Witharemembranceofherfather’soldlifeinprisonhangingaboutherliketheburdenofasorrowfultune，LittleDorritwouldwakefromadreamofherbirth-placeintoawholeday’sdream。Thepaintedroominwhichsheawoke，oftenahumbledstate-chamberinadilapidatedpalace，wouldbeginit；withitswildredautumnalvine-leavesoverhangingtheglass，itsorange-treesonthecrackedwhiteterraceoutsidethewindow，agroupofmonksandpeasantsinthelittlestreetbelow，miseryandmagnificencewrestlingwitheachotheruponeveryroodofgroundintheprospect，nomatterhowwidelydiversified，andmiserythrowingmagnificencewiththestrengthoffate。Tothiswouldsucceedalabyrinthofbarepassagesandpillaredgalleries，withthefamilyprocessionalreadypreparinginthequadranglebelow，throughthecarriagesandluggagebeingbroughttogetherbytheservantsfortheday’sjourney。Thenbreakfastinanotherpaintedchamber，damp-stainedandofdesolateproportions；andthenthedeparture，which，tohertimidityandsenseofnotbeinggrandenoughforherplaceintheceremonies，wasalwaysanuneasything。ForthenthecourierwhohimselfwouldhavebeenaforeigngentlemanofhighmarkintheMarshalseawouldpresenthimselftoreportthatallwasready；andthenherfather’svaletwouldpompouslyinducthimintohistravelling-cloak；andthenFanny’smaid，andherownmaidwhowasaweightonLittleDorrit’smind——absolutelymadehercryatfirst，sheknewsolittlewhattodowithher，wouldbeinattendance；
　　andthenherbrother’smanwouldcompletehismaster’sequipment；
　　andthenherfatherwouldgivehisarmtoMrsGeneral，andherunclewouldgivehistoher，and，escortedbythelandlordandInnservants，theywouldswoopdown-stairs。There，acrowdwouldbecollectedtoseethementertheircarriages，which，amidstmuchbowing，andbegging，andprancing，andlashing，andclattering，theywoulddo；andsotheywouldbedrivenmadlythroughnarrowunsavourystreets，andjerkedoutatthetowngate。
　　Amongtheday’sunrealitieswouldberoadswherethebrightredvineswereloopedandgarlandedtogetherontreesformanymiles；
　　woodsofolives；whitevillagesandtownsonhill-sides，lovelywithout，butfrightfulintheirdirtandpovertywithin；crossesbytheway；deepbluelakeswithfairyislands，andclusteringboatswithawningsofbrightcoloursandsailsofbeautifulforms；vastpilesofbuildingmoulderingtodust；hanging-gardenswheretheweedshadgrownsostrongthattheirstems，likewedgesdrivenhome，hadsplitthearchandrentthewall；stone-terracedlanes，withthelizardsrunningintoandoutofeverychink；beggarsofallsortseverywhere：pitiful，picturesque，hungry，merry；childrenbeggarsandagedbeggars。Oftenatposting-housesandotherhaltingplaces，thesemiserablecreatureswouldappeartohertheonlyrealitiesoftheday；andmanyatime，whenthemoneyshehadbroughttogivethemwasallgivenaway，shewouldsitwithherfoldedhands，thoughtfullylookingaftersomediminutivegirlleadinghergreyfather，asifthesightremindedherofsomethinginthedaysthatweregone。
　　Again，therewouldbeplaceswheretheystayedtheweektogetherinsplendidrooms，hadbanquetseveryday，rodeoutamongheapsofwonders，walkedthroughmilesofpalaces，andrestedindarkcornersofgreatchurches；wheretherewerewinkinglampsofgoldandsilveramongpillarsandarches，kneelingfiguresdottedaboutatconfessionalsandonthepavements；wheretherewasthemistandscentofincense；wheretherewerepictures，fantasticimages，gaudyaltars，greatheightsanddistances，allsoftlylightedthroughstainedglass，andthemassivecurtainsthathunginthedoorways。Fromthesecitiestheywouldgoonagain，bytheroadsofvinesandolives，throughsqualidvillages，wheretherewasnotahovelwithoutagapinitsfilthywalls，notawindowwithawholeinchofglassorpaper；wherethereseemedtobenothingtosupportlife，nothingtoeat，nothingtomake，nothingtogrow，nothingtohope，nothingtodobutdie。
　　Againtheywouldcometowholetownsofpalaces，whoseproperinmateswereallbanished，andwhichwereallchangedintobarracks：troopsofidlesoldiersleaningoutofthestatewindows，wheretheiraccoutrementshungdryingonthemarblearchitecture，andshowingtothemindlikehostsofratswhowerehappily
