don’tcareforyourpresenteyes。Now，Iamcomingtothepaper，andmarkwhatIsay。Youputitawaysomewhere，andyoukeptyourowncounselwhere。You’reanactivewomanatthattime，andifyouwanttogetthatpaper，youcangetit。But，mark。Therecomesatimewhenyouarestruckintowhatyouarenow，andthenifyouwanttogetthatpaper，youcan’tgetit。Soitlies，longyears，initshiding-place。Atlast，whenweareexpectingArthurhomeeveryday，andwhenanydaymaybringhimhome，andit’simpossibletosaywhatrummaginghemaymakeaboutthehouse，Irecommendyoufivethousandtimes，ifyoucan’tgetatit，toletmegetatit，thatitmaybeputinthefire。Butno——noonebutyouknowswhereitis，andthat’spower；and，callyourselfwhateverhumblenamesyouwill，IcallyouafemaleLuciferinappetiteforpower!OnaSundaynight，Arthurcomeshome。Hehasnotbeeninthisroomtenminutes，whenhespeaksofhisfather’swatch。YouknowverywellthattheDoNotForget，atthetimewhenhisfathersentthatwatchtoyou，couldonlymean，therestofthestorybeingthenalldeadandover，DoNotForgetthesuppression。Makerestitution!
　　Arthur’swayshavefrightenedyouabit，andthepapershallbeburntafterall。So，beforethatjumpingjadeandJezebel，’MrFlintwinchgrinnedathiswife，’hasgotyouintobed，youatlasttellmewhereyouhaveputthepaper，amongtheoldledgersinthecellars，whereArthurhimselfwentprowlingtheverynextmorning。
　　Butit’snottobeburntonaSundaynight。No；youarestrict，youare；wemustwaitovertwelveo’clock，andgetintoMonday。
　　Now，allthisisaswallowingofmeupalivethatraspsme；so，feelingalittleoutoftemper，andnotbeingasstrictasyourself，Itakealookatthedocumentbeforetwelveo’clocktorefreshmymemoryastoitsappearance——folduponeofthemanyyellowoldpapersinthecellarslikeit——andafterwards，whenwehavegotintoMondaymorning，andIhave，bythelightofyourlamp，towalkfromyou，lyingonthatbed，tothisgrate，makealittleexchangeliketheconjuror，andburnaccordingly。MybrotherEphraim，thelunatic-keeperIwishhehadhadhimselftokeepinastrait-waistcoat，hadhadmanyjobssincethecloseofthelongjobhegotfromyou，buthadnotdonewell。Hiswifediednotthatthatwasmuch；minemighthavediedinstead，andwelcome，hespeculatedunsuccessfullyinlunatics，hegotintodifficultyaboutover-roastingapatienttobringhimtoreason，andhegotintodebt。Hewasgoingoutoftheway，onwhathehadbeenabletoscrapeup，andatriflefromme。HewasherethatearlyMondaymorning，waitingforthetide；inshort，hewasgoingtoAntwerp，whereIamafraidyou’llbeshockedatmysaying，Andbedamnedtohim!hemadetheacquaintanceofthisgentleman。Hehadcomealongway，and，Ithoughtthen，wasonlysleepy；but，I
　　supposenow，wasdrunk。WhenArthur’smotherhadbeenunderthecareofhimandhiswife，shehadbeenalwayswriting，incessantlywriting，——mostlylettersofconfessiontoyou，andPrayersforforgiveness。Mybrotherhadhanded，fromtimetotime，lotsofthesesheetstome。IthoughtImightaswellkeepthemtomyselfashavethemswallowedupalivetoo；soIkepttheminabox，lookingoverthemwhenIfeltinthehumour。Convincedthatitwasadvisabletogetthepaperoutoftheplace，withArthurcomingaboutit，Iputitintothissamebox，andIlockedthewholeupwithtwolocks，andItrustedittomybrothertotakeawayandkeep，tillIshouldwriteaboutit。Ididwriteaboutit，andnevergotananswer。Ididn’tknowwhattomakeofit，tillthisgentlemanfavoureduswithhisfirstvisit。Ofcourse，Ibegantosuspecthowitwas，then；andIdon’twanthiswordforitnowtounderstandhowhegetshisknowledgefrommypapers，andyourpaper，andmybrother’scognacandtobaccotalkIwishhe’dhadtogaghimself。Now，Ihaveonlyonethingmoretosay，youhammer-
