’Youcan’tthinkhowgoodsheis，sir，’saidLittleDorrit，withinfinitetenderness。
　　’GoodSHEis，’echoedMaggy，transferringthepronouninamostexpressivewayfromherselftoherlittlemother。
　　’Orhowclever，’saidLittleDorrit。’Shegoesonerrandsaswellasanyone。’Maggylaughed。’AndisastrustworthyastheBankofEngland。’Maggylaughed。’Sheearnsherownlivingentirely。
　　Entirely，sir!’saidLittleDorrit，inalowerandtriumphanttone。
　　’Reallydoes!’
　　’Whatisherhistory？’askedClennam。
　　’Thinkofthat，Maggy？’saidLittleDorrit，takinghertwolargehandsandclappingthemtogether。’Agentlemanfromthousandsofmilesaway，wantingtoknowyourhistory!’
　　’Myhistory？’criedMaggy。’Littlemother。’
　　’Shemeansme，’saidLittleDorrit，ratherconfused；’sheisverymuchattachedtome。Heroldgrandmotherwasnotsokindtoherassheshouldhavebeen；wasshe，Maggy？’
　　Maggyshookherhead，madeadrinkingvesselofherclenchedlefthand，drankoutofit，andsaid，’Gin。’Thenbeatanimaginarychild，andsaid，’Broom-handlesandpokers。’
　　’WhenMaggywastenyearsold，’saidLittleDorrit，watchingherfacewhileshespoke，’shehadabadfever，sir，andshehasnevergrownanyoldereversince。’
　　’Tenyearsold，’saidMaggy，noddingherhead。’Butwhatanicehospital!Socomfortable，wasn’tit？Ohsoniceitwas。SuchaEv’nlyplace!’
　　’Shehadneverbeenatpeacebefore，sir，’saidLittleDorrit，turningtowardsArthurforaninstantandspeakinglow，’andshealwaysrunsoffuponthat。’
　　’Suchbedsthereisthere!’criedMaggy。’Suchlemonades!Suchoranges!Suchd’liciousbrothandwine!SuchChicking!Oh，AIN’T
　　itadelightfulplacetogoandstopat!’
　　’SoMaggystoppedthereaslongasshecould，’saidLittleDorrit，inherformertoneoftellingachild’sstory；thetonedesignedforMaggy’sear，’andatlast，whenshecouldstoptherenolonger，shecameout。Then，becauseshewasnevertobemorethantenyearsold，howeverlongshelived——’
　　’Howeverlongshelived，’echoedMaggy。
　　’Andbecauseshewasveryweak；indeedwassoweakthatwhenshebegantolaughshecouldn’tstopherself——whichwasagreatpity——’
　　Maggymightygraveofasudden。
　　’Hergrandmotherdidnotknowwhattodowithher，andforsomeyearswasveryunkindtoherindeed。Atlength，incourseoftime，Maggybegantotakepainstoimproveherself，andtobeveryattentiveandveryindustrious；andbydegreeswasallowedtocomeinandoutasoftenassheliked，andgotenoughtodotosupportherself，anddoessupportherself。Andthat，’saidLittleDorrit，clappingthetwogreathandstogetheragain，’isMaggy’shistory，asMaggyknows!’
　　Ah!ButArthurwouldhaveknownwhatwaswantingtoitscompleteness，thoughhehadneverheardofthewordsLittlemother；
　　thoughhehadneverseenthefondlingofthesmallsparehand；
　　thoughhehadhadnosightforthetearsnowstandinginthecolourlesseyes；thoughhehadhadnohearingforthesobthatcheckedtheclumsylaugh。Thedirtygatewaywiththewindandrainwhistlingthroughit，andthebasketofmuddypotatoeswaitingtobespiltagainortakenup，neverseemedthecommonholeitreallywas，whenhelookedbacktoitbytheselights。Never，never!
