TheFatheroftheMarshalseaintwoorthreeRelationsThebrothersWilliamandFrederickDorrit，walkingupanddowntheCollege-yard——ofcourseonthearistocraticorPumpside，fortheFathermadeitapointofhisstatetobecharyofgoingamonghischildrenonthePoorside，exceptonSundaymornings，ChristmasDays，andotheroccasionsofceremony，intheobservancewhereofhewasverypunctual，andatwhichtimeshelaidhishandupontheheadsoftheirinfants，andblessedthoseyounginsolventswithabenignitythatwashighlyedifying——thebrothers，walkingupanddowntheCollege-yardtogether，wereamemorablesight。Frederickthefree，wassohumbled，bowed，withered，andfaded；Williamthebond，wassocourtly，condescending，andbenevolentlyconsciousofaposition；thatinthisregardonly，ifinnoother，thebrotherswereaspectacletowonderat。
　　TheywalkedupanddowntheyardontheeveningofLittleDorrit’sSundayinterviewwithherloverontheIronBridge。Thecaresofstatewereoverforthatday，theDrawingRoomhadbeenwellattended，severalnewpresentationshadtakenplace，thethree-and-
　　sixpenceaccidentallyleftonthetablehadaccidentallyincreasedtotwelveshillings，andtheFatheroftheMarshalsearefreshedhimselfwithawhiffofcigar。Ashewalkedupanddown，affablyaccommodatinghissteptotheshuffleofhisbrother，notproudinhissuperiority，butconsiderateofthatpoorcreature，bearingwithhim，andbreathingtolerationofhisinfirmitiesineverylittlepuffofsmokethatissuedfromhislipsandaspiredtogetoverthespikedwall，hewasasighttowonderat。
　　HisbrotherFrederickofthedimeye，palsiedhand，bentform，andgropingmind，submissivelyshuffledathisside，acceptinghispatronageasheacceptedeveryincidentofthelabyrinthianworldinwhichhehadgotlost。Heheldtheusualscrewedbitofwhitey-
　　brownpaperinhishand，fromwhichheeverandagainunscrewedasparepinchofsnuff。Thatfalteringlytaken，hewouldglanceathisbrothernotunadmiringly，puthishandsbehindhim，andshuffleonsoathissideuntilhetookanotherpinch，orstoodstilltolookabouthim——perchancesuddenlymissinghisclarionet。
　　TheCollegevisitorsweremeltingawayastheshadesofnightdrewon，buttheyardwasstillprettyfull，theCollegiansbeingmostlyout，seeingtheirfriendstotheLodge。Asthebrotherspacedtheyard，Williamthebondlookedabouthimtoreceivesalutes，returnedthembygraciouslyliftingoffhishat，and，withanengagingair，preventedFrederickthefreefromrunningagainstthecompany，orbeingjostledagainstthewall。TheCollegiansasabodywerenoteasilyimpressible，buteventhey，accordingtotheirvariouswaysofwondering，appearedtofindinthetwobrothersasighttowonderat。
　　’Youarealittlelowthisevening，Frederick，’saidtheFatheroftheMarshalsea。’Anythingthematter？’
　　’Thematter？’Hestaredforamoment，andthendroppedhisheadandeyesagain。’No，William，no。Nothingisthematter。’
　　’Ifyoucouldbepersuadedtosmartenyourselfupalittle，Frederick——’
　　’Aye，aye!’saidtheoldmanhurriedly。’ButIcan’tbe。Ican’tbe。Don’ttalkso。That’sallover。’
　　TheFatheroftheMarshalseaglancedatapassingCollegianwithwhomhewasonfriendlyterms，aswhoshouldsay，’Anenfeebledoldman，this；butheismybrother，sir，mybrother，andthevoiceofNatureispotent!’andsteeredhisbrotherclearofthehandleofthepumpbythethreadbaresleeve。Nothingwouldhavebeenwantingtotheperfectionofhischaracterasafraternalguide，philosopherandfriend，ifhehadonlysteeredhisbrotherclearofruin，insteadofbringingituponhim。
　　’Ithink，William，’saidtheobjectofhisaffectionateconsideration，’thatIamtired，andwillgohometobed。’
　　’MydearFrederick，’returnedtheother，’don’tletmedetainyou；
　　don’tsacrificeyourinclinationtome。’
　　’Latehours，andaheatedatmosphere，andyears，Isuppose，’saidFrederick，’weakenme。’