　　eatingawaythepropsoftheedificesthatsupportedthem，andmustsoon，withthem，besmashedontheheadsoftheotherswarmsofsoldiersandtheswarmsofpriests，andtheswarmsofspies，whowerealltheill-lookingpopulationlefttoberuined，inthestreetsbelow。
　　Throughsuchscenes，thefamilyprocessionmovedontoVenice。Andhereitdispersedforatime，astheyweretoliveinVenicesomefewmonthsinapalaceitselfsixtimesasbigasthewholeMarshalseaontheGrandCanal。
　　Inthiscrowningunreality，whereallthestreetswerepavedwithwater，andwherethedeathlikestillnessofthedaysandnightswasbrokenbynosoundbutthesoftenedringingofchurch-bells，theripplingofthecurrent，andthecryofthegondoliersturningthecornersoftheflowingstreets，LittleDorrit，quitelostbyhertaskbeingdone，satdowntomuse。Thefamilybeganagaylife，wenthereandthere，andturnednightintoday；butshewastimidofjoiningintheirgaieties，andonlyaskedleavetobeleftalone。
　　Sometimesshewouldstepintooneofthegondolasthatwerealwayskeptinwaiting，mooredtopaintedpostsatthedoor——whenshecouldescapefromtheattendanceofthatoppressivemaid，whowashermistress，andaveryhardone——andwouldbetakenalloverthestrangecity。Socialpeopleinothergondolasbegantoaskeachotherwhothelittlesolitarygirlwaswhomtheypassed，sittinginherboatwithfoldedhands，lookingsopensivelyandwonderinglyabouther。Neverthinkingthatitwouldbeworthanybody’swhiletonoticeherorherdoings，LittleDorrit，inherquiet，scared，lostmanner，wentaboutthecitynonetheless。
　　Butherfavouritestationwasthebalconyofherownroom，overhangingthecanal，withotherbalconiesbelow，andnoneabove。
　　Itwasofmassivestonedarkenedbyages，builtinawildfancywhichcamefromtheEasttothatcollectionofwildfancies；andLittleDorritwaslittleindeed，leaningonthebroad-cushionedledge，andlookingover。Asshelikednoplaceofaneveninghalfsowell，shesoonbegantobewatchedfor，andmanyeyesinpassinggondolaswereraised，andmanypeoplesaid，TherewasthelittlefigureoftheEnglishgirlwhowasalwaysalone。
　　SuchpeoplewerenotrealitiestothelittlefigureoftheEnglishgirl；suchpeoplewereallunknowntoher。Shewouldwatchthesunset，initslonglowlinesofpurpleandred，anditsburningflushhighupintothesky：soglowingonthebuildings，andsolighteningtheirstructure，thatitmadethemlookasiftheirstrongwallsweretransparent，andtheyshonefromwithin。Shewouldwatchthosegloriesexpire；andthen，afterlookingattheblackgondolasunderneath，takinggueststomusicanddancing，wouldraisehereyestotheshiningstars。Wastherenopartyofherown，inothertimes，onwhichthestarshadshone？Tothinkofthatoldgatenow!Shewouldthinkofthatoldgate，andofherselfsittingatitinthedeadofthenight，pillowingMaggy’shead；andofotherplacesandofotherscenesassociatedwiththosedifferenttimes。Andthenshewouldleanuponherbalcony，andlookoveratthewater，asthoughtheyalllayunderneathit。Whenshegottothat，shewouldmusinglywatchitsrunning，asif，inthegeneralvision，itmightrundry，andshowhertheprisonagain，andherself，andtheoldroom，andtheoldinmates，andtheoldvisitors：alllastingrealitiesthathadneverchanged。
　　ALetterfromLittleDorritDearMrClennam，IwritetoyoufrommyownroomatVenice，thinkingyouwillbegladtohearfromme。ButIknowyoucannotbesogladtohearfrommeasIamtowritetoyou；foreverythingaboutyouisasyouhavebeenaccustomedtoseeit，andyoumissnothing——unlessitshouldbeme，whichcanonlybeforaverylittlewhiletogetherandveryseldom——whileeverythinginmylifeissostrange，andI
　　misssomuch。
　　WhenwewereinSwitzerland，whichappearstohavebeenyearsago，thoughitwasonlyweeks，ImetyoungMrsGowan，whowasonamountainexcursionlikeourselves。Shetoldmeshewasverywellandveryhappy。Shesentyouthemessage，byme，thatshethankedyouaffectionatelyandwouldneverforgetyou。Shewasquiteconfidingwithme，andIlovedheralmostassoonasIspoketoher。Butthereisnothingsingularinthat；whocouldhelplovingsobeautifulandwinningacreature!Icouldnotwonderatanyonelovingher。Noindeed。