　　Theywereveryneartheendoftheirwalk，andtheynowcameoutofthegatewaytofinishit。NothingwouldserveMaggybutthattheymuststopatagrocer’swindow，shortoftheirdestination，forhertoshowherlearning。Shecouldreadafterasort；andpickedoutthefatfiguresintheticketsofprices，forthemostpartcorrectly。Shealsostumbled，withalargebalanceofsuccessagainstherfailures，throughvariousphilanthropicrecommendationstoTryourMixture，TryourFamilyBlack，TryourOrange-flavouredPekoe，challengingcompetitionattheheadofFloweryTeas；andvariouscautionstothepublicagainstspuriousestablishmentsandadulteratedarticles。WhenhesawhowpleasurebroughtarosytintintoLittleDorrit’sfacewhenMaggymadeahit，hefeltthathecouldhavestoodtheremakingalibraryofthegrocer’swindowuntiltherainandwindweretired。
　　Thecourt-yardreceivedthematlast，andtherehesaidgoodbyetoLittleDorrit。Littleasshehadalwayslooked，shelookedlessthaneverwhenhesawhergoingintotheMarshalsealodgepassage，thelittlemotherattendedbyherbigchild。
　　Thecagedooropened，andwhenthesmallbird，rearedincaptivity，hadtamelyflutteredin，hesawitshutagain；andthenhecameaway。
　　ContainingthewholeScienceofGovernmentTheCircumlocutionOfficewasaseverybodyknowswithoutbeingtoldthemostimportantDepartmentunderGovernment。NopublicbusinessofanykindcouldpossiblybedoneatanytimewithouttheacquiescenceoftheCircumlocutionOffice。Itsfingerwasinthelargestpublicpie，andinthesmallestpublictart。ItwasequallyimpossibletodotheplainestrightandtoundotheplainestwrongwithouttheexpressauthorityoftheCircumlocutionOffice。IfanotherGunpowderPlothadbeendiscoveredhalfanhourbeforethelightingofthematch，nobodywouldhavebeenjustifiedinsavingtheparliamentuntiltherehadbeenhalfascoreofboards，halfabushelofminutes，severalsacksofofficialmemoranda，andafamily-vaultfullofungrammaticalcorrespondence，onthepartoftheCircumlocutionOffice。
　　Thisgloriousestablishmenthadbeenearlyinthefield，whentheonesublimeprincipleinvolvingthedifficultartofgoverningacountry，wasfirstdistinctlyrevealedtostatesmen。Ithadbeenforemosttostudythatbrightrevelationandtocarryitsshininginfluencethroughthewholeoftheofficialproceedings。Whateverwasrequiredtobedone，theCircumlocutionOfficewasbeforehandwithallthepublicdepartmentsintheartofperceiving——HOWNOT
　　Throughthisdelicateperception，throughthetactwithwhichitinvariablyseizedit，andthroughthegeniuswithwhichitalwaysactedonit，theCircumlocutionOfficehadrisentoovertopallthepublicdepartments；andthepublicconditionhadrisentobe——whatitwas。
　　ItistruethatHownottodoitwasthegreatstudyandobjectofallpublicdepartmentsandprofessionalpoliticiansallroundtheCircumlocutionOffice。Itistruethateverynewpremierandeverynewgovernment，cominginbecausetheyhadupheldacertainthingasnecessarytobedone，werenosoonercomeinthantheyappliedtheirutmostfacultiestodiscoveringHownottodoit。Itistruethatfromthemomentwhenageneralelectionwasover，everyreturnedmanwhohadbeenravingonhustingsbecauseithadn’tbeendone，andwhohadbeenaskingthefriendsofthehonourablegentlemanintheoppositeinterestonpainofimpeachmenttotellhimwhyithadn’tbeendone，andwhohadbeenassertingthatitmustbedone，andwhohadbeenpledginghimselfthatitshouldbedone，begantodevise，Howitwasnottobedone。ItistruethatthedebatesofbothHousesofParliamentthewholesessionthrough，uniformlytendedtotheprotracteddeliberation，Hownottodoit。