　　’MydearFrederick，’returnedtheFatheroftheMarshalsea，’doyouthinkyouaresufficientlycarefulofyourself？Doyouthinkyourhabitsareaspreciseandmethodicalas——shallIsayasmineare？
　　NottorevertagaintothatlittleeccentricitywhichImentionedjustnow，Idoubtifyoutakeairandexerciseenough，Frederick。
　　Hereistheparade，alwaysatyourservice。Whynotuseitmoreregularlythanyoudo？’
　　’Hah!’sighedtheother。’Yes，yes，yes，yes。’
　　’Butitisofnousesayingyes，yes，mydearFrederick，’theFatheroftheMarshalseainhismildwisdompersisted，’unlessyouactonthatassent。Considermycase，Frederick。Iamakindofexample。Necessityandtimehavetaughtmewhattodo。Atcertainstatedhoursoftheday，youwillfindmeontheparade，inmyroom，intheLodge，readingthepaper，receivingcompany，eatinganddrinking。IhaveimpresseduponAmyduringmanyyears，thatI
　　musthavemymealsforinstancepunctually。Amyhasgrownupinasenseoftheimportanceofthesearrangements，andyouknowwhatagoodgirlsheis。’
　　Thebrotheronlysighedagain，asheploddeddreamilyalong，’Hah!
　　Yes，yes，yes，yes。’
　　’Mydearfellow，’saidtheFatheroftheMarshalsea，layinghishanduponhisshoulder，andmildlyrallyinghim——mildly，becauseofhisweakness，poordearsoul；’yousaidthatbefore，anditdoesnotexpressmuch，Frederick，evenifitmeansmuch。IwishIcouldrouseyou，mygoodFrederick；youwanttoberoused。’
　　’Yes，William，yes。Nodoubt，’returnedtheother，liftinghisdimeyestohisface。’ButIamnotlikeyou。’
　　TheFatheroftheMarshalseasaid，withashrugofmodestself-
　　depreciation，’Oh!Youmightbelikeme，mydearFrederick；youmightbe，ifyouchose!’andforbore，inthemagnanimityofhisstrength，topresshisfallenbrotherfurther。
　　Therewasagreatdealofleave-takinggoingonincorners，aswasusualonSundaynights；andhereandthereinthedark，somepoorwoman，wifeormother，wasweepingwithanewCollegian。ThetimehadbeenwhentheFatherhimselfhadwept，intheshadesofthatyard，ashisownpoorwifehadwept。Butitwasmanyyearsago；
　　andnowhewaslikeapassengeraboardshipinalongvoyage，whohasrecoveredfromsea-sickness，andisimpatientofthatweaknessinthefresherpassengerstakenaboardatthelastport。Hewasinclinedtoremonstrate，andtoexpresshisopinionthatpeoplewhocouldn’tgetonwithoutcrying，hadnobusinessthere。Inmanner，ifnotinwords，healwaystestifiedhisdispleasureattheseinterruptionsofthegeneralharmony；anditwassowellunderstood，thatdelinquentsusuallywithdrewiftheywereawareofhim。
　　OnthisSundayevening，heaccompaniedhisbrothertothegatewithanairofenduranceandclemency；beinginablandtemperandgraciouslydisposedtooverlookthetears。IntheflaringgaslightoftheLodge，severalCollegianswerebasking；sometakingleaveofvisitors，andsomewhohadnovisitors，watchingthefrequentturningofthekey，andconversingwithoneanotherandwithMrChivery。Thepaternalentrancemadeasensationofcourse；andMrChivery，touchinghishatinashortmannerthoughwithhiskey，hopedhefoundhimselftolerable。
　　’Thankyou，Chivery，quitewell。Andyou？’
　　MrChiverysaidinalowgrowl，’Oh!hewasallright。’Whichwashisgeneralwayofacknowledginginquiriesafterhishealthwhenalittlesullen。
　　’IhadavisitfromYoungJohnto-day，Chivery。Andverysmarthelooked，Iassureyou。’
　　SoMrChiveryhadheard。MrChiverymustconfess，however，thathiswishwasthattheboydidn’tlayoutsomuchmoneyuponit。
　　Forwhatdiditbringhimin？Itonlybroughthiminwexation。
　　Andhecouldgetthatanywherefornothing。
　　’Howvexation，Chivery？’askedthebenignantfather。
　　’Noodds，’returnedMrChivery。’Nevermind。MrFrederickgoingout？’
　　’Yes，Chivery，mybrotherisgoinghometobed。Heistired，andnotquitewell。Takecare，Frederick，takecare。Goodnight，mydearFrederick!’
