’Don’tsayso，’saidMrMeagles；’youdoyourselfaninjustice。
　　However，tocometothepoint。’Forhewassensibleofhavinggainednothingbyapproachingitinaroundaboutway。’IhaveheardfrommyfriendClennam，who，youwillbesorrytohear，hasbeenandstillisveryill——’
　　Hepausedagain，andagainshewassilent。
　　’——thatyouhadsomeknowledgeofoneBlandois，latelykilledinLondonbyaviolentaccident。Now，don’tmistakeme!Iknowitwasaslightknowledge，’saidMrMeagles，dexterouslyforestallinganangryinterruptionwhichhesawabouttobreak。’Iamfullyawareofthat。Itwasaslightknowledge，Iknow。Butthequestionis，’MrMeagles’svoiceherebecamecomfortableagain，’didhe，onhiswaytoEnglandlasttime，leaveaboxofpapers，orabundleofpapers，orsomepapersorotherinsomereceptacleorother——anypapers——withyou：beggingyoutoallowhimtoleavethemhereforashorttime，untilhewantedthem？’
　　’Thequestionis？’sherepeated。’Whosequestionis？’
　　’Mine，’saidMrMeagles。’AndnotonlyminebutClennam’squestion，andotherpeople’squestion。Now，Iamsure，’continuedMrMeagles，whoseheartwasoverflowingwithPet，’thatyoucan’thaveanyunkindfeelingtowardsmydaughter；it’simpossible。
　　Well!It’sherquestion，too；beingoneinwhichaparticularfriendofhersisnearlyinterested。SohereIam，franklytosaythatisthequestion，andtoask，Now，didhe？’
　　’Uponmyword，’shereturned，’IseemtobeamarkforeverybodywhoknewanythingofamanIonceinmylifehired，andpaid，anddismissed，toaimtheirquestionsat!’
　　’Now，don’t，’remonstratedMrMeagles，’don’t!Don’ttakeoffence，becauseit’stheplainestquestionintheworld，andmightbeaskedofanyone。ThedocumentsIrefertowerenothisown，werewrongfullyobtained，mightatsometimeorotherbetroublesometoaninnocentpersontohaveinkeeping，andaresoughtbythepeopletowhomtheyreallybelong。HepassedthroughCalaisgoingtoLondon，andtherewerereasonswhyheshouldnottakethemwithhimthen，whyheshouldwishtobeabletoputhishanduponthemreadily，andwhyheshoulddistrustleavingthemwithpeopleofhisownsort。Didheleavethemhere？IdeclareifIknewhowtoavoidgivingyouoffence，Iwouldtakeanypainstodoit。Iputthequestionpersonally，butthere’snothingpersonalinit。I
　　mightputittoanyone；Ihaveputitalreadytomanypeople。Didheleavethemhere？Didheleaveanythinghere？’
　　’No。’
　　’Thenunfortunately，MissWade，youknownothingaboutthem？’
　　’Iknownothingaboutthem。Ihavenowansweredyourunaccountablequestion。Hedidnotleavethemhere，andIknownothingaboutthem。’
　　’There!’saidMrMeaglesrising。’Iamsorryforit；that’sover；
　　andIhopethereisnotmuchharmdone——Tattycoramwell，MissWade？’
　　’Harrietwell？Oyes!’
　　’Ihaveputmyfootinitagain，’saidMrMeagles，thuscorrected。
　　’Ican’tkeepmyfootoutofithere，itseems。Perhaps，ifIhadthoughttwiceaboutit，Imightneverhavegivenherthejinglingname。But，whenonemeanstobegood-naturedandsportivewithyoungpeople，onedoesn’tthinktwice。Heroldfriendleavesakindwordforher，MissWade，ifyoushouldthinkpropertodeliverit。’
　　Shesaidnothingastothat；andMrMeagles，takinghishonestfaceoutofthedullroom，whereitshonelikeasun，tookittotheHotelwherehehadleftMrsMeagles，andwherehemadetheReport：
　　’Beaten，Mother；noeffects!’HetookitnexttotheLondonSteamPacket，whichsailedinthenight；andnexttotheMarshalsea。
　　ThefaithfulJohnwasondutywhenFatherandMotherMeaglespresentedthemselvesatthewickettowardsnightfall。MissDorritwasnottherethen，hesaid；butshehadbeenthereinthemorning，andinvariablycameintheevening。MrClennamwasslowlymending；
　　andMaggyandMrsPlornishandMrBaptisttookcareofhimbyturns。MissDorritwassuretocomebackthateveningbeforethebellrang。TherewastheroomtheMarshalhadlenther，up-stairs，inwhichtheycouldwaitforher，iftheypleased。MistrustfulthatitmightbehazardoustoArthurtoseehimwithoutpreparation，MrMeaglesacceptedtheoffer；andtheywereleftshutupintheroom，lookingdownthroughitsbarredwindowintothejail。
　　ThecrampedareaoftheprisonhadsuchaneffectonMrsMeaglesthatshebegantoweep，andsuchaneffectonMrMeaglesthathebegantogaspforair。Hewaswalkingupanddowntheroom，panting，andmakinghimselfworsebylaboriouslyfanninghimselfwithherhandkerchief，whenheturnedtowardstheopeningdoor。
　　’Eh？Goodgracious!’saidMrMeagles，’thisisnotMissDorrit!
