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wish it。'
'I……hum……ha……I confess I could have desired； Amy my dear；' he said；
jogging about in a more feverish flutter than before； 'to have made some
change in my dress first； and to have bought a……hum……a watch and chain。
But if it must be done as it is； it……ha……it must be done。 Fasten the
collar of my shirt； my dear。 Mr Clennam； would you oblige me……hum……with
a blue neckcloth you will find in that drawer at your elbow。 Button
my coat across at the chest； my love。 It looks……ha……it looks broader；
buttoned。'
With his trembling hand he pushed his grey hair up； and then； taking
Clennam and his daughter for supporters； appeared at the window leaning
on an arm of each。 The Collegians cheered him very heartily； and he
kissed his hand to them with great urbanity and protection。 When he
withdrew into the room again； he said 'Poor creatures！' in a tone of
much pity for their miserable condition。
Little Dorrit was deeply anxious that he should lie down to pose
himself。 On Arthur's speaking to her of his going to inform Pancks that
he might now appear as soon as he would； and pursue the joyful business
to its close； she entreated him in a whisper to stay with her until her
father should be quite calm and at rest。 He needed no second entreaty；
and she prepared her father's bed； and begged him to lie down。 For
another half…hour or more he would be persuaded to do nothing but
go about the room； discussing with himself the probabilities for and
against the Marshal's allowing the whole of the prisoners to go to the
windows of the official residence which manded the street； to see
himself and family depart for ever in a carriage……which； he said； he
thought would be a Sight for them。 But gradually he began to droop and
tire； and at last stretched himself upon the bed。
She took her faithful place beside him； fanning him and cooling his
forehead； and he seemed to be falling asleep （always with the money in
his hand）； when he unexpectedly sat up and said：
'Mr Clennam； I beg your pardon。 Am I to understand； my dear sir； that I
could……ha……could pass through the Lodge at this moment； and……hum……take a
walk？'
'I think not； Mr Dorrit；' was the unwilling reply。 'There are certain
forms to be pleted； and although your detention here is now in itself
a form； I fear it is one that for a little longer has to be observed
too。'
At this he shed tears again。
'It is but a few hours； sir；' Clennam cheerfully urged upon him。
'A few hours； sir；' he returned in a sudden passion。 'You talk very
easily of hours； sir！ How long do you suppose； sir； that an hour is to a
man who is choking for want of air？'
It was his last demonstration for that time； as； after shedding some
more tears and querulously plaining that he couldn't breathe； he
slowly fell into a slumber。 Clennam had abundant occupation for his
thoughts； as he sat in the quiet room watching the father on his bed；
and the daughter fanning his face。 Little Dorrit had been thinking too。
After softly putting his grey hair aside； and touching his forehead with
her lips； she looked towards Arthur； who came nearer to her； and pursued
in a low whisper the subject of her thoughts。
'Mr Clennam； will he pay all his debts before he leaves here？'
'No doubt。 All。'
'All the debts for which he had been imprisoned here； all my life and
longer？'
'No doubt。'
There was something of uncertainty and remonstrance in her look；
something that was not all satisfaction。 He wondered to detect it； and
said：
'You are glad that he should do so？'
'Are you？' asked Little Dorrit； wistfully。
'Am I？ Most heartily glad！'
'Then I know I ought to be。'
'And are you not？'
'It seems to me hard；' said Little Dorrit； 'that he should have lost so
many years and suffered so much； and at last pay all the debts as well。
It seems to me hard that he should pay in life and money both。'
'My dear child……' Clennam was beginning。
'Yes； I know I am wrong；' she pleaded timidly； 'don't think any worse of
me； it has grown up with me here。'
The prison； which could spoil so many things； had tainted Little
Dorrit's mind no more than this。 Engendered as the confusion was； in
passion for the poor prisoner； her father； it was the first speck
Clennam had ever seen； it was the last speck Clennam ever saw； of the
prison atmosphere upon her。
He thought this； and forebore to say another word。 With the thought； her
purity and goodness came before him in their brightest light。 The little
spot made them the more beautiful。
Worn out with her own emotions； and yielding to the silence of the room；
