ArthurforhislifecouldnothavesaidwithconfidencewhetherPancksreallythoughtsoornot。
　　’Whenthatwasgone，sir，’resumedPancks，’anditdidgo，thoughIdribbleditoutlikesomuchblood，IhadtakenMrRuggintothesecret。IproposedtoborrowofMrRuggorofMissRugg；it’sthesamething；shemadealittlemoneybyaspeculationintheCommonPleasonce。Helentitatten，andthoughtthatprettyhigh。ButMrRugg’sared-hairedman，sir，andgetshishaircut。Andastothecrownofhishat，it’shigh。Andastothebrimofhishat，it’snarrow。Andthere’snomorebenevolencebubblingoutofhim，thanoutofaninepin。’
　　’Yourownrecompenseforallthis，MrPancks，’saidClennam，’oughttobealargeone。’
　　’Idon’tmistrustgettingit，sir，’saidPancks。’Ihavemadenobargain。Iowedyouoneonthatscore；nowIhavepaidit。Moneyoutofpocketmadegood，timefairlyallowedfor，andMrRugg’sbillsettled，athousandpoundswouldbeafortunetome。ThatmatterIplaceinyourhands。Iauthorizeyounowtobreakallthistothefamilyinanywayyouthinkbest。MissAmyDorritwillbewithMrsFinchingthismorning。Thesoonerdonethebetter。
　　Can’tbedonetoosoon。’
　　ThisconversationtookplaceinClennam’sbed-room，whilehewasyetinbed。ForMrPanckshadknockedupthehouseandmadehiswayin，veryearlyinthemorning；and，withoutoncesittingdownorstandingstill，haddeliveredhimselfofthewholeofhisdetailsillustratedwithavarietyofdocumentsatthebedside。
　　Henowsaidhewould’goandlookupMrRugg’，fromwhomhisexcitedstateofmindappearedtorequireanotherback；andbundlinguphispapers，andexchangingonemoreheartyshakeofthehandwithClennam，hewentatfullspeeddown-stairs，andsteamedoff。
　　Clennam，ofcourse，resolvedtogodirecttoMrCasby’s。Hedressedandgotoutsoquicklythathefoundhimselfatthecornerofthepatriarchalstreetnearlyanhourbeforehertime；buthewasnotsorrytohavetheopportunityofcalminghimselfwithaleisurelywalk。
　　Whenhereturnedtothestreet，andhadknockedatthebrightbrassknocker，hewasinformedthatshehadcome，andwasshownup-stairstoFlora’sbreakfast-room。LittleDorritwasnotthereherself，butFlorawas，andtestifiedthegreatestamazementatseeinghim。
　　’Goodgracious，Arthur——DoyceandClennam!’criedthatlady，’whowouldhaveeverthoughtofseeingsuchasightasthisandprayexcuseawrapperforuponmywordIreallyneverandafadedchecktoowhichisworsebutourlittlefriendismakingmea，notthatIneedmindmentioningittoyouforyoumustknowthattherearesuchthingsaskirt，andhavingarrangedthatatryingonshouldtakeplaceafterbreakfastisthereasonthoughIwishnotsobadlystarched。’
　　’Ioughttomakeanapology，’saidArthur，’forsoearlyandabruptavisit；butyouwillexcuseitwhenItellyouthecause。’
　　’IntimesforeverfledArthur，’returnedMrsFinching，’prayexcusemeDoyceandClennaminfinitelymorecorrectandthoughunquestionablydistantstill’tisdistancelendsenchantmenttotheview，atleastIdon’tmeanthatandifIdidIsupposeitwoulddependconsiderablyonthenatureoftheview，butI’mrunningonagainandyouputitalloutofmyhead。’
　　Sheglancedathimtenderly，andresumed：
　　’IntimesforeverfledIwasgoingtosayitwouldhavesoundedstrangeindeedforArthurClennam——DoyceandClennamnaturallyquitedifferent——tomakeapologiesforcominghereatanytime，butthatispastandwhatispastcanneverberecalledexceptinhisowncaseaspoorMrF。saidwhenhewasinspiritsCucumberandthereforeneverateit。’
