiet self…mand；
who had seen her from her infancy ever so reliable and self…suppressed；
there was a shock in her distress； and in having to associate himself
with it as its cause； that shook him from his great hat to the
pavement。 He felt it necessary to explain himself。 He might be
misunderstood……supposed to mea