　　Why，Mother，look!Tattycoram!’
　　Noother。AndinTattycoram’sarmswasanironboxsometwofeetsquare。SuchaboxhadAfferyFlintwinchseen，inthefirstofherdreams，goingoutoftheoldhouseinthedeadofthenightunderDouble’sarm。This，Tattycoramputonthegroundatheroldmaster’sfeet：this，Tattycoramfellonherkneesby，andbeatherhandsupon，cryinghalfinexultationandhalfindespair，halfinlaughterandhalfintears，’Pardon，dearMaster；takemeback，dearMistress；hereitis!’
　　’Tatty!’exclaimedMrMeagles。
　　’Whatyouwanted!’saidTattycoram。’Hereitis!Iwasputinthenextroomnottoseeyou。Iheardyouaskheraboutit，Iheardhersayshehadn’tgotit，Iwastherewhenheleftit，andItookitatbedtimeandbroughtitaway。Hereitis!’
　　’Why，mygirl，’criedMrMeagles，morebreathlessthanbefore，’howdidyoucomeover？’
　　’Icameintheboatwithyou。Iwassittingwrappedupattheotherend。Whenyoutookacoachatthewharf，Itookanothercoachandfollowedyouhere。Sheneverwouldhavegivenitupafterwhatyouhadsaidtoheraboutitsbeingwanted；shewouldsoonerhavesunkitinthesea，orburntit。But，hereitis!’
　　Theglowandrapturethatthegirlwasin，withher’Hereitis!’
　　’Sheneverwantedittobeleft，Imustsaythatforher；butheleftit，andIknewwellthatafterwhatyousaid，andafterherdenyingit，sheneverwouldhavegivenitup。Buthereitis!
　　DearMaster，dearMistress，takemebackagain，andgivemebackthedearoldname!Letthisintercedeforme。Hereitis!’
　　FatherandMotherMeaglesneverdeservedtheirnamesbetterthanwhentheytooktheheadstrongfoundling-girlintotheirprotectionagain。
　　’Oh!Ihavebeensowretched，’criedTattycoram，weepingmuchmore，’alwayssounhappy，andsorepentant!IwasafraidofherfromthefirsttimeIsawher。Iknewshehadgotapowerovermethroughunderstandingwhatwasbadinmesowell。Itwasamadnessinme，andshecouldraiseitwheneversheliked。Iusedtothink，whenIgotintothatstate，thatpeoplewereallagainstmebecauseofmyfirstbeginning；andthekindertheyweretome，theworsefaultIfoundinthem。Imadeitoutthattheytriumphedaboveme，andthattheywantedtomakemeenvythem，whenIknow——whenIevenknewthen——thattheyneverthoughtofsuchathing。Andmybeautifulyoungmistressnotsohappyassheoughttohavebeen，andIgoneawayfromher!Suchabruteandawretchasshemustthinkme!Butyou’llsayawordtoherforme，andaskhertobeasforgivingasyoutwoare？ForIamnotsobadasIwas，’
　　pleadedTattycoram；’Iambadenough，butnotsobadasIwas，indeed。IhavehadMissWadebeforemeallthistime，asifitwasmyownselfgrownripe——turningeverythingthewrongway，andtwistingallgoodintoevil。Ihavehadherbeforemeallthistime，findingnopleasureinanythingbutkeepingmeasmiserable，suspicious，andtormentingasherself。Notthatshehadmuchtodo，todothat，’criedTattycoram，inaclosinggreatburstofdistress，’forIwasasbadasbadcouldbe。Ionlymeantosay，that，afterwhatIhavegonethrough，IhopeIshallneverbequitesobadagain，andthatIshallgetbetterbyveryslowdegrees。
　　I’lltryveryhard。Iwon’tstopatfive-and-twenty，sir，I’llcountfive-and-twentyhundred，five-and-twentythousand!’