　　Itistruethattheroyalspeechattheopeningofsuchsessionvirtuallysaid，Mylordsandgentlemen，youhaveaconsiderablestrokeofworktodo，andyouwillpleasetoretiretoyourrespectivechambers，anddiscuss，Hownottodoit。Itistruethattheroyalspeech，atthecloseofsuchsession，virtuallysaid，Mylordsandgentlemen，youhavethroughseverallaboriousmonthsbeenconsideringwithgreatloyaltyandpatriotism，Hownottodoit，andyouhavefoundout；andwiththeblessingofProvidenceupontheharvestnatural，notpolitical，Inowdismissyou。Allthisistrue，buttheCircumlocutionOfficewentbeyondit。
　　BecausetheCircumlocutionOfficewentonmechanically，everyday，keepingthiswonderful，all-sufficientwheelofstatesmanship，Hownottodoit，inmotion。BecausetheCircumlocutionOfficewasdownuponanyill-advisedpublicservantwhowasgoingtodoit，orwhoappearedtobebyanysurprisingaccidentinremotedangerofdoingit，withaminute，andamemorandum，andaletterofinstructionsthatextinguishedhim。ItwasthisspiritofnationalefficiencyintheCircumlocutionOfficethathadgraduallyledtoitshavingsomethingtodowitheverything。Mechanicians，naturalphilosophers，soldiers，sailors，petitioners，memorialists，peoplewithgrievances，peoplewhowantedtopreventgrievances，peoplewhowantedtoredressgrievances，jobbingpeople，jobbedpeople，peoplewhocouldn’tgetrewardedformerit，andpeoplewhocouldn’tgetpunishedfordemerit，wereallindiscriminatelytuckedupunderthefoolscappaperoftheCircumlocutionOffice。
　　NumbersofpeoplewerelostintheCircumlocutionOffice。
　　Unfortunateswithwrongs，orwithprojectsforthegeneralwelfareandtheyhadbetterhavehadwrongsatfirst，thanhavetakenthatbitterEnglishrecipeforcertainlygettingthem，whoinslowlapseoftimeandagonyhadpassedsafelythroughotherpublicdepartments；who，accordingtorule，hadbeenbulliedinthis，over-reachedbythat，andevadedbytheother；gotreferredatlasttotheCircumlocutionOffice，andneverreappearedinthelightofday。Boardssatuponthem，secretariesminuteduponthem，commissionersgabbledaboutthem，clerksregistered，entered，checked，andtickedthemoff，andtheymeltedaway。Inshort，allthebusinessofthecountrywentthroughtheCircumlocutionOffice，exceptthebusinessthatnevercameoutofit；anditsnamewasLegion。
　　Sometimes，angryspiritsattackedtheCircumlocutionOffice。
　　Sometimes，parliamentaryquestionswereaskedaboutit，andevenparliamentarymotionsmadeorthreatenedaboutitbydemagoguessolowandignorantastoholdthattherealrecipeofgovernmentwas，Howtodoit。Thenwouldthenoblelord，orrighthonourablegentleman，inwhosedepartmentitwastodefendtheCircumlocutionOffice，putanorangeinhispocket，andmakearegularfield-dayoftheoccasion。Thenwouldhecomedowntothathousewithaslapuponthetable，andmeetthehonourablegentlemanfoottofoot。