　　ItwillnotmakeyouuneasyonMrsGowan’saccount，Ihope——forI
　　rememberthatyousaidyouhadtheinterestofatruefriendinher——ifItellyouthatIwishshecouldhavemarriedsomeonebettersuitedtoher。MrGowanseemsfondofher，andofcoursesheisveryfondofhim，butIthoughthewasnotearnestenough——I
　　don’tmeaninthatrespect——Imeaninanything。IcouldnotkeepitoutofmymindthatifIwasMrsGowanwhatachangethatwouldbe，andhowImustaltertobecomelikeher!IshouldfeelthatI
　　wasratherlonelyandlost，forthewantofsomeonewhowassteadfastandfirminpurpose。Ieventhoughtshefeltthiswantalittle，almostwithoutknowingit。Butmindyouarenotmadeuneasybythis，forshewas’verywellandveryhappy。’Andshelookedmostbeautiful。
　　Iexpecttomeetheragainbeforelong，andindeedhavebeenexpectingforsomedayspasttoseeherhere。IwilleverbeasgoodafriendtoherasIcanforyoursake。DearMrClennam，I
　　daresayyouthinklittleofhavingbeenafriendtomewhenIhadnoothernotthatIhaveanyothernow，forIhavemadenonewfriends，butIthinkmuchofit，andInevercanforgetit。
　　IwishIknew——butitisbestfornoonetowritetome——howMrandMrsPlornishprosperinthebusinesswhichmydearfatherboughtforthem，andthatoldMrNandyliveshappilywiththemandhistwograndchildren，andsingsallhissongsoverandoveragain。I
　　cannotquitekeepbackthetearsfrommyeyeswhenIthinkofmypoorMaggy，andoftheblankshemusthavefeltatfirst，howeverkindtheyallaretoher，withoutherLittleMother。Willyougoandtellher，asastrictsecret，withmylove，thatshenevercanhaveregrettedourseparationmorethanIhaveregrettedit？AndwillyoutellthemallthatIhavethoughtofthemeveryday，andthatmyheartisfaithfultothemeverywhere？O，ifyoucouldknowhowfaithful，youwouldalmostpitymeforbeingsofarawayandbeingsogrand!
　　Youwillbeglad，Iamsure，toknowthatmydearfatherisverywellinhealth，andthatallthesechangesarehighlybeneficialtohim，andthatheisverydifferentindeedfromwhatheusedtobewhenyouusedtoseehim。Thereisanimprovementinmyuncletoo，Ithink，thoughhenevercomplainedofold，andneverexultsnow。
　　Fannyisverygraceful，quick，andclever。Itisnaturaltohertobealady；shehasadaptedherselftoournewfortuneswithwonderfulease。
　　ThisremindsmethatIhavenotbeenabletodoso，andthatI
　　sometimesalmostdespairofeverbeingabletodoso。IfindthatIcannotlearn。MrsGeneralisalwayswithus，andwespeakFrenchandspeakItalian，andshetakespainstoformusinmanyways。
　　WhenIsaywespeakFrenchandItalian，Imeantheydo。Asforme，IamsoslowthatIscarcelygetonatall。AssoonasIbegintoplan，andthink，andtry，allmyplanning，thinking，andtryinggoinolddirections，andIbegintofeelcarefulagainabouttheexpensesoftheday，andaboutmydearfather，andaboutmywork，andthenIrememberwithastartthattherearenosuchcaresleft，andthatinitselfissonewandimprobablethatitsetsmewanderingagain。Ishouldnothavethecouragetomentionthistoanyonebutyou。
　　Itisthesamewithallthesenewcountriesandwonderfulsights。
　　Theyareverybeautiful，andtheyastonishme，butIamnotcollectedenough——notfamiliarenoughwithmyself，ifyoucanquiteunderstandwhatImean——tohaveallthepleasureinthemthatI
　　mighthave。WhatIknewbeforethem，blendswiththem，too，socuriously。Forinstance，whenwewereamongthemountains，IoftenfeltIhesitatetotellsuchanidlething，dearMrClennam，eventoyouasiftheMarshalseamustbebehindthatgreatrock；orasifMrsClennam’sroomwhereIhaveworkedsomanydays，andwhereIfirstsawyou，mustbejustbeyondthatsnow。DoyourememberonenightwhenIcamewithMaggytoyourlodginginCoventGarden？
　　ThatroomIhaveoftenandoftenfanciedIhaveseenbeforeme，travellingalongformilesbythesideofourcarriage，whenIhavelookedoutofthecarriage-windowafterdark。Wewereshutoutthatnight，andsatattheirongate，andwalkedabouttillmorning。Ioftenlookupatthestars，evenfromthebalconyofthisroom，andbelievethatIaminthestreetagain，shutoutwithMaggy。ItisthesamewithpeoplethatIleftinEngland。