　　ShewasmakingtheteawhenArthurcamein，andnowhastilyfinishedthatoperation。
　　’Papa，’shesaid，allmysteryandwhisper，assheshutdownthetea-potlid，’issittingprosinglybreakinghisnewlaidegginthebackparlourovertheCityarticleexactlyliketheWoodpeckerTappingandneedneverknowthatyouarehere，andourlittlefriendyouarewellawaremaybefullytrustedwhenshecomesdownfromcuttingoutonthelargetableoverhead。’
　　Arthurthentoldher，inthefewestwords，thatitwastheirlittlefriendhecametosee；andwhathehadtoannouncetotheirlittlefriend。Atwhichastoundingintelligence，Floraclaspedherhands，fellintoatremble，andshedtearsofsympathyandpleasure，likethegood-naturedcreatureshereallywas。
　　’Forgoodnesssakeletmegetoutofthewayfirst，’saidFlora，puttingherhandstoherearsandmovingtowardsthedoor，’orI
　　knowIshallgooffdeadandscreamingandmakeeverybodyworse，andthedearlittlethingonlythismorninglookingsoniceandneatandgoodandyetsopoorandnowafortuneisshereallyanddeservesittoo!andmightImentionittoMrF。’sAuntArthurnotDoyceandClennamforthisonceorifobjectionablenotonanyaccount。’
　　Arthurnoddedhisfreepermission，sinceFlorashutoutallverbalcommunication。Floranoddedinreturntothankhim，andhurriedoutoftheroom。
　　LittleDorrit’sstepwasalreadyonthestairs，andinanothermomentshewasatthedoor。Dowhathecouldtocomposehisface，hecouldnotconveysomuchofanordinaryexpressionintoit，butthatthemomentshesawitshedroppedherwork，andcried，’MrClennam!What’sthematter？’
　　’Nothing，nothing。Thatis，nomisfortunehashappened。Ihavecometotellyousomething，butitisapieceofgreatgood-
　　fortune。’
　　’Good-fortune？’
　　’Wonderfulfortune!’
　　Theystoodinawindow，andhereyes，fulloflight，werefixeduponhisface。Heputanarmabouther，seeingherlikelytosinkdown。Sheputahanduponthatarm，partlytorestuponit，andpartlysotopreservetheirrelativepositionsasthatherintentlookathimshouldbeshakenbynochangeofattitudeineitherofthem。Herlipsseemedtorepeat’Wonderfulfortune？’Herepeateditagain，aloud。
　　’DearLittleDorrit!Yourfather。’
　　Theiceofthepalefacebrokeattheword，andlittlelightsandshootsofexpressionpassedalloverit。Theywereallexpressionsofpain。Herbreathwasfaintandhurried。Herheartbeatfast。
　　Hewouldhaveclaspedthelittlefigurecloser，buthesawthattheeyesappealedtohimnottobemoved。
　　’Yourfathercanbefreewithinthisweek。Hedoesnotknowit；wemustgotohimfromhere，totellhimofit。Yourfatherwillbefreewithinafewdays。Yourfatherwillbefreewithinafewhours。Rememberwemustgotohimfromhere，totellhimofit!’
　　Thatbroughtherback。Hereyeswereclosing，buttheyopenedagain。
　　’Thisisnotallthegood-fortune。Thisisnotallthewonderfulgood-fortune，mydearLittleDorrit。ShallItellyoumore？’
　　Herlipsshaped’Yes。’
　　’Yourfatherwillbenobeggarwhenheisfree。Hewillwantfornothing。ShallItellyoumore？Remember!Heknowsnothingofit；wemustgotohim，fromhere，totellhimofit!’
　　Sheseemedtoentreathimforalittletime。Heheldherinhisarm，and，afterapause，bentdownhiseartolisten。
　　’Didyouaskmetogoon？’
　　’Yes。’
　　’Hewillbearichman。Heisarichman。Agreatsumofmoneyiswaitingtobepaidovertohimashisinheritance；youareallhenceforthverywealthy。Bravestandbestofchildren，IthankHeaventhatyouarerewarded!’
　　Ashekissedher，sheturnedherheadtowardshisshoulder，andraisedherarmtowardshisneck；criedout’Father!Father!