her hand slowly slackened and failed in its fanning movement； and her
head dropped down on the pillow at her father's side。 Clennam rose
softly； opened and closed the door without a sound； and passed from the
prison； carrying the quiet with him into the turbulent streets。
CHAPTER 36。 The Marshalsea bees an Orphan
And now the day arrived when Mr Dorrit and his family were to leave the
prison for ever； and the stones of its much…trodden pavement were to
know them no more。
The interval had been short； but he had greatly plained of its
length； and had been imperious with Mr Rugg touching the delay。 He had
been high with Mr Rugg； and had threatened to employ some one else。 He
had requested Mr Rugg not to presume upon the place in which he found
him； but to do his duty； sir； and to do it with promptitude。 He had told
Mr Rugg that he knew what lawyers and agents were； and that he would not
submit to imposition。 On that gentleman's humbly representing that
he exerted himself to the utmost； Miss Fanny was very short with him；
desiring to know what less he could do； when he had been told a dozen
times that money was no object； and expressing her suspicion that he
forgot whom he talked to。
Towards the Marshal； who was a Marshal of many years' standing； and
with whom he had never had any previous difference； Mr Dorrit ported
himself with severity。 That officer； on personally tendering his
congratulations； offered the free use of two rooms in his house for Mr
Dorrit's occupation until his departure。 Mr Dorrit thanked him at the
moment； and replied that he would think of it； but the Marshal was no
sooner gone than he sat down and wrote him a cutting note； in which
he remarked that he had never on any former occasion had the honour of
receiving his congratulations （which was true； though indeed there had
not been anything particular to congratulate him upon）； and that he
begged； on behalf of himself and family； to repudiate the Marshal's
offer； with all those thanks which its disinterested character and its
perfect independence of all worldly considerations demanded。
Although his brother showed so dim a glimmering of interest in their
altered fortunes that it was very doubtful whether he understood them；
Mr Dorrit caused him to be measured for new raiment by the hosiers；
tailors； hatters； and bootmakers whom he called in for himself； and
ordered that his old clothes should be taken from him and burned。 Miss
Fanny and Mr Tip required no direction in making an appearance of great
fashion and elegance； and the three passed this interval together at the
best hotel in the neighbourhood……though truly； as Miss Fanny said； the
best was very indifferent。 In connection with that establishment； Mr
Tip hired a cabriolet； horse； and groom； a very neat turn out； which
was usually to be observed for two or three hours at a time gracing the
Borough High Street； outside the Marshalsea court…yard。 A modest
little hired chariot and pair was also frequently to be seen there；
in alighting from and entering which vehicle； Miss Fanny fluttered the
Marshal's daughters by the display of inaccessible bons。
A great deal of business was transacted in this short period。 Among
other items； Messrs Peddle and Pool； solicitors； of Monument Yard； were
instructed by their client Edward Dorrit； Esquire； to address a letter
to Mr Arthur Clennam； enclosing the sum of twenty…four pounds nine
shillings and eightpence； being the amount of principal and interest
puted at the rate of five per cent。 per annum； in which their
client believed himself to be indebted to Mr Clennam。 In making this
munication and remittance； Messrs Peddle and Pool were further
instructed by their client to remind Mr Clennam that the favour of the
advance now repaid （including gate…fees） had not been asked of him； and
to inform him that it would not have been accepted if it had been openly
proffered in his name。 ped receipt； and
remained his obedient servants。 A great deal of business had likewise to
be done； within the so…soon…to…be…orphaned Marshalsea； by Mr Dorrit
so long its Father； chiefly arising out of applications made to him
by Collegians for small sums of money。 To these he responded with the
greatest liberality； and with no lack of formality； always first writing
to appoint a time at which the applicant might wait upon him in his
room； and then receiving him in the midst of a vast accumulation of
documents； and acpanying his donation （for he said in every such
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 undert