　　ThenwouldhebetheretotellthathonourablegentlemanthattheCircumlocutionOfficenotonlywasblamelessinthismatter，butwascommendableinthismatter，wasextollabletotheskiesinthismatter。Thenwouldhebetheretotellthathonourablegentlemanthat，althoughtheCircumlocutionOfficewasinvariablyrightandwhollyright，itneverwassorightasinthismatter。Thenwouldhebetheretotellthathonourablegentlemanthatitwouldhavebeenmoretohishonour，moretohiscredit，moretohisgoodtaste，moretohisgoodsense，moretohalfthedictionaryofcommonplaces，ifhehadlefttheCircumlocutionOfficealone，andneverapproachedthismatter。ThenwouldhekeeponeeyeuponacoachorcrammerfromtheCircumlocutionOfficesittingbelowthebar，andsmashthehonourablegentlemanwiththeCircumlocutionOfficeaccountofthismatter。Andalthoughoneoftwothingsalwayshappened；namely，eitherthattheCircumlocutionOfficehadnothingtosayandsaidit，orthatithadsomethingtosayofwhichthenoblelord，orrighthonourablegentleman，blunderedonehalfandforgottheother；theCircumlocutionOfficewasalwaysvotedimmaculatebyanaccommodatingmajority。
　　SuchanurseryofstatesmenhadtheDepartmentbecomeinvirtueofalongcareerofthisnature，thatseveralsolemnlordshadattainedthereputationofbeingquiteunearthlyprodigiesofbusiness，solelyfromhavingpractised，Hownottodoit，astheheadoftheCircumlocutionOffice。Astotheminorpriestsandacolytesofthattemple，theresultofallthiswasthattheystooddividedintotwoclasses，and，downtothejuniormessenger，eitherbelievedintheCircumlocutionOfficeasaheaven-borninstitutionthathadanabsoluterighttodowhateveritliked；ortookrefugeintotalinfidelity，andconsidereditaflagrantnuisance。
　　TheBarnaclefamilyhadforsometimehelpedtoadministertheCircumlocutionOffice。TheTiteBarnacleBranch，indeed，consideredthemselvesinageneralwayashavingvestedrightsinthatdirection，andtookitillifanyotherfamilyhadmuchtosaytoit。TheBarnacleswereaveryhighfamily，andaverylargefamily。Theyweredispersedalloverthepublicoffices，andheldallsortsofpublicplaces。EitherthenationwasunderaloadofobligationtotheBarnacles，ortheBarnacleswereunderaloadofobligationtothenation。Itwasnotquiteunanimouslysettledwhich；theBarnacleshavingtheiropinion，thenationtheirs。
　　TheMrTiteBarnaclewhoattheperiodnowinquestionusuallycoachedorcrammedthestatesmanattheheadoftheCircumlocutionOffice，whenthatnobleorrighthonourableindividualsatalittleuneasilyinhissaddlebyreasonofsomevagabondmakingatiltathiminanewspaper，wasmoreflushofbloodthanmoney。AsaBarnaclehehadhisplace，whichwasasnugthingenough；andasaBarnaclehehadofcourseputinhissonBarnacleJuniorintheoffice。ButhehadintermarriedwithabranchoftheStiltstalkings，whowerealsobetterendowedinasanguineouspointofviewthanwithrealorpersonalproperty，andofthismarriagetherehadbeenissue，Barnaclejuniorandthreeyoungladies。WhatwiththepatricianrequirementsofBarnaclejunior，thethreeyoungladies，MrsTiteBarnacleneeStiltstalking，andhimself，MrTiteBarnaclefoundtheintervalsbetweenquarterdayandquarterdayratherlongerthanhecouldhavedesired；acircumstancewhichhealwaysattributedtothecountry’sparsimony。
　　ForMrTiteBarnacle，MrArthurClennammadehisfifthinquiryonedayattheCircumlocutionOffice；havingonpreviousoccasionsawaitedthatgentlemansuccessivelyinahall，aglasscase，awaitingroom，andafire-proofpassagewheretheDepartmentseemedtokeepitswind。OnthisoccasionMrBarnaclewasnotengaged，ashehadbeenbefore，withthenobleprodigyattheheadoftheDepartment；butwasabsent。BarnacleJunior，however，wasannouncedasalesserstar，yetvisibleabovetheofficehorizon。