Andthissavedhimstillfromthewhimperingweaknessandcruelselfishnessofholdingthatbecausesuchahappinessorsuchavirtuehadnotcomeintohislittlepath，orworkedwellforhim，thereforeitwasnotinthegreatscheme，butwasreducible，whenfoundinappearance，tothebasestelements。Adisappointedmindhehad，butamindtoofirmandhealthyforsuchunwholesomeair。
　　Leavinghimselfinthedark，itcouldriseintothelight，seeingitshineonothersandhailingit。
　　Therefore，hesatbeforehisdyingfire，sorrowfultothinkuponthewaybywhichhehadcometothatnight，yetnotstrewingpoisononthewaybywhichothermenhadcometoit。Thatheshouldhavemissedsomuch，andathistimeoflifeshouldlooksofarabouthimforanystafftobearhimcompanyuponhisdownwardjourneyandcheerit，wasajustregret。Helookedatthefirefromwhichtheblazedeparted，fromwhichtheafterglowsubsided，inwhichtheashesturnedgrey，fromwhichtheydroppedtodust，andthought，’HowsoonItooshallpassthroughsuchchanges，andbegone!’
　　Toreviewhislifewaslikedescendingagreentreeinfruitandflower，andseeingallthebrancheswitheranddropoff，onebyone，ashecamedowntowardsthem。
　　’Fromtheunhappysuppressionofmyyoungestdays，throughtherigidandunlovinghomethatfollowedthem，throughmydeparture，mylongexile，myreturn，mymother’swelcome，myintercoursewithhersince，downtotheafternoonofthisdaywithpoorFlora，’saidArthurClennam，’whathaveIfound!’
　　Hisdoorwassoftlyopened，andthesespokenwordsstartledhim，andcameasiftheywereananswer：
　　’LittleDorrit。’
　　LittleDorrit’sPartyArthurClennamrosehastily，andsawherstandingatthedoor。
　　ThishistorymustsometimesseewithLittleDorrit’seyes，andshallbeginthatcoursebyseeinghim。
　　LittleDorritlookedintoadimroom，whichseemedaspaciousonetoher，andgrandlyfurnished。CourtlyideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewithfamouscoffee-houses，wheregentlemenwearinggold-
　　lacedcoatsandswordshadquarrelledandfoughtduels；costlyideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewheretherewereflowersinwinteratguineasa-piece，pine-applesatguineasapound，andpeasatguineasapint；picturesqueideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewheretherewasamightytheatre，showingwonderfulandbeautifulsightstorichly-dressedladiesandgentlemen，andwhichwasforeverfarbeyondthereachofpoorFannyorpooruncle；desolateideasofCoventGarden，ashavingallthosearchesinit，wherethemiserablechildreninragsamongwhomshehadjustnowpassed，likeyoungrats，slunkandhid，fedonoffal，huddledtogetherforwarmth，andwerehuntedaboutlooktotheratsyoungandold，allyeBarnacles，forbeforeGodtheyareeatingawayourfoundations，andwillbringtheroofsonourheads!；teemingideasofCoventGarden，asaplaceofpastandpresentmystery，romance，abundance，want，beauty，ugliness，faircountrygardens，andfoulstreetgutters；allconfusedtogether，——madetheroomdimmerthanitwasinLittleDorrit’seyes，astheytimidlysawitfromthedoor。
　　Atfirstinthechairbeforethegone-outfire，andthenturnedroundwonderingtoseeher，wasthegentlemanwhomshesought。Thebrown，gravegentleman，whosmiledsopleasantly，whowassofrankandconsiderateinhismanner，andyetinwhoseearnestnesstherewassomethingthatremindedherofhismother，withthegreatdifferencethatshewasearnestinasperityandheingentleness。