　　Shakinghandswithhisbrother，andtouchinghisgreasyhattothecompanyintheLodge，FrederickslowlyshuffledoutofthedoorwhichMrChiveryunlockedforhim。TheFatheroftheMarshalseashowedtheamiablesolicitudeofasuperiorbeingthatheshouldcometonoharm。
　　’Besokindastokeepthedooropenamoment，Chivery，thatImayseehimgoalongthepassageanddownthesteps。Takecare，Frederick!Heisveryinfirm。Mindthesteps!Heissoveryabsent。Becarefulhowyoucross，Frederick。Ireallydon’tlikethenotionofhisgoingwanderingatlarge，heissoextremelyliabletoberunover。’
　　Withthesewords，andwithafaceexpressiveofmanyuneasydoubtsandmuchanxiousguardianship，heturnedhisregardsupontheassembledcompanyintheLodge：soplainlyindicatingthathisbrotherwastobepitiedfornotbeingunderlockandkey，thatanopiniontothateffectwentroundamongtheCollegiansassembled。
　　Buthedidnotreceiveitwithunqualifiedassent；onthecontrary，hesaid，No，gentlemen，no；letthemnotmisunderstandhim。HisbrotherFrederickwasmuchbroken，nodoubt，anditmightbemorecomfortabletohimselftheFatheroftheMarshalseatoknowthathewassafewithinthewalls。Still，itmustberememberedthattosupportanexistencethereduringmanyyears，requiredacertaincombinationofqualities——hedidnotsayhighqualities，butqualities——moralqualities。Now，hadhisbrotherFrederickthatpeculiarunionofqualities？Gentlemen，hewasamostexcellentman，amostgentle，tender，andestimableman，withthesimplicityofachild；butwouldhe，thoughunsuitedformostotherplaces，doforthatplace？No；hesaidconfidently，no!And，hesaid，HeavenforbidthatFrederickshouldbethereinanyothercharacterthaninhispresentvoluntarycharacter!Gentlemen，whoevercametothatCollege，toremaintherealengthoftime，musthavestrengthofcharactertogothroughagooddealandtocomeoutofagooddeal。WashisbelovedbrotherFrederickthatman？No。Theysawhim，evenasitwas，crushed。Misfortunecrushedhim。Hehadnotpowerofrecoilenough，notelasticityenough，tobealongtimeinsuchaplace，andyetpreservehisself-respectandfeelconsciousthathewasagentleman。FrederickhadnotifhemightusetheexpressionPowerenoughtoseeinanydelicatelittleattentionsand——and——Testimonialsthathemightundersuchcircumstancesreceive，thegoodnessofhumannature，thefinespiritanimatingtheCollegiansasacommunity，andatthesametimenodegradationtohimself，andnodepreciationofhisclaimsasagentleman。
　　Gentlemen，Godblessyou!
　　SuchwasthehomilywithwhichheimprovedandpointedtheoccasiontothecompanyintheLodgebeforeturningintothesallowyardagain，andgoingwithhisownpoorshabbydignitypasttheCollegianinthedressing-gownwhohadnocoat，andpasttheCollegianinthesea-sideslipperswhohadnoshoes，andpastthestoutgreengrocerCollegianinthecorduroyknee-breecheswhohadnocares，andpasttheleanclerkCollegianinbuttonlessblackwhohadnohopes，uphisownpoorshabbystaircasetohisownpoorshabbyroom。