　　Anotheropeningofthedoor，andTattycoramsubsided，andLittleDorritcamein，andMrMeagleswithprideandjoyproducedthebox，andhergentlefacewaslightedupwithgratefulhappinessandjoy。
　　Thesecretwassafenow!Shecouldkeepherownpartofitfromhim；heshouldneverknowofherloss；intimetocomeheshouldknowallthatwasofimporttohimself；butheshouldneverknowwhatconcernedheronly。Thatwasallpassed，allforgiven，allforgotten。
　　’Now，mydearMissDorrit，’saidMrMeagles；’Iamamanofbusiness——oratleastwas——andIamgoingtotakemymeasurespromptly，inthatcharacter。HadIbetterseeArthurto-night？’
　　’Ithinknotto-night。Iwillgotohisroomandascertainhowheis。ButIthinkitwillbebetternottoseehimto-night。’
　　’Iammuchofyouropinion，mydear，’saidMrMeagles，’andthereforeIhavenotbeenanynearertohimthanthisdismalroom。
　　ThenIshallprobablynotseehimforsomelittletimetocome。
　　ButI’llexplainwhatImeanwhenyoucomeback。’
　　Shelefttheroom。MrMeagles，lookingthroughthebarsofthewindow，sawherpassoutoftheLodgebelowhimintotheprison-
　　yard。Hesaidgently，’Tattycoram，cometomeamoment，mygoodgirl。’
　　Shewentuptothewindow。
　　’Youseethatyoungladywhowasherejustnow——thatlittle，quiet，fragilefigurepassingalongthere，Tatty？Look。Thepeoplestandoutofthewaytolethergoby。Themen——seethepoor，shabbyfellows——pullofftheirhatstoherquitepolitely，andnowsheglidesinatthatdoorway。Seeher，Tattycoram？’
　　’Yes，sir。’
　　’Ihaveheardtell，Tatty，thatshewasonceregularlycalledthechildofthisplace。Shewasbornhere，andlivedheremanyyears。
　　Ican’tbreathehere。Adolefulplacetobebornandbredin，Tattycoram？’
　　’Yesindeed，sir!’
　　’Ifshehadconstantlythoughtofherself，andsettledwithherselfthateverybodyvisitedthisplaceuponher，turneditagainsther，andcastitather，shewouldhaveledanirritableandprobablyanuselessexistence。YetIhaveheardtell，Tattycoram，thatheryounglifehasbeenoneofactiveresignation，goodness，andnobleservice。ShallItellyouwhatIconsiderthoseeyesofhers，thatwereherejustnow，tohavealwayslookedat，togetthatexpression？’
　　’Yes，ifyouplease，sir。’
　　’Duty，Tattycoram。Beginitearly，anddoitwell；andthereisnoantecedenttoit，inanyoriginorstation，thatwilltellagainstuswiththeAlmighty，orwithourselves。’
　　Theyremainedatthewindow，Motherjoiningthemandpityingtheprisoners，untilshewasseencomingback。Shewassoonintheroom，andrecommendedthatArthur，whomshehadleftcalmandcomposed，shouldnotbevisitedthatnight。
　　’Good!’saidMrMeagles，cheerily。’Ihavenotadoubtthat’sbest。Ishalltrustmyremembrancesthen，mysweetnurse，inyourhands，andIwellknowtheycouldn’tbeinbetter。Iamoffagainto-morrowmorning。’
　　LittleDorrit，surprised，askedhimwhere？
　　’Mydear，’saidMrMeagles，’Ican’tlivewithoutbreathing。Thisplacehastakenmybreathaway，andIshallnevergetitbackagainuntilArthurisoutofthisplace。’
　　’Howisthatareasonforgoingoffagainto-morrowmorning？’
　　’Youshallunderstand，’saidMrMeagles。’To-nightwethreewillputupataCityHotel。To-morrowmorning，MotherandTattycoramwillgodowntoTwickenham，whereMrsTickit，sittingattendedbyDrBuchanintheparlour-window，willthinkthemacoupleofghosts；andIshallgoabroadagainforDoyce。WemusthaveDanhere。Now，Itellyou，mylove，it’sofnousewritingandplanningandconditionallyspeculatinguponthisandthatandtheother，atuncertainintervalsanddistances；wemusthaveDoycehere。Idevotemyselfatdaybreakto-morrowmorning，tobringingDoycehere。It’snothingtometogoandfindhim。I’manoldtraveller，andallforeignlanguagesandcustomsarealiketome——I
　　neverunderstandanythingaboutanyof’em。ThereforeIcan’tbeputtoanyinconvenience。GoatonceImust，itstandstoreason；
　　becauseIcan’tlivewithoutbreathingfreely；andIcan’tbreathefreelyuntilArthurisoutofthisMarshalsea。Iamstifledatthepresentmoment，andhavescarcelybreathenoughtosaythismuch，andtocarrythispreciousboxdown-stairsforyou。’
　　Theygotintothestreetasthebellbegantoring，MrMeaglescarryingthebox。LittleDorrithadnoconveyancethere：whichrathersurprisedhim。Hecalledacoachforherandshegotintoit，andheplacedtheboxbesideherwhenshewasseated。Inherjoyandgratitudeshekissedhishand。
　　’Idon’tlikethat，mydear，’saidMrMeagles。’Itgoesagainstmyfeelingofwhat’sright，thatYOUshoulddohomagetoME——attheMarshalseaGate。’
　　Shebentforward，andkissedhischeek。
　　’Youremindmeofthedays，’saidMrMeagles，suddenlydrooping——
　　’butshe’sveryfondofhim，andhideshisfaults，andthinksthatnooneseesthem——andhecertainlyiswellconnectedandofaverygoodfamily!’
　　Itwastheonlycomforthehadinthelossofhisdaughter，andifhemadethemostofit，whocouldblamehim？