　　NowheregardedherwiththatattentiveandinquiringlookbeforewhichLittleDorrit’seyeshadalwaysfallen，andbeforewhichtheyfellstill。
　　’Mypoorchild!Hereatmidnight？’
　　’IsaidLittleDorrit，sir，onpurposetoprepareyou。Iknewyoumustbeverymuchsurprised。’
　　’Areyoualone？’
　　’Nosir，IhavegotMaggywithme。’
　　Consideringherentrancesufficientlypreparedforbythismentionofhername，Maggyappearedfromthelandingoutside，onthebroadgrin。Sheinstantlysuppressedthatmanifestation，however，andbecamefixedlysolemn。
　　’AndIhavenofire，’saidClennam。’Andyouare——’Hewasgoingtosaysolightlyclad，butstoppedhimselfinwhatwouldhavebeenareferencetoherpoverty，sayinginstead，’Anditissocold。’
　　Puttingthechairfromwhichhehadrisennearertothegrate，hemadehersitdowninit；andhurriedlybringingwoodandcoal，heapedthemtogetherandgotablaze。
　　’Yourfootislikemarble，mychild；’hehadhappenedtotouchit，whilestoopingononekneeathisworkofkindlingthefire；’putitnearerthewarmth。’LittleDorritthankedhimhastily。Itwasquitewarm，itwasverywarm!Itsmoteuponhishearttofeelthatshehidherthin，wornshoe。
　　LittleDorritwasnotashamedofherpoorshoes。Heknewherstory，anditwasnotthat。LittleDorrithadamisgivingthathemightblameherfather，ifhesawthem；thathemightthink，’whydidhedineto-day，andleavethislittlecreaturetothemercyofthecoldstones!’Shehadnobeliefthatitwouldhavebeenajustreflection；shesimplyknew，byexperience，thatsuchdelusionsdidsometimespresentthemselvestopeople。Itwasapartofherfather’smisfortunesthattheydid。
　　’BeforeIsayanythingelse，’LittleDorritbegan，sittingbeforethepalefire，andraisinghereyesagaintothefacewhichinitsharmoniouslookofinterest，andpity，andprotection，shefelttobeamysteryfaraboveherindegree，andalmostremovedbeyondherguessingat；’mayItellyousomething，sir？’
　　’Yes，mychild。’
　　Aslightshadeofdistressfelluponher，athissooftencallingherachild。Shewassurprisedthatheshouldseeit，orthinkofsuchaslightthing；buthesaiddirectly：
　　’Iwantedatenderword，andcouldthinkofnoother。Asyoujustnowgaveyourselfthenametheygiveyouatmymother’s，andasthatisthenamebywhichIalwaysthinkofyou，letmecallyouLittleDorrit。’
　　’Thankyou，sir，Ishouldlikeitbetterthananyname。’
　　’LittleDorrit。’
　　’Littlemother，’Maggywhohadbeenfallingasleepputin，asacorrection。
　　’It’sallthesame，MaggY，’returnedLittleDorrit，’allthesame。’
　　’Isitallthesame，mother？’
　　’Justthesame。’
　　Maggylaughed，andimmediatelysnored。InLittleDorrit’seyesandears，theuncouthfigureandtheuncouthsoundwereaspleasantascouldbe。Therewasaglowofprideinherbigchild，overspreadingherface，whenitagainmettheeyesofthegravebrowngentleman。Shewonderedwhathewasthinkingof，ashelookedatMaggyandher。Shethoughtwhatagoodfatherhewouldbe。How，withsomesuchlook，hewouldcounselandcherishhisdaughter。
　　’WhatIwasgoingtotellyou，sir，’saidLittleDorrit，’is，thatMYbrotherisatlarge。’
　　Arthurwasrejoicedtohearit，andhopedhewoulddowell。
　　’AndwhatIwasgoingtotellyou，sir，’saidLittleDorrit，tremblinginallherlittlefigureandinhervoice，’is，thatIamnottoknowwhosegenerosityreleasedhim——amnevertoask，andamnevertobetold，andamnevertothankthatgentlemanwithallMY
　　gratefulheart!’