　　Father!’andswoonedaway。
　　UponwhichFlorareturnedtotakecareofher，andhoveredaboutheronasofa，interminglingkindofficesandincoherentscrapsofconversationinamannersoconfounding，thatwhethershepressedtheMarshalseatotakeaspoonfulofunclaimeddividends，foritwoulddohergood；orwhethershecongratulatedLittleDorrit’sfatheroncomingintopossessionofahundredthousandsmelling-
　　bottles；orwhethersheexplainedthatsheputseventy-fivethousanddropsofspiritsoflavenderonfiftythousandpoundsoflumpsugar，andthatsheentreatedLittleDorrittotakethatgentlerestorative；orwhethershebathedtheforeheadsofDoyceandClennaminvinegar，andgavethelateMrF。moreair；noonewithanysenseofresponsibilitycouldhaveundertakentodecide。
　　Atributarystreamofconfusion，moreover，pouredinfromanadjoiningbedroom，whereMrF。’sAuntappeared，fromthesoundofhervoice，tobeinahorizontalposture，awaitingherbreakfast；
　　andfromwhichbowerthatinexorableladysnappedoffshorttaunts，whenevershecouldgetahearing，as，’Don’tbelieveit’shisdoing!’and’Heneedn’ttakenocredittohimselfforit!’and’It’llbelongenough，Iexpect，aforehe’llgiveupanyofhisownmoney!’alldesignedtodisparageClennam’sshareinthediscovery，andtorelievethoseinveteratefeelingswithwhichMrF。’sAuntregardedhim。
　　ButLittleDorrit’ssolicitudetogettoherfather，andtocarrythejoyfultidingstohim，andnottoleavehiminhisjailamomentwiththishappinessinstoreforhimandstillunknowntohim，didmoreforherspeedyrestorationthanalltheskillandattentiononearthcouldhavedone。’Comewithmetomydearfather。Praycomeandtellmydearfather!’werethefirstwordsshesaid。Herfather，herfather。Shespokeofnothingbuthim，thoughtofnothingbuthim。Kneelingdownandpouringoutherthankfulnesswithupliftedhands，herthankswereforherfather。
　　Flora’stendernesswasquiteovercomebythis，andshelaunchedoutamongthecupsandsaucersintoawonderfulflowoftearsandspeech。
　　’Ideclare，’shesobbed，’IneverwassocutupsinceyourmamaandmypapanotDoyceandClennamforthisoncebutgivethepreciouslittlethingacupofteaandmakeherputittoherlipsatleastprayArthurdo，notevenMrF。’slastillnessforthatwasofanotherkindandgoutisnotachild’saffectionthoughverypainfulforallpartiesandMrF。amartyrwithhisleguponarestandthewinetradeinitselfinflammatoryfortheywilldoitmoreorlessamongthemselvesandwhocanwonder，itseemslikeadreamIamsuretothinkofnothingatallthismorningandnowMinesofmoneyisitreally，butyoumustknowmydarlinglovebecauseyouneverwillbestrongenoughtotellhimallaboutituponteaspoons，mightn’titbeevenbesttotrythedirectionsofmyownmedicalmanforthoughtheflavourisanythingbutagreeablestillIforcemyselftodoitasaprescriptionandfindthebenefit，you’drathernotwhynomydearI’drathernotbutstillIdoitasaduty，everybodywillcongratulateyousomeinearnestandsomenotandmanywillcongratulateyouwithalltheirheartsbutnonemoresoIdoassureyoufromthebottomofmyownIdomyselfthoughsensibleofblunderingandbeingstupid，andwillbejudgedbyArthurnotDoyceandClennamforthisoncesogood-byedarlingandGodblessyouandmayyoubeveryhappyandexcusetheliberty，vowingthatthedressshallneverbefinishedbyanybodyelsebutshallbelaidbyforakeepsakejustasitisandcalledLittleDorritthoughwhythatstrangestofdenominationsatanytimeI
　　neverdidmyselfandnowInevershall!’
　　ThusFlora，intakingleaveofherfavourite。LittleDorritthankedher，andembracedher，overandoveragain；andfinallycameoutofthehousewithClennam，andtookcoachfortheMarshalsea。