　　headedwoman，andthatis，thatIhaven’taltogethermadeupmymindwhetherImight，ormightnot，haveevergivenyouanytroubleaboutthecodicil。Ithinknot；andthatIshouldhavebeenquitesatisfiedwithknowingIhadgotthebetterofyou，andthatIheldthepoweroveryou。Inthepresentstateofcircumstances，Ihavenomoreexplanationtogiveyoutillthistimeto-morrownight。Soyoumayaswell，’saidMrFlintwinch，terminatinghisorationwithascrew，’keepyoureyesopenatsomebodyelse，forit’snousekeeping’emopenatme。’
　　Sheslowlywithdrewthemwhenhehadceased，anddroppedherforeheadonherhand。Herotherhandpressedharduponthetable，andagainthecuriousstirwasobservableinher，asifsheweregoingtorise。
　　’Thisboxcanneverbring，elsewhere，thepriceitwillbringhere。
　　Thisknowledgecanneverbeofthesameprofittoyou，soldtoanyotherperson，assoldtome。ButIhavenotthepresentmeansofraisingthesumyouhavedemanded。Ihavenotprospered。Whatwillyoutakenow，andwhatatanothertime，andhowamItobeassuredofyoursilence？’
　　’Myangel，’saidRigaud，’IhavesaidwhatIwilltake，andtimepresses。Beforecominghere，Iplacedcopiesofthemostimportantofthesepapersinanotherhand。PutoffthetimetilltheMarshalseagateshallbeshutforthenight，anditwillbetoolatetotreat。Theprisonerwillhavereadthem。’
　　Sheputhertwohandstoherheadagain，utteredaloudexclamation，andstartedtoherfeet。Shestaggeredforamoment，asifshewouldhavefallen；thenstoodfirm。
　　’Saywhatyoumean。Saywhatyoumean，man!’
　　Beforeherghostlyfigure，solongunusedtoitserectattitude，andsostiffenedinit，Rigaudfellbackanddroppedhisvoice。Itwas，toallthethree，almostasifadeadwomanhadrisen。
　　’MissDorrit，’answeredRigaud，’thelittlenieceofMonsieurFrederick，whomIhaveknownacrossthewater，isattachedtotheprisoner。MissDorrit，littlenieceofMonsieurFrederick，watchesatthismomentovertheprisoner，whoisill。ForherIwithmyownhandsleftapacketattheprison，onmywayhere，withaletterofinstructions，“FORHISSAKE“——shewilldoanythingforhissake——tokeepitwithoutbreakingtheseal，incaseofitsbeingreclaimedbeforethehourofshuttingupto-night——ifitshouldnotbereclaimedbeforetheringingoftheprisonbell，togiveittohim；anditenclosesasecondcopyforherself，whichhemustgivetoher。What!Idon’ttrustmyselfamongyou，nowwehavegotsofar，withoutgivingmysecretasecondlife。Andastoitsnotbringingme，elsewhere，thepriceitwillbringhere，saythen，madame，haveyoulimitedandsettledthepricethelittleniecewillgive——forhissake——tohushitup？OncemoreIsay，timepresses。Thepacketnotreclaimedbeforetheringingofthebellto-night，youcannotbuy。Isell，then，tothelittlegirl!’
　　Oncemorethestirandstruggleinher，andsherantoacloset，torethedooropen，tookdownahoodorshawl，andwrappeditoverherhead。Affery，whohadwatchedherinterror，dartedtoherinthemiddleoftheroom，caughtholdofherdress，andwentonherkneestoher。
　　’Don’t，don’t，don’t!Whatareyoudoing？Whereareyougoing？
　　You’reafearfulwoman，butIdon’tbearyounoill-will。IcandopoorArthurnogoodnow，thatIsee；andyouneedn’tbeafraidofme。I’llkeepyoursecret。Don’tgoout，you’llfalldeadinthestreet。Onlypromiseme，that，ifit’sthepoorthingthat’skeptheresecretly，you’llletmetakechargeofherandbehernurse。
　　Onlypromisemethat，andneverbeafraidofme。’
　　MrsClennamstoodstillforaninstant，attheheightofherrapidhaste，sayinginsternamazement：
　　’Kepthere？Shehasbeendeadascoreofyearsormore。AskFlintwinch——askHIM。TheycanbothtellyouthatshediedwhenArthurwentabroad。’
　　’Somuchtheworse，’saidAffery，withashiver，’forshehauntsthehouse，then。Whoelserustlesaboutit，makingsignalsbydroppingdustsosoftly？Whoelsecomesandgoes，andmarksthewallswithlongcrookedtoucheswhenwearealla-bed？Whoelseholdsthedoorsometimes？Butdon’tgoout——don’tgoout!