　　Hewouldprobablyneednothanks，Clennamsaid。Verylikelyhewouldbethankfulhimselfandwithreason，thathehadhadthemeansandchanceofdoingalittleservicetoher，whowelldeservedagreatone。
　　’AndwhatIwasgoingtosay，sir，is，’saidLittleDorrit，tremblingmoreandmore，’thatifIknewhim，andImight，Iwouldtellhimthathecannever，neverknowhowIfeelhisgoodness，andhowmygoodfatherwouldfeelit。AndwhatIwasgoingtosay，sir，is，thatifIknewhim，andImight——butIdon’tknowhimandImustnot——Iknowthat!——IwouldtellhimthatIshallneveranymoreliedowntosleepwithouthavingprayedtoHeaventoblesshimandrewardhim。AndifIknewhim，andImight，Iwouldgodownonmykneestohim，andtakehishandandkissitandaskhimnottodrawitaway，buttoleaveit——Otoleaveitforamoment——andletmythankfultearsfallonit；forIhavenootherthankstogivehim!’
　　LittleDorrithadputhishandtoherlips，andwouldhavekneeledtohim，buthegentlypreventedher，andreplacedherinherchair。
　　Hereyes，andthetonesofhervoice，hadthankedhimfarbetterthanshethought。Hewasnotabletosay，quiteascomposedlyasusual，’There，LittleDorrit，there，there，there!Wewillsupposethatyoudidknowthisperson，andthatyoumightdoallthis，andthatitwasalldone。Andnowtellme，Whoamquiteanotherperson——whoamnothingmorethanthefriendwhobeggedyoutotrusthim——whyyouareoutatmidnight，andwhatitisthatbringsyousofarthroughthestreetsatthislatehour，myslight，delicate，’
　　childwasonhislipsagain，’LittleDorrit!’
　　’MaggyandIhavebeento-night，’sheanswered，subduingherselfwiththequieteffortthathadlongbeennaturaltoher，’tothetheatrewheremysisterisengaged。’
　　’Andohain’titaEv’nlyplace，’suddenlyinterruptedMaggy，whoseemedtohavethepowerofgoingtosleepandwakingupwhenevershechose。’Almostasgoodasahospital。Onlythereain’tnoChickinginit。’
　　Heresheshookherself，andfellasleepagain。
　　’Wewentthere，’saidLittleDorrit，glancingathercharge，’becauseIlikesometimestoknow，ofmyownknowledge，thatmysisterisdoingwell；andliketoseeherthere，withmyowneyes，whenneithershenorUncleisaware。ItisveryseldomindeedthatIcandothat，becausewhenIamnotoutatwork，Iamwithmyfather，andevenwhenIamoutatwork，Ihurryhometohim。ButIpretendto-nightthatIamataparty。’
　　Asshemadetheconfession，timidlyhesitating，sheraisedhereyestotheface，andreaditsexpressionsoplainlythatsheansweredit。’Ohno，certainly!Ineverwasatapartyinmylife。’Shepausedalittleunderhisattentivelook，andthensaid，’Ihopethereisnoharminit。Icouldneverhavebeenofanyuse，ifI
　　hadnotpretendedalittle。’
　　Shefearedthathewasblamingherinhismindforsodevisingtocontriveforthem，thinkforthem，andwatchoverthem，withouttheirknowledgeorgratitude；perhapsevenwiththeirreproachesforsupposedneglect。Butwhatwasreallyinhismind，wastheweakfigurewithitsstrongpurpose，thethinwornshoes，theinsufficientdress，andthepretenceofrecreationandenjoyment。
　　Heaskedwherethesuppositiouspartywas？Ataplacewheresheworked，answeredLittleDorrit，blushing。Shehadsaidverylittleaboutit；onlyafewwordstomakeherfathereasy。Herfatherdidnotbelieveittobeagrandparty——indeedhemightsupposethat。
　　Andsheglancedforaninstantattheshawlshewore。
　　’Itisthefirstnight，’saidLittleDorrit，’thatIhaveeverbeenawayfromhome。AndLondonlookssolarge，sobarren，andsowild。’InLittleDorrit’seyes，itsvastnessundertheblackskywasawful；atremorpassedoverherasshesaidthewords。