　　Mistress，you’lldieinthestreet!’
　　Hermistressonlydisengagedherdressfromthebeseechinghands，saidtoRigaud，’WaitheretillIcomeback!’andranoutoftheroom。Theysawher，fromthewindow，runwildlythroughthecourt-
　　yardandoutatthegateway。
　　Forafewmomentstheystoodmotionless。Afferywasthefirsttomove，andshe，wringingherhands，pursuedhermistress。Next，JeremiahFlintwinch，slowlybackingtothedoor，withonehandinapocket，andtheotherrubbinghischin，twistedhimselfoutinhisreticentway，speechlessly。Rigaud，leftalone，composedhimselfuponthewindow-seatoftheopenwindow，intheoldMarseilles-jailattitude。Helaidhiscigarettesandfire-boxreadytohishand，andfelltosmoking。
　　’Whoof!Almostasdullastheinfernaloldjail。Warmer，butalmostasdismal。Waittillshecomesback？Yes，certainly；butwhereisshegone，andhowlongwillshebegone？Nomatter!
　　RigaudLagnierBlandois，myamiablesubject，youwillgetyourmoney。Youwillenrichyourself。Youhavelivedagentleman；youwilldieagentleman。Youtriumph，mylittleboy；butitisyourcharactertotriumph。Whoof!’
　　Inthehourofhistriumph，hismoustachewentupandhisnosecamedown，asheogledagreatbeamoverhisheadwithparticularsatisfaction。
　　CHAPTER31
　　ClosedThesunhadset，andthestreetswerediminthedustytwilight，whenthefiguresolongunusedtothemhurriedonitsway。Intheimmediateneighbourhoodoftheoldhouseitattractedlittleattention，fortherewereonlyafewstragglingpeopletonoticeit；but，ascendingfromtheriverbythecrookedwaysthatledtoLondonBridge，andpassingintothegreatmainroad，itbecamesurroundedbyastonishment。
　　Resoluteandwildoflook，rapidoffootandyetweakanduncertain，conspicuouslydressedinitsblackgarmentsandwithitshurriedhead-covering，gauntandofanunearthlypaleness，itpressedforward，takingnomoreheedofthethrongthanasleep-
　　walker。Moreremarkablebybeingsoremovedfromthecrowditwasamongthanifithadbeenliftedonapedestaltobeseen，thefigureattractedalleyes。Saunterersprickeduptheirattentiontoobserveit；busypeople，crossingit，slackenedtheirpaceandturnedtheirheads；companionspausingandstandingaside，whisperedoneanothertolookatthisspectralwomanwhowascomingby；andthesweepofthefigureasitpassedseemedtocreateavortex，drawingthemostidleandmostcuriousafterit。
　　Madegiddybytheturbulentirruptionofthismultitudeofstaringfacesintohercellofyears，bytheconfusingsensationofbeingintheair，andtheyetmoreconfusingsensationofbeingafoot，bytheunexpectedchangesinhalf-rememberedobjects，andthewantoflikenessbetweenthecontrollablepicturesherimaginationhadoftendrawnofthelifefromwhichshewassecludedandtheoverwhelmingrushofthereality，sheheldherwayasifshewereenvironedbydistractingthoughts，ratherthanbyexternalhumanityandobservation。But，havingcrossedthebridgeandgonesomedistancestraightonward，sherememberedthatshemustaskforadirection；anditwasonlythen，whenshestoppedandturnedtolookaboutherforapromisingplaceofinquiry，thatshefoundherselfsurroundedbyaneagerglareoffaces。
　　’Whyareyouencirclingme？’sheasked，trembling。
　　Noneofthosewhowerenearestanswered；butfromtheouterringtherearoseashrillcryof’’Causeyou’remad!’
　　’Iamsureassaneasanyonehere。IwanttofindtheMarshalseaprison。’
　　Theshrilloutercircleagainretorted，’Thenthat’udshowyouwasmadifnothingelsedid，’causeit’srightopposite!’
　　Ashort，mild，quiet-lookingyoungmanmadehiswaythroughtoher，asawhoopingensuedonthisreply，andsaid：’WasittheMarshalseayouwanted？I’mgoingondutythere。Comeacrosswithme。’
　　Shelaidherhanduponhisarm，andhetookherovertheway；thecrowd，ratherinjuredbythenearprospectoflosingher，pressingbeforeandbehindandoneitherside，andrecommendinganadjournmenttoBedlam。Afteramomentarywhirlintheoutercourt-
　　yard，theprison-dooropened，andshutuponthem。IntheLodge，whichseemedbycontrastwiththeouternoiseaplaceofrefugeandpeace，ayellowlampwasalreadystrivingwiththeprisonshadows。
　　’Why，John!’saidtheturnkeywhoadmittedthem。’Whatisit？’
　　’Nothing，father；onlythisladynotknowingherway，andbeingbadgeredbytheboys。Whodidyouwant，ma’am？’
　　’MissDorrit。Isshehere？’
　　Theyoungmanbecamemoreinterested。’Yes，sheishere。Whatmightyournamebe？’
　　’MrsClennam。’
　　’MrClennam’smother？’askedtheyoungman。
　　Shepressedherlipstogether，andhesitated。’Yes。Shehadbetterbetolditishismother。’
　　’Yousee，’saidtheyoungman，’theMarshal’sfamilylivinginthecountryatpresent，theMarshalhasgivenMissDorritoneoftheroomsinhishousetousewhenshelikes。Don’tyouthinkyouhadbettercomeupthere，andletmebringMissDorrit？’
　　Shesignifiedherassent，andheunlockedadoorandconductedherupasidestaircaseintoadwelling-houseabove。Heshowedherintoadarkeningroom，andlefther。Theroomlookeddownintothedarkeningprison-yard，withitsinmatesstrollinghereandthere，leaningoutofwindowscommuningasmuchapartastheycouldwithfriendswhoweregoingaway，andgenerallywearingouttheirimprisonmentastheybestmightthatsummerevening。Theairwasheavyandhot；theclosenessoftheplace，oppressive；andfromwithouttherearosearushoffreesounds，likethejarringmemoryofsuchthingsinaheadacheandheartache。Shestoodatthewindow，bewildered，lookingdownintothisprisonasitwereoutofherowndifferentprison，whenasoftwordortwoofsurprisemadeherstart，andLittleDorritstoodbeforeher。
　　’Isitpossible，MrsClennam，thatyouaresohappilyrecoveredas——’
　　LittleDorritstopped，fortherewasneitherhappinessnorhealthinthefacethatturnedtoher。
　　’Thisisnotrecovery；itisnotstrength；Idon’tknowwhatitis。’Withanagitatedwaveofherhand，sheputallthataside。
　　’YouhaveapacketleftwithyouwhichyouweretogivetoArthur，ifitwasnotreclaimedbeforethisplaceclosedto-night。’
　　’Yes。’
　　’Ireclaimit。’
　　LittleDorrittookitfromherbosom，andgaveitintoherhand，whichremainedstretchedoutafterreceivingit。
　　’Haveyouanyideaofitscontents？’
　　FrightenedbyherbeingtherewiththatnewpowerOfMovementinher，which，asshesaidherself，wasnotstrength，andwhichwasunrealtolookupon，asthoughapictureorstatuehadbeenanimated，LittleDorritanswered’No。’
　　’Readthem。’
　　LittleDorrittookthepacketfromthestilloutstretchedhand，andbroketheseal。MrsClennamthengavehertheinnerpacketthatwasaddressedtoherself，andheldtheother。Theshadowofthewallandoftheprisonbuildings，whichmadetheroomsombreatnoon，madeittoodarktoreadthere，withtheduskdeepeningapace，saveinthewindow。Inthewindow，wherealittleofthebrightsummereveningskycouldshineuponher，LittleDorritstood，andread。Afterabrokenexclamationorsoofwonderandofterror，shereadinsilence。Whenshehadfinished，shelookedround，andheroldmistressbowedherselfbeforeher。